vacation

retreat report: 2010

| heather parlato

hope springs resort
the retreat “thinkspace”

what better time to reflect on a warm, sunny retreat than during a week-long los angeles deluge, right? if you can remember as far back as last week, we were having a little december heat wave, which was a great setting for my annual year-end brain storm.

hope springs resort
pinkies in the garden

i chose hope springs resort as i do every year because they offer the perfect setting: no kids, no pets, no tvs. only stereos with ipod hookups, robes & towels, and a fruit-forward continental breakfast every morning as the backdrop to 3 mineral pools ranging from hot to warm, surrounded by a succulent garden.

the resort cat visits our room
the resort cat visits our room

i followed my plan of wind-down the first night, write about the past year the 2nd day, and then plan the future the 3rd day, though i was so busy, i had to break some of my own rules. for one thing, i had to take work with me and keep in touch with clients, though i kept it to a minimum. of course, it’s not a retreat if you ignore the “rest” part of the deal. sometimes you need someone to show you what rest looks like. the resident resort cat visited us the second day we arrived, to test our chair. it worked.

annual planning on retreat
annual planning

in reviewing the previous year’s notes, it was apparent that i was optimistic, but not nearly as established as i am now, so my tone is hopeful but less confident than i remembered. this past year was pretty big for putting myself out into different circles and participating in a lot more than just my business, though still as a means of exploring what else i can do. i decided to format my reflections on the past as follow ups, addressing each one i wrote last year and explaining where those actions, thoughts or concerns have ended up now, and what i plan to do to make progress this year. once i finished the follow up, i added new things i started doing in 2010 and noted what i thought of each one, how i planned to flesh it out in 2011.

in 2010, i…
+ increased blogging from weekly to daily
+ started guest blogging for other blogs and organizations
+ consistently wrote a monthly newsletter all year
+ increased my client base & laid groundwork for more repeat & regular business
+ hosted 1-2 mixers per month through biznik
+ tried group co-working in a few different setups
+ chose and fostered relationships with inspirational mentors and friends
+ worked with educational institutions through the LA chamber
+ started working with the AIGA programming committee
+ stopped seeing other designers as competition
+ streamlined & refined my proposal, contract & work process
+ started offering more web design and content development services
+ opened an online store

i saved a bee
i saved a bee

then i took a swimming break and saved a drowning bee. she clung to me, but i eventually convinced her to join her friends among the rosemary blossoms.

tea and spa water at hope springs resort
floral tea & spa water = double hydration

the following day, i did more of a freeform brainstorm, with far more breaks for clearing my head. i’m at an interesting point where i’ve started a bunch of projects or gotten involved in a few organizations, and i’m ready to analyze how each is working and focus the balance of attention they get. i also have a bunch of projects i want to work on next year, so i wrote about ideas for each of them, and gave myself rough time periods to work on them. it’s surprising, while i was doing all this writing, some new things i hadn’t considered came up, so i talked them over with jason. next year is going to be an exercise in time management if i want to balance professional and personal work with all the extra-curriculars i want to do, but all i can say is that i’ll try it out and assess how it’s going along the way.

in 2011, i plan to…
+ strike a balance of writing for other blogs and orgs that work well for me
+ keep the blogging & newsletter going strong
+ continue to add regular & repeat clients so i can pick & choose the 1-offs
+ collaborate with a few orgs and individuals on programming meaningful design events
+ grow the store with revolving products through the year
+ make more industry-focused promotional pieces
+ revamp and reformat my web site [this has been on the back burner too long!]
+ participate in co-working at least 2 times per month, biznik once per month
+ write, design & self-publish a food projects book

pink spike cactus
this is what my brain felt like

in the end, i wrote 17 pages about what’s been going on, where it’s going, and where i’m directing it in the future. i’m excited and energized for next year, and thankful that we have a holiday season for a little slow down before the big work starts. i’m taking any downtime this week to enjoy where i’m at and get mentally prepared, and then taking downtime next week to do a little more date-charting so i can get a more realistic picture of plans & goals. once i can see it, i can stay aware of it and do it. bring on the new year!

how to plan your year-end retreat

| heather parlato

parlato design studio year-end retreat

whether you’re a small business owner or part of an in-house team, taking time at the end of the year to step back and reflect is an important part of maintaining healthy progress. i plan one every year, and i always surprised by what comes out of it.

