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Sitting on the Dock of the Bay: Tarpon Springs’ Sponge Docks

28 Nov

Have you ever just woke up in the morning and decided to do something completely different with the day? Well, that happened to me over the weekend. PoppaNut and I woke up and we decided to just spend the day doing something completely different.

We picked the Tarpon Springs’ Sponge Docks as our final destination. I have never spent time down there, but it has always been a spot on my list. With the warm weather outside, we hopped in the Jeep and took off.

When we got there, I realized I forgot to bring my camera. Dang it! What kind of blogger leaves her camera at home when she visits a perfect blogging destination. This one I guess! Luckily, PoppaNut brought his camera, so I was able to still get these great photos to share!

We headed to a great little restaurant that had a bakery attached right to it! If I hadn’t been eating leftover apple pie for two days, this would have been heaven. But I managed to just stick to lunch on this trip. With the sangria and Greek food flowing, we ate until we were stuffed … and then we even ate some more. It was delicious!

Next up: visiting some of the little shops along the Sponge Docks. We didn’t find anything we wanted to buy, but it was nice spending the afternoon along the water with PoppaNut. We even enjoyed the Christmas decorations that they had up!

And that’s life in a nutshell … sometimes you just have to wake up and do something different. Help support your local businesses by visiting a little treasure near your home. And be sure to tell me where your favorite local find is! I would love to review it for a future blog.

MommaNut

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Thanksgiving Baking: Homemade Apple Pie

27 Nov

Ever since I got an electric mixer for my birthday a few years back, I have loved baking. I make peanut-butter pie quite a bit, and I recently made cupcakes for Halloween. So, when it came to Thanksgiving baking, I knew the desserts would be in my court.

So, I commissioned my aunt Debbie to set me up for a baking challenge: homemade apple pie. Debbie’s apple pie is literally famous in our family. Normally, she has to make about five at a time to keep up with the demands. With my nephew Josh by my side, we took on the famous recipe, adding a few special touches of our own along the way.

I texted Debbie several times along the way with needed direction like “Is this really the right amount of cinnamon” and “How does the crust look.” All and all, I think the end product spoke for itself: four men in complete silence eating homemade apple pie with French vanilla ice cream on top during Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m including the recipe below, along with the recipe for peanut-butter pie! Enjoy baking up these favorite for your family. I know it really made Thanksgiving dinner for me … along with the delicious spread my father-in-law and nephew made. The turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green-bean casserole has been haunting my dreams ever since.

Debbie’s Apple Pie

Peel and core 7­–8 Gala apples; then slice them into thin slices and place into a bowl

Add about 1 cup sugar 

Add about 1/4 cup cinnamon

Add about 2 tablespoons flour 

Stir until all apples are coated

Put apples in to a deep-dish pie crust. Just buy the frozen kind. Pet Ritz is the best. Place 3 or 4 chucks of butter randomly on top of the apples. Please another regular pie crust upside down on the top. Crimp the edges to seal the pie crusts together. Cut decorative slits in the top crust to vent. We used a cookie cutter to make leaf cuts on the top. Brush the top crust lightly with melted butter and sprinkle with a little sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Leave it longer if you like it a little crispy. To ensure the apples are done, stick a fork in it and make sure they are soft.  If not leave it for another 15 to 20 minutes.  

 MommaNut’s Peanut-Butter Pie

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup sugar

8 ounces cream cheese

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 cup 4x powdered sugar

1 graham-cracker crust

Whip cream with sugar until fluffy. Mix all other ingredients in a big electric mixer until smooth. Mix in whipped cream. Pour mix into the crust, and chill for several hours. Garnish with chocolate bits.

And that’s life in a nutshell … my favorite part of baking isn’t the final creation; it’s spending time with my family while we enjoy each and every bite of life.

MommaNut

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Gobble Gobble: Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

24 Nov

It’s Turkey Day, and I wanted to wish all of you a very special Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Thanksgiving is that time to reflect on your life and take pleasure in the little things that are so wonderful. It’s also an important time to test your tummy capacity and your napping skills. And I hope to accomplish all of these things today.

I’ll start with the warm, fuzzy sentiments with my “MommaNut Is Grateful For” list. So, put the apple pie in the oven, place the gravy on the warmer and sit on down to enjoy!

