It was Everything I thought It would Be...

Bringing the Fun

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Right...except in our case, anything that happened in Vegas really can't be told, repeated or delivered to truly express how much fun it was.  That's not because there were scandalous deeds that went down, but rather the non-stop laughing and girl time, really cannot be expressed to give anyone a true picture of how great this trip was. 

You had to be there.

I will try, however, and tell you a little bit about it...you know the stuff I can actually tell you. Those who follow us on FB, you saw some of our pics, so you got a glimpse into the weekend. It was sunny and hot and perfect. It was jammed packed with fun sun activities.  I didn't gamble even a $1.  We slept very little and drank quite a bit of vodka. We ate gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free muffins on the same day we ate cheese filled pizza. We wore sparkles. We took as long as we wanted to get ready. We had a party room. We played loud music.  We did not have tickle fights in our underwear. We didn't get any tattoos and there were never any tigers in our rooms.  We met cowboys, brides, and bachelors.  And, we laughed pretty much the entire time.

Who doesn't like meeting real-life cowboys?



In case you were curious, he's a champion too.

 

That's us with the happy newly hitched in Vegas couple.  Salut!

 

To me, celebrating any birthday (a big one or small one) is fantastic reason to celebrate all that is good in life. Family, friends, good health, having all you need and enjoying the one thing that will always be more important than things...our relationships with each other.  The gift of our relationships is better than any gift I could ever receive. The most important things in life, aren't things.



All ready to hit Sin City.

The girls that went on this trip were the perfect ones to go.  It's not to say that we wouldn't welcome more girls into our wolf pack because we would. And, to be totally honest, our wolf pack is a darn amazing wolf pack. To quote my sister, "We bring the fun!" It's true, we do bring the fun. More than fun or more than whatever fun means to you, these girls were perfect.  Everyone got it. There wasn't anyone who didn't get it or didn't want to be a part of the fun.  It worked perfectly.  And, it was fantabulous. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I don't know if I can ever thank these girls enough for going with me!

More fun being brought.
 

2013. Well played. I had a feeling about you.  So far, so great! 

We mean serious fun.

Vegas Quick Hits:

• Robert Baker of Southwest Airlines. Simply put: You ROCK. Absolutely made our flight out the best flight ever. 

Robert brings the fun (and self-tanner) too.

• No sleep, waking up hungover and/or having a blotchy sunburn = small prices to pay for a good time.

I love the sun. She melts.  All-time BFF's anyway.

• We stayed in room Eleventy058.
• Dancing with a very little bit of bumping and grinding then jumping = the only way I will ever dance again.

Little bit of bumping and whole lot of jumping

• Super sick is a great way to describe many things...including a cabana at a rocking pool party.

Bday Cabana - why I think we will.

• Totes adorbs is a perfectly acceptable way to describe anything that is totes adorbs.

Totes adorbs, of course!

• No matter how you feel about your body, someone has a body that is "better" and someone has a body that is "worse".  Love yourself. Be healthy. And, exercise!

Be healthy!!

• The water show at the Bellagio is so freaking cool no matter how many times you see it.

Always rocks.

• At one point, I was holding 5 purses. None of which were mine.  I had a peak into the world of our boyfs..and it really wasn't that bad.

5 purses and a light stick.  Yes that's me.

• Drinking vodka with seltzer water really does help with hydration. The seltzer was free. The vodka on the other hand was $475 a bottle, perhaps that's why I was going through (I mean holding) 5 purses.  #vegasprices

 

Vodka with ice that lit up, seltzer and a splash of cran = delicious.
For $475 a bottle we took that ice light home with us. Don't you dare judge.

• Vitamin B12 smells awful.  However, its powers relative to helping with hangovers seem to be worth enduring the smell.
• Is it just us, or has the song of the summer yet TBD? Where's our Call Me Maybe 2013? For now we threw it back to Put your Hands up in the Air. Everyone's hands look super hot in the air when dance jumping.
• If I had a green thumb, I'm certain my flowers would look like just like the gardens in the Bellagio.  #nodoubtaboutit

Inviting and beautiful, exactly like mine would be.

• While there were stars in Vegas for the Billboard awards, we only saw Ed Sheeran.  He was cool and even though I had already captured his pic by taking a sassy pic of my sis, he was nice enough to actually take a pic with us.  I'm certain he realized that...we bring the fun.

He had to know about the fun we bring, just look at that face.

• Photo bombing is a favorite pass-time for one bestie. Can you guess which one?

A good photo-bomb always makes for fun!

• This past weekend was the kick-off to celebrating summer.  Let the fun continue!!!

Best. Friends. Ever.

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Readers!! Enjoy the kickoff to summer! Play, get outside, be safe, have fun and love out loud!!!

xo~

The Effects of Sun Worshipping & Other Random Wednesday Things

This is exactly what I have. Glad to finally know.

