Some Quality Time

It's vacation time, kiddos. Here I am at the top of a four-day long weekend, one which I have been looking forward to since my last vacay (the beach week in April) but yet also one which has come quicker than even imagined. Time flies when you are busy, right?!

The weekend ahead holds a fun-filled destination wedding celebrating one of my BFF's (and her awesome hubby-to-be), a low-key day in Roswell with my mom and a relaxing 4th of July spent right here in Buckhead. For a long-weekend, I think it might be hard to beat this set-up.

Before I get started on all that relaxing and fun, I am taking some me-time (you know I love me some of that!) tonight with my Tivo. I love how TV today has taken on a more cyclical-season approach; there is always something new on even though the networks' top shows run just a few months a year. Right now, I am indulging guilty pleasure time with the Kardashians and spending extra time travel-dreaming with Mr. Bourdain, both of which are shows smack in the middle of new seasons. What a treat!

Tonight? One last show with Oprah, whose afternoon hours I am already missing. Lucky for me, I had her season finale(s) saved for just the right moment, and tonight I am taking in all of her last thoughts from her final episode. In lieu of more words from me, I feel more like sharing words from her right now. What inspiration!

"Do not let the trappings here fool you. Mine is a stage in a studio, yours is wherever you are with your own reach, however small or however large that reach is. Maybe it's 20 people, maybe it's 30 people, 40 people, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your classmates, your classroom, your co-workers. Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show, and that is where your power lies. In every way, in every day, you are showing people exactly who you are. You're letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have.

My great wish for all of you who have allowed me to honor my calling through this show is that you carry whatever you're supposed to be doing, carry that forward and don't waste any more time. Start embracing the life that is calling you and use your life to serve the world."

Miss the episode, too? Read the full finale transcript online.

Pretty in Print

You guys (and gals). I am so so so excited. As of today, I am in a real, live magazine!

Simply Buckhead, a magazine full of local info and news on dining, arts and culture, entertainment and seasonal events, was kind enough to feature me in this month's "Simply Stylish: Fashion" section. They called a few months ago to do a phone interview, and then I got to go pick out my favorite earrings around Buckhead to include in a photo shoot for the spread! I picked out about eight pairs, a few of which are featured in the actual article.

Here's a quick shot of the article, but check it out in full online (page 23), or grab a hard copy in stores starting this weekend.

I love the article and am so thrilled to have been featured. Thank you, Simply Buckhead!

Wondering where you can pick up a hard copy of the magazine? Check out their list of stores that carry it around town, or order one to ship in the mail.

Binder Challenge: Break for Breakfast

Do you have a birthday tradition?

Since my birthday is two days before Christmas, I am usually somewhere far, far away from the office, and typically very, very near to a pedicure chair and a good cocktail. Beyond that, I don't have too much of a "tradition" on my birthday; I just like to be relaxed, have fun and be with my family and loved ones.

Others I know have traditions like taking a birthday trip, or doing a birthday physical challenge like a marathon (who are you people?!), or even going on a shopping spree at the mall with birthday money. Dinners out are the norm, as are drink dates with friends. However, not very many people I know like to make a Birthday Breakfast a "thing" for their big day. And what a shame, too, since the popular weekend brunch places are that much easier to go to if you happened to stop by on whatever weekday your birthday lands.

I have linked to this recipe before, but there's nothing that could hold me back from posting about it in full after I made it and it turned out looking this good ...

For the past few years, I have made this fah-bulous breakfast tart by request for the man on his special day. This tart is all about the presentation. It's a rustic dish with herbs and meat scattered across the top in a haphazardly-chic way, but it's not exactly a quick fix meal. It's worth it, though, for the days when you have a little extra time and want to make a really big impression. The tart technically serves four (pair it with fruit salad and coffee for a European flair), but you will have a single piece and realize it really is better off serving two hungry people, it is that tasty :)

Breakfast Tart
Amended from a Williams Sonoma winter catalog circa 2008

1 sheet puff pastry dough
1 egg, lightly beaten into a wash with 1 tsp. water
3 oz. creme fraiche (find it near the cream cheese)
2 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
8 bacon slices
4 eggs
Chives, cut on the bias into half-inch strips

