Hey, Y’all! It’s Friday, and I’m working on my Southern twang because Jon and I will be hopping into our little red Mini Cooper soon and heading south on the big open road again. Our last real road trip was two years ago, when we moved across the country, leaving the beautiful city of San Francisco for the east coast. We drove over 5,000 miles, and it took two weeks, but was one of the most wonderful trips of my life!

This time, the destination is New Orleans, but the road trip goals are good music, gas station bathrooms, Waffle House hash browns, and enjoying our great big country passing by. I’ve never been to Tennessee, and even though we’re just passing through I’m pretty excited to visit a new state. We won’t have time for Graceland (Jon said it’s meh and out of the way), but we’ll be passing through Chattanooga, which is good enough for me! So long as I can sing an annoying song about a place (cue “Santa Fe” from Newsies, and “Welcome to Iceland” from SNL) I’m guaranteed to have a great time.

I’ve got some rather dull business to attend to when we arrive in the French Quarter, but the rest of our time will be spent eating, adventuring, and photographing.

And speaking of photography, the last time I was in New Orleans I took all my photos with my iPhone 6. It feels like decades ago, but it’ll be SO fun to return with my Fuji X-T20 and really capture the beauty of this city. I remember the first time I stepped out in front of Jackson Square. A big brass band was playing, and I was overwhelmed by the beauty, the sorrow, and the triumph of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This city is a special place.

In other news, I’ve been bustling along this week. My desk is cleaner than ever, and I’ve been doing a great job of writing things down and crossing them out. It’s satisfying to get projects done and to stay on top of life, so I’ll be enjoying that thought for the weekend.

I’m in the market for some new workout gear (two pairs of leggings just isn’t cutting it), so I’ve got my eye on these tights from Athleta, and this top from Alo Yoga. My current Lulu Lemon pants are too thick, and I’m looking for a thinner, skin-like fabric that’s easy to move in. Less compression and cozier would be good. If you have any athleisure brands you love, be sure to share!

So while I’ve got my mind on beignets, my heart is on Frenchman Street, and my soul is already wandering the Louisiana Bayous. I hope the weekend brings you closer to your best memories and perhaps you should also consider hopping in the car for a drive.

What are you up to this weekend? If you’d like to read about my last visit to New Orleans click here. And check out all the posts from My Great American Road Trip series!