Happy Mid-Week!  I can see why we celebration this day...half-way through the workweek and a little bit closer to the weekend.  Well done Wednesday.

Due to my condition as described above, yesterday, I spent a little time with my new BFF, Hulya. (Hulya's Holistic Medispa) I'm healthy and so grateful to be the age I am. I really have no issue with it.  However, I'm not exactly growing old without putting up a fight. I'm going to age gracefully surrounded by an army of modern forces charged with maintaining the glow of my youth.

Don't worry, I'm not going Joan Rivers or anything. The plan is to control things I can control, like diet and exercise, and to regularly maintain items that will slow the process, keep my skin healthy and fresh and combat the mistakes of my youth. See also: endless SPF 4 sunbathing in the 90's on the beaches of OC made for great scope pics but lead to old lady skin. And, Sunset Tanning...I curse you.

Hulya is heaven sent. Call her! She's got a fix for most everything.  Be advised though, the fix isn't exactly cost-free in terms of dollars and/or immediate results and/or looks the day of treatment. You get what you pay for - always people- and it looks way worse before it gets better.  No make-up at all for 12 hours after a face treatment. OK, not awful, but certainly not something this girl does.  Not wearing make-up is NOT an option. I wear make-up to walk the dog. True story. Wearing make-up is like using the same kind of very specific gel pen daily. It is just how it is.  Accept it. I do.

Yesterday, I had laser treatments on "brown spots" (P.S. How gross is that?) caused by sun damage.  It wasn't painful but to look at me, you'd think I got in a fight with barbed wire and lost. It's not pretty. What's also not pretty? Having dinner plans with the new boy on the same day you spent time at the shop getting this work done. Not awesome. They aren't supposed to know the exact lengths we go to to look effortlessly put together and stunning. #Fail. Last night, if a beekeepers outfit was fashionable, that 's what I would have gone with. Alas, we know it's not so I wore a hat, a scarf, long sleeves, and jeans. FYI, he said he "didn't" notice and also said I looked beautiful. Aw...you have to love the courting stage, right?

In the end, I'm going to be very happy with the results.  I've read that many reformed sun-worshippers just like me have had great results and now use SPF 30 on the regular.  The spots go away and skin looks refreshed and beautiful. I'm one treatment down...so I'll be sure to provide blog updates if you are curious to see how happy I am after all 4 treatments.



New story of my new-anti-sun-worshipping-life = Regular sunscreen application.

Other randoms things for today...in random order.

• Justin Timberlake - Did you write Mirror for me?  If so, well done. I knew somewhere deep in your heart you knew of my love for you and if stupid Jessica hadn't been there, we would have a had a fighting chance.  Love that song.
• Michael Kors - I love you. I hate you. I love you. In that order. No joke. I feel these emotions each and every time I get an email from you. And, when I walk into your store filled with beautiful, young, tan, smoking hot as well as nice, helpful and adorable sales girls drenched in your fashions, I'm an emotional roller coaster.

This dress. I want it. BAD.

• Mariah Carey & Miguel - I've been down on Mariah for a while.  Aside from having the best Christmas album ever she's been a mess to me.  After the Glitter debacle, she did redeem herself (slightly) with the Emancipation of Mimi about 8 years ago . And yes, it's true, I do want to know if she and Jenny from the Block shower in Botox to maintain their age-defying youthful appearance. But I still hold her dreadful fashion choices against her and AI has done nothing to increase my love of her. Her new song with Miguel, Beautiful is pretty good though. Miguel's Sure Thing holds a special place in my heart. Mariah does have a beautiful singing voice and I give credit where credit is due. Nice job you two.
• Hootie - I've always liked you. Now that you are practically the only black person in country music I like you more. Your Pier 6 show should kill it.  However, Wagon Wheel...I'm over it. I really don't like that song, no matter how happy the theme may be.
• Mother Nature - Kindly pull your shit together. It's May 8th. April showers were to have ended and the temperature should be a warm 70+ degrees.  I'm really getting tired of asking.  Please do what we all know you can do and stat. And, thank you.
• Taylor Swift - We will see you Sunday! 5 little girls and 5 big girls are super excited. Also, your Highway Don't Care video with Tim McGraw (hello fitness God) and Keith Urban (your tattoos are so great) is fantabulous.  Very moving. Nice job trio.
• Las Vegas - We are 9 days away from what promises to be an a-mazing trip. In checking out the advance weather forecast, you are already delivering on your end of the weather deal.  Can't wait to see you in person!
• Southwest Airlines - If you wanna toss in some free bday drinks for me and my 8 friends, we won't complain at all.  To anyone on our flight next Friday, be advised, these girls get out once a year for a girls trip. Prepare for fun.
• Kenny Chesney - Adios to Jost, know the feeling well. We'll be there in a little over a month. You really know how to speak to me.  Well done my island-loving-friend-in-my-dreams-but-I-want-you-to-be-my-real-friend, friend. Hope to see you there.
• My sister - FINALLY has an iPhone and a breakfast dress.  Two things she's long desired.  Both should change her life and make it all the better. This is makes me happy for her.
• Target - I've missed you. I've spent much less time with you than I have in the past.  Not sure what that's about, but know when you move to Canton, we will be BFF's again.  I still love you, in case you were wondering or in case you missed me too.

