2009 Awards for Excellence

The following hotels, resorts and spas were selected as this year's winners in the Condé Nast 2009 Awards for Excellence:

ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDS

Most Excellent Resort

Carlisle Bay - Antigua

Most Excellent Hotel

Hôtel Le Toiny - Saint Barthélemy

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway

Horned Dorset Primavera - Puerto Rico

Most Excellent Spa Hotel

CuisinArt Resort & Spa - Anguilla

SOUTH AMERICA

Most Excellent Beach Resort

Kiaroa Eco- Luxury Resort - Brazil

Most Excellent Hotel

Hotel Unique - Brazil

Most Excellent Small Hotel

Pousada Maravilha - Brazil

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway

Ponta dos Ganchos - Brazil

Most Excellent Spa Hotel

Kurotel - Brazil

Most Excellent Lodge

Hotel Las Balsas - Argentina

MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA

Most Excellent Resort

Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort - Mexico

Most Excellent Spa Hotel

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort - Mexico

Most Excellent Hotel

Hacienda Xcanatún - Casa de Piedra - Mexico

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway

Hotel Punta Islita - Costa Rica and Las Alamandas Resort - Mexico

Most Excellent Beach Hotel

Victoria House - Belize

UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Most Excellent Hotel

The Hay-Adams - Washington, DC and The Setai - Florida

Most Excellent Ranch

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa - Utah

Most Excellent Inn

The Baker House 1650 - New York

Most Excellent Small Hotel

Casa Tua - Florida

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway

Post Ranch Inn - California

Most Excellent Lodge

Sun Mountain Lodge - Washington

Most Excellent Country House Hotel

Blantyre - Massachusetts

Most Excellent Spa Hotel

Wedgewood Hotel and Spa - British Columbia

Most Excellent Golf Resort

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort - South Carolina

Most Excellent Resort

Meadowood Napa Valley - California

Spring Break is coming up! Where will you spend your vacation?

Putting Myself First

My son got sick early this morning and is sleeping off whatever it is that made him ill. He doesn't get sick often so it's hard to see him so miserable. He woke up asking for more water and didn't have much energy to even lift his head.

Today was going to be a special day for him at school. It's the last day of school before Winter Break and also the day they share Valentine's Day cards with one another. He spent a long time filling out the Valentine's Day cards and was looking forward to the celebration.

I was looking forward to heading over to a spa in the area for an hour-long session on Putting Yourself First with a friend and life coach who put together the event. Sadly, I will not be able to be there now since I'm here at home while my son sleeps.

It's ironic that today, putting myself first is not an option. I work with parents who I encourage to set aside time for themselves and with their partner but realistically, it's not as easy as it sounds.

Life gets in the way and responsibilities shift depending on the circumstances and so it is that I am meant to be here, still able to put myself first in some ways since my son isn't needing my attention right now. I keep going in his room to check on him and although I love watching him sleep, it's never fun to see him sick.

He's not himself today and I don't know when he'll be back to normal but for the time being, I am getting some things done (coffee, laundry and writing) while I wait for his energy to revitalize him and get him back on his feet.

I promised him that I'd bring his cards to his friends this afternoon and pick up his box of Valentine's cards that will be set aside for him. He's leaving for a mini-vacation next week with his dad so I promised myself that I'll use that time to put myself first. No excuses.

Missing My Ex-Husband

No, this post is not about me missing my ex-husband, it's about my son missing his father and how difficult it is to be a single parent - for at least these last 9 days when dad's been away.

My ex-husband and I travel throughout the year - separately - for each of our businesses. I travel quite a bit more than he does, usually for five days at a time once a month (from February - July) and then on occasion the rest of the year. Dad takes two trips a year, although his are considerably longer - usually 10 - 14 days each.

My son has a hard time when either one of us are away since he's used to the routine of seeing Mom and Dad on a 2-3-2 custody schedule. The routine is great for all of us. Mom and Dad get their adult and alone time when our son is with the other parent, and we each have the opportunity to bond with our son and devote our time to him when it's "our time" with him.

You might say we're each a bit spoiled, and it's never more apparent then when one of us is left "in charge" for more than 72 hours at a time. Yesterday, my ex-husband was supposed to return from Central America but due to bad weather, his flight was postponed until today which means he won't be able to pick up our son from school as originally planned, and as I had been explaining to my son all week.

