Nick's Cigar World & LOUNGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made a big announcement to the world today that included, friends, family, business associates and customers.  It was both exciting and scary all at the same time.  So it's Official...

Coming to 2707 Hwy 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC is the newest addition to Nick's Cigar World.  We are opening a cigar lounge.  The new LOUNGE will feature over sized chairs, plenty of televisions, the best cappuccino and espresso.  Extensive beer and wine list and for all the golfers....a golf simulator for rainy days!!!!!!!!  We are so excited!  Hope to be open by April (pending the approval of a liquor license).

 Over the last 2-3 years my father and I have wanted to expand with a cigar lounge but the timing was never right or the deals fell through.  Just when I had come to the realization that it just may not be in my cards, fate stepped in like some crazy cosmic being and the opportunity couldn't had better timing.  The last two weeks I have been swamped with running around getting contracts and leases signed, not to mention filling out the ridiculous state application to submit for our beer and wine license.  I took this weekend off to meet some old college friends and when asked what is going on, I just blurted it out.  In that moment it had become very realistic, so I felt it was time to tell everyone.  Hey I'm excited, Big Nick is excited, so we want our customers to get...EXCITED! 

So in conclusion, I officially will now be a workaholic (not like I wasn't before), cause she works hard for the money!

Viva La Mexico!

I finally booked a tropical vacation and I am so excited.  My roommate from college is a teacher and for ten years I have been trying to coordinate my schedule to attend one of her fabulous vacations with her.  But of course I was always too busy. Well work is going to get really busy for me with my new cigar coming out and a possible expansion in my company so I figured, better get a vacation in before it passes me by.  So in April I will be boarding Spirit Airlines and heading to Cancun, Mexico to sit on the beach and relax, with good company, a good book and a fruity cocktail!   We are staying at the Fiesta Americana Condesa.  

Not Too Shabby!

I will repost with me in one of those lounge chairs!

Now this isn't my first time to Cancun.  There was a memorable trip for Spring Break 99' (we like to party, we like, we like to party).  However, I intend to remember most of this trip and I don't think I will be taking any tequila shots from a mexican in a sombreo with a whistle at Senor Frogs....but you never know.  The count down begins...2 months from today!  Viva La Mexico!!

Puppy Cuts

My little GiGi is such a character and her look really adds to it.  She started as an all black fluff ball and as she grew she went from black to a bridle/leopard/gray dog.  People always comment about her coloring.  Well I let her hair get long for the winter and I finally couldn't deal with it anymore.  She hates to be brushed and with her double coat it just turns into a knotted mess.  I was done fighting with her so today she went to the groomers.  We couldn't believe the before and after.  She hates to get her picture taken so they are a little blurry and clearly she doesn't look to happy.  But she is all clean and FAB!..got to love the puppy cut!

BEFORE!!!

AFTER!!!

Cigars for Women - The Heiress Cigar

So I have been working on a new project that I have been keeping very hush, hush!  I decided last year that I wanted to create a cigar for women to smoke.  Now there are flavored cigars out there, but they are so sweet and you really can't appreciate the tobacco and the greatness a good cigar when its disguised by cognac or vanilla.  I wanted to create a cigar for everyone woman to try and yet not cough.  It will be every woman's first starter cigar and after many samples smoked I think I came up with just that!!

There are three steps to creating your own cigar.  1. Pick the blend of the cigar and the sizing if your only doing one size.  2. Create a design for the band.  3.  Create a box design and packaging.  

My cigar band was designed last fall so next will be the box design.  So ladies, what would you like to see in a box design?  It will hold 10 cigars in a petite corona size.  For those that don't know what that means it will be about 4.5 inches long.  What would make you keep the box?  All thoughts and comments would be appreciated. 

I hope you like the design...here are some meanings behind the name and the band...

1.  The name Heiress came from my dad (Big Nick).  No, I do not think I am Paris Hilton.  When I started in the family business at my first trade show about 6 years ago, my dad introduced me to everyone as the Heir Apparent.  So thus the term Heiress was coined, later on Cigar Heiress to differentiate what kind of heiress.

2.  The "H" in heiress is bigger for my mother, whose name is Holly

3.  The colors of Maroon, Lavender and Gold signify my sorority colors for Sigma Kappa and my school colors at Elon University

4.  The String of Pearls was our sorority jewel and I have been been wearing pearls probably since I was five. 

So there you have it.  I said it out loud and you all know about the Heiress Cigar and how it has come about.  Updates on production to come....

 

Super Bowl! I have my life back!!

