Just D Chi

Ya'll know... As much as I love Chi, I love New Orleans! I went "home" in August for what I call my 2023, "EAT, LOVE, PRAY TOUR". I had a yearning to connect with my ancestors, my self and my God. Every single day, I did all three.   I made a pact to make certain I do this every year, if not two or three times a year, to reboot and re-evaluate.   I was not raised on Kitchen Sink gumbo, simple chicken or seafood with flavor from another world. This is how WE do: dark Roux, andouille, chicken, okra, all seasoned RIGHT and with a SCOOP of rice on top. I always connect with the horses in front of Jackson Square I always watch a storm as it rolls in, so amazing!  We used to drive in and head straight to Gene's. The best times were when we came in at 6am when the bread was being dropped off. Getting a Gene's hot sausage fresh with fresh bread was heaven! Now I just wave and mourn the loss. Praise, homage to my ancestors and pecan pie .... I am already bleeding...

Never Forget today. To get out of my head, I got out and about in Chi-city. I call The Chi "Chi-Lovely" for so many reasons. Listed below are a few of these lovely reasons. Chicago is gorgeous, even on rainy days. She is alluring and her steel calls you in just the way her nature and waterways do. She has fabulous food and drinks. Chicago is a world-class city, day and night. I had not ridden the L since the pandemic BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF SHAPE AND COULD NOT GET UP THE STAIRS!!!! AND NO, I will NEVER get in the elevator ( peeeee smellllll )! One month of Hot yoga, and I was in shape enough to get up the stairs without dying. I will be a regular again. SO PROUD OF MYSELF! CHI CITY in the CHI-LOVELY SUMMER! Gray and Gorgeous today 9/11. Last week, it was still August and pumpkin spice was already flowing! Labor Day Weekend Rooftop at Virgin Hotel Northbound "L" platform on the Pink Line Chicago River's Glory Chicago Fire Memorial 9/10

"Magical Life" is an experience of mind-boggling mysteries, illusions, and story-telling. Thank you @Rhapsodytheatre and @Herronagency for an evening with Dr. Larry Hass. Hass is a PhD, teacher, writer, and philosopher on the art of magic. He is also the Dean of McBride's Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas. Correspondent Andrea Dillon & Dr. Hass Check out the "MAGICAL LIFE" now running thru August 12, 2023. The Rhapsody Theatre 1328 W. Morse, Chicago, IL  Visit   Rhapsody Theatre   for more information!

Visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time was so exhilarating that I am already planning my next trip! My SUNS are my world and they open up new worlds for me! Mt. Rainier - Love the 1800Freakin LOL - photo credit Craig Johnson 9:00 PM! Sun still up! Space Needle Sunset So crisp and gorgeous. LOVE Seattle! Northgate, and everywhere!  

New Orleans is one of those deep soul-binding places. Once you go there, it gets into your soul and never leaves. My maternal grandmother was born in Convent, LA and both her parents are products of Louisiana soil. Both great-grand parents worked and lived in the French Quarter. I have also recently uncovered that my paternal lineage also comes from the Louisiana Purchase.  Sadly, I have a great, great, great, grandmother who was purchased at 3 years old to populate her plantation. That is a story for another day, meanwhile, back to the joys of blogging ... I was invited by ROSALIND to attend the New Orleans & Company  , AFAR Magazine and Commander's Palace  for a "CELEBRATE NEW ORLEANS" Evening! It was spectacular! Chef-Owner and Sancerre Hospitality Culinary Director-Partner of Rose Mary , Joe Flamm along with Neal Bodenheimer ( Tales Of The Cocktail, Co-Chair and Cure CO. ) and Meg Bickford ( Commander's Palace Executive Chef ) kept our taste buds delighted ...

R etired with new goals that I am already accomplishing! Introverts do travel and travel well. My goal now is to fill my passport with stamps! Here are some photos. Can you guess how much I adore water? Ocho Rios Tropical Beachside Drinking LOTSA coffee Oceanfront Nighttime Ocho Rios, Jamaica Ocho Rios Ocean at Night Glorious Ocho Rios Morning Puerto Vallarta Infinity Pool front, ocean back Mountain high, valley ( and beach ) low Sunsetting Rio Cuale Waterfall Canopy River Tour Park Evening downtown Puerto Vallarta Beachside dinner at The Blue Shrimp Puerto Vallarta Sunset  Puerto Vallarta Sun has set

Recently I have been attending "Blogger" events or "Social Media" events again with my Creole Kouzin, author and friend Rosalind Cummings-Yeates. That mean-ole pandemic halted a LOT, including my side-gig over at the now defunct, TheChicagoMoms.com. I really loved blogging for MJ Tam and sharing the Chicago Parenting scene with the world.  It cemented the fact that I am an introvert and gave me a reason to push through that personality quirk and learn, live and share. With the blogging scene gone, grief from losing my father 10-29-20, having to cope and suffer a once-in-a-life-time pandemic with all of you, I did not ever think I would blog again. HealthierHappierYou.blogspot.com is how it all started for me so here I have returned, no longer a young mother, divorcee, CREOLE trying to save New Orleans after Katrina and trying to navigate life but now a seasoned, retired, AND still excited about the SAME TWO THINGS - CHI and New Orleans! Once I realized that passion ...