The Queen’s Chronicles – Random Roundup
One of the main reasons I keep up this little space is to have a diary to show a little of what we are doing around here. Somehow I’ve gotten out of the habit of sharing our weekly happenings or maybe, just maybe things have been a little more boring than usual. Here’s a little bit of catching up with life lately!
Dillon and I volunteered with this crew at The Bridge Ministries to wrap up his volunteer hours for the Young Mens Service League year. I have so enjoyed spending a little one on one time with him while doing something to give back.
Carly grabbed her friend Emma for a movie date to see A Dog’s Purpose. Yes, lots of tears for all 3 of us but this movie is so good. I mean lots of puppies and Dennis Quaid…you can’t go wrong. Going to the movies is not always my thing but seeing a movie in a recliner may just be a game changer!
My kids never cease to crack me up. Carly has been on a kick lately telling us how awesome she is. For whatever reason she felt compelled to write it on a sticky note and place on the fridge so when Riley made it home he added in his part as well as the question marks. So I’ve got these two who love to talk about themselves and how amazing they are and then I’ve got these two who I’m absolutely positive rolled their eyes at this note and confidently walked away. It’s alway so funny to me that even though they do not share a dad #1 & #3 are so much alike as are #2 and #4.
This girl loves being in the kitchen with me and it makes me so happy. Give her some fun tool to work with and she is even happier. I pulled out the mandolin I have had for probably 10 years from a Pampered Chef party and we have been using it alot to grate things like sweet potatoes.
Keith and I headed of to Vegas earlier this month to hang with my sister-in-law for her birthday and this was my travel outfit.
Our first morning the weather was perfect and we headed to brunch as soon as we got dressed.
We sat on the patio at Hexx Kitchen and enjoyed yummy breakfast, I had the sweet potato hash with the hollandaise on the side, and bottomless mimosas. Hexx is just outside the Paris hotel and has a great outdoor patio across from the Bellagio perfect for people watching.
Keith headed back to the casino and the girls headed shopping. I bumped into these booties at the Sam Edelman store and knew they had to be mine. So long I’ve wanted a pair of leopard booties and these were marked down plus and extra 20% off that day so I couldn’t resist!
After lots of walking we grabbed In N Out burger for a quick lunch before heading back to the hotel.
We headed downtown to the Plaza hotel for dinner at Oscars.
The food really was amazing but I had to crack up on the asparagus. Look how huge it is compared to the rest of our food!
The rocking sign (letters rock back and forth) was on the list of things to see and it wasn’t hard to find right across from our dinner.
Talk about people watching, the three of us were cracking up at all we saw down Fremont Street.
And then I rode my first zipline! Slotzilla has two options and I chose the lower zipline and thought it was fun and it wasn’t super fast.
Morning number two I did some walking down the strip and then headed to Bobby Flays Mesa Grill to have a mimosa while waiting to join everyone for brunch.
This basket of goodies was seriously delish!
This picture does not do this breakfast tostada justice but trust me it was so good. It was served with grits which also contained hominy and there was nothing left.
We went back downtown and, after touring the Mob museum, strolled back down Fremont where I saw these guys. For whatever reason Carly has been obsessed with Kiss lately. I promise there is nothing people will not do to make some tips in Vegas. These were pretty much the most dressed people out there.
We had early dinner reservations at Batistas Hole in the Wall and I was excited to see this guy was still there playing the accordion. If you are looking for some good Italian off the strip a bit I recommend this place but you definitely need reservations.
The highlight of my trip was seeing Brittany. She was amazing and I think she must have changed her costume at least 10 times. I always know when I go somewhere with Amy she is going to make sure we have great seats!
Every time I posted anything about our trip at least one person told me we must go to Hash House so of course we did. We arrived at probably a prime time for brunch and the wait was really long but we were up for it.
Seriously y’all, so much food! The chicken and waffles were amazing and so was the corned beef hash. The waffles were also made with bacon inside. We definitely could have shared a plate!
We strolled the strip and of course stopped to see the fountains. Seriously the best picture I could get since Keith failed to bring sunglasses. I was terrible with the camera on this trip!
I headed for a little more shopping and I’m thinking shopping with a margarita is the way to go. Not sure it would always work in my favor. Dry Bar is something I’ve always wanted to try so I was killing time before my appointment. I successfully made it our entire trip and never had to wash and dry my own hair!
Our last night and we headed out for dinner and some super bowl watching.
I have heard about this joint from a friend at work but the strip location is fairly new. They had buy one get one beers so it was a win. They cautioned us against the extra spicy but I’m guessing I should have stressed we were from Texas because it definitely wasn’t too spicy for me.
Headed home! My sweet mother-in-law upgraded our tickets to first class as part of our Christmas gift and it was a win after we were on the runway delayed for an hour. In first class this meant I was able to enjoy a mimosa while we waited! And y’all, I totally am glad I did because the short flight over to LA was probably the worst turbulence I’ve ever experienced.