i planned my first retreat somewhat by accident: i had a good amount of downtime in my first year of business, and i’d been trying to find an excuse to visit this boutique hotel i found in desert hot springs, hope springs resort. to me, it was the perfect picture of relaxation, and once i got there i found out i was right!

that first year i was mostly looking forward and taking a break, but as i built my business up, the next year i actually had some news to report. in the year that followed, i’d taken the initiative to branch out in a few directions, so listing new adventures and possibilities was kind of mind-blowing. this year topped that one by far, so i’m really excited to write it all out and look at everything on paper.

if you’re part of a group, taking time together outside the office in a neutral space is a great way to connect with the people you work with on a different level. allow everyone to contribute, compliment each person’s great moments of the year, ask them what inspires them, what would they do if they could make the rules? your co-workers and employees know their jobs best, and sometimes their unique perspective can inform a direction you wouldn’t have thought of without input.

how to plan your retreat:

first, stop waiting for some “free time” to open up. pick the least likely busy time months in advance, before any other conflicting events will allow you to change your mind. block it out and commit to it! even if you can’t spare more than 1 day, get away from your office or workplace so you can think clearly.

second, research your ideal setting. treat it like a vacation for your mind, a place with inspiring surroundings that also offer quiet for reflection. look for your favorite natural setting, maybe mountains, beaches, countrysides, or cool winter deserts landscapes with quaint small town B&B’s within driving distance? these are the places you’re looking for. you can actually do this step first, and eliminate the time between making the commitment and booking the reservation, so you’re locked in before you have a chance to second-guess.

third, book it! make apologies for your absence by beaming “i’m sorry, I’ll be away for my annual year-end retreat!” feel good about your decision! in addition to your favorite travel accessories, add your favorite pens and a blank notebook, and when the big day rolls around, away you go!

if your business has a few employees or you’re part of a department, you can plan a group retreat as well. if you can’t get out of town, at least get out of the office! back when i worked at natpe, our department head, beth, planned a creative brainstorming day at the getty. we left the office, took the morning to look at art, change our mindset and get inspired, and then we picked a spot among the sculptures to get our brainstorming on.

how i structure my retreats:

i leave early so i can enjoy my wind-down day, which is what I do on day 1. unwind! on day 2, i get up and enjoy breakfast, followed by some light exercise to get the blood flowing, maybe a walk or a swim or some yoga.

to get started, i review last year’s notes and analyze how everything played out. then, i sit down with my notebook and bullet out every new thing i did in the past year that i hadn’t done before. i like to make note of compound progresses, things i built on from something i did previously. we often think we’re aware of everything we’ve done, but i am always surprised by how much more i remember in this process. i get all kinds of ideas for the future at this stage, and note them for brainstorming later.

i buffer my reflection on the past with a break of physical activity or even a night’s sleep before i work on the future, giving my brain time to digest everything. when i’m ready, i look at my list of accomplishments and think of ways to build on them. free-association, daydreaming and hair-brained scheming comes in handy here! this is where letting curiosity and wonderment can help you strive for that next level you would normally think impossible or out-of-reach. once i’m done, i like to break these into easy actions, goals to strive for, and big ideas i can contribute to in the long term.

all of this helps me get my priorities in order and approach the new year with confidence. when i get home, i can tackle those easy actions, and i’m energized to break out the baby steps toward my new goals. with all of that organized, the long range plans get their periodic attention too. how about you, anyone planning a year-end retreat for 2010?

blog vacation

| heather parlato

http://warp.net/swf/warp_embed.swf

apparently my blog is on vacation this week while i make like a deadline-meeting maniac. see you next week!

a coastal drive and a change of season

| heather parlato

cloudy drive on the 101

as we transitioned out of record heat last week, jason and i took a drive up to san francisco, where he was scheduled for a talk at arse elektronika. rather than rush the drive in a day, we took our time and stopped overnight in paso robles. the paso robles inn is a lovely historic hotel, and so so quiet.

nojoqui farms

one of our favorite stops is nojoqui farms in buellton. we originally found them for their clearly marked sign off the highway, but we keep coming back because their produce is delicious and always reliably stocked in their barn store. this time, the goats were out eating pumpkins and the barn cat was having a nice nap in the hay.

nojoqui farm cat

one thing i have wanted to do for awhile is stop in at the municipal winemakers tasting room. i’ve been a fan of their approach to promotion in the wine industry, and curious to taste the wines they make, so we took the opportunity and stopped in.

