Hi Dear Readers!
I’m playing a little catch-up as I spent 5 days in Vegas (that’s like 3 days too many for me BTW, 🫠). The average temperature has been about 110 degrees and I spent most of my days inside playing the most frustrating/invigorating card game of all time - Texas Hold ‘Em. Needless to say…I NEED VITAMIN C STAT! My husband and I have been traveling here for the past few years to play poker in some of the World Series of Poker tournaments and it was a great run - for him at least.
My favorite part about Vegas is two-fold: the people watching and the food. I’ve eaten some of my most favorite meals here at CUT, Yellowtail and Javiers. I’ve also seen some of the most wonderfully wild people that make me realize how big and beautiful the human race truly is. While walking down the strip today this man came plowing through the street, pulling his shirt off screaming something I couldn’t quite understand and the woman walking next me said, “only in Vegas” to which I nodded in full agreement.
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This may sound cheesy but anytime I travel anywhere I learn something new about myself. This time the lesson was that from now on I will book hotel rooms (we’ve always been happy with the rooms at Bellagio) that face the opposite side of the strip because I love sleep and what I don’t love is hearing street performers blasting their music from 10:30pm - 2:30am. NOT MY CUP OF TEA to say the least.
And now onto the fourth Chapter of B.U.T.T.E.R.F.L.Y Notes. A roundup of little notes I’ve made throughout the week.
Bewitching
I am a novice but love exploring the fun world of Tarot especially through
’s readings. Of Tarot she writes:As most modern readers will tell you, the tarot is not about fortunetelling, nor is it about neat, definitive answers. The cards are simply one path to reflection, a way of better knowing ourselves and others through universal themes. If this reading resonates with you, great! And if not, no worries. Take whatever may be helpful and leave the rest.
Her words are a beautiful invitation to explore Tarot and the magic of interpreting something to adapt to our everyday lives.
She uses numerous Tarot Decks and these Soul Cards have a very minimal but artful feel to them.
Underrated
I love going out to eat. If you asked me to choose one of my top 3 favorite things to do both with friends or by myself I’d be hard pressed to say it wasn’t number #1. On this recent trip to Vegas I took myself out to the aforementioned Mexican restaurant Javiers. I sat at the bar with strangers and great music surrounding me, read a book and enjoyed a crisp, buttery glass of Chardonnay with the Carne y Camarones an 8 oz Filet Mignon cut, with two wild Mexican white prawns sautéed in garlic butter sauce.
Solo Dining is definitely underrated. Highly Recommend! It was the best night of the trip.
Tasty
I recently discovered a new cooking newsletter called
written by Annie (Garcia) Lucey. Her recipes look and sound easy yet filled with flavor. This Ricotta Pasta is on my list to make for our family next week.Think Piece
Are you ready to grab a tissue? I’m serious - if you’re a parent or someone who has raised a child this beautiful, bittersweet poem brought me to tears. Written by new father Marc Typo of
:Dear Myles,
there will never be a day like today
when two palms fit into one
raised arms signal for me to lift
counting to three to fit a shirt over your head
tussling to put on your shoes
there will never be a day like today
carrying you in one arm
fitting across my chest
scaling across the couch over to me
tap to get my attention
fuss and cry means play “guess what I want”
I’m reminded
there will never be days like this again
the look you give me when I walk in a room
and you drop the Earth in your hand even if it’s just a toy
you crawl over to me like it’s the first time you seen me in months
even if I just went to the bathroom
like “if I don’t make it there right now he might be gone”
you remind me to cherish the small
the feeds
the rock
the smile
the cry
the naps
the diapers, even the diapers
you remind me that you’ll never love me like you will today.
thank you for loving me the only way you know how
by the time you read this it’ll be a different day,
I hope the way you love me today doesn’t change.
Love,
Daddy
Tomorrow is my first born son’s 14th birthday and this poem has inspired me to write something to him. That last line, “I hope the way you love me today doesn’t change.” has me feeling ALL OF THE FEELINGS right now.
Educate Me
We all know the Vegas strip is violently bright at night but according to the NASA Earth Observatory:
The Vegas Strip is reputed to be the brightest spot on Earth due to the concentration of lights on its hotels and casinos. The tarmac of McCarran International Airport is dark by comparison, while the airstrips of Nellis Air Force Base on the northeastern fringe are likewise dark.
Recommended
I’m the type of reader that has to be invested within the first few chapters or I quit reading (my “did not finish” pile is embarrassingly high). The first few sentences of this book start as follows:
You are about to begin reading a new book, and to be honest, you are a little tense. The beginning of a novel is like a first date. You hope that from the first lines an urgent magic will take hold, and you will sink into the story like a hot bath, giving yourself over entirely.
I’m three chapters in and absolutely hooked. This book is funny, witty and fresh. Rumor has it that it will be an Apple TV series staring Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman.
Fresh Takes
Listening to
Serial is the first podcast I ever listened to back in 2014 and it’s now on Season Four with an incredible investigation of the history of Guantánamo told by people who lived through key moments in Guantánamo’s evolution. Fascinating and at some points, very hard to listen to.
Yes, please
To round out the Vegas theme, the third Season of the comedy show Hacks was released in May! I started this series a few Summers ago and had forgotten how brilliantly funny both Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are together. I am half way finished with Season 2 and cannot wait to dive into the latest season. If you’re new to this series - you are in for a treat!
As always thank you for being here and I’ll see you next week!
Flutter On,
Sara
I have the same feelings re Las Vegas. I go for work conferences and all I look forward to is what restaurants I’ll be trying.
Your time in Vegas sounds enchanting - I just love a solo meal at the bar with a buttery chard.