What happens here; stays here.

(This was previously published on my former blog July 28, 2011. Do the math. Yes – we ARE older now…)

OK – so there’s that whole Vegas thing… You know – the “what happens here stays here” thingie.

So my husband and I recently turned 50 and our kids were turning 21 (Yep – they be twins). Huge family milestones; right? Now we all know that there is no better city on the planet for turning 21… at least that’s the general consensus of those who are actually turning 21. If you fall into that 50-something range… well, let’s just say that napping is a requirement. Seriously. And I …can’t…nap. “Houston – we have a problem”.

What a city, though. Wow. Where else can you visit a New York deli, stroll the cobblestone streets of Paris and dine by candlelight next to the gondolas in Italy – all in the course of a day. And then there’s the cocktail. There are literally people with cocktails in their hand 24 hours a day. We were up until 3:00 or 4:00 AM every morning; and everywhere you looked during those wee hours… there were cocktails. After a “full night’s sleep” of approximately 3-4 hours (See “nap requirement” above), we would manuever our way down the hallway towards the elevator around 7:00 AM for coffee; only to see people stumbling out of the elevator – cocktail in hand. Guess they decided it was finally time for a little “shut-eye“. We gambled. Well, actually, THEY gambled (the boys). I’m way too cheap for that. We (the girls) had a cocktail. We walked the streets and “people watched” (Oh my, my, my…some FANTABULOUS people watching!). They gambled. We shopped. We hit the pool. We all had another cocktail. We watched as the Bellagio fountains performed their mesmerizing dance to the crooning sound of Mr. Las Vegas himself – my man – Frank Sinatra. Pure magic, I tell you. We all had a cocktail. They gambled. We saw two “shows” – the “Blue Man Group” (fantastic!) and David Spade. They gambled. We all had a cocktail. Three full days. In Vegas time, that equals about four years.

Perhaps it was the constant bright, flashing lights, the relentless “ding, ding, ding, DING, WHISTLE, DING…” of the almost 200,000 slot machines (Thank you, “Ask Jeeves”), or the delicious “Pineapple Chipotle Margarita” (complete with Chipotle hot sauce!) that I was sipping from the “Rhumba Bar”…… but I started having “flashbacks”. My BABIES were turning into ADULTS!!! What?? How did that happen? It suddenly felt like I had blinked…and time had somehow passed me by. Kind of like a “Sleeping Beauty” kind of thing… minus the “beauty” part and that feeling of a really good night’s sleep. “Someone bring me another cocktail. NOW!” And then something suddenly occurred to me. Nothing had passed me by. I have enjoyed every part of the past 21 years. (fine print…OK – Let’s be honest. Some more than others.) As a family, we have filled our hearts, until they are overflowing, with memories on top of memories – and they are a part of us. They are what binds the four of us together – and no-one, and nothing, can every take that away. Those memories belong to us… and only us. It was then that I realized that we were in the perfect place to celebrate their 21st birthday. As a family, we have LIVED the “Las Vegas mantra” our entire life… “What happens here (in our hearts); stays here.”

And so at 12:00 midnight, Vegas time, 2:00 AM Kansas City time (by chance – the exact time they were born), we toasted their transition into adulthood… “21”; with all the joy and pride in the world. We laughed. We remembered. We reminisced.

Cheers to you, Vegas. “What happens here, stays here.”

pretty in pink weekend

9 / 13 / 13

Wow. It’s been a crazy week around here… but it’s FRIDAY (the 13th), friends, and the weekend is here!!! So whatcha got planned? More importantly, are you “planning in pink”?? Hmmm… Well, no worries. I am here. I will help. Think of this blog post as the inspiration for your “perfectly pretty in pink” weekend… regardless of what you have planned. Yes, friends. Let the pink begin…

10 perfectly pink drink recipes from an adorable blog site called “Songbirds and Buttons“.

“the chew”

5 / 16 / 13

Is it possible to actually GAIN weight while working out on the treadmill…?

Many of you already know that I love to watch “The Chew” on ABC. I tape it and watch it religiously while I am on the treadmill. This, my friends, is right up there (on the intelligence scale) with going grocery shopping after an excruciating week-long fast…. Watching them cook all of this delicious, mouth-watering food while exercising…? Pure torture! Sometimes, if I have an extra episode “in the bank”, I will treat myself to watching while I am cooking dinner. With a glass of wine. Much, much better…!

