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!

Giveaway: Cirque du Soleil Amaluna

Part of my favorite part of living in the suburbs is the peace and quiet we have nearly at all times. This morning, a bird chirping woke me up. A bird. What has happened to me? I used to sleep through helicopters whizzing overhead, honks of cars on the nearby roads and the beeps of trucks backing up our high-rise driveway. Now? It's birds. Oh, and the school bus engine idling up the street at 6:42AM, every weekday morning. That's only if I am snoozing much past my alarm and not already walking out the door with this new commute :)

A part of me will always live in the city, though, and I just can't stay away for too long :) I still work in town, and most weekends, I am in town for something, whether it's hanging with friends, or checking out the big game (don't get me started on our Jackets this year, though. Sigh).

This past weekend, it was Cirque du Soleil that drew me into town, to the blue and yellow tents at Atlantic Station. We put on our matinee outfits, grabbed a quick pint next door at Meehan's, and strolled in for the Sunday afternoon show of Amaluna.

Side note: Isn't it amazing how quickly the Cirque du Soleil show seems to set up when they come to town? Those tents go up seemingly overnight, even though in reality, it takes eight days to set up, and three to take down, all via a team of 85 people. Either way, it always makes me think of that opening scene in Dumbo with the men singing as they raise the big top :)

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

Amaluna was a fantastic experience. First of all, the vibe under the tent is awesome. The crowd sits really close to the stage, all 2,600 of us, and the seats go probably three-quarters of the way around the stage. That means that there is not a bad seat in the house! If you want to see the action really up-close, you can grab seats up front. Or, you can sit a bit further back to get some amazing full-picture views of everything going on. On top of that, there are circular parts of the stage that revolve so that everyone can see everything from every angle.

One of my absolute favorite parts was the band. I noticed a big part of the show was made up of female performers. I found out later that my hunch was right -- the cast is 70% female! The band was all-female, and they brought out the electric cello for a number of the great ballads. I am a cellist myself, so of course I loved it! I always thought it'd be cool to play the electric cello. This woman rocked it. Seeing a show that's a self-titled tribute to the voice and power of women was empowering in and of itself.

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

From the costumes to the acts, the show was wonderful. Just wait 'til you see what this performer does with the pile of sticks at her feet!

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

Have you been to a Cirque du Soleil show before? What was your favorite memory? How about going to see Amaluna while they are in town? If you are game ... I have tickets to give away right here, y'all! So, get your raffle entry on because I am going to pick a winner later this week! First, read on to learn a bit more ...

About Cirque du Soleil 

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2014, Cirque du Soleil brings a new show to Atlanta. Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Amaluna's Tony Award-winning Show Director, Diane Paulus, drew from a series of classical influences when creating the concept of the show -- including tales from Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart's The Magic Flute, and Shakespeare's The Tempest. Now playing under the famed blue-and-yellow Big Top at Atlantic Station until November 30, 2014, great seats start as low as $35.  

Ticket Giveaway Details

I have four (4) tickets to give away to lucky readers for the Wednesday, November 5th show of Amaluna, at 7:30PM. Ready to win?! Be sure to enter your info in the below form! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not so lucky on the giveaway? 

Buy discounted tickets here, thanks to Amaluna. Take advantage of this offer and buy four tickets for the price of three. Bring the whole family, or all the gals - and enjoy the show! 

Disclosure: I received two free tickets to the Amaluna show in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own! Thanks to Amaluna and Cirque du Soleil for the great afternoon! 

Popping In, Popping Up

Eeeek time has flown by this spring, friends. I have SO many things going on that I can't wait to tell you about oh so soon! It's been a great few months.

In the meantime, I wanted to pass along word of a fun shopping experience, over at ADAC in Buckhead this Wednesday, May 7! Pop-up shops are so fun. This one is timed perfectly for all of the spring and early summer events coming up, too. I also am excited to check out the insides of ADAC in general! That place is super cool.

Anyone want to pop over to this pop-up with me?! :) 

I'm Back! With a New Name!

Hello, Lovliest of Readers! 

