Long Beach, CA February 2026

Love is in the air PARTN ERS IN LIFE & BUSI N ESS: TH REE LO CAL COU PLES SHARE TH EIR LOVE STO RI ES A R T S + C U LTU R E

E XPLO RIN G SELF-LOV E: AM O R IS M O RE THAN A NAM E FO R LO CAL ARTIST F E B R UA RY 2 02 6

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Love in Action: Partnership, Purpose and Self-Care

February 2026 PUBLISHER

Atira Rodriguez | atira.rodriguez@citylifestyle.com E D I TO R

This February, we’re celebrating love in all its forms — romantic partnership, creative collaboration and the often-overlooked practice of loving yourself.

The couples featured in this issue remind us that the strongest partnerships are built on more than romance. Robert Dugan and Renee Trepagnier, founders of Here I Am Self-Care, have woven their relationship and business together through shared values and mutual care. Their work challenges the notion that self-care is indulgent — instead, they frame it as an act of resistance and compassion, a ripple effect of caring for yourself so you can better care for others.

David and Sharon McLucas’ story spans decades — from a chance meeting at Cal State Long Beach in 1969 to reuniting years later and building Forgotten Images together. Their collection of over 20,000 artifacts preserving African American history is both a labor of love and a mission to ensure that marginalized stories are never forgotten. Together, they share not only a life but also a calling that has touched thousands through their powerful traveling exhibits.

Chef RJ and Mercedes Squires transformed their home kitchen during the pandemic into a full-fledged Caribbean/soul fusion restaurant in LA. Now, they are bringing Panamanian cuisine to Long Beach with Panama International Restaurant.

Their journey from LA to our city required rebranding, relocation and a level of accountability to each other they never anticipated. Through it all, they’ve remained committed to each other, and to sharing their culture with our community.

And then there’s Amor Roldan, whose story speaks to another kind of love — the courage to believe in yourself. For years, self-doubt kept her art private. But the Long Beach-born artist and teacher finally decided to share her work with the world, creating intimate exhibitions that explore body image and self-acceptance.

These stories share a common thread — whether in partnerships or personal journeys, love requires trust, vulnerability and the willingness to show up fully.

It’s found in the everyday rituals of care, in believing someone when they say “don’t give up,” and in finally believing in yourself.

May we all find inspiration in these stories of love as action, partnership as purpose and self-care as compassion.

With Love, AT I R A R O D R I G U E Z , P U B L I S H E R @ LO N G B E AC H C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E

Kat Schuster | kat.schuster@citylifestyle.com STAF F P H OTO G R AP H E R

Nirav Solanki | mail@niravsolanki.com C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R

Candice Wong

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry COO David Stetler CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Long Beach City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Long Beach area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle

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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Long Beach City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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inside the issue FE B RUA RY 2 0 2 6 | LOV E LO CA L

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Featured

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When Love Means Business

Robert Dugan and Renee Trepagnier share a life and values rooted in radical self-care.

A Love Story Written in History

34 On the Cover

Departments

Partners in life and in business, Here I Am SelfCare co-owners Robert Dugan and Renee Trepagnier share an endearing moment.

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Lifestyle Letter

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City Scene

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Business Monthly

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Trend Setter FOOD + BEVERAGE

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Self Care LIFE + CULTURE

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Education Corner ARTS + CULTURE

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Must See ARTS + CULTURE

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Mental Wellbeing WELLNESS

How David and Sharon McLucas Built Forgotten Images

Amor Learns to Love Herself Through Her Art

Long Beach artist finally shares her work after years of letting imposter syndrome win.

Q&A: Chef RJ & Mercedes Squires

The restaurateur couple shares how they navigated rebranding and relocating their Caribbean Soul Kitchen together.

Photography: Candice Wong

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Culinary Creations FOOD + BEVERAG E

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Events

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Now Open FOOD + BEVERAGE

DSF Werks provides paid internships, apprenticeships, skills development, and mentorship for underserved young adults and aged-out foster youth. Through hands-on training in automotive restoration and media arts, our students build real skills, community, and hope, laying the groundwork for healthy independence.

Your generosity today helps transform the lives of our youth.

Please make your year-end gift at dsfwerks.org.

Hope starts with you!

