THE LAST OF IT...

I've been a bad blogger lately... and I blame it on the New Orleans trip (and a few other things that I hope to reveal shortly).  And this is me putting an end to all of these posts!!!!

Below are a few pictures from our last day (which was packed full of a couple really awesome activities).  Let's see... Marching in Box of Wine Parade, where we saw some really awesome costumes (by this point I'm starting to wonder if the locals own any normal clothing...).  Big Berth made her mark and had lots of folks in the parade and watching the parade laughing... dying laughing really!  We kept saying... "We've got a missin' person!".  After walking all the way though the St. Charles parade route we were taken to an office building where a friend of our host was throwing a little get together.  We were treated to some great homemade food and drinks and I have to say the highlight of that day was being invited to enjoy their grand stand.  We were able to see two great parades... Bacchus and Endymion.  What an experience to be able to watch the parade on eye level with all of the floats.  It was really fantastic!

So thats it... it was a trip I don't think I will ever forget.

Now... moving on to a different subject FINALLY!  (I really need to find a way to edit down photos... it's so tough!!)

XOXO

NOLA - THIS IS WHAT NIGHT TIME IS LIKE?

For pics of day two read more!!

NOLA - EXCITEMENT!

Read more and see pictures of our first Mardi Gras experience!

NOLA - BOURBON STREET PARTY PAD

As I said before, Mr. D and I took a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.  It was such a great time... we were able to be a part of a party like no other... all thanks to our great hosts who have called NOLA home for 20 years. The locals Mardi Gras is the way do do it if you are going to visit. And now I'll just the the madness speak for itself (with a little narration, I may need to explain myself at times!).

Read more and see pictures!

REAL GOOD BarBQ

This week we got back from an exhausting vacation!  We took a 'little' road trip from Chicago to St. Louis to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras with some friends.  Total driving time was probably about 16 hours give or take, driven in less than 24 hours.  It was a great time but we are happy to be home and back into our regular sleeping patterns!  I thought I'd take a couple of posts to talk about our trip.

First things first.  Food!  I hate to say it but we didn't really have any mind blowing food... usually on vacay we seek out some yummy eats and then rave about it later but that just didn't happen in NOLA.  I'm kind of bummed about that but I guess it gives us something to go back for.  BUT... we did stop in Memphis on the long drive and found some BBQ that definitely rivals my fav St. Louis BBQ.  It's called Tom's BarBQ and Deli and it was fantastic!

I went with my usual the pulled pork sandwich and it did not disappoint!  The rest of the group got the Rib Tips (which I believe is what was featured on Triple D).  We must not have looked like locals becuase the guy at the counter started chattin' it up with us and we ended up with what he called a sampler (more like another couple meals) of their Ribs, Bologna (also known as the Tennessee Round Steak, marinated-dry-rubbed-thick sliced-bologna) and Strawberry Shortcake.  The Bologna was good!  But the Ribs were the best I've ever had.  Needless to say by the time we walked (or waddled?) out of there we were STUFFED!

I would definitely return and suggest if you are in Memphis to check it out!

So I have to say that was the best meal of the trip... a lot of the places we went in NOLA seemed more touristy than anything.  But I guess we weren't there for the food... we were there for the party!  More on that later...

XOXO

EXPATS IN FRANCE

Photos from: Christophe Libert of Paris France (left), John Evans of Winchester UK (right)

I am a loyal Design Mom blog reader.  I think her blog is fun and interesting... even though i'm not a mother myself.  There are lots of things relating to children that she posts about but she also finds some great design inspired posts that I always find interesting.  And the kiddo stuff is pretty awesome too... I have plenty of mama friends that I can send things too so that's an added plus.

But what i'm really here to talk about is about their new adventure... I'm totally envious! As you are aware, we recently moved to Chicago... that should be enough excitement right? Well, Design Mom and her husband are moving their family of 8 (maybe it's more effective if I spell it out and add exclamations) eight!!!! (six children just blows my mind) to France. Just up and moving for a year to France.  They are two of those lucky people who can work anywhere and have made the decision to spend a year in another country.  I just think that is so cool.  And what a great experience for their children.

I heart France... and nearly everything about it.  They have the most beautiful language, the country side is insanely picturesque and when I had the pleasure of visiting the country I ate the most delicious sweet treat that i've ever had (but those cinni rolls are a serious contender)... a sugar covered waffle (that I wish I could recreate in some way but have no idea how to... must track down the the food cart in Paris at some point in my life). Mr. D and I would be quite funny in France.  I have a feeling our lack of speaking the French language and our dry humor wouldn't get us very far but we would adapt and love to explore a new country.  So hopefully a little language barrier wouldn't stop us!

