Things You Should Know: I Love to Sketch...

The lovely Christine from Avenger of Sexiness shared a prompt this morning that's been tumbling around in my mind all day. 'Things You Should Know Thursdays.' The idea is to share a fact about yourself that someone should know if they are going to be your BFF. I have so much love for this idea. For getting to know each other on a deeper level and fostering that wonderful sense of community. In general, I'm pretty open here. My online presence is reflective of who you would meet if we were to be face-to-face. At the same time, this prompt has made me realize just how much of our little quirks that we don't know about each other in lacking that in person interaction. Kicking off this journey to Camp Mighty this seemed like the perfect time to start being a little more vulnerable.

So, what's something you need to know about me if we're going to be BFFs? I love to sketch. I have dozens of half filled sketchbooks dating back to sixth grade. I drew before then, but my interest in art really took off in middle school. Friends and I would swap notes and binders back and forth filled with our favorite cartoon characters. I started taking art classes and those sketchbooks started to be filled more and more with class assignments and techniques (shading in circles was my all time favorite). Now my drawings tend to be little snippets from my day. The pastry I picked up at the coffee shop. The interesting planter on the patio of my favorite cafe. The podium from the conference. None of this is done with skill, but sketching keeps me present and often cheers me up.

One of these days I'd love to start being more intentional about art again and maybe sharing some of my drawings with you. Filling up a sketchbook from start to finish is on my life list after all. I'm still trying to hunt down some of my sketchbooks from my school days because that nostalgia is always fun (and sometimes cringe-inducing). I'll be sure to share if I find where they're stashed away.

What about you? What's something I would know about you if we were BFFs?

DISH Las Vegas 2013

On Thursday I had the chance to attend the 5th annual DISH Las Vegas benefitting Three Square. Three Square is a local food bank who's mission is, "to provide wholesome food to hungry people, while passionately pursuing a hunger-free community." If you want to learn more, check out their website. They are doing some seriously amazing work.

The event itself featured 35 local restaurants as well as entertainment from The Million Dollar Quartet and Everclear. It's no secret that these sort of events are a favorite of mine (I love getting to try such a wide range of flavors in a single space), and this one was particularly well put together. Each restaurant had a distinctive booth space with plenty of room to walk between stalls and a number of easily accessible trash bins. With restaurants ranging from N9NE Steakhouse to Tao the food itself was incredibly diverse showcasing some pretty spectacular offerings.

Those aforementioned flavors are easily my favorite part of events like these. Foods ranged from a seafood bar on ice to freshly made cotton candy and just about everything in between. Within that, shellfish was definitely the theme of the night. Mini-bread bowls filled with chowder, lobster kimchi fried rice, crab ravioli, oysters on the half shell... Delicious! Other personal favorites of mine included a spoon of braised beef nestled on a bed of polenta and the BEST salmon sashimi tossed in sesame seeds. True foodie bliss. With shellfish seemingly on trend, I'm looking forward to seeing what dishes come out of that in the coming year.

Good food for an even better cause? This is certainly going on my calendar for next year and is an event I would recommend looking into if you're in Las Vegas come next September.

Autumn Manifesto

Seasons pass with the blink of an eye. Summer fades into autumn before you realize the community pool has even closed for the year. Halloween comes and quickly gives way to Christmas and the chill of winter. This year I want that to be different. Time may ebb and flow, but savoring every moment of its passage is a choice. I want this autumn to be filled with tasty eats, cozy evenings spent curled up with a good book, and new craft projects that celebrate the season.

Thusly, in these next few months I would like to…

• Bake an apple pie from scratch.
• Sip a pumpkin latte at my favorite cafe.
• Decorate a pumpkin.
• Make my bed a cozy retreat.
• Finish a knitting project.
• Bring baked goods to the office.
• Unearth my autumn wardrobe.
• Read twelve new books.
• Craft my own Halloween costume.
• Try three new soup recipes.

Just thinking about it makes me want to put on my favorite fuzzy socks and cozy up. Autumn is by far my favorite season and I’m excited to see the added layer of enjoyment that being more intentional brings. I can't wait to share more about the corn chowder pictured above either. I need to actually note down the specifics the next time I make it so I can share the recipe. Between the smoky bacon, sweet corn, and creamy chowder base it's quickly becoming an autumn favorite of mine.

That said, I'm curious... Do you have a list of what you would like to accomplish this season? A favorite autumn recipe or craft? Link them in the comments, I would love to see them!

Breakfast at NOBU

It's no secret that a good breakfast ranks as one of my favorite things. Breakfast in bed? Even better. While my stay at NOBU Hotel is a story for another day I had to take a moment to reflect on what was one of the most amazing meals I've ever had. Available only through room service, the breakfast menu from NOBU boasts a varied array of familiar breakfast fare with an updated twist. Choosing was difficult, but in the end their Vanilla Scented Waffle, Pork Belly Bacon, and Black Sesame & Sakura Pastries won out.

Best. Waffle. Ever. Nice and crisp out the outside without losing any of the necessary fluffy interior. The vanilla was a lovely accent flavor, leaving room for the yuzu whipped cream and fresh fruit to shine. The stand out from this dish was absolutely the whipped cream. Denser than average, the cream played the role of both butter and sauce to perfection. Lightly sweet and perfectly tart it paired particularly well with the banana.

