Pre-Mardi Gras Weekend in New Orleans

Hi all!

So I know I said I would write my next post about my crazy host mom, but that's going to have to wait. I just spent the weekend in New Orleans and I really wanted to share my adventures with you all!

I was in New Orleans for my friend Jane's debutante/Mardi Gras ball.  I had been one time before and I absolutely loved it.

We arrived late Friday night, but had no energy so we went straight to bed. On Saturday morning we got up early, then headed to the French Quarter.  Naturally, this was one of my favorite places.  From the architecture to the street names to the brightly colored doors, the whole thing made me nostalgic for France.

Our first stop was of course the famous "Cafe du Monde".  We had to wait in line for 30 minutes but it was definitely worth it.  We had beignets and café au lait, and I was in heaven.  It didn't even matter that I got powdered sugar all over my clothes.

Here's a picture from the cafe.  

After our food coma, we walked over to the French Market, which sold lots of cool jewelry, masks, and food! Once again, I felt myself missing those markets in the South of France.

French Market

Then we made our way to Bourbon Street, which was crazy! It wasn't even Mardi Gras yet, but that didn't stop people from celebrating early.  I thought I was going to get trampled.  It was an experience, that's for sure.

After a few hours of shopping and sightseeing, it was time to get ready and go to the ball!

The first part of the ball was held at a hotel, and after that everyone went to the New Orleans Country Club for a late-night breakfast buffet and dancing! The band that played was incredible, and the dancing was a lot of fun.

The next day after a late start, we headed over to Magazine Street for a parade! There were about 25 different floats, as well as high school marching bands and dance teams.  What I thought was really funny was that instead of throwing out candy to the kids, all the floats threw out Mardi Gras beads! I may have gotten slightly injured by some of them, but I still managed to catch quite a lot.

My friends and me at the parade--I don't think we have enough beads ;) 

I found it really interesting how seriously New Orleans takes Mardi Gras.  Almost every house we passed either had a Mardi Gras flag, Mardi Gras colored wreaths, and many other decorations. My friend, who is originally from New Orleans, told me that instead of Spring break, they would have a "Mardi Gras break". It seems like Mardi Gras is like Christmas in New Orleans!

On our way home from New Orleans, we were itching for some real seafood, since we were right on the gulf coast.  So we stopped in a cute beach town called Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and were looking for a restaurant with fresh crawfish.  We finally found a restaurant called "Lil Joe's", which had all kinds of fresh and fried seafood.  Normally I'm not the biggest fan, but I had to try it.  And it turned out to be delicious! I had the soft-shell crab po'boy, and the crawfish.  We were all really happy that we made the detour.

Here's a picture of the restaurant:

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend and I was so glad I got to go back to New Orleans and explore new things! I hope to return soon.

Have any of you been to New Orleans? If so, what was your favorite part?

xox

Helen

P.S. Next week I PROMISE I will write about Beatrice, but I'm warning you that the post might be long...lots of stories to tell.

Vive la France!

Daily Open-Air Markets

August 2014

Hello again! 

I apologize for my long absence. I had a really busy summer and then spent my fall semester in France! So these next few posts will be talking about my incredible experiences in France and Europe that I wanted to share with you all.  

I spent 4 months this fall in the South of France. I chose to study in France for 2 reasons: because of my lifelong connection with France through my french godmother, and because of my love of the language. I chose to study in the south in particular, because after reading the famous book, "A Year in Provence" by Peter Mayle, I knew I had to go see the places he wrote about.  

I stayed in a small city called Aix-en-Provence, which literally means "the city of water", and naturally, there were fountains everywhere. Fun fact: You can drink from all of these fountains! The city was founded in 1st century AD by the Romans. There are still ancient ruins, old churches and buildings that give the city so much history and charm.  It was amazing to live in a place like this, especially when I am used to living somewhere not even 300 years old.  

