So, as your elder, I’d like to share a few New Year’s Resolutions (better late than never…) with y’all that LK + I thought were worth a double-read.  If you haven’t quite made your 2012 resolution(s) yet, or if you made one and have already broken it (like me…I was hoping to eliminate my Diet Coke consumption), here is a little something to think about from the Thought Catalog.

20 New Year’s Resolutions for 20-Somethings (30-Somethings count, too…)

Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.

Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.

Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses.  If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy.  If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.

If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best.  If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.

Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.

Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them.  It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.

Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.

Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.

Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.

Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months.  You’re not going to deactivate your account.  You don’t know how.

Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain.  This is what the olden days were like.

Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television. 

Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussel sprouts.  They really don’t need any more attention.

Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do.  Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.

If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.

Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.

Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis.  To their face, not in a text.

Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.

Poop or get off the pot.  This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.

And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”

All worth at least considering…  We hope that 2012 is treating everyone really well! 

xx, L

I had seen it under-construction for a while, but didn’t realize that it opened until recently when Kev came home from a haircut at Mint.  He burst into our condo and raved about New York Butcher Shoppe for the following 20 minutes.  He was talking rapidly, but I caught that he walked into NYBS after his haircut and didn’t want to leave because it “smelled UNBELIEVEABLE in there.”  He was particularly impressed with their assortment of prepared dinners; “all you have to do is pop them in the oven, Linds!”  He made me promise that we could give them “a ton” of business.  (This coming from the guy who would eat a Lean Cuisine every night if I didn’t intervene.)  “Sure – absolutely we will,” I said.  Eh, it was fun seeing him so excited about a new business + the place sounded great.  So welcome, NYBS, to the neighborhood!  I hear that we’ll be signing over our paychecks to you very soon… 

Have you visited NYBS yet??

Here’s the Q+DD on New York Butcher Shoppe:

NYBS is a unique shopping experience for customers seeking top-quality products and exceptional customer service at great prices.  We’re a high quality market with an emphasis on personal customer care.  The prices are as good or better than supermarket prices, but at the New York Butcher Shoppe, customers enjoy personal service and expert advice on cooking, grilling and meal planning.

From certified Angus beef steaks and incredibly prepared chicken cordon bleu, to fresh seasonal vegetables, pastas, sauces, wines and more, NYBS is the perfect place to experience cooking bliss.  We are way more than just a butcher shop.  We take pride in the quality of what we serve and the care in how we serve it.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you walk in the door at the selection of products we have.

NYBS

The D’Elia family established the New York Butcher Shoppe in 1999 on Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  Bill D’Elia is originally from Brooklyn, NY where he began learning the butcher trade at age eleven.  His career has been in the grocery industry since 1970, primarily in butcher and meat areas.  The store in Mount Pleasant quickly grew in popularity, and the concept began franchising in October of 2003.

The NYBS concept is founded on the principles of outstanding customer service and the highest quality product, in a clean and inviting atmosphere.  Our line of hand cut steaks using Premium Angus Beef, prepared entrées, side dishes, salads and dips are always fresh and fill a unique shopping niche for our customers.  We also offer fresh sausages, frozen pastas, vegetables, hard-to-find grocery items, and a top selection of fine wines and cheeses.

a peek inside NYBS

NYBS sounds AWESOME – it’s very clear why Kev is such a big fan!  I can’t wait to visit ASAP.  I bet they have a number of great items we could add to our holiday celebrations. 

In the meantime, here’s some more info about NYBS:

Take a NYBS store tour: Where’s the beef??
Check out their menu: What’s cooking, good lookin’?!
Oooh, they cater, too: NYSB on the move!

Welcome, welcome again!  I’m looking forward to meeting you soon, NYBS.  (I have a feeling that we’ll be your most enthusiastic customers…)

xx, L

New York Butcher Shoppe
985-C Monroe Drive
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.343.3614
www.nybutcher.com

And, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, no less! 

