2014: A Decent Traveling Year

Well, you all know I'm a travel freak; thus, I have to recap my year in terms of my travel adventures. There's no way I could ever top my fab year of travel in 2013, but 2014 actually wasn't too shabby in the travel realm! I certainly got to see a little more of the good ol' USA this time around, a trend I hope to continue.

Vegas in January

The year rang in with a freakin' bang in Las Vegas. Not my first time at the strip, but definitely a fun trip. January is the month to go to Las Vegas, in my opinion: not too hot, not too crowded, just a whole lotta fun. And tons of fireworks.

Tijuana in March

I caught a Mexican futbol game on a random Tuesday night trip over the border. For those of you that don't know, San Diego literally sits right on the border...it takes me all of 20 minutes to get to a whole other country. I also really like to advertise Mexico because I feel it unfairly gets bad press painting it as an unsafe, unworthy vacation spot. Pish posh! The Mexican people are a lively, endearing bunch and while Tijuana is not the most beautiful city I've seen, it's a worthy destination brimming full of culture and good food.

England & Scotland in July, August

It was back to ol' Blighty in the summer for graduation and an excursion to Scotland.

First off, London (my love). It was lovely to see my home away from home once again; I'd even call it therapeutic.

Catching up with my "mates" (I always got chastized for saying "friend"), riding the tube, eating sticky toffee pudding, and just being there made me smile from ear to ear. It was the best homecoming I could ask for, since London will always be another home for me. 

I certainly got my fill of London, so of course a side trip to Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland was in order. Man, Scotland is NOT to be skipped, let me tell you! 

Before leaving the U.K., I had one more day trip in the works: lovely Cambridge. 

 We toured the university by way of punting, totally worth it! 

Austin, Houston, and College Station in October

I went to Texas on a work trip, so it was three cities/towns in one go! It was nice to drive through the Texas countryside, which I found refreshing and beautiful. I also got to meet up with an old friend and a new (blog) friend. Of course, Austin still retained its charm from the last time I visited. 

Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson in November 

 Another work trip. It was all about those desert sunsets and (GORGEOUS) mountains in Arizona. I foolishly didn't know Flagstaff was so elevated and would be so freezing in November. Note to self: do not wear a dress without tights in 35-degree weather. 

New Orleans in December 

As you know, I ended the year in NOLA, which was as lively and eclectic as I hoped it would be (complete with an awesome trip to a southern plantation). 

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So there you are! I went to about 8 new cities/towns I hadn't been to before, and 6 overall trips. Not too shabby indeed. As you suspected, I've already booked my next trip for this month. I'll reveal soon where I'm off to (wink). 

Travel on, my fellow wanderlusters! 

A Vegas New Year's Eve

*Ahem* I'm back from Vegas. As suspected, it was a bit of a crazy adventure. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but the ones I did were taken on my iPhone. heh. It's sort of fitting when trying to convey the hazy/crazy time that is Vegas.

This was my first time in Vegas in 6 years! Lainey and I met some fantastic characters (both in the good and bad senses of the word). For instance:

... have you been asked the question, "Have you ladies been hit on yet?" This from two twenty year olds who insisted that they were 21 (smooth operators, those two).

...or have you seen a half-naked circus show (too many boobs flying everywhere!)?

...or have you been coaxed into going to one of those uppity Vegas clubs complete with lasers, Lady Gaga-esque dancers in bubble suits and way too much techno? (I couldn't leave fast enough).

...and have you hung out at an Oxygen bar? (I sort of believe in its powers).

There are a few more stories, but I'll leave it at that and say with a knowing smile, "Only in Vegas."

HAPPY 2014!

Those flashing lights come from everywhere...

Ahhhhh!!!!! VEGAS was AMAZING!!! Justin Timberlake was AMAZING!!!! I don't know if I could put it in words...so some pictures...

i can hardly contain myself

So you may roll your eyes as this, but as I've mentioned before...I was always a big *NSYNC fan back in the day. Sadly, my little boy band has broken up since their glory days, but there have been a couple boys that have had solo careers. One of those boys, in case you didn't know his name, is JustinTimberlake. Hmmm...have you heard of him? Yeah--he's not that well known, so here's a picture:

So my roomate Ali and I (she's also a former boy band fan) were perusing the internet for concerts to go to--lo and behold, Justin Fucking Timberlake is having a concert (yeah, that's this middle name).

Yeah, the tickets were overpriced. And yeah, Justin has become pretty overproduced. But I love him so--can you tell he was my favorite *NSYNC member? So I have to support my past loves, you know?

The best part? The show is in Vegas on September 1st, at the Mandalay Bay.

Ohhhh man, this should be interesting.

Viva Las Vegas!!!!

Vegas was pretty amazing. The casinos are crazy!!! My favorite game: blackjack, by far. But it's a nerve-racking game.

However, the amazement of Vegas wears off in about 3 days, cause all in all, it's just too much--too much gambling, too much brightness, too much smoke (cough!). There's just something about California, or any home for that matter, that's easy-like-Sunday-morning. Vegas can't ease the soul the way San Diego can for me. So it's good to be home.

But not so fast! Here are some pictures of me hanging out in the city of sin:

Hanging around at the Stardust Casino.

Mom and I.

Sitting in flowers at the Bellagio. haha. It's what I do, I guess?

Dad and I. yeah, my dad likes to make faces like that.

Luck of the Draw

I'm listening to "Ticket to Ride." Definitely one of my favorite Beatles songs.

And I'm excited cause I'm going to Las Vegas this weekend (I leave tomorrow at noon). And get this, it was all my dad's idea. I think he really just wants to show me how to lay it down on the gambling table, ya know?

I just have to get over a few hurdles before my fun weekend--my taxes (yeah, I haven't done those YET) and a test. Once I jump over those obstacles, I'm on my way to easy street, er, the strip.

Oh, to end this post, here are a few pictures of me and my roomates on their birthday. They are, ahem, amusing. hehehe.

Above: They look like regular ice teas, don't they now?

Below: We're professionals at looking like idiots, the whole of us!

And the car ride home. Poor Matt was the designated driver and had to deal with our asses. hahaha. It cracks me up.