My inbox has been bombarded by a slew of automotive commercials set to air during the Super Bowl this year. I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed watching them. Here’s a preview of what you’ll see airing during Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis.

Ferris Bueller Redux – Oh the nostalgia! It was cute to see “Matthew’s Day Off” even if it is to promote the 2012 Honda CR-V. The nods to the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” brought me back to my middle school days, where I so wanted to play hooky like Ferris Bueller.

RedBugg II’s appearance – I love my 2012 VW Beetle and I loved even more seeing one just like her make an appearance in “The Dog Strikes Back: 2012 Volkswagen Game Day Commercial,” making me want to hop in the car for another road trip. While I think the commercial is so-so, the Darth Vader Kid fans will like the ending.

So Long Vampires: Audi 2012 Game Day Commercial – I think this commercial is kind of cute, but I won’t lie, I HATE LED headlights. They blind me at night. There’s even an LED outdoor light across the pond in my back yard that almost burns my retina when I try to look at the stars. One day, it might just have an accident. Regardless, the commercial itself appeals to the Twilight/True Blood loving set. And I saw one of those 2012 Audis today on my way home from work….as I passed it by in my 2012 VW Beetle.

To me, it looks like we’ll be seeing a good number of car commercials during the Super Bowl, but if they are entertaining, it’s alright by me!

Paige Bowers.

I heard this name for years from Donna K. Smith, a luxury hotel and destinations PR fabulouso. Donna couldn’t believe Paige and I had never met, and she was sure we would just love each other.

Two summers ago new neighbors moved in across the street. I stepped over to welcome them to the neighborhood, and asked all the nosey questions I do of everyone I meet. Within a few minutes, Donna’s name came up, sealing our immediate friendship. It was Fate. Kismet. It was THE Paige Bowers.

Here we are, many wine bottles, laughs, and a few tears later. I was taking a bubble bath and enjoying a glass of wine left over from the weekend, when my daughter runs into the bathroom.

Lauren: Mom, you have GOT to come see this.
Me: Can’t you see I’m taking a bath. You know the rule. No one is supposed to bother me.
Lauren: Mom. Ms. Paige is on Undercover Boss drinking wine.
Me: Holy $hit!

I grabbed my robe and ran dripping across the wood floors into the main living are of the house. Lauren recorded the show and we went back so that I could see Paige. I tweeted her. A moment later Paige is at the door. I grab her a glass and pour some wine as we watched a replay of a moment from Paige’s trip to Napa with her friend Michelle. They knew they were being filmed all those months ago, but had no idea what show, if ever, it would air.

I may have been a bit ticked off at CBS yesterday for leaving golf fans hanging during the sudden death at the PGA tournament at Torrey Pines, but they made up for it with the Kendall-Jackson Wines episode of Undercover Boss, a reality show.

Paige Bowers isn’t just one cool chick, she’s my neighbor and friend. We’ve had a few adventures together and there are many more in our future.

And Donna, you were spot on!

The Associated Press recently released this story regarding Twitter and censorship. A few bloggers and social media personalities give their take on this issue. What are your thoughts?

A few years ago I began to entertain the idea of getting a small tattoo. The decision to have something permanently etched on my body isn’t something that was spur of the moment. I have two teenagers for goodness sake.

This past weekend I was feeling melancholy and missing my Alabama relatives, who I haven’t seen since July. I decided to trek across the southern US in my 2012 VW Beetle for a good visit and some of my grandmother’s comfort cooking. My mom tagged along for the ride.

We loaded the car with Louisiana Mardi Gras goodness in the form of King Cakes, Abita Mardi Gras Bock, and Community Coffee. I also threw in a bottle of Sainte-Hilaire bubbly. The ride was smooth and uneventful, with my playlist blaring as my mother and I sang songs from the today and yesterdays.

It was a good visit that began with White Russian Cocktails. We didn’t talk about Mr. Miyagi. We didn’t talk about anything sad at all. We just laughed and laughed as we always do when we get together. Our first full day began with King Cake for breakfast, a few cups of Community Coffee, and two pitchers of mimosas.

As we sat around taking photos of Callie the Cat drinking mimosas, I mentioned that I had been thinking about getting a tattoo of a fleur de lis, which has become a symbol of Louisiana’s strength, resilience, and rebirth. I thought this would be fitting and meaningful, because it’s how I feel about myself after that awakening in Vegas.

Strength – Moral power, firmness, or courage.

Resilience – The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy.

Rebirth – The action of reappearing or starting to flourish or increase after a decline; revival.

When I explained the reasons to my aunt, mother, and grandmother, my aunt said, “Let’s do this together.”

After a spa pedicure and large glasses of liquid courage, my fabulous Uncle Mike drove myself, my Aunt Robbi, and my mother to an area Tattoo shop, Kreations. Adam, the tattoo artist spent some time talking with us about our body art, what to expect, and how to take care of it as it heals.

This is the original sketch we found. I didn’t want a solid, flat looking fleur de lis. I wanted something with a bit of definition.

