Viva Las Vegas

This one time, I visited the opulent metropolis of Las Vegas.

It was the weekend where the dance beats replaced my heart beats, and luxury reigned over all.

The trip itself was something I looked forward to very much, you see, because the rest of my weeks are spent at a copper mine clunking around in steel-toe boots.

And, to tell you the truth, I missed the clip-clopping of high heels, the swooshing of a dress, and the thickness of hairsprayed curls.

I met my good friend there. She was my roommate all through University. But this time, Instead of sleeping on worn, single beds in the uni residence, we dove into the luxury of our king beds, giggling about all the possibilities the weekend held.



We clipped and clopped up and down Las Vegas Boulevard until our toes were replaced by blisters. And we marveled our endurance and fortitude—only aided by iced chai teas… and other beverages of choice.

We attended a whimsical performance of Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio hotel and soaked in the bravado of performers diving from the ceiling into a stage made of water. We left, our faces wet with dew from the splashes that reached our front row seating.

Excuse the grainy collages. Picasa and I are fighting.

On the way home we stopped for a short time at a bar with sparkly tables and enjoyed a drink that was just as strong as it was pink. We were convinced they must have been $charging$ for vibrancy of colour… and enjoyment of company, of course.

{and no, I’m not talking about the scantily clad women that were dancing in the background.}

Please note: we were not at any sort of strip club, simply in the midst of what seems to be the norm in Vegas: equal parts sumptuous and scandalous.

The next day we remedied our privileged complaints of sore feet (and heads) with manicures, pedicures, and a morning by the pool.

Now, please, don’t think that this is the norm for me. I’m not much of a diva, (and don’t listen to my boyfriend if he tells you differently!) I like to think I work hard, stay grounded in reality, and only like to pretend that this lifestyle suits me once in a while… but don’t we all…



In the next few days we walked more of the strip, ate lunch and drank drinks at some splendid digs, and went dancing twice. Because,well, when in Rome…



...But, I’m not sure I can sound as classy when I say “when in Vegas, do as the locals do” because, the people there are crazy!! I slur, erm, I mean say that lovingly… But I’m certain, they’re crazy.



Sinfully opulent doesn’t even begin to explain the extravagant norm here.

We walked red carpets- pretending we belonged, skipped line-ups as VIP’s and only felt a little bit guilty {as any small town girls would}.

We enjoyed an open bar-- because even though you feel guilty being so spoiled; the $15-a-drink tab deters you from arguing differently.



The “Party Rock”ed. Somewhat literally—LMFAO (the band) showed up one night at ‘LAVO’ to mingle and take “shot shot shot shot shots” and sing their Anthem, of course.




But, I can say for sure that even in the lap of luxury you realize the cliché ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ is a bit true.

To live a lavish lifestyle makes you realize how comfy and safe those steel-toed boots are.
To party with strangers makes you realize how much you love your family and friends at home,
and to excite in the frivolousness makes you realize that purposeful tasks feel pretty darn good.

We had a great time, and after ‘viva’-ing Las Vegas… I’m really into ‘viva’-ing this moment.

PS. Please read on to the next post to see some beautiful blogger photographers who have linked up with their photos of trees!

You Asked For it: More Photo Shares!

Hey Shutterbugs!

This blog has grown so much from your input lately with my Shades of Spring project. You all blew me (and all the readers) away with your colour themed photography, and I know it made my Wednesday so much brighter to have it to look forward to!

It’s inspired me to have more themed photo challenges on this blog. And you know I love me some photography like a kid loves milk and cookies.

via

So here’s the deal:

I’m going to host a link up with your photos featured here under the title “Get the Picture” (I know, right…) It’s going to be held from the 1^st to the 7^th of each month.

If you’d like me to email you to let you know of the current theme of each month, please email me your contact to lcr-outsidevoice@hotmail.com or leave it in a comment below.

It’ll be picture perfect! You can get all snap happy… It all puts it into focus for me… so F, don’t stop sharing your photos (ha. ha. ha. Ok, ok, I’ll stop.)