Thaw puff pastry dough overnight in the fridge. Preheat oven to 425, and put bacon in on a cookie sheet to cook until crisp, about 10-15 minutes (this makes the bacon nice and flat when it's done). Lightly grease another cookie sheet.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to about 1/2 inch thickness and a 10x8 inch rectangle. Score edges 1/2 inch in from the edge with a paring knife, and prick center with a fork numerous times. Place on prepared sheet, and brush edges with egg wash. Place in refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Combine creme fraiche and cheese in a small bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Spread mixture over pastry, keeping border clean. Lay bacon on top, slightly overlapping pieces. Bake for 14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through. Remove from oven, and pop any air bubbles with a fork. Crack eggs onto tart, spacing them evenly across. Bake until egg whites are set and yolks are still soft, about 7-10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with chives and serve.

KJM Tip: Use a cookie sheet with edges for the tart. When you crack the eggs on top, they have a tendency to run all over the place before they set up. Including onto the bottom of your oven. Not that I speak from experience or anything.

Westward Bound

Did you know that I have never been further West than Gulf Shores, Alabama?

Image Source

This is as ridiculous a fact as it is for me to type that out, trust me.

I have been from the tip of Maine to the tip of Florida. Across the ocean multiple times. Down to the warm waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. Northward to Chicago, South Bend and Ohio.

But never more than that. 

This is no one's fault but my own. I have had the chance to go out and visit family, go and explore on my own, or splurge on a random weekend venture to see friends, but I never did. I instead went to my fav city NYC, or went to a new beach, or stayed close to home on a staycation. My budgets have risen and fallen, but for some reason, the West Coast has always been intangible to me, as was everything in between. I know little of what states are next to others (like for example, I did not realize that Utah is next to California AND Colorado. What!) and how long it takes to get across them by car or plane.

This has all changed today. I am literally in the air right now (hooray Go Go Inflight!) above Utah Nevada (wow these states are just whipping past) and am stunned at what is outside the window. I come from lands of housing communities, malls, high rises and suburban sprawl. Outside my window right now (over the greedy kid's head that is hogging it ;) ) is literally a mountain with snow on it's cap, surrounded by reddish, hilly openness. There is nothing out there. And it is blowing my mind. 

I have much to explore in my whirlwind trip out here over the next two days, and I can't wait to report back my findings. I love my fair city of Buckhead, but goodness, is it great to get away every so often and see the bigger picture!!

Til Sunday, friends! Have a wonderful weekend!

Friends Far and Near

I love my friends. The old ones...

Coach Mester's Word List Buddies 4Eva!

The fun ones...

One of these four does not belong. Can you guess who it is?

The working world professional (and still fun) ones...

If you ever have the chance to go to a silent-music party, DO IT. Just sayin'.

But the truth is, I've been struggling recently with trying to keep in touch with them all. I have so many plates in the air between work and related travel, the blog, volunteer work ... you name it, and I am doing it.

It's not that I am too busy. You know me - I love being busy! Here's the issue. In my spare time, there are a select few people that top my list of ones I want to see. My family. The man. A few select lady friends. And that's even if I am up for any interaction at all. Sometimes I am a-okay sitting in silence by the pool or in front of TiVo for a few hours.

And all my other friends? It's not that they aren't as important to me. It's just that I value friendships most where I can not see or talk to you for a few days or weeks (or worse, months - I try not to do that, I promise!), and then when we do, it's like nothing was ever missed. No one's feelings get hurt that we haven't talked on the phone. No one expects the other to know all the details of things that have happened in the meantime. We try to keep each other in the social loop for events and such, but life happened, and we just catch up on all of it when we can.

One of the best scenarios for me about this is my BFF Laurie. Laurie is abroad for med school, so on top of the time change (I am so bad at those. She's something like five to forever hours ahead ha), she is crazy busy with classes and rounds and papers and studying. I'm of course not as busy as she is, but my days fly by. We attempt a standing Sunday afternoon Skype video or phone chat date, but it's hit or miss. Otherwise, we grab each other for five or 15 minutes here or there over email or IM.

And you know what? It works. It's not always seamless (I can't be there for her when she has a tough day at the hospital, and she might have no idea for days that something has happened to me here) but it fits our friendship. Of course I can't wait for her to hit her Fourth Year of school when she is back in the States on rotations, but until the Fall, I am okay with these last few online dates where and when we can.