One of my favorite things about the South of France was the open air market that occurred every day. I passed 2 of these markets on my way to school.  Each day the markets would sell fresh produce, flowers, cheese, and lavender pochettes.  On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, they would sell clothing, tablecloths, dish ware, as well as food.  My housemate and I would frequent these markets weekly, almost daily, to purchase fruit and cheese from our favorite vendors.  And every Saturday, my friends and I would go to the markets and pick up baguettes, saucisson, cheese, and fresh fruit. Then we would go to one of the nearby parks and have a picnic! It was a great way to explore Aix and to enjoy the outdoors, since it was almost always sunny.  

The markets are one of the things I miss most about Provence.  Aside from farmer's markets, we really don't have open-air markets in America, so that was a big change coming back.  Another thing I miss is the cafés that lined every street, where I would stop almost every morning for a fresh, warm pain au chocolat.  I went to one café so often that by the end of the semester the saleswoman knew my name and my order. But you can't blame me for taking advantage of the french food, especially since I was definitely not getting the full experience in my host family (more details to come...). 

In any case, I absolutely loved living in Aix, and the fact that it was so small helped me to get to know the city more easily.  Also, everyone was so friendly and welcoming that I immediately felt at home. I will definitely return! 

Coming up in my next post: How to deal with a difficult french host mother.

A bientôt! (See you soon!)

Helen

Winter Beauty Essentials

Winter Beauty Essentials by hgkack featuring DevaCurl

CeraVe face moisturizer
target.com

Eucerin body moisturizer
target.com

Body moisturizer
target.com

DevaCurl styling product
nordstrom.com

Styling product
target.com

Bare escentuals cosmetic
sephora.com

Maybelline volume mascara
$28 - nelly.com

Bare Escentuals pencil eyeliner
beauty.com

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

My suitemates and I have been really into healthy eating lately, so a couple days ago, we decided to make a healthy dessert...banana-oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! At first these sounded pretty gross, because to be honest, I'm much more of a traditional chocolate chip cookie kind of girl.  But my friend suggested we try them, so I thought, "why not?" She had all the ingredients, which were: bananas, oats, and chocolate chips.  It was so easy to make.  We mashed the bananas first, then slowly added the oats and chocolate chips.  My friend had made this recipe so many times that she didn't even need a recipe, or measuring cups! We just eyed the amounts, and it turned out great! We formed the "dough" into balls, and then baked them for about 15 minutes.  They turned out to be delicious, and you can barely even taste the banana! They are only 45 calories too! So I did not feel bad when I ate 3 cookies...So if you are ever in the mood for a healthy and sweet treat, these are perfect for you! 

Enjoy!

Helen 

Don't Wait.

Another week has gone by, and as I look back on the past week: I think, "What have I accomplished?" One of my biggest problems is that I let the time pass by, and I don't always live my life to the fullest. A lot of times this is because I'm just lazy, but I also hate when it becomes the end of the day, and I still haven't done anything.   If you let life pass you by, all of a sudden it will be too late to do the things you want to do.  And I'm sure you have all heard this countless times before, but it really is important.  What if you knew today was your last day? How would you spend it? And with whom would you spend it? Treat every day like it's your last one.  And try new things every day! Another crucial thing is to surround yourself with people who support you, and who make you a better person.  They are the people who will encourage you to pursue your dreams. And whenever you have a chance to experience new things, GO FOR IT! You never know when you'll have another chance to go for a hike, travel, or make someone happy.  This is something that I constantly think about, and you all should too.  One of my favorite quotes is, "Wake up an hour earlier, to live an hour more".
What do you hope to accomplish in your life? Don't wait! Take charge of your life, and don't let anyone else decide what can make you happy.

