No Ugly Duckling

Vegas Baby

We were in Las Vegas last weekend… yes, to celebrate Memorial Day and the start of the summer season… but really to celebrate my parent’s wedding anniversary! Yippee! I haven’t been to Vegas in a while so this was my first time to check out the new Cosmopolitan hotel. It’s the latest luxury resort casino and hotel just south of the Bellagio on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip and consists of two highrise towers. The resort opened on December 15, 2010 and it is quite posh, like so many of them! The gorgeous purple crystals leading to the casino area and the digital columns in the lobby are definitely worth a visit.

We also caught a Cirque du Soleil show - this one, Beatles Love, in the Mirage. Highly entertaining and for me, I really was able to get a sense of The Beatles’s impact on society and left with a wonderful appreciation of their talent and music.

Finally, my sis and I also got to watch the finals of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Super High-Rollers Finals at the Bellagio on Friday, May 25. I don’t know too much about poker but Ry is a fairly good player so I try to keep up with who’s who. Essentially, anyone who was playing had to buy-in with $100,000. Very high stakes! It was so cool so congrats to Tom Marchese who won a sweet $1,308,405 against $ 822,375 for his runner up Andrew Robl. It was a privilege to watch the final 6 play live. It just goes to show that if you’re good at something, you can totally make bank! It’s amazing what 3 days of poker playing can amount to! Of course, I did not find the same luck at the slot machines and lost about $50. Oh well!

All in all, a fun trip and very Vegas —- so many people and way over-stimulating! But that’s why what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! Happy Anniversary to my wonderful parents!

Purple crystals overwhelm you as you walk to the Cosmopolitan casino area

The Cosmopolitan lobby is gorgeous! Each column’s set of displays is independently wired through the interior of the column to a custom network of 67 Mac Pro computers. It’s digital magic!

The Vesper Bar in the Cosmopolitan main lobby is already hopping at 11am!

One of my favorites - the Bellagio botanical garden! More than 10,000 flowers and plants  transform the 13,573-square-foot conservatory.

The bumblebees were my favorite!

The Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil lobby in The Mirage Hotel

Setting up for the live broadcast! The Royal Flush girls and the final poker players (sans John Juanda) at the Finals of the WPT Super High Rollers game. Winner Tom Marchese is the first guy on the left (with the gray t-shirt).

Game on!

Celebrating Mom and Dad’s anniversary at Mastro’s Ocean Club at Crystals

Mastro’s Ocean Club is in that gorgeous tree house!

Sweets and Snacks Expo 2012

I was in Chicago all last week for the Sweets & Snacks Expo. All the latest candies, chocolates, confectionaries make their debut at this show. In fact, it is the largest confectionery, cookie and snack show in the Americas. I saw the new Tootsie Roll Blueberry flavor lollipops, mini Rolos, assortment of Angry Birds gummies and fruit snacks, new Jolly Rancher Crunch & Chew, and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of new and exciting new products. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is a serious danger zone.

Once again, I was there on behalf of Leaf Brands, LLC. The original Leaf company launched candy classics such as Whoppers®, Jolly Rancher®, Milk Duds®, RainBlo Bubble Gum®, Heath Bar® and PayDay® before they sold most of their company to The Hershey Corporation. But, Leaf is officially back again since my friend Ellia, who is related to the original Leaf family, re-started it after he bought the trademark to Astro Pops®.

Indeed, the most exciting news from the show is that Astro Pops® is back after being absent in the marketplace since 2004. You should have seen the Leaf booth – pretty much swarming the entire show. We had buyers come up to us saying that the Astro Pops® comeback was pretty much the talk of the show. WOW! I’m really thrilled for Ellia and Leaf Brands, LLC. Leaf has so many other great candy products in the works, too. Check it out here: www.leafbrands.com.

In the meantime, I wanted to post some photos from the show because it was just so fun! A Pez motorcycle and the largest chocolate bar ever were just some of the delightful exhibits. Sweets, fun, and happiness – all rolled up in one expo!

The Blue M&Ms guy meets us in front of McCormick Place!

