new orleans.

My trip to New Orleans was simply amazing.  I fell in love with the city within minutes of being there.  The history plus beautiful architecture was enough to make me seriously want to move there.  But the happiness that seemed to radiate from the people and their surroundings really made me love the city for everything it represents.

We were only there for three days so it was a quick trip but was just enough time to eat at some great restaurants, do a good amount of shopping and see some different areas of the city.  We stayed at the Inn at St. Peter which was nice.  It was very authentic and in a great location but if I were to return I would most likely pick a different hotel.  Needless to say I was a little envious when we rode past The Bourbon Orleans.  If your looking for a nice, inexpensive place though I recommend it.

On our second day we went to the Garden District and did a morning tour where we saw Lafayette Cemetery Number 1 (think Double Jeopardy) and walked through the streets of the Garden District.  This was most definitely my favorite part of New Orleans, I loved the feel of all the old houses and live oaks sweeping lazily over the streets.

Other than that we did a French Quarter tour and saw among other things where Tennessee Williams lived and wrote, along with how he came up with the name for A Street Car Named Desire.  Saw Angelina and Brad's home (very boring from the outside), drank at some of the bars on Bourbon Street, ate way too much food, turned $5 into $46 at Harrahs on the penny slots, shopped on Magazine Street and at the Flea Market and ate lots and lots of beignets!  

I can't wait to go back!

xo

the best diet trick.

With the holiday season now in full swing I thought it would be nice to share one of my favorite diet tricks.  Remember back when I first tried the Green Monster.  Its incredibly healthy and can get your body back on track after a week filled with traditional holiday meals or the multiple cocktail parties that are in the weeks ahead.

Green Monster Smoothie
1 cup Greek Yogurt (I use Fage 0%)
1/4 cup Almond Milk or Skim Milk
1/2 cup Fresh Raspberries
1 Small Banana 
1 tsp. Almond Butter
Ice (I use about 7 cubes)
2-4 cups Spinach (This is based on preference I usually lean more towards 4 cups as its so amazing for you and you can't even taste it)

Almost everyone I know refuses to even try this because of the color but I can promise you it is delicious.  The banana and raspberries mask any flavor the spinach has and one glass has all the vegetable servings needed for one day.  The recipe can be altered according to taste and I have found versions that are vegan as well.  I think it would be wonderful with blueberries or peaches.

xo  

how long has it been...

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After being gone for the better part of a month, I'm finally back.  I can't believe its been almost a month since I returned from New Orleans (which was amazing by the way) but its feels good to be on track again.  Did anyone else notice that in my last post titled deep south I posted a picture of a girl with a bunch of suitcases in the desert? #fail

During my travels I was able to make a stop at Ikea and finally bought curtains for the living room which I'm currently dressing up a tad with a bubble hem.  I also will finally be getting my coveted bar this weekend.  My dad graciously build it and is bringing it up this weekend.  Its not the bar cart I originally wanted but I think its going to work great in the space I have.

If your a housewives fan, which of course you are, because who doesn't love rich catty women fighting with each other, indulge in this.

Sometimes being a teenage girl was really hard.

Is anyone else currently daydreaming about their life after tonight?  $500 million.  That's a lot of dough.  My office did a ticket pool and we are all anxiously awaiting the winning numbers knowing for sure we will be cruising the Caribbean, flying around in our G6, and spending the summers in our European villa within the next 24 hours.

And with that, I'll see you tomorrow (potentially a lot richer)!

xo

deep south.

 

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Well I am currently in route to New Orleans today.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Some things that I am currently loving this week...

...I have to have this in my gallery wall.  I want to do the butts as well but put them in my bathroom!  Too cute.

...Check it out, I mean Jax Teller yes please.  

...Is anyone else anticipating Les Miserables the movie as much as me?  The sneak peak is unbelievable and Ann Hathaway's voice=to die for. 

...If you were born in the late 80s and you are female, read this.

...Two of my favorite bloggers just released their brand new book this week and I can't wait to get my hands on it as well as meet them in February at one of their book signings. #celebsighting #starsinmyeyes

xo

   

travel essentials.

luggage // sunglasses // blazer // scarf // wallet // bag // studs // smoking slippers

I've always felt that the fall is a hard time to travel weather wise as temperatures can fluctuate significantly week to week.  For this trip I feel like I packed an entire closet to take with me as temperatures in NC have been incredibly low for this time of the year but I've heard its going to be in the 70s in Nola.  Hallelujah!  I am always cold, in NYC this summer I had my scarf wrapped around me when sitting in the shade, never mind that it was upwards of 90 degrees outside, therefore I thrive with layers.  Cardigans, blazers, and scarves are my go to for traveling.  

