Let's do Vegas

My husband finished his last day of school on Thursday and started his summer internship today, so we had 4 days.

What do you do in 4 days? Vegas. 

We headed out after work/school on Thursday night and after several delays, we finally got there. 

Arriving at 1AM at Encore...

After a solid sleep session, we emerged and started to do all our favorite Vegas activities: eating breakfast, shopping, daytime drinking, and a little blackjack.

I also decided to "test" a maxi dress and see how it went. Maxi dresses scare me, but I was also curious about the hype. I actually bought this one from the Milly collection from Banana Republic for a holiday we have planned in August (are you curious?), but I decided to throw it in my luggage for the weekend and see how it went.

Still not completely sold on the concept, but it was comfy. 

Other fun tidbits from the weekend: 

Spotted...my maiden monogram at Louis Vuitton! 

Berry Infused Vodka. I cannot tell you how amazing. Is there a Pinterest recipe for this?

Pampering at it's finest. The Spa at Encore is top notch. I have been to quite a few amazing hotel spas around the world and this one and The Oyster Box hold my top two spots.

I had a massage on Friday and a mani-pedi on Sunday and I felt like a million bucks by the end of the weekend.

More to come....

Clearly, you need all the details.

Been to Vegas? Favorite spots? 

...& Then I Decided to "Just Do It"

The fact that it is June is beyond me. Come mid-July, I will have been in Chicago for a whole year!

While this year has been incredible, I recently had a little wobbly about myself. I had a birthday and I've been in this glorious city almost a year and I feel unaccomplished...

There are still walls in our apartment I need to put art on...
There are still girls I have been meeting up with, but our schedules are not cooperating...
There are things I have wanted to do with this blog that sit on the back burner...

But it is what it is. I live my life and it's up to me to make things happen.

Via Pinterest

Something changed, I snapped, and I suddenly stopped putting things off and started doing.

via Pinterest 

1. I contacted the artists of some of the art I bought last month and got recommendations for matting and framing....ordered and being shipped.

2. I contacted an organization I have been wanting to volunteer with since I moved to Chicago. There next orientation was the following day, so I re-arranged my schedule and went. Now I am signed up to volunteer and I will be spending 4 hours a week giving my time to something that fills my heart with gratitude and puts perspective in my life.

& finally...

3. I booked myself to go on a yoga retreat by myself (I'm actually peer pressuring my sister to join me). I know I am holding more stress than is healthy for me and I need a week to disconnect with my daily pressures (mostly self-inflicted) and reconnect with the beautiful, positive person that is inside of me.

Proof that it is the right decision? Everything has worked out. I am able to use my airlines miles to book my flights (hello $5 flights), a friend of a friend just went and raved about it, and I feel good. It's a little offbeat, a little random, a little unexpected, but I need it.

Didn't know I did Yoga? I'm full of surprises right now.

via Pinterest

Have you ever traveled solo? I often travel alone for a couple days, but usually for work or visiting family. I have never traveled and stayed in a resort all by myself. 

When was the last time you surprised yourself? Act out of character, it makes life zesty.