My weekend in the NOLA

This weekend was nice.  Saturday, it rained and a cool front blew through.  Spent the day studying and the evening with my brother, his wife and their two kids.  Love those two little boys, but the oldest definitely has his bad days and makes for perfect birth control sometimes.  I enjoy my time that I have with my brother and sister.  

Sunday was a gorgeous day.  Hubby and I spent it out and about.  Went to the French Quarter, saw the Navy ships that were in to commemorate the bicentennial start of the War of 1812 and finished off with a late lunch at Dragos.  Charbroiled oysters, fried ravioli and cocktails were consumed.  

I have not been on a Navy ship in years.  They were in town when I was a kid.  My maternal grandfather was in the Navy and was in WW2.  In fact, he was on the USS North Carolina (simply amazing story/ship).  So, seeing the USS Wasp was neat as well as the other countries Naval ships who came to New Orleans for Navy Week.  They departed today (at 11am).  

Well, for now, I am counting down the days until I am on vacation to the coast of somewhere beautiful with my husband.  

What I am thankful for.

I am thankful that I have a healthy, loving, well adjusted daughter.  That she is not afraid of anything and takes the bull by the horns when she has to.  She's a lot like me.

I am thankful for the loving husband that I have.  Who loves me despite my faults and encourages me to be the best person that I can be.  He also supports what ever crazy endeavor that I come up with as well.

I am thankful for my parents.  Who raised me to be the person that I am today and who have stood behind me in the good and bad times.   They have taught me to fight hard in what I believe in and to never just give up when things get rough or hard.

I am thankful for my siblings.  My brother and sister both rock.  I am close to both and enjoy everything that they bring into my life.  We've been through a lot as a family, but we've come through a lot closer and tighter than ever.  

I am thankful for my inlaws.  They have taken me in and made me feel as though I am one of their own.  Not only myself, but my daughter as well.  I am truly blessed.

I am thankful that my ex (as well as his family) and I get along as well as we do.  It truly does benefit our daughter and her well being.  Raising her in as close to an intact household as we can without trying is what is best for her.

I am thankful to be working where I am.  I love my job and what I do.  It pushes me to strive to learn new things and it challenges me.  

I am thankful for my friends.  Without them, I have no clue where I'd be.  I need them to tell me how it is going to be and to set me straight when I stray off of the path for an easier one.  

I am thankful for A LOT of things, but these are just a few that come to mind.  I am truly a blessed person and I know this.  Family and friends are important and its nice to show that to them during the holidays.  One thing that I learned is to let them know all of the time how appreciative you are of them.  Never know when you will see them again. 

Live, Laugh and Love <3 

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!

Things that I have learned over the years.

Karma is a very interesting thing. I've learned over the years that you get back what you put out there. If it's bad Karma, you are lucky to only get it back tenfold, not worse.

Life is too short to be thinking about people who do not matter in your life. I've hand picked who I want in my life as well as who remains in it. I am very blessed to have who I have as well as the family that I married into.

Life is not a competition. I feel sorry for those who make it that.

Living in the past and trying to predict the future does not get you far because you miss out on the now and the present is what is the most important. Figuring that out is when you truly are able to live your life happily because you do not miss out on it.

No one is perfect and life is not perfect, but finding the positive in every negative makes life that much easier and better.

There are no victims nor are there survivors. Own your actions and behavior. It makes you a stronger person.

Assuming gets you no where. If you want to know, ask. Otherwise, it is none of your business if you do not have the balls to find out the truth first hand. No matter how painful or validating it can be.

Life is good and I hope that it is for you as well.

Namaste

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!!! :)

When it all falls into place.

Ever have one of those moments in life where everything falls into place? You know, where all is good and nothing can go wrong? I have a beautiful , healthy, and active daughter who keeps me very busy. She is a blessing and because of her, I am who I am today. She is my heart. I am married to the most wonderful man ever. He loves me despite some of my flaws (which he says that I do not have any). He recognizes my artistic abilities and he backs me in whatever insane project that I start. I have a kick ass business partner who knows what she is doing and is someone who strives to obtain her goals (like me). I have a wonderful family and friends and a huge support system that has always been there for me no matter what.

It is nice when everything falls into place. I am so excited for the next chapter that is about to unfold. I will tell in due time :) Let's just say that I am truly blessed.