The NOLAPapa Blog

  • All
  • Gardening
  • Holiday
  • LGBTQ+
  • NOLA Life
  • NOLAPapa Blog
  • Parenting and Family
  • Recipes

11:11

I have always loved the time 11:11. From memories as a kid, seeing 11:11 and ...
Read More

A Glad Bed All of Your Own

Well before babies, before cooking, even before working out, came gardening. Again, Martha Stewart enters ...
Read More

A Guilt’s Goodbye

Guilt. I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever really and TRULY felt ...
Read More

A Mississippi Christmas

People often ask me if it was love at first sight. My answer to them ...
Read More

A Papa’s Promise

The recent events which transpired in our country over the racial injustices and oppression towards ...
Read More

A Tale of Two Grocers

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

A Tribute

Ya know, as life marches forward and the older I get, the more I understand ...
Read More

Alienating our Allies

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

Baby Cakes

When it comes to eating, every kid is different. You can never really know how ...
Read More

Building Our Perfect Nursery

So many thoughts flashed through our minds when we were matched with our birth mother. Where ...
Read More

Christmas Crinkle Cookies

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

Christmas Metamorphosis

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

Circadian Sacrifice

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

Citrus Season

My absolute favorite time of year for desserts is citrus season- particularly, Meyer lemon season! ...
Read More

Climbing Potty Mountain

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

Dear America

Dear America, For the first time in my life, I am able to breathe fresh ...
Read More

DIY: Xmas Edition

This southern boy loves Christmas. I love everything about it! This time of year for ...
Read More

Empty Cabinet Cookies

This is the most simple chocolate chip cookies you guys. DO NOT fret when opening ...
Read More

Experiment: One

Our crazy house is in full fledge toddler mode. To make it even more hectic, ...
Read More

Finding a Happy Medium

Living in New Orleans there is always an underlying thickness in the air. It is ...
Read More

Finding Ella

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

Full Circle

You can always count on January to be full of New Year's resolution clichés that ...
Read More

Gay Dads’ Top 3 Tips for New Parents

Parenthood itself is the wildest ride you could ever imagine. For some, the process to ...
Read More

Grin and Bear It

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

Heavy Conversations

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

Her Pride

I grew up in an area of the South called “The Bible Belt.” Most people ...
Read More

High Chair, Bye Chair

To you, this may look like the normal night before trash day. A definite score ...
Read More

Holiday Jump Start

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

I Doubt That

I'm rushing down the tiring stretch of life, barreling around every corner with one focus. ...
Read More

I’m not a Sissy

Everyone has their own story. Every single sentence of each and every paragraph creates our ...
Read More

It Gets Better, Part 1

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

It Gets Better, Part 2

It feels like yesterday that my husband and I were concerned about our tiny preemie ...
Read More

It Gets Better, Part 3

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

Katrina Echos

It’s been 14 years and it still feels as if it happened a couple of ...
Read More

Lead by Example…

I will admit, it is an unsettling time right now for a lot of people ...
Read More

Life Is So Much More Than Just a Blog

In my writings, I have always said that each of our paths are connected more ...
Read More

Love Will Always Win

It was pizza and gelato night. We look forward to special nights like these. What ...
Read More

Mamaw’s Chocolate Pie

Spring time may still be a few months away, but I can't help but think ...
Read More

Meyer Lemon Ice Box Pie

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

Milestones

In the beginning, it was so hard for my husband and I to not get ...
Read More

My Perfect Cornbread

When you think about what a typical southern family eats with their dinner or Sunday ...
Read More

New Orleans Style ​Roast Beef Debris Po-Boy

I don’t know what it is about spring time but one of my most favorite ...
Read More

No Packet Tacos

No packet tacos are EASIER than opening those impossibly hard packets of taco seasonings! I ...
Read More

Nolapapa’s ​Peanut Butter Cookies

Life is crazy right now. I know it is the craziest I have ever seen. ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

Oreo Bread

First things first. Grab your ingredients. Now, lets get to it. For the bread: 1 ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

Our Open Adoption

Our open adoption was one of the most serious and heavy discussions Douglas and I ...
Read More

