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? 

Happiness and Hellos

Source: Pinterest

Days have been whizzing past recently. I have been settling into newlywed life with lots of joy and lots of fun. Social life is great, work life is great, our home is looking great ...  and in all honesty, the only elements not pretty pulled together right now have been my workout life and my blogging life :) 

I have been trying to live out every moment of every day in the recent few weeks. Saying "sure" when sometimes I might have said "maybe," and trying to do things now instead of later. When happiness abounds, you should live it up, right? Sometimes, you have to let go of the schedules and the lists, and just relax and be in the moment. From leisurely mornings with the paper and a cup of chai to impromptu weekends spent with friends, I have been trying to be that girl that I've always wanted to be -- the Yes Girl.

That said, I have missed blogging (running, not so much, but that's a whole other story!). While I haven't been posting a lot, I think it is just a small side effect of what is starting a new transition in my life. I am heading towards the big 3-0 later this year, full steam ahead, and I am realizing a lot of time has gone past without me ever doing the things I've told myself I would.

Some bloggers wrote fun July 1 posts in honor of the six-month mark after New Year's. Resolutions abound in January, but how often do you take a reality check once a few months have gone past? I decided to make a Resolution List of my own, but this one centered around closing out my 20's with as much happiness as possible. Enter, my Happiness List.

My 2013 Happiness List 

* Host dinner parties at least once a month. We love hosting, and even more so now that we are all grown up with matching plates and serving platters :) Whether one friend or many, this is on our radar for the months coming up, busy football season and all. Now the goal is to get the invites out and dates on the calendar.

Source: Pinterest

* Scrapbook a little more. My Post-College scrapbook, all well and good pre-wedding, immediately got pushed under the bed as soon as wedding planning started. I am about 70% done. Better get that one wrapped up so I can start in on my Wedding Memories one!

* Unplug and read a book at bedtime. Right now, it's my fav Pat Conroy. Then I need to head to the library to pick out the next one!

* Really hug people. They are just so restorative! A good bear hug goes a long way.

* Sit by the pool. No explanation needed here!

* Do nothing for a weekend. So far, I am at a pretty high success rate for this. It's amazing how much more zen I feel when I get back to work on a Monday following a quiet weekend :)

* Sit on our patio. We have a very lovely porch. Why do I not sit out there more?! That cup of chai or glass of wine would be just as nice outside. 


If you had to pick one or two things, what would be on your Happiness List? Are you trying to live life to the fullest, too, or is life flying past you each day? It's crazy how fast time can go by when you aren't paying attention. How can you slow things down in your world?

Party with the Sun

Something about the summer months evoke thoughts of BBQ cookout parties, pizza parties, pool parties, random hang-outside-with-a-cocktail parties. While my weekends are pretty booked for the next few weeks, it won't keep me from "planning." You know, for that party-to-be, ha! The Fourth is right around the corner, though, and given our proximity in Buckhead to the fireworks, we can't wait to have friends over to hang.

I made an inspiration board on Pinterest with some of the things that have me thinking for these parties down the road. Take a look at these cute individual-sized sides! I love the baked bean jars.

Source: celebrationsathomeblog.com via Katherine on Pinterest

This set-up would be a great way to go afternoon into night - just add tea lights for a glamorous feel! Of course, my drink bucket would likely be filled with bottles of beer, not champagne ;)

Source: Uploaded by user via Katherine on Pinterest

I love the idea of grouping together utensils, napkins and mason jars for the drinks all in one arrangement. Pick different colored napkins to go with your theme. These red and blue ones are perfect for patriotic gatherings.

Source: nestcandy.com via Katherine on Pinterest

My fiance is a home-brewer, so we are constantly buying beer and saving empty bottles for his next batch. We always have an extra caddy on hand - what an easy idea to transport things down to the grills at the condo or to your backyard!

Source: realsimple.com via Katherine on Pinterest

We just made sausage, peppers and onions last week and topped some fresh, buttered baguettes with the mix. I DIE. This concept makes it crowd-ready in large portions. I think I will recreate that dinner again using these ideas!

