So I spontaneously decided to go down to good ‘ol Las Vegas for a weekend with the girls. It wasn’t hot enough I don’t know why but I have been rained out every, single place that I have travelled to this year! What gives?! When I do come back to Vancouver I must say that the rain is my nirvana and what really makes me feel at home. But come on, while I’m on vacation, and in a place that’s supposed to be tropical and HOT?! Well I toughed it out and I have to rave about my top 3 highlights!!!

The last time I was in Vegas a huge chunk of it was under construction. Well I guess it always is as it’s ever evolving but seriously this is one of the best recent additions to the Strip in my opinion. Well the highlight that tops my list would be The Cosmopolitan! I was lucky enough to check out one of the Penthouses (yeah one of the perks of being a girl in LV) and oh boy! These suites are phenomenal! The aesthetic is super contemporary with a real quirky boutique vibe. And the view is breath taking!

Penthouse View of Bellagio's Fountain and The Strip

The Palms from the Penthouse

One of many bathrooms in the suite... check out that WALLPAPER!

My FAVOURITE closet EVERRR!!!

Stunning Chandelier bar!

Marquee Club Pool

Marquee bathroom mirror: "I am not cheap, but I am on special this week"!

More funky wallpaper in Marquee!

So there was the Cosmopolitan and the new CityCenter… entertainment and retail therapy… the only thing left is something yummy… MMM. One of the best indulgences that seriously needs to get up here to be part of the mecca of sushi in Vancouver: Sushi Samba!!! I’ve been to other locations in Chicago and NYC and I just can’t get enough!

The last time I was in Vegas my biggest highlight was checking out the “Boneyard“! Super cool! I was watching an episode of CSI one night and this place happened to be the murder scene… I totally stopped watching and researched it right away! And it was real! You can get up close and personal with historic pieces of the Strip’s past! Rumour has it that they are waiting on enough funding so they can re-furbish some of the old neon signs into working order again!

Stuff like this, really cranks my wheel! I love history and to have the opportunity to be that close is priceless since you can’t go back in time! I grew up watching shows like Hart to Hart, Dallas, Bionic Woman and of course Vega$. So although some signs date back all the way to the 1930′s there is still a very strong 60′s/70′s nostalgia in the air here. This was a time of rapid expansion and constant reinvention as it was a real estate frenzy and next big resort race to cash in. Poor old signs would be replaced with new space age inspired ones since there was a man planning to land on the moon. Needless to say that if you want to experience something different when in Vegas you MUST visit this place! They have wonderful, highly knowledgable and passionate volunteers that could share stories with you for hours!

Oh and one last neat fact about Vegas: I was conceived at the Golden Nugget! Woo!

In the past year I have been fortunate enough to travel for work! I went down to Dallas twice to re-merchandize two showrooms in the giant Trade Mart there. When all the hard work was completed I got to see and experience the real Texas. Both trips were definitely full of firsts… I’ll let you guess by the photos. It sure is a different place down there. I miss Whataburger and Chick-Fil-A and of course all of the authentic Mexican food mmmmm.

Billy Bob's: The World's Largest Honkey Tonk!

I went to a Dallas Stars game and lo and behold what do I spy??? YEAH GO CANUCKS GOOO!!!

Largest Domed Stadium & Largest High Def Screen in the WORLD!!!

FRIED Alligator Tail, Pickles & Rat Toes!!!

My lucky night: $1 hot dogs and the D.P.C.!!!

Definitely Underestimated.

My very first pedicure! Thanks Janie!

A handmade necklace just for the Denton County Fair!

Exact spot where JFK was shot!

ROLLER DERBY!!!

So here is the first of my recent travel posts!

I went to Chicago in March to work at the International Housewares show at McCormick Place. This place is MASSIVE! It’s like a hangar for a UFO! Some of the booths are insane! They rig up these massive structures, almost like a complete building in only a matter of days! I wore my Canucks jersey most days while setting up and was hoping for major guff from the Blackhawks fans amongst all the union guys, despite our rivalry, they are all really nice! They are just genuine hockey fans, for the love of the game, aw! It was freezing in Chicago while I was there and there was even a small blizzard that rolled through! Haha yes it was Windy in the “Windy City” but did you know that’s not why it was coined that?! I was lucky enough to be there for the infamous St. Patrick’s Day dying of the river!!!

I fell in love with Mrs. Thorne’s Miniature Rooms at Chicago’s Art Institute! So fascinating! Of course I ran out of time in this museum, but I will be back next year! I’m a total sucker for skylines and city lights! This city is simply magical! I love it! I can’t wait to one day visit during the summer, I’m sure it’s a blast with their wonderful lake front, although it’s not an ocean It will still do!

I also got a chance to go out to Rockford to visit my family! It sure was nice to finally get a chance to experience their lifestyle! You’ll never guess what I learned how to do?! When on 50 acres… I got to shoot a bunch of rifles and shot guns! Good thing my dad wasn’t around… My cousin drove me out to check out the enormous Blackhawk Statue which stands tall at 125 feet and is considered to be the second largest concrete monolithic statue in the world! My mom told me that when they were all younger you used to be able to go inside and climb stairs up to the head! Another couple neat pieces of Rockford, IL history is that it is the original home to the ever famous sock monkeys AND the Rockford Peaches which one of my most favourite movies ever is based on (A League of Their Own)!

And last but not least, how could I not take in a game at the American Airlines Centre?! Ok, ok, hush, I’m not a TRADER, I wore my Canucks jersey to a fricken’ Blackhawks game! I think that’s commitment! It was entertaining too as their fans aren’t nearly as nasty as I had imagined, there were actually all quite nice! They tried to tell me I was wearing the wrong jersey, etc, but then they would engage in some serious hockey talk about the Sedins and Kesler! But man oh man I will never forget the roar of their fans in that arena! It’s so insanely loud and hyped up! Hey Vancouver fans… take a hint! We gotta get it together for our boys! Stop being so damn fair weather!

Some of my favourite spots and highlights would be:

Garretts Popcorn

Kuma’s Corner

UnaMae’s

Chicago Art Institute

Blue Chicago

Blackhawk Statue