Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

2025 has been a challenging year for all Americans and people throughout the world, but the Corona virus Pandemic seems to have passed, people are getting flu shots, and everyone is traveling again! The war in the Ukraine, as well as the violence in the middle-east has brought so many changes, sacrifices, and cautions. The incoming parties are forcing their agendas on every aspect of our society; prepare to vote blue during mid-terms. Pray for America! Please protect yourself and your loved ones and always travel safely and carefully in 2026.

Such unexpected and serious challenges this year. I pray for our US Citizens, for the world leaders who must strive for peace on earth, and are working hard to secure peace. Let's all pray God will give our leaders wisdom, humility, honesty, strength, courage, control, and cooperation as well as united support to take America through some very troubled waters and to be a light for the world during dark times whirling about us.

A warm welcome to our new Pope Leo, and prayers for citizens and families who are suffering due to illness and major financial insecurity during the holidays and in to the new year. Especially, pray for those suffering in the Ukraine and Middle-East.

We hope those of you who are traveling and continue to enjoy visits to great hotels, restaurants, and travel destinations especially those that appear in our monthly online magazine have a great 2026 itinerary. Don't miss our news in travel and Culinary Coup sections.

Special thanks for access to all the wonderful places, airlines, cruiselines, ports, and people who assisted us in gathering all our stories in 2025. Kudos to all the tourism and public relations professionals we have worked with, and to all our readers, supporters and kind advertisers. You're the best!

Don't miss the Golden Globes being presented this month and the upcoming Oscars in January. For the list of nominees and additional information visit www.goldenglobes.com, Oscsrs www.oscars.org. or see details in Tinsel Town Tidbits in LBN. The Santa

Barbara International Film Festival will be in full swing February 2026, check out their site with an amazing lineup of films and celebrity appearances on the schedule. Visit www.sbiff.org for details and advance ticket purchase.

Oscars are around the corner, and this year includes a lineup of amazing films, glitzy events, and awards to be presented that are magical. The stars will be out at the upcoming Santa Barbara International Film Festival and Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites News will be there getting you all the fun and fantastic details. Hope you enjoy our annual Life Bites News "Best of 2025" list below, and we warmly congratulate those being honored.

Check Tinsle Town Tidbits for story coverage on the December SBIFF Kirk Douglas Award 2025 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara honoring Cynthia
Arivo.

We have some interesting national and international travel news on the horizon, as well as coverage on Savvy Seniors Holiday Events, and congratulations to the Grace Fisher Winter Music Festival team who produced yet another outstanding event at the Granada Theatre.

Our BookBites section has details on special new year releases, #1 reads, communication on world news, and art news. Look for details on upcoming LA Times Travel Show in future LBN travel issues.

Try a New Year's Breakfast at The Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort it's always perfect!

Please join me in praying for our troops fighting in foreign lands, and for all our men and women who serve our great country, especially our National Guard members. Prayer works . . .pray for peace.

January 1 is the birthday of my late mother Rosaleen Joyce, and January 19 the birthday of my late cousin Joyce Stein Justin (who was like a sister to me), I miss them both, and will be thinking of them often during this month of January; my own birthday is January 9 and LBN is 22 this month. I will be celebrating January 9 birthday, 21 anniversary of LifeBitesNews and 1st anniversary of CoastingwithBonnie at home with friends in Santa Barbara this year.

Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites News will be celebrating its 22st birthday January 1. We thank you so much for your support and hope you keep coming back. For advertising information or story submissions please contact us at writebc@aol.com.

Please look for our new online travel/lifestyle publication www.coastingwithbonnie.com up for the new year and full of fun senior travel ideas and helpful tips. Join me and get inspired to travel. Take a cruise, enjoy our world. CoastingwithBonnie Podcast will premiere in 2026 and we hope you will join us for a very sweet and interesting adventure on traveling the world as a senior.

PR people please contact the editor with questions regarding journalist/photo assignments.