The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

No Kids Allowed and Why I Love this Idea

I first posted this exactly a year ago today after reading an article that supports idea. My views haven't changed, though with my kids being a year older and a year more mature, I might edit the time-out from 6:15 to 7pm. But what works for one dosen't necessarily work for the masses.  Read on and 'Like' if you agree!!!

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I love my kids. In fact, they are my world. I take them everywhere and have since the day they were born. As a result, they have wonderfully mature palettes (mussels anyone?) and are typically very well-behaved in public places.

Typically.

But not always.  And when they melt down in public or talk in outside voices when we're inside a restaurant or (heaven forbid) on an airplane, I may or may not look around and give onlookers that please-pardon-my-kids-they-weren't-raised-in-the-jungle look or the would-you-bear-with-me-while-I-find-a-way-to-shut-these-damn-kids-up eyes.  But you know, I don't find myself squirming with embarassment all that often because I'm aware of when it's appropriate to have kids with me and when they need to stay home.

Are you?  While you may think you have the world's most fabulous offspring, if you're taking them to dinner after the time they're usually tucked into bed, chances are you're in for a real shitstorm, as are the nice folks at the next table.  When I leave my kids at home for an adult night out, I don't really want to hear kids, yours or mine, crying at the next table.

No offense.

When I read this article entitled, The Kids Aren't Alright, in AdWeek today, I almost stood up and gave a standing ovation.  Because as much as I love kids, both yours and mine (or whatever), there's a time and a place for everything.

So here's my spiel:  restaurants - almost any restaurant on earth, from McDonald's to Morton's, are fair game for kids who can sit still for the amount of time it takes to order, eat, and pay.  The caveat?  Be out by 6:15pm.  If you're craving sushi from Nobu and you're traveling with your mini-me's, be there when they open the doors at 5:45 so you and your noise can be gone by the time the grown-ups arrive to eat $100 sushi.  Fair enough, right? 

Movie theatres - simple.  Kids won't be seen and not heard and you're not seeing Winnie the Pooh?  Take off. 

Airplanes.  Ah, airplanes.  I defy you to find me a parent who doesn't dread an upcoming flight with kids.  I've been there, I'm sure you have too.  Honestly, there's not much you can do about an unruly kid on a plane except this is is one those times when bribery is not only an acceptable parenting method, it's preferable.  Parents -  bring candy, gum, snacks, DVD's, and as many new toys as you can fit in your carry-on.  Anything they're not allowed at home - BRING IT.  You might not be doing your kids any favors in the short-term, but think about all the fury you'll be saved from enduring when neighboring passengers don't want to kick your (and your kids) asses right off the plane.

The AdWeek article talks about an airline that has a new "no babies allowed" rule in first-class.  My thoughts are why would babies be allowed in first-class like, ever?  Why is this a new rule?  And adults-only vacation destinations aren't anything new.  Sandals Resorts has had a no-kids rule since it opened.  Many hotels around the world have adults-only pools.  Even as a mom, I found myself seeking them out on my last trip to Vegas.  Don't take this the wrong way, but for three days I just didn't want to be around any kids, yours or mine.  There are plenty of fabulous vacations to choose from if you want to bring kids.  In fact, if you think about it, with all the travel options geared toward families, it really is a kid's world. 

My last thought is geared toward those parents of kids who notoriously run around restaurants, can't sit still on a flight any longer than 20 minutes, and who chatter non-stop from previews to credits - in a few years it'll be fair game again and you won't have to deal with dirty looks from strangers.  But until then, please, Mom and Dad, leave the kids at home.

Into the Wild - A Review

I saw the 2007 movie, Into the Wild, this past weekend.  It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of true stories about things I would never attempt myself, and as I was going through the movies playing On Demand, I recalled a point in the Aaron Ralston book where he mentioned being inspired by the story of Christopher McCandless, the protagonist in Into the Wild.  So I got comfortable, ordered in sushi, and hit Buy on my remote.  Ironically, the movie was listed in the Summer Reading section of my guide; books I could never seem to get through when they were required reading.  These days I'm pretty sure three quarters of my books would qualify.  

