In Seach of a Spa...

Now that life is starting to feel more settled and home is actually starting to feel like home again, I'm in search of a spa to call my very own. Since I anticapated this search months prior to moving back to NOLA, I purchase several Groupons and LivingSocial deals so I can explore varies spas without committing a mini spending crime (that being spending more than I should or have). But, I'm please to report moments ago, I had the best facial ever (and goodness knows how badly I needed it.) My skin currently hates me and has decided to rebel against me until I give it my full and undivided attention. And trust me... I have!  Duke Morgan Spa located at 3607 Magazine St. was my skin first night on the town since I have been back and this is my mini review:

What did I love about this spa?

- Location: Hello! It's located on my ALL TIME favorite street! But, besides that, it was easy to find and conveniently located so if you are directionally challenged you can't get lost.

- Service: Both the owner, Duke, and the esthetician, Vicki, were sincerely pleasant. I hate when I go to a service establishment and the people are so overly nice that it's fake. I was only expecting a facial but she also massaged my foot, neck and shoulders extensively. It was like having two services for the price of one!

And to top it all off, I didn't feel pressured to buy anything additional to my service but instead I was given a sample to try.

- Appearance: The spa is housed in a classic New Orleans styled house with beautiful architectural details. It has all of its original hardwood floors and textured high ceilings. The colors of each room centainly paid amish (is that the correct spelling?!) to true New Orleans decor.

Although I'm almost sure this is the spa for me, I'll keep you update and let you know how or should I say if any of the other spas on my list measure up.

One of the Gazillion Reasons Why...

You all know I'm completely and utterly obsessed with my beloved city. I love to love it and today while waiting for my mom to meet me at Whole Foods (our favorite weekly errand), I sat in my car and took in the atmosphere. Now, if you aren't from NOLA, you are probably wondering what "atmosphere" is there to take in... Well, WF is located in the uptown Garden District area on Magazine Street. There are plenty of shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants, but what I love most is the character of homes surrounding it all. I hope to find the time soon to work on my photography in this area but until then here just a look of one of the gazillion why I love the homes in my city. Simple with a charismatic appeal...

Just Call Me Jett

Ever since I have moved back to New Orleans, it seems as if I'm never here. (Which is crazy ironic, seeing as though I couldn't wait to escape Houston to get back here. :)) I'm starting to think my mom should have named me something a little more fitting to express my craze to travel. Something cute like Jett... What do you think? While you think about it, take a peep at my pix. :)

First, Vegas...




Mom and I

 


The water show in front of the Bellagio



I usually travel like the locals while on vaca. It's always an cool experience and I save $$$

It was 8:30am so no telling how long he had been there





Inside of the glamorous Bellagio



I mistakenly deleted over half of my nightlife pix but that's ok because what happens in Vegas suppose to stay there, right?!

Enough of the desert, off to a mansion in the mountains... Gatlinburg, TN.



The Smokey Mountain Top Mansion  



We went hiking...



2.5 hours to see this "waterfall" but it was an adventure nonetheless




   

Me and my girls

The fellas...

And now, for my home away from home...

Yep Chi-Town!


 

Show Some Love for VV Brown

I must come clean. I hate new music artists... I can't allow myself to listen to them until they prove themselves. By the time I give a "new" music artist access to my world, they are no longer considered new on the music scene. Now mind you, I'm not even close to being a musichead like many of my friends but I think the reason I feel this way is because the music industry allows every juvenile Soulja and fake Gucci to record uttered sound and attempt to sell it to me as if it's real music. But, ladies and handsome gents, I'm placing my skepticism aside, putting on my oh so lovely L.A.M.B. stiletto heels on, and step out on a limb with Ms. VV Brown... I think I like her and I love her spread in InStyle magazine. Check it out...

If I Must Work... I Deserve to Shop

It feels like a decade since I have posted and I'm terribly sorry about being away for soooo long. But, now you can rest easy because I'm back. As discussed earlier, I wasn't born a trust fund baby, making it absolutely impossible for my dream of being independently wealthy to be a reality. That being said and revisited (I'm sorry but I'm a little bitter about that :)), let it be known that I'm back in the workforce and in complete and utter shock! But, this is only my first week so, I'm sure I'll get with the program later than sooner... (ha, ha)

To cope with my new circumstances (being employed again), I have dropped into Buffalo Exchange (located on my beloved Magazine St. next to Slim Goodies, one of the best diners in the city,) twice this week and have uncovered a great treasure each time. On my first visit I brought a colorful patterned 3/4 lenght sleeve dress that screams 70's and today I brought a purple vintage Express mock wrap, long sleeve dress. Oh, and to my delight, I also found a large silver-ish clutch by Gap made from 100% pig suede. (I'll take pictures and post soon.) I'm sooo excited!!! Buffalo Exchange is my favorite hippy-chic store. I love resale stores and as I find others in the area that I can cosign, I'll share but until then...

I'm out as I sing Nelly Furtado's song, "The night is young...And so are we... We can do anything... We wanna, baby"

Make it a good weekend!

