GUIDE TO ESTATE SALES — MASTER POST

It's no secret that I love estate sales and have since I was a kid. If you loved thrift-shopping before Macklemore wrote a dumb song about it, have a collection of anything from baseball cards to glass mannequin heads (that's me!), or are just in need of a new set of dishes, estate sales are for you! Here is my guide to finding estate sales, getting first dibs at everything, and negotiating great deals. You never know what you're going to find, because every estate sale is different! This is how I get the most out of every weekend.

Vintage All About children's books.

Firstly, "estate sale" is a broad term that was once narrowly used to define the sale of the belongings of someone who was wealthy and is now deceased. Now, it has a wider range includes all kinds of things — from families that are relocating cross-country or abroad to businesses that are going under. My grandfather recently had an estate sale when he downsized to a smaller house across town, getting rid of decades of stuff that he didn't want or need anymore. However, most often, estate sales occur when a homeowner dies, a homeowner is being relocated to a nursing home or assisted living, or very often, one elderly spouse dies and leaves the other with a house full of stuff that's impossible for them to sort through alone. That's when families either host a sale themselves or hire a company to do it for them!

Just a side note: Out of concern for the privacy of homeowners and estate sale attendees, I don't take photos at estate sales unless I specifically ask for permission to take a close-up of items I find. The rest of the photos in this post are going to be of things I have purchased at estate sales and have made part of my personal collection.

How do shoppers find estate sales? I like to search three websites for estate sales. The first is EstateSales.net (which also has an app), the second is EstateSale.com, and the third is searching "estate" or "estate sale" on Craigslist. I tend to favor the first option. When I search for nearby sales, I input my ZIP code and keep my search radius at 30 miles or sometimes less. I live in Chicago so even five miles can be a half-hour drive (or an hour+ at rush hour) but I also like keeping my options open — I don't want to miss a great item because I narrowed my radius to only ten miles! (You can also try EstateSales.org and EstateSale-Finder.com but they tend to list the same sales as EstateSales.net for the most part.)

I also use the keyword search for specific items; for example, "taxidermy" is one I use a lot. That shows me all of the estate sales on the whole website (regardless of distance) with taxidermy. I can see the locations from that screen and open all of the ones in my state (and near my family members) in new tabs to see photos. If the sales (with my keywords/items of interest) near my family members look worthwhile, I send them the links. My mom has a flexible work schedule and also loves estate sales, and my grandpa is retired and enjoys antiques as well. Sending links to friends and family members is just a nice way to say "Hey, I saw this and thought of you!" and sometimes they'll end up going to the sale. That's how I ended up getting a nice 1934 deer mount for my birthday!

I'm very over-the-top when it comes to searching, finding, and organizing estate sales in order of how important the items are, what day the sales are taking place, what time the sales are taking place, and where they are located. Below, I am going to post an example of the steps I take to route my sales in a given weekend.

First, I open a completely new window on EstateSales.net. I input my ZIP code and look for sales coming up in the next seven days. For privacy's sake, I'm going to use my old ZIP code from when I lived in Ohio.

Search using your ZIP code.

In this screencap I have circled the locations of estate sales. The grey dots are regular estate sales and the yellow balloon shapes are "featured" estate sales, or ones that have paid to be promoted.

Open each estate sale link in a new tab. Don't open too  many tabs at once! Ten is the maximum I'll do.

I don't bother opening the ones with no image. The orange "Locally Featured" sticker is just to let you know they paid extra to highlight their sale — this does *not* mean that the sale will be better than the others.

In case you didn't read the captions on the screen-caps above: After I have the new window open and have searched for estate sales within the desired radius from my location, I right-click each estate sale and open it in a new tab. When I have around ten tabs open, I scroll through each estate sale. If I see something I like, I keep a photo of what I like open as a reminder and I move the tab to the left of the original tab I used to make my search. This keeps my stuff straight (because at minimum I ALWAYS have two or three windows with at least five tabs each on my computer). Once I've peeked at a batch of ten, moved my desired tabs over, and exited the ones that I'm not interested in, I open another ten tabs and repeat the process until I've seen every estate sale in my desired timeframe.

