Bubbles!

Things that are blue

It's getting hot in here...

You have to drink a lot of water to beat the heat here in Vegas.  The temperatures have been soaring in the teens in Vegas so I thought it was appropriate to post pictures of water. Ironically enough, I took these pictures over the weekend when I walked six miles in 112 degree heat.  I think I'm turning into a desert baby.

More Maternity Photos

Just a couple of maternity photos from my first photo session.  Again, these are NOT OF ME.  I just took the pictures :)

Chihuly Glass

The lobby at The Bellagio hotel is home to 2,000 pieces of Dale Chihuly hand blown glass.  Each piece is unique and together it is a spectacular sight suspended from the lobby ceiling.  It is even more beautiful when the sun shines through the glass flowers from above.

Maternity Photo Shoot Preview...

I did my first maternity photo shoot yesterday and I'm too excited not to post at least one picture.  So here it is!  And no, this is not me.  I was taking the pictures.  I would just like to prevent pregnancy rumors from starting.

Pass the broccoli please

Obviously broccoli is a healthy food choice.  (I'm not talking about when you have it swimming in cheese.)  I just didn't realize how many health benefits it actually has.  I've heard it called a super-food but didn't really know what that meant so today I did some research.  Apparently broccoli helps increase your ability to burn fat by increasing your metabolism.  It's a non-starchy vegetable so it's a free food for me.  For those of you that don't know, I'm on Jenny Craig and a free food is something that I can eat an unlimited amount of because it's low in calories and generally healthy all around.  I've always liked steamed broccoli but recently I found an even better way to cook broccoli.

Roasted Broccoli Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds broccoli chopped into florets
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Half red onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped (or more if you are me and love the taste of garlic)
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
-Spread the broccoli on a roasting pan.
-Sprinkle olive oil, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper on broccoli.
-Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes on 500 degrees.  Turn broccoli half way through.

I have to say that this broccoli is fantastic.  The name of the recipe is actually "burnt broccoli," but I figured no one would want to try the recipe with a name like that.
Broccoli has many health benefits including:
 -Reducing the risk of peptic ulcers
 -Preventing stomach cancer
 -Contains twice the vitamin C of an orange
 -Antioxidant

Ever noticed that you can't find broccoli on the canned food aisle?  Basically it's because broccoli cannot withstand the canning process.  It would come out of the can wilted and discolored.  Not very appetizing to consumers seeing as the florets are the most popular part of broccoli and would come out of the can as a mushy mess.

How do you feel about chocolate?  How do you feel about chocolate covered broccoli?  I'm not sure what I think about this but it's not something that I can try right now because of Jenny Craig.  I'm posting the recipe anyway because it's just too weird not to.

Chocolate Broccoli:
Ingredients:
-Large head of broccoli
-1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
-1/3 cup peanut butter
-1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:
-Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
-Chop broccoli into pieces.
-Melt peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwave save bowl on 50% power for 30 second intervals.  Stir between each interval until melted.
-Dip each pice of broccoli into the chocolate mixture.
-Sprinkle with sea salt and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio is amazing.  I don't even know how to describe it other than to show you pictures.  It is one of the many free attractions that Las Vegas has to offer and is open 24/7.  It features plants that were imported from around the world and a stunning display that was created and maintained by 140 horiculturists.

Recent Photography

Spinach Dip

Posting that Pimento Cheese Dip recipe made me really crave the Harper's Dipping trio.  Since the closest Harpers to me is about 2500 miles away, I will make my own dipping trio here at home!

Healthier Spinach Dip:
Ingredients:
-1 can artichoke hearts, finely chopped
-1 package frozen spinach, thawed
-3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-3/4 cup light mayonnaise
-1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
-Combine all ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.  Serve with chips, bread, or vegetables.

Pimento Cheese Dip

One of the things that I miss most about Charlotte, besides family and friends, is Harper's restaurant.  They have a fabulous appetizer called "the dipping trio," that consists of a wood-fired smoked salsa, spinach dip, and pimento cheese dip.  For some reason, Harper's decided to publish their Pimento cheese dip recipe a few years ago in a Charlotte magazine.  Enjoy the fabulous dip!