I'm Back in Full Effect... (well almost)

I'm back... Back to the land of "the beignet eating, coffee with chicory drinking, random second line dancing, Who Dat Nation" of NOLA (that being New Orleans, LA... You would be surprised at the number of people who don't know what NOLA means. But in their defense, they are non-natives, of course.) I'm not quite unpacked and settled but I have already hit the streets of New Orleans to find inspiration for the blog.

Yesterday before meeting up with a dear friend of mine, I decided to take advantage of free admission Wednesday's at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). It has been years since I have visited NOMA and I was so excited to go because it has a special place in my heart (shared of course with other NOLA places, things, and people.) But, my affection for this particular place is because I remember visiting the museum as a child with my mom on a school trip and while the other kids were bored out of their minds, I felt something come over me... You know, the feeling you get when you meet someone and talking with them feels so natural that it feels like y'all have been friends for a lifetime. So, for me, it was like meeting that friend that I never knew existed and from that day on never wanted to exist without. Funny how things like that happens, even early on in life.

OK, anywho, before revisiting my beloved yet severely neglected friend (lol), NOMA, I strolled through City Park's Sculpture Garden, which was a refreshing, brand new experience for me. It made me reflect on how lovely it is to be voluntarily unemployed. But, since my great grandparents made me a victim of a bad taste joke, that being NOT funding my trust fund that would have made me independently wealthy, sadly, my days are freedom are growing increasing short. But, no worries... I have learned the family way! I'm loyally continuing the family joke for all future generations to come. HA, HA...

I'll take some better shots soon but here's a peek...



Me and Blue





New Orleans Museum of Art



"Overflow" made in 2005
By: Jaume Plensa: Spanish, born 1955

Houston, We No Longer Have a Problem

My days in Houston are nearing its end and I couldn't be happier! Don't get me wrong, leaving my Houston friends that has become family is a very bittersweet emotion. I have made my peace with this BBQ loving, "the bigger the better truck" driving, strip mall obsessed city. But not long ago, I resented Houston because it was a constant reminder of how far I was from home. Not necessarily in distance but in culture. The Houston way wasn't my way of living. But, the moment I decided to love Houston for who she was and stopped hating her for who she wasn't, the fire ceased, peace was declared, and we became good friends.

How was your weekend? I attend several going away lunches, dinners, and house parties and a beautiful wedding. Here's a peek...



Dress: Taylor by Ann Taylor (TJ Maxx)
Earrings: vintage screwback earrings (Ebay)

If you know me, you know I LOVE cake...



Flowers and all things wedding related. What girl doesn't?!



Me with the Father of the groom, my mentor and friend



This was a new wedding reception experience for me and I loved it!



Congrats you guys!!



Ready to Fall into Fall

Although true fall weather will not grace us southerners until mid November, I'm ready to fall into Fall... I'm looking forward to wearing my red Gap pea coat with my fabulous Calvin Klein Prosper shooties (shown below.) (Which I must admit was completely inspired from one of my dearest since she had them first in brown ;)

But, I must admit I have a fall fashion confession about the September issues. How can I say this?! I have read, studied, and examined Vogue's, InStyle's, and Allure's September issues (aka the Fashion bible) and I don't feel inspired! I guess it's a little early to tell what all Fall fashion has enstored for the season but the issues as a whole let much to be desired... I did, however, find a few lip colors I'm excited to try, one is by Lancôme Paris (I <3 the right lip color) and I promise to post pictures IF it's worthy of sharing :)

I fell in love with the 7 page spread of model Chanel Iman in the Allure September Issue (see below). I was first introducted to Chanel via Black Vogue back in May and we have been virtual friends ever since then. (Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Zoe also just to name a few...)Too bad it didn't make the cover although Kim looked beautiful, fresh faced in all...

And this Fall I have decided to give my all time favorite fragrance Pleasures by Estée Lauder a new companion and try...

And as always... this week's obsessions are Whole Foods Market, creamy cilantro (from Whole Foods Market), and natural hair products made from shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil.

How Many Ways Can One Heart Break?

Disclaimer: My broken heart isn't of the romantic sort... (at least not this time)

There a line in the movie "You've Got Mail" when Megan Ryan's bookstore goes out of business and she says, "the truth is I'm heart broken. I feel as though a part of me has died and my mother has died all over again. And nothing will make it right." I relate to this quote all too well.

I didn't know it was possible for my heart to hurt as much as it does. I guess I'm guilty of loving too much, too hard. This has always been my problem. What good is love if you can't love all the way without restrictions???

On a lighter note, one of my dearest got engaged this weekend in New Orleans on the St. Charles streetcar. Here a few pix from my weekend...
 
 

 

We went to a lovely, jazzy restaurant in the French Quauters named Scarlett O'Hara on Decatur... I would definitely recommend this spot... If you go, let me know your thoughts.

I'm love this ring... I guess it will do until that day comes...  

(My ring is from Banana Republic)

Taking it all in...

How was your weekend?

Current obsessions: skin care products, makeup, and all September issues of Vogue, InStyle, and the likes... (if you're a true fashion lover you know why;))