Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill Curbside Pickup

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill.  We did receive to menu cards in exchange for this announcement.  There food really is that good though! 

Days full of school activities, homework, errands, house chores, teaching, folding, feeding, banking and so much more can be a headache! There has been so many days, that by the time dinner comes around, I am already too exhausted to whip something up, so we will usually end up just grabbing something out or eating left overs from the day before.  On top of all that, both my kids play ball, so it's always a quick dinner before game time or a late night grab on the way home.   

This past month, we've been really trying to eat better.  But it's definitely a challenge with so much going on.  No wonder why so many Americans eat out at quick service restaurants - it's quick and way too convenient.  Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill has the perfect solution for us busy parents that need a quick dinner but also want to maintain a healthy intake.  

Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill now is offering curbside pick up.  You don't even have to get out of your car.  Simply call it in and mention curbside pickup when you order - simple as that!  Sometimes both my kids have games on the same nights, by the time we are done, I don't want to be waiting around for my food.  This makes it great!  I can call in the last inning of the game and by the time we get there, no waiting - it's brought out to my car and I'm on my way home.  

For more information and to see their menu, visit their website at crazypita.com

Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill is a quick dining restaurant which serves up fresh Mediterranean cuisine.   They have such a wide variety to choose from, ranging from salmon to chicken to lamb. I highly recommend their skewer plates, which comes with a salad and hummus.  

WHO DOESN’T LOVE CHILI?

This is  a sponsored feature in partnership with Bush's Chili Beans

As the seasons change and our bodies adjust to the reduced temperatures, we gradually make the shift to foods that warm both body and soul. Chili, our go to winter food, is hearty, warm and a longtime seasonal favorite.

Young and old alike love to gather around the stove and ladle out generous scoops of this perfect, one-pot dish. It’s easy to make and there are endless possibilities; you can serve it alone or alongside other dishes to add extra flavor. Those who identify as chili lovers describe themselves in a variety of ways, including best chili chef in the neighborhood.

Below, hear out Chef Saad as he shares with us some seasonal twists to chili, based on recent survey findings that identified how Americans prefer to eat this hearty dish. Chef Saad will also  discuss results of the new survey and what it says about people’s choices in chili cooking methods and essential chili ingredients.

Chef Saad hosts United Taste of America on the Cooking Channel and has written multiple cookbooks.  He’s also been featured on several TV cooking shows including, Chopped-All-Stars, Moveable Feast and Iron Chef America.

OTTO Las Vegas

When it comes to Italian food, I'm really picky.  It has to be fresh and real, authentic Italian.  Otto hosted our family for lunch last weekend.  I was excited to give it a go since it's owned by renowned chef Mario Batali who has hosted the popular television show "The Chew" on ABC.  Otto Las Vegas is located inside the Venetian within the Canal Shops.  When we arrived, we were greeted by the host and seated at a table where we had street performers and the beauty of being right in the heart of Canal Shops - what a great view!

Otto offers a very diverse and decedent menu, full of variety!  Our service first brought us out a tray of Brushetta with a variety of cheeses and fruit.  Wow!  Incredible, so light on the tongue but bursting with flavor!  My favorite was the goat cheese with cherries, it was a dessert all on it's own.  Simply amazing!  The Brushetta is the only one that is not aged in house.  Fruits are also obtained from the local Farmers Market when possible.  

Next up was there popular, Black Spaghetti.  Yes, it actually is black! Black Spaghetti is a sicilian pesto with black noodles and calamari.  It did not catch the eye in the way of being appealing, but the taste over came that.  The noodles practically melted in your mouth and for someone who is not a fan of calamari, I could not even tell what I was eating.  Everything just blended together perfectly.  The pesto sauce tasted so fresh as it was just made straight from the garden! We are parents, with two picky teens to feed and if you are worried that Otto may not be for your family - I'm here to tell you, you are wrong!  They do have a dedicated kids menu, which includes the pizza below.  While they don't have the household pepperoni that we all eat monthly, this was way better!  Below is their Salami Cotto Pizza for only $12!  Very affordable and it's really a much better taste then your household cardboard pizza.  It's fresh, as fresh as you can get and they kids absolutely loved it! 

Now my husband and I have two must haves - meat and dessert! We ended our meal with their popular Braised Pork Shoulder as well as a Gelati Tasting.  The presentation of the pork was just stunning and you didn't even need a knife as the meat was so tender, it just fell apart.   The cucumber stacked on top of the pork was the perfect match, the crunchiness that it added was off the chart.  Now who doesn't love Gelati?  Their Gelait is made in house.  We sampled the grape, apple, peanut butter, chocolate and their olive oil and sea salt.  My husband loved the grape the best, my favorite was the olive oil and sea salt.  I know it sounds incredibly weird to have an olive oil Gelati, buy it's a must try! 