MommaNut Is Grateful For

  • Having the most amazing husband in the whole world who can’t wait to spend the rest of his life right by my side, even when I’m not the easiest person to live with
  • The sweet kisses I get from Peanut and Cashew after a long day at work
  • Our thoughtful, supportive family and friends who love PoppaNut and I very much
  • Having a job that I love, where I feel rewarded by my work and respected
  • Documenting my life through this blog, which always me to walk down memory lane any time I feel like it
  • Living in Oldsmar, a town I have grown to love where everyone seems to know your name
  • My Way Fitness, because I have been able to watch PoppaNut achieve some of his greatest dreams, and I can’t wait to be along to watch the rest come true
  • All the recipes my family has shared with me, because it has ignited a new passion for in cooking and baking
  • Turning 30 this year, because I know the best is yet to come
  • Scrabble, a game that PoppaNut and I like to play a few times a week
  • Sunday runs near the water, where PoppaNut and I talk about your future
  • Delicious homemade sauce that I could literally drink by the jar (I know that sounds disgusting, but you can’t judge until you try the sauce. I count down every week for it!)
  • Being able to find time to read again, even if it is while I’m on the treadmill
  • Working out, because I’m feeling better than I have in a long time
  • Long naps in the afternoon with just the hum of the dryer in the background
  • Visiting our neighbor vendor for our Halloween pumpkins and Christmas tree, which we will be picking up tomorrow
  • That the Yankees Spring Training will be here soon, because PoppaNut will be so happy
  • Having a walk-in closet filled with more shoes than my little heart could have ever dreamed of

And the best part is that this list could go on and on and on because I have so many things to be thankful for. I’m the luckiest girl in the world, and I never want to take that for granted. I hope you won’t either, so make a list for yourself. What are you really thankful for? Think of that list today as you see your family and friends. Hug each of them a little tighter and say “I love you” more often.

And that’s life in a nutshell … Thanksgiving is really about recognizing what you have in your life and being thankful for it. The food is just a bonus.

MommaNut

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Yum Yum: Making Cupcake Pops

7 Nov

So, you all know I’m knocking on death’s door with this bronchitis. I am been so under the weather that PoppaNut and I haven’t been able to do much of anything (unless you count my snoring and drooling as a hobby). So, I reached out to my very talented sister for today’s post.

My sister is really incredible. She has five kids, ages 16 to 2, and she managed to care for all of them while putting herself through school. I know I often say how busy I am, but I literally have no idea how she makes it through her week. I would need one massive app to keep me together!

And on top of that, she is a kindergarten teacher! So, on top of spending her time with her kids, she helps teach kids all day long as well. And teachers have limited resources! You wouldn’t believe all the things she has to buy herself just because she is so passionate about helping her students.

And all of that … among a lot of other things … is why I’m so proud to have her as my sister. She always tells me the truth, she steers me in the right direction when I need guidance and she is a true friend to me!

Well, somehow my dear sister found four spare hours in a day … I have no idea how this is possible. I have a hubby and two dogs and I can’t find time to go to the bathroom alone! But this superwoman somehow made it possible so she could make Cake Pops with her daughter for several classrooms at school. Yeah, I need to give back more to charity because I’m feeling very guilty at the moment.

I wanted to share the recipe and a fun photo! WARNING: My sister says this takes a LOT of time and patience. If you don’t have that, I would suggest forwarding the recipe to someone who does and then sampling what they make. The recipe originally came from Family Circle, and my sister told me to tell everyone about this website as well: www.bakerella.com. Enjoy!

Basic Cake Pops

1 box cake mix
13x9x2″ cake pan
Large mixing bowl
1 container (16 oz ) prepared frosting
Large metal spoon
Wax paper
2 baking sheets
Plastic wrap
Black edible ink pen

1. Bake cake as directed on box, using the cake pan. It is best to bake the cake the day prior to decorating the cake pops.

2. Once cake is cooled, get organized with all supplies, and set aside an hour to crumble, roll, and dip 4 dozen cake pops. (It took me approximately 3-4 hours all together.)

3. Crumble cooled cake into a large mixing bowl. Cut it into four equal parts. Remove one section and break it in half, rubbing the two pieces together over a large bowl making sure to crumble it completely. You can also use a fork to break it up. Repeat with each section of the cake. There should be no large pieces of the cake left.

4. Add 3/4 (I added a little less than that) of the container of frosting to the crumbled cake. Use the back of a metal spoon to blend. You do not need the remaining frosting.

