Feeling Famous in the Hall of Fame

With the holiday break right around the corner, most of us are planning out what we can do when our loved ones come to visit us. Sure, there's the inevitable shopping trips and family meals, but what do you do when the food is all cleaned up, and the Big Game isn't on TV yet? 

Last weekend, my cousin came into town for the annual Georgia Tech-Clemson bout, and I was faced with the same question and wanted to make sure she had a great time on her visit. Luckily, I had earmarked a page from the paper from months ago, about the new College Football Hall of Fame, so we were set with a fun place to go!

Located in downtown Atlanta right by Phillips and the Dome, the College Football Hall of Fame relocated from South Bend and our beloved Fighting Irish back in August, and the new location just couldn't be cooler. It's an entirely interactive experience, anchored around the "all access" badge you receive when you walk in. Pick your team, and go explore! 

The entrance hall is pretty awesome alone. The helmets on the walls light up with a blue light as you pick your team. I picked Georgia Tech, Brad picked Auburn, and Erin picked Clemson. Then, as you walk through the museum, the badge is automatically picked up by the displays, and you get served up custom college content. Here's Brad checking out the interactive screen of Auburn videos and photos: 

And then right down the way on the same big screen, a section lit up to show me some Georgia Tech content. My favorite was watching the Ramblin' Wreck enter the stadium with the team :)

This museum is super-connected. If you participate in any of the interactive demos, the video and photos are tracked on your badge, and everything gets sent to your email address when you leave. So, in case you are wondering, YES, you can re-live that moment when you accidentally signed up for Fight Song Karaoke in front of the entire. freaking. room. of. people. and then had to sing and clap. Yep.

Goodness. Gracious. But if I can do it, so can you. #GoJackets #noshame #sorryimnotsorry What team would you sing a fight song for aloud, no questions asked? :)

In addition to the interactive content, there is just SO much to read and explore on your own in over two floors of museum displays. History, legends and traditions in college towns across the nation. Spotting your favorite college throughout is pretty easy, since most big NCAA schools seemed to be represented.



One last BB tip: GO SEE THE MOVIE. It is, in one word, AMAZING. I got chills and nearly teared up. If you are a sports fan, you are going to love it.

Happy Holidays, all, enjoy your Thanksgiving! And, Go Jackets, and War Eagle! 

Disclosure: I didn't receive any compensation from the CFB Hall of Fame for this post. We just had an amazing time, and I wanted to share this with you all!

Laughs for Ladies Nights

As we have all continued to grow up since our early days of entry-level jobs and internship projects, our PR Girls crowd has gotten more refined in our get-togethers. And by refined, I really mean, simplified.

Early days of happy hours at local restaurants shifted to our single girl apartments, where the wine flowed cheaper and we tried out new appetizer recipes. Now, we have shifted things to our homes, while the husbands are tossed out for the night. Fancy appetizers have given way to quick runs past the store for prepared hummus and chips to add to a few "semi-homemade" treats (since we all know that the wine is the true star!).

We don't go out for PR Girls nights very often anymore. Every so often, though, we break habit and head out onto the town. A girl's gotta live it up every once in a while, after all! Plus, it's fun to throw on some heels and sparkles and have a true ladies night.

We did just that a few weekends ago, ditching the men and hitting up our former stomping grounds over at East Andrews. We weren't heading out for a crazy late night at the bar, however. Or at least, not totally :) We went to have a few good laughs at the Atlanta Improv Theater! 

About the Improv: Founded by Budd Friedman in New York in 1963, many know the Improv from the A&E show “An Evening at the Improv”. Over the decades, the talent who has played center stage include Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler and Dave Chappelle, to name a few. Today, the Atlanta Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre hosts national touring comics with up to five shows per week.

The comedians that performed the night we attended definitely brought the laughs. The headliner act was my favorite. Ryan Singer had a fun blend of topics that appealed to the mixed audience there that night -- something that's important to me. I enjoy comedy, but don't want to hear raunchy or off-color jokes all night. I like it when a comedian can read the audience, and blend jokes together, from witty to raunchy with a little silly throw in.

One thing to note for your visit is that the Improv has a full food and drink menu. There is a two drink minimum (not hard for us to hit that, ha) and then the food comes from fellow Andrews Entertainment District restaurants, including Stillhouse, Cellar 56, Czar Bar and Stout. Good to know in case you are combining dinner and entertainment for date night at the 8PM show, or have a case of late night munchies at the 10PM show. We stuck with easy champagne and wine, but the full bar looked promising, too.