Oh, how I have missed you. It's been too gosh darn long since I last posted, and hopefully you are all still out there with me. What has been going on with you?!

Have you shifted off of Google Reader yet? I still instinctively head there first, but did install Feedly for that sad day when Reader finally goes away. Womp, womp.

The last 2.5 weeks are really, really hard to sum up in text. Words such as blissful and heavenly and relaxing and otherworldly and FUN are all top of mind. Ultimately, though, what these past weeks have been were the Best Day of My Life followed by the Most Relaxing Vacation of My Life.

I am so concise, aren't I? 

Many, many thanks to all of our wonderful family and friends who joined us, both in person and in spirit, for said Best Day. I will do a full recap here soon, once we get all of the wonderful photos from our amazing photographers. Check out their preview set here for a sneak peek. But seriously, Best. Day. Ever. Brad and I are still talking about it. That day will be emblazoned in our memories forever. And thanks to Anna and Spencer, the photos will help refresh our memories should they ever get rusty with time. 

What I can definitely talk more about right away, though, is our amazing honeymoon, since I already have all of those photos on hand :) Stay tuned for some blog soon posts about where we went and our favorite memories.

So good to be back!

----> I guess I need to get a new blog signature now!! Love, K(J)ML :) 

Running to the Finish

It's been nice to have been back in a bit of a workout routine of late. Until today, when I had a mild asthma-meets-low-blood-sugar episode at the end of my trainer session (dizziness is not cool, body, step it up!), I have been feeling stronger and stronger as I have been adding in new routines to my workouts. The scale hasn't budged as much, but I know I am adding muscle, dropping some fat, and things will even out soon enough. I haven't been in the gym more, per se, but have been trying to make the most of the time I am in there.

... Five weeks til that dress ...

On Saturday, for example, I visited the brand new LA Fitness in Buckhead (omg gorg by the way!), and ran a mile on the treadmill before hitting spin class for an hour. Double duty? Kind of. But I have to show up early to reserve a bike, anyways, so I might as well get in a little jog. I only wish that I had the time (and energy) to do that kind of workout every day!

This coming weekend, I am making the most of the day by participating in a cool race right here in town. The 9th Annual Junior League of Atlanta’s Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race presented by Verizon Wireless and Belk is being held on Sunday, March 10, 2013.  The Shamrock ‘N Roll features a family friendly 5k, 10k and the Leprechaun Dash for Gold Tot-Trot for little runners ages five and under (cute!!). 

I have actually done the Shamrock before, and love it because it is actually a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Depending on the time you get at the Shamrock, the better your seed at the PTRR! Plus, kilts and other Irish-themed attire is highly encouraged for runners, making for an entertaining crowd :)

Are you running the Shamrock too this year? It's not too late to sign up. Here are some details, if you are interested in the race.

Big and small feet hit the streets of Atlantic Station at the following times:

• 8:00 am - The Leprechaun Dash for Gold Tot-Trot for ages 5 and under  
• 8:15 am - 5K  
• 8:30 am - 10K

Hosted by The Junior League of Atlanta (JLA), this ninth annual event raises funds to train and educate the membership of JLA for effective community service, as well as to continue its work in the community.

Register Today and Save
Registration is $30 in advance, $35 at packet pickup and $45 on race day. Tot Trot registration is $8. Register today at Active.com or www.shamrocknroll.org.

Packet Pick Up

Pick up your packet and finish late registration at West Stride Running Store, 3517 Northside Parkway #11, Atlanta, GA 30327, (www.weststride.com) Friday, March 8 12-7PM. or Saturday, March 9 10-5PM. Packets can also be picked up race morning at the registration desk.
 

Stay up-to-date on all the Shamrock ‘N Roll Road Race news and updates as a fan on http://www.facebook.com//ShamRockNRollRoadRace or by following @JLShamRockNRoll on Twitter.

Disclaimer: The JLA has provided me with registration for the race, but all opinions are my own. Happy racing, everyone!

