NOLA.

Growing up I'd watch re-runs of No Reservations constantly and appreciated the fact Anthony Bourdain would go to the places a little less unsung than in the other networks shows. He'd meet his crew's Grandmother or Aunt and they would cook up their local cuisine and that's where the magic stood. I always knew that when I got the opportunity to travel, that I wanted to emulate that style or mentality about visiting new places. Of course, I may not have the luxury of having someone's Grandmother whip me up an amazing home cooked meal, but I privately vowed to take the time to research what makes the place special and really narrow in on that. 

This passed weekend, my girls and I went to New Orleans. Synonymous, with partying we took the a different approach. We ATE and we ate GOOD. Our first dinner was at a restaurant called, Antoine's. It has been around since the 1840's and still serves the original recipes. It was an experience from start to finish. 

We started with the Pommes de Terre Soufflées,that were airy fancy french fries, to put it simply. But they were heavenly. Paired with a light champagne and for my entree, I ordered, Poulet aux Champignons, (chicken breasts with a mushroom sauce served with onion rice). It was an explosion of flavor for my taste buds. Rich, salty decadence with a spike of spice. Nothing like I'd ever tasted before. I ended the meal with a local take on bread pudding with rum and pecans and some very luscious coffee. We all indulged and it was fantastic. The next morning we ate at Brennan's for Brunch. It was a humid rainy morning and we were all so excited for our meal. The decor inside was playful and colorful, reminiscent of Marie Antoinette meets The Beverly Hills hotel, and that is nothing less than a compliment. We started with our beverages of choice, juice, a rum cocktail and I had the New Orleans style coffee. I ordered the Eggs Benedict with coffee crusted bacon. And finally we all were way too full for dessert. The rest of the day was left for sightseeing. We walked the Garden District and saw all the historic homes. Some dating back to the 1830's, we even saw the very first home built in the city of Lafayette, now known as New Orleans. 

  

To Take the Tour We Took, Click the Link!

On our first night there, our Uber driver advised us to check out Frenchmen street, he said it's where the locals go to listen to live music. I'm so glad he mentioned it, because that became our favorite part of the trip. It wasn't as crazy as Bourbon but had a bouncy magnetic energy. We stumbled upon a street market selling art and jewelry, which personally reminded me of the little things I love about Austin. I bought a piece of art to remind me of my trip and the amazing company I had on my trip. My girls are the best travel companions, I have to say. Lastly, our Hotel was this amazing little 4-star  boutique hotel in the middle of everything. We never really spent more than $10 on an uber the entire time we were there. Le Pavillion. Our favorite detail, by far was, at 10 p.m., every night they would serve free PB&J sandwiches and hot chocolate. It was the cutest thing ever. I'm sure all of our family thought, we were intending to party it up in the (real) city of sin,but nope! These girls were in bed before midnight, with PB&J.  I wish we had more time to explore, even 1 more day to try new things. But I think for all of us, it was a little unexpected and a very fun trip. I hope you all enjoyed the little details, I loved about our trip. As Always, Thanks for reading! 

My Favorite Time of the Year...

Thanksgiving has come and passed, we are feeling little heavier but probably a little happier. It's Sunday evening and many of us have returned home after our breaks from work and school to continue with our normal lives. However, with the feeling over our heads that we'll be gathering with loved ones again very soon. My birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year, as well. It's a bittersweet feeling, to have a holiday birthday. As a kid, I hated it! People always forgot, and getting people together around this time of year can be a challenge, but now as an adult I've become accustomed to these challenges. To be honest though, I do always feel a little sad around my birthday. No, it's not a fear of aging, I've always felt like a 90 year old woman on the inside, so birthdays feel like I'm just catching up to my soul. I can't quite pinpoint the feeling. Birthday Blues, I call them. I have a lot to be grateful for and feel that everyday. Despite the blues, I took my boyfriend home for the holidays. It was the first time I've ever brought a guy home to stay for the holidays. It was big deal for both of us. One thing him and I have in common, is that we were single for a long time before we met. It's something I think that we acknowledge, when firsts like this weekend happen, as being a big deal. As I write this with hesitancy,but I made a promise to myself to be completely honest and open about my life. I'm a very private person, especially when it comes to my relationships but I've got to keep my promise to myself. Anyway, it went well. My mom and sister made a beautiful Thanksgiving feast. 

We sat and enjoyed our meal, together. My mixed, multi-cultural, blended gathering of loved ones. It's my normal, and something I'm proud of. My dad made a comment to my boyfriend as we were leaving , "It was like the United Nations in there, wasn't it?. I'm happy it went well, Family is a delicate, but beautiful thing. Something I cherish, and sharing my family with another person is not something I take lightly. My niece and nephew were sitting at the table. My little angels, giggling and smiling through dinner, knowing they were amognst people who care deeply for them. They bring so much joy and make the holidays so special. The day after Thanksgiving/My Birthday. We spent the day at the Renaissance Festival, hence the photos I'm sharing.

It was a beautiful fall day full of excitement and yummy food. We had a blast and my niece, sister and mom dressed up. They were, of course, the most beautiful there. This is truly my favorite time of year. The weather, the foods we cook , and down to the clothes we wear. It feels as if I become the most, true version of myself. I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. This beautiful, American tradition that only exists in this country. Embrace that for a moment. I apologize, for my absence lately, I've been focused on my recovery (which is going well), but I intend to get back to business! Happy Holidays, everyone!

Energy Boosting Smoothie : My Migraine Pick-Me Up

I spent this beautiful Sunday, with my great friend Crystal. She's a local herbalist who specializes in natural medicine. In my search for natural remedies and foods to incorporate for diet, I knew exactly where to turn. Crystal listened to everything I've endured this year she recommend countless options I could try. 

I suffer from migraines, and through the years I realized my trigger was waiting too long to eat. I can feel when my blood sugar is low, and I immediately get an intense headache, feel weak and sometimes even nauseous. We created a smoothie for just that! We're calling it the Energy Boosting Smoothie. My personal Migraine Pick-Me up. Chocolate Banana smoothie with cinnamon and turmeric. The perfect blend to get your energy back to 100%. See below for the recipe! 

What you need : 2 ripe bananas, 1 cup of Almond Milk, Cinnamon, Tummeric (Ground or Capsules) , Chocolate Flavoring,  Add Ice.

Delicious and perfect for when you're feeling you need an extra boost to get through your day!

Now back to the fashion, here's my Sunday Funday look. 

With Robert the Dog 

Get The  Look: Top: (Similar) Target , Belt : (Similar ) Loft , Skirt: (Smilar) H&M , Necklace : (Similar) Forever 21

For amazing health conscious products check out https://naturespeaksllc.com/

If you're like me, you try to avoid harsh chemicals in your skin care and health regime. Crystal's products are locally made and created for the customer's best interest in mind.