The month of love is upon us all…red roses, dark chocolates, and the vibrant color pink fill the store fronts, igniting “love flames” across the globe. Does your heart pound for this hallmark holiday? February is the month to proclaim your love, to connect, express and appreciate your dearest valentine. The sacred 14th of February has long been reserved for you and your sweetie to enjoy one another’s company and dedicate the day for two.
There is no better way to get away from the stresses of life, to turn off the fidgety cell phone, shut down the computer screen, ditch the daily planner and center in on what matters most, the one nearest and dearest to your heart. Valentines Day travel is a great way to ensure a memorable, relaxing and romantic retreat. Venture out for a Valentines Day weekend you will remember for years to come.
With over eight hundred deals for you and your other half, there is no better way to truly express your affection than on an outstanding romantic getaway at a cozy bed and breakfast inn.
Aside from the annual heart day, February is a great month to begin gearing up for the New Year and pulling the house back together in recuperation from the hectic holidays. After taking a much needed “breather” in January, it is now time to buckle down in February and take action for 2010. Color and de-clutter is a great theme for motivation. Freshen up the pantry door, accent the walls and wake up the home with neutral, yet inviting colors such as butter cream or amber, paired with a honey hue to virtually give any room a refreshing and vibrant start. Investing in fun, but useful colored chalkboard paint could not only be enjoyable for the entire family, but also a great way to keep organized and on task with everyday life activities and ever changing agendas.
In over 24 colors, write directly on the paint just as you would a classroom chalkboard! Not only will the kiddies love it, but so will your scattered schedule! Open up those cob webbed closets, line up the room with a bin titled “garbage, “give away”, and “relocate” and get tidy in no time. It may be a good idea to have a support system in the midst of de clutter so you won’t be tempted to re-closet the clutter once again. Be productive and put your game face on, eliminating all excess accessories.
For those color critics, Pantone has officially announced the beautiful turquoise to be the official 2010 color of the year. “Believed to be a protector of deep compassion and healing, the color is also a sign of faith, water and sky.” Turquoise is a feel good color, sure to enrich your spirits and perk up your mood. An inviting, luminous hue, the color of the year is unique and universally flattering. So, next time you’re up for a shopping spree, take note to this tempting turquoise revelation. Speaking of turquoise, I had the recent privilege of setting sail on the shimmery, turquoise waters on a Holland American Cruise this past month. The scenery and magnificent service I highly recommend for anyone in search of a fantastic family friendly cruise!
With Love in February,
Pamela
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Years Resolutions
The New Year has many of us making resolutions and commitments to improve our lives. One of the surest ways to do so is to take care of our home environment, and that can be done on a shoestring! Sometimes, something as simple as taking down the holiday trimmings and pulling out some different décor by looking at the things you already own can make a big difference.
January is a great month to go glamorous. Look around the house for some mirrors or shiny objects. Maybe you have a piece of silver hanging out in the back of the cabinet in need of some polishing. Well get it out! Place it on a mirror and place some candles on top—voila! Instant ambiance!
I’ve been noticing more ad more innkeepers working with botanicals in their décor. January is a great month to bring some branches of forsythia, red bud, plum or apple into your home.
Another way to create instant drama is to put together a beautiful sculptural creation with branches mixed in with a few colorful, long-lasting carnations or astrolomeria placed in perhaps a shiny water pitcher or a big glass, giving you pleasure and color for two to three weeks Citrus is coming into its full season right now.Nothing wakes up a kitchen like the one I visited last week more than an arrangement of brilliant lemons, oranges, and limes displayed on your countertop.January is also a great month for some travel planning and also to take advantage of travel deals.
Find yourself a few free days and you can get a spectacular deal at one of our member B&B’s. Nothing like a change of scene to revitalize ones mood, and for couples, more quality time together is a glorious New Year’ s resolution.