Football season is over.  Well ,technically it was over for me a couple of weeks ago when my precious NY Jets lost the AFC Championship for the 2nd year in a row.  So of course I had to root for the Packers and I am extremely happy they won! 

Now, the Super Bowl is probably the only program where people actually want to watch commercials. I know there has to be some stat out there proving that besides the obvious millions of dollars advertisers shell out for 30 seconds.  So all anyone can talk about today is the great commercials, but I have yet to hear about my favorite little guy, the e-trade.com baby.  This kid can make me laugh so hard, which is ironic since I am not a kid person.  But something about a toddler talking all grown up really gets me going.  So here are the two from the game, and I found a "blooper" reel as well, which is funny too!  Enjoy....

Enzo the Tailor!!

Bloopers Reel!

And nothing like Peppers the Cat!!  Bless you Peppers!!

All Things Telluride, CO

Every winter I make an annual trip to see my best friend since junior high, Susanne.  Currently she is living in Telluride, Co.  It's a quaint little ski village for the rich and some famous (TomKat have a house there).  The town consists of about 5 blocks and then the mountain is above.  It's completely picturesque and you  easily can lose touch with reality.

 My trip started with me leaving my home at 4am.  The journey was to be Myrtle Beach - Charlotte - Phoenix - Telluride...well that didn't happen.  When we were trying to land in Telluride there was a white out and after two attempts to land we were diverted to Durango.  Only 88 miles away but a 3 hour drive.  So when I finally arrived at Sue's front door I had traveled for 17 hours.  Totally not FAB!

The first night was mostly just settling in and reconnecting and getting to see my precious Annabelle (Sue's daughter).  Now you all know I am not good with kids, so what did I do to have her warm up to me after a year, give her presents.  Here she is sporting the new purse and jewelry I gave her for her 2nd bday/Christmas.  Working on her FAB style! 

First thing in the morning I had to get my favorite breakfast sandwich from the best place in town called Merle's Brown Bag.  I highly recommend the FAVE :  Egg, salami, pesto and goat cheese Panini!  FAB!!!!!

The next night we decided to go snowshoeing through the woods on the mountain and view the full moon.  Totally a cool experience.  And despite many childhood friends worries, we totally rocked it out and I am not just talking about my cool headlamp.

Don't know how I moved with all those clothes on, but it was COLD!

Trisha who is the coolest made us a FAB dinner when we got back and boy was it yummy!  Shrimp and Chicken with a lemon caper risotto..DELISH!  

 The next afternoon we decided to go skiing.  Now, the last time Sue skied she broke her leg, and it had been about 13 years for me.  After much flirting with the hot ski boys at the rental shop we were ready and on our way...the girls back east should have been more worried about this then the snowshoeing. 

So when you live at sea level, the elevation difference is a big deal, especially at 10,000 ft.  We get off the lift and end up on a much harder hill then anticipated.  Which I thought to myself, okay, baby steps and hope like Stella, I would get my grove back.  Well Stella was on a beach sipping cocktails and I was on a steep mountain.  I made it to a clearing when all of a sudden I shut down.  ELEVATION SICKNESS had hit me.  All I could think was how the hell will I make it down.  Well with help from a cute ski patrol and some water, I made it to the landing and was able to get some water and some sugar and I felt like a million bucks!

We were ready to rock and had a great time the rest of the afternoon.  However, there was one fall, no thanks to me checking on Sue..Thanks for making sure it was captured.  

The next night a group of ended up going to dinner on the mountain and getting to take the gondola at night with the city all lit up behind us.  Through the trek in the snow, we had a cozy and warm table for the seven of us.  I enjoyed the Lamb Chops and a good bottle of Prosecco while others had some Venison Carpacio, the largest steaks I had seen in a long time and some Colossal Crab that was amazing!  I highly recommend Palmyra at the Peaks if you are in the area. 

Palmyra

And if you are a picky, like our friend Jen, they even have Grilled Cheese and Fries (if you ask)!

And some wine too....

We hit the town afterwards for some drinks and laughs. 

Trisha's straw was way too big for her drink.

 

The ladies had fun posing for pics.

And it made me remember college days at our local bar West End Tavern. 

 

Unfortunately the rest of the trip flew by with strolls around town and a Jets LOSS :-(  Before I knew it I was back on my trip home.  Telluride (thankfully) - Phoenix - Charlotte - Myrtle Beach.   I had a blast and was able to experience new things and also appreciate the old.  Now if I just could have put Sue and Abelle in my suitcase it would have been perfect.  Can't wait for next year.  Only 359 days left...

Friends for 19 years!