municipal winemakers

overall, their wines were really tasty, smooth mouthfeel, robust and highly drinkable. some favorites were the bright red and the sweetness riesling. we decided to get in on the reusable bottle action and had it filled with syrah. hopefully we’ll make stopping in a regular thing when we head up to santa barbara.

municipal winemakers refillable bottle
[image: municipal winemakers]

angeles crest forest, 1 year after the station fire

| heather parlato

angeles crest forest, one year after the fire

this past weekend, we decided to take our friend, seth, and his son, oliver, on their first camping trip. we figured we’d start out easy and do an overnight camp in angeles crest forest to keep the drive short and stay close to home while getting a good taste of nature. the thing is, after last year’s devastating station fire, i wasn’t sure what we’d be in for. the 2 highway is still closed on the lower parts of the mountain, so we took the less-traveled [by us anyway] big tujunga road.

the low lands of big tujunga canyon, angeles crest forest 1 year after the station fire

in the low lands there were lots of barren exposed hillsides, followed by scorched trees flocked with new greenery that has come in with the rain in the past year. other areas had trees that were blackened on the lower half and green on the top. then you’d suddenly see a border of black on green, crossing over to where the forest was untouched.

angeles crest, one year after the station fire

a familiar spot where big tujunga merges with the 2 was surrounded by these bare, black branches. i am not even certain what kind of tree this was, but this type of burn is common in the chapparal of angeles crest. in chilao’s manzanita loop, where we stayed, they used the road through the campground as a firebreak, burned on the outside and in tact on the inside. what a close call.

what is encouraging is that there are a few rehabilitation projects in the works. some botanist volunteers have organized to remove scattering seeds of undesirable plants that would otherwise take over in the cleared environment. additionally, treepeople.org is putting together a volunteer replanting and rehabilitation program for spring of 2011. hopefully we can get it back on the right path.

oliver climbing some rocks
[image: seth sherwood]

on the other hand, camping itself was really fun! i was taken camping in all kinds of terrain since i was a child and i always enjoyed setting up camp, cooking over the fire and exploring nature. oliver was all set with his binoculars, bug observation box, head lamp, and awesome attitude, and his dad was ready with the camera. we took him scrambling over the rocks, romping through the weeds after lizards and grasshoppers, showed him how to set up the tent, how to collect kindling to build a campfire, and all the finer points of marshmallow roasting. he was a great camper, he said hi to other kids we’d pass in the campground, had no problem sleeping in the tent, and was up early and ready for more the next day. on the way home he said “i love camping! can we go, um, 100 more times!?” we’ll try, little buddy!

beach sunday, august 2010

| heather parlato

beach day in zuma, california

we’re having a little heat wave in los angeles, so jason and i took off for a getaway day at point dume up the coast. in stark contrast to our 90+ degree temps in echo park, the coastline was more like mid-70s with a light breeze, and so refreshing. as we drove up pch we noticed that the waves were huge!

we started our afternoon with oysters and a beer at the reel inn. once we got up to zuma, we were lucky enough to find a mini cooper-sized spot waiting for us [parking for normal cars was hard to come by]. we got all set up with the blanket & umbrella, i cracked open a book and shortly thereafter, fell asleep. beach nap!

once we awakened, we took a long walk down to point dume where the usual rock climbing suspects were scaling the cliffs. as we made our way back, we decided to try see if the sunset restaurant had room for us to have a light dinner. i’ve seen this place for years and either it hasn’t been open or i wasn’t planning to dine there, so trying it out has been a long time coming. turns out they have a nice menu and a lovely view.

we watched the sunset from our comfy booth, and waited out the traffic for a night drive home doused in bright moonlight on the water. summer has been short here in LA, but hopefully we’ll get another good beach day in before it cools down.

san jose jazz festival

| heather parlato

driving up the 101 to san jose

this past weekend, i joined my sister in san jose for the san jose jazz festival, where she was performing with gerald clayton, alan hampton & kendrick scott. i drove up on a friday, arriving in the evening to see a much bigger festival than i imagined. there were 8 stages around town during the day, and 13 clubs participating in jazz crawls at night, blocked streets and people walking everywhere.

