Look, plz:

Doesn’t that sound delicious?!  Grilled cheese + wine seems totally divine.

I’m looking forward to checking out Three Sheets, too.  Click HERE for more info on their events.

xx, L

Three Sheets
6017 Sandy Springs Circle
Atlanta, GA  30328
404.303.8423
www.threesheetsatlanta.com

Not to brag or anything, but I was pretty impressed with our artwork…and we had so much fun painting + partying!  Remember?  Okay well if not, here’s a refresher about the evening: Y’ALL NEED TO WORK ON YOUR MEMORY…

Sips n Strokes is an instructional painting class.  Picture Bob Ross minus the serious afro minus just sitting and watching him paint on TV plus a classroom full of friendly folks plus BYO wine + beer + snacks plus you leave with your very own work of art! 

Well, news flash aspiring artists, Sips n Strokes went through a little name change + is now called Canvas By U.  Everything is the same except for the name – AND (oh, this is big) they’ve opened up a few more locations including one in my old ‘hood off of Druid Hills: CANVAS BY U LOCATION INFO.

Anyway, last night I went with some colleagues for a class at the Dunwoody location.  I fought rush hour traffic, but it was worth it because as soon as I arrived I was greeted with fresh sushi (we brought it in), a glass of wine + an empty canvas.  The world is YOURS!

This was the beginning of my “masterpiece”…  (We can use that term v. loosely):

And a few glasses of wine later…

TADA!

Is it going to be on display at the Louvre?  Probably not.  Was I able to sorta follow the instructor with my paint brush while chit-chatting while drinking wine while trying not to get any paint on my J Brands?  Absolutely!  Did Slick talk to me like a child when I came home after the class and say “Babbbbbeeeee….that is so greattttttttt!”  He sure did. 

Did I leave my mark on the customer-painted walls at Canvas By U?  You betcha!

Canvas By U is a fantastic way to spend an evening + it’s a super fun treat to leave the studio with your very own artwork to appreciate after the tipsyness wears off a bit…  I love this place for bachelorette parties, corporate events (amazing to witness Type A folks bringing out their creative sides), an out-of-the-box date (maj. points, men!) or a girls night out!  Check out the schedule here: BRING ON THE PAINT!

xx, L

Canvas By U
Dunwoody Village Shopping Center
5525 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA  30338
678.954.8399
https://www.canvasbyu.com/home.aspx

TAFKAP

Aaaaanyway… the Q+DD on Purple Rain is that it’s a bar, a restaurant, a lounge, and a late-night hangout all in one.  It’s mission is to bring a first-class dining/playing experience to the area and serve creative fare in the form of small plates for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

When Mandy told me about Purple Rain, she described it as “a restaurant suited for Vegas…but in Gwinett” and she was right.   When I rolled up to the 9,000 square foot space and viewed the glossy, uber sexy interior filled with pretty people, I immediately wished I were wearing something a little slinkier than a sensible skirt suit from work.

I found Mandy and Laura gabbing away at a buttery booth in the back of the spacious main dining area sipping on Lychee Sparklers which looked DELISH:

Grey Goose, blended with lychee with syrup and topped with champagne

The super attentive wait staff made sure I didn’t experience cocktail envy for very long and within minutes, I had a Cloud 9 – their version of a white sangria – in my hot little hands.

White wine blends, tangerines, lychees, pineapples strawberries, and ginger ale.

For dinner, we tried all kinds of deliciousness starting with the Risotto Fritti (risotto croquettes, buffalo mozzarella, and romesco sauce, the New England Lobster Roll (butter poached lobster, lemon and saffron aioli), and the Moroccan Yucca Fries (spiced yucca, roasted garlic, parsley and lemon essence)

Then moved on to the Duxelle Stuffed Artichoke (roasted artichoke, wild mushrooms, red peppers, gruyere cheese, and lemon beurre blanc)  
For dinner, I chose the appetizer plate Beef Negimaki (beef rolled with enoki mushrooms, scallions, and oyster sauce) and polished it off before I could snap a photo!

For dessert…we couldn’t resist the “Tempura Goodness” – which is basically whatever goodies the chef happens to have on hand, tempura fried, served with salted caramel.    As luck would have it, they just happened to have Swiss Cake Rolls and Twinkies back there….check it out:
I had a fantastic time there…if you’re in the area, I’d recommend you check it out for yourself.  With both and enormous space and menu, there’s truly something for everyone!

Personally, I’d like to meet the person who orders the “Purple Rainmaker.” At $1000, this dessert consists of a Criollo Chocolate Soufflé, a chocolate truffle,  and gold nugget streusel  dressed with a genuine amethyst necklace on a spun sugar sculpture.  Check it:

Need something a leeeeeeetle more reasonably priced this Valentine’s Day?  Enjoy a prix-fixe 3 course menu and live music by Stephan Lee for $60.

“Let me guide you to the Purple Rain.  Purple Rain….Purple Raiiiiiinnnnn…”

xx, L

Purple Rain Restaurant & Lounge
(770) 418-9086
3550 Mall Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
www.purplerainatl.com

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

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

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.

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

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

See ya at the Bagel Bash!

xx, L

We 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

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

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.

xx, L

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

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!

yum yum yum!

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/

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

(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