Wish you all the very best of 2010,
Pamela
January is a great month to go glamorous. Look around the house for some mirrors or shiny objects. Maybe you have a piece of silver hanging out in the back of the cabinet in need of some polishing. Well get it out! Place it on a mirror and place some candles on top—voila! Instant ambiance!
I’ve been noticing more ad more innkeepers working with botanicals in their décor. January is a great month to bring some branches of forsythia, red bud, plum or apple into your home.
Another way to create instant drama is to put together a beautiful sculptural creation with branches mixed in with a few colorful, long-lasting carnations or astrolomeria placed in perhaps a shiny water pitcher or a big glass, giving you pleasure and color for two to three weeks Citrus is coming into its full season right now.Nothing wakes up a kitchen like the one I visited last week more than an arrangement of brilliant lemons, oranges, and limes displayed on your countertop.January is also a great month for some travel planning and also to take advantage of travel deals.
Find yourself a few free days and you can get a spectacular deal at one of our member B&B’s. Nothing like a change of scene to revitalize ones mood, and for couples, more quality time together is a glorious New Year’ s resolution.
Wish you all the very best of 2010,
Pamela
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Delicious Dips & Holiday Cheer
It was a cold night for the North Bay last night when we headed up to Healdsburg in the heart of dry creek and Anderson Valley for the annual fundraising event for Healdsburg library. The theme was wine and food and I was asked to bring an appetizer on behalf of an organization I belong to, Sonoma Culinary Guild. It was my pleasure.
Delicoius Dips
Marie and I showed up sporting Christmas red clothes and an hors d'oeuvre of dipped stuffed peppers, big chubby ones, in red, orange, yellow and green. Against the background of our square white plate and teamed up with all natural crackers in several shapes, this was a visual as well as a flavor hit. One of the dips was made with cream cheese or low fat cream cheese, blue cheese and I used the last portion of quite, strong blue cheese, mashed together, lightened up with some low fat sour cream and then for the final finish, we toasted and chopped some pecans. The whole things blended together in the course of the afternoon and were really a taste sensation.
I think I first had this type of dip in a little in Savannah, GA about twenty years ago..it stuck with me. The next one was a secret dip I learned at the Oaks in Ohio, an Inn/Spa that is noted for its affordable prices and fabulous cuisine. In one class, we learned to take low fat ricotta (non-fat cottage cheese works too) and a few chunks of strongly flavored hard cheese, in this case I used an excellent, ultra sharp New England Cheddar. Throw them together in a food processor and process longer until you would ever believe, until they totally form a dense cream consistency. Then, decant into a refrigerator container and store. Don’t taste until the next day. It’s amazing, but just 20% of the higher fat hard cheese totally permeates the blander ricotta and the whole dip is absolutely yummy and heart healthy.
My final dip was made of yogurt. In this case, a nice whole milk one-still pretty low in calories. Which I spiced up with some finally chopped green onion stems and a handful of finely chopped cilantro or parsley would be good too. Blend that, add some cracked black pepper and pop it in the refrigerator to combine overnight.Delicious Dips
As you can see, the theme we chose was healthy, which is a lot of people we know New Years Resolution plan, just eat healthier all the time not be doing anything stringent, but by enjoying the delicious flavor of natural foods and cutting out fat calories, especially saturated fat calories by swapping lower cal dairy products. We heard lots of “mmms” and “wow delicious”. Come to think of it, it could be paired with Sonoma County’s finest wines, by Segheio, elevated our hors d'oeuvre quite a bit. What are you serving for holiday parties? We’d love to hear, send us your recipes!
Best to you and yours,
Pamela
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Color Orange
Autumn colors, the leaves turning oh so rapidly, the time is changing and it’s getting darker. To me, that means it’s time to brighten up! A really great way to do so is with the color of the season. Orange, whether pumpkin, azenia, carrot stick or turmeric is a color that spells optimism and energy.
If you love orange, like me, what does it say about you? You’re likely “outgoing, creative, expressive and young at heart,” says Colorstrology author and founder of myinnerworld.com Michelle Berhardt.