Our Story…

It is so hard to wrap my head around at what this past year has ...
Read More

Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Feta Dip

As much as I like to serve sweets, I do make it a point to ...
Read More

Papa’s Sloppy Papi

Everyone loves a Sloppy Joe. This is different than the ole’ lunchroom sandwich. This takes ...
Read More

Papa’s Broccoli & Chedda’ Pasta

Finding those veggies that our kids will eat is OFTEN a struggle bus. I have ...
Read More

Papa’s Chicken Pot Pie

One of my FAVORITE dishes to make once the summer heat has given way to ...
Read More

Papa’s Four-ingredient Marmalade

Do you feel that? Yep, it’s almost time. Springtime in New Orleans brings the most ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More

Picture This

Picture this- Two people that have committed their lives together decide to grow their family. ...
Read More

Pride of Fatherhood

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

Pride Reflections

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

Resolutions

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

Rowdy Rocker

The craziest thing happened to me a couple of years back. Picture it, a week ...
Read More

Shane’s Story

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

Silver Linings

The past year and half have been some of the best moments Douglas and I ...
Read More

Southern Pecan Pralines

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

Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 1

Four years ago we received the phone call that changed our lives forever. We were ...
Read More

Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 2

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

Staying Confident

Some people in the south usually do not get the gravity of being different unless ...
Read More

Strawberry & Poppy Seed Salad

This is one of my all time favorite salads! The guilt free feeling of eating ...
Read More

The 6 Year Pattern

I had the most interesting conversation with our priest the other day. What he had ...
Read More

The Bravest Knight

A couple of months back, I posted an article about a new and progressive cartoon ...
Read More

The Importance of an Open Adoption

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

The Talks

It’s hard to believe that we are already embarking on the appropriate time to have ...
Read More

The Unicorn Effect

I was working at a night club on Bourbon Street and stepped into the back. ...
Read More

Then Came Pride

What would I say to the ones who were brave enough to divert the raging ...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

Traditions

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

Tummy Troubles

So much information flood your mind when preparing to bring your new baby home. All ...
Read More

Turn it Off

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

Unapologetically Xmas

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

Valentine’s Finale

A Crepe Masterpiece For Valentine's day one of my most favorite things to make for ...
Read More

Vegas with Kids?

Vegas with Kids? Um - YES! I didn’t think Las Vegas would be the first ...
Read More

Vegetable and Beef Soup

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

Viral Circus

COVID-19 has shaken the whole world to it’s core. From one part of the globe ...
Read More

We are Having a Party!

I made a sweet birthday banner using the month stickers we have taken pictures with ...
Read More

With Dreams in Our Pockets

Love is a magical thing. It often comes out of nowhere and bites us in ...
Read More

World’s Best Peach Crisp

Oh y’all. Summer is HERE! And you know what that means? FRUIT FLIES! Omg- they ...
Read More

A Papa’s Promise

By Erik Alexander | Jun 19, 2020

The recent events which transpired in our country over the racial injustices and oppression towards African Americans breaks my heart. I have…

Read More

The Importance of an Open Adoption

By Erik Alexander | May 29, 2020

As hours turned to days, I am left with an empty feeling regarding our country. Is this in part because of the…

Read More

Viral Circus

By Erik Alexander | Mar 25, 2020

COVID-19 has shaken the whole world to it’s core. From one part of the globe to the complete opposite, it has all…

Read More

Shane’s Story

By Erik Alexander | Feb 20, 2020

Sharp turns in life can rock you. Unspeakable pain and heartbreak can make us feel like we are being ripped apart from the…

Read More

Christmas Metamorphosis

By Erik Alexander | Dec 20, 2019

Everything that happens in our lives is meant to teach us something. These experiences–good, the bad, and the ugly–accumulate to help us…

Read More

Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 1

By Erik Alexander | Nov 12, 2019

Four years ago we received the phone call that changed our lives forever. We were told that in our own city of…

Read More

Stand Up and Speak Out, Part 2

By Erik Alexander | Oct 8, 2019

Twenty years ago when I came out, it was unbearably hard. As I have written before, I am from the Deep South.…

Read More

Katrina Echos

By Erik Alexander | Aug 25, 2019

It’s been 14 years and it still feels as if it happened a couple of years ago. Hurricane Katrina shook the entire…

Read More

Turn it Off

By Erik Alexander | Aug 14, 2019

It is so easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of the world’s social and political drama. We want to protect…

Read More