Crossing Off the List

I am on day seven of this cough, you guys. And it is really dragging me down. A raging cough has a way of exhausting the body that no stuffy nose or sore throat can. So I am pretty certain at this point that my body is trying to tell me something. Which, in the grand scheme of things, I don't really get, because I really haven't been running myself that hard these days. Stress levels have been at a moderate-to-low level for the first time in a long time (yay, new job that I love!), I have been getting tons of sleep and have been trying to moderate food and exercise as we head towards the wedding.

Apparently, fate had another plan for me. Maybe it's a post-holiday sickness, catching up to me in time for the winter blues?

So, a low-key weekend and way too much coughing later, I am hitting the week with high hopes that I am on the rebound for good.

And if I am not, I have a doctor's appointment already in the books for tomorrow. A girl can't be too careful, after all :)

Since I've spent a bit more time on the couch in days of late, I've had lots of time to cross things off my to-do list, and also time to daydream a bit. Here's a glimpse into what's been going on from Sick Couch Central!

Source: imgur.com via Mary Ellen on Pinterest

 
The flights and B&Bs are booked for our honeymoon! We are SO THRILLED to be heading to Scotland and Ireland for a glorious two week honeymoon after our wedding in April. Brad and I have been saving up and haven't taken a vacation for just the two of us since our cruise in 2010. To say we are excited for this trip is an understatement :)

Source: matchbookmag.tumblr.com via Katherine on Pinterest

The wedding invites are in, as are the bridesmaid gowns, and we are getting ready to finalize details with our DJ, the florist and the caterer. The rehearsal venue is booked and we are mid-way through marriage prep classes with the church. Check, check, check! 

Source: baenk.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Have I mentioned how much I am in love with this year's Pantone Color of the Year? Emerald green is a close second to my fav green, kelly green, which is one of our wedding colors. I am all over this trend for the year ahead. I foresee a few green summer dresses and green tank tops in my wardrobe!

Source: thepapermama.com via Katherine on Pinterest

I can't believe Valentine's Day is right around the corner already. We usually do a low-key date night or day to "celebrate" and I am thinking these bacon hearts would be a perfect start to it all! What are you planning for your V-day weekend?

Source: left-my-heart-in-paris.tumblr.com via The Broke on Pinterest

Even though the days are a bit dreary right now with the mid-winter chill, I love pops of color wherever I can add them. Bright winter coats are a perfect choice. Isn't this hot pink one fabulous? I absolutely adore it. Though an emerald green one might be even better :)

I had that heavenly-choir-of-angels-singing moment in the LOFT dressing room over the weekend when I tried on a pair of their Modern Straight fit jeans. Girls, you know what I mean here - you know how rare it is to throw on a pair of jeans in the dressing room and have them fit perfectly!! LOFT, I love you. I am especially excited for this straight-leg fit because they flare just enough over heels while still giving the skinny jean look, but also fit into boots.

What's going on with you all so far this week? Any updates to report?

Hello to 2013!

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends. We are fresh back from the snowy lands of New Jersey where we spent a whirlwind few days with both my mom and dad’s families. We had our yearly reunion at Grandma’s, complete with all aunts and uncles, cousins, great-grandkids and significant others. What fun! I can't wait to see how that group photo turned out with all 20+ of us :)

We also managed to squeeze in a little afternoon in NYC for some falafel and strolling. Taim, you never cease to amaze me. If you are a falafel fan, don’t miss this one next time you are in town.

Hanging in the city, Christmas 2012

What a shock to me, then, given our family's busy schedules, that somehow the ladies planned a surprise bridal shower for me right in the midst of it all! My lovely aunts hosted a ladies luncheon on the 29th at a local historic inn in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. To say they “got me” would be an understatement; I was shaking from the moment I realized what was going on and for nearly thirty minutes after!!

Me with my cousins Katie and Erin at my
Graduation in 2007. Love these gals and am so
excited to have them as bridesmaids!!

I will share a few photos of the party as soon as my cousin-slash-bridesmaid-slash-awesome-photographer (thanks Katie!) sends them our way. Many, many thanks and love to my aunts, my cousins (who are also my bridesmaids and flower girl!) and the other wonderful women that joined in the fun, including my grandmother and mom who both kept the secret from me all along. I am so, so, so blessed. 

