Socal Mom by Donna Schwartz Mills

Staycation Location: Santa Monica's Casa del Mar

I feel like my life's been all work and no play lately.

However, thanks to another assignment from AskPatty, I got to feel like I was getting a little bit of downtime last week, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company, which held a launch of its new 2013 Fusion in Santa Monica -- and arranged for me to stay there overnight...

...at the gorgeous Casa del Mar, which is right on the beach. Here's the view from my guest room window:

Back when I was a professional meeting planner, I toured Shutters on the Beach, which was, at the time, Santa Monica's only hotel located right on the beach. I fell in love with the place. While the lobby was huge, it felt intimate, like a family beach house on Cape Cod (that is, if your family is the Kennedys). I admired the luxurious furnishings and the sumptuous bathroom fixtures (because my favorite thing to check out on these hotel tours was the dream bathrooms in all the best hotels).

Most of all, I loved the whimsical little touches, like real books on the shelves (which could be exchanged for other titles, if a guest preferred), toys strategically displayed and rubber duckies for the whirlpool tub.

I never booked an event there, because the meeting space did not work for my employers... but I have spent the last 18 years longing for an opportunity to stay there.

Alas, the rack rate for weekend guest rooms at Shutters starts at $550 -- and that's for a room WITHOUT an ocean view. We've never been able to justify spending that kind of money to stay so close to home.

Casa del Mar Luxury

A few years ago, the owners of Shutters opened Casa del Mar, right next door. Needless to say, I was pretty happy to learn that Ford would be putting me up there. It's right on the beach like its sister hotel, but has a different look; instead of Hyannisport, think George Clooney's Italian villa:

And you still get unabashed luxury, as you can see from this shot of the four-poster bed and fainting couch in my ocean-view room:

My room had the same kind of selection of books and toys I remember from my tour of Shutters...

Guests at Casa del Mar don't have to fiddle with dinky little drip coffeemakers - instead, you get the full Keurig treatment...

And yes, you still get a rubber ducky to play with in the oversize whirlpool tub...

Santa Monica Dining

After checking in, I was directed to a lunch buffet on the veranda. I only ate salad, roasted vegetables and a little grilled chicken - but there was also sea bass and fennel crusted chicken, and a lovely array of dessert.

I have to say that the dressings on those salads were really good. The Caesar dressing had the right combination of cheese and anchovy. The surprise was the balsamic dressing on the arugula and grilled asparagus salad, which had a lemony tang to it. (Note to self: find a recipe for that!)

I cannot tell you about the dinner at Casa del Mar, because Ford usually transports their guests offsite for the evening meal, and our hosts promised us a special treat. Needless to say, there is a lot to choose from down there, from Chez Jay to Whist (both within walking distance).  

Ford had indeed arranged something special: a drive up PCH to the Annenberg Community Beach House for a buffet meal catered by Wolfgang Puck.

I've already written of my admiration for Hollywood's favorite chef. He was nice to my kid. It almost doesn't matter how good the food was.

But the food was good. From the passed hors d'oeuvres (like the truffled figs pictured at right) to the braised fennel salad to the dessert buffet... All was delicious.

And you could not beat the ambiance.

Back to that Tub

But to be perfectly honest, I could not wait to return to the hotel for a bath in my room's "hydrothermal massage tub." I had not thought to pack any bath supplies, but didn't need to, as the bathroom included a lighted glass cabinet with all sorts of wonderful cosmetic and grooming items for sale.

This is described on the Shutters website as a "privately curated apothecary." I just thought of it as a bathroom minibar.

I splurged on a lavender and chamomile bath bomb for relaxation and had a good soak - all while watching my favorite shows on the small HDTV screen mounted above the sink. I wondered if the remote for that TV was waterproof. Fortunately, I did not end up having to test it.

I slipped into one of the two Frette bathrobes available in the room and resumed my TV viewing on the BIG HDTV above the desk, but not before getting a little freaked out by the noise that was emanating out of that tub. It turns out, it has a drying cycle. Pretty cool.

