50 Years ❤

On June 23rd, 1963, my grandparents, Teodoro and Luisa, tied the knot. I doubt if you asked them back then how they saw their life, they wouldn't imagine having 5 kids, 3 daughter in-laws, 2 son in-laws, 20 grandkids, and 1 great-grandchild in the course of 50 years. Or maybe they did haha. Who knows? It's funny though, when I look at my grandparents it's crazy to think that they're celebrating 50 years of marriage because in my eyes they're forever 60-something years old. Clearly that's not possible unless they got married at the age of 10. I don't think I've ever met anyone else that has been married for that long or even close! I wonder if it even feels like they've been married for that long or if it felt like it flew by. Mahal and I aren't married (yet), but we joke around at how long we've been a couple as we approach our 8 year anniversary this fall.

As I prepare to leave for California this weekend to be with my family to celebrate my grandparent's anniversary, I start to do a little reflection on life overall. It actually makes me smile a bit to think about it all. In a world where Americans have a 50% divorce rate, growing up in a family where my parents divorced when I was 5 years old, and a majority of my friends all grew up in divorced households, I never realized that here were my grandparents, standing the test of time. I feel like it's such a beautiful thing. It warms my heart that they were able to find that one person in their life that they wanted to spend the rest of their life with. To buy a house with, build a family, and grow old with together. It makes me happy to know that with all the negativity surrounding relationships and how easily people turn to divorce as a solution to easily, I had the two best role models out there that showed me that true love does still exist.
 

I don't think they realized how much their marriage has impacted me as their granddaughter. I have nothing but fond memories growing up watching them interact, seeing how well they complemented each other. My grandma would joke that she waited until the last minute to retire because if she stayed at home all day with my grandpa she would go crazy haha. I know she was just kidding (sorta), but it was the little things they did for each other that I remember most. They always told me that as you evolve in a relationship, silence isn't always a bad thing. You still learn things about one another as the years pass and not saying words every two seconds doesn't always mean you're too comfortable with each other or love is fading. I kind of started to realize that now that I have my own little family. Every morning, my grandparents had a similar routine. They woke up at around 5:30am, and Grandpa already had a pot of coffee ready for Grandma. He'd serve them both a cup as they sat at the kitchen table, and they'd sit there in silence. Grandpa would do his daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper while Grandma sat there quietly eating her buttered toast and stare out the window to the peacefulness of the backyard.

 Once the rest of the house started to wake up, Grandpa would start to cook breakfast while Grandma started cleaning things around the house that she's probably already wiped down or swept three times previously (she was a clean freak haha). They'd chat with each other as they crossed paths and would continue in this fashion until it was time to drive grandma to work (she was a nurse). They'd have a cute conversation on the way to her job, then tell each other "I love you" and kissed each other goodbye when they arrived at her job. I guess from a distance, with all the hustle and bustle of life, their routine didn't seem like a big deal. However, my grandma says it's the little things that she loves. Grandpa knows just how she liked her coffee and she appreciates that he has it ready for her when she gets up in the morning. She knows that he loves doing the crossword so she pulls that section out of the newspaper for him and places it at his spot at the kitchen table. Even though Grandma can drive herself to work, Grandpa wanted to drive her. He worried about her since she didn't work in nicest side of town so he'd rather drop her off and pick her up right in front of the hospital to make sure she's safe. The little things.

Don't you just love my Grandma's tights?

My grandparents mean the world to me and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank them. They've taught me so many life lessons over the years and now that I'm in this new chapter in life of parenthood, adulthood, and relationships, they continue to show me that some things in life aren't as tainted as people think. They remind me that love requires a lot of work, especially 50 years down the line. Sometimes it's a give and take.  They also remind me that compromise and communication is key (even if it's silent communication sometimes). They show me that even though life can be chaotic, it's the little things that make all the difference. That you need to still take care of each other and nurture your relationship even with 5 kids and 20 grandkids down the line. I don't remember them ever sleeping apart. They pray together, kiss each other goodnight, and cuddle until they fall asleep. I love that my grandparents are able to celebrate their 50th anniversary together and I was around to witness their love evolve throughout the years. They even made it special and celebrated where it all began, the Philippines. They arrive back in the States today so they can celebrate it with the kids and grandkids as well. I know Mahal and I aren't married (yet), but I look forward to the "silent love" as funny as that sounds. I hope that one day we'll be able to celebrate our 50th anniversary just like my grandparents one day, and be proud of the family and couple we'll become over the years too.

What's the best piece of marriage advice you've ever received?

For My Mom...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! A mother's work is never done, not even on mother's day, but I hope you all at least get to kick up for feet for a little while today! I've been living in Las Vegas for 5 years so that's 5 mother's days that I'm not able to be with my mom since she lives in Chicago. I want to dedicate this mother's day post to her not only because she is my rock and the best mom ever, but because I want to help spread awareness about her disease, myasthenia gravis (MG). She was diagnosed with this autoimmune disease a little over a year ago, and although she's taking medication to sustain her illness, it's still hard to watch her go through it. Myasthenia gravis affects her voluntary skeletal muscles and so far it has impacted her breathing, her energy and has caused her eyelids to droop from time to time. Many people don't understand how she can be sick because she still goes through her day to day life perfectly fine but inside they don't realize that she's hurting. She takes 14 different pills to ease the symptoms of her disease, but they cause new symptoms like headaches and nausea. There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, but hopefully in the near future we can find one or at least find better treatment options. Many doctors don't know much about the disease unless they specialize in it and most often people with MG initially get diagnosed with other "invisible illnesses" instead. I remember briefly talking about MG in some of my nursing classes, but before my mom had it I know I never even heard of it.

That's where I come in. People don't realize that myasthenia gravis  affects people of any race, age, or gender. Dogs are even known to have it. In the U.S. it happens to 1 out of every 5,000 people. I watched my mom get poked, prodded, and tested to figure out why she was having breathing issues or why she was always so tired or why she woke up one morning with her right eye drooping. I hear her phone calls of the pain that she's in or hear her gag as she downs all 14 of her pills (If I take more than two advil I want to puke). I then watch her on video chat slowly shut down as the steroids in her meds give her a headache or make her feel dizzy or nauseous. It's never ending. It also doesn't help that people with MG are recommended to rest and not stress because it intensifies their MG symptoms otherwise. My mom's a caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient so she works long hours every week, sometimes even working overnight. Life in general can be stressful, and how can anyone living with a disease like this not stress? 

Through it all, my mom still moves forward. She takes care of my little sister and I even though we're both grown and living out of the house. She goes to work and is a great caregiver to her patients. Her friends don't stop raving about her, and even though my family can't always see eye to eye, my mom reminds us that family always comes first. She does so much for us, but I didn't know what I could do for her for once. I think the lowest point for me through all of this was when my mom got so weak that she ended up in the hospital and had to do some intense treatment to ease her symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Most people didn't even know that she was suffering for so long, but they all kept flocking in with support once they found on. I, being a full-time college student, unfortunately couldn't be there physically. I know that she said it was ok and I was able to video chat with her during her stay, but I still felt bad that I couldn't be there. To stay overnight with her while my stepdad had to go to work, or to just sit there and chat with her through the day so she wouldn't be alone or for support when no one else understood what she was going through.

So, I did my research and I found out that there was a myasthenia gravis walk! They had one here in Las Vegas, but I only found out about it a day or two before the event. Luckily I saw that they have a walk in IL coming up so I had to sign up. I formed Team Hawingirl to help the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MFGA) raise money that will go towards finding a cure for myasthenia gravis, help find better treatment options, and give support for people like my mom who suffer from MG. I also dedicated this time period to help raise awareness about the disease and educate people about how they can help. From time to time you will see posts about our MG Walk team and the progression of my mom's health. I know that this might not be much, but I'll keep working at this until we can find a way to help my mom feel better. If you would like to learn more about myasthenia gravis, my mom's personal story, or would like to donate to our team, you can visit Team Hawinegirl's page. There you will also find my personal walk page as well as JAM's walk page. It's an all-age event so JAM wanted to do his part too for grandma!

I'm working on various ways to find ways to fundraise for our team, but two lovely ladies from Tupperware and Scentsy & Velata have already stepped up to the plate! If you purchase through Team Hawinegirl's parties online, a portion of your profits will be donated to our walk team! There are two parties for tupperware that you can shop from, the fundraising team party and my personal e-party. Both parties offer different buying choices, but regardless of which party you shop from portions of your purchase will go towards our great cause. Every form of donation is greatly appreciated, but at the very least I would love whoever joins me in spreading awareness about my mom's disease. She means the world to me and I don't know what I'd do without her.

Mom, we may not always seem eye to eye but I know that no matter what you'll always be there for me. People started dropping like flies when I had JAM at a young age and even though you weren't too happy about it either, you supported me through it all and for that, I'm forever grateful. No matter how old I get, I realized you're never to old to ask your mom questions or for help. You sacrifice so much for us and will always give us "your last $20" (inside joke). I only get a glimpse of what you go through on a day to day basis with this illness, but you still go through the paces with a smile on your face and never let this illness bring you down. I can't wait to do this MG walk with you and walk proudly with you. You may think that people look at you crazy and you may feel a little insecure when your eye droops or other symptoms occur due to your sickness, but you're still my beautiful, "unique" mom. I know I can't be with you physically on mother's day but I hope that you get to rest a little bit and enjoy YOUR day today. You work too hard! RELAX! It's ok! I love you with all my heart and I'll see you when you come visit this summer! Happy mother's day mom! I don't know what I'd do without you ❤.

I'm not sure who this poem is by, but I think this sums everything up. 

Thank you for always being there

and knowing just what to do

Thank you for knowing the words to say

when I'm feeling way beyond blue 

Thank you for patiently listening

to all my worries and stresses

Thank you for caring enough

to get me out of all my messes 

Thank you for being a phone call away

or around the corner to run to

Thank you for your door always being open

and knowing just what to do 

Thank you for being my constant support

when i didn't think I could cope

Thank you for lifing my spirits

and letting me know there IS hope 

Thank you for being the best parent

a daughter could ever wish for

I love you with all my heart

today and forever more.

A Healthier Me: Enough is ENOUGH!

