holidays continued

Holidays aren't over just yet, still feeling Christmasy with our ice-skating, smores and hot cocoa on top of the Cosmo

 

 it was our January team event, so we got to go with the our zappos fam

 kids had so much fun with them

and daddy is always fun

 this boy lounged most of the time...Jay actually said it was okay he doesn't need to know how to skate, it's not like it's football or basketball, since you know that is all that matters :)

 I admit I have them trained pretty well when it comes to picture taking, big threats have always worked well, but if they were only as sweet to each other as they look here :)  bffs one minute, not speaking the next...ugh

smore's

Love my family, Love Vegas

 Holidays really do continue into January, zappos holiday party this year was Western theme, so we had to get some western boots

 fun adult only night, we got to stay the night in old Vegas at the newly remodeled Golden Nugget, where we got bused to a ranch about 45 minutes away

 was fun, just super freezing cold, it was part outside, part inside, we spent most of our time inside, seriously they said it was the coldest day of the year!

back again...

shortly into the New year, we did a quick turn around back to the bay on MLK weekend for Raef's baptism and Tyler's birthday...some of our best times  are our quick weekend roadtrips :)

party time didn't start til the evening, so we made a quick trip up to SF during the day to visit Gina and her babies, but first made time to squeeze in Tartine's Bakery, everyone kept telling me about it, so had to try :)  Super nice day out, crazy line!

known for their morning buns, which were really good, had a citrus/mango flavor to them, I would still have to say the ones from Napa, sweetie pies are still my favorite

 I really liked their almond croissant, yummy deliciousness inside

Gina lives in such a great area, walking distance from Tartine's and some of her favorite restaurants, she can walk to the park, grocery, farmers market...I would love that, I could do city living :)

her boys Lucas and Leo...we've come a long way from college roomies waking up in the morning asking each other what happened the night before and if we did or said anything stupid...hee!

 such a nice surprise to find out the union square ice rink was still up...we were just meeting up with an old zappos friend there and were so excited for the girls to go ice-skating again

Jayme braving the middle

 party time...Tyler enjoying his birthday clown cone...Happy Birthday Ty

 

kid pic :)

 adults pigging out on boiling crab

 then auntie Melissa busted out her strobe light for the kids dance party :)

Thanks Ros for always bringing my handsome godson to see me :)

 Sunday was the baptism...girls excited to finally see Auntie Aubrey and her new baby

such a special day for them

 Lots of love from the Aunties and the Uncles in spirit as most were watching the big game :)  Pretty funny, gave Jay a hard time about not going but thank goodness he didn't cause he would have been so mad to be the only guy...it all worked out, was a fun girls day :)

Jaylin said she is making lots of new friends, first Penny and then Amaya...we always knew these two sassy girls would get along :)

three more new babies to welcome later this year, congrats ladies!

 such a cutie pie...Happy Baptism Raef, so nice to finally meet you!

girls getaway/staycation

weekend getaway for mommy, well really a staycation for me, which is one of the nice things about living in Vegas, you can stay the weekend on the strip and feel like you are totally somewhere else...

 celebrating Christina's 35th birthday, one hot mama of three and a Zumba teacher...always so much fun, but sad that means the rest of us will be turning 35 soon :(

Christina, Jo and Patra got an early start, me, Ruby and Loan got a later start and didn't get out til they landed midnight Friday, but worked out perfectly, got to have family Friday night and snuck out after bedtime :)  was so proud of myself for staying up so late!

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must of been the yummy upside down birthday cake drink from Holsteins that gave me a pick me up...they play better music at Holsteins than at marquee, well unless you are in the boom box room :)

 bloody marys for breakfast, they really do wake me up a little...followed by lunch at Holsteins, the girls favorite burger place, mine too, they are so yummy...we each order a different one and cut into four so we can have some of each since there are so many good ones...

my first time time to try the billionaire burger, kobe beef and fois gras...loved it, will be getting that again!

my go to, the nom nom burger with a thousand islandish dressing and potato chips inside

 rising sun burger with teryaki glaze, spicy mayo and tempura avacado...definitely recommend this place to everyone that asks where they can get a good burger in Vegas!

spa time at the Wynn...was so pretty in there, like heaven

relaxing before our treatments

then make up time at nordstrom...always nice to treat ourselves to some girly time, we deserve it :)

dinner at Scarpetta...they have really yummy bread and desserts, main dishes are just okay...there is a really pretty view of the Bellagio Water Show from there

 donuts, nutella and vanilla creme bomboloni and toasted almond gelato was the best!

 top 3 drinks of the restaurant, I have this new thing I caught from my co-worker Kristin,  which is to ask the waiter what the best items are or what their favorite items are.  Worked well for the drinks and dessert for sure, the top right was mine, some gingery thing, very yummy, should have trusted my gut for dinner, went with the Branzino, was pretty but not amazing, should have went with the cod or lobster

birthday girl wanted a photo with the big shoe!

 Ended the night at Marquee so the birthday girl could get her dance on!  Til next time girls!  Thank you Bristina for choosing Vegas to celebrate!!  Happy 35th!!!

well actually ended the night with Secret Pizza found in the secret alley-way at the Cosmo, a little spicy,  so yummy, have been craving it since!

some favorite off strip eats

some new some old...now that I am part time downtown, I have gotten to try some of the restaurants which have become my current favorite cravings...

Le Thai downtown...beef jerky with sticky rice and some sauce that is so good and wings with some kind of sriracha ranch and tom ka soup below, it is just a little tangier than other tom ka soups I've had, so so yum!

newer downtown restaurant called eat

I've heard pretty much everything is good, what I have tried so far has been, po boy shrimp sandwich

 

banh mi sandwich, very spicy but good, not sure if I like it as much as a Lee Sandwich, it's different

 

 One of my favorite steak houses, Hanks at Green Valley Ranch...seafood platter is amazing, big healthy chunks of lobster and crab were divine :)

 ahi tacos were amazing!

 main entree, I always get the filet oscar style...medium rare with crab yumminess!

mini madelines, chocolate and little jellies...as my mom would say "too much good time, good time" we need to cut back on eating out, especially since my but is getting bigger :)