The Blackjack Birthday: Hailey's Vegas Adventure

I wish I could say I took credit for coming up with going to Vegas for Hailey's 21st birthday, but I can't. It was all her parents' doing. Which was totally cool, because they made the trip what it was.

This is the first sign you know you're leaving Bakersfield

Welcome to nowhere!

Stare down. 

So...Planet Hollywood is pretty rad. 

All green for the birthday girl! 

The Linq's block area is one of my favorite areas. Really feels like the Grove in LA. 

Family! 

St. Patty's day in Vegas is probably one of the funnest things I've done in my short adult life. Also, it was never intended that my father in law and I matched.

Me and my lady <3

We had to sit around and wait for 12:00am to hit so she could order her first drink! Waitress wanted a photo taken to celebrate. 

Mama and daughter. 

First gamble! 

The next set of photos was really fun to try and capture. Hailey had no idea, but I had gotten ahold of our friend Alison, who lives in NorCal, and she was going to be in Vegas at the same time we were, so I surprised Hailey with meeting up with her! Tears were had.

After this....

Shots! This entire trip, Hailey didn't pay for a single drink. 

Next morning..

Birthday girl all dressed up in green! 

Fremont Street! 

This was the first time I've ever been down here, and I must say, it rocked. Didn't have time to go back at night, so I guess we gotta go back. 

Military drill for St. Patricks Day.

Hard to see, but there was a celtic band, too.

Big screen is big.

Only in Vegas will you see a senior citizen in a Borat thong.

And duct tape pasties.

Had lunch here, and..

OHMYGOSH. Easily one of the BEST burgers I've ever had. It was the most tender hamburger, and loaded with a over easy egg, and DUCK bacon. 

DUCK.

BACON.

Bacon is great, but DUCK BACON. COME ON! 

I could get used to a view like this. 

Did I mention St. Patricks Day in Vegas is great?

Birthday Dinner! 

This was shot shortly after dinner at Margaritaville. Hailey landed a balloon had, and Steve and Kristy (family who live in the area) came down to meet up with us! 

Hey look! It's a grown up Yogurtland! ;) 

Old Vegas is still beautiful. 

Couldn't not see this. 

Not World of Color, but man is it beautiful and elegant. 

They were near inseparable. 

There were two ladies who lived in a shoe...

And then the weird dude who sat in one too...

Junebug! 

Bartenders getting in on the St. Patty's Day action with us too. 

Next day before we left, we went out to this place for Kelly to check out some furniture for her company. Never been inside until now, but it's AWESOME. Really cool (but uber expensive) stuff here.

We don't wanna leave! 

Vegas as a grown up is a lot of fun. Next time we want to check out a show or two, and spend more time, but as a first time trip to drink and gamble, it was a total blast. Definitely the best way to kick of Hailey's 21st year of birth. I gotta give major props to my in-laws for planning this, and going all out for Hailey. It was such a great time. Now onto the next time....

A Year Later...

It's been a year of marriage. It's insane how fast 365 days go. Yes, I know all the older couples reading this are scoffing and going "just wait until 10, 15, 25, 45 years of marriage". Also, props to whoever's married for 45 years and reading this. Congrats, you're a minority in your group to be on social media.

Anyways, I'm ecstatic. This past year has been amazing. Starting off with getting married, and honeymooning in New York City and Disneyland, then kicking it off with finding our own little place in the world with our apartment. Traveling, spending time with friends and family, mixed with working full time and overloading on units at school to graduate early, one could say we're more than busy.

Which is why I'm really thankful Hailey planned this anniversary trip. I had no idea what we were going to do until we got there. We spent the weekend at the central coast doing basically nothing. We began the weekend with couples massages and facials, which I have to admit, was amazing. I've never been a guy that's all gung-ho for getting oils and lotions rubbed all over. I'd rather just throw a towel on the beach, put on Jack Johnson and take a nap. But that changed thanks to my wife.

After we did that, we grabbed some lunch, and then went to check into our bed and breakfast, yet another first for me. It's a weird concept to me that someone will renovate a few rooms in their house and then charge people to stay there. But, it was still a lot of fun. We had this room tucked away in the trees with a private patio, and all the amenities any other hotel would have.

Haley's great at planning things. She usually picks out things we haven't done yet, and this was a weekend filled with it. New restaurants, food I haven't tried, and wine tastings! I know, this is long winded, but I'll shut up and just post the photos now.

She's 21! But seriously, she only got carded twice the entire weekend. 

This stuff was goooood. 

Clavo had great wines...but this guy totally stole the show. 

He's apparently the bosses new puppy. Took everything in me not to take this little retriever home with us.

California is one ugly state. I mean, look at this. 

Little town, but lots of fun. 

First dinner, Off The Hook, right on the water. 

After a really good dinner, which I forgot to take pictures of, I grabbed my camera and walked around taking some long exposure shots of the bay. 

Then, drove out to the rock to get the other side of the view! 

Next day, we just did a bunch of hanging out, playing games, and then before dinner, drove out and took some photos. Yay for tripod and self-timer on my camera! 

She makes me look way better than I deserve to look. 

I'll always be her groom, she'll always be my bride. 

Seriously. She's beautiful. 

The hottie with the dork in a button up. 

DOLPHIN! 

Mine?

Yup. Mine. 

Now for dinner at Giancarlo's. Here's the deal. The dude in the middle, he's Giancarlo Cucumo. He's 100% Italian, from Italy. Hailey's aunt married this guy, and we're all thankful for it, because he cooks like a damn god sent from the heavens. 

Pork belly. Never had it until that evening. But now I want it every evening. 

Can't say the same about oysters, however they did taste good. Again, new first for me. 

Butternut Squash raviolis. Sweeter than I thought they'd be. But man were they great. 

Pinwheel ham and cheese pasta...thing. I can't remember the official name of this, but it was probably my favorite. 

Steak, palenta, and a bed of gnocchi pasta. YESPLEASETHANKYOU. 

Family! Darian, me, Hailey, Lauri and Giancarlo. Really really thankful for the meal they gave us for our anniversary. Seriously. If you're ever in Morro Bay, you've GOT to check this place out. It's absolutely stellar.

Also, can't end an anniversary/birthday trip without dessert! 

Tiramisu good. Diabetes bad. Still worth it. 

Bed and breakfast stairs photo. That's the best caption I've got. 

Also, thrift shop/antiquing. New favorite thing to do. Y'know, because you find snoopy phones..

Weird Mickey record players..

And $8.00 buttons you can still get at Disneyland. But hey, I guess paying $8 to say you went over $125 to get in to the parks is worth lying to some..

Driving back home, we had to stop and shoot photos. Y'know, because this isn't Bakersfield and there's actual colors here. 

BAMBI!

So, that was our anniversary trip. We had a lot of fun, and it was really relaxing and much needed after hectic school schedules, work, and the drone of regular life. But now we're back in Bakersfield and saving up for the next excursion. Thanks for reading this far down, I really appreciate it. I know I type a lot, but this is my blog and I do what I want. Until next time, thanks for reading.