A day at The Orange County Fair

In our family it is a MUST to go to both county fairs ...Orange County and LA County. Last week a took a day off work as well as Gabe and we were off to spend a nice family day at the fair.
It was a Thursday and Kids were free and they had special ride wristbands for kids which saved us a LOT of money!

The first stop we went to was The ICE museum they had there A lot of cool sculptures

When you go in they have blankets you can wrap around you cause you basically go into a HUGE freezer that is below 0...we didn't think we would need in but a few steps in and we turned back around to grab them!

Parker liked the Mona Lisa..

There was also a really cool exhibit of food sculptures..this Bald eagle was all made out of bread!

And this was all made out of White Chocolate

We went to look at the Photography and painting next!

It was time to get started on the eating..hmmm what shall we try..believe me this place is where I wanted to stop at first

But I settled for some Australian Battered potato's with ranch and cheese sauce..Gabe had to help me finish it!

hahahahaha The corn cob bandit

We got Parker's wristband and let him go on all the rides he could..He finally for the first time was tall enough to ride the BIG bumper cars..he didn't have much trouble

Gabe lost in the carnival..we let Parker go on one more ride then bought him and Ava some dippin dots to sit at the table in the dining hall area while Gabe and I were at the counter doing a little wine tasting

Ava was overwhelmed by all the going ons

They had a funzone for the kids so we let them both go in to play They had a fun toddler area for Ava

Gabe was showing her how to do Ring Toss

Parker went up to do a banana toss..he got a ribbon!!

I played in the Fun house Mirrors

I don't know what it is but I love old circus posters

Parker got to go on a lot of rides already so I let Ava try the pony rides

Parker was about 2 when we out him on for the first time and he cried and cried

AVA LOVED IT!!!!

All the other ladies around were commenting on how much fun she was having...it was hard to get her off the pony she did not want to leave.

The aroma of all the BBQ in the air had us craving for some BBQ Beef Brisket and MAN OH MAN it was soooo good.

Afterwards time for more rides...Gabe wanted to go on with Parker on the BIG SLIDE

So you think he is diggin the slide???

Time for a foot massage....Ava liked it too!

Ava was getting fussy..time to bust out a game to win her a prize to keep he happy

I won of course...she did not let go of that purple and Neon green frog for the rest of the day...or week for that matter..she loves her frog

Parker going on more rides..the wristbands stopped at 8 so we made sure he got the most out of it.

Yeah he likes this too

Good times!~

It was getting dark so we shopped around some more after Parker was done with the rides and checked out the farm and gardens and bought a HUGE basket of chocolate covered Strawberries.

It was a fantastic day...Can't wait for the LA COUNTY FAIR NEXT!~

French Dinning!

I have a lot of catching up to do on my blog. I am going to start with something a little more recent though...Last Night!

Gabe had told me about a really good special they were having at his restaurant which was a 3 course meal for 18.00!

Yesterday we had reservations for 4!
Sean and Julia joined us and we all started off with some Champagne cocktails. I had the Chanel cocktails which was champagne with Strawberry Liquor and had some fresh sliced strawberries as the garnish, Julia I think had the French 75 which is champagne with Cognac and lemon which..it may have been called something else.

I of course had to order the Raspberry lemondrop martini too!

We all decided with a appetizer which Julia and I both never had tried and thought we would be up for trying something new...STEAMED MUSSELS..Spanish style. They were served in a pot full of a steamy saffron ,garlic and butter broth and had Spanish chorizo..I would have to say it was pretty good but I still could not get pass the look of the mussel..it grossed me out but I did eat 3!

After a salad and some sharing off of Gabe's french onion soup dinner was served. We all ofcourse order the Filet Mignon over a mash potato and fresh buttery steamed veggies all tied together with a brandy peppercorn sauce.....it was delish!

After dinner it was dessert and espresso. Well Sean and Julia got the espresso's Gabe and I opted out.

Gabe got the chocolate mousse with fresh berries and I got the floating Island. It was basically a baked meringue floating on a creamy vanilla sauce with berries and there was a very rich thin drizzling of caramel over the meringue..so delish!

We pretty much closed up the place...I just love the lighting and ambiance at this place.

Us gals waiting for the gents to use the restroom before hitting the road.

All of us. I will definitely being go back to dinner here to take advantage again of the 18.00 3 course meal special...maybe even next weekend! Bon Appetite

Ready for Take Off!!

A couple weekends ago Gabe and I were discussing how we never really ever traveled anywhere out of the country before since we been together and so it was decided..next Summer we are thinking of going to Italy for 7 days. I am meeting with a travel agent this weekend to discuss the financial plan.

