Viva Las Vegas

Throwback Thursday to the time we celebrated my baby brothers 21st birthday in Las Vegas:

My family and I spent a couple days in Sin City to celebrate my youngest brother, Cyler's, 21st birthday. Most of his friends are still underage, so he had the pleasure of being accompanied by Mark and I, our parents, and our brother, CJ. Since I am the "planner" in the family, I made all of the arrangements for the weekend.

When CJ turned 21 we also took a weekend trip to Vegas. Two of his friends, Mark, and myself all stayed at the Excalibur and lived large that weekend—I completely understand that the words Excalibur and lived large have no correlation because that partiuclar hotel is nothing fancy, but we weren't in the room very much. We ate at the best restaurants, gawked over an incredible Cirque de Soleil show, Mystere, and enjoyed bottle service at club PURE in Cesaers Palace.

When planning this trip, I had to take into account both of my brothers vastly different personalities. First, Cyler has a girlfriend, so hanging out in clubs wasn't something he would be into. Second, he is more mellow and could be considered more of a "home-body", so I knew he wouldn't want me to plan a weekend with non-stop adventures.

I have had a few friends who recently stayed in Vegas and mentioned to me that the Golden Nugget (which is downtown) had recently been renovated. I checked out the prices and they were drastically lower than anything on The Strip. We paid about $100 a night with taxes and fees [BTW: they charge you a "Fremont Experience" fee because the hotel sits on Fremont street—LAME!] The hotel was nice. My family arrived before Mark and I, so they checked into all of the rooms for us which was nice because we didn't have to deal with the headache and lines. The rooms were spacious and didn't feel crammed or claustrophobic. I enjoyed the open space in the room and in the bathroom too. The tub/shower was a nice size and there was sufficient counter space. The decor was slightly old-fashioned, but, to be honest, I wasn't expecting much—so I was impressed.

When we arrived in Vegas, my family was at the ice bar inside of the Monte Carlo. The bar is called Minus 5 and everything inside—including the cups you drink from—are made of ice. This is the second time Mark and I have been to Minus 5. There is another one inside of Mandalay Bay (which was the first one in Vegas) and I prefer that one over the one inside Monte Carlo. Although it is smaller and more dimly lit, the Minus 5 inside of Mandalay Bay felt more welcoming and exciting for some reason. The bar offers ice block seating that is covered with (what I hope to be fake) animal skins and loud music to get everyone amped up. The bar is only -5 degrees Celsius, so it isn't too cold to sit in and hang out for a little while. They give you gloves and coats to wear, but if you're up and moving around you will be fine in just a sweatshirt. We didn't stay inside very long because 1.) we were tired from driving and sitting through traffic and 2.) my family had already been in the bar for about 30 minutes and were getting over it. I bought the boys a shot and we left. 

Can we take a moment to appreciate the true shittiness of my front camera? My face looks like part of it is frozen from being in the bar! (I recently upgraded to an iPhone 6-YAY!!!)

The next morning we made reservations at one of my favorite eateries in Vegas for brunch: Serendipity 3! I am so glad we had reservations because a group of 2 came in to get a table was told the wait would be 45 minutes! We were a group of 6 so I can only imagine how long we would have been sitting around. I LOVE this place! The portions are huge, the food is flavorful & colorful, and they have some of THE BEST desserts. I always start off my meal with their frozen hot chocolate—and yes that includes breakfast. I can't even begin to explain how delicious this huge mound of chocolate and whipped cream tastes. My whole family shared it and everyone was delighted by it's rich, creamy, amazing taste! It basically tastes like the best hot chocolate you have ever had, but frozen. Plus the whipped cream they top it with tastes like it is freshly made with each order. I would recommend trying frozen hot chocolate if you ever get the pleasure of eating at any of the Serendipity restaurants. 

To follow the frozen dessert appetizer, I ordered a veggie omelet. It had sun dried tomatoes, American cheese, and artichoke hearts in it. They included a side of potatoes that were crispy and golden brown. The seasoning they use is zesty and savory. 

After brunch we walked around the strip, in and out of the hotels, so Cyler could get a taste of Vegas. We stopped by the frozen slushy booth and got some alcohol filled treats. 

We stopped to watch a pretty impressive street preforming group do some break dancing. They were very entertaining and energetic. Sometimes street performers can be one of the most entertaining part of The Strip. 

That night we went to Jean Georges Steakhouse in the Aria for dinner. We had reservations and were seated promptly, but after that the service began to decline quickly. We sat for the better half of 30 minutes without being offered water or anything to drink. My dad finally got up and asked our waiter to attend to out table. About 10 minutes later they finally brought out our water and bread. It was another 15-20 minutes before we were able to order our food. I ordered the lobster, which was mediocre. For the price of the food, I expected higher quality and better taste. As for as the ambiance of the restaurant, I would have expected much better service. The waiters did not seem to care if their patrons were satisfied or not. They did bring my brother a small dessert for this birthday, but it certainly did not make up for the lack of quality this establishment displays. 

