Where I've Been Lately: Las Vegas

It's been a wild ride since mid-June. I'm sorry I left you hanging for a while but I've barely been able to keep my head on straight since we've had so much going on. In early June, I detailed what we had on our docket for the month and now that its behind us, I'm ready to give you the lowdown. Since these recaps can get wordy, I'll try to do a recap series this week, and first up - it's Las Vegas!

As you know, I traveled to Las Vegas for the Licensing International Expo. This is a yearly trip to which our entire company (of 12 people) attends. We exhibit with a large booth and this year we really made a statement! We had a brand new booth designed and I have to say, it looked pretty freakin' awesome.

I love Licensing Show because not only is it a great team-building trip in Las freakin' Vegas, but it is a fun way to see so many brands that are out there, from corporate stuff to the hot TV shows and movies. And some brands really go all out with their exhibits, like the awesome Game of Thrones "iron" throne replica.

You know I snuck away from our booth to get a photo in that bad boy. Look out Lannisters! House Humiston is moving in.

And yes, this is my best I-just-punched-Joffrey-in-his-smug-face-(or-maybe-much-much-worse-but-trying-to-keep-things-family-friendly)-and-now-I'm-the-ruler-of-the-Seven-Kingdoms-so-bow-down-to-me-for-all-of-time regal Queen face.

I may have practiced it on my co-workers a few times first.
Ah geekery at its finest.

It wasn't all work all the time though!

I stayed at the Vdara, which is a non-casino hotel near City Center. Just a 5 minute walk from the Aria and the Cosmopolitan, I thought this was a great location, especially since walking in Las Vegas can be a serious mirage at times. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Vdara. It was super chic, clean, spacious and I had this all to myself:

I also got to eat at some pretty fab restaurants, including Sage:

You know it's a classy joint when the drink menu is delivered via iPad...

And Sushi Samba (oh.my.)

I also dabbled in some pretty cocktails, like this spiked strawberry lemonade from the bar at the Vdara.

and last but certainly not least, I attended the Licensing Show opening night party at the Beach at Mandalay Bay, which featured a performance by Flo Rida!

Yeah, it was kinda cool and gave me quite a good feelin' ;)
 

So that's the skinny on my trip to Las Vegas. Oh and I should mention that yes, I did do lots of actual work while I was there! This was just all the fun stuff surrounding the whole back-to-back meetings, standing all day in heels situation.

Do you travel for work? 

Do you have any trips - work or non-work - coming up?

What Happens in Vegas...

Please note that a batch of my Butterscotch Blondies + Salted Chocolate Glaze are now up for auction over on Keep it Sweet! Please check out all of the delectable goodies that Lauren has up for auction - it's for a great cause!! You have until midnight tonight, 6.29.11!

Though it already feels like a lifetime ago, just a couple of weeks ago I was in Las Vegas for 5 days. I was there for work. The days were grueling and the nights were filled with food and drink. By the time I arrived home, I could barely keep my eyes open.

A typical day went something like this: Wake up early. Eat breakfast with the team. Head over to the Mandalay Bay for 9 hours, taking meetings and working the front of the booth (in heels). Go back to MGM Grand to change for the evening. Spend evening @ cocktail parties and restaurants, eating/drinking...and sometimes gambling in the casinos. Sleep when possible.

Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the world and I was fortunate enough to sample a whole lotta them.

Monday: Border Grill @ Mandalay Bay

Clockwise: Plantain empanadas & Kobe sopas; Chicken enchiladas; Banana cream pie/cake duo; Chicken moleI was so excited to have dinner with my cousin Mona and her friend Kathy when I first arrived in Vegas! Mona is my mom's first cousin and she actually lives out in Las Vegas. I hadn't spent any time with her before this, and it was SO fun to spend some time together talking food and hearing lots about my mom's side of the family. Oh and the food was absolutely fantastic. Mary Sue Milliken, the Exec Chef, was just in the finale of Top Chef Masters. And now I know why. I dined on rich chicken enchiladas, sweet plantain empanadas, Kobe beef sopas (that melted in my mouth) and since I couldn't decide on dessert, we got a banana cream pie/cake duo. Oh. my. God. That's all.