When I find something I like, I move the tab all the way to the left so I can keep track of which estate sales have things I want. If a sale doesn't have anything I want, I just close the tab.

Once I have gone through all of the sales in my area for a given weekend, I look at the days each sale is happening and plot all of the sales with the same start date in Google Maps. I usually prioritize the sale with the coolest stuff and then try to map the rest in a route that makes sense and doesn't back-track. Most sales start between 9 AM and 11 AM on Fridays, but some companies only do Wednesday and Saturday and so on. Make sure you pay attention to this! The actual address for most estate sales isn't available until the day before, but you can still plot the ZIP code on your map if you're making plans a week or so ahead of time.

My collection of vintage dental models, used dentures, dental casts, and even a few boxes of baby teeth!

Take notes on everything: the location, the rules of the estate sale (like when the sign-up sheet will be posted — more on that below), and a list of the items you really want. You can ask the workers as soon as you get there where the ______ is, rather than wandering around the house looking for it. Usually they can tell you where it is, or if it has sold already.

What should shoppers be looking for at an estate sale? Whatever you want! Seriously — anything. Once, I found a ponytail in the bottom of a box of wigs. You can bet your ass I bought it. It was only two bucks and I have plans to put it in a cool antique bubble frame someday. Whether you're trying to add to your collection(s) of stuff (I collect taxidermy, rare globes, glass mannequin heads, working rare cameras, fossils and minerals, and nature books among other things) or you're looking to furnish a new home, every estate sale has something for just about anyone. Want a dozen half-used old dead ladies' lipsticks? You can buy that. Need a very expensive antique gold-plated microscope with prepared slides? Estate sales have got you covered there, too. Look for stuff that catches your eye and remember to buy stuff you love and will use (or plan on reselling and know it will fetch a fair market price for you) — don't just stock up on junk because it's there and it's cheap! There are no returns, so inspect everything and make sure you research its value before you buy, not after.

The first day of a sale, the largest amount of items will be available (in case that wasn't obvious) but it will also be very competitive (waiting to get in, people grabbing stuff you wanted, etc.). The last day is always the most calm, but things are usually picked over. The good news for the last day of a sale is that they typically mark everything half off (or more) and take offers on everything, so if you're just looking for something to do with your day off, have at it.

An anatomical torso model, vintage dental cabinet (with milk glass trays in the drawers!), goat taxidermy, pregnancy anatomical model in a glass dome, starlight globe, a few books and cameras, and a little mirrored glass case I use for displaying an assortment of small skulls.

How do shoppers get in when it's competitive? Estate sales typically take place indoors, in people's homes and businesses. This means that only a certain number of people are allowed inside at once, rather than a setup like an outdoor garage sale or flea market where people are free to roam about. Every estate sale company is different regarding how they handle entry, so you have to make sure you read the fine print on their listings. I usually keep my tabs (referenced above) open and refresh the pages the day before the sale, then re-read the rules for that particular sale in case new information has been added. This is also when I get the actual address of the sale rather than the general ZIP code.—

Here are examples of wording from different listings I've seen recently and what they mean:

• "A sign-up sheet will be at the door by 4 a.m." This means that the company putting on the sale is providing a sign-up sheet and they will put it outside the home at 4 o'clock in the morning (this is pretty rare, usually if the company provides a sheet it goes out the evening prior) and people are admitted in the order that they are signed up.
• "We will honor a watched list." This means that the company will honor a list, like the one mentioned above, that is started by a customer (at the sale at any time the day of the sale) that is constantly kept track of. This means you cannot just write your name on a piece of paper, tape it to the door, and walk away.
• "Our numbers at 9:30 on the morning of the first day of the sale." This means that the company will hand out numbered cards the day of the sale and admit people in that order. If there was a sign-up sheet of any kind (watched list or company-provided list) they will usually give people numbers in that listed order and then proceed to handing out consequent numbers as more customers arrive.

