Before I begin this little recap of our anniversary trip, I feel the need to express my undying love for Las Vegas. The lights, the food, the energy. I just love it. But you know what I love more than Vegas? Vegas in the summer. I know, I know, I’m crazy. But there’s just something about walking down the strip at 2 am in 100 degree weather with a cold cocktail, watching crazy people walk around that just makes my heart happy. There are stranger things in this life to love ok…

Vegas however, is a much different experience after you’re married and have three kids. Ryan and I had never been there together, so we thought it was the perfect little getaway for our five year anniversary. Also because Bora Bora just wasn’t in the budget.

I’ve been to Vegas dozens of times and what I’ve learned is that each trip is extremely different, depending on your company. Bachelorette party, girls’ getaway, mom trip, boyfriend trip, husband trip, husband after babies trip…you can expect to have completely different experiences with each of these. Each equal in fun, but characteristically different in terms of spending and level of hangover.

Our anniversary trip was the perfect vacation. Three whole, uninterrupted days alone. What? Were you expecting cash winnings and strippers? Sorry, but when you have three kids, you don’t ask for much. In the end, we couldn’t help but laugh at how much Vegas trips have changed since our twenties…here are a few differences.

Clubs
In my early twenties, Vegas trips were centered on one thing, and one thing only. Clubs. The process to get ready for going to a club basically started at like 7pm (after we had woken up from the night before), and we didn’t actually go out until at least 11. Then we’d convince some poor bouncer to let us skip the line and convince some other poor soul to pay for our way in and our $20 drinks. We’d dance and sweat on crowded floors for hours, in heels that hurt 2.7 seconds after you put them on. Now, you couldn’t pay me all the bottle service in the world to stand in line to get into one. I buy my own alcohol from CVS so I drink for hundreds of dollars cheaper and not have to worry about getting roofied. And I’m pretty sure bouncers don’t set out to find 35 year old married moms with a post baby bod in the crowded lines outside clubs. Besides, I don’t think Spanx would do well in a sweaty environment.

Hangovers
There’s something about your twenties that allows you to rally back with ease. It was like, give me a power nap, a greasy burger, and a beer and I’m good to go. I’m actually amazed I made it out of Vegas alive for some of those trips. These days it takes 37 gallons of water, 3 days in the dark, a bottle of ibuprofen, and a prayer to recover.

Food
Back in the day, we pretty much starved ourselves for three months out. We could fully function on one solid meal a day. There is a McDonald’s across the street from Treasure Island that was a staple during my old Vegas trips. A full meal under $5? That’s like gold in your college days. I swear they put crack in their Diet Coke. Now, mama can afford a meal that actually includes a server and a drink menu that doesn’t advertise $1 shots on special.

Clothing
Oh sheesh. I’m pretty sure if you sewed all the clothing we wore out together, it “might” resemble one normal sized outfit. God bless those pre-baby, flat belly days. I’m pretty sure I turned a strapless top into a mini skirt one time. And don’t even get me started with how ridiculous our 5 inch stilettos were. My friend Alisha and I literally walked down the strip one time in BARE feet because our heels were so uncomfortable. We later scrubbed the filth off in the bathroom at Bally’s and cried about how we probably had Hepatitis. Now, I pack flip flops and stretchy clothes for maximum comfort on the strip, along with one fancy dress with accompanying Spanx that will only be worn for the duration of dinner.

Travel
This is the one thing that has improved with age because we practically had to hitchhike in college to make it over there. Eight girls and their luggage stuffed into one vehicle, and basically having to duct tape people inside because we were too poor to fly. At 35, the only way I will be arriving in Vegas is on a tarmac.

So while the wild and crazy Vegas days may be over, the older, more refined Vegas trips are just as memorable. I put together a little Vlog of our trip, not so much because I think people care about sharing in our memories, or that they will get our humor, but mostly as a keepsake for us.

It makes me smile to think Ryan and I still make each other laugh as much as we do at how life has changed…and it makes me smile even more to think about how amazing it felt to take off that damn blue dress, and the cargo it took to hold everything in for one hour. I traded that sucker in for some shorts, a tee-shirt, and one lucky game of craps with my soul mate.

When in Vegas right?