xx

Helen

Sundays

Oh, how I love Sundays.  I'm writing this while watching last week's episode of Downton Abbey. What a crazy week this has been! We went through recruitment and rush for our sorority, and yesterday was bid day.  Very fun, but busy.  I will be glad to have a break!  But the main reason I love Sundays is because of church.  Going to church is such a great way to reflect on the past week, and spiritually prepare for the week ahead.  It's also a nice break, a full hour away from all the craziness, to just enjoy the presence of God.  That always starts my day off right.  Then I usually go to brunch with my friends, and eventually start homework. But since I'm not always motivated, I let myself watch an episode (or three) of one of my favorite shows, Gossip Girl, White Collar or Downton Abbey.  Because I deserve it, right?  Then a few hours later, I grab dinner, call my parents, and then start work.  There's something about Sundays, though, that just makes me feel refreshed.  Even if the past week/weekend have been busy, I still have this feeling of serenity, almost a calm before the storm, aka the week ahead. What I've learned though, is that attitude is the most important. When I have a positive attitude, I tend to work harder, focus more, and just enjoy life.  So I am going to be optimistic about this week, and it will be a great one!

xoxo

Helen

A Bountiful Brunch

I haven’t done a restaurant review in a while, so I decided it was time for another one. This past weekend my dad, grandpa and I wanted to go out to lunch, so we looked on Urbanspoon for the best lunch restaurants in St. Paul.  One of the first results was a place called Colossal Café, which had locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul.  It had good reviews, so we decided to try it.  When we got there, we saw that it was a very small and hip café, where most of the customers were in their late 20s.  So we felt a bit out of place, but it didn’t matter.  Colossal Café is famous for their brunch, so we had come at just the right time.  They boast of their fresh ingredients, and all of their meals are made from scratch.  

The menu looked delicious, and contained plates such as: Apple, brie, and walnut “flapper” (a yeast-based pancake), stuffed omelets, and juicy frittatas.  I chose the “colossal breakfast”, which was 2 eggs, their homemade sourdough bread, and a beautifully arranged bowl of fruit.  Needless to say, it was scrumptious.  And I couldn’t resist sneaking a bite of my grandpa’s “flapper”, which was to die for.  Overall, it was a great experience, and the service was wonderful.  I would highly recommend this quaint little place for breakfast, lunch, or just a fresh cup of coffee. 

Enjoy!

Helen

New Year's Resolutions

In the spirit of the new year, I have decided to share some of my New Year's Resolutions with you. Maybe this will actually help me keep them! Here they are:

• Blog at least once a week
• Journal every day
• Eat healthier
• Run a 5K
• Get more sleep
• Volunteer more
• Write letters
• Watch less Netflix (this will be the hardest)
• Become fluent in French
• Read more 
• Have a "thankful" jar

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Let's make this year the best year yet!

xx

Helen 

Apple Pie...from scratch!

This past Tuesday was my grandmother's birthday, so we decided to have her and some family over to celebrate.  Her favorite dessert is apple pie, so my mom thought it would be nice to make one for her. Being the adventurous person that I am, I decided that I wanted to make it. All by myself. From scratch. So I hopped online, and found a recipe for the crust and for the filling.  

I started with the crust, following all the directions from the recipe, but when I saw that the crust needed ice water, I was a bit confused.  I thought to myself, "does this mean I have to put ice cubes in the dough?!" I decided not to, and it turned out to be okay.  The recipe told me to put 7 tablespoons of this "ice water" in the dough. But even after measuring these and adding them to the dough, it was still very crumbly.  So I became frustrated and poured about half of the water pitcher in the dough...oops.

However, the filling was a LOT easier.  Even though I practically injured myself peeling the apples. After cooling the dough in the refrigerator, it seemed to harden, so I was relieved.  Then I layered the pie pan with the crust, filling, and top, and put it in the oven.  And 30 minutes later, it was done! 

And THANK THE LORD, it turned out great!! And everyone thought so too (or maybe they were just being nice)...but I was proud of myself.

All in all, my first pie baking was a success. So this should be a message to everyone that pie-making is not rocket science, in fact, anyone could do it! 

PS. we did not have shortening at the house, so I had to find a crust recipe that did not require it. 

This was where I got the recipe for the crust: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/paulas-perfect-pie-crust-recipe/index.html

And the filling: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/paulas-apple-pie-filling-recipe/index.html

Enjoy!

xx

HGK

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! One of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more often, so I'm starting off 2014 with a new blog post.

Last night, for New Year's Eve, my good friend and I made dinner and desserts together. We chose to make a Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Alfredo with french bread, and some yummy almond triangles for dessert.

