24 days and counting!

So on December 13th, I will be taking a magical trip to my favorite city in all of the United States....

-........drum roll please..........-

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans is always somewhere I have absolutely adored. For the past four years, I have managed to wiggle myself onto a fraternity formal for a weekend of raging with the best, binge eating amazing authentic food, cursing and loving cobblestone streets, petting police horses when I shouldn't, admiring architecture, immersing myself in the art, music and overall culture that is Nola, but most importantly a weekend of just all around fun. 

I told myself after my first 20 minutes of ever being there that I would live there for at least one year of my life. Center in the french quarter- and no not because it's so close to Bourbon Street, but because I had fallen in instantaneous love with the history, music, people, food and scenery. Yes, even dirty Bourbon Street was a beautiful sight to me.

One of my absolute favorite things I have ever done (which was under extremely awkward and uncomfortable circumstances, ironically, due to who I was with) was take a historical tour in style. It was my birthday that day (just to make the day even better) and we started our morning off with a gorgeous horse drawn carriage tour of the french quarter. I was mesmerized by  our guide, an elderly African American man with the most gorgeous Cajun accent I've ever heard. He knew EVERYTHING- and I'm sure what you're thinking is "so does every other carriage tour guide in the city, it's their job", BUT the way he told his stories with such knowledge and wisdom left me in awe. Granted, I am a major history buff and drool at the thought of imaging how this amazing city all came to be, but the experience was just perfect. 

I will absolutely be recreating this moment for myself when I go back in December. Maybe sans the horse drawn carriage, but hey.. I love horses and I am a princess in my own mind so why not. 

I've already started planning the wardrobe for that weekend, which is rather unusual for me since I'm not a planner when it comes to trips... procrastination is a serious disease. Anyway, I am so excited for the cold weather (fingers crossed!) and I can't wait to go to a nice dinner Saturday night that I can dress up for. I'm thinking Drago's, the restaurant in the Hilton hotel near the Mississippi River. I was there just last fall for a fraternity's "formal dinner" and it was pretty amazing food and a fun atmosphere, but we will see where we end up. I've gotten good suggestions else where.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be blogging more about Nola as it soon approaches, but for now...

ONLY 24 DAYS LEFT.

(my cute app on my phone to serve as a great reminder)

In other news, I am obsessed with this color of nail polish (Nicole by OPI brand). 

It is THE absolute perfect shade of red for the season. 

I've definitely been getting the Holiday bug as more and more commercials and emails start appearing. I'm definitely getting more pumped to cook Thanksgiving dinner when I go home to Tampa and to break out the Christmas decorations. Decorating my parents home (aka my home who are we kidding) is one of my favorite things to do with my mom. While I am an absolute control freak and have dubbed myself Creative Director of the household, it's just nice to blare some Christmas music and reminisce on previous years with the fam jam. 

I'm in the process of creating a vision of how I would like to decorate my apartment for the holidays (balling on a budget here), but I've gotten a couple good ideas from good ole pinterest. 

Also gotten a couple ideas of what my Christmas card from Mayley and I should look like...

[Yes, time allowing, that WILL be happening]

Well, on to a dinner with my little and grand little. One of these days I'll meet the newest addition (Great-Grand little... Jesus I'm old!) but for now, just the trio.

Love,

K