Takin’ It Slow in “The Big Easy”

January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 / Cate Spader / Leave a comment

I’ve never been the type of person who has a singular, large group of friends (think How I Met Your Mother, Friends, or any sitcom for that matter). For the longest time I thought that was a bad thing, but I have always been blessed and grateful that I have close friendships from travel and work-related adventures (see a previous post with this same sentiment). I’m an “introverted, extrovert” who values my quality time with one or two people more than big groups of people, even as an ENFJ. And one of those friends I have gotten to know over the years is Jes.

Jes and I worked together during the pandemic (fall 2020 through spring 2021 to be exact), but never met in person until July, 2021. I decided to part ways with the company, move to Chicago and start something new; as much as this was the right thing to do at the time, knowing that I wouldn’t be in Asheville with Jes, Carolina and the other amazing women I met at The Pritchett Company was difficult to grasp. I HAD to visit Asheville and meet Jes in person, something that felt long overdue.

Jes (left), Carolina (right) and I (middle) in Asheville, North Carolina (July, 2021)

Jes and I planned a somewhat spontaneous trip to New Orleans (NOLA) a few weeks ago, and we had such a fun, easygoing weekend here in The Big Easy. Between the snowy weather and mechanical issues at O’hare in Chicago on Friday morning and the delays heading home last night, here were some of my favorite aspects of our time together.

Ghost and Cemetery Tours

As lovers of all-things haunted, Jes and I signed up for a walking ghost tour and a cemetery bus tour to end each night in NOLA. On Friday, we strolled through the French Quarter and we learned about all the haunted, ghost-infested sights from NOLA’s beginning to Marie Laveau‘s voodoo presence to Nicholas Cage’s drunken shenanigans—resulting in him getting kicked out of the city for good. Some of the most disturbing stories involved children dying of yellow fever and throwing themselves out of buildings, and how horribly slaves were treated. If you like spooky minus the graphic detail, I recommend a bus tour instead of a walking tour.

Pro tip: Go earlier in the night if you want more history than “fun.” A lot of tipsy folks will be on the later tours, and it can take away from the seriousness of NOLA’s haunted history!

Pro tip II: Get your palms or cards read! Jes and I did this and had a great time, learning something new along the way. Just make sure you go to a reputable place.

Art

Whether we were in the city centre, Congo Square or our tattoo studio on Magazine Street, Jes and I greatly appreciated the art as we strolled each afternoon. There is such a unique vibrant art scene in New Orleans that I appreciated very much. If you ever have some time to kill between activities, especially on a nice, sunny day, please take your time and get to know the local artists. Jes actually closed on a house Friday morning, which was the perfect excuse to buy new pieces!

Not only did we get artwork for ourselves, we also had some artwork done on ourselves…

Pro tip: Avoid tourist traps at all costs! You won’t get the authenticity and personality in your gifts from a “Made in China” shop. Artists will charge more for their time and brand, but it’s SO worth it.

Jazz Music

As a Detroit native and longtime lover of jazz, this was a must for my time in NOLA. We found a lowkey, casual absinthe bar (a plus!) and had to check it out. Jes and I each enjoyed a cocktail and swayed to the music before heading out on one of our tours. Boy did this make me miss Detroit!

Pro tip: Even if you don’t like jazz or want to carve time out for it per se, you can always pop into a dive bar, grab a drink and some bar food, and enjoy yourself for a song or two.

People Watching

^two truest words ever spoken about this city. My definition of a “wild night out” is three drinks and in bed by midnight. Some of the tourists here go HARD, and it shows even while waltzing down Bourbon Street. Even though we felt out of place, it’s worth a stroll and some snaps.

Pro tip: Please don’t be an idiot. Wear your mask.

–

There is truly something for everyone in The Big Easy. The food, energy and charm are truly one of a kind, and even if you’re a Midwesterner like myself, I highly recommend this southern city! I can’t wait for my next girls weekend with Jes 😀

Photos and videos taken Friday, January 28 – Sunday, January 30

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at The Art Institute of Chicago

January 20, 2022 / Cate Spader / 2 Comments

Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day is deemed a “company holiday,” this is a day of remembrance of his life and celebration of his contributions—mixed with the harsh reality that we still have a long way to go.

For more inspirational Martin Luther King Jr. quotes, click here.

I felt guilty “celebrating” a day off this year, so instead of binging Succession or some other waspy program of the like, I wanted to further educate myself on black artists and activists by visiting my favorite art museum: The Art Institute of Chicago. The photography exhibit which featured black and LGBTQIA+ community members especially spoke to me; I loved seeing people of all walks of life be their authentic selves and become more prominent in their industries.

And yes, even Kanye is featured at The AIOC!

I believe Martin Luther King Jr. paved the path for other activists in the US and abroad. I originally wanted to say, “I wish there were more people like him,” but a better statement is, “I’m thankful there are more people like him out there!”

I hope to see a world without racism, sexism, homophobia… in my lifetime, it’s unlikely, but I am hopeful that our younger generations will continue to push society in the right direction.

Reminiscing about Saint Petersburg, Russia (March, 2016)

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 / Cate Spader / 5 Comments

In less than 24 hours, I saw a Russian folk show, went on a limo tour of the sites at night, walked around in the Hermitage, and stayed in the sketchiest hostel I will ever see. My dad’s side of the family is predominantly Russian, so being in the “homeland” so to speak brought just what I imagined: adventure!

