Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

"Don't look or wait for love. Generate it. Love has got to know your spiritual address before it can show up in your life. When you generate love, it's like a neon sign proclaiming, 'I AM love!' Let us choose to live in love today!" ~ Michael Bernard Beckwith

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. We have some great traditional recipes and fun family destinations for December, along with some wonderful reviews on European & US dining hot spots. Much of this issue is filled with travel, food, entertainment events and spa stories covering national and International destinations for your consideration.

Our Holiday Gift guide has some great gift ideas for friends and family, and visit "Health Minded" to read inspiring tips on how experience the best spa life in Zurich, Switzerland.

The December hotel/chef profile Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel Hotel in the heart of the 'City of Lights' shares the wonderful experience we had with a great hotel property and congenial staff prior to our Viking River Cruise through four countries.

January brings the Golden Globes, and the Oscar Movie lovers are all busy talking about all the hot films being considered for the 90th Oscars in February. Oscar Fun and Food are always on our menu of film fun. See Tinseltown Tidbits for details on Martin Scorcese on the red carpet at the Kirk Douglas Awards in Santa Barbara and walk the red carpet in February at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. For details visit www.sbiff.org.

Took my first flight on Tahiti Nui to Paris last month and was so delightfully surprised by this new and comfortable airliner with a staff that aims to please and food that was delicious! Thank you so much Tahiti Nui and I look forward to flying with you again soon.

Sips this month features the historic Schlagkamp Winery and Museum in Mosel that I enjoyed so much and appreciated all the information Andreas Schlagkamp shared with us. The Mosel white wines are some of the very best in the world - loved it! We also have some divine Belevedere Cocktails for holiday enjoyment. Holiday news in Culinary Coup is up and our Kids K section has news on "Frozen" and fun holiday activities for little and big ones.

We are all looking forward to the Macy's Christmas Parade that will feature the

amazing Snoopy float. I always enjoy the lighting event at Rockefeller Center in New York and especially love Joachim Splichal's "Rock" Restaurant overlooking the ice rink. The festivities in my own Santa Barbara home town by the sea are perculating and it looks like a 'wonderful Christmas' parade and festivities for everyone here and around the Nation.

I hope you will join us in remembering our 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 continue to pray for peace.

Joyous Noel to you, your family and dear friends. Thank you to all who continue to follow LBN, and to the many readers and advertisers who have supported us - keep coming back. LBN will celebrate its 15th birthday in January 2020.

See our gift section for giving ideas. Culinary Coup & Sips Sections for Food & Wine ideas.