Doin' Some Cookin'... Baked Salmon

I purchase bags of the frozen salmon fillets from Whole Foods due to convenience. Pulling one perfectly portioned fillet out the night before and it's defrosted by dinner the next day in the refrigerator. I served the baked salmon with a side salad I picked up from Jason's Deli for an easy dinner. This baked salmon couldn't be any easier.

Baked Salmon

From: Familiar Joy

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 4 oz salmon fillet
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste

And Action:

Coat baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and lay the fillet skin side down. Brush olive oil on the fillet and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the baking sheet in a cold oven and turn to 400 degrees. After 25 minutes the fish should flake easily with a fork. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... The Longest Ride... Grab Life By The Horns

My best friend Kelly reached out last night to get together for a girls' night. We both wanted to do something low key and decided on a movie. It was between Cinderella and The Longest Ride. Based on the trailer for The Longest Ride and not having read the book by Nicholas Sparks it looked to be a better version of 50 Shades of Grey (also one I haven't seen).

(SERIOUSLY!!! So effin' handsome!!!)

We were way off. It wasn't soft porn like we had thought. It was a story of romance told in flashbacks and some of the scenes will make you lose your damn mind. It's a love story that I believe everyone deserves to find and how a crush can turn into so much more!!

Stumbled across this article about the 10 Dating Tips from The Longest Ride. 

1. Chivalry is not dead, or at least good manners.
2. Early stages of dating should involve activities that interest each person. 
3. Your partner should feel comfortable.
4. Develop a passion together.
5. Ask a lot of questions.
6. Don't make quick judgments.
7. Get to know their family and friends. 
8. Live in the moment.
9. Compromise the tough decisions.
10. Celebrate your differences.

Fellas, listen up! Put together this bouquet, pick your lady up at the door with it in hand, have an afternoon picnic eating sandwiches and drinking iced tea from Mason jars, then take her to see this movie. You'll thank me later. 

Or for the more tenured couples out there you should take a tour of places that inspired the movie. It's a 4-Day Itinerary taking your through North Carolina from the mountains to the coast. Puh-lease take me!!!

My "The Longest Ride" Playlist:

• Banks: Waiting Game
• Middle Brother: Blue Eyes
• Pistol Annies: I Feel A Sin Comin' On
• Melanie Martinez: Toxic
• Daniela Andrade: Crazy
• Alina Baraz & Galimatias: Make Me Feel
• Alina Baraz & Galimatias: Fantasy
• Alina Baraz & Galimatias: Pretty Thoughts
• Alina Baraz & Galimatias: Drift 

Livin' It Up... What I'm Loving This Week

ONE: This reminder...

TWO: I would love to add this Pom-Trim Cutout Romper from Forever 21 to my closet. 

THREE: Love this Flamingo Wrap Water Bottle from Tervis.

FOUR: Check out this video about blindfolded kids being asked to pick out their moms. Such a sweet video.

FIVE: Dreaming of the beach!!!

SIX: I do not claim to have a sweet tooth, however, I have had a hard time saying no to the Iced Lemon Pound Cake from Starbucks. It is effin' delicious!!!

SEVEN: Speaking of Starbucks... how cute are these iPhone cases?!!! 

EIGHT: Rainy days like today make me wish I had a pair of these Original Tall Gloss Boots from Hunter Boots sold at ShopBop in Military Red. 

NINE: Knowing that I am not a trendy person and being okay with passing on the "tassel" trend. 

TEN: This hair tutorial for a twisted crown braid has created some serious hair envy with me. LOVE!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Zucchini Noodles Aglio et Olio

To even compare this dish to one of my favorite Italian pastas is a real stretch. Pasta tossed in a garlicky spicy red pepper flake oil, nothing beats it's taste or simplicity.

Instead, these zucchini "noodles" make a nice side dish or light lunch option. I'm also convinced that I need to purchase a spiralizer now because I didn't have the guilt I normally feel after polishing off a bowl of traditional noodles agilo et olio. Feels good to load up on veggies.

P.S. - Make sure you dry your zucchini noodles or you'll end up with watery zucchini. Wish I would have read that tidbit before hand. Still delicious though.

I had this a side dish with some crispy halibut for dinner which made for an easy week night meal.

For more Paleo recipes check out the book, Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat. That is where this recipe originally comes from.

