Red Hot

I have had my eye on this great Jessica Simpson handbag for a few weeks now. I REALLY want to get it. It's $88 (not bad for a nice purse) but after my trip to NOLA and Christmas and all, do I really need to be buying a purse right now ???? My realistic brains says a big fat NO and my shopping, stylish, can never have enough purses brain says YES!!! ha ha! I wish it would go on sale or something, but I think it's a new design so that probably wont be happening anytime soon. I've looked everywhere on-line for it too, but can only find it in black. I saw it at Macy's and had a couple gift cards from Christmas and debated about getting it, but got some Coach weather boots in stead. They were a GREAT price on sale so I couldn't pass those up. Plus they have really come in handy with all of this rainy, snowy, winter weather we've been having.But . . . I just can't get my mind off of this red hot purse. I have one other red purse and I really just love the color red. I think a red bag looks great when wearing all black (which I do frequently) and it also looks good with brown. The day I saw it I was wearing some camel color boots with black and the purse looked great with those colors too. So I really think it's going to be a must have - eventually. Maybe I'll tell Mr. Nabors it could be my early Birthday present, ha ha!! (you know us ladies are always thinking ahead like that when we have our eye on something.) Okay, so this is the bag I am lusting over, but couldn't find a picture of it in red, but this is the style, so just picture that it is red . .

These are a couple other great JS bags . . .

As I was searching for red bags, I came across this ruffled bag from Spiegal, it's not red of course, but it's still FABULOUS . . . . AND it's only $44! WOW!!! (maybe I need to go for this instead, since it's a steal . . . or both would be nice too! ha ha) Red is just such a fabulous color and can really make an outfit when it comes to a handbag. Check out some of these spicy Valentino bags . . . . They put my little JS bag to shame . . . but the JS bags do look great for the price (I think)

I'm Baaaack . . . Trip to New Orleans (Part 1)

Hello all! I am back from New Orleans and boy was it a fabulous trip!! I think I gained 10lbs while I was there, my goodness. I had been to NOLA before, but this time I really felt like I had a true New Orleans experience. I had never been this time of year, it has always been so hot and humid. I actually really enjoyed going during the winter. It wasn't as crowded with people and it was just different. It was a bit harder to walk around since it was so cold, but we all just bundled up and did it.

We had business to tend to of course, but we also had time to play. I'll see if I can tell in a nutshell what went on during our trip and the amazing places we ate.

First of all, we stayed at the beautiful Hotel Monteleone.

Everything was still decorated for Christmas too - they leave their decorations up there in New Orleans a little longer then the rest of us. But I liked it because it was fun to see the buildings decorated and all.

Another view of the hotel during the day . . .

I had a roommate, Staci from Alabama. She works on the Southern Bride Alabama Magazine. she was so sweet! This was our charming room . . .

First night we all went to eat at Acme Oyster House . . . we had a little toast

After that, we went to Pat O's and sat in the Piano Bar for a while and sipped on some Hurricanes. (we used to have one here in Memphis but it closed over a year go - I sure do miss it.)

After Pat O's we went on a French Quarter Ghost Tour. We had out Hurricanes in hand and walked around with a guide as we made stops at different buildings and heard stories of tragedies and murders and supposed hauntings of these buildings. One building was owned today by Nicholas Cage. This is a few of us on the tour . . .

The next day we had meetings, had to conduct some business of course. We took a break for lunch and went to the FAMOUS Breakfast at Brennan's.

(Photo of Restaurant Lobby courtesy of Brennan's)

My parents went to NOLA for their honeymoon 29 years ago, and this was one of the places they went. So it was neat to go and think that it was where they had once been. Not only was the food AMAZING, but the company was as well. There were 9 of us from Southern Bride Magazine, but we also had a very special host: Mrs. Ellen Brennan herself. She ate with us, along with her daughter (who was featured in the magazine a while back.) She was the loveliest lady and made our lunch that much more special! Did I mention how INCREDIBLE the food was?? OMG!!!