I checked out the following morning, enjoyed a lovely buffet breakfast on the veranda, and spent the next several hours driving the Ford Fusion (review to be posted soon on AskPatty). I finished my drive in time for lunch (a similar buffet, but none of the salads this time included that amazing lemony balsamic dressing). I picked up my car from the valet and drove home. And while there is no place like home, I have a feeling I'll be spending my next 18 years hoping I can go back to Casa del Mar.

DISCLOSURE: I received no compensation for this post about Casa del Mar. I just like staying in five-star hotels and then boasting about it.

 

Catalina Island Getaway: Luxury On a Budget

I am ashamed to admit that there are quite a few iconic California destinations that I've never visited (i.e., Yosemite, Death Valley and Big Sur).

There are reasons for this, which usually boil down to a lack of some combination of time and money.

Last week, I was able to cross one such site off my bucket list: Catalina Island, and the picturesque town of Avalon.

 
I may never have made the trip if I had not been invited to participate on a sponsored fam tour (details in the disclosure at the bottom of this post). I mean, have you ever priced the cost of the 26-mile boat ride to the Island? The round trip fare on the Catalina Express is $66.50 (kids 11 and under ride for $51.00) - so we'd be shelling out $200 just to get there; never mind the cost of an actual hotel room.

So imagine my surprise when I learned that many of Avalon's waterfront hotels include the price of your boat fare in their package rates, which makes a Catalina visit a lot more affordable than I imagined...

...and it's an absolute bargain if you visit midweek during the off-season (roughly from October through May).

We were hosted last week by the Hotel Villa Portofino, described on its own website as "European Elegance on the Oceanfront." Truth in advertising does exist:

According to TripAdvisor, the Villa Portofino is one of 19 hotels in Avalon, a town of just one square mile, with a permanent population of about 4500  (which increases by about 50% in the summer, when seasonal workers take up residence). It's in a prime location on the waterfront - which means that many of the guest rooms have fabulous views.

But that was tough to discern when we checked in Wednesday evening. We were surprised to be handed an old-fashioned key and told that they refer to the rooms by name and not numbers. Ours was the Bella Vista, and we had to walk outside the tiny reception area, and up a flight of stairs.

At that point, we didn't expect much, so we were absolutely knocked out by our room. The bedroom wasn't huge, but the Spanish marble bathroom was. And the room's furnishings made great use of the space:  the couch in the small seating area pulls out to a twin bed (perfect for our family of three) --  plus, it had a fireplace (a feature I always appreciate on a cool evening).

The capper was a wrap-around balcony, which we didn't truly appreciate until the following morning, when we were greeted by this view of the bay:

Hotel guests may enjoy a light continental breakfast served in the reception area where we checked in. There are tables and chairs set up on the sidewalk for al fresco dining, but as we had that lovely ocean view from our room, we brought ours back up to take it in from our balcony. 

It was nearly 8:00 by the time we arrived on the island, and we were hungry. The Hotel Villa Portofino is attached to an Italian restaurant - but it was not open during our visit (many of the fine dining spots in town close during the off season; hotel manager Candice Middleton told me that the restaurant would be re-opening on the weekend). 

Fortunately, there were plenty of choices within walking distance of the hotel. We ended up at te Avalon Grille, one of the town's newer dining establishments. Its casual bistro menu and nice selection of wines and microbrews was exactly what we needed. I was still under the impression that I would be sticking more or less to my Lindora diet and ordered the Cobb salad. My husband sampled the fish and chips, followed by a lovely lemon cheesecake. We both walked away happy.

The following night, we were hosted to a farewell dinner at Steve's Steakhouse, which is the only Zagat-rated restaurant on the island. By that time, I had abandoned all thought of dieting, and thoroughly enjoyed my New York steak (not to mention the wine and crusty sourdough bread that was served before the meal). 

We boarded the boat back to the mainland feeling full and happy.

The Hotel Villa Portofino, which hosted our visit last week, is currently offering a tremendous value package: $92 per person (double occupancy) - boat fare included. This package is available Sunday through Thursday until April 14, and while mid-week visits may not be ideal, there's a lot to be said for hitting a tourist spot when there's less likelihood of dealing with a whole mess of tourists. 

TOMORROW: Our day with the Catalina Island Conservancy.

