Our weekend in Las Vegas living the M life had to come to an end, but the memories will last forever – and so will the photos! When we reported that Bullz-Eye was invited with other digital media members to experience the M life, there were very high expectations as to that was in the works. Well, first and foremost, the folks at MGM delivered on every point with a weekend like no other.

After a smooth flight in from Cleveland, I arrived at the Aria Resort and Casino quickly and was blown away by the sleek design of this gem on the strip. After checking in, I learned first-hand why so many visitors pick Aria as their first choice when visiting Las Vegas. When entering your room, the lighting, the window shade, the music… everything is tailored to your preferences and intuitive to your needs. Set them exactly the way you like and prepare yourself for the night ahead.

I headed down to Javier’s at Aria where we started the weekend and met my fellow influencers with signature margaritas and appetizers at ARIA’s newest restaurant. Javier’s brings a Southern California favorite to the Las Vegas strip and delivers a rich heritage of authentic Mexican cuisine along with hand-shaken margaritas and a high-energy ambiance to Las Vegas. Javier’s was a great place to get this M life party started, and we did just that! It was then off to the Hit Bar at Monte Carlo to channel our inner James Bond (or Bond girl) and learn how to craft world-class cocktails with this M life Moment available to all members. Monte Carlo’s Director of Beverage showed us the fine art and history of mixology and was behind the bar for an hour shaking up some cocktail classics, and we enjoyed them too! Things were just getting started, and when you’re a new M life member like we were, you don’t fully understand the kind of access at MGM Resorts this program offers. But we learned quickly.

We loaded up our group for a stunning tour of MGM Grand’s STAY WELL Rooms & SKYLOFTS. MGM Grand’s new STAY WELL collection features 42 rooms and suites designed for guests looking to take their wellness lifestyle “on the road” when traveling. We were also lucky enough to tour the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond SKYLOFTS, a private, two-story sanctuary located on the top two floors of MGM Grand. This was amazing, and I’m sure many good people out there are using their M life points just to stay in this sleek spot in Vegas. I’m now floored by these Skylofts as we headed to dinner at Fiamma Trattoria & Bar at MGM Grand. From Sicily to Milan, Fiamma presents traditional Italian cuisine in sleek and sexy surroundings. We indulged vino from an award-winning wine list showcasing more than 700 selections from all over the world, and fresh, hand-crafted pasta creations from Executive Chef Pierpaolo Pittia. The food was fabulous and my entrée of scallops and prawns risotto was extraordinary. We then started another M life moment by attending “KÀ by Cirque du Soleil.” Taking photos with the cast prior to the show is an Insider (M life) Experience at MGM Grand and adds a first-class touch to your Cirque du Soleil experience. Also with M life, you will get to watch the show from VIP seats at one of Vegas’ favorite theaters. The show rounded out a well planned first day and the crew was able to gamble at the casino in Aria or just rest up for the following day’s M life Moments.

After a good night sleep in my Aria suite, it was time to live an M life Moment and swim with the dolphins at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. On a beautiful morning in Vegas, we got up close and personal with some of the world’s most beautiful, intelligent animals. M life gives members an exclusive experience swimming with bottlenose dolphins, a Moment I’ll never forget. You find this opportunity at other resorts, so get going and join M life https://www.mlife.com/ so you can experience some of these life-changing events.

I heard of the Aureole restaurant in Mandalay Bay, and now through M life Moments, we were going to learn to cook in the style of famed celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. This exclusive package includes a private cooking lesson with Aureole Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel and a tour of Aureole’s famous Wine Tower, and we savored every moment. After watching Chef Pouessel make French onion soup, we all had a sample for ourselves and it was nothing short of incredible. Afterwards, we enjoyed a multi-course lunch with wine pairings with Chuck Bowling, President & COO of Mandalay Bay. Mr. Bowling was very welcoming and also reviewed many of the exciting projects underway at Mandalay Bay Resort. I’m going to keep an eye out for Mandalay Bay because they are in the process of totally transforming an already top-notch resort.

We then had a roundtable with the bigs from MGM Resorts. This was our chance to have all of our M life questions answered. Our team of writers had the opportunity to sit down with two of MGM Resorts International’s top executives, Scott Voeller (Senior VP of Brand Strategy & Advertising) and Tom Mikulich (Senior VP of Business Development), for a special roundtable discussion. It was here that I learned exactly what MGM expects to provide M life members and that is “access.” The M life program provides MGM customers the chance to earn points that can be redeemed for access at all of the MGM Resorts. The M life is the ultimate way to earn rewards for virtually every dollar you spend. All you have to do is enjoy hotel, dining, entertainment and spa experiences, along with slots and table games, and you'll earn your way toward amazing rewards and benefits. Tier Credits is the engine that drives M life. Each Tier Credit you earn gets you closer to the next tier of membership. You earn credits through slots and video poker, table games, hotel accommodations, dining entertainment and spa.