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Here’s how it will work:

1. I’ll announce the theme, or email you ahead of time, so you can gather photos
   
   
2. Photo posting will be open from the 1^st-7^th of each month
   
   
3. You will post about the topic in any manner you’d like on YOUR blog, anytime from the 1^st-7^th.

If you’d like (…id love it if you did) please include my button (found on my sidebar) somewhere in your post so people know where to look for your photo link up!

4. Visit the ‘Get the Picture’ post on MY blog and link up!
   

I will make the post available on the 1^st of the month, using "Linky Tools", and follow the oh-so-easy steps to link up your post or picture file!

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Ready? Up for the challenge? Ok, well to test out our linky skills starting TODAY until next Monday, May 16th I will be hosting the first “Get the Picture” with the theme of trees.

{But really, it can be any creative take you have on any tree related photo.}

So all you timely exposers… get goin’, gather your tree photos, and link up! Oh, and sincerely, thanks for your participation. I’ve loved your involvement and seeing the beautiful photos that have gathered so far.

Click below to link up with your tree photos, it will be open now until next Monday:

On Forks in the Road, Doors Closing, and Australia.

Dearest Readers,

Bear with me on this post. I have faced a big ‘ol fork in my road this past week, and as much as this is a blog post about it, it’s also a journal entry for myself;
writing helps me sort my world out.

It’s a long one dudes, feel free to carry on, or not.

{This is for me, and for you, too, if you’d like.}
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Maybe. Maybe not.

In the last couple years this statement has seemed to be my catch phrase. In fact, if instead of a middle name, my name should have a subtitle

Lauren Catherine: Maybe, Maybe not.

It’s not that I don’t commit to things. Nope- when I choose to do something I’m ALL in. But in this wonderfully daunting young-adult stage of life, I find there is an amazing (read: scary) chance that has been given to me to make choices regarding how the manuscript is going to be written.

And, turns out, the author doesn’t always listen to what I want, or think I want.

Sometimes I say “maybe” and the world gently answers “maybe not”.

…and I continue on and try to find the balance between it all.

The whole development of it, on one hand, excites me: I get to choose what my life includes. As a kid, my whole bookshelf was filled with “choose your own adventure” novels. But all of a sudden, when I tumble in as the protagonist of those novels and the adventure I’m picking is my life, it seems a bit heavier.

This year, after returning from a backpacking trip I fell nicely into an amazing job that has allowed me to save up for my future. Furthermore, it has opened my eyes up to a lot more of adulthood: responsibility, being authoritative, and having confidence in my decisions. I will walk away from this job with many more “tools” in my “toolbox”.

As amazing as those tools are, they just don’t fit right in the molding the toolbox was pre-made for. My toolbox has places prepared for tools like empathy, listening, teaching, and learning.

I have a university degree as an elementary school teacher: and I’m sure I will love it and embrace it eventually. But to tell you the truth, I’m still a little scared to endeavor the responsibility and commitment of affecting 30 kids lives every day. I’m still feeling young and transient.

More importantly, the words “Maybe. Maybe not.” probably should not be a token phrase when teaching children.

Before I settle down into a permanent job and life, I want to figure out more of those ‘maybe’s” out… at least into “probably’s”. I probably know what I want, I probably know what I’m doing. Yes, that has a better ring to it.

(but oh, please, world… let there be a few good maybe’s around every corner, it keeps me on my toes.)

Up until now my maybe’s were pretty straight forward. I probably will graduate from university as a teacher, then probably I will go backpacking… then maybe I will work for a bit to fund my dream of a Masters program in Rehabilitation Sciences…

Last Monday the world dropped a big “maybe NOT” in my path.

Turns out I am 0.03 away from the GPA they are currently accepting into Occupational Therapy.

Damnit, I knew I shouldn’t have partied that one night before that one paper was due, then pulled an all-nighter to get it done. Getting an A instead of an A- on one little assignment would have really helped out with the 0.03 and got me that acceptance letter. Hmph. :)

Since Monday I’ve frequently been given the advice “when one door closes, another door opens". At first, I wanted to slam that door in those advisor's faces. But now… I guess I realize that piece of advice has to be true, because I’m sure as heck not going to stay trapped in a room with all the doors closed. In fact, if I have to, I’ll cut a hole in the roof to get out.

