New Orleans Part 1

We escaped to NOLA for my birthday. I had never been and now I am in love and can't wait to go back. We drove and anyone who knows me knows this is not my thing but it was a beautiful drive with the promise of 200 old trees to visit along the way.

We dropped the dogs at my moms and I threw on my sporty spice travel clothes and hit the road. Loved my new kicks ;)

You can find them here

First stop Nottaway Plantation on river road. As you can see you are immediately transferred back in time. Read more about it here 

The grounds were stunning and we would even like to stay here next time I think. They turned it into a lovely resort and the weather could not have been better.

We contined to drive a long river road.

The Mississippi is so much larger than you think and I can't help but picture it 200 years ago and imagine how people tried to cross it. 

Then we came to one of the most beautiful sites I have seen this close to home.

Oak Alley it is majestic I have no better word. A truely amazing site. (read more about it here)

Look at those trees to think of all they have seen and survived. I really wanted to get my blanket out of the car and nap under them for hours and one day I think I will ;)

As you stood there the river behind you facing the house the trees did just as intended... You felt a wonderfully cool breeze off the river heading to the house. 

It is such a beatifiul place you almost forget that it was the site and cause of so much horrible American history and reminds me that beauty is most often deceiving. I love and appreciate history and I think it makes us better people to understand and acknowledge the past good and bad. It also makes me very greatful for who I am and all my blessings I have today.

Anyway sorry for the rant ;) this ended up a reflective vacation maybe because it was my birthday and I am getting older...

So we pressed on to NO

Arrived at our hotel. It was lovely.

There was a birthday gift to greet us...my favorite kind.

The bed was huge and the view  was perfect.

We laid around the room sipping champagne, looking over the courtyard and listening to the bustle of the city. So far it was looking like NOLA and I were going to be best of friends...

Part 2 coming later this week. 

Weekend For My Soul

This weekend was filled with way too many events but we got through it and had a wonderful time! I am not a huge fan of no rest on the weekend I think it's important to recharge from the week. This weekend I realized its also good to recharge with a shot of everyone you love...and the exhaustion is worth it.

Started with. Going away party for my best friends sister who is in return like my sister, she is moving to Seattle and its hard on all of us! So what are we to do?? Drink and dance yup that should make us feel better ;)

So we did and we realized things have definitely changed since we used to go out but one thing hasn't ...how much fun my friends are!!

Then it was time to head to East Texas to celebrate my little sisters birthday so we packed up the dogs and drove through the random summer storms.

Till we arrived here... The entrance to the magical forest seriously how beautiful??

We sang and ate our selves silly. Then had a nice long visit with family it was good for my heart.

It was quite and late before we headed home to moms house.

I slept like a baby and woke up to great coffee and real bacon...

Yup sometimes I want the fat!! And my favorite blueberry muffins ... Thanks mommy!

We lounged around and visited while mom looked at the paper and the dogs begged for bacon.

Then we headed home but not with out a stop to see my favorite rose guy.

Love love!

The rest of the day was full of house cleaning, laundry and these little beauties Super Man found for me to redo.

Can't wait to turn them into something fun. 

It was an eventful, exhausting good for the soul kind of weekend that makes your feel alive. 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend too Happy Monday!