Just checking in to share some bad news.  I dropped my camera bag, and somehow the 2’ drop hit my kit lens just right to break it :(  I had been thinking of upgrading so it wasn’t too disappointing, but I still haven’t been able to pull the trigger yet.  So many options!  That means there will be very little project updates until I get something to take pictures with.

In other news, I turned 30 over the weekend!  I decided to go big and Mike and I, along with some family and friends, flew to Las Vegas to celebrate!

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This was the first time I had been, and Mike hadn’t been since he was a teenager with his family, (a much different kind of Vegas trip for sure).  I didn’t take too many photos – I was too busy taking in everything, but here are some of the memorable things we did.

FOOD

I had done a lot of research about where to eat and it paid off, the food was awesome!  My sister, Mike, and I went to Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan for brunch one day, and it was one of the best buffets I’ve ever been too.

Why yes, that is bone marrow and a beet salad with vanilla crème fraîche.

Mike and I snuck away from the group on Saturday, my actual birthday, for lunch at Giada at The Cromwell.  It.was.amazing!  Seriously, so good.  We ate a lighter fare, and Mike’s smaller sandwich allowed him to help me devour these tenderloin sliders and zucchini scapecce.

The server was so sweet, and even though we were too full for a full dessert, brought out a special birthday plate with homemade cookies.

The view was great and we were able to watch some of the afternoon Bellagio fountain shows.

Sidenote: I loved the open, airy feel of the restaurant.  Lots of white and natural tones.  Not to mention the cork and copper placemats.  I’ve got some cork laying around, now I’ve got some ideas!

We had reservations at Spago in the Forum Shops at Caesars.  We were surprised by the small portions, but they were actually pretty filling, and for once we didn’t overindulge to the point of being uncomfortable.  Contrary to the photos above I don’t usually take food photos, but everything was soo good!

Mike had the agnolotti, morels, and a goat cheese foam.

SIGHTS

My favorite was just walking up and down the Strip. 

Seeing all the iconic sights, like The Bellagio fountains, was really neat.

My favorite though, was Paris.  My sister asked if it was similar to the real place, which I visited years ago, and it really did have a Parisian feel.  I tried to describe how even the bus stations are fancy over there, and they did a decent job of making it nice without being too kitschy.

We also took a bus up to Freemont Street and walked around, drank and gambled

That’s pretty much what we did the whole weekend, walked around, drank and gambled, and generally tried to see as much as we could of the area in two and a half days.

After dinner on Saturday we saw the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity. It was adults only, and was really good. Sexy, funny, and some crazy stunts!

The weather in Northeast Ohio hasn’t been great and it was only mid 50’s when we left.  Surprisingly, Vegas wasn’t that much better.  I mean it was mid 70’s, but Saturday it rained and I thought the town was going to shut down.  Our cabbie couldn’t remember the last time it rained there.

I didn’t mind the cooler weather since walking 10-15 miles a day isn’t ideal in 90 degree heat, but I do wish we were able to lay out by the pool for a bit. 

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend, and definitely a birthday that I’m not easily going to forget!