Vegas Weekend

Ryan and I met up with his sister, her husband and his parents in VEGAS! I love me some Vegas action!
I deposited back all but $20 that I took out, so Vegas gambling wasn't too bad. But, I also didn't do too much of it.
We had a great time. It was fast, we ate yummy food. We stayed up way too late. We had a great time.

One of my highlights of the trip was seeing the new casino Aria at City Center. GORGEOUS! Just breath-taking. All of the details were just really, really cool. They had a waterfall that was the entire length of the building. Like I said, breath-taking! The ceiling, the floor, all of the art work. Even the door hinges on the bathroom doors was cool. I was so impressed! Plus, they have lots on non-smoking tables. A huge plus! Gambling was not too shabby there either.







We also went and seen Zumanity (also on my 101 list - #36) at New York New York. I really like all of the Cirque du Soleil shows, but I really was not a fan. Maybe O ruined me, but Zumanity just wasn't impressive as the rest. BTW, if you do see it, do not see it with parents. Thank GAWD I was given this advice early on. There are toys and a certain moments of self pleasure involved. Not very good to see it with the parental units or your pastor.

Happy Friday!!

BTW, my FAVORITE sushi place, Stingray opened another restaurant. In the Biltmore (24th Street and Camelback). I am a happy girl!

Back to the list....

#47. Read 15 fiction books: 2 more down!

Finished the 3rd Harry Potter book: The Prisoner of Azkaban. I can see why HP got so much hype. I do like the books and I will def. be sad when they are finished. They are easy reads and JKR really is able to build a character and captivate and audience.

Finished Stephen Kings - Just After Sunset. It is a huge collection of short stories (Stephen King's short stories are other authors novels). I liked some, others I thought would make fantastic movies. N was my favorite. I was about this therapist and we hear his notes on a patient called N. N has developed an obsessive compulsive disorder from a rock formation. Great story. There was another one called Hell Cat. Defiantly a work of S. King. I also really liked A Very Tight Place. After listening to the author notes on why he wrote this story (about port-a-johns), he really wants his readers to learn his fears and what motives him and his ideas. I was also really surprised by Stephen King's stories that are "normal". No horror, no crazy stuff. Normal stories.

5 Questions Friday

1. How much time do you spend on the computer a day?
At least 9+ hours. If I have school, it is about 15 hours a day.

2. Will you pay for your children's college or raise them to pay for their own way?
I would like to help them out. They need to work for it. They will appreciate it so much more and maybe get a better understanding of how the world works.

3. Have you ever been in a car accident?
One. I wasn't driving.

4. What is your favorite book?
Twilight series.

5. Do you make your bed everyday?
Yes and no. Ryan is still fast asleep when I leave, he usually straights it when he gets up. Yes if we are both up.

Ten Guilty Pleasures

Question #1 got me thinking......What is your 10 guilty pleasures? Please share yours!

1. Downloading free books on my Kindle / Computer. I refuse to pay for books.
   
2. Nachos / Chips and salsa. LOVE them. I can eat them for every meal.....and I have!
3. Chipotle. Some say I have a sick obsession with Chipotle. Just because I eat there 4+ times a week doesn't mean I need an intervention or anything. I just REALLY like Chipotle bowls.
4. Watching reality TV, mainly competition shows. My favs are Amazing Race, Project Runway, Survivor, Real World.
5. TiVO - The puppy. LOVE him. I spend too much money and I mother him WAY too much. I just really love my doggy! He brings me happiness and joy.
   
6. TiVO - The DVR. My life would be boring and lifeless if it wasn't for the wonderful electronic. My second favorite electronic I own! (1st: Computer; 2nd: TiVO/TV; 3rd: Microwave.) Technology is wonderful.
7. Vanilla Oreos. Enough said!
8. Going to restaurants. I love them. I prefer to eat at them. I wish I could go every day. I prefer a restaurant meal WAY over home cooked meal. Even Grandma's!
9. Paper. If you know me, you know I have to have the best and I criticize all the crappy paper.
10. When the orange blossoms bloom. It just brings happy feelings. I try very much to do what I can to smell them.
    

5 Questions Friday

Haven't done this in a long time!

1. What's your guilty pleasure?
It has changed a lot since I have gotten older. Use to be vegging out on the couch all Sunday, watching TV, pigging out on nachos. Lately it has been books. I like to read books from my Kindle and hate to be interrupted. I forget house cleaning and the needs of my husband and pets.

2. What is your favorite TV series?
Dexter. LOVE that show. I also REALLY LOVED Six Feet Under. What is up with me with serial killers and death. Not to mention Michael C. Hall starred in both of them. Sick, sick mind I've got.

