skip the botox. try facial yoga

I am totally gonna try this!  

Have any of you tried facial yoga?

Free Your Tongue 
It is recommended that you hold this pose for 60 seconds.
It is good if your eyes water;
that flushes the toxins that may have accumulated there.

Temple Dancer Eyes
This exercise works on the ring muscles of the eyes
to prevent sagging skin and crow's feet.

Smiling Fish Face
Smile while pursing your lips. T
his pose is modeled after the look celebrities
often give the paparazzi.

Lion Face, Part I
Inhale through your nose, make fists
and squeeze all your facial muscles...

Lion Face, Part II
Now exhale through your mouth, stick out your tongue,
roll your eyes up and open your hands. Repeat three times.

Surprise Me!
Widen your eyes, as though surprised,
but try not to wrinkle the brow.
Focus on a point in front of you for about five to ten seconds.
Then repeat, four times.

Satchmo
Named for Louis Armstrong,
 this poses mimics the cheeks of a trumpet player.

Marilyn
The repetitive puckering and blowing
creates stronger, firmer lips.

Baby Bird
Swallow while pressing the tip of the tongue to the roof of your mouth.
Then tilt your head slightly to the left and swallow.
Then repeat, towards the right.
This exercise helps jowls from forming.

Buddha Face
Close your eyes, relax and imagine a point between the brows.
Hold for one minute, or longer.

ciao! fabiana

p.s. you may want to warn

your family or roommates before starting!

prince william hits the big 3-0 today

A little glimpse of

Prince William over the years.....

ciao! fabiana

the mission san diego de alcala gardens

San Diego de Alcala, the first of the great California Missions, 

marks the birthplace of Christianity in the far West. 

It is California's first church. 

One of my favorite things about visiting

the Missions of California is

walking through the beautiful

and lush gardens

that most of them feature.  

Perched up on a hill,

the San Diego de Alcala Mission

was the first one built of

the 21 California Missions.

Today visitors can relive the grandeur and excitement 

of more than two centuries of California history and tradition.

The missions were built to be

about a one day journey to the next one,

starting down from San Diego up to Sonoma.  

They are an incredible part of our history

here in California,

with the most famous being

the Mission San Juan Capistrano

where the swallows return every year.  

Here, an old palm trunk is

swallowed up by a gorgeous bougainvillea plant.  

Tall spikes of acanthus flowers 
greet guests at the mission.

The inner courtyard was quiet and peaceful.

Beautiful antique ironwork.

Hanging succulents grow naturally

on the pepper trees. 

Such a lovely spot!

ciao! fabiana

History of the mission via Mission San Diego