Vintage cell and frog dissection chart, taxidermy nyala, and on the bar cart is a beautiful pink glass Depression-era whiskey decanter. My dining chairs are also from estate sales.

These new phrases may sound intimidating but once you know what they mean, it's very easy to get used to. Basically, if you're able to sign up on a company-provided sheet the night before, you should do it! I just went to a sale that allowed me to sign up the night before. I was #19 and Jason was #20 but because many of the people on the list before us didn't show up on time, we got to go in with the first group of people.

On the flip side, which is my only estate sale horror-ish story, we also went to an estate sale last weekend involving four different lists including a stolen company list from the evening prior, two "watched" lists, a new company-started list, a fist fight, and a LOT of yelling. After waiting more than an hour and a half, the lady skipped over me and Jason completely! We had to pretend my name was Amanda (a person who had come and left, so we didn't steal anyone's spot or anything) just to get in. Moral of the story: not every estate sale company is going to have their shit together. I cannot stress this enough: if you sign up for any kind of list, whether it is provided the night before, posted the morning of, or a "watched" list started by another customer, take a photo of it on your phone WITH the house number in the photo as well. Then there's no disputing!

What should shoppers bring to an estate sale? It depends on when you're going! If you're planning on being the first to arrive, bring coffee, dress appropriately for the weather, and headphones for a podcast or something are advisable — or just bring a friend! I would suggest bringing someone who has different taste than you, otherwise you may end up fighting or arguing with each other, or even resenting each other because you were both coveting the same item. I also like to have a bottle of water with me, but remember to use the bathroom before you arrive because you can't use the restroom inside the house at most estate sales! Snacks are a good idea too.

Starlight illuminated globe (and smaller illuminated globe in the background) — the one in focus was slightly damaged but only $25. I just keep the damaged area facing the wall and it doesn't even matter. It gives off such beautiful soft light!

Regardless of whether I'm trying to get in first, I like to fold up a reusable shopping bag in my purse for every estate sale. Most sales do not allow you to put items into your own bag while shopping, but will provide shopping baskets. I also bring change for parking meters if needed. Always pay attention to permit parking signs, street sweeping, and utility work being done! The last thing you want is to get stranded in an unknown suburb with no car. Cash is a must — it's faster than using credit cards (and not every sale accepts cards), allows you to haggle a bit (notes on this below), and helps out the estate sale companies with their costs and provides families of the deceased or homeowners (for moving sales, etc) with a bit more money. Most companies have a minimum purchase requirement for credit cards and charge a "convenience" fee. (I put it in quotes because paying more certainly isn't convenient to me!)

One more luxury item that's nice to bring when going digging in a really old house, garage, or warehouse is a head lamp. Holding your phone flashlight is okay, but the light isn't great and a headlamp leaves you hands-free!

The last thing I'll leave you with is how to negotiate a deal when the sale is being held by a professional company. Just like anything, no means no and you'll just need to move on — no pressuring anyone to do anything they don't want to! But the easiest thing to do, especially if there's (a) no price tag on an item or (b) there's a sign saying "OFFERS WELCOME" is to make an offer. It's easier to negotiate a good price if you've got cash in your hand, and I like to have small bills on hand so I can say "I'll give you $35 for these three items" and then hand them $35, rather than handing them $40 and watching them make change (especially because the whole time they're making change, they resent you for being "able" to pay $5 more). Even if there are price tags, if you buy a lot of items you can always say "Would you be willing to take X amount for this?" because the worst thing they can do is say no. This weekend I got more than five dozen rolls of refrigerated film for $10 just because I asked. Don't try to haggle if you're only buying one item on the first day of a sale.

You can also save money by subscribing to estate sale company mailing lists in your area. Search EstateSales.net to find them, and sign up through their websites! Sometimes they send out secret "codes" which you can whisper under your breath to the cashier (like an elementary school boy with a treehouse) to get a discount.

Keep in mind that not all estate sales are held by professional companies. Some are held by family members of recently deceased people — meaning it could be hurtful to try to haggle for more ways than one. Often (a) the objects belong to someone and has sentimental meaning so haggling with a grieving family member could be a slap in the face and (b) often the funds are going towards funeral services and more. Please be tactful if family members are around!

