Wow. December 2020. The final month of quite an eventful year. 

Here are the things I’ve been loving…

Things to EAT: 

Trader Joe’s Peppermint Hold the Cones & Almond, Chocolate, Cashew Trek Mix – Are we even surprised that there are more TJ’s favs this month? I am so sad that the Peppermint HTCs are a seasonal item because they are so dang good. We grabbed the very last box at our local TJ’s and then they were sold out every time we went back. The Trek Mix however is a permanent product and boy is it tasty – definitely a filling, semi-healthy, go to snack.

So Delicious Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Ice Cream – Now that’s a mouthful and I know I have talked about many yummy non-dairy ice creams this year, but this one is now at the top of my list. It really is SO DELICIOUS. Cashew milk ice cream with salted caramel swirls, cashews pieces, and chocolate flakes, it is absolute heaven. 

Places to GO: 

Osteria Amore – If you live even remotely close to SLC you have to try out this amazing little restaurant. Hands down the best Italian food I have ever had. Everything we tried was insanely delicious, we will definitely be going back soon. 

Things to WEAR:

Madewell Jeans – I think I’m pretty late to the Madewell party but I purchased my first pair of jeans from them this month and I am converted. They have so many styles and washes, I think it would be virtually impossible to not find a pair that suits your style. For me, “The Stovepipe” are the winner. Perfect fit in both the waist and in length, nice straight leg, relatively loose (kind of over skinnies at the moment), super soft denim, what more could a girl want? Also, you get discounts for being a student or teacher, plus an additional discount for donating any pair of old jeans in store. 

The Gym People Longline Sports Bra – This is more like a workout top with a sports bra built in and it is an unbelievable dupe for the Lululemon Align Tank. The best part, you can order them on Amazon for a fraction of the price. For $20 I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but let me tell you – I want to order 5 more. There are so many colors to choose from and the fit is incredible. Snug and supportive but with a breathable, moisture wicking fabric that is perfect for any workout. 

There it is folks, my last set of monthly favorites for the year. Despite the hardships of 2020, I have enjoyed reflecting on my new favorites each month and being reminded that there are always things to be grateful for.

Wow. November was a crazy month. I tested positive for COVID and finished my quarantine just in time to take the GRE for graduate school. I still can’t smell much but I feel blessed to be healthy once again and that my symptoms were relatively mild. Despite the events of the month I still have a lot of great favorites that I am so excited to share!!

Things to EAT: 

Milk Bar at Target – This is actually a favorite from last month, but I forgot…oops. Sean and I were able to try some of the original Milk Bar goodies in Las Vegas over the summer and let me tell you…I could eat their “Crack Pie” everyday of my life. Thankfully, they are now selling a small assortment of treats at Target and of course we had to give them a shot. My favorites were the Cornflake Chip Marshmallow Cookies and the Chocolate Birthday Truffle Crumb Cakes. Yum!

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Covered Minty Mallows & Stroopwafels – These are two of my favorite seasonal treats. I know I have said this before, but if you have a TJ’s near you, please go check out all of their unique and delicious items. They are always bringing out new and exciting goodies – you will not be disappointed. 

Things to WATCH:

The Crown Season 4 – Sean and I watched the entire new season the day it was released. Unreal and so well done, per usual. 

Once in a Lifetime Sessions with OneRepublic – This is a documentary on Netflix and it is incredible. I fell in love with OneRepublic, their talent, and their music all over again after watching this. 

Places to GO:

Dutch Bros – I am so glad that they finally opened a DB’s near us here in Utah. I had been dying to try it and it did not let me down. They could quite possibly have the best peppermint hot chocolate I have ever tested.

Things to USE:

Casetify Phone Cases – I finally got a new phone this month, which meant I needed a new good, protective case. I went straight to Casetify because they have a massive collection of cases, all customizable, and extremely well made. I’m a little obsessed with mine. Check them out! 

That is a quick little run-down of my November faves! Sean and I were able to finish this crazy month with an amazing Thanksgiving in Idaho with family and we are now so excited to celebrate this Christmas season together! I am looking forward to adding a few new traditions too! As always, let me know if you give any of these a try and drop your favorite holiday traditions below!

Is October a complete whirlwind for anyone else? Every year without fail, October is the busiest and craziest month of the year. But, it is also one of my absolute favorite months, full of all things Fall. For me, October is when the festive holiday magic begins, there is just a special feeling that surrounds this time of the year! I have so many good things to share so hold on tight for this condensed version of my monthly favorites!