I went first, and yes, getting a tattoo on your foot is a bit painful, but I didn’t flinch.

My aunt, on the other hand, hollered like a little girl. It was quite funny.

The finished product was quite nice, and Adam even agreed to pose for a photo with us.

We laid around that night drinking a few more cocktails, watching movies, and keeping our feet propped up like we were injured or something. The next day we woke up with no regrets and even feeling a bit sexy knowing there was this little tattoo on our feet. This called for shoe shopping and my grandmother, who cannot resist a sale, took us to Belk’s where we ended up buying 14 pairs of shoes.

Trying on shoes at Belk's

I told my kids what I was planning and even sent them a photo of the end result. They both were appalled and I received a few texts of “Ewww” and “Gross”. That made me giggle. One of my daughter’s friends asked me if I was having a midlife crisis. That made me giggle even more.

I adore artistic and creative tourism campaigns. The Can’t forget.it digital media campaign is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen in a long while, if ever. It makes me dream of going back to Italy.

Congratulations to Matty Brown for winning the grand prize in the Digital Diary promotion by the tourism board in Basilicata, Italy.

Dreaming It{aly} from Matthew Brown (Matty Brown) on Vimeo.

I’m impressed not just by the video itself, but also by the tourism players who came up with such a creative way to showcase some of the more untouched parts of Italy.

To learn more visit CantForget.it.

Sometimes I like to take a walk around my neighborhood as the sun is setting. I like the smells of my neighborhood, which change as I pass each home. Today I smelled a Sweet Olive tree which reminded me of my great grandmother, Granny. She had a Sweet Olive tree in her front yard and when I was little I would stick my head in between the branches just to smell the scent of the tree.

So I thought of Granny, which made me think of my grandmother (Granny’s daughter) who lives just around the corner from me. I walked around the block and decided to stop in for a visit.

It sure was nice to take a walk around the lake.

As I look back on my life and travel adventures, I realize there have been some very special moments. Those moments encompass feelings and sometimes a few friends. A culmination of moments in Ireland that may seem silly to most people can have such meaning for me.

One night in Dublin our group dressed up and enjoyed a nice dinner out. I remember wearing a peach and pink silk dress that made me feel pretty. After dinner a few of us went in search of a pint (or two) near Grafton Street. As we walked down the street, I heard someone call out from a steetside cafe, “Louisiana!”

I looked around and noticed a guy I had met the evening before at Lillie’s Bordello in the VIP area. We chatted the evening before while waiting in line for the restroom when he complimented my hair. Apparently, the VIP area at Lilly’s Bordello is where all the celebrities hang out in Dublin, and since I was in there, it was assumed I was an American celebrity, which in itself is the funniest thing ever. The guy in question (can’t remember his name) was a celebrity hairdresser, so I was very flattered that he admired my curls.

“Will you be at Lillie’s tonight?” he asked, as a few camera flashes went off around us while we chatted in this public area.

I sassily replied, “Maybe.” Then headed to catch up with my friends.

I had a grin and was smiling inside as we stepped into a pub for a pint. There was traditional Irish music playing, the smell of a peat fire, and apparently there was a birthday party in progress for a special needs young man. As the evening progressed, dancing ensued while my friends and I gathered the young man into our group and we danced in a circle.

The sweetest thing happened when the dance ended. The young man bowed to me like a gallant knight of old and declared me a fairy queen to everyone in the pub. Much cheering could be heard as our group headed out to close the evening at Lillie’s.

I was still smiling the next morning as I boarded my flight to the US, punch drunk from the entire journey around Ireland and the joy I experienced there. For this mom of two, being a fairy queen or a mistaken celebrity, even for a moment, is something that still makes me smile all these years later.

Travel isn’t just about the adventure of the journey for me, it’s also about the people I meet along the way, and the moments that make the experience. Last week in Las Vegas, a few friends invited me to watch the travesty that was the BCS National Championship game.

Comunicano 2009 Double AA Cuvee

I never turn down a nice glass of wine, and there were a few bottles to choose from that night. My favorite of the evening was the 2009 Comunicano Double “AA” Cuvee. The fruity nose gave me a hint of the juiciness I would find in my glass. It’s a blend of 98 percent Syrah and 2 percent Grenache made to be like a Northern Rhone.

I swirled the dark red liquid in my glass and raised it to my lips only to taste quite possibly one of the best wines I’ve ever enjoyed. I lean towards white wines, but that evening red was the color of the night, both on the football field and in my glass.

Comunicano Wine Company produced limited bottles of the 2009 Comunicano Double “AA” Cuvee and I feel fortunate to have tasted this outstanding award winning wine. Special thanks to Andy Abramson for the hospitality and for sharing such a special wine with me.

I’ve been in a funk for a few years now, ever since I was first diagnosed with a brain tumor. I walked out of the doctor’s office that day in shock, holding it together until I sat in my car in the parking lot.

