What to do when visiting South Lake Tahoe

South Lake is super popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Someone in our group made the comment that without weddings and bachelor/bachelorette parties the place would be a ghost town. Luckily it’s not! Even if you just do a girl’s trip or something these things would be fun to do. You can also go there on a romantic getaway or on a family trip, but this is not going to help you out with what to do.



We stayed in our friend’s cabin, so I can't really help you out with where to stay. There are vacation rental cabins near where we stayed and I would recommend doing that. I love staying in cabins! It is about a $15-20 with tip cab ride to the part where we went to eat and dance.



I don’t know where people normally fly into. We flew into Sacramento because that is where the bridal shower the night before was at. Then we drove from there. It is about a 2 hour drive. We left around 10:30am.



If you want to break up the drive you can stop at Boeger winery 1709 Carson Road
Placerville, CA 95667-5195 for a free tasting. We found the winery and realized we were starving so we made a little detour and went to Subway! I think the one we went to is 1329 Broadway St Broadway Center Placerville CA 95667 Of course have a designated driver for after the wine tasting!



When you are coming into South Lake Tahoe I recommend stopping at Raley’s ( 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd. #6 , South Lake Tahoe 96150 ) to pick up some drinks, water, cups, snacks, breakfast, etc. We forgot to pick up bagels and I only had chex mix for breakfast the next day.



We had a snack and sat around and talked while we waited for the rest of the girls to show up. We also played some drinking games. Then the getting ready process started.



We were planning on eating dinner at Cabo Wabo. We tried to make reservations but they didn’t work with us. They did tell us to call ahead since there were 12 of us.



The cab company we used the 411 people said was Bill’s taxi. The card they gave us says yellow cab taxi. They picked us up quick to take us to dinner. They were able to send three cars at once. They were also able to pick us up when we were ready to come home. The office dispatch number is 530 544 5555. Email me if you are going and I will give you the best can driver’s number.



Cabo Wabo was great. They sat us right away! Don’t forget to grab a free pitcher of margarita’s from the bar if it is a bachelorette or bachelor party. They are $34 dollars if you just order them at the table! I have never heard of such an expensive pitcher of margaritas. The chips and salsa were great. There was one super hot salsa. I split a three cheese quesadilla with a friend. It was not enough to split but I had snacked earlier. No one else complained about their food. I assume it was all good. Definitely did the trick. Best part is you get to-go cups for your margaritas!



From there we wandered to the Mont Bleu Casino. We were hanging out a little bar in the casino and one of the club promoters from Opal told us he could get us in free VIP. We weren’t really paying attention to the time and we said ok and decided to head on in. We were the first people there. It was probably 9ish. We still had a great time there. It never got crowded. Probably around 11pm go go dancers came out.




All night, everyone we talked to, said they were going to Vex Nightclub in Harvey ’s. So after we were tired of Opal we headed over there. It was super crowded. We had met some people that had a VIP booth that they said they paid like $900 for or something. They probably got bottle service. So we met up with them and took over their booth. We didn’t really spend any time on the dance floor. It looked crowded. They had some pitiful playboy contest on the stage that they wanted us to pay attention to. I’m gonna guess they didn’t find the next playmate. There were some cirque de soleil type things hanging from the ceiling that was cool to watch.



We had a great time! If you decided to go for a bachelorette party don’t forget a list!

SYTYCD

Since it is auditions right now, I will try and keep it quick.

LOVES IT!
+Teddy Tedholm-he auditioned in a nerdy yellow outfit last season. Kind of annoying that Adam and Mia are the judges cause they cry way too much!
+1-2-3 Party! They totally stole Hubby's dance moves. Adam had a scary reaction when the guy didn't know who he was.

WTF!
+Locking/Mime People- He had Nigel on his hat. It was kind of cool but they need to get better outfits and learn how to do choreography.
+Fruit turban person (man?) with the broccoli breasts?
+Dancing with your Dad girl
+Miami not very many good dancers there

HOT!
+Henry Byalikov-ballroom couple from Broadway
+Daniel Baker-no shirt nuff said

Good!
+Sarah Brinson-"big dancer" she was good but hard to partner
+Edward Spots- maroon shorts very feminine but WOW!
+Anthony Burrell-can't remember what he was wearing or anything but he is going to be amazing!

What are they going to do without Mary Murphy? She is the only one that knows ballroom. I like her comments because I know nothing about ballroom!

Pic from Fox

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Tips and Tricks for bargain shopping:



I am not very good at bargain hunting. I can’t do stores like TJ Maxx. For a long time I couldn’t even go in a Nordstrom Rack.



