Viva Las Vegas

My best friend turned 30 this week and she wanted to celebrate by going to Las Vegas. We discussed this trip a year ago and I'm glad we were still able to go and embrace 30 with a big party. We walked around and saw the sights, lost our money gambling, but most importantly had a great time visiting with each other. I went to Vegas when I was 14 but wasn't able to do much and only have small memories of it. I had a blast playing the slots with Sara and laughing at each other when we got excited about winning a couple dollars. The boys played the tables but were unsuccessful in making us rich :(

The Strip

Our Hotel

Inside the Venetian

I was amazed at all of the different hotels and how they represented different places like New York New York, Paris, Ceaser's Palace, or my favorite, The Venetian.

The Venetian did a great job of reproducing Venice, Italy. The outside architecture was great, the ambiance inside with the Grand Canal and gondolas was romantic, and the italian food and gelato was delicious.

Ceaser's Palace

The Stratosphere

View from the Stratopshere

Happy 30th Birthday!

29 and Holding!

Ok people this is as far as the B-days go for me. For some reason I am dreading going into the next decade of my life and this birthday makes me realize it is creeping up. I did so much in my 20's and I don't want them to end. I hope to live this last year to the fullest and hopefully there is a lot planned for me.

This week was really a great week of B-day celebrations though. I got a free lunch 4 days out of 5. Plus breakfast for 2 days. Not too shabby.

We finally joined modern technology and I bought this laptop as a B-day gift. It's been 10 years since I've bought a pc and I have been using old goods since. This one is fantastic and hopefully it lasts for a long time.

I have the most loving husband who aims to please his wife on her birthday. I didn't just get one homeade cake for my birthday.....I got 3! There were three because he likes to experiment. I was pretty specific on my dessert request this year asking for whipped topping and caramel filling. Turns out homemade whipped topping is pretty challenging so the store bought stuff won.

Here's to living every day like it's your last..................(of your 20's)!

Globe Trotter

Yes I have that itch and to give myself a temporary "fix" instead of booking a European Vacation through Globus because they have an amazing offer that expires in 6 days......................................
I will write about it!
It's one of those times when you try to put something far out of your mind and reminders pop up everywhere! Literally I had an Outlook reminder scheduled for this Globus deal. I know I have issues.

I heard this wonderful quote on Amazing Race Sunday night.

"To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live."

-Hans Christian Anderson




Found some other quotes that I just love. They make me feel at peace.

“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” –Lawrence Block

“Traveling is like flirting with life. It’s like saying, ‘I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station” –Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” –Susan Sontag


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and safe travels!

Fall.

Fall=perfect hiking weather for the Sondgeroths.

I love everything about hiking in the fall. The sound of the leaves crunching under your feet, the smell of the changing leaves in the air and the cool temperature makes for perfect conditions. Also the thought of dying poison ivy makes for a happy and worry free husband!

I LOVE going to Brown County every year just to be there. However it is very crowded so we have found that we enjoy the State Forests much more. This year we went to the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, a new one for us. This place was beautiful.....once we found it! We did a moderate 3 mile hike. There was a great breeze in the air that helped keep us cool and made the trees rain leaves.

After hiking we did drive through Brown County and Nashville just to get it out of my system but seeing the crowds made for an easy decision to keep driving.

I would like to get in another Fall hike this year but it sounds like the weather is going to turn cold quickly as it always does. Fall doesn't last long enough for me which is why I have such a hard time accepting that it is here. I need to live somewhere that is 70-75 degrees year round!

Cam @ the Zoo

This past weekend was suppose to be our annual campout but none of the other wives could make it so I stayed home too and let it be a guys weekend. So what's a girl to do with a free weekend on her hands.....act like a kid of course. Luckily it worked out that my mom was free this weekend and we were able to take Cameron to the Indy Zoo. It was perfect weather and we had a blast. An almost 3 year old has a ton of energy! Afterwards they came to my house and spent the night. Let's just say round two of him sleeping over at my house went perfectly because he had is Grandmama with him this time.

Yep I spoiled him like Aunt's do. Ice cream twice at the zoo and pizza for dinner. Even a choo choo ride. Pretty sure I am his favorite aunt now.

Waiting to buy his Spongebob Ice Cream

This topped the cake for him. I hope he remembers the trip to the zoo over the Spongebob Ice Cream!

Italy Highlights

Our trip to Italy was wonderful and our first time traveling to Europe was very smooth. As always I come back from vacation feeling that our pictures do not do justice for what we actually experienced. As we drove through this small country the scenery would change within the hour.

There are so many beautiful and different things to talk about but I will try to sum it up.

The first stop was Rome where we visited the Vatican and Colosseum. There are no words to describe how beautiful Vatican City was and we were just in awe as we walked around. The highlight for me in Rome was probably the Colosseum because I cannot wrap my head around how this was built in 80 A.D.

(The Colosseum)

We then drove North into Tuscany to visit our first little Italian village called Orvieto. Part of my desire to visit Italy was to experience the very old towns with small streets and the countryside and Orvieto delivered. It is atop a mountain and we had to ride a funicular to get up there.

We had a quick side trip to Pisa and saw the leaning tower, which is the only thing to do in Pisa. We then spent a full day in Florence and went to the Art Museum to see the original statue of David. Florence is beautiful but there really wasn't much to do but walk around and see the sights. We spent the night in a beautiful, quite little town called Montecatini. I loved just walking around this place.

(Leaning Tower of Pisa)

Then we drove to the city I was most excited to visit, Venice! Venice was just as expected. A magical little place that you are suppose to get lost in. It is amazing that they built this city on water.

(Arriving in Venice)

(Beautiful Venice)

The we started to drive to Southern Italy and stopped in Assisi. I know I've said this about every place but this town was beautiful and very picturesque.

(Countryside of Assisi)

(Assisi)

We finally made it to Southern Italy to the Naples and Sorrento region. We visited Pompeii which was destroyed in 79 AD by the volcano Vesuvius. It was amazing to see how so much is still preserved from that town.

(Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius luring over)

Then we hopped on a jetfoil boat and rode to the Island of Capri. This place actually made me feel like we had left Italy and were at a very nice resort. The water was blue and all the buildings were white. We are torn between Venice and Capri being our favorite city.

(Boat Ride to Island of Capri)

(Capri)

(Capri)

On our journey back to Rome our whole group chose to add an excursion to drive the Amalfi coast which is an experience in itself. It is beautiful but the roads and very small and winding so it was more fun to watch your driver then to look at the view.

(Amalfi Coast)

(Amalfi Coast)

I knew I would come back loving Italy but I didn't realize I would have the desire to now see more of Europe. I fell in love with how everything is older and different over there. I feel another trip in my future, besides that's where it all started right...before Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue.

(If anyone wants to see all of my photos leave me a comment and I will e-mail you the album)

Arrivederci America!

So did I forget to mention that we will be leaving for this wonderful place tomorrow?!? (photo credit:http://venicedailyphoto.blogspot.com/)

This trip really snuck up on us. 8 months ago I booked my dream vacation to Italia and then time started creeping by. We tried not to think about it for a while so time would go faster and than "wham" here it is!

Are we ready?
Mentally and emotionally, yes!
Physically, no!
We have a ton to do tonight and tomorrow but luckily our flight will depart late tomorrow.

We are both so ready for a vacation. Although we will be on the move a lot to see most of Italy in 12 days we are really going to try to act like Italians and not Americans. Slowing down and enjoying life, enjoying food, and enjoying vino.

Cheers to a beautiful country and a memorable vacation!