Serendipity!

 What can I say about this amazing place except "OH MY GOSH!!!"

As hubby and I drove up Las Vegas Blvd. I saw this little jewel on the corner of Caesars Palace and let out a little scream of joy! I had heard of this New York City restaurant on the travel TV shows but never knew that they had other locations outside the City. Needless to say, we dropped the bags off at the hotel and made a mad dash for Serendipity 3.

We arrived to find a short wait for the inside seating but jumped on the opportunity to be seated on the outside patio (furnished with wonderful heaters!!) and watch the Las Vegas traffic buzz by.
 The menus were just as beautiful and whimsical as the rest of the restaurant:

This is a sundae with real gold flakes!

Is she not beautiful or what?! On her head are little cups of frozen hot chocolate!

After just eating lunch at Paris we decided to stick to some dessert. I chose the world famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate while my sweetie indulged in a decadent chocolate coffee treat of some type.

I stuck with the regular thing, no need to change a classic!

Beautiful Tiffany style lamps decorated the tables, you could even buy them if you wanted!

Lets say that I was NOT disappointed in what was presented before me!!

The plate had the same drawings as the menu and the drink itself was presented in such a pretty bowl-cup. They gave you a huge helping of whip cream and 2 straws (don't know why...I had no intention of sharing, haha!!). They frozen hot chocolate was so wonderful and just melted in your mouth. You could just feel it dissolve!! 

Serendipity 3 has made a life long customer out of me!

Drink Up!

Sweets...Vegas Style!!!

Hubby and I just returned from a blissful trip to Las Vegas and boy did we eat! It seems like we grazed at one spot, walked to another and did the same. Fantastic food, good drinks and a great time with my sweetheart. I'm always on the look out for good new spots no matter where I am, but everything is just done to the nines in Vegas. The cupcakes were no exception!

Meet The Cupcakery in the Monte Carlo! 



It was so pretty I didn't want to eat it but oh so glad I did!



All but about 2 flavors had a pretty sparkly treat on top that made them twinkle in the Vegas lights

I was thrilled when we came across this newer spot on our way to an old favorite inside the hotel. The cupcakes were all done up beautifully with sprinkles and glitter and little flowers. I was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful, moist cake and the frosting was so yummy! Not too sweet and you even got some extra glitter on your lips after taking a few bites! We tried the traditional white cake with vanilla butter cream and it was hands down one of the best cupcakes I'd had in a long time. I was so pleased!

I will definitely be visiting when I come back to Vegas!

Next stop...

Jean Philippe Patisserie in the beautiful new Aria Resort and Casino

First off I must tell you this hotel is AMAZING! It is brand new and has the coolest designs, colors, features and it smells amazing! We discovered the tram between the hotels during an exploring expedition and am so glad we decided to see where it too us! I must admit I first noticed these...

I just thought they pretty design elements on the ball but, boy, was I wrong...

THEY ARE CHOCOLATE!!!

All I can say is I lost it at that point and poor hubby saw the next 30 minutes of his life being wasted away staring at chocolate, haha! We walked around the corner and saw this...

Each of these cakes were about 4 feet tall and sooo amazing!

This is my cowboy buddy (the Rodeo was in town again), he was lovin' the chocolate too!

Merry Grinch-mas!

 

Oh my Lord, the details were stunning!

These were mini's, only about 8-12 inches in height.

I was so in my element!

  We made our way through the whole shop with included three sections. The first was a gelato and crepes station where the could make your creation right before your eyes, the chocolate shop area with cases of handmade chocolate and boxed treats you could take with you. The final stop was a bakery-pastry shop-deli like area where you could by eclairs, Napoleon's and tarts or order a beautiful sandwich. Unfortunately we had just eaten lunch but I picked up a handsome chocolate covered strawberry which I enjoyed when we got back home. Made it back perfectly too!

My next post will be about a place I thought I might never get to experience. I will leave you with one word to play with until my next post...

Serendipity

Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: Only one bag of M&M's were eaten during the production of this post,

no other chocolates consumed

TOMS

I am totally in love with these shoes!!!

I had heard of them in the past but never really paid much attention to them until mom bought a pair. I tried them on, checked it out online and then went and bought myself a pair! I have been following the website and news on Face Book and it is actually a really interesting company with a "do good" philosophy. Their motto is "One for One" They give one pair of shoes to a child who doesn't have any shoes for each pair purchased.

Check out their site here.

I was looking today and they have published a really awesome "Giving Report" that shows the methods they use to determine where the next drop will be and how they figure out what types of shoes to bring based on climate and environment. NPR also did an awesome interview.

I super thrilled to have my first pair (Ash Classics, thank you very much) and look forward to getting a few more pairs(wishing and hoping for a pair of Glitters for Christmas or my birthday!) in the months to come. It is a great company to support and you get an awesome pairs of shoes to top it off!!

