A couple weeks ago, I was invited to attend a press launch party for Swagg. It was going to be making it’s debut in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronic Show. And we all know how much I love Vegas and being asked to attend as press for such a big event was pretty exciting for me. I was praying the incoming snow storm wouldn’t ruin my plans.

Luckily, my flight still managed to take off and four hours later, I arrived in sunny, warm Las Vegas.

I stripped off my winter coat and hurried over to the Hard Rock Hotel where I would be staying for the night. I’ve never been to, let alone stayed, at the Hard Rock because it’s just off the strip but it was a really cool hotel. I had a killer room in Paradise Tower with a great corner view and the most luxurious bed I’ve ever been in.

(I also may or may not have a slightly drunk video tour of it on my camera that I may or may not upload later)

Later that night, I got dolled up in a pretty purple and black dress and made my way down to Body English for the press party. I mingled with some people, drank quite a few tequila filled drinks, seen Kara from American Idol and grabbed a press kit. I made my way over to The Joint because there was suppose to be a VIP Kid Rock concert there. Personally, not a fan of his but Khloe Kardashian was going to be there and I basically wanted to drink shots with her because she’s freaking crazy.

BUT

I got a message on Facebook from a friend who lives about 15 minutes away from me that I haven’t seen in a couple years that he was in Vegas as well. I ditched out Kid Rock and any hopes of getting hammered with Khloe in favor of heading over to the MGM Grand to meet up with Mark.

While I was waiting for him to find me, I sat just outside of the lion habitat (and was very upset they had gone to sleep) and was hit on by two Russian dudes in their 60s. Then Mark called and I walked away in the middle of their what I’m assuming was a plan to kidnap the really drunk girl from Chicago who was very sad the lions had gone inside. The rest of the night involved me playing slots with his money, him feeding me gin and tonics, Burger King, O’Sheas and a failed attempt at frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity 3. Probably lots of ridiculous conversation of which I remember bits and pieces. And who knows what else happened.

I eventually made my way back to the Hard Rock to catch a few hours of sleep. But my phone kept ringing and I guess people in Chicago thought it would be awesome to call me around 8 which is like 5 in Vegas. Then Mark texted me to tell me he was just getting in at 5:45 so lunch the next day was probably out and then the alarm in the room burst into my short lived dreams with Mexican music at 6.

Vegas did not want me to sleep. But who am I to argue with Vegas? When it calls, you listen.

I dragged myself out of bed slightly hungover, got ready for the day, packed my new gifted goodies in my already over packed bag, checked out and headed to the strip. Amazingly, I did not burst into flames when I finally seen the sunlight and decided to take a look at the newly opened Aria which was stunning. I walked the shops in Planet Hollywood, lunched in Caesar’s and finally got my hands on a frozen hot chocolate. Hit the slots again as I waited for my car and made my way back to the airport.

And that my friends, is how you do 26 hours in Vegas.

(I mean if you HAVE keep all your teeth, not find a baby in your closet and wake up with no tigers in your bathroom sans Bradley Cooper’s hot ass in a suit)

(but it could have been infinitely better had I had a suited up Bradley Cooper)

(many, many thanks to Swagg, Mark and tequila for an amazing time in Vegas!)

All photo from the lovely and talented Allie Osmar. See the rest here.

And it was totally worth the wait.

Our seats were dead center and absolutely amazing. Well, the stage was round in the intimate theater but I’m assuming based on props, we were technically in front of the stage. But really there was not a bad seat in the house. The images were projected onto screens and the speakers built into the seats just heightened the experience.

It was really more of an experience than a show. The colors, the costumes, the attention to detail and just the overall energy was radiating. I really don’t think I stopped smiling through the whole show. There was so much going on, I could barely focus. It was total sensory overload but in the best way possible.

I’ve only ever seen one Cirque show before which was a bit more acrobatic than this one. I feel LOVE was a bit more dancey. Is dancey a word? Whatever, well that’s what it was! There were still the wires and the rope climbing and the skills that must take incredible amounts of strength like in Here Comes the Sun.

(yes, the are sitting cross legged and still managing to hold on to the rope)

I can’t even imagine the planning that went into creating a show like this. It was so aesthetically beautiful and flowed perfectly with the music, costumes, make up and the sets. The audience participation was very cool and surprising.

When it comes down to it, the whole show was amazing. I would see it again and again if I had the opportunity. As soon as I walked out I sent a text to William saying, when we go back to Vegas he has to see it and that I wanted to see it again. It was fun and full of energy. Even if I wasn’t a Beatles fan, I think I would have loved it.

If you ever find yourself in Las Vegas, definitely go see LOVE. I’m so happy I finally got to experience it. It was everything I expected plus so, so much more.

]]> http://jamieann.net/2009/06/17/cirque-du-soleil-love/feed/ 19 http://jamieann.net/2009/06/09/vegas-dolphins-ed-deline-dudes-falling-off-escalators/ http://jamieann.net/2009/06/09/vegas-dolphins-ed-deline-dudes-falling-off-escalators/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:55:15 +0000 admin http://jamieann.net/?p=1288

I don’t even really know where to begin in talking about this trip because it still doesn’t feel like it really happened. I’ll update again with some photos once I steal some from people.

