Turning 21 - Vegas Style

My 21st birthday was spent in Las Vegas. Can you think of a better place to party when you are "officially" legal? I know I sure can not! Me and a truck load of friends headed down on Friday and stayed until the following Monday. My birthday was on Sunday. One of my very favorite things to do down there is hang out for hours at the Bellagio watching there amazing fountains. Hello - how can you not want to sit for hours? The shows are always amazing!

We also did some "touristy" things. I have been to Vegas a few times but never hit up the M&M factory or the Coca-Cola. I can't say I was impressed. Who wants to pay $13 dollars for a bag of plain M&M's when I can buy some peanut ones at home for $4? I was impressed with the colors though and all merchandise they had. Who knew there were so many ways to slap the label on and sell it for $20 bucks more than average? Genius!

Yes I had a little to much fun there - those blankets by the way are incredibly soft in case you were wondering or in the market for some eye popping pillows.

Next time I go I am hoping to see more shows or exhibits. One we went to was the Bodies exhibition in the Luxor. I wish you were able to take pictures inside. It was absolutely amazing. All of the bodies used there are real. You go and can see every muscle, vein, organ, and bone in your body. You have so much more respect for how complex your body actually is, I feel thankful that mine is healthy as well. Below is a picture of us in our amazing shades after the exhibition.
On Saturday night we headed out to the strip. Good story - we got pulled over by the good old Las Vegas cops for expired tags on the car. (We were using a friends car in Vegas this wasn't the same car we drove down there in - nightmare!) Then when asked for license and registration Landon (the driver) did not have his license on him, he left it at the hotel. This is making us look pretty freaking amazing right now. We got hassled a little bit about it but got off of everything. I thought for sure Landon was headed to jail for the night. I ended up driving us back to the hotel to pick up another car and try it again.

We did however make it to the strip and went to the MGM grand all of the others right around there. I think out of all the casinos and hotels in Vegas MGM is my favorite. Once it started to get closer to midnight we headed over to Margaritaville for my first legal drink. (Sorry Mom, Sorry God) It is the weirdest feeling being old enough to drink if you want to. I never have been a heavy drinker or cared really, but knowing that I can because I am finally that old is a very weird feeling. I ordered a pink cadillac margarita, I am not going to lie to you - it was damn good! I also gambled $20 bucks and lost it all and that was the end of me gambling. It is not a fun game at all!

We were up until 4:30 in the morning that night. The fun in Vegas really does start around 1-2am. We saw a band play at a bar, and ran into some rather interesting people along the way. Being hit on by sloppy drunks always leads to good stories, that should probably stay in Vegas.

Once I was able to crawl out of bed around 1pm the next morning on my actual birthday we had a birthday "cake". My dad was so wonderful, he went out in the morning and bought some donuts and candles so that I would have something to blow out and for them to sing the birthday song. We did some shopping, swimming, and had lunch at In and Out burger. Can I just tell you how lame that place is? If I hear another person tell me how wonderful it is, I am going to have their sanity checked...three choices? REALLY? pssh.

Because we slept through half the day it quickly became dinner time and we got dressed up and left for the Rainforest Cafe for dinner at the MGM. I couldn't help myself, I love that freaking place!

We did more walking around the strip that night and a little more parting. We went to Fremont street - wasn't too impressed with that place either. Monday morning all we did was eat and then drive a very long drive back home.

I know this post is very broad overview of what happened that weekend but honestly most of the things that happened there will stay there. :)

Tattoo

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted a tattoo. I've done a lot of thinking and over the past few years decided what I wanted. I just have never actually gone to a shop to get it done. A friend of mine Corey does tattoos for a living. He is one of the most talented artists I know. The work he does is amazing. This past weekend he let me know he would give me my first tattoo free of charge for my 21st birthday.

I am getting Reggie's actual paw print tattooed on me.


I could go into the sappy story of the reason why I am doing that (like Reggie has been with me through all my hard times, my love for animals, and how I am going to be a vet tech) but really - it doesn't matter to anyone else but me anyway. The only problem I am having is where I am going to put it. I wanted to put it on the top of my foot but I keep hearing how painful it is. For my first tattoo I don't plan on putting myself through hell and back. I also am narcissistic enough to want the tattoo somewhere so I can see it. The places I have narrowed it down to is either on my front shoulder


or on my leg.


