Hanging out with her "granddogger"

Then you do the following:

1. Dinner at the bar at 4th and Swift

Amazingness.

We both acknowledge that a bottle of red wine, a cheese plate, and an order of ceviche would not qualify as dinner when men are present…which is why we enjoyed every. last. bite.

2. IMAX and Martinis at the Fernbank

It was “Salsa Night.” 

Honestly, it was a little loud for our tastes, I much prefer the light jazz.  However, it was fun to see all the dancing and all the outfits while we sipped on our martinis.  (Love that DK and I drink exactly the same: Vodka Martini.  Up. Olives. Fin.) Plus, after a martini or two…I find IMAX movies hilarious. (Friday was no different. Cirque was a riot.)

3. Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market

As I suspected, DK LOVED it. All the fresh produce, local wares, and homemade treats were RIGHT up her ally.  We split a mint lemonade, had breakfast pizza, and DK had a Cucumber Basil Fresco Pop.  It was great! Bonus: we ran into a zillion friends (and lots of people who came per the Q+DD reccomendation…which obviously made my day...including this young man and his parents, whom I adore:

lil' Flounder. Son of Flounder and Jen Flounder

DK made out like a bandit (and consequently, so did I!) check out her loot:

Emily G's Jam of Love, classic and chipolte bacon, I heart bacon shirt for Brian, and an assortment of cheeses from Calyroad Creamery

4. Shopping. Major shopping happened on Saturday afternoon. Mostly my bed got a makeover.  Witness:

IN LOVE with my new aqua coverlet, my watercolor duvet cover, and quilted euro shams.  Also exciting: I scored a Calvin Klein Khaki Collection down duvet for $80 at Macy’s.  (I shopped 3 other places, this was the cheapest BY FAR.)  Macy’s is having a crazy linen sale. I replaced every pillow on my bed. Check it. Trust.

5. Lovely lunch at Prime. I always forget about this resto because it’s in the mall.  But DK loved her sushi and I had a great lump crab meat and bibb lettuce salad.  Deeeeeelish.

6. Drinks + Dinner at Holeman + Finch: in that order.  We met my friend Victoria and her husband Hakim, who were visiting from Chicago…because they are MOVING HERE! WOOT!

Reunited...and it feeeeels so good!

It didn’t seem that crowded, but we definitely got there at 8:30 and weren’t seated until our burger (yes.  singular.  We scored the last one. Thanks, Reagan!)  was  served.  (10:30ish?) But we had a great time at the bar. DK LOVED the Aviation and I enjoyed the Shrub (blackberry + tequila on Saturday night).  We demolished a pretty amazing charcuterie plate, I rediscovered the pancetta carbonara, and we tried 2 things that I LOVE that somehow I have never ordered at H+F: the steak tartare and the mussels.  Both were PHENOM. Special thanks to Hakim for showing me how to eat mussels with other mussels.  (ie sans tiny fork.)  I’m so euro now!

Sidebar: Everyone in the WORLD was at Holeman on Saturday night.  Including Eli Kirshstein (from Top Chef.  Yes, we are both obsessed.) and Lauren…my neighbor from Birmingham!

+ about 934829235 other people! fun!

7. Brunch at Craftbar with La + Shecky

The company alone would have made this brunch phenomenal. However, there was nothing to be desired.  At the end of the day, I think Craftbar is so gorgeous and our food was incredible.  We started with biscuits and fresh blackberry jam

I had shortribs and baked eggs, La and Shecks had poached eggs and steak, and DK (true to form) ordered exactly what I wanted: bacon gravy and biscuits.  Everything was perfect: the coffee, the food, the service.  It was a lovely brunch.

8. More shopping. No pictures.  I was too busy taking full advantage of my last few precious hours with DK.  Sorry not sorry.

LOVED having my mom in town. I’m a lucky girl to have my own personal stylist, decorator, role model, and best friend all rolled up into one woman!  Thanks for coming to play!

and thanks for showing me how people sharpened their lipliner in the olden days!

Bonus: Today is my parents’ anniversary!  Happy, happy anniversary to the cutest couple I know!

I love you!

xx, L

The tone was set early by the totally rad 80’s mix compiled by one Elizabeth Ceaser (of Phliz fame) which included every memorable song from the years 1979 to 1991. We enjoyed Blow Pops and Pop Rocks (ok no Pop Rocks, but that would have been awesome.  Where do you find them, anyway?) as we jammed out to Liz’s mix

(Photobomb: Lumpy)

Ted: 80's Cowboy.