Colorstrology $13.57 amazon.com ISBN # 15947440259
I love orange and I love to bring it into rooms, but it can also be tricky if you want it to really be a treat. Generally when using deep pumpkin, or a bright day lily, it goes best in a smaller room and is great for rooms that will be lit at night. It also makes a fabulous accent color. Whether a bright chair or stool in the kitchen, or accent pillows on the sofa. The mellower, more amber shades may be used on larger surfaces with good effect. All oranges pair beautifully with mahogany, deep dark plum, medium dark blue, white, clove, dark woods and my personal favorite, chocolate velvet. The only color to really avoid is black, which except in the tiniest amounts on accessories creates too much of a trick-or-treat atmosphere.
If you’re going to add orange to a bedroom, do so with care, but do it! Perhaps start with a throw, it could be solid or even more fun and ethnic textile, maybe a paisley. I’m also seeing more top of bed and throw pillows with hints of orange. These can really wake up many background shade bedrooms, especially those with wall shades of mossy greens, pinks and “ubiquitous beige-y.” Keep those sheets and other under bedding white to balance this very vibrant hue.
Flowers are another natural way to add shades of fall to your decor, some of the very best looking silk and dried flowers can be found in this vibrant palette. Think field poppies, day lily, chrysanthemums, tithonia, sunflowers, there are so many. Why not mix them up with some taller hat tails, wheat ornamental Chinese pumpkins for a really stand out presentation? I also noticed more lamps and other room accessories in an orange or rust hue. I don’t think you can miss with a rust colored suede leather or velvet side chair. These shades of amber also go well to punch up a blush pink room and give it a little more backbone for winter.
Finally, I passed a house in Napa not too long ago that had a glossy front door in a rich but slightly muted pumpkin shade. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was gourd b1-2 by Dutch Boy. The door looked sensational with brass knocker, brass lamp above and flanked by terracotta pots running riot with greens and white Geranium. What a welcoming entry! I can just imagine it, with seasonal wreaths hung, if one were so inclined. Speaking of pumpkin, don’t miss out on our pumpkin pie recipes, pumpkin muffins and much, much more in the recipe section of
Some Oranges To Preview:
-Clay Red
-Valspar Orange Fruit
-Orange Bead
-Benjamin Moore Mandarin Orange
-Behr Paints Sweet Mandarin
-Glidden Paint Deep Garnet
-Glidden Paint Vibrant Day Lily
- Turmeric- Yarrow SW6669
- Carrot Stick- Crushed Orange 250B-7
- Wild Fire- Orange Bowl 47YR
- Zinnia- Palomino 2011-12
-Pumpkin Seed- Gourd B1-2
-Autumn Orange2156-10
-Autumn Glow 250B-6
If you love orange, like me, what does it say about you? You’re likely “outgoing, creative, expressive and young at heart,” says Colorstrology author and founder of myinnerworld.com Michelle Berhardt.
Colorstrology $13.57 amazon.com ISBN # 15947440259
I love orange and I love to bring it into rooms, but it can also be tricky if you want it to really be a treat. Generally when using deep pumpkin, or a bright day lily, it goes best in a smaller room and is great for rooms that will be lit at night. It also makes a fabulous accent color. Whether a bright chair or stool in the kitchen, or accent pillows on the sofa. The mellower, more amber shades may be used on larger surfaces with good effect. All oranges pair beautifully with mahogany, deep dark plum, medium dark blue, white, clove, dark woods and my personal favorite, chocolate velvet. The only color to really avoid is black, which except in the tiniest amounts on accessories creates too much of a trick-or-treat atmosphere.
If you’re going to add orange to a bedroom, do so with care, but do it! Perhaps start with a throw, it could be solid or even more fun and ethnic textile, maybe a paisley. I’m also seeing more top of bed and throw pillows with hints of orange. These can really wake up many background shade bedrooms, especially those with wall shades of mossy greens, pinks and “ubiquitous beige-y.” Keep those sheets and other under bedding white to balance this very vibrant hue.
