My Friend, Jen

Hello, Nola Girl Readers!

As you know, Jen is celebrating her first birthday on this blog, and she asked me to write a little post to help with the celebration.

Um, okay, no pressure...

What can I say about Jen?

Well, for those of you who read this blog often, you know that Jen is a very passionate person.  She is passionate about New Orleans.  She is passionate about the Saints.  She is passionate about her family, about fashion, about food.

If I were planning a trip, there is no one I would rather have helping me with the plans. Jen planned my 30th birthday trip to New York City last year; it was my first real trip to the city, and Jen had everything planned out perfectly.  She did all of the research, she mapped out everywhere we had to go, she planned where we would eat each day and what she would wear (and the rest of us followed suit!).  She has done the same thing for people visiting New Orleans, and I know she would be great doing the same for any city -- even one she had not yet visited.

If I were looking for something at the height of fashion, there is no one else I would turn to.  Jen has fabulous taste in all things fashion -- clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry -- and I have gotten her help more than once when looking to make a fashion purchase.

If I were looking for a perfect recipe, I would also turn to Jen.  Whether it is a meal for a friend who just had a baby, a contribution to book club dinner, or a Fourth of July parade, Jen always puts her heart and soul into what she makes.  And, let me tell you, none of us in her supper club like to host the month after she does -- it is hard to top the party she throws or the dinner she fixes.

Jen is just as passionate as a wife, daughter, and sister.  She is so supportive of Mark, her wonderful husband.  She is so proud of her sister and all that she does.  She loves her parents fiercely.  Though I only really know Mark, I feel like I know all of Jen's family; she talks about them all the time, and I know they are good people -- they would have to be to have molded Jen into the person she is!

New Orleans is lucky to have Jen as one of its biggest fans and supporters.  She loves her city -- and her team.  She makes you want to hop right on a plane to New Orleans so that you, too, can experience everything Jen loves so much.  I am sure that being away from New Orleans these past four years has only made that love stronger.

The most important thing to me, though, is Jen's friendship.  She is one of those true friends that you only run into a few times in your life.  She is caring and genuine.  She is thoughtful.  She is kind.  She is just as passionate about her friends as she is about all of the other things I listed.  She is the kind of friend that I would hope to be.

I really can't say enough nice things about Jen -- or Mark.  The two of them will really be missed when they head back to New Orleans in the fall, and although I will be sad to see them leave, I will be happy that they will be back where they truly belong.

That, and I will be glad to have a place to stay and a free tour guide when I go visit New Orleans! ;-)

Happy Blog Birthday to you, Jen!  Although it would be easy in this crazy blog world for someone to pass herself off as someone she isn't, your true self shines on this blog, and that is why NOLA Girl is so great!  I love you!

Smooches,
Christie