XLVI

Even though my beloved Saints didn't playing in the Super Bowl, I still rocked my Brees jersey for the big game. 

Super Bowl parties are the best, whether your team is playing or not. The good friends and food totally make it! Since I was crunched on time I picked up these adorable and festive cupcakes from the store. 

Adorned with super bowl themed rings for each team, they were the perfect treat! I was obviously rooting for the Pats, but had a good time either way. 

My favorite part was definitely the half time show! Madonna killed it, and I absolutely loved all of the costumes! I'd wear this Cleopatra inspired ensemble any day! 

Photo credit: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/293396/20120206/super-bowl-halftime-show-madonna-dazzles-cleopatra.htm

I'm already looking forward to next year since The Big Easy will be hosting it! Crossing my fingers that the Saints go all the way! : ) I hope everyone had a fabulous Super Bowl Sunday! 

Easy Living

After living in Orlando for a few months I’m beginning to discover a few things about the city.

1. Everyone that lives here insists on driving UNDER the speed limit…by at least 10 mph. It drives me bonkers.
2. Florida really is the sunshine state. It’s been at least 70 degrees out everyday, and I’m beginning to reconsider all of those winter items I bought. I’ve worn my new winter heels maybe once. : ( On the bright side, I can always lay out by the pool while I study! : )
3. So far, I’m finding it very hard to entertain myself on a budget. Everything fun here seems to cost lots of money. I’m sure that once I become more familiar with the city I’ll find more budget friendly options, but so far no luck. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

I’ll be getting a puppy in about two weeks and am so excited about it! It should definitely help out with my entertainment issues, even though they can be a bit pricey to have. I can't take it anymore! I need the company. I’m planning to adopt one from the pound if I can find one there that suites me. I’ve been googling puppy names like crazy and have a short list drawn up. I’m still undecided and probably won’t pick until I get the puppy and figure out his/her personality. My new family addition can't get here fast enough! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! 

Old School Paper

One of my friends is having a birthday party on Saturday. While this isn't big news, the fact that she sent out old school, paper invites is! I’ve come to realize that my generation lives in the day of the evite. Unless the event is a big ordeal, like a wedding or baby shower, Facebook is almost always protocol when it comes to party invitations.

While I don’t at all mind the “greener” option, it was refreshing to see an old staple emerge for a smaller occasion. I really love the blog, Easy Made Invitations. The blog features many different categories with tons of adorable ideas like these:

Hopefully, I’ll have an event in the near future. I’m dying to go old school and make my own festive invitations!

Out of Africa

Right after Christmas I was off to Arizona to visit my boyfriend’s family. While we were there we took the kiddies to the Out of Africa Wildlife Park. If you’re ever in the area I suggest you check it out!

One of the best events of the day was the safari tour. Our driver bribed one of the giraffes into our bus with a cookie, and I was able to get some great pictures!

Keebow, the giraffe!

Later on in the day we passed by the rhino area while he was getting some shade inside of his house. Since we couldn’t see him we started yelling his name, “Boom Boom,” which was posted on the outside. After awhile he actually came out! He got so close to us and put his head right on the barricade. We were close enough to pet him. The base of his horn was literally as big as my leg. It was amazing to be that close to such a powerful animal.

My boyfriend managed to get a video of him as he came out!

The best part of my day was when I made out with a giraffe, literally. One of the zookeepers gave us some cookies to feed them and here’s what happened next:

My face in the end is priceless. I’ll never forget it! 

Two Thousand and Twelve

So far the new year has been treating me very well! I moved to Orlando, FL in November of last year to pursue a Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University. I knew it would be hard for me to move away from home, but I didn’t realize quite how difficult of a transition it would be. I was homesick almost immediately. I had never before moved so far away from everything that I knew. I worked very hard to adjust to my new life, but before I knew it I was returning home for Christmas break.

The minute I stepped off of the plane in New Orleans I felt relieved. I was back in my old stomping grounds! I reunited with family and friends and visited the French Quarter and other favorite hangouts as often as possible. I was so lucky to be able to go home for Christmas and New Years! There’s no place like home…especially for the holidays!

Before I left New Orleans I had to get a king cake. It’s tradition for them to come out on New Years Day.

Once it was time to go back to Orlando I felt a little better. Me and my boyfriend made yet another road trip from New Orleans to Orlando and had a ton of fun!

Perfect back to school Christmas gift, as seen on my boyfriend. TUUUURTLE backpack! It’s an official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack, and came with all of the masks. I love it!

I’ve been back for two weeks now and finally feel settled and adjusted. I’m really starting to like the area, and school is going great! It’s refreshing to be in school studying things that pertain only to my major. It’s also really nice to be surrounded with people who are as enthusiastic about the entertainment industry as I am.

I’m excited to see what else the new year has in store! How is everyone else’s new years going? 

