Lavinia at Home

… or should I say a great gift for yourself. Try some Dale & Thomas Popcorn today. It’s one of my favorite treats and apparently Oprah’s too according to O Magazine. In my opinion, the peanut butter with white chocolate drizzle corn is just brilliant. Yum! Dale Humphry, a native of Popcorn, Indiana and Isiah Thomas, NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer, are partners in this business, which prides itself in providing “the freshest, plumpest, most tender kernels of Indiana’s finest corn” per their marketing materials. Having tried it many times, I would say they stand behind this statement.

Popcorn Chef and spokesperson Ed Dolyle has developed flavorful combinations such as Chocolate Chunk N’Caramel, Dale’s Caramel, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn, Hall of Fame Kettle Corn, Southwest Cheddar Chipotle, Toffee Crunch DrizzleCorn, Cinnamon Crème DrizzleCorn, Twice-As-Nice Chocolate DrizzleCorn, Sweet Georgia Pecan and Sweet and Spicy BBQ. If you happen to see one of their stores, stop by and try some of these delightful treats. And if you find it hard to make a choice, Dale & Thomas employees offer you small samples to motivate your taste buds. Not near a store, you can always visit their website at www.DaleandThomasPopcorn.com

The Bellagio is a premiere hotel, casino and resort located at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip (3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South (Phone: 888-987-6667). Offering luxurious accommodations ranging from guest rooms, suites and villas, you are sure to find one to your liking. If you use the web for your travel planning, you can find prices as low as $149 and up, with prices fluctuating with the season. Expect to find higher prices during the peak of the conference season.

Even those who have never been to Vegas, probably would recognize the grand entrance of the Bellagio with its “dancing” fountains (also referred to as their water ballet)–now infamously captured within the scenes of the first Ocean’s Eleven film featuring actors George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts among others. The entrance of the hotel and reception area are impressive, with blown-glass flowers on the ceiling and rich natural light. You can’t help but notice that this hotel is a far cry from the dark casinos of old. Their Conservatory and Botanical Garden, add even more light filled with gorgeous, brightly colored flowers and plants, which change with each season or holiday. We went just before Christmas and saw their festive Holiday display. These free seasonal exhibits at the Bellagio Conservatory include Chinese New Year, Spring Celebration, Summer Garden Party, Harvest and Holiday.

The casino, itself, is lively and upscale in tone. The restaurants at the Bellagio are also among the best in town. Our very favorite is Le Cirque with its superb menu and upscale elegance. We’ve been back twice to savor their delectable meals and look forward to the next time. In fact, we prefer this location to its counterpart in Manhattan. This resort hotel also boasts a spa and salon, nightlife and “O”, a Cirque du Soleil production, to round out your experience.

If you’re in Vegas, the Bellagio is a great establishment for your stay and/or worth visiting.