Things to WATCH:

The Right Stuff (Disney+) – Awesome show, with a great cast, that (dramatically) depicts the journey of the US space program. (Definitely for an older, more mature audience – not children)

The Mandalorian Season 2 (Disney+) – We already know this show is great and the 1st episode of season 2 did not disappoint. Plus, who doesn’t need more baby Yoda in their life?

Dream Home Makeover (Netflix) – You already know that I watched every episode of this new Netflix series the day it was released. It’s an amazing home renovation series following the creators of Studio McGee (you’ve probably seen their stuff in Target) – they are amazingly talented. They are also based out of Utah and many of the homes/rooms they create are located here!

Places to GO:

Rowley’s Red Barn – Our favorite pumpkin patch – so dang cute with the best apple cider slushes and apple cider donuts I have ever had in my life.

Sundance – One of my favorite places on this planet. Period.

Park City – Where Sean and I went for our honeymoon, but also one of our favorite places to drive up to on a Saturday for good food and true mountain vibes.

All of these places are so beautiful and comforting to me, especially during the fall season. Highly recommend you visit 1 or all of them if you are in Utah.

Things to EAT: 

Charlotte Rose’s Carolina BBQ – Sean and I tried out this new little spot a few weeks ago and the second I walked in the door, I felt like I was transported back home to the south. The owner is so kind and the food is incredible. We will definitely be going back soon. If you ever find yourself in the south Salt Lake area, you have to check this place out.

Sawadee – This is Sean and I’s new favorite Thai restaurant. It’s an amazing place nestled in the heart of Salt Lake. We ordered take out (which was obviously delicious), but the interior is so cozy that I can’t wait till we can dine in.

Things to GET:

Apple AirPod Pros – Ok, this is an unexpected final favorite because I never thought I would own a pair. I surprisingly won 2nd place at Sean’s work chili cook off and these were my prize – talk about a win! I love them and highly recommend if you are looking for a new pair of earbuds.

October flew by and now that it’s November you better believe I am already listening to Christmas music and watching holiday movies. It really is the best time of the year. I hope you are all enjoying it as much as I am!

This is my absolute favorite pumpkin treat – only 3 ingredients and 4 steps – so easy and delicious you will have to try not to eat them all yourself…but if you do, there’s zero judgment here.

Ingredients:

1. 1 can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
2. 1 spice cake mix
3. 1 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
3. Scoop onto a cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 10 minutes. 

*These will not change much in size or color so check their firmness as your indicator for doneness. They should no longer be sticky and should hold their shape. These are very cake-like cookies.

**If your grocery stores are experiencing a spice cake mix shortage like mine seem to be…you can also use a pumpkin spice cookie mix. Add the pumpkin puree and chocolate chips, with the addition of 1 egg.

They are so simple, but are the perfect combination of pumpkin spice and chocolate – I will be eating these all season long.

Enjoy!

September always seems like the longest month of the year to me…anyone else? I don’t know what it is but September just seems to carry on and on. But I’m not complaining because I have some pretty dang good favorites from this month and a lot of them – the first one being the cooler weather and fall vibes. I’ve already decorated for fall, pulled out my sweaters and boots, almost burned through my first fall candle, and purchased my first bag of Halloween candy…sue me, I love fall just as much as the next basic white girl. Here are a few more favorites that I think you will love! 

Things to WATCH:

Mulan – This is a beautiful movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original, animated movie, with the romance and the music, but I also thoroughly enjoyed this live action version. The scenery is stunning and I liked the new twists. It’s an easy watch. You can pay to watch it now on Disney+ or you can wait till December and then I think it will be free for everyone with a subscription. I definitely recommend it.

Enola Homes – Everyone needs to watch this movie. It’s on Netflix and has the most incredible, star studded cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, and Henry Cavill. It’s a hilarious mystery surrounding Sherlock Holmes’ little sister Enola and I loved every minute. 

Get Organized with The Home Edit – You should not even be surprised that this show made it on this month’s favorites list. If you know me, you know I live for organization and neatness. It truly brings me joy to live in a clean space and to see others doing the same. This show is full of those incredibly satisfying before and after transformation clips, color coded everything, and time-lapsed organization montages…what more could you want? Give it a watch – it’s also on Netflix. 

