Rave Review: Cirque du Soleil-OvO

Think: A Bug's Life - meets Dr. Seuss - meets Alice in Wonderland. 

Source: Cirque du Soleil (DVD cover)

So. After reading many so rave reviews, I finally made my way to see it.

Lovedit!
Believe the hype! There's NO 'bad' seat in the house. We were seated in section 103/row G, just 7 rows away from the stage. There was soooo much going on allover the stage and in the aisles. What a colorful performance! I felt like a kid again. The "ooohs!" The "aaahs!" The excitement of if all. The choreography was amazing, the set design/stage dècor was grand. The audience participation was hilarious. The cast blended well together. The lighting. The music. The timing. The special effects. The...everything! I almost forgot I was in a tent. It was money WELL spent.

Overall, I give it ***** (five stars)! It was, indeed, an AWEsome show! REALLY wish I could've taken pictures, but it was just great to be there. "Ovo" is portuguese for "egg"...and that's all the "spoiler" you're gonna get outta me!

This was my first, but not last, Cirque du Soleil show. I'll be back, for sure. I cannot wait!

My souvenier:

Attention DC folks: Show ends Sunday, October 24th at National Harbor's Plateau. Tickets are selling like hot cakes! Click here to get yours...now!

FYI/BTW: Many of the National Harbor restaurants, retail stores and hotels are offering specials (some freebies and cool discounts) for OvO patrons. Click here to see what's up!

*Smooches&Hugs*

Rave Review: Bake Shoppe Cookie Dough Miniatures

The Perfect Bite Size Morsels for Your Chocolate Fix!

(Indeed!)

Source: Vending Market Watch

This beats walking around with a tube of raw cookie dough. I guess...if you wanna be classy and all.

I'm curious (and anxious...and hungry!) to know what additional flavors they have in store for me -- I mean us. I'm gonna keep an eye out for updates.

They're really good served ice cold (pop em in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes or even semi-melted (I forgot them in the car once, but didn't regret it.)

So if you're a fan of milk chocolate AND cookie dough AND chocolate chips, you're in luck. This is, indeed, the TV/DVR/Netflix snack for you.

Just in case you're concerned with nutrition information, here it is:

Source: http://cookiedoughminis.com/

*FTC Disclaimer: Samples were provided by The Bender Hammerling Group Public Relations (Upper Montclair, NJ). No monetary compensation was received.

*Smooches&Hugs*

Rave Review: HINT Essence Water

"Drink water, not sugar."

Six flavors to choose from. What's YOUR favorite?
Source: 5W Public Relations

September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and HINT is doing there part to fight the growing problem with American children. HINT is collaborating with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and offering its unsweetened flavored waters to students in schools across the country.


San Francisco mother of four, Kara Goldin launched HINT Water to offer families a healthier alternative to sugary juices and sodas. HINT has no calories, no sugar and no artificial flavors or preservatives. HINT is designed to taste great without tasting sweet.

It comes in these delicious flavors: Blackberry, Watermelon, Pomegranate-Tangerine, Mango-Grapefruit, Strawberry-Kiwi and Raspberry-Lime. HINT Essence Water can be found in fine grocery stores and retailers all over the United States or purchased online at http://www.drinkhint.com/.

Check out First Lady Michelle Obama's Hula-Hoop workout!
Source: 5W Public Relations

 
*What I sampled:
Pomegranate-Tangerine: My first (and favorite) of the bunch. I've been on a pomegranate kick for about a year now, so this was right on time. The tangerine was a welcome surprise and flowed nicely. I really like these flavors together.
 
Blackberry: Different, but I liked it. I've never had blackberry ANYTHING by itself. I was nervous, but surprised at how good it tasted.
 
Watermelon: I actually drank this while eating a bowl of yellow watermelon and strawberries. Go figure. Oddly enough, it wasn't the overkill that you'd/I'd imagine.
 