There's no real solution to this issue, and I know that everyone handles these ups and downs of friendships differently. All I know is this: some of my favorite people in the world are the ones that I haven't seen in weeks or months. I miss them all the days in between, think about them often and fondly, and try to reach out here and there when I can. I also know that they try the same for me, and that they are thinking about me out there, too. When it comes to friendships, what better is there than that? Sure, I could see you every day, but the distance makes the heart fonder, and typically the conversations, when they happen, are more in-depth and interesting, too.

So however it ends up, my friends, and however frequently we touch base, just know that I am thinking of you all! And Facebook-stalking you in my free time to "stay current." Haha j/k. Kind of.

For more of my fav posts on friends and keeping in touch, see this post or this one. This topic always enlivens a rainy afternoon in the bloggy world :)

Poofy and Pretty

First, I saw this skirt and wondered where on earth I could find one quite so feminine, poofy and frilly?

Then I realized my gal Blair at A-P (fine, she's not "my gal" per se, but I feel like if I met her in real life, she very well might be...) listed where the skirt came from! Oo-la-la! Or should I say, Oo-LU-LU!

LuLu's reminds me a lot of Rent the Runway but without the whole renting part. You like the dress? You buy it. More commitment, but similarly priced to RTR, so you still aren't killing your budget with a cocktail dress you might wear twice in your life.

I immediately found the poofy pink skirt highlighted in the "As Seen..." section. Wow, my faux friend Blair must be pretty famous. I also found a few other items I liked, too ....

This one is a stunner from the back and oh so retro with the peplum waist and fitted skirt.

 
 I like this one's subtle sophistication with updated yellow and tan color scheme.

This coral catch is business in the front and a little party in the back. Imagine this with nude heels for a summer wedding!

And lastly, I loved this one's color and shape from the front and back ... but what is up with those open sides?! Sorry, LuLu, that one won't work for this girl. I will leave it at that :)

Have any of you shopped on LuLu before? Which items look good to you on their site? 

Travel Tid-Bits

Over the next few weeks, I am getting the opportunity to travel a lot, both for work and for personal reasons. Ultimately all of the travel will be for pleasure, though, because I will be going to some pretty cool events and places :)

Spending so much time on the airline and hotel websites has gotten me thinking about some of my favorite things that I like to have with me when I travel. I am a bit of a snobby traveler - I get a rush out of making it through the security lines at the airport in record time, I always ask for the whole can of Diet Coke, and I like the aisle seats and prefer a King bed for my petite frame whenever I get the chance (Why? Because I can.).

The items I travel with aren't so uppity as they are functional, though. They get me from here to there in style while keeping my bank accounts happy.

While I do a carry-on roller-bag for flights, you will always see my monogrammed Vera Bradley duffel with me for any trips close enough that we drive. I have two in the Bermuda Blue color at right; they are cheery and fun, which are perfect mood-boosters to go along with any vacay-mindset. They also fit a ton of items, perfect for week-long vacations. If you are looking for one for yourself, check the sale options on the Vera site - they retire old patterns regularly, so you can grab one up for $50 or $60 instead of the retail $80. Add the monogram to make it extra special.

While I am a girl's girl and have enough make-up and hair products to go around for days, I hate checking luggage. I'd rather bring next to nothing and carry-on rather than stand around a carousel waiting for my bag to appear. Small, clear containers like these make it easy for me to dole out a few days' worth of product that all fits into a carry-on approved zipper bag. Mine even came with little labels to stick on that say "lotion" or "eye makeup remover" so that I don't accidentally put toner on my eyeball :) I just throw the bag in the front pocket of my bag, and I am set to go.

Whether it's a weekend trip to the beach where all I need are a few bathing suits, or an overnight business trip where my bag only includes one change of clothes, a smaller "garment" bag is a must for a frequent traveler. Mine came as a set with my large rolling suitcase, but it works like a charm alone when I am on the go for a night or two. It can expand enough to fit my laptop if need be, but also doubles as a stand on which I can prop my laptop bag while rolling through the gates. This one above would be great for guys or girls, and is a steal on sale right now at Macy's for $89.

I don't actually own this one (yet), but my dad does, and it's genius. All of your chargers, all in one little bag. iPhone, Blackberry, laptop, games, car chargers, wall chargers - you name it, iGo provides the matching plugs and converters. You buy what you need, ignore what you don't, and upgrade as your devices do. Pick your set up at your local Radio Shack. This one is especially clutch if you are traveling with your significant other or entire family - no one will flip out when they realize they forgot their charger!


