LAS VEGAS

So many wonderful memories are associated with Las Vegas for us! The beautiful lights at night, the 24 hour food, gambling and entertainment, the party atmosphere, the gorgeous architecture and the incredible people that make this town so fabulous!

I spent my 21st birthday here with Mike back in 2002 which means, I drank my first legal drink in Kahunaville, I tried my luck at the Penny Slots and craps table for my first gambling experience, I danced on the bar at Coyote Ugly in NYNY, and felt 100% safe and able to let loose the whole time!

Mike got his first stunna shades here in Vegas and we were invited to a Billboard Awards After Party at Tao hosted by Pharrell! We danced with Lil' Wayne, Lindsay Lohan, Will I Am and Ivanka Trump for Pete's sake. It was nuts! But again, we both felt 100% safe.  

We walked the Strip up and down with thousands of other tourists, taking pictures of the facades of these gorgeous hotels and casinos.  

I often passed off my camera to a friendly stranger to take a quick shot of us as we roamed the Venitian canal shops.  

The more we went, the more comfortable we became planning our next trip. What hotel to stay in that has a greatest pool, a really fun brewery, an awesome buffet or an in-room hot tub (Luxor)! 

We'd go with different groups of friends and show them our favorite night time dance club, or hilarious show on or off strip. And throughout each journey, not one worry for my safety (unless we're talking about drinking too much and getting hungover!) 

And although we never saw George Wallace, Mike always loved saying his name and I knew that someday, we'd go see him. Now, I'm not so sure about that. 

We used to recommend The Peppermill to everyone because of how cool it was inside. (Plus the self proclaimed best Bloody Mary in town!) Being a fairly inexpensive, 24 hour restaurant and bar with a magical garden like setting with fire pits indoors was incredible! We'd sit there laughing and drinking with friends until the sun came up! (On more than one occasion!)

And Vegas is a place you can dance! Don't have a pole? Use your friends! We'd dance like no one was watching. So free, so fun, and so extremely happy and carefree! Are those days over now? What has this world come to?  

These are the days I long to go back to! When the Beach Club encouraged patrons to dress in Hawaiian garb, get free Tequilla shots during the entire song "Tequilla", and when thousands of napkins would fly through the air with free drink stamps on several of them. No worries, no reservations, just fun. This was VEGAS! 

When a gorgeous view of the strip meant just that. A site to behold, appreciate and enjoy. I will still hold dear these incredible memories I have of Las Vegas.   

God bless all of those affected by Sunday's tragic events. I have been glued to the news, seeing the faces of so many young, worry-free concert goers who were just enjoying a weekend out in Vegas when their world changed or ended forever. How can we recooperate from this? How can we feel safe once again? I am so saddened by all that has transpired and I weep daily for the beautiful souls we lost. 

#prayforvegas

-Crystal Olguin

October 3, 2017