When You Wake Up in Vegas

So I’ve been to Vegas twice this year. Does this make me an expert on the town? Obviously not. But I still enjoy giving out tid bits of information that I think will help any other poor souls survive the streets of Sin City…

1. Don’t book a flight that requires you to get up at 3:15 in the morning. Especially if you don’t sleep well on planes. If you haven’t slept on a plane the last few times you’ve flown- it’s not happening this time. When I arrived in Vegas at 9:00 that morning (their time- 11:00 Chicago time) I was exhausted, but others were already there when I got in, so I was “on the go” from the first few minutes of walking into MGM (our hotel). Because of the time change, this resulted in me being up for a total of 28 hours straight. NOT recommended. It causes wrinkles. I swear.

2. If you’re already being semi-cliche by going to Vegas to do a bachelor/bachelorette (because who wouldn’t want to?), try to be original on the festivities. Enter our Katy Perry-themed night:Sure- everyone loves a good pink feather boa and condom veil (well- maybe not everyone). But we were set at a table next to another bachelorette that did that. And who had more guys come up to talk to us and offer drinks?

Imagine me and 9 other girls in my group pointing thumbs towards ourselves. THESE GIRLS!

Plus, if you do anything stupid, not one soul in that hotel is going to recognize you the next day. Not that any of us would know about this…

3. The buddy system is an awesome idea in theory. But not always easily practiced. Especially in such a huge club like the Marquee in the Cosmopoliton. One girl ended up at Planet Hollywood afterwards because she thought that’s where everyone else was heading. Two girls ended up on a service elevator and walking through the kitchen. And that must be how I ended up walking home solo on Friday night (I was fine!) and stuck sitting in front of my hotel door for who knows how long because I did not possess one of the 2 keys we had (whoopsies). Security does not like this. And it’s also very had to have a serious debate when you’re wearing a pink wig at 4:30 in the morning.

4. Red Bull is gross. As is McDonald’s breakfast. But both are a perfect way to start your morning (separately, not together) before heading to Wet Republic- a pool bar at MGM where we knew some peeps with a cabana.5. Hanging out in a cabana the entire time will deprive you of that fabulous Vegas tan you were hoping for. FAIL. However, after all this 60-degree weather Chicago is dealing me, I loved every second of chillin’ in the 90-degree shade.

6. Biggest douchebag awards will always go to the dude with Jersey Shore haircut making it rain dollar bills into the pool. So, um, don’t do that. Although a few swifty-taken chlorine-soaked dollar bills went towards my second round of McDonald’s breakfast the next day…

7. Pool toys are fun:There’s actually a story behind the masks- I’m not sure how we acquired them the year some of us lived together, but they were often broken out to scare people who were at an afterbar at our house for the first time. It was like a hazing process.

8. Dancing is fun. Dancing to live performances is even more fun:IYAZ came and hung out when we were at Vanity in the  Hard Rock Hotel. Randomly awesome.

9. The perfect way to end your vacation/start your detox is gelato.After my fiasco of having to go to the airport, get my flight cancelled, and having to go back to the hotel (about half the girls were staying an extra night), I was done-zo. As was one of the others. The idea of putting any more vodka in our systems was a no-go, so we went with gelato instead.

White chocolate was a good choice.

10. Being organized is a good idea.However, we could have used about 3 or 4 entire bottles of alcohol less. Because you can’t pack them back into your bag when you’re only flying with carry-on. I guess we were just really excited. Oh well. I just wish we had saved the extra cash. So we could do something with it. Like make it rain at the pool?

All in all, it was a good bonding experience for the girls. Can’t wait for Miss Mary’s wedding reception…I heart this girl! 

Oh and here’s a freebie foodie tip for ya…

It’s not really a secret that I’m not a fan of Starbuck’s. I think it’s bitter coffee that is horrifically overpriced. And they have lackluster food (I heart you, Panera!). So on my last day, when I couldn’t do another McSkillet or McGriddle or other McCalorie-fest, I chose to try Starbuck’s “perfect oatmeal” for the first time.Yes. I totally stood with my McDonald’s coffee in the line for Starbucks. I think the girl in the logo shed a tear when I did it. And you wanna know how much they charged me for that “perfect oatmeal” in the MGM Grand hotel? $4. $4! I paid $4 for what I could have made at home for a quarter.

And I sat and ate my oatmeal that should have had gold flakes sprinkled on top. What did I think? It was ok.

But I totally make it better.

The End.

100 Words Saturday: Rest Day Edition

Friday nights dancing with the girls are fun.Friday nights spent dancing to the tunes of these dudes with the girls are even better:By default, I’m making this a rest day. Dancing is exhausting.

At some point, I’ll be joining the land of the living again. Mostly to pick up a red box and return to my cave.

I have, however, been productive in getting productive for my move next month.

As in, I’ve weeded out my closet a little and have a bag of clothes waiting to be dragged to Goodwill.

Baby steps.

Happy weekend!

First Baseball Weekend In Wrigleyville

Good afternoon.It was an extra-large-cup-o-coffee kind of morning.

I would imagine most people who participate in Opening weekend would agree.

Oh and do you see that awesome spot on my table? That happened last summer- don’t leave a bottle of sun tan lotion sit on your table for a day. Especially if you don’t realize the cap was open and it leaked… because it will eat the finish on the new table you just bought a few months earlier.

Anyway, on to more pressing issues.

Like who’s the smart one that schedules a Saturday baseball game at noon?

