The ‘Burbs…

You are currently browsing articles tagged The ‘Burbs….

Merry Christmas to ME!

12/23/2009 in Suburbs, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 5 comments

After a slight hair emergency (don’t worry. It’s ok now.) derailed my original plan to spend the day in McDonough with Kindredly, I found myself starting my journey to the southside at 4:00pm. Two days before Christmas.

Yes, traffic was a nightmare but me give you 5 reasons it was the best night…ever.

5. The drive, the DRIVE! As you know, I am strictly an ITP kind of girl, but I felt my mood lift almost instantly as I drove down to McDonough. There is just something about rolling hills and meadows and horses that does it for me! If you are feeling a little uptight, a drive down to the country will do a body good. Trust.

4. I FINALLY got to see Chez Kindredly. I wasn’t shocked to see that she has the MOST adorable home I have ever seen.

tip of the iceberg

tip of the iceberg

The girl has a major talent, I would move into that house tomorrow. Plus, I finally got to meet Mia and Marley, their amazing beagles.

Ash + Marley

Ash + Marley

3. QT with JG. Kindredly has the most adorable hubs ever. As the superintendent of  Canongate Golf Club (please click here to see his amazing work) JG knows just about anything there is to know about grass. And constellations. And all kinds of other useful things. Just ask him.

Knowledgeable.

Knowledgeable.

2. Christmas Lights Tour. I finally got one! And this was totally the way to do it. There were big gorgeous plantation homes with tasteful candles and beautiful wreaths and twinkly white lights and darling little  ranch homes Griswald-esque with with primary-colored strands of lights, multiple illuminated manger scenes, and even enormous blow-up Christmas Winnie the Poohs. Loved it.

1. El Durango. I said it. We drove into Griffin so that I could experience El Durango. Ash + JG only went there about 4 nights a week when they lived in Griffin and I have been hearing about it for 3 years now. I am here to tell you it was everything I dreamed it would be and more. JG got the Cowboy Chicken (it’s not on the menu, y’all.) But it was some kind of cheesy rice with amazing chicken on top which he kindly let me dip my tortilla chips in more than a few times and Ashley and I split the chicken nachos. I don’t know how to explain it, but they were so good that I think they were seasoned with magic. In fact, I am sure of it. PLUS: the wait staff and owners are now personal friends of the G’s and totally treated us like family. I loved it and I can’t wait to go back. If you ever find yourself in Griffin, I am begging you to check out El D. Tell ‘em Ashley sent you.
El Durango
(770) 229-1555
650 N Expwy
Griffin, GA 30223

El Durango on Urbanspoon

OK, I am off to sleep, but Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

See ya at the Bagel Bash!

See ya at the Bagel Bash!

xx, L

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend…”

11/04/2009 in Jewelry, Suburbs, Tricks of the Trade, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | 2 comments

…but if you can’t wear diamonds all the time, I suggest you get bedazzled at Francesca’s Collections in the Vinings Jubilee!

4We all know that I can’t resist a good deal and that I love mixing cheap jewelry + nice jewelry, so Francesca’s is absolutely heavenly to me. I used to shop there all the time in Dallas + Austin, loved dropping by the one at The Summit in Birmingham, but I did flips when I stumbled across the one at Vinings Jubilee in Smyrna! (We just need one ITP now. Immediately.)

Here’s the Q+DD on Francesca’s Collections:

Since opening its first store in 1999, Francesca’s Collections has become one of the fastest-growing women’s fashion retailers in the country. This privately held company, with locations in over 28 states, provides its shoppers with an eclectic, carefully chosen assortment of treasured items. Francesca’s provides this unique shopping experience to our patrons by taking its inspiration from travelers who search the world for beautiful luxuries and gifts to bring to their friends and family. When shoppers visit Francesca’s they will find that each boutique is a treasure chest overflowing with gifts, apparel, home accessories, and jewelry that reflect the most fashionable styles and desired items from all over the world. (www.francescascollections.com)

Francesca's Store Front

Francesca's Store Front

The store reminds me of an updated version of your grandmother’s jewelry box and it’s just as exciting when you stumble across some amazingly unique-looking necklace, bracelet or ring. Although the store’s focus is on jewelry, Francesca’s also carries a really nice selection of clothes, picture frames, purses, scarves and random trinkets. It’s an excellent place to find a special gift for a friend or waste away an hour or so trying to conjure up an outfit to match some of Francesca’s adorable accessories.

Inside Francesca's

Inside Francesca's

Francesca’s is surprisingly reasonably priced for the quality and durability of it’s jewelry, and there are always great sales to discover in the back of the store. It’s virtually impossible to leave empty-handed. Drop by today!

