The NOLAPapa Blog

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11:11

I have always loved the time 11:11. From memories as a kid, seeing 11:11 and ...
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A Glad Bed All of Your Own

Well before babies, before cooking, even before working out, came gardening. Again, Martha Stewart enters ...
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A Guilt’s Goodbye

Guilt. I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever really and TRULY felt ...
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A Mississippi Christmas

People often ask me if it was love at first sight. My answer to them ...
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A Papa’s Promise

The recent events which transpired in our country over the racial injustices and oppression towards ...
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A Tale of Two Grocers

Before I move forward, I'd like to start by saying my family and I are ...
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A Tribute

Ya know, as life marches forward and the older I get, the more I understand ...
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Alienating our Allies

My Uncle Thomas was so handsome. He rocked a handlebar mustache, was built with muscle, ...
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Baby Cakes

When it comes to eating, every kid is different. You can never really know how ...
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Building Our Perfect Nursery

So many thoughts flashed through our minds when we were matched with our birth mother. Where ...
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Christmas Crinkle Cookies

The Holidays come in so fast and sometimes it’s hard to find a good fail-proof ...
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Christmas Metamorphosis

Everything that happens in our lives is meant to teach us something. These experiences--good, the ...
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Circadian Sacrifice

If I could offer any advice for someone expecting to bring home their new baby ...
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Citrus Season

My absolute favorite time of year for desserts is citrus season- particularly, Meyer lemon season! ...
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Climbing Potty Mountain

Anyone with kids can probably attest that potty training is literally one of the hardest ...
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Dear America

Dear America, For the first time in my life, I am able to breathe fresh ...
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DIY: Xmas Edition

This southern boy loves Christmas. I love everything about it! This time of year for ...
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Experiment: One

Our crazy house is in full fledge toddler mode. To make it even more hectic, ...
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Finding a Happy Medium

Living in New Orleans there is always an underlying thickness in the air. It is ...
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Finding Ella

Tonight, I can now tell you that this has been the most difficult and emotional ...
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Full Circle

You can always count on January to be full of New Year's resolution clichés that ...
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Gay Dads’ Top 3 Tips for New Parents

Parenthood itself is the wildest ride you could ever imagine. For some, the process to ...
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Grin and Bear It

I am sure that, at some point, everyone has looked back at their past and ...
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Heavy Conversations

I can’t believe it’s been over two years since I wrote about our ‘Open Adoption’ for Gays with ...
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Her Pride

I grew up in an area of the South called “The Bible Belt.” Most people ...
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High Chair, Bye Chair

To you, this may look like the normal night before trash day. A definite score ...
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Holiday Jump Start

With everything going on in our country, I think saying that it has been a ...
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I Doubt That

I'm rushing down the tiring stretch of life, barreling around every corner with one focus. ...
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I’m not a Sissy

Everyone has their own story. Every single sentence of each and every paragraph creates our ...
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It Gets Better, Part 1

️‍Coming out was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Being ...
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It Gets Better, Part 2

It feels like yesterday that my husband and I were concerned about our tiny preemie ...
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It Gets Better, Part 3

️‍Coming out was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Being ...
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Katrina Echos

It’s been 14 years and it still feels as if it happened a couple of ...
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Lead by Example…

I will admit, it is an unsettling time right now for a lot of people ...
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Life Is So Much More Than Just a Blog

In my writings, I have always said that each of our paths are connected more ...
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Love Will Always Win

It was pizza and gelato night. We look forward to special nights like these. What ...
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Mamaw’s Chocolate Pie

Spring time may still be a few months away, but I can't help but think ...
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Meyer Lemon Ice Box Pie

If you ever wondered what pie could truly represent the south, this would be it. ...
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Milestones

In the beginning, it was so hard for my husband and I to not get ...
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My Perfect Cornbread

When you think about what a typical southern family eats with their dinner or Sunday ...
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New Orleans Style ​Roast Beef Debris Po-Boy

I don’t know what it is about spring time but one of my most favorite ...
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No Packet Tacos

No packet tacos are EASIER than opening those impossibly hard packets of taco seasonings! I ...
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Nolapapa’s ​Peanut Butter Cookies

Life is crazy right now. I know it is the craziest I have ever seen. ...
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NolaPapa’s Top 5 Ways to STAY SANE During the Holidays

The lights. The garland. The temperature change. The shimmer of smiles accompanied by laughter and ...
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Oreo Bread

First things first. Grab your ingredients. Now, lets get to it. For the bread: 1 ...
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Our Christmas cards were sent out TODAY. #sorry #notsorry

Oh yes we did! You know, it’s like finishing a 5k race. You know you ...
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Our Open Adoption

Our open adoption was one of the most serious and heavy discussions Douglas and I ...
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Our Story…

It is so hard to wrap my head around at what this past year has ...
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Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Feta Dip

As much as I like to serve sweets, I do make it a point to ...
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Papa’s Sloppy Papi

Everyone loves a Sloppy Joe. This is different than the ole’ lunchroom sandwich. This takes ...
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Papa’s Broccoli & Chedda’ Pasta

Finding those veggies that our kids will eat is OFTEN a struggle bus. I have ...
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Papa’s Chicken Pot Pie