I also can’t bring myself to spend $34 on shirts I could get for under $20.



When I went home for my friend’s bachelorette party my mom and I went shopping. Shopping with my mom is the best because she helps me. I can say what I’m looking for and she will spend her whole time looking for stuff. She also tells me if stuff is cute or fits right.



I was planning on wearing a maxi dress to my friend’s Hawaiian themed bridal shower. I am also planning on wearing some other dresses to events this summer and I thought some spanx would help make me like the dresses in my closet more.



So we headed to the best place to get spanx…NORDSTROM RACK! Did you guys know that they have spanx at the Rack? They are under $20 compared to around $30 at the regular Nordstrom. I ended up getting a pair of Donna Karan shapewear for about $20 with tax.



The also have bras! I almost got a calvin klein bra for under $20 that is normally about $40.



My mom was thinking about getting a night gown, again for under $20.



Hubby has gotten some shirts and ties there before too.



Then we were on the hunt for some tops for me to wear to work. We hunted at Macy’s. I don’t know why there was so much stuff in puke green. Found a few things but we were mostly sticking to sales and clearance racks and I wasn’t in love with anything. We also looked in jcrew and banana at their sale racks. I told my mom it was just nice to go in a jcrew and banana again. I loved everything in jcrew, but I can’t bring myself to pay those prices.



We got excited right away when we walked into H&M. I had recently gone to H&M with my preggo friend S but she didn’t really find what she was looking for and I have to be honest the one we went to was not organized as nicely as the one my mom and I went to. When we walked into this one there was a nice assortment of professional looking tops and nice casual outfits. Pretty much everything in H&M is under $20 so you don’t have to search for sales or clearance or look at the price tags. You can just grab all the cute stuff!!

Pic from SF. Hubby needed a bib for his food at Scoma's. I'm wearing one of my new shirts.



Be careful about what size you grab though. I am normally a size 8 in pants. I am generally medium to large on top. I was grabbing larges and tens at H&M cause just by looking at them I could tell they were running a little small. Most of you know that wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses are weird sizes. For example I have worn bridesmaid dresses in size 12 before. My wedding dress was a size 10. At H&M I am a size 12 in tops.



Can’t wait to read what tips and tricks for bargain shopping you all have! Link up and lets all get those bargains!

Tips and Tricks Thursday preview and SYTYCD!

Ok, as promised, I am getting back into the swing of blogging.



Tips and Tricks topic: Tips and Tricks for bargain shopping.



I know I have said I was going to do this post for two weeks. It is really happening this week! The post is written and scheduled!



Don’t forget to watch the start of season 7 So You Think You Can Dance on Thursday on FOX! I will be doing SYTYCD posts on Fridays. This is my favorite reality show. I like to think since I was a dancer for most of my life I have a little bit of an expert opinion. I’m sure there will also be tons of new dances that I know nothing about like they had in past seasons. Definitely not an expert on Baliwood or any of the ballroom stuff.



New stuff this season: This season, the competition is the toughest it has ever been as the judges - Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels and Adam Shankman - will pick only 10 dancers (five guys and five girls) - from the thousands that auditioned - to compete for the title of America 's Favorite Dancer. They usually start with a top 20 and cut two dancers a week. No Mary Murphy? Hallelujah! In the past they also partner up the top 20. This season, the competitors will be partnered each week with a different SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE All-Star dancer - former SYTYCD finalists skilled in various dance styles. The Season Seven All-Star Dance Partners who will perform within their specific genres are: Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Comfort Fedoke, Courtney Galiano, Anya Garnis, Lauren Gottlieb, Neil Haskell, Allison Holker, Mark Kanemura, Pasha Kovalev, Kathryn McCormick, Ade Obayomi and Dominic "D-trix" Sandoval. Dominic is from my hometown and I cannot stand him! I like the rest of the all stars.



Let me refresh your memory on past seasons or catch you up! I didn’t watch season 1, Nick Lazzarini won, he was a lyrical dancer. He hasn’t been around much on the show since. I am sure I would have been a big fan of his. Season 2 Benji Schwimmer won, he was a ballroom dancer. I am a HUGE fan of Travis Wall, Season 2’s runner up, and a lyrical dancer. He choreographs a lot for the show and I love everything he does! Season 3 Sabra Johnson won. I was a fan of Travis Wall #2 aka Neil Haskell. He got third place. I am definitely excited that he is going to be on the show this season as an all-star. Season 4 Joshua Allen won. I honestly can’t remember who I liked that season! Season 5 Jeanine Mason won. That season our friends all did a draft of the top 20. We all put in $5 to give to whoever picked the winner. Hubby picked Jeanine! She was definitely a surprise win. My favorite that season was Evan. I loved his old school style and adorable smile. He got third place. Season 6 Russell Ferguson won. In season 6 there were 6 finalists instead of 4. Married couple Ashley and Ryan were 5th and 6th place. I liked them a lot. Jakob Karr another blonde male lyrical dancer (sensing a pattern in my faves yet?) was my favorite and by far the most talented! He was AMAZING!

