VEGAS Baby!

Each year SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) holds their premier automotive specialty products trade event in Las Vegas. And every year Jamie attends this event. This year I thought it might be fun for the whole family to take a trip to Vegas.

I could barely get off the plane before I had Michael taking selfies just to prove I was in Vegas. It's been almost 3 years since I was last there. Some people put pool tables and home gyms in their basement. If I had my way I'd put Vegas in my basement.

Being a Seven Stars player with Harrah's meant I was entitled to a limo to transport us to the hotel. But we couldn't find the limo driver so we stood in a line a mile long to catch a cab. But as luck would have it just as we got to the front of the cab line, the limo driver called and said he was looking for us. We hopped the cab line fence and headed to the limo - who wants to take a cab when a limo is available.

I didn't know it but limos are equipped with some type of child safety equipment right behind the driver's seat so no car seat is needed.

We stayed at the Flamingo hotel because it was the most reasonable and I thought the most central to different Vegas attractions. They had a habitat outside filled with flamingos, ducks and fish which Violet had to visit several times a day. They even had stuffed flamingos in the gift shop which I just had to buy her.

Shopping was one of the things at the top of my list. I was curious as to the cost of Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton bags. Was I ever shocked when the lady at Prada told me the bag was "very reasonable - $2,500". I think I'll stick with Coach. This picture is priceless with Violet standing in front of Gucci holder her Sephora bag.

Vegas is full of fun places to eat - Serendipity (where Mellissa, Jamie, Violet and I had breakfast), Guy Fieri's, Gordon Ramsey, Sugar Factory. But I was craving bar-b-cue. So Michael and I headed to Harrah's to Toby Keith's. Not the best decision. Their bar-b-cue does not compare to Kansas City.

Wednesday was Britney Spear's day in Vegas so we went down to the Linq - Vegas' newest outdoor retail, dining and entertainment plaza. Melissa, Jamie and Violet were there pretty early and got free tickets to the High Roller.

The High Roller is the biggest ferris wheel in the world at a height of 550 feet tall. It is comprised of 28 enclosed transparent pods. Each pod can hold about 40 people but there were only about 10 in our group. This ferris wheel doesn't stop while loading and unloading. It just goes very slow and you jump on and jump off. Since there was only 10 of us it was fairly simple. I'd hate to see it with more people trying to jump on and off. The entire ride was about 30 minutes long and offered panoramic views of the Strip. We also got to see a little of the motocross race.

They had this cute little cupcake place called Sprinkles where I just had to take Violet and get her a cupcake. They had these mini cupcakes that were delicious.

Harrah's was also holding their Great Gift Wrap Up while we were there. You earn points by playing the slot machines then use those points to buy everything from a bass boat to hair dryers. I had enough points to buy a ham from Omaha steaks and a box of chocolates from Godiva.

But all good things must come to an end and it was time to go home. This picture was taken in front of the Flamingo sign. We should have got Violet a pair of sunglasses. I'm not sure when I'll be back to Vegas but maybe sometime soon.