I was born Cajun but am sometimes curious if I don't have a little Mexican in me somewhere (or Asian for that matter).  My favorite foods tend to be salty, spicy dishes (or lean towards raw fish wrapped in rice douched in soy sauce with wassabi) often found in the best Mexican haunts down south. In the spirit of trying new dishes for the week ahead, I found a recipe for "Mexican Lasagna".... hmmm... that sounds interesting.  Again.. making substitutions for gluten/dairy-free ingredients I tacked this one... finally scoring a touchdown.  Yummy.  Slightly heavy on the onions in my humble opinion... and next time I'd add some ground turkey (this was a vegan version that I made so no meat)... but overall tasty.  Love when I try new things and it works out.  Many times that isn't the case so a girl needs points on the board every once in a while to keep the faith in her domestic skills. Good one for game day too!

This is one of those foods that I just never ate as a child... oh I'm sure I've HAD them before (I think) but it wasn't a staple in my childhood like it was for so many others.  So... as the journey into and through adulthood set fire this was never packed for the ride.  After traveling so much the past couple of weeks I decided to do some "clean eating" cooking for the week ahead and wanted to try some new recipes.  Found this one online.  I'm eating "gluten-and-dairy-free" right now and this fit that description perfectly.  Besides, if I can use my crock pot I'm a happy girl.  So I tried it... the dumplings were a tad more difficult to make than they should have been since I had to use gluten-free flour.  The consistency was challenging to perfect, but I made it work eventually.  After a handful of hours, it was ready and quite tasty.  Looking forward to having this for lunch all week.

Wazzabi Sushi is a locally owned and operated sushi restaurant in Winter Park, just across from the Winter Park Village.  I've seen it so often and have no idea why I've never been there.  One reason is probably the parking.. its big valet sign as soon as you pull into the parking lot is... well, just plain annoying.  Really?  You are that busy you need to offer valet parking at a little sushi restaurant?  Anyway.. I digress. Gotta say... I really liked the vibe of the place.  Nice and open, modern enough but not too much where it takes away from the Asian ambiance.  Sushi options are unreal... 4 pages of choices!  Love that.  After a year of crazy schedules, a good friend and I caught up over the Sunshine Roll (as Glenn said: "Who doesn't love a little sunshine?!"), the Volcano Roll (classic) and the Golden Dragon Roll.  Yummy.  I will definitely be back.  Fabulous service and great options!

Growing up in Louisiana, being a Saints fan is something that you inherit much like your eye color, love of spicy foods or tendencies for having an addictive personality (have you seen the number of billboards along I-10 advertising gambling addition help?!).  My dad watched the games each weekend as he commandeered the remote.  My Paw Paw religiously watched them (often times playing solitaire in his kitchen) and rooting for them despite their ability to rock a loosing streak. Lots of my parents' friends had season tickets and rooted on these eternal underdogs. We didn't have discretionary income so actually going to one of their games was never even imagined. The boys in black and gold paid a visit to the sunshine state this past Sunday and I decided to treat myself to a fabulous "me" day of football.  Not caring about price, I got the best seat I could (given the late decision to even go to the game) and I spent four glorious hours sitting seven rows behind the team that I normally cheer on from the comforts of my living room or a local bar.  Seriously a fabulous day.  The energy of the stadium was amazing and I was thrilled to see so many Saints fans stirred into the mix of red and black Buc fans.  I gotta say... our fans are crazy.  The closer to the end of the game brought on larger amounts of booze-filled cries of "Who Dat" chants and songs.  Thankfully the Buc fans surrounding me were good sports (though almost all left halfway through the last quarter once convinced there was no path to recovery).  I adored being so close to the team... literally being able to see everything better than even from a HD flatscreen.  Hooked... that's what I am.  Definitely making more games in the future (even if I have to fly to NOLA to do so).  Just a really really amazing day. I think this day might have taken over the #1 favorite new experience of this challenge - if not, its definitely in the top three.