This is just a snapshot of my favs. What are yours? Can you not travel without a sleep-mask for the flight, or do you crave a neck pillow for the car?

Laugh and Dine for Dad's

This event sounds so fun, I just couldn't help but pass it along. Especially since I initially thought it was Father's Day-related, but then realized that was just my tired brain not reading things right ;) Whatever, this still could be a super fun thing to "gift" your Dad if you are still searching for something for tomorrow's big day!

Cheers to my friend Wendy at @ATL_Events for being behind this awesome event! Go Wendy!

Dine Out for Dad's
Thursday, 6/23 from 5:30pm-10pm at Sauced

The run-down: Similar to other local dine-out events for non-profits, proceeds from the night go towards Dad's Garage. BUT you also get a 50% off ticket to see a show that night at Dad's Garage, too! You can't beat that. This is a great dinner-and-a-show date night idea.

Betty Tip: Guys, do the whole deal with the waiter ahead of time so you can impress your lady with your planning "skillz." 

Here are the two show options that night at Dad's:
8:00pm – sLaughter Camp
10:30pm - Uncomfortably Up Close and Personal

Make a reservation at Sauced by calling 404.688.6554. Then save your spot at Dad's too - purchase a ticket for that evening at the student price. You'll receive a coupon with your bill at Sauced that we'll verify at the door. 

Get the full event details on Facebook - and get ready to laugh while helping a great cause!

Running in Circles

Over all this time of me being on WW, it's been a fight in my head of Athletic-Eats-Well Katherine vs. I-Want-To-Veg-Out Katherine. And despite being the lazier, more-blah version of myself, the latter always seems to come back and kick my athletic half in the booty.

Back in high school, I used to swim every single day from 5:30-7AM. Sure, I ate enough calories on top of that to keep me at an average (albeit, pretty darn muscular) weight, but the fact remains, somehow I was super-athlete back in the day. I now think to myself as I struggle with 7AM wake-ups, who was that person?!

Today? Not so much. Like so many past-athletes, I have had to adjust to my surroundings. I realized I wasn't very good at swimming solo (hard to stay motivated when there aren't people behind you touching your toes - you swimmers know what I mean!) and most area pools at complexes were never big enough for laps, anyways. I soon realized I would have to run to keep in tip-top shape. You should know - I hate running. No matter how "good" I get at it, it's still tough for me to get out there. I have to vary my routes so that there is always something new to look at.

At first glance, you might not assume that Buckhead is a runner's haven. Sure, the Peachtree Road Race starts right in the heart of Buckhead each year, but it's held on a public road that gets shut down just for the race. The sidewalks otherwise are hit or miss, and you come to a traffic light every .4 miles that may or may not have a working pedestrian crosswalk light.

In the effort to always vary my route and avoid the smog-chaos of Peachtree, I discovered the Historic Garden Hills neighborhood last year, and it has remained one of my top routes ever since. Where is Garden Hills, you might ask?


View Historic Garden Hills in a larger map

Flanked by Peachtree Park to the East and Peachtree Heights to the West, Garden Hills is a quaint neighborhood between Piedmont Rd. and Peachtree Rd. in mid-Buckhead, right by the church district. Naturally hilly with winding roads that make lots of different loops, this area is a joy to run/walk through. I LOVE the little cottage-style houses and how each one is uniquely different. The old trees provide a decent amount of shade for pedestrians, and the sidewalks are well-maintained, too. For the sportier people, Frankie Allen Park provides tennis courts and fields.

If you are like me and crave some variety in your run/walk workouts, head over towards Garden Hills next time. East Wesley starting at Peachtree is largely uphill all the way to Piedmont, but you can break off onto side roads anytime you need a break.

Do you have a favorite route around town to share? I love finding new places to check out!

Binder Challenge Recipe: Do the Dip

Between our monthly Girls Nights and the random evenings entertaining all the guy friends coming over to the condo, I have amassed a little stack of go-to appetizer recipes that please a crowd while keeping me out of the kitchen. You may remember the guac bites; they may reign as one of the all-time favorites amongst my family and friends. I also love anything that I can put into a puff pastry cup, like this great Southern Living recipe that fills them with red pepper jelly and goat cheese. Yum!

