Ashley

Girls Weekend!

2011-05-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

Westin La Paloma

Girls before dinner

Dinner at Zona 78


Best friends since high school

This weekend my friends and I took a little trip down to Tucson to stay at the Westin La Paloma resort. We all have such busy schedules that it is hard to get everyone together. I think we could all agree we needed to get away from every day life just for a day. We drove down there Saturday morning and spent some time by the pool. Then we had a nice dinner at Zona 78 before returning back to the hotel. The plan was to go out on the town but by the time our ride came to pick us up, we were too tired to go out. We are definitely not in our high school days anymore ;) This morning we had a nice breakfast out on the patio...the weather was PERFECT! 72 and breezy. We spent a little more time by the pool before we had to drive home. We had a blast and are going to try and make girls trips a regular thing every few months or so. Can't wait for the next trip!

Take Me Down to the Paradise City...

2011-03-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

In about an hour my family and I are off to Hawaii! I am beyond excited. I have never been there before and have only heard great things. I imagine it to be paradise. I can't wait to just lay on the beach and soak up the sun. My skin is looking forward to getting a little bit of color. It will be nice to spend a week with my family and not have to worry about the real world. I have a feeling I am not going to want to come back! I hope everyone has a nice and safe spring break! I will be taking a lot of pictures :)

Be Mine.

2011-02-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!! Valentine's Day has never been a big deal to me...just a Hallmark holiday. I, however, do appreciate it when I am in a relationship. I hope you all get spoiled by your boyfriends/husbands if you have one and if you don't, spoil yourselves :) Indulge in a box of chocolates, chick flicks, a massage...whatever makes you happy!

Thought of the day...

2011-02-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Fashion Challenged

2011-02-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been feeling that I have been a little fashion challenged. I feel that I have some fashion sense, but when I go to put outfits together, it never seems to work for me. I have decided that I would love to have a personal stylist. It is so hard to find clothes that fit my body sometimes, that it would be so nice to have someone that could help me put outfits together. A girl can dream, right?! I did come across a blog that offers styling consultations and they will even take you shopping to help you put outfits together...sounds like a dream come true :) I think I am going to ask for that for my birthday. It would be so much fun! I love to bargain shop too, so I will normally find random things that I love but sometimes have a hard time pairing them with other items. I decided I am going to officially stop buying cold-weather clothes and just focus on spring and summer, since 75% of the year is hot here anyway.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

This Valentine's Day, I will be in San Francisco! I am SO excited. I have never been to this city before but have been wanting to go for a long time. When my boyfriend asked me if I would be interested in going for Valentine's Day, there was no hesitation when I said yes! I have heard many great things about SF and cannot wait to experience it with Jason. We are staying in the Fisherman's Warf district, which I have heard is a great location. Some things I want to do are:


Try the amazing food I have heard about...

See Alcatraz


Check out Little Italy...LOVE Italian food :)


Have a drink at Bourbon & Branch, which is a bar from the prohibition.

There will definitely be many pictures to follow when we return! The first six months of this year are going to be packed with trips. Exactly a month from today, we are going to be in Maui. In April, my girlfriends and I are escaping for a weekend in Tucson; in May, we will be in Tahoe for Jason's U.S. Open qualifier, and in June will be Vegas for my sister's 21st birthday! Phew...I am going to be busy. I will hopefully find some time in there to work to pay for all of my vacations!

2010-09-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

Both of these pictures made me smile today. I was browsing this website and came across them. Not in the market for a nursery or baby any time soon, but loved the colors and decor in this nursery and thought the onesie was SO cute!!

remember...

2010-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when it seems as if everything is going wrong in life, we forget about how good we really have it. I love these facts and came across them again this morning. It is always a good reminder to be greatful for what we do have, instead of what we don't have :)

2010-09-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

The reason I was hesitant to start a blog in the first place is because I never really have anything interesting to say or post about my life. As a result, I just end up posting pictures and quotes that I find in cyberspace that I like. Every once and a while, there is something personal to talk about. On Tuesday, I got a bump removed from my leg and got three stitches. The Dr said that it probably isnt anything to worry about but they are sending it to be tested anyway. I am horrible with needles and shots and any kind of "surgery." I am so glad my mom was there with me. I felt like I was 12, but I would have had such a hard time without her.

Last night, my brother had a football game and they won 9-7. It was such an intense game! They played Desert Ridge, which is one of their rival high schools. It came down to less than a minute and DR had the ball and looked like they were about to score, when Highland intercepted the ball. It was very exciting! Grant just switched positions to full back and had some great blocks and even a couple catches!