If you haven't been to the Raymond James stadium, its a fun one.

Saints vs. Buccaneers

Tom Benson, owner of the Saints team, made an appearance pre-game shaking fans' hands and giving high fives.

The boys stretching it out... I wasn't complaining about the view that I had.

Our boys all huddled up

Action shot

And its a WIN! 30-6... now we're 4-2 - GEAUX SAINTS!

Road trips bring you to the most unique places and I just love that.  On a recent trip back to FL, I stopped at Monterrey Mexican Restaurant.  Quite honestly there wasn't much else to choose from except Ruby Tuesdays (and isn't this year all about trying NEW things?!).  It was obvious that the locals find this to be a favorite on Friday nights - the bar area was packed.  The staff was friendly though a little slow in service.  The food is very fresh, the salsa they serve you is excellent and the guacamole wasn't too bad.  I only wish their burritos contained more than "just what's on the menu".... chicken and refried beans doesn't exactly scream "deluxe burrito to me".   Definitely not a "fine dining" experience but a fun one none-the-less.

Pemberton Place was named for John S. Pemberton, the pharmacist who created Coca­Cola in 1886. This 20-acre site in Atlanta, Georgia is home to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium along with thousands of gorgeous trees, carpets of green grass, fabulous statues and even a Cafe.  After snagging some lunch, it was off to the World of Coca Cola!

Pemberton Cafe

Such a beautiful day!

I know... I'm a total cheese ball sometimes! :)

The World of Coca-Cola is the only place where you can explore the complete story of the world's best-known brand.  This 2-hour tour provides its visitors with a slew of activities:  

• Taste over 60 different beverages from around the globe
• Experience a thrilling 4-D Movie about the "search for the secret ingredient"
• Witness a fully-functioning bottling line and take home a free 8-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola
• Give their 7-foot-tall Coca-Cola Polar Bear a big hug (though lines are always long for this)
• See the world's largest collection of Coke memorabilia
• View works by artists such as Steve Penley, Haddon Sundblom and Howard Finster in the Pop Culture Gallery
• Discover the hundreds of products that fall under the Coca-Cola brand - I have no idea!

This was actually a REALLY fun adventure.  I actually went into work mode during half of it and obtained some fantastic conceptual ideas for a potential new attraction we're working on.  Friends say this place is normally swarming with kids, but it wasn't too bad this past Saturday. Check them out if in the area with some free time: http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/

In the lobby you wait for the first show to being... there is an entire wall of flat screens that show different things.  This photo captures the "Coca-Cola" pouring from one screen to the next.

So much memorabilia!

Funny - I don't even drink this stuff... but it was still cool.

This was an interactive machine.. you push buttons or put your fingers in the coin slots (etc.) and various noises were made.

This wasn't a very fun exhibit... not sure of the point.

ok - all ready for the 4-D movie!

Infamous Coca-Cola Polar Bear

Need a little love and happiness?

For the past 3 1/2 years I've driven past this place with the intent on stopping - but it never worked out that way.  I made it happen on my last trip to TN.  Mountain Valley Winery is Tennessee's largest winery and located right off the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.  The winery is open to the public (without charge) and offers tours of the facility in addition to having a tasting bar and robust retail shop.  There is a wall literally covered in all of the awards that their wines have won - to my slight surprise I actually liked a few of them (let's face it - I can be a bit of a wine snob).  I purchased a few bottles of some local favorites along with several "must-have" items.  I'm so glad I finally stopped in here.  Definitely a must-do when visiting the area.

Yes... you've heard of it before.  The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games provided a pivotal shift for this former run-down neighbor area.  This unique 21-acre park performs a dual mission today: it serves as Georgia's lasting legacy of the Centennial Olympic Games and it anchors efforts to revitalize residential and commercial development in Georgia's capital city of Atlanta.  Any given weekend you can find lots of events focused on family, philanthropy, conservation, etc.  I stumbled into this park on a recent visit to Atlanta.  The park was filled with families, kids, booths, tents and a large stage still erected as a center piece.  It looked like a "Walk for a Cure" event has taken place.  The park is simply stunning. 

