Final Day in Vegas {Giada's Reivew!}

I just have to finish blogging about our little Vegas getaway...Saturday was so much fun!

We woke up early but then decided to get some more sleep so that we could enjoy Saturday night.   The weather was so nice and warm!!

We had brunch at Mon Ami Gambi.  We love this place and were super excited to eat here once again.

The sun was beating down us, but we didn't really mind since we knew it'd probably be the last time for a long while (hello cold grey NY winters!)

After stuffing our faces with delicious French food, we walked around.

I just love all the architecture, glitz and glam of Vegas.

We walked around the mall, I had the lady at MAC play with some makeup colors on me...

Joe lusted after more cars.

We took a different way back into our hotel.

For Saturday night, I dressed up in the little Guess number I found outside the Red Rock hotel.

I don't think I have ever owned such a teeny tiny clingy LBD.  I bought the shoes to match.  I still was one of the more conservatively dressed ladies in Las Vegas.  Craziness.

For dinner I had made us reservations at Giada's restaurant as soon as I knew we were going to Vegas.

We had a perfect table for two that overlooked the strip.

I enjoyed everything, starting with the wine!



They start with bread--the sea salt is so good mixed with evoo.

Joe ordered the caponata, but it had a lot of peppers and so I didn't touch it and he didn't really either...not Giada's fault, we just don't handle peppers well.

The bacon wrapped dates were to die for and I almost forgot to snap a picture!!

The waiter strongly suggested the cauliflower soup---it was incredible.  I need to try and recreate it.

I went with the classic lemon spaghetti with two jumbo shrimp which were so good, they were almost a lobster quality!

Joe ordered the pork chop and he loved it.

After our amazing meal we checked out the Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan hotel.  It was so pretty and glam, just my style!

There are three levels and each one has different signature drinks.

The gigantic chandelier!!

We had fun trying a few different cocktails.

This one had a flower in it and was really interesting!

Then we hopped a cab and tried to find a good club to go to...we found two and got in on the VIP list, cut the lines, and didn't pay anything...but neither of the clubs were for us.  Call us old, but the one club I felt totally claustrophobic because there was literally no room to breathe.  The second club was bigger, but the music was so loud, it was hurting my ears! My tinnitus makes my ears a little more sensitive, but even Joe was like what the heck?!  So perhaps our "clubbing days" are over...we still had a blast and more than anything, enjoyed our time just the two of us.

See you in July Las Vegas.  We will be back!!!

Tasty Thursday: Recipe

If you've been with me for awhile, you know we love some Giada up in here.   Her recipes never seem to fail us, and Joe loves anything pasta…so when I saw this last year, I couldn't wait to try it when I wasn't prego!  I decided to give this a whirl over the weekend. Boy, it did not disappoint!

Giada's Penne with Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese 

So yummy!

It doesn't require much, just some simple fresh ingredients.

1 box penne pasta

1 onion

1 butternut squash, cubed and seeded (my store has it all ready in a container!)

1 cup goat cheese (I personally only used 4 oz, as it's pretty powerful!)

it calls for walnuts, but I omitted those since Joe can't do nuts…

I cup packed basil leaves*

1/3 cup of parmesan cheese

425 degree ove-- 

Place sliced onion & squash on a baking sheet, drizzle with EVOO, a little salt & pepper.

Bake 40 minutes.

While they cool, boil a pot of water for the pasta, cook as per directions.

Reserve 2 cups of the pasta water.

In a bowl, place goat cheese, basil and add pasta.  

Mix and stir in the pasta water, which should create a creamy mixture.  

Add in the squash/onion.  

Toss with the parm cheese & walnuts if used.

It's a warm, hearty and meatless dish.  Perfect for cool weather in the Fall.  The basil and butternut squash bring a sweet element that mixes well with the goat cheese. 

Enjoy!

*my friend Alison made the suggestion of trying this with sage, as it may be even better! 

A Small Triumph: Tales of Mommyhood

It's 5:00 on Monday afternoon.

Mondays are long, as the husband works until 8 or 9 pm

after leaving the house by no later than 8:10 am.

