My little future Veterinarian

Life is good!

This just made my whole day ....thanks Tyler and Kaitlyn

Tony Marques Band

Last week I was at a Christmas Party and there was a great local Country Western Band playing, it made the party so much fun. Well that same band was playing at Sam's Town the other night so Greg and I went over for a glass of wine and  few hours of music. Next time they are around you should go see them, they are the Tony Marques Band.

She's ready for her close up

My beautiful granddaughter just had her very first dance recital last night.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Yesterday was our annual Beadmetaler Christmas Party and this year Ronna (bad boys bad boys) was so nice to have it at her house. First of all her house is beautiful on any given day but yesterday she had decked all the halls ...it was beautiful. As always we had so much food it wasn't even funny, chips and dips and sweets and oh yes we did have Susan's famous cheese tort and thanks to Colleen Myler we had champagne. What could be better than spending a few hours with 15 of the nicest people in the planet under one roof ...nothing. Thanks Ronna for sharing your home with us and for all the ladies who took time out at this busy time of the year. Next year ...Party at Susan's!!!



Girls just wanna have fun.


How cute are these Christmas Toes?
Can you guess who they belong to?

Ho Ho Ho .....Ha Ha Ha

It's the most wonderful time of the year .....

He knows when you've been bad or good ....so be good for goodness sake!

Uh huh ...Eagles Won 17-14

Greg and I met up with our Daughter, Johnathan and our Grandson this weekend in Laughlin then drove to Arizona for his football game. The very last game of the year and was a special game that only the teams that win in the championships get to play and they won!!! yay Kaleb, really sorry you got hurt in the game but I saw you playing so hard...great game Hernandez:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

There is so much to be thankful for but this year I am most thankful for my friend Carol who has been in the hospital for the past 6 weeks. Carol had a brain aneurysm rupture 6 weeks ago and has been pretty much in a coma but today when I went to visit her she was finally able to open her eyes and was able to talk to me a little bit, she has a long way to go but it sure felt good to see her finally awake. Carol all your jewelry buddies are pulling for you and can't wait until the day we all see you back in classes.

It's always so much fun when our son Ben and his girlfriend Julie come for a visit. It was a quick couple of days with them but they still packed in allot of activities while they were here. We looked for something on House Seats and saw the Celebrity Magician Murry up for Thursday night. Ben and Julie both watch America's got talent and this guy was a finalist last year. The show was in the Tropicana (really nice since they have renovated the place) and since he was a finalist we thought "great" lets go see that show. I was more than disappointed with his act but they all seemed like the show. I would never recommend this show to anyone when there are so many great shows here in Las Vegas. The visit went by pretty fast and even though they don't live in Hawaii anymore Ben still finds a place in San Francisco that sell manapua; a Hawaiian treat that he has been bringing me ever since he was a little boy. Thanks you guys for taking time out to visit, it's always too much fun when you come.

Best concert....EVER

Last night was a night I will never forget....I WAS IN THE 4th row of the Barbra Streisand show!!
Thanks to House Seats it was at the best concert I have ever seen or probably will ever see in my life.
Her voice is flawless, her songs are timeless and she is just one of the greatest singers of all time.
3 hours of total entertainment beginning with her alone, then she shared the stage with 3 young tenors from Italy who sang beautifully. Then she brought out Chris Botti for several songs and if that wasn't enough her son came out to sing (and yes he did get mama's talent). Towards the end of the concert her sister sang a few songs with her. All I can say is wow!! Everyone enjoyed the show, in the seat behind me was Steve Wynn, to the right of me was Frank Marino and Marie Osmond stepped on my toes and asked me to dance ...she and her manager sat right next to me. Great Great show ...Thank you a million times Bryce for calling me and inviting me to see this concert of a lifetime.

Okay This Just Cracks Me Up

Halloween

Tonight was our Halloween Party at the Senior Center where I work part time and one of our biggest supporter is Commissioner Tom Collins, he is at every single party we have. He told me that he had invited a special guest and that I would want to get my camera ready. I tell you our seniors at this center know how to have a good time. Thanks Tom for ALWAYS being the life of our parties.

Tom Collins, Wayne Newton and Kathleen Newton

So just when things were wrapping up Tom Collins and Wayne were walking out and Tom told me I needed to get over there and give Wayne a hug, his wife was so sweet to take this photo of us. It was so nice of Wayne to come out to our party, he was great and very gracious to everyone .....he even sang Danke Schoen and let some of the ladies sing with him.
Inside joke: I was reminded of our dear friend Patty cakes and her funny story about the time she and her husband went to Wayne Newton show ....I swear I didn't kiss him on the lips.

