Vacation Picturebook: Reno + Las Vegas
R E N O 
We had the best start to our vacation visiting Kyle’s grandparents in Reno! They took us to Virginia City (old western town), we explored downtown Reno, and we had lots of late night wine in grandma’s gorgeous garden.
Then we took an amazing day trip to Lake Tahoe – one of my favorite places of ever!
L A S V E G A S
Night 1: We love the Cosmopolitan + Absinthe!! If you haven’t seen the show, we highly recommend, but warning it is VERY raunchy.
Pool days are the best days!
Night 2: We still love the Cosmopolitan and didn’t leave – found amazing live music + food at Rose. Rabbit.Lie, the coolest speakeasy behind a barbershop + late night milk bar cake (and secret pizza, obviously).
Another pool day and the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had in my life … also won $$ on my first ever sports bet. Yay Toronto!
Aaand then it was time for brother-sister Leo tattoos!
Fun last night at Container Park + Fremont Street
We had the best vacation spending time with family, and can’t wait to go back! ❤
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Sistahs in Vegas
F R I D A Y
{ready for Vegas!}
{view from our room}
S A T U R D A Y
{adorable mom drinking coffee getting ready for the day}
{mid-day shopping break – margaritas, chips + guac, El Segundo}
{beautiful sisters ready for an evening out!}
{one of the best dinners (and most expensive) I’ve ever had, Nobu}
S U N D A Y
{shopping + lunch at The Venetian}
{pancetta + goat cheese pizza, Mario Batali’s Otto}
{the best show ever – Michael Jackson ONE!!!}
{drinks after the show at Mix, Mandalay Bay – incredible view!}
M O N D A Y
{Eiffel Tower selfie}
{amazing brunch at Mon Ami Gabi – cheers to a terrific weekend!}
xo xo
[Other Vegas weekend picturebooks: January 2013, Vegas Throwback 2010-2012]
Weekend in Vegas: Wardrobe Prep
I’m headed to Vegas this weekend with the sistahs (mom and two new sisters, read more on that here) and I’m so excited!
I love traveling, but I’m the worst at packing. I usually just throw a bunch of clothes in a bag, with ideas of outfits in my head, but I never really plan it out. So, in an effort to save space (to of course make room for NEW clothes) and be less stressed deciding what to wear, I’m planning out my outfits for the weekend. What’s funny is for someone who’s such a planner, this actually kind of stresses me out – realizing I can’t change my mind at the last minute about what to wear!
F R I D A Y N I G H T
[comfortable for the plane, but cute enough to step into vegas || t-shirt, Forever 21; jeans, BlankNYC, booties + cardigan, Elysian Boutique]
S A T U R D A Y
[focus on comfortable shoes for walking and quick dress changes for shopping || dress, Elysian Boutique; shoes, DSW]
[dinner reservations at Nobu calls for fur + bling || dress, necklace + fur vest, Riffraff; shoes, BCBG]
S U N D A Y
Day outfit: I will be spontaneous and purchase something Saturday to wear for Sunday! Eeek!
[sunday afternoon show + evening drinks overlooking the strip || jacket, H&M; dress, Elysian Boutique; clutch, Ann Taylor Loft]
M O N D A Y
[after a weekend in vegas, it’s time for comfort and casual heading home || boyfriend jeans, J. Crew]
Come back next week to see our Weekend Picturebook from Vegas. Hope you have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!
xo xo
The Three Week Cooking Challenge // Conclusion
WHEW. It was a long three weeks. In part because we were cooking every single night (a rarity in the Alderman home), but also in part because I was so eager to get to my birthday weekend in Vegas! In all honesty, I have no clue what we ate for Week 3 of the challenge, but we held on strong and ate in every night.
By the end of the three weeks, we were craving eating out (are we the only ones like that?? is that strange??) and luckily we were headed to a city with some of the finest and most diverse food you can find within a 2 mile radius. As I ate other people’s creations, I was reminded how much I love food and why I love eating out so much. It’s not the fact that cooking is difficult (sometimes it is) or that you have a lot to clean afterwards (usually it is) or that you have to plan ahead every single day what you’re going to cook (yes it is), but the fact that my cooking isn’t nearly as good as others. There’s not much fun in my cooking or much “brava.” It’s just food. But aren’t we supposed to really enjoy food? Well, I really enjoy food when it’s cooked by someone else.
All that to say, I don’t think I’ll ever be a master chef, but I have realized it’s not as difficult as I thought it was and it’s doable to cook every night. It also helps that I got a PERFECT new cookbook for my birthday from a dear friend – Robin Takes 5: 500 recipes, 5 ingredients or less, 500 calories or less, 5 nights a week at 5:00 pm – I mean, is there a more perfect cookbook for me?!
* * *
Now, enjoy some food porn from our Las Vegas vacation …
{sausage balls, XNA}
{vanilla + nutella creme puffs with banana gelato, Scarpetto}
{arugula + parmigiano reggiano salad, sausage + peppers pizza, Otto Enoteco – Mario Batali}
{housemade beer brat, Public House}
{brunch, The Wicked Spoon}
{decadence, Jean Phillipe Patisserie}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: The Three Week Cooking Challenge // Week 1, The Three Week Cooking Challenge // Week 2
Weekend Picturebook: Las Vegas
FRIDAY
{view from balcony, The Cosmopolitan}
{drinks at The Chandelier, The Cosmopolitan}
* * *
BIRTHDAY, BIRTHDAY!
{morning view + coffee}
{while husband lazes}
{ lunch: arugula + parmigiano reggiano salad, sausage + peppers pizza, Otto Enoteco – Mario Batali}
{won my first $100}
{dinner at Mix, Mandalay Bay}
{best view ever, Mix}
{“O” Cirque Du Soleil, Bellagio}
* * *
SUNDAY
{walking the strip, Monte Carlo}
{rode the New York New York roller coaster}
{awesome gastropub, Public House}
{relax}
{ready for dinner + drinks}
* * *
MONDAY
{brunch, The Wicked Spoon}
{The Conservatory, Bellagio}
{chocolate shots}
{world’s largest H&M, Shops at Caesar Forum}
{until next time … }
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: New York City, Weekend Picturebook: Tulsa & Oklahoma City
Las Vegas Throwback
I’m heading to Vegas in T-minus 4 days. Here’s a look back at some of my other trips to LV …
{2010: 21st birthday with my bestie}
{2010: Tao}
{2010: my paparazzi shot of Paris Hilton}
{2010: Society of Professional Journalists conference}
{2012: one of my favorite photos (and best shows) despite the copyright marks}
{2012: father & son}
{2012: Tao}
{2012: chillin’ at the Wynn poolside}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: NYC Throwback 2007
m.davis xoxo 