Stairs to the Expo floor courtesy of M&M’s

Yes folks - Sweets & Snacks are a big business

The Tic Tac car loaded with Tic Tacs! BTW… this was almost empty by Day 3!

Side shot of Tic Tac car but you can see the Tic Tacs are already gone from the front seat!

The world’s largest chocolate bar

Chair reupholstered in candy

Candy couture!

The Pez Motorcycle

David’s Signature Beyond Gourmet Jelly Beans were also a hit of the show! David Klein, the original inventor of the Jelly Belly®, is back with a 100% natural line of gourmet jelly beans and malted milk balls.

The star of the show - Astro Pops are back!

Believe it or not, this photo shows only half of the candies/chocolates I brought back home from the show!

Hot Air Ballooning in the Sonoran Desert

I touched upon it in my post last Friday, but one of the great events that the SCVB (Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau) planned for us while we were in Scottsdale was a hot air balloon ride in the Sonoran Desert.

I had never been in a hot air balloon so I was really excited to go on this adventure (despite the 4:30am wakeup call to meet the van at 5am).

For those of you who have never gone, I highly recommend you put this on your “bucket list.” You really get an amazing view and a perspective that you wouldn’t otherwise.

The Sonoran Desert is gorgeous in and of itself, but when viewed from above, it really is astounding. One can really appreciate the magnificent vistas of desert terrain and towering mountain ranges. It is seriously breathtaking and peaceful at the same time.

Our pilot, Patrick, was fantastic. We got lucky because he’s logged in some of the most hours, and because of his experience, it was smooth sailing the whole time. Due to some convincing, he even took us up over 6000 feet, one of his highest rides up with a group.

It truly was a wonderful way to start the day, and it really makes you appreciate this gorgeous world we all live in.

Getting the balloon ready!

In fact, there were lots of balloons getting ready!

Fire her up!

Up, up, and away!

Watching the sun rise over the desert!

We have company! Lots of other balloons were out, too!

More balloons, more views!

Isn’t this gorgeous?

Touch down! There’s Patrick, our pilot, behind me.

Last but not least, we finish off with champagne and breakfast, a custom dating back more than 100 years.

Arizona Sanctuary

I have loads of photos and I still need to organize them, but I definitely wanted to post some of the gorgeous photos I took this past weekend from my trip to Scottsdale, Arizona!

First of all, I haven’t been since 1999… so it has been awhile… and boy, has it changed. In my recollection, I remember Scottsdale as more of a quiet town with a burgeoning art scene. Not today! The art scene is in full force and the place is bustling with amazing restaurants, lots of cultural events, and hip and fun people (our guides at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB)…Tatum, Laura, Megan, Kelly, etc. were so sharp, chic, and sophisticated!). I will at some point have to tell you about the hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran desert, the kayaking along Salt River, the tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, the food tour, and some of the other adventures. So much fun! I am seriously trying to figure out a time to get back again. 

I got lucky because my wonderful and dear (not to mention, incredibly talented) friend Mallory was invited as part of a group media tour by the SCVB and this press junket happened to be a Girlfriends Getaway! So, thank you and love you Mallory for inviting me along as your girlfriend – I had the most amazing time hanging out with her (it was just like our fun good old days in college when we shared pretty much all of the same classes and were in the same sorority)! Our media group was so fun, too – such sharp, smart, ladies! I am looking forward to reading their stories about this trip.

We first stayed at the hip The Saguaro Hotel for the first two nights of our trip. The Saguaro was recently named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top best new hotels in the world (It’s actually on the cover of this month’s issue). 

But, we finished the last two nights at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain. Sanctuary is known as one, if not, the best resort in Scottsdale, a luxury boutique hideaway with dramatic mountain and spa casitas offering spectacular views of Paradise Valley. With only 105 rooms and the only resort that can boast being on the north slope of Camelback Mountain, you can imagine its exclusivity as well as the breathtaking views (I’ll post photos but it’s not quite the same).