Tuachan Trip

Yes it that time again when the weather starts to cool off and the evenings are beautiful at Tuachan.
Last weekend was our annual trip to St. George Utah to take in a relaxing weekend and 2 plays at the Tuachan theater.
Friday night we went to see Aladdin, the one play I was sure I wouldn't like since I have never been a fan of cartoons or animated movies. When we first walked in they handed us 3D glasses and we made our way to our seats, the show started and as with all the productions at Tuachan the sets and costumes were beautiful. A little bit into the play the performers worked it into the dialog of the play as not to disrupt the show, the audience was instructed to put the glasses on. The 3D effects of the play was fabulous, I have never seen a live performance done in 3D. I totally enjoyed the performance even if we sat in the off and on rain.

Saturday night we drove back to Tuachan to see Hairspray. I had seen the movie and really thought this would be the one of the two I would enjoy more but to my surprise I found it a little on the boring side and much too long. Maybe I was expecting too much especially after all the special effect of Aladdin the night before. In any case the weekend was fun and relaxing, a perfect weekend getaway. I know I say this every year I return home but ...If you haven't ever been to St. George or Tuachan you must go, you will fall in love with it.

Last Weekend

So last weekend I had my good friend from California in town and we had a fun "whirlwind" visit.
Denise and I met over 30 years ago when are kids were really little ....my son was just starting kindergarten and my daughter was going into the first grade and they are now 35 & 37...whew where does the time fly? Denise and I worked together at Baxter Healthcare and lived in the same apartment building in Irvine and partied together. We have been best friends for so many years and still to this day when we see each other it is as if we are still living in the same area. Being the devout Catholic Denise is I took her to the Hilton to see the play Nunsense, she loved the show so I thought I have to give the devil his fair share and so I took her to the dark side and later that night and we ended up going to the Paris Hotel to see Anthony Cools. Okay his show was pretty raunchy but sooo funny. He is a hypnotist and if you ever want to see a great 90 min show (that feels like 20 min) go see this show. After the show we came back to the house opened and finished a bottle of wine and talked and laughed until 2 in the morning. What a great visit ...thanks Denise we have to do this more often.

8 Weeks Post Op

So it's been 8 weeks today since I had my rotator cuff surgery and I have been going to rehab 3 days a week for 6 weeks and still have several weeks to go. I am working so hard to get back to normal and helping me to do that are two people at the rehab center. This first person is Dominic my technician, she is the one who gives me heat and ice and uses this machine that helps take the pain away and she also is the one who hooks me up to the neck traction ...everything she does are the "feel good" types of therapy. Then I have Jessica the actual Physical Therapist - she is the one who makes my therapy plan, gives me all the hard painful exercises and at the end of every session she comes to me to pull and stretch my arm to the point I want to scream ...she does all the painful stuff. Last week I made them each a necklace for all the help they give to me. Thank you ladies because of you I am feeling so much better.

Off The Hook

That's what Guy Fiere said when he reviewed  one of Las Vegas's local Bulgarian restaurants. Saturday afternoon Greg and I met our friends for a feast at Forte's. George and Petra were born and raised in Bulgaria which made it an extra treat to learn about the all about the great food from their country. Everything was great ...and believe me it felt like we ordered everything on the menu.
Forte is located at 4180 S. Rainbow- if you get a chance try it out, you won't be sorry. Check out the sign above our table.

Wicked Weather

Yesterday the skies opened up and wow! standing water up to you waist in some area's and all the cars at UNLV underwater to the top of the tires. Watch this very short video full screen, this  is one I took just outside my door - you can hear and see the rushing water down my street like a fast moving river...it was really Wicked.

Seriously Wicked

Have you seen it yet? Sunday Jerry and I met at the New Smith Center of Performing Arts in Las Vegas and saw the musical Wicked. I'm sure you know the story by now and have heard that this was the time just before Dorothy dropped in on OZ. But do you know why the Wicked witch of the west was green? and do you know who her father was? and I bet you didn't know that the "good" witch and the "wicked" witch were friends and roommates in school and in love with the same boy.
The sets, the production and the performers were all out of this world. If you haven't seen it yet it will be here until Oct.7th.

#81 Rocks

Kaleb played his very first game today and his team won!! Whoo-hoo -Yay Kaleb (okay ...I'm the grandma I'm allowed to say this kind of stuff).

