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HAI GAIS. Before I let you guys dive into part two of my Viva Las Vegas trip, I didn't blog about one very special event.

It was my boyfriend's birthday on January 8th, 2011. And he was turning the big two-two! (That's 22 for the slow ones.) So I surprised him with a dinner at Gary Danko.

Now, Gary Danko is this fancy shmancy restaurant a.k.a fine dining. I called them to make a reservation the previous Sunday and I actually got a seat for 2 on Saturday night! Talk about lucky!!! I was so excited you guys have no idea and I'm pretty sure that honey hadn't the slightest idea about what my plans for that night was.

I had the whole night planned out, my outfit and everything! I even had to order formal heels online and check the expedited shipping choice. I did a little shopping with Amy so I could find the perfect dress, and I did (even though it was a little big). The big night finally came - Saturday Night! I didn't see honey for the whole day so I wouldn't blab the whole surprise to him. I asked my friend Justin if he would take me near the restaurant to see where it stood and tell honey to meet me there.

I got ready around 6pm. I wrapped honey's gift, showered, put on my face, did my hair, prepped my bag, threw on my dress and shoes and I was out the door. Didn't take very long to get to the restaurant and I realized I could've just taken the taxi, oh well.

After we got there, I ended up at Ghiradelli square. I told honey to meet me there and we could walk to Gary Danko. After honey took about 2 minutes to walk, I got out of the car and waved Justin and Amy goodbye. Honey and I walked about a block and I told him, "we're here!" He gave me a small smile and from there the conversation was faint. I think he said, "here???" The doorman held open the door for us and we walked in. I checked into with the host and we were a bit early. The reservation was at 10pm, but we had gotten there at 9:45pm. The host kindly asked for our coats and we handed them over, then she told us we could have a seat at the bar.

There were no seats at the bar so we stood there like fools for about 10-15 minutes. When seats finally opened up, we both took a seat. The bartender asked us what we'd like to drink and we took a good look at the drink menu. I had a rosemary and lime drink I believe and honey just got a coke, straight up on the rocks (hahahahahahahahaha). Bartender even laughed at him, then he said he was going to get 3 shots of 151 because the bartender laughed at him (didn't happen). The host kindly let us know that our table was being set up and it would be in a couple of minutes. We thanked her and got back to our drinks. After a couple of minutes another bartender came up to us and thanked us for our patience and gave us a complementary appetizer. It was a flaky biscuit with raw salmon and caviar, so delicious!!!

After we finished, a different host showed us to our seat and told us, "we have a beautiful corner table for you." All due respect, I didn't know corner tables were beautiful.. and I feel like they talked too much, but I guess that's what I'm paying for. We took a seat and got settled down and talked a bit, honey was still a bit flabbergasted and kept saying, "goddamn it", and he was still surprised. After a couple of minutes we got our menus and took a look. We both decided on the 3 course meal.

Honey got a Risotto with Lobster, Rock Shrimp, Shimeji Mushrooms and Butternut Squash for appetizer, a Roasted Pork Belly and Tenderloin with Brussels Sprouts, Bacon, Parsnip Purée and Maple-Cider Glaze for entree and Trio of Crme Brlée with Assorted Cookies for dessert. I got the Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado, Nori, Enoki Mushrooms and Lemon Soy Dressing for appetizer, the Coconut Thai Curry with Lemongrass, Calamari, Lobster, Scallions and Shiitake Mushrooms for entree and Cornmeal-Apple Upside Down Cake with Calvados Cream, Maple-Walnut Ice Cream and Apple-Ginger Sauce for dessert. All of which were damn good! We got our order taken and a girl gave us some bread and butter. I ate a bit of bread and the appetizer was in my face already! Honey's risotto was really good and I have never eaten this kind of tuna before. We finished our appetizer and our entree came next, I wish I had picked something different. I always tend to pick food that I'm familiar with, which leaves no mystery and nothing new. After our entree, our dessert came and needless to say the apple pie did not disappoint. Honey enjoyed his creme brulees, chocolate, pumpkin and original. After we finished our dessert, our waiter came back with a mini cake fully lit with a really long thin candle and the plate had "Happy Birthday". We also received a platter of mini delights on our table (so much complementary stuff!!!!!!). I told him to make a wish, so he closed his eyes, made a wish (I hope), then blew out the candle. He really enjoyed the mini cake, it was raspberry or cranberry I don't remember (some kind of berry). After dessert we flagged down a server to help us take photos. Then we sat back down and talked for a bit. We asked our kind server for the check, which came out to a total of roughly $160. It was believed that honey had the most expensive coke of his life. #.75 for a glass of coke and no refill! LOL

After paying for the check, we walked to the entrance and other hosts were there holding our jackets. (HOW IN THE WORLD DO THEY KNOW IT'S OUR JACKET?!?!?!?!?!?! ~mindfuck) The funny guy complemented on my bag and said that was the "bag of the year, and last year too". HAHA, oh man he's pretty funny. We walked outside so honey could help me take pictures, after one picture the two men that were holding out our jackets came out and surprised me and said, "HEY I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING THE PICTURES." So one of the guys helped take pictures for us, then dragged us over to the other side so we could take another picture with the restaurant seal. The guy that complemented my bag said, he wanted to take a picture because he took high school photography, and the other guy said, "yeah, because that's your career right now, a high school photographer." /insert LOL here. (Okay it was fucking funny as hell, it's one of those you should have been there moments.)