Since I highly recommend you take advantage of the summer and host more friends in grown-up gatherings at your place, whether by the pool or by the grill, I want to share another easy and tasty appetizer recipe that is sure to wow the crowd. This one is perfect with pita chips (make your own by slicing up pita or flatbread and baking until crisp!), pretzel sticks or tortilla chips. I love the added bite of the hearts of palm; it upgrades your basic spinach dip into something special.

Caveat: this one may not be 100% WW-friendly once you realize you want a lot more than the serving size :)

Garlicky Spinach Dip with Hearts of Palm
Recipe amended from Cooking Light, March 2005
WW points per 1/4 cup with 8 pita chips: 3

2c. shredded reduced-fat Italian cheese blend - the one with Asiago, Parmesan and Mozzarella
1/2c. fat-free sour cream
1 14-oz can hearts of palm, drained and chopped
1 10-oz pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 8-oz block fat-free cream cheese, softened
1 6.5-oz. tub light garlic and cheese spreadable cheese (like Alouette Light)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients, reserving 1/4 c. of shredded cheese. Spoon into a 1 1/2 quart greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake for 40 minutes or until bubbly.

Note from KJM: I didn't have time to soften the cream cheese, so I cut it into blocks and just stirred it to blend together once it had baked. Then I sprinkled the remaining cheese on top at the end, instead.

Sperrys for the French Girl

You all know I love me some Sperrys. But while perusing some new blogs this week, I stumbled across A Cup of Jo's shot of these suckers:

I was immediately intrigued. They look so comfy and CUTE!

I know a lot of people are TOMS fans:

PS. They apparently have an entire wedding line of TOMS shoes perfect for the dance floor!

But these Bensimon sneakers look way more chic, and as Joanna says, they are very Parisian. That sounds nice to me - why not at least pretend to be a Parisian chick while we die in this Atlanta humidity? Plus, at $55 a pair, they are comparable in price to our fav Sperrys.

Image Source

Would you wear any of these? They have lace-up versions too, but I am partial to the slides, perfect for a casual summery day.

A Tutorial for the Ladies: Top Of the Head Bun

Slowly but surely, I started to grow my hair out this spring. The bangs, as fun as they were, felt like they were going from "perfect" to "too long" in a matter of one day every two weeks. While I am an excellent bang trimmer (my stylist always knows though, ha), that was just too much. Bangs combined with the summer heat was going to be a big no-no anyways.

One of the best parts of growing out my hair has been that it's once again long enough to pile up into high ponytails and buns. For you girls out there, you know how great it can be to put your hair up on a bad hair day, a rainy day or a "I just don't care about my appearance today" day.

But since man of us are working professionals out there, all of those excuses, especially that last "I don't care about my appearance" one, aren't too legit if you want to be taken seriously at your job. No matter if you slept in too late or it's 100% humid out, you have to figure out a way to make your hair work.

For long-haired gals, here's my how-to of a top-bun with some easy style. The best part is that this style works best when your hair is dirty. So sleep in that extra 30 minutes, grab some pins and hair product, and spend all of four minutes on this chic chignon.

PS. This is my first time making a video. Please don't laugh (too much) at me :)



What do you think? A do-able style? What's your go-to easy hair style for these hot and humid days?

For the Boys, Part III - The Finale

As a wrap-up to my For the Men mini-series, there were some loose ends to tie up beyond the bar and dating scene. Like, what are their go-to places for clothes? What about where they get their hair cut? Seemingly simple things for us ladies to consider, but for guys, the options are much more limited. So, here we go!

"The All-Atlanta Post By the Men, For the Men." Part III

Men's Style

Unless a guy is a hardcore fan of the local $5 barber or the no-name dry cleaner, he likely has some favorite places around town he frequents for all of his personal style needs. Here were a few options that stood out:

Image via American Haircuts

• Buckhead Alterations
• Oxxo - this new-age Dry Cleaner in Buckhead offers 24-hour pickup service using a provided member card and a machine that brings your clothes to the window! 
• American Haircuts - with two locations in the metro area, this place is a top-runner for many of the men surveyed. On top of the haircut, they do a hot shave if you make an appointment. Biggest win? They'll give you free liquor while you're there. 
• Rooster's on Power's Ferry - similar perks to American, plus shoe shines, waxes and manicures for the guys if they are daring :)
• No one store in particular, but in general, the consignment shops in Little Five Points have great options for inexpensive, retro-style ties and blazers.

