Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly". -- Andy Rooney


LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 

December 2011       

hollyMerry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Happy New Yearholly Bonnie Carroll

Dear Life Bites Readers,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We have some great traditional recipes and fun family destinations for December. Sense of Style is packed with cultural opportunities and events to enjoy during the holidays, including coverage of the Opera Santa Barbara, gala events and epicurean adventures.

The Newly renovated Hyatt Hotel in Santa Barbara reveals a great new face lift for an historic venue on the Santa Barbara coast that was originally built in the 1920s and was a press corp center during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. A visit to the Rescue Mission for Thanksgiving offers everyone a good reason to be grateful. The latest on special offers at hotels around the world and unique travel opportunities are abundant in this issue as well.  

See photos of Barbra Streisand presenting Donna Karan with the Dream Foundation Humanitarian Award in Sense of Style and TinselTown Tidbits. Santa Barbara International Film Festival news is ongoing, along with the Golden Globes and Oscar's. The Way directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen is creating some real Oscar buzz. Cody Hilton has some great film releases for consideration in Teen Times section.

I hope you will join us in remembering our 98,000 soldiers fighting in foreign lands and pray for their safe return to their families. God bless them, and God bless America in these challenging times. May the flag of freedom fly now and forever. Please pray for peace.

Merry Christmas to you, your family and dear friends.

Cordially,

Bonnie Carroll 

Bonnie Carroll
Publisher/Editor
Winter Savings:
  • Cox Business Bundle Bundle Voice & Internet for $59/mo. Order from Cox Business today! Cox.com/Business-Bundle
  • Special On Rosetta Stone Now Save Up to $100 Off. Exclusive Offer. For a Limited Time Only! www.RosettaStone.com

  • LBN DECEMBER PARTY IDEAS holly

     Plan Ahead. For every event we produce we establish a master agenda and a calendar. Begin your planning early and make sure you have enough time to everything done on time.

    1. Budget. List every possible item you may need and project the costs. Figure out where you can afford to splurge and where you must cut back. At the end of the event, you can compare your actual costs to the projected and see where you saved.
    2. Plan for the masses. Whatever you thought to order for food and drinks, double it. This is a time for all of your friends to come together so you have to accommodate everyone, have options!
    3. Music. Music will keep the party going so make sure you have a DJ who knows how to control a room or asks friends for song suggestions and comprise a playlist on your iPod.
    4. Have fun! Remember, you’re planning a party! If the decorations don’t show or you run out of hors d'oeuvres – you’re surrounded by your friends, colleagues, family – they’re all drinking and dancing and most likely haven’t noticed.

    Ideas from Jon Gabel, the CEO of Joonbug.com

     

    LBN Staff 2010

    Bonnie Carroll, Publisher/Editor

    writebc@aol.com  

    Rosalie Frances, Contributor, tolifebites.com

    Mary Hilton, Content Contributor/Marketing Director

    Maryhilton2000@aol.com

    Delia Csipkay, Contributing Editor

    Cody Chandler, Teen Times Columnist

    tolifebites@aol.com

    Natasha Melikoff, Montreal Reporter

    tolifebites@aol.com

    Mike O’Connell, Photo/Video Director/Contributor

    tolifebites@aol.com

    Isabella D'Angelo, Rome Correspondent

    tolifebites@aol.com

     Additional contributing writers are included on an individual issue basis. Please contact the editor with questions regarding journalist assignments. Email: writebc@aol.com

    LBN Offices

    2115 De La Vina Street, Ste 31

    Santa Barbara, CA 93105

    805-845-9976

    Email  contact preferred please

                     
          

    LBN Best of 2010

    Best Hotel ChefUS

    Ritz Hotel, Half Moon Bay, CA  

    Chef Soloman

    Best International Chef 

     Guy Savoy, Paris/Las Vegas

    Best International Hotel

    Excelsior Hotel, Florence Italy

    Best American Hotel Spa

    Spa Luce, Renaissance Hollywood

    Best Beach Destination 

    Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii

    Best U.S. Hotel

    Waldorf Astoria, NY

    Best Bed & Breakfast

    Cheshire Cat, Santa Barbara

    Best Cocktail    

    Amalfi Bliss Martini – Olio Pizzeria SB

    Best Steak House    

    Ruth’s Chris Beverly Hills

    Best Int'l Luxury Resort

    Villa d'Este, Como, Italy

    Best New Luxury Spa Resort

    Laguna ShoresMarriott, CA

    Best Spa Skin Treatments

    La Prairie – Beverly Hills Hotel

    Best Chocolate Exerience

    Jessica Foster Truffles, Santa Barbara

    Best Hotel View

    Hassler Hotel, Rome Italy

    Best Restaurant View

    Blue Water Resort, Antigua

    Best Sunday Brunch

    Bel-Air Hotel, Los Angeles

    Best Int’l Vacation Hotel

    Las Dunas, MalagaSpain

    Best Int’l Business Hotel

    W Hotel, New York

    Best Spa Cafe Menu

    Bacara Resort Spa Café, Goleta, CA

    Best New Museum

    Mullin Automotive Museum,  CA

    Best Museum Café US

    Santa Barbara Museum of Art Cafe

    Best Castle Tour

    Hearst Castle, Cambria CA

    Best Ocean Destination

    Grand Hotel, Rimimi Italy

    Best International Flights

    Air Canada, Virgin Airways

    Best US Flight

    JetBlue, Southwest, American Eagle

    Best Epicurean Event

    Puck/Lazaroff

    American Food & Wine Festival, LA

    Best American Chef

    Joachim Splichal

    Best Dessert

    Spago, Beverly Hills (Sherry Yard)

    Best Wine List 

    Four Seasons Wine Bar, New York

    Best Business Traveler Hotel

    Peninsula Hotel, Beverly Hills, California

    Best Bar 

    Maestro’s, Los Angeles

    Best Historic Hotel

    Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood CA

    Best Film  

    Eat, Pray, Love

    Best Book

    Live, Love, Eat, Wolfgang Puck

     

    Congratulations - You're the Best!!!

                 

    Read the Santa Barbara Daily Sound www.thedailysound.com

     


    2008
    March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | March | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | September | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | January 10 | March 10 | February 10 | April 10 | July 10 | May 10 | August 10 | June 10 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | August 11 | October 11 | September 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | February 13 | March 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | August Pray | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | October 17 | November 17 | November 16 | December 16 | January 17 | February 17 | March 17 | April 17 | May 17 | June 17 | July 17 | August 17 | September 17 | December 17 | January 18 | February 18 | March 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | September 18 | October 18 | December 17 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | September 19 | October 19 | November 19 | December 19 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | November 21 | December 21 | January 22 | February 22 | March 22 | April 22 | May 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | July 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | February 08 | January 08

    2007
    December 07
    | November 07 | October 07 | September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
    April 07 | March 07 | February 07 | January 07

    2006
    December 06
    | November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
    April 06 | March 06 | February 06 | January 06

    2005
    December 05
    | November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05 | May 05
    April 05 | March 05 | February 05

    © 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved