exploring the caverns, climbing the tower and zipline and eating delicious fudge! I cannot wait until we can go back to Texas again and visit in the summer!

Get more info about Natural Bridge Caverns here. 

 

I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of things to do at the Caverns!

We spent the whole day and had the best time!

 

Top with Christmas sprinkles.

 

 

Scroll down for the link to download the file and print for free!

Enjoy your summer travels and have fun!

We can’t forget our pup. He likes road trips too!

 

 

Springfield, Missouri is only an hour and a half from us and we go multiple times a month. 

There is so much to do there including the biggest Bass Pro Shop {complete with aquarium and museum} in the country!

Another fun stop in Springfield is the Discovery Center. We have a family membership and go often. 3 floors of science, play, space, and even mini golf!

St Louis is another city only a couple hours away so we have been quite a few times. You saw the zoo above but we also love Grant’s Farm, the Science Museum, and Fitz’s . We have been to both brewery locations {this photo is downtown} and not only is the food amazing but the atmosphere, and bottomless sodas, cannot be beat!

Another fun road trip find is Uranus. A class fun and out there stop off Route 66 near St Robert. It has dinosaurs, an escape room, ice cream, fudge, and all sorts of crazy novelties. 

It’s amazing how well this trip went, with the occasional temper tantrum hiccup, considering we just moved to Missouri and did not plan out this trip as much as I would have liked. But hey it’s Disney World, right?! Stay tuned for my blog posts about our trip and a Disney World Stocking Stuffier Gift Guide for Christmas. 

1.   ‘Special Delivery’ Disney Surprise – For the Love of Food 

2.    Mickey Mouse Disney Trip Reveal Breakfast – See Vanessa Craft 

3.    Mickey Mouse Balloon Disney Reveal – A Night Owl Blog   

4.    Disney Surprise Trip Scavenger Hunt – Stuffed Suitcase
5.    Personalized Disney Surprise Balloon – The Life of Spicers
 6.     Disney Cruise Surprise Reveal – Mama Cheaps

7.    12 Days of Disney Cookies and Mouse Ears – For the Love of Food

8.    “We’re Going to Disney World” Printable Puzzle – Simply Being Mommy 

 9.    Disneyland Countdown Chain Printable – Vermillion Rules 

10.    Disney Reveal Doorscape – Prettify Your Life 

11.    Surprise Invitation to Disney World – Two Magical Moms 

12.   Mad Lib Disney Trip Announcement – Love Our Crazy Life 

 

13.     Disney World Surprise Trip Tips – Family Travel Magazine

  14.    Disney Surprise Sign for Toddlers – For the Love of Food 

15.    Disney Themed Luggage Surprise – Around My Family Table

    16.   ‘Final Gift to Open’ Disney Surprise – Mama CHeaps 

17.     “We’re Going to Disney” Connect the Dots Printable – Undercover Tourist
18.     DIY Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket Surprise – Oh the Lovely Things 

L’Auberge offers three restaurants: a buffet, fine dining, and a sports bar and grill. Since we had the kids, we choose the bar and grill and boy am I glad we did! The quality and selection of food at Stadium was beyond anything I have ever seen at a regular ol’ sports bar. They offered jazzed up versions of traditional bar food like massive nachos and colossal wings along with Southern specialties like barbecue platters and monster burgers. The best part of the menu though? The Cajun selection blew us all away! We tried the Barbecue Shrimp, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo {see the recipe here}, and Po-boy Sandwiches. Talk about a mouthwatering meal! 

We took a scenic 10 minute drive from downtown Baton Rouge to get to the L’Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge. It is a stunning building with plentiful parking and gorgeous landscaping and decor. Next time I want to check out their roof top pool! 

First thing’s first- let’s talk food!

After walking around the beautiful open hotel we arrived at Stadium.

We all were hungry after a long day of traveling 

but we had no idea the meal that was in store for us!

If you go to Stadium with a group ask for a table by the window. 

We had the corner table, which felt private and cozy, with a nice open view and our own TV {this was a plus with the kiddos too}.

The menu was impressive and we were hungry so we ordered

  one of everything a tasty selection of appetizers, soups, and entrees.

As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted it.

I love a good Nawlins Barbecue Shrimp dish!

The all around favorite dish of the night: Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo! 

It was smokey and hearty and chock full of veggies, rice, andouille sausage, and tender chicken. 

 

You’re in luck! I made the recipe on the blog here. 

Now this was the time to go big or go home, according to my husband, so he went really big and tried the Stadium Challenge.  

Yes, we’re talking Man vs Food style eating here folks.

