Three days at Mandalay Bay

Now that I’ve had about a week to recover from WSA in Las Vegas, I’m starting to feel almost normal again.  Almost. In light of that, I’m dying to post a few tidbits about the trip.  I’ll start with the hotel, because even  my boss/traveling buddy (who’s stayed in some super swank places) said THEhotel was the nicest hotel he’s ever experienced!

The living room

The bedroom

The bathroom

 

 

 

 

 

We had reserved rooms at Mandalay Bay, but when we lugged our suitcases up to the front desk, we received an unexplained upgrade to THEhotel … which is basically Mandalay’s upper-class tower although it’s marketed as a separate accomodation.   Walking through the connecting hallway, Beemer (my boss and no, that’s not his real name) and I admired the posh decor.  Unlike the tropical theme of the rest of Mandalay, THEhotel is outfitted in a modish, contemporary style and every room is a 750+ square-foot suite.  Each one contains a living room, bedroom and one-and-a-half baths.  No joke!

OMG, I just realized that hotel room is bigger than my future apartment. That’s just wrong.

Running water for the bath

Anyway, it also had a huge, deep bathtub and separate shower.  Since I had a little time to spare before dinner, I tested out the latter.  Late that night, after picking up a luxuriously scented Butterball Bath Bomb from the LUSH store (highly recommend!), I relaxed in the tub.   While watching Home Improvement on TV … because yes, there was a flatscreen TV in the bathroom, too.

The next night, my other coworker and roommate for the trip (I’ll call her Candy) had arrived and we decided to explore a bit after our meetings were over.  We hadn’t made it far before encountering a typical Vegas sight … a bride and groom.  I just had to snap a photo but it’s kinda blurry.  Heading out, we hoofed it over to Excaliber, where I picked up a pair of flip flops in one of the few open stores … they were 50% off 😉  On the way back through, we couldn’t resist a late-night snack of fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  Mmmmm!

Bride and Groom

Inside the Excaliber

Late-night snack choice

Shoe Show Photo Preview

Like I said yesterday, I plan to post a-plenty about my 72 hours in “Sin City”, Nevada for the WSA Show.  I’m still busy playing catch-up right now, but here’s a photographic preview in the meantime:

Vegas, here I come!

“It’s a big world. Someone has to shoe it.”

It’s pretty much the largest footwear show in the world. It’s happening in Las Vegas, Nevada starting today. And in just a few hours, I’ll be on a plane on my way there! Yahoo!

WSA (World Shoe Association) occurs twice a year attracting more than 36,000 participants and nearly 1,600 exhibitors. My company is sending me along with two others this year … I’ve never gone before … and although I’m honestly pretty nervous, I’m super excited too.

Our schedule is crazy busy, meeting with new and current vendors. We might get to see a show or something. We’ll have to fit in sleeping and eating somewhere. I just hope the clothes I have packed are appropriate, and especially my shoes! I’m bringing five pairs for the three days 😉

And before you ask, yes, I’ll do my best to take a ton of photos and blog all about the trip when I get home … but just so you won’t miss me too much while I’m gone, I have a post or two scheduled too. Leave some love!

Hotel Vintage Plaza

Time is flying and the pressure is on to make our final wedding arrangements.  On one hand it seems like we’ve gotten most of it taken care of … all the big-ticket items are booked like the caterer, photographer, cake, location, dresses, etc.  But then I start thinking of all the smaller items that I have yet to cross off my “to do” list … wedding programs, music, vows, slideshow, favors, apartment hunting, attendant gifts, not to mention honeymoon plans!  **brain melts**

Thankfully, that final item got off to a great start yesterday.  Fidhlear and I researched hotels for our first night … we plan on a Portland hotel before flying to San Francisco the next day … and found a few that are definite possibilities.  My favorite option is the Hotel Vintage Plaza on Broadway.

Starlight Guestroom at Hotel Vintage Plaza

Isn’t that just gorgeous?  The hotel’s website says these rooms “invite you to sleep under the stars. Conservatory windows overhead allow for stargazing from the comfort of your bed. Queen size beds and sleek modern furnishings make this room a retreat.”

We haven’t made any final decisions yet, but here’s hopin’ 😉

Sleeping under the bridge

On Saturday, the weather was beautiful so my fiancé and I took a beach break.  We started at the Tillamook Cheese Factory … spent some time window-shopping and sand-stomping at Cannon Beach … and finished the day with dinner in Astoria.  I took some really fun pictures (I’ll post several throughout the week).  Today, I want to share this one, taken at the Astoria end of a huge bridge spanning the Columbia River:

Sign at the Holiday Inn Express, Astoria: "Where sleeping under the bridge is a good thing."

Catchy slogan in a way but … I’m not sure it’s all that appealing.   Guess I’d have to actually stay at the hotel before I made a judgment one way or the other.  Hey, if we go back there anytime soon we could go to the Rogue Ales Public House for dinner again!