Vegas | The Re-cap

Ok – Vegas. Where do I even start?

The Convention was outstanding. I learned so much and met so many great people, including two new Fair besties…

But I know you don’t want to hear about the convention workshops and networking events. You want to hear about everything else! (Even though I did teach a workshop, win some awards, etc.)

So please excuse this little photo dump. A week in Vegas is A LONG ASS TIME, so I have lots to show/tell you!

If you don't want to go all the way through here are the highlights: I went to the Frankie Ballard concert, had my first Blogger Date and did a 5K with my best friend!

Monday night of convention I went to a Young Professionals mixer which took us first to the Cosmopolitan Chandelier Bar and then I tagged along with two new friends to Gilley’s at Treasure Island where we proceeded to party the night away at the NFR after party there. I had a BLAST but we didn’t get home till 4:30 and I was dead to the world the next day at the convention. I made it too all my workshops but I had to take the night off and sit in my hotel bed regretting the past night’s whiskey shots and watching Modern Family and the VS Fashion Show. Night wasted in Vegas? Maybe. But I needed to recover!

So Tuesday was a wash but Wednesday night was AMAZING! We went and saw Frankie Ballard for FREE at the Mirage. They put on free country concerts there every night of the rodeo after they show a live feed of the rodeo. We went there a couple nights to check it out and watch.

You can see the rodeo up on the big screens.

You guys, I can't say enough about Frankie Ballard. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to and we were front row for free! He looked right at me! He was such a fun lively performer, it was even worth the 4 hour wait!

Thursday I had some time to kill and what better way than checking out the Bellagio Conservatory Christmas display (I'll do a whole post on that later) and then my very first BLOGGER DATE! I met up with Katie from Chalk It Up to Better Luck who lives down in Las Vegas. She recommended Hash House A-Go-Go where we met and the food was out of this world (in portion size as well!). It was so fun to meet another blogger who I talk to all the time. It's so different meeting them in person, yet conversation flowed so easily! Big thanks for Katie for taking time out of her day to meet up with me!

Just a little teaser of Christmas in the Bellagio Conservatory!

This was my Fried Chicken Benedict. It was SO amazing. 3 meals worth too!

Blogger Date!

 Thursday afternoon I walked around the strip a bit and then got picked up by my best friend's little brother. I was stuck with him till my friend flew in on Friday night, but I have to say it was a great two days! He took me to his favorite bar and grill for fish tacos and then we went out with two of his friends that came into town for a wedding. Between his two friends, and me and Whitney, it was a very full (and intoxicated) 2 bedroom apartment for the weekend!

These were the hooligans I spent Thursday night and Friday with

some of the aftermath...

Finally the moment arrived and my bestie landed in Sin City!!!! We went straight for In-N-Out for dinner, grabbed some neccessities at Walmart and then headed to the local hang out. I don't know how it gets so late in Vegas (probably because nothing closes) but once again we found ourselves rolling in around 4 AM!

Having some fun at P.T.'s, a local place where I spent Thursday and Friday night.

We could not miss the main event on Saturday though. So we got ourselves up, adorned ourselves with our light up, ugly sweaters, and made it to the Las Vegas Rockin' Reindeer Run!

Let's be honest - we didn't run that much. We had been drinking till 4 in the morning the night prior. But we made it and had a blast walking the course and spreading Christmas cheer with our sparkling sweaters and antlers!

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key. We took a nap and then headed to the Primm outlet mall where we hit Kate Spade, Coach Factory, Banana Republic, Fossil and more. We capped the night off with a soak in the hot tub. It was a great way to end the week. Then it was up early Sunday to fly home - truely horrific lines at the airport - but that's a different story.

Overall I can't really say I had the "Vegas" experience. I gambled all of a dollar and really only drank heavily one night. There were no strippers or crazies to mention, just a great week with great people in the city that never sleeps - and I feel like I didn't the whole time I was there.

I may elaborate on the convention, the Conservatory and the Reindeer Run later (or I might not), but till then - peace out Vegas!

TTFN,