6lbs of meat and seafood stuffed po-boys {covered in jalapenos I might add} and a basket- no scratch that-bucket of fries had to be devoured in an hour.

Only one person has completed the challenge and he went home with a tailgate apron, his name on the hall of fame wall, and a free meal. Ashton gave it his all but in the end the po-boys won this battle. And that darn bucket of fries.

We were surprised at the presentation of the Stadium Challenge when we received it.
The menu describes it as “an all-star po-boy featuring 6 pounds of fried gator, fried shrimp, shaved ham, shaved turkey, smoked sausage, pulled pork and our signature four cheese blend with lettuce, tomato, jalapeño mayo, pickled jalapeños”. Instead we received three po-boys, which means more bread and toppings than we originally thought. The big ol’ bucket of fries was also a shocker, although I should have expected it. I would have liked to see and take pictures of a 6 lb po-boy but either way, Ashton got full just looking at it and didn’t come close to finishing this monster sized meal! I guess competitive eating is not in his future! 

Last but not least dessert time. Those sneaky folks at Stadium surprised me with a firecracker birthday brownie which was a festive {and sparkling, haha} end to a fantastic meal! 

We can’t wait to go back on our next trip to Baton Rouge.

 Harlow’s homey environment is warm and inviting

 and full of memories from local patrons.

 Also available are Mardi Gras cupcakes, cookies, and celebration cakes like the one above.

 The Pecan Praline King Cake from Harlow’s features a cream cheese pecan praline filling and is topped with a caramel icing a local Louisiana pecans along with a drizzle of glaze and colored sugar.

 They served lunch a breakfast until 2 Tuesday-Saturday. 

Their potato salad and Queen Soup are my favorites.

 Mardi Gras cookies and mini king cakes are also available to purchase at the bakery.

 Dat Truck is a popular food truck run by Chef Shauna in Deridder, LA. Their burgers, sandwiches, and tacos are fresh and flavorful and packed full of quality ingredients but be warned they are messy {but good} and require 5+ napkins! When I went, there was a line of hungry customers, but the orders were cranking out of the Dat Truck at a fast rate and I had my Dat Burger in about 10 minutes time. Maybe next time I will wear my stretchy pants and try the mega Beast Burger!

 The Strawberry Champagne King Cake is filled with freshly made strawberry champagne jam and cream cheese. It is a thicker brioche type dough, which I prefer, and is coated with the traditional glaze and sugar. 

You can order your king cake in advance and pick up at the Dat Truck. 

 Bailey’s giant Apple Fritters are not to be missed!

Hurry on down to Bailey’s to try this savory local favorite for Fat Tuesday!

Quebedeaux’s is one of those hole in the wall gems the locals all rave about. I stopped here after reading about their famous Boudin King Cake in numerous online publications. The shop itself is small and tidy, with just a couple of tables. Mostly a meat market and deli, it seems to me a lot of their customers order to go. They serve Cajun favorites like gumbo, meat pies, tamales, and of course Boudin. Their King Cake, which is available year round, has put them on the map and they certainly make it over the top, as any Mardi Gras delicacy should be. Their Mardi Gras Boudin King Cake is made with fresh risen bread, stuffed with Quebedeaux’s house made Boudin, then baked until golden brown and topped with their pork cracklins {yes, you read that right} and then glazed with homemade praline syrup and finally decorated in Mardi Gras sugars. 

It has to be seen, and eaten, to be believed. 

Open 7 days a week 8:30 to 7
3710 S MacArthur Dr Alexandria, Louisiana

Phone: (318) 528-8788

Quebedeaux’s menu is full of Cajun specialties.

 This one of a kind King Cake is a must see and luckily it is made year round!

 Spicy house made Boudin sausage, famous pork cracklins, and praline syrup. Need I say more?

This relatively new bakery is located in the charming downtown section of Deridder.

Owners Mandy and Cindy serve fresh baked goods including cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and cake

 balls along with sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch. They do offer traditional King Cakes and Boudin Stuffed King Cakes but I was delighted to find King Cake Cupcakes and King Cake Cake Balls available to purchase during Mardi Gras season. The King Cake cupcakes and cake balls were both cinnamon flavored with a hint of lemon and topped with a Mardi Gras colors.

 

Open Money-Friday 9 to 5

115 W 1st St Deridder, Louisiana 70634
Phone: (337) 202-4084

Lou-Lou’s Cupcakes on Facebook

 Cake Balls are bite size balls of cake and frosting.
These King Cake Balls are made of moist cinnamon cake and filled with a sweet cream then glazed and decorated. Bet you can’t eat just one!