Flowers are another natural way to add shades of fall to your decor, some of the very best looking silk and dried flowers can be found in this vibrant palette. Think field poppies, day lily, chrysanthemums, tithonia, sunflowers, there are so many. Why not mix them up with some taller hat tails, wheat ornamental Chinese pumpkins for a really stand out presentation? I also noticed more lamps and other room accessories in an orange or rust hue. I don’t think you can miss with a rust colored suede leather or velvet side chair. These shades of amber also go well to punch up a blush pink room and give it a little more backbone for winter.
Finally, I passed a house in Napa not too long ago that had a glossy front door in a rich but slightly muted pumpkin shade. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was gourd b1-2 by Dutch Boy. The door looked sensational with brass knocker, brass lamp above and flanked by terracotta pots running riot with greens and white Geranium. What a welcoming entry! I can just imagine it, with seasonal wreaths hung, if one were so inclined. Speaking of pumpkin, don’t miss out on our pumpkin pie recipes, pumpkin muffins and much, much more in the recipe section of
Some Oranges To Preview:
-Clay Red
-Valspar Orange Fruit
-Orange Bead
-Benjamin Moore Mandarin Orange
-Behr Paints Sweet Mandarin
-Glidden Paint Deep Garnet
-Glidden Paint Vibrant Day Lily
- Turmeric- Yarrow SW6669
- Carrot Stick- Crushed Orange 250B-7
- Wild Fire- Orange Bowl 47YR
- Zinnia- Palomino 2011-12
-Pumpkin Seed- Gourd B1-2
-Autumn Orange2156-10
-Autumn Glow 250B-6
Friday, October 23, 2009
Nebraska Travels & Award Winning Recipe!
Just back today from the amazing state of Nebraska where I had the pleasure of addressing the Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfasts and the 2009 Nebraska travel and tourism conference. I am amazed by the inventiveness that the Nebraskans have shown in developing the tourism industry and increasing lodging and stay-overs in their state. Actually one of the most heavily transited in the United States going back all the way to the Oregon Trail, Pony Express, Union Pacific Railroad, and now Highway 8, which carries over 16,000 travelers over 450 plus miles each year. I had the pleasure of also taking part in the annual Bed and Breakfast recipe contest. Even after reviewing more than 6,000 B&B recipes for our cookbooks, including our latest Cinnamon Morning and Savory Nights, I still get a thrill from a wonderful thrill from a new recipe and this one developed by Yvonne Dalluge from My Blue Heaven B&B in Pawnee City, Nebraska.
UPSIDE-DOWN BANANA-WALNUT FRENCH TOAST
1 ½ cup packed brown sugar ½ cup butter or margarine, melted
¼ cup corn syrup ½ cup chopped walnuts
3 medium bananas, sliced 1 loaf sliced unfrosted firm cinnamon bread
6 eggs 1 ½ cups milk
1 teas. Vanilla
Spray bottom and sides of 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray of grease with shortening. Gently stir in bananas. Spoon banana mixture into baking dish.
Reserve heels of bread for another use. Arrange 2 loaves of bread on banana mixture, tearing bread to fit if needed.
In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla with a wire whish until well mixed. Pour over bread. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.
Heat over to 325. Uncover bread mixture. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve portions upside down, spooning sauce from bottom of dish to cover each serving.
Makes 10 servings.
Best,
-Pamela
UPSIDE-DOWN BANANA-WALNUT FRENCH TOAST
1 ½ cup packed brown sugar ½ cup butter or margarine, melted
¼ cup corn syrup ½ cup chopped walnuts
3 medium bananas, sliced 1 loaf sliced unfrosted firm cinnamon bread
6 eggs 1 ½ cups milk
1 teas. Vanilla
Spray bottom and sides of 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray of grease with shortening. Gently stir in bananas. Spoon banana mixture into baking dish.
