Wining and dining in Vegas
Hi friends <3
Mother of pearl.
We are blown away from your incredible support, love, comments, emails, tweets, texts and facebook posts from yesterday. As the day went on, we took turns reading your kind words to each other and are so thankful to have you as friends. The blog has blessed me in many ways and meeting you guys has always been #1 – my heart is very full and happy. Thank you 🙂 (the baby says thank you, too!) I added all of the posts I’ve written so far to the Family page. They’re mostly re-caps of the roller coaster I’ve been on, but stay tuned for some informational posts coming up (resources I’ve used, steps I took in the process, how my workouts have changed, etc). Let me know what you think <3
In addition to all of your lovely words, we had a lovely last day in Vegas 🙂 Since I know many of you have summer trips planned, I figured I’d put together a little “my favorite parts of Vegas” post for those of you who might need it!
Where to stay:
This past time, we stayed at the Bellagio and it’s my favorite so far. The rooms are immaculate (you can see pics *here*) and the hotel offers a ton of sweet amenities –designer shops inside, swank restaurants, gelato, cafes- and this was our view every night:
We told the girl at the front desk that we were celebrating our exciting news, so she upgraded us to a room with views of the fountains. When we were in the room, it was amazing to put the TV on the channel that played the fountain music and watching them dance. It was beautiful 🙂
The Bellagio also has a HUGE gym
free in-room WiFi (a necessity)
and the largest chocolate fountain in the world. I’m a fan 🙂
(They would catch me trying to break in, the stand underneath the fountain with mouth wide open)
It’s also right in the middle of the strip, which is so convenient for walking around.
Breakfast:
We ate at Mon Ami Gabi every.single.day. Everything is so fresh and fantastic and we love sitting on the patio to people-watch.
I also appreciate that they have an extensive gluten-free menu, are very accommodating with requests – I fell head over heels in love with the gluten-free eggs Florentine.
The Pilot loved everything he tried and said it was the best French toast he’s ever had. A very bold statement.
He also went crazy for the waffles:
Lunch:
Canyon Ranch Grill is hands-down my favorite place to eat in Las Vegas.
It’s kind of a hidden treasure, since it’s on the 4th floor of the Venetian and you basically have to walk through a winding maze to find it. We felt like foragers earning our food 😉
It’s the only place on the strip where I’ve managed to find fresh vegetable juice
organic salmon and normal portions.
Everything is healthy and they include the nutritional stats on the menu, too. In the middle of a day of indulgences (I had eaten an entire European chocolate bar earlier in the day… and it was redonk), it always feels good to have a light and healthy lunch.
(Grilled salmon, butternut squash and red quinoa)
Dinner:
Tie between Tao and Mesa Grill.
You can read our Mesa Grill re-cap *here* – we also love dinner at Tao. I adore Buddhas, and they’re EVERYWHERE 🙂
The restaurant is super-swank, two-story, with beautiful modern-Asian decor and mind-blowing foodgasmic Asian food.
It’s also attached to the club Tao, which is perfection if you want to dance your heart out afterwards 😉
We enjoyed the hot edamame:
I rolled with the XO shrimp, brown rice and green beans and the Pilot had wasabi-crusted Filet. We shared the tempura sweet potatoes 🙂
Cocktails:
Obviously I didn’t partake this time, but I did enjoy some pretty fab mocktails 🙂 When we go out for drinks, we love to hit up Parasol Up in the Wynn. The atmosphere is unique and whimsical, and the couches and lounge chairs make it a super comfy place to hang out.
It was an amazing trip and a fun, spontaneous getaway since the Pilot starts his crazy work schedule today 🙂
I’m off to do the work thang myself, so I’ll see ya later this afternoon <3
xoxo
Gina
Something to think:
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.”
Henry David Thoreau
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a great quote!!! 🙂 that salmon looks great!!!
Even though I’m not pregnant or have a boyfriend, I just read all of your Family posts to see how you reacted. Several of my good friends are preggars 🙂 Each one made me cry, especially the one with the egg in the take-out box. I feel like such a creeper, but I am beyond happy for you two! Congratulations x 1,000,000!!
thank you 🙂
Looks like you had a great time – and what fantastic news to be celebrating! So excited for your little family to grow! 🙂
I seriously am so excited for you guys! I can’t wait to read all your posts and follow along on your journey. My husband and I are TTC soon so I’ll be really interested in learning from your experience and info!
