Fun in Second City

We went to Chicago this past weekend for Tom and Stephanie's wedding. We took a few days off before did some sightseeing around town. I've never been to Chicago before and I absolutely loved it! We drove all night on Wednesday night with Mark and Lane and hit Chicago right at about morning rush hour. We went straight to the zoo in Lincoln Park, which is a great zoo by the way! Then we went downtown to Michigan Avenue and ate at Giordano's Pizza which is the best deep dish pizza EVER! Then we went to H&M. where apparently I proved my shopping prowess! Then we went back to Lincoln Park to check in to our Hotel. We stayed at the Belden Stratford Hotel which is Fabulous! It's part hotel and part apartments. We all took a much needed nap!!!
Thursday night we went to Tom and Stephanie's apartment for drinks then out to a club. Friday, those that weren't in the wedding headed out to Navy Pier and took and architectural tour through the city on a river boat - this was probably my favorite part! We also at the infamous Billy Goat Tavern, where the SNL skit Cheebourger Cheebourger originated. Then we went to the Museum of Science and Industry where Mike was enthralled with the Poop to Power display. By the end of the afternoon, Mike and I were the only ones left in our tour group and we were about a $40 cab ride away from our hotel, so we decided to make and adventure out of public transit. It was much cheaper (about $8 in total) but about twice as long, but we saw parts of the city that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Friday night, we went to a great dinner out to celebrate my new job... Kinzie Chophouse - it was wonderful - probably the best steak I've ever had. We walked around downtown and headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest.

Saturday, Mike and I walked to Wrigley Field and bought t-shirts to prove we were there and headed the 3.6 miles home - we did alot of walking and hailed a cab about halfway back... Saturday night was the wedding - the whole reason we were there... it was so wonderful! The entire affair was at Carnivale, a Cuban restaurant in the downtown area. Everything was bright colors and pop art and it really illustrated the creativity and passion of Tom and Stephanie. Stephanie even made her own wedding cake - it was gorgeous! We ate and drank and drank some more and danced the night away.

Sunday was a rude awakening in that we had to go back to reality and drive 10 hours back to Fayetteville - it wasn't too bad - it helps to travel with more than 2 people so that everyone can nap. We made it home safe and sound right about 12:31 - precisely as predicted by Lane.

I really loved Chicago! Although I may have other things to say about it had it been the middle of winter.

Vegas, baby!!!

Last week my mom and I went to Las Vegas to begin her 50th birthday celebration - her birthday isn't until September but 50 is definitely worth celebrating for a long time.

We flew direct from Tulsa, here's us on the plane...

It's great when you fly to Vegas, because in theory, it's free time with the time change. We left at 3:15 and landed about 3:40!

Mom has never been to Vegas before so it was fun to see her reaction to all the craziness of the city! I went to Vegas last April for Liz's bachelorette party and had a blast! It's constantly changing with new hotels and casinos going up EVERYWHERE!

We stayed at Harrah's mainly because it was in the center of Las Vegas Blvd. It was very convenient to just get up and go and be able to walk everywhere. As soon as we got checked in and dropped our stuff off, we headed toward north toward the Venetian.

We also walked through Cesar's the first night and had a bite to eat, then watched the fountains at the Bellagio... and then headed back to the room, we were beat!

Friday morning, we hit the pool for a good desert tan! It was really relaxing to lounge by the pool and drink ... all before noon! After the pool, we walked all the way down to MGM, stopping at lots of places on the way. We stopped in at Margaritaville to grab lunch - we split a cheeseburger in paradise and of course had margaritas! For those of you that don't know, my parents are Parrot Heads...clearly.

We also kept seeing this bus... I ABSOLUTELY love Absolut Marketing so I had to have a picture of this...

We stopped in Paris where I won $25 on the nickle slots! YAY! We also went in the Coca Cola and M&M's stores. I was so very glad to see the Coke store because it seemed like Vegas itself is sponsored by Pepsi... (sorry B's, but I don't drink Pepsi). We crossed the strip and headed into New York New York. We walked back toward center strip and headed inside Bellagio to check out the Buffet. When we went for Liz's Bachelorette Weekend we all went to the champagne brunch buffet at the Bellagio and it was FABULOUS! Mom and I actually decided against gorging ourselves on all that food - it's hard to eat a ton when it's so hot outside. So we headed back to the hotel for a while and to play some slots.

Saturday we were going to try and repeat the pool experience but it was CLOUDY!!! Who would have guessed it... it seems as if we took the humidity to Vegas with us. So we headed back north on the strip toward the Wynn/Encore. We walked through the Fashion Show Mall and then ate at a patio hamburger place. We walked around some more and then went inside the Wynn and through to the Palazzo and eventually back to the Venetian - it's very nice that these are all internally connected - it was hot and super crowded outside. It's definitely best to go when you can have a few days of the week to explore rather than fighting the throngs of tourists on Saturday.

One thing of mention - there were lots of kids there. I found this odd... family vacations are great an all but why Vegas for your 8 year old? We did hear about the adventures of a family in the airport where the 8 year old boy kept telling everyone that he pretty much stayed drunk and he was going to tell his teachers that. I taught him to say inebriated rather than drunk - he should at least get some vocabulary points!

Saturday night, we had tickets to see LOVE - the Cirque du Solei extravaganza... it was phenomenal. It was a multitude of performers dancing interpretively to all Beatles songs. It was so much fun! Before that, we ate at a bar called Stack... yes, you are correct in assuming that are the waitresses were just that... My oh so funny mother insisted on taking my picture in front of the sign after I explained the meaning of the name...

