Yesterday we lost a dear friend of La Costa, Dr. David Simon. Dr. Simon co-founded the Chopra Center at La Costa with his colleague and close friend Dr. Deepak Chopra in 1996 "to help people experience physical healing, emotional freedom, and higher states of consciousness." He was a best-selling author and a pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine where he deeply improved the lives of thousands of people.
A renowned neurosurgeon and anthropologist, not only did Dr. Simon leave an enduring presence here at La Costa, but he managed to touch the lives of those he never met thru his body of work and teaching. Dr. Simon was a true healer.
We are so grateful to have had the immense pleasure of working with and learning from this incredible human being, and we will continue to celebrate his life here at La Costa through our partnership with the Chopra Center.
If you would like to share your thoughts, prayers, and intentions for David’s family, please visit lovefordavid.com.
May we close this post with the words of Dr. Chopra, "David approached life from a place of pure potentiality and unlimited possibilities. His wisdom, courage, and love will continue to inspire all of us for decades to come."
We've been talking a lot about the renovations to the resort as a whole and have even broken down the specifics of the $10 million golf renovations including the completely new Champions Course and four hole upgrades of the South Course. But we haven't dug too deep into what really makes golf at La Costa stand out among other SoCal courses, and that would be our high level of service from our team which we've appropriately named the Golf Squad.
These highly trained golf employee members are at our players' beck and call, from initial introduction and course condition recap, to tee sheet management, bunker-raking, ball-collecting, putt-reading, food and beverage-ordering and everything in between. Phew! They're pretty busy, but they love their jobs. We want our players to get to know and recognize the faces they'll be seeing on the course and the best way to do that is to introduce them - one by one. And today, we'd like you to meet John Walker.
Name: John Walker
Title: Golf Sales Manager
Role at La Costa: To sell and oversee Resort and outside golf groups of 12 or more players.
Years worked at La Costa: 5+
Favorite outlet/activity/product offered at La Costa:
Golf Shop / Golf / Playing our “new” Champions Course.
Favorite course you’ve ever played: Pebble Beach
Proudest moment playing golf: Teaching both my sons (Sean and Sam) the game since they were 5 years old…Now they beat me like a drum.
Favorite hole on La Costa course(s) and why: #16 Champions Course (par 3).
It’s our showcase hole. The Tiger Woods hole. Very tough over the water and surrounded by bunkers. Plus you’re right by the resort. People watching you and the pressure is on not to knock it in the water.
Most challenging hole on La Costa: I think it’s #3 South Course (par 4).
You have to be perfect to come close to par.
As a golf squad member, what services do you provide specifically?
To assure our golf groups have a very memorable day of golf on either of our amazing golf courses.
Who introduced you to golf? My Dad (Jack Walker)
Who would be in your ideal foursome and why? My Dad, my sons Sean and Sam.
Because my Dad died before they were born. He would have loved the men they have turned out to be.
What music is on your iPod? Everything. I’m pretty much all over the board (blues, old rock, some hip-hop, country). Right now I’m hooked on Junior Brown and old country “trucker music”…sounds weird…oh and LMFAO too!
What’s your warm-up routine before you tee it up? Make sure I don’t have any caffeine in my system, hit a couple of mid-irons, roll a couple of putts and try not to think too much.
Next time you see John, be sure to say hello! What else would you like to know about our Golf Squad, the new course or history of La Costa golf? Leave a note in the comments.
During the holidays we showed a selection of sweaters, handbags and jewelry in our own La Costa gift guide and since then we've had quite a few inquiries about one particular product that sparked with readers - our collection of Marcia Moran rings featuring the druzy stone.
We thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to follow up and provide the story behind these glittery gems. To get the lowdown, we enlisted the help of one of our own, Pinkalicious's Laura Bull. Laura knows the ins and outs of all the products in the La Costa Marketplace, so for any questions while on property, be sure to stop in and say hello.
Marcia Moran jewel designs started because Marcia was importing Brazilian Jewelry designs and started to create her own. As a native of Brazil, she was always inspired by fashion and jewelry. Though she was once a dentist, and opened her own practice, she knew her passion for fashion was always going to come first. In 2003 she moved to LA to make the dream come true by working with different Brazilian designers, building her creative expressions, and using her talent to create innovative styles.