Gorms + I are celebrating completing the 3-Day tonight by dropping by Ecco to say “hello!” to our man, Eric, and then heading to the Fox to get our best Mamma Mia on!  Oh yes, there will be dancing.

Here’s the Q+DD on Mamma Mia:

Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding on the small Greek island in which she lives.

Mamma Mia is based on the songs of ABBA – a Swedish pop/ dance group active from 1972–1982.  ABBA was one of the most internationally popular pop groups of all time.

Mamma Mia awesomeness below…

Get your Mamma Mia tickets here: SUPER TROUPER! 

You have to act fast, though, because the show is only in town from tonight through November 6!

So go…”see that girl/ watch that scene/ diggin’ the dancing queen!” 

xx, L

 It’s really cute.  (Special thanks to Kev’s pops for getting me hooked on this one!)

Here’s the Q+DD on 2 Broke Girls:

Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business – if only they can raise the cash.  Sassy, streetwise Max works two jobs just to get by.  Sophisticated Caroline is an uptown trust fund princess who’s having a run of bad luck that forces her to reluctantly give waitressing a shot.

2 Broke Girls in action...

Catch it on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS.  It’s very entertaining + funny, and it’s the perfect amount of time: 30 minutes live/ about 24 minutes DVR-ed.  (I swear, I don’t know where my attention span has been these days…  Oh, right – I do.  It’s here.)

Enjoy! 

xx, L

In case you didn’t watch it last season…Top Chef: Just Desserts is a spin off of Bravo’s Top Chef featuring pastry chefs competing in a serious of culinary challenges focusing on pastries and desserts.

Top Chef: Just Desserts Season 2 Cast

Anyway, our friend Amanda Rockman (pictured below) is a contestant on TC: JD this year and she KILLED IT in the first episode last Wednesday winning both the Quickfire + Elimination Challenges!  Way to go, Amanda!

Isn’t she the cutest, little pastry chef you’ve ever seen or what?!

Catch Amanda on Wednesday nights (tonight!) on Bravo at 10:00 p.m. EST/ 9:00 CST.  We can’t wait to see how the season unfolds!   

xx, L

Check it:

Rihanna performs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chastain Amphitheatre as part of her Loud tour!  Do I care that it’s going to be 98 degrees outside today?  I care not.  I’m going to be an amazingly sweaty mess of white girl dancing it up with colleagues (yes, colleagues; again - I care not) at Rihanna tonight.  I’ve had “Rude Boy” stuck in my head all morning… 

chastain

But wait, there’s more…  Thursday night, I’m taking colleagues to the High Museum to see the Modern by Design exhibition.  We’re starting with drinks + hors d’oeuvres at Table 1280, then moseying over to the museum to see modern masterpieces from the MoMA + High’s growing collection of contemporary design. 

Here’s the Q+DD on Modern by Design:

As part of the High’s ongoing collaboration with The Museum of Modern Art, Modern by Design presents groundbreaking designs of the past, present, and future.  The exhibition features a selection of works chronicling three key moments in MoMA’s design collection and exhibition history—“Machine Art” (1934); “Good Design” (1950-1955); and “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” (1972).  Nearly 150 objects created by over 120 of the most influential artists + designers of the twentieth century are included.

I. can’t. even. think. straight. I. am. SO. excited.

It’s going to be a long night, but it will be worth it.  (TWSS.) 

I feel like the next day I’m going to need some time for reflection: who am I? what does all this mean?  what do I do now?  and so on + so forth…  I’ve been seriously invested in + excited about the Harry Potter stories for well over ten years!  It’s hard to believe that it all comes to an end this week. 

Whelp, let’s get it started, shall we?  We shall.  Happy week to you all! 

xx, L

welcome anj!

