It’s been a while — too long really — since this Diva did anything very, well, Diva-like, and I was feeling like it’s about time I did…and what better way to get back into that bedazzled saddle of mine than to pick up one of my besties in my Divamobile and head over to Texas Station for the Las Vegas Woman’s Expo.

Unlike a different girl-themed gathering that was held in a South Strip hotel ballroom recently, the one Jill and I went to was held in a smaller-sized ballroom nestled in a much quieter locals-friendly Texas Station Casino with maybe 50 vendors, ranging from water purifiers to skin rejuvenators. While many of the vendors were of the been-there-done-that-got-the-themed-martini-glass variety, there were some standouts.

First, let’s talk about the food-related vendors because, well, I like food — good food — and Texas Station had their eateries well represented (Austin’s Steakhouse offered a lovely Cobb salad sample and champagne was being served by the Martini Bar) but my favorite treat was the jambalaya being prepared fresh by the yummy young chefs manning the Rhythm Kitchen booth. I love southern-style food, especially Cajun and Creole dishes out of Louisiana. You can take me to N’awlins any time, sweetie. Even though their jambalaya sample was little bland for my taste I chalked it up to making sure not to over-spice the unbaptized. I could tell that they know what the flavor profiles should be and since they are located in the same end of the Valley that the Diva calls home (SW Las Vegas near Decatur Blvd. and Sunset Road) I’ll be heading over in the very near future to check out one of their all-you-can-eat nights (catfish on Saturday nights…YUM) or will be ordering up one of the Rhythm Kitchen Platters (catfish, oysters, two kinds of shrimp and frog legs…oh my). Wonder if that cute chef is on the menu. Oops, did I just say that with my outside voice?

The next notable was also food related — Marina, store manager for the HoneyBaked Ham located on Rainbow Blvd. Near Charleston. This is a woman who knows how to get what she wants. I mean, how many of us can convince a man to don an obviously less-than-comfy pig suit without making promises we might regret later? But beyond her obvious negotiating skills, it was her willingness to think outside the box in order to give back to the community that really got our attention.

You see, my homegirl Jill is not only a military wife and a middle-school mommy, she’s also a fund-raising goddess for many causes near and dear to her heart. (She still creates fund-raising opportunities for her son’s former elementary school even though he hasn’t attended there for two years.) Once Marina discovered both the military and fund-raising connections, she and Jill brainstormed for a good 20 minutes on potential collaborations. I can’t wait to see what those two come up with. Seriously, this could be dangerous.

Moving on to women’s accessories and wearables I found a few notable vendors. Summerlin shoe store Foot Solutions offer some pretty good-looking work shoes that don’t look like work shoes and a running shoe that are as light as a feather (ok…more like 7 ozs but still…) and the multi-location Eccoci (a.k.a. Limited Editions For Her) carries nice-looking-yet-affordable office attire (although the styles seem more appropriate for Ladies who Lunch in the Hamptons than for women who swelter in Las Vegas). Also catching the Diva’s attention was the Miche Bag: a unique concept in handbags where you take a basic handbag and add super cute magnetic shells to the outside of it to create different looks to suit your mood and/or outfit. It’s kinda pricey to get started (to get the classic black bag, one shell and one strap approaches the $100 mark) but local representatives offer special deals on the shells as well as at-home parties that I may actually go to. And this Diva does NOT do tupperware, or makeup parties or glassware parties. Maybe “toy” parties if I’m in the mood.

For me, however, there were two stand out vendors in women’s accessories: C Pearls and So Lucky To B Me. Cindy Ulrich spoke to my inner artist with breathtaking freshwater cultured pearl jewelry with looks and sets ranging from subtle and everyday to bold and special occasion styles and all at very affordable rates. Andie is also an artist but her “canvas” is cotton clothing with inspiring quotations and leather accessories with rhinestones. When I go to these things I promise myself I won’t buy anything and this is the second time I broke down and bought one of Andie’s t-shirts. What can I say…I’m a sucker for a good, positive quote. Shhh. Don’t tell. It will ruin my image.

To wrap up our expo adventure Jill and I got chair massages from Nevada School of Massage Therapy students. What a great way to end the day. But the real added bonus was “accidentally” mentioning the pampering to my mate after he got home from a very long, very hot day humping audio gear at an outdoor show in North Las Vegas. The cost for a massage at the school? $32. The look on his face when I told him I was getting a massage while he was dealing with heat and crowds and local musicians? Priceless, darling. Just priceless.