Ove time, Marcia began creating her own styles, and is now known for eye-catching, contemporary pieces. Her jewelry is either brushed 18k gold or rhodium-plated metals, complimented by stunning semi-precious stones.
Druzy or “drusies” form on other stones after water evaporates and minerals are left behind. Depending on the mineral, drusies can be almost any color of the rainbow from black, blue, pink or silver. When they are removed from the original stone, they are cut, and the rough surface remains giving a nice sparkle of color, and unique edge.
While I'd like to explain the perfection beind the pieces, the people behind Marcia Moran explain it best:
“As a bridge between the spectacular resources of Brazil and the world of fashionable women who enjoy extraordinary pieces, Marcia’s Jewelry helps women look fabulous, but not fancy…feel rich, yet reasonable….dress spectacularly, yet still simple.”
These beauties can spruce up any outfit and for those looking for the perfect time to purchase, we have a Marketplace-wide event taking place now through January 27, our "Deals for Dollars" event. Here are the details:
- spend $100 and receive $20 off your purchase
- spend $250 to receive $50 off your purchase
- spend $500 and receve $150 off your purchase
Additional details apply and all our Marketplace employees are looking forward to greeting you at the shops! Stop into Audrey's Etc to see which color druzy you'd like to don - Valentine's Day is coming up...
*Guest post written by Spa at La Costa employee, Sara King
A day at the spa is perfect for anyone 18 years and older. Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic getaway, a soon-to-be bride celebrating her engagement, or you’re in need of a relaxing day to yourself, the Spa at La Costa offers it all. As a first time guest at the spa, you may not know what to expect. Follow these basic guidelines to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable day.
What to expect?
Plan to arrive at least an hour before your scheduled treatment time. It is crucial to allow yourself enough time to take advantage of everything the spa has to offer. The private men’s and women’s area includes an indoor sauna, steam room and jacuzzi while the co-ed area includes outdoor facilities such as a heated pool, jacuzzi, and two invigorating waterfall showers. These facilities are complimentary for the entire day with your spa treatment or day pass.
What to bring?
Other than a bathing suit, there is not much else you need. The spa provides a variety of complimentary amenities to help make your visit serene. Upon arrival, you will receive a locker, robe, and non-slip sandals. During your day, protect yourself from the sun with our SPF30 sunscreen and remember to stay hydrated and nourished with our flavored waters and nutritional snacks. In addition, you can treat yourself to a fresh, organic meal and Bellini at the the Spa Café. As you prepare to leave, enjoy a refreshing shower with La Costa’s Signature Coco Mango shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Finish your day with everything you need in the vanity area including, hairdryers, flat irons, combs, brushes, hairspray, and more.
How to choose the right treatment?
With all of the options available, you are sure to find one treatment, or a few, to fit your needs. Organic facials, full body exfoliations, and a warm bamboo massage are a few of the many treatments offered. Call or stop by the spa to have a spa reservations agent answer any questions you may have and help select the appropriate treatment. Be sure to mention any injuries or allergies you may have so we can accommodate you in the best way possible.
Now that you have all the information you need to begin your spa day, we look forward to seeing you in 2012!
*Sara King has worked for the Spa at La Costa for over 3 1/2 years.
Outside of work she studies Marketing and Event Planning at California
State University, San Marcos and is passionate about business, writing,
and traveling.
*Blog post written by special guest blogger (and Stroller Strides member), Kathy Casciani
One New Years resolution that is on just about everyone’s list is getting in shape. With that in mind, La Costa Resort and Spa offers a wide variety of exercise options for guests including Outdoor Circuit Boot Camp with personal trainer, Trish Barney, Yoga classes at Chopra Center and a fully renovated Athletic Center for guests looking to exercise at their own pace. Knowing that many adults traveling to the resort with children, La Costa offers many activities for families, ranging from tennis to the pool to local hikes. But for parents of younger children who want to exercise but don’t want to leave the kids with a sitter or in daycare, never fear: there’s Stroller Strides.
Stroller Strides is a national fitness program that was designed for moms with stroller-age children. Founded in 2001 by San Diegan Lisa Druxman, the class enables moms (and dads!) to get a great workout without having to leave their child – or children - behind. Stroller Strides classes are offered in 1,300 locations nationwide and 20 different locations throughout San Diego…including a class held right on the grounds of La Costa Resort and Spa. And while locals pay to join, the class is offered free of charge to all guests of the resort.
