feel better 2012

There has kind of been a lull in posting recently, because well, not much has been going on of late.  Germany's been a bit dreary (think lots of grey and lots of damp-ness. And no, not in the form of snow.)  Christmas was a low-key event, where I mozy-ed downstairs at 10am, made my coffee, sat on the couch, opened  my one gift (this fantastic book), sat on the couch to read said gift, and then went and got ready for dinner at a friend's house that night.  New Year's was almost an exact carbon copy - where last year hubs and I traipsed around The Roosevelt Hotel and then watched the fireworks from Jackson Square, this year I took my life in my hands and drove to Würzburg for dinner and watching the fireworks from the bridge.  No, I didn't get any pictures, because:

• my old-school iPhone 3G is in no way up for the challenge of trying to take pictures of fireworks,
• I lost the battery charger to my real camera and have been too lazy to shell out $50 (!) for a new one.  
• the smoke and haze for the self fired-fireworks makes it nearly impossible to see anything.  Germans are given 24 hours to set off fireworks legally and wow they go crazy.   

My friend Charlie took the lone picture from the night:

2012 from the bridge in Wurzburg.  Thanks Charlie

So after ringing in the new year, I made the trek to Frankfurt to collect my dad for his visit to Germany. But of course, the gross and cold weather really hindered our plans to do much sightseeing.  So essentially, for my dad, Germany consisted of lots of Pilsner, a migraine, 30 degree temps with just rain, an afternoon of snow that didn't stick and lots of rumpsteak, potatoes and schnitzel.  Now, he's back in the US and I'm fighting a terrible cold with strong hot toddies, episodes of Portlandia (how have I never seen that show before!?) and hot soup.  Thank heavens me and the Bear are off to the US at the end of this month, so we need to hang in there until then.  Just like my cold, I hope 2012 gets better soon.

let it snow

On Tuesday we had our first real German snow of 2011. yes, it was less than 3 inches cumulative, but that's still something to this southern girl.

view from my bedroom

Das Bear on our little balcony playing in the snow for the
first time since last Christmas

Naturally, Bear and I decided to take a little stroll around our block...

Helplessly Abroad

hurricane ladies print - a TD fave I find quite appropriate for right now.

It's one thing when you're in another state and you see your hometown (and your parents and your dog!) being threatened by a behemoth hurricane.  It's another when you're on the other side of the Atlantic.  In between calling home every 3 hours and constantly refreshing weather.com, it's impossible not to feel hopeless.  That plus the sis having just moved to New York City, and immediate family on Long Island and New Jersey and you've got a whole world of worry.  We've been through  hurricanes a plenty while growing up (all which thankfully took a last minute jog to the east, sparing Hampton Roads) but everyone I've talked to has seemed genuinely concerned that Irene could actually be "the one" that finally hits the east coast.  Between the earthquake (yeah, what again?) and this, the east coast could definitely use a break.  So here's hoping and praying that Irene chills out and heads to sea, leaving the east coast free from her wrath.  Then everyone can treat themselves to a "hurricane," and the worst thing they have to deal with is a the wreckage of a hangover the next day.  So  keep the east coast in your prayer and here's hoping for an uneventful weekend!

Prayers for the South

It's been a crazy night / day in our house --While we didn't experience any foul weather in New Orleans, the rest of the deep south wasn't as fortunate.   The images of just the immense damage from Alabama and the Deep South keep coming in over the news and have been sent to us from friends.  We've been able to confirm that all of our loved ones are safe and sound, but many of them were as close as a few miles from the tornadoes that wrecked havoc across the state.

I came across this video on  youtube that was filmed in the parking lot of University Mall in Tuscaloosa and in short, it is horrifying (especially at 4:25 and then again at 6:00, when you catch a glimpse of the Belk).

Please, if you have the resources and means, do not hesitate to give to the recovery efforts not just in Tuscaloosa, but from Mississippi all the way to Virginia -- they will need all the help they can receive.  You can text "GIVE" to 80888 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army, which already has feet on the ground in the areas affected (you can visit them here ).

And most importantly, please keep all affected in your thoughts and prayers

Roller Coaster Weather

The past week the weather in NOLA can be summed up with this:

(source)

Clear skies, blooming flowers, perfect high 60, low 70 degrees temps - the windows open with a breeze.  It even inspired me to heavy duty clean the house (involved dusting fans and climbing on a ladder.. big time stuff).  However, I woke up this morning to this:

(source)

It wouldn't be such a big deal,  but the rain has thrown a curveball in the parade schedules.  Today was supposed to be a day full of parades, yet they've all been moved to Sunday - another day filled with Parades. Our neighborhood parade, Krewe of Thoth, rolls tomorrow and we've got plans to cook out and have people over to watch, so heres to the rain taking a break til after our last New Orleans Mardi Gras!

