I’ve become a fan of Vegas.
The one I married and the city.
We escaped last week to Vegas so that I could see Reba live in concert for the first time ever. I don’t really listen to country music anymore, but Reba was my absolute favorite for years and years. I never got to see her live, so when I heard she was coming to Vegas I HAD to go.
She was amazing. So was Brooks & Dunn. They played a few song together, and both were all about playing hits rather than a ton of new songs no one knew. Love that.
We spent the next couple of days visiting some favorite spots, plus Vegas showed me some new ones! You could spend a year in Vegas and never see it all.
https://www.instagram.com/p/_LCPPjGjXZ/
We walked through the Palazzo. I can’t believe I’d never spent much time in there – it’s stunning!
Before headed across toThe Venetian for a gondola ride (there really isn’t anything you can’t get in Vegas), we stopped for a drink. I had the best Old Fashioned in my life at CarneVino. He made it with rye and muddled a Luxardo cherry in it. Heaven.
We had an incredible dinner at The Barrymore. It’s off the strip in a dark-ish condo building. You’d never guess it was even there. The decor was almost as impressive as the service and the food. The entire ceiling was covered in old movie reels pained gold!
I had the Sea Bass with clams and tomato broth. Vegas had a steak. We split bottle of red wine, the lobster mac ‘n cheese, and a chocolate macaroon for dessert. I’m still fantasizing about it.
There’s more, but this is getting long. I will tell you that after dinner Vegas taught me to play video poker and created a monster. I only lost $15, so we went to bed pretty happy.
The next day we had to go home. On the way out of town we stopped at The Palm. I had never seen it before… and Vegas was helping me get more points on Swarm (really). We decided to have lunch… there was a Hooters in the casino (again, really). THEN we decided to play just one more poker game. I put $100 in and this:
Confession: I had it up to $300, but I don’t know when to quit.
Read on for my day of eats, and join in Jenn’s WIAW baby over at Arman’s today! Side note: I had to explain to Arman who Reba was. Funny boy.
Breakfast:
I had my usual morning cocktail and sludge (mixed with kombucha instead of matcha).
The yogurt bowl game is still strong. Today was a coconut-vanilla greek yogurt with blueberries, coconut, and pecans. Never gets old.
Coconut-Vanilla Greek Yogurt Bowl
- 1/2 C Greek yogurt
- 1/2 scoop Quest vanilla milkshake protein powder
- 2 T coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 4-5 drops vanilla liquid stevia
Mix it all up and top to your liking!
[Tweet “Bored with breakfast? Try this Coconut-Vanilla Greek Yogurt Bowl! #fitfluential”]
Lunch-ish:
Some days when you’re too excited about prepping dinner you wrap up some turkey with salsa and hummus and call it lunch. Don’t judge.
Snack:
Quest peanut butter protein is a legit dip for apple slices.
https://www.instagram.com/p/_VHQlLmjUq/
Dinner:
Finally it was time to try my latest slow cooker experiment! Pulled pork tacos for Taco Tuesday. I’d share the recipe today, but it was too late to get a decent iPhone pic. Even I will admit I nighttime iPhone pics are a little… bad… 😉
Here’s a hint: the recipe involves beer. Again.
https://www.instagram.com/p/_Vp3FJmjal/
[Tweet “Vegas eats, learning poker, and more #WIAW shenanigans! #fitfluential”]
***
This is also what happens when you have PMS from hell and can’t get insured to eat.
Do you know how to play poker?
Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Here’s a gift guide… despite having written it, I’m not done shopping.
Guess what! I am moving to Vegas next year and this post got me OH so excited!! I am the biggest black jack hand although I have won a few hands at poker in my time! I love games so fun! Glad you are enjoying vegas!! Have an amazing holiday! xo C
OMG – you have to let me know when you get there. We go all the time and I have a billion suggestions for you. 🙂
Congrats on your win! It doesn’t happen too often but it sure feels good when it does. I love video poker. I used to play blackjack, but now, on the rare occasion that I go to Vegas, I stick with the video poker.
I was playing blackjack for a while, but now I’ve realized poker is where you can actually win a little money!
So fun that you got to see Reba live. Looks like you had a great time in Vegas! I haven’t been in a while. My family kind of loves to gamble, except me. I get too anxious! And also don’t know when to quit.
I’m like you – Vegas made me do it the first few times and I nearly had a heart attack.
Well done on your win! I bet Vegas is just magical at this time of year with even more lights and sparkle… If that’s even possible!
I love a good old fashioned….I’m always drawn to the whisky/ rum cocktails the most. And paired with dark rich cherries – hello!
I think we’d drink well together. 😉
Now that yogurt bowl is looking really good. 🙂
My poker face is so off that it’s safe to say that I am not a poker player!! All the gambling genes went to my sister- she is such a card shark!
I love you even more that you wrote the damn gift guide and you arent done yet.
Im so so so so glad to be a Jew whose holiday is done.
Now I gift for me me me 😉
OMG congrats on the win! I agree about never seeing everything in Vegas. My ex and I used to go all the time but after I broke up with him I haven’t been back. One of my fav places to escape to indeed!
We should meet THERE one day!