Anyhow.

The movie is about a kid who graduates college and almost immediately after the big day, donates his life savings to Oxfam, gets rid of almost all his worldly possessions, and takes off to travel across the country with little to no plan.  After assuming a new name, "Alex Supertramp", Chris begins his journey, making pit stops along the way to earn enough cash to get him to his next destination, and making connections with people that he meets.

The relationships Chris makes are actually one of the most poignant parts of the film.  Though what we see is just a snippet of what had to have been a huge experience, the connections we do see are intense, and viable.  People seem to be attracted to this kid everywhere he goes, and while he is living on the cusp of society where people are not as integrated and harried as they would be in a city setting, the generosity and friendliness of the folks he meets along the way is spellbinding.  It's these relationships that make this story so interesting, since Chris's ultimate goal is to venture to Alaska and live alone, in the wild.  The irony of this piece was not lost on me as I watched the film.

I wanted to like Chris as much as the people he met along the way.  I wanted to feel about him the way I felt about Aaron Ralston.  I wanted to root for him.  But the fact that he just disappeared from his life after graduating and never once told his family where he was going or what he was doing, and showed no regret over this, just really broke my heart.  His family was somewhat dysfunctional, putting him pretty much on par with almost everyone living in America so the sympathy card, notsomuch.  I think Chris thought of himself as a victim of his well-off but sort of impaired family, and disappearing was his way of saying screw you.  As a mother, no part of me thinks it's ok to fall off the face of the earth for two days, let alone two years.  This was on my mind the whole time.

But this fact didn't take away from how interesting Chris's journey was.

It takes about two years of traipsing through Arizona, California, and South Dakota, before he finally makes his way into the wild in Alaska.  Dropped off by a a local whom he'd befriended on his journey, Chris begins his trek at the head of the Stampede Trail.  Before long, he stumbles on an abandoned old bus and it becomes home for the next 113 days.  Unprepared and with few supplies, Chris eventually starves to death (since this is a true story, this isn't a spoiler). 

The movie was riveting.  There's no doubt that Chris's charisma and likable personality got him across the country on almost nothing.  But what really intrigued me was the fact that this charismatic, personable young guy not only sought aloneness, he craved it so badly that he trekked all the way from Georgia to Alaska to find solitude.  I kept thinking to myself, what is he going to do in the Alaskan wild?  How will he pass his days?  He didn't seem to have goals of hiking or hunting for sport (Ralston was/is an avid adventurer) so I couldn't imagine how he would pass the hours.  I can't even go for a run without a distraction like my iPod, so while I am a person who values solitude, I can't relate to Chris's singular goal of being totally alone to survive, or not, the elements in the Alaskan bush.

I haven't yet read the book that inspired this movie but I'm certain I have it buried somewhere in my basement.  Until then, I urge you to watch the movie and I'd be curious to hear from others who have seen it as well.

No Kids Allowed and Why I Love this Idea

I love my kids. In fact, they are my world. I take them everywhere and have since the day they were born. As a result, they have wonderfully mature palettes (mussels anyone?) and are typically very well-behaved in public places.

Typically.

But not always.  And when they melt down in public or talk in outside voices when we're inside a restaurant or (heaven forbid) on an airplane, I may or may not look around and give onlookers that please-pardon-my-kids-they-weren't-raised-in-the-jungle look or the would-you-bear-with-me-while-I-find-a-way-to-shut-these-damn-kids-up eyes.  But you know, I don't find myself squirming with embarassment all that often because I'm aware of when it's appropriate to have kids with me and when they need to stay home.

Are you?  While you may think you have the world's most fabulous offspring, if you're taking them to dinner after the time they're usually tucked into bed, chances are you're in for a real shitstorm, as are the nice folks at the next table.  When I leave my kids at home for an adult night out, I don't really want to hear kids, yours or mine, crying at the next table.

No offense.

When I read this article entitled, The Kids Aren't Alright, in AdWeek today, I almost stood up and gave a standing ovation.  Because as much as I love kids, both yours and mine (or whatever), there's a time and a place for everything.