DSF Werks is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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FEBRUARY 2026

city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

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1: Atira Rodriguez, Long Beach City Lifestyle publisher and Chef Melissa Ramsay, co-host of the Holiday Tea Experience held at Events on Pine on Dec. 7th. 2: Guests enjoy good conversation over top-quality tea and treats. 3: Event hosts Chef Melissa Ramsay of Fresh Off The Yacht and Tre Watson, owner of Events on Pine. 4: A guest tries on a fascinator provided by the event host. 5: Guests were entertained by local band Bread & Butter. 6: Each guest was greeted with a beautiful gift box filled with gourmet teas, decadent sweets and more. 7: It’s a family affair! Chef Melissa’s husband Tim Doherty refills the hot water carafe.

Photography by Atira Rodriguez

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C I T Y SC E N E

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8: Leslie Smith, owner of McCormick LA paired up with Reina Oliver, director of contract programs at Independence at Home-SCAN Health Plan, at the Small Business Networking Expo on Nov. 19th. 9: Michael Bach, owner of Wolfgang Media. 10: Kathryn Wells, owner of The Wellsbridge Group. 11: Andrea Cruz, owner of Hungry Drea Creations. 12: Alanna Singleton, owner of A. Fierce Marketing Co. 13: Tim Russ, Vickie P. West, Caleb Marsh and Lionel Pasamonte, board members of Long Beach Blues Society. 14: Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Jeremy Harris with Atira Rodriguez.

Photography by Atira Rodriguez

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FEBRUARY 2026

business monthly A R O U N D U P O F N E W S F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S

Long Beach-Based Aerospace Company Wins $816M Defense Contract Rocket Lab announced an $816 million contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency to design and manufacture 18 satellites for the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 program. The satellites will feature advanced missile warning, tracking, and defense sensors to detect and track emerging threats, including hypersonic systems. As a merchant supplier to other prime contractors, Rocket Lab anticipates additional subsystem opportunities could bring total contract value to approximately $1 billion.

Long Beach Port CEO Elected CAPA President The California Association of Port Authorities elected Dr. Noel Hacegaba, incoming CEO of the Port of Long Beach, as its president. Hacegaba, currently the port’s Chief Operating Officer, will lead the organization representing California’s 11 deepwater ports, which handle 38% of U.S. containerized imports and 28% of exports. He assumes the CEO role and CAPA presidency on January 1, 2026, succeeding Mario Cordero.

Bixby Knolls Wine and Cheese Shop Changes Ownership Vanessa Harmon will be stepping away from The Vintage LBC, the Bixby Knolls cheese, wine and market shop she created. Local residents Josh and Adriana will take over ownership in mid-to-late January 2026, planning to retain the menu, décor, and staff. Harmon, along with manager Allison Porzner, will continue serving customers through mid-January before the transition to new ownership is complete.

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Whether you’re looking for Northern Italian, California-Italian or Roma-cuisine, Long Beach has it all.

Editor’s Picks: Three Italian Date Night Spots Valentine’s Day lands on a Saturday this year, meaning you either snagged a Feb. 14 reservation early or you’re celebrating on another night. Either way, Long Beach offers plenty of Italian flavor. On the next page are three date-night picks, Northern Italian, Roman, and California fusion, recommended by yours truly.

ARTICLE BY KAT SCHUSTER

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T R E N D SE T T E R | FO O D + BE VE RAGE

Cafe Gazelle If you know, you know. Tucked away on a side street in Belmont Shore, Cafe Gazelle has been an enduring date-night gem for the past four decades. The rustic Northern Italian eatery is beloved for its authentic menu, rotating chalkboard specials and warm ambiance.

Try dishes like the Chicken Milanese or a rich pastas like the Checca with a lingering bottle of wine.

This hole-in-the-wall is very intimate, so reservations are necessary.

191 La Verne Ave | 562-438-5033

La Parolaccia Osteria Italiana Have an evening in Roma right here in Belmont Heights at this dearly loved Italian institution. Opened by Rome native Stefano Procaccini in 2004, La Parolaccia has quietly introduced Long Beach to true Roman cuisine, from amatriciana and carbonara to the peppery cacio e pepe.

The cozy osteria’s wood-fired pizzas, handcrafted pastas, and warm, welcoming atmosphere evoke trattorie lining the streets of Italy, all served with great wine, cocktails and unmistakable family hospitality. Salute!