"Drop Toms, Not Bombs"

Love for B...

Each year the church goes and decorates the pediatric cancer ward at the children's hospital where B was. I have thought about going each year but just can't bring myself to do it. It's actually to the point where I begin to cry at the thought of just having to go to the hospital. I can close my eyes and see each room she was in, what she was wearing when we celebrated her birthday, the waiting rooms during surgeries, views from

each window... My heart just breaks. I can't describe the need I felt to be there with her and her

mom and their family and now I can't even bring myself to go and hang some garland on the walls.

It's unbelievable what a change of view one can have on a place after certain events.

 Even though I won't be there this year when the decorating will start for those tiny soldiers,

my love will be with them through the memories I carry of B in my heart and the prayers I pray for their little bodies healing...

This little guy means a lot to me. He is a simple stuffed elephant toy but brings peace and happiness in what he signifies. He is a St. Judes Children's Research Hospital "representative". The decorations on his ear and paws were drawn by patients at the hospital. I collected each years design as long as they were made.

“Elephants represent family, long life, strength and playfulness,” said St. Jude National Outreach Director, Marlo Thomas, daughter of hospital founder Danny Thomas.

Last year I took a trip to Memphis for work and made a stop at St. Judes. I wanted to see this wonderful place in all it's glory. It did not disappoint, let me tell you. The grounds themselves were stunning and very alive. There were benches and garden throughout the property and beautiful statues of children playing scattered about. I love that there is a place in this world where people can go for healing, both physically and mentally that has such wonderful resources. Check it out here

So this year, I will proudly place my collection of these small creatures and ambassadors of hope in our Christmas display and use them as a reminder to be thankful and to remember to just love.

For B with Love
Happy Christmas

Pumpkin Pecan Butter Cake

I finally made by beloved Pecan Pumpkin Butter cake and it turned out so well! The recipe can be found here but you'd better hurry because it is seasonal and Williams Sonoma doesn't carry it after Thanksgiving.  Enjoy!!

I was very proud of myself for getting everything just right!

I decided to bake mine in a glass 8x8 pan for 55 minutes instead of a long pan

How can you resist that face?!

The directions but tweaked for my change in pan idea



Finished product and it was a hit!

Happy Fall Baking!



Needle Felting

Well, I have found yet another fun crafty activity to occupy my time! Needle felting is so much fun, very easy and you get to make cute little animals! The other weekend I got to take a drive down to Claremont for my needle felting class I signed up for while we were at the Fall Street Fair. The shop is called Colors and they sell all types of yarn and fibers for knitting, crocheting and, of course, needle felting.

You can purchase ready to go kits that range from easy to advanced.
This is the one I bought at the Fall Fair

Our first project was this cute little pumpkin. Our instructor showed us the techniques of rolling the roving (felting wool) and how you want to begin poking the wool with the needle to begin tangling the fibers together so they start to become firm and hold the shape you want. There is a lot of poking of both wool and fingers but with some practice you're a pro in no time. The process is very quick and you get a finished product before you know it! She showed us how to attach things, like the stem in this case, and how we can make things really have realistic looks with dimension.

We got to choose one other project that we'd like to start from several books she had out. I chose a little dog that was part of a children's story book . I was able to get the body shape done in class so I was happy as a clam. Before I left I picked up a variety pack of colors of the wool and the felting foam as to not use my couch pillows as a needle poking surface, haha!







Whoopies cousin Snoopy





Snoopy instructions, I just added some little legs

Since I took the class I've made the little lamb (from the kit above) and Mr. Elvis (below) I'm still working on the faces but am having so much fun doing these little creatures! I will definitely be making some for Christmas gifts.



Elvis the Owl





Awesome book and the felting foam



Happy Needle Felting!



Stay tuned...

I have big plans for this little guy...

Have a great weekend!

Creativity!

I'll be the first to admit that I am a craft addict.

I have been doing crafts in one way or another for as long as I can remember. There was a blue Fisher Price table (aka little blue table) in our kitchen for years as my sister and I grew up. It had matching bright blue plastic chairs and a little hidden cubby in the sides of the table. I think that is 1. where my love of crafting started and 2. my need to stash away little treasures in safe places began.

In high school I was blessed to have the opportunity to work for a woman whom I dearly admire and am lucky to call a friend. She owned a little rubber stamp shop in down town Riverside that our family had been going to for a few years before. My dad, of all people, introduced us to this beautiful shop! I worked in the shop through out the remainder of high school and for a few of my college years. I think it was there that I was introduced to so many new crafts and arts. Everything from paper clay and scrapbooking to mixed media collages and art journaling lived in the shop. (I also dabbled in yarn crafts (knitting and crocheting) and the fabrics but had the patience of a gnat so those were put into the craft tote for another day...)