Over the course of the weekend, we had dinner at Local Three, a quick visit to Bakeshop, catering from Fox Bros. BBQ, yogurt at Yoforia, a lovely meal at Pancho’s – Buford Highway (throwback) + an exceptionally good brunch at Empire State South.  Needless to say, we were well fed…

just some chicks in hats

Like Anj, the lovely couple who joined us for Sunday brunch at Empire, Scott + Adina, also had not dined at the restaurant before.  Empire, although not one of my Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants, does a lot of things right – particularly for brunch.  The first time I had brunch at ESS, I opted for a schmorgasboard of a la carte items, assuming that I understood brunch better than the chef.  It was a satisfying meal, but honestly, pretty much anyone can cook an egg over medium, toast some bread + season a handful of home fries.  (My usual.)  This time, however, I fully deferred to the chef. 

And so did everyone else at our table…for the same exact item!  (Clearly, no creativity here.)

now you see it...

Jalapeno & Bacon Biscuit w/ confit pork, poached eggs, arugula, balsamic onion jam + hollandaise mousseline.  Heavenly fork!  The flavors were all in perfect harmony with each other – nothing was too overpowering.  It was all just right.  The J&B Biscuit is the single best brunch item I’ve ever consumed.  Quote me.

...now you don't!

You guys.  You REALLY have to try it.

ESS for brunch is no joke.  Seriously, drop on by this weekend - and don’t forget to order the Jalapeno & Bacon Biscuit.  You’re welcome.

xx, L

Empire State South
999 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.541.1105
www.empirestatesouth.com

In no particular order…

1) RYAN BINGHAM: My favorite singer of the moment.

Ryan Bingham

Never heard of him?  You’ve been missing out, buddy…

This 30-year old singer sounds like what I would think the Marlboro man would sound like if he could sing.  For such a young age, his voice is weathered like Ray LaMontagne after three packs of cigarettes and a bottle of whisky.  He sings country + bluegrass-y music, but he’s not over-produced Nashville, and he doesn’t seem to polarize anti-country music folks.

well, hello there.

He’s also more than a little attractive, if you ask me.  (Although, he is no Slick.)

Ryan won an Academy award for the music he wrote for Crazy Heart, and Slick + I have been big fans of his ever since we saw the movie.  In my humble opinion, some of his best tracks are: “Southside of Heaven,” “The Weary Kind,” “Long Way from Georgia,” “Country Roads,” and “I Don’t Know.”  It’s the kind of music you want to listen to while getting ready for bed or driving home after a long day at work.  If you hear some of his stuff + like it, check out his new CD with his band, The Dead Horses, called Junky Star.

Ryan Bingham Tour Dates
Watch Ryan Bingham on YouTube
Follow Ryan Bingham on Twitter
Stalk Ryan Bingham on Facebook

2) ASK MISS A: My favorite advice-giver.

Andrea Rogers, a.k.a. “Miss A,” is the editor-in-chief + publisher of the national lifestyle e-magazine AskMissA.com. 

Miss A

AskMissA.com provides heartfelt – rather than commercial – content for women’s well-rounded lifestyle interests – political and social issues; art and cultural events; charity galas and volunteer opportunities with nonprofits; women’s organizations and networking events; art and literature; design and entertaining; local fashion and beauty. 

Readers turn to “Ask Miss A” for advice + recommendations on everything from style to self-help, and are assured to get an answer that is heartfelt with a touch of Miss A’s Southern charm and sass.  AskMissA.com tosses aside the superficial and shallow to deliver sensibility and substance with style through authentic, informative and witty editorial voices of women-in-the-know across the United States.  AskMissA.com informs, inspires and entertains an audience of more than 70,000 unique monthly visitors. 

And, I’m a newly-inducted contributing writer for AskMissA.com!  Check out my Valentine’s Day post about Norman Love Chocolates!  I’ll be posting several times a month, along with some other fabulous Atlanta women, so check back frequently!