Then we had drinks at REVOLUTION which is the theme bar to coincide with the performance. Here's me sitting in the U and my mom standing in front of the TSince it was our last night, we decided to go to the Piano Bar at NYNY from great recommendations from Melanie (aka Martini Momma). It was so much fun. My mom chickened out on letting them sing to her so that was too bad because I'm sure it would have made for a great picture and a great story.

It was a great trip!!! I had so much fun and am ready to go back again...

All you need is love... Beatles style!

Well I'm back from Vegas - had a BLAST! It was so much fun. We went to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday which really isn't until September but she's celebrating all year. The best part of the weekend was the Cirque du Soleil show Beatles LOVE! at the Mirage. It was a great experience!

I've got lots of good pictures to post in the coming days! Stay tuned!!!

Adventures at Sam Moon

If you don't know what Sam Moon is, you are missing out! It's a fabulous warehouse style import adventure of all things accessorizee! I love going there when ever I get the chance! I tried to go on July 4th - thinking it should totally be open, low and be hold IT WAS CLOSED! It was a sad afternoon. However, I went back on Saturday.
As I was browsing and fighting my way through the throngs of crazy women (no man ever makes it past the front door)... I over heard the irony of all ironic conversation... A very much wannabe fashionista 12 year old girl made the comment to her extremely over accessorized mother: "I'm gonna buy me that fake Louis over there" to which her mother replied "Your daddy's gonna be in China next week, he'll just get you a real one." Bless their hearts...

There is also a great shoe store in the Sam Moon complex and I got two pairs of fabulous shoes that are sure to hurt my feet, but they are freakin' cute!

My parents recently chilly in Chile

My parents went to visit my sister in Chile. The big news is that, yes, they survived the trip! We had our doubts that wouldn't be detained or something and neither of them speak a drop of Spanish... They might could get by in Santiago with a phrase book, but Katie lives farther out on the coast in Vina del Mar. They were there for 10 days and experienced a soccer game, miles and miles of hiking up and down the streets due to public transit strikes and even Cuban cigars.

Here are pictures: 1) my parents and sister in Katie's house 2) my parents and Katie and her friends 3) my mom and Katie... somewhere 4) my parents with Chile in the back ground

SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE

Last week was the premier of SEX AND THE CITY: THE MOVIE! I flew out to Denver to watch the movie with my best friend Elizabeth. It was a great mini vacation and of course a FABULOUS movie. We also had a pre movie party – “The Return of Martini’s and Manolo’s.” Holly very graciously hosted party at her super swank LoDo loft that is only a few blocks away from the movie theater.

The party was a blast and I met so many new and interesting people. Most people dressed up in fun party dresses and everyone brought a bottle of martini related alcohol and Holly printed cute little recipes for new types of drinks. I made my staples – Cosmopolitans and Pomegranate Martini’s.

It was a great way to get in the SATC spirit before the movie. It was so fun to know that people everywhere had parties and got all dressed up for the movie! And yes, I will continue to make fun of Trekkies and Star Wars nerds – although I wore a fabulous cocktail dress and some rockin’ shoes, I did not wear a Chewbacca suit or pointy ears and a color block jump suit.
In other Denver news, we did a lot of retail therapy and drank a lot – both things that Elizabeth and I excel in! One afternoon, we went to a Champagne Bar for Happy Hour – boy were we happy and bubbly!!!Chad and Liz live in Englewood, CO actually and there is a light rail station very close to their house which is really convenient – however we found out the hard way that the light rail stops running at 2 am … note to self… must leave down town prior to 2 am or risk pulling people out of bed to come get us. THANKS CHAD!!! I came home on Sunday on yet another fun Frontier flight!

Makin my way to Denver

I'm in Denver this weekend for a fabulous premier party for Sex and the City: The Movie! I arrived yesterday via Tulsa - I'm not a fan of the Tulsa airport. I did get some great shopping done prior to my flight!

There was a family that was at the ticket counter with me waiting for it to open - their screaming child didn't help the ticket counter open any earlier. That was 2 hours before the flight was scheduled ... in my 2 hours I had a tasty meal of chicken tenders (of course) and multiple gin and tonics. Apparently the little screaming girl held ALL her crazy in until she got on the plane --- as we were in line to board the plane she was so friendly and giving everyone high fives and winking at people - strangers ate that up. I cringed! I knew what was looming... she SCREAMED the entire flight. Also there was a crazy old woman next to me, but she kept to herself after a few odd comments - her John Grisham paperback kept her occupied.

Our flight attendant was super creepy - she was all about flirting with the equally creepy businessman in the row opposite me - so much to the point she was practically sitting on the arm rest = his lap.

The flight got a little bumpy on the descent - which apparently is common - I don't see how predicted turbulance can ever be common - if you know it's there - fly straighter or something! Just like if you know there is ice on the road - you don't go 90 mph! Around then is when I really started regretting that 3rd g&t!

Once we landed, the Denver airport was a welcome site! It seems to be a very nice and new (or at least well renovated) airport! I made my way to baggage claim and was pretty proud of myself for navigating through the air port - I know it really isn't that tough but I have this fear of airports... anyway I finally found Elizabeth after multiple "where are you" "I'm by the Frontier sign" conversations - there are LOTS O FRONTIER signs!

Chad was really excited to eat Mexican food last night so we rode the train downtown to a Mexican place that has a 2 margarita max!

Today is the day! The premier of SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE!

Stay tuned....

sooooo sick

Yeah so I'm super not feeling good today. I think it's food poisoning.

On another note - My sister Katie moved to Chile yesterday. They arrived safely but all their luggage did not follow suit. They've been promised it will be delivered to the hotel tomorrow so that's good. They are enjoying the sights and the bars and the Chilean people and the bars. They are in Santiago for a few days then moving to a permanent location in Vina del Mer - which means vinyard by the sea. I'm sure they will have a blast there - wine and beaches doesn't get much better.