If you will forgive me for keeping it short this morning – I am off on a video shoot with my friend, Barry Belcher and his fab friend, Cori. Their videos are called Dirty Dishes – gossip and cooking! Isn’t that fun?
To give you an idea, here is one of their hilarious videos. The episode I am going to be featured on is Open Faced Sandwiches With Two Faced Friends. Fun!
I am running around furiously trying to get ready for uber-early call. Wish me luck!
In the meantime, let me introduce you to Barry and Cori:
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Buck Owens and His Bucaroos – Act Naturally
Our buddy Tammy Peterson has been super busy lately. Here’s some news from her about Hotel Blake in Chicago (one of my favorite cities!)
Cheer on the Chicago Bears with Hotel Blake’s
“Get Your Game On” Package
One of the closest hotels to Soldier Field, Hotel Blake Offers Convenient, Luxurious Way to Enjoy Monsters of the Midway and Windy City to the Fullest.
Gorgeous!
Chicago, IL – Headed to the Windy City to see the Chicago Bears play on their home turf this fall? Make it a winning overnight getaway with the Get Your Game On Package at the South Loop’s luxurious Hotel Blake, one of the closest hotels to Soldier Field.
Today travel news comes from Mexico. Like yoga? Like the beach? This may be the place for you!
From our friend, Tammy Peterson:
CEIBA DEL MAR ANNOUNCES MESOAMERICAN YOGA RETREAT WITH ELEMENTS YOGA
Boutique Riviera Maya Luxury Resort Partners With Lifestyle Outfit to Host “Mystical Mayan Adventure”
Puerto Morelos, Mexico – Elemental Yoga Retreats, a lifestyle division of Elements Yoga & Wellness Center, an award-winning boutique studio based in Darien, CT, has selected Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, an intimate Riviera Maya property located on the picturesque, white-sand shores of peaceful Puerto Morelos, as the site of its “Mystical Mayan Adventure,” a culturally-inspired yoga retreat, November 7-11, 2010.
Mystical Mayan Adventure
Abundant natural beauty—an ivory-white beach bordering brilliant Mexican Caribbean seas, breezy palms, lush greenery, and exotic flowers—surround boutique Ceiba del Mar, which boasts numerous hospitality accolades but is otherwise secluded, providing unrivaled serenity for spiritually connected physical practice, meditative inquiry and indulgent self-care at the heart of the “Mystical Mayan Adventure.” In keeping with the resort’s commitment to providing guests with exceptional respite at all levels, and Elemental Yoga Retreats’ desire to infuse the “Mystical Mayan Adventure” with aspects of holism and an exploration of local culture, the Mesoamerican-influenced yoga and wellness retreat will include the following:
• 7 sessions of spiritually-based and specialty yoga at unique locales throughout the resort;
• 4 guided sessions of morning meditation amid a soothing, centering backdrop;
• A specialty Aromayoga Restorative session;
• A Temazcal Ceremony, a contemporary spa therapy based on an ancient Maya purifying ritual conducted by a local shaman;
• 15% off all other spa treatments;
• Complimentary use of land/sea sports equipment; and
• Calming sanctuary in one of the resort’s 88 sublime, sea-facing guest residences, each with a full bathroom with shower and separate bathtub; local wood accents and handcrafted furnishings; complimentary wireless Internet; 300 thread-count Premium Cotton linens and pillow menu; complimentary in-room morning coffee daily and nightly turndown service; International cable TV and DVD/CD player, and 24-hour room service.
Adventures for an additional cost include:
• Spelunking (cave diving);
• Journey to ancient Mayan ruins;
• Zip lining through the jungle;
• Scuba diving (from the dive shop at Ceiba del Mar); and
• A golf outing.
All-inclusive “Early Bird” rates for the “Mystical Mayan Adventure” are per person and start at $1593 for double occupancy and $2093 for single occupancy. Full Yoga retreat package, including four nights in luxurious, ocean-view accommodation included. Rates for non-yoga participants sharing a room with a yoga retreater start at $1263. Rates increase by $200 if booked after September 15, 2010. To book call Ceiba del Mar at 1-877-545-6221 and mention the group code: Yoga Retreat. Reservations must be secured with a credit card. Cancellations received within 120 hours (5 days) of arrival will incur a full stay charge.
