Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Disney Movies at NOMA

If you happen to be a member of the New Orleans Museum of Art, then this series of events is for you! The museum is presenting a 5-weekend Disney movie series to get you ready for the upcoming Dreams Come True exhibit that opens in mid-November. Here is a list of the movies that will be shown:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs October 3 &4, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm

Cinderella October 10 & 11, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm

Sleeping Beauty October 17 & 18, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm

The Little Mermaid October 24 & 25, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm

Beauty and the Beast November 6, 5pm and 7pm; and November 7, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm


Remember, these screenings are for members only, though if you're not a member, you can still enjoy the museum's exhibits for free as a Louisiana resident (thanks to the generosity of the Helis Foundation).

Wordless Wednesday: Time passes quickly...




Thursday, September 24, 2009

More New Orleans-area events for this weekend!

You know fall is upon us when the festival calendar starts filling up! In addition to the Alligator Festival, there are several other events to keep you busy and having fun this weekend:

Beginning with a fish fry on Friday night and continuing through Sunday evening is the St. Angela Merici Church and School Fair: "St. Angela Merici on the Bayou" is this year's theme. Check it out for family fun and games, good food, and great music!

If you're looking to do some early Christmas shopping, head on over to the Archbishop Chappelle High School annual craft fair on Saturday from 9am to 5pm. With over 170 vendors, you're sure to find something for everyone on your "nice" list!

Also on Saturday from 9am until 2pm, the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority will be celebrating its 20th year at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. Starting off the festivities will be a walk to raise money for The Extra Mile. At 11am, look for face painting, games, music, and other family-friendly events for you to enjoy.

If that's not enough, you can always head downtown to the 3rd annual New Orleans Seafood Festival at Fulton Square. Check out the list of food vendors - its making my mouth water just reading it! If we head out to this festival, you can bet I'll be grabbing at least a dozen chargrilled oysters.... so good! And since both the LSU and Saints games will be broadcast, you can multitask: eat some delicious food, dance to some great music, cheer on your team, all the while supporting the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. Sounds like a win-win-win-win situation to me!

Alligator Festival!

Tonight is the opening of the Alligator Festival in St. Charles Parish (just west of New Orleans). The festival opens tonight (just the rides) and continues until Sunday evening. In addition to the rides, at the festival there will be live music from local bands and vendors serving all kinds of foods made with alligator meat. My younger son ate his way through the festival last year - he just couldn't get enough gator (and he was not quite a year old!). This year, we plan to bring a little more cash so that we're prepared for his overzealous taste of alligator! I personally am looking forward to the gator sauce piquant and the Bucktown Allstars!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Top 10 Tuesday: Fall Favorites!

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In honor of Top 10 Tuesday and the first day of fall, here is my list of the top 10 things I love about fall:


  1. school and community fairs

  2. FOOTBALL!!!! Geaux Tigers and Saints!

  3. the colors when the leaves change (of course that doesn't happen much here - makes me miss living further north - just a little!)

  4. sleeping with the windows open - thanks to the cooler temps and lower humidity

  5. oyster season!

  6. wearing comfy sweatshirts and sweaters (not yet, though - its still hot today!)

  7. preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas

  8. finding the perfect pumpkin

  9. my baby boy's birthday!

  10. finding the perfect Halloween costumes

Head on over to OhAmanda for more Top 10 Tuesday!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Walk for Peace


"Peace" - sometimes that is a foreign concept in New Orleans (just read the daily Times-Picayune!). Monday September 21st is International Peace Day, and to commemorate that here in New Orleans, Sandy Blum (co-owner of Spa Aria) and Laurel Savoie (of the Louisiana Green Scene Magazine) are co-hosting the second annual Walk for Peace Sunday at 11am. The walk will begin in front of the Hotel Monteleone and will end in Jackson Square. The Carousel Bar will be providing mimosas (yummy!) for the grown ups, but the whole family can head out and promote peace in our fair city. So, wear your white t-shirts (decorated with peace signs if you like) and show your penchant for peace in Sunday morning's Walk for Peace!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Top 10 Tuesday: Halloween Costumes!

