A Fall Football Weekend in NOLA

I'm finalllly getting to my NOLA recap, two weeks later. Since I've already been and blogged about New Orleans about four times, I'll keep the content short and mostly provide a photodump of my recent trip to the Crescent City.

This time around I didn't plan so it was a very go-with-the-flow vacay. The reason for the trip was a Saints game (becuase if you didn't know, I'm kinda a superfan) and while they lost unfortunately, it was still great being in the Superdome surrounded by other fans. Plus it didn't hurt that our seats were 9th row - which, somehow, are the SAME EXACT SEATS as I sat in last year. What are the chances of that?!

In addition to the game, there was a lot of cajun food, beer, and sightseeing. Here's what I got up to...

Best photo of the trip? My unintentional pose-off with a security guard. I think his form gives him the edge. Damn!

Things to Do in NOLA

Today I'm recapping the activities from my New Orleans trip last week. I'd been to NOLA before but this was my dad's first time so we did all of the touristy stuff including eating lots of local food, swamp, haunted French Quarter, and Garden District tours, and sightseeing. Here's some info about the tours and hotel, in case you're visiting NOLA:

Swamp Tour- Airboat Adventures, $80 per person with coupon found on the New Orleans city site. Included hotel pick-up and drop-off and an hour and a half tour on a small 6-person boat. A gator literally climbed onto our boat, that's how up close and personal it was.

Haunted French Quarter Tour- Witches Brew 4-in-1 Walking Tour, two hour tour through the Quarter with stories of ghosts, vampires, witches, and voodoo. I love these types of tours because you get a lot of history with the creepy tales.

Garden District Walking Tour- Booked through a travel guide, didn't get the tour company name. It was a wonderful private tour for only $15 per person. Highlights included architecture, celebrity homes, and a walk through the Lafayette Cemetery #1.

Hotel- The Saint, located at 931 Canal Street, it was close to the Superdome, Bourbon Street, and a streetcar away from the Garden District. The lobby had cool details and the halls had dark blue lighting. It was a hip hotel different from the typical chain ambiance.

I'm no expert, but if you're traveling to New Orleans feel free to ask me for any recommendations and I'm happy to help!

That Time I Caught a Saints Game in the Superdome!

Before I get to my Saints recap, I have a big Monday Morning Gossip announcement. Starting next week Kimberlee of I Have A Degree In This will be my linkup co-host! If you're not familiar with her and her blog, get acquainted! She's awesome and going to be a great addition to MMG. Next week, head over to her blog for the blog hop! Next week I have another big announcement so she'll be hosting the link up, then we'll co-host together from then on!

Now, are you ready for some football?!

Last week I made the trip of a lifetime - all the way to New Orleans to see my favorite team, the Saints, play at home in the Superdome. This was the first time even seeing them play since LA doesn't have a team and San Diego is in a different conference. You can imagine how excited I was!

We had amazing seats, sitting at the 25 yard line in the ninth row. SO close to the field!

This last picture is of my favorite player, who happens to be the best tight end in the league, Jimmy Graham. This was his dunk celebration after one of his two touchdowns of the game.

On Wednesday I'll do a recap of the other activities from the trip. Come back to see what else we did!

I'm also linking up for Are You Ready for Some Football & This Weekend I.

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Louisianna Life from The Magnolia Pair

Hello Join The Gossip friends! I am Britt, and I blog over at The Magnolia Pair. I am so excited that Leeann asked me to guest post for her today while she is in Louisiana, my home state! Ironically, she wanted me to talk about my roots today, and I can't even tell you how I excited I am to talk about it!

Life growing up is Louisiana was just wonderful. My days as a kid were spent going to the Mardi Gras, catching fireflies, lathering on mosquito repellent, knocking over crawfish holes, and catching minnow fish so I could watch them turn into tadpoles. I grew up on the Northshore of New Orleans in a little town called Mandeville. My family kept a residence in New Orleans so that we could stay there on the weekends and sometimes during the week.

My Mom always made sure I had a costume on Fat Tuesday!

I am from a place where people never leave and families see generations of kids growing up everyday. I am the exception. After my husband got into medical school in Alabama, I uprooted and started a new life here. I miss home like crazy and think about my soulful city everyday. There is something different about the people from New Orleans and how they really live out the term "Southern Hospitality." Below are some of my favorite, but very true statements about the South.

Nola = New Orleans Louisiana
Neutral Ground = A median in the middle of the street that people jay walk across.
Lagniappe = Something extra
Go-Cup = A cup you ask for at the restaurant or drive through daiquiri store.
Dressed = What you say when you want your hamburger with Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, on it.
Mufaletta = A large round sandwich with meat with olive seasoning.
Yat = A dialect of New Orleans. (my mom speaks like it)
Who Dat = Saints Fan catch phrase
Snowball = crushed ice with flavored food coloring on it
Beignet = A fried beignet with powdered sugar on it
Second Line = A type of dance where you hold umbrellas up in the air or napkins and wave them about while walking in a continuous line with others. Very common at weddings.

Some Misconceptions:

There is a distinct difference between N. and S. Louisiana. The deep south of Louisiana is truly a different way of life and culture.

We don't live like the people from Caged, I'd never even heard of this sort of thing until the show.

&

We don't all live in the swamp and hunt alligators! (Although I do live in the swamp, but I don't live like these people at all. Big Mike, does live 20 minutes away from me though).

Some Nola Fashion:

For the Guys, they wear vineyard vines Perlis!

For the Ladies, we wear lots of pearls. And we wear them with everything!

This was just a little snippet about my life experiences growing up as a New Orleans Lady. I hope you enjoyed it! If you ever want to visit New Orleans and want suggestions, I have lots of ideas! Thank you for reading & thank you Leeann for having me!

The Big Easy!

Source: neworleansonline.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Over the weekend I booked a springtime trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. I am really excited! Spending 6 days and 5 nights in the Big Easy with one of my best friends is sure to be a blast. AND we're going during Jazzfest where greats like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Eagles, and John Mayer will be playing.

I can't wait to try creole food, enjoy jazz music, and take all of the haunted tours that the city boasts. Here are a few Pinterest images that have me psyched:

Source: designsponge.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: openbooksociety.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: iwanttobehere.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Leeann on Pinterest

And since we're on the subject of New Orleans, I have to throw this in! Drew Brees is the man! Living in SoCal and seeing him leave the Chargers was a sad day. But since he had to go, I had to go with him. I root for the Saints. And I'll be cheering as he returns to Cali this weekend to stomp the 49ers! Too bad I won't be in NOLA during football season.

Source: google.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Source: nola.com via Leeann on Pinterest

Here's where my What the Hell Wednesday comes into play: travel fees. For the airfare + hotel (5 nights at a place in the French Quarter) it cost $970! That's insane to me. The hotel is the most shocking. Even after splitting the room I'm still paying nearly $500. Let's hope I have a blast on my trip and it's well worth the sky-high price.

Anyone been to the Big Easy that would like to offer some tips on what to do and see? It'd be greatly appreciated :)

Link up and play along with The Girl With the Blue Bow and The Vintage Apple!
P.S. Check out the giveaway Michele's got goin' on over at The Vintage Apple!!