So here's my spiel:  restaurants - almost any restaurant on earth, from McDonald's to Morton's, are fair game for kids who can sit still for the amount of time it takes to order, eat, and pay.  The caveat?  Be out by 6:15pm.  If you're craving sushi from Nobu and you're traveling with your mini-me's, be there when they open the doors at 5:45 so you and your noise can be gone by the time the grown-ups arrive to eat $100 sushi.  Fair enough, right? 

Movie theatres - simple.  Kids won't be seen and not heard and you're not seeing Winnie the Pooh?  Take off. 

Airplanes.  Ah, airplanes.  I defy you to find me a parent who doesn't dread an upcoming flight with kids.  I've been there, I'm sure you have too.  Honestly, there's not much you can do about an unruly kid on a plane except this is is one those times when bribery is not only an acceptable parenting method, it's preferable.  Parents -  bring candy, gum, snacks, DVD's, and as many new toys as you can fit in your carry-on.  Anything they're not allowed at home - BRING IT.  You might not be doing your kids any favors in the short-term, but think about all the fury you'll be saved from enduring when neighboring passengers don't want to kick your (and your kids) asses right off the plane.

The AdWeek article talks about an airline that has a new "no babies allowed" rule in first-class.  My thoughts are why would babies be allowed in first-class like, ever?  Why is this a new rule?  And adults-only vacation destinations aren't anything new.  Sandals Resorts has had a no-kids rule since it opened.  Many hotels around the world have adults-only pools.  Even as a mom, I found myself seeking them out on my last trip to Vegas.  Don't take this the wrong way, but for three days I just didn't want to be around any kids, yours or mine.  There are plenty of fabulous vacations to choose from if you want to bring kids.  In fact, if you think about it, with all the travel options geared toward families, it really is a kid's world. 

My last thought is geared toward those parents of kids who notoriously run around restaurants, can't sit still on a flight any longer than 20 minutes, and who chatter non-stop from previews to credits - in a few years it'll be fair game again and you won't have to deal with dirty looks from strangers.  But until then, please, Mom and Dad, leave the kids at home.

 

NYC... What is it about you?

My girls and I hit the road Friday afternoon and road-tripped to New York City, home of the best matza ball soup, candy store, and Aunt.  K, maybe "road-trip" is a bit of a strong word to use for a 3ish hour drive, but any drive with a 3- and 5-year old in tow is somewhat of an adventure.  Despite the fact that my kids are good car companions, there were many snacks consumed, too much TV, and not enough napping.

We are no strangers to the City and visit about once every few months.  We've pretty much been to all the regular attractions including the Bronx and Central Park Zoos, the Museum of Natural History, the Children's Museum, and even the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.  We saw Pinkalicious: The Musical a few trips ago, and are regulars at Patsy's.

This weekend though, we had no plans.  And it was GREAT.

Friday night we decided to trash our plan to stay in and head to a local Asian spot - Amber.  It doesn't hurt that my kids eat just about everything and I can take them anywhere.  (This probably speaks more to my love of food than theirs, but whatever.)  We headed home after a delicious and not crazy expensive meal of sushi, lettuce rolls, miso soup, edamame, and shumai.  Totally successful Friday night.

Saturday we made our way to NJ to visit a friend and her family.  It was a gorgeous day and the kids played outside while the grown-ups caught up.  A trip to Target ended the day perfectly and we went back to the city.  Of course, these fun activities were just details between meals so obviously we had dinner to think about upon our return.  My sister, ever looking out for good, kid-friendly local joints, suggested Ditch Plains, the newest resident in the space that used to be home to a local favorite, the now defunct Rain.  Let me tell you, this place was awesome.  The sister restaurant of Landmarc, the new version is brighter, closer to home, and the menu has fantastic kid offerings.  Granted, my kids wanted mussels and hot dogs (a lovely combo), but for dessert they opted for s'mores (yum) and a homemade ice cream sandwich (again, yum).  I had the spicy salad with shrimp (my ode to Jenny Craig) and we also tried the Sloppy Dogs, their take on a chili dog (but better).  If my 5-year old hadn't been exhausted and whimpering for the first 20 minutes, it would have been the perfect evening.  It was great though, as it was.  Note: if you're looking for a romantic spot, this place is not it.  At least not at 5:30 - 7pm when it's stroller central. 