All in all, it was a great change of pace for the night! We finished out with late drinks at the bar downstairs, part of the old East Andrews -- pretending to be 22 again, but smart enough now to know that the easiest way to head home on a late Friday night is to call Uber ;)

More info: 
56 East Andrews Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30305
(678) 244-3612
www.theimprovatlanta.com

Disclosure: I was compensated with tickets for the Improv, but all opinions here are my own. 

Dinner Party Prepping

The hubs and I did something very grown up this weekend. We hosted my parents for a nice, sit-down dinner party. Homemade pie, coffee and tea and all. Totally acted my 30 years of age ;)

When we got married, I knew that wedding china was definitely going on our registry list. I love to entertain, and have dreams of throwing big, lavish sit-down dinners for friends and family. Some day. 

For now, our tiny, non-expandable, condo-sized table for four will have to do. Two to three guests at a time, check. Once, we tried the awkward "add a bigger table next to the circle table" thing. But that wasn't so successful. No one wants to sit on the curve of the table!

I haven't had many opportunities to use the wedding china since the big day. If I had my act together more, I'd do what my friend Lisa does and use it on the 13th of the month, every month. That is such a nice thought. I think we have managed to use the china a handful of times so far, probably more like once every three months :)

So a dinner party was in high order! And hooray, sure enough, the china definitely upgraded the experience, from first course to coffee service. 

I did what I always do, a trick that I learned from my mom - set the table first thing that morning. It not only gets the atmosphere right, but it's usually something you will want to take time with, so why not get it done first? I ironed the tablecloth and napkins, spent time pulling out the right plates and utensils, and then put it all together. The weather was gorgeous, the door was open -- it was pretty much a perfect start to the day.

This dinner party was a lot of fun. We enjoyed a few different cheeses with crackers and beverages before the main meal. We decided on the following recipes --

* Mahi Mahi with Braised Tomatoes - Based on a Bacchanalia recipe from a cookbook we received, filled with famous dishes from tons of great restaurants around the country. The fish was light, and finished in the oven, making it easy to prep.

* Gratin of Belgium Endive - A Cooking Light recipe I tore out in 2009. Made it for the first time, and would definitely enjoy this one again! It paired well with the lighter fish and tomatoes, but as a Cooking Light recipe, it wasn't too heavy, like a true gratin might be.

* Malted Chocolate Pecan Pie with homemade whipped cream - Recipe from the Four and Twenty Blackbirds cookbook that I received at Christmas (thanks, Adrienne and Tim!). Oh my. The filling was amazing. The crust, I need to try again, now that I have made it once, but I could tell it will be stellar when I get it just right. 

It was all so good together! We chose the recipes partially by what would be seasonally appealing -- no need to make a stew when it is going to be 70 degrees outside! -- and also easy for us to prep while still spending time with our guests. The pie was the most time consuming, but I could make it in advance, along with the tomatoes. The endive, we also prepped in advance and just threw in the oven to brown when guests were due to arrive. That way, it was done around the time we were ready to eat. The fish was the one item that needed a little last minute attention, but it was a quick task, and one that the hubs could do while talking about beer with my dad.

All in all, it was a great night. And now, I can't wait to have another party and use that china again soon :)

Have you thrown any dinner parties recently? What did you choose to make? How did it go?!

Boxes and Boxes

It's no secret that I like a good adult beverage. I have a few stand-bys that I turn to. A Cosmopolitan or a Martini are my special occasion drink -- fancy nights on the town, a special happy hour with friends, holidays, etc. Then I am a Makers and Diet gal for football game days. You better believe we are stocking up this week since football kicks off this weekend!! Beer is good for tailgating and brewery tours. White wine is nice with a fancy dinner here and there. And then, for pretty much anything else, I like red wine. I'm not picky about the brand or type of red wine, just red in general works for me.

Lately, the pools around town have been cracking down on glass at pools. Apparently, there is some sort of state law that says when glass breaks inside pool gates, whether or not its near or in the water, the entire pool has to be drained and cleaned out. Our highrise has cracked down on the policy in an effort to avoid shutting down the pool on a regular basis thanks to partying neighbors -- and to avoid charging all of the residents for the resulting HOA charges. Now, residents who violate the no-glass rule are fined, and any resident who breaks glass, or has a guest who does so, is responsible for paying the fine for the pool draining and cleaning. We are talking multiple, multiple hundreds of dollars. Oh my! We will gladly amend our late-summer poolside drinking habits to avoid that expense :)

While the guys can easily shift to canned beer, I have been hearing a lot of great things about boxed wine recently from my girlfriends.

