Laissez les bons temps rouler!

“Let the Good Times Roll”!

I recently spent a few days in New Orleans, LA for work. It was my first time to the city and although it was neat to visit, I don't feel the need to return any time soon...if ever!

This conference was for the annual American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators; Southern Region meeting. In 2011 (my first year) Tallahassee hosted, then I traveled to Biloxi, MS in 2012. In 2013 I got to visit San Antonio, TX and then of course this year I traveled solo to NOLA.

I left Monday and made the 6 hour drive in a car that was not what I’d booked several months prior. Let’s just say it was old. I took a picture but I'm not sure I should share here since it's plastered with the state logo but here's one courtesy of Google images. One sexy beast huh? That's a 2005 Ford Taurus.

“You think you hate it now, wait 'til you drive it.”

Name that movie.

Not to be a snob but I was happy to be back in my Jeep at the end of the week. Especially since the car was equipped with nothing more than a cassette player. At least it had cruise control...

I digress! I made it to the hotel and thankfully I didn't have to ask for directions because it was sketchy and that was at 3:00 in the afternoon! All I could think about was the scene from National Lampoon's where the Griswolds get lost in the hood and need to ask for directions.

"I'm from the West side of Chicago, here on vacation"!

The hotel was called the Maison Dupuy and was on Toulouse Street, a block over from Bourbon street to give you an idea of its prime location.

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The meeting spanned over two days but in the evenings I got to venture out with some folks from other states attending the conference. I love meeting with this group because they're a lot of fun and we've become friends over the past couple of years. They work hard and love their jobs but know how to have a good time too. I was nervous to venture out alone but eager to explore so I was thankful to have them!

That street sign says Bourbon, covered in beads!

Dinner on the first night was at Acme Oyster House. The oysters were fabulous but the gumbo, not as much. It was good but didn’t blow my socks off!

This bird hangs out next to the sidewalk completely unattended just chilling behind his cage door. He whistles and talks and does tricks! So cool.

Good hair day requires documentation.

All pictures taken on the iPhone 5. Several with the Pro HDR app.

Dinner spot.

I have to say, I was unimpressed with the food. Although it was good, it wasn’t what I was expecting. It was also very expensive. Most po’ boys were around $15-$18 by themselves, no sides. Way too much for not enough deliciousness!

Jackson Square

We did a good bit of roaming the city when we weren't meeting. So many colorful houses and fun things to see! Except for the things that scarred my eyes. Like gross people and less than clean exteriors of gentleman clubs...

My only non-work related goal for the trip was to eat beignets at Café du Monde. I saw the restaurant featured once on Food Network so I really wanted to go. What do you know, yesterday (three days after I was there) I see on Instagram that Giuliana Rancic paid them a visit! Sad I missed her, I would have loved to see a celebrity! Any who the beignets were delish and I'd recommend wearing a white shirt. It helps hide the mess of powdered sugar that's bound to spray everywhere!

On the last day of the meeting we got to go on a tour of the French Market area of the city, led by an employee of the New Orleans Rodent Control. We walked the city learning about restaurants having been shut down due to infestation, how to spot rat holes, where you should and most definitely should not eat, as well as a lot of other interesting facts about the challenge of controlling the rodent population in NOLA.

A few things-

1) Mr. Rodent Control told us that twice he has seen a pair of rats take down a pigeon and drag it into their rat hole to feed on.

2) He also told us the rats are about 8-12" long, not including their tail! Crazy!

3) I desperately wanted to see one of these giant rats.

The tour was informative and I learned a lot. Mr. Rodent Control guaranteed that we'd get to see a rat. Sadly, it didn't happen. I was rather bummed but what can ya do...I wanted to see some dang rats!

Tour outfit.

We don’t look like tourists or anything…

Rat access!

Rat housing!

Some of the girls. Florida, North Carolina, Virginia x 2, Arkansas.

Down by the wharf.

Safety first.

See those trails? Those are rat runs! I know, so cool.

French Market

This was hands down the best pina colada I’ve ever had. OMG YUM.

I got a really cute souvenir shirt and picked up David a nice one as well. He loved it so I got an A+.

Until next time (or never again?) NOLA!

Neglected

My poor little blog has been totally neglected lately. Whoopsie! In my defense, I haven’t been sitting around twiddling my thumbs, just been super busy!