La Costa Stroller Strides classes are offered three times a week and last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Moms run or walk to workout stations located around the property, where instructor Ann Ross leads exercises and stretches that focus on various parts of the body. Whether you are a brand new mom just getting back into your fitness routine or an exercise regular looking for a new challenge, there are different levels of intensity offered to fit everyone’s needs. Moreover, the class strives to foster a positive, supportive environment for moms with young children. At the end of class, moms can let their kids out of the strollers for tummy time or playtime, while enjoying a chance to chat, share advice and enjoy a cup of coffee with the other moms in the class.
So here’s what you need to know: Stroller Strides is offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9am. Class meets in front of the fountain in front of the spa. Sneakers and workout attire recommended, as are sturdy strollers that can withstand various types of terrain. To sign up or get more information about Stroller Strides, visit the front desk at La Costa or click on www.strollerstrides.com.
*Kathy Casciani is a member of Stroller Strides La Costa. She is a PR professional and San Diego native who spent seven years in New York City before returning to the west coast and settling in Carlsbad with her husband and daughter. Kathy can also be found on Twitter at @KathyCash.
Still brand new to the La Costa team, I continue to learn something new everyday. But there is one place on this vast, amazing property that I learned the ins and outs of since my first day visiting - and that would be... the Marketplace.
Ah, the La Costa Marketplace, my home for caffeine fixes that turn to pizza pigouts; my special go-to for holiday gifts (soon to be birthday gifts) and, of course, my favorite place to go and see a smiling face (remember, if a barista remembers your coffee, you're a regular - be proud of it).
So, if you're a Marketplace regular or just a guest visiting for the day, here's a full list of reasons to pop into Marketplace this January. Who knew there were so many days to celebrate in one month?! Luckily for you, we knew!
- Month of January - National Tea Month - Purchase any Tea Forte merchandise in Marketplace and receive a cup of tea for FREE
- January 1-8 - "We love our guests week" - 50% off Signature La Costa Coco Mango and
Spa Essences products
- January 9-15 - National Pizza Week - Purchase a slice of pizza and receive a bounce back coupon for 50% off your next slice of pizza from the Marketplace. (Coupon will be valid through the end of the month January 30th, 2012.)
- January 8 - National English Toffee Day – 40% off our signature La Costa Toffee
- January 15 - National Strawberry Ice Cream Day AND National Hat Day (we're excited, too!) - Purchase a scoop of strawberry ice cream and we'll put it in a waffle cone for FREE. Also, get 50% off all hats in the store.
- January 19 - National Popcorn Day – Buy one bag of Dale and Thomas Popcorn and get the second bag half off
- January 20 - National Coffee Break Day – La Costa Employees receive one FREE 16oz Coffee!
- January 22 - National Blonde Brownie Day – Receive a free latte when you purchase one of Chef Jaimie’s yummy blonde bars
- January 28 – National Blueberry Pancake Day – In honor of this awesome day Marketplace will be making Blueberry Belgian Waffles (not usually offered). Served from 6-11am.
- January 30 – National Croissant Day – Receive a warm croissant with the purchase of a coffee or latte
So, I know which day (okay fine, days) I'll be making my way into Marketplace this month. How about you? Leave a note in the comments if you think there are any other days we should celebrate. Happy January everyone!
So, we're trying something new for our avid Tennis members this year. Each month at the start of the month, we'll share all our programming details via video. And 2012 starts off strong with some great programs, discounts and encouraging words from our head tennis pro, Brandon Sieh. Watch the video below to hear about what's to come at the La Costa tennis courts in the month of January.
*We've also made it a 2012 resolution to invest in a tripod (excuse us for the slightly bouncy footage).
To recap for the month:
- Singles Challenge Ladder all month (sign up at pro shop)
- Retail sales - 50% off select retail items during month of January
- Janary 24 at 5:30 p.m. - Men's Night Out
- January 29 - Battle of the Club
For any questions or comments on our January programming, feel free to stop by the pro shop where our pros are always happy to help!
