Ramble On

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Smelly Danielly

Word up my Hombres.

Last weekend was crazy good, weather wise. You know how every time a long weekend rolls around here in the expensive city of Vancouver it is usually horrible and filled with rain? Well this past weekend was AMAZING. It kept making me think it was actually June and not March and I kept freaking out that our yard looks like crap and I have no flowers planted and we have no patio set and then Chad reminded me that we are barely into Spring so I should probably relax. Although, that didn’t stop him from buying us a patio set off of craigslist on Monday.

I am getting antsy and I want to start working on the garden; expect to do that you need money and some sort of knowledge about gardening. I currently have neither. Although I have been informed about the annual Kwantlen Plant Sale is taking place on the 27th, so hopefully by then I will have some money and some knowledge.

We were very productive on the weekend, finishing up 95% of all the renovation stuff we had left. It felt really good to do that. All that’s left to do is some paint touch ups which we should be able to tackle this weekend. Since last week I ignored life in order to finish the tile disaster I have had to catch up on a lot this week, like 45 loads of laundry and the most disgusting bathrooms of all time. We have the parentals coming for dinner on the 14th and 21st so everything and I mean EVERYTHING needs to be ready to go for then. If I don’t set deadlines things will never get done.

In other news, after talking about it for 3 years, I finally got new prescription sunglasses. My hipster transformation is underway.

Also, it’s like I’m going old school these days with none of my posts have a real point anymore expect for me rambling on about random things. I guess when you are busy, all you do is ramble.

You Gotta Eat Here!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Smelly Danielly

Last week, out of the blue, I received a message from Via Tevere asking me if I would be available to do an on camera interview for a TV show they were filming for the Food Network on the weekend. Whats that? You want to film ME for a show on the FOOD NETWORK!?!?

Turns out John Catucci was in town filming an episode of You Gotta Eat Here! at Via Tevere and they needed some on camera testimonials about how tasty their pizza is. I was more than thrilled that they asked me to be a part of the production. This was definitely an opportunity I needed to seize!

I was welcomed to bring a guest so Chad and I headed down to East Van for my 4:30 shooting time. I was given instructions, miked up and waited for my pizza to arrive while other people were being interviewed. The owners were very gracious and gave Chad and I complimentary pizzas and anything else we wanted to have. If we didn’t have to run to Casa Ciavarro for dinner we would have spent all evening there enjoying yourself and taking in all the excitement.

I was a little nervous about the interview. I had an idea of what kind of questions I was going to be asked but I always find I get stuck when describing dishes that I love and just end up saying they are amazing 100 times in a row (you’ve probably noticed that when reading this blog). John was super friendly and our interview had great energy though. I think I did OK but I hate seeing myself on camera (one of the reasons we never got our wedding filmed) so we’ll see what it looks like when the episode finally airs. Plus, they filmed for 2 days so who knows how much of my interview will make it on the air, if at all!

Overall, it was a great experience. I never thought in a million years I would be on the Food Network. Well, I guess I technically haven’t made it quite yet, but I am one step closer. The episode is set to air sometime in the Spring. Lets hope I don’t look like a total goof!

Thank you so much, Via Tevere, for making me a part of your special day!

Lake Side Manor

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Smelly Danielly

For the last long weekend of the Summer, Chad and I decided to run away to Merritt and forget all of our house hold responsibilities. While part of me did feel guilty knowing we could have spent 4 days getting a lot of things done, I did kind of love laying on the grass reading all weekend long.

Chiu was sitting in the boat beside the dock, then the wind picked up and blew him out into the lake. He couldn’t get the motor started so the neighbour had to go rescue him. Poor Chiu.

The big project of the weekend was trying out the Smoker. Mark bought a pork shoulder so that we could smoke it and make pulled pork. On Saturday the boys spent the day messing around with the smoker, testing it out and preparing themselves for Sundays feast.

Saturday Neil made a full on Thanksgiving Turkey dinner. I was responsible for baking a pumpkin pie, which I had every intention of making of scratch, except life got in the way and Mom bought me a can of pumpkin pie mix all ready to go, so I went the lazy route. It actually turned out pretty damn tasty, but I do want to make it again from scratch at some point in my life.

Chad said it was the best turkey dinner he had ever had. It was amazing and we were so stuffed by the end of it.

Pulled Pork, that was the theme of Sunday. Chad basically spent all day watching the temperature gauge on the smoker and I spent the whole day laying on the grass reading the Hunger Games.

Mark also caught some Rainbow Lake Trout!