A Happy White Christmas and a NOLA New Year

A few pictoral tidbits from our recent travels to VA for Christmas and then back to NOLA to ring in 2011!

One of the highlights was being able to experience a VERY rare white Christmas in eastern VA.  when all was said and done, we had 14.2 inches !

Starting to snow Christmas night.

what we woke up to the next morning. - GORGEOUS!

Bear's first time experiencing the snow.  To say
he loved it would be an understatement

resting after an awesome time in the snow.

the rents house under 12+ inches

One of the small trees in the yard next to our house that
was lit up for christmas and is carrying the
beautiful burden of 12+ inches of snow

The unprecedented snowfall delayed our return to New Orleans, but after driving 18 hours straight through (no one said we werent crazy) we made it and were ready to ring in the new year.  My little sis even endured the crazy drive to spend the holiday with us.

Mr. Bama and I in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel

with the little sis.  Can you tell she's in a sorority?
 (love you sis!)

View of Jackson Square (St. Louis Cathedral is to the
left of this pic) while everyone waits for the gigantic
fleur de lis to drop above Jax brewery

Hubs and little sis!

Little sis is thrilled to ring in 2011

Dear Mother Nature, Please Don't Ever Let It End

Right now it is absolutely amazing in New Orleans.  The humidity is ziltch, the heat has subsided and it is a perfectly comfortable 75-ish degrees out without a cloud in the sky.  The AC has been turned off and the windows are wide open.

I'm even wearing tights today.  The weather is getting in the mood for Halloween, which is perfect because this last weekend was dedicated to decorating. So out Mr. Bama and I went to find fun stuff for the house.  Six hours and five stores later, I found myself  incredibly disappointed with the Halloween decorations avialiable in the stores right now (picked-over doesn't even begin to explain the stores Halloween decoration sections), so I'm resorting to quality, not quantity.  Enter our trusty wreath that we used for our wedding + some ribbon and fake spider webs:

This plus a few orange lights for our banister and we are done and done until we get closer to the actual holiday when we'll get our Pumpkins for carving.  We've found that if you buy them too early in NOLA they will be subject to rotting away very quickly if they don't get smashed by some juvenile delinquent first.  Mr. Bama did manage to find some incredibly cute double old fashioned glasses for the holiday at World Market:

(source)

So now its just sitting back, relaxing and enjoying being done with Halloween decorating, as well as being super thrilled by a recent work development that I'm super excited about (and I will be sharing in a future post).  Happy Fall, Y'all!

From one hurricane prone coast to another.

Its really been pretty dismal and gross here in NOLA lately - rain on and off everyday for the past week and 1/2.  So when I booked an impromptu flight back home to Virginia Beach for next week,  I was really excited to escape back to the East Coast and maybe catch some of the awesome beach sun for Labor Day.

Except this guy may ruin my plans:

Looks like Earl has the same idea as many vacationers this time of year - a trip to the Outer Banks just in time for Labor Day!

Its supposed to clear out by Friday, but growing up in VB has made me skeptical of a) hurricanes b) those who predict hurricane paths.   Oh we shall see.

Things I Love (Brrr-iffic edition)

I absolutely love being home, primarily because unlike where I'm currently in school, Virginia has seasons. When it's winter, it's cold, when it's in the summer, it's appropriately hot. It's just the natural way things should be. So imagine how delighted I was for today.... a high of 32!! I had a million errands and appointments to run around town today, so instead of hunkering down with a cup of hot coco, sweats and a fire, I busted out my favorite, most neglected, Christmas gift --- my J. Crew double cloth Marie Coat. The timing was great when we bought this coat (no shipping and 1/2 price.... finding glorious things at great deals is an absolute blast to me!) and I cannot recommend it enough. Tromping around today with that coat, my trusty old turquiose scarf, gold metallic gloves and brand new black boots made me absolutely adore this time of year. Cozy and feeling like a million bucks. If the only options of day to day winter-wear avaliable were frumpy and gaudy, I think I would truly dispise this time of year but thank heavens for J Crew and their adorable winter collections (and fabulous discounts!)


Unfortunately when I leave in Sunday to head back to the Lone Star State, the winter coats will stay behind to sit in the closet back in VA -- Sunday's high down at school on Monday is a *frigid* 68 degrees. But tomorrow promises another fabulous blustry day with a high of 25, as I head down to the Outer Banks for a day trip. So if you're in for truly chilly weather tomorrow: smile, breathe in that crisp air, bundle up in something adorable and take a trip down to your corner coffee shop for a warm drink...trust me, you'll LOVE the winter!