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Puppy Love 2026 Las Vegas
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2026 – Year of Internal Growth and Flexibility
It is not lost upon me that so many brands I have written about no longer exist. I have witnessed launches, blooms, and quiet foldings across beauty, fashion, and the food scene. Though I started this blog nineteen years ago, I’ve continued to use it as an outlet for lifestyle trends, revenue, and reflection. I’ve grown—so much. My baby dog is 10, my baby boy is 7. How did it all happen so fast?
Watching decades pass alongside new technology and AI, tools that could surely edit this for me, I feel deeply grateful. In the early years, I made it a ritual to recap and summarize all that I saw, did, and ate. From that reflection, I set intentions for what the next year would bring—what I would manifest. It was always about looking backward and forward at the same time, and being immensely grateful for it all.
Everyone has a writing style, and it improves with practice. But I stopped practicing. Not journaling is like not brushing your teeth—it all catches up to you. You forget… yourself. The most important part. The entire point. I am making it a priority to pick up where I left off and hope that the readers who have enjoyed the sponsored posts, all the content from Lulu, will be glad, your girl is back.
Imagine my delight when I rediscovered old photos on Tumblr and Flickr, lo-res videos on Vimeo, and events long forgotten. I’m so glad I habitually wrote, filmed, photographed, and blogged my life. Life zooms by fast, and I had forgotten so much of it—much to my dismay.
Now it’s 2026, and this marks the nineteenth birthday of my first baby: my blog, heydoyou! My online journal. My style guide. My brand book, so to speak. Remember Polyvore? Pinterest? I tried every platform, and pieces of my existence are scattered across the internet. Within that net are moments I lived, laughed through, and even forgot.
Many of you knew me through the blog, connected with me on Facebook, watched my stories on Instagram, and became both online friends and friends IRL. Thank you for tuning in. I know it’s not always exciting, but I try to give you the highlights—with a filter.
So here we are. A current update from the original influencer who grew up right in front of your eyes.
Today is Groundhog Day—sunny and in the 70s. It’s our tenth year in Las Vegas, and I continue to be amazed by what blooms in the desert. Both my husband and I are now in hospitality. After seven years as a stay-at-home mom, two as a substitute teacher, four as a soap maker, I am— for the first time in my life—joining a corporation. I am 41 and starting a whole new chapter and I wonder what’s in store for me. I have been reading and all this reading has just prompt me to write. I forgot how important this is, how writing hugs people when they didn’t realize they needed it. February is the month where it all happens – Chinese New Year, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, my engagement, my wedding anniversary. The shortest month, packed in with the most. This reminds me of what Maya Angelou once said. A bird does not sing because it knows the answer, it sings because it has a song.
The Year of the Fire Horse will be about keeping a steady pace, moving forward, and making an impact. New strides. Forward motion.
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Las Vegas Family Fun: Area 15 Family Raves No
AREA15 is turning up the volume on family fun this summer with their next Family Rave this Sunday, August 24 at 1 p.m. inside The Portal.
This daytime disco delivers the high-energy vibe of a rave—remixed for all ages. Think colorful lights, playful beats and an immersive atmosphere where kids, parents and even grandparents can dance together. Unlike a late-night rave, this experience is designed to be fun, safe and unforgettable for the whole crew.
We had no idea what to expect, but we came ready in all our neon gear!! We brought glow sticks, light up toys, glow face paint, nails and tattoos! This is not a typical glow party like you would find at Skyzone but a really cool ‘rave’ environment. My son is sensitive to loud noises, so I brought noise-cancelling headphones for him and LOOP earbuds for my self. We had a great time dancing with the kids, checking out the kid DJ and also all the merch they had for sale. In the craft rooms, the kids got to play lite bright in normal size and giantic and make fun things.The upcoming dates will be Sundays – Sept 14, Oct 26, Nov 23, Dec 14Use promocode Tinyhikes at checkout to get a 15% off discount on https://area15.com/events/ -
Zone 2: The Terminals at AREA15 is Now Open
AREA15, located parallel to the Las Vegas Strip, represents the world’s first purpose-built immersive entertainment district offering live events, distinctive attractions, interactive art installations, extraordinary design elements, unique retail, ground-breaking technology, bars and eateries and much more.
AREA15’s curated mix of dynamic destinations—including LIFTOFF Bar and Ride, Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, Illuminarium, Dueling Axes, Five Iron Golf, Kaia, The Beast, Wink World: Portals Into the Infinite, Museum Fiasco, JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE and many more—represents what’s next in experiential entertainment. With a robust, ever-changing roster of concerts, events, immersive art exhibitions, out-of-this-world nightlife and boundary-pushing production shows, AREA15 attracts visitors of all ages.
This August, Zone 2: The Terminals at the AREA15 District will welcome Universal Destinations & Experiences’ new, year-round horror entertainment experience Universal Horror Unleashed. Additional immersive destinations coming soon to The Terminals include the Boeing 747, Dolls Kill, The Escape Game, Felix & Paul Studios’ Interstellar Arc, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Museum of Ice Cream’s largest flagship location, Chilango’s Tacos, Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets, Nacho Daddy and more.