I am so ready for it to cool off so I can do some stuff outside. It is just easier to exercise and get motivated when it is not 100 degrees outside! I am excited to be able to take Lily (the baby I watch 2x a week) on walks outside. It will also allow me to work on my golf game :)

2010-09-16T11:20:00.002-07:00

case of the mondays..

2010-09-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

As a result...I am just going to post some pictures that are making me happy today... :)

"The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
- Allan K. Chalmers

happy belated birthday...

2010-09-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

To my best friend Janelle! Her birthday was last Friday and I didn't have a chance to do a post, but I wanted to do a special birthday post for her :) I have known Janelle since I moved to Arizona nine years ago. I moved in right across the street from her and while it took me a little while to work up the nerve to go over to her house, once I did, there was no turning back. We have been best friends ever since! I don't have a ton of pictures on my computer of us, but I want to post a few that I do have...

Love you Janelle!!!!

thought of the day...

2010-09-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

fall.

2010-09-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

So it is officially fall, even though it doesn't feel like it. I think it will be another month or so until it truly feels like fall in Arizona. This is my favorite time of year. Just a few reasons why...

I get to watch football...

Especially these guys :)

Drink apple cider...

While wearing a hoodie..

The leaves will be changing...even if I have to drive 2 hours to see it happen...

And...carve pumpkins. There is something about squishing your hands inside a big pumpkin that reminds me of being a kid again :)

Audrey Hepburn's Top 3 Words of Wisdom

2010-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Audrey Hepburn is such a timeless beauty. Not only is she pretty, she is inspiring. I came across some quotes from her today and thought I'd share :)

1. Your outside is a reflection of the inner you.

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

2. Don’t worry what others are thinking about you.

“I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people’s minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.”

3. Finally getting something may not be all it’s cracked up to be.

“Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you’re exactly the same.”

{via}

jury duty

2010-08-26T11:01:00.001-07:00

(via)

Today I have jury duty. I had to call last night to find out if I had to report today. Sure enough, my group number was the last one to be said. The last time I had jury duty was in 2006, so I guess I am due. I actually got picked to be on the jury last time I went. It was a very interesting experience to see how the legal system works. Kind of what the old lady in the upper-right corner is thinking in the cartoon. :) The trial I was on was not very exciting, but it was still a cool experience. I got a summons to the Mesa court this time and actually got another summons to the Chandler court for next month. I don't think I will have to go to the one in September since I am going today. I think you only have to go every two years or something like that.Wish me luck!

quote of the day.

2010-08-24T10:55:00.001-07:00

The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see,
and knows what the mind cannot understand...

{via}

cooking organically

2010-08-23T10:51:00.001-07:00

One thing most people know about me or learn very quickly is that I LOVE food! I especially love sweets :) One of the goals I have set for myself is to try to cook more and to use organic ingredients. With such a busy and inconsistent schedule, it is so easy just to grab some food on the way home or to eat out. Besides draining my wallet, it is also detrimental to my health.

It is crazy to read the ingredients on many of the frozen and prepackaged food at the grocery store and realize I have no clue what 95% of the things are in the food I was eating. My rule of thumb is if a third-grader cannot pronounce the ingredient, you shouldn't be eating it :) It is definitely challenging to change your lifestyle when you are accustomed to living a certain way, but once you start eating more fruits and veggies and whole foods, you will feel so much better and have more energy. My goal is to plan a rough menu for the week of what I will eat so it will be easier and I won't have to try to think of something when I get home from work. Another thing that will help is to plan healthy snacks when you're on the go. There are a lot of recipes for the crock pot too which I love because it will be ready when I get home from work.

