Advice for playing in the desert with cowboys

Oh Vegas, I think I love you. A few of my favorite things started off the weekend; a beautiful Fall afternoon in the desert, Paris, and Sam's sign up for PBR!

Vegas is one of those magical places that will capture you the moment you step off the plane. You can feel the energy build in your soul and you know something amazing is about to begin. You'll feel delirious with the sights, sounds, and people frolicking the the middle of the desert. Just make sure you are able to break away, as you can easily be sucked into the place. I have never been able to last longer than 36 hours in Vegas and fly home beaten and exhausted. But in the best way - and with the best stories to tell.

My first advice: Don't ever pass up a trip to Vegas! I'm sure that one was obvious though. 

So with Atlanta getting too chilly for my liking, I was west bound the moment Sam called to say he was playing a full weekend of shows at the MGM Grand for the PBR Finals. You couldn't pay me to stay away!

 

Second advice: Play all the penny slots you can - because cocktails are FREE when you are gambling in the casinos. You may win $1 or $2 (sorry, you will probably lose) but even if you don't you are gambling without the anxiety and you are drinking for FREE - nothing better.  

Third advice:  End EVERY night in Vegas at Drai's. It only opens at 2AM so be prepared because it is well worth it to make it here. They just recently moved from the Strip into Bally's, it is smaller but is still the best place to end your night - or rather your morning! Don't be surprised when the sun is up when you come walking stumbling out at the 7AM closing time. It will happen, accept it!

Fourth advice: Go to Madame Tussaud's

If you never have heard or seen a Madame Tussard's, it is a wax museum found in many of the biggest cities around the world. This is something I have never added to my #bucketlist of activities because it never seemed worth it. Well, it was.

Where else could you dance with Michael?

Or be a Las Vegas showgirl!? My dream when I was a little girl was to be a New York Rockette, unfortunately this is as close as I am going to get - I just never had the legs for that job :(

It is silly and honestly, really fun! If you go into the Venetian first, find the employee that hands out the $10 off coupon or ask at the desk for one when you are paying. I find that when I ask for a discount, I can usually get one.

Plus, you should be going in the Venetian anyways for shopping and gondola rides. This casino is beautiful.

The rest of the morning we made all the usual stops around the Strip - the Bellagio was decked out for the Fall. It would be so fun to envision and create these beautiful scenes. They want you to go overboard when you work for the Bellagio in Vegas - what a way to work.

A cornucopia overflowing with pumpkins and the air smelled of cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Why am I even surprised!?

Some of the more creepy critters lurking around the corner..

and since we did not have time for the Venetian gondola ride, there was a cute little row boat to try out. Oh Vegas, you think of everything! 

We spent our afternoons laying in the sun by the pool and soaking in the last warm rays before winter. Days like this make me question why I don't live somewhere where palm trees grow all year long -  Vegas, can you take me in? 

But the real reasons I had made the trip was to support this fella right here!

Get ready to know the name Sam Riddle - he is going to be your next favorite country singer

He had an early acoustic set that drew in HUGE crowds at MGM all weekend as well as playing at 8 Second Lounge, Stoney's, and on Fremont Street.

I may be biased but he puts on an amazing show - he plays guitar and piano (among others), sings his heart out every night, and never lets up on the energy. Go check him out if you are in Vegas, you will not regret it! 

 

and ladies, get ready to swoon:)

Plus, he deserves it all because he is a great friend and awesome guy. Who else would set up you with a place to stay and VIP treatment all weekend?! 

And thanks PBR for sponsoring... the event, not me (but that too, of course).

Next time maybe I shouldn't be allowed to play alone in VIP..which I guess resulted in selfies with #Swoopproblems.

But Elvis was there to save me. 

Only in Vegas.

Spider and Skeleton Halloween Wreaths

I have been endless drooling over those cute DIY Fall wreaths on everyone's door and Pinterest page and finally decided that since I have a very cute new front door at my house, I had to give them a try.  They are SO EASY. Seriously, I am upset I haven't been making these for the holidays and Christmas gifts for years! 

I decided on a small 8 inch wreath for my first try to see how it went. 

 

 

You can get these at any hobby store - this is from Micheal's. The smallest wreath is about $2.50 and even the largest is less than $5 so its cheap enough to give it a shot. This one worked really well and the wires are maneuverable which helps when you are threading through the burlap.

