One Busy Bee

"We're watching Mickey's A Christmas Carol," says a friend while being a good daddy. This Disney Certified Travel Agent hasn't seen it, but I have been to the Charles Dickens Christmas Fair . Tickets were given to myself and colleagues thanks to a vendor of ours. The tickets were only good for the first two weekends so I made a point to make it happen during the long holiday weekend. " Do you like fish and chips ? " This was the response to asking the gent that took my $12 cash to park my car at the Cow Palace of what to expect at this fair. Beyond stuffed from eating Filipino food nearby at Goldilocks , I rubbed my tummy knowing there wasn't any room. Hey, men like women with a healthy appetite. Right? I didn't think this would be the reason to come to this fair but he did add that if I did want to experience their fish and chips, I should go early. This is because as the day goes on, the pieces get smaller and smaller.  We did see a mom c

Sometimes my Filipino-ness comes out. I'm not one to have rice with every meal, I don't have plastic on my furniture to protect it from wear and tear and I honestly don't hang out with many Filipinos. But sometimes, this 100% Filipina (thanks Ancestry.com) I crave an awesome Pancit Palabok and Shanghai Lumpia. In my attempts and recent joy of cooking , I make a pretty good chicken adobo, adobo setaw and bibingka. On our way to the Charles Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace , Kim, my roommate and I, needed to eat. I hit the gym in the morning and she was down for brunch. Not so much a brunch option but we ended up at Goldilocks in Daly City, the city where I just happened to have been born. We enter the restaurant, look over their menus, eye the tins of ready made dishes and were given descriptions. Kim was lost so we ordered her something she knew - adobo and rice. She loves pork buns (as do I, from China Live ) so I got one of those for her to try too. I w

" This is why I need Bernadette! " exclaims my Bride to her new husband. He nodded as if saying " Whatever makes you happy, my Love. " What does a Day Of Wedding Coordinator do? Duties may or may not include, but not limited to: Button the dress, fluff the dress, straighten the veil, share your candy with the Bride, get just as excited when it's time to get married (see SF Mayor Breed's excitement too!) and much more, including try to stay out of the Photographer's way. She also leaves them a nice note to welcome them to San Francisco. I received a call at the Concierge desk I work at from an incoming hotel guest that were eloping from Texas. The Bride needed assistance finding someone to help on day of. "Well, I am one." Next thing I knew, I was hired. My Bride was on top of it! She was very organized and solely needed help finding cleaners to get her dress pressed after the plane ride, a vehicl

One of the "Old Dogs" of the Hawai'i Food and WineFestival , Chef Rick Tramonto , sat at a table at Roy's overlooking the golf course and hotels on the water. It was media day and I was fortunate to participate for the second consecutive year. A welcoming smile greeted me to the table and he was ready as any professional would be. Apparently, I was not ready for the stories he was about to tell me. Chef Tramonto grew up with his father being incarcerated and he didn't learn how to read until he was 28-years-old with the help of his wife at the time and business partner, Chef Gale Gand . He is now an author of eight books, including his memoir, Scars of a Chef . He told me how he knocked on the back door of an establishment that would be making square hamburger patties and was just looking for a J-O-B. He just needed someone to give him a shot. It's amazing how one opportunity opens the door to a future of opening restaurants in Chicago and New Orlea

As an Event Planner and Coordinator, there is absolutely no way we would know or have worked with all the thousands of vendors available. I have compiled a workbook of wedding and event vendors I have come across and worked with over the years. It has their contact information, important notes such as where their costs start, what they offer, how they are different from other vendors and how we met. With my love for Hawaii and the goal to one day have property there, I am lucky to have my father, AKA my Papa Bear, and stepmom living on Maui and sending me photos of venues they come across. For instance, this is The Mill House . They visited the property as they explored their island and noticed they had event space. They sent me photos I posted on my Facebook page even though I haven’t personally been there, yet. When I asked my Papa Bear what we were going to do the day before I had to work the Hawaii Food &Wine Festival , he asked me what I wanted to do and of course, I w

Located on the lawn at the Sheraton Maui in Lahaina, Hawai'i, the Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival delivered again with 13 knowledgeable chefs across the country bringing you a special bite using local, fresh ingredients. Pair these delicious and carefully created appetizers and desserts with cocktails from Mixologists and wine from Master Sommeliers. Be entertained with belly dancers, music and the MC keeping the event festive. I was able to attend a similar event last year and report back. I was ecstatic to come back and try this year's creations. My father and step mother were able to attend as well and as foodies, they enjoyed it as well. " This is a lot !" my father exclaimed. It was like a 13-course tasting menu. Not bad for a $200 ticket, with unlimited wine, cocktails, beer by Stella Artois and Fiji water. These Chefs may be on television shows and magazines, have written cookbooks and received countless rewards and accolades, but t