It really is a sanctuary. The place is just beautiful with lots of lush and calming spaces, and of course, the spa is heaven and I must rave about my wonderful massage from Jeanette (who also happens to teach massage therapy here in the OC at Golden West in Huntington Beach during their off season).

Moreover, the hotel’s restaurant, Elements, is a local hot spot for cocktails at sunset and has delicious, award-winning cuisine by Iron Chef America winner and Food Network star Chef Beau MacMillan.

No wonder Beyonce and Jay-Z honeymooned here at one of their private residences. They’re smart, those two!

But, enough talk. Let the photos of Sanctuary at Camelback speak for themselves:

View of the mountain from the outside deck of Edge Bar

Edge Bar (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)

Cabanas and lounge chairs by the pool

An overhead view of the cabanas. Yes, Camelback Mountain is right there.

The infinity pool with mountain views

The courtyard at Sanctuary. We’re getting ready to hear their Sundays in Paradise live music.

Reggae band Sugahbeat performing

The private dining room at Elements opens up directly to the kitchen!

Another view of the private Dining Room (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)

Look at the wine corridor just outside of Elements! (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)

Just one of the yummy dishes at Elements

Not to mention, delectable dessert!

Oh yeah, here’s where Beyonce and Jay-Z stayed during their honeymoon. Tough life….

But the Mountain Casita rooms we stayed in (ours had 2 queen beds) aren’t too shabby, either! (Photo courtesy of Sanctuary at Camelback)

Gorgeous sunset overlooking the mountain… ahhh…

April is National Volunteer Month!

For those of you who don’t know, April is National Volunteer Month, and actually, National Volunteer Week runs from April 19 – 25.

I know it takes a lot to go out there and volunteer, and to give your time and yourself. As my friend Shawn Wehan, who is the founder and leader of Future Leaders of Our Community (www.flocers.org), succinctly told me, those who make their full-time jobs in volunteer organizations really feel they have been called.

It’s amazing really, and I truly admire those that make it their life’s work to make the world a better place. I strive to be that kind of person, and I wish I could totally let go of all material wants. I think a lot about how I want to spend my time, and I really hope to be a vessel of goodness and change. Anyway, it’s a goal of mine and maybe someday I will be enlightened enough to do this full-time.

But, as a start, last Saturday, as part of Boston University’s Global Day of Service, I organized a group of BU families, parents and alums to help out with the Boys Hope Girls Hope organization (www.boyshopegirlshope.org). Boys Hope Girls Hope provides at risk children (i.e., those that grew up in neighborhoods shattered by crime and poverty or families broken by economic hardship, death, and divorce) with stable homes, a first-class education, and financial and emotional support. By providing opportunities to learn more about themselves and the world, Boys Hope Girls Hope empowers children to realize the potential that is within them. It’s so powerful what that difference makes to their lives.

Our BU group was charged to clean up the Girls’ Home in Fullerton, CA and it was amazing to witness that all of these girls living in that home (which was quite tidy, by the way) are on their way to becoming college graduates. This would not be even a possibility without the guidance and support of Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Anyway, I just think this organization is amazing. I was so inspired that I told Tim Rogers, the community and development manager for BHGH SoCal, that I want to do more, so I will get to meet the kids in the Boys’ Home next week. Apparently, Tim thinks that they will be inspired by me when they hear all about my educational and professional success. Isn’t that so funny? OK. I hope I can be an inspiration?

I’m also volunteering with Make-A-Wish during their annual Walk for Wishes event tomorrow. I have been helping out with Make-A-Wish for the last 8 years, functioning mostly as a wish granter (helping kids fulfill their dream wish). In this capacity, I have seen the most amazing kids overcome life-threatening diseases. I had one ten-year old child who had to deal with a degenerative bone disease and lost both his legs from the knee down. He was in a wheelchair, and all he wanted was to collect rare coins. He had studied all the different coins and knew exactly which ones he wanted, so off we went (with his family) from CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) to a rare coin dealer to get him some precious coins. The excitement and happiness on his face was priceless! But, one of the best parts? We had a budget for the coins, but the coin shop owner was so ridiculously generous that he threw in several additional rare coins in the mix, in addition to a gorgeous hardback book of coins. Wow! People are really amazing.

