September 4, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 1 DAY

It's a FUN FOODIE FRIDAY & the start of a long wkd!

Hello Everybody!

We've made it to another Friday! 
And another Holiday Weekend!!! 
Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP?!

Aren't Holiday Weekends just the best? 
I just luv 'em and I feel like if I don't make plans and go somewhere that I'm totally wasting them - do you know what I mean? 

Speaking of going places, I've been tossing around the idea of going to Chicago just for a fun weekend.
Now I know that if my partner in crime and Chicago native is reading this - and she better be! 
That she will wonder why I haven't said anything to her...because I'm still in the stage of tossing the "idea' around.

Should I go, or should I not go???

Well, yesterday wasn't quite as productive as the rest of the week had been. I spent waaaay too much time "shopping" online!

And today I'll be running around from morning til night and one early morning stop will be the Huntington Beach location of Sports Chalet for their HUGE annual Labor Day Sale (of which I try not to miss and usually walk away with a few good finds!)

I've got my eye out for the kiddos upcoming Birthdays as well as Christmas!!!

Since we are leaving early tomorrow morning in order to avoid the MASS of TRAFFIC that will be heading out to Vegas tonight, I will only have today to check out the sale. 
We'll hit all other Labor Day sales in Las Vegas! You gotta luv shopping in Vegas - there is just something about it!

I figured that Today would be as good a time as any to share with you some of the:

15 Most Interesting Facts about Las Vegas

1. The first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1906.
2. A 1910 law made it illegal to gamble in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislature later approved a legalized gambling bill in 1931. 
3. In 1941, the El Rancho Vegas was the first resort to open on The Las Vegas Strip (across from what is now The Sahara).
4. Ironically, just outside of Las Vegas is Boulder City, one of the only two cities in Nevada that prohibits gambling.
5. The famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign was created in 1959 by Betty Willis. 
6. Bugsy Siegel named his casino the Flamingo after the long legs of his showgirl girlfriend.
7. The Stratosphere Hotel and Tower, at more than 1,100 feet, is the tallest building west of the Mississippi.
8. If you’re a Pearl status member of M Life (MGM Resorts’ loyalty program) you can choose two songs for the fountains to dance to, at a cost of $2,000. Or you can buy the $250,000 package from Hyde Bellagio, which gives you the largest bottle of champagne in the world (a 30-liter Ace of Spades) and a button that “controls” the fountains.
9. The Mirage Hotel’s iconic golden windows actually got their coloring from real gold dust.
10. Seventeen of the 20 biggest hotels in the U.S. are in Las Vegas.
11. By number of rooms, the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino is the largest hotel in the country and the 2nd largest in the world.
12. In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital had to suspend workers who were betting on when patients would die. One nurse was even accused of murdering a patient so she would win.
13. FedEx CEO Fred Smith saved his company in the 1970s by gambling their last $5000 in Vegas. He turned 5K into $32K by playing Blackjack. This allowed FedEx to stay in business a few days longer, at which point he was able to raise $11M to keep FedEx going.
14. The largest sum won on the Las Vegas slots was at the Excalibur. After putting in $100, a 25 year-old software engineer won $39 million, beating the odds at the time for 1 in 16.7 million.
15. Las Vegas is home to the largest community of Hawaiian born residents outside the Aloha State.

And I haven't forgotten that it's FOODIE FRIDAY, and I have 2 things to share with you...

The first being a quick review/our thoughts on a fairly new product that is hitting the shelves everywhere - NEAT MEAT - a delicious and cruelty free meat substitute!

Derived from Nuts and other natural ingredients this is a Healthy Replacement for meat and also happens to be soy free, gluten free, and 100% vegetarian!

Phil over at Neat Meat sent me out some samples to try out in the kitchen, and last night was our first taste test.

I used the 'mexican mix' and opted to make a Deconstructed Tamale with an Italian Twist!

Feeding my typical crew which includes girls, boys, women, and men ranging from 13yrs-62yrs, meat eaters, vegetarian, and vegans.

Once everyone was served I had asked what each person thought of the "meat", and here are some of the results:

"It's great delightful, I love it"
                  "I like it"
        "It's good"
                     "Deliciously spicy"
"So good. So good"
                          "It was good!"

If that's enough to get you curious - try it out for yourself!

The second thing that I want to share with you is about my recent visit to Vromage in Los Angeles.

In one word it was AMAZING!

BUT...since I have to head out early today, I will be posting the review for Vromage later this afternoon.
I hope that you can wait until then :)

Catch you back here soon!
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 21 DAYS

Holiday Weekend & Foodie Friday!

Hey there!!  Are you getting ready for the long weekend?  

If the kiddies already started school, enjoy the little hiatus - if they haven't - then enjoy the last weekend before the school year begins.

As Tanya heads to Las Vegas for a fun-filled weekend, I'll be heading out east to Remsenburg.  
We'll be having a stay-cation.  

Honestly, I have NOTHING planned as of yet, except for the girls riding tomorrow at the barn.

Now, I'm a little annoyed because Gianna "lost" her helmet a few months ago.  How does one lose a riding helmet? Seriously.  As a result, she has been using one that was left at the barn, but it's way too small for her head.

So, I have to get out east before five today to the saddlery to get her a new helmet so she has it for riding tomorrow.  These helmets are not cheap either! Oh well, such is life.  

Very proud of the girls as they are doing great with their riding. Both are cantering wonderfully and jumping the cross rails. 

KELSEY RIDING THE COURSE ON BUDDY

Did you read Tanya's 15 Most Interesting Facts about Las Vegas?  Some interesting information.  I did know that Bugsy Siegel named his casino the Flamingo after the long legs of his showgirl girlfriend.

Well, since it's Labor Day, and supposed to be a beautiful one at that (at least here on Long Island), I'm thinking about all the people who will be having barbecues.  

Here is one of my faves when we have barbecues:
 

Here are 9 Top Places to go for Labor Day Weekend according to ParkSleepFly:

9. Orlando, Florida
8. Las Vegas, Nevada
7. New York City, New York
6. Washington, D.C.
5. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
4. Cancun, Mexico
3. New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Los Angeles, California
1. Chicago, Illinois

Let us know where you are going this weekend!!!

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT TANYA'S FOODIE FRIDAY FEATURE ABOUT VROMAGE!

See ya back here tomorrow!

- E
xoxo