A long weekend in New Orleans

The air is thick and sticky, making it difficult to breath deeply.  The smell of vomit and sewerage is so pungent that you gag with each step.  Drunken tourists slur and stumble past you, their heavily beaded necklaces clanking together.  Some pudgy guy haggles you to enter the strip club he’s promoting by offering 2 for 1 drinks.  The music from the bars are all competing for your attention, aggravating your already pounding head. You have blisters from your flip flops and you have completely sweated through your shirt.  The sugar rush from your frozen drink has gone to your head and you are dizzy with intoxication. But you are on Bourbon Street.  And you are blissfully happy.

New Orleans is a beast.  It’s loud and boisterous, drunken and crass.  The streets are filthy and sinful and the food will put you at risk for a heart attack.  But the city is alive and vibrant.  The music, the culture, the history… it’s unparalleled by any other place I have visited in my life.   I encourage everyone to put Nah ‘Leans at the top of their travel bucketlist.  And immediately.  New Orleans will be a culture shock, but if you survive, you’ll emerge all the better.

I've got quite a lot to say about this city.  Here is my quick list itinerary of the perfect long weekend.  Below please click on the links for full reviews of hotels, restaurants and activities.

DAY 1:
Check into Windsor Court Hotel
Lunch at Mother's
Walk to Bourbon Street, get a frozen daquiri and/or hand grenade and soak in the action, stroll through surrounding streets
Go to Mardi Gras World
Dinner at G.W. Fins
Hurricanes at Pat OBriens dueling piano room

DAY 2:
Ride the street car to Commanders Palace for Brunch
See uptown, walk through the cemeteries, check out Audubon Park/Zoo

20 Life Lessons I learned from my Dog

 20 Life Lessons I Learned from my Dog

1. Be grateful for your kibbles.

2.     If you truly want something, bark until you get it.

3.     Hide a few bones for a rainy day.

4. But don't be afraid to enjoy your best bones when you get 'em.  You deserve it. 

5.     You shouldn’t prejudge anyone you meet until you’ve sniffed their butts.

6. Play with abandon.

7.   Chase the ball as fast as you can.  And don't stop running until you get it.

8.    Jump into the ocean without feeling the temperature first

9.     Be loyal to the ones you love. And protect them.

10.   Keep your fur from getting matted, but don’t obsess about it.

11. Live in the present.

12.  Trust your senses.

13. Start each morning with a good stretch.

14.  Never turn down a belly rub.

15.  Enjoy the ride.

16.     Water is the only beverage that you need.  You don't need coffee.  Or wine. 

17. Don't rush out of bed.

18.  Stop and smell the roses.

19.  If you truly love someone, show them.  With a big kiss and a good cuddle.

20. And above all, love unconditionally, with all of your heart.

Banana & Egg White Pancake Recipe

On my relentless quest to maintain the thigh gap, my diet generally consists of egg whites, fruit, vegetables, chicken, fish, nuts and seeds.

I had been curious to try banana and egg white pancakes for some time -- but I knew what would happen.  I would make them, then cover them in syrup.  At 28 grams of sugar per serving, even the grade A Vermont maple syrup won't be worth the guilt I'll feel.  And really, who has one serving of syrup? And is it even legal to have pancakes without butter?

Last week, these pressing questions were answered when I discovered sugar free syrup in the cabinet. It exists?!  Later, after reading the ingredients, I decided to make my own sugar free syrup that I could trust wasn't made of genetically modified poison, which I will share with you at the bottom of this post.  But for now - the Smuckers sugar free syrup is delicious!! And tastes just like the real thing!


BANANA & EGG WHITE PANCAKES!

Ingredients:

Weekend getaway to Palm Springs, CA

UPDATE: I originally posted this article on May of 2012, and while my love obsession with Palm Springs hasn't wavered, I have discovered a few new favorites for Hotel & Restaurants.  These additions are highlighted in pink. 


if you don't golf, you aren't retired and you are not an active member of the gay community, then Palm Springs might not immediately top your weekend vaca list.

However, unbeknown to 20 something year old hollywood hipsters, it really doesn't get much better than a weekend trip to the desert. Especially for a young couple. 

Viceroy Main Pool

Viceroy

HOTELS

*Best Boutique Hotel - The Viceroy.  Old hollywood glamour with modern accents make this gorgeous hotel my Palm Springs favorite.  I also love the slightly more affordable, but equally fabulous, Colony Palm Hotel.

A trip to Mariposa

Before I dive into my trip to Mariposa, let me spend a split second hitting upon one of my favorite lunch places in Los Angeles, which, coincidentally is also located in a Beverly Hills Department Store.