XOXO to my groom who also made a surprise appearance at the end of the party :) I think I will keep him around, ha!

So here we are, back in A-town and getting back into the swing of things, and what a year we have ahead! Our wedding and honeymoon, weddings of loved ones and friends, graduations, and even some babies – my BFF and matron of honor is pregnant!! How exciting!!

I could not be more excited for 2013, and hope that your year is filled with love and happiness, too. See you around town as we kick off another great year!

Event DIY: Pennant Banner

Early on in the stages of wedding planning, we put a lot of thought into how we wanted to share the news about our big day with friends and family in advance. Save the Dates are the first way to showcase your wedding style and theme with the guests, and help ensure that as many of them as possible can attend. I didn't want to blow through a ton of money on these things, though, since honestly, most of our guests are close friends and family that knew from Day 1 when our wedding would be! I did, however, want to give everyone something to look forward to before the formal invites went out :)

We found inspiration for our Save the Date through Martha Stewart (love her) and this cute banner idea. While I didn't follow the template they provided, you certainly could. I just happen to like our custom version better :P

Once that we had something in mind, we headed off to Jo-Ann's for the supplies. We picked out card stock that had an elegant, but neutral, design and purchased enough sheets to make two triangle-shaped pennants per page. We also picked up ribbon in our primary wedding colors, navy blue and kelly green, with enough to reach through the full length of all the pennants and leave some to hold on each end. Then, we headed over to The School Box, one of my mom's favorite teacher spots. They have great prices on huge letters and numbers that you can easily glue down onto paper, bulletin boards or banners.

Here's how I put everything together: After my mom traced and cut the pennant shapes for me at school with a paper cutter, I punched out the letters and laid them out on the pennants to see where they should be positioned.

Note the wine glass. Arts and crafts requires some libation in my house :)

Once I had them all laid out, I started glueing the shapes down. I used a damp cloth to wipe off any excess glue.

Once the letters were all in place, I put them in between some heavy books to dry flat. Then I used a hole punch to cut out the holes before stringing through the double strand of ribbon. I twisted the ribbon a bit as it went through so that you could see both colors.

Yay, done! We brought the banner to our engagement photo shoot and sent our inspiration photos to our photographer in advance so that we could work it into our afternoon with them.

This banner would be an easy craft for a birthday party, engagement celebration or any DIY event. I love that you can customize it with any colors, letter styles or ribbons for any style event. We are planning on repurposing the banner at our wedding as part of our décor, too, making things for the big day that much easier.

Have you made any similar pennant banners? What was your inspiration?

Holiday Libations

Tonight, I am hosting the Fourth Annual Girls Night Cookie Exchange at the condo. To say I am excited is an understatement. I have been thinking about this for weeks, and it's finally here!

While I will be making a special mulled wine for the ladies tonight, I think we all appreciate a good beer here and there, too, and especially at the holiday season. That's why TAP 1180's upcoming beer dinner caught my eye. Sweetwater beer paired with an awesome seasonal menu? I love it! 

Photo via TAP website

Check out the menu: 

420 + Seared New Bedford Scallop
Fennel puree, grapefruit bubbles, cucumber & mache

BROWN + Adam's Gnudi
Rosewood farm's Billy ragout, crushed pecorino, olive oil

LowRYEder + Curried Chicken & Sweet Potato "Pot Pie"
Springer Mountain Farms Chicken, coconut curry, sweet potatoes, flakey pie crust

Exodous + Roasted Venison Loin
Caramelized parsnips & carrots, sprout leaves, date and coffee puree, coriander jus

Festive Ale + Chocolate & Banana Éclairs
Chocolate ganache, banana custard, crushed macadamia nuts, banana chips

Nom nom nom. My nearest and dearest know that 420 is my go-to beer of choice (lo be the day that I don't live within Sweetwater distributor regions ... they just MUST expand nationally by then!), but any Sweetwater is good by me. 