2945 East Broadway | 562-438-1235

Due Fiori I will confess that I have not yet dined at this colorful, low-lit cozy-California-Italian spot yet, but our dear friends Renee Trepanger and Robert Dugan, who run Here I Am: Self-Care (read their story on page 14) just couldn’t recommend it enough.

“They’re killing it. The chef is amazing, and the food’s always good,” Robert told me. “The attention to their customers is incredible.”

Brought to you by the crew from Baby Gee (a 4th Street must), along with Chef Waldo Stout, Due Fiori beckons guests to come for the focaccia-like pizzas with California tomatoes and stay for the organic Italian wine.

2708 E. 4th Street | 562-277-1377 FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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W H E N L OV E MEANS BUSINESS

ARTICLE BY KAT SCHUSTER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CANDICE WONG

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S ELF CA R E | L I FE + C ULTU RE

ROBERT DUGAN AND RENEE TREPAGNIER BUILT A BRAND ON RADICAL COMPASSION — FOR THEMSELVES, EACH OTHER AND THE WOMEN THEY SERVE THROUGH HERE I AM SELF-CARE.

For Robert Dugan and Renee Trepagnier, love and work are not separate spheres. They are intertwined by shared values, mutual trust and a belief that care — for oneself, for each other and for the wider community — is a radical act.

As the founders of Here I Am Self-Care, a self-care marketplace focused on women that is rooted in sustainability and equity, Dugan and Trepagnier navigate the unique challenge of being both life partners and business partners. The key, they say, lies in alignment.

“We are definitely like minded in terms of the big goal,” Renee said. “We can have different opinions or see things differently and talk about it, and decide to agree or disagree, but ultimately we know we’re always following that same guiding light.”

That shared foundation makes disagreement navigable rather than divisive. Robert said they entered both their relationship and their business knowing they held the same core values.

“For a long time, from the beginning, we shared similar, if not the same, values in most of the big questions,” he said. “That’s half the battle.”

While their approaches may differ, the mission remains constant. Renee describes Here I Am Self-Care as both a call inward and a collective effort outward.

“The goal is to inspire women to really stop and make sure their care is looked after,” she said. “But also to support women-led small businesses that are trying to grow their own businesses. It’s a ripple effect of women caring for each other and caring for themselves.”

Robert framed that work as a broader disruption of entrenched systems.

“Self care is not narcissism,” he said. “It’s self compassion and empathy for your body and your mind.”

That philosophy shapes how they show up for each other day to day. Renee admits she sometimes needs reminders to slow down.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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“I need reminding because I’m going to forget to take a break or drink water,” she said. “Those kind reminders of, ‘Hey, you have to treat yourself as well,’ I really appreciate that.”

Robert, who has navigated significant health challenges, relies on Renee’s attention to detail and curiosity about wellness.

“She’s endlessly fascinated by how to act on that value,” he said.

“What are the right ingredients to use, what are the right products. She’s my go-to encyclopedia.”

Their shared belief in questioning cultural norms — around work, health and productivity — is central to both their relationship and their business.

“This is a form of resistance against the popular version of what’s good and bad for you,” Robert said.

As a couple, they make space for joy and connection through simple rituals. Movies, shared meals and reading together are essential pauses from the intensity of building a company.

“You can’t work all day and all night,” Renee said. “At some point, you have to stop.”

Reading has become a particular bond.

“We share the ideas of the book and the thoughts that come out of it,” Robert said. “It’s a learning experience.”

Building Here I Am Self-Care together has deepened their partnership in ways neither fully anticipated. Trepagnier credits Robert with encouraging her to take risks she might not have taken alone.

“I probably would have quit after the first month,” she said.

“But for Robert to always be like, ‘Don’t give up. Look at the bigger picture,’ that made all the difference.”

For Robert, the process has strengthened communication and trust.

“We haven’t set up battlegrounds,” he said. “We believe in each other. I trust in your strength, and you trust in my strength.”

They met in Austin, Texas in 2016, but post-pandemic van travel brought them west. Long Beach, they said, felt like home — a place where community, creativity and care could thrive.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, both point to honesty as the cornerstone of love.

“If somebody really loves you for all of you, your honesty will strengthen the relationship, even if you see things differently,” Renee said.

Robert agreed.

“Knowing you have a partner who will drop anything in a heartbeat to care for you when necessary,” he said, “you can’t beat it.

That’s the magic.”

