Love and support go hand in hand. “Who all is there?”, to me is one of the most unnecessary questions to ask when someone you love invites you somewhere to support them. You aren’t there for the other people they invited, you are there for them. This brings me to my trip to New Orleans to support friends and family. The question of who all is there, never comes up because the love and support I witness and also feel, is unmatched.
My good friend posted an invitation to a fundraiser event for a nonprofit that honors the legacy of her older sister (click this link for more information about the Roz Renee Foundation https://www.instagram.com/rozreneefoundation/). I knew immediately I had to be there. Right up until a week before the event I planned on taking a military flight to go stateside. Thank goodness I came to my senses. I will just say these flights are unpredictable. I didn’t want to miss out on time with family trying to schedule my vacation around one of these flights. In my previous post I go over that experience.
After Ms. Toni hooked up my hair (https://www.justnique.com/post/playin-in-her-hair) and the little ones were with family for the weekend, we started our journey to New Orleans.
Each road trip is an opportunity to catch up and let loose. I love these moments. I remember when I rode down to Essence Festival with these ladies and I brought Shauntel along. She would often say that was one of her favorite trips.
We arrived early in the morning. I was still getting over jet lag, so I was awake most of the drive. When we arrived, everyone grabbed a bed to get some rest before the rest of the day’s events. When we woke up, I tasted heaven. That being the pancakes I fawn for each visit. One morning during this weekend almost missed out because I wanted to shower before settling down for breakfast. I learned a valuable lesson that day, wait until after breakfast to get dressed if I planned on eating.
After breakfast, we headed out to help set up for the event. I am not going to lie; I was helping up until I decided we needed to make a daiquiri. Can’t come to New Orleans and not get one. Well, I should have waited. The jetlag and the alcohol gave me a much-needed nap.
I can’t put on lashes to save my life. Thankfully there was an expert on hand. I bought many sets of lashes on my many trips to the MAC store to learn how to apply makeup before I left Texas. One day I will put them on myself with ease, until then I will follow the most experienced person around the house until they apply mine. Everyone looked so beautiful as always for the first fundraising event for the Roz Renee Foundation.
The event was beautifully executed, and I look forward to partnering with them in the future (www.sheyieldedtonochallenge.org) . We not only celebrated the legacy of a beautiful woman, but another organization has been established to provide resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
The next day we hit up brunch for endless mimosas and brunch. While waiting to be seated, I used what I learned on previous trips to Vegas and Biloxi to hit up the blackjack table. For anyone that plays poker with me in the future, just know I don’t have a tell. I smile all the time, which confuses anyone I sit down with to play. I guess that is my tell, well, I don’t know. But I do know that I walked away from table with more than what I sat down with.
Our weekend was the weekend I needed. I love being around family and friends. Another girls trip in the books and awesome memories I will cherish.
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