With the loss of another family member, I started to do a little self reflection. On both sides of my family you can find an array of  health issues mainly due to poor eating habits and just being unhealthy in general. From bad heart, high cholesterol, diabetes, gout, glaucoma, high blood pressure, you name it, someone in my family probably has it. Even some of the slimmest and healthiest LOOKING family members suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart issues where it usually is due to our diet. Most of these issues are not uncommon for Filipinos in general. Heart disease is the number one killer in Filipinos and my grandmother has lost her brothers to a stroke way too early. Most of the time situations like these can be avoided with something as simple as a lifestyle change. My maternal grandfather has had to have intense heart surgery over the past year and although he's in his late 70s, he's trying his best to get healthier. Better late than never I guess. I lost my paternal grandmother to a heart attack, along with other health issues and circumstances but a heart attack ended up being her cause of death.

My grandma's 3 brothers that have passed

It got me to think, "what am I doing?!" My family jokes around about being overweight or loving fried, greasy, fatty, salty Filipino foods or excessive amounts of red meat, but no one ever sat us down and told us that X amount of family members have died from unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles. After Tito Flory died from a stroke, it honestly put me in check. I know it shouldn't take a family death to wake me up but sometimes I guess it was what I need. So here's my public declaration and cry for help. I'm not so much worried about being skinny and being a size 2 within 3 months. I want to make a LIFESTYLE change. I want to be healthy. I'm tired of being tired (literally). I'm forever sleepy, always craving, eating what I want, when I want, how much I want. Portion control is my weakness. I know it sounds fatty but I legit have a food issue I think! If something tastes yummy to me it's like I have to keep eating it until it's all gone! Out of sight out of mind or something. I don't know. I could barely breathe sometimes and I'll still pick at my plate for whatever reason. No self strength or something. I was raised to not waste food either. "Clean your plate" they tell me. "You know how many people are starving around the world and look how much food you waste" they say. Also, growing up I was used to eating a certain amount of food. Nowadays, if I see that I only ate a quarter of my "usual" portion, my brain is like "there's no way you're full because you only had X amount of food. I could feel content physically with the little portion I ate but my brain is telling me it wasn't enough.

No more. I feel like I'm young enough where I can still make a change for the healthier. I want to life to be 110 years old if I'm allowed the privilege. I want to see my great-grandkids and run around with them too. No more getting winded by just walking up the stairs. No more borderline high blood pressure. JAM's going to be 7 years old this year! Let's shed that extra 35-40 lbs. of baby weight I've maintained over these 7 years. It's time. I'm ready. I hope my family joins me on this venture so we can be healthy TOGETHER! It's not funny anymore. My grandparents are outliving people 5 to 10+ years younger than them to health issues that can possibly be reversed! I don't have many health nut or positive role models surrounding me when it comes to living this healthy lifestyle change. Where do I start?

I know the "healthy me" is in there somewhere!

You guys need to be my motivation and weight loss buddy until I figure this thing out!

Losing a Loved One

Although this week has been a tough and tragic week in American history, my mom's family is experience a little grief of their own. Before the holidays, my maternal grandmother's brother had passed. This was her second of three brothers that has passed. I guess you could say that she was fortunate enough to be in the Philippines when it happened so that she was able to say her goodbyes. Well, while everyone else was finishing up their taxes on Monday, my family was grieving over the loss of my grandma's last brother, Flory.

My grandparents just flew to the Philippines a couple weeks ago for another vacation. My Tito (uncle) Flory has been in the Philippines since before the holidays. He was the youngest of them all, and was another member of my family who has left us too soon. For those of you who didn't know, most of my family members grew up living under the same room in my grandparents home, including Tito Flory. He babysat my little sister and I when my mom had to work and he's left left us with a ton of great childhood memories. He was always cracking jokes and doing silly dances. In my family we do this thing to our elders where we'd "bless", which meant that the kids would take the elder's hand and place their knuckles to our forehead. Sounds interesting, I know, but it's a tradition we were raised on and something we always would do after church. Anyways, if you know my mom's family, you know that Johnnie Walker is a staple for family get togethers.  It sounds bad but with enough Johnnie Walker in his system, Tito Flory would have all the kids line up in front of him and if we "blessed", he would give us a dollar. The two things have no correlation whatsoever, unless it has to do with Tito Flory haha.

Once we got older, Tito Flory moved to Canada to live with his son's family so I haven't seen him in years. I honestly don't know how to feel about the current situation. I guess it's one of those things that since I haven't seen him myself, it's not a reality to me that he passed. Tito Flory leaves behind a wife, son, daughter, and five grandkids. His wife wasn't able to leave the country to attend the services in the Philippines since she's going through health treatments herself, and the doctor didn't feel comfortable signing her bill of health to fly in her current condition despite the situation. His son and daughter, however, took a next-day flight to the Philippines to be with their dad. I think the hardest thing for my family is that most of us can't attend the services ourselves. One ticket to the Philippines is about $1500 for a next-day flight. My mom thankfully was able to join her cousins for moral support. She hasn't been back "home" since the 80s!

I know that this post is kind of personal, but my readers have always been there for me through good times and bad. I've been hesitant to post this, but right now it's the best outlet for me to cope. Tito Flory, I know you understand the circumstances and why we can't meet one last time. I hate to see you go. I hope you find happiness in Heaven and are reunited with your two older brothers. I know they're waiting with open arms. Say hi to my Grandma (dad's mom) and Tita Odette for me. I miss you all so much but I know you're always with me. I just have to have faith and remember that I'll see you all again one day.