Remember that estate sales are supposed to be fun! If you're like me, you'll enjoy the thrill of going to sales, meeting other junkers, pickers, and collectors in your area, and making some really good discoveries. Keep your cool, be kind to others, and enjoy yourself! If you have any other tips or if you've blogged or Instagrammed about your own estate sale finds, feel free to leave tips and links in the comments. You can find photos of my estate sale finds on Instagram under the tag "#mickeygoespicking" or just follow me for updates on all kinds of things. Thanks for reading this post! I hope it helps you find something cool!

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PREVENTION OF COMMODIFYING PROTECTED ANIMALS

When people meet me and find out what I do for a living, they very quickly try to find a relatable anecdote or tell me about their collections of taxidermy. I think that's how everyone is, but rather than connecting based on music or art or television, the easiest thing for new acquaintances to grasp onto is my taxidermy work and knowledge. Sometimes I hear about an uncle who hunts, or an interior designer looking for a European mount on velvet, but occasionally I hear about someone’s own taxidermy collection. Today in particular, I got to see photos of a man’s collection of owl, eagle, and hawk wings, feathers, skulls, and skeletons that he found. I’m disgusted.

I’m all for certain things that are illegal. Going ten miles over the speed limit, smoking a joint at a party, poking around in a long-abandoned building where no homeless people have taken shelter - all pretty much fine in my book. Collecting migratory bird parts, especially raptors, is not only illegal but it’s morally unsound. Legally speaking, collection and possession of those parts is poaching and amounts to years or decades in federal prison along with big fines. I uphold all wildlife laws because they’re in place for a reason, and also encourage others to do so. Morally speaking, though, there’s another layer here.

The collecting, display, coveting, etc. of illegal animal parts commodifies them. If you don’t know what that means, essentially once a handful of people start to think something has value, others hop on the bandwagon. It’s like shark fin soup (which is bland and renders the shark dead for a small part) or rhinoceros horn (not an actual aphrodisiac) - commodifying animal parts means people begin to seek out that species and kill it for vanity purposes. While you may think it’s fine to keep a bird skull you found, it becomes coveted and when that “cool” factor affects the wrong person, they begin to hunt and kill protected animals.

After pointing out not only the legal but also the moral implications of the issues at hand (which he was already aware of) and why this man should cease to collect illegal parts of animals, it was like a switch had flipped. I was no longer “adorable” or “amazing” - I was just a bitch with an opinion that didn’t coincide with his fantasy world where it was fine to traipse around and pick up dead and dying birds to display them in his home. I don’t accept that. My education in the natural world has been influenced by work with many museums, zoos, universities, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as well as friends who do wildlife rehabilitation. I’m not out to get anyone - I stand to educate and if me being “bossy” prevents even one protected raptor from becoming a commodity and a hipster decoration, I’m fine with being a “bitch.”

There are probably a few readers wondering what the difference between what I do and what this man is doing actually IS. I work with specimens that are 100% legal - this means that if they were hunted or trapped, they were harvested in season. Feeder animals are raised in abundance by small-time breeders here in Illinois, or Indiana, and are given quality living conditions for the duration of their lives. Domesticated animals like cats and dogs are euthanized after illnesses or accidents, or die of natural causes on their own. When working on birds, it is done so with the blessing of the USFWS and all specimens further scientific research and exploration on everything from evolution to the effects of pesticides on species. I do not work on mounts of protected (illegal) specimens for personal or client use because I respect wildlife laws and I do not believe in commodifying anything that’s protected. Furthermore, even when things are legalized (like the wolf hunts that have been happening the past few years) I still look at population numbers and if presented with work on a specimen with detrimental population statistics, I’d probably turn away the work unless it was a natural death for an educational institution.