Greengrass Beanery on top of Barneys (what! you didn't know it existed! Meer Peasants!) has long stood as a staple on my 'top picks for a lovely lunch in Beverly Hills' list.  Boasting a gorgeous view and a simple yet elegant menu, I have never been disappointed.  Plus, their lunch is probably the only thing I can afford in the department store - so a visit helps momentarily elevate my social status.

I was expecting the same vibe at Mariposa, but was quite disappointed.  The decor is miserably boring and sterile - akin to a continental breakfast nook in a Holiday Inn hotel.  Harsh, but I absolutely hate the ambiance.  As if someone shopping at lunchtime wants to eat in a windowless dungeon when there's a staggering possibility that it is 75 degrees and sunny outside.   (Now, Nordstroms at the Grove - that's

Cartagena, Colombia

Three days in Palomino, and I was reenergized and sporting a lovely sun kissed glow.  The caribbean beaches might be the end all be all for some backpackers, but for me, too much resting makes me stir crazy.  So off to Cartagena we went.

How can I describe Cartagena in a way that exemplifies the magic of this walled city?  It has the charm of a historic town in Spain, the vibe of a caribbean island and the nightlife of ibiza all nestled within these grand walls enclosing the city.

The stone fortress walls stood proud against the crashing waves of the mediterranean, as we entered through them. I was overwhelmed with how pristine and gorgeous the city squares

Bottega Louie, a FIVE STAR review

So you've decided to finally venture to Oz, or downtown LA (both an obscurity in your mind), to cross Bottega Louie off your foodie bucket list have you?  I can nearly guarantee you WILL be disappointed.  Wait, what?!  But Chelsea you gave it five stars!

Hear me out.

Maybe you make the journey to get a box of the coveted macarons.  Oh Em Gee! Are these the best things you have ever eaten!  The salted caramel! You can't believe it!!  But, hell are you disappointed... imagine how good ALL OF THE OTHER desserts must be!  And there are too many to try!!   Disappointed.

Oh no, that's not you.  You came with a plan.  You're here for brunch, and you are taking $100 dollars

A weekend in Nashville

I will revisit this post later with a more comprehensive review --- but for now here's a brief itinerary of what to do and where to stay on your weekend zip trip to NASHVILLE, TN!

Where to stay:
Opryland Gaylord Hotel -  This is the Disneyworld of Nashville, complete with gondola rides through the inside riverways, 17+ restaurants, and a quaint little village where you can do everything from get a mani to buy overpriced souvenirs.  Situated next to the Grand Ole Opry, an enormous mall and across from the Willie Nelson Museum one would assume that the location is superb, but this is the one downfall with the hotel.  It is quite a drive to the action of Broadway Street and the main heart of Nashville.  That being said, there are shuttles and ample parking.  And you really can't beat the price.  (normally under $200/night, but they are always running special promotions.

If you're keen on staying in the action, opt for the OmniNashville or Hyatt Place.  Try to get as close to Broadway as possible and avoid staying near the Vanderbilt (unless of course that is the purpose of your visit).

What to do: 
1.  You have to see a show at the Grand Ole Opry.  It is imperative.  If you're not a country fan then I'm concerned you chose the wrong weekend vacation destination.  BUT even if you don't love the

Apple Cider Vinegar MIRACLE fixes waxy, greasy hair!

Hi!  WOW, I'm so taken aback by how well this worked, I actually made a video! Watch my first ever video blog to find out how amazing this concoction really is!   Basically, after shampooing, rinse hair with apple cider vinegar & water (optional baking soda to get rid of dry flakey scalpes.. yes dandruff), and massage the mixture into your scalp and let sit for 10 min in the shower.  Rinse it out, don't condition, and style as normal.  You will be amazed by how much body your hair has from the roots and how the ends still feel silky smooth!

Nespresso Boutique in Beverly Hills

As a self proclaimed Beverly Hills dining aficionado, I pride myself in staying well acquainted with any new restaurant that pops up in 90210.    ...So one can only imagine my giddiness when the new Nespresso Boutique Bar opened shop on Beverly Drive.

The idea is novel to me.  The Nespresso Boutique is, in my opinion, foremost a store and second a cafe. Inside, you are greeted by a hostess standing in front of a long, pristine coffee bar displaying a few specialty croissants and pastries.  To the right, futuristic table seatings are carefully situated, leading out to a typical al fresco dinning section.  The walls are lined with large soulful photos exemplifying the wrinkle creases of the coffee drinkers they portray.  The spacious 20 foot ceilings are lined with every flavor Nespresso cup you could dream of, with tasting counters and product displays laid out along the back section of the space.

Simply put, Nespresso is an Apple store, but for espresso machines.  It feels rather revolutionary as you