Indulge LA: Chocolate & Pastry Show!|@IndulgeLA #IndulgeLA

Indulge LA: Chocolate & Pastry Show!

By Erin

*I will be attending this event as media. All thoughts and opinions remain my own*

pastry LA

I love chocolate. And wine. Which is why I am so excited to be covering The Indulge LA Chocolate & Pastry Show, coming to Los Angeles on December 27th. If you haven’t already indulged in enough Christmas treats by then, you’ll have one more chance here before the new year rings in, when we’ll all be trying to stick to those new years resolutions to go back to eating healthier and all that. You have to treat yourself every once and awhile to something special like this though right? AND it’s for such a GREAT cause as this event also benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Another reason why I am so very excited for the Chocolate Festival and Pastry Show to hit Los Angeles is because Celebrity food critique Sophie Gayowill be here hosting the event. I recently had the chance to meet her and sit next to her at a very special media dinner at the Bel Air Bar and Grill (post to come soon about this magical experience. I say magical as it has ties to Disney) and she is a very amazing woman. I was honored to be in her presence, and to hear her words of wisdom, her fiery spirit, and words of inspiration, especially in light of the events that had just so recently happened in Paris. When I read that she was going to be here, it just made me that more excited to go.

Celebrity Dating Expert Brooke Lewis will also be in attendance to host the 7th Annual Indulge Los Angeles at the Olympic Collection.

12189671_988298501216122_5638315081575130338_n

*Sophie Gayot*

The event will feature celebrity & top chocolatiers, pastry chefs and confectioners from across Southern California, New York, Washington DC, and Las Vegas. They will come together to put on a visual heaven in Los Angeles filled with sweet delights paired with the world’s top champagnes, wines, and spirits.

Among the celebrity chefs this year are MOF World Pastry Champion Stephane Treand, and World Champion Chocolatier Jean Marie Auboine.

12239524_993931173986188_4364835339662871232_n

In years past, Indulge Los Angeles has attracted thousands of chocolate and dessert lovers from across the country, and this year is expected to have another great turn-out for this holiday season.

Indulge Los Angeles 2015 also benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Where: Olympic Collection 11301 Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064

When: December 27, 2015 1pm – 4pm   

Tickets:  $45-$95 Available at www.indulgela.net

Indulge LA on Social:

Indulge LA Website 

Indulge LA Facebook 

Indulge LA Twitter

Instagram

12243117_997031217009517_4971280508854703779_n

What are some of your favorite chocolate treats to Indulge in? Hope to see you there!!! 🙂 

Flowers, And Candy And Hearts, Oh My

Flowers, And Candy And Hearts, Oh My

By Erin

Vaelntine’s Day can be a sticky subject for many. People either love it, hate it, or could just care less. Those that have someone to spend it with may love it. Those that are single may hate it and have Anti-Valentine’s Day Parties or refer to the day as “Single’s Awareness Day.”

Single-Awareness-Day-Candy

Being single myself, I can’t really say the day has much meaning to me right now. I am my own Valentine.

The times I have been in a relationship though,  I haven’t minded it. It was nice to have someone to spend it with, but I would rather have my Valentine  365 days a year for the rest of my life. Not just on one very commercialized holiday to do something special to show my Valentine I care and to tell them that I love them. It should be something you do throughout the year because you want to and truly love and cherish the one you’re with. Not because some holiday tells you that you are supposed to do this.

In conjunction with the whole #putitintheuniverse idea, this is me putting it out there, on the things I’d love my future Valentine to do for me or with me any day of the year.

Until then, I’ll just be treating myself to a few of these things when I can.

Happy Valentines Day 2015

 1) Spa Day

What girl doesn’t love a good spa day? A day filled with relaxation, a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure sounds wonderful to me!

Burke Williams has a package that pretty much covers this. 😉

True Love

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel. Just $259 (regularly $328), $279 in San Francisco (regularly $360).

Glen Ivy Hot Springs is also a wonderful place to spend a spa day laying out by one of the pools, enjoying some spa treatments, and a healthy snack or lunch.

