'Twas the night before Christmas....

Snuggled on the couch in my flannel pajamas and favorite blanket watching one of my favorite holiday movies, Love Actually. I was lucky enough that my company let us off at noon so I took the afternoon to run presents to my friemd's house for the kids then spent the rest of the time with my parents, my sister and my sister's 2 dogs. We had our annual Christmas Eve gumbo and then went to mass. 

Now I am at home relaxing because my Dad said I looked tired and needed to rest. He means well. 

This past weekend I spent all day Saturday in New Orleans for the New Orleans Bowl. Tulane and ULL were playing. My friend Jenny is an alumnus of Tulane and her mom works there. They were nice enought to invite me. 

We started the day off at the House of Blues for the Tulane sponsored brunch. It was good food, mimosas and a jazz trio. We had a good time. 

After the House of Blues we went to see some Christmas decorations. We went by the Roosevelt, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Hotel Monteleon. 

After checking out the Christmas decorations we went to hang out at Pat O's piano bar. We enjoyed a few songs and indulged in my favorite drink, the Fuzzy Leprechaun. 

Next up we walked over to the Cathedral to light a candle then we decided to take a pedi-cab to the Hilton. Why? Well why not? At the time it seemed a good idea (after several drinks). We did give our driver a good tip. 

We took a trolley back to the Quarter. Then it was time to head to the Dome. Tulane was hosting a pre-party at Club XLII in Champions Square. It was quite nice. Food. Cash bar. Band out in Champions Square. We second lined to the Dome before the game. 

Tulane ended up losing the game but it didn't put a damper on the good time and the memories that were made. I am still a LSU Tiger through and through. There is no good time that could ever change that!!! 

It's been a long time....

It has been quite a while since I've written.  So much has happened.  I've been busy but mostly I haven't been motivated to write anything.

 

Where do I start?  I guess at the beginning.

 

Back in August, my little man began to fail.  He wasn't breathing comfortably.  He lost his appetite.  But he never lost his spirit.  He was still my sweet little boy up until the very end.  I realized that I had to stop being selfish and stop his suffering.  The combination of the heart tumor and heart murmur was just too much for medication and love to overcome. The vet did say that of the dogs that he has treated with similar symptoms, Duke lived the longest. Most dogs live an additional 6 months to a year from diagnosis, not 2 years.  The early diagnosis and treatment with medication helped out a lot.  It's been difficult coming home to an empty apartment but I know I did the right thing.

 

In late September I took a trip to visit my nieces and nephews in North Louisiana.  I rarely ever head up that way but for them I made the trip.  The two girls were competing in the state fair pageant.  Marly won Junior Miss Claiborne Parish State Fair Queen.  I am so very proud. 

 

Even Cassady participated.  As big as her personality is, she completely clammed up once on the stage.  I really thought she would be hamming it up for everyone.  She was a little bummed that she didn't get a crown though.

 

I attended my first ever Tulane football game and tailgate.  That was definitely very different from an LSU tailgate.  They tailgate in a parking garage. So few people go that you can pretty much sit anywhere.  But they are having a good season and are bowl eligible for the first time in 10 years (?).  They are predicted to go to the New Orleans Bowl.  So, I may be going to my first New Orleans Bowl game this year.

 

 

 

I've done a little bit of stitching.  Not much.  I've managed to complete 2 pages on my peacock pictures.  One day I will finish and it will go in my bedroom.  That is if I finish before I change the colors in my bedroom again. 

 

Halloween this year was a rainy, wet one.  We did a themed Halloween at work.  All of the women were "cheerleaders" and our boss was the "coach".  I made shirts for all of us to wear and Jenny accessorized the outfits.  Yep, that's us with our "head pieces" on.  I think I would have preferred a big bow!

 

We had a luncheon and my contribution this year was deviled eggs.  So I decided to make them Halloween themed.  I had deviled "eyes" and spiders.  In my opinion they came out much better looking than they tasted.  But it was my first time ever making deviled eggs.  I typically just like to eat them, not make them!





I've already gotten a jump on the holiday shopping.  Our girls night out in October was an afternoon/evening of shopping at a local event called Holly Days.  I managed to snag presents for my mother and sister in addition to a sweater for me.  Now I need to sit down and make my list of the things I need to buy for the rest of my family and friends.  Black Friday will be here soon!

Work has been extremely busy and I see a lot of overtime for me in the coming month.  That's ok.  I prefer to pay cash for all of my Christmas presents!

I'm sure I've missed something that happened over the past few months but those were the most significant and recent events that I could recall! 

I hopefully will be better at documenting the upcoming holidays!

Back from vacation...

You have to love the Blogger app. Sitting here getting a pedicure but also multitasking. 

I've been back a week from vacation Nd oh how I wish I could go back!! 

I had a great 9 day visiting with my family. Lots of time with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

One night I had the chance to get together with 5 of my cousins for sushi. It is a rare thing for that many of us to get together at once. 

