Monday, April 1, 2013

March Happenings + Easter

This month was another food-filled month for us!  (I swear we aren't fat).  It was Vegas Restaurant Week, so we took the opportunity to try a bunch of places around town at a discounted rate.  The restaurants that participate create three or four course meals at a discounted rate for the public.  Most places that participate are higher end restaurants we wouldn't normally eat at, so it is a great opportunity to get to experience a whole different type of dining!  We went to three different places, but rather than splurge on the higher end restaurants, we chose to stick to places we've actually been wanting to eat at lately.  The first place we tried was Meatball Spot at Town Square.  Not too exciting, but we both had been wanting to try it out since it just opened recently.  The food was great!  With our course meals between the two of us, we tried the Apple Salad, the Garbage Salad, the Spicy Chicken Meatballs, the Parmesan Cream Classic Meatballs, garlic bread, and (the best part) a Minty Goodness Ice Cream Sandwich and a Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwich.  Although the portions look small, they are actually quite filling and we were totally satisfied with our meals.  







After lunch, we decided to try out the new movie theatre in Henderson, the Galaxy Luxury Green Valley theatre.  I refuse to go see another movie anywhere else after going to this place!  The movie theatre has huge, reclining seats that are so comfy.  They have beer and wine service (awesome!) and customer service that is amazing (they walk you to your reserved seats! Who does that!?)  When you pay for your movie upon entry, you get to reserve your seats on a computer screen, or you can pay a $2.00 service fee and reserve them from home).  The prices are the same as a regular theatre, too.  It really is a totally different movie experience.  We went on opening weekend, so the free popcorn didn't hurt either.  We haven't been back since, but I loved everything about when we went so much that I wouldn't want to see a movie anywhere else!  

Reclined, relaxed and ready for the movie! So comfy!
Back to LV Restaurant Week!  The next place we tried was Todd's Unique Dining.  The food was great but the ambiance was kind of strange.  I'm not sure we would go back based on that alone, it felt like a "Early Bird Special" kind of restaurant by the fact that we were easily the youngest people there by a good twenty+ years.  Again, between our course meals, we tried Goat Cheese Wontons with a Raspberry Basil Sauce, Arugula and Blueberry Vinaigrette Salad, Mirin Marinated Mahi Mahi, Filet of Beef with Mushroom Cabernet Sauce, Butterscotch Pudding Parfait and Raspberry White Chocolate Lava Cake.  The food really was great, but probably not amazing enough for us to go back.






The last place we tried for LV Restaurant Week was Bratalian Neapolitan Cantina, which is located on Eastern close to Anthem.  This Italian restaurant was pretty decent but also pretty expensive for what it is.  Dessert, on the other hand, was AMAZINGLY to die for, and would be the only reason we would go back.  Again, the food was good, but the price is what would keep us from returning (minus dessert... I'd pay lots of money to eat dessert there again, SO good!).  The place is very small but I enjoyed spending time to eat there.  Between the two of us, our course meals included Caesar Salad, Deep Fried Calamari and Zucchini, Chicken Piccata, Chicken Milanese, Torta di Mele (fresh apple pie with carmel gelato) and Profiterol (pate choux filled with french vanilla gelato topped with warm chocolate sauce).  Yum!


Other than eating our lives away, we kept busy with going out on the weekends with Harley and our friends.  The first weekend of March was Bark in the Park.  It was held at Cornerstone Park, which is a new park we hadn't been to yet.  It was the first weekend of really nice weather this year, so we braved the decision of bringing Harley down, and crossed our fingers he was good.  Side note: Harley is not the best with outings or being around people he isn't familiar with.  He barks NON-stop which drives us crazy.  Even on walks around our neighborhood, he barks and seems so crazy and non well behaved.  We try to take him out often enough that he gets used to it, but he never does.  So, when we decided to test him out at Bark in the Park, we were really expecting the worst.  To our surprise, he was great!  He barked a few times, but really had so much fun getting out and seeing other dogs.  We walked around for about an hour or so, just looking at booths that were there, seeing and meeting other puppies, and watched a show.  The Henderson Police Dept. put on a demonstration with their K-9 unit, which was pretty interesting to watch.  It took up a good chunk of our Saturday morning, so it was something fun and different to do, plus we got to bring our furbaby with us, so that always makes us happy!