Source: prouditaliancook.blogspot.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Bite sized savories and sweets! I love the mini corn muffins. They'd be perfect with some BBQ! The toppers would be easy to print off and attach to sticks, too.

Source: pizzazzerie.com via Katherine on Pinterest

What parties are you planning this summer? What other items should I pin to the board? I can add you as a contributor so you can share inspiration with everyone, too! Just leave me your Pinterest handle below if you'd like to join in the "Summer Lovin'" fun!

Falling Out of Love With Summer

Today it's somewhere close to 100 degrees going on boiling surface of the sun, so what else makes me happier (other than the Braves game we are going to tonight, hooray!) than thinking of the Fall ahead? It is my favorite season, after all, and it's just around the corner. Even if here in Georgia, "Fall" still means 95% humidity until about October :) 

Like these nostalgic shots of the new Vera Bradley line. This takes me back to my high school days in a flash...

Image Source: Vera Bradley on Facebook

Or these gorgeous shots of nature at that time of year ...

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And of COURSE this ...

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What thoughts and images of Fall make you happy?

Salty and Sweet Summertime

Growing up in the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia, I have extremely fond memories of summertime. If my brother and I weren't running around in "The Woods" behind our house, I spent the days cruising my bike down the hill (though I can not remember as much pedaling back up that same hill later ... ) towards our pool, where I'd go to practice for an hour, break for a pizza lunch and then hang out with friends for hours, flipping around on rafts and (likely) annoying the lifeguards.

This guy was popular back then.
So was flannel.

 

Later, as little 13- and 14-year olds, we thought we were so cool when we could dive down to the bottom of the "deep end" during Sharks and Minnows, and we'd chuckle at the younger kids who had to have their moms there chaperoning swim time. We'd "lay out" (i.e. pretend to get a tan without really knowing what that even meant) and gossip over the latest pop-star magazines.

Truth: I had my first post-Limited Too "grown-up" shopaholic moment at the pool as a kid flipping through a JCrew catalog and seeing their new strappy blue plastic flip flops. How fun! They would match my newest swim team Speedo!!

Today, summertime is much different. While I crave the sunshine and lazy days spent poolside, I am much more interested in not messing up my straight hair with the GA humidity while en route to work, and in planning upcoming vacations to places that are far away from our Atlanta chlorine.

This doesn't mean I still don't try to recreate those carefree summer days, though. The neighborhood BBQs stand out in my memory, and one dish in particular comes to mind as I think of those fun cul-de-sac parties. I don't know to whom to credit this one (Mom, any idea?) but thank you, thank you, thank you for making this at those gatherings. It's a standby of mine today for a Fourth of July party, and after making it again yesterday, I remember why I love it so much.

Pineapple Pretzel Salad

Courtesy of one of our true Southern lady neighbors
Serves 12

2 cups crushed pretzels
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter or margarine
16 oz. light cream cheese
2 cups confectioner sugar
16 oz. light Cool Whip, defrosted
16 oz. crushed pineapple with syrup
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Combine pretzels, sugar and butter, and press into the bottom of a 9x13 dish with a fork. Cream together cream cheese and confectioner sugar, folding in Cool Whip once blended. Pour on top of the pretzel bottom.

Bring pineapple and cornstarch to a boil. Let cool, spread over the filling and refrigerate overnight. Cut into squares and serve.

Note from KJM: While the recipe is really best once it sets up overnight (or all day), you can make it a few hours ahead of time, too.

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!

Summer DON'TS

Oh, summer. The season where the layers come off, the temps go up and everyone is just working for the weekend and pool/beach/lawn chair time. Can it be here already? The temps in Atlanta have been spiking towards 100 for days and weeks now, and somewhere in there I think we might have hit springtime since that last snowfall.

As I took off my sweater to expose my pasty skin to the strong rays of the Atlanta sun this week, I couldn't help but think about Mama Kat's writing prompt this week. What better way to prepare for the summer of love ahead than by thinking about all the things NOT to do?

