♦ M-I-YA-O! ♦ (in my Rick Ross voice)

The weather was beautiful, the atmosphere was beautiful, and by that I mean the oiled up men walking up and down the strip. I even found beauty in the schmedium elevator me and the besties stuffed ourselves and luggage in at our hotel. Even though our hotel room was the size of a closet, and we always had to fight to get extra towels (thank God for the bestie who speaks some Spanish)...I wouldn't change a thing about my trip to South Beach for Memorial Day weekend.

Being aware of my body type, and not wanting to look like an idiot, I was a little uneasy about the whole bathing suit thing. Yes I had been working out, crunching, squatting, pushing, all that...but I'm just never going to be a size 2. However, I was surprised to see a lot more out of shape women walking around proudly with their stomachs hanging over their bikini bottoms. I guess I was expecting the whole vibe to be more like a Jay Z music video (insert Big Pimpin), which thus explains my paranoid and self-conscious behavior prior to the trip. But, once I arrived, I realized how ridiculous and ludicrous my previously mentioned emotions were, stopped obsessing, and enjoyed the beautiful beach.

Despite the $150 to $200 being charged for WOMEN at some of the clubs (NO, we did not even think twice about maybe paying that crazy amount), I met great people, and had an amazing time with my best friends...whom I don't get to see as often since we live on different sides of the country. We drank huge margaritas...relaxed on the beach...went to some hot spots...and then watched the sun rise.

I even got to experience a first...a strip club in Ft. Lauderdale! Ok, ok, ok, the honest truth is me and the besties got sort of tricked into going by this up and coming rapper and his entourage after we partied it up one night. We assumed that "Hey, you want to go to this after party real quick at this other club" meant we'd be going to an after party at this club, that was no further than up the street or something (duh, right). Next thing I know, we're packing in this car like sardines, and getting on the highway. I must admit, usually I'm the more free-spirited one, but I seriously thought they were driving us to our deaths, and even asked them to show mercy if they were (they thought that was pretty funny and teased me about it)....but we only ended up at this tiny strip club, that was surprisingly packed at 5 in the morning...with fully nude women walking around freely (hence strip club I guess lol).

Ultimately, the whole experience was a little much for me, and I can't say I'll be eager to EVER go to a strip club again...but the guys were surprisingly nice, humble, attentive, and protective of us... and they drove us right back to our hotel afterwards. So basically, a possible crisis diverted!

I did expect to see a few more celebrities walking the strip...but after seeing the insane cavalry that followed when Chris Brown walked by as me and the girls ate lunch...I can't imagine how it would be with a whole heap of celebs. It was also quite a sight to see all the tricked out cars with rims almost the size of me! I was surprised to see how many of them were Disney themed though. **pause**

Overall, you know it's a good trip when...you don't want it to be over....you meet fun hardworking people from all over the country and world, and establish friendships. When you're dreading the end, you know all the money spent was well worth it. ..and even have a moment where you contemplate staying just one more day -- knowing you're broke as all get out!.


Bottom line → South Beach, Miami...Memorial Day Weekend...has officially been named an every year trip by me and the besties.......at least until one of us gets married and pregnant. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

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