I just "closed my eyes for a minute" 

at 3:20 and before I knew it,

the clock was rounding 5.

I knew I had to pick up the dry cleaning;

Joe's work pants were there!

The annoying part about our cleaners,

is that they will tell you it's ready at 5pm for pick up,

but they're only open until 6. 

It's not usually a problem,

but when you're a little sleep deprived,

and fell asleep for a nap while baby slept.

This one hour window seemed a tad unlikely!

Since baby was still asleep, I chose to pump.

5:04

As soon as I started pumping, I could hear her little cries.

I finished up, started my truck

5:13

it's 29 degrees today

 fed her, burped, fed and burped some more

 and checked the clock:

5:32

Took note that the truck was no longer running...

I quickly rush up to her nursery to change her diaper,

only to discover she pooed through it.

Onto the cute onesie.

Oh yes, up the back.

I can't get mad since she smiles away and coos so loudly.

But seriously, how come they only poop through the clothes when 

you actually have some place to go??
I put another onesie on

{not her favorite thing in the world, chubby arms into a thin sleeve!}

I run to put on some acceptable pants,

check the clock again:

5:41

bring her downstairs and tell my dogs 

"Crate!"
They rush down to the door to our basement,

Sadie banging her nose against it,

grab small doggie treats

and we trot down there to enclose them.

{This is to ensure no harm is done to our home or dogs while gone}

Run back up the stairs,

buckle baby in, cover in blankets.

Slip into Uggs

soooo over these, and the white ground they walk on!

Put on my puffer vest,

grab my grocery list,

my phone,

my purse.
Check that clock:

5:49

Pick up the heavy car seat with heavier by the day baby,

trudge through the snowy driveway,

place baby in the backseat, 

click it in,

strap it in.

Hop into the front seat,

off I go.

Luckily we live right down the road from the cleaners.

Pull into the parking lot:
5:56

Unbuckle baby,

carry her into the cleaners,

pick up husband's work pants,

and head back to the truck.

Drive through the parking lot, just to park again...

I pick a spot near the grocery carts,

thinking it'll be easier to just set her on the cart

and push.

This is the first attempt at grocery shopping

just me

and little B.

I don't know why,

but I always get nervous about things I have never done before.
I've been really spoiled with grandmas and my husband

wanting to watch our little girl.

Joe and I have gone shopping with her and she was fine.

This time was absolutely no different!
She was so curious to look around at all the bright and shiny lights,

and by the end of our shopping tour,

she was fast asleep at checkout.

Now I know there will be days of screaming ahead,

but for my first solo trip for groceries?
It was perfect.

And I am so proud of both of us!

I even managed to whip up Giada's Turkey meatloaf,

had sweet potato fries in the oven,

threw a side salad together

and bathed baby all before Joe came home.

The mountains of laundry didn't all get folded and put away,

the guest room/my closet is still a mess--

transitioning into clothes pre- pregnancy 

{by the time I'll fit into my winter attire, it'll be Spring, doh!}

Tossing all my maternity wear into a bin for later use...

The office is still in the works.
Why is it so hard to get rid of books?!?

I'll never read them again.

And the living room doesn't look like I vacuumed since I did first thing in the morning

#doghaireverywhereughhhhh

But I can at least gloat at my small triumphs and 

there's always tomorrow.

Pasta with Smashed Peas, Sausage & Ricotta

Tagliatelle with Smashed Peas, Sausage, and Ricotta Cheese

Thank you, once again, Giada!!

Click link above for full recipe

Of course, after all the research I did for my meal plan,

I decided I wanted this instead for dinner last night.

So glad I did, as it was yummy!!

I did not have that type of pasta she used,

but rather some funky thick pasta my husband picked up

at this little Italian store...

It was messy as hell to eat, but still tasted great!

Start by sauteing garlic in some EVOO 

Don't brown it, just a few minutes...

 Gather the rest of your supplies:

Ricotta

Parm cheese

Peas

{1 cup of each}

Pasta

Sausage with casings removed {used venison}

-not pictured, fresh basil-

Add the sausage to the pan:

Using a wooden spoon, crumble into pieces until brown.

