Small Town Life In Big L.A.

Las Vegas Gift Show 2019

Our January trip to the LAS VEGAS MARKET begins very early in the morning. It's so much easier to fly out of Burbank which is closer to home and less crazy than LAX. It always fascinates me to board the plane outdoors.

The one hour flight goes by fast and beats five hours of driving!

We arrived in time to check in to our hotel and have breakfast at our favorite French café.

One of the best breakfasts ever! It includes a house made English muffin and there's enough to share.

The views are lovely with lots of French inspired scenery and crystal chandeliers. 

We had just enough time to catch the last shuttle to the famous World Market Center where some serious wholesale shopping is done. Buyers, manufacturers, and designers from all over the world meet here.

As you walk the halls you never know what you might see to entice you to enter a showroom. This one cracked me up! 

What a treat when you run across a chocolate company with trays of their best sellers to sample!

Sweet Tea! So many creative refreshments along the way! It helps when you are doing hours and hours of shopping and ordering.

It's also important to get off your feet from time to time. Hint: travel light and wear comfy shoes. A scarf is also a good idea for drafty showrooms.This new plaid tunic with pockets from Revelation TOPS was perfect for the show and then out to dinner.

Outside the air is brisk. It's nice when you can cozy up by one of the fires. This day I wore our new baby thermal tie front top with a hi-low hem. So comfy and I love the color. 

This is a working vacation for us and we look forward to a relaxing dinner in the evening. We thoroughly enjoyed Jasmine at the Bellagio where we landed one of the best tables! Thank you Lord! We sat all the way up front in the window for a close up of the famous fountains.

Here the chopsticks are trimmed in gold, the service is impeccable, and they play classical music. My speed and such a treat.

The Bellagio is known for their elaborate displays. There was a whole room decorated in the year of the pig. This pig was gigantic, as big as a multistory building!

Just amazing! You keep looking up, up, up! The peaceful music and sounds of waterfalls all add to the experience.

Time to head back to our hotel, the Paris. I think this is one of my favorite photos...EVER. It just captures this getaway and you know how I love GRAY and the Eiffel Tower!

This was our view another evening from the patio of Mon Ami Gabi which is right on the strip. Once again we scored on the table. Imagine enjoying Steak Frites au Poivre as you watch the fountains from across the street. This is where all the Oceans movies were filmed. LOVE it!

Above us, past our heat lamps, is the Eiffel Tower. Another amazing trip. The Lord answered our prayers with good energy, great finds for Mountain Rose Gifts, and foodie fun! 

 

From Where I Sit...GIFT SHOW Adventures

It's that wonderful time of year again! Shopping & Gift Shows! Thankful to fly out of Burbank airport this time. So close to home!

Here is the view as you approach Las Vegas from the West Coast.

Love the chandeliers at the Paris Hotel. They are huge and sparkly and even more amazing when you are standing under one.

We scored a fabulous patio table for two at Mon Ami Gabi. This French steakhouse is one of our faves! Imagine having Profiteroles for dessert as you watch...

the famous Bellagio fountains! Heavenly!

Back at the room we could enjoy them from afar.

Days were spent shopping at the world class Las Vegas Market. Three high-rise buildings full of state of the art showrooms!

Of course we found LOTS of stuff for our store MOUNTAIN ROSE GIFTS I also watch for trends. The GRAY trend continues across all channels in home decor and apparel.

After a long day shopping we stopped by the courtyard to roast some marshmallows. It was in the low 40's so the fire pits and heat-lamps were most welcome.

Going to Las Vegas is a working vacation for us. Many go to gamble. Not us. We enjoy the restaurants. I think we were given the best table in the house at Jasmine. Located in the Bellagio, it's elegant and has a close up view of the fountains.

Just beautiful!

A fitting end to a delicious Chinese meal.

Walking back to our hotel we realized something was going on. Where were the throngs of people and all the buses and cars??? Turns out Matt Damon was there and they were shooting the new Bourne Identity movie!

We have never seen the strip totally shut down! Amazing!

Shopping the show means you are standing and walking all day. It helps to take a break to get your feet up.

Most of the time we grab a bite in the showrooms on the run but this day we stopped for lunch at a trendy restaurant on the premises.

This is how you feel at the end of a shop 'til you drop day.

Las Vegas has a HUGE new airport that receives people from all over the world.

Bye Vegas! What a great time! What a great show! Thank you Lord for answering our prayers and letting us be able to do this.

 

 

Shopping! Vegas! & Elvis!