Downtown Reykjavik & Street Art

June 23, 2018June 23, 2018 / Cate Spader / 4 Comments

Reykjavik is truly a melting pot, mainly due to increased tourism over the years! Even though the city had more authenticity when I first visited in 2014, this May was the first time I truly experienced all Reykjavik had to offer…

The “pops of color” and street art took over its downtown area, which is something I always feel the need to photograph!

Reykjavik is unique in many ways, one being that you feel like you’re in Norway, Ireland, and the early 2000s (at times) all in one!

Oh, and the gluten-free dessert AND savory crepes were beyond amazing!!!

No matter where you turned, you saw something special; you definitely weren’t in the States anymore!

My message to you: always go off the beaten path!

Växjö, Sweden in a Day

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 / Cate Spader / 2 Comments

As an American student studying in Kalmar, Sweden, I need a residence permit for my five-month adventure. Unfortunately, Kalmar doesn’t have a migration board office; fortunately, the six Americans had to travel elsewhere.

Vaxjo, Sweden is a small town, but much larger than Kalmar. We definitely packed a lot into one day!

The vibrant colors of the cathedral and the unique architecture cannot be beat; however, the Swedish slides are very confusing, even for twenty-something year-olds!

Umami Monkey was perhaps one of the best burger joints I’ve ever been to…and I’ve been to some good ones in Germany and Ann Arbor, Michigan! To think we were mad that the Mexican place was closed…

The glass museum in Vaxjo really brought out how modern the town is, as well as how innovative they are with their creations! As an American who really knows little about Sweden (excluding Ikea and the famous ice hotel of course), these unique creations were exactly what I imagined Sweden to have!

The Vaxjo town model and Ice Man replicas were neat to see in order to put all I’ve learned from National Geographic in perspective!

The Loranga part of the museum was interesting at first, but then it really brought out our inner child-like behavior!

All in all, we had a great day at the museums, bookstores, cafes, and restaurants in Vaxjo! A day of chores seemed to turn into a day of fun instantly!

Pray for Paris: Visit in 2014

November 15, 2015February 16, 2019 / Cate Spader / Leave a comment

When You’re Feeling Down

September 27, 2015September 27, 2015 / Cate Spader / 3 Comments

Hello everyone, I’m feeling down today. I know it’s a weird thing for me to say/admit, but it’s true. I haven’t blogged in awhile or wrote anything worthwhile in a couple weeks. It’s not about the views or the likes for me; it’s about how I feel while I write. But I haven’t felt the need to write recently, and now I feel as though all of my thoughts are bottled up inside me.

Here are some things I’ve been feeling lately:

Stressed
Frustrated
Not myself
Afraid

I feel these emotions and feelings are quite normal, but I need to combat these feelings. As an aspiring Buddhist, I believe acceptance and embracing is key; however, I don’t want to be “okay” with feeling blue.

Here are some things I am going to try in order to ease my anxiety:

Take things one minute at a time
Stop comparing myself to others
Remember what I enjoy doing
Live in the moment rather than in the past or future

I have two exams next week, on top of having to clean my room, my hamster’s smelly cage, packing for a trip up north, and having two jobs to hustle through. Let’s just say that next weekend cannot come soon enough! I need to just face facts and realize that my two exams are important, but will not make or break my life (although they may do that to the grade in my class). I have always been the type who is stressing over exams and sweats the little stuff; I need to be my type-B self when it comes to my education. Exams are exams, and exams are tough, but that shouldn’t define the day or week I’m having.

On top of the stress associated in school, I cannot stop comparing myself to other people. Many of my friends have recently announced engagements or marriages, while I’m over here bickering with my boyfriend of almost three years like an old married couple. We’re both stressed about work and classes, yet while we spend any amount of time together, we take that stress out on each other. It’s not fair for either of us. Also, many of my friends are graduating this May (I guess I “should” be, too). I keep feeling like I’m struggling or something…? I can’t really explain the feeling I have about it. I guess my point is that I need to stop comparing myself, my grades, or my relationship with other people because I am my own person. I know there are things that people think about me that they find impressive (hopefully).

Aside from writing, I have other passions believe it or not. Maybe if I dig into my passions I won’t be comparing myself to others as much (it’s human nature – it’s bound to happen). I really enjoy photography, playing the piano and the flute, as well as golfing. I took homecoming photos for a good friend of mine who is running to be on court, and it made me realize that I really miss photography. I started my own photography website via SquareSpace, and I will be publishing that live within the next few days or so. Whenever I travel, I love capturing what I see because it brings back whatever I was feeling in that moment. I need to keep up with that.

I have also been listening to a lot of Regina Spektor and Stromae lately, which has inspired me to play musical instruments again. I took piano lessons as a child and I had the ability to be a concert performer, a music major, maybe even play for a living. I turned it down when it became too challenging – I gave up on it. But really, I gave up on myself. I did the same thing with the flute; I was really good, but I couldn’t handle the competition. We had to compete for “first chair,” where the best performer sat closest to the instructor. I don’t want to be the best, but I want to be my best. I want to play for me, no one else.

Looking on my past is both inspiring and depressing, and I mean that in the best way possible! I look at things that I would have done different, but I would not have changed a single thing. I am leaving for Sweden soon, which inspired me to look at a few photos from my previous study abroad adventure:

These photos bring me hope; they show me that happiness is real and that this is just a dark time right now. I hope that I can feel like myself again soon, because I miss it when my cheeks hurt from smiling too much! It’s always darkest before the dawn.