Another original M life Moment was an evening with Master Artist Jeff Mitchum at his gallery located in the Bellagio. If you could spend an evening with a world-renowned photographer, what would you ask? What would you hope to discover? This special M life Moment gives you the rare chance to hang out with fine-art photographer Jeff Mitchum in his own gallery. You will receive a private tour (lead by the artist) of his gallery, drink cocktails with Jeff at Hyde Bellagio, and receive a signed collector’s edition book of his work. We did all of that and Jeff’s work is not only astonishing, but he’s also a great guy. Along with Jeff, we then headed to Hyde Bellagio, where celebrities go to truly enjoy Las Vegas. M life members can party like a rock star at Hyde Bellagio, located on the 50-yard-line of Bellagio’s iconic lake. Like us, you can enjoy VIP treatment while sipping savory libations and marveling in tableside cocktail presentations. A few of our writers even had an opportunity to pick the songs for The Fountains of Bellagio, an exclusive M life Moment. This experience was one of the highlights of my trip as the views are breathtaking and Hyde is a very soothing place right by the Bellagio fountains. This is an M life Moment for the ages!!

The M life just kept getting better as we boogied down to Sensi for dinner. It was at Sensi that we enjoyed a special dining experience courtesy of Sensi’s talented executive chef Roy Ellamar, who recently won an episode of Food Network’s hit television show “Chopped.” Chef Roy welcomed our group before we enjoyed the restaurant’s unique and indulgent dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world. One can also choose to experience Chef Roy’s three-course meal, which he crafted and prepared to win “Chopped.” I had a filet for my entrée and it was beyond delicious! This late dinner was excellent and had us charged for what the next day of the M life had in the works.

There are buffets out in Las Vegas, and then there is the Aria buffet. Live action stations line the newly redesigned Buffet at ARIA, offering freshly made specialties along with the only tandoor oven in a Las Vegas buffet serving baked naan and delicious kabobs. Before you leave Vegas, enjoy the new fresh fish market station and all-you-can-drink specials that include sangria, premium beer and wine. I can tell you we enjoyed just about every station at the Aria buffet. Before taking off to the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational at Shadow Creek, Aria reps gave us a tour of the Aria Sky Suites. A recent recipient of the Forbes Five-Star Award, we had an exclusive tour of the luxurious ARIA’s Sky Suites high above the Las Vegas Strip. A hotel-within-a-hotel, Sky Suites offers some of the most luxurious, tech-savvy accommodations in Sin City. If you recognize and appreciate sleek and modern like we do, then you’ll be impressed when in Aria Sky Suites. After approximately a 15-minute drive, we arrived at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational at Shadow Creek and the course is picturesque. We watched A-list celebrities hit the green at Las Vegas’ most exclusive golf course. There was Marcus Allen, Brandi Chastain, Roger Clemens, Kevin Dillon, Julius Erving, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., Mario Lemieux, Jerry Rice and many others in attendance. I enjoyed lunch and relaxed in the VIP Hospitality Deck overlooking the picturesque 18th hole.

When returning to Aria, we stopped by the adults-only LIQUID Pool & Lounge at ARIA with VIP access. Liquid is basically a day club for those who want to start the party early. This place was rockin’ and the drinks were cold and the food was tasty. With M life access, you skip the line and enjoy the adults-only, outdoor playground LIQUID Pool & Lounge. Enjoy poolside pampering, hot DJs and daytime indulgence in this sizzling environment. Dinner was getting close and I was pumped that we were eating at AMERICAN FISH by Michael Mina at ARIA. Celebrating one of America’s great dining legacies is AMERICAN FISH, Michael Mina’s fifth restaurant in Las Vegas. Rustic cooking methods from across the country are celebrated and applied with modern finesse. Featuring classic cocktails with modern twists, AMERICAN FISH recently introduced a new menu and it was out of this world. AMERICAN FISH is now one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas!

After a visit by some of the performers from “Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil” at Aria we went, to see their show. Cirque’s newest show to hit the Las Vegas strip, “Zarkana” is a visually stunning modern acrobatic spectacular set in a world where physical ability meets with the extraordinary. Surrender to a spellbinding extravaganza that defies the possible and will leave you breathless! Because we were living the M life, the party continued to HAZE Nightclub at Aria. We had bottle service and shared the club with Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, Bruce Smith and other celebrities. One can dance the night away at one of Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs: HAZE. In true M life fashion, we enjoyed VIP entrance, bottle service and a private table with a great group of new friends.