I caught up on a bunch of movies. First was World War Z. I am NOT a zombie person nor is Brad Pitt one of my favorite actors. But this movie surprised me and I really enjoyed it. The ending was kind of anticlimactic though. Next was Despicable Me. Yes, I'm a couple of years behind. It was a cute fluff movie. Then I saw Heat. It was funny. Lots of F-bombs though. The last was Star Trek. Yep, I'm a Trekkie. The movie was good but predictable. 

Attended the college World Series home run derby with my Uncle. That is always fun. Especially when followed up by a HUGE firework display. 

Fourth of July was spent with family. Lots of food, water fights and fireworks! 

One of my last night's there, my younger cousin took me for tacos, sweet bread (pastries) and ice cream. Sounds innocent enough, right? Except that every place we went, the employees did not speak English! My Spanish is good enough for me to understand but not to speak to them. With my family, I can always respond in English!! Needless to say, those were REAL tacos! 

I've been back to work for a week now. Settling back into a routine and very happy to be with my dog again!! But I could so use another vacation. It was nice to have a break from "reality", except that reality decided to sucker punch me when I arrived back!! 

Catching Up

Wow! I haven't posted since Mardi Gras. It has been a roller coaster lately. Work, fun times with friends and family, more work and vacation. 

I can't even remember all the things I've been doing. A weekend in Austin/San Antonio with my sister at a spa. A weekend in Houston with some good friends I've known since high school (my wallet was begging me to go home after that weekend! Tons of shopping was done!). Dinner with old high school friends. A night out with old high school friends. (See a theme? It's my 20th high school reunion this summer. Yikes!!!) 

I've been working a lot of hours lately but it is finally getting back to a normal 40 hour work week. A new position within the company should drastically reduce my traveling but maybe not my hours until I get the hang of it. 

 I haven't had much opportunity to stitch so no new craft pictures. But I head out on vacation tomorrow and plan on taking at least one project with me. I am headed to see my grandparents and family for 9 whole days. I can not wait. 

Below are some pictures from random events that have occurred over the past few months. Sorry for the random order but blogger mobile makes it difficult loading pictures. 

Views from my room at spa in San Antonio

Night at Alex Box Stadium for LSU baseball with Jill. 

Sarah and I at the Chimes. 

Hannah and I in Houston. 

My birthday in Houston. The kids made me wear the crown. :/ 

Jenny and I at convention. 

Jenny and I at convention. 

Stacy and I heading out for a girls night out. 

David and Micah at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's for 20th reunion. 

Chad and I at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's for 20th. 

Stacy and I at Ninfa's for our second night of an all girls weekend. 

Happy Mardi Gras!

If you ever get the chance, you should take a trip to New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras.  It is a fun time to be had that is just so overwhelming that it is difficult to describe.

I have been going since I was a child. First with my parents, then as I got older I went with various groups of friends and sometimes my sister.  I've even been lucky enough to do Bacchus ball. 

The past two years I  have been doing a little bit tamer, more family friendly Mardi Gras with my friend Jenny.  That doesn't mean it isn't any less fun! 

Saturday we went out to see Endymion.  Jenny's husband rides in this parade.  We took photos of him but due to the nature of his job, I am unable to post any pics of him.  However, I can post pics of the family and we had plenty of opportunities for pictures!

Lil Phil eating some cotton candy that Ms. Melinda bought.  (I am a firm believer in filling the kids full of sugar and then handing t hem back to the parents!)

Conner was so overwhelmed.  This wasn't even parade time but he was so busy people watching that he just held his cotton candy.

The Captain float for Endymion. This was as they were staging the parade.  Riders hadn't arrived yet.

Watching the staging of the floats.

Woo hoo!! Kelly Clarkson's float set up right in front of us!

Showing off their  Mardi Gras outfits! 

Our annual picture!  I promise Conner was having fun, even though it looks like he is miserable here.

I think this was one of the maids of Endymion.

Kelly Clarkson!!!

Kelly Clarkson and her fiance.

King of Endymion

I caught a football --while holding Phil on my back!

Sunday we went to Saint Stephens.  This is a church that for its annual fundraiser sells tables in their school's cafeteria that you can purchase for the day.  You are allowed to bring in food and drink or purchase food and drink from them that they sell.  We just choose to buy our food and drink, it goes to a good cause.  And the best part of this is that you have access to a clean bathroom!!  We saw 3 parades that day and I was one tired girl!!!  We watched Okeanos, Mid-City and Thoth.  Bacchus rolls after that but I had to get home since I had to work on Monday.

Jenny and Diane

Jenny and lil Phil

This is how we do it in NOLA!!!  Ladder time!

Some more ladders! 

The Walking Dead seemed to be a theme in the groups this year. 

A little line dancing to pass the time between parades.