Friday Fun

It has been another busy Friday off!  Yesterday Maarten, Bailey and I started the day by driving out to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation. When we got there the Scenic Drive was closed because of a major injury, so we drove down a little ways and did the Oak Creek Canyon hike.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, a cool wind was blowing and we had plenty of water and snacks.  Bailey did a really good job keeping up with us on the 3 mile hike.  She only got a ride once or twice!  My legs were very tired when we got back to the car.  And Bailey slept all the way home. 

Lucky Duck getting a ride

It's the Circle of Life

Our next stop of the day was a Jubilee Pool Party.  Nate, Maarten and I all went. Two of the girls in the cast hosted a pool party to celebrate us being in the show for two weeks.  It was a really nice opportunity for all the new cast members to get to know everyone else.  The singers and dancers don’t really have a chance to mix because we are all in different dressing rooms, so I really enjoyed getting introduced to all the people I didn’t know. 

 

Our final stop of the day was to see Legends: in Concert at the Flamingo.  Because I am a Caesars  Entertainment Employee I was able to get us 3 free tickets to see the show.  It is a celebrity impersonator show and we had a marvelous time.  It exceeded my expectations.  Our show included Tom Jones, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Lady GaGa and Elvis.  They all did a very nice job.  It was a fun, entertaining show and we danced and sang along the whole show! 

 

In other news…Maarten and I got married. 

 

Naw! Just kidding!  We did a wedding photo shoot for a photographer visiting Vegas a while ago and we finally got the pictures.  Here is the link to see some of them: http://amandakohlerphotography.com/blog-2/

 

New Additions

As my beautiful, amazing cousin Abby and her husband Jared were welcoming their adorable baby girl, Stella, into their family, Maarten and I were making an addition to ours as well.  Maarten has been a dog lover forever.  His family had dogs growing up and Maarten knew that he wanted one of his own. So finally, after much persuading, I agreed that we could rescue a dog from the local shelter.  We went to the Nevada SPCA.  There were so many pups that all needed a home, but for some reason I was only drawn to one dog.  A little tan and white Chihuahua/Italian Greyhound mix.  We asked about her and it just so happened that she was up to date on all her shots, had recently been spayed and was ready for adoption.  Our lucky day! We brought Bailey home one week ago and have had an amazing time with her.  I’ve never exactly been a dog person, but Bailey may have changed that.  She is so easy going, loves to play, loves meeting new dogs and people (expect some children), naps in my lap and follows Maarten everywhere! She is such a good dog.

This blog also documents my opening week in Jubilee!.  My opening was March 30^th.  I was a little nervous and made a few mistakes that opening night, but I made it through and each performance that I do gets better and better.  Maarten was able to watch the second show of my opening night.  I am so thankful that he was able to come.  Knowing that he was there, watching me made me feel so loved and I know that he was proud of me.  I am slowly getting comfortable with the show, wearing the amazing costumes and being part of such a large cast.  It is going to be a fun contract. 

 

I'm a Vegas Showgirl!!!

 

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

 

Maarten and I dyed Easter Eggs last weekend in preparation for the big day today.  It was the first time that Maarten had dyed eggs.  I told him that we were going to do it and he was very against it.  "No, I don't want to", he said.  So I told him, "Yes, you have to!  It is a family tradition and you need to join in!".  So, reluctantly he did.  Turns out he had more fun and was more creative than I was! 

 

Mr. Crafty, himself!



 

In other news, I had my opening night in Jubilee! last night.  I wasn't able to take many pictures, but here are two. It was a wonderful night and I am so looking forward to my 6 months in the cast. I am now a real Las Vegas Showgirl!

 

 

Vegas from the Sky

Wow.  It has been a crazy weekend! After our hike on Friday, the weekend flew by. 

Saturday we did some yard sale-ing, I had rehearsal and had to watch the show from backstage. My find of the morning was this small night stand for $5.  I think I want to paint it and redo it somehow, but I’m not positive.

