COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE

J and I have had the same routine the past few weekends. Breakfast and Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.  I especially like it when breakfast includes bagels from the brand new Panera Bread that opened up around the block.  So, has anyone seen the online comedy series?  It apparently premiered in July 2012 but J and I are just now catching on.  Seinfeld invites funny people like Ricky Gervais, Larry David, Colin Quinn, David Letterman, etc. for a drive and a cup of coffee.  We've watched a handful so far and enjoyed each one.  It's great to start the day with some laughter!

ANNA'S BRIDAL SHOWER

Meet my friend Anna Bateman...  You may remember seeing her in earlier posts HERE or HERE.

(May 15, 2009 @ Lucy's Retried Surfers Bar)

We went to high school together, undergrad at LSU, and have built many a campfire throughout our 14 year friendship.  Hence our shared nickname, "Fire Farm Gals."  Anna ended up moving to Nashville, Tennessee after college for a teaching job.  That's where she met her fiance, Pete.  They locked eyes at a bar called Paradise Park one day and have been going strong ever since.  Anna and Pete will be married this October, only two months away!  It's going to be a small ceremony on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  Earlier today was Anna's bridal shower at her parent's home in Lacombe, Louisiana.  I snapped some pictures with my iPhone...

Anna Banana and me :)

Can you guess which gift is mine?  I'll give you a hint... I've been all about brown Kraft paper and bakers twine lately :)  Love the simplicity of it.

The Bateman family dog, Holly, is so sweet!  Such a good girl.  There were so many new people and a million things going on but she was calm as could be.  Maybe Bayou will chill a bit one of these days?  Haha!  Probably not.

Cake Pops

This cake was really good!  I definitely could have gone for a second piece but I held back.

It was such a nice surprise to see my old friend Kasey Centanni.  Kasey and I went to high school together at Fontainebleau in Mandeville.  That is her adorable daughter Jadyn by her side.

It's present time!

The Bateman Ladies:

From left to right... Anna, her amazing Mother, sister Stephanie, and sister Victoria.

LANDRY'S SEAFOOD

J and I had date night at Landry's yesterday.  They do Happy Hour Monday through Friday, 4pm to 7pm.  The apps we ordered were okay, not great.  Typically, there are a million other places we'd pick to have dinner in NOLA before going to Landry's.  But when you want waterfront, Landry's views can't be beat!  It's so relaxing to sit on the deck with a nice breeze blowing and watch the sailboats head out on Lake Pontchartrain.

Here is the menu if you're interested...  Pass on the Fried Crab Balls but go ahead with the Crab, Spinach, & Artichoke Dip.

CPA ADVICE

J's Life

(for the next 10 months)

A wise person once said if your spouse isn't mad at you during the CPA study process, then you aren't studying enough.  If your spouse is mad at you, then you're studying the right amount.  I'm ready to be mad at you, baby! ;)  Cheers to *hopefully* having your CPA by June 2014!  You've got this!

KRISTEN'S BABY SHOWER

I went to my friend Kristen's baby shower in Memphis, Tennessee yesterday.  Kristen and her husband Michael are expecting their first baby any day now.  So exciting!  You may remember Kristen from the post I did about her wedding HERE or from the post about her sister Dede's wedding HERE.  Dede was hostess extraordinaire at the shower.  She did a fantastic job decorating and putting everything together.  The most wonderful part for me?  Getting to see my parents!  Yup, they came down from Chicago by train.  The Beazley and Huff families back together again.  I don't want to jinx anything but I have seen my parents 3 times now in 2013.  When we get together at Christmas that will be a record setting 4 times!  I know, I know... I'm spoiled. ;)  Everyone had a great time and the entire weekend was so nice.  Kristen received some adorable things for Nicholas.  His nursery is now overflowing thanks to all the presents!

Mr. Tom & Mrs. Kappi's beautiful home.

It's a boy for Kristen & Michael!

My Mom the braid expert.  Seriously, she's a genius!  Doesn't even need to open her eyes ;)

Kristen's waterfall braid.

Beautiful flowers.

My Mom, Dad, and Mrs. Kappi discussing serious shower business.

The awesome diaper cake.

Yummy cupcakes from Gigi's.

More yummy cupcakes from Gigi's.

Love the Beazley's backyard pool!

Inviting, isn't it?

Clara the puggle is not so sure what to think about this monkey...

"Take it away," Clara says!

Popcorn baby shower favors.

"She's about to pop!"

FENWICK ISLAND, DELAWARE

Behold... the long awaited beach vacation photographs are making a grand appearance...

Welcome to Fenwick Island, Delaware!

Uncle J and little Miss Addelyn in her cute watermelon bikini.

More of Uncle J and Addelyn having fun in the sun.

Family of 4 (5 come November!): Alisha, Addelyn, Benjamin, and Andrew.  Notice we went from bikinis to hoodies?  Guess living in Hawaii has really altered their sense of cold.

Grandmother having a raucous time with her great-grandchildren!

"Hi," says J :)

I love this picture!  How in the world did J, me, and Mom get stuck carrying everything?!

My Uncle Michael is an amazing cook!  Especially when it comes to crab.  This was just one of the many crab dishes he made us that week... delicious Crab Fluff!

And if you're curious about what's inside a cab fluff, here you go... a huge lump of picked crab meat.

Welcome to Ocean City, Maryland!  Where my parents met and fell in love <3

J and me on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

Uncle Michael and J enjoying Thrasher's fries doused in malt vinegar.  Yum!

Mom and Dad with their favorite grandkids. (Yes, Addelyn is eating the stroller)

This is the house my Daddy rented with friends the summer after graduating high school.  They certainly lived it up that summer.  If I'm recalling correctly, their party trick was jumping off the roof into the bay!  That does not sound safe, Dad!!  The house was/is really pretty.  It's right on the water and currently for sale if anyone is interested.  You know, if you have a spare million burning a hole in your pocket.

Benjamin and our cousin Timothy are twinsies!

Our view while eating dinner at Harpoon Hanna's.

J and Me <3

Another angle...  Yikes!

It's NEVER a vacation unless Latvian Highballs are involved.  We certainly missed "Master Kyle" and his bartender skills.  He was too busy flying helicopters in San Diego to join us.  Luckily, my Daddy and J picked up the slack.  Grandpa - you would have been proud with how much whiskey we went through during the trip!

Thanks for invite, Ocean City.  But I think we'll celebrate on the beach in Fenwick instead.

Haha!  Looking good in the background, Uncle Jim!

It was so much fun watching fireworks on the beach for 4th of July.  USA!  USA!

Oh no!  What kind of trouble are you two getting into now?!

Andrew and Addelyn in water bottle heaven.

Another crab dinner courtesy of Uncle Michael!  They were amazing!  Steamed and covered in Old Bay.  Nobody does crabs like Maryland.  Sorry Louisiana.  Now you know where my loyalty lies.

Dig in y'all!

I'll end with this picture...  One of my favorites from the trip.  Andrew is very concerned about sharing his sippy cup with Uncle J.  Haha.