Anyone got anything else noteworthy on this Wednesday?

Happy Happy Happy!

xo~

It's Summertime in My Book

Family Vacation Caribbean Style Summer 2011

As anyone who knows me even a very tiny bit knows, I love the summer.  There is nothing I don't like about it.  As far as I'm concerned, Memorial Day weekend is the official start of summer and Labor Day is a day of mourning.  Come Memorial Day your winter clothes are packed away and we can pretend we may never need them again. The pools are open! It's the weekend I look forward to the moment the football season is over.  It's the best!

I've thought about this a lot and know not everyone feels the same. For me, here some of the reasons I love everything about this glorious time of year...

Daylight savings!!!!!!!!!!!!  Staying light until 9:30...yes, please, absolutely, it's amazing...how can we make this happen longer?

Heat and Humidity - Yes that is correct, I said humidity.  That fantastic feeling when you leave your house or a restaurant at 10:30 at night and it's still 85 degrees and humid.  The air is close and heavy and your skin is dewy.  You can walk to get ice cream (another bonus) in the warm night air.

Summer Concerts - A country show at Pier 6 or Merriweather cannot be beat on a warm night.  Pier 6 cheap seats are the best...bring your own snacks and wine and you have a very inexpensive summer concert party. Next country show, come join us for a great time.

VACATIONS to the beach - No summer is complete without at least one week long trip to the beach.  Actually I'd go so far to say that no summer is complete without at least 3 beach vacations...one to somewhere wonderful, like the Caribbean, one to Fenwick Island and one to Dewey Beach.  All fabulous and all a must.  The feeling of warm sand between your toes is a must of every summer. To make the experience even better, stay on the beach until 7:00 pm one day. Don't rush to dinner...stay and enjoy the setting sun...if you've been to the beach with me, you know you have to drag me off.

 Anguilla Summer 2011

Grilling Out - You can grill everything in the summer...burgers, dogs, chicken, steak, veggies, avocado, crabs (maybe not on the grill but steamed in a pot connected to the grill), breads, fish, you name it. Everything tastes better grilled too.

Tan Skin - I know I know, tan skin is a sign of skin damage and causes wrinkles...but frankly I don't care.  Tan skin just looks better. Plus the sun is the best source of Vitamin D. As my Favorite Friend says, feeling the sun on your face is feeling God's kisses. I feel better with a tan, I feel like I look better and I'm OK with that...in moderation of course and not on my face...bronzer only.  Nobody wants to look like tanning mom.



Me and my Fave Friend - Vegas 2010

 Fruits and Veggies - Summer peaches...you know the kind where you bite into them and the juice rolls out and down you hand.  They are sweet and heavenly. Anything locally grown is so good it's almost indescribable...corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe, melons, cucumbers, beans. And a lot of fruit stands offer snowballs...an added bonus.  I'll take mine with marshmallow on top.

Don't let its location on the list fool you into thinking it's anywhere but on the top, Summer Fashion - Sunglasses, sundresses, beach hair, swim suits, shorts, jean skirts, tanks, flip flops, sun kissed highlights, white skirts/pants, fun hats, and wedge sandals, all complimented with sparkle lotion = Fantabulous!

Tiki Bars - The ability to sit outside on the water (or close to the water or using a hut constructed for the sole purpose of giving the illusion of island living) is something only the summer has to offer (unless you live somewhere it's warm all year).  Tiki drinks, like crushes, margaritas and sweet tea anything only serve to compliment this already superb experience.

Tiki Bar at Harpoon Hannah's Summer 2011

Summer Smells & Sights - Honeysuckle, fresh cut grass, food grilling, salty air, fireflies, chlorine, Coppertone suntan lotion, fresh basil, sunsets on the beach, softball games, a thriving garden full of vegetables, a campfire and smores....just to name a few.

Everyday is a reason to have Happy Hour - Enough said. :-)

Free Will Boat Trip Summer 2011 ~ Happy Hour

I rave about summer all the time. So much so that I'm pretty sure I get on other people's nerves.  But, simply put, it makes me happy.  It makes me want to celebrate life.  When I'm happy, I can't help but talk about it and I can't help but want to celebrate!

Did I miss anything on the list?

xo~Elizabeth

On the wall of Da Vida Restaurant - Anguilla Summer 2011