Things to LISTEN TO:

Mulan soundtrack – Just like the movie, the soundtrack is gorgeous. Christina Aguilera sings two songs on the album – a new one called Loyal Brave True and a remake of the song Reflection from the original movie – as you can imagine, they are both absolutely stunning. I could listen to those two on repeat all day long. They also have a Mandarin version of Reflection which is just as beautiful. 

People to FOLLOW:

The Home Edit & The Neat Method – These are two Instagram pages that you have to follow if you love all things organization. They are both the epitome of “aesthetically pleasing” and will make you want to reorganize your entire home. The two gals from The Home Edit are also hilarious and often post laugh out loud stories…enough said.

Things to EAT:

El Pollo Loco Churros – You didn’t think we were going to end these favorites without a few new treats did you? Don’t be silly, I could never. The first item is extremely random and unexpected. I love churros and will try them just about anywhere that sells them. These are some of the best churros that I have ever had, dare I say, rivaling the ones found at Disney world. If you have an El Pollo Loco near you, please go try them. Hopefully they will be as warm and perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside (as they should be) so that you can understand the hype.

Creepy Cocoa Crisp M&Ms – These are unreal – I already love the regular crispy M&Ms – I either really like certain textures or I hate them and this is one that I love. I could eat an entire bag at one time (that’s why I bought 3 bags…whoops). They are also made with dark chocolate, which is another one of my favorites, so these are truly a win-win for me. Go try them before everyone else finds out how good they are!

Wow! If you made it to the end – congratulations. Who knew I could love so many things in one month? Let’s see if I can top these next month!

The minute I felt the slightest cool breeze here in Utah, I deemed it Fall, and decided it was finally time to whip up some warm, cozy chili. 

The recipe I use is very simple, very easy, but very hearty. 

Ingredients:

1. 1 package of ground beef (you could also do ground turkey)
2. 1 can of crushed tomatoes 
3. 1 (tiny) can of tomato paste
4. 1 can of light kidney beans
5. 2 cans of dark kidney beans
6. 2 packets of mild chili seasoning (feel free to kick up the heat if that’s what you prefer)
7. 1 cup of water 

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef in a pot. 
2. Empty all cans into the pot.
3. Mix in chili seasoning.
4. Add water – I do 1 cup and this keeps it very thick – add more water, a cup at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
5. Let simmer for at least 30 minutes.

That is literally it. 

You could get fancy with it and try your own seasoning blend or add some diced onion. 

But you know me, I keep it simple. 

Throw it all in a pot and you are good to go for a cozy night in. Pair with some cornbread for the ultimate fall dinner. 

*You could also totally freeze this in freezer safe bags/containers and reheat it for optimal dinner convenience. I currently have half a batch leftover in my freezer – ready to serve over a baked potato, yum.

It’s time for my August Favorites!! I spent this month getting ready to begin my second school year as a speech therapist, which has been both overwhelming and exciting! Here are a few things I have been enjoying as I said goodbye to Summer 2020: 

Things to DO:

Salt Lake Parade of Homes – I bought Sean tickets to this year’s Salt Lake Parade of Homes as one of his birthday presents and let me tell you, we had a blast and I definitely had a few favorites! We took tons of photos and videos as inspiration. It was interesting to see what we loved in a few of the homes and also what we really didn’t in a lot of them. I didn’t realize that I was such a tough critic…yikes. I definitely recommend going if you have the opportunity near you.

Things to EAT:

UNREAL Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars – Another sweet treat, are we surprised? It is literally just coconut covered in dark chocolate, simple and delicious, enough said.

Things to PLAY:

Catan Dice Game – This is another one of Sean’s birthday presents from last month that we finally got around to playing this month and it is awesome. I have never played the full version of Settlers of Catan. I know there is this almost cultish craze surrounding it, plus it costs about $50 and can take hours to play. That’s not really our type of game…so we opted for the more affordable, condensed, dice version and it is fun. Very easy to understand and relatively quick to play. It’s a great way to dip your toe in the Catan world, without diving in head first. 

Things to WATCH:

Dude Perfect: Backstage Pass Documentary – This one is a little silly for me to admit, but I have become a bit obsessed with the YouTube channel Dude Perfect. It’s literally five guys that all met at Texas A&M years ago and started out by making trick shot videos in their backyard. They have now grown to 53 million subscribers on YouTube and I think they are just so hilarious and entertaining. I especially love their documentary because it not only gives you a behind the scenes view of their US tour, but it shows a deeper side of them, including their relationships with their wives and children, as well as their deeply rooted faith in God. Despite being ridiculously famous, they still remain true to their humble, down home, Texas roots, which I love. They create funny, wholesome videos that you can watch without the fear of anything inappropriate, which is what I feel we are being constantly fed these days. Check it out if you need a good laugh! 