All of this is now available to Bullz-Eye readers by joining M life here and you’ll be on your way to earning points and choosing the M life moments that can change your Vegas experience forever!

Our weekend in Las Vegas living the M life had to come to an end, but the memories will last forever – and so will the photos! When we reported that Bullz-Eye was invited with other digital media members to experience the M life, there were very high expectations as to that was in the works. Well, first and foremost, the folks at MGM delivered on every point with a weekend like no other.

After a smooth flight in from Cleveland, I arrived at the Aria Resort and Casino quickly and was blown away by the sleek design of this gem on the strip. After checking in, I learned first-hand why so many visitors pick Aria as their first choice when visiting Las Vegas. When entering your room, the lighting, the window shade, the music… everything is tailored to your preferences and intuitive to your needs. Set them exactly the way you like and prepare yourself for the night ahead.

I headed down to Javier’s at Aria where we started the weekend and met my fellow influencers with signature margaritas and appetizers at ARIA’s newest restaurant. Javier’s brings a Southern California favorite to the Las Vegas strip and delivers a rich heritage of authentic Mexican cuisine along with hand-shaken margaritas and a high-energy ambiance to Las Vegas. Javier’s was a great place to get this M life party started, and we did just that! It was then off to the Hit Bar at Monte Carlo to channel our inner James Bond (or Bond girl) and learn how to craft world-class cocktails with this M life Moment available to all members. Monte Carlo’s Director of Beverage showed us the fine art and history of mixology and was behind the bar for an hour shaking up some cocktail classics, and we enjoyed them too! Things were just getting started, and when you’re a new M life member like we were, you don’t fully understand the kind of access at MGM Resorts this program offers. But we learned quickly.

We loaded up our group for a stunning tour of MGM Grand’s STAY WELL Rooms & SKYLOFTS. MGM Grand’s new STAY WELL collection features 42 rooms and suites designed for guests looking to take their wellness lifestyle “on the road” when traveling. We were also lucky enough to tour the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond SKYLOFTS, a private, two-story sanctuary located on the top two floors of MGM Grand. This was amazing, and I’m sure many good people out there are using their M life points just to stay in this sleek spot in Vegas. I’m now floored by these Skylofts as we headed to dinner at Fiamma Trattoria & Bar at MGM Grand. From Sicily to Milan, Fiamma presents traditional Italian cuisine in sleek and sexy surroundings. We indulged vino from an award-winning wine list showcasing more than 700 selections from all over the world, and fresh, hand-crafted pasta creations from Executive Chef Pierpaolo Pittia. The food was fabulous and my entrée of scallops and prawns risotto was extraordinary. We then started another M life moment by attending “KÀ by Cirque du Soleil.” Taking photos with the cast prior to the show is an Insider (M life) Experience at MGM Grand and adds a first-class touch to your Cirque du Soleil experience. Also with M life, you will get to watch the show from VIP seats at one of Vegas’ favorite theaters. The show rounded out a well planned first day and the crew was able to gamble at the casino in Aria or just rest up for the following day’s M life Moments.

After a good night sleep in my Aria suite, it was time to live an M life Moment and swim with the dolphins at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. On a beautiful morning in Vegas, we got up close and personal with some of the world’s most beautiful, intelligent animals. M life gives members an exclusive experience swimming with bottlenose dolphins, a Moment I’ll never forget. You find this opportunity at other resorts, so get going and join M life https://www.mlife.com/ so you can experience some of these life-changing events.

I heard of the Aureole restaurant in Mandalay Bay, and now through M life Moments, we were going to learn to cook in the style of famed celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. This exclusive package includes a private cooking lesson with Aureole Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel and a tour of Aureole’s famous Wine Tower, and we savored every moment. After watching Chef Pouessel make French onion soup, we all had a sample for ourselves and it was nothing short of incredible. Afterwards, we enjoyed a multi-course lunch with wine pairings with Chuck Bowling, President & COO of Mandalay Bay. Mr. Bowling was very welcoming and also reviewed many of the exciting projects underway at Mandalay Bay Resort. I’m going to keep an eye out for Mandalay Bay because they are in the process of totally transforming an already top-notch resort.

