To the snow

New Orleans and Chicago may not seem very close together; one being very South and one being very North. But the way Jon sold it to me was, "Look - it's a straight shot!" So up to Chicago we went to visit Jon's sister Alyssa. Alyssa received her masters in Nutritional Science from Purdue University and now lives with her fiance in Chicago. There are very few opportunities for us to get together so spending a weekend catching up and checking out her new place was very appealing. Unfortunately Charlie, her fiance was out of town that weekend. 

A few Core Power Yoga classes, many history museum exhibits, and a birthday sushi dinner filled our weekend. Before we knew it we were back on the road. With the Twin Cities being only six hours away we decided to swing though to visit the Grandparents. 

From there we made our way back West. Nicolette and Toriann are both going to school in Fort Collins now so stopping for a visit was a must. And lucky us Lorenzo was there visiting the same weekend! We felt like we were home in Vegas.

Speaking of Vegas, that was our next stop. Biking the Red Rock loop, attending corporate meetings with my aunt (at the bar) and running into two awesome high school friends made for a picture perfect visit. Man, Las Vegas is one of my most favorite places! I can't wait for our next visit :)

Somewhere during the nearly 10,000 miles of driving Jon and I did a lot of talking about the future and what we wanted it to look like. And with our 20th* (see cake picture below) birthdays come and gone, we felt a renewed sense of urgency.       

Beautiful Chicago skyline

Alyssa!

Yes, we have missed the snow!!

Grandma and Grandpa Phillips

Arrived in Fort Collins to a birthday carrot cake from Lorenzo and the girls!

A group photo at the girls condo

At New Belgium Brewery. I handed Jon my beer so I could take a picture and he literally cheersed himself.

Devil's Kitchen in Colorado National Monument

Showing off... I mean getting some exercise 

Colorado National Monument is defiantly worth a visit

First day in Vegas, the best way to combat atrophied car legs- bike the Red Rock loop! 

At Frankies Tiki Room with Lou, Deb, Cheryl, Tom and Penny. Quite a rowdie bunch but we like them :)

Hanging out at the Container Park and who do I run into? Cory and Laura! AWESOME!

New Orleans

After Mobile we were very close to New Orleans and (lucky me) I have a friend there. This is no ordinary friend. After meeting during a four day rock climbing trip in 2010 we kept in touch by e-mail. I invited her to Duluth - and she booked a ticket like two weeks later. What followed was maybe the most fun filled Duluth weekend ever to be had. And that was it. 

So now here we were, nearing her home in the French Quarter about to repay the visit. Our ten day stay was not nearly long enough and I can not wait to go back! Here are my ten favorite things about New Orleans, in this particular order:
1) Zac and Courtney
2) Their apartment in general + the location
3) The music scene
4) The Food (1 - Muffuletta's from Central Grocery on Decatur. 2 - Beignet's. 3 - Cafe Envie's Breakfast.)
5) Biking and walking EVERYWHERE!
6) Free Swing dancing lessons with a live brass band
7) The three story World War II museum
8) The walking ghost tour
9) The Hurricane Katrina Museum
10) The above ground cemetery's

Welcome to their private courtyard in the French Quarter! 

Jon heading up their entry. (I just like this pic :)

The living room. I'm standing on the stairs that head up to the master bedroom

Their balcony over Decatur St

Sunday morning on Bourbon St.

Most. Incredible. Music Scene. 

I must have taken a million pics walking around because every street looked like this.

Lovely art scene as well

Zac and Courtney

A little sight seeing at night

During the walking ghost tour

Sunrise over the Mississippi

On our way out of town we visited Oak Alley Plantation.

Blogging is Hard

Well, turns out keeping up a blog is harder than I thought. Did you know that to keep up a blog you have to think of stuff and then type it up on a regular basis? Well those of you that do it I tip my hat to you.

So even though a LOT has changed since these pictures took place I will continue where I left off.

