.:Wild West:.

As we hit the black top in our drop top, I enjoyed the wind racing through my hair, snapping photos of the barren desert mountains exploding with beautiful bright burnt reds, oranges, and browns that paint this rustic feel across the terrain. With out a care in the world and with a great friend who listened to all my what seems like youthful boy nonsense drama, it was a great little road trip to help me appreciate the unbelievable things in life that people once thought was impossible- The Hoover Dam. 

I remember driving over the Arizona State line and just staring out and looking at this massive man made fortress and really appreciating that someone with this idea believed in themselves enough to build such an amazing piece of architecture and now historical American attraction. 

It was a such beautiful day. The Sun sat high in the sky, gently kissing my skin, and leaving it a golden color that glistened just like the naturally bronzed surroundings. 

I've always had much appreciation for architecture, and have been somewhat fascinated with it. This was just so amazing, as I stared off into the distance, I was marveled at what was protected by this giant structure. I thought about things in my life that I had built a wall to protect. I also remembered the things I couldn't change and noted the things that I could. To walk along the bridge reflecting on things and just enjoy being alive knowing that I checked something off my buck-list was a satisfying feeling. I was utterly content with my life that day. The travel back to the city was so much fun. It was somewhat of a scavenger hunt for all things desert. One thing I definitely was on the hunt for was a cactus! YES! a Cactus, I know it seems silly but until this point in my life, as I recall, I had never seen one before. 

I scanned the land as we drove into Boulder City and I was disappointed that there were none in sight. Then all of a sudden, in the front of a bank stood this large cactus. I was overly excited. I almost jumped out of the car! It was symbol of strength. I photographed with the one of the strongest plants to live. Somehow in the barren desert this magnificent plant fights for its survival eventually adapting and overcoming the unfavorable circumstances for growth. In my own similarities, I too was fighting and overcoming my surroundings that were holding me back from, not from physical growth, but mental, spiritual, and emotional growth.

 The next thing we stumbled upon was a beautiful garden. It was a very unique garden, full of wonderful colors and flowers that would forever be in bloom. It was a garden that would never die in the desert. I was amazed at the beauty and art that surrounded me as I walked along a small path through flowers that stood as tall as me. I wish that I could have brought one home. 

Our next scavenger find was a historic train station. Although the museum was closed we still stopped for a small photo op, and a little history lesson. The Nevada Southern Railroad museum is located on the tracks that were installed to support the construction of the Hoover Dam. It was pretty neat to see the locomotives on display and to read the history of this small city that lead to the success of the Hoover Dam. At the end of the day, as dark approached, we could see the city of neon lights up ahead. 

When I got back to my room, I was quick to upload all my pictures from the days events. It had turned out to be a great day for my inner self, relaxing yet adventurous. The night promised to be just as adventurous when I met up with local friends for cocktails. We had a pretty good sized group going out that night with us. I didn't know some of them, but we became friends. It was a long night but the girls and I had a great time!!

The next day was just as long....LOL we definitely paid for our partying the night before. I dont think Megan and I got out of bed until 3 or 4. We just laid there misserable and laughing at the funny things that we saw and did going from bar to bar the night before. For instance....not getting in til 6 am turning on the hot tub to soak our feet because of all the walking we were doing in our 4 inch heels!
We grubbed down on some room service later that day when our bodies were feeling up to digesting food. It was still a little difficult to get it down.  After finally getting up and eating, it was time for a Mani & Pedi to prep for the next few days in LA. I definitely needed it after the night before, my feet enjoyed the attention. I got back, ate again, and began packing for my flight to LA. Next stop was LaLa Land....I was pretty excited to see Rachel and Michelle. That was truely the only reason I was going. I wanted to my girls trip to continue. This vacation was something that was most needed at this time.




.:XOXO TMARIE:.

.:Spring Fever:.

Well now that things slowed down for a week or two, I was able to plan my next moves. Between my travels and the "Dr.'s" travels it was hard to get time together but we made it work as much as we could. He was sparking an interest in my eye, and keeping my attention. Dinner dates, and late nights cuddled on the couch watching TV, reading our books and listening to his inner DJ were awesome building blocks to a new relationship. This was something I wasn't quite sure that I wanted just yet; but I didn't let the uncertainty keep me from the possibilities of having an interest in someone new. From my past, the things I had endured in previous months, I had came to the realization that it was time to move on with my life. Ironically, just as how it should be Trae text me. He said that I had received some mail at his house.