Here are all the Georgia locations.

img_0397

xx, L

Francesca’s Collections
4300 Paces Ferry Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30339-5703
(770) 431-9672
http://www.francescascollections.com/index.jsp

Tags: , , , , , , ,

You’re So Twisted

08/19/2009 in Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

We ventured all the way to almost-Sandy Springs for happy hour on Friday.  Although there is a Twisted Taco nearby in Midtown, people wanted to try the newer one off Roswell Road and Wieuca.  Sandy Spring-ish happy hours aren’t really my thing, but Twisted has (1) a massive tequila selection and (2) queso, so honestly there wasn’t too much arm-twisting involved in getting me to go.  
TwistedTaco
 
The Wieuca Twisted Taco is definitely more family friendly than the one I am used to in Midtown, but it was kind of adorable to see all the families out for dinner together on Friday night.  Twisted’s menu is as large as the one at the Cheesecake Factory, too, so there is something for everyone.
 
I sprung for the three tacos for $8.95, which is a pretty awesome deal – and they were all really tasty.  Here’s how I chowed down:
 
The Baja: Blackened tilapia with red cabbage citrus slaw, cilantro, tomato, onion and topped with guacamole mousse
 
Monterrey Taco: Grilled chicken, jack cheese, bacon, guacamole, tomato, lettuce and ranch dressing
 
Pulled Pork Taco: Pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce and topped with homemade coleslaw
 
I wish I’d had more room in my tummy, because S. Shapiro strongly recommends The Wild Alaskan: Crab cakes in a warm tortilla with spicy remoulade sauce, tomato, red onion and shredded lettuce.  YUM.
 
This one also sounds awesome – The Crawfish: Fried crawfish topped with our jalapeno mayo, lettuce and pico de gallo
 
We washed it all down with a few pitchers of The Ultimate Texas Margarita.  It did the trick, and I promptly fell asleep at 9:00 p.m.  Don’t worry, I know how cool I am.
 
xx, L
 
Twisted Taco – Wieuca
4628 Wieuca Rd.
Atlanta, GA  30342
678.720.9732

Twisted Taco on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , ,

TOMO Arigato, Mr. Roboto

07/23/2009 in Suburbs, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 1 comment

My daddy always told me to avoid, at all costs, Mexican food north of Oklahoma. He’s a wise Texas man – just like my favorite Texan, Kinky Friedman:  http://bit.ly/3MVGhq.  Side note: Kinky Friedman’s Guide to Texas Etiquette: Or How To Get To Heaven Or Hell Without Going Through Dallas-Fort Worth is an excellent read!! http://bit.ly/cClm8z

In a similar vein, I also strive to avoid sushi (my #2 favorite food to pizza) when I am away from (1) big cities or (2) cities close to water. But, as previously blogged, I found myself in Smyrna over the weekend and, well, it was dinnertime. After a long day of baking, Dana and I opted for lighter fare for dinner and started debating sushi restaurants. Then, a light bulb went off – I was in the general vicinity of Tomo!

Here’s the Q+DD on Tomo and why you should seriously consider OTP sushi:
Tomo is the creation of Chef Naito, who comes to us from Nobu in Las Vegas. It’s located on Cobb Parkway in a strip right outside of the adorable Vinings Jubilee. It’s an intimate restaurant and less foo-foo than some of the Midtown sushi restaurants that may focus more on atmosphere than sushi quality.
yum yum yum!

yum yum yum!

Although it’s a schlep for those of us ITP, the sushi was incredibly fresh – even on a Sunday! (Note: Many sushi restaurants only get fish deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which are the best days of the week to get your fish fix.) Dana and I split a few rolls, but our favorite was their House Special Roll (with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, whitefish, smelt egg, eel and avocado). De-lish! Best of all, their amazing fish is priced for the suburbs (which helps make the amount of gas you use to get out there seem much more reasonable). After being so anti-suburban regarding my sushi consumption, I left the restaurant not just full but looking forward to my next visit!
 
 
xx, L
 
Tomo
3256 Cobb Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339-3896
(770) 690-0555
 

Tomo on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , ,

I’m Having an Affair…

07/22/2009 in Exercise! by Lauren | 3 comments

…and I think it might be love! With Piedmont Park, that is. I’ve been in Boot Camp this month (www.operationbootcamp.com, more about this in a future post.) so I wake up with the park, and yesterday, I must have missed it so much I went back for yoga in the evening.

piedmontpark

It was amazing. I’m almost scared to tip everyone off, but if you become a member of Atlanta Yoga Club, you can take advantage of their outdoor yoga practice for a mere $5. (Most are held in Piedmont, but also some in John Howell Park. There are even classes in Suwanee! P.S. What is Suwanee?)

What a fantastic evening. Last night’s class was Hatha, which was perfect for my tired muscles. Heather, the instructor, was cute as a button and was able to effectively lead about 20-25 people all of varying levels with ease. I was expecting to be a little bit rusty, but it really was like riding a bike…all of the terms were somehow still tucked away in my brain somewhere… “work through your vinyasa” … “take it up to warrior II” … “twist into fish pose”… along with some new poses I’d never done before. She had a nice critical eye on the class, coming over to correct everyone as needed, which I really appreciate.