I know. I can hear you all saying, ick, boxed wine?! The hubs said the same thing. But trust me on this one. 

I got a stellar recommendation on this brand from a colleague, and OMG, it is so good. You would never. ever. know. that this is boxed wine. Bota Box is actually wine in a bag in a box, so there is none of that cardboard taste that plagues most other boxed wines. We grabbed the Malbec, and everyone who tried it at the pool party raved about it.

The other great part is the price. The box is only $20, and is equal to FOUR BOTTLES of wine. That rivals any good Trader Joe's wine pricing. Even better, the wine stays fresh, since no air can get inside like a bottle. They claim it stays fresh for 45 days. As if I would let it hang around that long to test the theory, but you know, still a good benefit ;)

Bota Box looks to be distributed around the country, but they offer a zip code search in case you want to be sure to find it at your local store. I did a quick search for the Malbec, and how convenient, it's offered right around the corner from me at our Publix. Score! :)

What's your go-to beverage? And have you tried Bota Box or any other boxed wines that we should try out? 

Tailgate Time

Can you believe it? Another football season is upon us! Whether you cheer for college, pro or any team sport that involves a ball of some sort, you have to admit that tailgating is a clutch part of any pre-game prep. The comradery, team spirit and general fun that comes along with an oversize tent, camping chairs and a set of corn hole boards is hard to beat on an early Saturday afternoon.

Regular readers here know that I don't pass up an opportunity to make a dish to share and get out there early with a beer (or mimosa!) in hand before the big Georgia Tech game. This year, our groups of friends have started to spread across campus enough that we are considering making a shift of our own. We haven't decided on an official tailgate location, but tailgating dreams are already formulating in my head.

Tailgating strategy is a must-have before you hit the road with your coolers. Serious tailgaters know that the best parties come with a bit of planning in advance. At Georgia Tech, for example, there is limited parking on campus, and so a central person often brings in the tents, chairs and tables while others park cars and walk to join the party. We take MARTA to the games, so our contributions are usually focused around food, beverages and decor. Our groups in the past have done a potluck-style tailgate, and an email chain gets the group thinking about what items they want to bring. Other groups/schools offer sponsored tents complete with catering packages. Centralized purchasing of the big meat and main dishes while participants contribute funds helps other groups stay focused.

I don't know if there's a right way or a best way, but I do know that I personally love to cook and contribute on my own. While a catered affair would be really easy, and for us especially, given our MARTA hike pre- and post-game, I love getting up early on a Saturday to throw a casserole in the oven, and to share it with my friends that afternoon. I usually keep the commute in mind when preparing a dish, and we can pack things into a cooler for transport with the best of them!

I heard from a gal pal that one of her groups does themed tailgates each week. Rather than just asking for the typical main dishes, sides and desserts, this group has focused their parties around a central theme, such as all things "white and gold" to match up with the GT colors. How fun!

We always end our tailgates in Peter's Parking deck!
Also, I swear I own more gold shirts than the one in
both of these photos, ha! 

Here are some ideas I think could be fun to try out one week at your next big tailgate. If anything, you will have some Pinterest-worthy photos to share once the spread is complete!

Betty-Inspired Football Tailgating Themes

Toe-Meets-Leather Luau: Make it a Hawaiian theme! Roast a pig or a pork loin and offer up DIY BBQ sandwiches with pineapple slices and buns for guests. Macadamia coconut bars would be a perfect dessert, and leis for all the guests will help separate your party from the one next door. Party City is stocked with easy luau decorations for the table. 

Touchdown Time: Usually tailgates have all of the food displayed out at once, and there's so much to choose from that some dishes can get overlooked. It could be fun (if you have the patience and time!) to debut one food item at a time throughout your tailgate, instead! Have a phone alarm ready to go off with your school's fight song every 15 minutes or so, and unwrap/uncover the next dish for guests to enjoy. Go to each new dish clockwise around the table.

Local Loves: Sure, schools in the South feature a lot of slow-cooked meat, but why not incorporate the local foodie favorites more prominantly? In Atlanta, that could mean chicken and waffles for a brunch tailgate, or cheese and smoked meats from a local butcher. If everyone is encouraged to shop locally, this could be a fun way to explore some of the local area's best produce and stores! Decorate with framed maps and photos of the area neighborhood and storefronts. 