A perfect sized treat if you just want a bite or two of King Cake
 and not a whole slice.

 The King Cake Cupcakes are the same flavor as the amazing cake balls
with a hint of lemon and again the delicious cream filling inside.
Call today to order a few of each!

 

Since opening 8 years ago, Little Cakes with Big Attitude has become a well know stop for locals in Alexandria wanting a sweet treat. Luckily this shop serves much more than little cakes.
They also have ice cream, coffee drinks, milkshakes, cookies, cake balls, large cakes and a slew of Paleo friendly items. Both times I stopped by they were sold out of numerous goodies including their ever popular Petite Gateaux Cake Balls {King Cake Balls, y’all!} and the mouthwatering King Cake Bites. I was told, too late for me but good for you, that you can call ahead and they will put your treats aside for you. Make note: do not miss out on the King Cake Bites.
 They are a must try for any King Cake lover!  

This bar also has a drive thru for picking up daiquiris on the go.

They offer live music, pool tables, and as most bars do, lots of interesting people watching.

During season they have both a Bourbon Street Daiquiri and my drink of choice, a King Cake Daiquiri. Their sizes range from small 12oz to a gallon. Time to get the party started y’all!

 

King Cake Frozen Yogurt

Self serve fro yo shops have popped up everywhere, even in our neighboring small town of Deridder. This self serve frozen yogurt shop is a locally owned franchise. They change their flavors daily and during Mardi Gras season they now offer -you guessed it- King Cake fro yo.

The have a large toppings bar but to my disappointment so Mardi Gras colored sprinkles or pieces of king cake to mix in, so I settled with traditional rainbow Nerds candy which was just as fun.

 

Tutti Frutti on Facebook

Self serve yogurt is a fast and easy treat for the whole family!

No colored Mardi Gras sugars on the topping bar so I had to make due with colorful Nerds candy.

 My husband and I differ on opinion on what flavor the King Cake Fro Yo tastes like.
Certainly not Cinnamon or Brown Sugar as I expected. I taste citrus and he tastes caramel. Most importantly though this refreshing treat tastes pretty darn good!

King Cake Cupcakes

These beautifully decorated vanilla cupcakes were inspired by Mardi Gras King Cakes and taste almost as good as the real thing! Cheryl, a Army wife who bakes and sells cupcakes part time from her home, offers reasonably priced, freshly baked cupcakes in a variety of flavors. I found out about her home business just as I do about most things on Ft Polk: word of mouth. 

 

(817) 689-7397

Cupcakes by Cheryl on Facebook

 These donuts are an affordable 79 cents each and  are worth three times that!
The hot glazed donut is topped with Mardi Gras sugars and perfect for breakfast or an afternoon treat!

This adorable coffee shop and bakery is a standout in the Leesville Main St. area. Open since 2013, owners Ann and Ne’Andrea offer cakes, breads, macaroons, and cookies along with a rather detailed drink menu. I stopped by for a snack and was overjoyed to find a King Cake Latte on the menu along with gorgeous Mardi Gras cookies decorated with festive colored icing and -wait for it- edible glitter.

Needless to say, I have been back for the latte and the cookies quite a few times since then.

 

www.sweetthingbakeshop.com

 Outdoor cafe tables and cute window displays make this coffee shop a beautiful addition to Leesville’s Main Street.

1. Copeland’s of New Orleans

www.copelandsofneworleans.com

The King Cake is topped with cheesecake and cinnamon streusel
then covered in sugar sprinkles and whipped cream. 

2. Abita Brewery

www.abita.com

This super sweet soda is newly released from Abita Brewery. Use Abita’s product locator on their site to find a store near you that carries King Cake Soda. I found mine in Deridder, LA.
 Check out my recipe for a King Cake Soda Float here. 

 

3. Smoothie King

www.smoothieking.com

This tasty smoothie is available in Louisiana and Mississippi and includes almond milk, vanilla frozen yogurt, bananas, cinnamon, almond extract, and vanilla extract. 

4. Community Coffee

Available in most grocery stores and at Community Coffee Shops.

5. Pinnacle Vodka

King Cake Cocktail anyone?
Check out my version, featuring Chila ‘Orchata Cinnamon Cream Rum here.
Also available by Taaka Vodka. 

Sweet Stella and her first King Cake. 

Love my baby girl.

Lucky Ava, I shared my King Cake treats with her! 

Not surprising, she loved them all!
Photo credit: Lisa Ann Photography.

 

Baby #2, a girl, is due in March.