Not to get too touchy-feely on you, but it was really refreshing to do yoga outside in the fresh air with people playing with their dogs and jogging by. I was so relaxed after the 75 minute class that I think I actually fell asleep for a little bit at the end! As I walked through the park (on my way to meet my friend for dinner at Metro Fresh, hello!) It was so cute to see the scattered blankets of people everywhere in the park: couples and families having picnics, reading, snapping pictures, relaxing…it wasn’t till I got to my car when I realized I’d been grinning like a total idiot the whole walk back.

So…there you have it! Can’t wait for Thursday’s class…

xx, L

www.meetup.com/atlantayogaclub/

P.S. Today’s Groupon is $5 tickets to Dad’s Garage! http://groupon.thepoint.com/atlanta/

Tags: , , , ,

Cooking w/ L+L – Georgia Cake Balls

07/20/2009 in Chocolate, Entertaining, Gifts, Guilty Pleasures, What we're Cooking by Lindsay | 4 comments

This may be hard for some of you to believe, but this weekend I BAKED!  In fact, Dana and I baked up a storm.  Some people are contracting swine flu – I caught baking fever!!
 
Here’s the Q+DD on my Georgia Cake Balls:
 
1 – Bake the cake according to the instructions on the box.
IMG_4767
 
2 - Let the cake cool completely.  Once cooled, crumble it up in a large bowl.
IMG_4768
 
3 – Add in the entire container of cream cheese frosting and thoroughly mix with cake.  (Listen, I never said this was a Weight Watcher’s recipe…)  You may want to use your hands, but be prepared for it to be nice and messy (and delicious)!
= domestic princess

= domestic princess

 
4 - Roll the mixture into quarter-sized balls and place on wax/ parchment paper (should make approximately 50 balls). 
IMG_4774
 
5 – Heat up the dipping chocolate as instructed on tubs.  Place toothpicks into cake balls and dip them into chocolate.  (I ran really low on the dipping chocolate, so I’d suggest buying four tubs.)  Replace on wax/ parchment paper.  Repeat as necessary.
VOILA!

VOILA!

6 – Refrigerate for cooling.  Enjoy!
 
Ingredients*:
 
- 1 box of Betty Crocker red velvet cake mix + associated ingredients (eggs and vegetable oil)
- 1 container of cream cheese frosting
- 4 tubs of Baker’s dipping chocolate
- Wax or parchment paper
- Toothpicks
*(Seriously, that’s all folks…)
 
They are soooooooooo delicious and were easy enough to make – even I could do it!  I will say, however, that my fingers are still dyed a bit red…  Slick, a huge UF fan, would probably never reach for anything red/ black, nonetheless he seemed to really like the cake balls!  Happy, happy cooking!
 
P.S. I guess I always knew I was going to be the next Martha! :)
 
Halloween circa 2005 = jailbird Martha Stewart costume

Halloween circa 2005 = jailbird Martha Stewart costume

 
xx, L

Tags: , , , , , ,

Who Says I Can’t Be Forever 21?

07/07/2009 in Britney Spears, Guilty Pleasures, Jewelry, Random Musings, Tricks of the Trade, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | 6 comments

Karen, my shopping sponsor, is a very busy lady – eagerly pursuing her physician’s assistant degree at Emory and traveling back and forth from Hilton Head to enjoy sunny weekends. However, she will readily accept an urgent phone call from me whenever I find myself in Perimeter Mall (what am I doing there anyway – I live in MIDTOWN) and about to walk into my guilty pleasure, Forever 21.

Karen reminds me that I am no longer 21 (unfortunately, far from), that I already have sunglasses in 12 different shades and that I don’t have a crush on a Jonas brother – so what do I think I am doing in there?? Initially, I understand her reasoning. Generally speaking, the clothes are cheaply made in scary places like Vietnam and constructed for pre-teens with boy-shaped bodies. BUT, as soon as I glance around the store and spot neon fringe, I am quickly drawn inside like a magnet lured to Forever 21’s countless metallic racks.

Some days are better than others. Today was amazing. Truly amazing. One hour and a medium Yoforia (how do they keep the fruit so fresh?) later, my closet is about to look like a Kanye West video. (And, yes, I got my 13th shade of the same sunglasses.) While I walked away with some cute work clothes, a fun bubble dresses (Slick loves them) and a few more pairs of leggings, my best finds were in the jewelry section. Please see Exhibit A below:

Exhibit A

Exhibit A

(Sorry, there is not an Exhibit B…)

I think Forever must have just had a shipment, because they had so many great summer clothes. Run, don’t walk, run to Perimeter!

It’s okay if you aren’t obsessed with Harry Potter (like me), Britney Spears (like me) or Twilight (like me) – the pre-teen dressing room discussions can be easily ignored and the young-ins on their summer vacation will only see you in your schnazzy work clothes and aspire to be as put-together-looking as you one day. Plus, I had just purchased a dress at Sage that I swear I saw at Forever for half the price.

I told you so.

xx, L

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,