3. Can you speak any foreign languages?

I can barely speak English.

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
A lot. Enough said.



5. What's your favorite kind of M&M's...peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.
PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms!!! Hands down. I can suck that packet down in seconds. It should be an Olympic sport!

March Updates

Slacker...I know!

First off, my step grandfather, Wayne passed away two weeks ago. His funeral was on March 22nd. My poor grandma is DEVASTATED and that makes me devastated. I hate to see the ones you love in pain.

Since they come in threes...

My brother, Ryan's dog passed away. She was his world and a super cool dog! Smart as hell.

Then my step dad, Jeff's grandma passed away. She was 99 years old, just shy of her 100th birthday. She lived a very FULL life.

GLUTTON FREE DIET

I went on a glutton free diet. The goal was to eat zero flour / wheat / barley / rye for one month. I failed miserably. I have a list of about 65 ingredients that I can not eat. They are in everything. I was set up to fail. I was doing great for 6 days but when I went to the funeral, I would have starved. I stared up again for 5 days and then went to a Mexican food restaurant and failed again. Come on....you can not put YUMMY chips and salsa in front of me and expect me not to eat them. Again, set up to fail.

My goal was to see if I felt better by not eating wheat. Did I feel better? Yes. Will I continue eating a glutton free foods. Nope. I can't. I hate the way I feel, but I can't starve and I zero will power to not eat the foods. I am going to cut down drastically on the wheat and try not to eat them Monday - Friday.

101 LIST IN 1001 DAYS.

Just because I am a super slacker on the blog, doesn't mean I don't do tasks!

#7 - Try 10 new restaurants.
Was...something, Sushi. I couldn't find their website. I am sure they don't have one. It was on 67th Ave and Happy Valley. Not a fan. The food was ok, but it was HORRIBLE service.

#7 - Baby's Steak and Lemonade on 83rd ave and Union Hills. FANTASTIC! They have great sandwiches and lemonade is to die for. Great service. Will go back!

#21 - Take a vacation outside of the US. BOOKED! We are going to......drum roll please.....JAMAICA this summer! I am so EXCITED!

#38 - Plan my 30th birthday party. I am getting very excited. I got my cupcake cake planed. Ordered the paper and ribbon for my invites.

#42 - Build a website portfolio
#43 - Build a promotional site. I started them....I am on the right path.

#45 - Renew my passport. DONE! Horrible photo though. I look like a drug mule.

#46 - Read three non-fiction books
#47 - Read 15 fiction books
I was told that Marley and Me is a true story, so I am going to delete one, and add that to the non-fiction books. I however finished a few more (LOVE MY KINDLE). Harry Potter #2 - The Chamber of Secrets - LOVED it. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King - Great story. It was about a little girl who gets lost in the woods with a Stephen King twist. UR by Stephen King - It was good, a little slow start. It was about Kindles a Stephen King twist! =) Right now I am reading Harry Potter #3 and a collection of Stephen King's short stories.



Other than the stuff I told you above....I have been going to school. I am really liking web design! I have been REALLY busy with Dulce stuff. Ryan and TiVO are rock stars!

Mother of all Updates....

Wow. How fast has the time FLOWN by since the holidays. I have been meaning to give updates and share photos that I took with my new camera. Well now it is February 9th. Photos are still on the camera or on my desktop. You all will get the mother of all updates with no visual stimulation.

TiVO

Our dear, sweet little boy. His adoption birthday was January 2nd. Yes, that is right TiVO has been with us for an entire year! TiVO is 2 now! We have watched him grow up so much and learn so much since he as come to live with us. I loved every minute of it. I think we lucked out by getting such a sweet dog (well, he snaps at me when he is cuddling with Ryan.....we are working on coexisting on the couch). We hired a trainer for TiVO.....actually we hired a dog trainer to train us. He is doing SO well!!! Our first visit, we worked on walking with a leash, next to us. Not pulling so hard that it knocks us over. We also worked on "place" and "sit and stay". He gets assigned a "place" and he can't move from it until we tell him to do so. Ringing the door bell, treats on the floor, playing with his beloved Lucy the Goosey.....he has to say in his place. He is doing quite well! This weekend, we are doing session #2. I think this counts as #20 - Teach TiVO a trick or behavior!

Ryan and I also took TiVO hiking - #17 on the list! We hiked in Thunderbird Conservation Park. Five miles of nature....up hill. It was on New Years Day, the place was packed and TiVO liked the rocks so much....he forgot that we are suppose to be hiking. We will not be taking TiVO for a 5 mile hike again.