I know that many of my readers may not be religious or may have the same faith as me, but during these troubled times I'm asking for your prayers. Not only for my family and Tito Flory's family, but more for my Grandma. She's the rock of our family and although I know that she's being strong, she just buried her second brother within a six month period. Help her find a healing heart and help her find comfort she needs during these troubled times because I know deep inside she's hurting.

Baby Boom

Man oh man has there been a baby boom amongst my friends and family! I've had 1 friend have a baby girl in August, 1 aunt deliver a baby girl a few days ago, another friend expecting a baby girl in November, and 2 more family members expecting this upcoming year!! Not only are there tons of babies, but most are baby GIRLS! If my family and life doesn't have enough of them haha. On my mom's side, we didn't have a baby boy cousin until number 6 out of 15! Regardless, I love growing up watching my BIG family forever expand.

Any time I start to have baby fever, BAM! someone pops out a kid to fulfill my baby emptiness haha. I'm so excited to see what the future has to hold and congrats to all the new (and old) mamas out there! Aside from how expensive they are and the sleepless nights, babies are so much fun and they're only babies for a year so enjoy it!! A wise mama once told me, "The days are long, but the years are short". If you're a parent, you definitely can relate. I can't believe JAM is already 6 and is ALREADY talking about plans for his 7th birthday (which isn't until August haha). The downside to all this baby awesomeness is that none of them are close enough for me to play with and enjoy!! L.A., Hawaii, Chicago, North Carolina....boo. Bring 'em to me! I'll babysit! Personally, I'm not ready for all the care and needs that a little girl entails so if you're like me, don't drink the water.....or the milk haha. I don't know what's in it but people are poppin' out baby girls like there's no tomorrow.

Here's to tons of baby showers and PINK! To the 2013 expecting mamas in my life, hopefully one of you pop out a boy because JAM needs more boy playmates hehe. Wishing all of you guys a healthy pregnancy, a speedy recovery, and a beautiful, healthy baby boy or girl. Oh, and I pray that you don't have the fear of going to the bathroom after delivery hahahaha, but that's another story.....

Co-parenting

Growing up in a household with just one parent is all I've ever know. Although I briefly lived with my father as a child, I grew up most of my life with my mother. Regardless, I was only with one parent. My parents divorced when I was about 5 years old, and most, if not all of my friends that I had growing up grew up in a similar household setting. Very rarely did I come across a friend who was able to complain about both parents being unfair or if mom said no they'd ask dad. What mom always said goes. Her word was the final word. There was no consulting in another person or "let me ask dad first". Although my mom went on to marry someone else when I was about 16, it was still her way or the highway when it came to the decision-making.

When I found out that I was pregnant, it didn't hit me that I would be co-parenting until our son was born. Before JAM was born, Mahal and I would make up random scenarios that our son could come across in life and see how we would handle it, but it doesn't become a reality until you're actually in the situation. For the most part, Mahal and I are usually able to come to a compromise on how to handle a situation, but this was still all new to me. It was honestly hard for me to step back on certain things. I was so used to growing up where everything went my mom's way that I seriously didn't know how to react when there had to be two opinions to take into consideration when it came to our son. Mahal and I grew up from different backgrounds, different morals, and different values. We had a lot of stuff in common but sometimes you don't take your partner's upbringing into consideration when prepping for a baby. Mahal grew up with things a little more lenient and laid back where everything wasn't a big deal while I grew up with 10,00 rules, crazy discipline and everything always seemed like the end of the world.

Regardless, we agreed that we will always have each other's back just in case JAM decides to be sneaky and ask the other parent for something low key. Our first major co-parenting incident that I can remember had to be the weeks before JAM was born. I always knew that I was going to breastfeed my son, and taking care of all my little cousins it only seemed natural to circumcise my son as well. I honestly didn't even think to bring it up to Mahal because this seemed like a natural process to me. Somewhere down the line of my pregnancy the topic was brought up. Basically, Mahal was telling me that he didn't want me to breastfeed because he wants to be the first one to feed the baby and he won't be able to do that since I'm the one with the boobs and milk. He also said he assumed we weren't getting our son circumcised because no one in his family is circumcised and that was pretty typical for Puerto Rican boys. WHAT?!

We went back and forth for DAYS on the pros and cons of it all with a few minor arguments in between. We basically agreed that I will breastfeed and the baby won't get circumcised, but with a few stipulations: I will pump so that Mahal can be a part of the feeding process, and JAM can stay uncircumcised as long as Mahal teaches him proper hygiene as JAM gets older. If at any point in time does JAM incur any issues with his boy parts because of him not being circumcised, he will be circumcised with no questions asked and no matter what age he is. Phew! 2 situations down, 7 billion to go. Mahal and I continuously talk about different scenarios that JAM may come across and how we would handle it all just to see each other's point of view. I think that even though Mahal and I both grew up in single-parent households that we've done a great job trying to make co-parenting work. Like I said before, we're both Leos so it's pretty easy for us to butt heads from time to time, but I think we can always come to a compromise as long as we continue to put personal feelings aside to see the benefits of the situation for JAM.

