Weekday Musings

*Officially adding the Sugar & Cloth Color Wall to my bucket list, thanks for the tip Ashley!

Eating | Momofuku Milk Bar. Although we haven't ventured out to see the new digs here in DC (yes, be jealous, we got a Milk Bar and noodle place!), I've been baking it up - brownie pie, birthday cake, grasshopper pie, confetti cookies... My goodness Girl Scout cookie season just ended but you wouldn't know it with all the sweets in our house!

Home*Work | You've heard the rumor about when you're a homeowner, the work is never done.  It's all truth! We're currently looking to add a chair rail and wallpaper to our kitchen and a feature wall in our "dining room." THANK YOU contractor Steve! :)

Crushing On | Leather jackets...! I'm calling it a right of passage once you turn 30. Maybe I've finally turned the corner like Sandy in Grease and one of the edging girls? Don't count on it but there is something about the smell of leather. What do you think of this one? Or this one?

Reading | My girlfriend Yossy came out with a dessert cookbook you guys and it is GORGEOUS!  I'm pawing through Sweeter Off theVine and loving all the explanations and the photography is simply divine! Do yourself a favor and pick up her book stat!

Thankful For | Spring flowers and the promise of sunny non-humid DC days.

Thinking About | My family. My grandma turned 98 this past December and is still one of the coolest cats I know! Her health is declining and it makes being across the country feel like I'm across the world. The hubs and I need to buy tickets home stat!

Watching | Madam Secretary! How as a resident of the District has it taken me this long to find this show.  Love a powerful political woman!

Wearing | My winter jacket... AGAIN!  Argg, see above where I'm thankful for spring flowers... Whelp we're dealing with quite the cold front.  I mistakenly took all my winter duds to the dry cleaner so they'd be ready for next year and as soon as I put them in the back of the closet... SNOW!  Snow people! I guess next time I'll wait until August before putting them away.

Now... how's your week lovely??

The Big Easy | New Orleans

Do you ever wish you could relive something? I'm here to say I wish I could relive my 30th! The hubs and I traveled down to Louisiana and took on New Orleans to celebrate and loved every minute. And now we're headed down to the Big Easy for the second time this weekend -let the reliving begin!

Last August we stayed at Le Meridien. Previously a W Hotel - the grounds are gorgeous. The rooms aren't anything to write home about but the shared spaces (pool, bar, lounge and gym) make up for it!

Beignets from Cafe du Monde are a must!  Devour with joy and lick your sticky fingers - you gotta respect their gooey goodness!

Bring your walking shoes because you are going to walk everywhere to take in the architecture and life of the city!

Muff this! Muffalettas from Central Grocery are no joke. Period. Enough said.

Everyone will recommend you stop by Cochon for a meal and they're right!  Everything on the menu is delicious but especially the grilled oysters and alligator - they're simply perfection.

Other recommendations...

FOOD

+ Cafe Du Monde | For beinets and coffee, of course

+ Central Grocery | Best Muffalettas in the city

+ Cochon | We can't get enough of their oysters or fried alligator

+ Commander's Palace | At least once

+ Mothers | For Po'boys of course

+ Sac-A-Lait | A hot new restaurant honoring hunters, anglers and farmers

DRINKS

+ The Carousel Bar | Touristy but you'll love the slow ride around the bar

+ Latitude 29 | For the best damn tiki drinks you'll ever have

DAY ACTIVITIES

+ New Orleans Pharmacy Museum | Exhibits include apothecary supplies and voodoo potions

+ Gray Line Katrina Tour | The tour explains what really went down during the hurricane and gives you even more respect for the people and their resiliency

+ Backstreet Cultural Museum | A bit off the beaten track but worth every step.  The museum is in a converted home and displays Black Indian costumes from Mardi Gras and other festivities

+ Magazine Street | For boutique shopping of your dreams

NIGHTLIFE 

+ Jazz of course! Don't feel the vibe just venture next door while strolling on Frenchmen Street. It's time to set your soul on fire!