Florida Georgia Line | Old Camp™ Peach Pecan Whiskey

One thing I really admire about creatives is that there are so many facets to who they are - there's much room for original ideas, concepts and collaborations to be had. The possibilities are truly endless, and the best part? It comes naturally, and often stems from something inspiring. 

You have probably heard of the history-making country duo named Florida Georgia Line. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley have gained a ton of recognition and success over the past several years from their unique and authentic "bro-country" style of music.

As if they aren't talented enough, they created their own line of smooth whiskey called Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey! It is the ultimate drink to kick-start the party, pouring into a bottle the feeling of complete freedom and living in the moment. Whether you’re at a concert tailgate, campsite, barbeque or pregame with friends, Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey is the perfect pairing for a good time.  

The proven superstar duo were inspired to make their first whiskey by their own “camp” – a crew of longtime musicians, managers, technicians and friends – which ultimately led to the creation of Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey. The inspiration was drawn by a great sense of camaraderie. The camp is their family on the road, traveling together from city to city, bringing the show and the party with them at every stop. 

FGL’s Tyler Hubbard said, “This ritual is a huge part of FGL and we wanted to develop a drink that feels true to who we are, our roots and the vibes we like to create."

Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey brings a unique mix of flavoring to the whiskey market. Influenced by FGL’s Southern roots, Old Camp is blended using American whiskey aged for a minimum of two years in white American oak barrels with a No. 3 char and infused with Southern peach and pecan flavors. The result is deliciously smooth and sweet, yet balanced, with caramel and light spice notes.   

I can honestly say it's one of the most enjoyable whiskeys I've tried, and I love the underlying warm flavors. After trying it, I was so looking forward to their concert a few weeks ago down in Chula Vista. I had the opportunity to meet them, which was a very cool and humbling experience! The guys were super nice, and BK said, "Brielle... that's a cool name" so... thats just a minor detail I'll remember forever! I have a huge level of respect for these guys not only for their musical talent, but for their awesome entrepreneurial venture as creators of Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey!

Last Minute Labor Day Weekend Getaways on The West Coast

Long weekends are the perfect opportunity to plan activities, gatherings, and getaways with your squad, especially when it comes to closing out the summer with big Labor Day Weekend. Whether you take your holiday break overseas, lounging poolside, or simply enjoy relaxation time with friends, the only way to do LDW right is to hit up the hottest spots that are guaranteed to offer you an unforgettable time. 

A few of my favorite things? Pool parties, champagne and brunch of course. Check out my top picks for spots in Palm Springs, Las Vegas & Los Angeles to celebrate the last days of Summer!

Drag Queen Brunch at Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs

Labor Day weekend activities can range from relaxing in a poolside cabana to having fun with your friends at a drag queen brunch, like the DRG Brunch at Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs. This desert destination offers stylish accommodations, exceptional cuisine from The Kitchen, their luxe day spa, Rock Spa and a VIP experience at The Club for dancing ‘til dawn.

Champagne Showers at DAYLIGHT Beach Club

This long weekend is the perfect amount of time to spend in the city of sin! DAYLIGHT Beach Club at Mandalay Bay is the ultimate pool party on the Las Vegas strip. Partygoers will love wrapping up the summer by keeping cool at the pool and dancing to special performances.  This LDW, catch epic performances by artists such as T-pain, Duke Dumont, and Rick Ross. This a-list line up paired with champagne showers DAYLIGHT is sure to be the hottest party in the desert.

Celeb-Sightings, Frosé & Seafood at CATCH LA

Whether you choose the City of Angels or the Big Apple, restaurant hotspot CATCH can put major glitz and glamour into your days out of the office. Known for its celebrity sightings, creative seafood-focused food, and delicious cocktails, CATCH LA is a prime destination for a holiday weekend brunch with friends. Pair your glasses of frosé with a Catch Roll or Waffle Tower before a fun-filled weekend of parties.  

My Daycation at the W Hollywood with ResortPass

Ever want to take full advantage of all of the fun amenities of a hotel, but can't ever do it because it's 1. expensive, 2. you're not a guest? Total FOMO right? Well, what if I told you your hotel daycation dreams could come true? Now I've got your attention. 2 words: ResortPass.