A lot of family fun for both Jon and I in Florida (of all places). Not only did we see more of both of our families in three weeks then we normally see in a year, but I also flew to Minneapolis to spend a weekend with Jon's sister Alyssa and a couple of her friends who will also be in her wedding. Sister fun, Grandparents, long lost Great Aunts and Uncles. What a wonderful Florida experience!! 

THEN (suspense) right during the southern ice storm of the century we made our move for Mobile, AL to visit my Duluth friends Joel and Emily who had recently had a baby. A drive that should have taken us around 6 hours took about 12. Lemme tell ya'. The South is NOT prepared for things like snow or ice. When we heard the headlines, "Rain, Turned to ICE overnight!!!" we thought, "Yeah, so? Once the salt and sand trucks get out there..." Oh there are no salt or sand trucks. The I-10 would be closed all day because not only did all of the ice have to melt, but the dozens of crashed cars and semi's had to be cleared. What a mess!! Back roads the whole way. But of course the promise of a beer with friends and holding a cute tiny baby kept or spirits high and it was SO totally worth it.

Checking out the Mangroves.

Holy Smokes! A gathering of Anderson's??  Yup, (from left) Jon, Me, Uncle Glen, Aunt Barbra, Cousin Kris, Aunt Dianne, Uncle Roger, and my Great Aunt Karen (first time meeting)!!

More family fun on Marco :) Dinner with Jon's fam: Paul, Dan, Amy, and Grandma Dorsey.

My Great Uncle Raymond (first meeting as well). You could't find a better Key West tour guide. 

Jon and I made it to Orlando just in time to attend my cousin's wedding. (My cousin Britney and Myles, on the right) 

Mixing it up in St. Augustine with our first 3 minute egg. Success!

Emily, Joel and baby Clara Sunshine. Have you ever seen a cuter family? Defiantly not. They're the cutest.  

Team work at its finest. Momma feeds baby, husband feeds Momma, it's a thing of beauty.

Clara, the tiniest cutest little peanut. 

Joel: Super Dad. (with a super killer stay-at-home-dad blog: Happenings of an Eager Dad )

The Good Stuff

Greetings! Welcome back to the blog of Juliet and Jon, grab yourself a drink, have a look around, take a peep into the highlights of our last six months.

Group Workout, Jon's in the back with the bad form ;-)

Blackberries anyone? With Rosada (looking buff) and Jameson (looking adorable) 

Summertime Volleyball with Victoria! 

Jam sesh

Our first Burning Man, the burning of the man is taking place in the background.

Dressed and ready. Funderwear time.

Happy Halloween!!

1920's theme gathering

Jon looking sharp in the thrift store suit I found for him :)

A beach stroll in Shelter Cove

San Fransisco

Alyssa and Charlie ENGAGED! Commence Celebration!

A Las Vegas Christmas complete with deviled eggs, eggnog drinks, and Granny

Element rigged up, loaded, and ready for the long drive to Florida

California Life

Well, I have been slacking- Again! We are loving California. We've made a lot of amazing friends. Here are a few snapshots of the last four months.

Ahh, good old Las Vegas. Toriann's graduation. She was Valedictorian. And Nicolette on the right has taken up engineering at Colorado State. I know what your thinking, "Smart and beautiful? Just stop already!" : )

Joe, Jameson and Rosada. We get to live near these guys and I get to hang out with that little cutie, could we be any luckier?? 

I bought a vacuum. I was and still am very excited about this. Barf right?

Mountain Boarding. It's like skateboarding or snowboarding, only you go UP mountains. I like the flat.

The Kinetic Sculpture Race in Arcata. This art car breaths fire.

Our friend Robin took Jon fishing in Shelter Cove. He is a very serious fisherman.

Jon, Ben and Robin at the Humboldt Homebrew Festival. These guys are very serious about beer... maybe Robin is more serious about fishing.

Alitia and baby Jameson. Alitia is a skilled practicing acupuncturist. 

Carl and Tonya at the Benbow Arts Festival. You want some good energy, there it is!

Meadows, Hossannia and Brittney. Northern California seems to be a hub for beautiful people.