It's My Birthday and I'll fly if I want to......

 Me, on my 41st birthday

I was singing this on our way to the airport last Friday.  It goes to the tune of "it's my party and I'll cry if I want to."  But before I get to that, I know that some of you are just dying to know if I got everything on my to-do list done.  

Drumroll, please...........

No.

But before you all get sad and bummed out for me I need to let you know that I got everything done (including the pedicure, yay me!) except for the Diet Coke from Sonic.  That wasn't good for me anyway, right?  So it's like it turned out even better. 

So i got all the stuff on my list done by 12:30 a.m. the following day. And then I went to bed.
\
And then I woke up 3 1/2 hours later to shower and get ready for my flight to Las Vegas. I mean, normally i'd skip the shower and say, "who cares" but it was my birthday after all and a girl needs to look h-o-t on her birthday, right?  Yep!

When we arrived at my friend Sarah's house at 5:15 in the morning i was all giddiness.  School girl, giddy. I just get that way when i'm going to fly on a plane.  Seriously, it was the best birthday ever all because of the plane ride.  Well, and the fact that I was going somewhere about 20 degrees warmer and i was seeing friends and that I would probably get to see a fake Elvis. 

I did see a fake Elvis. 

And I also saw the Hoover Dam, at sunset which was even more awe inspiring and beautiful than normal. 

 Making a wish while throwing our coins over the side on the Nevada/Arizona border

And I saw two Chihuly glass sculptures.  Amazing!!!!

Chihuly glass ceiling at the Bellagio

I ate at Cafe Rio.....twice and in doing so filled up my frequent diner card so that the next time I go I will get a free Pork Salad.  It's taken me three years to fill that card. Not bad considering the closest one is 10 hours away.

Sarah, outside of Cafe Rio

I went to Freed's Bakery, a Las Vegas legend.  I got a slice of the wedding cake and some assorted cookies.  The cake is as good as Rachael Ray claims it is. 

 

 Wedding Cake is upper right-hand corner

I had a bite of my sister's cheesecake (middle left) and I think it was the best cheesecake I've ever had.

For dinner one night we went to Serendipity 3 and although my barbecue chicken pizza was tasty, it couldn't compare to the icy goodness of their signature treat, the Frozen Hot Chocolate.  Wow!......

I have a cousin that lives in Vegas and so a visit with her was imperative.  And since my sister was with me as well it was really fun for the three of us to laugh over stories from growing up.  I didn't remember that I had shown my young cousins such scary movies as "Nightmare on Elm Street" that apparently gave them nightmares for years after. Sorry, Alisa.

Oh, and my favorite meal you ask?  "Olives" in the Bellagio.  It was the one place we ate at that wasn't planned.  We got off the plane on Friday and we were hungry so we looked up some places to go on Krista's iPhone and this place looked promising.  It didn't disappoint any of us, it was a sensory experience for our taste buds. I really wish I would have taken pictures of the food but we ate it all up so fast there wasn't time.  We sat on the balcony and it felt like we were in an italian cafe.  They did some testing of the water show while we were seated which was really cool.

And speaking of the Bellagio, that is one amazing hotel and casino.  We are talking high class, gorgeous, shiny, and amazing deals in the gift shop!  I bought Adidas exercise clothes there for cheap. I guess plus size women don't go to the Bellagio to exercise.  There is also the world's largest chocolate fountain, the botanical garden, the Chihuly glass sculptures, the water show in front of the hotel and people watching.  And this is all the stuff you can do for free. 

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit at the Bellagio Botanical garden

And no, I did not leave Las Vegas without gambling.  I spent a whole dollar at the Flamingo playing penny slots. Did you know Donny and Marie have a show there?  And then when I was at the airport flying home I spent $2 more playing "Wheel of Fortune" slots.  I'm a big spender!

Tiffanie hosted us and was so generous in driving us everywhere and supplying Diet Coke for Krista and I.  If it weren't for her we wouldn't have had this amazing weekend.  I can't wait to go back!