Here are a few of my other travel essentials.

Luggage- I like to take either a large bag or a rolling suitcase when traveling and depending on the destination and how long I'll be there.  Now lets not get carried away, no my Louis is not packed in my car right now, but hey we can all pretend like we have a $3,000 piece of luggage that we like to submit to traveling.

Sunglasses- Essential.  

Blazer- As I said, layers make me happy and blazers are so easy.  If your cold throw it on, if your hot take it off.  Plus as they are smaller and less bulky than a coat you can keep it in your purse when not in use.

Scarf- Perfect for when its hot but you know inside you may be cold.  Use it as a wrap when cold.

Wallet- Best thing ever invented.  Brightly colored wallets.  How many of you have been trying to pay for something, digging around in your purse for the infamous black/brown wallet that is the same color as the inside of your purse.  I currently own this one but in red, so easy to find in the catastrophic state that my purse is usually in.

Purse- If your anything like me you carry about everything in your purse.  I need something that is big especially when traveling because at any one time I can have a camera, travel guide, all of my normal purse gear, water, diet coke (essential!), phone, and the list goes on.

Studs- I don't usually change out my jewelry a lot when traveling unless needed so these studs are perfect for day and night.

Smoking slippers- Only thing necessary for travel shoes are comfort and stylish.  These slippers are perfect.

nola.

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I'm off on a quick trip to Nola (as the locals call it) on Thursday and couldn't be more excited.  I've never been to what around here we call the deep south and am literally bouncing out of my seat with excitement to see what everyone tells me is one of the greatest cities in the US.  The food, the music, the booze all that combined with French influence, I'm already in love!

I plan on hitting all the major tourist spots (yes I know, don't judge, I've never been) but a few that top my list are Cafe du Monde, the French Market and Flea Market, Jackson Square, the Garden District, The Columns Hotel, and Old Vally Plantation.  I definitely want to see one of the cemeteries and would like to do a bike tour one day.  We only have two and half days because we are driving so time is limited but nevertheless I'm going to fit in as much as possible.  As much as I thought I would dread the road trip I'm actually looking forward to the scenery as I've never been to that part of the US before. 

Does anyone have any tips on things to do or places to go in Nola?  What is your favorite restaurant?  As we all know one of my favorite things to do while on a trip is eat so I'll be trying as many differnt Creole and Cajun dishes as possible!

xo

a little of life lately.

the drink I will most likely never make

Well its the day after Halloween.  Did anyone else eat enough candy to fill a dump truck?  I went over to a friends to hang out for awhile and ending up eating a good portion of their Halloween candy.  They had three different types of snickers which are the bomb according to this so I had a few samples of each.  Almond snickers=delish.

As you all know I am currently obsessed with Thought Catalog and found this lovely list.  25 things you need to forget about, my close friends will tell you I remember a lot of random, idiotic things from like, middle school that don't matter in the least and will bring them up whenever I feel the need to get a certain point across.  I need to forget.  #2 and #3 are on point.

A nod back to my healthy lifestyle changes, I have been working out a lot lately.  As in, I wake up and feel like an old person every morning. Which gets totally canceled out when you eat loads of candy.  Whatever.

My roommate and I both won gold fish at the state fair a few weeks ago.  I wish I had a video of how hard we tried to win these fish, you would have thought they were dipped in 24 karat gold or swedish fish (nod to my intense sweet tooth these days).  Luckily we had a really nice game worker who gave us about 2.5 buckets instead of the standard one because we sucked so bad at the game and then the  five-year-old kid across from us wins his fish in about 5.6 seconds.  FAIL.

Whats up with everything being motion sensor these days?  At work we just got brand new soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers in the bathrooms.  Fancy motion senor ones.  Why?  I never really found it that hard to turn the knob or push down the soap pump.  I get it, its high tech, blah blah blah.  Working in sales, I often wonder what kind of comebacks those sales reps must have.  One awesome invention is that Dyson hand dryer.  I know everyone has been in the bathroom when that god awful hand dryer comes on and it sounds like a category 5 tornado has just touched down beside you.  Well the Dyson is so much better.  You stick your hands in pull them out slowly and voila!  Dry Hands.

Read please.

xo