Many times people use the excuse that cooking organically is too expensive. The way I see it is, you can either pay a little more for good food now or you can pay for it in health bills later. I would rather pay a little more for the food now :) Chemical free skinny posted an article about buying organic on a budget and I thought it was very helpful. Here are their tips:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1-Eliminate all processed/prepackaged foods from your grocery cart. This will allow more available funds for healthy/organic items. Anything that is frozen is going to have preservatives in it that are very bad for you. More or less, only buy things that can eventually spoil.
…
2-Buy foods that you prepare and cook yourself rather than ‘convenience’ versions—they are far cheaper. (Example: buy individual salad ingredients rather than bags of packaged, pre-cut salad; buy blocks of cheese and a grater rather than bags of pre-shredded cheese, etc.) I used to do this all the time. It is so easy to see a bunch of cut-up fruit and buy that package. You can buy a small amount of cut-up watermelon for 2.49 or a large watermelon for .99...you just have to cut it up.
…
3-Invest in a good cookbook (used copies can be found online) and collect a file folder of recipes you find for free online. You can never have enough recipes. It is always fun to try new things. It is also fun to do a recipe exchange with friends :)
…
4-Avoid eating out (it’s expensive and unhealthy…most restaurants obtain their ingredients in bulk—ingredients that are frequently filled with potentially dangerous preservatives as well as colorings and additives) and instead invite your friends and family to potluck dinners of healthy/organic dishes. Now it is unreasonable that you will never eat out...the point here is to do it sparingly. When you do eat out, don't be afraid to ask how things are cooked or what is in a certain dish.
…
5-Take advantage of the times your local health food/organic store has specials on large shipments of fruits and vegetables. If you have a good supply of recipes you can save money by getting the fruits and veggies that are on sale because you will know what to do with them/how to prepare them. Farmers markets are also great for getting things in bulk for very cheap!
…
6-Make grains and beans a key part of your diet. They supply plenty of nutrients and can be purchased very cheaply in bulk. There are many delicious recipes that focus on both of these food groups.
…
7-Grow your own vegetables and herbs/seasonings. We have posted numerous pieces on how to do this including for people who have apartments or even a single room they are renting. Arizona is not the best place to grow your own garden, but I'm sure there are ways it can be done.
…
8-Check your area for community gardens and discounts with local farms. Many offer deep discounts for picking your own fruits and vegetables and/or volunteering a couple hours a month.
…
9-Make your own healthy/organic snacks and breakfast drinks rather than buying prepared versions. We have posted recipes for both so check our blog and watch for future postings. Once again, planning is key here. It is so easy to grab an unhealthy snack. If you plan ahead, you can have snacks handy that are healthy.
…
10-Use the recipes we have posted on this blog to make your own grooming products like shampoo, conditioner, facial wash, masks, etc. Not only are these organic versions chemical-free and healthier for you but you will save a significant amount of money that can be put towards your organic food budget.

thoughts of the day..

2010-08-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Images found: {here} & {here}

Today in church, a couple spoke who were once worth 8 million dollars...they are now worth {negative} 2 million dollars. It was very humbling to hear them talk about going from having it all, to having very little. They said they learned that it is not how much you have in the bank that matters, but it is your relationship with your family, friends and God that is what is truly important. Time goes by so fast that many times, we forget to stop and think about the simple things we have, which when it comes down to it, are the most important. I know I take many things for granted that I shouldn't. Like they said, in twenty-five years, it will not matter what car you drove to drop your kids off at soccer practice or how big the house was that you lived in. Those things are temporary. I need to remind myself of this more often. Most people like nice things...I know I do; however, those things do not define us as humans. The next time you are having a hard day and nothing seems to be going right, take a moment to appreciate the little things. It will put everything back into perspective. :)

Happy Sunday lovelies!!

Charlie St. Cloud

2010-08-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

I saw the movie, Charlie St. Cloud the other day and much to my surprise, it was actually decent. I did not have high hopes because it did not get very good reviews. I was not a huge Zac Efron fan before I saw the movie, but he definitely grew on me. I thought his younger brother Sam was so adorable. If anyone saw the previews, you knew that Sam was going to die. I was just waiting for the tears to start coming and sure enough, they did. The whole movie I was wondering where it was filmed because it was absolutely beautiful. I actually had to look it up really quick while I was watching it because I had to know. It turns out it was filmed in Vancouver, Canada. I have decided that I have to go there someday.

How BEAUTIFUL is this place....

I would like to go there in the summer AND winter so I can get a taste of both seasons. Who wants to take me?!

xoxo,

Some things never change

2010-08-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

"Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends."


The girls at Oregano's

I love how I am still close with all of my friends from High School. So many people are shocked to know that we all still get together on a regular basis. It is so much fun to have regular girl's nights out and catch up with everyone and to talk about what is going on in our hectic lives. Hallie is going to be welcoming a baby girl into the world in October and I can't wait to meet her! It is going to be so much fun having a friend with a baby to spoil. Ava, we can't wait for your arrival :)

Smile Mon

2010-08-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Like I said here, I recently went on a trip to the Bahamas. We went to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and Great Stirrup Cay. I didn't know water that clear even existed!