Back home and back to real life and my favorite season has started! So far the boys have just been scrimmaging but I’m loving seeing this one on the mound. Excited to see the season get rolling.
We have also been praying for sweet baby Charis. A teacher from Carly’s elementary school has been at Texas Children’s hospital for 65 days with her sweet baby. Charis was born in October and has Downs Syndrome so when she developed RSV just before Christmas it became very serious and the goal was getting her strong enough to move up her heart surgery. Last week the doctors successfully repaired her teeny little heart. This family is so precious and I cannot imagine how hard it’s been for this mom and dad to take turns at the hospital while also trying to manage the 4 other children they have at home. Baby Charis is doing really well…God is amazing!
I had sushi not once but twice last week! It has been so long and it was incredible. I had such a great date night with my oldest and got all caught up on everything going on in her life!
I also had happy hour with Riley and got all caught up on what is going on in his world. Maybe next time I will actually get pictures of my kids and not just our food and beverages!
Yesterday the kids were out of school and I was so grateful to have my friend Holly’s husband so willing to pick up my kidos and take them to do something fun. These girls love hanging out together and when they are not together they are usually facetiming.
Whew…so that’s it, we are all caught up! Here’s to trying to keep up a little better in the weeks to come.
Now I am hungry… and thirst too, if you know what I mean ;). Just kidding…. kind of. I love that you do so much volunteer work with your littles. That is REALLY something I want to work toward as my kids get older.
This made me overjoyed with happiness to catch up with you girl! And you have seriously had me grab out my Vegas notepad for all kinds of suggestions for when we go next month. Here's what is so funny, I have never been to an in and out burger so that's one of my most favorite things from this post because I did not know Vegas had one! And Carly is awesome! And you are cute as can be! So sorry about that sweet baby, I will pray for their family. And sushi twice in one week, pure heaven! Have a wonderful day sweetie!
I totally second the idea of shopping while drinking margaritas! Win win! Loved seeing your Vegas snaps!
What a fun trip! All that great food and shopping!
I wish there was a Dry Bar here. I've always wanted to try that out.
Glad you had so much fun!
Y'all have had a great month! I love Carly Jo's note on the fridge! Love it!!
I'm still jealous of your Vegas Trip!
Ah there are so many fun things here! First of all you look fab and 2nd of all your kiddos crack me up! LOVE those booties! I want to see that dog movie too, glad it was cute! Have a great day love! xo
I want to see A Dog's Purpose so bad, but I know that it's going to make me bawl my eyeballs out!!!! And girrrrl, VEGASSSS! Your pictures are making me nostalgic!! I miss it so much!
Whew, that was a lot to catch up on! It looks like you had so much fun in Vegas. So what's your conclusion on the In and Out Burger? I heard a story that Whataburger was better…what did you think?
Tony and I loved A Dogs Purpose and we shed some tears too! Hash a Go-Go is a must-must! Wasn't it great and yes huge portions! Tony had the chicken and waffles too. Loved it!
And you work too?!!! LOL What a fab month, but you definitely were a busy woman.
Wow so much going on, what a fantastic trip to Vegas and the food, so much goodness!
What a fun life you have girl!
Oh my gosh that burger and your trip to vegas – too fun! xo, Biana BlovedBoston
Love the volunteer work you do with your kids! Your trip to Vegas looked like so much fun – I really want to see Britney next time I go!
This was so nice to read! First of all, those boots are amazing! Sushi twice a week…..Heaven! Seeing Brittany must have been fantastic! What a great trip.
Nancy she really, really was amazing! I wish I could dance like that. 🙂
Lana she was so good! I'm always just amazed by how they can dance and sing at the same time!!
Beth you would be surprised what they can do even at a young age! The foodbank has been such a blessing to us because kids are never too young to be able to assist with something.
Do you already know where y'all are staying? The Linq area (with the hi roller ferris wheel that I didn't get to ride :() is where the In and Out burger and lots of other little restaurants, bars and gift shops are. It was definitely a new area since the last time I went.
Girl….it would get me in trouble I'm positive! But today…a margarita should happen right? I mean how can we pass up national marg day?!
It was nice having my hair fixed but honestly, for the price, I'm not sure it was necessarily worth it. It was a fun vegas splurge.
Heather I want to bottle her little 11 year old confidence up right now to use later in the teen years!!
A Dogs Purpose is soooo good Jessi but take your kleenex for sure.
You will DEFINITELY cry!! But I still would go again.
Well…this was not my first burger from In N Out. They are definitely different than Whataburger so I don't know that I can compare but the fries at Whataburger are definitely way better.
It was really good and we honestly had great service even though it was so busy.
Haha, yes mam I do. You know how it is…pictures show one story and real life is somewhere in between. I have that kind of personality though Lauren…it's a blessing and a curse but I don't sit still well.
It was nice to getaway Sarah but I would rather go to the beach any day!
I'm just glad I finally learned to look at it that way Kellyann. There were definitely years when I didn't embrace the goodness I had right in front of me.
It was delish! Still want to try Shake Shack.