To break it down even further and put it into terms that are easier to understand, I’ll talk about human specimens. We tend to understand comparisons to humans better than animals because let’s face it, most people don’t care that much about wildlife. In terms of human beings, I’ll use an example of my friend who works in a mortuary. There are often unclaimed bodies which, after being held for a certain amount of time and then used for scientific research, get cremated and then discarded. Just because these people are being essentially thrown away does not give me a license (figuratively or literally) to harvest bits and pieces of them to decorate my home. Commodifying illegally harvested human body parts is a terrible idea - both legally and morally, it’s not a good choice. Taking parts of protected birds and other animals, even if found dead of natural causes, is no different. The only difference is the type of organism in question.

The TL;DR version: illegal collection of parts of protected organisms is bad, contributes to commodification and poaching, and should be prevented. Also, don't call women "bitches" just because they know more about the law than you, and/or have different morals. I'm quite sure I'm not a bitch for wanting to prevent low-population birds from getting shot to become decorations.

Bone up (heh!) on your wildlife parts laws here or here or here or here. There's no excuse to not follow the law, protect animals, and not be a complete tool - no matter what country you live in.

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HOW TO FIX SNAGGED UPHOLSTERY

I love my cat. I do not love my cat's claws. For months and months, I have tried everything - citrus, trimming her nails, scratching posts, a spray bottle - and you name it, it doesn't work. She LOVES clawing things, especially in the middle of the night. It left my couch, armchairs, and dining chairs in shreds and loopholes.

Now, I'm going to keep trimming her claws every week and a half or so but she can keep doing whatever she wants because I finally found a way to fix it - and the solution is a cathartic and repetitive motion, so I can't even get mad.

Pictured above is the problem - ridiculous claw marks and snags all over one of my dining chairs. Pictured below is the solution!

Buy yourself a set of size 38 star needles from a needle felting supplier like Jo-Ann Fabrics or Living Felt. Two should do the trick, but if you only have one for some reason it'll just take you a little bit longer.

Forgive my photos, because I am not actually left-handed. Holding the needles in your dominant hand, you will essentially just poke them into the snagged area repeatedly until the snags disappear. I took a video that shows the whole process a little better.

It's really that easy! Here is a photo of the chair after I was finished.

Remember to use needle-felting needles and not regular needles. Needles made for felting have tiny notches in them, which grab onto the fibers and help tuck them in. For some reason I can't find a macro photograph anywhere online, but trust this advice. I also can't stress enough - BE CAREFUL! These needles are MUCH sharper than regular needles or pins and the tip is star-shaped which means each one is covered in barbs.

This video is part of my goal to make something every day this year. It's my very first tutorial video so I hope it was helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions!

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NEW ORLEANS IN 31 HOURS OR LESS

This post is image-heavy and text-heavy and I don't care because I just had the best two days ever. Here goes!

On Monday, I did the second craziest thing I've ever done - I bought plane tickets on a whim and went on a trip for pleasure for the first time since more than a year ago. I've always loved browsing on SkyScanner for cheap flights to different places to see if I could find an amazing deal, and there it was: New Orleans for $68.20 round trip via Spirit Airlines.

French Quarter

A few things you NEED to know if you fly Spirit: if any of you travel as much as I do you're well aware that Spirit kind of... sucks. While the flights are cheap (sometimes) they charge for everything else. If you're flying Spirit for a short trip, know the following. Check in online and make sure you print your boarding pass at home. There are no mobile tickets via Spirit, so they scam you and charge $2 if you need to print at the kiosk and $10 if you actually need a human to help you. During online check-in, do NOT pay to get a seat assigned. Do NOT pay for a carry-on or checked bag; instead, cram everything you own into a tiny backpack. Do not bring a purse in addition to your tiny backpack. Bring your own snacks and drinks, because Spirit even charges for water. Lastly, don't fall for the "green up" feature they ask you to donate to - the only greening up happening is your green $$$ going into their pockets. I strongly prefer Southwest when traveling for business (two free checked bags!) but Spirit is great for short trips for leisure.

On Wednesday, I did the actual craziest thing I've ever done - I hopped on a plane to New Orleans with one goal in mind: eating and drinking my way through the city. I also wanted to see Marie Laveau's tomb. I stayed with new friends and had an absolutely amazing time. I skipped all of the extra crap that Spirit was shilling and brought a small backpack with only my phone, camera, toiletries, pajamas, a change of clothes, and wallet. (I came home with a new pair of shoes and a dress with lizards on it but that's a total aside.)