This is the view from our hotel room in Miami, where our cruise left from. There was a nice rain storm followed by this beautiful rainbow :)


Reading in the hammock


Pretty Florida sunset

First night on the ship

Such a pretty view!

Hanging out at the beach...we rented a mat and some snorkel gear so we switched off floating and snorkeling. I have never seen so many pretty fish! We meant to get an underwater camera, but forgot :(

In Freeport, we did some shopping and hung out at the beach. They had a store with all kinds of knock-off purses and jewelry and I couldn't believe how much they were trying to sell them for! A fake Coach bag was going for $250 when you could buy a brand-new one for that price. I wondered if tourists who had no clue bought them hoping they were getting a good deal.

This is our ship...The Norwegian Sky. There was always so much to do on-board. One night we did a pub crawl...

This is the guy who lead the pub crawl...he was crazy! He wore this crazy pink hat. We had to go to five different bars on the ship where they had drinks waiting for us to pretty much chug. Needless to say, by the end of the night we weren't feeling so well!

Jason and I on the pub crawl. We had to come up with fake names. He was "Dirk D" and I was "Kandy Kane"...don't ask :)


This was our last port-of-call. This is Great Stirrup Cay, which is the cruise line's private island. They had a BBQ and all kinds of activities for us that day.

We had a blast on our trip! We got to go to so many places in such a short amount of time. We flew into Jacksonville and then drove to Orlando. From there, we went to Tampa to visit Jason's grandmother. After Tampa, we went to Punta Gorda and stayed right by the water. From there, we went to Miami where we left on the cruise. After we got back from the cruise, we drove to Savannah, Georgia, where Jason had his ten-year high school reunion. Coincidentally, that was a dinner cruise also :) He had fun catching up with all of his old friends and I got to meet all kinds of people!

xoxo,

A few things...

2010-08-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

Making me happy today:

What is making you happy today?

I'm BACK!

2010-08-09T15:16:00.002-07:00

I drove up to Flagstaff yesterday in my new convertible to meet my boyfriend who was already up there. I rode along as he golfed at Forest Highlands, a really nice private golf course. I had so much fun caddying, reading and just enjoying the day. It was an amazing 73 degrees. We even got sprinkled on towards the end of the round. Today we caught the morning practice of the Cardinals and got to get a little sneak-peek of what we have to look forward to in the coming months. I am pretty hopeful for the team this year! Leinart doesn't look too bad and the 2nd string quarterback, Derek Anderson is also looking good! I am so excited for FOOTBALL!! It is so nice being about to drive two hours to such a pretty place with the temperature being 30 degrees cooler than the valley.

I haven't blogged in, oh... 5 MONTHS! I feel like I have so much to catch up on but instead of trying to do that, I am just going to make it my goal to be a more regular blogger. We did have an awesome vacation last month to Florida and the Bahamas. I will definitely put up a few pictures from that trip :) I am so ready for summer to be over and for the weather to cool off. Every summer I swear it will be my last in Arizona but then October rolls around and I totally forget about sweating my butt off in May-June-July-August. Hope all my blog friends are doing well :)
I leave you with this...

"Remember, life is not what happens to you, but what you make of what happens to you. Everyone dies, but not everyone fully lives."
-Anonymous-

Take me out to the ball game....

2010-03-03T20:19:00.003-07:00

March is finally here....Spring training kicked off today. I am so excited!! I love this time of year and having so many teams within a 45-minute radius. I really hope the Cubs will stay in Mesa. It is looking pretty good as of now but Florida really wants them. There is always so much controversy when it comes to building a new sports complex that costs millions of dollars. We'll see what happens! Bring on the 75-degree days and baseball pants ;)

Cart Girl of the Month

2010-02-03T15:13:00.003-07:00

Look for me in this month's Avid Golfer magazine. I was the "Cart Girl of the Month" for the month of February. I had my photo shoot out at Whirlwind today and it was really fun! I hope the pictures turn out well :) It is not a largely circulated magazine but it will still be cool to be in it! I will post pictures when I get them back!