As evidenced in our creative Gingerbread Houses designed by each of our La Costa departments, we have a talented bunch working here. And while the Gingerbread Houses all LOOK delicious, we tend to aim for a more balanced, healthier option when creating a meal fit for our La Costa guests - one that looks and tastes great, but is also good for you. This is why we turn to our own BlueFire Chef Greg Frey Jr..
Always dedicated to serving the freshest food that benefs local markets, Chef has a way of playing up ingredients to impress eyes and tastebuds alike. The below salad will be available for those dining with us for the holidays but we wanted to share the recipe for people that can't make it out. So, if you're looking to impress guests this holiday season, here you go! Be sure to share in the comments how your guests liked it.
Bloomsdale Spinach Salad with Flax Seed Crunches (serves six people)
For the salad:
- 6 cups Bloomsdale Spinach(cleaned and stemmed)
- 1 small Pomegranate
- 6 oz crumbled blue cheese (Gorgonzola preferred)
- 2 asian pears (cut in to 1 in cubes)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
For the crunches:
- 1 1/2 cup Flax seeds
- 1/2 cup Flax meal
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups sliced almonds
- 3 oz butter
- 5 oz honey
- 2 oz light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Pre
-heat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients together and set aside. Melt the butter, corn syrup and honey together till well incorporated then using a plastic spatula incorporate it into the dry ingredients by pouring the butter mixture around the sides of the bowl and folding it together. Mix well. Spread evenly onto a silicon baking liner or a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the oven till it begins to set. (About 15 minutes.) Let the mixture cool and harden, then break into large crunchy pieces.
Cut open the pomegranate and remove the seeds discarding the white pith as you go. Toss the spinach, diced pears and cheese with your favorite vinaigrette and season with salt and black pepper. Garnish generously with pomegranate seeds and flax seed crunches.
Serve and Enjoy!
Every once in a while we receive notes and letters that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside. At the end of a very busy and exciting 2011, we've been reflecting on where we've been and where we're going and it's notes like below that make us so appreciate the members, guests, neighbors and employees we have.
This particular guest and his wife played with us yesterday, then shared with us the story of their day.
To this couple, we thank you for making our jobs well-worth it! So glad you enjoyed your time on the green with us.
Dear La Costa,
Thank you very much for making the arrangements for my wife and I to play golf yesterday. We enjoyed ourselves very much. Could have done with a warmer day however but we were dressed for it. All the staff were very helpful and friendly. As it turns out we had the golf course to ourselves but were attended to by the marshall and the snack cart women (girls). Sure glad they had hot coffee and Baileys.
On another note, my wife decided to surprise me with new clubs (woods) that she snuck into my golf bag. An early Christmas present she decided to give me before our outing at La Costa. On the first hole I told the starter about the new clubs and he told me (for fun) I can hit a couple of extras since I haven't tried them yet. Well, my first ball went straight down the middle to the applause of the starter and my wife. I wish the rest of my game was as good as my game off the tee box but that's golf....Loved it Thank you again.
Merry Christmas
P.S. I used to come out and watch the Tournament of Champions when it
was played here years ago and what a treat to play some of the holes I
walked while watching the pros.
Here at La Costa, we really get into the holiday spirit. Last week, each department at La Costa was encouraged to make their own fully-edible house to add to the village and visitors to the property are encouraged to vote on their favorite - once votes are all collected, the winning department will receive a prize - and of course the GLORY of WINNING.
Now, since many of you won't be able to make it on-property to vote and enjoy the holiday spirit with us, we thought we'd open it up to our online community by asking fans, followers and blog readers to take a gander at each house and choose the Socially Selected Abode. But that's not all - we thought it wasn't quite fair for the winning department to get ALL the glory, so to spice it up, we'll be giving a little holiday gift to one of our own social community members.
For a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to La Costa Resort and Spa, here's what you should do:
- Head to Facebook to view our 2011 Gingerbread House Village photos
- Once you've viewed all photos, come back to our blog
- In our comments section below, write the name of the department that should win the best Gingerbread House and be sure to include your first and last name with your comment.
And that's it! Easy enough, yes? On Friday, December 23, we will announce in the comments below who our winner is. Be sure to check back on Friday to see if you've won. For official rules, visit us here.
Happy voting!