Our first stop was Willie Mae's Scotch House for fried chicken. I'm allergic to capsaicin so I was really excited that they don't use cayenne in their batter like lots of restaurants, and I ordered chicken tenders with fried okra and a sweet tea. I also got to try their mac and cheese, which was absolutely killer. Despite the name, Willie Mae's is not actually a bar. It's a cash-only neighborhood staple that I never would have noticed if I didn't know exactly where I was going, because it blends right in with the houses around it. The menu is fairly small, but the portions are large (gigantic, actually) and the prices are SO CHEAP. Everything I ordered was absolutely amazing and I think my whole meal was something like twelve bucks.

Fried chicken, cornbread, and Crystal hot sauce, which I wish I could try!

Fried chicken

We meandered our way to the French Quarter, which was probably a fifteen-minute walk. If you're doing this, make sure you know where you're going because it can get confusing. New Orleans is an old city and the roads are not laid out like a grid. The next stop was Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, another place with a somewhat misleading name. Lafitte's is actually believed to be the oldest bar in the United States, opened in 1772 - not a blacksmith. This trip to Lafitte's also marked my first time trying a New Orleans daiquiri - not a blended fruit and rum drink like you'd get at a bar anywhere in the Midwest, but a slushy drink full of more booze than I knew was scientifically possible. As soon as we sat down, it started pouring. At least we had a decent way to pass the time! If it hadn't been raining, I would have loved to take advantage of New Orleans' open container allowance. You can drink out in the open, and you can even get booze in a drive-thru legally as long as you leave the security tape on your drink until you're parked and out of the car.

Lafitte's purple daiquiri

Rain outside of Lafitte's

As the rain let up a bit, the next place we stopped at was the world-famous Café du Monde. Another cash-only New Orleans staple since 1862, it's famous for its café au lait and French beignets ("ben-YAYs"). If you've never had a beignet, it's a pastry topped with more powdered sugar than you've ever seen, best dipped in coffee or hot cocoa. I chose the latter - my only advice is to make sure you're breathing outward or not breathing when you take a bite. Powdered sugar doesn't belong in your lungs, but one wrong move at Café du Monde will turn into a coughing fit so be careful!

Cafe du Monde

Beignets & hot chocolate

Moving along, visitors to New Orleans should ride the streetcar just for the hell of it. You can catch the streetcar near the Insectarium (always worth a visit, but I didn't have time on this trip) and ride it for about a half an hour until you reach Superior Seafood. If you can, sit at the bar and take advantage of happy hour. I ordered another daiquiri, this time one called a "French" which consisted of champagne, gin, and lemon juice. I like all three of those things, but they taste terrible mixed together and frozen - however, they also do their job. We also got oysters (which I can't review since I didn't eat any - I always hate them no matter how "good" they are) and crab-stuffed mushrooms (holy. yes. so. good.) before taking an Uber back to the house where we were staying because I was full and desperately wanted a nap. 

Insectarium entrance

Oysters and a frozen "French"

Cornmeal-crusted crab-stuffed mushroom caps

Post-nap, it was completely dark out. We took another Uber to Frenchmen Street, which is supposed to be the best place for live music in the evenings. After wandering a bit, I chose The Three Muses, where I ordered their signature drink (the Muse) to start with. Although it's a strange color combo, it was a great mix of blueberry, gin, elderflower, and cucumber. In regards to food, I got feta fries (yum) and fish tacos (decent, but small and kind of wet so they fell apart) while we listened to the band play.

Muse cocktail & feta fries

Fish tacos

Further down the street, we headed into Maison. Maison is a bar with a great reputation for always having good music, and it lived up to its reputation. The band that was playing is called The Crooked Vines, and they are AWESOME. They did a mix of covers as well as original music, and halfway through their set they switched around and swapped instruments which is always impressive. I decided to wind down for the night with champagne because I thought I'd be getting a small glass, but of course everything in New Orleans is bigger and better so it took me nearly an hour just to finish. Or maybe I'm just a lightweight!

