When I was 6 years old, I joined the Tiger Sharks swim team at my local YMCA - literally the only pool in my entire county. I had loved swimming from the moment my dad blew in my face and dropped me under the water when I was 8 months old [obviously I don't remember for sure but I'm sure I did]. Being on that team [and the following 11 years of swim teams] did so much for my development as a youth. It taught me teamwork, perseverance, determination, athleticism, and most of all friendship.
My friend Sarah came to visit me this past weekend and as we were sitting on my couch with some of my friends, they asked how long we had known each other. We stopped and looked at each other and said... 16 years. HOLY CRAP. I have been lucky enough to have two {Hey Rae} girls in my life for a full 16 years. Not many people can say that, and I am only 22! Granted, we have had our ups and downs like any girls would , but she still flew all the way across the country to spend the weekend [and coincidentally her birthday, with me.
So as my first official out of stat visitor I need to make sure I had a solid plan for us! I picked her up at midnight thursday night friday morning. Everyone at work gave me crap that I didnt take her out right then but I didnt get off work until 11pm and midnight here is 3am on the east coast!
So yes, her first night in Vegas, we came home and talked and went to sleep!
Because the next morning.....
We went hiking!
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation.
The mountains in the Red Rock area were formed by a number of geological forces including fractured faults where the earth's crust collided over millions of years and fossilized sand dunes. Some cliffs reach up an astounding 3,000 feet.
The sandstone rocks in the conservation area get their color from iron oxide. Over centuries the iron oxide built up, producing the vibrant, crimson color the canyon illustrates today.
It was a nice 4 hours or so of different trails and Lola loved every minute of it too! She was wearing herself out running ahead of us and climbing and jumping everywhere! After we were finished, we headed back home for a nap and to get ready for my house warming party. I made jello shots, pigs in a blanket, guacamole, and dated stuffed with almonds and wrapped in bacon. They were delicious!! But I forgot pictures =( It was a nice little get together though.
The next day we got up and ready to go to the Strip. We had breakfast at Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace before walking the Strip and showing Sarah all of the awesome hotels
Like the MGM Grand - Where we picked up our tickets for the Crazy Horse Paris Burlesque show that we saw after dinner
We shared a Yard of a Hurricane from Fat Tuesday's as we walked around and then stopped at the Sugar Factory for martinis. I had a Smores martini- complete with marshmallows and Sarah had an Almond Joy martini. Dessert in a drink and it was just what we needed to hold us over to dinner....that and the free food we got. Some couple was mad they wouldnt change the football game on the TV and so they left without paying or even telling the waitress they were leaving. We got their food instead =) Seriously, if you are going somewhere to watch a football game, the Sugar Factory would not be anywhere on my top 20 choices of bars. What idiots/jerks.
For dinner, I took the birthday girl to RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay. The menu there is so delicious but the birthday girl was craving sushi, so sushi we had. It was also very good. Thank god for groupon. This $100 meal only cost me about $50 for the two of us. =)
Earlier during the day we met a club promoter on the Strip who said he could get us in to Surrender club at the Encore hotel. I gave him my name and number and sure to his word, we showed up at 1030 [with a lot of other girls] and about an hour later we were led in to the club where we got free daybeds and tables and free drinks [by the pitcher] and champagne for an hour and a half. I had invited a couple other girl friends who also joined us so it was a ton of fun, we felt very special and it didnt cost a thing!
The blonde is Kelly, my newest friend in Vegas. She was the best bait ever, just throw the blonde into the sea of men and she comes out with a group of silly guys with bottle service so we could keep the free drinks coming. We all drank a silly amount of alcohol at no cost to our wallets or our self-respect. And when we were done, we left the boys there and headed on our merry little way
The next morning afternoon, we woke up and checked out of the hotel. It was an hour or so after check out but they didn't know and so we didnt get charged [score!] We had breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi at the Paris Hotel where we were staying . We opted to eat on the patio overlooking the strip - what every "To-Do" list in Vegas recommends. Well, it was a wait to get there and then oh my was it a wait for our food. Maybe we were there at the worst time possible but still, it was close to an hour. The food was really good - Sarah said it was the best french toast she has ever had. But next time - I would sit inside and skip the wait - it was sooo noisy! Or just go at a different time. After brunch, we headed back to the Encore for a pool party and the Encore Beach Club - it really is a giant pool party. It still cracks me up seeing so many women walking around in bikinis and heels - I would be way too scared to trip and bust my booty - how embarrassing would that be!
We lounged for about an hour and then decided we wanted to head back home and take a nap, which we did. It was a wonderful nap. Then I knew I needed to take her to one final Vegas experience - a Vegas buffet. Now, you may be thinking ew, buffet, golden corral? Sarah thought that. Let me tell you - that is so wrong. The buffets in Vegas are the most extravagant you will ever see. All sorts of insane food of every type and nationality, make your own soups, your own hibachi, your own miso, you name it. Gelato, cheesecake, banana pudding, I mean, these things are insane. So I took her to the Rio for the
Carnival Buffet , one of the top ten Buffets in Vegas and always in the top 5 with locals. It was a lot of fun. Then we just came home to watch some tv because neither of us were up for another night of drinking - were just not that hard of party girls lol.
It was so much fun having her come see me and I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends in my life. This week has now flown by and only 2 more days until I see the boyfriend!!
Xo
