New Thing #254: Sake it To Me

A fun part of this "new thing" project is trying out new restaurants in New Orleans. That is a lot of "news" in one sentence. I went to Sake Cafe uptown for my friend Katie's bachelorette party and it was delicious! Good sushi and fun drinks, I had a pama-tini with pink sugar on the rim of the glass, how much more fun can you get than that!

New Thing #253: Easy as Pie

I love pumpkin anything so I was excited to find that the pumpkin cake a friend made was not only delicious but ridiculously easy! You can also use it to make cookies or muffins!

1 box spice cake mix

1 can of pumpkin (15 oz)

it's that easy! just top with cream cheese frosting and you'll amaze your friends and neighbors.

New Thing #252: Fun Forward

I don't like email forwards, generally, but I decided to participate in a recipe exchange. Somehow I was supposed to get a lot of recipes back but no one responded. I don't blame them though, maybe they are like me, don't like forwards, and didn't have the incentive to do something new that day :)

New Thing #251: All Things Handmade

Several friends have been raving about Etsy and I could never figure out what it was. Obviously it's a really cool website where you can buy and sell handmade crafts! What a fabulous idea! I even benefited from this website with some delightful Christmas presents given to me by a friend and I plan on shopping there soon!

New Thing #250: Say it. Get it.

My friend Sam introduced me to Tellme. A number you can call and you can ask it anything you want! Well almost anything. You just say "sports" "weather" "travel" "movies" "stock quotes" and more! Just dial 1-800-555-TELL to try it out! I also like their slogan...

New Thing #249: Fa-yeh!

I heard about how wonderful greek yogurt is but I never tried it myself. Erin introduced me to Fage (pronounced Fa-yeh!) and it was so good! Especially with the honey in the little container. The perfect afternoon treat to get me through the work day. I also like that you are supposed to pronounce it with an exclamation point at the end. The Greeks are good at so many things! Ooopa!

New Thing #248: Cupcake Goodness

Before she left Kirsten and I went to New Orleans Cake Cafe for lunch and it was delicious! The only flaw of this place may be that they have too  many excellent menu items to choose from. The bonus (and my personal favorite part) a cupcake for a buck with your lunch! Can't beat that!

roasted turkey sandwich accompanied by the delightful red velvet cupcake!

New Thing #247: Retail Me Retail Me Not

My friend Erin sent me this link to RetailMeNot.com. You type in a store or website and it brings up coupons and codes. I have found many websites like this, but this one is actually organized and gives you legitimate coupons. I even used some for Christmas online shopping!

New Thing #246: The Restaurant Not The Band

My friend Joann and I went with Caitlin to Nirvana, and Indian restaurant in New Orleans. My first time to this restaurant and my first time eating Indian food in a restaurant! I highly recommend the lunch buffet, it was delicious!

New Thing #245: 5 Cents Please

Someone else who did this "new thing everyday" thing made a swear jar. I don't really have a problem with that, however I do have a big problem with being negative about myself. So I made a negative jar. Each time I say something negative about myself I have to put in a nickel. It was going to be a dollar but then I would be very poor. I'm not quite sure what I will do with the money yet, hmm...

New Thing #244: Christmas Came Early

Usually I am very strict about Christmas. I will explain. I love Thanksgiving so much, and it stresses me out how Christmas decorations in stores pop up in September. So I usually am very strict about not listening to Christmas music, which I love, until after Thanksgiving. I don't know if it was being home with family and friends or being alone in the airport on a Sunday night, but for the first time I listened to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. I'm glad I didn't wait to listen to my new Sara Groves CD, it's fantastic!

New Thing #243: Brownies and Board Games

On my surprise visit home I was able to enjoy time with my two bests. On a whim, and not wanting to go out, I purchased my first board game, Apples to Apples, we all stayed in, ate brownies and ice cream, and had the best time. Can't wait to do it again!

ern, brownie, and sprout

brownie and board game

wholesome fun

New Thing #242: Surprise!

I think that this is the biggest surprise I have ever pulled off. Last minute, I found a great deal on a flight, I purchased the ticket to come home for my mom's birthday weekend. I was going to wait to tell Joe but I needed his help picking me up. I flew in Friday, on her birthday, he picked me up and we headed to my parent's house. Knocking on the door, signs in tow, late that night I hear my dad "don't open the door"...my mom "they have signs"...my dad "don't open the door"...my mom "it's a couple"...my dad "don't open the door." It was hilarious. She was really really excited and it was a great weekend of relaxation and enjoying Fall!

four futrells reunited again

New Thing #241: Draw Two

As part of Kirsten's going away week, Mary and I accompanied her to Liuzza's, a Mid-City landmark in New Orleans which opened in 1947. Family owned and operated with some of the best Louisiana/Cajun food around!

signature 18 oz frosted mugs w/ abita amber

another new thing...fried pickles!

New Thing #240: HOPE

I am proud, that my new thing is living in a country with an African-American President-Elect.

I found this on a friends facebook page, and I think it sums up the greatness of this day:

"In 1787 the three-fifths compromise was struck and written into the US Constitution. In 1865 a civil war of which slavery was the key issue ended costing over one million lives. In 1968 a man with a dream was assassinated attempting to end segregation and the nation rioted. In 2008, a man was elected president of a country that was founded on the premise that he should count as three-fifths of a whole man, that fought a war attempting to keep him enslaved, and that burned and rioted when he was allowed into the same schools and given the same vote. Today is a symbolic day; a day that demonstrates great sins can be overcome; a day that should provide us all with great hope, regardless of our interests and policy views. May Christ's church raise up to make a statement just as symbolic and even more profound! It is time for the Christ's church in America to end its hypocrisy and seek God's glory among all nations and peoples."

New Thing #239: Yes We Can

For the first time on November 4, 2009 I voted in person in a voting booth for the President of the United States. This was a big deal to me, not only was I more excited than ever before to cast my vote in this election, but I enjoyed the excitement of casting my vote in person. I did however break the law by a) wearing paraphernalia with a candidate on it into the polling place and b) taking pictures seen below. No one stopped me...explanation, this is Louisiana. I was disappointed not to have an "I voted" sticker, but my excitement was enough for me!

ready to cast

 

its official!

New Thing #238: Practicing What I Preach

It angers me when people don't exercise their right to vote. I have always gone to the polls, or mailed in my ballot in some cases during in election, but I must admit I wasn't being the citizen that I should. I would only vote for the main stream items on the ballot. I will explain, I would vote for president, senator, congressmen, etc. but I would skim over amendments or propositions and not vote because I wasn't "prepared." This time it was different...I became a prepared voter. I researched amendments, school board candidates, judges and the like, so on November 4 I wouldn't leave any spots unaccounted for on my ballot.

New Thing #237: 50% Warrior 50% Lover

I took my cousin to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua, don't laugh it was a cute movie! I love animals and it was entertaining. Ridiculous at times, but entertaining. Don't judge, it was fun to watch!

New Thing #236: All Things Pumpkin

In lieu of Fall not existing in its true form in New Orleans I decided to host a pumpkin party. I must say the spread was amazing! Pumpkin breads, cupcakes, muffins, dip, poundcake, cookies. You name it, it had pumpkin in it, it was there...except for pumpkin pie, I think people wanted to be original. It was a fun night celebrating Fall with food and friends!

roasted pumpkin with chicken and delicious vegetables. I need to get the recipe!

food and friends

pumpkin ale and gourds