5. The mixture should be moist enough to roll into 1 1/2″balls and still hold a round shape. After rolling by hand, place them on a wax paper-covered baking sheet.

6. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours in the fridge, or place in the freezer for 15 minutes. You want them to get firm, but not frozen.

Pirate Cake Pops

48 uncoated Basic Cake Pops
48oz (3 pounds) white candy coating
2 deep, microwave safe plastic bowls
48 paper lollipop sticks
Styrofoam block
24 ounces red candy coating
About 15 white confetti sprinkles per cake pop
Toothpicks
48 red M&M’s minis
48 red jumbo heart sprinkles
Black edible-ink pen

1. Have the cake balls chilled.

2. Melt the white candy coating in a microwave safe plastic bowl, following the instructions on the package. The coating should be about 3″ deep for easier dipping. (Work with about 16oz of candy at a time.)

3. When you are ready to dip, remove a few cake balls at a time from the fridge, keeping the rest chilled.

4. One at a time, dip about 1/2″ of the tip of a lollipop stick into the melted candy coating, and insert the stick straight into a cake ball, pushing it no more than halfway through. Dip the cake pop into the melting coating, and tap off any excess coating: Hold the pop over the bowl in one hand, and tap your wrist gently with your other hand. (If you use the hand holding the cake pop to shake off the excess coating, the force of the movement will be too strong and could cause the cake pop to fall off the lollipop stick. Tapping the wrist holding the cake pop absorbs some of the impact.) The excess coating will fall off, but you will need to rotate the lollipop stick so the coating doesn’t build up on one side, making it too heavy on that side. If too much coating starts to build up at the base of the stick, simply use your finger to wipe it off, spinning the lollipop stick at the same time. This can happen if the coating is too thin or too hot. It’s not as hard as it sounds; it just takes a little practice.

5. Let dry completely in a Styrofoam block. (Pre-puncture holes in the block prior to getting started).

6. For the bandannas, melt the red candy coating in the second microwave safe bowl and dip the top half of each cake pop into it, holding the pop at a diagonal angle. Before the red candy coating sets, place miniature white confetti sprinkles randomly on the top. You can also attach after the coating dries by using a toothpick to dot on coating and then attaching the sprinkles.

7. Let dry completely in the Styrofoam block.

8. To finish the bandannas, use a toothpick to dab a little red candy coating to one side of the pop, and attach a red M&Ms mini. Hold it in place until the candy coating sets like glue. Use the same technique to attach a jumbo heart sprinkle, with the pointed end toward the cake pop, for the final touch, and let dry.

9. For the faces, use a black edible ink pen to draw on eyes, patches, and mouths. Let dry completely. (I tried to use the edible ink pen, but it was a fine tip and would not write on the candy coating, so I had to use melted chocolate chips and draw each face on using a toothpick.)

And that’s life in a nutshell … or perhaps a cake pop this time.

MommaNut

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I’m Sick: 10 Tips for Your Caregiver

4 Nov

So, I’m terribly sick with bronchitis, and I’m lucky enough to have the best caregiver in the world: My hubby! He is literally waiting on me hand and foot, and I thought I would share a few tricks of how to take care of a sick person … from the sick person that I am right now!

1. Gifts: This one worked really well when I was a little girl. Whenever I was sick, my parents would drop me off at home while they ran to the pharmacy to pick up my medicine. When they came home, they always brought me a book or a magazine to help me past the time. My favorite was when they would bring me paper-doll books like this one. It is a fond memory I still hold dear to my heart. Try it out for yourself!

2. Lies: While it is not good to tell lies, a sick person wants to hear all kinds of lies. They want to hear, “Yeah, you really do sound like you are getting better” and “You still look so beautiful, honey.” Now, we both know I look like death, but the lie somehow makes me feel better about not showering in two days and not brushing my hair for even longer. So, bring on all the good lies. I’ll forgive you!

3. Force: Yes, excessive force might be needed to make me stay in bed at all times. I’m a usually a really busy woman and it is hard for me to sit back and rest, even though I know my body needs that. I really appreciate my hubby for this one, because he has literally made me sit down and rest. And I need that!