So, I feel like NYC has all these wondrous fantastical magical spaces and places speckled throughout and so I set high expectations each trip.  This one was no different and I thought it a good idea to check out Alice's Tea Cup, a cutesy "tea room" with several locations throughout the city.  My girls are very into Alice in Wonderland so I knew they'd be psyched, and they were.  They loved trying on the fairy wings that hang from the coat hooks in the waiting area (and they didn't even beg me to buy them!).  They enjoyed being trusted with real tea cups, and they really dug their food.  I admit, I was nervous with no children's menu to speak of, and the slight menu having not a huge selection, but what we did order was not just good - it was AMAZING.  Who knew poached eggs on spinach (ok, set atop buttermilk biscuits) could be so delicious?  K - forget that: one kid had "french toast" which was really bread pudding and tasted unreal, while the other had chocolate and banana crepes.  Based on the fact that this place is a theme restaurant (sort of), I fully expected to pay a lot of money for not great food.   I was SO WRONG.  It was absolutely delicious and reasonable (relatively speaking since only in NYC does one pay $55 for four people for breakfast).  But it was worth it.

So our little unscheduled jaunt really turned into one of our best trips this year.

And those s'mores didn't suck either.

The Boston Globe Travel Show

There's lots going on in Boston this weekend.  One of the big events is the annual Boston Globe Travel Show.  Apparently, it is a great family activity:

Sounds fun, right?  While tickets are $10, get yours FREE - just head to www.bostonglobetravelshow.com, click on the Get Tickets Icon and use this special code: BOSPR11.  Details and hours are:

I received complimentary tickets to The Boston Globe Travel Show.

Need a vacation from my vacation

I was on vacation with my two kids last week and it was exhausting.  Sound awful?  Well, it's true.  I was on constant duty - morning, noon, and night.  There were no leisurely days at work (I know, sick), no lovely evenings with friends, no playdates where I could have a break, by virtue of the fact that there were other kids around.

So again, not for the first time, I'm paying homage to the stay-at-home/work-at-home moms out there, who seem to do it all and do it so much better than I.  Check out my post on Mom Central's Blogger University for more on this...

Oh - and I'm changing fonts over here at The Daily Grind since if I read one more thing ridiculing Comic Sans I may lose my mind.  But somehow Arial seems so, I don't know - boring?

Even though they are cute...

Discovery Cove and Aquatica

You know that trip to Seaworld I wrote about earlier this week?  Well during that visit we were lucky enough to be guests at Discovery Cove and Aquatica as well. 

And when I say lucky, I mean super-duper-crazy lucky.  Cuz Discovery Cove and Aquatica ROCKED.

Day two of our quick trip was Discovery Cove and other than a pre-planned swim with dolphins, I really had no idea what the day had in store for us.  In their own words, Discovery Cove is:

 

In my words, entering Discovery Cove is like entering paradise.  For real. Essentially, Discovery Cove is a man-made oasis comprised of beach, water heated to 80+ degrees for relaxation, and a trip to the tropics.  Immersing with the local sealife is key to a full experience at Discovery Cove.  This includes the opportunity to swim with dolphins, hang out with tropical birds, check out the reefs, and swim with sting rays (which I did NOT partake in, however I observed and no one looked scared). 

Once we checked in and settled into our luxurious private cabana (did I mention the cabana?), we wedged ourselves into wetsuits and didn't stop for hours, until we fell tired into our lounge chairs, complementary snacks within arms reach, and just chilled.  But before the chillin', I was fortunate to get up close and personal with one of Discovery Cove's sweet dolphins, an experience that's hard to describe.  Being so close to an animal that you wouldn't otherwise approach or even ever come in contact with, is breathtaking.  And these dolphins are trained to entertain, show affection, and play.  Doesn't get better than that.