Really though, what’s most incredible is meeting and getting to know the kids. They are so strong, and positive, even if they do suffer from a life-threatening disease. They inspire me.

Anyway, I hope these stories have inspired you to spend some of your time with an organization that means a lot to you. No, you won’t get paid in the traditional sense, but I promise you, you will get paid so much more than you will ever know.

“Help others enjoy prosperity, and you will become wealthy. Help others to be truly happy, and you will be filled with joy. Teach to others, and you will learn. No matter who you are or how doggedly life has beat you down, you have something to offer, something that will make your life shine.  Who can you help? What can you do to make a difference?”

Me with Jenny (BU Mom) and members from FLOC at last week’s Boys Hope Girls Hope Girls’ Home for our BU Global Day of Service

I found this old photo from a 2005 Make-A-Wish event! Great volunteers!

Ghost Scream!

My beautiful and dear friend Deandra and her husband Matt (who is an amazing chef) have recently created this absolute kick-in-the-pants hot sauce and it is so ridiculously good that I wanted to share it with you.

Matt was a chef at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel for many years, and is now the head executive chef at a premier country club in the beautiful Solana Beach. Both Matt and Deandra also have a fantastic catering service, Sissons Catering. Anyway, Matt has concocted this amazing mixture of goodness, so I was so excited when Deandra gave me a bottle to taste test.

Needless to say, Ry and I are totally addicted! Granted, we tend to eat Mexican food a lot (it happens to be Ry’s favorite cuisine) so it is always a welcome addition to our tacos and burritos. But, you can pretty much pair this sauce with any dish that needs that scream!

Created with fresh ghost peppers, garlic, onions, oil, vinegar, salt, and seasonings, you only need a dab (at least, that’s all I can handle!) and it will be just the right punch and spice. It’s beyond delicious! Plus, the sauce is all natural, no MSG, and no preservatives.

I highly recommend it for all those discerning palates that are always looking for a little more. For more information, go to www.chefjournals.com. You’ll read that Matt has had the most amazing worldly experiences to hone in his palate (so impressive and I’m quite jealous of all his extensive travel). And of course, if you want to try this yummy sauce, please e-mail sissons.catering@gmail.com.

Look at the sauce - chock full of delicious ingredients!

Plus, don’t you love the label? Courtesy of the very talented Deandra! So creative!!

Functional and Whimsical Chala Handbags

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and so is my sister’s birthday, so, when both of them came to visit me this past Easter, I already had their gifts in hand. If you haven’t recently checked out T.I.L. Darling’s re-vamped site, you’ll find some pretty amazing deals! As I mentioned in one of my previous blog posts, Daniel Hsu, the CEO of T.I.L. Darling has changed up the business model so that we customers work as a collective buying group and T.I.L. Darling is able to offer even better prices, as well as more notable designers and brands. 

One of their most recent featured brands is Chala, which has the most playful, yet individualistic handbags. I had to snag both the DaDa Panda Everyday tote (which my sis received) as well as the ChiChik Bird Carryall tote. They are fun, whimsical, and definitely scream playful and original. Of course, they’re functional, too. 

The creators of Chala are a team of creative designers that love handbags so much that they decided to design their own, and you can absolutely tell. The bags are so creative as different textures and materials make up the outside, yet they haven’t forgotten details such as a rear zippered pocket, or patterned fabric lining with slide pockets. 

According to their site, “We approach life with passion and creativity. We believe in the idea that doing what you like and liking what you do is a key to happiness in life. We like to be bold & different in life, in a harmless way, whenever and wherever possible. To celebrate individuality in the fashion world, graphically as on our handbags, is a happy thing to us, too.” 

So well said! With that outlook on life, it’s no wonder these totes just exude originality, joy, and happiness, and I’m all about owning and giving gifts that put a smile on my loved ones faces and lightens their day! 

