Category Archives: Photo

While the Rest of the World Moves at a Frantic Pace, Sunset Cove Villas Cultivates an Air of Unhurried Leisure and Tranquility

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Laguna Beach, and the surrounding Orange County areas, is the reason my husband and I moved across the continent. There are quaint shops, delicious restaurants, art galleries, beachfront beauty, year-round sunshine, and friendly people that remind me of eastern Canada. Sunset Cove Villas, located directly on the beach and minutes from the heart of downtown, are ideally situated to take full advantage of these benefits. Rising directly above Laguna Beach’s dramatic coastline, one of the most desirable beaches on the California coast,  Sunset Cove Villas face the majestic beauty of the Pacific Ocean, creating a picturesque setting and romantic atmosphere. The crashing waves, white sand, spectacular sunsets, and gentle breezes make a stay at Sunset Cove Villas priceless. What nature has not graciously provided, the owners of Sunset Cove Villas have; luxury, ample amenities, and attention to every detail are all part of the Villa experience at Sunset Cove. I’ve stayed in hotels in 33 countries and countless cities, but none have compared to the 180 degree view of the ocean I experienced while waking up at Sunset Cove Villas. With a balcony on the water and access to the ocean just footsteps away, our Seychelles Villa was the kind of oceanside experience I’d associated with Southern California living, but had yet to attain. I finally soaked up the chance to spend some time living my California dream. Continue reading →

Visions of Sugar Plums – The Festival Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker

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Oh, the magic of it all. Living dolls. The Sugar Plum Fairy. The Snow Queen. Dancing snowflakes. A Christmas tree that grows to spectacular heights. It’s The Nutcracker, in all its magic, beauty, and holiday charm. With music by Peter Tchaikovsky and stunning scenery and costume design by Simon Pastukh and Galina Solovyeva, Salwa Rizkalla’s production has something to delight every family member. It’s not everyday you have a chance to create a new tradition, a custom, of enjoying performing arts, but The Festival Ballet Theatre has found two regulars in their spectacular production. There are few things that personify Christmas like The Nutcracker and I can’t wait to share that experience with my family for years to come. Continue reading →

Mountain Mama – Expecting Adventure!

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Up until now, I refused to buy maternity clothes that I would wear for two months and never get use of again! That all ended when I found Mountain Mama. I no longer have to wear over-sized sweaters and my husband’s jackets; Mountain Mama designs garments that are guaranteed to fit before, during, and after pregnancy.  All Mountain Mama apparel is built to perform through every stage of pregnancy and beyond. Their high-performance outdoor clothing adapts to women’s changing bodies, from the first trimester, the growing baby-bump, and back again. Innovative designs and advanced technical fabrics mean the garments will be keeping you comfortable and looking great, no matter what the conditions. Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Holiday Feast at The Palazzo‏ in Vegas

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Our first American Thanksgiving was celebrated at The Palazzo and it will go down in our history books as the grandest Thanksgiving to date. The inagural event, held at the waterfall atrium, was a unique, festive, and sold-out holiday feast fit for kings and queens.  We sat side-by-side at two 30-foot masterfully decorated tables with guests from around the world, sharing the joyous holiday occasion with our “Palazzo family” while being surrounded by magnificent décor featuring autumn leaves, bales of hay, cornucopia, and traditional crops of American landscape. Although it could never compare to my mother’s slow-cooked-to-perfection turkey or her moist, melt-in-your-mouth rolls or being surrounded by my brothers and sisters while reminiscing about childhood and sometimes reliving it, The Palazzo created a welcoming environment that reminded me of all things for which I am thankful. Continue reading →

WINTER IN VENICE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

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Since moving to California, I shamefully admit I do miss the seasons, especially during Fall when my home in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada is synonymous with the changing of the leaves and winter becomes a magical paradise filled with holiday cheer, skating, fluffy snowflakes, decorations and huge Christmas trees, caroling and singing, and warm apple cider or hot chocolate by the fire place. What I don’t miss is the extreme cold weather, the frigid, damp winds that chill to the bone, and shoveling massive amounts of snow only to drive on treacherous roads.  The Venetian and The Palazzo Las Vegas just introduced Winter in Venice. With 49 days, Nov. 21 – Jan. 8, of holiday festivities, Winter in Venice will be the ultimate vacation for an unforgettable holiday experience and it will be taking place during my Las Vegas trip in November.  With all the perks of winter and none of the disadvantages, I will celebrate the winter season on the Las Vegas Strip with The Venetian and The Palazzo.