Strike a pose there's nothing to it: Vogue.

Ellen: So Strong! (PS I'd like to buy a vowel...)

If only we had any idea what was waiting for us at Sweetwater…

There were fanny packs, taffeta...

dance offs...

...complete with break dancing...

Amazing makeup

and lots of 80's love

Sidebar: I just don't know who I love more: Liz for putting this outfit together or Phil for wearing it...

Demon eyes courtesy of my iPhone

Miami Vice Joe

He mowed 200 yards to save my white suede outfit!

It was a GREAT night and my friends Jason and Lila, two of the organizers of this amazing party, told me they raised a HUGE chunk of change for the Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund…nice work!

Bonus: Our Electric Ladyland SAVE FERRIS coozies came in quite handy the next day as we recovered poolside, trust.

Electric Ladyland, THANKS for a great night! We can’t wait for next year!

xx, L

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It is halfway through 2010 and even though it’s been a great year…if I am completely honest with you, I’ve just been feeling a little incomplete. Yes, I’ve had a nagging emptiness in my soul, a teeny tiny hole in my heart… and until recently, I just didn’t know why.  All I knew was that something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on it…

UNTIL NOW.

Can you believe we have gone 7 months without an 80’s themed event?

I mean, I LIVE for the 80’s.

Q: Who has an 80’s themed Passover Seder? A: Lindsay and I do!

I just don’t know how I went an entire 7 months without breaking out the leg warmers and crinoline, but all is right with the world because this FRIDAY I will be attending:
I just couldn’t be more excited.

The Q+DD is this: This Friday, July 9th Electric Ladyland presents the 2nd Annual 80’s Prom (How did I miss the first one?) at the Sweetwater Brewery.  All proceeds will go to Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund for under-privileged teenagers (which is awesome because frankly, I didn’t need a reason.)

Admission Prices:
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – $30 (first 100 purchases get their single ticket at $30 value)
Couples tickets – $30 (Two tickets at $30 each, for you and your dream date)
Stag ticket – $35 (single ticket price)
At the door – $40
At the door WITHOUT an 80’s costume – $8,675,309
Cash ONLY at the door. Credit/Debit cards accepted for presale tickets through Paypal.

Your ticket price includes Sweetwater Beer tastings and the following totally rad schedule of events:

9PM- Doors Open
9:01PM- Prom Pictures begin
9:30PM- You should be half-way to the moon
10:00PM- Timed Rubiks Cube Contest
10:30PM- Arrival on the MOON
10:45PM- Moonwalk Contest
11:00PM- Prom King and Queen will be announced
11:30PM- Break Dance Contest
Midnight- Walk of Shame
Get your tickets RIGHT NOW by clicking here and visit the Facebook invitation by clicking here.

In anticipation of my first 80’s event this year, I’ll be participating an a fun-filled night of 80’s movie bliss at Phliz’s crib on Thursday.

Phil + Liz = Phliz. Duh.

Gotta love a couple who displays 100% Theme Commitment.  I pity the fool who doesn’t.

I can only hope for a photo as cool as this one:

Total Eclipse of My Heart,
and
xx,

L

m. reynolds

Since she hadn’t been to Bakeshop before, we decided to meet there around noonish to take advantage of the Concentrics Group’s Summer Swag promotion: http://snipurl.com/xsnd2. 

outside

inside

We each ordered a tasty sandwich (fancy grilled chix for M. Reynolds + curried chix salad for moi), and we shared a very rich chocolate souffle for dessert ALL for a whopping $10.00 – thanks to the marvelous Swag promotion.  Seriously – take advantage of it!  It’s such a great deal.

However, writing about our lunch date isn’t the point of this post.  (I’ve already blabbed about Bakeshop – been there + done that.)  What I really want to tell y’all about is this adorable special they have going on during the summer on Sunday afternoons:  Every Sunday in June, July + August from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., Bakeshop wants you to stop by for a housemade waffle + specialty topping + a scoop of vanilla ice cream for $5.00. 

(LK taught me how to post fliers last night.  Thank you. Thank you.  I hope she’s proud!) 

Isn’t that a precious idea?  Sundays are meant to be decadent days!  I think this is so cute for a date, too.  

Also, I saw another flier during M. Reynolds + my lunch for a 4th of July event @ Bakeshop – a pancake breakfast!!  From 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., enjoy all you can eat blueberry, plain or whole wheat pancakes and fresh seasonal fruit for $10.00.  It’s the perfect post-race carb delight for Peachtree Road Race runners!  What better way to kick off the holiday?

