Knit Christmas Presents

Pedicure socks

Gryffindor scarf for her trip to Universal Studios

Washcloths

Finger mustaches for stocking stuffers

Fishy washcloths

A retro LSU driver cover

A mustache cowl

Friday Coloring Book Page

The group MGMT suggested coloring this playground in bright colors. So I had to find neon pencil colors. I found these at Hobby Lobby and they're pretty rad. The wooden pencil is actually an eraser! Isn't that crazy?! It works pretty well, too.

Bieber!

We were considering going to Baton Rouge to play laser tag but the weather was super gross so we went skating instead.

Good thing we did, because look who we saw there-

JUSTIN BIEBER! OMG!

New Orleans

Michael had a two day radiology interview at Ochsner in New Orleans so I went with him and planned to visit a couple friends and my sister.

I have been dying to try macarons from Sucre. They now have a location in Metairie so I met one of my favorite friends there for sweet treats and a lot of catching up. I didn't do so great with getting pics with my friends on this trip. I did get a picture of the raspberry macaron and the king cake macaron.

Michael and I spent the night at another one of my favorite friends' apartment. We had fun cooking together and she prepared for my visit by buying Rose's lime juice and Tito's vodka. Michael was done early on Saturday and we hope to get beignets at Cafe du Monde but the line was atrocious so we ate at Cafe Beignet. We had fun walking around the French Quarter. It was a beautiful day and I can't remember the last time I strolled around there.

Before dropping Michael off at the airport we met my sister at Juan's Flying Burrito on Magazine Street. While waiting for her we checked out the Garden District Needlework Shop which was right across the street. The shop was huge as far as these types of shops go. They had a great selection of yarn but I ended up not buying anything. I really wanted to buy some of the New Orleans themed needlepoint ornament kits but they were pretty pricey.

I think I would love to live in New Orleans if it was safer. We could end up there for residency so I guess I'll train Theo to be an attack dog. Let's just hope we're not robbed by someone using a golf club as a weapon.

Friday Coloring Book Page

Southland Mall

There is a nice putt putt place back at home. I don't know what kind of condition it is currently in, but it was nice when I was in high school. We wanted to play but they were closed so we went to the black light pirate themed putt putt in the mall. It's a pretty crappy course but it was fun nonetheless.

"Please do not touch pirate. He is not real." "Do not scare children with pirate!!!!"

We headed across to the arcade which used to be a really sweet arcade. I was hoping to play "Wacky Gator" and it was still there! It was missing the hammer so I laid down the law with both hands which my friend later told me was cheating.

My niece and I played air hockey.

THEN I WON THE JACKPOT on Cyclone. It was pretty much one of the best moments in my life. The guy working there loved us because we were having so much fun. I don't think anyone has had that much fun there for a while.

My husband and my brother didn't hear my squeals of jackpot delight since they were too busy with this hunting game.

We put all our tickets together and got some really sweet prizes. I got a bracelet, a bouncy ball making kit, and the following:

My niece got a foam rocket that has a rubber band that you use to shoot it. My husband shot it across a large opening in the mall and was fussed by a non-threatening segway riding mall cop. I instantly fell in love with him all over again.

Houston

Their website says that they were the first cupcake bakery (originating in L.A.). They're branching out and Kippy included it in my Houston itinerary. They were deeeelicious. Except for the marshmallow cupcake- like the hostess kind. It was really bitter and it made me grumpy. Until I tasted Michael's cupcake and all was right in the world again.

Sometimes I can't take a picture fast enough. Like when there are cupcakes involved. And what could have been a cute cupcake picture turns into half eaten and missing cupcakes.

As my sister is trying to woo me to Houston she also included a stop at Knitting in the Loop. It is the most precious shop located off Westheimer in a little yellow house. swoon. And their yarn selection. swoon again. The lady who was working was super nice and there were ladies in there knitting and chatting up a storm. I bought some awesome yarn but I think I'll be posting soon about the yarns I bought on our trip and ideas for what to make with them.

In preparation for the Real Pirates exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science we played Dead Man's Dice and drank vanilla Tortuga rum.

We couldn't take pictures inside the exhibit. If this exhibit comes to a museum near you I suggest you check it out. The collection of artifacts is extensive and there is real pirate treasure. AND if you were born on March 18 then you share a birthday with the captain of the Whydah.

Since my mom is a pirate at heart it took her a little longer to go through the exhibit so we did some exploring while waiting for her. Kippy's excited about the zebra rump special on aisle 9.

My little bro is like a kid in the candy store with these dinosaur skeletons. When he was four he could tell you everything about every kind of dinosaur.

The museum also had Zoltar. I don't remember what he said to me.

Here's my fortune:

We rang in the new year at Kippy's. Her husband cooked ribs in his Green Egg. They were fantastic.

Kippy and her hubs have this really neat patio. Here's an artsy shot of some candles. We hung out at the table for a bit after our midnight dance party.