My Sunday working French Quarter Fest

I worked French Quarter Fest this year.  It was so much fun and such a beautiful day (Sunday, the last day of the festival).  I work for New Orleans Original Daiquiris as a manager and we had a few booths out there.  We were so busy.  It was non-stop, but where our booth was situated, we were on the river front which was nice as it was breezy and sunny.  

On my way to working the FQF (French Quarter Fest).

 

 

Brunch consisted of Crawfish Pasta...

 

I was slinging some drinks... and boy.... was I messy.  

 

Thanks to Auntie da Barbaras for taking this pic :)

Then, I scored a trade.  Love bartering.  Fried oyster poboy from Redfish Grill.   The best ending to the crazy, yet beautiful day.  

   

Working two jobs is insane sometimes, but...it does have its perks when you get to work festivals.  Next up... Jazz Fest.  

 

Back to reality.

Every once in a while, a person needs to get away to recharge their batteries.  My husband and I had planned this trip to go up to the East Tennessee area to visit his mom's side of the family a few months ago.  We have been going up there moreso as an extended long weekend the last few times, but this time, we spent 9 days up there.  It was very nice.  The Smokies are beautiful this time of year with the leaves changing colors.  

Somewhere in the Smokies.

We drove up to the Smokies and spent the day up there.  It was very romantic and the sights were breathtaking!  This Cajun girl grew up at the camp on the bayou so since meeting my hot hubby 7.5 years ago, he has shown me a whole other way of life away from the muddy waters. 

Clingmans Dome

Newfound Gap (where you can be in Tennessee and North Carolina at the same time.  Also, where President FDR gave a speech).

While enjoying these beautiful views, I managed to get what I needed and cooked some Cajun food up there in the mountains.  Chicken and sausage jambalaya was a huge success and I also had my hubby and his cousin as my sous chefs.  Of course, this tasty concoction could not be without consuming some Louisiana beer (Abita Purple Haze) while cooking/eating.   The jambalaya was perfect for that cold (I mean FREEZING) front that came through while we were up there.  Thursday morning, there was snow (aka sneaux) on the mountain tops!  Sadly, the hubs and I did not pack for that kind of cold weather BUT thankfully, there is a HUGE outlet mall not to far from where we were staying and of course that is the PERFECT excuse for shopping, right? ;)

Snow (aka SNEAUX) on top of the mountain!!!

This past weekend was my niece's fourth birthday party.  What kid does not have two kinds of cake for a 4th birthday?  Preslie, that's who.  She had a cake from New Orleans and a cake from up there in Tennessee.  Of course, Preslie was Tinkerbell and it was a Tinkerbell themed party.  Being around her sometimes sets the baby ticker in motion, but shortly thereafter . . . its back to enjoying not having an itty bitty and being able to enjoy others little ones and still having the freedom that comes with having older kiddies.

NOLA cake (Creative Cakes) and the one from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Preslie

Some balloons got away, but I was making it better!

Dylan, Kailey, myself and Taylor doing face painting.

I truly enjoyed every second visiting family.  They may be family due to me marrying into it, but they have always treated me as one of their own from the very beginning.  I am truly very blessed in my life in having a wonderful and loving husband who comes from people who are equally as wonderful and loving as he is.  

Jody, Preslie and I.  I LOVE THAT MAN!!!

My best friend/hubby.

I LOVE MY LIFE AND IT IS GOOD, NO FANTABULOUS, and I cannot wait to go back up there again!  Tennessee is definitely a second home to me!

Men!!!

Wants to share about what her hubby did. OY...Last night, he has a 'sweet craving' and went to Walgreens to get something sweet. I told him that I did not have any gas in my car and that I needed to get gas in the morning. Well, this morning, I get into my car and notice that the seat is back (meaning he took my car to the store). I was a bit aggravated and maybe mumbled a curse word or two under my breath. As I sat in the driver's seat while moving it back to short people driving position, I noticed that the gas gauge was no longer on Empty (aka fumes in Heather land) and now on Full. Of course, I double checked it once I turned the engine on, but my baby put gas in my car for me this morning so I did not have to. How awesome is he? I'm so blessed and it's the little things like that that count. :)

Busy Birthday Weekend :)

This weekend was a nice one. Went out to dinner with my husband, his friend and her husband on Saturday night for their birthdays. We went to Vincent's on St. Charles Avenue. It is one of Jody's favorite places to eat. Anything for my husband :)

Enjoyed planning my sister in law's baby shower with a friend. Got a lot accomplished with that. Cannot wait for my nephew to be born!!!

Yesterday, we went to lunch and then to the Lakeview Festival at St. Dominic. Enjoyed looking at local merchants jewelry as well as the local artists. I bought a Tuna numbered and signed poster. Cannot wait to have it framed and hanging!!! There are a few more other pieces that I would like to get. It will go great with my paintings that I have done as well as Jody's Endymion pieces that he has.

It has been a month long celebration for Jody's birthday. He deserves it. I am so proud of him and who he has become as well as who he strives to be. We could not be any happier with each other. Well, sure that we could, but there are no words for it.

I am so blessed to have who I have in my life, to have a wonderful family, and to be married to my best friend. Life is definitely good!!! :)