Top Ten Summer DON'TS

As you prepare for this hot weather ahead, DO NOT ...

#1 ... Forget your anti-humidity hair products. As a resident of one of the most humid cities around (even though we aren't somehow on the Top 101 Cities list, oddly enough. TX and FL win!), I still can't figure out the right combination of products to straight hair. I think they all work fine in perfect conditions, but as soon as you start to sweat (aka about two minutes after stepping outdoors here), the "anti-humidity" part goes right out the window! One can try, though.

#2 ... Overlook the majestic power of ice cream from the local drive-up shop. Savor the moment and eat your favorite flavor on the hood or back of your car.

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#3 ... Forget the fun part of summer. The days are longer, so take advantage of them! Think like a kid, and order pizza by the pool for dinner, sleep with the windows open and the fans on high, or go camping in your backyard. Tip: remember that you are an adult, and air mattresses will probably be needed in those tents in order to move the next day. 

#4 ... Think that since you are so busy, you have no time for a vacation. Consider a weekend at a local cabin, a trip to a lake or nearby river, or an early Friday drive to the beach.

#5 ... Expect to (stylishly) wear the latest summer fashion trends like the maxi dress or a romper. Wear whatever "trend" is most comfortable (and age-appropriate) for you!

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#6 ... Leave home without throwing a spare bathing suit in your car or (oversized) purse. Live life this way, and you are bound to run into more fun times!

#7 ... Underestimate the fun that you can have if you actually do get caught in a freak summer rain shower. Don't run for cover - get soaked and laugh :)

#8 ... Stay indoors if it's sunny outside. Get out there for at least 30 minutes (to justify the sweating and heat, think about all that Vitamin D!) and go for a bike ride, a swim or an early morning stroll. If you waste away the opportunity nature is giving you now, I don't want to hear you complain about how gloomy winter gets with less than 12 hours of sun a day!

Image Source and Recipe

#9 ... Weigh down your days with heavy meals. Keep things light at lunch with salads full of fresh ingredients from your local markets, and go Mediterranean at dinner with fish and vegetables!

#10 ... Forget to keep some beers chilled in the fridge and cooler ice packs in the freezer at all times. You just never know. 

What would you add to this list of Summer Don'ts?

Seaside State of Mind

Atlanta's heat, humidity and distance from water makes it a tough town to live in for a beach-loving girl like me. It's an average 5-hour trip to the nearest body of water (Lake Lanier does not count) and here in town, sometimes the nearest "water" you can find is your neighbor's cousin's sister's apartment's pool.

I may have returned from the Sunshine State, but I know a few ways to keep my seaside style going even if I can't rock the sand-and-sunscreen-filled beach-hair look very easily here indoors.

First things first: update your computer wallpaper to a beachy scene. This can provide happiness while you are still efficiently working. Minimize other open windows a few times a day to give your mind a mini beach-break.

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Second, don some work-appropriate spring/summer attire. Today, I chose a perky-colored party skirt (LOFT 2009) and a lightweight sweater (Target) over a tank top (Old Navy). Both breezy and business casual. For the men, this could mean lighter-colored shirts, slacks and your boat shoes.

Third, accessorize. I picked up these sandals at Tar-jay last night for something like $12. They are "denim" colored but are actually black denim, making them perfect for work any hot day of the week. Also, I love adding a pop of beachy color to my toes. I painted mine (pre-beach trip) a fun turquoise blue that you can find at Tar-jay that I saw featured in a Marie Claire magazine last year. I can't tell you how many compliments I got on this color while at work. It's just bright enough without being childish or garish.

Fourth, get some actual Vitamin-D. I am all about sitting outside (sans the sweater above) for 15-20 minutes to eat lunch or relax with a coffee. It gives my skin just the right amount of (safe) sun-kissed glow and warms me up from the chilly office temps inside.

How do you get yourself into a beachy state of mind while you are landlocked in metropolis?