gretchen played at the repertory theater on saturday in the 2pm slot. it has been really fun watching my sister’s career develop, but there’s something special about being out of town at a festival where you can hear people talking about her all around you. it’s an odd feeling, it makes you want to say HEY EVERYONE you’re talking about my sister! after an oddly-public sound check [weird decision on the part of the venue], they started in on a set mostly of tunes from in a dream, interspersed with favorite brazillian and traditional standards. i’m not a music reviewer, so i’ll leave it at this: she rocked it!

gretchen parlato and gerald clayton at san jose jazz fest 2010

gretchen parlato and alan hampton at the san jose jazz fest 2010

they played to a packed house, though some people rotated in & out to see other acts. the lights were low and my camera has a tough time with stage lights like this. i heeded the no flash photography sign, and really had to work around a shoulder to get a picture of kendrick.

kendrick scott at the san jose jazz fest 2010

after the show there was a standing ovation! it was exciting! then people went out to buy the CDs she brought, and she sold out of everything she brought. then they lined up to say hi and get them signed. this was really fun to watch.

gretchen parlato selling and signing CDs at san jose jazz fest 2010

once all the festival action subsided for the day, we took our well-deserved jacuzzi break, and gretchen prepared to meet some of the sponsors. most of the band picked up tacos at our new favorite place and we all watched some well deserved wind-down tv.

in the morning we got up early to make it out for breakfast before getting to the airport on time. we chose a cute crepe place in pacifica called high tide. our smoked salmon & cream cheese followed by banana & nutella crepes were amazing! after all the dropping off was complete, i took a spin through paso robles wine country on the way home. shady lanes & oak trees!

adelaida road in paso robles, california

creative retreat: wednesday

| heather parlato

i’m on retreat this week and the studio is closed. however, i have lined up a selection of getaway-themed posts to enjoy while i’m gone. one is set to go up each day, so stay tuned…

if you take a retreat in a sunny place, you can’t avoid a sun-protection strategy. here’s a list of sun protection products i love to use.

body care

palmer's cocoa butter sunblock and aveeno sunblock
[images: etbrowne.com and aveeno.com]
palmer’s cocoa butter formula with vitamin E spf 15
i love this lotion for day-to-day use. since i’m fair-skinned, i should be using something stronger when spending the day in the sun, but for running around town on a normal day, spf 15 is enough [if they made it any stronger, i’d be right on it]. the cocoa butter formula smells like chocolate frosting, and conditions your skin long after it washes off. a very soothing treat!

aveeno positively ageless sunblock spray with spf 50
when it’s time to get serious and cover up, aveeno has some very nice spray-on sunblocks that offer complete coverage in a waterproof formula. i used this one all last summer and avoided burning successfully.

protect your face

sun protection for the face
[images: coppertone.com and aveeno.com]
coppertone water babies sunscreen stick spf 55
if i’m spending the day at the beach or by a pool, where i may be in & out of the water a few times, i like waterproof sun protection for the face that is non-irritating. there are plenty of higher-end products for this, but i go for this baby formula sunscreen stick. sure, it’s slightly greasy, but as a person who is always dealing with oily skin, i’m pleasantly surprised that i’ve had no problems with it clogging pores or causing breakouts. pretty much every drugstore makes a generic as well.

aveeno essential moisture lip conditioner with spf 15
while i like palmer’s cocoa butter lip balm for normal non-sun days, it has no spf protection, so when i’m out in the sun, i use this lip conditioner by aveeno. it is highly conditioning with spf 15.

between sun days

mario badescu
[images: mariobadescu.com]
i am a devout convert to the mario badescu line, and while i use a lot more than this selection above, these are regular go-to items in the summer season. before or after a day in the sun, i use my favorite cleanser and follow it up with the special glycolic cleansing lotion to help clear away any dead skin cells. if it’s a normal non-beach day, i’ll apply the complex moisturizer with vitamin E spf 20, which is highly conditioning and light enough to go under makeup [if it is a beach day, i’ll use the coppertone stick above]. if we’re talking après soliel, i’ll follow up with the glycolic skin renewal complex for extra conditioning and renewal, along with the hyaluronic eye cream for extra attention to the delicate skin around the eyes.