One of my FAVORITE dishes to make once the summer heat has given way to ...
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Papa’s Four-ingredient Marmalade

Do you feel that? Yep, it’s almost time. Springtime in New Orleans brings the most ...
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papa's potato soup and hunny butter rolls

Papa’s Potato Soup with Hunny Butter Rolls

One of the  most gratifying feelings I’ve had in life  is when my kids ask me to ...
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Picture This

Picture this- Two people that have committed their lives together decide to grow their family. ...
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Pride of Fatherhood

Since Father’s Day is right around the corner and Pride month has just officially kicked ...
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Pride Reflections

As we look back on Gay Pride 2017, let us take notice at just how ...
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Resolutions

As Im inching closer and closer to 40 now, It's so easy for me to ...
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Rowdy Rocker

The craziest thing happened to me a couple of years back. Picture it, a week ...
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Shane’s Story

Sharp turns in life can rock you. Unspeakable pain and heartbreak can make us feel like ...
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Silver Linings

The past year and half have been some of the best moments Douglas and I ...
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Southern Pecan Pralines

Some of my fondest memories growing up were the smells coming from my grandmother's kitchen. ...
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Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Air Fried Bowtie Pasta

Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Air Fried Bowtie Pasta

This is one of the best dips I have ever tried. The richness of the ...
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Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 1

Four years ago we received the phone call that changed our lives forever. We were ...
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Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 2

Twenty years ago when I came out, it was unbearably hard. As I have written ...
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Staying Confident

Some people in the south usually do not get the gravity of being different unless ...
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Strawberry & Poppy Seed Salad

This is one of my all time favorite salads! The guilt free feeling of eating ...
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The 6 Year Pattern

I had the most interesting conversation with our priest the other day. What he had ...
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The Bravest Knight

A couple of months back, I posted an article about a new and progressive cartoon ...
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The Importance of an Open Adoption

As hours turned to days, I am left with an empty feeling regarding our country. ...
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The Talks

It’s hard to believe that we are already embarking on the appropriate time to have ...
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The Unicorn Effect

I was working at a night club on Bourbon Street and stepped into the back. ...
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Then Came Pride

What would I say to the ones who were brave enough to divert the raging ...
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This House Was a Home and It Was Ours.

Picture it. The momentum was building as you heard chatter of the Supreme Court’s decision ...
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Traditions

Some of my fondest memories growing up were the smells coming from my grandmother's kitchen. ...
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Tummy Troubles

So much information flood your mind when preparing to bring your new baby home. All ...
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Turn it Off

It is so easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of the world’s social ...
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Unapologetically Xmas

With everything going on in our country, I think saying that it has been a ...
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Valentine’s Finale

A Crepe Masterpiece For Valentine's day one of my most favorite things to make for ...
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Vegas with Kids?

Vegas with Kids? Um - YES! I didn’t think Las Vegas would be the first ...
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Vegetable and Beef Soup

Anyone that knows me, knows my favorite weather is the coldest of winter with overcast ...
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Viral Circus

COVID-19 has shaken the whole world to it’s core. From one part of the globe ...
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We are Having a Party!

I made a sweet birthday banner using the month stickers we have taken pictures with ...
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With Dreams in Our Pockets

Love is a magical thing. It often comes out of nowhere and bites us in ...
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World’s Best Peach Crisp

Oh y’all. Summer is HERE! And you know what that means? FRUIT FLIES! Omg- they ...
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Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Air Fried Bowtie Pasta

Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Air Fried Bowtie Pasta

By Erik Alexander | Sep 6, 2024

This is one of the best dips I have ever tried. The richness of the creamy, cheesy goodness goes SO WELL with…

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Where’d My Spring Chicken Go?

By Erik Alexander | Jun 27, 2024

I am still trying to wrap my head around what happened to me. This was a wake-up call for me and someone…

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Create the Life You Want

By Mystic Gumbo | May 30, 2024

In the tapestry of tools for personal and spiritual development, creative visualization stands out as a technique of immense power and simplicity.…

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Womanly Trials and Tribulations

By Becky's Big Apple | May 30, 2024

Happy almost summer! Is it really happy though? I freaking HATE summer. And heat. And humidity. And all that comes with it.…

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Summer Reunions & Reflections

By Sweet Home Guatemala | May 30, 2024

It’s summertime, and what better way to kick off a time of warm weather and sunshine than with a few reflections from…

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4 Top Early Symptoms of Diabetes in 2024

By Ochsner Health | May 30, 2024

How do you know if you have diabetes? The warning signs may be so mild that you don’t notice them. Some people…

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Rowdy Rocker

By Erik Alexander | May 3, 2024

The craziest thing happened to me a couple of years back. Picture it, a week before Easter two years ago. I needed…

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A Glad Bed All of Your Own

By Erik Alexander | Apr 15, 2024

Well before babies, before cooking, even before working out, came gardening. Again, Martha Stewart enters the room. I remember studying the TV…

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Papa’s Four-ingredient Marmalade

By Erik Alexander | Mar 1, 2024

Do you feel that? Yep, it’s almost time. Springtime in New Orleans brings the most fragrant smells. One of the first things…

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