Las Vegas

We just got back from Vegas and it was a blast!

Before I tell you all about it,

can I just say, I am one proud wife.

I am blessed with the man God gave me to marry! {Amen}

As you know, the reason I got to go on this lovely escape to Vegas

was because my husband had a convention to attend.

He not only attended, but was a keynote speaker. 

I was blessed to watch him as he presented to the convention,

and let me tell you, I have one fine man!

Alex did a wonderful job presenting,

{shhh! don't tell anyone, but it was his first speaking engagement.}

I know he put a lot of work into this presentation and 

was probably the most nervous I have ever seen him 

but it all really paid off.

There was quite a buzz of kind remarks after his presentation and throughout the rest of the evening.

In fact, one person even suggested that he come speak at this convention every year.

While husband was being professional the first half of the week, 

I was fortunate enough to lay by the pool.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood and this was my view.

View from pool at Planet Hollywood

The first couple of nights my father was actually in town. 

We mainly went sightseeing and ate good food.

Here are lots of pictures. 

Sorry they are not the best. 

We brought a camera but did not use it. Typical.

We relied solely on our phones, which is not the best quality

and certainly doesn't do Vegas justice.

Chocolate Flowers in the Aria Hotel

Easter Bunnies in the Aria Hotel

Dale Chihuly ceiling in the Bellagio Hotel 

Bellagio Hotel

Conservatory in the Bellagio Hotel

Conservatory in the Bellagio Hotel

Handsome Hubs in front of Paris Hotel

Cinnamon Crepe at Mon Ami Gabi, Paris Hotel

Alex being a Star Wars {geek} fan.

 Tuesday night we partook in the very interactive Blue Man Group show.

It was hilarious and we really enjoyed it.

Since Al was presenting the next morning, 

it was great comic relief to ease his nerves.

Posing with a Blue Man, Venetian Hotel

SURPRISE: Second row seats for Blue Man Group

Did you know the Blue Men were friends with Leonardo?
Learn something new everyday ;)

After the show, we went for a gondola ride in the hotel.

It was quite romantic, especially when our gondolier sang us a song. 

Gondola Ride inside the Venetian Hotel

Wednesday was mainly consumed with work.

I accompanied Alex during the morning and then we got lunch together

at Hard Rock Cafe.

Isn't this salad the prettiest you have ever seen?

The "anit-cobb" at Hard Rock Cafe

 Later that night we attended a business dinner at Mesa,

Bobby Flay's restaurant in Caesar's Palace.

It was good, but really I left pining to take home the dining chairs.

I don't know if you can see them that well, 

but they were red leather {not white} and had cowhide on the back.

{I know what you are thinking,

  but Taylor, you are a vegetarian, 

how could you like chairs with cowhide on them? 

The answer has everything to do with nostalgia 

and deserves its own post on a later date}

 Thursday was really special.

We got massages to celebrate Alex's good job at the convention

{Being the great wife that I am, I also got a massage

to demonstrate how fully supportive I am.}

We relaxed most of the day and then headed to the south side of the strip to do more sightseeing.

We ended our venture at the MGM Hotel.

There we ate one of the most fabulous dinners at Craftsteak.

For all you Top Chef fans, that is Tom Colicchio's restaurant.

It was AH-MAZING!

Then we went to see the Cirque de Soleil's Ka.

It was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

Funny thing is, both Al and I had trouble adjusting to the time change {3 hours}

and after eating such a large meal, were in what I like to call a food coma...

...we both kept dosing off during the show. 

How one does that when there are fireworks on stage,

I am not really sure, but we managed to both fall asleep at some point

 during the most amazing show we have ever seen.

M&M Store

Jellybean Statue of Liberty, New York, NY Hotel

World's Largest Gummy Bear
{That thing is bigger than my face!}

Statue of Liberty, New York, NY Hotel

Hieroglyphic column, Luxor Hotel

Entrance, Luxor Hotel

Sphinx, Luxor Hotel

Luxor Hotel

MGM Hotel

Lions, MGM Hotel

I have to admit,

I liked Vegas much more than I thought I would.

It certainly helped that we were there Monday-Friday and not on the weekend.

The shows were really fun and the food pretty much knocked my socks off.

I couldn't believe how rich the strip was with "art history"!

I can't wait to share some of the photos with my students,

especially of Caesar's Palace and the Luxor Hotel.

While I thoroughly enjoyed myself,

I also can't say in all honesty I am eager to return.

I just don't have the stamina for a place like that.