Elements Yoga & Wellness Center
Voted “The Best” yoga studio in Connecticut for six consecutive years by Greenwich Magazine, Westport Magazine, and New Canaan, Darien & Rowayton Magazine, Elements Yoga & Wellness Center is a unique, spiritually-centered school that offers various styles and levels of yoga as well as expert instruction from acclaimed teachers who represent a full and diverse spectrum of disciplines. In addition to weekly classes; specialized workshops; advanced teacher training, mentoring and study programs; and healing massage and bodywork for yoga practitioners of all ages, the studio’s retreat division is actively working with boutique luxury resorts to develop intimate yoga retreats aimed at invoking total-body transformation. Culturally and spiritually influenced by their locations, retreats will uniquely combine inner work with outdoor adventure to rebalance the mind, center the soul and nourish the spirit. Enriching activities inspired by local custom and heritage in concert with deep yoga practice and spiritual meditation create a singular experience for soul-searching travelers and both avid and casual yoga practitioners.
Elements Yoga & Wellness Center is owned by and operated by the husband and wife team of Bruce Bassock, a former commodity and equity trader turned yogi whose effective Yoga for Men program garnered national attention from The New York Times and Yoga Journal; and Donna Kuebler, a Fairfield County 40 Under 40 recipient, supporter of many non-profits, a charitable event co-chair, and the Program Director of Fit Yoga Magazine. Bassock and Rita Trieger, founder and editor-in-chief of Fit Yoga Magazine; author of Yoga Heals Your Back and Tranquil Mind; a highly-sought yoga conference speaker; and a well-respected yoga and meditation instructor, will lead Elemental Yoga Retreats, including the “Mystical Mayan Adventure” at Ceiba del Mar.
“Our goal is to provide modern travelers—individuals who want to cultivate self-awareness while relaxing, staying fit and having fun—with exactly that opportunity,” says Donna Kuebler, co-founder of Elements Yoga & Wellness Center. “When practice is over we enjoy getting to know the people who attend our retreats to develop a traveling community of like-minded, fun-loving, adventurous yogis. ”
For more information about Ceiba Del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, which was included on Conde Nast Traveler’s 2009 and 2010 Gold List, earning perfect scores of “100” in “Best Rooms” and “Best Service” categories for Mexico, visit www.ceibadelmar.com, or call 1-877-545-6221.
Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort is an award-winning, oceanfront boutique resort in the Riviera Maya district of Mexico. This intimate resort is situated on half-mile of a private white-sand beach and offers 88 deluxe Ocean-View rooms and suites, seven of which are penthouses; two restaurants; a swimming pool; the wellness and aromatherapy Spa at Ceiba del Mar, and beautiful indoor/outdoor spaces for events, meetings and destination weddings.
This sounds like the perfect place to unwind, doesn’t it?
Don’t you hate when the salsa falls off your chip? Me, too! Check out this specially-designed bowl so you never have to worry about errant salsa jumping off your chips.
Called the Salsabol, it features a unique, patent-pending lip that pushes your salsa or dip back onto your chip for the perfect scoop, every time!
They’ve combined incredible functionality and unique modern design to create a playful party piece that adds style and flavor to any table. It’s half revolutionary, half brilliant, and half ridiculous–but it will make your parties awesome and your chips (and guests) happy.
Remember my post about Bookswim? Well, I dove in head first and am reading up a storm. And since cooking, dining and travel are my three favorite subjects, I picked books that reflect those interests. Here are the two I just finished.
Remember our gratitude dinner from Monday? We had invited our two new friends, Teresa and Nick. People ask how I meet all these people. Here is one tale of meeting new friends.
Eric and I had decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner out two weeks ago and made a reservation at Shaun’s through Open Table. You know about Open Table, right? The more reservations you make, the better chance you have to earn dining gift certificates. This is an especially great idea for all you executive assistants who make a lot of reservations for the office. The more they dine out, the more you earn. Win-win!
Anyhoo, our reservation is made and we arrive at Shaun’s about 5 minutes early. It is packed – everyone is trying to use their Scoutmob coupon before it expires the next day (I have to admit that two of those people were us). You would think the restaurant would take this into account when allowing folks to book a table. But alack and alas, I don’t think it crossed their minds. We waited. And waited. And waited. 45 minutes go by. We are about to walk out and order a pizza when we are told that our table is ready. Ok, we’ll stay.
We are seated next to a nice couple and through the shared experience of being made to wait, we get to talking. She previously worked at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, where I just visited and he is a nice chap from England. Just add wine – instant friends.
And food. You need to share your food. Here’s what we ordered.
Pork belly buns - Scrumptious
Crabcake with slaw. Good but tiny...
Chicken Liver heaped on toast. This was huge. So I guess it all balances out.
Flatbread with greens. I don't think I touched this. I was too busy gabbing.
Swell new friend, Teresa, and me.
Eric and our new friend, Nick.