What was a co-parenting scenario that you had trouble making a decision on or where you wouldn't budge on your opinion of the matter?

South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe was AMAZING!! For those of you who didn't know, on my dad's side of the family there are 16 cousins and we're all super close. As we got older and started doing our own thing, it was hard to visit each other as often as we wanted so I decided to plan a cousins reunion. Our first cousins reunion took place in South Lake Tahoe but we rented a house in Stateline, NV. Our house was an awesome fit and it was near everything! Zephyr cove was right there, grocery stores, gas stations, and the heavenly shops were there too. We'll definitely be back to the Tahoe Terrace for sure.

I was initially worried about the weather because there were warnings about thunderstorms all weekend, but I guess we just left Vegas at the right time. The weather in Tahoe was PERFECT. As I was enjoying the weather in Tahoe I saw all my friends back in Vegas posting photos about the crazy floods and hail storms going on. I definitely got spoiled by the Tahoe weather. It was about 77 degrees the whole 5 days 4 nights we were there with a great breeze from the lake. We all kept the windows open every night to enjoy it all.

The groceries and gas in Lake Tahoe were a little pricier than Vegas, but we found this great grocery store called Grocery Outlet that saved us a ton of money. Like I said, nearby was the Shops at Heavenly as well as the local casinos so there was a lot to see. In the Heavenly Shops they had beautiful gondolas to ride and offered other tours but it was $34 for adults and about $26 for kids so instead of JAM and I spending $60 on that, we found this this fun trampoline jump for $12 that he absolutely loved!

Afterwards, we visited the Tollhouse Cookie Shop where JAM got to choose the cookies and ice cream to make his very own ice cream sandwich! We loved it so much that we went back later that afternoon with my cousins who opted to kayak and paddle board that morning.

If you like the idea of taking advantage of the outdoors, one fun beach that we all visited was Pope Beach near Camp Richardson, which was about 30 minutes from the house on the California side. The water was initially cold, but after a few minutes we got used to it and we all had a great time. No worries, the water wasn't nearly as cold at the California beaches.

We also took a little hike at Eagle Falls to this waterfall where we took pictures and even swam at the top of the waterfall! This trail is all uphill and mostly stairs just so you know, but the view at the top is amazing. I'm not the most in-shape person and I made it up the trail. On the way down we saw a family who carried their grandmother in a wheelchair all the way down the trail just so she could see the amazing view at the top of the waterfall. Now that's a dedicated family!

We topped off our trip by eating at the Red Hut Cafe on the California side of Tahoe on Highway 50 before all of us went our separate ways. There was even a Soda Fountain attached to the cafe so we all grabbed some dessert afterwards.

All in all it was an amazing trip and it was great to see my cousins all in one house. Can't wait to see what next summer has in store for us for our 2nd Cousins Reunion in Orlando, FL!! Especially since by that time we'll be having a few new second cousins coming along for the ride. =)

Do any of you have any suggestions of where we should stay or what we should see in Orlando??

COUSIN'S REUNION

HEY EVERYONE! JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'LL BE ON VACATION FROM JULY 13-17. IT'S OUR FIRST COUSINS REUNION!

Yes, I said cousins reunion. As kids, every time we'd have family get togethers it would always be the cousins.....and the adults. So, us cousins decided to have a reunion with just us haha. It's my first vacation in a LONG time and I'm so excited to have a majority of my cousins together in one place! We're all kind of scattered around, especially now that most of us are adults living on our own and starting our own families. So, off to Lake Tahoe we go and I'll be back with a post for ya once I return! *fingers crossed for nice weather* Go figure with my luck there's supposed to be a thunderstorm this weekend...IN JULY?! REALLY?! Anyways, safe travels to all the dM cousins out there and I'll see you all soon!!

Vegas Family Vacation: Dining

Posting a recipe the other day got my gears turning on dining options with the family. One of the most common questions from tourists is "Where's a good place to eat?". Everyone's first instinct is finding a place on the strip, but it can get fairly pricey to eat on the Strip your whole stay so I usually recommend a few local places to eat to balance their budget. The Strip has some of the finest cuisine that you will ever see. However, it's not always the most family friendly. I personally don't think JAM is capable of eating $40 worth of food no matter what it is. He'll eat a steak and lobster with no problem, but he's usually satisfied with just chicken nuggets and fries. Although there is a Mcdonald's on the Strip, the prices are a little higher than a regular Mcdonald's and they don't offer a dollar menu. No worries, there are plenty of other restaurant options nearby.

If you're looking for fast food, just head down West Flamingo Road and you'll find all the fast food that your heart desires. Sonics, McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Arby's, Wendy's, Fat Burger, Subway, Starbucks...the list goes on and on. You'll find it all on W. Flamingo Road between Las Vegas Blvd. and Rainbow Blvd. If In-N-Out is what you're craving that's not too far either. It's right on the corner of I-15 and W. Tropicana Ave. Have a little fun by ordering off their "secret menu", and as a souvenir for the kiddos ask for stickers and In-N-Out hats (the same the servers wear).

In-N-Out Burgers. YUM!