Really?If you were out in Wrigleyville, you may have seen me and some of my cohorts in action (even Megan joined in on the fun!). We were the group of delinquents eating nachos at The Stretch, hiding out at Murphy’s Bleachers, eating more nachos and dancing at Casey Moran’s or starting the dance party back at The Stretch.

We like nachos. And we like to dance.

Obviously.

So I’m quite tired today. May have been less tired had we not ran to catch a train and watched it pull away as we got through the doors. And then had to wait an hour for the next one…

We’re really good at that.

As you can see, I elected to spend the day in Wrigleyville and pass up my long run. Still feeling good after my little workout on Thursday night, so we’re going to do a little more running/cross-training today and tomorrow. Just not push it. And still take an extra day or two of rest. Annoying but necessary.

Luckily, as last week passed, I started to get much better at enjoying my sudden free time.

Which is easy to do in good company. On Friday, my good friend Annie and I decided to get together for a lazy night in with wine and a red box.And pizza… don’t forget the pizza…

She requested homemade pizza made by yours truly, and she took care of the salad.

Team work.

Anyway, it’s about time to get moving and try to enjoy the end of my weekend. Laters!

Rockin’ Out

Hey kids!  How are you this fine day?

I’m a little anxious.  Because this is gonna be me in a short period of time:It can’t avoid it any longer.  Off to the mall I go to battle the crazies.

And who am I kidding?  For me, it would be a good idea to wear the helmet anyways in daily life.  I’m a walking catastrophe.

But before I battle the crowds to get into holiday spirit, here’s a quick recap of what I’ve been up to this weekend.

Friday night wine night.Mon and I watched Sex and the City.  Notice the theme we were rockin’? We like to think we’re cute like that.

I woke up to snow.  Lots and lots of snow.  As in, I’m pretty sure it didn’t stop snowing at all yesterday.

Since I didn’t have much to do (thanks weather…), I made it a super long gym day.  The Shred happened early- because I knew it wouldn’t happen later on.  Plans to do it (or any strength training in general) kept getting pushed back almost all last week.  Not feeling the weight training lately.

What can I say?  This girl is a cardio junkie at heart.  As evidenced by my 5 miles that I rocked out yesterday.  Really only 4 were planned.  I was running it at a relaxed pace (8:45) the entire time, but wasn’t tired when I stopped to walk.  So what else is a crazy girl with nothing else going on to do?  Run another one.  Duh.

I also continued my belief that breakfast all day is a good thing:Hey look at my Christmas mug I’m rockin’? The snowman represents the fact that outside it was snowing.  

Did I mention it snowed ALL DAY?

 Of course the show must go on!We dug a car out of the snow and went back to Cubby Bear North- the scene of the crime from our random Thursday night happy hour(s).

What can I say?  We like to rock out to Rod Tuffcurls.For real.  As in we like to get up and be stupid on the dance floor.  I’m wondering how long it’s going to take for the band to judge us.

My guess?  Not long. I’ve got no rhythm.  And it’s obvious.

*Sigh.

What’s your favorite song to rock out to?  I won’t judge- the crazier, the better!

You should totally see me break out the “running man” to “500 Miles” by The Proclaimers.  Ok, maybe you’ll never see it (no pictures please!), but I bet you can imagine it. 

Time to get this show on the road.  Have a good Sunday!

And where’s my helmet??

A Little Bit Country… A Little Bit Rock and Roll

It’s been confirmed- not only is pizza generally a bad idea before a run, but I wasn’t the only one who didn’t um… digest it well.  Jaime reported similar findings.  We’ll just chalk that one up to an all-around fail.

Anyways, I’m sort of with you guys where breaking it up wasn’t ideal.  Another weekend where the long run didn’t happen… dang. 

But it’s not like I don’t have SUPER important stuff going on.  I mean seriously… it’s the middle of October and I hadn’t acquired the most important fall item of them all. BAM.  Now I have a pumpkin.  Stare at it while you can because it’ll be massacred into seeds and roasted pumpkin (cross your fingers) by this evening.

Jaime and her husband and I went to Didier Farms yesterday to celebrate all that is fall.  And all that is country-ish.Jaime and I had been excited about this place all week.  Mostly because there’s a kid inside both of us that needs to be exercised.  Little Jaime and Little Amy sometimes need out to play.  And at this place, they flourished.  Little Amy also got back to her roots:This farm girl’s still got it! 

After the petting zoo, we checked out the corn maze…Got lost ONLY once or twice…We found our way out eventually.  And then made way to the pumpkin patch to select a few winners…For some reason, we were under the impression that this would be an actual patch (maybe because of the picture on the website???).  We were a little sad it wasn’t, but are still pretty happy with what we ended up with!Oh but the fun doesn’t stop there, ya’ll…

Some girls got together to have a proper ladies night at Durty Nellie’s!  Look at those dolla’ bills… clearly I’m a baller.

Sure, they’re not Rod Tuffcurls and the Benchpress, but Rock Candy was pretty fun to see.They were fun, but I do have to say most of what they play is the current Top 40.  So it was a bit like spending an hour in my car on the drive home.  Without commercials.We were working it out on the dance floor.  Not as much as the man rockin’ out the zebra polo behind us, but still…

Because we danced ourselves up into a tizzy, we were quite famished on the way home.  So a pit stop at our friendly neighborhood Denny’s was in order.  At 3:00 in the morning, the hardest decision of the night was made.What should we order???You can’t go wrong with buffalo chicken.  Ever.

And that’s what I’m leaving you with today.  I think I need a walk.  And a little hydration. 

Enjoy your Sunday!