VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part Five

The night that we had all been waiting for in Las Vegas had finally arrived - a night of "club-hopping," haha. And my oh my, was it a night (and early morning) that none of us would ever forget.




**Saturday, May 16th & Sunday, May 17th: Late Night and Early Morning, Respectively**




Before heading over to the Palms Resort & Casino (which is located off of the Vegas strip), we obviously had to get ready before going out. In my family, this usually means taking photos:



"Alright, enough photos!! Let's go already!!"



Our first stop at The Palms was The Playboy Club, since it opened much earlier than the other clubs.




Entrance to the Playboy Club...




Inside the Playboy Club. Very swanky and sophisticated.




The whole gang.




Me and my brother...




My brothers with our bunny waitress.




The man himself, Hugh Hefner.




View of the strip from the Playboy Club...




Another view of the strip. Las Vegas is seriously gorgeous at night (duh).




Before heading over to the Ghostbar nightclub, my sisters-in-law decided to get tattoos while at The Palms, at Huntington Ink.




One of my sisters-in-law, getting a tattoo. This tattoo parlor was ridiculously clean, classy, and professional - if you are going to get a tattoo, I suggest getting it there!!




Her end result = a "B" in the middle of the heart for "Billy" (my brother/her husband's name).




And here is my other sister-in-law, with basically the same tattoo design (her tattoo has a "D" in the middle of the heart for "Danny," my brother/her husband's name).




After my sisters-in-law were done getting their tattoos, and my brothers and I returned from a "wild goose-chase with a hothead/lunatic cab driver" cab ride back from our hotel over to The Palms again (to get my forgotten ID in my hotel room - this is all too long and complicated of a story/adventure to fully share, haha), it was officially time to head to Ghostbar.





"Welcome to Ghostbar."





We were all dancing, having a great time (even though the see-through glass floor was a little daunting, since we were on the 56th story of The Palms)...





...but then we found out that apparently we were not supposed to be doing that.

My dad could not stop laughing when he saw this sign, so he proceeded to photograph it.





Around 2:00am, we hopped over to the Moon Nightclub - a decision that we would all soon regret.



Inside Moon. If there were to be a fire in the club, we would all die basically. No breathing room whatsoever in this trashy club (even though it is one of the most popular nightclubs in Las Vegas...).


The only good thing about Moon was the retractable roof - pretty cool...

But between the trashy go-go dancers and crowd itself, this club was awful.



Take my advice = go to the Playboy Club, go to Ghostbar; skip Moon. Ick.

Too many nasty stories that happened at Moon, haha ;-)




Although we had planned on going to the Rain nightclub as well, we were all just too revolted by our experiences at Moon to go any further.

Considering that our bodies were still not adjusted to the 3-hour time change, we were more than ready to call it a night (err, morning) anyways.


This concluded our last night and early morning in Las Vegas. The weekend flew by!!





**Please stay tuned for Part Six of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series - last one, I promise!!**

VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part Four

**Saturday, May 16th: Late Afternoon**




Since I had some time to spare before getting ready to go out, I thought that it would be fun to film Episode 16 of VeggieGirl TV (which is 4 minutes and 18 seconds in length) while in Las Vegas.






After filming the episode, it was time to get ready for a full night (and morning) of dancing, fun, and adventures...




**Please stay tuned for Part Five of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series!!**

VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part Three

Our first night in Las Vegas was absolutely amazing - how could it get any better?

It was time for us to find out, on Day 2 of our trip.




Please read on for Part Three of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series:




**Saturday, May 16th: Morning and Afternoon**






I started my day with some raw P.B.J. Tasty Toast from the Go Raw Café. An all-raw restaurant right in Vegas that delivers?? Dream come true.




This Tasty Toast was comprised of raw almond butter & jam on sweet bread (which can be purchased from the restaurant's online store). Excellent morning fuel.

**Please excuse the out-of-focus photo!! I was hungry and did not thoroughly check my camera's settings ahead of time, haha**





My sister-in-law ordered the #18 Stra-bana Smoothie for delivery, which contained strawberries, bananas, and dates. Perfectly sweet.




My trainer back home said that I "better keep up with training while on vacation - no breaks." Tough love!! So...


... here I am warming up with the trainer at the gym (in the Palazzo, where we stayed).




About to "officially" begin our training session...



Some of you have asked about my training progress, so here is a quick glimpse at that, haha.




Awkward expression on my face, but it still shows some more of my training progress ;-)




After my training session and freshening up a bit, I was more than ready to refuel. Luckily I had pre-ordered lunch from the Go Raw Café that morning.

**Major perk of raw cuisine = you do not have to worry about the food getting cold ;-)





I ordered the Perfect Pasta, which was made up of zucchini "pasta" primavera with a blend of marinara, pesto, olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, & garlic. It was also served with Garlic Bread "Stix," (which can be purchased from their online store). An epic dish!!