If you're craving Chinese food, Las Vegas' Chinatown is nearby too. I must warn you, coming from Chicago where Chinatown was an actual town, Las Vegas' chinatown is A LOT smaller. Just head down Las Vegas Blvd. to Spring Mountain Road to see it. Heading down W. Spring Mountain Road you'll see a few plazas filled with stores and restaurants. My favorite place to get some boba tea is Tea Station. If you're looking for something quick and yummy check out Lee's Sandwiches ( FYI: they're open 24 hours!). If you want more of a restaurant feel I suggest trying Korean Garden BBQ Restaurant. Their bulgogi (Sliced Tender Beef Seasoned Korean Style) is AMAZING.

Tea Station yumminess!

A couple other places you have as an option is by the outlet mall and at Town Square. If you head down S. Las Vegas Blvd. past the Mandalay Bay hotel you see Town Square. They offer lovely restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, Texas de Brazil, and Claim Jumpers. Keep going down Las Vegas Blvd. and your see restaurants galore at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets - South. If you can't find something to eat here, you're either not hungry or you're just no looking. Buffalo Wild Wings, Raising Cane's, Tropical Smoothie, Outback Steakhouse, IHOP, Chili's, Burger King, Chipotle, Panda Express...it's all here. Plus, being near the outlet gives you an excuse to see what's inside since your there already hehe.

Buffalo Wild Wings Galore!

If you absolutely want to stay on the Strip to dine, that's ok! There's a good amount of affordable places to eat right on the Strip. There is the Rainforest cafe and is probably the most family friendly restaurant on the Strip. If all the animals and rainstorm isn't appealing to you, you can never go wrong with eating at a buffet. My go-to buffet is the Carnival World Buffet at the Rio Hotel, but other popular buffets are at the Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, Paris, and Aria in Citycenter. Serendipity 3 is also a nice restaurant inside Caesars Palace where you can grab a table at their outside patio and get a cute view of the Strip. If you're looking for tasty American cuisine, check out this restaurant owned my Wolfgang Puck in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Spago. A family-favorite of ours in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is TREVI Italian restaurant. The views of the fountain are beautiful, the service in impeccable, and the food is amazingly delicious. If you're traveling with an adult-filled crowd you may want to visit Dick's Last Resort in the Excalibur hotel. It's a real laid back enviroment with great tasting food, however, to eat at this place you have to keep an open mind. The server's are known for their rowdy and have sassy behavior. They love to deliver a side order of friendly sarcasm and clever wisecracks, but don't take it personally, it's all a part of the experience at Dick's. Last but not least, check out the eateries at Fashion Show Mall. Most people don't even recognize the mall on the Strip, but it's the building that looks like a silver spaceship from afar. They have your typical food court restaurants as well as yummy dine-in restaurants like Maggiano's.

Eating with my cousin and her family at Rainforest Cafe.

Your food options are endless in Vegas and I call still go on and on, but I know tourists don't like to veer too far off the Strip. As a little tip on the buffets, they there's a package for a two-night stay and two Buffet of Buffets. It's a 24 hour pass where you can enjoy all day access to five of the most spectacular Caesars Citywide buffets starting at $52/night for the package. These buffets include: Bacchanal (Caesars Palace), Spice Market Buffet (Planet Hollywood), Le Village Buffet (Paris Las Vegas), Paradise Garden Buffet (Flamingo), Carnival World Buffet (Rio), Flavors (Harrah's Las Vegas), and Village Seafood Buffet (The Rio) Upgrade fee applies to Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace and Village Seafood Buffet at Rio Las Vegas per person per visit. Bon Appétit!

Vegas Family Vacation: Paying for Shows and Attractions

If you're interested in shows and attractions that are longer than 5 minutes, and don't mind paying for entertainment, there's a few more fun things these hotels have to offer. There are so many shows  and attractions that Vegas has, but for now we'll stick to things that are suitable for the whole family:

*Paris - Eiffel Tower Observation Deck is located 46 stories up and the tower is a half scale replica of the Paris, France landmark. (Open Monday - Friday 9:30am - 12:20am, Saturday & Sunday 9:30am - 1am) Free admission for U.S. Military and on your birthday with valid photo ID. $11.50 for adults; $7.50 for seniors and children. The price increases after dark: from 7:15 p.m. - close admission is $16.50 for adults, $11.50 for seniors and children. TIP: the view is more beautiful after dark. Also sign up for the Total Rewards player's card to save $1 on the admission price.

*Stratosphere - Tower offers an observation deck and rides at the top. There's a fee to go up the tower: $20 - Adults, $12 - Child, $14 - Senior & Nevada Residents. TIP:Buying the Extreme Value Packages are more financially friendly if you plan to ride the rides but you can also pay for the rides individually:
      ~SkyJump - $119.99+
      ~Big Shot - $15 to ride
      ~X - Scream - $15 to ride
      ~Insanity - $15 to ride

*Mirage:
~Secret Garden (10 am - 7pm Daily) is where you can experience an exotic, enchanting and wondrous world at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat and come face to face with white lions, white tigers, panthers, leopards, and our family of Bottlenose Dolphins. Adults: $19.95, Children 4 - 12: $14.95, Children 3 and Under are Free.

~Terry Fator (Monday - Thursday @ 7:30pm with select Friday performances) is one that took me by surprise. I'm not usually into ventriloquism, but this "America's Got Talent" winner brings to life a hilarious range of characters including Winston, the impersonating turtle, Emma Taylor, the little girl with the big voice, and the newest addition, lounge singer Monty Carlo.  Children under 5 years of age are not permitted to attend the show. Tickets start at $59.99.