My baby is getting so big!

I love my family.

One of my favorites. So sweet!

I seriously cannot choose a favorite!

Prego and lovin’ it!

“Family is not an important thing. It is everything.”  -Michael J. Fox

Oh my goodness. She is adorable!

I have found a hidden gem in Pensacola, Florida and it’s called Pot Roast and Pinot. Honestly it’s not quite hidden {but it’s definitely a gem!}. Located on Cervantes St, a minute off of popular 9th Ave, it is conveniently located near downtown, beaches, and the busy shopping district on 9th. A renovated diner, that has been open for around 9 months now, Pot Roast and Pinot has a sleek upscale vibe complete with a bar and wine cellar. Their menus include a plethora of mouth watering dishes mostly in their style of “American Comfort Food…with a twist!”. They offer not only a lunch and dinner menu but also a weekend brunch {Red Velvet Pancakes and Bananas Foster French Toast, enough said}, late night menu, and frequent themed meals like their upcoming 4 Course Australian Dinner on June 3rd.
I first heard of Pot Roast and Pinot from my friend and hairdresser, Cynthia, a foodie like myself, who could not stop talking about this fantastic new restaurant she had recently dined at. She recommended I take my husband there for a date night when he returned from deployment. Then she mentioned the meal she had ordered: Lobster Macaroni and Cheese. {Say What?!} That alone hooked me. My two favorite foods together in a gooey, decadent plate of heaven?! Sign me up! I made plans to go the very next week with my Mom and daughter, Ava. 

My first visit to Pot Roast and Pinot in March.

We had a delightful late lunch dining on Lobster Mac and Cheese {how could I resist?}, Grilled Okra, Meatloaf, Deviled Eggs, and Spinach Salad. Large portions, top notch service {ask for Blair}, and true Comfort Food Paradise. I immediately went online and tweeted, Facebooked, Instagramed, and shouted to the social networking world: Pot Roast and Pinot rocks! I had found my new restaurant of choice in Pcola {dare I say byebye McGuires!} and I wanted everyone to know.
Flash forward to May. My husband came home from deployment and we traveled to Florida for a much needed family vacation and to attend the EOD Memorial Weekend. We stayed in Pensacola Beach with my parents for a few sun drenched, lounging by the pool days of bliss and I knew before we left we had to have a family meal at Pot Roast and Pinot. We decided to go again for another late lunch {although I am dying to try their brunch} on a weekday afternoon. For me it’s the perfect time to go- around 2 or 3. Late enough that you miss the rushed lunch crowd but early enough that you still get to enjoy the lunch menu. We had a leisurely meal and enjoyed the place mostly to ourselves, exactly how I like it {especially with a sometimes loud and dramatic toddler on my hands}. 

 

This was a magazine worthy beautiful dish. Nothing better than fresh local veggies and cheese!

My Dad and Ashton ordered this appetizer and it was gone before I got a bite {but I did sneak a nibble of mozzarella and it was fab!}. These guys love their tomatoes, especially Ashton who eat them like apples. They loved the freshness, the thick juicy tomatoes, and the tangy herb dressing.  

2. Deviled Eggs: Two ways, lobster claw, pork belly.

This is another app I ordered on both visits. Y’all know they had me at lobster! 

I loved the creamy egg filling with the hit on citrus but the meaty pork belly and succulent lobster on top made these truly decadent and delicious Deviled Eggs. 

Just the description on these intrigued me enough to order them and we weren’t disappointed. 

An fun dish, the chicken had a lot of meat and flavor and the blue cheese foam {!!!}. I have a serious love for blue cheese so I could have {well I did to be honest…} eaten it with a spoon! 

1. Spinach Salad: soft poached egg, candied walnuts, apples, goat cheese, bacon mustard vinaigrette. 

I am a sucker for a good salad and I am not talking about foo-foo plain ol’ garden salads. I want toppings galore and this Spinach Salad gave me just that. We ordered it on our first visit and loved it so much we ordered it again the next time. It is large enough for an entree but we opted to shared it four ways as a second course.

The tangy Hot Bacon Dressing is obviously the star but the perfectly poached egg on top and the salty crumbles of goat cheese are what put it over the top for me.

 My little cutie Ava is always the life the the party {or meal in this case}.

Her favorite food at Pot Roast and Pinot? Deviled Eggs and a hearty serving of buttery mashed potatoes!