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Strange Animal Encounters in the Florida Keys

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Some people are just in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude toward something new. I am one of those people. By chance, I met Adam Sandler and Tom Waits in Ireland, Jason Bay in Boston, Flogging Molly in New Brunswick, the Pope in Italy, and the Queen in England. Just last week, I was scheduled for a tour over LA by helicopter. When we arrived, we were escorted to an airplane, which seemed equally as adventurous so we never complained and stepped on board. After our flight, we learned that the company had made a simple mistake and they offered our original helicopter tour at no extra charge. We were able to fly over the beach cities by plane and downtown LA by helicopter all in the same day. Because I travel so freely and rarely have set plans, it leaves a window of opportunity. It was this free-spirited, open-ended travel that led me to a strange animal encounter in the Florida Keys. Continue reading →

The Kindness of Others

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Blogging has made such as impact on my life and I’ve only been doing it for three months. I’ve been introduced to the world through reading other blogs, adventures, and views. I’ve become acquaintances with mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, teachers, elderly, and children who have touched my heart and warmed my soul. Today, I received a message that has made such an impact on me that I though I would re-post it along with my response:

“Miss Lesley~

You’re my hero! Noticed you gave me a thumbs up on my blog…which led me to you! Whatta treat to read about your amazing adventures…you rock! I plan on being you in my next lifetime. Figure a gal who can eat a entire mega burger has gotta be a pretty cool chick!

Congrats on the baby, that will be your greatest adventure ever! I would love to gift you a print for the nursery (I’m an artist who adores whimsical positive images). Just click to my site http://www.cindydeluz.com and pick out whatever calls to you and the babe. It will arrive will a loving prayer attached…..consider it “angel mail”.

Keep living life to the fullest and making us smile out here!

Hugs~

Cindy

P.S. I subscribed to your blog…I’m sure you’ll hit 5,000 peeps before you know it. Woo Who!!” Continue reading →

Shipping Up to Boston, MA

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Someone recently asked me about Boston, MA. What is there to do there? Is it a good city to visit? When visiting Boston two years ago, I discovered that it houses neighborhoods with distinct character, historic shipyards, top educational institutes, the beloved Red Sox, and big-city entertainment. With history and culture around every bend, skyscrapers nestled next to historic hotels, and modern marketplaces lining antique cobblestone streets, Boston is a vibrant, thriving city with adventures for all ages. Unfortunately, I can’t address many of those beautiful sights or locations around Boston because I found McGreevy’s Pub, home of the Dropkick Murphys and all that quaint historic, cultural stuff was replaced by an excessively drunken day and night in the heart of Boston. At only 1200 steps from Fenway Park and the Boston House of Blues, McGreevy’s 3rd Base Saloon is a traditional Irish Pub dedicated to Boston sports, Boston history, and great Boston music. It’s known as America’s first sports bar, winner of Boston’s best sport bar many times over, home of the Dropkick Murphys, and the best bar in Boston to kick back and enjoy a pint. Continue reading →

Soaring Above Los Angeles – Celebrity Helicopter Tours

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Soaring above the congested traffic amidst the Los Angeles skyscrapers was an exhilarating experience made possible by Celebrity Helicopter Tours. The VIP Grand Tour covered all the destinations I wanted to see in the LA area. With a little bit of beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the heart of downtown, this thrilling tour featured an exciting jaunt around LA. With a bird’s eye view of one of the most amazing metropolis cities in the US, Chief Pilot Robin Petgrave gave us an extravagant helicopter tour. Continue reading →

Across the Continent Move Made Easy – New Brunswick to California

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Life in eastern Canada was simple and connected. Teaching high school English in Moncton, New Brunswick was a challenging yet rewarding experience. I loved my students and my co-workers, some more than others of course, and the benefits of being a full-time, pension-receiving teacher who enjoys stress free summers and all of the holidays are ample to say the least. The short, two hour drive to see my family was a breeze and made “family time” a regular event. My boyfriend, now husband, Darren, was more than I ever thought possible in a man other than my grandfather and he made me see how beautiful life can be. His IT position allowed him to work from home and give us the quality time that I always desired. We’d traveled to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Florida, and the Bahamas during my summer vacation and he worked during the day from the hotel rooms. We owned a house, we finally paid off our cars, and we spent our evenings walking in the park where we first met.; but there was one thing missing – the sunshine! New Brunswick is not a frozen tundra with 24 hours of darkness, snow, ice, and cold. It has gorgeous summers with light winds that make for a spectacular day sailing or boogie boarding in the Atlantic Ocean, but was that enough? Two months of sunshine followed by a cold, dreary season of extended winter was not my idea of a dream location. I was living a beautiful life and I wasn’t willing to settle for anything else, including my environment.

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