ResortPass offers day passes, day beds, and cabanas to gorgeous luxury resorts in several cities, including Los Angeles! I decided to take full advantage of my summer Friday and headed to the W Hollywood to soak up all the perks of chilling on the hotel's glamorous rooftop! I brought my bff Kyle of Hamptons to Hollywood to experience the most out of a day with ResortPass. 

From the moment we got upstairs to the rooftop, we were completely into the vibe going on. There was a DJ playing upbeat music (the perfect way to get the weekend started) amongst the hotel's spacious pool, cool bar and incredible view of Hollywood!

First thing we did before we hopped into the pool? Headed to the bar of course! Before going, I had to check out the bar menu and couldn't wait to try their "Almost Famous" cocktail: Ketel One Citroen vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, Moët Imperial Ice champagne, and frozen grapes. I don't think you could get any more "LA" than this cocktail! Plus, Kyle and I are shamelessly champagne snobs and got a huge kick out of the fact the hotel served Moët.

At such a reasonable price, too! We also ordered the Avocado and Pepper Hummus platter which was the perfect light, yet filling dish to snack on while lounging by the pool.

We had a ton of laughs laying poolside. We couldn't have asked for a better Summer Friday!

We continued to take full advantage of our amazing perks - endless pool time with a side of a champagne cocktail, and of course taking tons and tons of photos.

If being spoiled by ResortPass, lounging by the best rooftop pool in Hollywood on a Friday is wrong, we never want to be right. 

We truly had the best afternoon. I am still blown away by how affordable ResortPass is and how much it offers. The fact that you could enjoy the luxuries of a vacation without paying the big bucks to sleep there is such a cool concept! Whether you're a local or an out-of-towner, ResortPass can create fun perks for just about everyone! Big thank you to ResortPass for giving me the opportunity to turn an ordinary Friday into a special one I will never forget!

Why Your Perception of a Career in the Blogging and Digital World is Twisted

"What do you do?" is a question I get asked frequently, as I am sure a lot of people do. To put it simply, I am a creative professional in this new-age social and digital space. Still don't get it? I am a writer, creative director, blogger, host, producer, event producer, branding expert, and entrepreneur. 

Wait... what? No, I do not have a typical 9-5. I have about a 6 am to midnight, 7 days a week career. As someone in the creative industry, content producing doesn't have a time that you throw in the towel for the night. As the days change, so does what needs to be created. Think about it this way - in the entertainment industry, it's very similar. It falls under the creative career umbrella. Content creation is made for entertainment and that's what I do. 

There's a misconception that blogging is just taking pretty photos and posting them on social media and waiting on bated breath for likes. Sure, maybe that's what it is for some people who have a lot of time on their hands or consider it a hobby. But blogging for me surpasses that and has turned into a business venture. While quality imagery and video content is something I take seriously, it's important to know that one must blend creativity and business cohesively to create a brand with a well-known reputation, aesthetic, and one that can connect with an audience. I will say this plain and clear: not everyone has this ability. You need to have a business side and a creative side to your mind. 

I feel lucky that I am only 25 and have both corporate experience and creative, freelance experience under my belt because it is these experiences that have given me everything I need to know to start an entrepreneurial business venture on my own. When I began blogging, I knew that I didn't want it to stop at a website. As someone who has been kind of a psychotic perfectionist my whole life (which has its pros and cons) I knew I wanted to take The Gilded Bellini to multiple levels. As I mentioned before, everything that is done with this blog I do myself, with the help of some very talented digital professionals that help bring my vision to life (that I would be nowhere without... you know who you are!). I have complete control over the content I create, whether it's writing my script for my brunch videos, covering a restaurant, reviewing a product, doing a social media campaign, collaborating on a video with another influencer and so much more. 