This past week was LONG.. .I don't mean "long hours as a result of too-long to-do lists" but instead "I had to tell a lot of people they were loosing their jobs" long.  That just plain stinks.  My first early night found me in Gatlinburg after visiting the local winery.  The leaves just started changing and there were a variety of tourists bustling on downtown along the main street.  After making a quick stop at the Moonshinery, a friend and I headed to grab a drink.  It was actually a chilly night so we opted for sitting at the inside bar at Blaine's Bar & Grill.  Immediately I bought a hat.  Weird right?  Especially when that hat costs $30 - and this is BEFORE I've ordered a cocktail.  But I had to... it is fabulous.  In addition to its distressed amazing look, there is a "B" on the front.  I don't know... just needed to rock it out.  The food was good - basic bar & grill type of food.  The company was awesome.  My friend and I started up a conversation with a couple just a few barstools from us because I recognized their accents.  And I was right... both were from "cajun" country.  Such a fun night.  Just what I needed after the week I had.

It was a very long week... and two colleagues and I needed to grab a drink (and we fit in dinner as well).  KT's is fairly new so we headed there.  Loved the place... great decor and decent food.  There isn't a whole lot of upscale options in the Pigeon Forge area but this is definitely a nice change of pace.  Besides that... they have great wine glasses (and if you know me that's a huge score).  KT’s Bar & Grill is just off The Parkway in Sevierville in the area of the Tanger Outlets. It looks kind of like a cross between a chain and a local establishment. It’s got the size and exterior of a chain, but inside, it has more of the feel of a one shot deal. 

Monday Night Football... who would have thought that my Mondays would be focused this way!?  Well... at least not if my Saints aren't playing.  None-the-less I headed out to grab a bite and catch the Vikings game this past Monday with a dear friend.  Where to go... Where to go... downtown Orlando is filled with places advertising the NFL package.  I've walked past The Pourhouse many times but haven't been inside... so we decided to grab cocktails and food there.  Fun place... good food.  It filled up very quickly so get there early on game nights/days.  Definitely a great place to catch a game.

Mommy-to-be Amanda

I've only thrown one other shower in my life... actually two but each was for the same person...and never a co-ed shower. Definitely a new experience.  Now let me preface this with the fact that I'm not a "baby" person and I'm certainly not a "baby-shower & games" type of gal.  Smelling diapers filled with random objects and guessing what they are does not rank high on my list of "fun" things to do. I have an employee who is really good to me and works very hard, and I wanted to be sure she was given a shower.  So... there we were. Two colleagues helped with decorations and games (thank goodness for them!) and we invited the entire management team from her property, along with anyone else she wanted to include.  I was delighted to have several of the guys show up... and so thankful they were such great sports about pastel diaper pins and the silly games we had them play.  Even if they left feeling slightly less masculine... I know it meant a lot to Amanda so it was worth it.

Baby Facts Trivia (that was hard! really?? there was a baby  born at 23 lbs?!)

Another one of the games... I wasn't very good at any of them. Notice the lovely sign that kept falling.  I know.. I rock at this stuff.  Thank goodness I'm not responsible for more of these things. :)

Yep - my signature cheesy smile in action!

Amanda's cake

The gift table

The Saints... glass of wine... and food.  That's about all I need on a Sunday afternoon.  I stopped into the newest sports bar with a new friend to hit downtown Orlando this past weekend to watch my boys in black and gold.  Sadly we didn't win.. but the food and company were fantastic. 

Winter Park does the art festival scene well... and this was no exception.  Much like the larger event in the Spring... the Autumn Art Festival took place along Park Ave and featured lots of Florida artists.  There were fantastic pieces but nothing spoke to me... so my wallet left happy.  I went this morning right after it opened and it was already really hot with too many people... but that's Florida for you.