Try this at home by cutting back on the sweet. The surprising standout flavor of this waffle was the fact that it wasn't the typical dessert-like affair dripping with syrup and powdered sugar. The light sprinkle of sugar was just enough to pair with the whipped cream. For the cream itself, again lay low on the sugar, a light sprinkle will help you capture that flavor. Whip for a few minutes longer than you normally would and if you can't find yuzu try some grapefruit zest to capture that tart flavor.

Bacon is already pretty fantastic, but pork belly takes it over the top. The thick cut and crisp texture were a bacon lovers dream. I was also impressed with the generous portion.

Try this at home by roasting up some thick slices of bacon or pork belly in the oven. Set your oven to 400°F and cook for about 15-20 minutes on a sheet pan. Having trouble finding pork belly? Check out your local Korean market. The butcher section often offers several different varieties and cuts for less than the price of normal supermarket bacon.

Saving the best for last, these pastries were crazy delicious. Both had the flaky lightness of a typical danish or croissant, it was the filling that took the flavors over the top. The black sesame was filled with black sesame paste that was nutty, rich, and very nearly savory. The sakura danish was boasted a beautiful custard and soaked cherries with that lovely spiciness that is characteristic of the sakura flavor.

Unless you're feeling adventurous in the kitchen you can try this at home by exploring your local Japanese bakery. While you may not find these exact flavors, you're sure to find some yummy treats that capture that balance between sweet and savory.

Want to recreate a luxurious breakfast in bed experience at home? Open the blinds and let in the natural light if you can! Bring in a portable table (card table, folding table, even a tv tray) and cover with white linen. Even an inexpensive white cloth will dress up the occasion. Keep the table top simple. Clean, white dishes and a simple flower arrangement are all you need to let the food shine as the focal point.

The Colors of Summer

Color has been a huge inspiration for me lately. It's no secret that color has an impact on mood. The right color can calm you down, perk you up, or even make you hungry. Take one look at my wardrobe though and you'll see that my heart normally belongs to neutrals. That's why I was surprised when a recent visit to the gardens at the Bellagio swept me off of my feet with their bold use of color. From vibrant, cheery purples to the soft contrast of white and green the conservatory was awash with the colors of summer.

Being there has reminded me of a few things. I need to have more fresh flowers in my life. Even with my black thumb I can keep a vase of flowers going for a week and their presence automatically shifts the atmosphere to a more positive one. I also need to be more adventurous in my color choices. I'm currently rocking a hot pink manicure, but I would love some more color in my wardrobe too. Finally, I was reminded (yet again) of the importance of slowing down. Walking around a garden you naturally gravitate towards taking time to stop and smell the roses, but taking that time is important during the day-to-day as well.

Pushing the Reset Button

California is my reset button. I grew up within walking distance of the beach in Santa Barbara and even though we moved away when I was young going home to visit was always a top priority. Twenty years later and this still rings true. Whenever I'm felling confused and stressed out all it takes is a day at the beach to clear my head. And that is something I've been very much in need of lately.

I've been essentially radio silent for a few months now. The silence here has been a stark contrast to the chaos of my mind. Thankfully with a vacation earlier this month, a day at the beach last week, and a whole lot of prayer I'm feeling centered again. Ready to get back to the things I love. Ready to feel that spark of passion again. Ready to find my voice. It's time. There's just something about that salty air and warm sand that reminds me of who I am.

Do you have a reset button? Somewhere that you go to clear your mind and be reminded of what's really important? I think we all need a place like that. It's far to easy to get swept up in life and look back and wonder where the year has gone.

Springtime in Las Vegas

Spring in Las Vegas is one of my favorite things about living in this city. Our winter may lack the harsh weather that plagues much of the country, but there is a certain somberness the hangs in the air that begins to lift in March. It's that brief, brief window before summer hits full force to explore. Hotels reveal their seasonal installations of flowers and butterflies. New, lighter menus make their way into restaurants across the valley. It's a fresh start.

Now that I work unconventional hours I have the opportunity to explore while much of downtown is still quiet. Tuesday mornings are particularly perfect for this. The location of interest this time around? The Venetian. In my quest to try 50 new restaurants I had set my sights on breakfast at Bouchon, and making the trek down there necessitated a stroll around one of my favorite spots in Las Vegas.

Breakfast being the first order of the day I made my way through the hotel lobby to Bouchon. Tucked away by the pool stepping into the restaurant is like stepping back in time into old Hollywood. Patterned tile, brass accents, beautiful palms. Truly a wonderful experience. Menu fare ranges from French favorites to breakfast staples with a twist. Being a french toast fanatic the choice was easy. Thinly sliced, cinnamon soaked apple layered with a bread pudding style base topped with a lightly sprinkling of powdered sugar and just the right amount of whipped cream. Delicious and definitely somewhere I would like to explore further.

Making my way back to the shops I was struck by how beautiful it was without the usual chaos of crowds. Though none of the shops were open, it was the perfect chance to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. Long corridors give way to gas lamps, an unexpected surprise, and soon-to-be on duty gondoliers practicing their opera. The sort of moment I'm hoping to have more of as I become more intentional about exploring this city.

The cherry on top of the morning? The spring installation at the Palazzo. Hanging flowers and pink blossoms against the shiny fountain backdrop. One of those sights that just made me smile.

Here's to exploring. Here's to searching out new experiences in this city that's been my backdrop for so many years now. In a meeting this week we were told that one of the keys to success is to be successful with where you're at. I think that applies to happiness too. It's so easy to grasp at happiness "if only". A different house, a different city, a different set of circumstances. We daydream about the lives we want to lead and the people we want to be. At the end of the day that's the fast track to discontent. We are where we are for a purpose and that's something I want to start embracing more.