Chip Explosion: I always joke that chips and dips are the most overdone thing at a tailgate. They are an easy option for guys, and if you run out of time to make something, anyone can throw together a quick dip from a spice packet. But what if everyone, for just one game, HAD to bring a homemade dip to go along with their chip (or other dipping item) of choice? I'm imagining loaded baked potato dip, buffalo chicken dip, seven-layer Mexi-dip, pimento cheese dip, cookies and cream dip ... pretty much enough dips to make a well-rounded meal! For decor, pick up some themed bowls in your team colors to give the table a unified feel.

What about you? Have you participated in any fun, themed tailgates? Share your ideas here!

Let's Talk: Prepping for Guests

Despite the fact that I live in a one-bedroom condo, I absolutely love to entertain and host overnight guests while they are in town or just stopping by. I have a really nice queen-sized aerobed that I can pull out in a minute to set up a temporary bedroom in the living room, and tons of great pillows and sheets, too. Some guests are planned, like my cousin Erin who was just in town a few weeks ago, and others are more spur of the moment. My brother and his friends frequently crash here after a late night on the town, and sometimes the girls nights go all night, literally!

Even if this place isn't huge, I like to make it seem so by setting up a hotel-like environment for guests, no matter who they are. I straighten everything up, giving the house a quick vacuum and putting away extra clutter, and have the kitchen stocked with cold sodas and coffee for the morning. I have a "what's yours, is mine" mentality with house guests, and so I make every effort to set things up just right in advance so that they can enjoy their stay here. I want my guests to feel like they are at-home ... or better yet, at a hotel!

The only area where quarters are a bit tight when guests are here is the bathroom. While a generously-sized master bath, there's just one in here, so we all have to take turns with showers and getting ready. Last summer, I was lucky enough to host my BFF's bachelorette weekend here, and after an afternoon at the pool cabanas, all of the girls rotated in and out of the bathroom and master bedroom, prepping for dinner on the town. It was quite a production, but so fun to spend time with everyone while getting gussied up!

I was excited when this opportunity came up with Kleenex because no matter how big or small your bathroom, I think it's a really important area to have ready for guests! Here are some of my tips for readying this space, whether it's a main or guest bath.

Keep it fresh: Fresh flowers add so much to a space, and the bathroom is no exception. I love to put a small vase or bowl full of freshly-cut blooms next to the sink. Along with their fresh scent, they look pretty, too, and can make even the smallest space look fancy. This is a great idea if the in-laws or your parents are visiting -- they will definitely notice this nice touch. I love the blooms from Trader Joe's for an inexpensive bouquet.

Make like a hotel: You know how when you are a hotel, they stock your room with supplies, just in case some of your personal items got snatched up at airport security or left behind at home? I like to do that in my own bath, too. This is a trick that I learned from my mom. Whenever I travel, I take the complimentary samples of shampoo, conditioner and lotion home with me (unopened, since I usually also bring my own!) and then keep a basket stocked with these goodies ready for guests to use if they need them! A bonus, if you have room, is to add in extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, razors and face wash.  The bonus items from Clinique are perfect for this basket for any of your gal pals spending the night. Point out the basket and let guests know that they can help themselves to whatever they need. Sure enough, my poor cousin forgot her toothbrush amidst her travels, and thankfully, I had an extra one on hand for her to take!

A basket of toiletries makes any bathroom feel hotel-quality!

Light it up: Candles are a clutch accessory in the bathroom when guests are visiting. Since this condo sees a lot of dinner or late-night parties with all the girls or other couples, I make sure to light a candle in the bathroom before guests arrive to add a fresh scent and also provide some extra mood lighting. My favorites are the Yankee candles -- I am out of my favorite summer scent, Sand and Sun, but with my favorite season right around the corner, soon I will be able to pull out the Pumpkin Spice one :)

Pick your favorite scent to add mood light and freshness to the bath!

Provide the little extras: I usually overlook my bathroom cleanliness for longer than I probably should when it's just me here (don't we all??), but we've all got to step our bathroom games up for the guests. I like to spray the sink faucets with Windex to give them an extra shine, and while I take my own shower before guests arrive, I take the opportunity to spray down the curtain and tiles and give them an extra scrub down, too. A quick wipe-down of the counters gets things ready, and all of my everyday items get stored away in the cabinets, out of sight.

What things do you do in your bathroom to prep for guests? Do you have just one bathroom like me, or do you have a guest bath, too? Join the 14 million people who have already joined the Clean Hands campaign by using Kleenex Hand Towels, and click here for savings and more!   

I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective.