Back from Nashville!!!

I am home sweet home after an amazing trip to Nashville aka Music City USA! It was definitely somewhere on my list of places to go, and I knew it would be fun, but I've got to say it kind of exceeded my expectations. What a place.

While there my friend and I definitely took advantage and did everything we could: we went to a hockey game, the Grand Ole Opry, Memphis to see Graceland, hit up just about every where downtown, and even did The Color Run! The Color Run was actually the base of the trip in the first place - after Boston last year we said we'd try to do The Color Run in a different city every year. I have never gone on a trip with as much planned to do as this one but let me tell you, I'm so glad we did it all! It also made the trip feel a lot longer and as a result, probably explains why I'm still a wee bit exhausted.

 

 

If you've never been, I HIGHLY recommend it. But like I said to start, at the end of the day it's good to be home sweet home! :)

Osheaga

As I mentioned Friday, this past weekend was a holiday weekend. The highlight was definitely on Sunday when a friend and I went up to Montreal for a music festival called Osheaga. It's a HUGE 3-day festival. I had never been and although it's 3 days we decided just to go for the Sunday as our main goal was to see Mumford and Sons. Being a festival of course we got to see so many other great artists including The Lumineers (who were AMAZING)! It was awesome. 

When we got there we had about 20 minutes of torrential downpours to deal with (we caved and bought ponchos) but after that, it was pretty much sun and blue skies! Touring around was fun because there were just so many stages really spread out, so many vendors and other cool areas. There was also a really cool Chill Zone overlooking the water where we spent some time before Mumford and Sons just hanging out and ended up making use of our ponchos once again, but as blankets to sit on (or lie on as seen below). We just had a blast. Then Mumford and Sons. WOW. They were so incredible. Better than I hoped. I want to see them again immediately! The talent. The music. I swear I was in a trance the entire concert! It was a dream come true...

Here are just a few pics that I took:

There was a really cool area where they had random works of art like this

Hugging one of the giant mascots

Lumineers

Thank goodness for the poncho!

Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons confetti finale - too cool!

If you are anywhere near Montreal, and like festivals, I'd definitely recommend Osheaga! I will return I have no doubt.

Go someplace you've never been

I love this! Even if it's not far I think it is an awesome idea to travel somewhere you've never been once a year, or more importantly, somewhere you've always wanted to go! Time is too short to let that bucket list sit idle...

The last few years I've done exactly that with the following trips:
     2010 - Mexico, Las Vegas
     2011 - Boston
     2012 - New Orleans
     2013 - ??? (I have some ideas but it's too soon to say...) 

I've been many other places in years past, but so far I'm on a roll with at least one new place every year! Where would you love to go?

The Big Easy!

Jackson Square

As I alluded to in a post last week, I recently went to New Orleans! I didn't want to report on it until I got my pictures sorted out to share and now they are.

This was a trip I had been thinking about doing for a while. I always had the fall in mind as well for when to go. This fall all the pieces came together and I made it happen! It was just me and a friend and we went down at the beginning of the month for a long weekend. It. Was. A. Blast. There is no place like New Orleans. Nadda. One of the initial motivators for me was that I heard it was kind of like Vegas, and outdoor Vegas. And I really liked Vegas. After being there, I can totally see why! It's the same party-party atmosphere and energy, everyone is having adult beverages all day long and on the streets, and when you're on Bourbon street it's just bar after bar after bar. It's crazy!

On top of ALL that it's a gorgeous city. I'm not one to say "ooooh, it's full of culture and history", but man, is it EVER full of culture and history! We went on a couple of tours that showed us around the French Quarter (where we stayed) and learned so many interesting things about that history. It was actually super cool and added to the experience. The horse and buggy ride around the French Quarter was recommended to me and surprisingly was one of my favourite parts of the trip! As far as the culture it's so cool and laid back. The buildings are French, Spanish, and Caribbean inspired architecture - at least during the rebuild after the great fire of New Orleans (see, history!). It's a very unique look. It seems like wherever you go you can always hear jazz or blues music in the air. The food is unique too! Creole and Cajun. Lots of seafood (but lots of NON seafood choices for someone like me who doesn't prefer it). There's something for everyone! Also worth mentioning was that everyone we met was super friendly! 

It was a place that was on my bucket list and I can now check it off! If you've not been, I highly recommend it. I think it's only a matter of time before I make my way back there... :)

Must-try New Orleans cocktails from right: Pat O'Briens (World Famous) Hurricane, Hand Grenade, Shark Attack - with names that like, it's a wonder we survived!

The Happiest 5K on the Planet!

Last weekend a girlfriend and I went to Boston to cross something off our bucket list: run a race. 

I've always wanted to run a race and have just never taken the plunge. I'm a fairly new runner to begin with, if you can even call me a runner. I love it although hard on my body (mainly my ankles). For me the secret to running is getting in the habit of doing it, like most people I'm sure. Anyway, having a race date looming in the distance can certainly help keep you motivated! 

When we went to sign up for the Ottawa Race Weekend 5K it was sold out. After browsing different races, whether in our city or others, I found The Color Run. It's a 5K race that involves wearing white and getting colour tossed at you every kilometer or so that you run! Um, who wouldn't want to do that?! They also call it "The Happiest 5K on the Planet" - sounds like a good first race to me! The event was in Boston, which seems to be a city I am drawn to because I love it, and it was the best time. The run itself was so well organized and just a blast. At the end of the race there is a "festival" with beer, food, games, a DJ, and much much more! I highly recommend it. 

After looking into the race and then seeing our pictures so many people want to run it now! I think our next Color Run will bring out some newbies. Because we WILL do this again and I can't wait!

Me at The Color Run