The Epic Murals of Las Vegas!

Las Vegas is definitely over the top when it comes to almost everything, be it buffets, shows, or, obviously, lights. One thing that I didn't realize is that the city is also over the top when it comes to colorful murals and walls! Yes, Las Vegas street art is definitely epic! In fact, they might give Los Angeles a run for its money in this department. These walls and murals can all be found in the old downtown district of Las Vegas, right off of Seventh Street, in case you are in the neighborhood. There's literally a mural around just about every corner, so it's a paradise for wall hunters like myself.

This gigantic, colorful wall was actually not the one I was planning on photographing, but it was so pretty and colorful that I instantly fell in love! There was another wall that I intended to use but, much to my chagrin, there was a dance troupe using it to film their latest dance routine. In fact, there were actually several dance troupes rehearsing and filming in this area. There was also a lady who looked like she may have been the adult industry filming here too. I really must give her props because she was really good at doing outfit changes in her car! Finally, there was a tourist family, each armed with an iPhone, doing a photographic safari of the area, which was pretty cute.  Needless to say, Las Vegas murals are popular places!

I don't know what wouldn't go with this wall, but I chose to wear this gray sequin sweater that has a lot of Vegas sparkle. It actually comes in a tan color and I would seriously consider getting in addition to my gray one here because I love the sequins so much! Much like the wall, this sweater goes with everything because of all of the colorful sequins. I decided to pair it with a yellow pleated skirt and my pink Mansur Gavriel circle bag to give sweater more of a vibrant vibe.

I probably should have brought an extra outfit and done an outfit change (like the aforementioned woman!) but at least now that I know where these murals are located, I can do another photo shoot on our next visit to Vegas. Below you will find my runner up for favorite wall in this area of Las Vegas. You can never go wrong with classic, graphic black and white. It's a nice contrast to all of the colors in the first wall and really makes an outfit pop. Next year perhaps I'll feature another outfit and some more of these vibrant street murals!

Sweater: Zara, identical SheIn version here
Skirt: Target
Shoes: ASOS similar silver loafers here
Bag: Mansur Gavriel here
Earrings:Vanessa Mooney here
Sunglasses: Prada "Baroque" here

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Standing Out At Seven Magic Mountains

On the way to Vegas, you really must stop at the Seven Magic Mountains installation, which is just a few minutes off of the freeway! This is actually my second visit to these crazy, colorful rocks. On my second visit, I was excited because I thought that maybe, after over a year, the crowds might have lessened a little bit. Also, we traveled to Vegas after the New Year, when most people are back to work, so, again, I thought that was another factor that might reduce crowd size. Well, I was wrong and it was just as crazy and crowded as ever!

As always, I came prepared for the occasion in an outfit to match! I just recently bought this pink furry jacket on clearance at Zara. It was too hot in Los Angeles to wear it, but it was just perfect for the coolor desert temps of Las Vegas in winter. It's also a little reminiscent of Liberace, so it really is perfect for Las Vegas!

Due to the swarming crowds, it was difficult to get a clean shot of just me and the "mountains"; people seem to pop out from behind the rocks without notice, so just when you think you're getting the perfect shot, it is photobombed in an instant! Also, I always wonder why people don't dress more colorfully when visiting these rocks! I think I was almost the only person there who had something other than black on, which actually made me realize that most people wear black on a pretty regular basis! I guess color isn't for everyone but it does make life a little bit more fun! In all fairness, though, I am sure some people were wondering why I was wearing I gigantic, pink furry jacket with rhinestone embellishments!

Jacket: Zara similar here
Pants: J. Crew here
Sweater: J. Crew similar here
Shoes: ASOS similar silver loafers here
Bag: Mansur Gavriel here
Sunglasses: Celine budget version here

Sequins on the Strip

Last week my husband and I took a short vacation to Las Vegas before winter break ended. One of the perks of going to Las Vegas during this time is that the crowds are relatively small in comparison to other times of the year, especially New Years. Whenever I go to Vegas, I always debate what to wear. On the one hand, I want to look stylish so that I can go out to a nice dinner in the evening but, on the other hand, we usually do a lot of walking during the day, so I want to be comfy. This look, I think, combines the best of both worlds!

