Show Us Your Life - Vacations!

Happy Friday Friends!  We are linking up with Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life.  This week is favorite vacation spots!  Hubby and I LOVE to travel, so I could probably do half a dozen posts on this topic, but I promise not to bore you to tears!  I'll pick our two favorites - The Bahamas and Las Vegas!

Let's start with The Bahamas!  Paradise.  Truly.  We love it.  The beaches are beautiful, the people are kind, the city is clean.  It's amazing.  Before we got pregnant, we seriously discussed moving there.  We learned that only 20% of Bahamians know how to swim.  Hubby was a life guard and taught swim lessons for years.  We could open a swim school!

Here are a few pictures from our Honeymoon at The Sandals Royal Bahamian.

Our sunset dinner on the beach...it doesn't get much better than this!

There is a place called the Fish Fry.  It's a quick shuttle ride away from the cruise terminal, and it's a street that is literally called The Fish Fry.  It is a strip of amazing, casual, open air restraunts.  If the staff at Sandals would not have been so sweet and friendly, we would have never know about it.  We felt so safe getting there, and we even rode their public transportation!  We had the most amazing meal of conch fritters, plantains, hush puppies, grilled steak, and the best mac and cheese I have EVER had.  I bought a cook book while we were there, and have yet to attempt any of the recipies.  Oops.

Now for our second favorite - VEGAS BABY!!

I adore Vegas.  My Mom took me for my 21st birthday, and it was amazing!  I've been back once a year since.  My sorority sisters and I went a few times for girl trips, and I cherish those memories.  I even had my bachelorette party there!

Well, you can imagine my utter shock when I discovered that Hubby had NEVER been!  I had to fix this immediately!  So, I did!  And now, he is obsessed!!  He loves it just as much as I do.  I love the hotels, the gambling - craps is my game - the atmosphere, the amazing hotels, the dressing up, the not caring what time it is.  Hubby loves watching me play craps and rationing my chips, drinking red bull vodkas, and the nightlife.

We always stay at the Monte Carlo.  It's nice, in a perfect spot, and very reasonably priced.  And, I LOVE the dealers there.  They are so nice.

We always to go Rain at The Palms.  For Hubby's 30th, we saw Jazzy Jeff DJ there.  He loved it!

Other suggestions - gamble at O'Shea's during the day.  They have low mins and the dealers are fun and relaxed.  If you can, rent a cabana.  The ones at the Monte Carlo are a few hundred dollars for the day, but it's totally worth it.  I love pool days!

Here are a few pics from our various trips -

Aaaahhh...I am itching for a vacation!  It's going to be awhile....

Where are your favorite vacation spots?

Beauty Must Haves

On Kelly's Korner, the Show us Your Life for today is beauty products. I am a hair girl. I have naturally frizzy, wavy, thick hair - and it has taken me all of my 28 years to figure it out. In my older age, I've embraced my hair and started enjoying it. Notice that there is nothing about make-up in this post. I wear it everyday, but it is not something that I really enjoy. I don't like trying new things, but I don't love the things I use everyday either. My make-up treats always come from my Mom - and she buys the best stuff!! Anyway, below are my hair must haves. If you have curly hair that you straighten, I strongly recommend them.

Yes, this is a toothbrush. Not just any toothbrush, but the Walgreens Dobson Large Head Firm Toothbrush. I know, it looks like something that your Grandfather would use, but it is THE BEST teasing brush I have ever had. My old hair stylist recommended this to me, because I was having a really hard time teasing my hair with a regular brush. It is amazing, and I can work in little sections without making a rat's nest on my head. And, it's little, so I can carry it in my little clutch when we go out for touch ups. At $3, it's a beauty steal.

I live in Houston, and each and everyday feels a little tropical. We have a ton of humidity here, which is really hard on a girl with curly hair. I use this Biosilk Silk Therapy everyday after I finish styling my hair. A tiny little drop smooths my hair and protects it from the humidity. I usually reapply at the end of the day if we are heading out somewhere. Word to the wise - if you try this DO NOT put it on top of your head. You will look like you haven't washed your hair for a few days. It's oily. The bottle costs around $15 - and will last you for years.

I don't remember life before this brush. I have to give my Mom the credit - she discovered it and purchased it for me. It's called The Marilyn Brush - Double S Pro Round Brush - 3 inches. I love, love, love it. Every morning, I blow out my crown, and the hair that frames my face at a minimum. This brush does it all. It's a little heavy, and your hand will be a little tender when you are done with a full blow out, but it's worth it. I have had it for 3 years, and it is still like new. It's a little expensive, around $40 - but I consider it an investment.

And, I think it goes without saying that I could not function without my 1" Chi Iron. It saves me so much time and effort - I don't remember what I did before I had it! Truly worth the investment.

What are your beauty must haves?

Simple Pleasures

A blog post on Kelly's Korner today made me think of life's Simple Pleasures. In my opinion, life is all about the little things. As a newlywed, it is amazing to me how my idea for the Simple Pleasures in my life have changed over the past year. The things that give me joy are evolving as I evolve and become more comfortable in my marriage. I guess that means I am evolving as a wife - which is a wonderful thing!

Here are a few of my current simple pleasures:

Snuggling on the sofa with my husband

Waking up to the sound of rain on our bedroom window

Giggling at something silly my husband has done or said

Playing with our dog, Bandit

Watching a beautiful sunset

Lazy weekends full of watching football

Coming home to a clean house

Having time alone at home

A great glass of wine

Spending a weekend with my parents

Recognizing God's work in my life

What are your simple pleasures?