Read AskMissA.com
Follow Ask Miss A on Twitter
Check out Ask Miss A on Facebook

(photo credit: The Man Repeller)

The Man Repeller is brilliant + hysterical, and has been featured in The New York Times, Lucky Magazine + a number of other impressive publications. 

Read w/ Caution:  Once you start reading TMR’s blog…you won’t be able to stop!  (Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)

Read The Man Repeller
Follow The Man Repeller on Twitter
Like The Man Repeller on Facebook
Tumble with The Man Repeller

4) CHUNK HANDLER: My favorite “person” to follow on Twitter.

Chunk + Chelsea Handler

As I’ve made very clear over the past year and a half, I’m kinda obsessed with Chelsea Handler.  So, it’s expected that I’d be a fan of her dog, too.  In fact, he’s my favorite celebrity dog – for sure.  What a cutie pie!

Here are some of my favorite of Chunk’s recent tweets:
“I just saw a cloud that was shaped exactly like a cloud.”
“I zone out therefore I aren’t.”
“Remember that movie where Arnold Schwarzenegger was pregnant?  “Junior” I think it was…that was pretty underrated.”
“That skateboarding bulldog pisses me off for whatever reason.”

who's a good boy???

Follow Chunk Handler on Twitter

(I’ll bet he was watching The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet last night, too!)

Congratulations, everyone!  You are now officially in the know. 

xx, L

George’s was a staple in Atlanta before burgers were sexy.  The beer is cold, the burgers are hot, the menu is simple + you don’t have to look like you are going to prom to get a table.  In fact, I rolled out of bed, put on shoes, got in the car and sat down on George’s heated patio yesterday + didn’t even think twice about not wearing makeup – something I would definitely have had on to eat at almost any other burger joint in Midtown Atlanta.  It was just what I had in mind.

This hole-in-the-wall has a rich Atlanta history + has had some seriously exciting celebrity sitings!  Check them out here:  Where’s the beef, George?!

Slick + I ordered up a pitcher of Miller Lite from our friendly, heavily-tattooed waitress + casually perused the pretty cut-and-dry burger options on George’s menu. 

I ordered the 5 oz. Bacon + Jack Burger w/ fries…

…and Slick got the 8 oz. Bleu Cheese Burger w/ fries.

Everything tasted great.  The burgers were really simple, cooked well, and best of all – they were cheap. 

There is a time and place for everything, and frankly, there’s a time when you want your burger to be a burger - not a supporting cast member for a musical at the Fox.  Sometimes you just need greasy comfort food w/o the frills, and when you do, George’s is about as good as you can get. 

For all the other times…you know my heart belongs to Bocado. 

xx, L

George’s Restaurant + Bar
1041 N. Highland Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30306
404.892.3648
www.georgesbarandrestaurant.com

Sandy Springs Gun Club + Range
Invites You To Our Grand Opening Event!
Stop in and indulge in the ultimate shooting range experience

Saturday, November 13
11am – 6pm

Complimentary food and drinks

Specials and giveaways offered all day

Items being given away at our Grand Opening include the following:
Springfield XD9 9mm with Holster and Hag Holders
Sig Sauer P239 9mm with a level two Holster
Kel-Tec 32 32ACP

We want to give back on this special day, so we will be raising money on behalf of
Special Olympics Georgia.  Donations are welcome.

RSVP to events@premier-pr.com

I’m no stranger to guns, either…

Tom Lowe Skeet Range (2008)

Wolf Creek (2009)

(My dad is going to be so proud of this post…) 

I think it’s super fun to shoot every so often – although I have to admit that I’m a pitiful shot.  It’s kinda sexy, too, and now going to the shooting range is even more en vogue than ever before thanks to my favorite HIMYM character, Ms. Robin Scherbatsky:

It’s also incredibly therapeutic.  Seriously, it is. 

If you have time on Saturday, I recommend checking out the new Sandy Springs range.  If not, Tom Lowe is a public range that is intown + perfect for newbies to shooting! 

Fire away, ladies, fire away!

xx, L