New Orleans has our hearts. We love the food, the crazy, the old beauty- all of it. We went for Rodan + Fields Convention, which was Thursday thru Saturday. Even with the conference, we were able to explore the city and eat a lot of food. I could share a thousand blog posts on things I learned at our convention, every detail of our days, etc. But instead, I want this to highlight the food we loved and our top favorite moments of the trip!
We left Linden in Shreveport with my parents. It's crazy that I've never left her overnight before - she's almost two - so this was a big step. Of course she had the best time with them, and we honestly, enjoyed every second of our kid-free time!
We rolled into Nola on Wednesday afternoon, and stopped at our favorite vegan spot. They do all the traditional dishes, but, you know, without any meat! Seed in the Lower Garden District is always so good. We shared the artichoke cakes, then both got the gumbo and southern fried poboy with quinoa salad. Yum!
One of the best parts about convention is making new friends and meeting those in person you've only known online. We gathered a big group from our team at New Orleans Social House for apps and (ok, let's be honest) sparkling rosé. Several of these women attended an invite-only Leadership Summit on Wednesday, so we got the full recap of the amazing speakers and beautiful luncheon they were treated to. Then, on to dinner for us!
Saba. Saba. Saba. If you are in New Orleans, please go eat at Saba. Israeli food served in small plates and side dishes. The kind of place where you order ten different things, and the servers just keep bringing you food. Freshly baked pita goes with most of the dishes and its melt in your mouth texture blew us away. Quick recap of what we ordered: Wood-Roasted Okra, Tabouleh, Lutenitsa (roasted eggplant, tomato, red pepper), Brussel Sprout Hummus (with chilis, caramelized onions, black garlic), Shakshouka, Crispy Black Garlic Potatoes. Y'all, find a way to get to New Orleans and experience this meal.
Being our first night in town, we sat for so long, talking about life and dreams and the food and Linden. We sat tucked away in a corner at a cozy cocktail table by the window and pretty plants. Couldn't have been a better date night spot!
After dinner, we decided to do our obligatory Bourbon St, French Quarter, Cafe du Monde run. Stopped at Pat O'Brien's for a bourbon, walked for five minutes down Bourbon, looped back to Jackson Square, then ate our weight in beignets. An hour well spent.
Thursday morning, I was up early and heading to my first day of convention. I started my day with a session led by Rachel Hollis that was nothing short of powerful. Some friends from my team and I snagged great seats, we danced to Beyonce, I wrote ten pages of notes. It was awesome!
Besides the big sessions, there is an expo showcasing new products and innovations and with interactive stations for learning and experiencing all things new in person. Everything was so beautiful- lounge areas with modern white couches and chairs, photo ops with gorgeous marketing pieces, and product displays ten feet tall.
The other area, called the R+F Journey Plaza, showcased the achievements of leaders from the past year, interactive displays where you write your own goals and dreams, and - of course - a few of the signature white Lexus. Earning my free Lexus will be down the road still, but I went ahead and picked out my favorite model!
One of my close friends from growing up is a doctor in New Orleans, and we always meet up with him when in town. We had an awesome first dinner (yes, first!) with Bennett at Coquette in the Garden District. My favorites there were the potato puffs- like potato hush puppies- and the grilled okra.
Then, on to our second dinner of the evening. My team leader, Leslie, treated all of us to a dinner and open bar at Sobou downtown. We mingled in this gorgeous courtyard with lounge furniture, twinkly lights and a pool. A wedding parade went by during the event which was fun to see. I was able to meet some powerhouse leaders from our team. Hearing the hearts of these women and seeing how different we all are made my night. There seemed to be such a theme of vulnerability over the weekend, and I definitely sensed it this night. To share and brainstorm and talk business with strong, smart, compassionate women was such a gift.
My business besties and their husbands! Annie and Becca have poured into me and encouraged me so much. I would not be where I am now without their example and wisdom. And they've also made this journey that much more fun!
Friday morning was packed for me. We launched a new product first thing, so I stayed busy attending our huge product session, trying Radiant Defense first-hand in the expo, doing a quick training for my team and soaking in a training myself about the launch. It was a whirlwind. Once my sessions were over, Adam and I headed out for a late lunch at Pizza Domenica. Garlic Knots with Aged Provolone Fonduta (which is like a savory whipped cream), Caprese Salad and a Mushroom + Caramelized Onion Pizza. Nothing like carb-loading after a late night and a busy morning.
We worked poolside for part of the afternoon, then got dressed up for the evening! The Eliza Jane hotel was right around the corner, and we heard their courtyard was quaint and the drinks were great. We enjoyed their happy hour as we sweat profusely outside. My lemony bourbon cocktail was so refreshing and tasty.
Dinner at Peche- another of our all-time favorites. We introduced Peche to Annie and David, and it did not disappoint! The chef creates an on-the-fly, off-menu vegan option from the fresh ingredients available. So, it's always a fun surprise! My dish was crispy rice with roasted squash, mushroom, shishito peppers and a spicy sauce. The Crispy Brussels side was perfection too. The Roberts headed to the exclusive leader masquerade ball (which I will qualify for next year!), and we headed to Frenchman St. Adam and I had a couple cocktails and small plates at Three Muses while listening to live jazz. The music and atmosphere made the night!
Early Saturday, I attended our last session where Mel Robbins spoke. I'd never heard her speak, but loved her wisdom and passion for changing people's lives. Check out the Five Second Rule if you're not familiar with her!
We brunched with our team at Commander's Palace, a 125 year old restaurant full of old New Orleans charm. They made me my own vegetarian dish and salad that were so good. To finish, we ordered literally every dessert on the menu (eight of them, y'all!) and rotated them around the table until we'd tried them all. A "dessert bomb" as our server called it. Loved relaxing and talking business with this group over mimosas and bloody Marys.
After a nap and pool time, Adam and I snuck away to Patois, a quaint spot in the middle of a neighborhood. We watched the end of the LSU Auburn game with the staff and ate this gorgeous meal. The heirloom lettuce salad was piled high with fresh herbs and creamy farmer's cheese underneath. I loved my eggplant parmesan with fresh pesto and spaghetti squash. We loved the local feel of Patois.
After dinner, I went to our closing Gala with a private concert by Kelly Clarkson. By Saturday night, I was tired and so overcome with all the emotions from the past few days. I'd learned so much and dreamed so much, I needed to just go to bed!
Thankfully, we were able to stay an extra day in New Orleans. We got Stumptown Coffee from the Ace Hotel, walked in the Garden District and down Magazine and ate the best burrito at Juan's Flying Burrito. We stopped by the Columns Hotel after a recommendation from Nashville friends. It's an old house turned hotel with this incredible carved wood spiral staircase, stained glass sky light and carved wood bar- all original and maintained. We grabbed a quick drink at the bar and just stared in wonder at the architectural details.
We didn't have a plan for dinner, so after much soul-searching, we decided to go back to Saba! No regrets. Sat at the bar and ordered a bit differently. Everything was still amazing. This time we tried the Labneh with shallots + mint, Bulgarian Feta with preserved leeks + coriander, Charred Poblano Hummus and Falafel, along with a few of our favorites from night one. Again, a pretty life-changing meal. Please visit!
This trip was life-giving in so many ways. It breathed life into my business and new relationships. It gave Adam and I a chance to connect and have uninterrupted conversations. It allowed us to explore one of our fave cities without worrying about nap schedule or packing the diaper bag. We are so thankful for the opportunity to travel, learn and dream the past week!