Operation Toussaint Documentary – On the completely opposite end of the spectrum from Dude Perfect is this documentary. It was created by the team at Operation Underground Railroad – an organization committed to eradicating human trafficking. This documentary gives an inside look at how they are literally saving children from this absolutely vile and disgusting industry that is plaguing the entire world. It is heavy and I was sobbing by the end so watch with that in mind, but I think it is so incredibly important to educate ourselves on this topic and know how we can help. I linked the documentary above, but please visit this website if you need more information: https://ourrescue.org

There you have it – my August Favorites!! As always, let me know if you try any of these or if you have other favorites that you want me to try. Now I’m going to decorate my home for fall and attempt to contain my excitement for the absolute best time of the year!

Five years ago when I moved out and started college, I realized one of my trickiest tasks was cooking for one. I had grown up learning how to cook meals for my family of eight…that’s a big difference. Fast forward to when I got married a year ago, now cooking for two, that task didn’t get any easier. Most recipes you find on Pinterest or in a cookbook are for families, basically 4+ people. Figuring out how to meal plan, grocery shop, and cook meals without extreme excess and waste was a challenge. But I’ve compiled a few tips and tricks that work for me and that I hope will work for you. 

Overview: Meal Planning, Importance of a Grocery List, Grocery Shopping on a Budget, Pantry Staples, and Where to Shop. 

Meal planning – This is huge. Knowing what you want to eat and when you want to eat it helps immensely when it comes to grocery shopping with a purpose and eliminating excess/waste. Here is my meal planning how to: 

From this example you can see our list of meals for the week plus our grocery list. I go one by one through the meals – I look at the ingredients needed for each meal and I look at what we already have – obviously, whatever we don’t already have gets added to the grocery list. This also helps me to have a better understanding of what is in our pantry and fridge, which then helps me choose meals for the following weeks so that we can use what we have and not let anything go to waste. 

On my grocery list you will see a few extras (butter, eggs, flour, toothpaste, etc.) – I make sure to add anything else that we might need to our grocery list so that we don’t get to the store and forget something or start throwing unnecessary things in the cart. Any snacks, desserts, lunch items, or household supplies, get added to the list, along with the dinner necessities. 

Once I have my grocery list I can then go through each item and decide the best place to purchase it. For example, we buy almost all of our protein (chicken, salmon, ground beef) in bulk from Costco. We freeze it and then thaw the portion size that we need for specific meals. This ensures that we don’t waste it by letting it go bad in the fridge and that we always have protein for meals without fail. Another example, produce, we purchase from a normal grocery store so that we can choose the amount that fits our needs. I might have to go to a couple of stores, but doing that helps me save money and time in the long run. I will go through a few pantry/fridge staples later and share where I prefer to purchase each one. 

Shopping with a list is so important. It cuts down on excess spending and helps you stay within your budget. You head into the store with a plan already in mind. If you are like me, the second I step into the grocery store I get overwhelmed by all of the options and I instantly start wanting to grab whatever looks good. My list helps me stay calm and focused and it saves me money. Don’t get me wrong, we still end up with a few things not on the list but at least we aren’t just mindlessly filling our cart with things we think we “need” as we walk by. 

Money saving tip – Use coupons. 

Another money saving tip – Don’t be afraid to buy store brand, with most things, you can’t even taste the difference. 

And another one – Try not to grocery shop on an empty stomach or else you might leave with one of everything. 

Ok, last one – Buy reusable items (dish towels, cups, and plates) instead of paper towels or single use plastic cups/plates/utensils, as well as reusable storage bags and containers. It not only saves you money in the long run but it’s better for the environment.

Finally, a list of pantry staples and where I prefer to buy them: 

Baking Supplies (if you are into that sort of thing): Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda – I always have these in my pantry in case I get the urge to whip up some cookies. I purchase these at a normal grocery store simply for storage purposes. I just don’t have the room for these items in bulk…one day. 

