I just got home last night from an early childhood conference in New Orleans where I presented a session entitled "A Day in the Life of a Nature-Based Classroom".  The presentation went over so well that people applauded (UNHEARD OF), and continued to approach me to tell me how much they enjoyed it over the next two days.  It was wonderful.  And all this in spite of the fact that when I got there, the projector that I thought I had rented was not available to me, so I had to just wing it without my power point.  

New Orleans was WONDERFUL!  I will definitely visit this city again!  Some pictures...


The architecture was amazing...

Silliness.... but required silliness when you are in New Orleans....

The view from our hotel room.....

Pretty sure the hotel was haunted.....

Even the street signs are amazing, tiled right into the sidewalks....

Starbucks had the most incredible light fixtures ever...these were just iron grates (probably gates from somewhere) with clear globes hanging from wires randomly from them.  They were so gorgeous!

Of course, nobody on earth does cemeteries like New Orleans.  We noticed several with Xs carved all over the stones, but didn't know what that meant---I assumed either that the person (one of them, at least) in there was illiterate or they didn't know who it was.  After a little research, we found out that it's a voodoo symbol... 

Selfie station at the hotel.. I'm not much for selfies... or pictures of me at all, but it's time to get over my nonsense.  I look how I look, and I need to just take pictures sometimes.  For somebody who's all about the documentation, my hangups are ridiculous.

So.... this was in the lobby of the hotel....a very small casket.   No words...

More family crypts.....so amazing....

And, what is probably my most favorite store in the world.  

Really enjoyed my trip and can't wait to go back with my husband someday.  He will love it.

Thoughts on the New Year....

It's New Year's morning and again, I can't help but reflect on the past year and think about the new year to come.  So many wonderful changes this year, and I can feel the peace settle over me as I think about them.  The people in my life are amazing.  I'm pretty content. 

I looked back on some of my previous New Year's resolutions to see how they went over the years, most do not really go anywhere (shocking, I know...), but there were a few I want to revisit this year.  

1. Be Amie.  Embrace the Amie.  Do all that is Amie.  
2. Garden more.   Dirt therapy really is something amazing.  
3. Be happy in the moment.  
4. Send good karma out into the world.  Even to those who do not deserve it.
5. Love the crap out of everything!
6. Don't hold on to things that should be let go.  Things, people, whatever.

All of these things will work together to make a great year.  I promise.