Top 5 Reasons I LOVED New Orleans

5. It's reasonably priced: I was shocked at how inexpensive New Orleans was. Than again one of my old college roomies paid for the hotel with points and I booked my ticket with miles. However, my expenses while there were minimal. It’s totally doable on a budget (which I’m not really on) but still enjoyed.

4. The bachelor parties: I had no idea New Orleans was the new it place for bachelor and bachelorette parties but quickly found out. I’m not kidding. More so bachelor parties though. We met a fun group of guys from Tennessee on Thursday night (the average age was 22 and they were all wearing overalls). We had drinks on Friday with a more mature crowd of 30-year-olds from Minneapolis (my favorites). We enjoyed watching another bus load of bachelors (except for one of course) strip down before our swamp air boat ride during the day and rounded out Saturday night dancing with a crowd from D.C. I loved every minute of it and that's probably why the trip was so cheap...I had to pay for a limited amount of drinks!

3. The nightlife: It’s never too early to go out in New Orleans and it’s never too late. I loved everything about my nightlife experiences. Bourbon Street was a hoot, the Tulane crowd was chill and Frenchman Street had some awesome blue grass music. My personal favorite was a karaoke bar called Cat’s Meow in the French Quarter. There’s something about an extremely drunk pregnant woman on stage singing YMCA. I know it’s sad but you just had to laugh. I sang, I danced and I enjoyed this coconut flavored shot that I kept drinking.

2. The food: If you’re not drinking, you’re eating. No joke and no vegetarians allowed, or at least on our reservation plan. Oysters, pork, baked oysters, grits, shrimp, crab, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, hollandaise sauce. I was literally in heaven and we didn’t skip a meal. Plus, snacks!

1. The people: Everyone is nice, everyone. From hotel employees to taxi drivers to bartenders to waiters to tour guides, it’s all about southern hospitality. Granted the city completely relies on tourists, I was delighted by the people. Not just nice but funny and entertaining. There was a New Orleans wit that I thoroughly enjoyed. Plus, everyone you meet is just so happy, because they’re all on vacation. It’s like Disney World for adults but with lots of alcohol and beads.

(This picture of me is standing outside a bar on Frenchman Street after enjoying some live music. It's blurry because the photographer was probably a little tipsy. However, that's to my advantage. I literally spilled something on myself during dinner every single night. Thursday I flipped a piece of lobster out of my hand and across the table while I was trying to crack the shell. Friday I slimmed my white dress with a gumbo sauce and Saturday I splattered this bright blue ensemble with a barbecue flavored shrimp. It was horribly embarrassing but somehow I got over it!).

$31.70 and rising

I’ve been at O’Hare International Airport for less then 60 minutes and so far I’ve spent $15.55 on a Chili’s salad and water. $12.04 on a packet of DayQuil tablets and $4.11 on a tall non-fat Chai from Starbucks.

That’s a grant total of almost $32.

The problem is half of my salad was still frozen so I just threw it out. The liquid gels haven’t started to work their magic yet and I still can’t get over the fact that my Chai was almost $1 more than it usually is.

I know that airports rip you off, I get it, they can, but it still pushes my buttons every time I swipe the credit card.

Oh, I’m headed to New Orleans for a weekend with the college roomies. I should have some better stories to tell along the way!

Clothing Swap Fun…Do it, Love it, Spread the Word!

On Saturday I was invited to a clothing swap party. That’s when you get together with a group of people and basically trade clothing.

I had never heard of one before but was instantly intrigued by the idea.

I was told to clean my closet and bring the pieces I no longer wore. I took it seriously and stacked my unwanted items into several bags.

This weekend, I headed to my friend’s apartment where five other girls had gathered.

At first I was a little apprehensive. Who is going to want my old crap? But honestly, it’s such a great idea. Like many others (I hope), I frequently fall victim to compulsive buying. Whether it’s a flattering mirror or great sale, what sometimes I consider banging in the dressing room, falls flat when I try it back on at home.

This way my chance to have other girls spice up their wardrobes with my failed purchases and try to do the same with theirs.

Plus, what could be better than shopping for free?

I made off with this red coat, a sweater and two dresses. And was overjoyed when the other girls rocked out some of my items I thought were a complete waste of money.

In the end, all of the “real” rejects were packed up again and donated to charity!

Looks Like I'll be Walking More...

I was at a gas station in Deerfield yesterday when a little boy spotted a soldier in a uniform and said, "The Army Rules." I looked at him, smiled and thought, "No Kid, You Rule!" Made my day. But then I was treated to this pain at the pump. Ruined my day.