Thursday, January 31, 2013

Mardi Gras New Orleans

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras has always been one of my favorite times. There is just something about people dancing through the streets, wearing beautiful masks and parades on every corner that seems to epitomize life.

Last year we took my daughter to a St. Patrick's day parade in New Orleans. I blogged a couple photos here. She had a blast! This year we decided to go back for the first weekend of Mardi Gras. We could not have asked for better weather. It was a beautiful weekend and such a fun and memorable trip.


 Early Saturday morning walk through the French Quarter.


Delicious coffee and beignets at the famous Cafe Du Monde.


One of the Krewe of Choctaw parade floats.


So much fun! Maybe we should make this a tradition?


Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Simple Beauty

This morning, while stuck in traffic, I took a minute to pay attention to the beauty that was surrounding me. Although it was dreary, it was picture perfect! (pun intended)



Friday, January 11, 2013

Finding Your Own Inspiration

Inspiration can be found anywhere you look. Music seems to find its way into my inspiration on a daily basis.

“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers is a song in which I find much inspiration. When I first listened to the words, I thought, "Wow, this song was written for me". I found myself researching the lyrics online, in search of the "true" meaning. Then the more I thought about it, the more I did not want to know the “true” meaning. I was already able to relate to it so much and find my own inspiration. Is that not the “true” meaning anyway?

My favorite part of the song:

Took a bus to Chinatown

I’d be standing on Canal
And Bowery

She’d be standing next to me
I belong with you, you belong with me 
You're my sweetheart

While my hubby and I were dating, we spent two years of that time in a long distance relationship. I was following dreams in NYC while he finished school. While he was in Baltimore one summer, we took the Chinatown bus between cities which would land us on the corner of Canal and Bowery to catch it. This song takes me back to that time each time I hear it.


There is so much to be said about what you see in something and what inspires you personally. It's not about what inspires everyone else or finding what the true meaning may be. This might in fact taint the way you view it. Continue to see things in your own way and find your own inspiration.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013