4. Food: Us sick people need food, but we hardly have the strength to make it. I wanted to make sloppy joe’s for PoppaNut last night to show him how grateful I am for everything he has done, but after a seven-hour nap from my medicine coma, I just didn’t have the strength. Luckily, he brought me home Publix subs instead. And this morning, he is bringing me a bagel. He also made me the most amazing hot tea. Keep the food right on coming …

5. Entertainment: So while I’m quite entertaining all drugged up on medicine, I’m not the entertainment I’m referring to. We need entertainment we like to keep our eyes open for the precious few minutes in between naps. And for me, that lots of girl shows! In between rests, I have been catching up on my “Real Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” episodes just to name a few. It really does help.

6. Affection: And even when I’m coughing up a lung, I’m craving affection like no other. I have turned into this very needy sick person, just wanting to be close to PoppaNut every second. It’s not that he can physically do anything to help me get better, but having him hold my hand while I doze off on the couch seems to make all the difference.

7. Phone Calls: I love the phone calls and texts I have received from everyone who loves me so much. I’m in this sick sphere where getting better is the only thing that matters, but I love hearing from people outside the sphere too! My sister gave me a nice call all the other day, and PoppaNut texts me throughout the day too. My mom called during my seven-hour nap and I’m sure I scared her to death with my groggy nonsense. But I do appreciate it!

Now, I know I promised you ten tips, but my medicine has kicked back in and I need to lay down. So, you are on your own to get creative with the rest.

And that’s life in a nutshell … being sick lets you see just how much you have to live for thanks to the loved ones around you. PoppaNut, you have been amazing and I am forever grateful! I love you so much.

MommaNut

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“Winning”: Halloween 2011

31 Oct

PoppaNut and I have always been a fan of “Two and a Half Men,” and we have always loved watching Charlie Sheen. The best part was that his real life was quite often like the character he played in the show. So, when the real Charlie went through his very public breakdown, PoppaNut and I knew we had to dress up as him and his goddess for Halloween.

And that’s exactly what we did. We found a “Tiger Blood” shirt off Amazon.com and added a few accessories from Spirit to make PoppaNut’s costume. Mine was a little tougher … I went into the Body Shop to find a trashy dress and a ton of bling accessories. And I cut up a wig in order to make my long, blond hair extensions.

In the end, I think our costumes turned out quite good. PoppaNut put a little flour under his nose to complete the Charlie Sheen costume, and we were ready to head to Jami’s house.

Jami always throws an amazing Halloween party. And this year was no different. In fact, she made a large tree in her living room, out of wood and crafting supplies, and she built a graveyard at its base. She covered her large fish tank as well with decorations. It was really unbelievable. The fog machine added a little haunting element to it, too.  

To finish it off, she had a ton of spooky Halloween treats to keep us nibbling all evening. Everyone was dressed to the hills, and we had the best time with all of our friends!

And that’s life in a nutshell … PoppaNut and I were “winning” this weekend in our hysterical outfits. I think you’ll agree! Happy Halloween to everyone!

MommaNut

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Sundays Are for Sauce

28 Oct

PoppaNut often tells me stories about his childhood. And one of his favorite memories is Sundays at his mom’s house. His mom would make sauce all day long, while Anthony watched football.

For those of you who are not Italian, let me explain this sauce concept. Before I met PoppaNut, I bought my marinara sauce in a bottle on the grocery-store shelf. And honestly, I never considered another option.

Well, that changed when I attended my first Christmas party at PoppaNut’s father’s home. My father-in-law made the most amazing marinara sauce (just called “sauce” by Italians) I had ever tasted. And still now, his vodka sauce haunts my dreams! I literally count down until I can have another bowl! So, that is when I first learned about “sauce.”

 This homemade marinara requires a skilled chef to execute. There are secret recipes and hidden ingredients, and I certainly haven’t mastered this art. I have tried, but I know I just don’t make sauce like my in-laws.

 

When my mother-in-law was in town last, I tried to spy on her and watch how she made it. She slowly stirs the sauce all day, carefully tasting it along the way. But try as I may, I still can’t master it when she leaves.

Luckily, PoppaNut has taken mercy on me, and taken his hand at making the sauce. And it is unbelievable! He tends to it the same way his mother does, so carefully and skillfully. He takes such pride in every pot he makes, and he loves to see me light up when I take the first bite.

 

So, every Sunday, PoppaNut carries on his family’s tradition of serving pasta with homemade sauce. It’s a wonderful tradition that we can incorporate into our home, and it makes us feel closer to his family as well. Plus, it allows me to stick with what I do best … making dessert!

