A Birthday Ill Be Chasing Forever

After two weeks of scrolling through over 8,000 photos and videos, reminiscing about the best birthday trip of my life, I finally feel ready to share it with you guys.

For those of you who didn't read my previous blog, I spent three weeks traveling with my best friend, exploring beautiful places, chasing unforgettable experiences, and making memories that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Our adventure began in Chicago, where we went to the Bruno Mars concert.

But before I tell you about the concert, I have to give you a little backstory.

When I think back to my high school years, some of my favorite memories always seem to have Bruno Mars playing in the background. I remember driving to softball games in my friends car, blasting his music and singing our little hearts out. I remember sitting at a small park, listening to one of our favorite songs, Talking to the Moon, watching an elderly couple hold hands while sitting on a bench nearby. We looked at each other with tears in our eyes, hoping one day we'd have a love like that.

I remember road trips where we'd play every Bruno Mars song we knew, singing so loudly that by the end of the drive we could barely talk.

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It wasn't just the music that touched us—it was the lyrics. It was the feeling of sitting next to my best friend, singing every word like we truly believed it. Looking back now, those moments became some of the sweetest memories of our friendship.

The second I saw Bruno on the stage, tears formed in my eyes. Yeah, it was cool seeing him, but it was the fact that I was right next to my best friend, and that 10 years ago we were sitting in her car listening to the exact music we are listing to live. It was an amazing experience, and one I hope to re live again and again.

The morning after the concert, we flew to San Diego. Since Isabella studies marine life, we wanted to go somewhere that had the perfect mix of ocean, nature, wildlife, and of course... a place where we could get dressed up and have a fun time.

We arrived in San Diego early that morning, and later that evening we were invited to a Padres game by a very close friend of mine. The Padres were playing the Dodgers, so not only was it an exciting game, but it was also the first professional baseball game either of us had ever been to.

We spent the entire game laughing, making jokes, cheering, and actually understanding what was going on. At one point, I almost got smacked in the face by a foul ball, but thankfully (or sadly, depending on who you ask) the guy sitting right behind me took the hit instead. I felt terrible for him, but I was also very grateful it wasn't me. It definitely was a perfect and memorable day to start our trip.

The next day, I had planned to spend the evening watching the sunset at Sunset Cliffs. Somehow, I ended up taking the wrong trail, and at first I was a little disappointed. But sometimes the best moments come from unexpected changes, because that wrong turn led me to one of the most beautiful hikes I've been on. It was the perfect coastal trail, with gorgeous lavender flowers on both sides of the path. Every so often, a train would pass in the distance, making the scenery feel even more magical. It was one of those places that makes you feel completely at peace.

The following morning, we woke up at 6:00 a.m. to go tide pooling in La Jolla. Since Isabella loves marine life, she had been asking to go look for nudibranchs (sea slugs) with her. She kept saying, "You don't have to come if you don't want to look for sea slugs."

But honestly, I didn't mind one bit. I was just happy to be outside.

Once we got there, we started spotting all different kinds of species of these nudibranchs. Every single time she found one, her face completely lit up and you could hear the excitement in her voice. Seeing her so excited made me so happy. I loved watching her in her element, sharing something she was so passionate about. In that moment, I realized that sometimes the best part of traveling isn't what you're looking at, it's getting to experience someone else's joy with them.

Later that day, we went scuba diving in the La Jolla kelp forest.

This was the one thing Isabella had been looking forward to most on this trip. I had been scuba diving once before in Hawaii, but this experience felt completely different. I was especially excited to see her in the water because scuba diving is something she truly loves to do. Since I wasn't certified, I had my own instructor with me, and he was great!

After chatting with him and getting all of our gear on, we made our way down the stairs to the beach. We were covered head to toe in scuba gear, carrying heavy oxygen tanks on our backs. Let's just say... they were a lot heavier than I expected, haha.

The moment we got into the water, everything changed. The water was a little shaky, but peaceful, and absolutely refreshing. I did have a few technical difficulties with my mask letting water in (which caused a couple of minor panic moments 😅), but thanks to my instructor and Isabella, we got everything sorted out.

After that, I was finally able to relax and take it all in. Giant forests of kelp swayed with the current, these cute, little, orange fish, called Garibaldi fish, swam in the kelp, and everywhere I looked there was something new to admire.

About twenty minutes into our dive, the most magical thing happened. A mother sea lion and her pup started swimming circles around us. They played with the bubbles from our scuba tanks, swimming back and forth as if they were just as curious about us as we were them. They stayed with us for nearly the entire dive, and that was something special.

It was one of those rare moments in life that makes time stand still. Its definitely a memory I'll never forget.