*Venetian:
~Children's Activities (Daily 10am - 6pm) Features a special theme for every month. Prices vary per activity

~Gondola Rides (Indoor: Sunday - Thursday @ 10am - 11pm, Friday - Saturday @ 10am - 12am; Outdoor - weather permitting: 11am - 10pm) Adults $18.95 - seats 4 people. Children 2 years old and younger are FREE. Private two-passenger gondola$75.80

~Madame Tussauds (Opens Daily 10am) The wax museum features over 100 celebrity wax figures! The best part of the museum is having the chance to get up-close and personal with each celebrity and touching is highly encouraged! Just be mindful of the figures because people have broken them to the point of knocking it over. Some replicas have fun little features included like if you touch Jennifer Lopez's butt, she blushes! Adults - $29.95, Children (4-12) - $19.95, Children 3 and under are FREE. Book online and save 20%

~Phantom of the Opera (Monday - Saturday @ 7pm and 9:30pm) is a great show to take the whole family, BUT it's closing it's curtains in Las Vegas on September 2nd, 2012!! It's definitely a must see and worth every penny. Tickets start at $59 for rear mezzanine tickets, but if your budget allows it, invest in tickets in the golden circle. TIP: sit as close to the chandelier as possible and thank me later.

~Blue Man Group (Daily at 7pm & 9:30pm) is an explosion of color, humor, music, and technology that comes to life every night.  It's a percussion-driven experience full of humor and energy. Tickets starting at $85.30. *UPDATE* THEY ARE NOW AT THE LUXOR HOTEL
 

*Circus Circus
~Midway: Carnival games for kids and kids at heart for only a couple bucks a game. TIP: sometimes you'll find a worker roaming around to break large bills. Find him and he sometimes gives you 2 for 1 game coupons to get more bang for your buck!

~Adventuredome (Hours vary. Check the website for hours of operation) Adventuredome is America's largest indoor theme park and features thrill rides, traditional carnival rides, laser tag, miniature golf, bumper cars, midway booths, an arcade, clown shows and so much more. All day ride pass - Regular Pass $29.95 (48 inches tall or taller) & Junior Pass $16.95 (Under 48 inches tall). They also sell tickets for each individual ride, but prices vary depending on the ride. Riders 33" and above are required to buy a ticket.

*Excalibur:
~ Tournament of Kings: (Jousting Dinner Show: Monday: 6 p.m., Tuesday: Dark, Wednesday: 6 p.m., Thursday: 6 & 8:30 p.m., Friday: 6, Saturday: 6 & 8:30 p.m., Sunday: 6 & 8:30 p.m.) This dinner and show features jousting, dancing, singing and a feast fit for a king. You have the option to buy a general admission ticket that includes a three- course dinner for $59 or a dinnerless admission for $44.35. Children three years and younger may attend free of charge and must sit on the adult's lap and share the adult's meal. If you're from Chicago, this show is very similar to something you'd experience at Medieval Times.

~ Fun Dungeon - Similar to the Circus Circus Midway with arcade games for a few dollars.

*Mandalay Bay - Shark Reef (Sunday - Thursday 10am - 8pm) is pretty popular with the kids (Open 10am - 10pm Daily). It houses more than 1,200 species of marine life including sharks, exotic fresh and saltwater fish, a 300-pound sea turtle and much more. Admission: Adults - $18, Children (5-12) - $12, Children 4 and under are FREE. They also offer a dive with sharks program. 1 Diver is $650.00 and 2 Divers is $1000.00. 2 Divers must be booked together. All divers must be dive certified and 18 years & older.


*Monte Carlo - Jabbawockeez (*UPDATED* Show Times: Thursday - Monday: 7pm & 9:30pm) is definitely one of my favorite shows to watch on the Strip. It's an intimate setting so any seat is a great seat in the house. It's set up like a movie theater so "second section" is just like the upper section in the movie theater. We were in Row P of the second section and look how close we were still! They provide awesome visual effects that help tell their amazing story through dance. If you want to interact with the crew grab seats on the main floor. Tickets starting at $60.50. TIP: the bass of the music is fairly strong so I would suggest ear plugs for the younger ones ones due to their sensitive ears. Kids under the age 5 of NOT permitted.  *UPDATE* They can now be found at the MGM Grand.

*New York New York - Roller Coaster (Sun - Thurs 11am - 11pm, Fri & Sat 10:30am - Midnight ) is the infamous ride that you can't miss on the outside of the hotel. Individual tickets are $14, but they offer packages as well that include multiple rides and a photo.

*Luxor:
~Titanic exhibition (open from 10am - 10pm) is a fun experience for the whole family. The exhibition features many never before seen artifacts and you can feel the history of the ship with every step you take. At the beginning of the exhibit, patrons receive a boarding pass of an actual passenger on Titanic. On the back of each boarding pass is the age and the itinerary of that person. At the end of the tour, patrons find out if he or she survived the Titanic by finding the name on the wall memorial.  General Admission is $32, Seniors (65 and over) - $30, Children (4 - 12 years) - $24, Children (3 & younger) are FREE.