Ingredients:
8 oz extra sharp chedar cheese grated

1 4oz jar diced pimentos (drain and smashed)

1/4 cup mayonaise

1 Tablespoon spicy brown mustard

1 1/2 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1/8 teaspoon celery salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Pinch garlic salt


Combine all ingredients and stir well.  Heat dip for 30 second intervals until heated through, stirring in-between each heating.

There's a new sheriff in town

Stick 'em up!  I have titled this picture "Armed Armadillo."  He was posing for photos inside a giant gas station somewhere in Texas.  Or wait, was it Arizona?  Hmmm, I do know that it was somewhere between North Carolina and Nevada.  That should narrow it down a little bit.  :)

What's wrong with this picture?

Oh how I miss the beautiful weather at Lajes.  We lived about a block away from this beautiful beach.  While it did get humid on the island, it was usually never above 80 degrees even on the warmest of days.
What doesn't belong in this picture??

There is an annual bull fight on Praia beach.  We were fortunate enough to be invited out onto someone's boat to watch the show.  Don't worry, American military and their families are prohibited from participating in the bull fights.  The picture below was my favorite part of the entire evening.  Young portugese men would get brave and torment the bull and when it charged towards them, they would dive into the water to get away from the bull.  As you can see, it wasn't an effective defense mechanism.  Last time I checked, bulls didn't melt when their skin was touched by water.

Life on a floating bar

When people find out that we lived on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean, they want to know what we did there.  Well, here are some pictures of our most common activities.

I think you get the idea...

Dilled Carrots and Green Beans

I found this recipe in Healthy Cooking Magazine.  It's great as a side or you can cool it off in the fridge and eat it as a snack throughout the day.  If you don't like the taste of dill, I'd advise you to use a different type of seasoning.  Enjoy!

Dilled Carrots and Green Beans:

Ingredients 3/4 cup of water 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp dill weed 4 medium carrots, julienned 1/2 lb fresh green beans 1/4 cup reduced fat italian salad dressing In a small saucepan, bring the water, sugar, salt and dill to a boil.  Add carrots and beans.  Cook, uncovered for 5-8 minutes or until vegetables are crisp- tender. Drizzle with dressing to coat.

Chocolate Dreams Come True

Why did we not have a chocolate fountain at our wedding?  Actually, I remember why we didn't.  It was because they wanted to charge an additional $6,000 dollars for it.  For that much money, I would expect a chocolate fountain like this one I found at The Bellagio.

It has been certified the World's Largest Chocolate Fountain by the Guinness Book of World Records.  It took over two years to plan and design this glorious display of chocolate.  I think Willy Wonka is a little big jealous.

Instead of wasting $6k on a confectionary heart attack at our wedding, we got the next best thing.  What could possibly be in that box?

I know the suspense is killing you.

Hmmmm, it must be something good because boy is the happy couple grinning from ear to ear.

TADA!  Our very own chocolate fountain to use whenever we want.

Look at that baby in action at our engagement party.  Chocolate dipped fruit is my weakness.  Well, one of many weaknesses including: UNC basketball, buffalo wings, naps, Portuguese wine, and Mall Madness.  (If you don't know, don't ask.)  "There is a sale at the kitchen store."  Oh no, now I want to play Mall Madness.  Unfortunately, I think Bristol and Ella would eat all of the pieces.  

Palazzo Photos Take 2

Outside of The Palazzo.  The last photo is kind of random but I thought I would share because this man was stealing money out of the fountain.  You do what you gotta do.

earth, wind, and FIRE

You can check out the volcano eruption nightly outside of The Mirage.  You can make your sacrificial offering to the volcano gods daily between the hours of 8pm and midnight at the top of each hour.

I wanna be a cowboy baby...

Quite possibly the most unique slot machine I've seen here in Vegas yet!  Too bad it doesn't actually work.

The King of Pop Lives

The King of Pop lives!  It's official, Elvis, Michael Jackson, and Wayne Newton are not dead.  They are actually making a living standing on the strip taking pictures with tourists.  Ok, so maybe not.  This is by far the best Michael Jackson impersonator I've seen here.  He even has his own body guard!
So maybe Wayne Newton is actually the real thing.  Of course he lives here, he is known as Mr. Las Vegas.  I wonder how much botox he's had to look as plastic as he does.  He's been performing on the strip for 50 years.  At some point he's going to have to retire.

Lets take a vote, what do you think?  Who looks more frightening?










Personally, I think Wayne Newton looks scarier than Michael Jackson did.