Weekly Binder Challenge Wrap-Up: Weeknight Simplicity

As I am sitting here jamming out to Coldplay (Viva La Vida = one of my top five albums EVER), having a glass of wine and enjoying the otherwise silence of the condo on a relaxing weeknight, I start to think about all the truly wonderful meals we have been having recently.

Sure, some of them have been enjoyed out at new-to-us restaurants (Rosebud brunch = oh. my. goodness.) or at old favorites (enjoying the springtime patios for sushi at Aja or Mexican at Pancho's). But other meals have been whipped up here at home, taking into account our budgets and our cramped schedules. Because honestly, the one thing you don't want to be doing when the weather is this nice outside is slaving over a hot stove.

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The outdoor grills have been a lifesaver for all of that. The fresh foods of the season remind me how easy a quick lunch or light dinner can be if you have great ingredients. Grilling up some marinated shrimp while sweet onions bake in a foil packet is a mindless activity, leaving you free to have a beer and relax.

And if you aren't sure when you might make it home from the busy day at the office, why waste all the extra hours of daylight we are getting by staying indoors? A crock-pot meal can be ready when you are, and easily transportable to the patio. Don't restrict yourself to thinking only of the flaming hot stews and soups of winter; the crock-pot is multi-dimensional.

The recipe I am going to share today is one of those latter crock-pot meals perfect for any season. This one can serve a huge crowd, or a family of two or four for a few days, like it did us. We didn't see a bigger piece of meat readily available at our store, but no worries. The one- to two-pound roasts turn out fine, just with more sauce than probably needed. Nothing a good slotted spoon can't fix. I can't wait to search around for the bigger piece next time, though, because then the ratio of saucy veggies to meat would be absolutely divine.

Enjoy this one with some crusty bakery rolls and your favorite picnic sides like potato salad. Mangia!

Tangy Barbecue Sandwiches
My version adapted from the Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook (recipe submitted by Lavina from MI and Lois from PA)
Makes 10-14 big sandwiches

2c. chopped celery
1c. chopped onions
1c. each ketchup, barbecue sauce and water
2 tbsp. each apple cider vinegar and Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder or any hot ground spices you have on hand
1 tsp. each salt and pepper
3-4 lb. boneless chuck roast, browned
10-14 fresh rolls or buns from your bakery

Combine all ingredients except roast and buns in a slow cooker. Mix thoroughly and add roast on top. Cover and cook on High for 6-7 hours (or 5-6 hours if a smaller roast or under the minimum fill-line). Remove roast, cool and shred meat, trimming off any excess fat. Return to sauce, heat well and serve on buns.

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Fall Out of Summer

It suddenly seems like Fall is right around the corner. Praise the Lord. This summer has just been too long and hot for me.

The Atlanta weather always fakes me out this time of year. School is back in session (some rural GA schools actually started in July?!), the stores are putting out their Fall wardrobes, we are mid-way through August already, and the weather is ... well, it's still grossly hot.

Today is one of those days where, if I didn't know any better, I could look outside and think it's November. It is grayish and ugly and blah. One step outside, though, and you remember that on top of that, it's also muggy and 90 degrees. Awesome!

I have started seeing Fall-related posts around the blogosphere, and I wanted to contribute today through my Top Ten {Tuesday} post. But since Summer is still kicking here, I am going to make it a half-and-half list. Chime in with your own to add -- we all have our favorites!

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Favorite Things about the Dog Days of Summer and Early Days of Fall

First ... some last Summer favorites ... 

1. Long, lazy evenings of sunshine. Tonight, I hope it won't rain, because we are hoping to get in a twilight game of tennis on the non-lit courts!

2. Lounging by the pool or at the beach. This needs to start taking priority for me on weekends, because I am embarrassed how Irish-white my legs are in August...

3. Any remaining summer trips. While the kids may be getting back to school, that still leaves weekends to enjoy. And for the rest of us, the phrase "summer vacation" can be used a bit more liberally -- mine is SOON approaching with the late September cruise :)

4. Seersucker, sandals, shorts, bathing suits, and white -- wear them while you can!

5. Wavy hair enhanced by the SUFFOCATING humidity. Oh, sorry, that's pretty girly, and half not that great to begin with. Whatever. It counts.