Zucchini Noodles Aglio et Olio

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 tsp coconut oil
• sea salt, to taste
• 1 tbsp almond flour
• 4 large zucchinis, julienned with a peeler - I don't have a fancy gadget and had to cut them with a knife. 
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• garlic powder, to taste
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• dried parsley, to taste
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

And Action:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. Add the coconut oil and once melted add the almond flour and sea salt.

Stir often with a wooden spoon, until toasty brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove crumbs from the pan and set aside as a garnish.

In the skillet add the zucchini and sauté for two minutes. Turn heat to low.

Add olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes, stir to coat well.

Turn off the heat and add parsley, salt, and black pepper. Sprinkle with almond flour crumbs before serving. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Slide The City With The Urban Slide

I reached out to my best girl friends to see who would have an interest in joining me for The Urban Slide after being introduced to the upcoming event by a coworker. The Urban Slide is a 1000 foot slip and slide, which is the world's longest, sorry fellas.

A friend from my past who I lost touch with accepted my invite thru Facebook. The event was scheduled for a weekend in March but ended up cancelled and rescheduled due to severe thunderstorms. The rescheduled event was also cancelled and rescheduled due to severe weather conditions.

The weather finally cooperated last night with a two day "save the date" reminder given, although the day didn't start out promising with rain and excessive winds, but the event was still on!

(Pre Dinner and Urban Slide)

I met up with Samantha at the Empire Cafe, a spot I have not been to yet in one of my favorite areas downtown, Montrose, around 6 pm. I tried their Empire Turkey Club with a side salad with ranch and a Bloody Mary. I wasn't impressed with my selections but getting to try a slice of the Buffalo Chicken Pizza was amazing and probably the best I've ever had.

(I will never grow up! Giggles!!!)

After dinner we walked the area to check out the artwork on the buildings and peeked into some of the store windows. We walked past a coffee shop that smelled of patchouli and I was intrigued but we didn't have time at that moment to pop in since we needed to get to the event. The Urban Slide was only a 2-hour event from 8-10 pm.

We drove to the parking garage near Minute Maid Park and waited for the shuttle. Not being a public transportation person I was impressed with the limos they had for the event. We ended up on a party bus with champagne, leather seats, an LED firework backdrop, and 90's music, unfortunately no stripper pole. It was a quick drive up the road and we were dumped off at the Elysian Bridge.

(Define "appropriate behavior" and there were definitely cougars present.)

(Blow your own?!)

After presenting our tickets and signed waivers we were given our wristbands and inner tubes. For an event with an inflatable slide it was mind boggling that they were hand pumping these inner tubes. WTF?! Where is your air compressor?

As we were walking to the slide entrance the music was set to a deafening volume and at ear level. So far we were not impressed. We also noted that the slide was on the flat part of the bridge. What?!!! At the entrance you were able to pick one of two lanes, no difference. You were met with a blast of water for your running start. No joke, we ran hard landed on the tubes and only made it maybe 10 ft of the 1000. We had to pick up and slide numerous times but the few times you'd hit the perfect slick spot it was really enjoyable and we felt like little kids again. You get completely soaked on the first slide. Don't forget to wear waterproof mascara to avoid the crack whore look.

We purchased the most expensive tickets which were for the Glow-In-The-Dark Night Slider for 3 passes on the slide for $40. There was nothing glow-in-the-dark about the slide. No matter what time you went I'm assuming you'd be disappointed with one pass thru and I wouldn't recommend the event if that is your intention. P.S. - Not a spectator sport either because you can't see over the slide, but then again, I'm only 4'11" and a half.

After our wristbands were marked for our last slide we had to dump our inner tubes (we had to continue replacing them with newly pumped tubes because they kept deflating by the time you hit the bottom, a pain in the ass!).

Now it was time to catch the shuttles back. There was no direction on where the pickup was and they kept announcing the shuttles were about to shut down. We ended up finding one and as we were sitting there for over 10 minutes on a full bus we found out the driver was just in an accident and was in the process of filling out insurance paperwork. We jumped out and decided to hoof it the mile back to the parking garage to meet our ride. We walked the remainder of the Elysian Bridge barefoot because our wet flip flops were killing our feet.

Being that our designated driver just purchased a new truck with butt warmers they were worried about us being soaking wet and ruining the electrical system we had to figure out how to change into our dry clothing. The parking lot was empty so we opened the doors to somewhat shield ourselves. "Are you completely naked?" I asked Samantha. "Yay!" Following suit I stripped off my yoga capris which were glued to my skin and had no panties on. We were half naked in front of the courthouse and saw the light was about to turn green, we threw our clothes on over damp skin, UGH! But alas, we were dressed, sore, and ready for a warm treat. Lucky designated driver!

