I love The Vegas and The Vegas loves me.

Puh-leeeze tell me somebody can name that quote in the title!

But it's true! We do love the Vegas and it loved us back last week. We just got home from a fun couple of days in the city. Adam has been for a brief trip or 2, and I’ve been only once as a high schooler, so we were both excited to get re-acquainted.

Every year, the mother of photo conferences, WPPI, happens in Vegas and our schedule finally worked out this year to attend. We stayed 2 nights at the MGM Signature which we loved. It’s attached to the main MGM but much quieter and less Vegas than the casino hotels ~ it was perfect! We would definitely recommend it! Our view:



We drove through some SNOW to get to Vegas:


then headed down the Strip to Dos Caminos, a fabulous Mexican restaurant in the Palazzo recommended by our friends and Vegas connoisseurs the Ma’ins. The tableside guacamole, shrimp/mushroom quesadilla, and ahi tuna did not disappoint.


*Side note: Dos Caminos was the location of the infamous Heidi vs. Spencer vs. Bolthouse Productions throw-down in Vegas where he came to “win her back”.

After dinner we wandered our way home through the Forum Shoppes and Caesar’s Palace, and ended up back at the MGM for our first round of Blackjack. Thanks to some prep from our friends and a little bit of Lady Luck, we ended up walking away with about $230 more than we arrived with from our 3 days there! Vegas is fun when you win!




We spent the next day listening to speakers, attending workshops, and checking out all of the latest photo industry news and products. It’s so inspiring to be around others in the same biz as me, and I really learned tons and walked away with tons of great ideas for this year. It was a little overwhelming but really great!

Dinner was at Nobhill, a Michael Mina restaurant in MGM where we had a celebrity sighting (Andre Agassi) and another wonderful dinner.



Our last day, we finished the conference in the morning and headed to the Bellagio for lunch and walk-through.


Don’t miss this gem ~ the Guinness–certified world’s largest chocolate fountain ~ nice!


Overall it was SUCH a fun getaway and we can’t wait to go back!

Some great news!

Well, as you can tell from my last bazillion posts, Adam and I LOVE being an aunt and uncle! And the great news is, we're getting another niece or nephew!!

Melissa announced this week that they are expecting a little brother or sister for Sydney . . . I think somebody's excited!!


I've really analyzed this tradition ~ I love the ridiculousness of it but I also want to be sensitive to people who aren't able to be moms when that is their desire AND maybe more importantly, I think there is SO much to celebrate about women besides their ability to bear children. AND there are so many wonderful people in my life who aren't in this photo ... but after analyzing all of that, I've decided to continue for now at least just to contribute to the absurd. So in light of that, Melissa, here's your Asian baby #2!!


As usual, I'm saddened to report no increase in the number of bloggers in this photo (see the rad hot pink B's) though I will say that I have high hopes for the addition of a B there on the left side soon . . . stay tuned!!

Speaking of nieces ...

In keeping with the theme of nieces, Caroline's arrival allowed me another special treat ~ I got to go to Sydney's 3rd Birthday monkey party! We SO miss the small things in life like being around for plays, birthday parties, etc., so I was so excited that Caroline's birth coincided with Syd's party this year so I could attend!



Syd is really into Monkey George (aka Curious George) so she's all about the monkeys ~ including Halloween 08:



and for her birthday party this year!

On Syd's actual birthday day, Adam and I were spending the day at Disney, so we took advantage of the opportunity to make a little video treat for Syd that included a few of her favorite things like Wall-E, big girl straws, Tinkerbell, sunglasses, etc.:



Then, after she had seen the video, she called and got to talk to Cali the monkey on the phone! After Cali the monkey traveled to Nashville for the monkey party, she went to live at Sydney's house full-time, though Syd still wants to talk to her on the phone in CA!

So, here's the actual monkey party which was the Saturday after her birthday:


How cute are these monkey cupcakes:


I think both Syd and Mary Carter loved them!!



Monkeying around with Uncle Mike:


Present time:


Don't miss the smocked monkey dress ~ it was PRECIOUS!

At the after-party (aka all monkey-ed out!):


Happy 3rd Birthday, Syd!!