sun accessories

sun hat by liberty of london for target
[image: target.com]
there are a number of accessories you can mix and match for maximum sun protection. i picked up this sun hat by liberty of london for target, not only to protect my face from unnecessary exposure, but also because my eyes are extra-sensitive, so if i want to get some of that beach reading done, i need more shade than my transitional lenses will provide. if you’re lucky enough to have perfect vision, a pair of sunglasses in your favorite style are a fun & useful accessory to bring. i will admit, i do have a pair of prescription sunglasses that have a nice wrap design, to keep out sunlight that likes to try to creep in from different angles. if you’re not going anywhere with a built-in palapa, pick up a beach umbrella, which can cut down uv rays by an additional 15spf. i also like to bring a wrap or cover-up for when i’m just sitting and reading or walking to & from the beach or pool, not just for the sunblock they provide, but when you’re wearing the same bathing suit every day, it’s a nice way to make different outfits from the same base materials, and a nice way to feel somewhat dressed while wearing your bathing suit.

and finally, once all this malarky is done, and these products are on for each of the conditions they require and you’ve got all your accessories packed in your beach bag, you can crack open that book or magazine and relax! ha.

the fickle change of seasons in LA

| heather parlato

every time i think the rain might be here for the last time, i see another rainy day on the forecast, along with a low snow level, bringing flurries to our local mountains. it’s unseasonably late for rain in los angeles, but as a native i have to say, i love knowing the long summer will have a few extra drinks before the onslaught of heat. last week was a great example of southern california weather, where it can rain in one place, snow in another, and the sun’ll come out tomorrow.

late winter at mountain high

rocks on highway 138, wrightwood, california
the drive up was overcast with scattered showers. i always pass these rocks on the side of highway 138 on the way up, but they were particularly striking with the dramatic sky. if they look familiar, they’re on the back side of angeles crest forest, and i believe they’re geologically related to vasquez rocks to the west.

the view toward palmdale from the ski lift at mountain high
it’s not exactly world-class skiing, but at 85 miles from downtown, mountain high is one of the closest getaways with a decent snow cover. i was already surprised they’d be open till late april, but it even snowed a few days before closing weekend, so it looks like they decided to stay open another week. i took thursday afternoon to finish off my unused points and said what i thought were my last farewells to local snow with some pics on the mountain during a light snowfall [i might try to sneak away one more time].

icy evergreens in a light snow fall

icy branches on a bare tree
this delicate little tree was protected by several other larger ones. i love the twigs and branches encased in ice.

springtime in elysian park

not just a few days later, it’s another sunny spring day [the sun has been trading off with the rain]. i have been walking the same trail in elysian park by my house for years, but recently decided i wanted to look for trail maps of the park and mix it up. what i learned was that the trail i’ve been taking is part of the larger historic portola trail.

portola trail west of stadium way, elysian park, los angeles
there’s a pretty good loop west of stadium way that starts at the end of my street, attended by trail runners and off-leash dog walkers alike. it winds around to the north edge of the park where you can enjoy a ridge with a view across elysian valley to glassell park. usually i take the trail back into the trees where it lets out at the bottom of the palm tree hill, which i cross to get home, but lately i have crossed stadium to the east to continue a trail that ascends into the hills again.

portola trail east of stadium way, elysian park, los angeles
once you climb well above stadium way, the hills are quite green, covered with black walnut trees, mustard blooms, sprawling wildflowers and vine-covered rocks. the trail narrows around the north side of the hills again, and continues on to merge with some of the paved roads in the park. usually would have continued with it, but today’s walk happened earlier in the day than usual, and i had this weird feeling i might see a snake, which is odd because i never see snakes, but …

a snake on portola trail, elysian park, los angeles
SNAKE!! since the weather has been cooler, i kinda figured the cold-blooded critters would be out, soaking up any sun they can get. i am not familiar with snake species or how to deal with them, so while i’m sure this one was probably harmless, i took no time in deciding that an about-face was in order. fine by me, i’ve got a lot more exploring to do other places in the park.

acacia trees in bloom, elysian park, los angeles
i took the trail back out to the street and walked up angel’s point road to a northerly lookout point. nearly all the acacia tree blossoms have wilted back, but i found a good specimen with the characteristic robust yellow pompoms.

acacia blossoms close up, elysian park, los angeles
these blossoms are so delightful, and they’re everywhere in elysian park at the beginning of spring.

i walked park row drive to just before it crosses the 110 freeway, where i saw a trailhead entrance that passed by the reservoir. i figured i’d take it and see where it went, and was pleasantly surprised to be let out where i usually drop off on portola. so there, i found yet another wing of the trail [i hadn’t referred to the map in awhile]! now i just have to do the last third and check out the historic monument. i’d have taken more pics today, but it was rather hazy out. but still beautiful, make sure to get outside and enjoy it!