Where the heck does the time go? My grandson Kaleb is ready to start 6th grade and football....Go Kaleb!!...... Oh by the way 81 is my new lucky number.

Night on the Strip

How much do you love Motown music? I grew up in Huntington Beach and last night the music took me back to all the beach parties we had and all the bonfires and all the music of Motown. Last night I went out to see the show at the Imperial Palace "Human Nature" watch this short video and I know the next time you are in Vegas or if you live here in town it will make you want to see this show, I promise you will leave there singing and reminiscing just like I did.

Big and Rich...coming to your city

I had been waiting for this concert for the last few months to come to town and last night Greg and I drove to Primm to see Big and Rich. These guys have so much fun on stage that you just can't help but not have fun right along with them. They played all the great oldies and also threw in a few new ones that is on their new CD due to be out in September, and oh ...yes Cowboy Troy was there too singing his hip hop version of country. They are just one of those bands that play great music and give you 100 percent of themselves. Very fun evening out, It's so great to Live in Vegas where there is so much to do!

I'm Great Great Aunt

My beautiful niece was born Sunday August 12th at 5:05 p.m. in Portland Oregon. Her name is Presley Logan Turner and was 6 pounds 4 ounces - 19.5 inches long ...did I mention just how beautiful she is?

It's 5 0'Clock somewhere

Can you say .... Margarita cupcakes? yes of course they have fresh squeezed lime, tequila & salt
Not only that, they are filled with homemade lime curd & how fun are these chocolate guitars I made to finish each one of them off. Happy Birthday Katherine another music loving friend :)
Bottoms UP!

"I'll Be Back"

                                                                                 

About 5 years ago I started feeling some pain in my right arm/shoulder and chalked it up to beading too much, of course I didn't stop beading I just couldn't do that. I just thought ...it will get better the following week. The next week came and then the next month came and then the next year came. After a few more years of this I decided I would stop teaching so many bead classes and started teaching more metal classes to give my arm a rest but little did I know the damage was already done.
Monday I decided I needed to bite the bullet  and went in for rotator cuff surgery. The recovery time for what I had done is only about 6 weeks. I gotta tell you the recovery is painful, uncomfortable and because I am in a sling it's pretty darn inconvenient. I am really looking forward to getting back to my regular routine and classes. Thanks to all of you who have e-mailed, texted, called and sent cards of good wishes. Like I said, the recovery is painful but don't worry ....I'll Be Back!

I am...and always will be....

Source: myfotolog.tumblr.com via Connie on Pinterest

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Season Tickets On Sale Now

If you haven't already got your tickets for the next Broadway Series at the Smith Center you better hurry I have mine. You can buy tickets for just the shows your want to see -Look at all the great shows for the next season starting with Wicked in August.

2012/2013 SEASON PACKAGE

For a new subscription please call 702.749.2000.

WICKED: August 29—October 7, 2012 Anything Goes: February 5—10, 2013 Shrek the Musical: March 19—24, 2013 Billy Elliot the Musical: May 14—19, 2013

The Addams Family: November 20—25, 2012 West Side Story: February 26—March 3, 2013 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: April 16—21, 2013 Catch Me If You Can: June 18—23, 2013

Subscription prices include all eight shows:

Section:	GC	A	B	C	D
Starting:	$997	$615	$476	$290	$207

25 years and going strong

Today is our 25th Wedding Anniversary and we are 29 years strong. Marriage does take work on both parts and I am happy to say we have both done our job...Happy Anniversary honey and here is to the next 25 years together.

Whopper Cup Cakes

Do you remember how much you loved malted milkshakes when you were a kid? or how about the malted milk ball candy "Whoppers"? I just finished making these Whopper cupcakes and they are so yummy I thought I would share the recipe.

Malted Milk Ball Cake

Makes about 30

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups malted milk powder
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Chocolate Malt Buttercream (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, cocoa, sugars, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the milk and malted milk powder until the powder is dissolved.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat flour mixture, milk mixture, and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add sour cream and vanilla, and beat until just combined.

Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each halfway. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tested inserted comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cupcakes can be stores up to 3 days at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

Chocolate Malt Buttercream

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup malted milk powder
• 1/2 cup milk, plus more if necessary
• chocolate covered malt balls to garnish
• red and white striped paper straws to decorate (optional)

Beat butter, vanilla, and salt with an electric mixer until smooth. In a separate bowl, sift together sugar, cocoa powder, and malted milk powder. Gradually add sugar mixture alternatively with the milk in 3 additions. Beat until smooth, adding more milk until desired consistency is achieved. Remove frosting to a piping bag fitted with a tip of your choosing and pipe onto cupcakes. Place a malt ball on the top of each cupcake. Decorate with a striped paper straw cut to size, if desired.