Above is a photo of the Goat Cheese Alfredo.  It was surprisingly easy to make! The sauce consisted of onions, garlic cloves, heavy cream, milk, goat cheese and parmesan cheese. After cooking the sauce, we added pureed roasted red peppers, and then we poured the whole mixture over the noodles.  The pasta turned out great, but the sauce was very rich.  

Next, we baked the almond triangles.  This recipe was actually the winning holiday recipe in the Star Tribune, so it had great reviews.  We started out by making the dough, which is similar to shortbread dough.  Then we set it in the refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes, and started on the sauce.  This sauce was made up of butter, honey, brown sugar, sugar, cream, and of course, almonds.  When the dough was cooled, we poured the sauce over the dough and spread it evenly.  After that, we cooked it in the oven for 15 minutes, until the sauce was bubbling.  Then we set the whole thing out to cool and later cut it into triangles.  They turned out perfectly, and were delicious.  The triangles were the perfect mixture of chewy and crunchy.  The recipe makes about 2 dozen large triangles. 

Here are the triangles just after they had cooled.  To bake, we put the dough on a sheet of foil, and then placed the foil onto a baking sheet.

Here is an up-close photo of the triangles.  Warning: do not make if you do not like almonds.  There are about 5 cups of almonds in this recipe!

Here are the links to the recipes online if y'all want to try them! Let me know what you think. 

Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Alfredo: http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/09/roasted-red-pepper-and-goat-cheese.html

Almond Triangles: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/70459932.html

Enjoy! 

xx

HGK

30 Days of Thanks...starting today

Okay. So I'm a little late starting the 30 Days of Thanks, but I am starting today! As I said before, I am going to post each day what I am thankful for, along with a picture.  Feel free to join me, and don't forget to use the hashtag, #30DaysofThanks!

Enjoy!

xx

Helen 

Day 1.  Today I am thankful for heat, and the comforts of food and coffee on this rainy day. 

Day 2.  I am thankful for the support of friends. 

Day 3.  I am thankful for the beauty of nature.
Day 4.  I am thankful for this warm weather during November (60 degrees!) 
Day 5. I am thankful for forgiveness. 
Day 6. I am thankful for the little breaks from school
Day 7. I am thankful for One Direction (yep, I said it)
Day 8. I am thankful for light workloads.
Day 9. I am thankful for my sorority
Day 10. I am thankful for second chances
Day 11. I am thankful for my family
Day 12. I am thankful for quiet time
Day 13. I am thankful for new beginnings 
Day 14. I am thankful for safety.
Day 15. I am thankful for sleep
Day 16. I am thankful for warmth
Day 17. I am thankful for my brother
Day 18. I am thankful for my education
Day 19. I am thankful for long talks with friends
Day 20. I am thankful for my health
Day 21. I am thankful for life.
Day 22. I am thankful for all of my sisters
Day 23. I am thankful for no more classes! 
Day 24. I am thankful for new friends. 
Day 25. I am thankful for the sun
Day 26. I am thankful for my suitemates.
Day 27. I am thankful for home
Day 28. I am thankful for my cousins
Day 29. I am thankful for books
Day 30. I am thankful for all the blessing God has given me.

30 Days of Thanks

I came across the website 30 Days of Thanks today, and absolutely love the idea.  It tells you to post something you are thankful for, each day, for 30 days.  I will be participating in this challenge on my blog! This is a great way to get ready for Thanksgiving.  I encourage you to join me! Post what you're thankful for on social media, using the hashtag, #30daysofthanks and visit the website for more information.  Happy almost Thanksgiving! 

xx

Helen 

Fall Favorites

Here's what I'm loving this fall. The J.Crew Downtown Field Jacket is one of my favorite items in my wardrobe.  It is both practical and stylish, and I get compliments on it daily! I'm really into ankle boots right now, and these Michael Kors Leather Ankle Boots are so chic. Nail polish is a must for the fall, and I am loving this color, I'm Feeling Sashy, from the OPI Miss Universe Collection.  The C.Wonder Nylon Easy Tote is one of my staples this fall, because I use it for a book bag! (I also have it monogrammed). Gold jewelry is essential, no matter what outfit it's paired with, and this Banana Republic Knot Bracelet is simple, yet elegant.  Lastly, this girly Tulle Skirt from Loft is definitely on my wish list...so I can bring out my inner ballerina! 

