USA - Lili on the Loose

4 06, 2016

May 2016 Recap

By Lili|June 4th, 2016|Categories: Blog Recaps and Roundups|Tags: 2016, Antigua, Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Central America, Guatemala, New Mexico, North America, reading list, Santa Fe, USA, watchlist, Wayin|1 Comment

Its finally the start of summer! This month was also fun that my company Wayin acquired another company (Engage Sciences) and so its been great to meet all my new co-workers! Travel Santa Fe, NM This month I went on a quick road trip to Santa Fe, NM. I had been back in the 90's as a child, but didn't remember much of it. I didn't plan anything for this trip so I mainly just walked around the main square and shopped. It reminded me a lot like the square in Antigua, Guatemala, and I had fun shopping for rough

2 06, 2016

Dueling Dragons Queue Theming

By Lili|June 2nd, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2012, Champion, Chinese Fireball, coaster, dragon, Florida, flying car, Flying Hippogriff, Ford Anglia, goblet of fire, Hagrid's Hut, Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Hungarian Horntail, Islands of Adventure, line, Ministry of Magic, Movie, North America, Orlando, Orlando Adventure 2012, Photo Essay, queue, roller coaster, Theme Park, Travel Thursday, Triwizard, triwizard cup, triwizard tournament, Universal Studios, USA, Witches, Wizarding World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wizards|0 Comments

I'm afraid of heights. While sometimes I will test this fear, one thing I just cannot handle is very fast roller coasters, or ones that make you go upside down. But when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter I decided I had to see the Triwizard Tournament Dragon Challenge theming for the Dueling Dragon coasters, even if I wasn't going to ride it. On my second day I had early admission so I entered the queue and slowly walked through it, waving others past me. First you'll see the banners for the 4 champions. As you walk you'll see the

27 05, 2016

Ocean Waves Under a Moonlit Sunset

By Lili|May 27th, 2016|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2014, 4th of July, 4th of July Coronado x2, beach, California, Coronado, Independence Day, moon, North America, ocean, Photo Friday, San Diego, sunset, USA|0 Comments

I wish Colorado had an ocean, as I love living here except for that one oversight. So instead I must enjoy the beach when I get a chance to visit. On one 4th of July weekend I spent it in Coronado, CA and we brought out a bottle of wine and some chairs to watch the sunset. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

20 05, 2016

Isaac Slade of The Fray at Boulder’s Fox Theater

By Lili|May 20th, 2016|Categories: Concerts, Local, Photography|Tags: 2011, Boulder, Colorado, Concert, Fox Theater, grand piano, Isaac Slade, music, North America, Photo Friday, piano, The Fox, The Fray, USA|0 Comments

I've gone to some four dozen The Fray shows starting all the way before they were signed with Epic and were considering quitting. I've enjoyed being their unofficial fan photographer, and organizer of the first The Fray fansite (which at some point I'll get around to putting it back online.) In May 2011, I saw a small concert at Boulder's The Fox Theater for two little known bands. But I knew they were a code-word for The Fray! So gathering up my friends we scored front row and I got this great photo of Isaac Slade singing his heart out on top

19 05, 2016

Showtime in Las Vegas

By Lili|May 19th, 2016|Categories: Concerts, Theater & Shows, Travel|Tags: 2011, 2016, Adobe Summit, cirque, cirque du soleil, Girl’s Weekend, Las Vegas, Le Rêve, Magic, Nevada, North America, Penn and Teller, Summit Bash, The Dream, The Linq, The Rio, The Wynn, Travel Thursday, USA, Vegas Checklist, Weezer|0 Comments

Las Vegas is always re-inventing itself, but one thing that has been a constant in Las Vegas is its entertainment acts and shows. On my previous trips to Las Vegas I was either too tired or busy to do see any shows (unless you count a male revue for a friends bachelorette), but this most recent trip I decided to branch out and see what Las Vegas had to offer. Magic On my first night, I found myself at the last minute grabbing tickets to Penn & Teller. I had wanted to see a real magic show since I was a kid

16 05, 2016

Museum Monday: Amelia’s Vega

By Lili|May 16th, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2013, Amelia Earhart, DC, Lockheed Vega 5B, museum, Museum Madness, National Air & Space Museum, North America, plane, Smithsonian, USA, Washington DC|0 Comments

84 Years ago Amelia Earhart was preparing to fly this cherry red Lockheed Vega 5B across the atlantic by herself. She was the first woman to do so, and the second person (after Charles Lindbergh) in the world to complete the journey. Later in August 1932 she then flew this plane non-stop from coast to coast! These were just two of her amazing feats performed in this plane. Be sure to check it out at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

13 05, 2016

Tulips at The M, Las Vegas

By Lili|May 13th, 2016|Categories: Hotels & Lodging, Travel|Tags: 2013, casino, Henderson, hotel, Las Vegas, lobby, Nevada, North America, Photo Friday, The M, The M Resort, tulips, USA, work, work trip|4 Comments

These giant tulips caught my eye in the lobby of The M Resort in Henderson, NV. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

12 05, 2016

Las Vegas 2016 Cost Analysis

By Lili|May 12th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Budget|Tags: 2016, Bellagio, breakdown, Canyon Ranch Spa, cost analysis, Ethel M chocolate, fossil, gambling, horeseback riding, Las Vegas, Le Rêve, Magic, Mandalay Bay, Neon Museum, Nevada, North America, Penn and Teller, shark reef, shopping, Spa, spending, taxi, The Dream, The Venetian, Travel Thursday, Treasure Island, trilobite, Uber, USA, Vegas Checklist, Zoltar|0 Comments

Wynn Carousel made of flowers. Opulence in Vegas is expected. The last time I was in Las Vegas for a vacation was in 2011. I tracked my budget back then and shared it in this post. I wanted to do the same with my most recent trip to Las Vegas as a comparison. This trip is a little different though. The bulk of my time was for a client event, and so I won't share those numbers here. So while I was in Vegas for 6 days I'll just focus on my free-time activities which accounts for a

9 05, 2016

Travel Missteps: Not the Hogwarts Express

By Lili|May 9th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2002, 2012, Backpacking it in England and Scotland, Costa Rica & Orlando Adventure, Edinburgh, England, Family, Florida, Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Express, Islands of Adventure, Kings Cross, Kings Cross Station, North America, Orlando, Orlando Adventure 2012, Platform 9 3/4, Scotland, Tain, UK, United Kingdom, Universal Studios, USA, Witches, Wizarding World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wizards, York|0 Comments

England had some pretty disappointing train trips. I traveled there in the summer of 2002. I remember being a Senior in high school, and dashing through Kings Cross station late at night, to try to catch a glimpse of the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Why? Because I wanted to act out and take a photo pretending to gain access to Platform 9 3/4! Imagine my surprise and disappointment to find that platform 9 and 10 are in separate areas! (Now they actually have a photo op elsewhere in the station, but it was dark times for early fans.) So,

5 05, 2016

Springtime at Bellagio’s Botanical Garden

By Lili|May 5th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2016, Bellagio, Bellagio Gardens, Free, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, spring, Travel Thursday, USA, Vegas Checklist|0 Comments

The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden is transformed each season with a different theme. I happened to visit one midnight evening when the gardens were closed off from the public so that they could take photos. This actually was spectral as from the edges I was able to get my own perfect images! This is 2016's Spring design, with lots of pink flowers, birds, and an Japanese theme. Made with over 82 thousand flowers including cherry blossom trees it is on display until May 14 when this will be changed out for the Summer season. Be sure to check it out, it