My daughter loved playing in the 85 degree water in Serenity Bay, while I took a trip down the (very) lazy river, which is more of a drift through paradise than anything else.  I glided through the quiet, with nothing but light music and the sounds of nature to accompany me.  The highlight was the drift through the bird aviary, where I came face-to-face with a flamingo and many gorgeous birds I couldn't name.

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day, so meals, snacks, and drinks are plentiful and no money is necessary.  Love that aspect, it truly puts visitors at ease.  For so much more info, visit the website - but feel free to comment with questions.

Day three: Aquatica.  I admit it.  It was 59 degrees outside and the prospect of spending the better part of the day at a waterpark didn't thrill me.  We went early, our plans to do a walk-through in order to bring you info about the park.  But when my 4-year-old thrill-seeker spotted the kiddie area, she quickly stripped down to her bathing suit and went all in.  (It helped that the sun was beaming and it was warming up by the minute).  Soon, I followed suit and checked out some of the attractions Aquatica offered.

First thing I noticed was how clean the park was!  Typically, I feel like waterparks are dirty, fungus-foot infested places.  Aquatica is immaculate.  Towels are available at every turn as are bathrooms (don't want to have to search for a place to pee when you're having so much fun!).  The slides are incredible.  If you love speed, there's plenty to thrill you.  If you have little kids, they'll LOVE Kata's Kookaburra Cove, which features introductory water slides, all kinds of watery structures and safe fun.  In fact, adults can pull a chair right up to the edge and watch the kids while relaxing - love that.  By the way, if your kids are young but too big for the gentle Cove, they'll love Walkabout Waters, a 15,000 square foot, 60-foot-tall rain fortress that's full of surprises and water-filled fun.  

As the temperature climbed, so did my desire to partake (I'm a total kid at heart) and I checked out the Lazy River (I know, I'm a fiend for the lazy river) which I enjoyed, as it took me floating straight past the    dolphins, who also make Aquatica their home.  And that's what's cool about all three of the parks - all tie-in the under-the-sea theme with a focus on dolphins.  We loved just watching the dolphins play at every turn.

Once again, we were treated to a private cabana.  Though not as luxurious as those at Discovery Cove, it was nice to have a place to call our own.  We lunched before heading to the airport, and the food was similar to that at Discovery Cove - standard dishes with a decent variety.  While the crowd was quiet the day we were there, we asked around and found that Aquatica can get crazy-busy during the high season so arrive early!  For more info, visit the site, and let me know if you have questions.

Shout-out to the PR department at Seaworld (particularly Lauren) for making our trip memorable and super-easy.  Special thanks also to the very wonderful staff at the Renaissance Orlando for great service.  They picked us up, dropped us off, and really catered to us.

 "I received an all-expense paid trip to facilitate this review, including airfare, hotel, meals, and park tickets.  All opinions are my own."

Seaworld in Orlando: a visit to remember!

A few weeks ago, I posted from a hotel room in Orlando to tell you that I was visiting Seaworld with my 4-year-old daughter.  Well, the trip was amazing and definitely worth telling you about.  If you've even considered taking your family on a trip to visit Seaworld or either of its sister parks, Aquatica and Discovery Cove, I hope this post helps in your decision making.

Seaworld is the perfect marriage of theme park and aquarium.  While I will say the rides took a backseat to the amazing animal shows, Seaworld is known for its new Manta roller coaster, designed to make riders feel as if they're flying.  I wanted to experience the Journey to Atlantis water-coaster, but the 50 degree weather precluded my desire for a potentially wet thrill ride.  I regret it as I write this.

If you see just one show while visiting Seaworld, make it the Believe show, the park's famous killer whale show.  As luck would have it, one of the whales had just given birth recently and we were privy to a mother-son spectacle.  My daughter was enamored with the idea of Shamu and wore her Shamu hat (and still does) to prove it.  

Another show we loved was Blue Horizons.  Featuring wonderfully animated dolphins, birds, and human aerialists and performers, this performance was engaging both for kids and adults.  The acts were perfectly choreographed to the carefully selected music, and the animals really knew their stuff.  Such professionals!  Because it was cold out, we chose not to sit in the "splash zone" but on a warm day, it would've been fun to get splashed by the dolphins.  Next time.

