Friday February 19
After my shift with Project FOCUS, Steph picked me up from the institute to start our super awesome rocking fun journey to Mesa, that would then lead to the even more super awesome rocking fun journey to Las Vegas!
When we arrived in Mesa we took a quick stop at my house to meet EJ and to say hello to the rest of the family, and then we went to pick Zach up, and the party people were on their way to Vegas.
Perhaps you are wondering why we went to Vegas? Well in January my Dad got a letter in the mail from the Wynn hotel on the strip, offering a pretty slamming deal including two nights at the hotel, two tickets to Le Rêve and two free meals from the buffet. All that for a pretty slamming price. So EJ got his hands on the letter, thought it was worth it, got a group together, and booked it. We took advantage of being in Vegas that weekend and decided to buy tickets to Britney's residency show in Planet Hollywood. So obviously it was the weekend of a lifetime for mormons in Vegas.
Back in.
So we made it to Vegas around 5:30, checked into the hotel and made our way to our room on the 59th floor. Oh yes people, we were staying on the 59th floor of a 5 star hotel. We felt like royalty every time we got on the elevator and everyone else was getting off on the 30th or 40th floor, and then we were super fancy all the way to the second highest floor in the hotel.
Our room was the fanciest room in the whole world. Giant window, giant curtains, giant bathroom, giant bathtub, I could've lived there.
Once we checked in we went to go get dinner and explore some Vegas. We ended up eating at I <3 Burgers inside the Venetian. Any guess what I had to eat? If you thought burgers, you were correct for Steph, EJ and Zach because they are normal people. I, on the other hand, went with the much more classy chicken fingers. No ragrets.
After dinner we continued our exploration of Vegas!
So as you read earlier we had to tickets to Le Rêve and two buffet meals, since there were four of us, not everyone could do everything. So Zach and I took the Le Rêve tickets and Steph and EJ went with the buffet.
The show was at 9:30 on Friday night, so while Zach and I were at the show Ej and Steph dabbled in the activities of 21 year olds.
The show was freaking awesome. It's very similar to cirque du soleil in the sense that it's acrobats, but it's not the actually company, it's Wynn's own production. I am in so much shock of how much the human body can do if you work with it. Everyone in the show was so ripped it was insane. If you're ever looking for a show to go to in Vegas I highly recommend this one, you will be blown out of your mind.
Once we made it down to New York New York we walked all the way back to the Wynn so Steph and EJ could attend their buffet. Turns out walking to New York New York from the Wynn doesn't seem nearly as long of a distance as it is than when you are walking back to the Wynn... we were exhausted. Also my shoe broke while we were walking back! So that was an adventure in of itself...
While Steph and EJ were at their buffet (which apparently had the world's longest line), Zach and I went to the Fashion Show mall to get some lunch, and then we relaxed in the hotel room until room service came along.
Eventually we met back up with Steph and EJ while they were still cleaning our room, so Steph and EJ played some slots while Zach and I watched.
Back in.
This is us at a gas station in Wikiup
Our room was the fanciest room in the whole world. Giant window, giant curtains, giant bathroom, giant bathtub, I could've lived there.
Also, the hotel, and pretty much all the others in Vegas, were decked out in Chinese decorations for the New Year, it was pretty awesome.
Once we checked in we went to go get dinner and explore some Vegas. We ended up eating at I <3 Burgers inside the Venetian. Any guess what I had to eat? If you thought burgers, you were correct for Steph, EJ and Zach because they are normal people. I, on the other hand, went with the much more classy chicken fingers. No ragrets.
After dinner we continued our exploration of Vegas!
So as you read earlier we had to tickets to Le Rêve and two buffet meals, since there were four of us, not everyone could do everything. So Zach and I took the Le Rêve tickets and Steph and EJ went with the buffet.
The show was at 9:30 on Friday night, so while Zach and I were at the show Ej and Steph dabbled in the activities of 21 year olds.
The show was freaking awesome. It's very similar to cirque du soleil in the sense that it's acrobats, but it's not the actually company, it's Wynn's own production. I am in so much shock of how much the human body can do if you work with it. Everyone in the show was so ripped it was insane. If you're ever looking for a show to go to in Vegas I highly recommend this one, you will be blown out of your mind.
Saturday February 20
Saturday was a big day. It started out with brekkie at McDonalds on the Strip, and the exploration of the Strip (this was the first time Steph and Zach would truly experience Vegas, trips before were not sufficient). We ended up walking 11 miles before 1 pm. We went from the Wynn all the way to New York New York, going through the malls and through the casinos and through the hotels. Now some photos with some explanation of what was going on:
This is us outside of the Venetian, this hotel is one of my favorites!