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I know its only mid-September, but my 4 year old is already making plans for his Halloween costume. Its the first year we've let him decide how he'll dress, mainly because we don't already have a hand-me-down costume in our arsenal that fits him! So, in honor of Top 10 Tuesday, here are the top 10 costumes that he wants:


  1. Spider-man ("the good one, NOT the bad one," he says)

  2. Wolverine (from X-Men)

  3. A bulldozer

  4. A crane "like at Pawpaw's work"

  5. Batman

  6. A pirate (Captain Jack Sparrow, of course!)

  7. Buzz Lightyear

  8. A monster

  9. Iron Man

  10. "The scary guy from Star Wars" (Darth Vader - I'm not sure how he knows him, since I'm fairly certain he's never seen the movies...)

The best part is that he wants to be ALL of these things, for THIS Halloween! The list gets longer each time a catalog arrives with costumes for sale...


Head on over to OhAmanda for more Top 10 Tuesday lists!


Friday, September 11, 2009

New Orleans Area Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

Hopefully this weekend won't be a complete washout, but this weather is not what I'd ask for on the weekend! If you want to venture out despite the weather, here are a few free and family-friendly events happening in the area:

Take Time for Lunch on Saturday 9/12, 11am to 1pm at the Edible Schoolyard at Samuel J. Green Charter School (2319 Valence, New Orleans). Visit informational booths, tour the edible schoolyard garden, and the kids can participate in activities just for them.

Along similar lines, the Young Leadership Council is holding a Community Revitalization Day on Saturday from 9am to 12 noon at their headquarters (1840 Euterpe Street, New Orleans). If you're looking for service hours (or rather if your children need them!), come help plant a community garden and paint the YLC meeting room's walls.

Also on Saturday, you can visit the Sankofa Marketplace in the lower 9th ward from 1pm - 4pm. Kids visiting the marketplace can receive a free book courtesy of the New Orleans Public Library Martin Luther King branch bookmobile. Stop by this or any of the other area farmers markets and support our local farmers and fishermen.

On Sunday at 1pm you can celebrate author Roald Dahl's birthday at Octavia Books. Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of my older son's FAVORITE stories, so maybe I'll surprise him with a trip Uptown!

Enjoy your weekend and remember, GEAUX SAINTS GEAUX!!!!!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Fun Friday Event for the New Orleans area!

Are you ready for some football???? On Friday, September 11, from 5-8pm, join some of the Saints players, Saintsations, and team mascots at the Saints at the Square Kickoff Rally! Held at Lafayette Square, the rally will include music from Benny Grunch and the Bunch, and, one of my local favorites, The Iguanas! The event is free, and food and beverage will be available for sale, benefiting the Young Leadership Council. Although this weekend's weather leaves little to be desired, this event will happen rain or shine, so bring the family and cheer on our New Orleans Saints!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Jumping In!


The little guy has started jumping in the water just like his big brother!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

New Orleans Area Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

Labor Day weekend is a big weekend in New Orleans, but not a big family-friendly weekend thanks to the Southern Decadence festival. Here are a few family-friendly events I found that might keep you busy this weekend:
  • The Morgan City Shrimp & Petroleum Festival starts Thursday and runs through Monday. Live music each night, a hands-on Children's Village (Saturday through Monday), and fireworks Sunday night are a few of the festival's highlights. Free admission.

  • Kids can make their own beanbag toss at the Home Depot kids workshop. Saturday from 9am to 12noon - check with your local Home Depot store for details.

Check out farm fresh produce at one of the area farmers' markets:

We're getting into festival season, so look for more family (and budget) friendly events in the coming week! Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Climbing Tree


This was taken last year at the Audubon Zoo. I have pictures of me and my siblings on this same tree when we were young!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Top 10 Tuesday: Snoball Flavors!

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After making last week's top 10 list, I got to thinking about snoballs. A real New Orleans treat, snoballs are made with the finest shaved ice and their frozen sweetness just melts in your mouth! Here are my top 10 snoball flavors (though they are subject to change with my mood!):

  1. Blackberry with condensed milk
  2. Wedding cake
  3. Spearmint
  4. Ice cream
  5. Chocolate with condensed milk
  6. Nectar cream
  7. Orchid cream vanilla
  8. Wild cherry
  9. Coconut cream
  10. Margarita

Head on over to Oh Amanda for more great Top 10 Tuesday lists!