I love Tao! Mon Ami Gabi sounds absolutely amazing. If I am ever in Vegas again (been there 3 times and no real desire to go back) I will make that a priority!
That chocolate fountain………. I die!! Gah. It looks AMAZE.
I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday BUT *how* exciting that you are beginning this journey of your life!! And I really think you should include some baby and young family blog posts personally 😀 I for one would not be bored/freaked out/whatever.
We stayed at the Bellagio when we went to Vegas and I loved it!!! I think I had the Gelato every day, loved the banana toffee. I also went to the gym every day, I loved how they walked around with cool towels and water for you. And then I would always get some kind of service after, facial, hot stone massage, etc., it was awesome! We also saw “O” when we went and I thought it was fabulous. Of course I was exhausted because it was the 11:00 show and I was still on east coast time, but I managed to stay awake for the entire show.
i totally thought i’d fall asleep too, and stayed awake 🙂 that means it was REALLY good
Bahh. I’ll be in Vegas in August for work! I’m so excited!
Just got back from a ten day long trip to find out that you are expecting! Wow! Congrats! So excited for you! Vegas looks like so much fun and despite only living about 4 hrs away I haven’t been in years! You look glowing!
As a newlywed, I take a ton of joy in watching other couples be exceedingly happy. Needless to say, your exciting news made me so thrilled for you and so excited to go down that same road someday in our future. Very happy for you and the pilot!
I love Las Vegas, that’s where my husband and I went for our honeymoon. We hope to go back someday and I’m going to have to bookmark this post with your recommendations 🙂
Makes me want to go back there, and I had just gone in April!
wow i want to go there so bad now! the gym is huge, i can’t believe it!
we can break into the chocolate fountain together!
i’m excited to follow in your journey, you will be a fantastic mother
Hello my favorite future Mommie . . .
Looks like you had perfect weather. I am seriously going to save your recommendations – good/healthy food shouldn’t be so darn hard to come by – even on vacation. I bet your eyes are sore from all of the comments on that last post! I’m surprised your site didn’t implode!
Take care – Mo
hi friend 🙂
yes the weather was perfect! not too hot yet 🙂
i have a new server so it’s been nice to have a crash-free site (knock on wood)
have a great day 🙂
Gina! First of all congratulations …. Soooo exciting!!! Wish I would have known u were staying at bellagio… My office is there – would have loved to meet up!
no way!! we LOVED it 🙂
yes it is amaazzzing! the fountains, conservatory, O!! it is an amazing place to walk into every day:) well next time….would love to meet just to say HI!!!
we’ll definitely be back soon 🙂
Good morning mama 🙂 I just read through your pregnancy posts. I’m glad that I haven’t put on my mascara yet! I am so happy for the two of you and know that you are going to be an amazing mommy. Thank you for posting the vegas tips. I’m going to go at the end of the summer and haven’t been there for about 8 years. Have a great day!
I looove love Tao! I’ve only been to the one in New York but it was delicious. I highly recommend trying the lobster wonton (I think that’s what it’s called) as an appetizer. My mom and I shared it and were ready to lick the bowl clean it was so delicious, mmmm.
Oooh, thank you so much for this Vegas “places to see/stay/eat” post! Hubby & I are thinking about heading there next year (heh. it’s on the “baby bucket list”…) and I was hoping you’d give some recommendations 🙂 ..The Canyon Ranch fare looks fantastic…
I read all of your pregnancy posts and I am just so happy for you and the Pilot!!!! You two are so sweet together and your baby is going to be GORGEOUS!!!
I love Vegas — I hope we go back this year and I’d love to stay at the Bellagio. That place is amazing!
I remember when I first read your post that The Pilot was coming back for the long term. I was so happy for you guys – happier than I thought I could be for someone I don’t know outside of the blog-universe. And then I read your news yesterday! I was so happy I actually told one of my friends. She laughed and said she might have to start reading your blog too because cleary it reaches me!
I have enjoyed reading the posts on the family section today!
Are you allergic to wheat? I am technically, and sometimes it gives me a stomachache to eat it so its SO helpful when restaurants say which stuff is gluten free. Check out my blog Beautiful Busy Bee. Thanks!
nope i’m just sensitive to gluten, so i stay away for the most part
I just LOVE vegas and i havne’t been to any of those spots!