If you were to go travel abroad for an extended period of time, where would you want to live?  In the country side or in the city?  That's hard for me to answer... both are so lovely in their own ways.  But I'm pretty sure we'd end up living in the city and taking weekend trips to the country now and again (at least that's what I've dreamt so far)!

Here is where Design Mom and her family will be calling home soon... how exciting!

XOXO

HAPPY 2011!

I've got high hopes for this year!  I see great things happening in 2011.  Hopefully you all have made your new years resolutions and have been sticking to them.  I have not... well I've made a couple of little resolutions that I think I can stick with, but so far... no good!

Today I came across this post on National Geographic's website (if you ever need to take a brain vacation I suggest you go to their website and look at some of the photos... pure beauty), 20 Best Trips of 2011.  Ideally I'd visit all of the locations on their list but from just looking at the images and scanning their descriptions... I must add the Fjord region of Norway to our list.  The image they have posted is just breathtaking and who's up for glacier walking!?  Sounds exhilarating!  

Fjord region of Norway - Image from National Geographic 20 Best Trips of 2011
Photograph by Peter Adams, JAI/Aurora

Unfortunately, our big 2011 destination was not listed!  But no worries, there are plenty of beautiful images to keep me interested and excited to plan the trip.

I hope you have some wonderful things to look forward to in 2011.  What ever it may be, starting something new, adding to your family or vacationing I wish you all the best!

XOXO

ROAD TRIP!

Screen shot from Design*Sponge

Well, not sure it can be called a true road trip... only a mere 85 miles way.  Mr. D has given me the task of planning a short trip to Milwaukee!  A job I lovingly take on. Milwaukee is no longer just a beer and manufacturing town... the city has grown it's culture and diversity and boasts a strong restaurant scene, a growing indie and art following and of course great boutique shops, all while holding on to its roots.

When we travel there are a couple of websites that I (and Mr. D) like to look at, aside from the typical sites such as Yahoo Travel or Trip Advisor (which is great!).

I always go to Design*Sponge, they have some great City Guides that are written by locals who know where the great spots in town are... where to eat, what to see, where to shop and how to live like a local.  Every week they are adding more and more cities so I always go to see if they have our travel destination.

Mr. D always goes to Guy Fieri's Tripple D website... one of his main goals is to eat good food.  So in the past we've relied on Guy to find us some good spots, and he's done a pretty good job!

So for this trip, I've decided that I'd like to got to:

• MAM, I must see the architectural wonder that was designed by Calatrava.
• The Home Market, get a little shopping in... we will be driving so the possibilities are endless. :)
• Maybe spend early evening wine tasting at Balzac.
• And another evening tasting local beers at Lakefront Brewery.
• I must also take a quick peek inside of Milwaukee's newest hospital project on Lakefront Drive, Columbia St. Mary's. It was a project I worked on while at HOK and this would be the perfect opportunity to hop on in and take a look see!
• Must also find a local art shop so I can pick up a small piece to remember our trip by...
• Maybe we could rent some bicycles and ride through Kettle Moraine State Forest

I now have some more planning to do!  Go check out Design*Sponge's City Guides... they are really great!

XOXO

BAD BLOGGER

This Monday was my second week of blogging.  And I failed!  Monday-Wednesday my page was blank... and that was definitely not how I wanted my second week of this to go.  I do have a great excuse... driving back and fourth from Chicago to St. Louis and spending time with my lovely girlfriends (and a sweet little one!) and co-workers and taking care of a house that wants to find a new loving owner.  The driving and the socializing was exhausting but I loved every minute and am always so happy to catch up with those wonderful people who make up my life.  

So the rest of this week I am back in Chicago job hunting and exploring my new spot in life. 

And I will make up for the last three days!  Bad blogger... no more. :)

XOXO

MOVING SWIFTLY!

I couldn't snap a good picture of tonights sunset but found a great one online.  Photo by Jeremy Karouta of Eindhoven, Netherlands 

Over the years I've started to realize that flying in an airplane is completely unnatural, you are in this large (and very heavy) thingamabob with tons of other people and you are floating through the air (defying gravity) at very high speeds to some far away destination.  To me it is just weird but I put all of those thoughts to the back of my mind so that I can get from one place to another quickly.  And there are many other things about the whole process that I do not enjoy (this book was great and put a lot of complaints about flying that I've had down on paper) but what I'd really like to focus on is the beauty I see in it.

There is something so magical about being 30,000+ feet above the earths surface and watching the sun set.  You can see the curvature of the earth and the dark blue sky fading to a fiery pink.  It really is a pretty site... I heart!

XOXO