Other fabulous Seaworld attractions include the Manta Aquarium, an underwater world located under the new roller coaster.  A cavernous structure, we really felt like we were immersed within the walls of the sea.  As luck would have it, we were treated to a very active octopus who appeared to have somewhere to go (he's usually VERY quiet).  It was so exciting to see him attach his suction cups to the window, as if he were in a rush.  A highlight (for me!), for sure.

It was fun to watch the newborn dolphins play in their nursery, and the moving carpet was a great way to view the penguins in an environment similar to their true habitat.  The flamingos were an amazing site!  (Trivia: did you know that the more  shrimp flamingos eat, the pinker they are?) 

All in all, we were impressed with Seaworld.  The only drawback was that our experience with food in the park was just ok.  We had planned to lunch at the unique Sharks Underwater Grill where you literally eat while sharks swim behind a glass wall just next to the diners, but at 1pm we were all the way at the other side of the park where the lines for casual dining were long, and we were thrown off by the prominent All-Day Dining Deal signs (adults $29.99/kids 14.99 - pay once and dine all day).  We were under the impression that this was the only option at these eateries and opted for hotdogs outside the Shamu show.  My mistake, as food is available at regular prices as well. 

If your kids are young, you'll not want to miss Shamu's Happy Harbor, a small amusement park for little kids.  Older children will be thrilled by Kraken, ranked one of the top 10 roller coasters in the world.

For the rest of us, a day at Seaworld brings back memories of being a kid, and might make you feel like one too.

Next: Aquatica and Discovery Cove reviews.

"I received an all-expense paid trip to facilitate this review, including airfare, hotel, meals, and park tickets.  All opinions are my own." 

Busy, SeaWorld, and an Apology

I've been so negligent about posting.  I always feel guilty when this happens because a) I don't want my regular readers to think I've gone rogue and only started posting giveaways and reviews, and b) I feel like my blog sometimes becomes second fiddle to everything going on in my life when it's treated me so well.  So - oops!!  I'll do better.

Truth is, I'm writing from my bed in a hotel room in Orlando, Florida, where Alex and I have been the guests of the fabulous folks of SeaWorld.  While this is not my official post about this trip, I would be remiss not to tell you how much fun we're having, even if the temperature never exceeded 60 degrees yesterday.  A theme park based on underwater sea life, SeaWorld combines fantastic shows with rides and exhibits, and is great for people of all ages.  Their biggest draw - undoubtedly the Shamu show.

Today we're headed to Discovery Cove, where I will be treated to a swim with dolphins and Alex and her grandma will play on the beach, feed the fish, and from what I understand, be treated to the ultimate in a luxurious day.  Can't wait.

Special shout-out to JetBlue, as always, for being outstanding.  Oh, and the cleaning crew at the Renaissance Hotel, just across from SeaWorld, who helped me when my daughter threw-up in the room after a coughing fit.   While I was gagging from the ick-factor, they were helpful and professional.  Also, there's a Starbucks ON-SITE!

So, between this trip, working four days a week, and maintaining my family, that doesn't leave too much time for posting.

But I'll do better.  Promise.

 
    

Waking Up In Vegas

I'm back.  After three fantastic days in Vegas, it's back to reality.  Actually, while my family returns from their Labor Day trip, I'm preparing for the upcoming week and trying to rest myself back into this time zone.  But before I move on from the trip I just took, I need to tell you about it.

Like I said, I went to meet my three oldest girlfriends in Vegas for the weekend.  It started a few months ago when we decided a girls' weekend was LONG overdue but with marriages, babies, jobs, and everything else, it always seemed too hard to plan.  Not this time.  This time we were four motivated girls, who literally put this together inside of a week.

