What happens in Vegas...

I know I said I would do this blog like forever and a day ago but we didn't get Internet until yesterday so here I am! Back on planet earth, lol. The cable guy was here for hours and it took longer being that it is a brand new house that never had cable before. And he stunk. And he was a bit of a douche. But he brought me cable and Internet so I can't hate on him too bad! Haha.

When I was 4 months preggers w/Sophia me and Ant went to Vegas. That kind of sounds like an oxymoron going to "Sin City" with child but we had booked the trip for Ant's 21st and we would not have gotten our money back so we still went. Of course it limited stuff that I could do but we still had a blast! In a few years we'd definitely love to go back. Plus you can go for super cheap right now due to our country being in a recession and the casino's are really suffering. We almost went back in February but it never panned out.

Anywho- first and foremost the very best part of going to Vegas is shopping for it! I went to the Express red box sale and bought super spangly dresses and shirts that I would not normally wear in my everyday life. That is also why I went to the sale there b/c they typically mark stuff down pretty low and the leftover stuff is exactly what I was on the hunt for. However, one thing you can't splurge on (well I can't anyway) is super cute and sexy heels. No stilettos in Vegas, unless your lucky to be able to take a limo or something there. We stayed in the Luxor hotel (very nice but I would like to stay at the Venetian or the Bellagio next time) which is pretty far down on the north end of the strip so we did a LOT of walking. There was a little monorail that took us as far as The Excaliber but the strip is lonnnnnggg. (Tricia, you did good staying at the Bellagio which is not only GORGEOUS but pretty central on the strip) So I did good with cute little flats and sandals. Another awesome thing about the state of Nevada is the dryness in the air (good for hair, not so good for skin) which is a whole lot different for us humid state folks. It's actually perfect weather right now over there.

As far as food goes, there is certainly something for everyone. Buffets for the people who like to eat a hell of a lot, casual dining for the not-so-fussy, and fine cuisine for the refined palette. We kind of ate at a mix of the three. The buffet at The Luxor was the only one that we tried (I was still quite nauseous at the time so it didn't go over well) but it was very good with a huge selection. Here is a list of other restaurants that we visited:

-The Rainforest Cafe in the MGM Grand-pretty basic food with a very fun atmosphere

-Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill at Harrah's- nothing spectacular, kind of like hooters except the girl's are wearing Cowgirl-ish slutty outfits and there are guy waiter's that are wearing normal clothes...kind of sexist but whatev.

-Planet Hollywood in Caesar's-we went through a phase where we collected those stupid glasses (which now reside in a box somewhere) but the food is horrible and the selection is limited

We really didn't take any chances with food plus we were on a serious budget when we were there so we played it safe. However when we go back I would love to check out some of the nicer places, Vegas is a mecca for the avid food enthusiast. A few I would love to try:

-Aureole in Mandalay Bay where "wine fairies" attached to a bungee cord fly up and down a huge wine tower to fetch bottles of wine for tables

-Sensi in The Bellagio

-Japonais in The Mirage (I want to order this dish where you cook your meat on a piping hot rock right at your table)

-The Top of the World at the Stratosphere...I am sure the view is worth it.

I could go on and on here but hopefully one day I can actually write about eating at these places but they just look like a really cool and yummy dining experience.

Another very popular attraction in Vegas is the amazing variety of shows that you may choose to see on your stay. There really is something for everyone. My favs happen to the anything by Cirque Du Soleil. There were about 5 to choose from when we went. Going with the theme of Las Vegas I thought it would be appropriate to see "Zumanity," the naughty side of Cirque. It runs in the New York, New York hotel and I must say it was the best show I have ever seen in my life. The whole thing has this burlesque, fetish-y, raunchy, romantic vibe but it is so tastefully done that it doesn't feel wrong. I paid a little extra for these little plush love seats in the front where you can snuggle with your honey during the performance. The theatre isn't too big though so even in the back you should be able to see just fine. I love love loved it and can't wait to see it again. I even bought the soundtrack. But you simply cannot go wrong with a Cirque Du Soleil show, they are all awe-inspiring and beautiful.

If you don't want to do a show, don't fret. In most of the hotels, there are tons of attractions and free exhibits to check out. the lion habitat at the MGM Grand, the Sirens of Treasure Island, the fountains at the Bellagio, the gondolas with the singing gondoliers at the Venetian (which is where we spent most of our time). We also checked out the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay hotel, not free but fun nonetheless. And you can't forget the shopping. In the hotels, most of the stores are catered towards the big spenders but its still fun to browse and pretend. For us frugal folk, check out the fashion show mall by the Wynn and if you don't mind venturing off-strip there are some amazing deals to be found at the nearby Outlet stores. I think you can take the deuce bus there (the easiest and cheapest way to get around other than walking). And never rule out the pools at the hotels, you may not be able to swim unless you're a guest at the hotel but you can still have a drink/snack poolside and relish the vibe. The Wynn, The Palm, and Mandalay Bay all have beautiful pools with beautiful people. Also-don't forget the real reason people go to Vegas...gambling! There is plenty of that, lol!

While we were only there 5 days, we had a blast and would certainly return. I would stay longer next time to allow myself to get used to the time change (3 hours behind for us east coasters) and to be able to more spend time in each of the hotels. I would also like to check out the spas and nightlife which I did not get around to at the time. There really is tons to do! No matter where you go or what you do, Vegas is super fun and exciting and I doubt there is a person who regrets visiting (unless they lost all their money or something). Tricia-have a blast, relax, indulge...I can't wait to hear your thoughts when you return! And bring febreeze b/c they smoke everywhere out there, lol! Love you! Ciao! xoxoxo