The malls in the hotels always have these "art masterpieces" for instance, this shoe.
I think the coolest place in Vegas is the Crystals mall in the Aria. And I think it is the coolest place because of the cyclones they have inside. As you can see above they are very entertaining. The mall itself is too fancy for me, but the Richardson's always take a stop there because that's where the Tom Ford store is. EJ told us at the beginning of this trip that he was not going to buy a Tom Ford tie as he usually does, but we convinced him to "treat yo'self" and he ended up getting one anyway.
In between that picture and the next we went to M&Ms world, bought some red bull, you know the usual.
So we ended up being in Vegas on the same day as the Nevada caucus for Democrats. Hillary was having her party at Caeser's palace so there were tons of Hill supporters all along the strip. Bernie had his shin dig in Henderson, so we didn't see too many fans on the strip. But at New York New York MSNBC was set up and broadcasting about the election, super totes cool.
Once we made it down to New York New York we walked all the way back to the Wynn so Steph and EJ could attend their buffet. Turns out walking to New York New York from the Wynn doesn't seem nearly as long of a distance as it is than when you are walking back to the Wynn... we were exhausted. Also my shoe broke while we were walking back! So that was an adventure in of itself...
While Steph and EJ were at their buffet (which apparently had the world's longest line), Zach and I went to the Fashion Show mall to get some lunch, and then we relaxed in the hotel room until room service came along.
Eventually we met back up with Steph and EJ while they were still cleaning our room, so Steph and EJ played some slots while Zach and I watched.
Eventually room service was complete, we went back to hotel room to relax for a little while and then we went back out on the town to pre-game for the Britney show.
You can't go to Vegas without going to Serendipity at Caesars Palace to get their frozen hot chocolate... and their giant hot dogs.
She played just about every song that I wanted her to sing. There were a few that I think she could have gone without, but it was amazing nonetheless. The final four songs were the best part of the whole thing, I was way too pumped: Toxic, Stronger, (You Drive Me) Crazy, Till The World Ends. Britney perfection.
It was very Vegas and very fun. It wasn't quite as good at the Spice Girls show I saw in Vegas in 2007, but really how can you top a Spice Girls reunion concert....
You can't go to Vegas without going to Serendipity at Caesars Palace to get their frozen hot chocolate... and their giant hot dogs.
You owe me 5 bucks if you had an inappropriate thought
After Serendipity we went and watched the fountain show at the Belagio, it never gets old.
After the show we went over to Planet Hollywood to hang out before the show started.
While on a bathroom hunt, Steph and I found these really amazing elevators, so of course we had to go get the boys to get some pictures.
The future POTUS
Then it was time to head into the show room! Out by the concessions and everything all of Britney's old music video costumes were on display, it was amazing! You never really realize how tiny a person was when you have only seen them on a screen.
While we were waiting for the show to start you could tweet in pictures with #pieceofme. I tweeted two pictures because I #fail so I didn't make it up onto the big screen. Steph on the other hand was smart and only tweeted one picture, and we made it! Our moment of fame... even though I'm a ghost.
While we were waiting for the show to start you could tweet in pictures with #pieceofme. I tweeted two pictures because I #fail so I didn't make it up onto the big screen. Steph on the other hand was smart and only tweeted one picture, and we made it! Our moment of fame... even though I'm a ghost.
There really wasn't a bad seat in the place. Sure some are much better than others, but I was very satisfied with the seats we got for the price we paid. The only issue is when tall people end up sitting in front of you so it's hard to watch Britney. But all is well, the show was amazing nonetheless. Britney is life.
It was very Vegas and very fun. It wasn't quite as good at the Spice Girls show I saw in Vegas in 2007, but really how can you top a Spice Girls reunion concert....
Sunday February 21
It was finally time to leave Vegas #crycrycry
Before we left we made sure to stop by the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. I've been to LV many times before in my life but I have never stopped at that sign... too touristy I guess? But I finally made it there!
Overall it was a fabulous weekend! It was also a celebration of Steph's birthday (which was on the 8th) and Zach's birthday (which was on the 22nd), so I am glad they were able to come to celebrate the best way possible.
This year has kind of been really amazing with all this travel I've been doing, I'll never forget these memories, and I am so happy I get to share them with such amazing people.
Oh and in case you were wondering why I titled this the way I did, when Steph and EJ gambled they never wanted to lose any money, so they only played until they broke even. No gambling addicts here!
I owe you five bucks. And I totes would have gotten some chicken tenders too. #noshame
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