Now the hubbie and I have a list of TV show favs; including Downton Abbey, Modern Family, The Middle, Shark Tanks; but “The Chew“…? Well that’s MY show!! Needless to say; going to a taping of “The Chew” is DEFINITELY on my bucket list. But I’m not stoppin’ there! No, No, NO!! I want to be on the tasting panel, as well!! Yes maam. I wanna be right up there where I can be a part of the action!! Smell the garlic, maybe answer a question, get a close up of Carla & Clinton dancing… and, of course, SAMPLE THE FOOD!!!

Until that time comes, however; I have “The Chew” book that I love. It really is a great cookbook that is packed with lots of ‘extras”… Each recipe is coded (ie “light & healthy”, “5-in-5″…) plus an indication of skill level and price range. Also included – Q&A with each individual host. Great book! So you’re probably wondering to yourself at this point… “Hmmm… Does she have a fav”? Nope. Love ’em all. But each one for a different reason. Michael Symon is just as sweet and sincere as can be and makes me laugh. I love the way he talks so lovingly about his wife, Liz. Mario Batali makes me want to open up a bottle of wine, buy a pair of orange crocs and book a flight to Italy. OK… actually that’s a “no” on the orange crocs. Daphne Oz cooks the way I try to cook (most of the time, anyway) and she fills my brain with so much good healthy (practical) advice. Love her attitude towards food. Carla Hall pumps up my ENERGY level and fills my head with “sweet” thoughts. Great dancer, too!! Just watching her is a real workout! And Clinton Kelly…? Have been a fan since “What Not to Wear”. Love. All I can say about Clinton Kelly is… Make me a cocktail, baby, and “LET’S CRAFT”!!

So you say you don’t cook? Well watch it anyway. The tagline on their book is “Food. Life. Fun.” They are fun and you will have fun. As different and unique as they are individually, there is so much chemistry between them which makes it all come together. For a little taste of a “non-cooking” segment (no pun intended… ha!), I have a couple of cute video clips for you to watch. For the “Pie throwdown”; click HERE . For the “Pie throwdown, explained…”; click HERE .

Oh ya… And as for my original statement/question… “Is it possible to actually GAIN weight while working out on the treadmill…?” Well I’m gonna say “yes” after watching a taped show from Monday, May 13. I give you exhibit 1: “Wendy Bradley’s Tasty Trashy Taters”. Two words: tater tots and bacon. Ok; I know. That’s three words. You get my point, however. If I made these for my (college) son and his buddies… Wowza! “And the mother of the year award goes to…”. (The crowd goes wild.) Ya. That’s what I’m talkin’ about. But I’m telling you, I seriously think that I gained weight just watching. Everyone was going on and on and on… (please stop talking!) about how super-duper YUM they were. And I was SO, SO hungry at this point. What to do??? Lucky for me, there were no tater tots OR bacon in my freezer. But, lucky for me, I did have all the ingredients for a super healthy breakfast smoothie. Yes; I know. Daphne would be so proud of me…

drink like a lady

7 / 14 / 12

Take the time to dive into this article; including the links. It is a blog post from “Lauren Conrad“, a fresh, feminine and lighthearted site that I really enjoy following. She covers absolutely everything from makeup and fashion to cocktails and entertaining. Just give it a whirl if you’re a girlie girl… (Ha! Sorry. That was bad… teehee!!) Happy Weekend!! live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

Ladylike Laws: Holding Drinks

Sometimes I find that I just have to treat myself to a much-deserved glass of wine after a long day of work, or sip a flute of bubbly to celebrate a special occasion. But you would be surprised to learn that there are very specific rules when it comes to the way you hold your drink. Clutching your cocktail correctly might be a custom that we often overlook, but I’ve found that it is just as important as basic table manners. Whether you’re a guest at a summer dinner party or the happy hour host, these essential-yet-simple tips will remind you to grasp your glass the proper way the next time you wine and dine. Without further ado, here are my rules for holding drinks:

White wine & champagne. Always hold your glass or flute by the stem. Holding it by the “bowl” warms your drink, and both white wine and sparkling wine taste best when chilled. Instead of holding the bowl, pinch the stem between your index finger and thumb. Otherwise, you might get called a “bowl grabber.” No thank you!
Red wine. First of all, a bottle of red should always be uncorked or poured into a decanter for a while before serving so it has time to breathe. This improves the taste enormously! Like white wine and champagne, red wine should be held by the stem (contrary to popular belief). Not only does it keep your merlot or cabernet the right temperature (a little cooler than room temp), it also prevents your fingers from leaving smudgy prints on the glass too.