About Here I Am Self-Care: Renee and Robert co-founded Here I Am Self-Care in 2022 as a purpose driven online retail business. Their curated self-care boxes and sustainable wellness products are designed for women of all ages and stages of life. Each item — from soothing aromatherapy candles to rejuvenating skincare — is non-toxic and sustainable with low/zero waste packaging, and sourced from women-owned small businesses. A certified B Corporation, the company meets high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency. Visit hereiambox.com to learn more.

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S ELF CA R E | L I FE + C ULTU RE

“ W E BE L I E V E I N E AC H OT H E R .

I T RUS T I N YOU R S T R E NG T H , A N D YOU T RU S T I N M Y S T R E NG T H .”

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A LOVE STORY written in history

HOW DAVID AND SHARON MCLUCAS BUILT FORGOTTEN IMAGES ARTICLE BY ATIRA RODRIGUEZ | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

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EDU CAT ION COR N E R | A RTS + CU LT U RE

Forgotten Images celebrates both local and national figures in African American history, including Sharon McLucas’ late mother, local activist Autrilla Scott.

In 1969, at Cal State Long Beach, a shy basketball player from Oxnard caught the attention of an outgoing cheerleader.

David McLucas was walking down the hill to basketball practice when Sharon Scott called out to him — not once, but twice. When he finally turned around and asked, “You talking to me?” neither could have imagined that decades later, they’d be preserving African American history together, one artifact at a time.

“I was the aggressor,” Sharon laughs, remembering their first encounter.

David, towering at 6’8” and fresh from the farming town of Oxnard, wasn’t used to city life or assertive women.

“I came straight out of the country, basically,” he recalls. “We worked in the fields, and it was all church. I went to church almost seven days a week.”

The two quickly became friends.

Sharon took him under her wing, teaching him to dance at the frat house and bringing him home to meet her parents on Hill Street — the same street name David lived on back in Oxnard.

“There you go, Sharon,” her mother Autrilla quipped. “You’re always bringing strays home.”

But a romantic relationship wasn’t meant to be — not yet, anyway. Both went on to marry other people and build careers. Sharon became a successful advertising executive at the Press-Telegram and L.A. Times. David was employed at Northrop Grumman, working on everything from the stealth bomber to the F-18 fighter.

CONTINUED >

Artifacts and memorabilia from the Forgotten Images traveling museum on display at the Women’s History exhibit at the Expo Arts Center in March 2025.

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Then, after spending well over a decade apart, fate intervened. David, divorced and back at his parents’ house, received a phone call. It was Sharon, who was also divorced and now the mother of a twelve year old daughter. They began dating, and within months, they were married.

“Sharon wasn’t gonna let me get away again,” David says with a smile.

FROM COLLECTORS TO CURATORS

Their journey to founding Forgotten Images began quietly, almost accidentally.

David had an extensive vinyl collection of over 2,000 albums, including rare treasures like Marvin Gaye’s first album and the Butcher cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday and Today album, worth well into five figures. Sharon had her own collection of Black Americana — the books, the pictures, the painful and powerful pieces of history that most people never saw.

“People would come over to our house and go, ‘What is that?’” David remembers. “So we ended up doing tours in our house.”

Teachers and educators started asking if they could bring the collection to their schools and churches. “That’s kind of like how it started, and it just grew from there.”

— Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma — to amass their collection.

“I won’t just buy any trinkets,” Sharon insists.

“There’s a lot of impulse buying,” David admits, “but with a lot of things, you have to buy it when you see it.”

The work has transformed them both. David, once terrified of public speaking, now guides audiences through exhibitions with emotional depth and historical accuracy.

“I wasn’t a public speaker at all,” he says. “I had to get rid of that shyness and just speak truth.” His friend Bird helped him find his voice in those early days, but now David has become what he calls “an oral storyteller.”

“I was just the guy who wanted somebody to see my stuff,” David explains.

Sharon, meanwhile, brought her newspaper and advertising expertise to transform their hobby into a mission-driven organization dedicated to educating people of all ages.

Their traveling exhibit has been featured everywhere from elementary schools to colleges, from the Aquarium of the Pacific to the Queen Mary. A Smithsonian representative who evaluated their collection wrote a letter of recommendation, calling it the finest exhibit she’d ever seen.

The curators were stunned to find that what the Smithsonian had as copies, the McLucases owned as originals.

“Our exhibit is more relevant than it ever has been before.”