Puppy Love

Happy Birthday Ardith

Last night I took my friend Ardith out for birthday dinner and a show, I decided to take her to the show called "Shades of Sinatra" thought it would be one we would both enjoy ...I love that era of music.
The show was really good but the hotel/casino was really scary, old &  dirty ....filthy dirty and just bad. It is the old Debbie Reynolds place and now the Clarion Hotel off Convention Center. The music was really good and I can't say enough about the performers ...they all were great! It's just too bad they are stuck in that dump.

Hang 10 Baby

Last week I signed up for a new service for locals called "fill a seat" and decided to give it a try so last night Greg and I went to Planet Hollywood to see the new Musical "Surf" Great sets, great dancing and really great music if you grew up at the Beach with the Beach Boy music like I did.
If you are in town or live in town try to catch this one ...you will not be disappointed only entertained.

My Dream Finally Came True ...Happy 4th

I love Instagram

I have had this new app for several weeks and just figured out how much more it can do

Smokin' Joe

My sister and brother in law are here visiting from Portland Oregon he wanted to come out to go to Boulder Blues because Smokin' Joe Kubeck was performing on Saturday night. He has been looking forward to this for months. We were the first one in line so we could get the best seats in the house. As soon as we got in and got our seats Steve decided he had to go find the restrooms, one minute after he left who comes walking in the room ...yup Smokin' Joe himself, I called him over and had him take a photo with me, my brother in law couldn't believe that he missed it. The show was great and this week has been such a fun week with them both. We took them out last night to see the Jaborwakeez at the Monte Carlo, that show is really entertaining.

Million Dollar Quartet

The Smith Center once again delivers! Last night Ronna and I went to see the story about the one and only night Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis got together for a impromptu jam session. There was so much story behind these four and their time at Sun Records...I had no idea that Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins left Sun Records on the very same day.
I know this video says "no on Broadway" but NOW ITS IN VEGAS BABY!

11 years ago today

Rest in Peace Mom

My little graduate

I can't believe how time flies, it just seems not that long ago that Kaitlyn was born and now here she is getting ready to start her first year of school. The pre-school she goes to had a cap and gown graduation this week...I know she IS my grand daughter but you got to agree...she is a beauty!

 

You Gotta Go

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts has just recently opened here in Las Vegas and I have been lucky enough to have been invited to go to the first 2 plays of this seasons Broadway Series. My friend Ronna bought season tickets for this seasons performances and we have been to see The Color Purple and just this past weekend we Saw Mary Poppins. The venue is over the top beautiful and these photos really don't show just how beautiful this place really is. This photo is what you see  when you first walk into the building just past the lobby. All 5 floors of the center  have their own bars, large comfortable seating areas, and balcony's (except for this floor of course). The grounds around the area is spectacular with lots of Art all around. It's amazing that we have something this special right here in Las Vegas. I know I know we have all the shows on the strip and they are great but nothing is better than the experience of going out to "The Theater".
Season tickets for this season are already gone but I have just bought my season tickets for next season ...8 great shows!

Thank you so much Ronna for sharing this with me!

This is the view from our seats!

Happy Birthday Robert Zimmerman

Born Robert Zimmerman AKA Bob Dylan is 71 years old today...can't believe that. 
I grew up listening to Bob Dylan and I must own most all his music. Love all his music and it brings me back to my younger, wilder days.
Happy Birthday Bob ...thanks for the great music

Congratulations

A congratulatons shout out to our grandson Willie who just graduation from Kailua High School ...watch out world he is out there now!

Happy Mother's Day

Missing my own mother today, Happy Mother's Day!

Art and Elegance

I just got back from a quick 4 day trip to Portland Oregon for some sister time and Art and Elegance. This is a large show at the Portland Convention Center where all the local artists and all the different Art Guilds come together. It is free to the public and there are all sorts of different types of art to see and buy.

We had our booth in the Bead Society Guild, my sister has a gift for making the most beautiful displays which really set our booth apart from all the others.

Long long days but good people watching, Portland has this saying "Help keep Portland Weird"

If you have ever been there you would understand why!