Reserve heels of bread for another use. Arrange 2 loaves of bread on banana mixture, tearing bread to fit if needed.
In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla with a wire whish until well mixed. Pour over bread. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.
Heat over to 325. Uncover bread mixture. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve portions upside down, spooning sauce from bottom of dish to cover each serving.
Makes 10 servings.
Best,
-Pamela
Friday, October 16, 2009
Fall Bliss
Northern California we’ve just experienced our first big rain, the air has changed, fall has clearly arrived and I am on my way to speak at the Nebraska bed and breakfast convention next week. On Wednesday, I’ll be addressing all of Nebraska tourism on the subject of destination marketing. So, as a traveler, I’m also looking around and wondering what my own destination has to offer that I haven’t really tapped into yet. A quick perusal of the visitors center site came up with two October Fest gatherings this weekend- beer, brats, and dancing.
Several pumpkin farms, which would be a blast with kids! , and a local brewpub are offering some special fall pumpkin pilsner. I decided to keep it simple this year in terms of the decorations. I found a great, tall pumpkin inexpensively, which I stuck on top of the old milk canister near the entrance to the house. A beautiful, glowing, harvest gold Chrysanthemum right by the back door, which I bough in tight bud, will provide us with lots of color and inspiration for the next three weeks. After it’s bloomed out, I’ll transplant it into the perennial border and later on at the end of November. After well established, I’ll cut it back with everything else.
This is a terrific time of year to think about what you want next years garden to look like, and that goes for however small your plot may be. By placing several thicknesses of newspaper over unwanted weeds and pads and weighing them down, you can kill them off for the year to come. This is good for the environment- less pesticides, and easy on your back. There is still time and more moderate climbs to put in some herbs. I keep a half of wine barrel filled with rich soil to which I have added some handfuls or vermiculite to hold the water right by my back door. In the center, elevated on a few bricks, goes my seasonal plant, in this case the Chrysanthemum. After that, I’m thinking of pink poinsettia, and around the sides of my barrel about three inches away from the wall of the barrel, I plant herbs. Most especially, tough ones like thyme, which also attractively spills over the edge, parsley both curly and flat is an absolute must, oregano, and sage, another decorative one, and whatever else the garden center offers up. In the spring I am always sure to add a few nasturtium seeds as their bright blooms tumble over the side, and both leaves and the bright blossoms are edible. Here is Northern California, we do get some frost in the winter, so if we are expecting one of those I take the centerpiece plant inside, and water the whole half barrel well, because water drown doesn’t freeze nearly as easily. Then, I loosely drape an old sheet over the whole thing. This is proven very effective for me. Finally, I love to cook and on a dreary day. Nothing raises my spirits more than a bout in the kitchen.
I am currently testing for a favorite apple crisp recipe-do you have one? Please send it to us!
mailto:Lanier@travelguides.com, and also, I am in search for my ultimate tender, delicious, healthy but not “ucky” bran muffin recipe. I’d love your input on that too! Have a beautiful fall, and Happy Halloween.
-Pamela
Several pumpkin farms, which would be a blast with kids! , and a local brewpub are offering some special fall pumpkin pilsner. I decided to keep it simple this year in terms of the decorations. I found a great, tall pumpkin inexpensively, which I stuck on top of the old milk canister near the entrance to the house. A beautiful, glowing, harvest gold Chrysanthemum right by the back door, which I bough in tight bud, will provide us with lots of color and inspiration for the next three weeks. After it’s bloomed out, I’ll transplant it into the perennial border and later on at the end of November. After well established, I’ll cut it back with everything else.