Happy New Year

What would the new year be without a little sparkle? Happy new year everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

Autumn Leaves

Since I was born and raised in Louisiana I had never really experienced a proper fall. The leaves here go from green to brown in the blink of an eye, while the red, yellow and orange leaves usually associated with the season are never to be seen.

I got back to the states in the beginning of October and about a week later I was off again to New Hampshire to visit my boyfriend’s family. I FINALLY got a chance to see the beautiful colored leaves!

Taken on my iPhone, and no, I didn’t photoshop at all! So pretty!

We went off roading in a six wheeler through the mountains. This was my view from inside of the truck!

It doesn’t even look real in the pictures!

Another fun activity that we did was ziplining! I am extremely terrified of heights but I refused to let it get the best of me. We went on a two hour SkyRider tour that took us on five zips. We started at the top of the mountain and zipped along the tree tops to the bottom!

My first zip! You can see the look of terror on my face as I’m about to jump. Definitely worth it once I let go! :)

We took suspended bridges to get from zip to zip.

Two of the zips on our course let you race! I lost against my boyfriend both times but still had so much fun!

Flying through the air!

The company that we did the tour with is named Alpine Adventures and I highly recommend them! My favorite zip of the five was 45 seconds long and took us over a valley of trees. The views were absolutely breathtaking! Apparently, we picked the best time of year to go! :)

MIA

The past few months have been completely insane, and I mean that in the best way possible! As a result, I’ve completely neglected my blog and I feel terrible about it! But I’M BACK…and here to stay! :)

Europe was absolutely AMAZING! I had planned on blogging while I was over there to keep everyone updated on my travels buuuut….

1. The Internet in most hostels SUCKS! I’m talking slow…like watching paint dry.
2. I was deathly afraid to upload my pictures to any foreign computer after my friends got permanently deleted from her camera. AHHH!
3. Who has time to blog when the most beautiful/exciting/wonderful cities are 2 steps away waiting to be explored?
4. When you only get three hours of sleep for four consecutive days and it comes down to blogging or sleeping….you choose sleep, trust me!

Over 45 days I visited eight countries and 15 cities:
Ireland (Dublin and Galway)
England (London)
The Netherlands (Amsterdam)
Belgium (Gent)
France (Paris)
Italy (Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome, Venice)
Greece (Athens and Mykonos)
Spain (Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid)

Quite the whirlwind adventure, if I do say so myself. I knew that I would be doing A LOT of traveling, but I totally underestimated how exhausting it would be. We were constantly on the go! Trains became our second home and getting an adequate amount of sleep was usually unheard of. In the end, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I met so many amazing people, saw so many beautiful places, ate so much delicious food and have a million memories that will last a lifetime! I’d love to share all of the pictures but we took over 1,000! Here are some highlights and personal favorites:

We couldn’t resist making Guinness mustaches while at their brewery in Ireland!

You can’t go to London without taking a picture in a red phone booth, right?

At the Notting Hill Carnival in London. It was a bit like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and definitely just as fun!

EVERYONE rode bikes in Amsterdam! They even had their own lane with specific stoplights. The canals made for a confusing, but beautiful city.

It’s true what they say, Belgian chocolate is surely the best!

We finally got to see the Eiffel Tower light up on our last night in Paris!

Cinque Terre, Italy. Hands down the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. No picture could ever do it justice!

The Trevi Fountain at night! I’ve wanted to visit my entire life. And yes, I made a wish! :)

Mykonos, Greece. ALL of the houses are painted white with blue doors. It definitely gave Cinque Terre a run for its money!

Our backpacks and portable homes for six amazing weeks.

The three amigos celebrating our last night in Madrid!

Beach Fun!

I just recently got back from a fun filled week at the beach and couldn’t have had a better time! I was so happy to escape the dreary Louisiana weather and soak up the sun with my toes in the sand.

While in Gulf Shores, Alabama I visited The Hangout, a restaurant and bar located right on the beach.

The restaurant had a really cool “wish wall” where you could write a personal wish on a piece of paper and place it in a slot. All of the papers were different colors so it made a really cool effect once they were all up.

I loved this sign in the bathroom so much that I couldn’t resist taking a picture of it.

I don’t know what it is about sunsets at the beach but they’re always twenty times prettier than the ones here in Louisiana. I took a picture of this one on the way home.

I got home on Friday night and woke up early Saturday morning to participate in Red Dress Run, a yearly New Orleans tradition. Everyone dresses up in red dresses, guys included, and crowds the streets to drink and party New Orleans style. It was such a good time, and I highly suggest that you check it out if you’re in the city during the festival!

Only in New Orleans do people walk around with their pet parrots! Meet Ruby!

I’ll be leaving for Europe in THREE days! I really can’t believe it and feel completely unprepared. I’ve been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day in order to get last minute supplies together. I should be packing instead of blogging but I couldn’t resist posting the pictures from my awesome trip. Next stop Ireland! Yippeeee!!! :)

Wise Words

“Be silly. Be honest. Be kind."


          -Ralph Waldo Emerson-