Complementary coffee...the start of a recent Las Vegas buying trip for our store, Mountain Rose GIFTS. We're going in!

Elvis seemed to be everywhere.

Even in the showrooms.

A purse, no matter how light, can get heavy after walking showroom floors for hours. Thankful my hubby gave me a break. I'm FREE!!!

Catching a seminar while enjoying a boxed lunch.

Sometimes only a Coke will do.

Say what???

Received a hearty welcome to this showroom. You won't find this in Atlanta or New York.

Yup. This is wholesale shopping Vegas style.

Love it! Love it! Love it! The French theme and neutral color palette in home decor continues to be MAJOR.

The Las Vegas Market even entertains store owners at night in the courtyard.

Live music, appetizers, and shows around the campfires.

Marshmallows for roasting anyone?

We found so much good stuff!!! Bye bye Vegas! See you next time.

Back safe and sound in L.A. Thank you Lord for leading us as you do and for giving us strength and good energy.

Fun At The Las Vegas GIFT & HOME SHOW

We just got back from another whirlwind trip for our Gift and Home Decor store in Montrose, MOUNTAIN ROSE GIFTS. This pic was taken in the brand new 4.8 billion dollar airport terminal that just opened. We were among the first to use it.

This is the entrance to the Las Vegas World Market Center, a grouping of 3 high rise buildings of Gift & Home showrooms for those in the wholesale trade...Couldn't help but notice these shoes. Can't imagine shopping all day in those!

This was a major window display in one of the lobbies. It looks like the beige, neutral, French theme continues to be strong.

There are strict rules to enter the show. You must have a store and provide proof with a resale #, business cards, company checkbook, website, and the like. You are then issued a badge which you must wear at all times. Guards are posted at the escalators to make sure no one is admitted without their badge. As you enter showrooms the vendors can scan your badge and quickly find out all about you.

There are plenty of perks for Buyers here like the Buyer's Lounge serving custom made waffles and gourmet coffee drinks to start your day.

Some of the showrooms are so big they even have their own restaurants! We enjoyed pulled pork, sweet potato casserole, a healthy salad, and peach cobbler with ice cream in this showroom while shopping.

This year all of the tables throughout the complex were decorated with live flowers like this.

Taking a moment to rest my feet. When you do one of these shows you are on your feet all day.

"Would you like to sample our chocolates?"...Uh, like, YEAH!

How nice! I enjoy praying as I go and asking the Lord for wisdom.

There are always lots of seminars for Retailers. Sometimes you need a mental break from the concentration of shopping. Being a "foodie" I enjoyed hearing from this world class Wine Sommelier and Chef.

It was so interesting to learn about the wines of Southern Italy and how they pair with foods like this delicious roast lamb.

Another successful and enjoyable trip. Bye-Bye Vegas!

Thank you Lord for answering our prayers and giving us good energy and safe travels!

 

A Suite At The Paris Hotel

We recently went to Las Vegas for a business trip, attending the Gift Show. Our flight arrived in the evening and upon check in we were offered a great deal on a suite. These are the double doors that awaited us high on the 24th floor. Hmmm, wonder what is behind those doors....

Wow! A very grand marble hallway led into this formal living dining area. There were also two full and spacious marble bathrooms. The room was very quiet and peaceful.

The gorgeous bedroom was surrounded by curtains. At the foot of the bed was a second state of the art TV that rose up when a button was pushed.

This was our view from the bedroom looking out through the living room.

These magazines were on the coffee table. Apparently Robert DeNiro is opening an exclusive Nobu Hotel.

Our room faced the Bellagio Hotel with it's famous fountains. It was fun to sit in the windows and just watch everything.

Here is the view by day....Sure beats the parking lot!

The pool is large and 3 1/2 feet deep all the way around.

Swimming and relaxing by the Eiffel Tower.

All of the arches surrounding the pool are decorated with fleur de lis and misters to keep you cool. We had a wonderful stay. What a treat!

The PARIS HOTEL in Las Vegas

We just got back from the Gift Show in Las Vegas and had the pleasure of staying here. This is the view from our room where we got to see the famous Bellagio fountains.

To the left is the new Cosmopolitan hotel.

LOVE this view!

The chandeliers in the lobby where you check in.

The lobby is made to look like Paris.

THRONGS of people from all over the world stay here.

Some scenes from the hotel property...

This is the view from across the street at the Bellagio. It is beautiful at night...If only there weren't so many people, so much heat, and so much non-stop noise. You don't hear about that in all the advertisements.