He knew it was my check from Sofft so he wanted to meet to deliver it to me. I decided that it was OK. We hadn't seen each other since November, so its no surprise I was a little weary and nervous. Our meeting place was on mutual grounds at Melrose pub for lunch on a blissful warm spring Sunday. I had driven by the place several times since it was close to home, but never stopped in. When I walked in, there he was, sitting at the table facing the door waiting for me to come in. He had on his leather motorcycle jacket and his helmet resting on the table next to him. Even with his bad boy style, his sweet smile still made my heart melt. Then I had to speak.

It was a simple "hello, how have you been?" you know the classic awkward sentence that everyone can relate to and I was no different. It was a nice short lunch, catching up and just talking about plans in the near future. Oddly enough when I left I had to remember the things that tore us apart. The things that I hadn't forgiven him for just yet and it reminded me of how far I had come the last few months, and why it was best to accept things the way they were and keep moving forward not looking back. That same night, my soon to be roommate Chris Nathan had a show at Bluebar.  It was the first time my parents were to meet him and my sister to see him play.

Things ended up not working out with Erin as a new roommate so I posted in a last minute need for someone to move in on Facebook and Chris was the first to respond. I actually didn't mind the fact that we were going to have a guy roomie. I actually felt a little safer with that. My parents seemed to give the approval after that night. And things were finalized for the move at the end of  March. I remember the week before I left for Vegas and LA, I saw the "Dr." a few times....was he really beginning to be on my mind frequently? Was I honestly ready for this? Or maybe I was getting Spring Fever?? Well, as I was packing for my vacation I was consumed with all the questions filling my mind of him....not to mention the decisions on what to pack for my trip.

It was tricky trying to get everything in one bag I was definitely was going to need a miracle. Although I found my solution for over packing, I wasn't able to come up with the answers my conscious was seeking about my new interest the "Dr." The next thing I knew it was time to board the jet plane headed west for the week. I was so ready and so excited to see Rachel and Michelle and everyone from the Playboy Golf family in a few days. As I flew off into the sunset, I remember dosing off and thinking to myself that I was going to miss him this week. I touched down in the "City of Sin" so exhausted from the 4hour flight.

The only thing that was on my mind was food and sleep. I had a busy next day. I decided to have dinner with my friend who was in town as well. We ate at this yummy place in Caesar's Palace called MESA Grill, brought to you by famous chef Bobby Flay. Dinner was absolutely exquisite. I remember I had the New Mexican Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, one of the original classic entrees. The dish was prepared with Bourbon- Ancho Chile sauce, a sweet potato tamale and crushed pecan butter, that just melted in your mouth. The blend of flavors and spices were just amazing. After a full belly it was time for sleep. We had and early day. I wanted to go to see Hover Dam. Of all the times I have been to Vegas I never really enjoyed the tourist sight seeing and tomorrow promised a beautiful day for the ride out to Hoover.

The next morning I woke up nice and early refreshed from the long flight the night before. I got in touch with some local friends to see what the plans were for the evening and I got ready for the day and  headed off to meet my friend for brunch. It was good to reconnect with friends and catch up. I was enjoying my stay so far. Brunch was fun, and hilarious with all the food I could put down. But dessert was the best part! They had all of these little mini desserts, and it was so hard to stop with just one! After brunch we headed to get the car for the ride out to Hoover. It was such amazing weather for the day and I was excited!!

.:XOXO TMARIE:.

Bikini Babes

We were able to manage and sleep some that night sort of...as we came to life that morning we went down for some breakfast and out to the pool for a fruity cocktail, trying to decide what we were doing that day since we had left the Monte Carlo and our Rehab pool party was there along with possibly going to WET Republic with the guys, the decision was easy to make...everyone we knew was back at the Playboy Rehab party so we made our way over there... 

John Quinn

We had a DJ bottle service..cabanas and tons of good looking people half naked of course enjoying the 80 degree sunshiny day! John was a great host..he did a wonderful job setting up our adult playground for the day. We frolicked in the sun around the pool doing what we do best...we also met a guy who could read your personality from you hand writing which was pretty awesome..He read me to a T! People were playing beer pong in the pool, girls were dancing. We were there for hours, we even got our exorcise on as we walked the lazy river backwards...(which by the way is difficult drunk)...

Mike and OJ

as we sat around joking and cracking up we were trying to decide what to do next... OJ and Mike were so hilarious that we couldnt keep straight faces all day...so I don't think it really much mattered at that point. We had previously talked about making our way to WET but wasn't sure by the end of the day if it was even open still...and we were having such a great time with free drinks there it almost wasn't even an option anymore...