We drove back over to the restaurant where we left her vehicle and walked down the block to that patchouli scented coffee shop, Agora, around 11:30 pm. This place is a real gem with such a chill vibe, it beats the hell out of Starbucks. I tried their SpicedBrown Sugar Latte which came in a giant mug with a thick handle (my fave!!) served with sugar cubes (not a fan) and we got some sweet treats to share... baklava (okay), homemade oreo cookie (ick!), and a fluffernutter (oh em gee!! ah-amazing, well, the peanut butter cookie part minus the marshmallow). We enjoyed our coffees for about an hour before saying our goodbyes.

Even though the Urban Slide had it's inefficiencies I would go again next year if the City allows for the event and would definitely buy the $40 tickets to get the most out of it, day or night. The night was actually a lot of fun and filled with 3 completely new experiences.

Made it home around 2 am, slept like shit, and woke up sore. So worth it!!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Leek, Broccoli and Mushroom Frittata

Frittatas are an eggcellent way to make breakfast for your family, especially on the weekends when you need to use up any leftover proteins and veggies on the verge of their expiration dates. A frittata is basically a crust less quiche so for anyone following a low-carb lifestyle this breakfast is for you.

Breakfast is on the table in under 30 minutes including prep time and the leftovers store well in the fridge for a grab and go option for work mornings. Makes for a light and healthy meal when paired with a side of fruit.

Leek, Broccoli and Mushroom Frittata

Adapted From: MyFitnessPal

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 cup leeks, thinly sliced
• 2 cups broccoli, bite size pieces
• 1 cup mushrooms, diced
• 8 cups eggs
• 1/2 cup low fat milk
• 2 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

And Action:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place an oven proof skillet on the stove and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the leeks, broccoli, and mushrooms, until the broccoli becomes bright green and leeks and mushrooms soften. 

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, herbs, and black pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the the veggies and let the skillet sit over medium heat for 3 minutes.

Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 minutes. The middle should be set, but if not, bake a couple more minutes. If you want the top to be slightly golden brown then broil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

So I'm back on the wagon of healthy eating and working out since my Vegas vacation. I'm on Day 2 of the 21-Day Flat Belly Challenge. I keep getting stuck on their 20 Minute Power Plank Workout and can't hold the plank positions for longer than 3 minutes at a time.

This salad gets an extra flat belly boost from hydrating cucumbers that help flush out the digestive system. The enzymes in the pineapple ease digestion and blueberries have been proven to diminish belly fat. Avocados and almonds not only add bloat-reducing fiber but have monounsaturated fats that help to keep belly fat at bay. This salad is a flat belly dream.

To make this more of a dinner salad top with grilled chicken or salmon for a light, refreshing, and filling meal.

Pineapple Blueberry Salad with Lemon Chia Seed Dressing

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show for the Salad:

• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/3 cup cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh pineapple, diced
• 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 avocado, diced
• 1 tbsp sliced almonds

Stars of the Show for the Dressing:

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp chia seeds

And Action:

Place salad ingredients in a bowl. 

Whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle onto salad. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Lemony Toasted Quinoa and Cabbage Salad

A work day in the life looks something like this lately:

5:00 am - wake up, make coffee, and head to the bathroom to do hair and makeup
6:45 am - pack lunches
7:00 am - drop Little Man off at school and then I head to work
5:45 pm - pick Little Man off from after school care
6:00 pm - cook dinner
6:30 pm - eat
7:00 pm - dishes and then go through Little Man's homework
7:30 pm - help Little Man shower
8:00 pm - lay Little Man down for bed, throw in a load of laundry if needed, workout
9:00 pm - shower
9:30 pm - cozy clothes and settle into my spot on the couch to study for my CLFP exam
12:00 pm - bed

My body is screaming at me today for rest. It doesn't help that I'm so go-go-go and that it's "that time of the month". Exhausted!!! But... being me... I don't listen to my body especially when I have a goal in mind. My priorities outside of Little Man (my numero uno!!) are working towards my weight loss goal and being a certified leasing professional which has a deadline.

Pulling those hours means I have to do my best to eat as clean as possible so that way I give my body proper nutrition and brain fuel.

(The photo does not do this justice.)

