Vegas Day 2

After a fabulous first day in Vegas, we started the second day at the pool soaking up the sun and cooling off in the pool.

We met up with some friends who were in Vegas at the same time! While the guys went to gamble, us two girls went to the spa in Caesars Palace! We bathed in the Roman Baths, heated up in the cedarwood sauna and steam room, and then cooled off in the arctic room! It was amazing how soft my skin felt!

After all of the pampering, we meet up with the guys and headed to another buffet for dinner.

I couldn't resist these delicious desserts - dessert coma #2!

Dress - TJ Maxx

We walked off our overly full stomachs, exploring the Paris hotel! We also discovered a great invention - individual sized wine bottles!

Vegas Day 1

After driving seven hours back from Minneapolis, we jetted off to Vegas the next day to continue our holiday! The heat washed over us the second we stepped out of the airport in Vegas. And the heat lasted the whole trip at 42 degrees!

We walked into our beautiful hotel room in the Aria hotel and the curtains opened automatically looking out at the Vegas Strip!

We ate at our hotels buffet and went into a dessert coma! Then, we spent the first night walking the strip, going in and out of the hotels escaping the almost unbearable heat.

Minneapolis Part 2 - Consigning Pros

And the shopping continues...

The last two days of shopping before heading home are intense!

Saturday is our biggest day - our consignment day! 

This day is all about buying, selling and trading. In preparation, we put together all of our "unwanted" clothes. You know the clothes that are a little tight, don't fit anymore or the ones that you just don't wear. Before we sell, we organize the "unwanted" clothes into low, medium, high and emergency piles. Low clothes are ones that aren't brand name and are more worn. Medium clothes are also slightly worn clothes. High clothes are brand names clothes that are well kept. And finally, emergency clothes are designer, good brand name, well kept, and sometimes still tagged clothes. Emergency clothes are also clothes that are guaranteed to sell.

Once they are organized into low, medium, high and emergency, we then put a few items from each pile into bags. We always keep our emergency items to the side just in case we find a lot of things we want to buy at these consignment stores.

After all of this preparation we are ready to go CONSIGN!!

There are three main consignment stores that we go to in Minneapolis: Buffalo Exchange, Everyday People and My Sister's Closet!! Our favourite being Buffalo Exchange!

Here are some of the clothes that I bought with the money I made from selling my clothes!

 This is a dress that I bought from Buffalo Exchange. Orginally from Forever 21. It has it's original tag on $24.95 and I got it for $11!

A green silk ruffle dress.

A gorgeous gold detailed Ann Loft top.

A soft pink Express top with original price tag $49.95. I got it for $8!

These were only some of the pieces that I bought that day! 

Sunday we spent at the Mall of America and Ikea getting some last chance shopping in...like we needed to do anymore shopping! And then we drove home.

It is an amazing shopping trip and a fabulous time with friends, no wonder we go every year!

Minneapolis Part 1

Tsk, tsk...I know I have been a bad blogger. But in my defense the past week has been a blur of shopping, food, sun and lights! And now, it's time to catch up!

I am so excited to tell you all about this amazing last week! It all started with our annual road trip to Minneapolis. After years of practice we have nailed this trip down to a tee. Very few have been exposed to our expertise (some may say craziness)! So, I thought I would let you in on some of our secrets!

We always manage to do this trip on an extended long weekend because we need all the time we can get! Here is a peek at the first two days of our trip:

Our first stop is Fargo, where we start our shopping at DSW (a great discount shoe store), Gordman's and TJ Maxx (designer and brand name clothing for about 60% off).

These were two cute purchases from TJ Maxx!

After our quick night-time shop, we make our way to a really cool bar in Fargo called The Hub. I love this bar because it is 7 bars in 1! There is a country bar, sports bar, dance club, rock bar and a couple of lounge areas. Whatever you feel like, it has! 

After spending the night at The Hub, we were off to Albertville to continue our shopping! Albertville is an outlet mall with lots of great stores for lower prices!

I ended up buying more home and kitchen items in Albertville than clothes. BUT I did buy a very cute pair of navy polka dotted wedges from Nine West!

Adorable.

To be continued...

Annual Shopping Trip!

I'm off right away for my annual shopping trip with my best friend and our guys! We have been going to Minneapolis to shop for years and years and have become experts. If you have been reading my blog you know that I like to shop in consignment stores. If you can find the good consignment stores you can get brand name clothing for much less! After years of doing research and shopping around, we have mastered the consignment scene in Minneapolis and are continually successful! (Knock on wood.)

SHOPPING!

Banana S'mores

I look at Pinterest almost daily, browsing all of the recipes, outfits and DIY projects! The other day I saw this easy and delicious treat - Banana S'mores!

They're so easy! All you need is a banana, small marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Cut the banana in half, length-wise, and put small marshmallows in the slit. 

Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.

Put in the oven for about 5 minutes at 350 degrees.

It is a super simple and scrumptious treat!

 

Instagram Tuesday

Instagram is all the rage and I have been caught up in the storm! When I am out and about, I love snapping pictures of all of my surroundings. (I have been very snap-happy!) So I thought I would upload the pics that I have.

 Mom's garden and the beautiful lilies.

 Mojito's at Earls

 Trial version of DIY canvas painting.

 Summer weddings!

Banana S'mores