Did you know there are at least five high-end menswear retailers and tailors in the immediate Northside area? I definitely did not, but checking out this post from Wedding Soiree makes me want to be a man for a day and stop by to shop. How swank!

Other Fun Things To Do as a Guy Around Town 

Other than hitting the pool, the golf course or the local brewery, what do guys like to do on the weekends here in Atlanta?

Image via German Bierfest

• Record shops - the ones in Little Five Points are perfect for the the music buffs out there
• Monster Jam - remember to wear your camo and redneck attire!
• Oysterfest
• Braves Opening Day
• Dunwoody Beer Festival
• Restaurant Weeks - Buckhead, Midtown and Downtown
• Peachtree Road Race - run or walk it, or pick a spot on Peachtree St. to drink, eat and cheer on the racers for the morning
• Germain Bierfest
• College football games - catch a night game at Georgia Tech on September 1
• Falcons and Hawks games - especially any playoff games
• Vans Warped Tour - throwback concert, anyone?

Last Thoughts From the Men and Me

The guys that helped me out on this "survey" suggested it would be interesting to extend this whole thing back to the girls to get the same insights. While it'd be fun for us gals to get some new recommendations of favorite places to go and events to attend, the men out there are particularly interested in knowing what WE want, too! How have our dating and social scenes changed within the 5-10 years out of college? What things do we look for while cruising the town with our girls? 

Great idea, guys! I can't wait to bring this back this summer as a Girls Edition for your reading pleasure :)

Many, many thanks to the participants of my informal survey! I appreciate your help and feedback. You guys rock!

Old School, New School

You know those items in your closet that you just can't bear to throw away, despite not having worn them for seasons at a time?

Truth: I am a clotheshorse. I keep crucial items for years at a time in the hopes that they, one day, will come back into style. Don't get me wrong - I do follow the rule of donating less-expensive items every season if they haven't gotten worn in at least a year. This keeps my drawers and closets ready for that next big color or popular style trend, plus it gets me a swank write-off each year on my taxes! The Buckhead Goodwill guys almost knew me by name last year, I was there so often with perfectly-wearable, if not too large or too small, donations.

Despite the room they might take up, there are other special items on which I keep a close hold, though. A prime example is a dark denim jean jacket that I bought on deep discount (because they were phasing them out, can you imagine!) from Express back in 2005. A year or two then went by where jean jackets weren't that common. And then, BAM! There they were, back in vogue, and I was all set to go. While black pencil skirts, dark bootcut jeans and turtleneck sweaters all fall into the category of seasonally fabulous, an item like that jacket needs your trust to not discard too quickly.

Today I am wearing the mother of all wardrobe saves. 

 
This croched-top, I kid you not, is an item from The Limited circa 1995. True to the times, I originally wore it with a long broomstick-style black and white skirt and bright red clogs (Clogs and Converse sneakers were all the rage - I had one in red, and the other in bright pink!).

Then years (and years) went by, and this summery top was put at the bottom of my wardrobe bins, rarely taken out each season as I swapped out clothes. But, deep inside, I knew that it would again be cute and trendy, and it was high-enough quality that I knew it could stand the test of time. So I made sure to keep it around.

Sure enough, here we are again, and the top has new life. I love pairing it with a longer white tank underneath (since I have grown a few inches taller since the 5th grade!) and plain colored bottoms. Today, I added pops of color with bright pink flats, a pink flower-print watch and a hot pink purse from Mexico. Beachy and summery, yet still professional in black and white.

What do you think? Has this top been worth the save? What's the oldest wardrobe piece in your closet?

For the Boys, Part II

Back for Part II of this little mini-series just for the dude Betties out there. Yes, I went there.

"The All-Atlanta Post By the Men, For the Men." Part II

Up first for today...

Question #3: Go-to Places a Guy Can Take a Girl on a Date

With all the places around town where you can wine and dine, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to find a good spot to cozy up with a girl on one of those early dates. You know the ones - where you are asking a lot of questions about each other, you are trying not to be awkward or get food stuck in your teeth, and you pick up the tab and maybe even get a kiss in the end.

Well, guys, what are your favorite spots? Here were the top performers. The main objective when selecting a restaurant? Shoot for places that are not overly noisy, and where the menu is simple and not highly unique. Ordering food should not be difficult or too tough to find and make a selection!

