Always Have a Plan (viewing Mardi Gras through the lens of a soon-to-be 30 year old)

Well, it's Wednesday evening and I still haven't recuperated from my weekend getaway to New Orleans with my husband and the bff's!!! This is crazy! I mean, when I went 9 years ago, I had the time of my life, endured the longest road trip ever, slept on somebody's floor, and was ready for class the day after returning like I'd never skipped a beat. But, not this time. I am beat!

The reason I believe that I'm so beat is because we failed to stick to the plan.  We had an itinerary (I know, so lame) that we somehow detoured from. We get there Friday and pretty much stay on track. Saturday morning, so far so good! But, then somebody (I'm not pointing fingers :-) decided that we should find "The Real World" House. Well, it sounded like a good idea, until we got stuck on the St. Charles street car with all the college students and locals for hours and hours. Big Mistake!

So the lesson learned : Always have a plan.... and stick to it! This applies to everything in life, not just trips to Mardi Gras when you're nearly thirty.

But, its trips like this one that really keeps us energetic and young. No matter if I'm turning 30, 40, or even 50,  I (and all of us) need to do things that are so far out of my normal routine that I am forced to continue to grow as an  individual. When I went to New Orleans during my undergraduate years, I was all about the Mardis Gras night time scene. This time, I had the opportunity to visit some of the historical sites like the cemeteries and reflect on the aftermath of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Completely different focus, but still fun! And then there are the moments that are unforgettable regardless of age, ie: the cheapest glass of wine ever, seeing your crappy waiter from lunch out at the evening festivities, and walking in on a complete stranger in the bathroom because he was too drunk to care to lock the door. Classic moments!

In sum: I did it...I survived....and I'll do it again!

In the Spirit of Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is the day of LOVE!  The day that everyone expresses how much they LOVE their significant others, friends, and family. 

So...In the Spirit of Valentine's Day, I got to thinking about all the people and things that I LOVE and how the LOVE that we have for certain people/things really shape who we are.  Knowing what you LOVE determines in so many ways what you will accept, tolerate, fight for, stand for, and even eliminate.  Knowing what you LOVE gives you the tools to tailor fit your life and make it 'one-of-a-kind'.  In other words, you learn what you want to spend your money on, waste your time with, and allow into your circle.

As I approach 30, I truly know what/who I LOVE!  And knowing what I LOVE gives me a better understanding of who I am.  I LOVE:

• God
• mexican food(especially queso dip)
• family
• ice cream(any flavor)  
• the beach
• my husband
• the sound of rain
• a good cup of Joe
• feet(don't ask)
• push-up bras
• monica
• reality t.v.
• reading
• Cooper
• mini coopers( but, not the price tag)
• traveling
• being a woman
• being a black woman
• big walk-in closets
• spa sydell
• christmas
• having lunch with girlfiends
• myself
• talking (sometimes too much)
• my bff's
• cute dresses

What do you LOVE and what does it tell you about yourself?