This special dinner at TAP will be held next week, Tuesday, December 18th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 per person, all inclusive ... not a bad deal for five courses plus beers! I think this would make an excellent "holiday gift" for that special someone if you are still early in the dating spectrum  -- no need to stress over finding that perfect gift. 

Happy Eating (and Drinking!)!

Disclosure: No connection to TAP -- just wanted to share a great deal! 
 

The After: Cirque du Soleil

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated
Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

You guys.

Last weekend, we had the chance to go see the latest installment of Cirque du Soleil, TOTEM. I had never seen a Cirque show before, but now, I can't wait to see their next installment.

It was SO GOOD. 

We were first wowed by the size of the signature Big Top tent once we got inside. You would never know once inside that you are sitting in stands on top of a blacktop parking lot like the one at Atlantic Station. The Big Top encompasses a huge area and includes multiple full-service bars, concessions stands and vendors selling TOTEM merchandise. The vibe was that of an upscale traveling show -- but one where you can relax with a glass of wine while watching the act. My kind of entertainment, indeed!

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Hands down, our favorite act were the girls on the unicycles. They pedaled out one by one, ten feet plus in the air, which at first I thought was the main feat. Nope! They then took what had appeared to be a "hat" off their heads, revealing a stack of bowls.

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

The girls continued to pedal around, and then stopped and flipped the bowls from one foot to their head, or the head of the ringleader or their neighbor, all while balancing on their unicycles. The crowd ate it up -- it was just amazing!

After the show, we also were invited to attend a special backstage tour. Some of the actors were stretching out on huge gymnastics mats while others rushed to change clothes and head off to their hotel in Midtown to relax for the rest of the night. Our tour guide told us that every show is recorded and sent back to HQ for review -- the costumes and acts are watched from every angle just in case anything needs to be tweaked before the next show. Their attention to detail makes a difference; the show's costumes and decor was flawless that night.

All in all, I absolutely loved Cirque du Soleil. Our tour guide said that usually people love the first show they attend the most, and I am up to the challenge to see if that is true -- I can't wait to go to another one! It's neat to think about how each show is completely custom and brand-new; no Cirque du Soleil production is the same as the next.

So tell me: Have you gone to see TOTEM yet? The show will be in town until Sunday, December 30, 2012. Grab your tickets, if you haven't already, and let me know what you think about the show!

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of press tickets for the show, however, all opinions are my own.

Flying Through the Air

I just turned on the TV to get a little down time this evening, and what is on but Wall-E, one of my favorite recent Disney/Pixar flicks. I simply adore how Wall-E introduces himself to all of the other robots and slowly "wakes up" the humans on the ship. When he and Eve fly through space, it is like magic, and it makes me so happy :)

This coming weekend, I will get to witness some flying similar to Wall-E's in person, because I am getting to attend my first ever Cirque du Soleil show here in Atlanta!! 

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Here's a little bit about the show, TOTEM:

TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Fun! I have heard that the Cirque du Soleil shows are always a creative experience, and it sounds like this one will be no exception. This show world-premiered in Montreal in 2010, and has been traveling the world ever since. This TOTEM “hybrid show” is the first Cirque du Soleil Big Top show to be created in such a way that it can be adapted to the reality of arenas and other venues from the very outset.

Anyone driving by Atlantic Station when Cirque du Soleil is in town can't help but notice the show site off to the right of the stores. Their mobile village includes the distinguishable blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (or Big Top, which can seat 2,600!), an artistic tent, box office, kitchen, school, offices, warehouses and more. Completely self-sufficient for electrical power, the site relies only on a local water supply and telecommunication facilities to support its infrastructure.

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Every time Cirque du Soleil has come to Atlanta in the past, I seem to miss it. One thing leads to another, time flies past and their big yellow and blue tents at Atlantic Station come down before I know it. This year, that isn't going to happen! We are having a special date night out on Friday before the busy holiday season begins and I can barely wait.

You, too, can check out the show this year, which will be in town until Sunday, December 30, 2012. What's more, due to popular demand, six performances have been added to the Atlanta engagement; 8 pm performances on December 19, 20, 26 and 27 as well as 4 pm performances on December 21 and 28.

