happ(y)enings

I came back Sunday evening from a relaxing weekend with my mom and sister at the beach and my good mood rolled into the rest of the week!

You may have seen my Facebook updates but our pup, Molly, graduated from her training classes (6 weeks of teaching her to sit, stay, come, stop jumping, etc.). Typical to her normal nature, she was the class clown and trouble maker, despite these things I think she was actually the best at learning to do tricks! She is incredibly food and attention driven, so training her with the treats and extra loving works like a charm.

(that's a graduation cap on her.... dying it is so cute).

 

What else is new? Last night I played (goofed around) with some of my co-workers on the tennis courts and I think I am actually going to commit to learning how to play. Michael loves tennis and has been trying to get me to pick it up for years. I guess there are really only positives to this- extra time with my honey learning something he loves, playing with friends who like to play, exercise (much needed!), and cute tennis clothes and accessories. Win/Win. 

And FOOTBALL starts this weekend. Gah, there is nothing I love more. The first 20 pages of Southern Living were even devoted to SEC football. The rivalries, traditions and die-hard excitement. There will surely be more to come on this!

you know you're a redneck if...

I really actually hate redneck things. BUT, there are certain adventures I just love for the sheer ability to let go, wear what you want, people watch and not be judged (ok I am judging and mocking). If you live in Georgia do you?...

Shoot the hooch?

One of my favorite activities is hitting the Chattahoochee River in a tube packed full of beer with friends. The people you will see and stories you tell are worth that whopping $10. 

Hit the Laser Show

This is Atlanta's diversity at its finest. Seriously. I remember one summer we brought my grandmother from Boston just so she could see everyone spread out on the lawn eating KFC and drinking beer watching lasers and country music flash across this Confederate mountain.   

Summer is coming to an end, grab a tube or lawn blanket ASAP!

time.

Remember when you were a kid and always in a rush to grow up? Now I just want everything to slow down. The older I get the faster time flies and I hate it. I was perusing through Facebook the other day and realized a few things. 1) I don't really know anyone who goes to Auburn anymore. So, when I go back for football games it will to be visit all my alumni friends, which is cool and I knew would happen eventually, but I guess time just snuck up on me. 2) For the people who just started college, when they graduate I will be 30. 30 is one of those ages you just assume you'll have everything done by and just have yourself figured out. Well, I still have some work to do, so, I'm not so sure.

Age is another thing you re-prioritize when you get older. I used to think I knew the exact age I wanted to do everything. Get married (ok, check), have kids, have the perfect career, travel, buy a house, etc. I've started realizing I need to stop putting deadlines on things and for now find the perfect balance between ambition, happiness and reality. I will (hopefully) find my dream job and live in a dream house. But, for now I need to prioritize what is most important and tackle that. I'm going to keep getting older and life will keep passing by faster and faster. But, unless I stop and take the time to enjoy the life I am living, what is the point?

take a break from the kitchen

I know I have been slacking on the blog, I'm busy, ok!

We've established I'm not super domestic and would really rather dine out any night of the week. I love everything about eating out. I love the service, people watching, talking to waiters, learning about new foods, trying the new foods, I just love it. 

Here are some places you should try.

Village Burger, Dunwoody

They claim to have one of the best burgers in Atlanta.... and O M G. This place was packed with locals and totally delivered on its promise. Michael had an original, I got avocado on mine and we split a gigantic order of seasoned fries. Seriously, it was fantastic and such a quaint little dive. I highly recommend for burger, fries, milkshake and beer lovers.

Pricci, Buckhead

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group rarely gets it wrong for me, and yet I had not tried this famous Italian landmark in Atlanta. We dined there last weekend and the service and apps was by far the most standout (oh and the "glass" of wine that was more like 2.5 glasses). We had the fried calamari and zucchini which was fantatico! and then of course that amazing marinara with goat or feta (someone tell me, what is it?) sauce for bread. Both of our meals were great, lobster and crab ravioli and a seafood risotto, but to me that amazing zucchini and the garlic aioli sauce stood out in my mind all night. Oh, they also retweeted me upon my visit, which for those know me, I really love retweets :)

(THE BREAD!)

home goods.

Right before we married we moved into a town home style condo in the Perimeter area. It has tons of space which is nice for all of the new registry items we acquired. Since it was our first place together we pretty much just combined spaces, so we don't necessarily have the most adult/matching furniture, but it works and has made great strides. I find it difficult to decorate the place fully since we rent it and I have no idea how long we will be here... but a few great finds have made it feel more like home! I try to focus on accent pieces and not going crazy buying big budget items... Rome wasn't built in a day after all.

With the addition of china and entertaining pieces, we looked forever for something fun to store things in. Not wanting to invest in a china cabinet (because we don't have a dining room and/or dining table) we finally found this cute hutch that could be used for almost anything and brightens up the space a lot. I think a lot of things can make you feel at home, but fresh flowers, antique furniture and bright decorative pieces do the trick for me (our everyday dining is bright green!).

what you should be watching.

I really love television. In fact, I consider it one of my hobbies and am not at all ashamed to admit it. There are the obvious shows I love- Gossip Girl, Glee, True Blood, Bachelor, Vampire Diaries... and every show to ever hit MTV, Bravo or HGTV (my favorites- Teen Mom, every Real Housewife, Property Virgins).Ok, I have a problem.

But, here are some shows that I am obsessed with that are on in the summer and not getting as much attention as all of these other popular ones. So, if you want to beat the heat and order some seasons or get them on demand, I highly recommend!

Pretty Little Liars. This is up there with Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries for me as one of the best shows ever. It is like a modern day murder mystery, full of scandal, suspense, love and drama.

Food Network Star: Just started watching it this season, but it is in its 7th. The hosts are reason enough to watch: Giada and Bobby Flay. I love cooking shows (Top Chef is my fav), but this is a new spin on it, they also have to be good at TV hosting! I am hooked. 

Giuliana and Bill: I've never met anyone who watches this. But, clearly people do, because it is in its fourth season. The reality show follows the unbelievably precious E! host (who I have a strange girl crush on)and her entrepreneur/apprentice star hubby and their adventures in marriage and struggles to conceive.

FILA

When you've lived in the same city your whole life there are so many things you don't do or take advantage of. Here is a list of upcoming things I want to do or plan on doing and haven't (and let me know if you want to go!)

• High Museum wine tasting. They actually have these sporadically and I have never been! How worldly to look at art while sipping wine. Must go!
• A fun day at Piedmont Park. They have this cool Beer Garden, plus the Tree Top tour, dog park, festivals and oh, so much more. (I've been to Piedmont, but need to do more!)
• Atlanta Bike Tour ok, I really want to start biking around in general, but I have always thought this would be a new, fun way to see the city and hear some history. Check it out!
• World of Coke I went one time on a field trip when I was a tiny kid and that was at the "old Coke Factory." Yes, the new one is not even new anymore and I have never seen it! I guess when you live here it isn't that big of a deal? (side note- I don't like soda, but this just seems so cool and full of fun facts!)

 

Rounding out the list is a ton of restaurants I know I still need to try. 

 
JCT Kitchen, Broken Egg, Pricci, Collonade, Woodfire Grill...   the list goes on.