Mango-Grapefruit: Since I'm not a fan of either fruit, I decided to make some HINT ice cubes instead. It added just a tad bit of flavor to my already sweetened yummy lemonade. However, before making the ice, I took a mini sip of it. Not bad, but I knew I wouldn't finish the bottle.
 
HINT Essence Water is great for those who aren't fans of "plain" water (i.e., my mother and her grandchildren). Its just a 'hint' (if you will) of flavor without tasting too sweet. Not that I mind sweet, but it wa a nice switch and encouraged me to cut back on the sugary sweet juices that I love oh-so-very much. *le sigh* I suggest serving it ICE cold. It freezes well and I love having little ice "slushies" in my water bottle. Kids will like it, because its not as boring as they think water can be.
 
HINT Essence Water is perfect for a nice, hot Summer day (which DC's had plenty of lately) when you want juice, but need water instead.
 
*Duly Note: I spy with my (big) eyes...a fun frugal find! --> I was in TJMaxx in Arundel Mills Mall (Hanover, MD) and saw several flavors available for only $1.99!
 
*FTC Disclaimer: Samples of HINT Essence Water were provided by 5W Public Relations (New York, NY). Monetary compensation not applicable.
 

*Smooches&Hugs*

Breakfast Date: Ted's BULLETIN

*latepass* Yes! I was FINALLY able to make it to Ted's BULLETIN.

Source: me!

Yummy!

We dined pretty early (around 10:15am), so street parking was a breeze ($1.50/hour). We also had ample choice of seating, which was nice considering the popularity of the place and the number of pedestrians roaming about. Despite the time of day and the fact that it was a weekday, there was still a nice little crowd inside.

I had the T.U.B.S (Ted's Ultimate Breakfast Sammy) (well, HALF of it anyway), while my date ordered The Walk of Shame Breakfast Burrito (had some "kick" to it, but not an overbearing or intolerable spice).

The menu selections are awesome. The decor was classic. The smells from the bakery are pleasing to the nose. I can't wait to go back! I have all four of my eyes set on several dessert items *drool* I'm thinking a few homemade Twinkies, a strawberry Poptart and some cookies "TO GO" might be nice.

Click here to view more pics.

Rating: * * * *

Good for...
VERY intimate seating. Good for dining solo or with 2-3 others.

Staff:
Friendly, helpful, well-informed.

We weren't there for long, as there wasn't a long wait for our orderes. Next time, we plan to stick around long enough to sample other food items.

Where to go:

Ted's BULLETIN
505 8th Street, SE - Barracks Row
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-544-TEDS (8337)
Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Thursday 7am-11pm; Friday-Saturday 7am-12am
Cross Street/Landmarks: 8th and E Streets
http://www.tedsbulletin.com/

Have you been? What's your take?

*Smooches&Hugs*

Back to School Means Friends and Classroom Coughs

(...and OTHER germs!)

Leave it to ME to catch a "Summer Cold" towards the END of Summer :-\ A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with an Upper Respitory Tract Infection (been there, done that. Asthma does NOT rock!) and Tonsillitus.

Tonsillitus!? Whoa is me! *le sigh*

During that time, I paired prescription meds with a number of my own home remedies that usually get me through the icky days and even icky-er nights when I'm not feeling well. Chloraseptic® Sore Throat Lozenges is now a part of my "Sick Mix"!

"Sick Mix" - Hot Tea

• hot tea
• a few blobs of honey (or 1-2 honey straws)
• Chloraseptic® Sore Throat Lozenges, Sore Throat - Green Tea with Real Honey
• a few squeezes of lemon slices (or nibble on them, if you can take the tartness) or lemonade from concentrate

"Sick Mix" - Apple Cider

• apple cider
• a few blobs of honey (or 1-2 honey straws)
• Chloraseptic® Sore Throat Lozenges, Multi-Symptom Relief - Wild Cherry
• Cinnamon sticks (I normally use 1 or 2, depending on the size of my mug)

Plus:

• Fruity
• Honestly, I've never been a fan of cough drops of ANY kind. To get through this, I drop a few in my hot tea or apple cider (in lieu of sugar packets) and go on about my day.

Minus:

• Chloraseptic® Sore Throat Lozenges are VERY potent, but tolerable.
• The liquid center is where all the action is. It clears your ears, nose AND throat all at once.

*Samples provided by Bender Hammerling Group.

*Smooches&Hugs*

Dentyne Pure with Neutrafresh

Practice Safe Breath. -Dentyne Pure™.

Pretty impressive slogan, I thought. Very catchy...and SO necessary.

Source: Dentyne

As a HUGE chewing gum fan, I was anxious to receive my samples. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

Dentyne Pure™ with Neutrafresh™ offers two mint-y flavor options: Melon and Herbal accents.

Melon Accents

Typically, I tend to go for anything spearmint. As much as I love sweets, I'm not very big on fruity flavors. Those are usually the ones that get stale the fastest and I end up chewing way more and not being left with much.

Well, not this time! Melon Accents offers a minty, yet fruity burst of flavor. (Sounds strange, I know.) It's different and a pleasant surprise.

My ideal "Chew Time":

• Before meals. Sometimes, I like a little something sweet before mealtime...yeah, I know.
• Just because. Chewing gum relaxes me.

Herbal Accents
This particular flavor actually cleared my nasal passages! It's a tasty answer to a medicated nasal vapor ointment. I swear, I've never had anything like it. Strong, but not overpowering.

My ideal "Chew Time":

• After meals
• Between brushes
• Before a goodnight kiss ;-)

I can't say I have a favorite flavor, because they both did their jobs: kept my breath fresh between brushes

Plus:

• Great tasting.
• Long-lasting.
• Slim pack. Fits snug into your back pocket or small handbag.
• Doesn't promote hunger. For some reason chewing gum makes me snack more during the day. (maybe that's just ME...)
• Accents. You'll taste them way before you see them! There's a little liquid center that helps freshen your breath. Caught me totally off-guard, but I liked it. Not too much, but enough to take notice.

Minus:

• I need a bigger pack! :-(   Next time, I won't share.
• No "pop" power :-(  Not that I should be popping gum ANYWAY, so perhaps this is just the trick to breaking such an awful 25-year habit. Wait! Am I telling my age? *shrug*

Dear Calorie Counters: Click here for nutrition facts. Dentyne Pure™ with Neutrafresh™ is good and kinda good for you.

Kicks and giggles: Check out the funny video that Dentyne™ worked on with Rhett & Link. This video reached nearly 1 million views -- in just two weeks!

From our friends over at:
Paine PR
New York, NY
http://www.painepr.com/
*provided samples and press release

*Smooches&Hugs*

Fall/Winter Food and Wine Tasting: B. Smith's

Last Wednesday, I attended B. Smith's Fall/Winter Food and Wine Tasting. This was my first visit, so I was extra excited to accept the invitation.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't have the most mature palette. However, this upscale menu was a much-needed switch from my norm "safe" items. I was a bit nervous, but anxious to partake.

Boy, am I glad that I did!

I left NO plate unturned -- minus B's Crawfish & Crab Dip (darn shellfish allergy). I can't vouche for it's taste, but everyone was more than happy to my portion. It smelled really good and by the looks of the scraped bowls, it had the taste to match.

The menu was a definite crowd-pleaser and all plates/bowls were wiped clean. See for yourself...

First Course
Cream of Asparagus Soup-I love soup all year 'round, so this was quite the treat. The sweet nutmeg smell and taste makes anyone wanna eat their veggies -- and ask for seconds.

Fried Chicken Livers-I've honestly never been a fan of chicken livers. However,the onion confit and pineapple chutney forced my change of heart. I never thought I'd see the day...