I’ve got some posts in the works so you can expect the following to show up around these parts soon.

Live Oak Island

Memorial Weekend Camping

New Orleans (Work Trip)

I hope to have some time this weekend to catch up on the blog. Life is cray-cray these days!

High Five for Friday

1)      It’s raining. Still. This point doesn’t really warrant a high five, but it’s a point nonetheless! Here’s hoping we see some sunshine this weekend. Florida has not been living up to its name at all this week! I hear the weekend is supposed to be much better. Thank GOODNESS.

2)      David has always been less than enthusiastic about my road side pickin’. He usually hides in the car if I make him pull over to check out some goodies that are no longer loved. However, I guess he’s hung out with me too long because yesterday on our walk around the hood there was a “Freebies” (sign and all) pile. Bless his heart he went to pickin’! He wanted to go back and get the truck and I said let’s finish our walk and you think about what you really need in that pile. If you still want it you can go back when we’re done. Well, he forgot about it when we got home and I didn’t remind him…am I a bad wife? However once he reads this I’m sure he’ll be hightailing it back over tonight to see if there’s anything good left. Ha!

3)      I found some awesome new kicks this week at Ross. They were just a little big coming in at a size 18. I regretfully put them back.

 4)      I started an at home teeth whitening regimen this week. After I brush and floss at night (I just went to the dentist and am doing good on these tasks for the time being), I take a cue tip and squirt hydrogen peroxide on it and rub it all over my teeth. It fizzes just a bit around my gums. I spit but don’t rinse. I try to do it before bed so it can get good and soaked in although this is probably not very good as I’m supposed to thoroughly rinse my mouth after 10 minutes and instead I go to sleep. Seriously though it’s not much at all that I’m applying so I’m thinking it shouldn’t be too life threatening. I’m not swishing a mouth full after all. Anywho! I took before pictures so I plan to report back if it’s a success story!

5)      I’m traveling next week for work to Coral Springs, FL. This is an annual conference I attend and I’m to the point that I actually like going to it. I look forward to seeing the people every year and even though it’s work, it’s nice to get away from the office and actually see the folks that I talk to on the phone all the time. I typically have to give a big presentation but I don’t this year and it makes it that much better. I would rather saw off my arm than talk in front of people but it is part of the job. However I’m happy to have a bye this time. I’m also looking forward to the long drive (about 6.5 hours) just so I can listen to my new audio books!

That's me up there on the stage at the 2011 course. 

Have a great weekend everyone!! 

I like big books and I cannot lie

When I recently won the Kindle Fire I also had the opportunity to download two free audio books through an app called Audible. I have a work trip coming up soon and it’s perfect timing because the 7 hour drive I have will be so much better while listening to a good book!

I downloaded The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) and I am in need of one more suggestion!

 

I’m currently in the middle of book three (Allegiant) of the Divergent Trilogy and have The Invention of Wings on standby for when I’m done with that. 

On a side note, it is taking me FOREVER to get through Allegiant. It’s just dragging and I’ve contemplated not finishing it but I just have to. Please tell me it picks up soon? I’m currently on page 275 and am over it. Do something exciting already!

So have you read anything good lately? Do tell! 

High Five for Friday!

1)      It’s rained buckets this week. But that’s okay because it meant I got to wear my favorite boots not once but twice!  Score for dry feet.

2)      We won our first softball game last night! My brother coaches the team and my Mom, David and I all play so it’s definitely a family affair. Last year we started in a low league and got bumped up. This year we started in the highest league and let’s just say we weren’t off to a great start. We lost our first 5 or so games. However last night was the first game in the new league that we should have been in all along and it was close but we pulled off a W! Cheers all ‘round.

3)      I’m not impressed with tomorrow’s weather forecast. It was supposed to be a boat day with the fam and with a high of 63 predicted and rain, not thinking that’s gonna happen. Boo honky.

4)      Every year our realtor’s office holds an Easter Giveaway. You get a flyer in the mail and show up sometime during the day to draw an egg for a prize. You can either win an Easter Lily, an Easter cake, or the grand prize, a tablet! Last year I won a Lily but guess what I won this year?! The grand prize, a Kindle Fire HD! Whoop whoop! There were about 7 eggs left and I came at the very end of the day and I drew the winning egg. Score! 

5)      It’s Friday and pay day, that’s all!

Happy weekend!

(And sorry for the Instagram repeats...)