That yogurt bowl looks delicious! That is so cool you saw her alive! What a show! Have a great week
Congrats on the win!! That’s exciting 🙂 Also, that peanut butter protein powder sounds yummy! I’ve never found a PB flavored one (so I usually just dump PB2 in my smoothies, haha)
Thanks! I do like this PB, but I’m picky about it too. I have a plain peanut flour that I use a lot as well. I could eat it by the spoonful. 🙂
I love Vegas! I’m terrible at gambling, though. I think I spent maybe $30 on video poker and couldn’t stomach any more than that. I loved all the food, fancy drinks, and all the crazy decorations. I can’t wait to go back some day with my husband, though he’ll probably make me panic with the gambling he’ll do.
Seriously, pulled pork is a slow cooker may be my favorite because it;s so damn easy. And all the leftovers.
I was there last weekend too! Wish I would have know we could have met up. Looks like a fun weekend for you too. I am going to recap mine tomorrow
That’s too bad!!! We go a lot… maybe we will coordinate one day!
Jealous of your seafood feasts as always! I NEED some seabass in my life. Maybe I can convince my family to have it for Christmas?! 😉
I think it’d be perfectly decadent for Christmas!
Lobster mac and cheese? This glory exists? Damn.
Yay to treating yourselves to the show and a little getaway – looks like a wonderful time! I’m sure Vegas is extra blitzing with lights at this time. Definitely want to try coconut flour in my yogurt… how have I not done this?
It was insanely good! I don’t even love mac and cheese like Vegas does and I couldn’t stop eating it!
You’re right, it seems like you can get ANYTHING in Vegas. Which, because I only went once when I was a teenager and my parents had the ridiculous idea it might be fun, meant really good sushi flown in from where we had also flown in from 😉
That old fashioned looks good and that dinner sounds amazing! I love when dinners out are so good that I still fantasize about them the next few days.
Congrats on the wins in Vegas!! I went to Vegas for my 23rd birthday and I was so surprised with how much I loved Vegas!! It’s like an adult disneyland.
It is totally grown up Disney! I say that every time we go!
I haven’t been to Vegas since my bachelorette party, and I’ve always wanted to go back with my husband just to eat and see shows. I’m not really into the gambling. So glad you had fun, Laura! 🙂
The shows are the best part! Well, that and the people watching… and the food…
Reba, me girl!
My brother has tried to teach me poker….not ganna happen. I’m so not good at those kind of things 😛
This is the 4th or 5th time I’ve been taught. Video poker is definitely easier! Less pressure than being at a table.
I love Reba, but I am a huge country music fan. I also love visiting Las Vegas. That pulled pork taco looks delicious.
She is just such a great performer! Classic.
You win at vegas. In so many ways 😀 My husband is really good at poker. Really good. Some great stories from that, haha. And Luxardo cherries? Take me to bed or lose me forever.
I hope you plan to share that pork taco recipe!! I could really use a new taco recipe 🙂 it looks delicious.
I did! It’s so easy too. 🙂
Woop woop! Reba! I used to love her also! I love that she’s really funny too.
I want that yogurt bowl now-ish, so I’m gonna see what I can do.
You keep going to Vegas, but not to LA… Do I stink that bad?
In all fairness though – the ONE DAY I wanted to go to SD to visit… My car’s battery DIED. Fucking fuck YO. But when I return to the states Jan 12, we need to actually 1000% plan something – even if we meet 1/2 way!
Can I beat you in poker? Hahaha!
I don’t have a car anymore, but I’ll steal Vegas’. Bwhahaha!
You saw reba AND brooks and dunn? So jealous!! I would love to see Reba sometime. I grew up on that woman’s music and brooks and dunn never go out of style in my opinion. “My Marieeeeeeeaaaaaaa!” Sorry, got a tad bit carried away there….
They played that song too! Everyone went crazy. They’re all such great performers.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but your post is making me miss Vegas! I have only been there twice but it was most definitely a lot of fun and such awesome food!!!
It is a sort of addicting place! I didn’t love it at first but it grew on me.
What a fun trip! We saw Brooks and Dunn years ago, and it was awesome! I get to see Garth soon and am shaking in my seat. Reba would be my next dream concert!
I love that you can just roll into Vegas (the city) for a few days on short notice! Very cool. And, you’re right about seeing something new every time. I’ve been there at least a dozen times and each time we see or do something new. Gotta love that!!
OH reba! god love her. I do, and I don’t listen to country either. But still, so fun! hope the PMS is better. Ugh, eat more greek yogurt. it helps! really.
So does wine. 😉
I am SO with you on hating when artists do new songs at concerts. I love being able to sing along and dance and I can’t do that with new music 🙁
I’ve made pulled pork in the crock pot, but never thought to make tacos with it! Genius!
Thanks! It’s super easy and soooo good!
The bears made in flowers are so cool! Sounds like you had a lot of fun in Vegas – as usual!
That yogurt bowl looks damn good. It might be my recent fruit addiction which is magnified now that I’m knocked up, because I want your blueberries.
Vegas is awesome. The city and your wife. I still can’t believe I haven’t met her. We need to correct that.
Well. Pop out that bun you got in the oven and let’s all meet up in Vegas. I’ll hold Lucie hostage in the meantime.