My son has had a rough time at bedtime, in particular, during these times. Just this week, he's tried to talk me into becoming nocturnal and refuses to wake up "at daytime" and also wants to go back to being a baby. Luckily, this usually only lasts a l-o-n-g thirty minutes which, to me, feels like an eternity.

Our morning routines are not much better. He's been refusing to get dressed, brush his teeth or get in the car to head to school unless I promise him that his dad will be picking him up. Of course, I never make a promise I can't keep (he'll hold me to it) so it's been especially challenging for me to "convince him" to cooperate and help me out.

I've been late this week a record number of times. His teachers probably wouldn't even recognize me if I showed up before school officially started. As odd as it may sound, I'm looking forward to seeing my ex-husband tonight.

But that's because my son truly misses him and will explode with emotion when he finally gets to see his dad. It makes me melt to see how happy he is with his father and I love the fact that he's the exact same way when he sees me after one of my trips.

I'm leaving on a trip next week, actually. It's hard to be away, but as most parents will agree, it's difficult to be a good parent when you don't get a chance to breathe, have adult-only interactions and get a good night's rest. I encourage all parents to take a night off for themselves. Have a sleepover at a friend's home or hotel down the street and get away. Your children will thank you for it.

America's Most Attractive Cities

San Diego sits at #2 on the list of America's Most Attractive Cities put out by Travel & Leisure. I have to agree that the majority of the men and women here are quite attractive.

Is it the amazing weather here that just makes everyone less stressed and more at ease? Is there something in the water? If so, I'm going to be sure to start drinking it more often.

Where does your city fall on the list?

While in Vegas

I'm in Las Vegas and will be here for five days for the 2008 ABC Kids Expo - an annual event for the juvenile product industry. While I'll be focused on the new products for babies and families with children during the day, I'll be taking advantage of the night life found in Vegas. Perhaps you'll see me at one of these venues sipping on a cocktail:

Red Room Saloon (3101 West Sahara Ave, 702-257-9663)
Puff (1030 E. Flamingo Road, 702-221-PUFF)
Sugarcane Lounge (3327 Las Vegas Blvd., 702-607-0700)

Christian Audigier, The Nightclub (3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 702-466-9720)

Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar (3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-693-7223)
Rok Vegas (3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-740-6ROK)

During the convention, I'll be highlighting the top companies that I believe will appeal to the happy, healthy, hip parents who read this blog. Enjoy!

If you'll be in Las Vegas over the next few days, let me know. The more the merrier.

Proud Mama

Michael Phelps has made history with his 8 Gold Medals and a World Record. One medal after the other...

What's amazing to me is the fact that, not only was Michael diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but he was also raised (along with his two sisters) by a single mom.

This isn't unusual, really. Tom Cruise, Bill Clinton, and Bill Cosby were raised by single moms. Even Barack Obama was brought up in a single parent home.

What bothers me is that there's many different definitions of "single mom," and it's usually one that is the complete opposite of who I am.

I admit, my son's father and I went through a stressful and drawn-out divorce (due to me and my bitterness), but now, we get along great and I don't know what I'd do without his support. My son is with his dad right now, thousands of miles away. My son's father is more involved than many dads. We're lucky to have him.

Yes, I'm a single mom, which - to me - means that I am single and I am a mom. Nothing in those two words hint at whether or not there is a father figure in my son's life but, there is. My son has many men in his life that act as positive role models for him. Right now, my son is spending 8 days with his dad on the East Coast, while I teach a parenting course and visit my family and friends back home.

I get to meet my sister's youngest son (only 8 weeks old) for the first time today. I'm thrilled to finally meet him and spend the week spoiling him and his older brother. I haven't blogged about it much or talked about it only because it's difficult for me to be so far away but it gets easier as time goes by since I have so much to focus on, besides how quickly time flies by...while I'm having fun.

I am also going to spend time with my friends from college, meet my best friend's (from high school) fiance, and, of course, get caught up in my reading - both on line and in print.

I look forward to sharing my travel experiences here so stay tuned for stories from the Midwest, where people are known for being real, honest and sincere. Minnesota Nice. I can't wait to be back home.

Advice from Grandma Sylvie

Being a parent is one role that never ends. My mom (aka Grandma Sylvie) has always been a great role model for me as she and I had an amazing relationship while I was growing up and an even stronger one now that I have a child of my own.