And that’s life in a nutshell … while your extended family might not live right down the street, you can find ways to incorporate their traditions into your family.

MommaNut

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Guinness Cupcakes

24 Oct

Yes, I did title this blog correctly. I’m talking about Guinness cupcakes today. I had sampled these little luxuries some time ago, from a dear coworker. Well, I decided it was time to bake something for Halloween … and what could be more frightening than combining liquor with baked goods. So, I added it to my weekend list and I got started.

First, I needed all things cupcake to get started. PoppaNut and I headed to my favorite place on earth: Home Goods. I found this amazing cupcake display. Plus, I found a package of Halloween cupcake papers and decorations for $5. And I just know that these little extras will make all the difference in the final display.

I lay out all my ingredients and I get to work making the Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish Cream frosting! To die for!!!

Ingredients:  

For the cupcakes:

•1 cup Guinness beer

•2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup)

•3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

•2 cups all-purpose flour

•2 cups sugar

•1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

•3/4 teaspoon salt

•2 large eggs

•1/2 cup sour cream

 

 

For the Frosting:

•1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)

•4 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted (to remove lumps)

•5 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream (or to your taste)

 

Preparation:

•Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line two cupcake pans with 24 cupcake liners.

•Combine the butter and Guinness in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts.  Add cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.  Remove from heat and set aside.

•Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Mix together with a whisk.  In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the eggs and sour cream.  Beat just until combined.  Add the beer mixture to the eggs and beat again, just until combined.  Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until combined.  

•Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full with batter.  Bake for 17-20 minutes at 350 degrees until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.  

•To make the frosting:  Place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar to the bowl and continue beating until completely incorporated.  Add the Bailey’s and mix until smooth, adding more if necessary to get the desired consistency for frosting.  Frost the cupcakes as desired.  

Once I was done, I added sprinkles and decorations from Home Goods, and placed them on the display tray I found. I have to say, they didn’t last long. Once PoppaNut got a hold of them, they basically disappeared! But, I’m so glad he loved them and I actually really enjoyed making these little treats for Halloween. Perhaps this is a new family tradition!

And that’s life in a nutshell … Guinness can really go with cocoa … if you have the right recipe to pull them all together.

MommaNut

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Serving as Maid of Honor

17 Oct

My cousin Ashley has officially walked down the aisle, and I have officially served as a maid of honor. Most of you have read along as we conquered the bridal party and bachelorette gathering. And since most of you attended the wedding, I’m not going to run down every little part. Instead, I’m going to tell you what you didn’t know from attending. This is the behind-the-scenes recap of the weekend’s festivities.

No. 1: Where’s the Marriage Certificate … So, Ashley learned you can’t get married without your marriage certificate. When the bride and groom showed up without it at the rehearsal, they were sent home on a scavenger hunt. As Ashley destroyed her apartment, she found the certificate in an unlikely place: under a huge case of bottled water. But, she found it and arrived back to the rehearsal in time to do two run-throughs.

No. 2: I’m No Martha Stewart … I made Ashley’s fake bouquet with ribbons from her bridal shower. Well, as everyone found out, I’m no Martha Stewart. As Ashley and Randy rehearsed, ribbons fell right off the paper plate holding them. I monkeyed around with it for a while before throwing in the towel. At least it looked pretty when we arrived!

No. 3: We Love Our Gift Bags … the bridal party received from nice loot from being a part of Ashley and Randy’s big day. Bridesmaids received cozy slippers, chocolate, popcorn, a bottle of wine (Ashley’s favorite kind) and the movie “Bridesmaids.” It was all in bags with our names on them! Sounds like a perfect Saturday night recovery bag. The guys got a nice engraved flask with a bottle of liquor. It was so thoughtful!

No. 4: Surprise, There is a Limo … Ashley had no idea that a limo was picking us up at her mom’s house and take us to the venue. We put Bryan to work, making him change the radio stations each time a commercial came on. We took a lot of photos, and Kaylee loved it as well. It was a fun time!

No. 5: Google Comes in Handy … So, you never know when you might need to consult Google for a little added direction. That was the case when we didn’t know which side you pin the flowers for a corsage and for a boutonniere. Thank god Google knows and was able to advise us as Ashley pinned flowers on our grandmother’s jacket.