I will be back next week with a bit more about the show, including what we learn on a behind the scenes tour! In the meantime, grab up tickets, if you haven't already, and I will see you under the Big Top!

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Disclaimer: I have been provided a pair of press tickets for this weekend's show, however, all opinions are my own. 

Past and Present

As this little old blog has grown in readership, I have had lots of opportunities to explain the background of its name to my new visitors and followers. Those of you local to the Atlanta area are of course hip to the "Buckhead Betty" phrase and all that the "Buckhead" word means, but to outsiders, our little neighborhood is not much more a span of blocks within the gigantic metropolis of ATL. And while I can sum up why I love living here in a single blog post, there is a ton of history that even I don't know all about yet, all these years later.

Luckily for all of us, tourists and locals alike, the Atlanta History Center has us set. They are hosting a new series of history lessons made just for adults. They are combining the past with pints ... of beer!

From their website:

Huzzah!  We’re pumped to tell you about a new monthly event designed to introduce you to the history of Atlanta… We think the name says it all - Party With the Past: Free History, Cold Beer. This free history series will take place at a different historic spot in the city each month. Here at the AHC, history is our passion, and we hope this event series will be a great way to introduce people to Atlanta, our museum staff, and famous Atlantans (alive and dead).

Fun! Luckily for us, this month's topic is all about Buckhead, and how our neighborhood got its name. This preview video pokes a little fun at our uppity area and also hints at our true background:

Who wants to join in with me for the event coming up in a few weeks? This sounds intriguing, and how can you go wrong with a happy hour that also educates?! You can RSVP for the event here on their website. Let me know if you decide to attend. I am planning on being there because, after all, no Betty can be TOO prepared for a pop history quiz ;)

Collegiate Sweetness

Looking for a little inspiration for Game Day food this weekend for your tailgate? Southern Living has you set if you are an SEC fan!!

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

Usually I would be kind of irritated that my good old Yellow Jackets are left out of a round-up like this, but I am letting this one slide because it's an SEC Cookbook, after all! The ACC version would be oh so cute. Imagine Demon Decon Halloween cupcakes, Boston Creme Pie cupcakes, and, of course, a Georgia Tech-inspired creation, too :)

Southern Living, hit me up if you want some brainstorming ideas! ;)

Get all the recipes for the above cupcakes here: Southern Living College Football Cupcakes

Pinterest Love-Hate Relationship

While I would love to be Buckhead Betty Crocker all the time, sometimes life happens, and I just can't get it together in time to make an amazing homemade dish for a dinner party or a tailgate or a neighborly gift. Most times, I am more like Semi-Homemade Sandra Lee (your guess on whether I incorporate as many cocktails as she does, ha!), throwing things together at the last minute, ideally with whatever I have on hand. There's a benefit to a fully stocked pantry, after all. The cocktails help with creativity. Trust.

Pinterest has made all of this both easier and more intimidating at the same time. Late to an event and need to bring something along? I am loving Pinterest for a quick idea. I also have pinned countless recipes of "pretty" things that I can't wait to make ... someday. Like these beehive cupcakes. How adorable are these for a Georgia Tech home game?

Source: sweetopia.net via Katherine on Pinterest

Honestly, though, while I usually HEART Pinterest, I don't want everyone around me to be like "Oh I saw those on Pinterest!!" when I make something. Ugh. It just takes away from the creativity, the research and the time spent on making it. For me, it almost discredits that whole process -- if it is on Pinterest, "anyone" can find that recipe and make it themselves. I want people to be like "OoOoO this is so fun, how did you think of this?!" and THEN I can reference Pinterest ... or, more likely, I would reference the actual blog or other source that I found it on ... via Pinterest. I am all about giving some props!

If I had to be really honest, I really wish that I had the creativity enough to have been the creator/source of some of those pins that I have pinned. Because then I could respond, "Oh that's great! That was actually my recipe you saw on there!" and it would be awesome.

But I will likely not ever be that person. Sigh. I'd need to be a lot more creative in the kitchen that I am!