— Sharon McLucas

BRINGING THE PAST INTO TODAY

Today, Forgotten Images comprises over 20,000 items spanning from the 1600s to the present day, organized into 40 themed vignettes.

They’ve spent over $500,000 of their own money, traveling all throughout the South

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A MESSAGE FOR THE FUTURE

As elders, the McLucases are thinking about legacy now.

They have few family members to pass the collection to, and they’re considering selling duplicates. “We need to travel. We need to enjoy the time we have left,” Sharon says.

But their mission remains urgent.

“Our exhibit is more relevant than it ever has been before,” she adds.

David still gets emotional when giving tours, even after all these years. “I have to keep myself straight,” he admits. But that emotional authenticity is part of what makes their exhibits so powerful.

Visitors don’t just see history — they feel it. “After it’s over, they come up and say, ‘I was never taught this in schools, and I’m so glad to really know the truth.’”

David McLucas looks on as exhibit attendees take it all in.

David and Sharon McLucas at an exhibit held at the Museum of Latin American Art in 2022.

David and Sharon donning their African regalia.

What began as a chance meeting between a shy basketball player and an outgoing cheerleader became a marriage built on shared purpose. David and Sharon didn’t just find each other again — they found their calling. And through Forgotten Images, they’re ensuring that the stories of those who came before them will never be forgotten.

David and Sharon at her home on Hill St. in 1969.

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AMOR learns to love HERSELF through her ART A Long Beach artist finally shares her work after years of letting imposter syndrome win.

“Paletitas” by Amor Roldan, 2024, digital collage.

ARTICLE BY KAT SCHUSTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ATIRA RODRIGUEZ

For years, Amor Roldan wanted to put her art into the world — but a quiet, persistent voice told her not to.

“I had that voice in my head that was like, ‘I don’t think that’s good enough,’” Roldan said. “And it just took over. And I let it take over for so long.”

That self-doubt followed her even as she built a life rooted in creativity, education and community in Long Beach, the city where she was born and raised.

Roldan grew up on Pacific Avenue on the north side of the city, in an apartment building where neighbors leaned on one another.

“It was so community driven,” she said, adding that if someone needed something, they would share.

“We were just a small community, and it was so strong.”

Those early experiences left a deep impression. And throughout those times, she says art was always present.

“It started off with just doodles,” Roldan said. “I would draw with my dad a lot, and that meant a lot to me.”

Drawing became her first creative language, eventually evolving into digital collage.

“I love the idea of putting things together and taking apart images to make something even more beautiful than it started,” she said.

Still, it took years before Roldan felt ready to share her work publicly. She studied animation and imagined a creative career, but imposter syndrome lingered.

“It took so many years for me to actually put art out here and into the world,” she said. “I’d rather, you know, do it before I get to an age where I regret not doing it.”

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M UST SE E | ARTS + C ULT U RE

“The In-Between” by Amor Roldan, 2024, digital collage.

Amor Roldan stands behind her latest piece at a recent exhibit Kubo LB.

“Chasing” by Amor Roldan, 2024, digital collage.

That decision led her to community art spaces in Long Beach, including Kubo, where she recently held an exhibit. “It was very intimate,” Roldan said. The show explored deeply personal themes of body image, self-love and acceptance — topics she said are rarely spoken about openly. “I want to be able to speak for people that are not able to do that yet,” she said.

Today, Roldan balances her artistic practice with her role as a math and science teacher at Southeast Middle School in South Gate, where creativity is central to her classroom. “I always say that teaching is an art form,” she said. “It’s not going to be perfect

“Where the Tide Meets Growth”

by Amor Roldan, 2024, digital collage.

CONTINUED >

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every single time.” Her students regularly create zines, art-based projects and collaborative work rooted in problem-solving and expression.

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing her craft by staying connected to others and continuing to create — even when doubt creeps in.

“If no one’s gonna do it, I’ll do it,” she said. “The only person holding you back is yourself.”

“Becoming” by Amor Roldan, 2025, mixed media. This latest piece includes an image of Amor smiling, set against the backdrop of a mirror, representing her present-day self “looking in and acknowledging every past version that struggled.”

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M UST SE E | ARTS + C ULT U RE

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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M IR ROR WOR K FOR SELF-LOV E AND ACCEP TA NCE

ARTICLE BY LEA GRIMALDI

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Everyone knows this line from Snow White. The Queen wanted to be the fairest.