And some Fall favorites to start looking forward to ... 

6. That crisp air outside on a Game Day morning, warm beverage thermos in hand. Ahhh.

7. Pulling on knee-high boots over leggings and throwing on a jacket. Or for guys, layering up with a sweater or pullover. There is just something about the pleasure of that wardrobe shift! Confession: I brought leggings with me today to wear at work, it is so cold with the A/C. It's fun to pretend that I wouldn't die of heat exhaustion with them on if I was to walk outside.

8. Campfires and s'mores. Note to self: arrange some outing where we can actually build a campfire and have s'mores the correct way, not heated up over tea candles or in the microwave.

9. Did I mention Game Day?

10. Halloween costumes. Guys, I can't even BEGIN to tell you how excited I am for my costume this year. Or should I say "our" costumes this year, as it will be a group effort. I don't even know if we are attending any parties -- I am just that excited to get dressed up as this. Hint: Old-school Nickelodeon.

Back on the Wagon

Don't worry -- it's not what you might think. I am not giving up my fav Cosmos. Yet. I am just having a little life reality check in general. And you, my bloggy friends, get to hear me out on it :)

As you might recall, I have been on the Weight Watchers bandwagon since New Year's, and I have been absolutely loving it. When I am paying attention to what I eat (and how much), I feel great. I have more energy, and I love that clothes fit like they should.

But now for a confession: I was only hardcore WW up through May. I hit my first goal, and then somewhat stopped.

Ok, totally stopped.

Life happened. I had summer social events, family gatherings, and in general, enjoyed slacking off on my nutrition. And those few glasses of wine with a dinner were oh so good...

But you know what? Life went on, and I didn't just (poof!) gain weight back (thankfully). The best thing about WW is that it is not a diet -- it's a lifestyle change. You learn better habits, and learn how to apply them in all sorts of daily situations. I know more about the foods that I want to consume versus the ones that I need to consume, and how to balance between the two. So even though I was slacking off, I didn't completely abandon the things I learned.

Even so, after yet another social weekend, this Monday I felt sluggish. My workouts had faltered, I felt tired, and my headaches were back. I decided it was time. Time to get back on the wagon of nutrition and health. Just because I feel "ok" in my bikini right now doesn't mean I should ignore the other signs my body sends me!

How about you -- do you struggle to maintain your own healthy lifestyle through the summer, or once you hit a goal? Some of my other bloggy friends are going through similar summer struggles, like Renee over at Cutie Booty Cakes. She's down almost 50 (50!!) pounds but injuries and life happens to her too sometimes.

So it's back to reality for me -- hitting the gym and concentrating on having healthy, nutritious meals. It doesn't mean my life is stopping -- I have a lot of socialness planned this weekend! -- but I can definitely work harder to compensate on the health side.

And you know what? That extra beer or two really doesn't make me feel that good that night or the next day anyways!

What a Fourth! And Top Ten {Tuesday}

From the looks of the blogosphere this weekend, it looks like everyone had a blast of a Fourth of July! I am so glad. Mine was amazing too -- I got some sun, I got a personal record in my 5th Peachtree Road Race, and got to hang out with some very fun people. 

The Fourth of July is somewhat bittersweet for many. Yes, it's gorgeously hot outside and we have plenty of time to hit the pool. But it also means we are already well into the summer, and Fall is starting to loom just around the corner.

(Well, I say loom, but I am a huge fan of Fall so I am actually pretty pumped...)

In any case, in honor of Top Ten {Tuesday}, today we are going to talk about the Top Ten Things We Can All Look Forward To For the Rest of the Summer.

What a ridiculously long title :)

Before I begin, don't forget about the giveaway to go to the Emily Giffin Book Signing and Cocktails in the Gardens event! It ends TODAY!