So as you can see, I am wearing my rainbow striped sweater from Talbots, yet again! I truly love this sweater and it's gotten a lot of wear in the last month or so. I paired it with a sequin skirt from J. Crew that's been sitting in my closet for quite some time. The unexpected casual twist to this ensemble are the sneakers! I saw a few people on Instagram wear this exact skirt with sneakers and it looked really fun and made a traditionally dressy fabric more daytime appropriate. Also, as I mentioned before, we did a lot of walking on this particular day, so the sneakers really helped. (My feet were still, however, a bit achy and sore at the end of the day.) Luckily, I was able to sit down at the Bellagio and have a much deserved cocktail and then a lovely dinner at Picasso that evening!

Sweater: Talbots here
Skirt: J. Crew similar here, on major sale here
Bag: Mansur Gavriel circle bag here, and here
Earrings: J. Crew similar here
Shoes: Target
Sunglasses: Celine

Vegas, a Museum Mecca?

When one thinks of Las Vegas, museums are probably not the first things that pop into one's mind, however the city is actually home to some amazing and quirky museums that offer a great break from the gambling, dining, shopping and other vices that beckon to you while in Sin City.

My husband and I usually take an annual trip to Las Vegas, and over the last few years or so we've made a point to do at least one sort of random, obscure thing during our stay, be it going to the world's largest gift shop, the pawn store where Pawn Stars is filmed, or, as we've done on the last several trips, visit a wacky museum. In this post, I'm highlighting my three favorite museums of Las Vegas, all of which I highly recommend for guests of all ages, as there's truly something for everyone at each!

The Neon Museum - This one's my favorite, because it's pure eye candy! Plus, there's a lot of great history about Vegas' past as told through these beautiful neon signs. What this museum essentially offers is an outdoor space called "The Boneyard" that features over 200 vintage neon signs that once graced the casinos, restaurants, hotels and other hot spots from the city.

My tip for this museum is to make sure you book a tour in advance, as they often sell out quickly and you can't take a self-guided tour through "The Boneyard". Also, make sure you have your camera ready. I took what seemed like a million pictures and I could still go back and take a million more. Plus, the tour moves rather quickly, so you'll be snapping photos and trying to soak up the history simultaneously! Check out my original post, Knee Deep in Neon for more on the Neon Museum.

The Clark County Museum - This one truly has something for everyone because it covers the history of Nevada from prehistoric times to the present, so there's a lot to see. Inside the museum they have information on everything from the native flora and fauna of Nevada to gambling paraphernalia.

My favorite part of this museum, aside from the Beard of Knowledge (of Pawn Stars fame) strolling around, is Heritage Street, which is a collection of restored historical homes depicting life from various decades in Nevada. When we went over the holidays, they had not only decorated, but they also offered a cool recipe at each historical home. In the second picture below, you'll see me posing as a 1950s housewife. Now that I think about it, I still need to make the recipe for shrimp cocktail that I picked up there! For some more pictures of the Clark County Museum, see Stripes off the Strip.

The Mob Museum - This is the museum that we went to on our most recent visit to Las Vegas. One tip I have about this place is that it does get pretty crowded, or should I say "mobbed" during late morning through early afternoon, so probably the best time to visit is late afternoon when most people have moseyed on back to the strip. This museum highlights the history of organized crime, not just in Las Vegas, but nationwide. One of the highlights that you'll see in the museum is the actual wall where the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre occurred. They also had a pretty cool exhibit on women's fashion in the 1920s, which really didn't have any clear connection to the mob, but it was about fashion so I was happy!

So next time you're in Las Vegas and you've seen one too many blackjack tables or had your fill of the buffets, check out what these amazing museums have to offer. You'll definitely have a unique experience, learn something, and probably have some fun stories to tell about the adventure!