Ben's 30th Bday Celebration...Vegas Style

Brady, Angie, Melissa and Ryan at Bally's...watching the Final Four and drinking some brews!

Me and the hubby at Bare!

Me and Melissa at Love!

Ben's car at the Richard Petty Driving Experience!

Melissa, Ryan, and Me at Bally's

Aaron, Me, Melissa and Chris at Olives in the Bellagio!!!

Melissa breaking it down with the Bday boy!

Me and the hubby at the NY NY Piano Bar!

Me and Melissa!!! So glad she came to Vegas!!!

Much of this week will be spent in "Recovery Mode" from our fabulous Vegas trip last weekend!

We decided to bid Ben's 20's Bon Voyage in a BIG Way!!!

The week leading up to the Vegas trip was very eventful! Tuesday night was my book club meeting which is always a lot of fun! We chatted about "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult.

Wednesday I met Melissa and Jaclyn at the mall for a "Pre-Vegas" shopping trip! A girl needs to look good, you know?

Thursday night we had Pat and Steph over for burgers and wine! It was a really great time!

Friday morning I was up early running errands and packing like a wild woman. Then Amanda and her friend Katie (who was in from out of town to celebrate Amanda's bday) met Ben and I for brunch at J. Christopher's in Historic Roswell. I was glad I got to spend some time with Amanda before we left. We missed her Bday celebration on Saturday night but I was told it was a great time!!!

By Friday afternoon, we were on a jet plane headed to VEGAS!!!

A big group of us were in on the Vegas trip...here's the list of everyone that came

1. Ben (bday boy)

2. Kristen (bday boy wife)

3. Melissa Doyle (one of my BFF's from college who flew in from Phoenix)

4. Angie (Melissa's roommate)

5. Brady (Melissa and Angie's friend from Denver)

6. Chris (ATL friends)

7. Melissa Dunbar (ATL friends)

8. Aaron (ATL friends)

9. Jaclyn (ATL friends)

10. Drew (Jaclyn's boyfriend)

11. Ryan (Ben's BFF from College)

We arrived around 6pm in Vegas and headed straight for the Mirage. We checked in, got ready for a night on the town, and headed over to Gallagher's Steakhouse in the NY NY Casino where we were joined by Aaron for dinner and drinks.

After dinner, we met up with Melissa, Angie and Brady at the Piano bar for a bit.

As soon as Jaclyn and Drew got there we ventured over to Diablo's at the Monte Carlo for some dancing! It was a fun night!!!

Saturday, Ryan arrived bright and early and I bid farewell to the boys. They were very excited to try the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Nascar speedway.

Ben said he had a great time!!!

I gambled for a bit downstairs and then met Chris, Melissa and Aaron. We went to the Bellagio for lunch on the patio at Olives. We had a blast just sitting on the patio, drinking martinis in the sun, and watching the fountain show!

After lunch, we went to Bally's to watch the Final Four games where we met back up with Ben and Ryan and Melissa, Brady, and Angie!

After the games, Ben, Ryan and I went back to the Mirage so that I could get ready for Cirque du Soleil's Love!

I met Aaron and Melissa in the lobby and we went to the show. (Side note: One of my bday gifts to Ben was NOT dragging him to the show with me...he was grateful he got to gamble instead of seeing Love).

Love was AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend it!!! However, if you are not a Beatles fan then don't bother. I was raised loving Beatles music so I thought it was the BEST show EVER!!! Melissa would agree too!!!

After Love, we met up with everyone at Caesar's to go to Pure! Big props to Melissa for getting us in!!!

Sunday, we met Melissa, Angie and Ryan for Brunch at the Paris...YUMMY!!! We said good-bye to Melissa and Angie and then went to the pool party Bare at the Mirage with the rest of the gang!

We had an awesome time at Bare. Ben and I had gone on our last trip to Vegas and knew it would be in the cards for us again! (no pun intended)

After Bare closed, we spent the rest of the night gambling!

Monday morning, Ben and I were up early and on a plane home.

We were exhausted...but managed to stay up to watch UNC bring home the NCAA Championship!

It was a very happy birthday indeed!!!