Hope you enjoy these, and happy fall!

xx

Helen

My Favorite Place

I recently went to Nantucket Island on vacation, as I do every year with my family.  This summer, as always, we spent many lazy days at the beach, and spent the rainy days in town shopping.  

One of my favorite places to visit is a small bakery called Petticoat Row Bakery.  It was built only a few years ago, so it doesn’t have the same charm as some of the older shops.  However, it is still a cute place to get a cupcake or a cappuccino.  Their are famous for their cakes, but my favorite treat to get there is the turtle bar.  It has a rich graham cracker crust, with coconut and butterscotch chips, with a layer of chocolate and a drizzle of caramel on top.  I was a bit disappointed when I found out that the bar had decreased in size since the previous year, but it was probably for the best.  

Another great thing about Nantucket is its sunsets. You can count on a gorgeous pink sky almost every night, which makes for a great picture! 

This is a photo taken from Madaket Beach, the absolute best place to watch the sunset.  

This is Sankaty Head Lighthouse, one of the three lighthouses on the island.  It is located in the village of Siasconset, and was built in 1850. 

I miss Nantucket already, but hopefully next July will come quickly!

xx
HGK

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

I was scrolling through Pinterest the other day, looking for something sweet to make, and I came across a recipe for Oatmeal Coconut Cookies.  But since I am unable to resist baking anything without chocolate, I had to add mini chocolate chips to the mix. The coconut in these cookies also added extra chewiness!  On a side note, I added slightly too much oatmeal to the batter, but they still turned out delicious, and even healthier!

These sweet nuggets taste best with a cold glass of milk! 

If y'all want to try out this recipe, I found it on the blog: The Dough Will Rise Again, and the recipe is called "Brown Sugar Oatmeal Coconut Chewies".  

Enjoy!

xx

HGK

One Direction-Best Song Ever

Everyone please watch this.  You'll thank me later.

xx

HGK

A Fresh Urban Lunch

Yesterday, finally having a day off from work, I decided I would treat myself for lunch. I wanted to go somewhere I had never gone before. My mom and I ended up at Wise Acre Eatery, in the hip Tangletown area of Minneapolis. The minute we got there, I fell in love with it. The building was once an old gas station, and the main area of the restaurant is in the garage. When the garage doors are open, it creates the perfect summer atmosphere. The best part about the place, is that it is a farm-fresh eatery. The restaurant gets all of their ingredients from their own farm, only 40 minutes away. The food is harvested, prepared, and served, all in the same day.  From the farm to the table, you can expect your meal here to be nothing less than delectable. 

I started out with the half and half, which is half iced tea, half lemonade. It was so refreshing, and I loved how the colors of the tea and lemonade faded together to create a warm amber hue.  

For my entree, I chose the Scrambled Egg, Ham, & Cheddar Sandwich.  This consisted of a thick slice of ham, melted white cheddar, and a scrambled egg, topped with stone ground mustard, served on a warm brioche bun. The sandwich was so rich and satisfying, and was gone in minutes.  It was served with a side of field greens, and dressed in a maple red wine vinaigrette. 

To top off my lunch, I decided on the Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie from an assortment of baked goods. This was a decadent oatmeal cookie with a hint of coconut, and filled with dark chocolate chunks. Our thoughtful waiter, Roy, served the cookie warm.

Overall, I loved this unique eatery, and would definitely come back. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fresh and delicious meal, in a retro urban setting. Who doesn't? 

HGK

Nutella Puppy Chow

Made Nutella puppy chow today. It was so easy, only 4 ingredients: butter, Rice Chex, powdered sugar, and of course, Nutella! Once you start eating it, you can't stop!

Enjoy,

HGK