I think we are due for one of my favorites to win this season!

Had a wonderful weekend in SF.

I really can't be gone for two weekends in a row. I need my weekends!

Gonna try really hard to get back into the swing of blogging.

Need to unpack and get ready for the inlaws visit in a couple weeks!

Miss you guys!

I'm alive!

The weekend was so busy! I barely had time to have conversations with my friends and family.

Since I got back Sunday night I have been trying to catch up on my sleep, tv shows and snuggling with the Hubby.

I have been catching up on google reader but can't comment.

Thursday tips and tricks topic will be about bargain hunting so start thinking what you will post!

I leave you with a pic from this weekend. Obvs the hottest bachelorette party ever! The shirts say Tiffany's Tipsy Troupe. I thought of the name while driving one day and then had people on facebook vote. We had to cut them because that is what Tiffany always does. Most people were too drunk to read the shirts like I figured. We had a blast and she didn't get to everything on "the list". People, if anyone orders you a gorilla fart tell them NO THANKS! Tiff had trouble walking the rest of the night after that! It is a shot of 151 and wild turkey! But she is a total champ and didn't puke. Don't know about the bachelor we made take the shot.

Sneak peek!

Frogs! I'm so sorry I disappeared! I know, I post about my dream house and then...vanish! Sorry there was no tips and tricks Thursday post. I am going out of town and out of my mind! Tiffany's bachelorette party is this weekend! The shirts are adorable! I will post pics when I get a chance.

For a sneak peek at what we will be up to this weekend, here is Tiffany's "list":
1. Kiss a bald man on top of the head

2. Find someone with the same name as the fiancé and have him propose to you

3. Have a man order a sexy drink for you, i.e. Sex on the Beach, Slippery Nipple, Blow-Job, etc.

4. Have your picture taken with mullet-man

5. Have A Guy Give You A Condom.

6. Find the oldest guy in the place and ask him for a dance

7. Lightly spank a cute guy saying, "Do you want another?"

8. Point down to your bum and tell a boy how much you love your bum

9. Take a picture on the back of a Harley or motorcycle

10. Find a virgin (male or female)

11. Find a cute guy with a tattoo and kiss the tattoo

12. Get a piggyback ride from a stranger

13. Have a man speak to you in a foreign language

14. Ask the guy with the largest muscles if you can feel them

15. Get a lap dance from a guy

Miss you guys! It is a busy summer but I will be here when I can!

Top 2 Tuesday

Dream Houses!!!

1. My first dream house needs to have a porch that I can sit on and watch my kids play with other kids in the neighborhood. A house like Gabby’s on Desperate Housewives.

I love the pillars and the big porch. Even though there is a ton of drama on the show, I would love to have great friends that lived right next door.

I would decorate the inside differently than Gabby. I like the tufted look. I want a tufted headboard and big down comforter.

We need a big comfy couch for us to cuddle on together.




And everything from Crate and Barrel.

2. Since we love the beach and the ocean, we have always dreamed of having a beach house. This one in Kauai would be just fine! “Oceanfront with crashing surf views from almost every room. Dining options are ocean view dining room, a breakfast table and chairs, or large oceanfront lanai. Relax in the oceanfront Jacuzzi or stroll from your bedroom onto private lanais off the bedrooms. Built on a quiet cul de sac, La Ina Hale is very private. Steps from the home is a path which crosses over a stream then continues thru lush vegetation and fruit trees to a beach for swimming and snorkeling.” I would need a fire place and a bbq and I would be all set!



p.s. What do ya wanna write about for Thursday's Tips and Tricks? tv shows you watch, make up you use, or when you find time in your day to blog?

Bananas!

I love The Rachel Zoe project because it gives you a behind the scenes look at where celebrities get their clothes.



For those of you that don’t know, the majority of the time a celebrity is on a red carpet or tv show, their stylist has picked out every inch of their outfit.



Rachel Zoe is a celebrity stylist. She goes to all the fashion shows all over the world and picks dresses for her clients to wear to all the big events. Her and her staff, Taylor and Brad, who are hilarious, pick the dress, the shoes, the bag, the jewelry, and they often discuss hair and make up looks.