And that’s how it happens. It’s a small world and we are all in it together. Make a new friend today.
oxox, Patti
Today blogging to Joe Cocker – A Little Help From My Friends
Last night, Eric and I had the most fun with our friend, Chef Matt Murphy of The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. Chef was in town on business and arrived a bit early so he could spend some time with us.
We wanted to make sure he had the best time, so I came up with this itinerary (you know how I love a list).
7:30 Meet at Rathbun’s for drinks and apps
8:45 Dinner at Iberian Pig
After dinner – drinks at Mac Magee’s Irish pub
How was it, you ask? Oh, we had a mighty fine time.
Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a fabulous weekend. On Saturday night we gave a dinner to thank some very special folks for being so good to us. Joining us were Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil of Black Tie Barbecue, Laura Scholz, her husband, Tim and our new friends Teresa & Nicholas.
Menu
Grilled Shrimp w/cocktail sauce
Chips w/cheese dip
Grilled Ribeyes wrapped in bacon
Twice-baked stuffed Potatoes
Salad w/raisins, almonds and red onion
Garlic Bread
Pound Cake soaked in Lemoncello
Apple Pie
Sesame and Chocolate Cookies
Vanilla Ice Cream
Malbec, Chardonnay, Cava
Pellegrino
But first, you have to start with a pretty table. I dressed the table in all metalics to give it sparkle. Gold runners, candlesticks and napkins rings paired with silver chargers.
Before guests arrive. I ended up moving the candelabra because it was in the way of the a/c and blowing madly everywhere.
Caren West, of Caren West PR sent me this reminder about next weekend’s Chili Cookoff. Oh, what fun this is. Here are the deets, Dolls!
THE GREAT MILLER LITE CHILI COOK-OFF RETURNS TO STONE MOUNTAIN, GA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
100% of the Proceeds Benefit Camp Twin Lakes
All Ages Welcome; Kids 12 and Under Free
Atlanta, Georgia (September 17, 2010) – The 31st annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off will once again descend upon picturesque Stone Mountain, Ga. on Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. With 100% of the proceeds benefiting Camp Twin Lakes, approximately 300 teams from across the country will provide free chili samples to patrons on a first-come-first-serve basis. The event will also feature six hours of live music, food, drinks, games, contests and more. Fun for the whole family, tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and under get in for free. Tickets can only be purchased the day of the event on site and will not sell out. For more information visit www.theatlantachilicookoff.com.
I have decided to devote the weekends to posts regarding exciting emails I get during the week. Some might be about destinations, some might be about fun products. This way we can still see each other on the weekends!
And you know I always give first priority to my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. In fact, I’m even thinking of devoting a brand new blog just for them. Let me know your thoughts on that.
Today’s exciting news comes from our friend Bonnie Crail, who is giving me the low down on a special offer at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte. Take a look.
Tres chic in the heart of Charlotte
STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHARLOTTE; DRIVE A BMW CONVERTIBLE
October 2010 Package Offers Early Check-In, Late Check-Out,
BMW Convertible Use and a Picnic for the Road
CHARLOTTE, NC. September 17, 2010 — Luxury car enthusiasts have the opportunity to drive a BMW convertible while staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte this October. The new weekend experience, called The Road Best Traveled, allows guests to drive a BMW during their extended Friday or Saturday night stay, and to use it to visit such nearby favorites as the North Carolina wine county, picturesque and artistic Asheville, or the many sports, nature and leisure destinations which dot North Carolina’s byways. A special benefit of the package is customized destination planning provided by The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, ensuring that each day-trip itinerary meets guests’ individual touring preferences.
Priced at $369 per night, The Road Best Traveled includes:
Deluxe accommodations for one weekend night (suite options available at a higher rate)
Use of a BMW convertible during the stay
Early check-in
Late check-out of 4 p.m.
Breakfast for two
Picnic Basket for two
Destination planning assistance
Valet parking
The Road Best Traveled is one of several October 2010 offerings announced by The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. The hotel will celebrate Oktoberfest throughout the month with beer, pretzel and German wine menus in The Lobby Lounge, while EnjoyMINT, a new package celebrating the October grand opening of the Mint Museum in Uptown, will provide guests with an unprecedented new art experience located within walking distance of The Ritz-Carlton.
Reservations for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte are available online at www.ritzcarlton.com, by toll-free telephone at 800.241.3333, or through a travel professional. The Road Best Traveled must be booked at least three days in advance and is subject to availability. Driver(s) must show current valid driver’s license, be at least 25 years of age, carry current auto insurance and sign vehicle usage liability agreement. The Road Best Traveled is available on weekends, only during the month of October, 2010, and blackout dates apply.
I see a trip to Charlotte in my future – Eric would love this!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Rascal Flatts – Life is a highway