Spices & Sauces: Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Trader Joe’s Onion Salt, Ketchup, Hot Sauce, etc. – Find the flavors you like and always have those spices/sauces in your cabinet or fridge – I don’t typically buy these in bulk (aside from ketchup, which I put on everything and hot sauce, which Sean basically drinks), but if you have the room for it, it could probably save you a few dollars. 

Protein: Chicken, Ground Beef, Salmon – We always have these frozen in our freezer – like I mentioned earlier, we buy these in bulk from Costco. It seems like a more expensive upfront cost, but in the long run, it’s cheaper, plus you always have protein for meals and don’t run the risk of having to opt for take out. 

Rice, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Cereal – Because these are common items needed for meals in our house, we buy these in bulk from Costco as well. They are shelf stable and last a long time, so we like to make sure we always have these on hand. 

Milk, Eggs, Butter, Bread – Butter can absolutely be purchased in bulk from Costco, if you go through it quickly like we do and have room in your fridge. We also use almond milk, which lasts much longer than regular milk, so we buy that in bulk as well (to go with our plethora of cereal). Eggs, however, we do not go through very quickly, so we just buy a dozen from a regular grocery store whenever needed. Same with bread, we purchase one loaf at a time whenever we need it – bread is something we could definitely freeze, but personally, we don’t end up using it if we freeze it. Just look at your habits and decide what you think will work best for you!

And those are my pantry staples, we have a few others that are unique to us (like various snacks), but that is a good list to get you started. 

Bonus Section: Leftovers and Lunches:

I wanted to briefly touch on these two topics as well – Sean and I absolutely still have leftovers depending on the meal – we love eating them for lunch the next day. Since most recipes typically serve about 4 people, we can have lunches for 1-2 days with leftovers. Other lunch favorites are sandwiches, quesadillas, wraps, and soups. I love making my lunches for work the night before and keeping them in the fridge so that all I have to do is grab it and go in the morning. I do the same with breakfast – anything quick and easy – like a protein shake or granola bar. Having a few quick grab items is not only easy but also much more cost efficient compared to purchasing those things from somewhere else when you are in a rush. 

I hope these tips and tricks will help you and your partner or any single guy or gal out there as you plan and prep your meals. Don’t get me wrong, Sean and I still eat out a couple of times a week, don’t be afraid to treat yourself, but we have definitely seen the difference it makes when we effectively plan and cook our own meals at home. Let me know if any of these tips work for you and if you have any others!!

How is July already almost over??? I don’t want to believe it. However, you guys better believe that I have more monthly favorites for you!!

Things to USE:

Water Flosser – A little over a month ago I went to the dentist…everyone’s favorite activity. Apparently, I have “strong teeth” – so no cavities, yay! However, my gums were pretty much garbage (my words, not theirs). I had to have a deep cleaning (aka $150 for 10 shots in the mouth and some intense poking and scraping – not fun). This has since motivated me to obsess over my gum health a bit more, so along with investing in a new toothbrush, I also got a water flosser and I love it. I can both see and feel the difference it has made for my teeth and gums – it really cleans deep and leaves your mouth feeling super fresh.

Things to DRINK:

Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk – Another non-dairy favorite!! I used to love regular chocolate milk and chocolate milkshakes, which are sadly a big no for me now. But, let me tell you, this almond milk is an absolutely amazing replacement. It is rich, creamy, very chocolatey, and just as good as I remember regular chocolate milk being. Definitely give it a try!

Places to GO:

Trader Joe’s – This should be no surprise. I adore Trader Joe’s. They have so many unique products and perfect portion sizes for 2 people, not to mention the best prices for fresh flowers that I have ever seen. A couple of my recent favorites have been their sweet potato gnocchi (comes in a sage butter sauce – incredible) and their romesco dip – to die for. I don’t do our full grocery shop there but it is a fun place to get a few special goodies. If you have one close, please go!!!

Things to LISTEN TO:

String Quartet Covers – A little random, but definitely a new favorite. Beautiful instrumentals of popular songs that are peaceful and relaxing. Do your nighttime skin care routine, spray some lavender room spray, and listen to a little classical music…it makes for a lovely time.

Things to WATCH:

The Chosen – Sean and I just started watching this series a few days ago and it is fantastic. It’s a free Youtube show produced by VidAngel about the life of Christ and it is done amazingly well. We’ve only watched the first few episodes but we are hooked. It beautifully follows the lives of biblical characters like Matthew, Mary Magdalene, and obviously Jesus and humanizes them in a way that helps you feel more connected to them, which I love. I highly recommend.