Maybe. Maybe not.

So… a door was closed for this year. Turns out, a door opened sooner than I thought.

I have an opportunity to substitute teach in Australia. Short, or long term, whatever suits my timeline. Starting in September.

So…

Maybe Yes: this might just be the perfect situation to tackle my inhibitions of teaching, while fulfilling my appetite to travel.

Maybe Not: how totally scary! I’d be going to Australia alone. I’d have to leave my family and friends. I’d have to do long distance with my boyfriend for my time away. I’d have to navigate my way in a totally foreign city and culture!

Maybe.

Maybe not… but maybe!

In a helpful moment this week, I came across this quote:

"They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday."

— Brian Andreas

I am ravenous for adventure. I’m not sure what that adventure will be yet, or where the “maybe & maybe not’s” will take me.

But, I do know I’d like to dangle my feet off a few more edges of this world, explore, and do good and true things.

Photos taken on a backpacking trip in Kalambaka, Greece in 2009.

it's my jam.

Vegas turns your world into a dance floor.



And you know I couldn't hold myself back from sharing the beats on here. No matter how terribly pop they may be, I dare you to not shimmy in your seat, or bob your head.



and if you don't do either-- more power to you. You would have survived Vegas without dancing like a fool.

But here I am.

Sincerely yours,

A Dancing Fool.
aka.

Shades of Spring: Week Four

Yellow and Orange.

colours all their own... not blue nor yellow & green, or even pink & purple,

{like the photos that were all kindly shared by wonderful blogger/ photographers in the last four weeks of Shades of Spring}

They are colours all their own. Popping off the screen as if they're celebrating this little photography project's last week-- going out with a bang.

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"anything that excites me, for any reason, I will photograph: not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual"

--Edward Weston

Your unique views of each colour theme have excited me. And they'll excite you too... check out these awesome yellow and orange themed photos, and the photographer's blogs:

Stephanie at Big Mario and Stephanie Court Photography



Carla of A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words




Kristie at Kristie Colon Was Here

Vanessa of Lady Grey

Stephanie of The Merry Way

Gentri of Gentri Lee



Nikki of Go Home My Dear

Meg of Across The Pond

Lauren of Outside Voice

With this being the last Shades of Spring post... I'd like to hear your thoughts:

would you like to see more photo shares on this blog? Would you get snap happy and participate in more photo and blog link-ups on Outside Voice?

There have been a few ideas thrown around of continuing themed photo shares... What do you think?


***
Thank you so much to the photographers and readers that have participated in this photo series. You have truly graced this blog, and brightened up all of our weeks, with your beautiful photography and comments.

See the lovely photos from the past weeks: blue, yellow & green, and pink & purple.

high roller

One of my favorite parts of taking a trip, is coming home.

I love being away and experiencing something so out of the ordinary, that it somehow seems to brighten up the ordinary-- making it more exciting itself.

I love unpacking, getting reacquainted with family, friends, and routine, and organizing the craziness of vacation back into the quaintness of life.

So, today I'm peeling off my high heels and unpacking my suitcase, memories, and camera. In the rush of it all, wanted to take a breath and share a bit with you.

I was masquerading last week as a high roller in Vegas, and I was all in, baby... maybe not with money or gambling chips... but I was all in to:

Meeting a best friend there to catch up, and thrive in the craziness

The night lights of Vegas

Enjoying fun in the sun

Making a detour on the way home to meet the boyfriend for a weekend getaway in Vancouver

the 2010 olympic torches

Staying in family's beautiful condo on the harbour

Spring in the city

And, now I'm very much all into being home and unpacking a memory card's worth of photos and recollections. I look forward to sharing some of the trip's stories and photos on the blog in the next little while.

Oh, and I'm also totally pumped on Wednesday's (very last segment) of Shades of Spring-- So many talented photographers and eye-popping yellows and oranges that have been gracing my email inbox. Stay tuned.