This is a terrific time of year to think about what you want next years garden to look like, and that goes for however small your plot may be. By placing several thicknesses of newspaper over unwanted weeds and pads and weighing them down, you can kill them off for the year to come. This is good for the environment- less pesticides, and easy on your back. There is still time and more moderate climbs to put in some herbs. I keep a half of wine barrel filled with rich soil to which I have added some handfuls or vermiculite to hold the water right by my back door. In the center, elevated on a few bricks, goes my seasonal plant, in this case the Chrysanthemum. After that, I’m thinking of pink poinsettia, and around the sides of my barrel about three inches away from the wall of the barrel, I plant herbs. Most especially, tough ones like thyme, which also attractively spills over the edge, parsley both curly and flat is an absolute must, oregano, and sage, another decorative one, and whatever else the garden center offers up. In the spring I am always sure to add a few nasturtium seeds as their bright blooms tumble over the side, and both leaves and the bright blossoms are edible. Here is Northern California, we do get some frost in the winter, so if we are expecting one of those I take the centerpiece plant inside, and water the whole half barrel well, because water drown doesn’t freeze nearly as easily. Then, I loosely drape an old sheet over the whole thing. This is proven very effective for me. Finally, I love to cook and on a dreary day. Nothing raises my spirits more than a bout in the kitchen.
I am currently testing for a favorite apple crisp recipe-do you have one? Please send it to us!
mailto:Lanier@travelguides.com, and also, I am in search for my ultimate tender, delicious, healthy but not “ucky” bran muffin recipe. I’d love your input on that too! Have a beautiful fall, and Happy Halloween.
-Pamela
Friday, October 9, 2009
Fabulous Upcoming Innkeeper Conferences!
Hello Everybody! I wanted to personally invite all Innkeepers to our upcoming complimentary conference in NYC!
We felt it was time that our members have access to the latest products and services for the hospitality industry, and a voice at the industry's leading platform, so we've forged a partnership with The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show on your behalf. Take part in fascinating workshops, focusing on all sectors of the lodging experience alongside your peers, hoteliers, marketing directors and other lodging professions. Best of all, there is absolutely no charge for BBIGI members to attend the show on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. Take advantage of the conference's negotiated rates at some of New York's finest hotels and join Pamela and Marie, and your fellow innkeepers, for some special sessions and entertainment just for us (including a Broadway style show!).
In addition, the upcoming Seminar At Sea Conference is also a great and informative, fun-filled conference to attend! Join your fellow Innkeepers on an 7 day Cruise the week of January 9 - 16, 2010 for a memorable Marketing Cruise aboard the Norwegian Pearl in the Sunny Caribbean. This 2010 seven-day Cruise will head south out of Miami to Samana; St. Thomas; Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. Our very own Marie Lanier, of lanier Publishing and VP of TravelGuides. Marie has become the new Marketing Guru at TravelGuides and is an expert when it comes to Social Networking. Both of these speakers are pillars of the Bed & Breakfast Industry whose knowledge on operations and marketing is invaluable to all of us. Seminars are given only on the days when the Ship is at Sea and these speakers will take part in round-table discussions on one of the days when we are at sea. This way, these experts can help answer your questions on B&B operations and marketing, and this interests all of us.
Cruise Itinerary
Saturday, January 9, 2010 --- Miami, Florida -- Depart 04:00 PM
Sunday, January 10, 2010 --- At Sea
Monday, January 11, 2010 -- Samana Arrive 10:00 AM - Depart 06:00 PM
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 -- St Thomas-- Arrive 09:00 AM - Depart 06:00 PM
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 -- Tortola (Roadtown) -- Arrive 07:00 AM -- Depart 03:00 PM
Thursday, January 14, 2010 - At Sea
Friday, . January 15, 2010 -- Great Stirrup Cay-- Arrive 09:00 AM -- Depart 06:00 PM
Saturday, January 16, 2010 -- Miami -- Arrive 08:00 AM
-These two conferences are going to be just fantastic, and are a great resource for Innkeepers! Not only can you learn very helpful tips on how to promote your Inn & continue your steady flow of travelers, you can also network-have a great time, and enjoy a nice vacation for yourself for once, instead of playing hostess! I recommend both to all of you! Can't wait!
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