See you next month for more favs!!

Back at the beginning of the year, Sean and I planned an anniversary trip for the summer around our first anniversary. We found a killer deal on a nice hotel in Vegas and booked it. A few months later we booked an Airbnb near Zion National Park so that we could stop and hike on our drive down to Vegas. A couple of weeks ago, despite everything going on, we were able to go on our trip and we had the absolute best time. We are so grateful that everything opened back up enough for us to enjoy our little getaway (with proper precautions, of course). 

Obviously, I wanted to document all of the details from our trip for our memories – I also posted daily recap pictures on my Instagram as well.  

Friday, June 26, 2020 

We drove about 3 hours down to Leeds, Utah (near St. George) to stay in an Airbnb tiny home – it was in the cutest RV park in an adorable small town. I will link it here in case anyone else wants to check it out.  

That night we ventured out to Hurricane, UT to eat at a little hidden gem – Lonny Boy’s BBQ. We ate there for dinner both nights we were in town because it was delicious. 

Saturday, June 27, 2020

We got up early and drove about 40 minutes to Zion National Park (where there was no entrance fee – whoot whoot) – we drove the scenic route through the huge tunnels (not a fan – too dark and claustrophobic for me) and then parked at the visitor’s center and walked along the path by the river – beautiful. 

We spent the second half of our day at Quail Creek State Park – a beautiful reservoir that we discovered on our way to dinner the night before – it was literally 5 minutes from our Airbnb – perfect. 

We rented a kayak for a couple of hours and enjoyed the gorgeous water and weather – honestly, a spontaneous decision that ended up being one of the highlights of our trip – we had a blast.  

Sunday, June 28, 2020 

We packed up and made the two hour drive to LV – we checked into the Bellagio and headed out to find some lunch. We decided on pizza at Sixth and Mill in the Venetian and it was incredible. One of Sean’s favorite meals. I went for a classic margherita and Sean had their spicy diavolina. We walked along the strip, window shopping at all of the fancy stores, and exploring all of the beautiful hotels. That night we had dinner at Lavo in the Palazzo which was one of my favorites of the trip. Our meal consisted of brussels sprouts with pancetta, spaghetti and meatballs (which they are known for) for me and carbonara for Sean, with a giant slice of chocolate, peanut butter cake for dessert. Cozy and delicious food for our first night. 

Monday, June 29, 2020

Pool Day!! We spent the morning lounging by the gorgeous Bellagio pools, enjoying the perfect weather (miraculously, it cooled down to under 100 degrees while we were there). For lunch we headed back to the Venetian for lunch at Yardbird Southern Kitchen – another favorite for me. We ordered the chicken and waffles with spiced watermelon, and sides of brussels sprouts and mac and cheese. You better believe it was good, comfort food at its finest. I definitely recommend it. I also recommend the Milk Bar Pie at Milk Bar in the Cosmopolitan. Sean and I went there next and I am not kidding when I say we could have eaten the entire pie. We finished the day with dinner at LakeSide at the stunning Wynn hotel. That place is absolutely gorgeous. We had delicious crab cakes, scallops, and salmon, with a fun, smashable ice cream sundae for dessert. 

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Our last full day!! We started off with brunch at the gorgeous Sadelle’s restaurant in our hotel. Obsessed with the style and vibes of that place. I ordered eggs benedict (of course) while Sean had the largest french toast I have ever seen. We then headed to the outlets for some shopping, picking up a few early birthday presents for Sean along the way. We then made our way to the top of the Strat where Sean rode the drop tower (yikes) and took in the amazing views. We wandered the strip a bit more, hitting up the iconic M&M and Hershey stores. Then, we headed back to our hotel for a few hours by the pool before getting fancy for dinner at the gorgeous Prime restaurant. From our table we were able to take in the Bellagio fountain shows, which were incredible. We started with bacon wrapped shrimp, followed by a ribeye steak, short ribs, and the best mashed potatoes, with chocolate cake for dessert – a serious treat. 

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 

We packed up and then walked down to Coke World for their re-opening, where we were able to try their international flavors and pick up a few goodies. Then we sadly headed out, stopping for lunch at Shaq’s Big Chicken restaurant on our way out. Yum. 

We had the most incredible time, enjoying delicious food (what vacation is really all about for us), and spending quality time together. It was a dream, I truly did not want to leave. Planning and budgeting for this trip was so much fun. I can’t wait for the next one!