The cutest chow chow puppy that took A LOT for me to not bring home!
Cornerstone Park
Cornerstone Park
Booths at Bark in the Park 
COH K9 demo


Harley enjoying his day out!

We also enjoyed another weekend day out at Lake Las Vegas with our friends for the Brew's Best Beer Festival.  They hold the beer festival twice a year and we usually go every time.  It's a super fun day that usually ends in us sticking around Lake Las Vegas for a couple hours since we're not in very good conditions to drive immediately after!  We went with a bunch of our friends and we love getting to hang out with everyone when we get the chance.  





Last but not least, we celebrated Easter this month at my mom's house, which we do every year.  In the morning we usually spend it our house initially, with Harley opening his Easter basket (yes.... that happens.  He's spoiled, remember?)  We eat breakfast and then start heading over to my mom's in the afternoon for an early Easter dinner.  We always eat a traditional Easter ham, with the side staples of mashed potatoes and pineapple jello salad, among others.  We always get spoiled with a treat from the Easter bunny, also! :)

Harley's Easter basket


He's really good at getting everything out himself :)

Easter goodies


Cuddling with his new toys

Harley rockin' the Easter bowtie 

Treats from the Easter Bunny
Harley got more gifts from Grandma 
Happy dog!
When we go over to my mom's house, I always try to spend time with my cat, Oreo, whom my mom keeps care of since Jason is allergic to cats.  I've had this guy since I was ten years old.  He really hates Harley, so he usually hides when we are all over.  I'll sneak in and steal some love from him every now and then!  He's getting pretty old... lots of white hairs all around his face!  He's 16 and still kicking... so I hope he has a few more years left in him!



That's it for our busy month of March!  

...Until next month!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

February Happenings

We spent the first weekend of the month celebrating Scarlett's birthday in Disneyland! 

Jason wanted to be home to root for his Baltimore Ravens in the Superbowl, so we drove back from California on Sunday morning.  Even though I'm not the best football fan, I sported my Wolfpack tee to represent for Colin Kaepernick.  I still think it's pretty sweet to have an alum from our university doing so well in professional sports!  In the end, Jason got to celebrate because his Ravens pulled off the win!  


We celebrated Valentine's Day by going out to eat at Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan.  We wanted to splurge a little on somewhere we wouldn't normally dine out, and Jason had been to Wicked Spoon once before with his health district coworkers and loved it.  We spent about 2 1/2 hours eating everything they had!  The buffet was the most modern, adorable and delicious buffet I've ever had.  Only pictures can explain, and of course I was the nutcase who walked around taking pictures of everything there!



Adorable take out boxes of fried rice 
Pork buns, Chinese BBQ duck, Beef kalbi short ribs
Fried chicken in the cutest baskets ever
Shrimp cocktail shots
Sushi bar
Pots of Shepard's Pie and Braised short ribs
Fresh bread displays
Fresh cheese displays
Dessert was unbelievable. So many to choose from so we just took all of them!





We never usually exchange gifts for Valentine's Day, but go out for dinner like this year.  Jason never fails to give me flowers though which is a nice surprise every year.  Since we've been dating, I've always given Jason those silly cheap, Russell Stover heart boxes of chocolates with the corny sayings on them.  Our favorite that I've bought in the past was, "I choose, choose, choose you!" With a train on the box.  Yet, this year was a close second.  


Whale you be my Valentine?
We were also spoiled by the Luks' family this Valentine's Day with a super giant Cookie cake they made for us!  So cute and SO good!  We love our friends!


Harley was extra cute on Valentine's Day, too!


We spent lots of time with our friends this month, no different than any month, I guess! :)  The boys watched lots of Jeopardy and Hudson is already a genius in the making.  We enjoyed dinner out at TaTa Asian Bistro, and also enjoyed another night drinking some fun cocktails!  

Boys watching Jeopardy
Dinner at TaTa
Cocktails with Jess
We also tried a new place for breakfast, called Bread and Butter.  It was amazing!  We will definitely be going back to enjoy some more breakfasts and maybe even try lunch there a few times, too.  After breakfast, the boys went golfing, so of course this meant girls day and shopping!  Scarlett is already a pro at being a little fashionista!

Baked goods at Bread and Butter
Giant cookies and pastries 
Delish breakfast sandwich at Bread and Butter
Shopping with Scarlett!

Needless to say, we did a lot of eating in February!  Here's to what next month brings!