• South City Kitchen
• Buckhead Bottle Bar
• Varasano's
• Verde
• Any Buckhead Life or Here to Serve group restaurant like Aja or Goldfish
• The Big Ketch
• Cafe Intermezzo - extra points if you know someone who works there. Winner line: "Excuse me for a second. I'm going to go talk to the bartender." *returns with free drinks*
• Dad's Garage or Whole World for some laughs
• Turner Field or the Gwinnett Braves - the 9 innings gives you plenty of time to chat and still be entertained in case the date turns sour.
• Midtown Cinema and The Fox for less mainstream screenings and showings.

Don't see your favorite? Add it to the list by leaving a comment below!


Question #4: Best Spots to Meet the Ladiessss

Yes, I typed it that way in my "survey." For the record, I also told them Moondogs does not count :)

The bottom line here? No matter their age, the boys still go on the hunt for the gals at the bar. Ladies, get your jeans and cute tops on, because they are definitely scoping you out!

• Buckhead Bottle Bar
• The Ivy
• Whiskey Park / Whiskey Blue
• St. Regis Bar
• Red Door
• Dive Bar
• Kramer's
• Five Paces
• Churchill's

I don't know about you, but I am glad to see that the list of bars has graduated to the "young professionals" scene away from East Andrews and Hole in the Wall. I love most of these spots! 

We are down to just one more "For the Boys" post to complete this mini-series! Thanks again to the men who participated in my completely non-statistical sampling! :)

Summer Sun and Fun

It's almost the end of the week, and yet another early-summer weekend full of events is upon us!

A few quickie reminders about two main things you got going for ya this weekend if you are looking for some sunshine fun. That is, if you don't hunker down poolside to catch some rays instead. Which is also totally awesome - enjoy :)

Saturday and Sunday - The Virginia Highlands Summerfest!
I know you hear me talk about how "Oysterfest is my favorite festival," but seriously, SummerFest is probably tied for #1, and for totally different reasons. Art, Dave FM live music, street food (gyros, yum!) and house parties all combine for a hot weekend in the sun. Prepare to sweat (don't worry, everyone else is soaked, too) as you meander the streets for the day. I will be there on Saturday, so keep a lookout for this Betty!

See The Quick and Dirty Dirty's post from this week for even more details. Lindsay and I literally ran into each other last year at the Fest at a random house party on Virginia Ave. Hoping for the same luck this year - they are so fun!

Sunday - Pints for a Purpose
For a refresher, see either my post from last week OR the fabulous post Lauren wrote up at The Q+DD, too. Those ladies are so fab! Thanks Lauren for helping to spread the word.

Tickets are now $30 and include 3 raffle tickets, a custom Shirlock Foundation pint glass and fantastic Red Brick Beer. We have some great raffle items up for grabs, including a set of 4 tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a Coach Paul Johnson (GT) autographed football, Southern Proper ties and local restaurant gift certificates. Tex's Tacos is joining in the fun for the afternoon, too. 

Enjoy the sunshine either way, friends!! Thanks for your support on the Shirlock Foundation!

Binder Challenge Recipe: A Middle Eastern Delight

Some of my favorite recipes are the ones I make up. I throw ingredients together on a whim, using what my mama taught me and my gut to figure out how much of this and how little of that will taste the best in the end. Cooking with simple, natural ingredients makes this method both convenient (really, how wrong can you go when you have only 5 things in that dish?) and healthy (a few sauteed vegetables plus broth plus grated cheese = #soupwin).

While we technically use a "recipe" for this healthy side dish (or light lunch, like I enjoy it!), you can wing the measurements a bit and still end up loving it. Serve with hummus, flatbread, olives and feta cheese for a fun meze arrangement.

Image Source

Tabouli
From Falafel's Drive-in, San Jose, CA via Food Network

1 c. water
1 c. fine cracked wheat (we use a plain box of couscous)
1 c. minced fresh parsley leaves
1/2 c. minced fresh mint leaves
1/2 c. finely chopped yellow onion
3 tomatoes, diced
2 cucumbers, seeded and diced
3 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. sea salt

In a large mixing bowl, pour the water over the cracked wheat and cover. Let stand about 20 minutes. Add the chopped herbs and vegetables and toss with the oil, lemon juice and salt. Chill and serve.