Since I was making a smaller wreath I only purchased 1 roll of burlap that was 4" wide. One roll is about 10 yards and I used almost all of it. If you plan on making any bigger of a wreath, make sure to get two rolls of burlap.  

However, I am putting this wreath on a glass door so I wanted both sides to have the same look. If you want to save some burlap, tighten the coils of burlap you make in the back and loop them out bigger in the front. This will also keep it from sitting so far off the door.

 And then start looping through the wires - over, under, over repeatedly and scrunch up the burlap to the desired length. It is good to scrunch as you go to keep the coil of burlap tight around the edges.

Keep the initial edge loose to tuck in at the end and cover as much of the wires with the loops as possible. It may look somewhat messy at the beginning but keep coiling the burlap and spreading out the loops - you really can't mess this up!

And finally add your favorite touches. I made two for Halloween - I was very excited when the first worked out so well! One with glitter spiders that I will be using for many more projects this year. These were great because the spider legs fit right into the holes on the burlap with no glue or pins. So far no falling either! Just gruesome enough for the boy roommate to like and glittered enough for my taste!

To the other I attached a skeleton bow that I pinned on to the wires of the wreath. This way I can substitute any new Fall decorations as soon as Halloween is over and keep the wreath out for more celebrations!

These rolls of ribbon are on sale at Micheal's for $1 a roll. There isn't much length to them so make big looping bows and use it all up! They are a great addition to use year after year.

 

Happy Halloween Week! Now on to costumes... What is everyone dressing as this year? I need some inspiration! 

Push Start Kitchen

I had the BEST dinner last night.

Zach Malloy is the chef for an underground supper club dinner in the Goat Farm. Dinner is served inside his loft apartment for 14 guests and when you receive the e-mail that you have been invited for the evening - you go. You don't question it, you go. So although I was speeding back from Nashville - Why didn't I Fly? I had to make it back before the dinner party with his beautiful family and the other guests for the evening.



The old ammunition factory with high brick walls and long deep hallways sets the atmosphere for the dinner. The Goat Farm now serves as a performance arts studio hosting galleries to Scoutmob's Halloween Party but the loft apartments are offered to artists that pay their rent through donations to the Goat Farm. Chicken trees are outside, a long old front porch, and goats of course roam the grounds.

And the space and atmosphere is only the beginning. You are greeted by Zach's wife on the front porch and led into their home where you are instantly handed a cocktail - a Spanish rum with infused orange and apple juice and offered these fritter type pastries with a caramel dip and sea salt that may be the best food I have ever eaten.

As Zach works from his kitchen and plates the courses, he laughs and talks with his guests - many he knows personally. It is an intimate dinner party and if you didn't know him or any other guests at the beginning of the night, you will leave with hugs and new phone numbers from your new friends at the end.

I sat next to Steve, a business consultant from California that had first met Zach and his wife in Costa Rica where they ran their first restaurant, Media Naraja. I attended with B who had worked with Zach at 4th + Swift in Atlanta, and next to us was a Russian couple that had recently moved from NYC.

Although the atmosphere and acquaintances are the benefits, first you are fed.



And fed so well.

The first course is plated and set in front of you and Zach comes to pour the steaming carrot veloute over your plate as he explains the dish and the components.

Each dish is paired with a new wine and refilled as quickly as you can sip. As everyone drinks the conversations pick up and the food continues. A red Spanish wine is served with the main course of Shrimp +frog leg confit over a corn pudding that contains exciting flavors and a comforting texture. Zach come around to speak with everyone and add extra shrimp to your plate.

And although you are full, you have to make room for dessert because the muscadine sorbet that is atop the white chocolate arroz con leche is too tempting to push to the side.

The meal is offered to his guests by donations of your choice. It is to raise money for his own restaurant that is opening on 14th called "Better Half" and to get his food out to the public. He leaves you with sweet tea moonshine that he has cut the flavors into and delicious treats of tarjetas de cocca.
Little gooey, sweet, balls of trouble.

The food is delicious, the wine and champagne parings were perfect, and you know he puts his heart and soul into the meal for you. Better Half is going to be well known once it opens and the meals in his home will eventually stop. Hurry over to his website and make a point to get in while you can. Check on the current menu and sign up to get your own meal here. 