And I cried. Not just a little cry, but the kind that comes from way deep down in the soul.

This wasn’t supposed to happen to me.

But it did happen to me, and I needed to figure out how to deal with it. It’s been a deep internal journey since then.

I didn’t cry for months. Not even when my little girl asked me, “Mom, are you going to die?”

A long discussion about death ensued and I explained that no one knows when it’s their time to leave this world, so it isn’t something we needed to worry about just yet. Over two years later, I’m still here.

I don’t talk about it much, not at home, not with extended family, not at work or on social media channels. What’s to say? I know there are many people out there with blogs or social media accounts and they share every headache, earache, etc. And there are so many people with more serious health issues than me. Maybe this post here is a bit TMI, but it’s cathartic for me. This way, I don’t have to tell the same story over and over.

Last month I cruised solo and it was much needed. I had word just before I left that my tumor had grown. All that was left was meeting with specialists to take the next step.

I had already been through the stages leading to acceptance and had resigned myself to impending brain surgery. I knew that was the only option left. The type of tumor I have isn’t the kind that’s responsive to chemo and I’m told radiation of the brain is too risky at my age. I’ve taken all the medications my body can handle and I refuse to allow the treatment of the symptoms take away from my quality of life anymore.

I had a chat with my oncologist and as sweet as that man is, he even admitted there’s nothing else to be done besides surgery. Then was the appointment with my neurologist, who concurred and and sent me to a neurosurgeon. The bottom line is, my tumor has not only grown, but it’s also too close to an artery for removal unless things go seriously downhill. I’ve been given another six month reprieve, and I plan on making the most of it.

I’ll admit, this news is bittersweet. I’m not quite ready to have my head opened up and all the risks it entails, but it also scares the hell out of me that it has to stay there a while longer. As it grows, it gets closer to an artery. This means there will be an added risk when it is time for the surgery. Until then, I’ll just deal.

I boarded my flight to Vegas last week with a heavy heart. In fact, I almost cancelled my trip because I was that down about things. I didn’t even pack until two hours before my flight left. But I realized if I didn’t go, I would be letting Mr. Miyagi (the tumor) win. And I’m glad I went, because this trip to CES changed me profoundly.

I met up with old acquaintances and made some new friends. I got to jam for a few minutes with Bob Marley’s son, Rohan. And I was one of the lucky few media people able to secure a spot at the Nokia press conference. In the middle of all the chaos that is the International Consumer Electronics Show, I found peace and happiness with what I’ve been given in life. And it made me smile to think of all the unbelievable moments I’ve experienced.

One night I sat in my hotel room and the tears flowed again. It was the deep sobbing, like the day I learned about Mr. Miyagi, but it was also a cleansing of the soul. I had been keeping so much emotion bottled inside that it was blocking my creative flow. I’ve had some serious writer’s block since that day in the parking lot.

Even if the trips and fun projects end now, I’ve had a good run. I’ve done more in my life than most people could even imagine. My family is amazing and I couldn’t be more blessed. I know I’m not perfect (never claimed to be), but I do my best to live a good life and I have NO regrets. None.

Yes. I do have intense headaches every day, but you won’t hear me complain about them. Instead, I’m singing Coldplay, Adele, U2, and Kenny Chesney at the top of my lungs. And yes, I do cry a bit more now since I’m no longer holding in everything. And it feels good. I feel good. And I’ve got a lot more living to do.

If our paths have ever crossed, be it virtually or in real life, I want to thank YOU for being part of all the amazing moments that have led up to this one right here.

The International Consumer Electronics Show is the largest electronics show in the world. I’ve been looking forward to this event all year, and I’m finally here!

I’ll be searching for new mobile technology for travelers, and because I’m also selfish I’ll be checking out the new televisions coming to the market, home entertainment, and appliances.

Last night I arrived into Las Vegas and made my way to Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino. I had booked a deluxe room online through ImperialPalace.com, which offered the best value for a room during CES for my personal situation. I was searching for a location close to The Venetian for Press Day and also close to the Las Vegas Monorail to get me to the Las Vegas Convention Center cheap and fast. The room rates in Vegas during CES are insane.

Fortunately, the Imperial Palace provided an affordable and convenient solution to my delimma. My room may not be luxurious, but it’s clean. The bed was comfortable and is a fabulous home base while I’m covering CES.

Press Badge pick up was a bit archaic being that this is a tech conference, but once the line began to move I was on my way. I enjoyed listening to the chatter of the other press attendees, from all over the world, making their predictions on what they think might be the next big thing or the next big bomb.

Credentialed media are provided a dedicated room to take a break, upload articles, and work on things needing immediate attention. That’s where I am right now, sifting through the hundreds of press releases that are still arriving via email.

Later this afternoon I’ll be at CES Unveiled, getting a sneak peek at some of the consumer electronics making their debut at CES 2012. Be sure to follow my Twitter feed ( http://twitter.com/CajunMama )if you are interesting in catching live updates from CES 2012 in Las Vegas.