Ryan

Ryan is super busy with real estate and all of his numerous projects. He has become a huge activist in Photo Radar (check out his website). He has been quoted and interview for magazines, news paper and TV. He is also doing quite nice on his diet. Lost weight, working out, sticking with his diet....I am very proud of him. Just changing a few bad eating habits, I have also lost 4 pounds!! We are tracking our progress with Wii Fit.

Me

I am trying to keep this short and sweet.

101 in 1001 day list
#17 - Take TiVO hiking - Done!
#20 - Teach TiVO a trick or behavior - Done!
#96 - Give money to a random street musician - Done! Mya and I seen him while walking to lunch. He liked to talk. Cool musician though. He was playing the Native American flute. BEAUTIFUL! I like Native American art and def. can bond with the heritage.

I went to two new restaurants (sad thing...I did more, I just can't remember). Kabuki in Westgate. It is Japanese and Sushi. LOVED it. It is my new Stingray of the West! Also went to Revo Burrito on 32nd street and Camelback. Very good. I thought they we trying to be Chipotle. Furthest from it. Very good and very swanky.

I also hammered out three books. Lovely Bones, Gingerbread Girl (Stephen King) and Harry Potter (#1).


School
I am back in. Major drama with that, but I am in.


Dulce
Wow! It is taking off. I had the bridal show Booth at the beginning of January. Mya....the fantastic friend she is, helped me. Again, no photos, but you can see hers on her blog. Also, the clothing line was launch, but I am going to have a whole new post about that.


Also, my step Grandpa, Wayne is not doing so well. It is very sad seeing someone who was taking care of himself, to not remembering his wife or kids and having being taken care of 100%. I don't do well in these situations.


I am really trying to keep this short. I will post more about my life and Dulce soon. I have other updates and challenges (note: I am going gluten free).

My Holiday

I had a very nice Christmas this year. Relaxing and drama free! I loved spending it with my husband and family.

Christmas Eve
We went to my Grandma's home. She makes this FAB dinner. I look forward to it ALL year. She makes this incredible prime rib with all the yummy side dishes that go along with it. LOVED it! This year we did a white elephant exchange however, our family did not get the memo on the $5 price limit. So it was a little crazy with that part. With all the jokesters in the family....I thought there would be more "funny" gifts. Jeff (stepdad) gave an "old geezer" box. It was full of stuff older people might need. Canes, creams and stuff I don't want to imagine! It was so funny!

The rest of the evening was spent exchanging gifts, drinking and telling funny stories. Great, great night!

Christmas Day
I woke up to what has become a great Christmas morning tradition. Jeff makes this INCREDIBLE breakfast burritos. The sausage was fresh (literately....they bought a pig at the fair and had s/he butchard). Yes, that's right. Two fantastic meals right in a row. Then we did our next tradition....stocking suffers!!!! My parents go ALL out with these. Some useful, some, the same tradition every year. Any case, we love to do that. They gave me a WONDERFUL camera for Christmas!!

#60 - Buy a new camera on my 101 list! So I get to mark that off!!

Ryan's Parents gave me Wii Fit. Another fabulous gift that can help with #87 - loose 8 pounds. Great gifts padres!!!!

Ryan gave my an incredible gift as well. A Kindle. It will help me with #46 and #47. He is the best! I made out so good in the gift department this year!!!

My mom cooked a fabulous lunch. Super yummy with ham (yes, from the same pig) and all the yummy sides. Fantastic meal #3 right in a row.

After that, we went back over to Grandma's home to play some Wii bowling. I kicked @ss.

Overall, I had a WONDERFUL holiday. I am glad I got to spend it with my family, well except TiVO, my furbaby. We gave him special treats and a new goose toy. He LOVES it. I never seen him act this way with a toy. He has not put it down since he got it.

Hope all of yours was just as wonderful!

Christmas Wish

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, all the Happiest Holidays and all the luck the New Year could possibly bring to you.

List Progress....

#7 - Try 10 new restaurants (3/10)
Latte girls and I went to Sauce. It is owned by the same people of NoRTH. Fox Restaurant Concepts did not let me down, I loved it. I was reasonably priced (one pizza and two drinks it was $15). Great atmosphere, great service, fantastic pizza.....you can't ask for anything more! I give it 3.5 stars out of 4.


# 12 - Cook 10 new dishes (1/10)
I made shredded Green Chili meat in my slow cooker. It was delish and I will cook it again. Great for parties as well!

Recipe:
1 Chuck Roast (any size)
1 Small can of green chili
1 Small can of jalapeños
1/2 cup of water
1 onion (if you want)
Season with cumin and other stuff

Cook on low for 10+ hours.
Take the meat out and cut the fat and shred the meat.
Season with more cumin and anything else you want to through in the pot.



#97 - Use my cloth bags for shopping (4/15)
Used my bags twice this weekend!!!