I strongly believe any Vegas vacation isn't complete without experiencing a Cirque du Soleil show! We saw Zarkana at the Aria. It wasn't the best Cirque show I have enjoyed, but it was still great!

My favorite part of staying at the Golden Nugget was the free access to their 'ocean-esque' pool! This pool has a water slide that runs right through a shark tank. It was pretty cool to get up close and personal with some sea-life in Vegas.

Vegas is fun... about once a year. I think I've had my fix for another 12 months. :-)

Happy New Year: 2015

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?"

2014 was a year full of ups and downs for me.

Many terrible things happened, but many great things also took place. The new year is a time to embrace change and move into the future with a warm heart and an open mind. I look forward to taking advantage of this period of regeneration and putting my resolutions to work! This year my resolutions are nothing more than feelings and ideas I attempt to implement in my everyday life. I have set attainable goals for myself which can easily be met with a little reconfiguration of my attitude and lifestyle choices.

I made some substantial changes in my life in 2014 and my biggest goal is to build on those practices to live a more balanced lifestyle. My greatest accomplishment of 2014 is the knowledge I've gained about animal rights with regard to vegetarianism & cruelty-free cosmetics.

This year I will continue to eat healthy vegetarian meals and focus on being active. I will also continue to support companies who produce cruelty-free products with vegan options, which is not only beneficial to the earth and the lives of animals, but also to my well-being. I will do things that make me happy—like write this blog—even if I am the only one who reads it. I will concentrate on being the best, most understanding, and supportive wife I can be. And finally, I will do all that I can to make my dreams a reality and continue to try to become pregnant.

I am surrounded by so much love and support through my friends and family, that I truly feel anything is possible! I am excited to see what 2015 has in store for Mark and I.

October Petit Vour Beauty Box Review

I am LOVING everything I received in the October Petit Vour Beauty Box!!! The camera on my phone is terrible, but I tried to get the most detailed photos as possible. (And yes, they were taken on my leg... J) This box had five different items to try out and I enjoyed using each and every one!

 I'll start with my favorite item: Schmitdt's Natural Deodorant in the scent BERGAMOT & LIME. I have been using a crystal stick deodorant for about a year and half now (you can read my previous review: here). I have seen several different types of vegan cream deodorant on various websites, but it never appealed to me. I had some idea in my head that it would stay wet-feeling in my armpits... I have been using this sample for the past three days and I am impressed! The smell is a light citrus and is not overwhelming (which I appreciate). I don't sweat very much and I am not a stinky person, but I do notice this deodorant keeps my underarms smelling fresh and feeling soft. To use, you simply dip your fingertips in the product and rub in your armpit. This is the same consistency as the typical deodorant sticks by Arrid or Secret that you purchase at the store. This is a .5 oz travel size tub, but the 2 oz size retails for $9 on their website. My only wish is that it came in a stick form. I find myself having to dig my nail into the contents of the tub to use it. It isn't creamy enough to rub your fingers across the top and use it that way—which I prefer because if it were too creamy it would probably remain wet. I have already purchased a full size version of this product that I plan to use instead of my crystal for a while to see if I prefer it over a longer period.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil, Citrus aurantifolia (lime) essential oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Humulus lupulus (hop) extract

This Eau de Parfum fragrance by Forager in the scent NECTAR is a breath of fresh air. This particular scent is floral, fruity, and smells of nature. It reminds me of a watercolor painting of a dewy field, full of beautiful fruit trees and flower bushes. The vial is a small sample size—which is only good for a single use—I wish there would have been a bit more so I could have used it, maybe twice, to determine more in depth feelings for the product. The scent is very light and because of that I did feel that it wore off in just a few short hours. For a full size 2 oz bottle of this perfume you'll pay $98. I do appreciate that the wooden caps are handmade by a local artisan in New York and they offer a discount on the perfume if you refill a previous bottle.

Ingredients: *no information provided on website*

This WILD MINT flavored body butter by Flo + Theo is bold, fresh, and stimulating. I recently used my sample on a healing tattoo and I was satisfied with the results. It is slightly more oily than lotion, but it is also more moisturizing for the skin. I believe the sample I received is 1 oz, but the 4 oz size retails for $28. It smells of fresh mint and herbs. It feels very clean and produces a sort of calming affect just from the smell alone. This particular product is more "powdery" than the body butter I am obsessed with by Ellovi, but I do enjoy it and would consider purchasing a full-sized tub. 

Ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, cocnut oil, essential oils, and vitamin A. 