As we walked around the pool some more and ran into this guy. He had on the BEST jersey ever...I swear I wanted it off his back!! My last name and Favorite number/ birthday...I was so overly excited I made him turn around just to take a picture. When we came back to the cabana...everyone finally had decided to venture over to WET Republic...LOL total mistake, but it was an interesting turn of events...

the sun was going down and people were leaving but NOOO we decided we HAD to go in just for the last hour or so...we chilled for a bit, and got more drinks...all weekend with them I was introduced to the pineapple and patron drinks (very yummy at the pool) these boys were the highlight of our extravaganza and how silly ridiculous they were...it was a drunk fest all day every day but a greattttt time!! I was soooo tired and ready to go back to Caesar's to pack...Unfortunately for myself I was on a red-eye flight home...(NEVER AGAIN) after packing I left for the airport solo, because Shayna decided to stay and extra night LOL, I was still so drunk from packing and my phone was dying, so I sat down at the gate on the floor next to an outlet plugged up my phone and fell asleep waiting on my flight...It as the longest, and most terrible flight I had ever been on! I vowed to myself never to fly a red-eye home from Vegas again! But Hey!, THAT'S VEGAS FOR YA!

Playboy Golf Vegas

It was sooo early in the morning and we had to be ready to leave the casino at like 930 am for the golf course...and getting to bed by 4 am from the previous night made it extremely hard! Somehow we managed to function early enough to catch the last bus going to the golf course. It was the calm before the storm when we arrived at the golf course...They assigned us to a tee box we were gona be at all day.

I was so excited, because Trae had taken me to the driving range while I was home so that I could start learning how to play...And with starting to take lessons, I really wanted to go warm up with some of the guys on the driving range....I went over there and hit a few good balls it was so fun! I learned a couple other techniques as well. So once everyone was assigned we all headed out to the course. I was really enjoying the day, the weather was beautiful....I mean that perfect breeze and sunshine that you expect for a day of golf. 

Playmates and I

I do believe that the guys had an awesome time...everyone was so nice and friendly out sponsor was amazing...we didn't have alcohol on our tee, but we had it delivered kindly from golfers passing through. The Playmates were so awesome as well...We all got along like a family...it was definitely one of the best golf outings I had been on other than of course the finals in LA. Once the day was over we loaded the buses up and headed back to the Monte Carlo. 

Mike and OJ our AZ Cards Boys

We had been drinking all day and cutting up with our boys from the AZ Cardinals that we decided to run up and change and head out with them for more drinks...we all went next door to the City Center to walk around and hangout...Later that evening we had dinner plans with Ajay the CEO of Playboy Golf and John from  the Monte Carlo, and a few other friends before the awards ceremony... We all made our way after dinner to the party and after that it was time to celebrate, gamble, and drink! 

Our friends won the tournament...and it was GO time...we were having a great time until things started getting weird...I was really wanting to play some cards, but it just wasn't the right atmosphere...And this girl with us wasn't quite getting the picture still, that we didn't want her around...she didn't know how to handle herself or act appropriately, and we were sharing a room with her which made it weird. 

So we packed up our stuff and snuck out!! YES! we did some black ops work on sneaking out of the hotel without her knowing, we had previously over heard her talking wrongly about Shayna which made it all the more while for us to bounce without notice...we had the cab take us to my friend's suite at Caesar's buttttt my dumbass left something in the room that I needed so I had to go back, only this time it was wayyyyy easier sneaking out because I didn't have luggage. Once everything was settled, we headed down to gamble a little...but it wasnt our night, or my friends he took a pretty bad hit losing pretty hard. 

So we headed to the little cafe for a quick bite before bed and to our excitement we see people taking pictures around the main lobby fountain...it was a guy who stripped down naked swimming laps around the fountain....hahaha all of sudden he jumps up and runs out of the casino naked, LMAO he left his clothes in a pile on the floor....then we see him run back in for them, (Idiot) I guess he realized he didn't have them on...UMM can we say "drunk dare"...the next thing we know he is trying to put his jeans back on, but can't seem to get them up and busts his ass on the marble floor because he slips....haha this was the funniest thing I had ever seen...by that time security and LVPD had caught up to him and as he was resisting arrest they slammed him back on the ground, although it seemed as if he agreed to get up, he then tried to run, 

baaaahahaha, yeh right! this fool was caught in a millisecond...all we could hear as the were trying to handcuff him was "Don't taze me bro, Don't taze me bro" and the people in the lobby chanting "LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO"....Needless to say this idiot was headed to jail and with no friends to be found LMAO, It was definitely an eventful end to an eventful day...but HEY,  That's Vegas for you!