36.

maybe it is because i am putting finishing touches on my 37th birthday trip to bali or maybe it is because it truly was one of my favorite weekends of 2026 but i know one thing – my 36th birthday celebration deserved a post all of its own.

a theme each year around my birthday is gratitude. it is rare to have so many of my favorite people in one place so naturally, it felt extra special to have people who have known me since birth dancing alongside people who have entered my orbit in my 30s. one thing is for certain: vegas owes us nothing.

before recapping the weekend in its entirety, it has to be said that there is something extra amazing about feeling your best when ushering in a new year and part of that is looking your best. i was obsessed with my outfits, hair and grateful to have been experiencing a good skin week. it really is the little things.

my rules when planning a group trip are simple:

have only one or two events that are mandatory and outside of that, allow people to opt in as it suits them
be intentional about who is invited – it only takes one bad apple to fuck up the barrel
have a balance of daytime and evening activities – not everyone is a morning person and not everyone can party until 3am
give ample notice when extending invites – people need time to budget, schedule and prep
scheduling in solo down time if you are an introvert like me (even if it is an extended soak in the tub each day) is absolutely crucial in order to show up as the best host possible

driving in from la is always easy when going to vegas and allows me to bring as many things as i want. this is especially important when hosting because I want everyone to have yummy things to snack on and delicious cocktails to enjoy at any point of the day or night. we arrived on friday which was my actual birthday. i was excited as this was the night roughly 20 of us were going to be celebrating with people traveling in from as far as atlanta (shout out to my girl, joss) and people ranging from 30s to 60s (shout out to my mom, godmother and cousin val who all were dropping it in the club as if meg the stallion birthed them).

we spent friday night at liv (located in fontainebleau) and got to see mario perform. he has PIPES. it was important to me that my mom and the aunties were present on a night where there would be r&b accompanying all the club bangers. a. time. was. had.

saturday, we did brunch at brewdog las vegas. it was important to me to do something casual, cost friendly and where people could pay separately as some people were going to be heading directly to the airport whereas others were going to be in town until monday or tuesday. the ambiance was great – it was airy, lively, good music (and at a volume where we could still hear one another), bomb food and lemon drops that i am still dreaming about. you can make a reservation on opentable for up to 20 people!

after brunch, a few of us hit chanel because michele had been eyeing a bag for years and decided this was the trip to bite the bullet. the store and entire shopping experience was an absolute vibe. when i am ready for my first chanel (manifesting that for 2027), this will be the location i choose for certain.

saturday night may have been a smaller group but trust me when i tell you that we partied as if there were still 20 of us. 10 of us circled back to liv. while i typically do not repeat the same club two nights in a row, once i saw the kehlani was the performer for valentine’s day, there is no other place i wanted to be. who was going to say “no” to seeing her serenade us with “folded” live?!

to say i was beat on sunday would be an understatement. that is when having an amazing hotel suite and even more amazing friends comes in handy. i did not leave my suite, stayed in pajamas all day and hosted those that wanted to socialize for a boozy game night in. uno feels elevated when on the las vegas strip. a sushi dinner on the couch with champagne was divine – shout out to my car business boo, leroy, for treating the entire group.

while the remainder of friends left monday, my mom and i stayed until tuesday. monday and tuesday were the ultimate mommy and me days. we shared meals, laughter, deep conversations, carpool karaoke sessions, blackjack hands and enough peach bellinis to fill a hot tub with.

each year, i pick a theme word or phrase. 35 was about surrendering while 34 focused on calm…you get the picture. for 36, the theme has been: flow.

flowing not forcing.

as a recovering control freak, it can be difficult to let things flow and not force square pegs into round holes. 36 has been about allowing things to flow, not punishing myself when things do not according to plan and being able to pivot as needed. it has allowed me to be more grateful for the life i am currently living, not just the one i am building.

i cannot wait to ring in 37 in bali with loved ones.

xoxo,

your favorite aquarius

cento

hey! i hope each of you enjoyed your thanksgiving week (if you celebrate) and spent time with those you love most eating something absolutely delightful. thanksgiving looked different for me this year for a variety of reasons but primarily because i have been at the hospital around the clock with my dad, who underwent a stem cell transplant (expect a full rundown in the coming weeks about all of the many layers). one of the limitations is not being able to have any food that is not prepared at the hospital or by me in our hotel suite due to his nonexistent immune system. with him barely having tastebuds and being limited on what sits well on his stomach, there wasn’t the traditional thanksgiving dinner (filled with many of my favorite soul food dishes). maybe it is because i am craving a great meal out, missing my friends and feeling grateful to the many members of my chosen family that offered to have a thanksgiving spread delivered (before they knew about the restrictions), i found myself thinking about this phenomenal italian restaurant alan and i went to last month. let me introduce you to: cento.

alan had been RAVING about cento for months. we had been trying to go together but life was a little too chaotic AND for awhile, they were closed on mondays so we struggled a bit. let me tell you this – the wait was absolutely worth it. there was not a single thing we consumed that i would not give at least a 9.5 out of 10. let me walk you through our dining experience:

the hamachi? melted like literal butter. the endive caesar? simple and flavor packed, especially with the hint of tarragon. one of the reasons alan is in my top five favorite people to dine with is because we have such similar palettes. it is an added bonus that the conversation is consistently captivating. that being said, we frequently get to sample more of the menu because we can share various dishes (like the two above). for our main courses, we both committed to pasta dishes.

alan couldn’t get enough of his spicy pomodoro. he was surprised i didn’t order it because of my deep love for all things spicy however, i just couldn’t pass up a ricotta gnocchi with a 28-month parmesan and cream. i had zero regrets. because their menu is constantly changing, alan’s pasta above is not currently available however, my bolognese is so run to get your bowl!

we were between a few different options for dessert. one of the only areas where alan and i differ is there is no such thing as too much chocolate for him. that certainly is not the case for me. one that spoke to us both was the date cake and our server highly recommended it.

the date cake is something i literally dream about. who doesn’t love caramel, pecan and crème fraiche ice cream? alan had been to cento at least a dozen times and had never tried it. from now on, it is a MUST.

with me being a planner, there were bonus points given for being able to make a reservation, valet parking and being seated upon arrival (even though alan hadn’t arrived yet). i am already anxiously awaiting my next visit and cannot speak highly enough about the quality of service, the ambiance (would be a great space for a private event), the attention to detail with every dish and how heavenly the entire meal was from start to finish. if you find yourself in la, make a reservation at cento.

xoxo,

k. tap

happy birthday, misu!

i can confidently say that i am thrilled january is over. while it wasn’t a particularly terrible month, it just seemed to move at a glacial pace. february has so much for me to look forward to. not only is it my birthday month but today, my baby turns two!

misu has brought me an inordinate amount of joy. he has shown me so much about unconditional love.

i feel like in some ways, we rescued one another. when i think of how he loved on my mom last year while i was hospitalized, it can bring me to tears. to say they have a special bond would be an understatement.

misu and i are certainly fortunate to have so many people who love him so much. here are some of my favorite shots taken by/with some of his favorite people: