During the past four years, I have faced an identity crisis of sorts: Am I or am I not an Expat? There are two schools of thought. Many people consider the word expat (the shortened version of expatriate), to be defined as a person living in a foreign country, in which case I
Posts Tagged ‘San Francisco’
The EXpat Factor
by Ginny Mees on February 2, 2013 | 2 Comments
Barbeque American Style
by Ginny Mees on June 7, 2012 | No Comments
As we head into our summer season, I am reminded that there is little (or nothing!) more sacred growing up in California than the the art of barbeque. (Also known as barbecue, Bar-B-Q, BBQ, etc). My dad was the “Que Master” in our home, and at the age of 77, he is still the
Posted in Culinary Expertise, Events, Good Living, Products 
Tags: American, American Stockyard, barbecue, Barbeque, barbeque sauce, BBQ, California, Den Haag, Dutch, EX-Pat, Fahrenheitstraat, La Buena Vida, private winetasting, San Francisco, summer, The Hague, Wine 
No Comments »What is Influential Marketing?
by Ginny Mees on April 11, 2012 | 1 Comment
My mother will tell you I cut my influential teeth at the seasoned age of seven, when I rallied community store owners to donate hotdogs, drinks, cakes and popcorn for our first primary school fair at St Marks School. No one asked me to do
Posted in Good Living, Networking Tags: American, California, De Fahrenheit, Den Haag, Dutch, facebook, foursquare, Influence, influencer marketing, insurance, International, internet marketing, linkedin, marketing, Monique Rubin, MoTravels, new media, Pinterest, raving fans, real estate, retail, San Francisco, social media, The Hague, The Netherlands, training, twitter 1 Comment »The iCon
by Ginny Mees on October 7, 2011 | 2 Comments
During the past 50 years there has been no person (known or unknown to me) who has been a greater icon(oclast) for our generation, than Steve Jobs. The fact the CEO of a major company, who I have never met, passed away on Wednesday, and it has had such a huge
Posted in Good Living, News Tags: American, apple, computer, foursquare, icon, International School of The Hague, iPad, iPhone, iPod, MIAirline, Obama, Pixar, San Francisco, smartphone, Stanford University, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, The Hague, Viber 2 Comments »California Crush in The Hague
by Ginny Mees on October 1, 2011 | 1 Comment
There is little more sacred in the wine-making industry then the fall harvest, or the “crush” as it is also known. Tonight at La Buena Vida we celebrate the wonderful harvest celebration with A California Crush wine tasting private event for The American Women’s Club of The Hague. Our private wine tasting events have become [...]
Posted in Culinary Expertise, Events, Good Living, Products Tags: American, American Women's Club of The Hague, California, California chardonnay, crush, Den Haag, events, EX-Pat, Fahrenheitstraat, Gift Shop, harvest, International, La Buena Vida, private winetasting, San Francisco, The Hague, The Netherlands, the wine institute, trip, Vacation, Wente wines, Wine, wine-tasting 1 Comment »The Italian Dream
by Ginny Mees on July 24, 2011 | No Comments
When Paul and I decided to build our Italian ”dream home” Villa Teggiole above Lago di Garda almost seven years ago, we fully intended to live in this home. Our vision was to build a family compound that our future
Posted in Good Living, Products, Travel Tags: Alto Adige, Carpaccio, Family, Friends, Italy, Juliet's balcony, La Buena Vida, Lago di Garda, Madonna della Vittorie, Memories, Riva del Garda, San Francisco, The Hague, Trentino, vacation rental, Venice, Verona, Villa, Villa Teggiole, windsurfing, Wine No Comments »The Winding Path of Wente Wines
by Ginny Mees on July 16, 2011 | No Comments
As a San Francisco native, I have explored many amazing California wines over the years. Making a choice can often be fraught with issues related to the individual palate, food pairing, price-point, vintage and other important issues such
Posted in Good Living, News, Products Tags: American, Beyer ranch, cabernet sauvignon, California, chardonnay, Charles Wetmore, Den Haag, Fahrenheitstraat, International, La Buena Vida, Livermore, Riva Ranch chardonnay, San Francisco, sustainability, The Hague, The Netherlands, Wente Family, Wente vineyards, Wente wines, wijn, Wine, winery, zinfandel No Comments »The Currency of Relationships
by Ginny Mees on June 23, 2011 | No Comments
Times are tough. People everywhere struggle to make ends meet during historically difficult times. Okay, I know I sound like Debbie Downer, but it is the reality of our era. Living La Buena Vida is about finding pleasure in all aspects of our life. We need to remind ourselves: “The Most Important Things In Life Are [...]
Living With The Loss of A Child (or a Sister)
by Ginny Mees on May 28, 2011 | No Comments
This week I have struggled to find inspiring words for my Living La Buena blog, when all I want to do is cry. I also need to find a smile to greet my customers when they come through the door into my shop, La Buena Vida. Of course my
Posted in News Tags: Allison Bayliss, Alliy Bayliss, Bayliss Family, Celebration of Life, community, Danville, Golden Gate Bridge, Grief, La Buena Vida, San Francisco No Comments »Peets vs. Starbuck’s: The Peetnik Rebellion
by Ginny Mees on March 19, 2011 | No Comments
For San Francisco Bay area Peetniks, like myself, the Starbucks takeover rumors are hard to swallow, much like Starbuck’s coffee itself. Although I don’t live in San Francisco any longer, a Peet’s coffee in my opinion is still a Bay Area
Posted in News, Uncategorized Tags: Berkeley, California, Coffee connoisseurs, Espresso, Italian coffee, Merger, Peet's Coffee, Peetnik, Reuters, San Francisco, SF Gate, Starbuck's, Takeover No Comments »