**Again, I apologize for the out-of-focus photos**




After training in the morning and an afternoon filled with shopping and casino-hopping (played some slots and table games like Blackjack and Roulette), it was almost time to get ready for our big night (and eventually morning) out.

But there was one more thing that took place on Saturday afternoon...



I guess that you will just have to wait until my next post to find out more about that ;-)





**Please stay tuned for Part Four of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series!!**

VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part Two

Let us pick up where we left off, shall we?

It is time for Part Two of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series - enjoy! :




**Friday, May 15th: Our First Night in Las Vegas**





With a three-hour time difference between home and Las Vegas, we were all more than ready to leave for our dinner reservation at 4:30pm (since our bodies thought that it was 7:30pm).



Here I am in my hotel room, getting ready for our full night ahead (dinner & a show - please read on to find out more details about that).


We walked over from The Palazzo (our hotel) to The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino for dinner.




Pictured above is the Gondola Ride attraction at the hotel, which is a lot of fun (not quite like the "real thing," but still fun, haha).




We had dinner at Zeffirino in the hotel, which boasts Italian cuisine and an Old-World charm/decor.




I ordered exactly what I was craving - a generous portion of Sautéed Spinach & Mushrooms with Garlic. Filling, nourishing, and comforting.



After dinner, we spent some time browsing the shops and sites in The Venetian...




...while my brother and sister-in-law posed for photos with the Blue Man Group wax figures (although I am still not 100% sure if they really were wax... I could have sworn I saw one of the men move, haha).


Around 6:30pm (half an hour before show time!!), we walked further down the Las Vegas strip toward The Mirage Hotel, which is where we saw...




... The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil show!!


We had front row seats at the show, which made the experience and performance all that more phenomenal and captivating.



No photography was allowed in the show though, so we just took some photos in the box office/lobby area.




Me, outside of the Beatles LOVE show entrance.




The "psychedelic feel" to the lobby was just too fun!!




Another view of the lobby...



After the show, we just happened to catch the Volcano show at The Mirage (which occurs every hour of each night).




The heat was so intense from the flames (in addition to the hot nighttime temperatures outside already) and the site was simply breathtaking.




When I returned to my hotel room, I quickly noticed a surprise treat on the table (courtesy of The Palazzo) - a chilled bottle of champagne and a plateful of luscious chocolate-covered strawberries!! I shared it all with my brothers, sisters-in-law, and parents, of course :-)





After a long day of traveling, doing some shopping, seeing shows, and walking around Las Vegas, it was time to retire for the night (err, morning, at this point, haha).



Saturday was expected to be even busier than Friday was... so did it live up to our expectations??




**Please stay tuned for Part Three of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series!!**

VeggieGirl Gone Wild? : Part One

What. a. trip.


My parents, sisters-in-law, brothers, and I (all seven of us) had the time of our lives in Las Vegas this past weekend, encountering many adventures and experiences along the way.

Since I have quite an abundance of photos to share from this unforgettable trip, I will try to keep the text/details as brief as possible (sharing just enough to get the gist of each photo).





Without further ado, I bring you Part One of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series:





**Friday, May 15th: Getting to Las Vegas**






Promptly at 10:15am, my brothers, sisters-in-law, parents, and I were all officially packed and ready to embark on our journey.



We were all more than ready to begin our weekend vacation - we have been counting down the days to this trip since even before my April birthday, haha.



Posing for a family photo before boarding the plane...



My siblings getting settled in before take-off...



Me, looking happy, haha. And if you shift your gaze to the left-hand side of the photo, you will notice that the approximate length of our flight to Las Vegas was about 4 hours and 9 minutes long.



A glimpse at the pilots, in the cockpit.



Heineken = Not gluten-free...



...so my brothers enjoyed it for me instead ;-)



The bar and snack area were fully stocked with fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, salads, drinks... holy yum, for sure!!



VeggieDad enjoying his raw vegetable platter.



I even got to try a Wild Bar for the first time (the Mayan Spice flavor), courtesy of my friend Heather of the "Heather Eats Almond Butter" blog. My "no chocolate rule" went out the window fast for this epic bar. So rich, dense, and delicious.



Since it was a relatively long flight, I rocked out to some tunes on my iPod for most of the trip.



Um, crop circles?? So bizarre-looking!!



Above the clouds...



Gorgeous, no??



We have arrived at our destination!! Here I am with one of my brothers, getting off the plane.



The lobby at the Palazzo Las Vegas Resort & Hotel, which is where we all stayed.



More of the lobby...



Front desk area...


The fountains out front - such works of art!!