She's the same Grandma who told me she was going to start practicing her cartwheels when I found out I was pregnant. When my son was just two years old, she made my day (and lasting memories) by doing cartwheels in the park during our family vacation Hawaii while my son laughed and tried to imitate her.

Just today she sent me an email that provided some great advice and lovely thoughts on grandparenting- worthy of sharing and passing on to your loved ones (in my opinion):

Life:

The older you get the better you know yourself.

Love:

It is the greatest gift you can give someone, although you may not get love back in return.

Parenting:

Proved to me that there is a God - and God's mom helped me through it!

Favorite Grandparent Perks:

Grandchildren are the best part of life and worth waiting for.
I love their laughter and honesty.
They know how to make your day just by holding your hand,
giving you a hug or smiling at you with a twinkle in their eyes that makes you feel special.
I am always looking forward to the next visit with them.

You'll be hearing more from Grandma Sylvie in the near future. She's preparing for Grandbaby #3 which means she'll probably be doing cartwheels in the waiting room while my sister's delivering.

For Moms Who Get Around

FLIGHT 001 has some great gift ideas for Mother's Day. They specialize in products to help make traveling easier. Their fun designs and affordable items make this a great website to visit for anyone who travels, whether for business or pleasure.

HANDMADE SILK JEWELRY ROLL - Features 3 zip pockets for necklaces, bracelets and long earrings, one spacious slip pocket for larger pieces, a snap-down ring roll, and 4 loops for small earrings. Exterior features a silk embroidered flower motif with silk tie closure. 8.5in X 14.75in

ZEBRA TRAVEL CLOCK - Features an alarm and fold-in protective and portable design. 3.5in x 3.5in x 1.25in.

TRANSPORT WEEKENDER - Features a large interior packing compartment with zip closure. Exterior features a zip pocket, double handles, and an adjustable/removable
messenger strap.

MOBILE PHONE HOLDER - Hangs between your phone's plugged-in battery charger and the wall socket. The instant little shelf provides a support for your phone and cord while keeping them neat and safe.

MIMOBOT USB FLASHDRIVE - USB storage device in Domo-kun design. Features 1 GB of memory, and comes already preloaded with bonus digital content, ranging from icons and screen savers to rich media. Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Windows Vista’s ReadyBoost technology.

Single Parent Fun

This is the first single parent offer I've seen. I wish more companies would support single parent families in similar ways. I'm thinking about taking advantage of this offer, simply because it's a great way to have fun, spend time with my son and meet other single parents learning to manage the delicate balance of work, home and single life.

To honor single parents everywhere, we are waiving the single supplement fee (up to $190 per night) at all our resorts when you stay 3 nights or longer. Come and enjoy a much-deserved vacation under the Caribbean sun during Single Parent Fun months. Enjoy tailored activities such as Single Parent Welcome Receptions, Single Parent Social Cocktail Receptions, Kids Movie Night, and more! Booking Dates: 04/14/2008 - 05/12/2008 Travel Windows: 5/01/2008 - 5/31/2008 & 8/17/2008 - 10/31/2008 Coupon Code: No coupon needed

What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas

I'm heading to Sin City (aka Skin City) in just a few days and I plan on sitting by the pool and relaxing. Usually that consists of getting oiled up and enjoying a few cocktails while leafing through some glossy magazines filled with more pictures than words but, what can I say? I love vacation and don't get enough of them these days.

While most of my travel adventures are for work, this upcoming trip will keep me cool at these hip new venues that I plan to check out:

Sala Lounge @ Dos Caminos

Wet Republic Ultra Pool @ MGM Grand

The Beatles rEVOLution Lounge

Starlight Tattoo

Puff Lounge

Tao Beach @ The Venetian

See you on the strip!

When in Dallas...

The best of the best...

+ Space

Bergdorf Goodman

centre

Curve

duncan quinn

Dyna Decker

ecologie

Haven

Joshua Stone Studio

Kacky & Carl

La Mariposa

LFT: Lifestyle Fashion Terminal

Muehlbauer Headwear

Natalie Erwin

Nicole Khristine

nooka

NYLO Hotels

Shop Kitson

Takashimaya

V.O.D.

Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts!