You can get Chala handbags here: http://www.theonlineclothingboutique.com/12-accessories

How adorable and fun are these Chala totebags?! The ChiChik Bird Carryall (orange) and the DaDa Panda Everyday tote (teal) (Sorry, I know the DaDa panda is still in its plastic, but I gave it as a gift to my sister and I didn’t want to open it and possibly get dirty!)

The DaDa Panda Everyday tote is adorable with the detailed stitches and metal button eyes, fabricated flower and etched wood buttons. Oh, and the cute panda in the front is a convenient pocket!

Same goes for the ChiChik bird carryall - it’s so original with the detailed stitches and button eye. 

Fei’d: Merging Western Science and Ancient Chinese Medicine

I cannot believe it’s taken me this long to acknowledge my friend and former Bio-Oil colleague, Claire Gutschow’s, fantastic beauty product, Fei’d™! Claire, who successfully managed the Bio-Oil business for years, expertly knows the skincare market, so it makes sense she would launch an efficacious product of her own. 

Fei’d™ has been doing some beautiful marketing pieces lately that I’ve pinned all over Pinterest, which I had to share here. I know Claire, and she just gets it… the brand is on point, and this product really understands the meaning of beauty.

If you haven’t heard of this product, Fei’d™ is specifically formulated to visibly improve uneven skin tone, pigmentation and dark marks. Pronounced “fade”, and derived from the Chinese word “fei”, it was developed by a collaboration between modern skin care scientists and ancient Chinese healers. Mulberry, licorice and Dianella Ensifolia extracts brighten and lighten the appearance of the skin. Shanzha and Huang Qi active-botanicals visibly target sun spots, sun damaged and aging skin.  

Plus, it’s dermatologically, allergy and irritancy tested, and certified by the Natural Products Association so we can all be sure it has achieved a high benchmark, and is 99% natural as it claims! 

You’ll definitely want to give Fei’d™ a try, especially if you suffer from hyper-pigmentation. Be careful, you’ll absolutely be hooked! Plus, there are a whole host of other great reasons to use it (such as Fei’d™ gives back and their 100% money back guarantee).

So there! Check it out here: www.feidskincare.com.

One of my favorite Fei’d™ Campaigns

Here’s another great Fei’d™ campaign!

Simple, elegant packaging with an efficacious formula! Just brilliant, Claire! 

My Latest Obsession: Downton Abbey

Blame it on my dear friends Chris and Jeff, who turned me on to Downton Abbey, but I am now obsessed and this is seriously my new favorite TV drama.

I have been busy catching up before Season 3 returns to PBS in January 2013, and I cannot get enough of this period drama. It is so good! The dialogue and writing is amazing. No wonder it has won a ton of accolades and awards, including this year’s Golden Globe for Best Miniseries or Television Film and last year’s Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. 

Just a quick synopsis of the show’s premise if you haven’t yet heard of it: Downton Abbey is a British/American television series, set on the fictional estate of Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham. It has an upstairs/downstairs plot and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family, as well as their servants. It’s a period drama and set around the early-mid 1900s. 

Anyway, I’m practically caught up, and have only 2 more episodes of Season 2 to watch, but I particularly loved Lady Mary’s quote from Season 2 Episode 6, which I just watched (Just to give you some background, Ethel is a housemaid who had a bastard child with an officer who refused to acknowledge him):

  “The truth is, Ethel’s made her choice and now she’s stuck with it.” - Lady Mary

“That’s seems a little hard.” - Lavinia

“Does it? Aren’t all of us stuck with the choices we make?” - Lady Mary

I personally love Lady Mary, despite what appears to be her coldness. For some reason, that quote/dialogue really stuck with me and I felt the need to write about it. Because she’s right – we are stuck with the choices we make. Our lives are where we are because of our own choices, whether we want to believe it or not. I believe it is also up to us (and hence our choices) to change our circumstances if we wish.

So, there it is… witty, insightful writing and a beautifully directed series. I seriously recommend you catch up, too! Let me know if you’re faithfully watching already, your favorite characters, and why. I’d love to hear about it!