I'm Baaack.

For rather sad family reasons, I had to jet off to exotic Wichita, Kansas this weekend. But even though it was a sad occasion, I did get to spend some time with Clara and my parents, and a lot of family members I hadn't seen in a very long time. 

It is nice to be back in Chicago- which turned sunny while I left. And I smiled when I saw these prints this morning, featured in a post by Refinery 29 that highlighted the best Chicago basted Etsy artists. These are from Megan Lee Designs. I love when I see things in blogs that are specific to Chicago and New Orleans, not just because I love those two cities the best, but because sometimes I get the feeling from all the blogs I look at it (and I spend WAY too much time on them, believe me) that nothing fashionable or cool ever happens outside of the East and West Coasts!

My Non-fiction Wish List.

I wish I read more than I do, and usually when I do make the time I always read fiction. Right now, I'm reading Water For Elephants (and I can't wait to finish it so I can watch the movie). But the next three books on my to read list are all non-fiction. They are...

A travelogue that explores the landscape and culture of the disappearing Louisiana coastline. 

A biography of Ella Fitzgerald.

Tina Fey's memoir- I'm sure it will be hilarious. And, as some of you know, I am border-line obsessed with her. 

Well, folks, got some sad news yesterday that has led to a drastic change in my weekend plans. I'm flying out tomorrow to exotic Wichita, Kansas. But the silver lining is that I get to see my whole family. Plus, it's the birthday boy's party tonight yahooooo, so all in all I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hope everyone has a good one!

Visit Montana?

There are these Visit Montana adds all over the El and on the sides of CTA buses here, with huge blown up and breath-taking pictures of Montana to promote tourism there. I gotta say they totally work, because never in my life have I wanted to visit Montana until now! These pictures don't really do them justice. It just looks so beautiful. Anybody else wanna go to Yellowstone park and hike around looking for bison?? (I especially love the pics with bison...I don't know why).

P.S. BP also runs adds to promote tourism to the Gulf Coast again, and the best one is with this shrimper named Mike Blanchard who has the thickest Cajun accent you've ever heard. I get so excited when it comes on.

Ruh roh...Yellow Shoes.

Blasted Anthropologie look book sitting outside my door this morning! I spied these. Ahhh so pretty. Yellow. Flowers. What more do you want in a shoe? Since these lovelies are a tad outside my shoe budget, perhaps I will be venturing over to Payless in search of yellow wedges and making my own yellow flower to stick on there? Hehehe. Not too bad of an idea. 

N.O.L.A. Photograph.

{Via: Defend New Orleans}

A Very Special Happy Birthday.

{source: Weheartit}

Today is Thomas's birthday yall. He is, MOST importantly, Louisiana Anna's very first follower. But also, he is my man companion. Technically, he is twenty-five years old, but he has a baby face, so he looks younger. And he orders Gibsons or Scotch neat, so he acts older.  Happy Birthday, Tommy!!!!!! Here are all things that are good (to you)....

Olive Juice!

Le Weekend.

Lovely weekend. I made myself a chocolate martini with this stuff (it is so amazing- it really tastes just like chocolate), and I watched Vertigo with Thomas. We're on an old movie kick lately, but I think Rear Window was the peak and now Thomas has just gotten way too good at Jimmy Stewart impressions for us to do anything but giggle and add our own lines during the movies, all the while probably missing important plot points. Then, the guy went out and bought me a CAKE POP for breakfast on Saturday (amazing), I went to work and then to yet another birthday party...lots of birthdays this time of year, including a VERY EXCITING one tomorrow! And on Sunday...drum roll please...da da dum! Viola!

It is a fried shrimp po-boy in Chicago! I got it from Blue Bayou, a Louisiana themed bar/restaurant here- no relation to the water park of the same name in Louisiana. I think. And I must say it was taste-Y! Thomas ordered some kind of bbq brisket po-boy. Who ever heard of such a thing? It was a very Midwestern po-boy. But deelish just the same. It was a very successful Sunday.

A Few More Things...

I got so excited about those dang cake pops, I forgot to 1. Make a joke for April Fool's Day, 2. Wish everyone happy opening day for the Cubs!, and 3. Wish everyone happy grilled cheese month! (Apparently April is grilled cheese month, and according to Chicago's Best, the one to have here in Chi-town is here- I'm goin').

Also, for Clara, here is some San fran street style to enjoy.

Cake Pops!!

Okay I've been obsessed with cupcakes for quite a few years now, enabled first by the fact that I worked here and now by the fact that I live around the corner from here (in my opinion, the two best places to get cupcakes in New Orleans and Chicago respectively). But NOW there is a new trend on the horizon, in the form of cake pops! They are so genius. Cake on a stick. Enough said. These yummy ones are from the amazingly talented Bakerella, who specializes in them. As you can see, they can be relatively simple, or pretty intricate! She has a bunch of themed ones on her website. The giant lips for Valentine's Day crack me up. And the chicks and bunny rabbits are perfect for Easter. Hope you guys have a great weekend- and you get to try a cake pop soon!!!!

P.S. This has been a HUGE week at Louisiana Anna. We got a SECOND follower. And we have to give her a shout out. Amanda J, you are the bomb dot com.

Thursday Volunteering.

I am in the best mood today, because, well firstly, I have today off, but more importantly, because I spent it volunteering at PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) here in Chicago. They are a great great organization that helps alleviate pet homelessness. Not only do they run a No Kill shelter, meaning no animal is euthanized, but they also provide services like spaying and neutering at their clinic, and community outreach programs that educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering. You can meet all the guys up for adoption on their website, some of whom I got to hang out with today. Probably because I knew I was going to play with dogs today, I had a dream last night about the late, the great, Bella K., née Bartok. So here is a tribute to her, in her element, the Mississippi River. AND, just cause they're awesome, here are some hipster puppies hahaha....

{source: Hipster Puppies}

Mellow Yellow.

I had to re-blog this when I saw it- someone else is as obsessed with yellow as me! These pictures make me so happy. I too would love to paint everything I own yellow.

{via: Love made me do it}

Just Sayin....

I guess it's living in the Midwest that has done it to me, but I have noticed that NOT living in the South has turned me into a Southerner on steroids. When I lived in New Orleans, my favorite restaurants were a Lebanese and a sushi restaurant. Now, all I want to eat is seafood. If it has the word 'cajun' in it on a menu, I'll order it, even though all that means in Chicago is that it is somewhat on the spicy side, and usually involves a buffalo-wings-esque sauce. For example, a chicken breast coated in buffalo wings sauce on any kind of bun is a cajun chicken sandwich! I am always on the hunt for Chicago spots that serve anything looking like....

{Source: 1. Defend New Orleans, 2. Flickr, 3. Incredifood, 4. Spoonyandnatas, 5. Nails}

Annnnd even though I usually always wore jeans and t-shirts in New Orleans, now I would love to have a wardrobe exclusively of seersucker haha!

{Click on pics for links}

Just a wishful Wednesday. Happy hump day!