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 safe family destinations for December, along with some wonderful reviews on US dining favorites. Much of this issue is filled with staycation travel, food, entertainment events, coronavirus safety stories and spa pleasures featuring products for home enjoyment.

Our Holiday Gift guide has some great gift ideas for friends and family, and visit "Health Minded" to read inspiring tips on what vitamins will enhance your immunity to coronavirus.

Please enjoy the December hotel/chef profile on Executive Chef Jason Paluski of The Lark in Santa Barbara Funk Zone and news on the Miracle at the Funk Zone Kitchy Christmas Experience at Pearl Social.

January brings the Golden Globes, and the Oscar Movie lovers are all busy talking about all the hot films being considered for the 92nd Oscars in February. See Tinseltown Tidbits for details on Award Show schedules. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is rescheduled for April 2021. For details visit www.sbiff.org.

Sips this month features a fabulous Cosmopolitan Cocktail for the holidays. Jordan wine news that you may find interesting. Also, read about a little jewel box wine spot in Santa Barbara. 2021 Santa Ynez Valley premiere Veterans Parade hosted by Maverick Saloon story and Pierre Claeyssens 2021 Veterans Gala at Hilton Hotel in Santa Barbara.

We have a special LBN recipe for holiday enjoyment in Culinary Coup and a fun story on sharing the cowboy fun at Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum Vaquero Weekend 2021. Holiday news in Culinary Coup, wine ideas as well chic cowboy cuisine.

The annual Macy's Christmas Parade that will feature the

amazing Snoopy float, and dancing Rockettes seems to be a go. I always enjoy the lighting event at Rockefeller Center in New York. Hope I'll be there next year. The is the year to create your own magical Christmas at home. The precautions are being taken in my own Santa Barbara home town by the sea for a safer holiday experience, but no State Street parade this year.

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. See our stories on Veterans Day celebrations.

Congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harriss who continue to fight the good fight for every American. Please join me in wishing Happy Holidays to Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris.

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 17th birthday in January 2022.

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

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