 Sunday I didn’t have rehearsal until midnight, so I thought it was going to be a lazy day.  Not so!  We woke with the sun and drove to North Vegas for Maarten to play in a men’s soccer league that he had found out about from Lee.  We get there for the 8am game to find out 20 minutes in that the field had been double booked and the game was cancelled.  Too bad.  Then we went home, took a little nap, dyed Easter eggs (they will make their appearance here on Easter), and then were invited to take a flight over Vegas by some friends of Maarten’s.  The boy has his pilot’s license and took us up in a small plane for a 45 minute flight over Vegas at sunset and to Lake Mead and back.  It was amazing! Then we were invited out for dinner with them.  We went to an absolutely delicious Japanese sushi restaurant.  We tried all sorts of dishes.  Come to find out I could have been eating sea urchins all this time! They are scrumptious.  To end the day, I had my second put in with all the new cast members of Jubilee!.  We were able to run parts of the show on the stage with some of the set pieces.  I’m starting to feel really comfortable with the show and I can’t wait to open into the show on March 30^th!

 

 

 

 

A couple previews of my costumes…

Shoes

Lashes

 

Goldstrike Hot Springs

Now that we are getting settled into our apartment and life in Las Vegas, we figured it was time to explore the area a little bit.  We took full advantage of Friday, my day off, and decided to go on a hike.  We found a place called Goldstrike Hat Springs about half an hour from us (near the Hoover Dam).  The reviews online said it was a bit strenuous, there were ropes to climb over huge boulders, but there were also hot springs along the way and the Colorado River at the end of the 6 mile, round trip hike.  So we set off with a picnic lunch in backpack and two bottles of water.  The area was so beautiful, so peaceful.  It was a wonderful day.  I can’t wait to see what we can do next Friday!

 

 

 

 

 

View at the end of the hike

 

 

Enjoying the Hot Springs

I'm supposed to walk...where?

4 hour hike: complete! Not without a few bumps and bruises.

We even made a little stop over to see the Hoover Dam.

There's No Place Like Home

I am happy to say that Maarten and I have found a home in Las Vegas!  When we first arrived, we were staying with a wonderful couple, Lee and Lisa Orchard.  Lisa is in Jubilee!, Lee is a DJ and they actually met working on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.  Lisa was a singer and Lee was the Activity Manager of the Activities Staff.  Sound familiar?? It was wonderful getting to spend time in their home and getting to know them. 

Our new apartment is at the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, aka “the Strip”.  It takes me about 10 minutes to get to Bally’s.  There is a bus stop close by, but apparently it takes about an hour to get to the strip.  A whole lot longer than my 10 minute drive! The gated apartment complex has a gym (Maarten has been daily since we moved it.  I, on the other hand, have not stepped foot in there since our tour), a 24-hour pool and hot tub and a grill/BBQ area.  We are very happy here.  Boy, was it stressful to pick the right place that felt like home.  We looked at a ton!  But finally think we made the right decision. 

"We got the KEYS!!"

 

Here are some pictures of the apartment.  We still need a lot more, but have been frequenting Goodwill's, Big Lots, yard sales, Craigslist posts and Dollar Stores to find last minute touches. 

Moving into the new place

Finding Perfect Chairs(?) at Big Lots

 

Master Bedroom

Shelf in Master Bedroom

Master Bathroom

Master Closet

Washer & Dryer

View from the front door

Living Room and door to the Patio 

Maarten in the Kitchen 

View from the Patio

Kitchen looking in from the patio

Kitchen (without a table!)

 

Now we are just waiting for our third roommate to join us in Las Vegas.  Nate Burich, a friend of mine from Point Park University who will be in Jubilee! with me, is driving to Vegas on March 29^th.  I will make my debut in Jubilee! on March 30^th.  Rehearsals have been going great and I am ready to be a part of this wonderful show! Pictures of me in my many showgirl costumes will come soon!