We chose the Wynn as our home-base, having been told that it is the most luxurious hotel on the strip.  It was beautiful.  I mean, who wouldn't be awed by the incredible grounds, the overwhelming casino, the many nightclubs, restaurants, shops.  We requested adjoining rooms on a non-smoking floor and got exactly that.  The rooms were very nice, better than most hotels I've stayed at, but not as breath-taking as the Venetian rooms, but comfortable and relatively large in size.  We spent most of our time at the European-style pool (read: topless) not because we were dying to bare our boobs (we didn't) but because it was 21+ and we had left our kiddies at home for a reason.  The pool had ample seating (at least 50% of the seats are "beds" which run $400-$500 per day), a fun bar scene and Blackjack tables that were always busy.  We visited the bar many times (yummy drinks) but thought the waitresses might've done a better job offering drinks pool-side.  Granted, it was hot and the pool offers NO shade, but it is Vegas, and it is their job.  One tweet later, and we noticed the sexy servers disperse and actually offering beverages to lazy patrons (like us).  Points for social media listening, Wynn.

Other things about the Wynn:

• Pools really have no shade and no umbrellas unless you spend $400+ on a pool-side bed or cabana.  Be sure to bring a hat and loads of sunscreen (it was 104+ degrees).
• Food could be better.  Instead of a bar menu and a BBQ, maybe a great poolside restaurant (like the Wolfgang Puck spot at the Venetian pool).
• Rooms are nice, bathroom products are fab.
• Super close the the Venetian which is really where everything is happening.

We ate at Tao our first night.  If you reserve at Tao, be sure to specify a table on the first floor, it's just more fun.  The sushi was spectacular, everything else - so-so.  After dinner you'll get stamped so you can head right into the celebrity-strewn Tao Nightclub.  We were going on 24 hours+ with no sleep, so we passed but would definitely hit it next time.

Second night, we decided to try Mario Batali's newest Vegas venture, Enoteca San Marco.  It is a pretty casual spot located just on the "canal" at the Venetian's Piazza San Marco.  Eating dinner under the blue sky in "Italy" was very cool, and the service was good.  Portions were small but enough, and prices were reasonable.  I think I was expecting a more upscale restaurant, so I left a bit disappointed but the girls loved it.  After dinner, we hit the Breath Oxygen Bar.  Essentially sold as an opportunity to beat fatigue, be re-invigorated, and relax, the oxygen that we "breathed" in through our nostrils proved not much more than a hysterical 15 minutes, during which we amused ourselves and others with our alcohol-infused comedy, probably in an effort to ignore that we had just been conned into spending $30 on a useless gimmick.  Note to self: next trip - no extra oxygen needed.  Though I will admit to lasting until past 2am in the casino, long after losing my cash to a super fun dealer named Mike.  (He pointed out the hookers, gave us card tips, and told us about the celebs he'd met during his stint in Vegas - totally worth the $150 I paid him.)

On our last night, we ate at Sushi Samba, and this is where we had the culinary experience I had been seeking the whole time.  We were treated like rock stars.  I don't know if it was because I had tweeted that we would be visiting them (@SUSHISAMBA is very active on Twitter), or because it was my birthday celebration, but from the moment we arrived, we were given five-star treatment, and it was not lost on us. 

Our waiter (who, for the record, was as delicious as the food), tended to our every whim.  So much so, that it was as if he read our minds when putting together a surprise tasting menu for us.  We ate scallops that melted in our mouths, seviche, taquitos with kobe beef as well as yellowtail.  We ate rock shrimp tempura that was sick.  By the time the enormous sushi tray appeared, we were full and I can admit to only trying one piece.  Even the desserts (they brought us THREE) were divine.  The drinks (we had many), the food (we ate lots), the service (we loved) - everything was perfect.  Thanks to Sushi Samba for really making my 35th 20th birthday a total blast. :)

I can't forget to mention the show we saw before our sushi-fest, Jersey Boys.  In a word - AMAZING.  Every part of it was fantastic.  The actors, the music, the (true) story, all were highly entertaining.  I strongly recommend it (btw, I found a coupon code online and saved $50 off our front section tickets.  Try doing a search).  I would even venture to say I'd see it again.

Vegas rocked.  It offered everything a group of four ladies could possibly want.  We walked the strip and saw the incredible hotels.  We ate, we drank, we swam and sunned.  We laughed until our bellies hurt, drank until we couldn't anymore, and made new memories out of really old friendships. 

Best of all?  We're stoked for Vegas 2011, so stay tuned for Vegas, The Sequel.