B's Crawfish & Crab Dip-N/A

Garden District House Salad-I normally opt for the heavy, cream-based dressings. This had a good, light and sweet vinaigrette. I think this will be my new choice for meatless salads.

Wine (white)
Caymus Conundrum

Second Course
B's Catch of the Day-GOOD grouper. I'm a huge lover of catfish, so the meaty filling was a pleasant welcome.

Stuffed Bell Peppers-Great combination of veggie and starch. The cajun blush sauce was a new twist to an old fav (tomatoe sauce).

Wine (white)
Sacred Hill

Third Course
Osso Bucco-Meat so tender, you could cut it with a dull fork! Melts in your mouth. Seasoned to perfection. Impressive, especially since I'm not big on heavy meats.

Wine (red)
Nederburgh

Fourth Course
Bourbon Street Bread Pudding-This might be the best bread pudding I've ever had. (grandma's recipe, excluded) I would've been OK with having this as the main entree.

Beignets-It was New Orleans all over again -- minus the bead toss.

Libations and such
Assorted Mighty Leaf Teas
Coffee

Digestion
Navan
Fonseca Bin 27

Well, enough talk, here are the pics!

Luckily, most of these items are available for the public starting tomorrow! It's Summer Restaurant Week (Monday, August 16th-Sunday, 22nd) and time to check out all the hottest Lunch and Dinner selections! (Of course, I've made my reservations via OpenTable.com -- have YOU?)

B. Smith’s

50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002
202-289-6188

...and an extra special thanks to our sweethearts over at Linda Roth Associates, Inc.!

*Smooches&Hugs*

Rave Review: Bond 45

I'm the worst.


I attended this Media Dinner (and  probibition cocktails, I might add) in January. Here it is May, and I'm just now writing about it.

*latepass* Anywho...

I absolutely LOVED Bond 45! I've never had such great service and impeccable food at a MD restaurant. (sad to say...) The staff were all so well-mannered, genuinely friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. (some were from the NY homebase). I was impressed from start (perhaps it was because they handed me chilled bubbly at 'hello'? Yeah, that could be it.) to finish (even coat check was a dream). I REALLY wish more establishments would follow suite. There's nothing worse than paying hard-earned money on crappy service/product.

Here are a few pics:
(In my defense, I was a BlackBerry owner at the time, hence the shadows and blur. Viva La Android!)

Place setting

Buttery grilled slices.

Mystery Item: (This wasn't listed on the menu.) Dough-y bread with fire roasted peppers

Flaky crust with light seasoned cheese spread in the center, topped with prosciutto and herbs.

(Maaaaaaan! I had about 3 of these.)

Polenta (Italian corn pudding).
This didn't last long AT ALL, and I wasn't too keen on the idea of sharing.

Water by SiDEA: bottled purified Water.
Just a little something to wash down the good grub. Nice and ice cold.

Not pictured:

• New York Steak: I'm usually not one to order steak, but I wanted to try something different. Plus, it smelled so good. This was truly "The Best Beef in the World". Consider me a fan. The Chef was kind enough to throw mine on the grill for a few more minutes, so there wouldn't be so much pink. I appreciate him for that...and the fact that he gave me extra Polenta. He was my new best friend that evening.
• Dessert: As if the cocktails, appetizers and dinner weren't enough....We noshed on fresh baked chocolate chocolate chip cookies and chocolate pudding with a nice, creamy topping.

Of course, I ate it all these things before realizing that I didn't get a picture. Oopsies!

Founded in New York and part of The Fireman Hospitality Group, Bond 45 is an Italian Steakhouse serving up lean, mean cuts of the finest steak, seafood and poultry. (They also have items for your veggie lovers out there.)

Honestly, I think its one of the best restaurants at the National Harbor. I give it ***** (5 stars) and 2 thumbs up, across the board: Service - Food - Ambiance. It was all, well...perfect.