Entrees:

I bet if I hadn’t just told you this was Liver and Onions you would have never guessed! This is not the boring ol’ dried up piece of Liver and Onions that gave you nightmares as a child. This is jazzed up Liver and Onions “with a twist”. Also just like everything else on their menu it is a hefty serving and will more than satisfy your comfort food craving. It was so big in fact that my husband exclaimed “Where is this liver from? A rhino?”. Yep, it’s times like that, that I know I married a good one. Smart and he keeps me entertained. Ashton and I both were adventurous eaters as kids {and adults obviously} and I was known to order Liver and Onions when out to eat with my parents. The waitress would always give me a strange look trying to decide is this 6 year old was pulling her leg. Heck no! It was good and I like it! But you have never had Liver and Onions like this y’all! Have an open mind and order this dish and you will not regret it. It is tender and succulent and the gravy, which is the same as the Pot Roast {that alone is enough to order it}, is TO DIE FOR. So don’t be a sissy, put on your big boy pants, and order the Liver and Onions. Then you can thank me. With flowers. I like daisies. 

3. Mac and Cheese: cold water lobster, asiago, fontina, gruyere.
This is it. Forget everything else I have said. Hands down the best. mac and cheese. ever. You must order this or you will regret it for the rest of your life. It’s only on the dinner menu but if you ask nicely they can make it for lunch. This is another dish I have ordered during both visits {and I will order it for my next visit too} and as soon as the hot plate of bubbly goodness is placed in front of me all I can think is “Get in my belly!”. Three deliciously melty, rich cheeses and massive amounts of sweet lobster meat all baked together in harmony! I will say, I tasted truffle oil, which does have a strong flavor that can overpower a dish, but it wasn’t enough to make me not shovel this in my mouth  eat every morsel on my plate of this excellent Lobster Mac and Cheese.

 4. Chicken Chesapeake: sauteed chicken paillard, lump crab, garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, lemon caper sauce. 
My Mom ordered this classy chicken dish and her favorite part was the stellar lemon caper sauce spooned on top along with the generous portion of sweet lump crab. The chicken was tasty although slightly dry but when eaten in the perfect bite: chicken, sauce, buttery mash, and crab, it was heavenly.

 Bonus: plenty of food leftover for lunch the next day!

Desserts:

Always save room for dessert! Or better yet- eat dessert first!

1. Key Lime Pie: Raspberry Sorbet

 
2. Bread Pudding: chocolate, banana, and raisins. 
Their bread pudding selection changes daily and when I saw this flavor on the menu I had to have it! Served with cashew brittle, vanilla bean ice cream, and fluffy whipped cream then drizzled in caramel, it most definitely is the epitome of rich Southern comfort food. Unfortunately, the bananas and chocolate were somewhat lost in our dessert with all the other flavors going on. But it still was mighty tasty and I can’t wait to try another flavor of the day on my next visit.

Clean Plate Club: the sign of a good meal!

My Matron of Honor: Lisa, Best Man: Michael, and Maid of Honor: Connie 

 

 

My Uncle Mike officiated the ceremony. He wrote some lovely words including this saying: 

 

A group shot, with all our family and friends! 

We had custom pennies engraved with our initials and wedding date. After the wedding we made them into keychains and necklaces. We bought them from Sarah on Etsy

Thanks to Robert at Forever Young Photography for capturing our special day and taking gorgeous pictures! 

For our reception, our guests simply walked (Ashton and I rode the two seater bike!) down the street to The Lee House Bed and Breakfast. We had a reception in their courtyard, with acoustic guitar tunes by Justin Rogers and passed Southern style appetizers by Nancy’s Haute Affairs. We chose to serve Deviled Eggs, Crab Cakes, and Fried Green Tomatoes and they were enjoyed by everyone!

After the reception we had dinner in the beautiful dining room inside The Lee House

Our guestbook picture frame with sign by 421 South on Etsy

The sign said:

 

Our favors: Lavender sachets by Vivian on Etsy

Spinach Salad and BBQ Chicken with Succotash, cheese grits, and cornbread made by Nancy’s Haute Affairs 

Ashton and Michael having fun!

       Dad had seconds and thirds of cheese grits! 

My lovely Grandma

My beautiful cousin Lauren, my friend Nathan, and me

I made my famous Pecan Tassies and we ordered these adorable mini cupcakes in Key Lime, Butterfinger, and Pineapple from Oh Snap Cupcakes in Pensacola. 

The boys enjoying dessert.

Cupcakes and my Mom’s red velvet mini cakes.

The perfect way to end our celebration? Dancing outside to the “Cupid Shuffle” with my favorite people!

So many great memories in just one day! I am so very grateful to have my friends, family, and my Ashton in my life!