We really had an enjoyable time, the staff was very observant and took care of our every needs.  I was highly impressed that they even brought out a new set of plates and silverware for every course.  Given the quality of the food, the service and the entertainment surrounding, it is a very affordable restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip, inside the Venetian.  It is very family friendly, but also classy enough for a night out on the town with your loved one.

The run down on Otto Las Vegas:

• In Italian, Otto means "8", representing the restaurant's original location on 8th street in New York.  
• Otto offers a different special for every day of the week.
• The average price per person is $45
• Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m daily
• Located inside the Venetian's St. Mark Square
• Click here for Otto's updated menu items
• Has a dedicated children's menu
• Dress is casual to classy
• Family friendly

For more information or to book a reservation:

http://lasvegas.ottopizzeria.com/

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In Italian, OTTO means "8," representing the restaurant's original location on 8th street in New York. Enoteca is the term used in Italy for small, local or regional wine shops where guests may sample wines from area producers.

Best Halloween Party Flicks for All Ages

It's almost Halloween party time!  Wanna know the best Halloween entertainment per age group? All parents don't mind a little spooky, but too scary or otherwise inappropriate is a whole different story.

SmartFeed is an online platform that takes all the time and guesswork out of finding quality, worry-free movies, TV shows, apps and books for kids based on age, gender, character building, academics, interests and more. All choices have been carefully vetted and selected by SmartFeed's team of expert curators. 

 

SmartFeed (www.thesmartfeed.com) just released its top picks for Halloween flicks for pre-schoolers to pre-teens! Plus, great suggestions for Halloween Family Movie Night! Check it out below.

SmartFeed Picks for Halloween Flicks - Age 5 and younger:

 

1.) Room on the Broom

2.) Dear Dracula

3.) Casper's Scare School

4.) It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

5.) Curious George Halloween Boofest

 

SmartFeed Picks for Halloween Flicks - Age 6 to 9:

 

1.) Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman

2.) Dreamworks' Spooky Stories

3.) ScoobyDoo and the Goblin King

4.) HalloweenTown

5.) Mad Monster Party

 

SmartFeed Picks for Halloween Flicks - Age 10 to 13:

 

1.) Monster House

2.) Frankenweenie

3.) Coraline

4.) Beetlejuice

5.) ParaNorman

6.) When Good Ghouls Go Bad

7.) Hocus Pocus

 

SmartFeed's Best Halloween Family Movies: 

 

1.) The Worst Witch (6+)

2.) The Nightmare Before Christmas (8+)

3.) Dear Dracula (4+) 

4.) Mad Monster Party (6+)

Halloween at Lake Las Vegas

Lake Las Vegas celebrates Halloween with holiday themed kids and adult cruises, a performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the Henderson Symphony Orchestra’s “Scary Symphony”. They are part of the Fall Festival at Lake Las Vegas which includes other Halloween and fall-themed events and activities, now through Nov. 27.

The Haunted Pirate Cruise around the lake at Lake Las Vegas features fun activities for the whole family. Attendees can meet pirates and should be prepared for spooky surprises. Costumes are welcome, and prizes will be awarded. Admission is $25 per person, and children (age 12 and younger) must be accompanied by an adult (21 or older). The two Haunted Pirate Cruises will sail from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. Arrive 15 minutes prior to boarding at the marina in MonteLago Village. 

The William Shakespeare tragedy of Macbeth is being staged by the Shakespeare Institute of Nevada on Friday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28 on the grassy knoll main stage in MonteLago Village from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The famed play dramatizes the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those who seek power for its own sake. Performances are free. Special VIP seating is available for $35 per person and includes front row seating and wine and hors d’oeuvres at Essence & Herbs from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

The Scary Symphony is being performed on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge overlooking Lake Las Vegas from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Under the direction of Alexandra

Arrieche, the Henderson Symphony Orchestra will perform a family-friendly program of spooky favorites and the Nevada premier of “The Composer is Dead” by Nathaniel Stookey with text by Lemony Snicket.  The program also will include “La Forza del Destino” by Giuseppe Verdi and “Night on Bald Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky. The Scary Symphony is free to attend.

The Shipwrecked Adult Haunted Cruise features a costume contest and prizes, music, free appetizers and Captain Morgan Rum drinks, and other spooky surprises. Admission is $25 per person for adults (must be 21). The Halloween night cruise sails from the marina in MonteLago Village around the lake at Lake Las Vegas from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31.   

For tickets and festival information, visit www.lakelasvegas.com.

The Fall Festival features other Halloween, seasonal and foodie events, many for free. Free daily activities include a pumpkin patch, hay bale maze, a trick or trike tricycle course and a corn pile where kids of all ages can play in a giant pile of real corn kernels. For the complete Fall Festival at Lake Las Vegas schedule, visit www.lakelasvegas.com

Lake Las Vegas is located in Henderson just minutes from Galleria Parkway and I-515/U.S. 95 or off Lake Mead Parkway and Lake Las Vegas Parkway. Free parking will be available at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa parking garage adjacent to MonteLago Village. 

