This weekend was my very first time in New Orleans, and it was absolutely incredible. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Though I will say, I didn't really have very many expectations seeing as I wasn't too familiar with the area other than the fact that I knew I had to snag a beignet before I left! And snag one, I did.

These beignets were from Cafe Du Mondé - a must stop destination to fulfill those beignet cravings.

I spent most of Friday milling around the French Quarter. Luckily, I ran into a local photographer (@Jamelltatephotography) at a market and he gave me a quick little tour and we were able to take some shots on Royal Street:

ON ME:

Denim Top // Mesa Home

Boots // Soft Surroundings

Jewelry // Collections by Joya

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I really enjoyed getting to explore the streets and vibe with the city. It's such an incredible feeling - being lost in a new place and finding new discoveries around each corner. New Orleans has to be one of the most interesting cities I've ever been to. There's so much to see and do, and so many new people to interact with. A part of going to a new place is trusting in yourself and the locals. Obviously you have to be pretty careful when you're in a new place, but sometimes if the vibe is right and you trust someone new, you'll be exposed to new perspectives and city sights you wouldn't have been able to find on your own. I'm so grateful I met Jamell at the city market. It was great getting to location scout with a fellow creative!

I was also pretty struck by how creative and passionate the people were. Street performers, artists, and local creators drew in fairly large crowds with their talent. It was neat to see so many creative ideas in one place!

I was technically on a business trip for this travel endeavor, so the next day I had a company meeting at this local market, St. Roch Market. It was a pretty neat setup. There were a bunch of different stations where you could purchase coffee, baked goods, bowls of soup, corn, avocado toast, etc. from different sections. I really liked the aesthetic of the venue, so I decided to snap a quick pic for ya!

After that, I went to take some family photos for my boss, and then we headed to the zoo. Okay, this zoo was absolutely insane. If you don't know this about me, now you do...I LOVE PLANTS. The plants at the zoo were so pretty and it made my heart want to absolutely burst with happiness.

Besides the magical plants, my favorite part was getting to see the alligators. My oh my, those things are huge! There was a swamp area that was filled with alligators. It was kind of fun to see them and imagine floating down a swamp in a little boat (like in the movies) and have to escape from the alligators. Such a weird thought...I know. My imagination is kind of odd sometimes.

On the second day, I decided to pair a simple black, off the shoulder jumpsuit with some layered statement pieces from Collections by Joya. I posted the earrings on my Instagram Story while I was gone, and someone asked how heavy they were. They're actually incredibly lightweight! I loved how easy they were to store during traveling and how light they were on my ears!

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The last day, I went to the city park to take some photos and take in some scenery before heading to a coffee shop to round off the trip and get some work done. Super fun, I know. But hey, I'm still a full-time student and this girl has to get her work done!

I chose to wear this casual and comfy outfit since my flight was that afternoon. It was trendy, yet comfy. I thrifted this over jacket from Mesa Home this past month and I got this simple ruffle tee from ROMWE. Initially when I was packing, I was just going to wear a simple pair of skinny jeans with this outfit, but I figured these fringe jeans from Francesca's would add a little bit more flair to the look. As for shoes, I opted for these slides from Free People. Rounding out the look, I restyled some pieces of jewelry I wore throughout the weekend and added a new pair of earrings from Collections by Joya.

Overall, I had such an amazing trip, and I can't wait to go again! Thank you to Collections by Joya for sending over some beautiful accessories for this trip. I love how lightweight and trendy the designs are. I was actually pretty impressed with how well they did with traveling. None of my necklaces or bracelets got tangled during the flight, which made unpacking and packing much easier. You can shop these pieces and their new Fall Collection at CollectionsbyJoya.com.

Have you been to New Orleans? What do you like to do there? Let me know so I can check it out next time!

xoxo

New Orleans Recap