Do something you’ll never forget - book an all-inclusive resort vacation. The advantages to staying at an all-inclusive resort are seemingly endless. Most include meals, beverages, tips, entertainment and activities in the price of the room - allowing you more time to actually relax on vacation and less time figuring the bill. Don't miss #9 - where I'll be traveling this December to celebrate one of my dear friend's wedding!


#1. Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive - Cancun, MX
Prime yourself for luxury at the Moon Palace Gold and Spa Resort in Cancun. Guests enjoy gourmet meals, beverages, tours, entertainment, and both land and sea activities. The resort also boasts a signature golf course by Jack Nicklaus and full spa facilities.


#2. Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa - Providenciales, TC
Touting itself as a multi-faceted fantasy world where private bungalows, pools and 12 miles of white sand overlook turquoise water, this resort features fine cuisine, land and sea sports, spa, nightly entertainment and a kid’s club - Pirate Island.



#3. Barcelo Bavaro Beach Hotel All Inclusive - Punta Cana, DO
Escape from the busy world at Barcelo Bavaro Beach Hotel in Punta Cana. This breathtaking hotel’s all-inclusive package offers admission to nightly entertainment, three meals daily at eight of the hotel’s 14 restaurants, complimentary transportation between five of the Bavaro brand hotels and complimentary local beverage and snack service.


#4. Paradisus Palma Real All Inclusive - Higuey, DO
Combining world-class facilities with a Caribbean setting, the Paradisus Palma Real features luxury suites, spa facilities, health center, sea-front pool, a casino, nightly entertainment and remarkable dining. Unlimited green fees and nightly entertainment are included in the all-inclusive package.


#5. Le Blanc Spa Resort All Inclusive - Cancun, MX
Upon arrival at the Le Blanc Spa Resort in Cancun, guests are greeted with a cool drink and washcloth. This adults-only haven allows guests to immerse themselves in the luxury of 24-hour room service, butler service, entertainment, premium drinks, haute cuisine and non-motorized water sports. All taxes and gratuities are included.


#6. Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort All Inclusive - Nuevo Vallarta, MX
Let your worries float away as you indulge at the Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Luxurious all-inclusive services include gourmet dining, Pilates, yoga and meditation programs, Aqua bar, tennis and spa services.


#7. The BodyHoliday at LeSPORT All Inclusvie - Cap Estate, LC
Pamper yourself at The BodyHoliday at LeSport in St. Luciathis winter: all-inclusive amenities include dining at hot spots like Tao, fitness classes, Body Treats from the Oasis Spa, and land sports and water sports.


#8. Barcelo Langosta Beach All Inclusive - Tamarindo, CR
Relax and rejuvenate by the crystal waters of Playa Langosta at the Barcelo Langosta Beach in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where long stretches of white sand beckon. Activities and classes, land sports, unlimited local beverages and buffet-style meals are all part of the resort's all-inclusive program.


#9. Akumal Beach Resort All Inclusive - Riviera Maya, MX
Enjoy daily beachside activities, a welcome cocktail, all meals and local beverages, scuba clinics and more at the beautiful Akumal Beach Resort, located on a one-mile stretch of beach front in the Riviera Maya.


#10. Jolly Beach Resort All Inclusive - St. Johns, AG
Lazy days await at Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua, where you can take advantage of their all-inclusive amenities, including meals and drinks at five restaurants and bars, children's activities, tennis, nightly entertainment, daily activities and non-motorized water sports.

Snow Days

In exactly one week, I'll be heading to Denver for a long overdue snowboarding weekend!

I'll be staying in the River Run Village at the Keystone resort and I am so looking forward to enjoying another visit to Breckenridge. It's been years since I've been there, and years since I've been on my snowboard but it'll be a nice getaway, and a weekend that I will remember for years to come.

But enough about that. I discovered recently that 5 of the 10 Top Ski Resorts are in Colorado. I have got to go there more often. Here's the list:

#1. Aspen, Colorado
#2. Crested Butte, Colorado
#3. Lake Tahoe, California
#4. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
#5. Keystone, Colorado
#6. Vail, Colorado
#7. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
#8. Whistler, Canada
#9. Park City, Utah
#10. Mont Tremblant, Canada

Mid-Winter in Philadelphia

A certain publishing event is happening in less than two weeks in the beautiful city of Philadelphia. I have never actually been there, although I recall driving through the city of Hershey, Pennsylvania (the streetlights were shaped like Hershey's Kisses) when I was about ten years old.

