Mom's Visit to LA and Vegas!

My Mom visited me here in LA last week and we had a full week of craziness planned!  She was spending a few days here and then we were heading off to Vegas for a couple days to celebrate my cousin's 21st Birthday and my Aunt's Birthday as well with some more of our family!

Talk about a busy week, it was literally go-go-go every day!  From when she got in on Wednesday afternoon, we went and had a late Lunch at Lemonade in Brentwood (which she loved and I had to have her try the Miso Short Ribs because they're so incredible) and then she helped me rehearse some songs for my Audition that evening and later on I Hosted Karaoke at Gabe's.  A bunch of my friends came to spend some time with her and to sing Karaoke, so it's always nice to see everyone together!  We did get to spend some time in the sun early in the mornings before the days really got going which was nice, and on Thursday she came with me to Afterbuzz TV to tape my 'Supernatural' Aftershow and that night she got to see 'Thenardier's Inn' for the second time.  She said she really felt the songs and music and liked it even more than the first time she saw it in November!

Wine at Bandera, Salmon at Sugarfish, Bloody Mary's before Vegas,
and Kalissa's famous Cookies and 'Crack Buns!'

Friday kicked off the weekend of work with Bartending at Irish Times, where Mom got to try out some of our new beers and we got some great goodies from C&M Cafe which I'd been waiting for her to try for months!  That night, Marty, Mom and I had Dinner at Bandera, which was an absolute blast and special treat.  Carolyn met all of us a little later on when we stopped at Gabe's for an after-dinner drink!  On Saturday, we went to Lunch at Sugarfish in Marina Del Rey (which was Mom's favorite sushi I've ever taken her to).  I also read in Church for our Palm Sunday services and it was nice to have Mom there in Church with me when I was such a big part of the Mass.  She came with me to Bar Lubitsch since I was Bartending that night, and Jamie met up with her, and they had a couple cocktails and some fun as well!  She even told me I made her the best Old-Fashion she ever had!!  YAY :D

Mom and I are ready for Vegas!

On Sunday I made Mom and I some Bloody Mary's and we hopped on a flight from LA to Las Vegas.  We stayed at the Riviera Hotel and got placed in a Suite for the first night but actually down-graded the following night because the first room was so spread out, we wanted a smaller space!  It was a typical Vegas vacation, with lots of gambling, a day by the Riviera pool, and walking around the casinos.  In fact, on Monday, Mom and I had walked more than 10 miles that day according to my phone!  We got the family together and played cards and had Dinner, checked out the Flamingo's Gardens, and just hung out.  Mom and I did the $10.95 Prime Rib Dinner at El Cortez off Fremont Street and it was awesome!  It was my first time checking out Fremont Street and old Downtown Vegas and is very different than the normal strip.  Our last day we all indulged in the Garden Buffet which was at the Silverton Casino and was delicious!  After that it was back to LA for me and back to Wisconsin for Mom.

The time once again went by way too quickly.  I would have loved another week together, especially since we were so busy, it would have been nice to have some time off to just hang out.  We always enjoy cooking a meal together and there was just no time for that, aside from making Kale Chips, which certainly is not a Wisconsin meal or snack to us, but still quite tasty.  Can't wait to see you again soon, Mom!  Thank you for everything :)