In the casino!! This slot machine photo is dedicated to my friend Abbie of the "Foods That Fit" blog, since she wanted me to play the Wheel of Fortune slots, haha.




Well, that all basically sums up our Friday morning and afternoon - traveling and getting to Las Vegas.




What happened next??



**Please stay tuned for Part Two of the VeggieGirl Gone Wild? blog post series!!**

Leaving You With a New Product Preview, Recipes, and a Surprise

I am officially in "summer mode" right now (despite the severe lack of sunshine where I live - I need my Vitamin D fix already!!)...


No more classes, exams, assignments... and it feels FANTASTIC :-)


I want to kick off my summer vacation with all of you; so what better way to do that then with Episode 15 of VeggieGirl TV and with more featured recipes??





First, here is the "Topics Overview List" for Episode 15 of VeggieGirl TV:


- Remember when I mentioned that my "official" 21st birthday celebration would be taking place in May?? Well, the time has come!!

Tune in to find out where I will be celebrating my 21st birthday (since I couldn't really do it when school was still in session)...



- I discovered a new "potentially holy yum" food product while shopping at Whole Foods this past week.

What could it be?? I will preview this upcoming product review.




**This episode is 4 minute and 11 seconds in length - hope that you have time to view it and enjoy!!**








And now I present to you my latest baked good creations and a recipe:




Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes


I used this recipe from the September 2008 issue of Vegetarian Times magazine, making my usual substitutions (using gluten-free flour, hempmilk, etcetera; didn't make the glaze).

These cupcakes have a mousse-like texture, rich flavor, and heavenly aroma. My parents, grandfather, siblings, nieces, nephews, Shannon, and myself (a "no chocolate" girl) absolutely loved these treats!!




Chocolate Chip Banana Bread


I received many requests from my family members to bake a loaf of banana bread; and hey, I always aim to please my best "customers," so of course I complied. Although a Chocolate Chip Banana Bread seems rather simple, it is often the simplest treats that satisfy the most.

I used this recipe for the banana bread, substituting 1.5 cups of chocolate chips into the batter in place of the peanut butter.




And now, my newest treat...





Caramel Banana Bread


I baked this banana bread variety for Heather and Mark, of the "Hangry Pants" blog. The aroma alone is enough to make anyone swoon, whether or not you are a caramel fanatic (like me) or not.

Heather presented a fabulous review of the Caramel Banana Bread on her blog, here.




VeggieGirl’s Caramel Banana Bread

(**Adapted from the Lower-Fat Banana Bread recipe in Veganomicon cookbook**)




• 3 overripe bananas

• 1/4 cup applesauce

• 1/8 cup canola oil

• 1/2 cup sugar (I used organic turbinado sugar)

• 2 teaspoons molasses (I used the Plantation brand of blackstrap molasses)

• 2 cups flour (I used Bob's Red Mill GF All Purpose Baking Flour - but any flour will do, depending on your needs)

• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1.5-2 cups caramel syrup (I used the Santa Cruz Organic brand of caramel syrup)

• Nondairy "milk" of choice, added to the batter as needed (**Note: I used Living Harvest hempmilk)



Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly coat a 9"x5" loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, thoroughly mash three of the bananas. Then, add in the applesauce, canola oil, turbinado sugar, and molasses. Mix well.

In the same bowl, add in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and caramel sauce. As the mixture starts to thicken up/combine, add as much nondairy "milk" as you need (but not too much) so that the batter is mixable.

Pour mixture into the 9"x5" loaf pan (coated generously with nonstick cooking spray).

Bake for about 48-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Makes roughly 10-12 slices/servings.







Have a glorious weekend, everyone!! I will "see" you when I return.


And of course, I would like to wish all the moms out there a very happy Mother's Day (for Sunday, May 10th). Celebrate and enjoy - you deserve it!!

Episode 14 of VeggieGirl TV: It's Time To Stop Being Polite and Start Getting Real

April came and went in the blink of an eye, proving yet again that time passes by with incredible speed. And with time fleeting so quickly, I believe that it is important to briefly reflect on the past, and prepare for the future.

This past week marked the end of the semester for me - it finally arrived!! The end of classes (as well as giving myself a break) left me with a little more time to ponder about the future and some changes that could potentially be made - especially concerning my blog.



This leads to the main topic of today's blog post and video:


You may have noticed a lack of VeggieGirl in the blogging world this past week. What's the deal, you may be wondering? Is this "blog commenting hiatus" going to continue?

Allow me to bluntly explain in Episode 14 of VeggieGirl TV (**in roughly 8 minutes and 19 seconds**)...







I encourage all readers to delurk and (respectfully) provide feedback - thank you :-)



And please, have a lovely weekend!! Spend time with your loved ones, do something fun, and simply celebrate life.