Let’s Take the Kids: Phantom of the Opera, San Francisco
We went to a 2:00 Sunday matinee of The Phantom of the Opera at San Francisco’s Orpheum theater and all three of my kids were mesmerized! They range in age from 7-12.
Days later the girls are singing in the car, in the kitchen, in the shower…you name it! My 10 year old will all of a sudden come up with a plot question or point and need to discuss it. Then all of the kids will fall into discussion about characters, stage production or costumes. They have Phantom on the brain.
My 7 year old is exceptional about sitting through movies and performances. We accidentally took her to The Secret Life of Bees and she followed the plot without a hitch. You know if your 7 year old has the staying power. My 10 year old daughter is just discovering romance, so it was perfect for her age group.
Great production–powerful and moving. Get your tickets and go as a family–you have until January 4, 2009!
Add comment December 3, 2008
Holiday Festive Cocktails: The Kiss Martini
This cocktail is a yummy and easy festive holiday treat. Enjoy!
The Kiss Martini–MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
- 1/2 t cinnamon
- 1/2 t white sugar
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz Baileys
- ice
- lemon
Mix cinnamon and sugar and place in a rimming plate (like you use for margarita salt) or on a flat plate. Rub lemon around the rim of a martini glass and twist the wet rim in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and and the vodka and Baileys. Shake until well chilled and strain into the martini glass.
Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top if desired.
Add comment November 30, 2008
Let’s Take the Kids to Vegas??? Four Seasons Las Vegas
Sin city and kids have never really belonged in the same sentence for me. The few times I had been to Vegas I had seen enough wobbly, screaming, bachelorette party candidates, half naked people and glazed over, slot machine jockeys that even I could not take the place for more than 48 hours.
The glow of the neon-you-can-never-tell-what-time-it-is-lighting and the poor ventilation never held any charm for me. I’m not a gambler and my classic response is that I’d rather be at the gift shop with my 20 bucks than at the gambling tables. Buying crap instead of shooting craps, right?
My friend suggested we take our 12 and 13 year old boys to Vegas for their birthdays. I liked the idea of a mother-son trip–but when she suggested Vegas, I had to do some thinking on the matter.
To my surprise, when I asked around, many parents had taken their kids to Vegas and they all loved it. There were helicopter rides, indoor skydiving joints, shopping, shows, great pools and shark reefs to visit. People raved about their trips.
We wanted the wave pool of the Mandalay Bay without the strippers in the hallway–so my friend’s husband booked us a suite at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Although the Four Seasons is connected to Mandalay Bay, it doesn’t have its own casino. Therefore, it felt a little tamer and smelled a lot less smokey.
It was the perfect choice. We enjoyed our oasis of calm AND the Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef, wave pool and lazy river. If you take the kids, consider this spot, you are always a short stroll or a cab ride away from the craziness.
Add comment November 16, 2008
Margaritaville: Hotel Villa Cimbrone, Ravello, Italy
If you’re itching for a trip to Italy and you’re looking for romance with a capital R, head to the Hotel Villa Cimbrone in Ravello.
The village of Ravello hugs the Amalfi Coast, high above the water with glorious views. This town makes me feel like I’m almost in Disney World for grown ups. It is so perfect, that you can’t imagine it can be true, but it is. The shops, cafes and sights are breathtaking.
You feel like you’re in a small town–all safe and cozy. Magical. The rooms are quaint, the service is friendly and personable. Romantic. Romantic. Romantic.
3 comments November 12, 2008
Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon: Tasty Wine and Excellent Value
Bonterra’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a great pick when you are looking for a tasty red wine that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It never lets me down and I love it when you find a product that is not only cost efficient and delicious, but organic as well. Cheers!
Add comment November 10, 2008
Gummy Eyeballs and Inexpensive Spooky Shot Glasses: Last Minute Halloween Entertaining Tips
If you are serving some spooky drinks, the Gummy Eyeballs from Cost Plus World Market are FANTASTIC. I am freezing some right now to serve in my Midori Martinis tomorrow night. I’m also putting them at the bottom of shot glasses and freezing them, too. $7.99 for 100. Great for midori shots.
CHEAP, FESTIVE SHOT GLASS ALERT!!! I saw many charming halloween shot glasses–but they all were pricey. Yesterday at Safeway, I found spider web clear shot glasses in packs of 4 for $3.38! They are cool, spooky and look especially creepy with the gummy eyeballs.
Happy Halloween shopping!
Add comment October 30, 2008
Pumpkin Margarita?
*This Friday we will be giving the Pumpkin Margarita a try. If you get to drink it before I do, please let me know how it tastes!