No. 6: Oh Say Can You See … Everyone can get a little emotional at a wedding. And that certainly happened with the bride’s father saw her for the first time. But, the bride had a trick up her sleeve. She heard if you sing the Star Spangled Banner in your head, it keeps you from crying. Needless to say, we were all singing by the end of the night.

No. 7: Speeches Are Hard … As MOH, there came a time when I had to stand up to give my speech. Man, that was so much harder than I thought it would be. I managed to make people laugh and cry during mine … which I think means that it went really well. It was my few minutes to tell the bride how amazing she is, how happy I am to have so many wonderful memories with her, and how I can’t imagine my life without her. It was also my time to tell her how happy I was for her. I certainly got choked up! Now, if only I would have remembered that nifty trick.

No. 8: That Cake-Topper Is Heavy … The cake cutting went without a hitch. But what you don’t know (and I don’t think the bride knows this either) is that the cake vendor was having a terrible time getting the topper to stay put. It kept falling over while we were setting up for the wedding. My sister and I were standing by when it toppled off at one point. With the bride far away, I alerted the bride’s mom, who quickly got it handled. Way to go, Debbie!

No. 9: I Almost Had a Janet Jackson Moment … Yes, it is true. The top of my dress was nearly ripped off by the end of the reception. First, it started to break when I picked up Madison and walked her down the aisle. Then, as I was dancing my little tail feather off, it ripped again. Luckily, Tammy had a handy safety-pin and I managed to keep everything held together.

No. 10: Bring on the After-Party … Bar Orlando hosted one amazing happy hour after the event. With tequila flowing and a steady amount of guests, this party kept going til 4 a.m. We were quite the party animals!

And that’s life in a nutshell … Being Ashley’s maid of honor was certainly an HONOR and I’ll cherish the memories of that night for the rest of my life. Congrats again to Ashley and Randy. I love you!

MommaNut

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Here Comes the Bride at the Casino

11 Oct

As you all know, I’m prepping for my big role as the MOH (Maid of Honor) for my dear cousin Ashley. And as customary, that calls for a bachelorette party.

Location: Hard Rock Casino. Date: Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. Who: Everyone in the Tampa Bay Area, but Especially the Bride and Groom. What: A Night of Crazy Times and Even Crazier Memories. In fact, it felt like being in the “Hangover” without Mike Tyson being in attendance.

Let’s start at the very beginning … when we had no clue what we were in for. PoppaNut and I arrived at Ashley and Randy’s place, and a town car arrived shortly after. I gave Ashley a little bachelorette gift to kick off the night, a gift bag with Patron, a bridal sash and two bride/groom shot glasses that can worn around the neck. “Dress the bride up so everyone knows it is her night … CHECK!”

When we arrived at the Hard Rock, we headed straight to Council Oak to see the Pinkhams perform live. Terri gave a shout out to the young couple, and we had a few glasses of wine while the party began. “Get the bride feeling good before dinner … CHECK!”

Next, it was time to get everyone some food … cause there is no way you can continue to party all night when you start at 7 p.m. without some major carbs. So, carbs we ate! the Hard Rock Cafe played host to our late-night meal.  “Get the bride to eat some food before the party continues … CHECK!”

And after a full meal, you can work up quite a thirst. It was time to head to the center bar for what else … TEQUILA! Are you noticing a trend in my blog lately?? So, tequila shots for the whole group. “Bring hot sauce/tequila/orange slice amazement to the bridal party … CHECK!”

In our very sober state of mind, we were ready to lose some money. The boys played roulette (or poker … no one can seem to remember!!) with a trilingual dealer and us girls headed to the dance floor. By the way, I won $60 earlier in the night on some Finding Nemo slot machine. “Win some money … CHECK!” We all regrouped and continue to dance until my feet literally felt like they were bleeding. But I can’t complain … it was well worth the pain!

Around 2 a.m. PoppaNut and I took our old asses home to bed. The party continued after we left, but that was about all we could handle. With PoppaNut dozing off in my lap on the raining town-car ride back to Ashley’s home, I thought about what an amazing night it was. I thought about all the fun times Ashley and I have spent together over the course of her whole life and it made me smile.

And that’s life in a nutshell … while you  might think heading to the casino for a bachelor/bachelorette party might be a gamble, you’ll be surprised at how much you actually win in the end … with rich memories and luxurious fun!

MommaNut

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