Check out their menu and then promptly make your reservations via OpenTable. If you're lucky, you'll be able to snag a seat for Mother's Day. Otherwise, a weeknight dinner or weekend lunch would be a nice way to celebrate...and beat the rush.

Gracious hosts: Shelly Fireman, Executive Chef Daniele Turchetti and Managing Director David Spinogatti.

Bond 45 | 149 Waterfront Street - National Harbor, MD 20745 | 301-839-1445

*Smooches&Hugs*

Rest in Peace: Dr. Dorothy I. Height

Civil Rights Activist Dorothy Height Dies (Source: NPR)

I met Dr. Height when I worked as Dr. Jane E. Smith's (NCNW Past President/CEO) Executive Assistant back in 2001. She didn't talk much, but was approachable & indeed a VERY VERY sweet lady. Always wore BAD hats, SHARP Suits, NICE shoes & manicured nails. The way you see her in the media is how she came to work DAILY. She was... beyond the bling you admire; she was regal.

No matter who you were or what your title was, she referred to you as "Mr.", "Mrs.", etc. She treated everyone that entered her office like family, had a great sense of humor & a cute laugh to match.

I only wish I visited her more after my departure. I'll probably regret that for the rest of my life.

Rest in peace, Dr. Height.

*Smooches&Hugs*

Nose for Nosh: The Cereal Bowl DC

Attention: DC Cereal Connoisseurs!

Saturday, March 27th was the Grand Opening of Cleveland Park's latest addition; The Cereal Bowl.

I was there.

As a cereal lover, I was quite anxious (super-duper-pressed) to make my way 'cross town to check it out. I'm usually pretty plain with my cereal (honey on Cheerios, light sugar & bananas on Cornflakes, nothing but 2% milk on my Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc.), so this was a stretch for me.

Pretty good!

Basically, The Cereal Bowl is Cold Stone Creamery for cereal.

The staff was quite friendly and helpful in explaining the concept, menu options and such. I thought it was fitting that they wore pajamas and crocks as "uniform". Comfy and cute. I should've taken a pic.

I was able to get a few pics while standing in line. I'm sure I was getting on everyone's nerves, posing as if I knew what I was doing. **Disclaimer: I'm no professional, so you're not allowed to laugh.

Here: 

The wind was WILD that evening, so I had a time trying to encourage (i.e., yelling) the balloons to hold still. 4 shots later, it worked.

Menu options.

Cereal options.

Toppings: fresh fruit, craisins, nuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, marshmallow, chocolate syrup, gummy worms, etc.

Lucky for us, substitutions are allowed for toppings and cereal. That's your time to shine and get creative.

 

Create-a-Box: Like what you had? Take it "to go". To share or not to share. That is the question. I already know my answer; "NO. I'm not sharing."

Juice options: First of all, who knew they still produced Orangina AND Yoo Hoo!? (I sure didn't)

They also have Oaties (Oatmeal + Smoothies), which looked good. Too bad I didn't get a picture or sample. Coffee and hot chocolate are available for those who want something hot.

"The Sweetest Thing": Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, sprinkles & crushed Vanilla Wafers (which I substituted for strawberries). These are like my Top 3 of 5 favs. I never thought to combine them. Talk about delish! This is probably gonna be my staple order, going forward.

Damage: $3.29 for a small bowl ($.39/per additional topping)

Random, Off-topic Movie Moment: Eating here was better than watching 2007's 'Flakes' (Zooey Deschanel, Aaron Standford) -- which I couldn't get past the first 30 minutes of.

Anywho!

Overall, everything was really good! Its a cute, novel idea that I can't imagine getting old. There's something for everyone (from toddler to seasoned cereal lovers) and its a good stop to make on your way in.

The Cereal Bowl | 3420 Connecticut Avenue, NW Cleveland Park WDC, 20008 | 202-244-4492

*Smooches&Hugs*