I made this lemony toasted quinoa and cabbage salad. The flavors meld so well together. I couldn't stop sneaking bites throughout the prep. This recipe is great for clean eating because each ingredient aids in digestion and detoxifying properties. Quinoa is a fantastic protein source and cabbage is high in Vitamin C, fiber, aids in inflammation and helps prevent cancer.

This recipe makes plenty which is perfect for taking leftovers to work for an easy light lunch and can even be enjoyed cold and is 21 Day Flat Belly Challenge approved.

P.S. - I'm still trying to complete Day 2's workout and still can't seem to hold a plank for more than a minute at a time. This shit is tough but I've been doing great with staying within my daily calorie goal.

Lemony Toasted Quinoa and Cabbage Salad

Adapted From: PopSugar Fitness

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
• 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1/2 head green cabbage, cored and sliced thinly
• 3 oz pitted green olives, halved
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• nonfat Greek yogurt for serving, optional

And Action:

Bring water to a boil in a medium pot. Stir in quinoa and salt. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Drain quinoa.

Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add cabbage and season with salt. Stir occasionally until tender and browned, about 8 minutes. 

Add 1 tbsp olive oil to cabbage. Add quinoa, olives, and lemon, toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with a dollop of yogurt, if desired. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Italian Sauteed Rosemary Basil Chicken

For a delicious pan of sauteed chicken you need to try this Italian Sautéed Rosemary Basil Chicken. The chicken is marinated in olive oil and a combination of dried herbs. It takes 10 minutes to cook and is bursting with flavor. 

After sauteing the chicken I set it aside on the cutting board to rest. For Little Man I diced a chicken breast and mixed it with a little bit of mayo to make him a chicken salad sandwich. For me, I topped a salad I made on Sunday from the Whole Foods salad bar with a diced chicken breast. While I was making it I kept in mind the Italian flavors of the chicken. The salad consisted of: spring mix, shredded Parmesan cheese, red onion, yellow bell pepper strips, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, and a side of balsamic vinaigrette. 

Little Man gobbled this up. It was that good, you won't regret giving this one a try.

Italian Sautéed Rosemary Basil Chicken

Adapted From: What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine

Makes 3 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 3 chicken breasts
• dried rosemary, to taste
• garlic granules, to taste
• dried basil, to taste
• 6 tbsp olive oil, divided
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• cayenne pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• dried oregano, to taste
• dried parsley, to taste

And Action:

Place chicken in a zip lock bag and add the lemon juice, 3 tbsp olive oil, and all of the seasonings. Seal the bag tightly and toss around to coat the chicken well. Marinate overnight or at least 3 hours. Pour out the lemon juice before adding to the pan.

In a large skillet, add 3 tbsp olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken and saute, 5 minutes on each side or until the juices run clear. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... What I'm Loving This Week

ONE: This reminder...

TWO: You have to try Buddha's Brew Kombucha Tart Cherry Melon. This flavor is fantastic and crave worthy!

THREE: Starbucks runs with a best friend/coworker this week. We love our Starbucks app because we are both gold members and look forward to earning our free rewards, bonus stars, seeing our favorite baristas at our local Kroger cafe, and using our Kroger cards to rack up free Starbucks as well. We use our apps to pay to earn our star for purchase and swipe our Kroger cards to put towards their buy 9 get the 10th coffee free program. Obsessed. I know. 

FOUR: Red Robin and their Ensenada Chicken Platter and under 360 calories!!!

FIVE: Wanting to add this Basic Barbell Workout to my workout routine.

SIX: I would love to add this Double-Knit Spacedye Tee from Gap to my closet.

SEVEN: Spending Easter in Las Vegas with my family. Saturday night my Uncle Frank put together a traditional Easter dinner for us since we were gather the next afternoon for a family BBQ. Easter morning I met my cousin Lara for breakfast at the Hash House at the Rio Casino. After the family BBQ that night I got dropped back off at my hotel and ended up taking the most relaxing bath ever. I'm already dreaming about going back and upgrading to the suite again. 

EIGHT: Homemade flavored water... I dump a pint of raspberries, thinly sliced cucumber, and 1 lime with the peel removed in the bottom of the biggest pitcher I have and fill with water refilling the pitcher as needed for the next three days.

NINE: 50 Pictures That Perfectly Sum Up Your Childhood... I remember begging for these glow-in-the-dark stars because all of my friends had them. Still love them, maybe should get them for Little Man's room and then have camp outs in there on the weekends. 