Family Filled Weekend

A few weekends ago my family came down from Virginia and up from South Florida for a visit. Let’s see we had Uncle Brad, Aunt Maria, cousins Trey and Lane from Plant City and my Aunt Barbara, cousin Dusty, his wife Candace, and their 16 month old Skylar (who is just scrumptious!). My parents’ house was where the fun was this weekend and we didn’t want to miss out so we pulled our camper over there redneck style and spent the weekend! I don’t know why I didn’t take a picture, but there were two campers up and running in the “back forty” of my Mom and Dad’s yard. It was quite the RV park! Thanks for letting us plug in! The pooches enjoyed camper life for the weekend.

 

That little brown cutie is the neighbor's new pup!

We haven’t seen my VA family in a long time but this trip was spurred by the need for the first GREAT-GREAT grandchild Skylar to meet my PawPaw who is 97. We lost my Momi (great grandmother) earlier this year so it was really important that Skylar get to meet PawPaw while she had the chance. Will she remember it? Probably not, but we have pictures to show for it and I’m so glad my PawPaw got to meet his great-great grandchild. What a gift!

Five generations – PawPaw, Grandma, Aunt Barbara, Dusty and Skylar. Aunt DeeDee passed away but she was PawPaw’s Daughter/Grandma’s Sister/Barbara’s Mom. I think I kept all that straight!

We spent a lot of time laughing, eating, fire huddling, and playing combat croquet! I didn’t take hardly any pictures other than during croquet and I’m kicking myself right now. But we made lots of memories and got in sweet baby snuggles so that’s what’s important!

Aunt Barbara assessing the course before taking her shot.

David and Uncle Brad, sittin' on a log.

Ha! I'd say that one landed in the rough.

Sleeping without a care in the world.

You might have cowboys in your family if the patio looks like this. Boots off boys!

Love a sweet sleeping puppy!

Shopping Shenanigans

I haven’t been shopping in ages. Seriously forever. I finally put myself on an effective budget at the start of the year and I’ve been sticking to it! What that means is I’d rather spend all my money on Starbucks which will last me all month, instead of one or two clothing items and blow all my allowance. You feel me?

I also have been trying to avoid buying clothes until I hit my goal weight, but that is just dragging. In the meantime I’m wearing baggy old clothes. Not cute. It’s getting to the point where David is noticing that I’m wearing not so flattering outfits – ha! Here was our conversation yesterday about my outfit.

David: “Babe that looks like a really old sweater”

Me: “I love this sweater! It’s from the Loft and I paid like $40 for it [4 ish years ago / it’s gray and white snakeskin pattern]

David: “You spent $40 on that?! It looks like it’s from 1988! HAHA”

Me: “Well I don’t have the money to blow on clothes, I’d rather buy Starbucks!”

Fast forward an hour or so, I’d been working on something and was getting stressed and he came in, told me he was heading to his softball game and that he was giving me $100 to go buy some new clothes. Whatever or wherever I wanted but the only catch was that I had to spend it all last night! We have separate accounts for non-bill stuff, like our own “fun money” so he was giving me his fun money. True love. I don’t give him my fun money. I give it to Starbucks.  

As if that wasn’t good enough, he called back en route to the game and said you better transfer $103 so you can get a Starbucks too. Good man I tell ya.

I promptly postponed what I was working on and flew to Target. I spent almost two glorious hours there browsing the aisles, sipping a Shaken Passion Tea Lemonade and purchasing myself some things. I was in Heaven!

Also, the super sweet cashier told me about the Target app called Cartwheel. Deals galore on there and mobile coupons! Holla.

Here’s my loot. Several new staple shirts, two new work pants, and some wedges. All (but the bootleg black fancy pants) can be for work or play so it’s a win-win!

 Women’s Favorite Tank (these are so freaking soft!)

Mossimo Side Zip Ankle Pant // Merona Women’s DoubleweaveFlare Plant (Modern Fit)

Junior’s Boyfriend V Tee (again, softest material ever!)

Mossimo Paulette Wedge Sandals

Thanks again babe!! You rock my socks. 

Bathing Suit Shopping

I had a thought, why isn’t it called Recreational Swim Suit? I don’t wear a suit to take a bath. I guess it’s an “olden days” thing. Huh.

Anywho!

