With Easter comes crawfish season. We were lucky enough to get invited to an amazing Easter Sunday boil that raises the bar on all backyard cookouts. With pots large enough to fit multiple children, the hosts prepared these delicious bugs, potatoes and corn. Cooked with whole onions, lemons, oranges, garlic and even mushrooms these highly spiced vats of yumminess reflect individual preferences and family recipes.

It's also French Quarter Fest weekend! A great opportunity for tons of free local music, great food and fantastic weather. It's a crowded event during the day that spills over into the evening. Surprisingly, celebrating a friends birthday last night at Frenchmen Street, a locals favorite for food and drinks, was no hassle. I was thrilled to see my brother in law rock out! Oh, and I'd you go and her some great music...don't forget to tip the band! It's how they get paid.

The oysters were enjoyed about a week ago. This was my first plateful in 18 months. Pregnancy and breast feeding took these little morsels off the menu for me, but I broke the fast with some great friends and good wine!

I keep saying that it's difficult to partake in the "adult" New Orleans when you have kids. Early bed times, and babysitters expenses usually means that parents skip going out altogether. I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunities and the means to dip into the party culture of this city this past month and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, time to savor all the great moments and change my perception about having fun as a parent in New Orleans.

 

Just a few of my photos from this years MG. I got to experience some of the NOLA magic.

Though this year we did not get to go to many of the parades, sick kids and exhausting 
work schedules, we did get to experience Mardi Gras day. We paraded with a group of friends and their children and gawked in amazement at all the creative, hilarious and straight up ridiculous costumes out there. Turns out that the parades are just a small part of Mardi Gras, and that the most fun, even with children in tow, is the day itself when it seem like all of the city has spilled out into the streets to enjoy and bask in each other's creativity. I am already planning for next year!

T

I'm new to football. I never thought I'd enjoy the sport. All the violence, the inexplicable rules, speed and confusion used to drive me away. But ever since the Saints Super Bowl victory and my moving here and living in the Who Dat nation it's been easy to fall in love with the sport. Football rules for girls was an actual phrase I googled out of desperation. I have my wonderful sister in law to thank for the excitement-infused rule explanations. My husband supports, neither encouraging or discouraging my new hobby. My almost 5 year old son helped me feel pride when I was able to answer his 'mommy, what's a first down?' last week. My dad and I text about games on the weekends. At work I'm able to share a quick impression about the game. Though I mostly still listen and I have a lot to learn, now I'm all ears on kickoff.

Some recent 'around here' shots from the spring which quickly turned into a summer.

This is local organic community garden in MidCity. It has an impressive array of plants, veggies and fruit. The sign describes how the neighborhood takes care of it and shares in it's produce. It is wonderful to run into such a gem in an urban environment. All seem to be weathering well in this climate too, giving me hope for a small garden if my own.

Check out this post from Humid Beings about the opening of the spillways as a way to manage the oncoming Mississippi flood.

http://nola.humidbeings.com/posts/detail/225681/Corps-of-Engineers-Opens-Louisiana-Spillway