TEN: The warmer weather has me excited to get to my favorite nursery to pick up items to start a garden. This year I want to buy some rail planters and grow grape tomatoes. 

Doin' Some Cookin'... Creamy Sundried Tomato and Chicken Sausage Pasta

Happy Hump Day!

Today just dragged on and coming off of a high from my recent trip to Las Vegas makes it less tolerable. I returned home on Monday afternoon and it's only Wednesday. That didn't last long. I've lost my mojo. Do people still say that or even still remember Austin Powers to understand the reference? Oh well, too tired to care.

After a tiring day at work this pasta dish is easy to make and oh so tasty. The sauce tastes creamy and without dairy. You can feel better about eating this.

Because I was feeding Little Man as well I opted for sundried tomato basil chicken sausages but if you and your littles can handle spice then I would go for a spicy chicken sausage for another flavor layer. Little Man had zero complaints about this meal.

It's been almost two months since I've made a pasta dish and this was worth the wait.

Creamy Sundried Tomato and Chicken Sausage Pasta

Adapted From: Heather Christo

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 sundried Tomato Basil Chicken Sausages, cut into thin slices
  
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• garlic powder, to taste
• 3 tbsp sundried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/3 cup coconut cream
• sea salt, to taste
• dried basil, to taste

And Action:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat and add the sausages. Fry the sausages until crispy and golden on the outside, about 3-4 minutes. 

Add the onion powder, garlic, and sundried tomatoes, sprinkle with salt. Add the chicken broth and simmer another 2 minutes. Whisk in the coconut cream until well combined and add more salt if desired. 

Add the drained pasta into the pan with the sauce and stir to combine, cooking for another minute or two. Add the basil and toss well. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... Las Vegas

I really don't mind flying. My patience does not exist with layovers, middle seats, being too cold, or the turbulence/take off/landing part of the flight... so maybe I prefer road trips.

Being that my time in Las Vegas is short I intend to arrive looking half decent so no yoga pants or hoodie for me. Instead, I went for jeggings, t-shirt, cardigan, and a well worn pair of flats. For a smoother pass through the security gates I avoid wearing jewelry and other accessories and the flats slip on and off easily.

Las Vegas is a locale that calls for multiple wardrobe changes: poolside, shopping/walking, dinners, and clubbing. The motto is "dress to impress". Being that none of those things were on the agenda I went for comfort instead.

(Car show outfit)

I get super overwhelmed by the thought of everything I need to pack and keeping it all organized. I also have a fear of losing my phone or debit card, especially when traveling alone. Anxiety. (Speaking of losing my debit card this really did happen, thankfully I lost it in my cousin's car and they were able to drop it off to me at the hotel. Panic mode!)

It's been over a year since I've gone to Las Vegas and the last time wasn't a pleasure trip. It was an emergency trip to make it out in time to say goodbye to my Grammy who was in hospice before she passed away. I flew in that morning and she passed away a couple hours after my arrival. Sad day.

My mom reached out to invite me to meet her out in La Vegas for the weekend to spend some quality family time, soak in the sun, shopping, and lots of fun! Las Vegas is an absolute sensory overload. Even though I grew up here the city is always evolving and there's always something new to see so we do all of the touristy things.

All of the rooms at my Aunt Debby's house were already "booked" and not wanting to sleep on the couch and craving privacy I booked a room at the Mandalay Bay with a view of The Strip. The Mandalay Bay has become my second home when I visit because I know it like the back of my hand and absolutely love the way that it smells like coconuts. Love it!

(Had to upgrade to a suite since they did not have a standard room available and I'm stubborn and did not want to stay in the Delano Tower since I booked a room in their main tower. Even though I had to pay for the added comfort it was worth it. The bed was incredibly comfortable and that tub! FYI... This Bay Suite will set you back about $700 for 3 nights.)

On Friday after work I got dropped off at the airport and picked up some trail mix and a coffee for the flight. The flight to Las Vegas was one of the best I've been on, no turbulence and it went by quickly. I arrived around 9 pm and was met at baggage claim by my Aunt Debby, mom, and her husband. They drove me to my hotel to get checked in and drop off bags before heading out to check out the High Roller at The LINQ Hotel & Casino. We rode with another family and shared the experience of being 550ft above the city, trapped in a pod for 30 minutes... but the panoramic view was worth it.