We then had a roundtable with the bigs from MGM Resorts. This was our chance to have all of our M life questions answered. Our team of writers had the opportunity to sit down with two of MGM Resorts International’s top executives, Scott Voeller (Senior VP of Brand Strategy & Advertising) and Tom Mikulich (Senior VP of Business Development), for a special roundtable discussion. It was here that I learned exactly what MGM expects to provide M life members and that is “access.” The M life program provides MGM customers the chance to earn points that can be redeemed for access at all of the MGM Resorts. The M life is the ultimate way to earn rewards for virtually every dollar you spend. All you have to do is enjoy hotel, dining, entertainment and spa experiences, along with slots and table games, and you’ll earn your way toward amazing rewards and benefits. Tier Credits is the engine that drives M life. Each Tier Credit you earn gets you closer to the next tier of membership. You earn credits through slots and video poker, table games, hotel accommodations, dining entertainment and spa.

Another original M life Moment was an evening with Master Artist Jeff Mitchum at his gallery located in the Bellagio. If you could spend an evening with a world-renowned photographer, what would you ask? What would you hope to discover? This special M life Moment gives you the rare chance to hang out with fine-art photographer Jeff Mitchum in his own gallery. You will receive a private tour (lead by the artist) of his gallery, drink cocktails with Jeff at Hyde Bellagio, and receive a signed collector’s edition book of his work. We did all of that and Jeff’s work is not only astonishing, but he’s also a great guy. Along with Jeff, we then headed to Hyde Bellagio, where celebrities go to truly enjoy Las Vegas. M life members can party like a rock star at Hyde Bellagio, located on the 50-yard-line of Bellagio’s iconic lake. Like us, you can enjoy VIP treatment while sipping savory libations and marveling in tableside cocktail presentations. A few of our writers even had an opportunity to pick the songs for The Fountains of Bellagio, an exclusive M life Moment. This experience was one of the highlights of my trip as the views are breathtaking and Hyde is a very soothing place right by the Bellagio fountains. This is an M life Moment for the ages!!

The M life just kept getting better as we boogied down to Sensi for dinner. It was at Sensi that we enjoyed a special dining experience courtesy of Sensi’s talented executive chef Roy Ellamar, who recently won an episode of Food Network’s hit television show “Chopped.” Chef Roy welcomed our group before we enjoyed the restaurant’s unique and indulgent dishes inspired by cuisines from all over the world. One can also choose to experience Chef Roy’s three-course meal, which he crafted and prepared to win “Chopped.” I had a filet for my entrée and it was beyond delicious! This late dinner was excellent and had us charged for what the next day of the M life had in the works.

There are buffets out in Las Vegas, and then there is the Aria buffet. Live action stations line the newly redesigned Buffet at ARIA, offering freshly made specialties along with the only tandoor oven in a Las Vegas buffet serving baked naan and delicious kabobs. Before you leave Vegas, enjoy the new fresh fish market station and all-you-can-drink specials that include sangria, premium beer and wine. I can tell you we enjoyed just about every station at the Aria buffet. Before taking off to the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational at Shadow Creek, Aria reps gave us a tour of the Aria Sky Suites. A recent recipient of the Forbes Five-Star Award, we had an exclusive tour of the luxurious ARIA’s Sky Suites high above the Las Vegas Strip. A hotel-within-a-hotel, Sky Suites offers some of the most luxurious, tech-savvy accommodations in Sin City. If you recognize and appreciate sleek and modern like we do, then you’ll be impressed when in Aria Sky Suites. After approximately a 15-minute drive, we arrived at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational at Shadow Creek and the course is picturesque. We watched A-list celebrities hit the green at Las Vegas’ most exclusive golf course. There was Marcus Allen, Brandi Chastain, Roger Clemens, Kevin Dillon, Julius Erving, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., Mario Lemieux, Jerry Rice and many others in attendance. I enjoyed lunch and relaxed in the VIP Hospitality Deck overlooking the picturesque 18th hole.

When returning to Aria, we stopped by the adults-only LIQUID Pool & Lounge at ARIA with VIP access. Liquid is basically a day club for those who want to start the party early. This place was rockin’ and the drinks were cold and the food was tasty. With M life access, you skip the line and enjoy the adults-only, outdoor playground LIQUID Pool & Lounge. Enjoy poolside pampering, hot DJs and daytime indulgence in this sizzling environment. Dinner was getting close and I was pumped that we were eating at AMERICAN FISH by Michael Mina at ARIA. Celebrating one of America’s great dining legacies is AMERICAN FISH, Michael Mina’s fifth restaurant in Las Vegas. Rustic cooking methods from across the country are celebrated and applied with modern finesse. Featuring classic cocktails with modern twists, AMERICAN FISH recently introduced a new menu and it was out of this world. AMERICAN FISH is now one of my favorite restaurants in Vegas!

