San Juan Capistrano Mission

Zion National Park Montage

Finally finished the video. Enjoy!

Blooms from the Heart

Do you ever feel guilty about throwing away beautiful floral arrangements at the end of an event? We have the perfect solution to this dilemma...Blooms from the Heart!

"Blooms From The Heart partners with San Diego area event planners, venues, businesses and individuals to collect flower arrangements, loose blooms or plants that might otherwise be discarded. The flowers may be from an event, gala or celebration, or business décor or product due to be replaced.

Collection of flowers following an event is done at the event venue or event planner’s place of business the day after the event and the flowers are transported to the Blooms From The Heart staging center. Flowers from other sources are picked up at the business location on a pre-determined schedule. Flowers can also be dropped off at the staging center. The flowers should be in good condition with at least 4 days of healthy life remaining.

Our volunteers quickly and lovingly repurpose the recycled flowers as needed, breaking large arrangements into smaller ones or arranging loose blooms in vases or other containers.

The new arrangements are then delivered to local hospitals, hospice centers, senior care facilities, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers and other facilities where they can be enjoyed. Blooms From The Heart partners with administrators, management and staff of these facilities to coordinate the deliveries. The recipients include the elderly and sick or terminally ill patients, those who have been abused, left homeless or otherwise forgotten, home bound individuals and others in need. We strive to send a message of caring and compassion with every single bloom delivered."

Irieside Releases First LP!

My hometown of Oceanside, California isn't widely known as a hub for music, but the subculture in this seaside town has given rise to a new and unique sound. Irieside is a local band that has transformed their daily experiences as "O'Siders" into an album packed with beats, amazing guitar riffs, floetry, and a trumpet which makes it all sound completely original. I like to think of the style as a fusion of hip hop, rock, ska, and reggae. Highly influenced by reggae legend Bob Marley, Irieside focuses on sending positive messages, good vibes, and irie feelings.

Members of the band include drummer and back up vocalist Sid Hilarides, bass guitarist and back up vocalist Steven Stotelmeyer, Arjay Pantig on the trumpet and back up vocals, lead guitarist and lead vocals Benny Blessing, and the emcee Anthony Williams. Irieside's first album successfully tells the story of a band who started from the bottom in the Oceanside streets but has grown to have a huge following in San Diego. Congratulations on your first release Irieside, your fellow "O'Siders" are expecting big things out of you.

The entire album was produced at Above Ground Records in Escondido, California. Stay posted on details of the first music video coming soon...

VISIT IRIESIDE ON MYSPACE

Pacillo:Lach Wedding

Our little Ashley Pacillo got married on June 27th to a very handsome young man, Mike Lach. They could not have asked for a better day since it was the first weekend in June that was actually sunny. The ceremony was held at Patio A in Balboa Park and guests were transported from each venue for a more relaxing experience. The reception took place in the Don Room of the El Cortez which happens to be one of my favorite venues in San Diego.

Ashley was absolutely stunning in her wedding dress which matched the beauty of the El Cortez. The highlight of the evening was the Pacillo Family Dance which has to be playing on YouTube right now. It was the most entertaining dance I have ever seen performed at wedding and I was extremely impressed by the participation of every single family member...young and old.

Congratulations Ashley & Mike! We wish you the best!


Venue: El Cortez
Ceremony: Prado Patio A, Balboa Park
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Jenetta Lea Penner
Flowers: Haydee's Creative Flowers
Linen: Magical Party Rentals
Catering: Culinary Concepts
Entertainment/Lighting: Events by Design

Zion National Park

It's hard to find the words to describe the natural beauty and awe around every corner of this planet we call earth. I find great joy and solitude in spending time outdoors camping and hiking exploring the wilderness here in our great country. As I write this blog, I am currently sitting next to a dwindling campfire at our campsite here at Zion River Resort in Utah reflecting on the past three days. Some words that come to mind include inspiring, remarkable, and majestic. Zion National Park is definitely one of the most remarkable natural features I have ever experienced. It demonstrates how a small river can erode solid rock over time and create canyons which give berth to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

Looking back at the events over the past few days, I have realized that unlocking the full potential of Zion will require another visit, if not more. During our stay, we were able to visit some of the parks more popular day hikes including Canyon Overlook, the Narrows, Angels Landing, and Weeping Rock.

I thoroughly enjoyed every hike but found some limitations in carrying my 16 month old son. Although I have a great Kelty carrier, hikes such as Angel's Landing are just not worth the risk. As we stared up at the summit I felt a sense of disappointment but at the same time a great sense of accomplishment. Although I did not make it to the summit of Angel's Landing, I realized that most people would not imagine even attempting the strenuous trek with a child that young. The views from Scout's lookout were spectacular and left me with some memories that I will never forget.


My personal favorite, the Narrows, takes you on a half mile hike along side the Virgin River before you come to a point where you must wade in the water to cross. Once the paved road ends, you can continue up the Narrows for about 8 miles or until the water becomes to deep to continue. We only followed the river for about 1/4 mile due to the electronic equipment we were carrying and the children. To me, this trip was just an orientation to what the park has to offer and I expect to return in hopes of uncovering its full potential.

As the last flame from the campfire dissipates into the night sky, as does our latest wild adventure. We had an amazing time and enjoyed our stay in Utah even though the weather was consistently over 100 degrees. As a new annual pass member, Marjeri and I are looking forward to what our amazing national parks have to offer in the upcoming year. Stay tuned for our next big adventure...