When she wasn’t, she poisoned beautiful Snow White. Most of us do not believe ourselves to be the fairest, but quite the opposite.

As February is widely known as the month of love, let’s focus on self-love. Often people, especially parents, tend to give a lot to their partners and their children and less to themselves. Sometimes it is challenging for us to silence the inner critic that speaks harshly to ourselves in a way we would never speak to a loved friend or family member. This is where mirror work can help.

Many people have a complicated relationship with the mirror. We don’t always like to look at our reflections. We may find it confronting. Taylor Swift even sings about it in her song Anti-hero: “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror.” Why is it so difficult for some of us to gaze with love–or affection–into the mirror?

Mirror work, a term coined by transformational teacher and selflove expert Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing, and the author of You Can Heal Your Life and Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life, is the practice of looking at yourself in the mirror and saying nice things to yourself. You can start with something simple. “I like myself.

I am doing the best I can today.” Or even, “Hey sweetie! You look great!” One of my favorites is, “I love, accept, and forgive myself fully and completely.” Mirror work combines well with affirmations, which are positive phrases said in the present tense as if they are already true. The practice of saying affirmations combined with mirror work can increase the benefits of both practices.

CONTINUED >

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M EN TA L WE LLB E IN G | WE LLN E SS

C I K D L H I S M A D A M S

I A M S T RONG . I A M CAPABLE. I CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I KNOW MY WORTH. I CAN DO HARD THINGS. MY LIFE IS ABUNDANT. I AM HAPPY AND HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I AM KIND AND COMPASSIONATE. I DE SERV E LOV E A ND ABUNDANCE. I AM DOING MY BEST. I AM SMART. I AM BRAVE. I AM FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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The objective of mirror work is to help people silence their inner critic and believe the positive words they are telling themselves while looking at themselves in the mirror.

Mirror work can help with self-esteem issues and can achieve results such as changing a negative body image to a more positive one. Hay developed the practice to increase self-compassion and self-love as part of the daily activities detailed in her 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life.

Although it can be confronting and challenging, it is important to practice mirror work regularly to reap the benefits. Set a daily goal of saying affirmations while looking at your reflection in the mirror and seeing how it makes you feel. Start with two minutes a day and work up to five.

As a yoga teacher, I have included mirror work in my classes with clients. Often the first experience with the exercise is somewhat uncomfortable, but with practice, it becomes more natural. When resistance comes up, ask yourself what you are feeling, allow the emotion to be present, and then release it. It may be rooted in a past experience and just needs to be acknowledged and felt before you can let it go.

HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR HOW TO CREATE A MIRROR WORK PRACTICE: • Make sure you will be alone and uninterrupted so you can let your guard down and allow emotions to surface • Try to do it for a set amount of time, such as five minutes every day • Allow yourself to feel and process whatever emotions show up • Keep a journal to record your feelings, reactions, and experiences • Start with less confronting or difficult phrases, and as you become comfortable increase the intensity Mirror work can be used in tandem with inner-child work because many of the negative limiting beliefs that play in our minds are the result of something we were told as a child that is not true about us or our life.

If something negative comes up during mirror work, we can challenge it and write about the feelings in the journal, thus freeing us from that limiting belief.

Inner child work is an approach to recognizing and healing childhood trauma. We all experience traumas as children which affect the way we experience the world.

As adults, we can reconnect with the child we once were, in order to heal. Mirror work is one way to help facilitate that process, in addition to talk therapy, meditation exercises, and setting healthy boundaries.

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M IR ROR WOR K COM BI N ES W ELL W ITH A FFIR M ATIONS, W HICH A R E POSITI V E PHR A SES SA ID IN THE PR ESENT TENSE A S IF THEY A R E A LR E A DY TRU E .

Here are some ideas for affirmations to use with your mirror work. I am strong. I am capable. I can do this. I believe in myself. I know my worth. I can do hard things. My life is abundant. I am happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit. I believe in myself. I am kind and compassionate. I deserve love and abundance. I am doing my best. I am smart. I am brave. I am powerful.

In the words of Hay, “Doing mirror work is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself.”

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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A SALAD REC IPE TO LOV E A G ORGEOUS , F R E SH A N D SI M PL E DISH

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMALIA (AMY) LOLI

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C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

PE A R , PROSCIUTTO,

Burrata Salad I NGR E DI E N T S • • • • • • •

Ripe Pear Prosciutto Burrata Lemon Zest Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dried Figs Red Pepper Flakes

DI R EC T IONS 1. Slice the ripe pear into thin slices.