Will definitely be trying them out next trip 🙂
Las Vegas is on my list of places to go!
Your trip looks like it was so fun! After reading + seeing all the pics, I texted my boyfriend and said, “LET’S GO TO VEGAS!” 🙂 he really has his heart set on a beach trip, so he wasn’t nearly as enthused as I was… however, it doesn’t really matter because it doesn’t look like we are going anywhere for a while bc of work and money! I’m confident we will take lots of fun vacations like you and the pilot do, someday, but for now… I just drool over your posts! <3
I love Vegas – such a great babymoon place!
I am SOOO BEHIND! Congratulations! You guys deserve an awesome little addition to your family! Can’t wait to follow along your journey! 🙂
And this post has inspired me to FINALLY do my honeymoon write-up I’ve been promising my readers! 🙂
It’s a good thing the chocolate fountain is behind a glass case… ‘cuz I’d have been laying flat on the floor, mouth open, chocolate drunk! Bellagio is beee-uuuu-teee-ful!!!
Congrats to you and the Pilot!!!! I love your family page and am excited to hear about your upcoming experiences!
Tao Yummm! Were the girls in the bathtubs in the front when you went? haha, nice gig?
sadly no haha.
Great post and fabulous upgrade! My dream stay in vegas is a fountain view room at the Bellagio.
I just booked Vegas for August this morning!
I’m so happy you guys got away to celebrate! I just read the entire family page, too…totally teared up. Amazing. Thank you for sharing those posts you wrote in the early days.
Congrats guys! That is wonderful news! Wishing you a happy & healthy pregnancy. 🙂
I loved reading the posts on the family page – they were so real, and honest about your struggles and excitement! Thanks for posting them 🙂
Looks like you had a wonderful time in Vegas– almost felt like I was there with you 🙂
If I ever head to Vegas, which I hope I do someday, then I’ll definitely know where to look for advice!
looks like you had an awesome trip! i’ve never been to vegas, but it sure looks like fun (and good food)!!!
love that quote too : )
I love these suggestions for eats. Every time I’ve been to Vegas we’ve had OKAY food, but nothing great. It’s probably worth spending a bit more and getting a decent meal rather than just a meh meal. 🙂
I LOVE your pink sweater!! Where did you get it?
new york and company 🙂
That looks like so much fun! Especially that choco-fountain 🙂
Congrats again on the news!
Um, how did I not know about this chocolate fountain?? I must explore more the next time I’m in Vegas. I loved all your suggestions too– I think I will have to try them out because the food looks amazing everywhere you went!
And I love that quote!
Have a good day and congrats again on your exciting news 🙂
Congratulations on your pregnancy, Gina. So happy for you. Glad you and the pilot got to have such a wonderful vacation to celebrate the good news and that the timing is so great with the pilot able to experience it with you. 🙂
I love your suggestions. I’ve only ever been to Vega to partay! I’d love to go on a more relaxing trip full of great food, shows, beautiful hotels rooms and some special time with my boyfriend:)
Love this post girl! I’m going to vegas end of July so we’ll be defenitely following some of your footsteps! 🙂
So funny- I was wishing you’d do something like this post, summarizing the best places, because I am going to Vegas in early July! So thank you! And let me add my baby congrats to the heap!
2nd comment on this post – Have you tried Parasol Down? Same drinks but you can watch the weird “Lake of Dreams” show.
Quick congrats from one military wife to another. We’ve been thinking with a baby brain for a little while too…we are both 32 and have been married for 12 yrs..but deployments and moves make us nervous to leap over the ledge. Congrats on taking that plunge and keep strong. 🙂
Ok, I know I’m SO late to the party, but CONGRATULATIONS!!! It looks like you guys are having a fabulous time in Vegas – and what a fun way to celebrate!! 🙂
Mon Ami Gabi is fantastic! I ate there while in Chicago and had the most delicious scallop dinner.
Just found your blog through How Sweet It Is and I’m lovin it. Congratulations to you the Pilot on your pregnancy. 🙂 Looking forward to your posts!
Just found your blog through How Sweet It Is and I’m lovin it. Congratulations to you and the Pilot on your pregnancy. 🙂 Looking forward to your posts!
thank you!!
That salmon looks to. die. Thanks for the recommendations!! I am going to stay at bellagio if I ever go…shit look at that gym!!!
it was nicer than many of the gyms i’ve had paid memberships too!