Disclosure: My husband and I visited Santa Catalina Island as guests of the Hotel Villa Portofino, the Catalina Express and the Catalina Island Conservancy. I received no compensation for this post. Opinions expressed on my blog are my own.

Promotional Considerations for January

Some end-of-the-month housekeeping: A roundup of some of the significant products, services and events I've enjoyed this month, plus a giveaway for SoCal readers (comment on this post to enter!):

Where to Stay in Detroit: Motor City Casino Hotel

Once I got over my New Year hangover, I had to hit the ground running, thanks to an invitation from Clever Girls Collective to be one of 100 bloggers attending the Ford Green Technology event at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. 

Ford put us up at this hotel, which turned out to be a lot more luxurious than its name implies. It's a 4-star property with spacious guest rooms, luxurious bathrooms and terrific service. And don't get me started on the food served in the hotel's five-star Iridescence restaurant (the site of the dinner Ford hosted for all the bloggers following our day at the Auto Show). So glad I decided to wait until my return before starting my diet back up!

Ford paid for my travel and accommodations at the two-day Driving Green Technology event. I was not compensated by them in any other manner for my time. 

Wi-Fi Freedom with ClearWire 4G

Thanks to a massive snowstorm that hit the East Coast the week I visited Detroit, I had to deal with long delays at the airport (SEVEN HOURS on the LAX end!)

I don't know how I would have killed all that time if I wasn't carrying this nifty little USB modem, which allowed me to connect to ClearWire's 4G broadband network. I had multiple deadlines to meet and was able to put all that waiting around time at LAX to good use.

ClearWire's 4G/3G network is available nationwide, so when the wi-fi went out in the Ford booth at NAIAS the following day, I was still able to get online.

And since my return, I've enjoyed the freedom I craved when I switched to a laptop in the first place (some 20 years ago!). The combination of my new mini-netbook and the Clear modem allow me to work wherever I may be: the mall, the orthodontist's waiting room, my car parked in front of my daughter's school... No need to hunt down a Starbucks or Panera for a wi-fi network.

And when last week's MOMocrats BlogTalkRadio guest Gloria Feldt could only be available at 2:00 PM (which conflicted with school pickup time), I didn't skip a beat. I drove to my daughter's school and ran the switchboard from my parked car!

Too bad the modem is a loaner with temporary service for this review; I am going to have a tough time giving it up. Fortunately, Clear costs a lot less than similar wireless broadband services I've priced: unlimited data plans start at $45 per month. This is something I am going to have to look into!

Clearwire lent me one of their 4G laptop modems and prepaid service for 45 days. Upon return of the modem, it will be donated to a local Los Angeles area school for student use. I am seriously considering buying one of my own.

Face2Face LA - Therapon Skin Party

Romy Schorr is an LA Mom Blogger who specializes in beauty and lifestyle topics. I've known her for about a year, but only virtually - via Twitter and blog comments. And during that time, she's invited me to a number of events that I wasn't able to make.

That changed last week, when she co-hosted a spa party for Therapon Skin Renewal systems... and the venue was in nearby Studio City: ROB|B Concept Salon. 

I stopped worrying a lot about my appearance when I hit 40 and decided that no matter what I did, I was never going to look 30 again. It was liberating. But that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy playing with makeup - and I do like facials and manicures, which were being given out at the event. So attending was kind of a no-brainer.

I did not expect that I would have as much FUN. Aside from finally getting to meet lovely Romy in person: I got to hang out with some of my favorite LA Mom Bloggers, I enjoyed a cool coconut water cocktail from O.N.E. Natural Experiences and really terrific food catered by Heirloom LA. I'm so glad the party occurred BEFORE I went back on Lindora - it would have been really difficult to stick to the diet while faced with butternut squash agnolotti, polenta topped with wild mushroom ragout, chicken and waffles, etc. 

I was most impressed with the ROB|B salon. I have passed it many times on my way to other destinations along Ventura Boulevard but had paid it little attention. I presumed it would be as modern and tasteful on the inside as it looks from the street. But I had no idea that the place had a well-appointed second-story patio... or that the building is LEED certified (the manager told me they are the only gold LEED salon in Los Angeles, and one of just four in the country)...