AREA15 has received numerous accolades, including being named “Another Unmissable Stop for Art Lovers” by The Times UK; “Most Innovative Venue in the USA” and No. 2 on the list of “10 Best Immersive Experiences in the U.S.” by Timeout; “Best Immersive Art Experience” by USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards; “Best Place to Dance,” “Best Attraction,” “Best Place for Your Instagram Shot” and “Best Rave Resurgence” by Las Vegas Weekly Readers’ Choice Best of Vegas Awards; “Best Arts Hub” by Vegas Magazine; “Best Family Attraction” from the Southern Nevada Hotel Concierge Association; claiming the No. 1 spot in Blooloop’s “World’s Top 11 Immersive Art Experiences;” and being included in Las Vegas Magazine’s Hall of Fame.
Follow on Instagram, Facebook and X: @AREA15Official; and YouTube: AREA15. Hashtag: #AREA15.
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The Future Las Vegas Museum Of Art And City Of Las Vegas Present “Family Album,” An Exhibition Inaugurating The New Civic Center Art Gallery
The future Las Vegas Museum of Art (LVMA), in partnership with the city of Las Vegas, is proud to present Family Album, a contemporary art exhibition opening Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at the newly unveiled Las Vegas Civic Center Art Gallery, a part of the downtown Civic Center Building and Plaza. The gallery’s inaugural exhibition will be the first public-facing program from LVMA, the upcoming art museum founded by an exceptional public-private partnership to serve the city’s two million year-round residents, honoring and elevating the diverse cultural heritage of Las Vegas.
Family Album, organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), inaugurates the new plaza and Civic Center Art Gallery, a major investment by the city of Las Vegas in public space and cultural infrastructure. The exhibition and surrounding programming are a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing effort to center arts and culture in civic life.
“The city of Las Vegas is beyond excited to continue working with these incredible cultural institutions to bring works of art and exhibitions like Family Album to our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Shelley Berkley. “Las Vegas is a place where anything you can imagine can happen and we are looking forward to having new spaces like the Civic Center Art Gallery and the future Las Vegas Museum of Art to showcase our community’s cultures and art.”
“We are eager to grow this partnership with LACMA through Family Album, our first public exhibition,” said Heather Harmon, executive director of the Las Vegas Museum of Art. “This collaboration reflects our shared belief that museums are stronger when they work together, combining resources, expertise and a commitment to community.”
In Family Album, an intergenerational roster of artists examines the ways in which personal and collective histories are constructed through the visual language of family photographs. Addressing physical, political and emotional aspects of home, including segregation, displacement and belonging in today’s American neighborhoods, the artists draw directly from their personal archives in some instances, or in others reimagine the conventions of the family snapshot.
Artists in the exhibition include Laura Aguilar, Lyle Ashton Harris, Renee Cox, Delilah
Montoya, Consuelo Kanaga, Max Yavno, Carlee Fernandez, Chino Otsuka, Anthony
Hernandez, Sadie Barnette, Janna Ireland, Dannielle Bowman, Deborah Willis, Hank
Willis Thomas, Tony Cokes, Star Montana, Micaiah Carter, Tyler Mitchell, Zora J Murff,
and Sandra de la Loza.Drawing on the power of photography, a medium closely tied to memory, to summon the textures of daily life and the presence of loved ones, Family Album is a meditation on how community is recalled, represented and reimagined.
“The artists in the exhibition raise timely topics for audiences to consider today,” said Andy Song Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at LACMA Dhyandra Lawson. “I feel honored to share their work with Las Vegas audiences.”
Family Album was first presented at the museum’s Charles White Elementary School Gallery in Los Angeles as part of LACMA’s on-the-ground community engagement. The exhibition now travels to Las Vegas as part of a long-term institutional collaboration between LACMA and LVMA.
Exhibition Details
- Exhibition: Family Album
- Presented by: The city of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Museum of Art and LACMA
- Location: Las Vegas Civic Center Art Gallery, Building A, 525 S. Main St.
- Opening Reception: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, 6-8 p.m.
- Exhibition Dates: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 – Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
- Admission: Free and open to the public
- Gallery Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed holidays.
Public programs, artist talks and family-friendly workshops will accompany the exhibition throughout its run. Visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/
Discover for a full schedule of events. -
Give kids a boost with Reading Eggs!
With only 10 days of school left this year, I am recommending this fun workbooks I had the pleasure to review with Niko. Reading Eggs teaches fun, interactive phonemic awareness games to help children learn to read, used by schools, parents, and homeschoolers alike.The program is based on the five pillars of reading: phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. It’s designed for ages 2 to 13, focusing on helping preschoolers ages 4 to 6 develop early literacy skills to create empowered learners as they begin school. Reading Eggs draws on research from multiple disciplines, including literacy, cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and education experts.
It also provides optional workbooks designed to complement the online program (or perfect as a standalone) so children can take their learning offline. Fusioning of digital and print resources maximizes educational gains, fostering significant progress in a child’s academic journey.A Reading Eggs subscription includes access to Reading Eggs Junior, Reading Eggs, Reading Eggspress, Fast Phonics, and Mathseeds for up to four children – access Reading Eggs on desktop, iOS, and Android anytime, anywhere across multiple devices.
Not all screentime is equal and learning games like this equate “good screen time”. My son likes to do these programs and workbooks while I am busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast or dinner. Summer time brain drain can definitely occur and with just a few pages a day can make a huge difference!