I am leaning more towards on the side of my leg closer to my knee. Now, most people reading this are probably freaking out. Sorry, there is no talking me out of this, so don't even try.

I am pretty freaking excited to get it done within this month or so.

Sorry Mom! Ha ha.

The Boring Life

Yeah - no amazing posts going on lately. My life has been boring. I feel like summer has slipped through my hands and now its back to the real world. I am trying to finish up everything with going to UCC to get my Vet Tech degree in September. I can't believe how much it costs to go to school. How someone can live on their own, make car payments, and go to school is blasphemy to me. Someone please tell me your secret...

Also work has been busy lately as well. We let go four more people off of our team. Our department is just headed into a different direction and some changes needed to be made. Looking on a corporate side of things the change is good, but seeing my friends walk away is always hard. We are also moving buildings here soon. I can't wait until that blissful day when customer service can not come to my desk anymore. Oh, that thought alone is worth coming to work every day.

In my personal life its been ok. Dating is a tricky, tricky game. I actually am having fun dating different types of people and having a bigger social life. It's hard though when you actually start to fall for someone and it doesn't really work out. Fate keeps knocking me off my feet over and over again. I can only dust myself and try again, and again, and again, and again. KaraLee is coming back into town from Europe this upcoming Monday. I can't wait to have my best friend back, it's been too long.

Also my 21st birthday is coming up. August 24th to be exact. That weekend I am going to Las Vegas with my friends and my dad. I am counting down the days for that. I ended up finding us a suite at a Marriott hotel in Vegas for only $89 a night. Thats right - I have the hook ups. Come on you only turn 21 once. Lets face it this is the last birthday I am going to look forward to, the rest will only remind me how old I am getting. I mind as well spend it in sin city and have a little bit of fun. ha ha.

So there you have it folks. Bored to tears yet? I know I am. I could use a little spice in my life. This bland oatmeal is getting old real quick!

Mosaic Me

This has been floating around the blog world. I couldn't resist not doing my own.


1: What is your first name? Rachel
2: What is your favorite food? Sushi
3: What high school did you go to? Timpanogos High
4: What is your favorite color? Pink
5: Who is your celebrity crush? Gerard Butler
6: What is your favorite drink? Coke
7: What is your dream vacation? Greece
8: What is your favorite dessert? Rice pudding
9: What do you want to be when you grow up? Veterinarian Tech
10: What do you love most in life? Reggie (don't freak out he is only one of them)
11: One word that describes you: Unique
12: What is your favorite thing to spend money on? Books

A Sad Homely Crazy Girl

Oh Hannah - Of course I went to the Breaking Dawn midnight release party. No capes and funky makeup though...does that help at all?

In all actuality I would have rather picked up my copy on Saturday morning. My sister was dying to go to the party I thought it wouldn't be that bad, I'd get in buy the book get out...simple right?

WRONG!

People are totally insane! I thought I was a little crazy over these books, however I find it safe to say I would be considered a "normal" fan. My sister and I got there around 10ish to find the Barnes and Noble PACKED! People dressed up. You wanted your future told? Go ask Alice at the fortune teller booth. Want to see the latest Vampire fashions? Go to the runway. Not as pale as you would like to be? Hit up the face painting section. There had to be over 3,000 people waiting for books that night. Everyone was on a Edward or Jacob high. They even had drinks you could buy and depending on the one you got, you were a vote for team Edward or team Jacob.

However Michael saved the day by gracing us with his presence. There were actually a lot of guys there. Chick searching I would assume. My sisters guy friend came as well to check out the madness. Check out some pictures...

It's true I saw her

Michael and Mwah

The line behind us

The line in front of us

Alyssa and I

Edward? Is that you?

Alyssa and her friend

I finished the book on Sunday. I have to say I was and wasn't impressed. I felt like everything was rushed. Stephenie did a lot of "telling" and no "showing" I wish there was also more time for Bella and Edward. There was so much going on and so many characters that they lost that spark for me that I saw in the other three books. The last two pages of the book are good though. I need to sit and read it again just to know for sure if I like it or not. Eclipse so far is still my favorite one. Too bad Stephenie couldn't have made this a five book series.