After a visit by some of the performers from “Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil” at Aria we went, to see their show. Cirque’s newest show to hit the Las Vegas strip, “Zarkana” is a visually stunning modern acrobatic spectacular set in a world where physical ability meets with the extraordinary. Surrender to a spellbinding extravaganza that defies the possible and will leave you breathless! Because we were living the M life, the party continued to HAZE Nightclub at Aria. We had bottle service and shared the club with Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, Bruce Smith and other celebrities. One can dance the night away at one of Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs: HAZE. In true M life fashion, we enjoyed VIP entrance, bottle service and a private table with a great group of new friends.

All of this is now available to Bullz-Eye readers by joining M life here and you’ll be on your way to earning points and choosing the M life moments that can change your Vegas experience forever!

Michael Jordan was in his element, chewing on a cigar and hanging out with his celebrity pals on the stunning Shadow Creek golf course for the 11th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI). I was parked next the tee box on the 18th hole to get some photos as MJ and his entourage pulled up in their carts with music in the background. Everyone at the tournament was having a great time, but Jordan was top dog as usual.

I was in my element as well, enjoying a blowout weekend at the Aria Resort & Casino and hanging out on a beautiful day in the desert as I nursed a hangover from the previous night’s debauchery. As you can see from the slideshow above I had a great view as celebrities from Brandi Chastain, Aaron Rodgers, John Smoltz, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Roger Clemens blasted drives from the 18th tee. A good time was being had by all and the celebs happily mingled with the fans near the tee box.

Brandi Chastain and John Smoltz were in the lead following Saturday’s first round of the celeb-only scramble after shooting a six-under par 66. Hall of Fame broadcaster Ahmad Rashad, and teammate and former baseball all-star Roger Clemens, were two strokes back at 4-under. Clemons hit a monster drive on 18. The two-person, 36-hole celebrity-only scramble continues today with winners to be announced at 3 p.m. The winning celebs each will take home $20,000 for their designated charities. It would have been fun to bet a celebrity tournament link this at a site like bwin.

Michael Jordan chews his cigar with the 18th hole of Shadow Creek in the background

The course at Shadow Creek was simply stunning, and it has to be on your list if you’re a golfer heading to Las Vegas. It’s amazing to pull up to this oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert. With the mountains in the background as you can see from the photo above, the beauty of this course ranks up there with some of the best I’ve seen.

Check back later this week for more details from my stay at Aria, where the restaurants, nightlife and amenities give you everything you’ll need for a Vegas getaway with your gal or your friends.

We’ll use any excuse to hit Las Vegas, but covering the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) definitely qualifies as a trip we’re excited about. This 11th annual charity golf tournament will feature stars like NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers along with Ken Griffey, Jr., Wayne Gretzky, Roger Clemens, Brian Baumgartner, Brett Hull, Maury Povich and Chris Chelios. I’ll be reporting through the weekend here on the blog and you can also follow us on Twitter for photos and updates. I’ll also be staying at the incredible Aria Resort & Casino so this is shaping up to be a great weekend!

It’s also for a number of great causes, as this is a charity golf tournament. Proceeds from the charitable tournament will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, UC San Diego Nevada Cancer Institute, James R. Jordan Foundation, Opportunity Village and Cats Care, the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats’ charity arm. Since its inception in 2001, MJCI has raised more than $6 million for charity.

The tournament is being held at the incredible Shadow Creek golf course, which is opening to the public for only the second time with this tournament. I’m looking forward to getting some great photos.

Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International box office outlet or online through the links above:

Daily General Admission Pass $30/Thursday-Sunday
Weekly General Admission Pass $100/Thursday-Sunday
Daily VIP Pass $150/Thursday-Sunday
Weekly VIP Pass $500/Thursday-Sunday

VIP spectators will enjoy access to an unparalleled view of the course from the M life VIP tent, an openair venue featuring a “VIP Party Deck” overlooking the par-5, 18th hole, catering and a full-service bar. Discounted tickets are available for military service members with valid identification, and Senior Citizens 65 years of age or older with valid ID; both groups will receive 25 percent off a daily or weekly general admission ticket. Additionally, the tournament has created a special “Bring the Kids for Free” general admission ticket offer, which provides access to Shadow Creek for youth 16 years of age and younger when accompanied by a general admission ticketed adult (up to two children per paid adult).

With the golf tournament with MJ and then the Final Four semi-finals on Saturday night, this should shape us as quite a weekend. I also get to enjoy all the amenities at the Aria and will also see the Cirque du Soleil Viva ELVIS show which should be incredible. I saw the Love show featuring music from The Beatles last year so I’m definitely looking forward to this Elvis show!