If I were to attend this event, at the last minute, I would want to be sure to hit up a few boutiques, bookstores and museums while there. I may even spend a little money at some quaint little toy stores or gift shops along the way to the Convention Center.

Here are just a few local hot spots I've only heard about:

State of Grace Boutique














BOLETE







SAILOR JERRY:
The Original Vintage Tattoo Brand





BING BANG:
Jewlery & Leather Goods









VINTAGE CONNECTION







RAE Restaurant

And yes, enjoy a Philly Cheese Steak while you're there...it's a must!

Cool Threads

It happened here in San Diego first. You just missed it, but you still have the opportunity to discover the hottest designers, the hippest musicians and the trend artists of this generation as The Fashion & Lifestyle Show, THREAD heads to Seattle and San Fran before the grand finale in Vegas in February.

Start planning your trip now. I mean NOW. I'll see you on the strip.

Shopping Spreeeeeeeeeee

Wow, do I LOVE to shop. We drove to the desert on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and headed straight to our hotel. We stayed at the Renaissance Esmerelda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. After a long windy drive through the mountains, I was SO glad to get into our room and relax.

Saturday we sat by the pool before our MAJOR highlight of the weekend - shopping! Did I mention that my shopping partner - a male - was SO MUCH FUN to shop with? He helped carry my bags, waited outside a few dressing rooms for me and dragged me away from the $500 green Prada suit I was drooling over in SPACE. I can't even remember what stores I didn't go into since there were so many at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets.

The stores I do remember: Armani, BCBG, Coach, Gucci, Guess, Juicy Couture, Levi's, Oakley, Skechers, and we had to wait in line (just to get inside) at True Religion and Burberry.

Shopping sprees like that are dangerously exciting for me - orgasmic - and something that I will probably not experience for a long, long time or I will need to seriously sell my soul to the credit card companies (and charge them interest).

We also had a really good meal that night at The Falls in Palm Springs, although we kept having to change our reservations later and later because we just couldn't stop shopping!

Christmas is coming, I realize. I'm sitting at my computer thinking about all of the wonderful online sites I can hit up to fill the gift boxes for those on my list.

Oh, and to top off my wonderful weekend, my sweetie completely surprised me this morning with a beautiful 7-diamond necklace as my early Christmas gift.

My luck has changed!

American Association of School Librarians

Even though I'm watching Game #3 of the World Series and sitting at the Reno-Sparks airport, I'm also running through my notes from the past few days during the AASL conference.

It was a quick two and a half days but I had a wonderful experience and accomplished quite a bit:

• I met a lot of great people and introduced several school librarians to Kane/Miller
  

• I saw several contacts that I usually don't see until the annual American Library Association conference in June

• I met quite a few vendors who were so nice and pleasant to be working near
  

• I was able to sign up for the 2009 conference which is to take place in North Carolina

• I managed to get fresh air (after being locked inside during the recent firestorms in San Diego) and get some exercise walking back and forth from the Atlantis Resort & Spa (located conveniently right across the street from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center)

• I was able to donate the remaining books to a local school here in Reno

My flight is boarding soon and I still need to eat dinner while cheering for the Rockies. Overall, the last few days have been quite successful and I'm pleased that we attended this bi-annual conference and look forward to meeting again in 2009.

Friday Night Delights

I've been busy the last few days; traveling to Reno, reading magazines (dated months ago), watching the World Series, networking with school librarians, sharing books with kidlit blogsters, discussing picture books with reviewers, getting caught up online and reviewing websites to share. I've discovered several and there are quite a few more I'll include another time.

zaba kids boutique

Rice and Beans Vintage




the cocoa monkey:
distinctive gear for the curious

KIOSK:
Interesting things from interesting countries





rose and lula:
rebellious, sophisticated, vintage-inspired, casual, bohemian, contemporary





The Curiosity Shoppe:
if I haven't mentioned this before, I should have





Vigilant:
leather goods





modern mommy:
innovative design for the few few years of life





babyzone's most embarrassing parenting moments

I have more reading to do, packing (back to San Diego tomorrow), relaxing before my vacation ends and getting ready for the final day exhibiting for Kane/Miller at the AASL conference here in Nevada.

By the way, today was Nevada Day. I have no idea what the celebration is all about, other than what I assume would be the history of the state. Schools were closed, parades and festivities were held and yet, I was working inside the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. More on that later...