After we finished taking pictures, we talked about the menu with the guys helping us take pictures, and he said it was a seasonal menu and they'll change it around March and I threw my hands up because that's when my birthday is! WHOOT WHOOT. The guy helping us take pictures was so kind, he told honey to hold on while he gets him a gift. He came out with a bag and inside was a wine opener. (HOLY SHIT SO MUCH COMPLEMENTARY STUFF!!!) We kindly thanked the guys and went on our way. Honey still hadn't opened his present. We opened it in the car and it was a quarter zip Armani Exchange jacket.

Sitting at the bar with my Rosemary Ginger Limeade, YUM! Didn't bother to take a pic of honey's boring ol' Coke on the rocks that cost me $3.75 a glass. LOL

Complementary yum! Flazy biscuit, raw salmon and caviar to top it off.

A very blurry picture of our soup to start. Didn't want to blind the patrons in the restaurant with my flash. So I guess this picture will have to do. :(

The menu.

Our butter! Looks so nice for butter. O__o

My seared Ahi tuna. Looks so pretty! @__@

Darling's risotto, so yummeh!

My entree.

Honey's tenderloin.

My dessert! Mad yummeh!

My delicious, mouth-watering, savory, delectable, satisfying, heavenly, pleasant, palatable dessert. ♥

YUMMMMMMM

Da bill.

Cam whore pic.

My eyelashes are falling down. >:[

Hi guys! I am back from Las Vegas, Nevada and I am terribly upset that I only got to spend two days and one night there. WHY?! WHY DID MY VACATION HAVE TO END!? Well anyways, I had an extremely enjoyable time. And I definitely kicked off my new year with a perfect start! Here's to more vacations in Las Vegas, Nevada, cheers.

My vacation started the morning of Monday, January 10th, 2011. I woke up at 6:00am and got ready for an epic time in Las Vegas. I brushed my teeth and washed my face and curled my freshly washed hair at the ends. I packed the last of my stuff I needed for a two day vacation and waited patiently for my friend Amy, her mother and her mother's friend to come and pick me up and head to the airport. So exciting! My first time going to Las Vegas, but I knew it would be fabulous. Amy, her mother, and her mother's friend finally approached my house and I got in the car and greeted them all. The time was here, the wheels rolled and we were all off to a mini vacation to Vegas in a matter of a couple of hours!

We finally got close to the airport and we parked at the Park N' Fly parking lot, next to two really huge and crooked trucks. We got on the Park N' Fly shuttle and made our way to the airport. We checked in to the proper places and sat down near our gate. We had to wait about half an hour before we boarded. We were finally on the plane and on our way! An hour and a half later we landed in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oh the excitement!!! We made our way to the taxi line and it was damn long! WTF, it wrapped around like at least five chained lines. After waiting patiently for our taxi we got in and made our way to Gold Coast. We walked and walked around the slot machines and made it to a restaurant called Ping Pang Pong. What a weird name...

We ate dim sum at Ping Pang Pong, the service and food was lacking. We waited so long for Fong zhou and never got it! After our little lunch we took the taxi to Mandalay Bay and got a pretty nice suite. Amy and I freshened up and got our stuff situated. We sat around for a little bit until Amy's mom told us to take the taxi to go outlet shopping. We made our way downstairs and out the door and hailed us a taxi to go to Chelsea's Premium Outlets, the fare cost us about $25.00 or so. We looked around a lot of stores but didn't buy much. However, I'm happy with the buys that did make it back home. I bought a pair of moccasins that I've been eyeing for more than six months and Amy bought the same pair in a different color. I bought a pair of Levi's jeans for myself and for my boyfriend. I actually fit a size 0 with them! HAHA, only store that I will fit 0. :'( They fit my ass to the T! I love them so much! It's going to be Levi's jeans from here on out! Boyfriend and I wanted to go get some Levi's jeans since around New Years but didn't feel like shopping that night. After a little bit I got tired and wanted to nom on something so we walked to the food court and settled with from super fries from Great Steak. NOM NOM NOM, so fattening! After we finished the fries we went back to shopping and looking. There were so many things that I wanted to buy! We were going crazy trying to find the Nike store so Amy could buy a duffel bag for her cousin and we left the Nike store and came back to buy it. After Nike was the end of our shopping. We hailed a taxi and made it back to the hotel to freshen up again. After we finished freshening up we left the hotel and made our way to MGM Grand via TRAM. We ate dinner at Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill. We had the chicken wings appetizer, Amy got the salmon entree and I got the chicken milanese entree. The chicken wings were damn delicious as well as my milanese! After dinner we waited for a bit for Amy's mom to hand us the David Copperfield show tickets. It was still early for the show so we walked around Studio Walk and Amy showed me around and what the area was about. It was almost time for the show so we walked back to Hollywood theater, seat assistants showed us to our seat and we sat there until the show started (I regret not taking pics while we waited for the show to start). The David Copperfield show was about to start! HOW EXCITING!!! Fast forward to the more exciting part because I believe David wouldn't want his show to be spoiled (yes, David and I are on a first name basis... OMG, I am just kidding.. Mr. Copperfield, lololol).