Enjoy your dinner party!



Why Didn't I Fly!?

Nashville is always the best time. I get to pretend to be roommates again with K and explore around Nashville, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite cities. Though I think it has something to do with visiting this lady!

I love Music City, there is always something new to discover, a great new band to check out, or a festival or event happening around town. I initially planned to fly up for the UGA v. Vandy game but when it turned into such a disappointment, we had to make due with frolicking downtown, carving pumpkins, and visiting many delicious restaurants. Such a hard life we live...  

Friday we did our usual dinner & pregame routine - went to dinner at The Pharmacy and downtown to Paradise Park and Honky Tonk Central. I made the mistake of only bringing beach clothes and it was rainy and freezing in Tennessee. I am not ready for this weather, winter go away! We started the morning with Bulldawgs pancakes. This should have been all the help our boys needed for the game!

Put off by the rain and not wanting to tailgate or scalp tickets in inclement weather, we went to The Pour House for drinks and lunch. Pour House is overlooking downtown Nashville and a radio station was there broadcasting live for the day. Though it wasn't very busy, I definitely recommend this place for gameday activities - good drink selections, lots of outside space, and all the good games on TV.

Plus we won tickets, movies, and lots of fun prizes from the radio station by playing cornhole and other games that were set-up!Too bad most of us don't live in town to use them. When it became too cold outside, we started making game of our own - with all these great people no matter what we do is always a good time!

After the disastrous showing of the UGA Bulldawgs, we released our frustrations by carving pumpkins

I am horrible at carving pumpkins but Katie on the other hand is GREAT at it (or any other crafty activity for that matter)  check out her fun blog about life in Nashville to see for yourself!

She and Aust were in a pumpkin carving contest - both were great but I think we all know who won! 

 Though pumpkin carving is not my thing, I love to roast the seeds. Pumpkin seeds is one thing that I always crave in October so I got the job of cleaning the innards and roasting up the snackies!

I love extra toasted, crispy seeds and you can get this by drying out your seeds as much as possible before roasting. If they are water logged they get too chewy! However, even though it seems to defeat the purpose of having them dry, the best way to get all of the gross pumpkin guts off of the seeds is to boil them.

First throw all the seeds in a pot with salt and bring to a boil and then simmer for about 10 minutes, this should evaporate all the extra water and leave you with clean seeds!

  

After that, drain off the water and leftover pumpkin guts and then put back into the pot or another bowl and toss in olive oil, sea salt, and whatever other spices you prefer. I made this batch with olive oil and sea salt but my favorite is using paprika and cayenne pepper to give it a spicy kick!

Next, spread the seeds on a baking pan and roast at 350F for 10 minutes. Then take them out, shake them up and roast for up to another 10 minutes. Be careful in the last minutes as they will start burning quickly!

After that, ENJOY you Halloween! 

Crockpot Garlic Chicken on Moving Day

I moved again* this weekend and needed some ZERO prep-time meals to whip up to eat off of for the remainder of the weekend. Since Fall is starting in (although it is 74 today - best thing about the south!) it is time to break out the crock pot.

* I am so good at moving now

Oh, and wine I guess! 

I tried a new recipe I have been drooling over, Crockpot Garlic Chicken using:

• 4 organic chicken breasts, thawed
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Slice half of an onion - I prefer thicker sliced sweet Vidalia onion and line on the bottom of the crockpot

Add 6 cloves of minced garlic, I used about 2 heaping tablespoons of the pre-minced garlic which is so worth every penny. I love garlic, I hate chopping it. 2 teaspoons of dried thyme and salt and pepper. 

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of dry white wine, I used a Sauvignon Blanc and 1/3 C all-purpose flour.

 

It will be frothy when mixing, but this is perfect. Just make sure to get the flour and wine uniform, breaking up the clumps of flour.

 

Place thawed chicken directly on top of the onions and seasonings. I added extra salt and pepper to the bottom of the crockpot instead of seasoning each breast individually.

Place the frothy wine-flour mixture directly on top of each breast and into the crockpot.

Start the timer for 7:00 hours - it only took about 5 - 5.5 hours but my chicken was completely thawed and go about your day!

From there the chicken was so tender and it thicken nicely with the flour. The onions were an awesome addition as well and I served it on a bed of quinoa and broccoli.

I love crockpot recipes...