Top Ten Things We All Can Look Forward To For the Rest of the Summer: Soak Up the Fun

1. Saturday morning exercise. I love to get it in before lounging away the rest of the weekend. My current favorite? Water aerobics. Have you taken one of these classes? It's surprisingly harder than you might think, working with weights under the pressure of the water.

2. Grilling out as much as possible. I saw an episode of Bobby Flay's this weekend where the guest cook made caprese skewers on the grill. You don't even need a recipe for that goodness (but if you do, here it is.)

3. Lazy evenings hanging out somewhere outside. Even better, accompanied by a glass of wine...

4. Creative get-togethers. Think beyond your typical dinner party or BBQ. For us, it's a Slip N' Slide party this month with friends. 150-feet slide, plus 100+ people? This one is sure to be insane.

5. Trying out new sports or exercise. Beyond the water aerobics, other things on my list are cashing in my Living Social vouchers for the Cardio Pole Dancing classes, and trying out my newly re-gripped tennis racket on the courts. It makes "working out" more fun when you can rotate in new options. 

6. Unplugging on the weekends. Get outside. Leave the Blackberry behind. It works wonders for your mental zen.

7. Beating the heat with summer movies. If you see any, go see Toy Story 3. Fantabulous.

8. Summer evening thunderstorms. As long as you aren't stuck outside in them!

9. Freckles. Oh wait, that's just me and my Irishness? Ok, fine. Tan lines. General non-pastyness. Blond streaks in your hair. Whatever floats your boat.

And I saved the best for last ...

10. Take advantage of late-summer deals. Our CRUISE in September was priced as an absolute steal. What better way to end the summer than by sailing off to the high seas, or by jetting cross-country?

What is something you are looking forward to in the dog days of summer? 

Fest, and Fest, and Fest Some More

It all kicked off in February with OysterFest -- festivals abound in Atlanta in the Spring and Summer!

Thanks to Xorbia Tickets (sometimes I am glad I am on like a bazillion email lists), I have a nice little summary of all the Beer Festivals coming up in the metro area to share with you.

They all sound like fun, are so close, and tickets are only $25-30. Which of these are you heading to?


Dunwoody Beer Festival
Saturday, May 15th, Perimeter Mall Parking Lot, $30
In its ninth year, the Dunwoody Beer Festival hosts a combination of over 150 beers from countries all over the world. Free Dunwoody Beer Festival t-shirt to the first 1,000 people that enter.
Note from KJM: I have heard fun things about this one. Plus, it's MARTA-able!


10th Annual Draft on Taft
Saturday, May 15th 22nd, Corner of 10th St and Charles Allen, $25
Draft on Taft is an Atlanta event that brings good food, great music, and cold beer to the heart of Atlanta. This year proves to be bigger and better than ever!


East Atlanta Beer Festival
Saturday, May 22nd, Brownwood Park, $30
The 7th Annual East Atlanta Beer Festival will be located at a new site in the heart of East Atlanta Village - shaded Brownwood Park. Sample over 130 craft beers, live music, and foods from local eateries.
Note from KJM: East Atlanta is all the hype these days, so this one sounds appealing to check out the local scene!


German Bier Fest
Saturday, August 28th, Woodruff Park, $30
The world's greatest beer will be at the 7th Annual German Bier Fest. Price includes all the beer you can safely consume and commemorative glassware for the first 1,500 visitors. So make sure you come early.
Note from KJM: I think I was the only person NOT at this Fest last year. It's smack downtown right off the Five Points MARTA stop. Yep, right by where the homeless men hang out panhandling. But for this Saturday, they do a great job transforming it into a festival-only zone. 

Four Square Fun

This past Saturday we held the Four Square Tournament party at my condo and it was a great success! Almost 20 people were able to stop by, many bringing excellent dishes to share, others bringing just their sense of fun for the game. The game itself is so easy to play - and since everyone knows a different set of rules, familiarize yourself with the basic set beforehand, and then make the rest up as you go!

