My first trip in 18 months and I found myself in California Wine Country. Not the usual Napa/Sonoma area though – I went to Paso Robles. 3.5 hours between SF and LA. Click here to Read about all the adventures here on BELLAMag.co
ELENA:)
Here it is, I wrote this on the way to LA and I’m well aware of the three errors in the piece. Can’t wait for more!
ELENA:)
Everyone knows that Instagram is a goldmine for talent. Local artisans flaunt their works and are remarkable at their craft; Janis is no exception. I gifted my coworkers bags of her yummy popcorn last Christmas and for the The Love List Lounge in Feb, Janis made popcorn snack pack bags with Salted Carmel Apple Pie Brittle. So tasty.
This is 5 minute 5 questions with Janis Sadoyama from Spoon Me Sweetly:
1) How long have you lived in LA?
All my life (30 some odd years lol) 😉
2) Why did you start Spoon Me Sweetly?
As a sweet escape from our hectic days. Too rarely do we have an opportunity to treat ourselves to something handmade with love. When knees deep in the hustle and bustle it’s nice to take a break and indulge (but not over indulge!)
3) Tell us about your best seller sweet?
Our best sellers are our dipped spoons. The flavors vary from chocolate sea salt caramel to custom flavors like spicy cocoa (chocolate with a kick of cayenne). They’re meant to be enjoyed submerged and swirled into a hot or warm beverage for a couple of seconds until the ingredients warm up and get gooey…then you just eat them off the wooden spoon. So fun, and just like take a bite of a yummy warm dessert.
4) What is your favourite sweet and why?
I’m a big time texture gal, so my favorite is our ramen rocky road! I love chocolate, and marshmallows, but never loved the almonds or walnuts added to desserts so I figure why not toasted ramen?! The rest is delicious history.
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or current mate)?
Oooo now the juicy question lol 😉 I have an incredible man in my life and he has the 3 qualities that I hold near and dear to my heart for all relationships (romantic or platonic): integrity, sincerity, and resilience.
Be sure to follow Spoon Me Sweetly on Instagram and Twitter: @spoonmesweetly and ‘Like’ them on Facebook.
ELENA:)
I always find that Jan/Feb is always a great time to go away. Besides the fact that it’s usually cheaper, the end of the month marks the lovely day when I was born (Jan 29 to be exact).
This year, I spent it at the lovely million star resort in Loreto, Baja California Sur called Villa del Palmar at the islands of Loreto.
Two hours away from Los Angeles, the secluded beachfront getaway lies on the Sea of Cortez. While waters are rough on the Pacific Coast, the calm waters of the UNESCO protected sea lend itself well to water sports (kayaking, snorkeling, whale/dolphin watching).
At first walk around, the massive property seems vacant. But in fact, it’s just the nature of the resort. Peaceful. No people harassing you to buy a time share. No vendors on the beach wanting to sell you overpriced goods. Not only is the resort peaceful, it’s flexible depending upon if you want an all inclusive get away or something less structured.
Bear in mind, I do not frequent resorts often. I prefer the navigation of a crowded city, where some of the best eats are found on the side of the road. Yet, I found myself enjoying quiet serenity of the resort and waking up to hearing the birds chirping delightfully.
On arrival, I walked into the palatial one bedroom suite with full sized jucuzzi, full kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a washer and dryer. A whole family could comfortably stay for their entire length of their vacation.
The first day we were treated to a lunch where we first got a sampling of the wonderful fish tacos and yummy guacamole. I was hooked. Later for dinner we feasted on BBQ and watched a fun variety show.
The next day, I turned 35! At breakfast, I was greeted by staff who sang happy birthday en espanol and English. Very sweet.
After a quick tour of the resort we headed out on the water. The plan was to go whale watching – except we ended up playing with a pod of over 100 dolphins instead. We also saw sea lions and two lucky people saw the back of a humpback whale. Being on the boat built up an appetite for some, and more chips and guacamole did just the trick.
When we arrived back at the hotel, I devoured my cake from the morning which was thankfully, saved in my fridge. Little did I know there would be another piece of cake and another round of Happy Birthday’s sung to me at dinner!
Needing to work off the rich meal, we headed for a club in the hills to dance it off. And just when I thought the celebration was over – the turn down service had delightfully decorated my room.
PS: Want to stay at the Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto at a discounted rate and check it out for yourself? You can book now and travel until April 30, 2016.
Deluxe Studio suite: $146 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
One Bedroom Suite: $228 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
Two Bedroom Suite: $370 USD per night, plus taxes and gratuities
Reference the code FAMJAN16 when you book a reservation through [email protected]
Terms and conditions apply, blackout dates apply.
ELENA:)
Check out my first contribution to BELLA LA! It’s a Valentine’s Gift Guide for both women and men. Thanks to all the companies that helped me put this piece together. They all hail from the West Coast too.
Spoon Me Sweetly – LA, California
Panty by Post – Vancouver, BC
Orox Leather – Portland, Oregon
Happy Spritz – LA, California and Vancouver, BC
C+C Lifestyles by Design – Vancouver, BC
Maison du Soir – LA, California
tiny fern – Vancouver, BC
Packed Party – San Francisco, California
Bekah-Anne Accessories – Qualicum Beach, BC
ELENA:)