Our instructor told us that encounters like that are actually very rare, since sea lions usually keep their distance from divers. We couldn't help but think that it was our good energy that attracted them.

For our last two nights in San Diego, we stayed at the iconic Lafayette Hotel.

If you've never seen it before, do yourself a favor and look it up. It's vintage, retro, colorful, and completely our vibe.

We got dressed up, had our own little photoshoot around the hotel, and then wandered over to the jazz bar next door, where we spent a part of our evening listening to live music and dancing our little hearts out.

After jazz, we made our way to Starlight for my birthday dinner.

To this day, it remains one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever been to. It felt like we were dining beneath the stars. Everything about that evening, the atmosphere, the conversation, the food, and simply being there together, felt so magical, romantic, and unforgettable.

As if the night couldn't get any better, we got back to the hotel, looked at each other and said, "Let's go bowling."

So... we did.

We ended up having a great time, met some cool guys, took some more pictures, enjoyed a few more drinks, and soaked in every last moment of our final night in San Diego.

By the time we made it back to the hotel, it was already 3:00 a.m. We were exhausted, a little hungover, and running on only a few hours of sleep—but our adventure was far from over. We had an early flight to Las Vegas the next morning, and neither of us had any idea that some of the best memories of the entire trip were still waiting for us.

We may not be huge gamblers, but we are two girls who love getting dressed up, going out, and testing our luck. Our goal for the weekend was $20,000. Some say that was unrealistic, but we had high hopes, haha. We figured if we were going to make it happen, we had to start early.

Since it was Isabella's first time in Vegas, I wanted to make sure she had the best experience possible. Personally, we're big craps girls, and we'd like to think we're basically professionals. 😉 But this trip was all about saying yes to new experiences, trying different games, and seeing where the adventure would take us.

On our very first night, we stopped at a lounge inside the Cosmopolitan to grab a drink. Not even a minute after walking in, two gentlemen pulled us aside to have a conversation with us, and somehow we ended up spending our evening together. They invited us over to the roulette table, convinced we might be their good luck charm. They even gave us a few chips to play with, and thankfully, we made a few hundred dollars :) The next day, they insisted on treating us to an incredible steakhouse for my birthday, which was such an unexpected and thoughtful surprise.

Isabella and I share plenty of memories from those two days that will stay between us, but those guys definitely became an unforgettable part of our Vegas experience. Looking back, I'm grateful for the laughter, and the spontaneous moments that made our time in Vegas even more memorable.

Our last night was spent at the Bruno Mars' lounge, The Pinky Ring, inside the Bellagio. Without a doubt, this was my favorite place in Vegas and one of my favorite memories from the entire trip.

We spent hours sipping our (very appreciated) free drinks, dancing, laughing, and shamelessly flirting with the cute guys in the band. If there's one thing about me, it's that I love to dance. Getting to dance the night away with my best friend by my side is a memory I'll never forget.

One funny thing that kept happening throughout our trip was that people constantly stopped us while we were taking photos. One night, we were outside the Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan trying to get a few pictures when person after person came up asking if they could take photos for us—or even with us. At one point, there was a small line, and I am not joking about that. A few people even asked if we were celebrities, which honestly made us laugh.

The funny part is, it wasn't just a Vegas thing. The exact same thing happened in San Diego and a handful of other times throughout our trip. Maybe it was the camera... or maybe, probably, were just hot. Either way, Ill take it as a compliment.

** Please do not do this to other women - it was weird, and annoyed us 90%. of the time *

Vegas may not have made us $20,000 richer, but it gave us something even better—stories we'll probably still be laughing about twenty years from now.

Looking back on the first half of our trip, I realize it wasn't the concerts, the beautiful hotels, or even the breathtaking places we explored that made it the best birthday of my life. It was the person I had by my side to laugh with, experience it all with, and create memories I'll cherish forever.

This trip reminded me that the best memories are almost never the ones you plan. They're the wrong trail that ends up leading to an even more beautiful view. They're waking up before sunrise to search for sea slugs you never thought you didnt even knew existed , only to realize the real joy was watching someone you love light up with excitement. They're dancing for hours with your best friend, meeting complete strangers who somehow become part of your story, and realizing that some of life's most unforgettable moments happen when you simply say "yes" to whatever comes next.

Remember when I mentioned taking the wrong trail at Sunset Cliffs?

Looking back now, I think that little moment perfectly sums up this entire trip. Sometimes the path you planned isn't the one you're meant to take. Sometimes getting a little lost leads you somewhere even more beautiful than you imagined.

And the funny thing is... that lesson didn't stop in Vegas.

Because after Vegas, our adventure was only beginning.

Next, we packed up the rental car and headed into the Arizona desert for one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life—the Grand Canyon.

I'll see you in Part 2.