Spa Day

 

2) A Special Meal Together (Dinner, Brunch, Lunch)

Wether it’s dinner, brunch, lunch or breakfast; as long as you’re together to enjoy a great meal at a place you love or are curious to explore is sure to create a special moment. Here are a few of my favorite places (I have MANY favorites!!) that I have had the pleasure to be able to dine out at. From left to right: Club 33 at Disneyland, Darren’s in Manhattan Beach, and Dominique’s Kitchen in Redondo Beach.

Dinner Love

3) A Getaway Weekend

Taking a drive up the coast to one of the central California cities of Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Cambria, Carmel or San Luis Obispo is always a special and romantic weekend in my book. The beach, amazing food, wine tasting, horseback riding, shopping, just exploring to see what new things you can find, whatever your hearts desire, you can probably find it somewhere around one of these places. Santa Barbara, San Diego, Mammoth, Big Bear, the river, and Vegas also make for some fun quick getaway weekends in California. No matter where you live though, each state has it’s own unique places and cities to check out. What are some locals you enjoy visiting?

A couple of my favorite places to stay at for a weekend away include:

The Madonna Inn: A very quirky and unique place, with an amazing steak house and spa complete with infinity pool. Each room is different, no two are alike.

981521_625046824183327_2085283694_o

Blue Dolphin Inn of Cambria Inns: For an amazing ocean view and for some equally amazing sunsets; stay at the Blue Dolphin Inn. With breakfast, fireplaces, and the ocean just outside your door, you won’t want to leave this beach paradise.

1275440_682745851746757_742716060_o

4)Flowers

I’m always a sucker for a beautiful arrangement of flowers. I love nature and pretty things, I spend much time in my own garden, taking care of the roses, flowers, and fruit trees. It’s nice to be able to take some of this beauty and bring it indoors, even if it’s only for a short bit. My favorite place to ever have gotten flowers from is Disney Floral & Gifts. A little bit of magic and pixie dust just makes it that much more special.

Flowers

5) Chocolates/Favorite Candies

A sweet treat can brighten up any day. One of my favorite kinds of Chocolates I’ve EVER had is from this place, called Pure Madness Chocolate. It’s heaven in a box…. seriously.

Chocolates

6) Wine/Beer Tasting

Wine or beer tasting always leads to a fun adventure. Find some new favorites or revisit  some old loves. No matter where you live, you should be able to find a winery or a tasting room not too far away. One of my favorite places to go around here is to Malibu for some wine tasting. It makes for a beautiful drive, and there are many wonderful wineries and eateries (since you’ll need something to go with all that wine or beer 😉 to choose from. A little bit farther away, but still doable for a day trip in Southern California, is in Temecula, there are many great places to choose from there as well. Cheers!

Wine Tasting

Continue reading »

See’s Candies Opens First Concept Store at Tustin Marketplace!

See’s Candies Opens First Concept Store at Tustin Marketplace!

By Melody & Erin

Everyone knows with See’s Candies you are going to get great candy in every single bite.

When I was first invited to the ‘See’s Candies- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Night’ I was thinking… Did I just win the lottery?? What more could a girl want than to mingle, midweek amongst chocolate royalty (Brad Kinstler, the President of See’s was there) while indulging in savory chocolates and delicious wine? This event was to celebrate the grand opening of the first ever See’s high volume concept store and it did not disappoint! We even recieved an amazing bag of chocolates and swag to enjoy at home (see pic at the end of this post, if you want to see all of those goodies!) =)

Sees Candies President

The first thing you notice when you walk in to this brand new spacious shop is the smell. A rich warm chocolate aroma that fills the air and wraps itself around you like a hug. It smelled absolutely amazing in there! Sorry, I’m getting side tracked. I can’t focus when there’s chocolate around. Not only was the store a feast for your taste buds, but it was a feast for your eyes as well. This store contained an extremely easy to find what you’re looking for shelving layout, the simple black and white checkered motif floor inspired by Mary See’s own kitchen floor, and a floor to ceiling wallpaper print of an old time See’s Candies shop that invokes you with a sense of nostalgia.

See's Candies

 

Continue reading »