Remove from pan, add peas, turn off heat.

Using back of wooden spoon, smash the peas a bit

Your pasta should be cooking away in the water,

reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.

Add the ricotta cheese to the peas & stir

Drain pasta, add the sausage, ricotta mixture, & parm cheese to large pan

Stir.

Add fresh basil you've torn

Put into pasta bowls & enjoy!

Both my husband and I enjoyed it and I am looking forward

to eating it again for lunch!!

It's a great way to use up extra ricotta cheese you may have.

I always buy the large container for lasagna or stuffed shells, and don't finish it all.

I'm sure it'd be even better with freshly grated parm cheese & freshly made ricotta...

but I cheated.

It was still deeeelish!

Happy Tuesday!

Hunger Games, Giada & a Giveaway

So I'm a tad busy planning my sister's:

 Her couples bridal shower.
Her upcoming St. Thomas Wedding.

And of course getting ready for upcoming getaway.

I started reading this on my nook, like I mentioned last week...

However, I downloaded this as an audiobook

#latetotheparty
And Prep is now on hold.

Source: suzannecollinsbooks.com via Jesse on Pinterest

I really wanted to read it, but I just don't allow myself

the time to sit and actually read...

Luckily,

I can't stop listening to it!! 

It's seriously that good. 

If you're one of those people

 {like me}

 and you just didn't think it'd be your thang,

 just get the audio and start listening!

As I fold laundry, clean the kitchen, change sheets,

vacuum, mop, do more laundry,

make homemade soup from Giada's new cookbook

 So comforting and pretty healthy!!

Recipe is HERE

And listened to chapters 1-11 yesterday. 

So I need to stop blogging so I can continue

 to do other mindless activities, so I can listen to the HG!!

I am love love LOVING this crazy book.

..must...

go...

listen!

GIVEAWAY

***Enter to win a fun beach bag at my gurrrrl Amber's fun blog:***

She's so fun; I wish we were neighbors in real life!

Bugs, Barbies, and Wedded Bliss

It's OK Thursday {what a great week!}

It's OK That... 

• I am hopping on the health bandwagon: 2012--the year of the seed. 
• See here for Chia benefits!! 

Note: I think I put too many in our salad haha!

• That I added a new little Le Creuset to my {super small} collection

•  That last week I felt like I was going to die in Zumba
• Last night I felt like a Zumba Rock-star!

•  I apologize to the girl with messy hair in front of me, who did not know how to dance nor could she stay in her space, for kicking and accidentally smacking you a few times. Move forward; you had plenty of room! or go to the back because you don't know what you're doing.No really, I kid....I am so proud of anyone who is out there shakin her thang, but seriously?  I couldn't see the instructor or dance in my own space because she was in it.

• That I own about 6 aprons and haven't paid for any of them!
• This is my newest addition: I won from Ashley's Giveaway Everyday AEM

• That I think Giveaways are fun! I see so many bloggers complain about them, but I think it's all part of the blogging fun.  There are so many facets to blogging, and it's one of the many perks! I have found more cool little shops because of blog Giveaways, it truly is a great way to advertise.  
• To be even more in love with my husband & happier now than I was 4 years ago when we met

  

  So sweet of him! {Our wedding colors!}

  • And lastly, to be overly excited that my idol, Giada, tweeted a :) to me.
  Oh, you want proof you say?
  OK---

{Now, lovely readers, the odd thing is, I didn't @ or # her.

I mean, I have before, once or twice, but that was weeks ago. 

This particular photo I simply stated, 

"Yes, I pretend to be Giada."}

And attached this photo:

I was making our '4 YEARS of knowing each other dinner'

May have had a glass or two of Pinot, and took a picture of parsley on a plate.
Low and behold, my favorite Chef, or celebrity for that matter, tweeted.

To me.

How did she even know I said that?
I'm still smiling about this!

• It's Okay that I am OK that I am a huge DORK.

What are you OK with today??

Link up!