You know what isn’t fun? Recreational Swim Suit shopping. I kind of had a little higher hopes than usual this year shopping for a suit because I’m down 25 lbs from last year and my old suits are really baggy. I decided I'd go take a peek at some new ones. 

I tell you what, it wasn’t any more fun. In fact it was probably worse because I was expecting to feel better (okay, expected freaking hot!) and I didn’t resemble hottie with the body one bit. Ugh.

The only thing I was happy with in the dressing room was that my arms did appear to look a lot better than last year. My upper body has definitely toned significantly. So basically belly button up was cool. I was digging it. Except for the chesticle area but hey, can’t change that! At least not without 10 grand…

There was still a whole lotta work needed in the lower body department. The first official beach trip of the year is coming up and will be here before we know it. Memorial Day at Cape San Blas! 

Guess I know what area needs the most attention from here on out!

Craving Cozy

If there was one word to describe how I’d want my home and life to feel, it’d be COZY.

I just associate the word cozy with being wrapped in a hug.

With that being said, I’m always looking for ways to make my home cozier even with Summer right around the corner and the Winter months behind us.

Where does one look for inspiration pictures for anything and everything? Pinterest of course! I’m loving these images lately and felt like sharing.

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This kitchen is my very favorite. Those handles, that countertop, those beams. Swoon.

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Snap Widget

Notice anything new on my page? That’s right, I’m sure you did! I was able to magically link my Instagram feed to the blog webpage. Score.

Hi Dad! Now you can enjoy my Instagram account without having to have one.

Want to know how I did it? It was easy even for a non-techy like me.

Step 1: Visit SnapWidget. It’s Free 99.

Step 2: Put in your IG account name and customize what type of display you want the feed to have on your website. Play with it and preview it right on the page. Here are my settings:

Click GET WIDGET and copy the code it displays.

Step 3: On your blog layout page (Blogger in my case) click ADD A GADGET.

Step 4: Then click + to add an HTML/JavaScript.

 

Step 5: Paste your SnapWidget code into the HTML box.

Save and voila! IG feed on your blog. Place wherever you want.

Cool right?

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High Five for Friday

In the words of Big Al Mack from KKITM, “it’s the weekend baby!”

1)      144. That number. I am so tired of seeing that darn number on the scale! I cannot for the life of me get below it. Losing weight is weird. And mentally exhausting. I guess I’ll tell myself it is fat loss and muscle gain which equals the number on the scale NEVER MOVING AGAIN. Better stationary then up I guess?

2)      Tomorrow morning I’m going to a new-to-me gym to start a 7 day free trial. My gym is okay and dirt cheap, but it doesn’t offer any classes and it is 25 minutes from my house. I’m looking for something closer to home so I can make weekend visits and take exercise classes on non-routine gym days.

3)      This guy. I love that I still look at him and think that I’m such a lucky girl. I know looks aren’t everything but I’m smitten with my hunky hubby!

“Oh Eddie, you shouldn't have, you really shouldn't have.”

10 points to Gryffindor if you can name that movie. One of our favorites!

4)      Oh ma gosh you know how sometimes you really just need a jam session? Well I recently added the best station ever to my Pandora list. 90s Country Radio. You’re welcome. I know every word to every song and good gosh the 90s had the best Country music ever!!

5)      My clothes are boring me to death lately. Partly because things don’t fit right anymore and partly because I wear the same stuff week after week. If anyone would like to fund a shopping spree, hit a girl up mmk?

Happy Weekend!

This 27 Year Old Face

Lately I’ve been noticing more and more that it’s probably time, at the ripe old age of 27, that I invest in some facial products in the form of makeup. Cue sad music.

I’m not a makeup wearer. I hate having anything on my face because I’m a rubber. Hands always on my face, in my eyes, smudging up junk. I’m really just a chapstick + mascara girl. I’m also extremely cheap frugal and let’s face it – makeup is freaking expensive! I’m also completely makeup incompetent and don’t know what to buy or how to put it on.

With that being said, some days I feel like my skin is a little cray-cray and I may be in need of some concealer or something. New marks and blemishes every day it seems. Whatever it is you ladies use to give you some even coverage, I’d love to know! I don’t want anything heavy or cake-like. And preferably with non-melting capabilities seeing as this is Florida and it’s hot as balls here. And humid. And it rains a lot. I’d also like something natural looking!

So…any suggestions on what a girl is to get that’s good and cheap?

Help a sister out.