The Met Gala was Monday, May 3rd . It was definitely an A list event and a lot of the celebs Rachel styles attended. I love looking through the pics and hearing Rachel’s voice in my head.

SHUTTING IT DOWN!

DIE!

Anyone else feel like Liv didn't take Rachel's advice with this one? Looks like she went with something she already had in her closet.

For the Ga fans. I don't know who her stylist is but this is what she wore during her performance at the Gala.

Happy Mother's Day!

*Mom and me, Aunt and cousins

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of what my mom and I have in common is dance. I got the dance gene from her (I got the freckles from her too). My parents told me when I was little I walked around on my tippy toes so they put me in ballet. I have shared before, that along with dance, I did a lot of other girly hobbies growing up. I did gymnastics, horseback riding, and ice skating. Through all of them, my mom was right there with me. She went with my on my first trail ride. She even had her own pair of ice skates and took lessons.

*My mom and me and my Nana


One thing we don’t have in common is will power. My mom makes crazy New Years Resolutions and actually sticks to them! One year she didn’t buy herself any clothes! Another year she didn’t eat any sweets! Yeah, she amazes me and boggles my mind.






I noticed a change in my relationship with both of my parents when I went away to college. I finally realized that all the advice they were giving me was actually really good. I started calling them on a regular basis asking for their advice on EVERYTHING! I haven’t stopped.





When I met Hubby, I was able to get great relationship advice from my mom. She had been in a relationship for 20 or so years. She knew a lot more than my friends! We both get a kick out of how similar Hubby and Dad are. Seriously people, it is scary. Did anyone see the shake weight skit on SNL recently? Yeah, they both thought that was hilarious!



If someone was to ask me who my best friends are, first is Hubby and next is my mom. Hubby knows EVERYTHING and mom knows pretty much everything. If you had told me 10 years ago I would share things with my mom that I don’t tell my best friends I probably would have told you that you were crazy. But this Mother’s Day in May of 2010 it is 100% true. I couldn’t be more grateful to be my mother’s daughter.

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Topic: These are my favorite tips and tricks for carpet cleaning:

As you can tell from yesterday I should not be giving advice on carpet cleaning.

The only tip I know I learned from our maintenance guy when we moved into our new place. They are super sloppy when they paint and there were a lot of paint drops on our carpet. Yeah they don't put stuff down or anything! He said to use windex to get the paint out and it worked! I would have never thought!

I hope you guys have some tips and tricks or I might use windex on those big spots!

Tips and Tricks Thursday Topic

Topic: These are my favorite tips and tricks for carpet cleaning:

Hubby used Resolve which says on the bottle it is the #1 carpet stain remover to get out a couple tiny stains and now we have these two lovely spots.


Help me!

You don't have to do a whole post if you don't want to. Of course if you want to please feel free.

I'm off to the Padres game!

Who needs professionals when you have Megs7827?

I met my husband when I was a sophomore in college. I didn’t know until I met him that people did their laundry just to keep their basket empty.



I don’t remember doing laundry when I was in high school so I guess my mom did it. I don’t know how she decided what to wash or when she decided to do laundry. I do remember having a huge pile of laundry in my closet. I probably put the pile in a bag and moved it to college with me, because I remember that huge pile being in my closet in college. (My uncle that also blogs I'm sure will comment on his fear of my cloests.) I avoided laundry at all costs. If I had no clean underwear, I went out and bought more. I only did laundry if there was something I owned that I wanted to wear that was dirty. Or I would do like all college students and take bags home and have my mom do it.



I think at first Hubby didn’t notice my pile. Or maybe he thought it was cute and endearing. At some point he felt the need to bring it to my attention that my pile was abnormal. He informed me that it is more normal to have all your clothes clean and hanging.



I have pretty much been converted and do laundry pretty regularly.



We moved about 6 months ago. When the weather started warming up a few months ago I couldn’t find a couple pairs of my favorite sandals. Somehow a familiar pile was starting to form in the closet.



This weekend I decided to tackle the closet. I wanted to get it organized enough to walk into and was hoping to find my missing shoes. Somehow we had collected a lot of towels and I guess I didn't wash some sheets from when our friends came down at spring break. That is what most of the pile was. I also found a box that contained the missing shoes. Someone put it in the closet when we moved and I never unpacked it.

So I am really ashamed to be posting these but here you go.

Before
*The pile. Towels, suit case, etc.

*My shelf for sweaters and under tanks.

*My "dresser". I will not blame my messyness on not having a dresser. But I don't have a dresser. Hubby gave up a drawer but I kept forgetting to get my stuff out of it so...


After
*I no longer have to hide in shame!

*Organized sweaters and tanks.

*My shoes that were lost in a box!