Highlights:

Two Chicago girls and myself hopped on a plane to Vegas.

Add 1 lovely and stylish Canadian blogger to this room and you have the perfect roommate situation.

Walk 22 bloggers deep down to Caesar’s Palace where they are having dinner.

Tear yourself away from conversation with a Mr. 5280 about how there is no vagina at the buffet.

(What?)

Then off to see LOVE (full review soon!) followed up by a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity 3.

The next morning, sleep late and hit the pool. Sneak in your favorite Katelin and her fiancee, Matt (who is so awesome). 

Next up is lunch (at 5PM, obviously) in the Venetian at San Marco Enoteca. Smashed potatoes, four cheese pizza and homemade peach gelato? Do you even need me to say how good that was?

Happy hour at Zefferino with everyone. This is where I proceeded to have a lot of wine and got a bit drunk.

People love Edie.

100 high fives.

One drunk phone call later talking about “OMG there are fucking dolphins!”, the Montecito, dudes who fall off 2 story escalators and my DJ cred. (the inspiration for this title obviously)

Waking up to early the next day and hitting the pennies with the lovely E.P.

Then said goodbye to most of my new IRL friends. That was much harder than I thought it would be.

A delicious champagne brunch buffet at the Bellagio with the girls, Katelin and Matt.

Then capping off a Vegas trip later that night with dinner at Stack in the Mirage with Amanda. Truffled penne pasta, tomato soup and grilled cheese and creme brulee? Fixed price menus are awesome.

26  people who just so happen to meet on the internets take over Las Vegas and there are no serial killers, train wrecks or drama?

I’m going to call that a success. 

P.S. This was probably the most amazing weekend ever. I loved everyone I got to meet and cannot wait for us to all get together again. Because let’s face it? We will be getting together again soon. It just has to happen.

P.P.S. Vegas > Chicago.

If you need me, you can find me working on a tan and sipping on margaritas poolside at the Luxor.

Bye!

What started as two awesome 20somethings twittering, turned into a a magical brainstorming phone call and from there it turned into a ridiculous meet-up of 20+ twenty-somethings taking over Las Vegas the first weekend in June.

I’m going to Vegas this weekend. I’m sure you will be seeing that a lot around blogs and twitter. You’re probably already sick of hearing about it.

Whatever, don’t ruin my fun. I’m psyched.

Besides the obvious of hookers and blow, I need some suggestions of what to hit up this time. I’ve been there twice before but there is a lot of Vegas to cover. I’ll be seeing LOVE so I have shows down so let’s talk food and other stuff! I’m so far from ballin’ right now so let’s be reasonable but I’m not above a splurge or two.

What’s your favorite spot in Vegas? Food recommendations?

P.S. If unflattering photos of me wandering around the strip or lounging by the pool looking all whaleish show up online, I will kill you.
P.P.S. I’m not kidding.
P.P.P.S. You will be dead before you can think of logging into Facebook to start tagging.

]]> http://jamieann.net/2009/05/31/vegas-to-dos/feed/ 23 http://jamieann.net/2008/10/13/vegas/ http://jamieann.net/2008/10/13/vegas/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:47:54 +0000 Jamie http://ohhowlovely.net/?p=579 I’ve been majorly slacking. Normally, I have posts written for all, well most, of my blogs and scheduled to go. I believe this is what we call Vegas brain. I have a serious case of it.

Returning to the real world is just not as fun as slot machines, walking the strip, plotting ways to break into shops in the Forums, planning out exactly how you are going to worm your way through Mariah Carey’s entourage and hang out with that crazy bitch.

Seriously, Chicago has nothing on Las Vegas!

After a ridiculous flight in sitting in front of three freshly 21 year olds, I wanted to kill myself. No, really, I wanted to bust out the window next to me and squeeze my big ass out of it in flight because they were so amazingly annoying that I didn’t even this this kind of annoying existed. First, I had to listen to them plot out how they were going to bring down the casino a la 21 and practice counting cards. Then I had to listen to this kid sing the same part of Paper Planes over and over very loudly. After which, dealt with him kicking my seat repeatedly. The lone girl in the group would moan because they were being annoying but she was just as annoying with her moaning. Throw in a chorus of GO, DJ! THAT’S MY DJ! and some fake vomiting sounds, I was about ready to jump over the back of my seat and murder them.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood this time which was a great choice. Our room was Macaulay Culking themed. Of course, one would expect Home Alone but it was Getting Even With Dad, complete with a tshirt little he wore during filming. There is nothing like waking up to Macaulay as soon as you open your eyes. Okay, it was kind of creepy. I loved our hotel, Planet Dailies has great food and a ginormous ice cream sundae that we unfortunately didn’t have a chance to get this time, the mall was right next to us which was quite convenient. Our first walk through the casino and William spots Vanilla Ice playing craps. I was very tempted to go up and ask him for a photo but he was surrounded by tons of dudes and I wasn’t about to be the one female all up in that.

making our way to the Fashion Show mall near the Wynn and Treasure Island

That night we decide to hit up Tao in the Venetian. This place was kind of ridiculous. If you do clubs and happen to be in Las Vegas, make this your first stop. I will recommend not buying a new pair of heels hours before you go because they will murder your feet and you will spend the whole night withering in pain but still trying to enjoy yourself. That place is definitely on my list of places to go back to with proper footwear. This totally wouldn’t had happened if I had my adorable peep toe shoes that mysteriously disappeared

If you are a buffet person, check out the Wynn. They had everything you could possibly imagine. The chicken noodle soup was so so soooo good. The had a make your own pasta bar. Seafood, sushi, Italian, Mexican, fried chicken, bacon cut from the slab, everything. The dessert bar was crazy! Definitely go there.

Next time I go to Las Vegas, I want to stay in the Palms. We went their one night to check out Moon, Ghostbar and the Playboy club. Moon was shut down for an event which sucked but we made our way into Playboy. The dj played good music, the vibe was cool. I really liked it. We ended up practically shutting the place down so we didn’t get a chance to go to Ghostbar.

My favorite casino hands down was Paris. I loved the inside of it! Mon Ami Gabi is on my list of places to go to next time.

I took this photo sitting on the steps outside of our hotel

We went to Caesar’s Palace because I wanted to go look at the Forum shops. I’m pretty sure I could live in there. I may or may not have been pressed up against the glass of Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Fendi looking longingly at beautiful things. I also found out that night that Mariah Carey would be hosting the Bank at the Bellagio. I was this close to trying to talk boyfriend into going because I LOVE Mariah. Daydream was the first cd I ever owned and it’s been a love affair since even when she was passing out popsicles in a big tshirt on TRL.

In the Venetian, we went on a gondola and were serenaded by our gondolier. We were also stared at and had our photos taken by many a tourist which was kind of creepy.  We caught the fountains at the Bellagio many times since it was right across the street from our hotel. My favorite time was when it went along with Sinatra.

I didn’t take a lot of pictures because I was just enjoying myself and forgot about the camera but there are a couple more over at my flickr.

All I know is, I’m ready to go back.

Now.

]]> http://jamieann.net/2008/10/13/vegas/feed/ 34 http://jamieann.net/2008/10/08/playing-catch-up-is-hard-work/ http://jamieann.net/2008/10/08/playing-catch-up-is-hard-work/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:51:29 +0000 Jamie http://ohhowlovely.net/?p=561 I overslept today. My reader is at a billion. I have so much admin work to do on the shopping blog. Class! I’m exhausted. My brain hurts.

But I’m back. Did you miss me? Did I miss anything?!

I had an AMAZING time in Las Vegas and almost didn’t come back. I have a ton to write about and a few pictures. Sorry, I was totally slacking on the photo front. I have my poor feet to care for. I feel like I can sleep for three days!

Highlights:
- Vanilla Ice playing craps 5 feet away from me
- Tao
- the food!
- our Macauley Caulkin room (what?)
- Paris
- getting serenaded on a gondola

Low Lights:
- buying new heels and attempting to wear them to the club
- my feet feeling like they are going to fall off
- the bandaids…oh, the bandaids
- spending $75 on those bitch ass uncomfortable heels that tore my feet up

In Blog News:
- Thanks Katelin and Amanda for guest posting! You girls are awesome and I love you both.
- My shopping blog is now on Alltop! So is Umm…Now What? Yay!
- a new giveaway at the the shopping blog as well
- a bunch of posts of mine up at Rone Break

So go check those things out while I try to process my ridiculous weekend!

This weekend I’ll be living it up in Sin City. I’ve been itching to get back there since the first time I went in December, I was really sick and didn’t get to do it up right. Come Saturday, I plan on being well and so far from sicky that I will bathe in orange juice and live in a bubble until I step foot on that airplane if need be. A weekend vacation could not be any more needed right now!

Of course this means, last minute Vegas preparations because I can’t go there looking like a hot mess. This means a haircut is in order. If you have been reading this blog long enough, you know what a big sissy I am when it comes to my hair. I HATE haircuts and will let it grow out for over 6 months before I’ll go get a trim and I wait until the very last minute to see if I can get an appointment. Hopefully today when I call, my stylist and hair guru, Mary, can fit me in on Friday. Also, since I’m bringing in boyfriend to get his haircut, I hope I get a sweet discount for referring him!

I briefly asked this on twitter yesterday but since more of you read this than my twitter I’ll pose the question here as well.

What are must do/see/eats in Vegas?

GO!

P.S. Umm…Now What? is looking for guest posters.
P.P.S. I’m talking about 5 1/2 inch heel-less boots over at Rone Break. Fashion forward or fashion flop?
P.P.P.S. This girl is in need of a new hair straightener. If you enter this contest, I hope you give it to me if you win!

which housed these cute little guys:

aww, they were playing!

the day we left, from out hotel room window:

Blogger meet up in Las Vegas? Y/N?