After riding we walked around the promenade there where I was finally able to grab some dinner. I opted for a slice of cheese pizza from Flour & Barley, it was hot, cheesy, and the crust was slightly burnt from their brick oven which I love! We also came across a cupcake ATM from Sprinkles. That was easy for me to pass up since I don't crave sweets.

Saturday morning was rough with falling asleep around 4am and having to get up at 8am to get ready for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Car Show 2015. I'm not really a go and look at cars kinda girl but it was perfect weather, there were plenty of people to watch, and the company made it fun. We even got some sun and I left with a sunburn on my chest. The highlight of the car show was a vendor that sells hair pomade, see photos below of their marketing material. My kind of humor. 

(At the entrance of the The Orleans hotel where the car show was held.)

After the car show we headed to my Aunt's house where we were met with an Easter dinner feast that my Uncle Frank put together for us. It was so good and I over ate. I can still feel that stomach ache and remember the taste of Tums. 

Sunday morning I met up with my Cousin Lara for Easter Brunch and then turned around and was dropped off at my Aunt Debby's house for a family BBQ, and the food, oh the food!! My Aunt can cook and of course I had to try everything. My favorites were her BBQ grilled chicken, asian noodle salad, and strawberry shortcake. I literally gained 5 lbs this trip with all of the grub, Starbucks, and alcohol and too much sitting in front of the slot machines.

After the last guest left her house they dropped me off at my hotel. I had to head to the room for about an hour to charge my phone before heading to the casino floor for more penny slot fun. After blowing through $20 I headed back to my room and finally took advantage of the swimming pool size (slight exaggeration) bath tub and enjoyed the bath bombs I picked up at Lush from The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. This was the most relaxing bath ever and my skin was incredibly silky.

(Inside joke... my mom tried to tell everyone when we were kids she'd make us eat Cheetos in the bathtub to avoid getting the orange from our fingers all over the place. I don't recall ever eating Cheetos in the tub and no, I did not eat these in the tub and they were not worth the $3 at the convenience store located near to lobby.)

Monday morning I woke up at 5am and was thankful that I packed my bags the night before because it was hard getting out of bed. After getting ready I headed to the casino floor to drop $40 on Roulette. While at the Roulette table I decided to play one last round and put $5 each on 9, 25, red, and odd. I was in total disbelief when the ball bounced into the 25 slot and I won $200!!! That was a huge score and a high note to leave on.

My family picked me up at 7am and dropped me off at the airport. I tried Burke In The Box at the McCarran Airport and would not recommend this place unless you want a Bloody Mary, that was the best part of the meal. The egg tasted fake, the bacon was tough and didn't have a bacon-y taste, and the hash browns were those previously frozen triangle patties. So disappointing, especially for the price. This meal set me back $22 and that was before adding a tip. I was expecting more from a David Burke establishment and can't believe he put his name on this one. Ick!

Being known as "the city that never sleeps" I believe they pump oxygen into the air because I never got a full night's sleep until I made it home around 3pm.

My "Sinners Never Sleep in Vegas" Playlist:

* Dean Martin: Ain't That A Kick In The Head
* Giorgio Moroder: Tony's Theme
* Lana Del Rey: Money Power Glory
* Lana Del Rey: West Coast
* Hozier: Take Me To Church
* Flo Rida: GDFR
* Montel Jordan: How We Do It
* Neon Trees: Sleeping With A Friend
* Faith Hill: Let's Go To Vegas
* The 1975: Sex
* Taylor Swift: 22
* Elvis Presley: Viva Las Vegas
* Fall Out Boy: Death Valley
* Fall Out Boy: Young Volcanoes
* Panic! At The Disco: But It's Better If You Do
* Panic! At The Disco: Vegas Lights
* Frank Sinatra: Fly Me To The Moon
* Jack White: Freedom At 21
* Lady Gaga: Poker Face
* Wilco: Casino Queen
* Franz Ferdinand: No You Girls
* Audien: Leaving You
* Sammy Adams: All Night Longer
* Rolling Stones: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
* Edwyn Collins: A Girl Like You
* Katy Perry: Waking Up In Vegas
* Maroon 5: Moves Like Jagger
* Carly Rae Jepsen: Call Me Maybe
* The Rat Pack: Luck Be A Lady
* The Eagles: Hotel California
* The Beach Boys: I Get Around
* Shontelle: Impossible
* LMFAO: Sorry For Party Rocking