On top of The Gilded Bellini side of my life, I have a career in celebrity charity event production. If you have any idea about the extensive work that goes into event production, then you know it takes up a LOT of time. To be honest, I don't really go out that much with friends and leave very little time for a social life. I haven't even been home in almost 2 years. It's because I put my work first. When I am not working at my office, I'm working on all things The Gilded Bellini - writing, filming, networking, meetings with publicists and brands... even simply brainstorming. It is a constant around the clock job. I'm working before work and after work. Well, I have three jobs you could say: event production, The Gilded Bellini and hosting. My life is a constant hustle. While you can probably rely on your cushy 9-5 job (which I used to do too, so I am speaking from experience!) the work I do won't produce a profit or results if I do not put in the CONSTANT WORK. 

I've been put down by "friends" and family members saying that I don't have a "real career" countless times. I laugh more often than not because they don't even have the slightest CLUE about what goes into brand building and being a professional in this new-age social and digital world. I am not always public about what goes on behind the scenes in my career. But, everything you see is a DIRECT reflection of the work I have put in to make a vision come to life. The only way it has been happening is through non-stop effort, work and persistence. You need a certain type of work ethic to do anything that involves pushing boundaries and limitations. You also need PATIENCE. This stuff does NOT happen overnight. 

If you come from a traditional background, the idea of not having a traditional, society-approved career may baffle you and you probably look down upon it. That's fine. But you should not criticize those who are taking career risks that you probably haven't had the opportunity to attain. And it's totally ok - some people are more business oriented. Some people are more laid-back. Some people are strictly creative with no real sense of how to turn a vision into business. As a professional in the digital space, I put myself out there at face value and subject myself to judgement. But I also subject myself to creating a positive and reassuring entertainment space for my audience. 

My whole life I have dreamed about a career in the the entertainment industry. One where I had creative freedom and could put the things I loved out into the world and connect with other people who felt the same. And that's exactly what I'm doing now, in a very non-conventional way. It started from when I was young, too. My mom was an actress when she was younger and she's always encouraged me to be brave, be persistent and be different. An opportunity might not be there again if you wait 5 minutes. Just like an actress that is constantly working to perfect her skills, go on auditions, land jobs and make a name for herself in her field, it really translates to my own career and my long-term goals.

People think that your job is your identity. While it does make up a large portion of who you are as a character, it's not YOU. I can't stand when people define you and THINK they know who you are based on your career. You are so much more than what you do. You're more than the surface level stuff, and you're for sure more than what you put out on social media. 

For a traditional entrepreneur, you must have the skills and persistence to create an original product and market it as a business venture. As an entrepreneur in 2017, you must do exactly that, but on a much larger scale because of how easily accessible your work is to be recognized. That's why it is so important to maintain branding. Some people don't know the first thing about how to properly brand something, or publicize it or market it or even be proud of it because they're embarrassed. It is difficult to explain to someone who does not fully understand this facet of someone who runs a non-traditional business, but I know that every entrepreneur would for sure appreciate if you tried and weren't so quick to judge.

Let's face it: the digital world is not going anywhere. It's the future. We are SO lucky to be living in a world, and even in a country where being able to express ourselves through content creation is ACCEPTED for the most part and not looked down upon. What I've learned is to never dim your light just because someone else looks down upon who you are or what you're doing for whatever personal reason because they've got nothing of their own to be proud of. I encourage EVERYONE to take risks, be brave and put yourself out there. Don't make excuses. Anything that's worth it to you takes work, and I know you know that. It takes sacrifice, and sometimes pursuing what you want means giving up quite a few things. But if it's for what you love, it won't feel like a chore. Maybe working 7 days a week or writing or being in front of the camera isn't for you. That's totally fine! But please... do your best to not be so judgmental and pigeonhole or limit someone of their capabilities and intelligence just because they are not doing what YOU do. I am speaking for a lot of people who I know have seen backlash or can't put in words how they really feel. 

To sum it up, I never thought that I would be working as hard as I do, ever in my life. I thought when I worked in public relations I was working hard... and I was. 14-hour days in Manhattan are no joke. But I wasn't living up to my capabilities or trying to be my best self. I was hindering my own creative abilities by doing everything that was expected of me and I wasn't breaking out of this glass box I was put in by society, friends and family members. I have a huge respect for people who are immersed in this digital age or on a creative career path with me, and even more of a respect for people that aren't, but are open to understanding and appreciating differences. Just because someone isn't working the job that you do, doesn't mean they're not working hard to pursue what they are passionate about.