Unfortunately the pulled pork did not turn out as expected. While the smoker gave it an amazing flavour, it did not cook it properly. At about the 7 hour mark Mark realized this was not going as planned so he popped it in the oven where it sat for another 7 hours. Yes, 14 hours in total. By the time the pulled pork was cooked, it was after midnight and I was fast asleep, but I did get to try some in the morning and it was fabulous! An experiment that almost failed was saved!

We had some of Marks Teriyaki Rainbow Lake Trout which was super taste. I love lake trout.

It was a nice and relaxing long weekend. The only downside was the wind that would not let up. I was dressed like an Eskimo 95% of the time. I was chilled to the bone. That and the wind kept blowing smoke from the fire and the smoker in my face. It was a little much.

Much appreciation goes out to Neil for hosting us at his cabin once again. We always have such a good time and it’s nice to get away, to such a beautiful spot with good friends!

Hi, I’m in Delaware.

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Smelly Danielly

Well, not quite but close. I’m in Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Lake Alberta that is. You probably don’t know where that is because I didn’t know where that is until I looked it up.

Sylvan Lake is the home of our favourite Jewish bacon loving friend and his wonderful girlfriend. We have come to visit and learn what makes peoples necks red.

We left Saturday morning and drove to Revelstoke, where we spent the night and left yesterday morning and arrived in Sylvan just in time to enjoy a bacon filled dinner with Dario and Gina before they headed back home.

We are here for a week so today we take it easy; maybe partake in some golfing and yoga. There are plans for farmers markets and shooting of guns, as well as shopping trips and gourmet dinners. Since we haven’t had a weeks vacation in over a year, this week will be very much enjoyed.

Pictures and stories to come!

Las Vegas – Part 2

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

Sunday we walked around the North part of the strip.

The Wynn looked like the most amazing copper pot.

Everything about the inside of the Wynn was amazing. It was by far my favorite hotel.

We walked across the street to Fashion Show the giant Metrotown like mall. I wasn’t in the mood to do any shopping so Elise and Ryan did and Chad and I checked out some of the hotels in the area.

Budwiser can in the shape of a bottle. Weird, but it matched his outfit!

We wondered over to Treasure Island. We never saw the free show they had a night, but we saw all the props during the day.

That night we went to the Mirage to see LOVE, the Beatles Cirque de Soleil. As a kid I was beyond obsessed with the Beatles and hearing their music featured in a Cirque de Soleil show is the closest I will ever get to seeing them in concert, so it was absolutely amazing.

Look who we ran into while wondering about. It’s like the four of us are just meant to be.

Walking around the Venetian was like being in Venice, which I guess is the point!

Mom was mad that Rod Stewart wasn’t in town when she was there. She always makes comments about his bum.

Sunday evening we had dinner at the Venetian. We were craving Italian food so we went to the source. The dinner was excellent. So good in fact that I want to dry and recreate my main dish. Ravioli stuffed wit Cheese in a Brown Butter Sage sauce with Caramelized Pears and Walnuts.

After dinner we scurried over to the Mirage to see LOVE, which again, was amazing. After the Mirage we decided to go to New York NY, the only other hotel that we found where we really liked the night time vibe. Drinks were stupid expensive but we enjoyed ourselves.

We made our way back to the hotel after midnight, where Elise made a b-line to bed and the boys and I went and got a late night sammich from the sammich place. Late Night Sammich GOOOOD. Then they watched sports in our room while I passed out.

Monday we had a few hours to kill so we just wondered around Aria, Crystals, and the Cosmopolitan.

Believe it or not, that is a restaurant.

Millions and millions of crystals. Amazing.

I asked if we could make a quite trip to the Bellagio because we had only been there at night and I wanted to take some pictures inside with my fancy camera. Little did I know the battery was 30 seconds away from dying and my spare battery was not in my purse where it should be, but rather in my suit case. Smart.

The only ‘couply’ pictures from the trip, taken at the last minute. They turned out too dark and my battery was dead so I couldn’t use the flash so I had to get Shazzi to save them via Photoshop, which is why the colours look so weird. STUPID DANIELLE. Ugh. I also realized there are no pictuers of the 4 of us together, mostly because I am the photographer and not in any photos at all. I really need to get in more pictures but I find 9 out of 10 people are stupid when using a DSLR. It’s like old people forgot how old cameras worked. Dude, you use to use these all the time, so why do you suck at picture taking?

Thankfully Chad has a good cell phone. Hello glass on the ceiling of the Bellagio!

Leaving Las Vegas.

The trip was awesome. I want to go back again, like right now. There is talk about us going back in the Spring but I guess we will see whats going on then.

If you wish to view the rest of the Las Vegas Photo Extravaganza click here.