2. Arrange pear slices on a plate, creating a base for the salad.

3. Nestle slices of prosciutto in-between pear slices, a perfect combo of sweet and savory.

4. Tear the burrata into bite-sized pieces and scatter them over the salad adding a velvety creaminess to the ensemble.

5. Grate fresh lemon zest over the entire salad, infusing it with citrus flavor.

6. Top with fresh basil, figs and pepper flakes.

7. Finish by generously drizzling extra virgin olive oil over the salad, creating a silky texture that ties it all together.

CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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FEBRUARY 2026

events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S

F EB RUA RY 7 T H

North Pine Architectural Walking Tour 345 Pine Avenue | 9:30 AM Participants can explore some of Pine Avenue’s oldest surviving buildings and learn about notable restoration and adaptive-reuse projects, including the Professional Building, Walker Department Store Lofts, Meeker-Baker Building and the former Press-Telegram Building.

F EB RUA RY 1 3T H

Man of La Mancha The Carpenter Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM Musical Theater West presents Man of La Mancha as part of its 2026 Season of Dreams, a celebration of hope and adventure. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, the musical follows Miguel de Cervantes as he stages the tale of Don Quixote, featuring the iconic song The Impossible Dream.

F EB RUA RY 1 4 T H

Endless Love: A Valentine’s Concert Long Beach Arena | 6:00 PM The Long Beach Symphony brings romance to the stage with this Pops Series concert in the 2025–26 season. Led by Herb Smith, with vocals

by Shayna Steele and Chester Gregory, the evening features timeless love songs, powered by a full symphony, perfect for Valentine’s Day. F EB RUA RY 1 5T H

Hearts of Soul Long Beach Terrace Theater | 5:00 PM Celebrate Valentine’s Weekend with Hearts of Soul, a night of timeless soul and oldies at the Long Beach Terrace Theater. Doors open at 5 p.m., with the show at 6 p.m. This all-ages concert unites legendary ‘60s and ‘70s artists for an unforgettable evening of love, harmony and classic hits.

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F E BRUA RY 1 8T H

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change Beverly O’Neil Theater | 7:30 PM With book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, this hilarious, heartfelt show charts modern love, from dating to marriage and beyond.

F E BRUA RY 2 8T H

Musica Angelica Community Concert Harte Neighborhood Library | 12:00 PM The Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra will present a free, all-ages community concert at the Harte Neighborhood Library. Attendees can enjoy ticket discounts and giveaways for a future Musica Angelica performance, plus an interactive post-concert Q&A with the musicians.

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FEB R UARY 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LO N G BE AC H

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ARTICLE BY LONG BEACH CITY LIFESTYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Q&A: Chef RJ & Mercedes Squires The restaurateur couple shares how they navigated rebranding and relocating their business together.

How did Panama International Restaurant begin, and what inspired you to open a restaurant together?

It started during COVID in our small home kitchen as Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA. Love for the food and culture of Panama was our inspiration.

Chef RJ, your Panamanian heritage and your grandfather’s cooking have been central to your cuisine. What are some dishes from your childhood that you knew you wanted on the menu?

Arroz con pollo, empanadas —I loved these as a child. I also really enjoyed bun, a brown bread made during the holidays in Panama.

Mercedes, as co-owner and restaurateur, what have been some of the biggest challenges and rewards of bringing this business from LA to Long Beach?

The biggest challenge was the preparation for relocation. We also rebranded to highlight the uniqueness of Panamanian culture and cuisine. It’s rewarding that we now get to share it with so many new diners.

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NOW OP E N | FO O D + BEVE RAGE

What does being part of Long Beach’s restaurant scene mean to you, and how do you see Panama International contributing to the city’s cultural tapestry?

It means opportunity, cultural representation and exposure. We are going to shake up ideas around traditions and flavor.

How has your relationship evolved since embarking on this culinary journey together? Has it deepened your partnership in ways you didn’t anticipate?

It has made us accountable to each other in ways we never thought possible.

What do you admire most about each other’s strengths — both in life and in building a business?

I admire his focus no matter what comes up.

He admires my passion for business and life.

What advice would you give to other couples out there who are thinking about entering a creative endeavor or business together?

Team work makes the dream work. Know the strong points of your partner!

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