Let's respect, collaborate, understand and listen... we will learn so much more from one another, and you may realize you want to explore a new side of you that you didn't know you wanted to before.

On that note, I'm off to work! Catch ya later Bellinis, and thanks for reading and for your support. Xoxo

Photography by Emma Lynn Cinema

The Best Quick & Savory Breakfasts in LA Worth Rolling Out of Bed For

Every so often, especially after a night of drinking, you just want to wake up and have something that is going to satisfy your super strong hunger pangs. We have all been there... the craving for carbs and protein all at once the next morning is real! 

But, there's always that level of laziness (or hungover-ness) that we often find ourselves feeling too tired to figure out a brunch spot the next morning. To put it simply, we just want something quick, low-key but still loaded with the delicious flavors of brunch we crave. Well, luckily there's quite a few spots in the LA neighborhood that are one hundred percent worth rolling out of bed for, no matter how tired you are in the morning!

Porchetta Pizza at Primo Italia

Taking up his Italian dishes to the early morning hours, Primo Italia's Chef Michelangelo has single-handedly created a brunch menu that will make you forget that hangover ever existed and take you across the Atlantic Ocean to Italy.  Featured on their menu is their wildly popular Porchetta Pizza, showing Los Angeles what an authentic Italian pizzashould really taste like. Consisting of a base of handmade dough, the perfect blend of Italian cheeses, fresh a arugula, a heavy portion of chopped porchetta and topped with a fried egg-- this pizza is guaranteed to make you feel like you can conquer anything. 

Primo Italia

24590 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505

Breakfast Burger at The Standing Room

Some of the best food in Los Angeles tends to come from the smallest, inconspicuous restaurants, and The Standing Room’s Redondo Beach location is no exception. Starting from the back of a liquor store, The Standing Room is known for whipping up some of the craziest burgers and serving it out of a beluga whale window. With a menu that rarely changes, the cooks decided to create a new burger to feed early risers and breakfast lovers. The Breakfast Burger is made with 1/2 pound Angus beef, bacon, fried egg, homemade potato slices, habanero coleslaw, American cheese, cheddar cheese, and togarashi spice. This burger is perfect for anyone who likes to start their day with a hearty meal.

The Standing Room

Hermosa Beach Location: 1320 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Redondo Beach Location: 144 N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Breakfast Sandwich at Doma Kitchen

At Doma Kitchen all dishes are made from scratch & seasoned to perfection with housemade spices, placing importance on farmer's market fresh, seasonal & quality ingredients. With their newly released summer brunch menu, diners can expect to see Chef Kristina's take on a classic breakfast sandwich. Locally crafted chicken sausage placed carefully atop an egg omelet, crisp thick-cut bacon, American cheese, arugula, heirloom tomato, brioche bun, garlic aioli, and served with a side of fresh seasonal fruit. While most of us Angelenos love our green juices and healthy-eating habits we also love a good, hearty breakfast sandwich and this one doesn't disappoint.

Doma Kitchen 

4325 Glencoe Ave #8, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Breakfast Pizza at Mickey's Italian Delicatessen

Mickey's Deli is known for having surfers and beach goers as their regular customers. With an official start to summer, we are bound to see visitors and locals increase tenfold throughout all hours of the day. When summer makes it easy to sleep in and skip breakfast, ordering a breakfast pizza can ease your guilt for missing the most important meal of the day. 

Mickey's Breakfast Pizza is a simple way to have breakfast for lunch with your friends and family, oven baked with garlic spread, mozzarella cheese, fried eggs, bacon, sausage, sauteed red onions, and roma tomatoes. All pizzas can be ordered from small (14") to extra large (20"), starting at $14.95. 

Breakfast Sandwich at Mickey's Italian Delicatessen

If you're craving something smaller and sufficient for just yourself, Mickey's Italian Delicatessen has three breakfast sandwiches that all come with egg, cheese, and your choice of bacon, ham, or sausage. This can be ordered as small or large, starting at $7.95.

Mickey's Italian Delicatessen

101 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254