Tuesday: Wolfgang Puck's Lupo @ Mandalay Bay

Left to right: Antipasta, fried calamari, pizza; cheese ravioli

When I think of Wolfgang Puck, Italian food doesn't necessarily jump out at me. But the food at Lupo was totally unstoppable. We started with a whole lotta appetizers - a 4 cheese pizza to share, fried calamari, meatballs (Mom, I'm happy to report that they were nowhere as good as yours), and an antipasto platter. I topped it off with a dish of ravioli. Is it a wonder that I had trouble moving afterwards?

Wednesday: Lotus of Siam @ A Sketchy Strip Mall

Clockwise: Grilled squid, Red curry w/pork; Pad see ew (chicken); Crispy duck & drunken noodleLotus of Siam is the one off-the-beaten path place we went. In fact, if I didn't know better, I would have thought our cab driver was kidnapping the lot of us. Located in a sorta-kinda sketchy strip mall off the strip, Lotus is quite possibly the most delicious Thai food I've ever had. In fact, you can also find it on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Las Vegas. And it was. I wouldn't make the trip solo, but with a group, I say go for it. The restaurant is totally unsketchy inside, so if you can get past the exterior, you will dine on crispy duck on drunken noodles (which is quite possibly the best thing I ever ate), red curry, grilled squid, pad see ew...and lots more. Oh, and it's probably the only reasonably priced place in Las Vegas.

Thursday: Late lunch @ In & Out Burger

I had heard stories, but never experienced it for myself. Totally lived up to the hype. The burger is freshly cooked, topped with special sauce and grilled onions. One of the best burgers of all time, I'd say. As soon as I finished it, I was sad that it was over. Now that's saying something.

Thursday: Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill @ The Cosmopolitan

I adored every single thing about this dinner. It was our last night in Vegas, so work was done (hoorah!). The few of us who were left went to one of the best meals of my life at Blue Ribbon Sushi. Since there were 5 of us, we decided to order a whole bunch of dishes to share and sample, followed by sushi. This was such a fantastic culinary experience for a number of reasons. All of the food uses the absolute top quality ingredients, and you can tell. Even the raw fish went down like butta. The company was tops. And the restaurant was a fun, but not too intense, atmosphere.

We dined on himachi tataki with a quail egg on top; fishy but fantastic. The miso marinated cod was flaky and full of flavor. The pork shumai were juicy and quite possibly the best shumai ever. The amberjack with pepper had just a small kick but I couldn't get enough of the velvety texture of the fish. And the sushi rolls? I could've eaten that entire board on my own. We shared a mix of soft shell crab, tuna, spicy lobster and more. I was so sad that Shaun wasn't here to enjoy this meal with me. He would have been in heaven! Sigh.

We also received a complimentary dessert of flourless chocolate cake and green tea ice cream. Though I'm far from a chocolate lover, this dessert was light, fluffy and overall amazing.

At the end of dinner, we all took guesses on what the bill would come to, since Blue Ribbon isn't exactly known for being inexpensive. I guessed the correct amount to the dollar, winning the showcase showdown! Shaun, my Price is Right-loving man, would have been so proud!

We topped off the night (and our trip) with a vist to The Chandelier Bar, a fancy schmancy bar in The Cosmopolitan. The entire bar area is encased in glass beading, making it feel like you are in a chandelier! Oh Vegas, you never cease to amaze me. Following this, we hit the craps tables until we lost our money.

And that is how I got down in Vegas. Is it any wonder that I could barely stay awake/eat when I arrived home? Luckily, there was no time for eating during the day, so big meals at night weren't completely terrible for the waistline.

So what do you think? Have you ever been on a culinary-centric trip? And while we're on the subject, what's one of the best meals you've ever eaten?

How to Pack for Las Vegas - Work Edition

I’m at it again. I’m going on a trip! Weeee!

This time, I’m heading to Las Vegas for 5 days (ack) with work for our biggest trade show of the year. Though it is usually a lot of fun (and a lot of work), I am not looking forward to leaving Shaun for such a long time. At least when you are in Vegas, everything kind of feels like one long day so I’m hoping that it will fly by and I can get home to him in a flash :)

Just like when I went to Madrid and Zurich, my inner nerd gets soooooo happy at times like these. Traveling means lists and organizing and the challenge of squeezing just the appropriate amount of clothing into the smallest suitcase possible. It’s kind of fun in a weird, sick way.