Even though the party was going to be mostly outside on the patio decks, I knew people would arrive and mingle first upstairs, so I did a good clean-up that morning. Then I got myself ready for the party - I always have sworn by getting myself ready before other little things. Sure, putting some food in the oven early on is necessary (we had ribs in the oven by 1pm), but straightening up magazines and cutting vegetables can all be done while guests are arriving for one of these types of laid-back parties. Getting dressed when guests are knocking on the door makes it instantly more stressful! For this party, my mind wandered and I was thinking it was a 4pm party... but I had actually written 3pm on the invite! So when people showed up at 3:15, I was at the very least dressed, and could just go with the flow.

As the first guests arrived, we socialized in the kitchen while I prepped the Buffalo Chicken Dip (recipe below) and a batch of brownies. For the brownies, I added a gratuitous handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the mix, and they were divine. I also made sure I had wine chilling in the fridge.

This dip is always one of the most popular things at any gathering - you can switch it up and add ranch dressing, if you like, or use reduced fat blue cheese crumbles and cream cheese to make it lighter.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened (I use Neufatchel)
1/2 c. blue cheese crumbles
1/2 c. blue cheese dressing
1/2 c. Frank's Hot Sauce
Approx. 2c of shredded cooked chicken (Grab a rotisserie chicken from the deli to make this even easier)

Mix all ingredients together in a dish, and bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly. Stir, and serve with corn scoops, celery sticks, and/or chips.

An Evening in the Gardens

I think this year I accidentally came across one of the best ways to feel like an urban socialite without having to spend all the cash to accompany it. As a huge fan of Piedmont Park, and having visited the adjoining Botanical Gardens before, I had heard of and attended their "Cocktails in the Gardens" event once before. Held each Thursday in the summer, they have a new creative theme each month featuring the seasonal plant and the month's drink special - one of my favorites that I heard of last summer was "Boxwoods and Bloody Marys." The current one for July is "Passion Vine and Pina Coladas."

After paying for admission, you are treated to "light bites" from a different hot area restaurant each week - this is my favorite part! Recent places have included Craft (amazing!), Market, and the greek restaurant Zaya. These are restaurants that are out of my usual price range, but at the Cocktails event, they offer up a number of appetizers, almost enough for a light meal. Add to this the cash bar, live DJ, amazing plants, and cool scultpure exhibits like the current Moore one, and it instantly becomes quite the swank place to be on a Thursday evening in Atlanta for the young professional crowd.


The one downside of this event is that you have to pay for entrance if you are not a member. Being my curious self, I checked into the membership deal one day this spring - and it turns out, a Dual Membership pays itself off in only 2 visits, and lasts for a whole year! So that means you can attend these Cocktail events, and then come back in the fall for the next sculpture exhibit, and come at the holidays for the lights - all for free once you have visited two times. I highly recommend it, as do the few people that have come along with me as guests!

Four squares, BBQ, and a ball

Always looking to have a fun get-together at my condo, I decided recently (after a brainstorm with my creative uncle haha) that the next party's theme would be Four Square!

Have you played Four Square before? Four Square was HUGE at my elementary school. We're talking painted boxes on the playground, lines of 30 kids waiting to get their turn, and the inevitable few kids that ruled the Box.


After a brief jaunt to Wikipedia for the above picture, I found out they even have World Championships for this kind of thing (?!?)


Ok so since it's summer, I am pairing this fun event for my friends with a potluck style BBQ and pool party at my condo. To invite everyone, I am using a fun site called MyPunchbowl. I LOVE this site. It's like Evite - but with more customizable features that appeal to me. For instance, you can make a whole Pot Luck list and let people sign up for things or fill out what else they might bring (see above).

AND they let people receive this uber-cute fake invite in the "mail" - way cuter than a basic Evite, I think.

Check out the cute picnic border I got to use! And customizable fonts, etc. They also let you add in extra notes in a sidebar that appears with the invite when opened. That is helpful for me to detail out parking even more, which is always limited downtown.

More to come about the party soon - its this weekend, time to prep!