The Columns Hotel

Three Sweet Chic-adees! Every year my friends Christy, Julie and I get together to specifically celebrate our birthdays. We're all Pisces! Can you believe it? LOL

My birthday always kicks things off! It's February 20th. Christy's is today...February 27th., and Julie's is March 10th. Last year we went to The Melting Pot. Have you been there? If you like chocolate and cheese fondue, it's really fun. I highly suggest it.

This year we chose to have Sunday brunch (yesterday 2/26/12) at The Columns Hotel. It's a historic mansion (built in 1883) and very sophisticated hotel on St. Charles Avenue that definitely has southern charm. It's painted white, showcases the United States, Louisiana State and French Creole Fleur de lis New Orleans flags, is surrounded by lush foliage, beautiful statues and of course HUGE large white columns.

New Orleanian residents go to The Columns Hotel for cocktails, to eat, Sunday Jazz Brunch, weddings and/or baby showers. It's definitely a New Orleans staple. Reminder! I really need to showcase more of New Orleans.

Easy Like Sunday Morning (well afternoon. hahaha)! As soon as we stepped on the porch steps (yes we have porches in the south and take note of the ceiling fans) the maitre d' greeted us. I loved his purple and white gingham shirt and beautiful lavender tie. He put a big SMILE on my face when he said hey beautiful. So sweet! The weather was a little overcast and VERY windy but overall it was nice, so we decided to eat outside. Napkins were placed gently in our laps and we were handed a menu. The service was marvelous dah-ling and the price was fabulous! Who can beat great food, friends, conversation, attentive & impeccable service, and wonderful conversation. BTW Natalie of Use Your Words Little Girl, the dining etiquette book you gave me came in handy. HaHaHa

Food Glorious Food! The Columns Hotel has a wonderful Sunday Jazz Brunch. Reservations are highly recommended. There was a wonderful guitarist who played some lovely songs and you get a mimosa, choice of soup, salad, entree and dessert. I chose the seafood gumbo, house salad, blackened drum and peach cobbler a la mode. Christy and Julie had crabcakes with fried green tomatoes (another southern staple). Christy also had creme brulee for dessert. The pictures below speak for themselves.

Gift Time! We always give each other little treats in celebration of our birthdays. Nothing over the top, but little things that make each one of us smile. I gave the girls $25 gift cards to Earthsavers Spa (local day spa in New Orleans that believes in natural products and beauty techniques) and Hugs and Kisses umbrellas from Nordstrom; Christy gave each of us a beautiful fresh flower bouquet arrangement. I love fresh flowers and the colors in the bouquet are gorgeous. And Julie gave us wonderful bath-time spa treats (hot pink fuzzy socks, super sweet bath bombs, cookies and HELLO! Hello Kitty gel pens that write in pink, red and green). I loved all of my gifts!

I Love My Friends! If you can't tell, I had a really great time Sunday! HaHaHa This was my sweet treat this weekend. We usually get together 2-3 times a year. But always for our birthdays! Sorry for the fuzzy photo below, but my camera phone died. LOL Time to get a new iPhone! LOL Do you have a girls day or night out with your besties? What are some things you like to do?

A Little Lagniappe! I'm a Winner! Ohhhh BTW, I participated in an 'imaginary' Valentine's Day going-on-a-date outfit contest on Sandy's blog at Ooh La Frou Frou for her character Aimee. Everyone voted and my outfit idea won! So she illustrated my outfit idea in today's post (see a glimpse below). I can't believe I put this outfit together (you can actually buy ALL of the items below...look for my name and links on Part II of Sandy's blog to purchase these items). I'm so proud of myself. It is so beautifully illustrated! Sandy is such a fabulous illustrator. Check out "the date" in it's entirety and the outfit ON her character Aimee HERE! Have a Great Week Everybody!