New Orleans

Yes...I finally made it to New Orleans!!!!  I had a blast and couldn't have asked for two better guides than Heather and Shannon.  We drank, ate, shopped, walked, slept and laughed ALOT.  Our stomach muscles got quite the workout the four days we were there.  I think all the walking and laughing we did worked off all the drinking and eating we did.  ha!  I tried so many new things while I was there...chargrilled oysters, duck, turtle soup, rabbit, boudin balls, creme brulee, BBQ shrimp, bananas foster, crabcakes, veal, alligator, Ramos Gin Fizz, beignets and more I'm probably forgetting.  So much to see, do and oh my gosh the food!  So much to eat...it was sooooo good!  We attempted to go on a Ghost Tour but the only thing we learned from that tour was there were unspeakable acts committed at the LaLaurie Mansion on Royal Street...and our guide was the one who was batshit crazy!  We totally ditched that tour halfway through.  It did give us some good material for the remainder of the trip...and in fact, I used some of it today.  Good times, good times!

So I'll just give you a taste of this trip through pictures...since well you know, I can't feed you the totally awesome food we had through this post.  All I can tell you is if you haven't been to NOLA, you totally need to go.  Hurry...don't waste any more time.  Run dammit!!

This was our first day in Nola...me and Heather.  Those may or may not be daiquiris in our hands but those bags are most definitely from a Lush store.  Have you ever used Lush products before?  If not, you should.  Or at the very least, try them.  I'm sold on my lip scrub and balm. For someone who has always had dry lips, this stuff is amazing. 

 

 

Me and Shannon taking a break from shopping.

 

 

 

Jean Lafitte...oldest bar in New Orleans.  Please ignore my photographer's finger in the picture...so hard to get good help these days. 

 

 

 

And the three best looking ladies inside having a beer. 

This was the best picture of all three of us the entire trip.  I don't know what it is

about men in Nola but not a dang one of them can take a picture worth a crap! 

 

 

 

See what I mean..

 

 

We made friends along the way...

 

Feathery ones...

 

 

not so purdy partially naked ones...

 

 

Band leaders named Leroy...

 

 

And painters named Alan.  This was my piece of New Orleans I brought back with me.  I love it but  it doesn't go with a dadgum thing in my house.  I think I've almost decided to hang it in my bedroom above my computer.  I'm still working on it though...

 

 

drinks...

 

 

carousel bar at the Monteleone Hotel...

 

 

St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square...gorgeous!

 

the altar...

 

ceiling...

 

choir loft...

 

The pictures just don't do it justice.  It was so beautiful inside.  I did light two candles, one for my mom and one for Jace and said a prayer before I left.  :) 

 

I had such an awesome time and can't wait to visit again some day.  Heather and Shannon showed me a funtabulous time.  They were great tour guides.  Cheers to you ladies and thank you!!   

 

Winery Texas Style

I'm back from a much needed girls weekend.  We laughed, we cried (happy and sad tears), we ate, we drank, we shopped, we walked, we sang and we drank some more.  We had the best time and can't wait to do it again.  We went to two different wineries, both were absolutely gorgeous but the view at the first place was amazing!  We also had the honor of witnessing two weddings at both places.  The first one was the best...sunset wedding.  Oh my goodness, you couldn't get any more beautiful. 

We snapped this picture at the Driftwood Estate Winery.  Just as the bride was about to walk to her groom...the sun peaked out.  And look at that Texas hill country...GORGEOUS! 

 

 

Of course the girls had to get in some pictures...

Cassie, Lindsey, Marilee, Me

 

 

 

And the next winery...the Duchman Family Winery

 

 

 

After we left the wineries, we drove back to Gruene for dinner at the Gruene River Grille.  Delish!!  We stopped at a couple shops to pick up some goodies for my kids (Christmas gifts) and goodies Lindsey's hubby.  I love Gruene, its one of my favorite places to visit.  I keep saying I'm moving there...and one of these days I just might, LOL!!  I took this picture as we were coming out of one of the shops.  Beautiful pic I think...

 

 

 

That about wraps up my pics for this trip.  As I said, it was a much needed trip with the girls.  Nothing better than girlfriend therapy over wine, food, laughs and tears.  Another BIG trip coming up this weekend.  Look out New Orleans I'm coming your way!! 

 

Y'all have a good one!

 

P.S.  I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving already.  Man, time is flying! 

Change

Change is all around me, especially at work.  I will admit, I don't like change.  Well I don't like big changes and often times don't handle it well.  I don't feel like I am handling the change at work well at all.  My job responsibilities are being switched around.  16 years of molding what I do is being tossed aside and I'm told "for the time being" to do something else.  I'm a team player and I have no problem helping another department out but what I've been doing is being stripped away from me and that, I don't like.  There are so many questions regarding my current responsibilities, questions that I hope the new guy will sit down and take the time to discuss with me.  For now, its business as usual and I will keep trucking along.  But I'm not going to lie...I sure need to remember everything my momma taught me about minding my p's and q's and Lord, please help me to remember my grace.    

Halloweenie

Always running behind...but you should be used to this by now.  Well, if you follow this blog on a regular basis, you should anyway. 

Instead of giving you a play by play of our Halloween night, I'm just gonna tell you we ate pizza, tricked and treated, ran over small children with a wagon (our own), ran over feet (mine), upset some kids (our own again) and then commenced on the big candy trade of Halloween 2012.  Here are some pics from that night.  I hope they give you as many laughs as we had that night.  Always a good time when you combine my family and friends. 

Y'all have a good one!