The Crooked Vines playing at Maison

The largest glass of champagne I've ever had

I settled in for the night (or at least, I tried to) with Leo and Parsley, Leo deciding that my tiny air mattress was meant for him. I didn't mind, because I love dogs and I'm used to my own dog crowding me every night at home.

Leo

Parsley

Leo the bed hog

After a solid eight hours of sleep, the rain had finally cleared up and I was ready to do something I had always heard about - a cemetery tour. Since these cemeteries are at least a century and a half old and even the descendants of the descendants of the people entombed have passed away, I don't feel like I'm intruding. The cemeteries are so rich in Southern history and I loved our tour guide, Nu'Awlons Natescott (pretty sure his name is just Nate, but what do I know?) from Island of Algiers Tours. There's a fine line between being entertaining and being irritating and he definitely knows what he's doing.

Cemetery entrance

Marie Laveau's alleged tomb

Plaque on Laveau's supposed tomb

Laveau's actual entombment

Monsieur Dupre's tomb

Homer Plessy's tomb

Nicolas Cage's future resting place

A tomb which was vandalized by someone intending to steal parts of the skeleton inside

Perpetual care placard, indicating the deceased or their family has paid for the tomb to be kept up for the infinite future

Among some of the most famous tombs in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 are the alleged tomb of Marie Laveau, the actual tomb of Marie Laveau, the tomb of her mentor Monsieur Dupre, Homer Plessy (of Plessy v. Ferguson, the suit that made "separate but equal" into a milestone for the civil rights movement), and of course, Nicolas Cage's future burial site. Like most guided tours I've been a part of, I probably wouldn't go on the same tour again but I'm happy to have had the experience and I think it was a worthwhile $20.

Pancakes, cane syrup, and pecan bacon with a blood orange Italian soda

The entire time we were on the tour my stomach was growling up a storm, so when Nate wrapped up with us we walked back to the French Quarter for breakfast at Stanley. From what I've been told, there was also a restaurant called Stella! but when the owners divorced, he kept Stanley and she kept Stella!. Either way, they have pecan smoked bacon (!!!) and a great selection of Italian sodas. I opted for the blood orange version.

Alllllllll the daiquiris

After walking off breakfast around the Quarter and along the riverfront, we had a bit of time left so we hit up Daiquiris Delight Shop for some of the largest daiquiris I've ever seen. The first flavor I tried (which was bright blue, called Ecstasy) somehow literally burned through the roof of my mouth and left it raw so I swapped it for an orange version called Antifreeze. Judging by the names, neither were good choices to put in my body but the only result from the replacement drink was a nice buzz. 

French Quarter

Thanks to the whole open-container thing, we were able to take our drinks with us and headed to Felipe's for burritos (the photo above of the Felix's sign is just one I snapped on the way, don't think I got it confused). We walked around a bit more before I called an Uber to the airport. Out of all the food during the last day and a half I think the burritos were the least spectacular but we ate a LOT and I'm also limited in what I can order (no salsas, peppers of any kind, or queso) so don't let me deter you - I'm just forced to order bland versions of spicy food sometimes!

Totally owning the fact that I'm a tourist with a burrito in one hand and a giant daiquiri in the other

All in all, I think I spent around $250 total including my plane tickets. I dog-sit through Rover a few times a month to earn a little bit of extra spending money and I love it because I get to play with cute dogs and it allows me to do fun stuff (if and when I actually get free time, which I am trying to make a priority lately). I obviously purchased a lot more food and alcohol than I would have if I were at home, but YOLO or NOLA or whatever. I don't regret any of it!

In short, if you haven't ever taken a vacation on a whim, you should try it. This was probably the most adventurous 31 hours of my life. I JUST got home from the airport and I'm already perusing the web for my next trip idea...

Thank you to Jack, Julie, Hannah, and Tatyana (and Leo and Parsley!) for being a part of my amazing 31-hour vacation!

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