So many photos to share, and so many stories…but I thought I would start off with the first one. Lets start at the very beginning, its a very good place to start.

The adventure started off a little late. We spent most of Wednesday traveling, and then when we were in Dallas for our 3 hour layover, at the end of it they told us that the flight to NOLA was oversold, and asked if anyone was willing to give up their seat for a voucher. So we had 2 choices…we either get in at 8:50 as planned…or wait another 3 hours at the airport and get in at 11:20, and get a $300 voucher for a future flight. Sold. We can now plan our next vacation accordingly.

So we fly in to NOLA at 11:20 and our dear friend ERay (and host for the week) picked us up and immediately took us to a drive-thru daiquiri shop. This is something I am NOT familiar with at all…being from California, we have rules about these things…they are called DUI’s, open-container, whatever…but in Louisiana, you can drive around with a daiquiri you purchase like fast food. They expect you to not drink it…but I wasn’t driving, so after a long day of travel, I dove right in. 32oz of cold, frozen goodness. I think I got a pina colada/crawgator combo…per the lady’s suggestion. (more…)

a few pounds heavier (the food was insane)…a lot more exhausted (the night life ruled)…but more cultured, experienced, and definitely with more room to boogie. There is never enough dancing in New Orleans.

I am going to upload a bunch of photos tonight, and share stories as I go…but I’m still wading through piles of work that were waiting for me to get back.

I’ll let you wait and check out some of my iPhone photos that I already uploaded…Hipstamatic at its finest. Love it. This one is from one of the many awesome cemeteries. The Hipstamatic prints looked awesome from there. Click through to go to the set.

I can’t remember the last time I was so excited for a vacation. Sure, when I visit Southern California, its nice to get away and see family and friends…but I’ve done that before. Even when I go back east to NY. Done that before too.  This time is different. I get to go and visit a city rife with history, a city I’ve never visited before…and a city that will be booming with great music the whole time I’m there.

I’ve never been to New Orleans. Its always been on top of my list. I can’t wait to hang out with friends, and dance my face off. Not doing all things Jazz Fest, but enough to get a taste. Check out the city, drive thru daiquiri’s and fried alligator.

Two days of work this week…and we are on our way on Wednesday. I’m sure there will be a ton of pictures to follow.

Even better…is the fact that I’ve been watching what might be my new favorite show on TV…and its getting me even MORE pumped to get there.

Have you seen Treme? If you haven’t..its the best show on HBO that you aren’t watching. In the first 5 minutes of the first episode, they had one of my favorite horn bands, Rebirth Brass Band, cruising the streets. In the 2 episodes that I’ve watched….too much good music to count. From Kermit Ruffins, to Galactic, and Elvis Costello being in both episodes, the list goes on. And the fact that we can go see these bands live…in NOLA…is huge. Granted, I’ve seen many of them live before…but I want to be totally immersed in it.

Eray, our wedding photographer, and NOLA native, will also be taking our engagement shots while we are out there…so thats pretty sweet too.

After Wednesday, I will be computer-less…we are going SANS computers, which is pretty big for neither of us to take one. I mean…I’ll have my iPhone, but I know I won’t be updating the blog from it. For all my readers…I’ll report back. I promise.

Well..not it its typical sense of the word. Its just that I’m on holiday, and don’t really want to keep up with the blog. We are currently in San Diego, and honestly, the last thing I want to do is find items on Etsy to profile. I mean…its not that I  don’t love all my readers, its just that its time to enjoy my vacation. I’m trying not to spend time in front of the computer (obviously failing a bit), but maybe I’ll post some goodies from my vacation as soon as I land back in LA. Thats where we are spending Turkey Day, and maybe the excess time with my family will allow me to post more entries. Until then….later blog world, and don’t miss me too much…I’ll be back.

Encinitas

This past weekend we spent a few days in Bass Lake, CA. Our friend Meaghan’s family has a cabin at the main resort there, The Pines, and they were gracious enough to open up their home to Meaghan’s friends (pick me!). I was especially excited about this because the place is dog friendly, and to my knowledge (at least while I’ve been his mother), Brody has never been in a lake. We attempted to toss him into my dad’s pool, just to see if he could swim, but I figured that dog’s love lakes and being able to just walk in, so we would give it a try.

Turns out….Brody, not a huge fan of the water. We went with the sink or swim mentality anyway, and wanted him to be able to relate to the Golden Retriever that was staying with us as well, so we took him in. He does this really funny thing where you hold him above the water, and he starts his paddling before he even hits the water. I guess he is preparing for the inevitable, and planning on getting to the shore as quick as possible. I wish we had recorded it, but Meaghan luckily took pictures, so I will share. The lil guy is actually a pretty strong swimmer, I just wish he enjoyed it as much as we did. Next new adventure for Brody…SNOW.

Does YOUR pug swim??

(photos by Meaghan Bleier)