In the meantime, I have my recipe binder, and read countless blogs full of inspiring ideas, but Pinterest really keeps it easy when it comes to last-minute ideas. And so I am going to keep doing quick-searches of Pinterest when I am in a bind for an idea, and hoping people can just appreciate the end results for what they are.

Recently, I have made four last-minute dips for events. Two of the recipes are Pinterest finds, one was a no-brainer veggie dip mix (hello, Hidden Valley!) and one was a long-time WW recipe I already had on hand. My favorite so far? The WW recipe. This recipe is one I have had on hand for probably ten years -- and somehow had never tried before now. Success!

I hope that you find these three recipes helpful -- and if you are truly stuck, do like me and grab a spice packet from Hidden Valley for an easy solution. Either way, I will dream that my blog can be one of your last-second recipe destinations along with Pinterest :)

Beer Dip from Beauty and Bedlam -- Via Inspired by Charm on Pinterest (LOVE MICHAEL!)
Notes from Katherine: this was a huge hit. Definitely make at least three hours prior, but ideally the day before. No toppings are really needed because the flavors are awesome as-is. We used Sam Adams Octoberfest beer. 

Source: beautyandbedlam.com via Emily on Pinterest

Loaded Baked Potato Dip from Brown Eyed Baker -- via Inspired by Charm
Notes from Katherine: loved this one, too, though I used green onions and the flavor was almost too powerful. Chives would probably work better. Serve with Ruffles or a similarly strong chip to dip in.  

Source: inspiredbycharm.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Peanut Butter Java Dip -- adapted from WW 
Notes from Katherine: So tasty! I served this with graham crackers, and it was a big hit. Nothing like a WW recipe to wow the crowd.

Yield: 12 servings (Serving size: 2 tablespoons)

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
2 teaspoons water
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 container frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine coffee granules and water in a small bowl, stirring until granules dissolve. Place peanut butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 30 seconds or until peanut butter begins to melt. Fold in whipped topping. Add coffee mixture, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and stir gently to combine. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Wedding Rentals

Remember Rent the Runway and that fabulous dress I snatched up (just for one night!) for my birthday bash two years ago?

I am a lover of RTR -- they provide great customer service, and, when you do your homework on the dresses (tip: read the reviews, they provide HUGE insight into the fit of the dress on different body types!), you are bound to get a winner.

You might think about RTR when you are planning a big event like a birthday or a cocktail party, but did you know they also have a ton of options specially selected especially for wedding events like bridal showers, formal and semi-formal weddings, bachelorette weekends ... and even white dresses for the bride herself? It's pretty awesome! Instead of feeling pressured to buy that $400 designer label dress, why not just rent it for the weekend instead for only $100? That is a Buckhead Betty on a Budget MUST.

Check out, for example, this swank short number. This would be perfect as a date to a wedding, especially one where your S.O. is in the bridal party and might be wearing a tux! Dress to the occasion!

Or how about this long number for an elegant black-tie affair? Yowza for only $125, compared to $500 retail!

I love love LOVE this short party dress for a dressy bridal shower or a day-to-night wedding. Of course, you know me, I love a good party dress, especially ones that rent for $75 instead of $440 retail, geez!

Um, as proof that this dress rocks, guess who I actually randomly recognized wearing it in the RTR reviews section? My gal pal Lowrie from college! Girl's got great taste :)  Hi, Lowrie!!

With all of the busy wedding season still under way (and my own right around the corner), I love that you can add a second dress to your order for only $25. That makes attending all of those showers and events a breeze!

This cut-out LBD would be a great dress to wear to a bachelorette party, where often the gals are asked to wear black while the bride-to-be wears white. Plus, it's only $60 to rent, $325 retail.

Lastly, say it's your own big day. Why not grab a white frock to help celebrate, either as a rehearsal dress or an exit dress? RTR is so cute - "let us be your something borrowed," aww! This Christian Siriano find is $200 to rent ... compare that to the $1,750 retail, wow!

Have you been renting from RTR? What have been your experiences? I know I have blogged about them before, so who knows what else has been upgraded since then! I'd love to hear your feedback.

Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this post. I am just loving me some RTR these days :)