The last day we were there I saw this sign that said "Demos" when I looked at the table I saw a purple Hydraulic Press and just knew .....it was a girl who's blog I follow. She was so nice to walk me through the Hydraulic Press process and let me make a bracelet, thanks Mellisa. I just bought a book on Hydraulic Presses about a month ago to study up on them to see if I really need to spend the money for one ...after this weekend I think the answer is YES!

We had 3 tables full of beautiful displays to show off our jewelry

We had a good mix of jewelry between the two of us.

Long days, don't think I could do this with any one but my sister, thanks Dennie

Earth Day 2012

Turn the music off on the right side of my blog and get ready for "beautiful music"

OMG

A friend of mine sent me this video, she and I both watch the live eagle cams ....who knew??

ASD Show, Glass Show and just plain fun!

Last Wednesday my sister Dennie from Portland and my cousin Sharon from Spokane Washington arrived in Las Vegas just in time to take in the ASD gift and jewelry show at the convention center and the Glass Expo at the Southpoint Hotel. The ASD show was so packed that all the parking lots at the convention center were full so we ended up parking at the Venetian and taking the shuttle to the show which worked out great since we had already decided to have dinner there at the end of the day.This show is really really big and the last day is pretty much cash and carry and you can get some pretty great deals. 

Thursday we decided to hang out in the studio during the day and work on some projects since we were going out that evening. We invited 1/2 of the original posse to join up with us at the Golden Nugget for the Country Superstar show but sadly they declined. We ended up eating dinner at the Italian restaurant The Grotto and then headed up to the show room. This was the second time I have seen this show and it was just as good this time as it was the first time I saw it in Feb.

Friday morning we are off to the Southpoint to spend the day at the Glass Expo. I think it was the first time I have gone to that show just to shop, I normally work at the Art Clay World Booth. We all  were able to find some goodies to take home to incorporate into some future projects.

Sharon had a flight out Saturday morning and I had a private class to teach that day, so we said our goodbyes and I don't think Sharon was too excited to get back to the cold weather.

After all the running around the last few days Dennie and I decided to have a "La-Dee-DahDay" relax and have breakfast with Jackie to catch up on whats been going on with her.

Isn't it strange how fast days pass when you are having so much fun?

Summer is just around the corner

Last night Greg and I went to the Grand Opening ceremony for the new Hollywood Aquatic Park that is just about 2 minutes from our house. It is really a nice facility on this channel 5 video they are only showing the out door area but there is also a HUGE indoor lap pool as well. The indoor pool is already open to the public and the out door pool will be open sometime in May.

Happy St.Patricks Day!

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn

Yesterday was my Granddaughter's 5th birthday, I know I'm her grandma but dang...she is so darn cute
This year she is a cheerleader and her mom sent me photos late last night, I love that it was done in black and white.

Yee-Haw ....Too Much Fun!

Okay so last week I started taking line dancing classes and I forgot just how much fun it was and what great exercise it can be .....I guess I will be ordering the WII Line Dance this week.

Happy Birthday Sylvia

I know I haven't posted for awhile but scroll down to see what has been going on this past week.
I just want to send  "Happy Birthday" wishes to one of the finest people I know. Happy Birthday Silvia! Thank you for spending your birthday with us this year and thank you especially for sharing your world with me for the past 20 years.

My Company has left but the Posse is back!

OMG last night I got tickets for the Lenny Kravitz concert at the MGM Garden Arena how cool is that?
The posse is back, me, Jackie, Tanya and Erin got the treat of the year with this concert.
The show was so great with lots of surprises! Lenny first came out and said he had just gotten back into the country and was going to make this show about family and friends. He sang the first 2 songs, "Come On Get It" and then he sang American Woman". For the next song he said he had a high school friend with him who was going to come on stage to play with him.. it was Slash from Guns & Roses and they played "Always on the Run"-the crowd went wild!!! what a treat. A little bit later he announced he has a friend who just had a birthday and wanted us to sing Happy Birthday to him, walking out on stage with assistance was Muhammad Ali and Quincy Jones who sat on stage while Lenny sang "Black and White America". Saturday was Muhammad's 70th birthday and they had a huge party at the MGM for him.
The remainder of the show was just fantastic - great music and energy and just when you thought it was almost over ....drum roll.....Joe Perry from Aerosmith comes out to play "Are You Going My Way" with Lenny, It doesn't get much better than that (well okay if Steven Tyler had been there then maybe). This was like 3 concerts in one. How lucky were we?