We decided since we will be gone for a week we are going to take the kids as well. I think they are at good ages to travel. Ava will almost be 3 by that point.

Anyways, while we were discussing this Parker overheard the convo and said he did not want to go cause he is afraid to fly. He seems to have a phobia with planes maybe cause I have a Phobia with planes and he over hears me..who knows.
First of all he is afraid the plane will crash, then second he is afraid he may get air sick.
I actually think he would rather enjoy flying so I been thinking about trying to break his fear on a short plane trip to maybe Vegas for the weekend.

I was thinking maybe in November sometime Gabe and I and the kids just leave one Friday afternoon and spend a weekend in Vegas. There is so much for the kids to see. We can take them to see the lions at MGM, The Jousting at Ex caliber, the circus at Circus Circus etc...

Well hopefully it will work!

My Girls Getaway Desire

Last night I finally got to see the Sex and the City Movie and it got me to thinking...I am really jonesing for a Girls Getaway! Last time I had a girls getaway was I believe in June to wine country and it was seriously the greatest time even though I wish more of my gal pals came.
There is nothing like having great girlfriends to vent to, to share secrets with, to laugh with, to listen and share advice and thoughts with. It is nice to just feel free with those special gals and know that there is no judgement and in some instances we can all relate to each other. I have a few great girlfriends I can share so much with and I am so thankful for them. I share special time with my gals but to throw in a uncharted destination or even a old favorite place where we can all just be girls is the icing on the cake.
No men,kids, in laws, roommates to have to deal with ..just fun quality time with your girlfriends and that is exactly what I am dying to do

I do have a September 19th Spa girls day planned out with some very special gals coming up at Glen Ivy..which is perfect because I been wanting to go..we are just going for a day but hey that is something

I really want is a few days away with my gals with nice weather, great scenery, and of course a nice cocktail in hand..like I will take this place! Maybe even a flight to another state, or a cruise, or even Vegas. I am just ready...with the move and expenses these past couple months I have been holding a pretty tight belt but I am finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

To Cut or Not to Cut?

So my wonderful flat iron finally died so I been wearing my hair basically in a pony tail the past week. I really am having issues too with the gray hairs.
Anyway I am dying to do something with my hair and debating on cutting it again..I really would like for it to grow out. I am withholding to do anything though until I go on my New York trip....so the question is to cut or not to cut.
If I do decide to cut it I am probably going to do this..

However I am thinking about growing it out and just doing it classic pin up Betty Page style like this....

I guess I will know what to do when the time comes.

The Scorpions

This past Saturday Night Holly and I went to the Nokia to see The Scorpions.
Holly got 2 free tickets and she took me. It was quite the interesting evening equipped with heavy metal heads, lots of booze, zz top beard fondling, split drinks, rough housing, and ending up in Malibu at the end of the night.
What else would you expect from a Heavy metal concert..... I was a bit disappointed though that they did not play any of the Main stream songs that I know.
My first and probably last heavy metal concert I will probably attend..but you never know!

PDT!!!

So last time I was in New York my co workers took me for a girls night on the town in the East Village. We went and had drinks then got the beer munchies so we all walked over to Crif Dogs. It was just a total little dive hot dog place. When we were there waiting for our order of gourmet dogs and waffle fries with cheese sauce Mariette was telling me about the cool Phone booth inside.

This phone booth was secretly the entrance to this hidden Speakeasy type bar.
When you pick up the receiver a women answers the other line and if you are on THE LIST then the wall opens up on the inside to let you in the joint.

We tried to get in but they would not allow us cause the place was already booked solid with reservations. Anyway I been dying to go back to this place and one of my co workers from the NY office was down and I was telling her about the place and she knew what I was talking about exactly...it's called PDT ( Please don't Tell). Anyways on my Trip to NY we are all going to make reservations to go.

You have to call between 3 and 3:30 to get a spot reserved but the locals tell me that sometimes you can just try and get in and they will either call you when your seat is ready or you sometimes get lucky and they let you right in.
This is the outside of Crif Dogs..... you walk down the steps to get in

Once your in..it is just a regular hot dog dive with stools and a counter to eat your dogs...

Her is the entrance to the phone booth

Once inside here is the bar where the drinks are skillfully crafted with Delicious gourmet cocktails that are Built for you.

They use so many fancy ingredients..but I hear they come at a price ..rounding to 14.00 a drink!

The place is full of these really old school rat pack style booths. I hear if you are just sitting around and not having a drink they have the right to kick you out.

Here is a small photo of me last time i was in NY standing in the booth.

I so can't wait to go check this place out...I hear it is a great experience.

It has some pretty interesting reviews on yelp too.

I am already mapping out some other places to check as well....I am getting excited!