Everything was real butter, cream, we even had 3 or 4 of Brennan's signature cocktails (yes at lunch.) My favorite was this red drink that came with a strawberry on the glass. It was called "Mr. Funk." ha ha - loved that name. The cocktail was named after a man that had worked for the restaurant for many years. There was one man who was helping serve us and he had been working at Brennan's for over 30 years - wow!! The family treats all of their employees very well - obviously! We had about 4 servers and even after 2 sips of water they were re-filling our glasses. It was the best service I had ever had!! They have outstanding service anyway, but I'm sure it was even better and top notch since Mrs. Brennan was present. For dessert, we had Banana's Foster (which I found out was created by the Brennan family - never knew that. Google Banana's Foster and The Brennan's should pop up.) And we also had Strawberry Crepes with real cream. yummoo!! This is how they prepared the dessert, right next to our table . . .

It was a production to say the least . . .

(The next photo is courtesy of Brennan's) To show the finished product like I enjoyed . . .

After dessert, Mrs. Brennan gave us all the sweetest gift: The Breakfast at Brennan's cookbook. She even took the time to sign each one personally for each of us

Mrs. Brennan signing our books
After lunch, Mrs. Brennan and her daughter took us on a tour of the restaurant and the many rooms it holds. One room was the wine cellar/dining room. There was a beautiful mural painted there . . .

That is it for now, too much to show so I had to break it up into part 1 and part 2. So stay tuned for the 2nd half of my New Orleans trip!

My New Job

Some of you already know that I am starting a new job. My job is with Southern Bride Magazine and I am SO excited. I get to start in an awesome way by going along with the team to New Orleans. We leave Monday morning and come back Wednesday evening. I will go in detail more later about the job, but just thought I would fill everyone in on what company I am going to be working for. It's a great magazine and geared towards the South and "Southern" Brides. It's cool because everything seen and written in the magazine are from local businesses and vendors which is easily accessible to brides planning their weddings. I like this because from being a bride myself, I know that it can be frustrating and disappointing when you look at a magazine or web-site and see something you love, but are not able to access it because it is not even close to where you live.

Once again, I will post more on this great magazine and opportunity later. For now, I better be getting some rest because I've got a busy, yet exciting next few days ahead of me.

Ta ta!

Life's about changing & the New Year

I thought I would go ahead and share a few pics of our NYE. We stayed home and enjoyed a fun night with family and friends!! I got a few cute festive things and some cute little tiara's for us girls to wear. I also made some little "Midnight Snack" favors. We had a good time and I really enjoyed just being home and celebrating there.

It wasn't a wild 'n crazy night, but it was fun. My parents left this morning for TX. My Mom is finally going back with my dad since she found a job there. It was really hard saying bye this morning. My parents and I all started crying, we are just so close that it's hard for us to be apart. But I know that it's not the end of the world, at least I still have parents, even if they don't live close by anymore. I can still pick up the phone everyday and talk to them, and I know that there are people out there who would love to be able to do that, so I keep reminding my self of that. But at the same time - this is my reality and it sux! It sux that I cant just hop in the car on a Friday and go spend the weekend with them - it's just too far to do that. Hopefully I'll be able to fly out there every so often, so I guess I better start saving now, ha ha! My Mom and I are just SOOO very close, best friends and so that is going to be SO hard not having her here. But it will be okay. As the song goes . . "Life's about changing, nothing ever stays the same." So true!!

Luckily I leave Monday for New Orleans for my new job. Part of me just wishes I could just stay home in my pj's for a few days and feel blah - but I know it's not good for me to do that. So the fact that I have to go out of town and stay busy is good I think. It will keep me from letting myself become too sad.

Okay - so after I said that - I had to go find that video!! I remember watching this when I was a little girl. It is the sweetest video, sad yet so true." Time will ease your pain!"