~Bodies (open from 10am - 10pm) is a great exhibition that showcases real full-bodies and organs and provides a detailed, three-dimensional vision of the human form rarely seen outside of an anatomy lab. General Admission is $32, Seniors (65 and over) - $30, Children (4 - 12 years) - $24, Children (3 & younger) are FREE.

*Planet Hollywood:
~BeatleShow! (Nightly at 5:30pm) at the Saxe Theater is definitely the show to see for Beatles fanatics. The show takes you back in time and pays an amazing tribute to the game-changing group. They take a picture of your party before you enter the theater, which you can purchase for $10 after the show. On your way out stop for autographs and photos with the group! JAM had a blast even thought he wasn't too familiar with the music hehe. Tickets start at $59.99

~The Ultimate Variety Show (Nightly at 7pm & 8:30pm) in the V Theater is a fun show for the whole family! It's an intimate setting with funny hosts and an amazing variety of acts that will appeal to people of all ages. From magicians and comedians to high-flying acts and strength performers, V - The Ultimate Variety Show provides an amazing display of talent. It's definitely my go to show when groups with kids come into town and are looking for a decently priced show to watch on the Strip. Tickets starting at $69.99. TIP: if you want to take a chance, check out those half off ticket booths around the Strip the day you plan to see the show for a chance at cheaper priced tickets.

Our souvenir photo after the show with a border of the acts that performed.
They cut off my baby boy in the red stroller with the border hehe.

*Flamingo - Nathan Burton (Tuesday - Sunday at 4pm) is a fun comedy magic show for all ages. It's filled with magical illusions, entertaining dance and funny comedy routines. Tickets starting at $34.

*Treasure Island - Mystère (Showing Saturday - Wednesday at 7pm & 9:30pm) is an exhilarating blend of whimsy, drama and the unimaginable brought to life on stage with powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery. It provides a complete spectrum of awe-inducing entertainment with colorful sets, imaginative costumes and highly-skilled performers. Tickets starting at $69 for adults and $34.50 for children under 12 years old.

*MGM Grand - KÀ (Tuesday - Saturday at 7pm and 9:30pm) is the first production to feature a cinematic story line while maintaining flawless imagery, music, martial arts and acrobatics. It's an action-packed adventure story about Imperial Twins who are separated by an attack on their Far Eastern palace. Tickets starting at $69 for adults and $34.50 for children (5-12 years old). Children under the age of 5 are NOT permitted into the KA Theatre. TIP: It's better to sit a little farther than closer to view the stage as a whole since the show has a lot of dimension. If you sit in the front rows, you may be looking up at times.

*The Linq - High Roller (11:30am - 2am daily) is the world's largest observation wheel standing at 550 feet tall! This makes it 107 feet taller than the London Eye! Passengers can enjoy this 30-minute ride to enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Strip. Each of their 28 spherical, Italian-handcrafted glass-enclosed cabins are air-conditioned and is equipped with two benches for seating. Each cabin can hold up to 40 people, but you can also rent out a cabin for a full scale wedding or private party where a bar and bartender can even be set up for your ride. You have the option to experience the daytime view or the nighttime view when the Strip is all lit up. Tickets for the Special Summer daytime ride ticket: $19.95, valid now through Labor Day (Normal daytime ride ticket: $24.95). Nighttime ride ticket: $34.95 (The price changes over at 7pm). One day flex pass (valid for one day or night ride, without having to choose a time): $44.95. Three day flex pass (valid for one day or night ride over a 3 day period, without having to choose a time) $54.95. Youth pricing (ages 13-17): $14.95 daytime ride, $24.95 nighttime ride. Children 12 and under are always free! There are discount packages for 2 adults and 2 youth tickets, as well as $5 off for locals, Flamingo hotel guests, and The Linq hotel guests. Don't forget about The Linq's Summer Bloq Party (Tuesdays from 4pm-7pm) where locals receive amazing discounts and specials during the Bloq Party time including 50% off the High Roller. As an added bonus for locals, the High Roller discount is valid ALL DAY Tuesday with a NV ID.

Call ahead and double check the age restrictions on some of the shows. Most shows are for all ages, but some don't allow children under the age of 5. Always check the website for summer specials on tickets. Also, even if you don't gamble, I always suggest for people to sign up for casino player's cards because you sometimes get a coupon book for signing up that have deals on show tickets. You can also get a discounted rate on show tickets just for presenting your player's card at the box office. No need to gamble to receive the discounts either! If you know someone locally, see if they're willing to use their local advantage to get DEEP discounts on most show tickets. Lastly, please be aware that there's usually an entertainment tax and service fee of about $11 PER TICKET tacked on to the final ticket price. So make sure you add that on when you're estimating your final group ticket total. These shows and attractions are some of the best features that Vegas has to offer. You'll be amazing by the different ways these shows portray their amazing art and creativity even on a small stage! What shows do you plan on checking out this summer?

Nevada residents!! We all know that Vegas loves their locals, but you'll be amazed at how much this city takes care of their residents! Call beforehand to ask if there's a local discount to any show and attraction. Most of the time you can get a discount 30%-50% off the original price! Make sure you also ask for discount limitations. Sometimes it's 1 discount per ID and sometimes it's maximum 8.