/START BRAG> Prior to the show beginning, I asked Amy if he usually pulls volunteers on stage, she answered, "they usually have to be a certain age, so I'm pretty sure you won't be pulled up there." And so I was relieved, I don't want to go on stage! Boy, was she wrong... /)___(\ Anyways, so he had this one trick, and he was throwing out frisbees to the audience, the people that caught them had to come down on stage. I noticed he was took a glance at me a couple of times. Then he proceeded to throw a frisbee my way, and being the good friend that I was I caught it to prevent it from hitting Amy in the face, sadly it already hit her in the side of the face. I got up and Copperfield assistants led me to the side of the stage. Then they (Copperfield's assistants) traded my frisbee for a key (which is all part of the trick). I got to go on the stage and stand there with the key. Copperfield's assistants told me go across the stage and that's exactly what I did, then I had to hold a rope and poof the trick was done. I overhead the assistant saying that I had to "hug" or "kiss" him on the cheek, something of that nature and context, I don't remember. He took one look at me and had the appalled look on his face for a split second and said, "ohh". And I got to hug him and made my way back to my seat. Copperfield did I think one or two more tricks before dun dun dun dunnn...! I was pulled on stage, AGAIN. This time, he made his way down to the audience and looked for an unsuspecting volunteer. I was trying to make mini small talk with Amy so I could ignore him and he held his hand out next to me demanding that I go on stage with him. I took his hand and followed him to the side of the stage (his hands were really cold)(I GOT TO FUCKING HOLD HIS HAND FUT YEAH! /fangirling). He asked for my name while he was pulling me by the hand to the stage, and I kindly answered, "Mabel". Then with the camera all up in my face, he took out a piece of tissue paper. /Fast forward. (Tissue paper trick) Then he unfolded the paper tissue out of its many creases and rolled it into a tissue rose. I rolled my eyes, because I knew that dumb origami and also because I made it for my boyfriend before. He made the rose levitate and I was so compelled to put my hands through the empty space between his hands and the rose, but I was afraid I would mess him up so I didn't. The assistant threw him a lighter and he proudly ignited the paper rose and voila! It turned into a beautiful, single, red rose. He looked at me and I looked at him. It was the end of the trick and I was happy! He took a single finger and pointed at his cheek, of course I know what that means, and he deserves it! HAHAHA. Semi-kiss on the cheek and I walked off. I should have fucking guessed the lame paper rose thing would have lead to the real thing. Damn, I was fucking happy as fuck and I boastfully held my head up (not really, it was dim in that theater and I had to know where I was walking) and walked my ass back to my seat. I was screaming on the inside. Why? 1) David Copperfield is a celebrity, 2) Who gets pulled on stage twice?! The show ended with a disappearing act and he came out to bow. And then he gave me an A-OKAY with his fingers. YIPPEEE. (♥__♥) *(^O^)* (^o^) (*¬*) (~_^) :'D/END BRAG.

After the show we made a trip to Walgreens so I could buy some contact solution. I was interested in the idea of drinking back at the hotel so Amy and I bought some chaser at Walgreens as well. I bought the wrong kind of contact solution (that I realized when I opened the container). It was a gel like solution and reeked of rubbing alcohol.. And I'm supposed to put this shit in my eye? I threw it away as quickly as possible. I really wish I had gone back to get a refund, but whatever. Amy and I made it back to the hotel, but not before we tried to visit the fountains at Bellagio. When the fountain show was apparent that it wasn't going to show tonight, we went back to the hotel.

After getting back to the hotel, we took plenty of pictures together and of course a picture of my rose and I. These pictures, that I hoped will never be erased, will be the gate to my memories, if I am ever diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. After taking pictures, we hopped into our complementary robes and slippers and took some more pictures. It was probably around 1am at that time and I wanted to take a bubble bath, and a bubble bath is exactly what the hell I took. Amy hopped in the shower and we chatted while I took a bath and she took a shower. After Amy got out of the shower, I quickly hopped in the shower to rinse the suds off my skin. The water in Nevada isn't something I'm used to, very drying of my skin. I hopped out of the shower and took off my makeup. My skin was so dry! :'( After we took off out makeup, it was happy hour for us, but we had no cups. :( So I called housekeeping to bring us up some cups to mix our little cocktails in. I bought a Hawaiian Punch from Walgreens and mixed it with my Absolut Vodka. Amy bought Squirt and mixed it with Patron. Amy's drink tasted nasty, but mine was damn good!!! It tasted so good, I kept drinking and nomming on our little snacks while watching TV (got to watch Jersey Shore and the epic Jenny and Sammi fight!). We played one round of UNO before we both knocked out. Knock out time was around 4:30am.