October 20, 2016 is World Osteoporosis Day!

Disclosure:  This post is in partnership with Sunsweet

Led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) takes place every year on October 20th to emphasize and raise awareness around the importance of building healthy bones.

Over 200 million people worldwide are affected by osteoporosis, with an osteoporotic fracture occurring every three seconds. Taking preventative measures, and making simple lifestyle shifts, is key to navigating and preventing the risk of osteoporosis. Nutrition, coupled with physical activity and early detection, plays an integral role in protecting the future of your bones. Research findings suggest that eating prunes can lead to improved bone health. 

Osteoporosis runs in my family.  I watched my Grandmother, who was like a mother to me, suffer every day due to it's affect. Her bones were so brittle, that when ever she had to ride in a vehicle, she would need to be very careful, going over a bump too fast could easily break her bones.  Tuesday - I will be wearing white to help embrace better bone health!  

Recognizing World Osteoporosis Day provides a reminder of the importance of bone health. “Nutrients found in prunes – vitamin K, phosphorus, boron and potassium and polyphenols – contribute to bone health. Paired with calcium, vitamin D and weight bearing exercise, people of all ages can protect themselves,” says Shirin Hooshmand, PhD, Associate Professor of Nutrition at San Diego State University. Hooshmand has been involved in founding research related to prunes and their effect on bone health.

For more information about Sunsweet or World Osteoporosis Day, please visit: http://www.sunsweetworldosteoporosisday.com

About World Osteoporosis Day 
World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on 20 October, and marks the beginning of a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) whose members include committees of scientific researchers, leading companies, as well as more than 230 patient, medical and research societies, working together to make bone, joint and muscle health a worldwide health-care priority. WOD generates worldwide media and assists with public awareness campaigns organized by national osteoporosis patient and medical societies in over 90 countries, globally. http://www.worldosteoporosisday.org #LoveYourBones

About SUNSWEET 
Sunsweet is a proud official sponsor of World Osteoporosis Day and supports the goal of helping reduce the preventable risk of osteoporosis, through a bone-healthy lifestyle with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables including prunes.  Sunsweet Growers Inc., established in 1917, has 99 years of experience and heritage in producing the highest quality dried fruits. The Yuba City, Calif.-based cooperative of 250 grower/members is the worldwide leader in prunes and related products. The product portfolio includes a full line of dried fruit snacks and juices, all designed to fit today’s need for healthy and convenient food choices. For more on Sunsweet products, visit http://www.sunsweet.com

Boca Park ‘Goes Pink’ in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Boca Park is “Going Pink” in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to support Susan G. Komen Nevada. Starting today, through October 23rd, patrons visiting Boca Park Fashion Village will be able to give back to this terrific cause by purchasing specialty pink wristbands, taking advantage of pink-themed specials or by simply giving a donation at participating retailers. The retail center will physically turn pink as well with breast cancer ribbons displayed throughout the center and pink lighting to celebrate survivorship and honor those who have lost their battle.

“We are thrilled to be supporting Susan G. Komen Nevada in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” says Stacy Debevec, Property Manager of Boca Park. “We encourage people to visit Boca Park Fashion Village and purchase a special breast cancer wristband or make a donation at participating retailers with 100% of proceeds going to this important charity that addresses breast cancer on so many levels.”

To make a difference by supporting the fight against breast cancer, patrons can visit the following participating retailers at Boca Park Fashion Village to purchase a special Boca Park breast cancer wristband or to make a donation: Eccoci, European Wax Center, Gifted, Mastroianni Fashions, The Mixx Grill & Lounge, Modena Fashion Boutique, Hussong’s Cantina, Pinkberry, R+D Hipster Emporium, Sambalatte, Savvy Lingerie and XCYCLE.

About Boca Park
A premier shopping and entertainment destination, Boca Park is a unique and diverse open-air retail village with an array of shops, restaurants, fitness, beauty and specialty services that appeal to locals and visitors alike. Located in the heart of the southwest valley, just south of Summerlin Parkway at the corner of Rampart and Charleston boulevards, Boca Park Market is home to big box retailers such as Target, Ross, and OfficeMax. Boca Park Fashion Village boasts high-end boutiques and restaurants offering one-of-a-kind fashion, beauty, food, fitness and social hang-outs. For more information, visit www.bocaparklv.com or follow Boca Park on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.  For leasing, contact Triple Five Group at (702) 430-5800.

About Susan G. Komen Nevada
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen was founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Komen Nevada is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community. Through events like the Komen Las Vegas and Komen Reno Race for the Cure®, Komen Nevada has invested more than $11 million in community breast health programs throughout the entire state and has helped contribute to the more than $920 million invested globally in research. For more information, call the Las Vegas office at 702.822.2324, the Reno office at 775.355.7311 or visit komennevada.org.