please slow down

Remember that time that I bought a house in Houston while I was in New Orleans for Jazz Fest?

That's how I feel about life right now. Just STOP. I cannot handle anything else. 

Let's review. 

A and our amazing realtor went house hunting on Wednesday. He liked a few, but didn't love anything. On Thursday they went back out and he found the one. The pictures online we SO bad (seriously - pay someone to do that!!), so I had him go back on Friday with my sister and to FaceTime me as he was going through it. 

I FaceTimed him from the courtyard at Brennan's - gotta do what you gotta do. 

The man has good taste - so of course I loved it! My sister gave her stamp of approval, so we put it an offer. (I signed the offer contract while at lunch in the Quarter.) We offered below asking. They countered and then A stood strong and countered back. Annnnd...we got it! I signed the final offer contract while we were at dinner at Muriel's. Maybe New Orleans food is my good luck charm?

We have the inspection on Thursday morning and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the appraisal goes well. The inspection should bother me, but it's less than 5 years old so I'm not too worried about that. 

Yes - this was fast, we know. The area we want to be in (The Heights) is an INSANELY hot market right now. My sister lives right across from The Heights and her house got 4 offers on the very first day...and the one they went with was way above the asking price. I looked on HAR (a Houston real estate site, and a life saver) every day and consistently noticed houses that one day were active and the next were pending. So you HAVE to move fast. We do know for sure that this is the house for us - we love it. 

Enough about that - let's talk Jazz Fest now. 

I started the day with one too many French 75s at Pat O's. Hey, I was celebrating...

Did you think I was joking about the vodka in the breast milk bags?

Jazz Fest 2013? NO. Mud Fest 2013. IT WAS SO BAD. I fell and ruined my monogramed hat. I'm still so sad and upset. I think I listed to two Marc Broussard songs before leaving. Leaving...without my shoes. And without kisses from Adam. It was traumatic. Clearly I'm not over it.

Friday I night I maybe has a little bit too much to drink. I was drowning my sorrows...you would have too. Maybe I should try out for America's Next Top Model?

I started off with a Mint Julep on Saturday in honor of the derby. Too bad that shiz was disgusting. Maybe it's because I got it at Pat O's...I should probably stick to bloody's there.

And then I found Helene. So glad you could join me in your fave city!

Saturday night I was walking into The Beach and I had left my ID in the hotel. I had a fight with the door guy (I'm 25! I'm married!) but he wouldn't let me in. I may have called him a dumbass. I went back to the hotel to get my ID...but the bed looked super comfy. So I went to sleep. Best decision ever - those hooligans stayed out until five am and we all left at nine am. I WIN. 

So there you have it. My adventures in house buying and jazz festing. Now cross your fingers that everything goes well. 

go your own way

aren't my mama and daddy so precious? my pose/face can be blamed entirely on whoever kept the champagne flowing in my glass all night.

You're reading this at 9am-ish, right? Well you're reading this as I'm arriving in New Orleans for the weekend. In about two hours we will be loading the limo bus to head to the fairgrounds for some jazz festing. I mentioned it in detail here, but I'll go over it again. 

Now, I'm no music festing pro like my girl Helene is, but Jazz Fest is one of the best weekends ever. Maybe I have a skewed view of it because it's completely all expenses paid...but I am preeeety positive that you would love it if you had to pay for it. 

First of all, you are in New Orleans. Which automatically makes is amazing. Mainly because of the food. Crawfish Monica (basically butter + pasta + spices + butter + crawfish + butter), crawfish bread, crawfish enchiladas...sensing a pattern here? I'm trying to be good and not eat any of those things because they make my tummy go crazy. Not a good combo when you're in a place with disgusting portapotty's. Anywaysssss....

The music is AMAZING! There's always the big name bands (last year Zac Brown Band was out of control ridiculous awesome) but there's the small ones too - I particularly like the gospel tent. Last weekend was Billy Joel & John Mayer & Dave Matthews Band. I was only sad about missing Billy Joel...but I heard he kind of sucked, so I'm not so sad any longer. This weekend I'm excited to see Little Big Town followed by...wait for it...FLEETWOOD MAC! AND my boyfriend Adam...that's right ladies, Maroon 5. I'll blow him some kisses for you.

And then there's the going out in New Orleans after the fest ends for the day. Now normally I HATE Bourbon Street, but we stay on Bourbon so it's just easier to go out there. And it gives the clients that ridiculous "OMG New Orleans is so insane" feel - which is probably why I hate it. It is better to go during Jazz Fest than during NYE, I guess. And everyone should experience it AT LEAST once. 

This year we are going to Muriel's in Jackson Square one night and Bourbon House the other - it's a Brennans restaurant and I cannot wait. Also why I won't eat the festival food, so I can gorge myself there and not feel that bad about it. 

In random news - it's supposed to be cold this weekend. IN MAY. Yep, I'm complaining about that just like everyone else and their mom. But that's what Vodka is for...so you don't realize it's cold. I've got three breast milk bags filled with it - I'm ready to fest.

Jazz Fest 2013

Last week they announced the lineup for Jazz Fest 2013 and I cried. Tears of happiness, of course! This is seriously the BEST YEAR EVER. (I say that every year. But really!)

A little background: I am lucky enough to work for a company that takes us every year - all expenses paid. There's lots of schmoozing in my industry, and basically for us it means that we have to spoil our clients to get them to buy more with us. It's a win-win, because we get to benefit. We go to both weekends each year (different clients come each weekend) and entertain OVER THE TOP. We stay on at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon (just about the only time of year I would stay on Bourbon) and then attend the festival on Friday and Saturday. Did I mention that it also means a free day off work? Holla! 

It also means a LOT of going out. Basically it's a weekend of drinking, more drinking, eating crappy (but so yummy!) food...and more drinking. Crawfish Monica...get in my BELLAY!

Before we go into the awesomeness that is this year's lineup, let's look at last year, shall we?

Second weekend group at Pat-O's. I don't even want to know what the bar tab was there. Find the bow and you'l find me!

Corey's first Jazz Fest also meant Corey's first...whatever that disgusting shot is called. We love him, I promise!

And of course, you can't go out and not do the wobble. And I'm just now noticing how much I do not fit in at this bar. 

And now, for the best part. The ones I am MOST excited for are:

First Weekend
Friday: John Mayer | Band of Horses
Saturday: BILLY. FREAKING. JOEL. | Rebirth Brass Band
Sunday: Dave Matthews Band | Earth, Wind & Fire

Second Weekend
Friday: Maroon 5 | Marc Broussard
Saturday: Fleetwood Mac | Little Big Town

And now you know how big of a weirdo I am because I am most excited for Billy Joel. Please still be my friend?