MIA

2010-02-03T15:06:00.003-07:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted! I have been neglecting my blog but I'm not sure if anyone reads it anyway, so it's not that big of a deal! Ha ha. Nothing new or interesting has really been going on in my life. One of my best friends, Jenna got married in November. It was a beautiful wedding and I am so happy for her and her new hubby Neil. Christmas came and gone way too fast like it does every year. Now here we are in 2010. I remember the year 1999 when everyone was scared for what was going to happen in year 2000! I hope this is a great year and I made a few new year's resolutions for myself including the reoccurring "work-out more" and "eat healthier". I also hope to volunteer more of my free time to people in need whether it be at a soup kitchen or at an orphanage. This year is going to consist of a lot of traveling--yay!! First stop is North Carolina to visit Jason's brother, sister-in-law and nephew. I am really excited because we haven't seen them for a while! We are also planning on going to Vegas this month for a couple days, Florida in May, Minnesota in June, and a cruise/ Jason's 10-year high school reunion in July! It is looking like a busy year so far! Bring it on 2010!!

thought of the day #1

2009-11-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

stop and smell the flowers.

2009-11-10T13:42:00.004-07:00

Today I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure and afterwards I got a pork salad from Costa Vida. Favorite lunch spot evvverrr :) I realized how thankful I am for my job because it makes me appreciate my days off even more. Tomorrow we are having a huge MLB tournament that Justin Upton and Torii Hunter are hosting. Justin Upton is my favorite baseball player so I am really excited to meet him! I hope he is a nice guy or it will ruin it for me. November is a crazy month at the golf course so I am enjoying it while I can! Now I am going to go conquer my pile of laundry...sigh...
Hope everyone has a great day :)

from old to new.

2009-11-07T18:05:00.008-07:00

"Thrift was never more necessary in the world's history than it is today."

~Francis H. Sisson~

So remember my post the other day about my Goodwill finds? Well here are two of the things I got and finished the other day. I bought these two stools for $4 and $9 respectively. I thought the blue one was pretty cool since it was hand-painted but just didn't fit in with my decor at home. I decided to paint them both black. I know that is boring, but I am happy with the end result. I bought an electric hand sander from Wal Mart for $40 so this project was a little bit more expensive than I would have liked, but the sander will come in handy for many future projects and save a lot of time. It was pretty hard trying to sand the horizontal bars on the stools and I am sure I could have done a better job with more patience, but I was so excited to get done.

BEFORE #1

BEFORE #2

AFTER!

These stools fit perfectly at my bar counter. I have been waiting to find stools for this space because I would not pay $35/$40 for a plain wooden stool from Target. I guess this goes to show that patience is a virtue (maybe I should take my own advice when sanding!) :) I am going to finish the end table I bought on my next day off. I am so excited to get started on that also!

when i wish upon a star...

2009-11-07T17:59:00.003-07:00

"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to purse them"

-Walt Disney

{photo via papertissue}

One person's junk is another's treasure...

2009-11-05T16:21:00.002-07:00

Everyone knows how much of a bargain/thrift shopper I am. I had a couple great finds at Goodwill the other day. I am going to dedicate tomorrow as my project day since it is my day off. Stay tuned for some before/after pictures. I can't wait to see how everything turns out!!

Halloween--Vegas Style

2009-11-05T16:02:00.009-07:00

This past weekend I went to Vegas for Jenna's bachelorette party. We had a great time! It is always so fun to spend time with just the girls and catch up with every one. I can't believe one of my best friends is getting married in less than a month. I am going to be the old maid of the group ;) I did not have much luck gambling on this trip but Janelle and I did have a fun time playing roulette! I am so lucky to have such a great group of friends. Us girls at the airport before leaving for Vegas

Me and the beautiful bride in our limo on the way to the hotelJanelle, Hal, Sarah and I at Jet in the MirageAmanda and I getting ready to go out on Halloween night
(I didn't get pics of everyone's costumes, but we did have: Batman, Robin, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Army girl, Sandy from Grease, Schoolgirl, and Sailor girl)Our last day--the trip went by way too fast!

2009-10-10T12:14:00.002-07:00

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

making memories.

2009-09-23T20:09:00.008-07:00

I have been so bad at keeping up with my blog lately. I blame it on all of my traveling :) I went to Balitmore, MD and Washington, D.C. and two days later flew to Green Bay to go to a Green Bay Packers game. Both trips were so much fun! Pictures will be up shortly. This is a crazy week. Work is busy and I have bachelorette partying to do on Saturday night which I cannot wait for! Then one of my bff's birthdays is on Sunday! Happy early birthday Jenna!! ♥

I bought this workout DVD today! (Thanks to Audrey for the recommendation). I can't wait to start it. I have heard it is amazing!! This is hopefully going to get me into shape for Vegas for Halloween for Jenna's bach party! So many exciting things going on in the next few months :)

2009-09-05T18:41:00.004-07:00

Tonight is the start of ASU football! Football is my favorite sport. I love everything about it. I love getting all bundled up to go to games and drinking hot chocolate. (When it gets cold enough in AZ). I love the atmosphere at the games; especially ASU games because there are so many students and fans that go. ASU plays Idaho St. tonight and they are favored to win. Hopefully they will be pretty good this year! My boyfriend's favorite team is the Green Bay Packers and we are going to watch a game at Lambeau two weeks from Sunday. We are really excited!