So what am I packing? I find these kinds of trips to be the most challenging. I’m going to Vegas, which means fun, colorful outfits! But I’m also working, so looking professional is the top priority. And for the evening hours? Perhaps a little less stuffy, but still business appropriate (I guess that means I’ll be leaving my super cute romper at home...maybe...).

For the same trip last year, I consulted fashion expert and my BFF Catherine Sheppard over at The Life Styled. She’s pretty much a genius when it comes to fashion tips and plans based on personal style. I love her. This year, I’m following her same advice, so I can’t take credit for my planned outfits...but I will share with you the rundown of what I’m packing for Vegas and why.

I do lay out each outfit for each day that I will be traveling. I have 3 days at the conference and then evening events, for which I will likely change. There’s got to be more fun outfits for the evening - we are in Vegas after all!

Pencil skirts.
I might fall into the category of having a full-blown obsession with pencil skirts, especially in the summer time heat.

They are a nice fit for my smaller lower half (anywhere and everywhere above the hips is typically where I’m tormented), can be mixed and matched with a number of different tops, and they always take a look to the category of professional and put together. That’s what I’m going for. Oh and extra checks for the comfort factor.

Various tops.
I pick out specific ones that will match the skirts and bonus if a top will go with more than one...I love having options!

I bring a few extras in case I change my mind and tops take up little room in the suitcase, so I don’t mind throwing a few more into the mix.

Pumps.
Heels are a must. They just are. I’m bringing 2 pairs of pumps (a black and a nude) and a pair of heeled gladiator sandals for the evening.

Ok, I might also throw in one pair of flats just in case my feet are dying by the time Day 3 rolls around. But my general rule of thumb for this situation is...suck it up. Take Advil. Sometimes I just force myself to deal in order to look the part.

Nighttime Attire.
A couple of skirts with a few options for tops.This will be my plan for most evenings. It’s going to be HOT in Vegas, so I don’t think I will be wearing pants too often, BUT I am bringing one pair of jeans which can obviously go with just about every top in my suitcase.

I have a few black dresses that could easily work - possibly with a fun belt or accessories to make it more ‘nighttime in Vegas’ while still staying appropriate for going out with co-workers or clients. And ok, my romper is definitely coming with me (on the below right).

Blazers/Cardigans.
Both are perfect options for day or night. I’m bringing one white blazer (I love it’s crisp, summery vibe) and one black blazer (perfect for evening). I also threw in ¾ sleeve cardigans - one in black, one in white. Versatility is key!

Accessories.
Though admittedly I do own a nice collection of 'nice' jewelry, I love fun accessories. I have a full drawer of them, and I think they are the ideal way to make any outfit more fun. I added bangles, long necklaces and some dangly earrings. I also added 3 belts, which can be mixed and matched with all of my outfits for the week.

How do I fit all of this in one small carry-on sized suitcase? Well, let me tell you...I'm a master packer. I start by lining the bottom of the suitcase with my shoes.

Then, with the bigger items first, I get my roll on! Roll up those clothes as small as possible and start placing them in the suitcase, making sure to fill up all of the available space.

Layer the rolls of clothing until all of your clothes are snug as a bug in a rug.

 

On top, add your toiletry bag, flat iron, belts and blazers across the top. It will be a tight squeeze, but you can do it! Make sure your top piece is fully expanded. Here's the rundown of what I fit in this smallish suitcase:

3 pairs of high heels
6 skirts
10 tops
2 cardigans
1 blazer (I'm wearing the other one on the plane)
1 t-shirt
1 pair leggings
1 pair of jeans
1 black dress
1 romper
1 pair of shorts
3 belts
10 pairs of underwear
3 bras
8 pairs of HUE no-show socks (for inside the pumps)
1 toiletry bag
1 makeup bag
1 flat iron (I'm leaving my hair dryer home and will wing it with the hotel version!)
1 hair brush

Not too shabby, right? I'll be carrying on my laptop, Kindle and other goodies for some airplane fun. And there you have it. My {very} detailed rundown of what I'm bringing on my 5 day trip. So what do you think? What are your tips for fitting a lot of stuff in a small case? Or packing tips in general?