...or that owner Robbie Schaefer is the son of the CEO of OPI (which even I know is the best nail polish on the market). 

I had a lot of fun, and walked away with one of the most bountiful goodie bags I've ever seen, which I divvied up with my delighted teenage daughter. I kept the full-size box of Therapon products that ROB|B's estheticians used for my facial.

I am really bad about using skincare products. A lot of people are really kind and tell me I look younger than my 54 years, and if that's true, it has nothing to do with good habits and everything to do with heredity. But in the last decade or so, I've been bothered by how dry my skin has become, and so from time to time I have tried out different products -- for a while. My skin usually responds to skincare products by breaking out, and that's when I quit.

I liked the way my face felt after my facial, so I've been pretty good this week about actually using the products from Therapon.

Do I think that using these products will slow down my aging process or make me look 10 years younger (oh, to be 45 again, LOL). No, I don't think anything will do that, nor do I think it's a good thing to fight aging - but that's fodder for another post. But I am very happy with the immediate results from the skincare line, and especially that I have not had any breakouts or blemishes since using it.  And that's a good start.

I received no compensation for attending the Face2Face Therapon Party, and I made no promise that I would write about it. Opinions and observations are my own.

SoCal Mom Giveaway:  Mom's Day Out at the Geffen Playhouse

From the press release I received:

"In Mother Words," written by some of contemporary theater’s most talented voices, tackles the subject of motherhood in an eye-opening, hilarious and irresistible night of theater andmakes its West Coast debut with award-winning actors Jane Kaczmarek, Saidah Arrika Ekulona and James Lecesne. As theprogram states, “Whether you are a parent, have a parent or ever want to become a parent, this play will elate andterrify equally – much like motherhood itself.”

The Geffen is holding a special Moms Day Out event on Saturday, February 19. I will be attending the 3:00 PM show, followed by a reception - and they have graciously given me two tickets to give away for the same event. Want to meet me there? Leave a comment on this post; a week from today (February 7) I will pick one winner at random. 

I received no compensation for promoting the Mother's Day Out event at the Geffen, other than a pair of comped tickets for myself.

 

 

More Las Vegas: In Praise of Cabana Boys & Laker Girls

Even on vacation, I tend to wake up on the early side. That was actually a good thing on this trip, as my husband was eight time zones away and I wanted to talk to him before we got going - and he went to bed.

The rest of our group was still fast asleep, so I slipped out to find a quiet spot where I could make a phone call - and while I was at it, I did some hotel reconnaissance.

The casino is relatively quiet at 7:00 a.m. - but not quiet enough for good conversation. I made my way past the fine dining restaurants, away from the shopping center to one of the two hotel Starbucks... and found the hallway that leads to the complex's convention center.

Bingo.

Las Vegas: There's Gold in Them Thar Windows!

Our destination was on the other end of the strip, so we decided to take a cab.

"Isn't that our hotel?" my daughter asked.

"No, Megan. That's the Mirage." Her friend Maggie sounded exasperated in the back seat.

I can't blame Megan for mistaking the Mirage for Mandalay Bay - both are huge buildings covered in gold-tinted windows. I'm pretty sure Las Vegas has more gold-tinted windows than any other city in North America.

It was Megan's first visit to the adult playground that is Vegas, and it may as well have been mine. I made a point of gathering up all the quarters sitting in our "Coinstar Box" -- only to discover that today's slots only take bills and credit cards. I'll never repeat the experience of dropping 75 cents into a slot to kill some time -- and ending up with a $150 jackpot. When you use spare change, it doesn't feel like gambling. But sliding a $20 or a credit card into a machine is a commitment; one I am not equipped to make.

So it's a good thing our traveling companions are not the high rolling types, either. This whole shebang was Mary Ellen's idea: She saw a window of opportunity between the time our girls got out of school and next week, when their 30-hour-a-week summer gymnastics program kicks in.

"We can get a cheap room by going Monday through Wednesday," she said. "And it's even cheaper if we share."

As I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself that my husband was visiting his family in Wales without me (a decision we made mutually because of the devalued dollar), this seemed like a great idea. I was in.