I have been putting oil in my hair since I was about 13 years old. I started with a oil called BioSilk which would leave my hair feeling greesy if I applied too much. Recently I have been using Kitoko oil, but I don't think the brand I buy from is cruelty-free or vegan. I have been wondering what I was going to do once my supply diminished. I found my answer in this Petit Vour box! This cruelty-free and vegan Argan Oil by Lavina Skincare is 100% pure and organic pressed oil. I used a small amount of this oil in the ends the other night and my hair felt softer and did not feel greasy. I am not sure what size the small vial was that I received, but the 2 oz bottle retails for $35. I will most definitely be purchasing this once my supply is finished.

Ingredients: *no additional information provided on website*

Last, but certainly not least, is a lipstick by Pacifica in REBEL SOL. I love to do my makeup, but I typically focus on dramaticizing my eyes. I am not much of a lipstick girl, but I am a fan of this lip color. Rebel Sol is an intense coral shade that is both creamy and hydrating. I was astonished at how long-lasting this lipstick is. It was on my lips for a couple hours before fading and unlike most lipsticks that stay on for extended periods of time, it did not dry out my lips. This is a full size lipstick that retails for $14. I use other Pacifica products (face wash, make-up removal clothes, etc.) and I am a fan! They provide a line of gentle products that work great, smell great, are 100% vegan, and 100% cruelty-free—PLUS they are available at so many stores! What's not to like?!?!

Ingredients: oleic/linoleic/linolenic polyglycerides (from sunflower oil), butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, diiostearyl malate, caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut oil), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, euphorbia chinensis (candelilla) wax, cetyl alcohol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, flavor oil (all natural), tocopherol (vitamin E). May contain: melia azadirachta fruit extract, mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, tin oxide, vaccinium macrocarpon fruit (cranberry) extract, coccinia indica flower extract, daucus carota sativa root (carrot) extract, lycopersicum fruit (tomato) extract, and beta vulgaris (beetroot) extract.

Celebrating One Year Of Wedded Bliss

This weekend my husband, Mark, and I celebrated our first year of marriage. 

Our anniversary was Sunday, November 9th, but that didn't stop us from being super cheesy all weekend long. Saturday morning I made Mark a breakfast sandwich before leaving the house and left him a little morning message to start his day. I also left him a laminated copy of our vows on the windshield of his truck to remind him of how appreciative I am for him and everything he does for me. I have a copy of his vows taped to the side of my computer monitor at work. I enjoy reading them from time to time to remind me of the wonderful things he promised me on our wedding day. 

My parents also joined in the festivities and decorated my place at the kitchen room table with boxes of our favorite Sees candy, a card, and balloons on my chair. In the card my parents invited us to dinner in honor of our first year as a married couple. We went to a fabulous sushi dinner at our favorite little shop in Orange called Hanabi. That was a very sweet, unexpected treat from my parents that Mark and I appreciated greatly. 

The traditional first wedding anniversary gift is paper. The modern first wedding anniversary gift is clocks. I decided to implement both of these gift ideas into our anniversary this year. I wanted to keep the theme of time, so I wrapped the box in brown shipping paper and wrote a simple message on the outside. 

Once he unwrapped the package, he opened a box and saw a handmade card I created with the picture of a watch on it. Once again, sticking with the time theme, I wrote a line about how I've loved every MINUTE that we've been married. (The time on the clock is 3pm—which is the time we got married.)

Inside the card I went on to write a novel (like I always do) about how much I love him and how I can't wait to grow old together—of course meaning I want him by my side as I age, not that I am in a hurry to get old. 

Here is a picture of the faux-leather watch display case I bought him from Wolf, along with the beautiful bouquet of long stem red roses he brought home for me on Saturday evening. Mark was so excited about his watch case. He has been wanting one for several years. He loves watches, but hates having to leave them in their original box. This awesome box comes with a lock and key and was purchased from Nordstrom, so if anything ever goes wrong I can replace it. 

The watch case and time inspired gifts accounted for the "clocks" portion of our anniversary, but the traditional gift is paper. I took it upon myself to put an ad in the Celebrations section of the Orange County Register wishing Mark a happy one year anniversary. I used a picture from our wedding with my grandfather and late grandmother who passed away suddenly this year. Mark was very surprised and loved the idea!

My gift was a complete surprise! I came out to sit at the kitchen table to eat breakfast with the grandfather and was greeted with every woman's favorite blue box...

I couldn't get a good picture of it on me (around my neck), so here is the stock photo. Mark got me this sterling silver heart lock pendant on a necklace from Tiffany & Co. I was very surprised because most years I will mention something that I want or need, but this year I let him completely come up with something on his own. I absolutely love it! 