Let's go DEVILS!!

Please hurry.

2009-09-04T08:18:00.005-07:00

This is what I want right now. FALL. Changing leaves. Pretty colors. I know I will have to drive or fly somewhere else to see these things since they are pretty much nonexistent in the desert. Maybe I will get a glimpse of the beginning of fall when I go to Baltimore and DC in a couple weeks. I like living in Arizona but I sure miss living in the Midwest and getting four seasons. I miss jumping in big piles of leaves and finding ladybugs. I miss making snow forts. I miss the spring showers and beautiful flowers. (Hey, that rhymes!) Maybe one day I will be able to move somewhere to experience these things again. I would love for my kids to have some of the same memories that I have from my childhood. ♥

{photo via papertissue}

practice random acts of kindness.

2009-09-02T18:48:00.003-07:00

“The best way you can cheer yourself up is to cheer someone else up”

- MARK TWAIN

Every day I try to think of something nice I can do for someone else. It doesn't have to be anything big, just something thoughtful. Nothing feels better than knowing you made someone smile and made their day just a little better. :)

he's a keeper.

2009-09-01T20:04:00.003-07:00

i don't know how i got so lucky to end up with such a great boyfriend. he is the funniest person i know; i can always count on him to make me smile and cheer me up if i am having a bad day- not to mention he does laundry, cooks, does the dishes and walks the dog. life is good. :)

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!

2009-08-31T09:41:00.010-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Jason and I took a last-minute trip to Vegas. We got a place through his timeshare really cheap for a week. We left AZ Sunday afternoon and stayed til Wednesday. We had a BLAST!! Most of our time was spent in the casinos. I concluded from the trip that while we both had our share of wins and losses, Jason is overall much luckier than I am :) On Tuesday, we were at Planet Hollywood playing video poker and I had surprisingly, gotten on a roll and Jason had lost quite a few hands in a row. He decided to stop playing max credits for a while so he could make his money last a little longer. Well what do you know, he hits a ROYAL FLUSH! He was so bummed because what should have been $1,000 ended up being around $120 since he was not playing max credits. I am sure he would not have hit the royal flush had he been playing max credits, but you still want to kick yourself! A little later in the day, we went to another casino and I had run out of my allocated funds for the day and Jason was winning so he handed me $20 to play on my game. After losing about $19 in 3 minutes, I was down to 3 credits (I think 5 was the max). This was my next spin...

We couldn't believe it! Not only did we hit ONE royal flush not playing max credits, we hit TWO not playing max credits! I'm sure you can imagine our frustration! Even though I didn't win the $1,000 that I would have won had I been playing max credits, we still won $180. Being the sweet boyfriend that he is, Jason let me keep $100 of it to use the rest of the day since I didn't want to lose any more money.

Other than our casino escapades, we were able to go see the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage. It was SO cool! It was the first Cirque du Soleil show I had ever been to and it did not disappoint. It is amazing to me the talents that some people have! Since cameras were not allowed in the theatre, I could not take any pictures. :( After the show, we went to The Bank at the Bellagio for a little bit. We just love to people watch so we had fun! We saw the professional poker player, Phil Ivey along with Kevin Garnett and Chauncey Billups.

At The Bank

Waiting for the free shuttle to take us to the strip

♥ Paris ♥
(Someday, I will go to the REAL Paris)
♥ After Beatles Love ♥

We also played golf one day at The Badlands. It was one of the hardest courses I have ever played but it was a lot of fun! Definitely target golf which I seem to have issues with a lot of the time. My favorite part was seeing all the beautiful houses along the golf courses and counting their chimneys. I think one house had 7 fireplaces. I always wonder what the owners of massive homes like those do for a living.

One of my favorite houses on the course.

J doing what he does best :)

Posing :)Me and my love!

2009-08-26T15:29:00.002-07:00

This is my first post! I am still trying to get the hang of everything on here. It seems really complicated but I am sure I will figure everything out soon enough! I have wanted to start a blog for a while and I am finally doing it. If anyone has any helpful hints or advice, let me know :)