From that point on I realized that this was an outlet I had not only to get my creativity out but also a world of people who bring so much inspiration and joy into my life. Art journaling is where is spent several years exploring who I was, what I liked and what I wanted out of life. Slowly the journaling has gone out of my life which makes me so sad but I feel as if my creativity has run dry in that arena. I hate to force it because I feel as if my work will be fake and I won't be pleased with the outcome. Hopefully soon I will be able to fall back into that wold of my pens, paint and crayons but I'm not sure when that will be...

Thankfully I have found other craft/art outlest that I am currently obsessed with (told you I was an addict! haha!). A friend of mine who I actually met at the stamp store and who went with me on trips to Artfest is a very talented mosaic artist and teacher so I have begun taking classes from her. I'm loving it! This is a totally new medium for me to work with and to be honest a bit scary to begin with. I was afraid I'd slice my finger with the tools or bits of glass would be flung into my eye (still happens on occasion but is a very controlled issue at this point) and I'd hate it The exact opposite has occurred, I LOVE IT! There is something very stress relieving about cutting glass so quickly and then the theraputic act of gently laying each piece of beautiful glass into a spot that fits it just right. I've taught myself to go slow and not settle for something that I'm going to do just to hurry up and be done. So far the results have been wonderful! I've completed a cupcake (other addiction) a round pumpkin and finishing grouting a fall leaf. Next project will be a "sampler piece"  as she calls it that will display all different types of cuts and shapes that make up one big beautiful mosaic. So excited!!

Completed leaf

This weekend I'm taking a needle felting class and I can't wait to begin that chapter in my craft story! 

If I could go any where right now...Part 2

Thursday has arrived once again and it is usually the day that the weekend itch sets in for me. Today, however, I really don't have a far off destination I'm really wanting to go to.

I'm happy right where I am. 

I was not able to get the day off work to observe Vetrans Day but I feel as if I'm honoring the occasion in my own way. I'm happy to be here, in my home country, my home state and pretty darn close to my actual home itself. I think about all the soldiers that are across seas fighting this battle and how much they would give if they too could be back at home. Now, I don't get very vocal about my views on this war or my political opinions (except when I feel as if I simply can't remain quiet when people are going on and on, that just sends me over the edge!) but I do express one thing and that is respect. People are free to make choices on what they believe and we are blessed to live in a country that allows us to do so and the people who protect those rights are who I respect. I am not brave enough to go out and do what they do so the very least I can give is respect and I'm proud to do so.

This morning I watched a video about a dog named Gracie who was beyond thrilled to see her owner return. He had just returned from a tour in Iraq and this was the first time he'd seen Gracie in quite a while. Animals are such good examples of the expression of love and how it is totally ok to just go bonkers when you are happy to see someone you love. So, thank you Gracie for showing this human how to show love and appreciation to someone you like, alot.

Maybe next week I'll have a new destination to aspire to...I have a few spots I've been eyeing.

But until then, happy travels or happy just staying home to you!

Cupcake Camp IE!

I had my first Camp Cupcake experience this past Sunday at the beautiful Mission Inn! It was benefiting the Inland Empire Susan G. Komen affiliate so I was double wanting to be there! I had been hearing about Cupcake Camps for months on my favorite cupcake blog and was thrilled when I walked up to Ralphs a few weeks ago and saw this little beauty on the door:

Needless to say the date immediately went into the calendar and hubby got the text "guess what's coming to the Mission Inn??!!". I'm sure he was less than thrilled but being the good sport he is tagged along for the ride. Thankfully Sunday was beautiful and the nasty, very un- fall like hot weather went away and it was perfect for our adventure down town. When we got there, there was a line half way through the lobby but it was moving pretty quickly. We arrived a few minutes after 1 and they were stopping people from going in due to the huge crowds already formed inside the room. When we walked in this is what we saw:

Tee Shirt and information tables



View from the entrance stairs

As we walked in it was VERY crowded (as you can tell) and hard to move around but we made it to a couple booths. Caseys Cupcakes was there as well as a bunch of other bakeries I hadn't heard of before. We were given 4 tickets when we walked in and one ticket = one cupcake so we tried to make quick use of them. Unfortunately we lost one set in the chaos but I think that turned out to be for the best.

Strawberry Lemonade!

There were glitter on these too!

Wouldn't these be cute for a personalized celebration??

On our way out the door!

All in all it was fun and quick. We were out of there with in about 25 minutes or so. My partner in crime had been stepped on, hit, and elbowed and was not a happy camper at this point so we were ready to head out. It was fun and I think I'd do it again but probably by myself or make a plan to meet at the door at a certain time if I go with another person.

My treasures

Strawberry Lemonade - very tasty!

Vanilla with a very buttery buttercream, very pretty though!

Vanilla but very dry both inside and frosting...

Snickerdoodle - super yummy and loved the wrapper!

Whoopie wishing she could taste!

Good idea to keep frosting inside to help with moisture but didn't work out too well...

One of our tasters, Minda!

Boy DID we survive! : )