This is the top of our wedding cake. Mark's dad, Michael, bought a special bag to store the cake in, in their deep freezer. The cake was a blush pink and the frosting was designed to look like feathering or petals. It has become slightly distorted from the freezing process, but it was still in good condition. I can't say that it tasted great, but it was definitely edible. The inside is chocolate with fudge filling. 

Mark planned a nice, relaxing day for us at Irvine Park. We took a bike ride around the park with Domino, had a picnic on the park tables, fed the ducks in the pond (which Domino fell into), and frolicked around in the grass. 

That night Mark planned a surprised dinner for us at Morton's Steakhouse. We don't typically wine and dine ourselves at fancy restaurants so this was definitely a treat. We were greeted with custom menus that wished us a happy one year anniversary. It was a very thoughtful touch!

We started with a "tuna tower" which is equivalent to an poke stack at many other restaurants; however this was the tastiest one I have ever had!!! This appetizer is layered with avocado, mango salsa, some type of grains, and seared ahi tuna. They fried their own chips which are used to scoop up this delicious, chilled treat. 

 Mark ordered a bowl of lobster bisque wit his dinner. It was super thick and creamy with large chunks of lobster. 

I ordered a Cesar salad with my dinner. This starter salad was surprisingly large and tastefully satisfying. 

I decided to go big or go home! I ordered a 2 pound lobster which was pre-cracked and ready to devour. Although the content that is actually eaten is no where near 2 pounds, this was still delightful! The taste was rich and flavorful just as I had imagined. I was extremely happy with my choice—even at market price. Eeek!

Mark, being the carnivore that he is, ordered a porterhouse steak. This I obviously did not taste, but he seemed to be enjoying every single bite. The steak was so large he wasn't even able to finish it. Leftovers = I don't have to cook. Yay!

Morton's treated us with a free chocolate souffle in honor of our anniversary. This was so sweet and so yummy!

We had such a great day! I am so thankful I am married to the greatest man. He makes me happier than words could ever explain. I am one lucky lady!

October Vegan Cuts Beauty Box Review

The October Vegan Cuts Beauty Box has some intriguing new finds in it. Me and my vegan treats did a little pumpkin photo shoot to show off the goods! Here is a preview of the box before I dug in:

First up, we have a nail polish by Floss Gloss in the warm shade, Donatella. This polish is 4-free and retails for $8.00 for a 0.18 fl oz bottle. The color is rich and creamy with a hint of sparkle. I think I am going to use this as my Thanksgiving manicure color. It reminds me of pumpkin pie and Cinnamon. 

Next, we have this Coffee Bean-illa body scrub from Lovinah. I received a "deluxe sample" that is 1 oz. This product retails for $45 in a 8 oz container. Upon opening the small jar, I was greeted with the fragrant aroma of coffee. I was actually surprised coffee wasn't one of the first ingredients listed because of how strong the scent was. I personally did not pickup any undertones of vanilla. I am not a coffee drinker, but I do enjoy the smell. (In fact, my favorite shave oil is coffee scented and you can read my rave review about it here!) This particular scrub claims to detox and exfoliate skin, all while moisturizing with ingredients like Shea butter and sunflower seed oil. While using this scrub in the shower, I couldn't help but feel like I was rubbing myself down with actual coffee grinds. The contents looks like what is left in your coffee pot after a fresh cup is brewed. This scrub did gently exfoliate my skin; however, it isn't my favorite out of the many variations I have tried. I enjoyed the sample and will use all that I have left, but this won't be my "go-to" exfoliant. 

Third, we have Joy Juice serum by Lotus Wei. This product is designed to "dissolve negative feelings and inspire an overall sense of wellness". It is made up of mostly flowers and has a light rosey smell. I received a 10 ml vial worth about $10. The full size bottle, 50 ml, retails for $50.00. This serum came with an instruction pamphlet explaining its uses and benefits. I have used this oil-like substance twice now. As directed, I applied a small amount to my stomach and bottoms of my feet before bed. I did enjoy a restful night sleep both nights, but I am not entirely convinced that was not a coincidence. I am not typically drawn to "flower alchemy", but I know much of its power lies in ones mood and attitude, so I am going to continue using it with an open mind, until it is gone, and see if I notice any results. I am always on the look-out for anything to help me to sleep better and relax. 

Lastly, I received a deluxe travel set of Hylunia skin care products. Included was a facial day lotion, facial cleansing gel, night treatment, and healing & soothing cream. I have tried the night treatment and cleansing gel, so far and both were slightly watery... I will continue to use them and see I notice a difference in my skins appearance. I will say though, I woke up this morning and my skin did feel a bit softer. I am not table to find this exact set available for purchase on Hylunia's website, but supposedly it sells for $35.00. This line is paraben and phosphate free and claims to fight aging, acne, redness, and dryness without clogging pores. I will continue using this set until it's gone and then evaluate my skin!