Now that you know how to hold your glass correctly, you might find these tips helpful too:

Proper placement. When setting your glass down on a dinner table, place it to the right of your water glass.
Eye contact. You may remember from my post on Cheers & Toasts that it is polite to hold eye contact when clinking someone’s glass. Otherwise, you risk seven years bad luck, according to the French superstition.
Keep glasses full. If you’re the host, make sure your guests’ drinks are never empty.
Direct your gaze. While sipping your drink, you should direct your stare into your glass. It is impolite to look at another person while drinking if you are in conversation.
Chill champagne flutes. When serving champagne place the flutes in the refrigerator beforehand to chill them. Like I said before, champagne tastes best chilled!
Filling facts. Know the appropriate measurements when pouring drinks. Red wine glasses should be 1/3 full, white wine should be ½, and sparkling wine or champagne should be ¾. A glass that is too heavy might result in an unladylike spill.
The “twist pour.” To prevent dripping, when filling your glass, twist the bottle at the end of pouring. It also looks pretty fancy!

Ladylike Laws: Holding Drinks So there you have it. You now know how to hold, serve and drink wine and champagne like a true lady. Class dismissed! Now go ahead and celebrate with a glass or two (and for those of you who don’t drink, treat yourself to something sweet for reading this anyway)!
If anything, just remember: Always hold by the stem 🙂

a sweet little fourth of july

7 / 2 / 12

So the Fourth of July is a “midweek holiday” this year. Kind of a fun way to put a little fun, family and friendship into an (otherwise) ordinary week. Perhaps you’re heading to the lake, popping over to the neighbors or entertaining in your own backyard… I will tell you that I have a tendency to focus more on the main part of the meal when it comes to entertaining – and the cocktails and desserts are often an afterthought. (I can hear some of you laughing already… Perhaps “cocktails” are where you START your planning…? Ha!) Anyway – I thought it would be fun to share a few little last-minute “sweet” ideas for the Fourth of July holiday that is upon us!

Well – First of all – I have got a recipe here for a “Double Berry Margarita” that is calling my name. Loud. And it’s not even noon yet. (Houston – we have a problem…) Anyway, I’m going to share it with you in the hopes that you will make it for the 4th, or sometime this summer, and share your “results” with me. (Well, maybe not ALL of your results. We’re sticking with a “G” rating here, friends! )

Double Berry Margarita

1 oz. tequila blanco

1/2 oz Cointreau

1/2 oz Chambord

1 splash sweet and sour mix

2 raspberries, muddled

2 blackberries, muddled

2 lime wedges, muddled

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass. Shake hard and serve in a glass with a salted rim. Garnish with a lime wedge, raspberry and blackberry. Oh my, that sounds good!!

Doing a little “last minute” entertaining? Need something quick & easy in the beverage department?? Well, icy cold lemonade – or pink lemonade – works great for any outdoor entertaining… perfect for the kiddos, and even more fun for the adults (Hint, hint: Keep a bottle of citron vodka in the freezer for an icy little “adult lemonade cocktail”!!)

As for dessert, nothing is sweeter and simpler than a cupcake. These cupcakes can be made with your favorite cupcake mix/recipe (Red Velvet, perhaps?) and a simple white buttercream frosting. I just fell in love with the simplicity of these decorations…

Stars & Stripes

Tint 1 cup buttercream a bright blue with gel-paste food color. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a small plain tip (#4). Frost each cupcake with a smooth layer of untinted buttercream.

To finish, cut red licorice laces into seventy-two 1-1/2 inch long pieces and seventy-two 3/4 inch long pieces. Arrange three longer pieces and three shorter pieces to form a flag pattern. With blue frosting, pipe nine dots in each open corner to form “stars”.

Need something for the kids to help with while you are sipping on your “Double Berry Margarita”?? Staying with our “sweet” theme – a little project that will give an ordinary blue napkin a festive feel in a simple way… Starlight Spangled Napkin Rings!! Not a lot of supplies and simple directions. Just trying to give the kiddos something to do while you are busy sipping on your margarita…!!

OK – so there you go. A few “sweet” little ideas for your upcoming Fourth of July holiday!! Say a prayer for our troops, and the families who are missing them. Be proud, be safe, be American; Keep calm and eat a cupcake!

Happy Fourth… Live happy