FINALLY…next time you are in Bakeshop, puh-lease try one of their amazing chocolate croissants.  Trust me.  They are divine, dah-ling, divine.

worth it.

xx, L

Bakeshop
903 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
505.892.9322
www.bakeshopatl.com

xx, L

PS Please don’t disown me.

I should never have purchased them.  I know better than that.  Now I just can’t stop.   I might need an intervention. If you run into me and my fingers have even the slightest tinge of orange…call my sponsor.

xx, L (and Chester.  Yeah, he’s here too.)

We had a great time!  The three main festival highlights for me were:

3 - Seeing Bob Schneider for FREE on the Summerfest Main Stage!

the best.

2 – Cheesecake-on-a-stick-dipped-in-chocolate-and-sprinkles.  (ohhhh yeaaaaa.)

not for festival-beginners...

1 - Lorri Honeycutt’s Big World Photo.  BWP was my favorite vendor, by far, this year at Summerfest!  Lorri absolutely stole the show with her unique + whimsical photos.  She’s so talented – and is from Austin, so that certainly didn’t hurt!  I had no problem with taking a 15 minute break from desperately seeking shade + cold beverages at Summerfest to peruse her booth and admire her creative brilliance.  Love!

Definitely check her out:  www.bigworldphoto.com
BWP slogan:  “Art that makes you think, then smile.” 

(her store in NC)

Do I really have to wait 365 days until next year’s Summerfest?!  Ugh…

P.S.  The awesome reader who spotted me at Bob’s show and came over to say “hello” - YOU rock.  Thanks for making my afternoon!!

xx, L

…absolutely EVERY calorie!!

Mean it.

xx, L

Fox's: Designer Off Price

I completely forgot about Fox’s and rediscovered it on Sunday while I was in Buckhead and in desperate need of some retail therapy.  On Sunday morning, Slick’s car got towed, my car battery died and I couldn’t find my digital camera.  NIGHTMARE.  Once we got everything sorted out, I needed to go shopping to relieve stress + make myself feel a little better.  I realized that I left my digital camera at the table at Goldberg’s, where we’d eaten brunch, so I made my way up Roswell Rd. to retrieve it.  On the way back, I spotted Fox’s and decided to stop in.

Years ago, I’d shopped there a few times and really liked it.  I never left the store empty-handed, and frankly I’m not sure why I stopped going.  Anyway, as soon as I walked in, I felt home again.  Fox’s has racks and racks of what appear to me to be Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s type clothing – brands you definitely see in those department stores – for a fraction of the price.  It’s like a boutique version of Loehmann’s, but much easier to navigate. 

I left the store $108 later with a fantastic (I’d say “fabulous,” but that word is so 2006) belted jacket, an adorable embroidered beach cover up and a really cool exposed zipper black tank top.  Although I will always love getting excellent deals at my beloved F21, Fox’s is going to be my first shopping stop from now on.  I mean, Tahari and BCBG dresses starting at $80…don’t mind if I do!

Fox's fliers

We only have one location in Atlanta, but there are tons of others on the e. coast:
http://www.foxs.com/store/store.htm

P.S. Fox’s has Loehmann’s style dressing rooms w/o curtains – so leave your super sexy Hanky Pankys at home, ladies.

xx, L

Fox’s
3804 Roswell Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30342
404.814.9292
www.foxs.com

I may be a proud Texan, but tortilla chips (even the blue ones) are a thing of the past.  Risotto Chips are where it’s at!  They come in three flavors: sea salt + parmesan and roasted garlic + spicy marinara. (Sea salt is my personal fav.)  Here’s the breakdown on these guys:

Risotto Chips – Sea Salt Flavor
Nutritional Facts Per Serving
Calories: 140
Fat: 7 g
Carbs: 19 g
Protein: 2 g

Best of all, they are gluten-free (Ams – you can eat these!) + they have 11 grams of whole grains (so basically they just burn your fat… ) + they taste really great!  Next time you’re throwing a party and need munchies, hosting a dinner and need something to go with your appetizer dips or you went to the grocery store when you were hungry (don’t EVER do that), try out Risotto Chips.  They are delish! 

(I would never survive on an Atkins diet…)

Pick them up at Publix, Kroger or Sam’s Club – or check them out here:
http://www.newyorkstyle.com/newyorkstylerisottochips.php

xx, L