Pumpkin Margarita by Bols
- 2 oz. Tequila
- 1 ½ oz. Bols Pumpkin Smash
- ½ oz. Bols Triple Sec
- 2 cups ice
Blend all together until smooth, pour into a 16 ounce (pint) glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
*thank you to Leigh Hannon Illustration for the awesome Halloween Margarita pick. You can visit her site by clicking here.
Add comment October 28, 2008
Halloween, Wine and Shopping: Get Ready for a Margaritaville Bay Area Road Trip!
I love Halloween. Friends all make fun of my costumes and hokey decorations. My husband even said our house looked like Target yesterday. I’m just going to take that as a compliment.
What I really want to talk to you about, especially if you live in the Bay Area, is combining a beautiful fall day, Halloween costume hunting and the glory of wine country.
Snuggled on a side street just off the town of Sonoma’s town square is The Laughing Queen. This little shop is cluttered with all kinds of gag gifts, costumes and accesories. It’s truly worth its weight in gold if you’re searching for that unique item that will be the central anchor or accesory to your costume.
On our last visit we found a leather nurse’s dress, a silver metallic trench coat and jungle man pants. All of these items were one of a kind–no pre packaged halloween costume in a can! You will come away from this shop with something creative and fun.
If you need it, ask for help. Queen Linda has fabulous ideas and knows her shop from top to bottom. She will be able to help you put some kind of stellar pieces together that will make you your own king or queen of the costume ball.
You can go a little crazy in her store, but most things are priced reasonably. You definitely will save, if not spend the same, on a one of a kind costume at her store than you would get by buying costume in a bag at other places.
The trick is, before you arrive at the store, taste some delicious Sonoma County wine and have a picnic lunch on the square. You could even visit a few of the picturesque wineries. A few personal favorites are the Schug Winery and Gundlach Bundschu–both beautiful places to sample some fruits of the Sonoma harvest.
Take a road trip. Enjoy some scenery. Treat yourself to wine and a fabulous Halloween costume at the same time! After all, it’s all about the treats, isn’t it?
- The Laughing Queen
- 122 E. Napa St. Sonoma,
- CA 95476
- 707-935-6611
5 comments October 21, 2008
Goblin Melon Eyeballs–Sweet Shots for Spooky Halloween Nights
Halloween is flying toward us on its broom of darkness. It’s prime time for costume preparation and parties. Blondeshell and I spent all day Saturday visiting costume shops near and far to put together some interesting, spirited costumes.
Let me tell you, I’m glad I do not work full time in a halloween store. The screaming of banshees and flashing lights pretty much had me Halloweened out by the end of the day. I’m still looking forward to the big day–or several, as I’m working on three different costumes for three different events. Did I mention how much I love Halloween???
Well, after shopping in the Saturday crowds, I have a little shot to suggest… It’s green and creepy looking and tasty!
The Goblin Melon Eyeball Shot
- Midori Melon Liqueur
- Vodka
It’s super easy: pour half the shot vodka and half the shot Midori. If you like super sweet drinks, just pour the Midori straight.
Get a tray. Get a bunch of shot glasses. Pour this eerie green potion and serve it around the Halloween party. Looks festive. Tastes great!
Add comment October 13, 2008
Sonoma Mission Inn’s Harvest Kur: Margaritaville Without A Glass
My husband and I were invited to a 5 p.m. wedding in Sonoma–it was a perfect opportunity to spend a beautiful, autumn day in wine country. On the spur of the moment, we booked the Harvest Kur Couples spa treatment (described below) at the Sonoma Mission Inn.
The spa facilities at the Sonoma Mission Inn are beautiful. The bathing ritual pools with steam and sauna are a treat, as are the outdoor pools and facilities. It really is a relaxing, luxurious, full service spa. You don’t feel fed through the tourist meat grinder–which is a sensation you unfortunately find in many wine country spa spots.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Our therapists greeted us and proceeded to explain the Harvest Kur. We were scrubbed, soaked, wrapped, massaged and completely relaxed by the end of our treatment. We enjoyed the bathing ritual, showered, dressed and made it to the church on time.
Of all the spas in wine country, I find repeatedly that the Sonoma Mission Inn is a good, solid choice. Due to its size, there is usually availability for short notice treatments. The facilities are always immaculate and the therapists are skilled. It’s a spa that actually feels like a spa.
Sometimes a splurge is worth it, and when you splurge, splurge on quality.
Couples Harvest Kur
(100 minutes / $495)
Embrace the healing of the ‘Valley of the Moon’. This fabulously regenerative treatment, using local products, begins with exfoliation to naturally stimulate the body’s immune system. Relax with a warm, fragrant grape seed oil infused bubble bath followed by a warm, nurturing grape seed mud body wrap concluding in total bliss with a full body massage using grape seed body oil. This treatment uses products that are high in antioxidants, vitamins C and E, which enhance well-being throughout your body, mental relaxation and spiritual balance.
1 comment October 5, 2008
