Favorite Running Gear

Now that I'm all signed up for the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, I've been doing an overhaul on my running gear. Getting rid of stuff I don't like and stocking up on stuff that I love.

I'm obsessed with my running gear and the company who makes it to be quite honest. Ever heard of Lululemon Athletica? Well if not, you need to become familiar with them if you're interested in fashionable workout clothes that fit great and are so comfortable! Lululemon is just an all around great company with fab clothes, gear and a great manifesto to boot. How could you NOT be inspired by this?

photo source

Here are some of my personal fave items from Lululemon!

Silver Bullet Short Sleeve Shirt -- $68.00

Swiftly Racerback Tank -- $48.00

Speed Short -- $54.00

I'm lucky enough to be in Atlanta where there is a Lululemon within 5 minutes...and by lucky I mean my bank account  isn't so lucky, but I am! They have a handy store locator where you can (I'm sure) find a Lululemon close to you, if not, never fear because they do online shipping as well. The best part of shopping Lululemon online ... shipping is always free!

**all photos from Lululemon website

I Just Signed Up For WHAT!?!?!

Yep, that's right. I've lost my mind. I'm officially signed up to run the Atlanta Thanksgiving HALF MARATHON!

Through the next 14 weeks, I'll be training and putting myself through what I like to call 'hell' to get ready for this 13.1 run. Thankfully, my awesome hubby is helping me prepare as well as running the race with me. Here goes nothing. Stay tuned for updates on my progress!

Irene's A-Comin'

She's coming down the track and heading straight for the Bahamas and East Coast!

photo credit

After today's recent shakes due to a 5.9 Earthquake on the East Coast, I don't know if they are ready for Irene to make her appearance. According to the latest maps, Irene is going to pound onto the Bahamas and East Coast at a CAT 3 Hurricane.

Thank goodness both the weddings we attended in Charleston were the last 2 weekends rather than this upcoming weekend. Also, our upcoming cruise is set to port out of Miami, FL. We're heading out on the Royal Caribbean 'Majesty of the Seas' to Atlantis, Cococay and Key West. Thankfully, we're heading out on September 5 rather than on the cruise right now. Sadly the cruise that is out now has to do a diverted path and will miss out on Cococay ... talk about right timing!

Hunker down folks ... she's a-comin'!

Restaurant Club Adventure : August

Thankfully my friend Nicole shares well. Nicole has been gracious enough to share some of her awesome friends with me. Through her, I've met some fab ladies who share a passion for wine, food, gossip and working out. These girls kill it when it comes to marathons and vino. As you can imagine, I was stoked to be invited to another Restaurant Club with them this month (I also attended the one at Local Three ... another Atlanta foodie favorite of mine).

Source

What is Restaurant Club you might ask ... well it's when fabulous ladies meet up once a month at a different restaurant to hang out, drink up and enjoy some good grub. This month's pick ... 5 Napkin Burger, a new boutique burger joint in Atlanta (although they have 5 other established locations). I had heard rave things about 5 Napkin Burger and was pretty excited to dig-in last night.

We arrived and the place was visually appealing and it smelled pretty delightful, like burger heaven. After hanging at the bar for a bit and waiting on all of the ladies, we were seated. Their libation menu wasn't too bad, but their wine list could use some more options. I settled on the Chardonnay (which was just alright in my opinion) while most of the others chose red wine or liquor drinks. The menu was smaller than I expected, obviously they had some good burger options, but they also served sushi, salads and even hot dogs! The good news is 5 Napkin can work with you on your 'foodie wants' such as burgers with no buns --which is what 5 Napkin calls 'Inside Out' --not a bad option if you're looking to watch your carbs.

After checking out the options, I decided to go with the Original 5 Napkin Burger 'Inside Out' (10 oz. fresh ground chuck, gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli) with a side of regular fries. One good plus to 5 Napkin Burger ... your side of fries are included in the price of your burger! Overall, the burger was good and cooked just right. The regular fries were delish as were the sweet potato fries I 'sampled' off one of the other girls plate.

Two glasses of wine later and a cleaned plate, the checks arrived. When I looked at the bill for my dinner for one ... $42 (including gratuity) -- one burger, two glasses of (okay) wine -- I was a little shocked. To be quite honest, the meal wasn't worth $42 and the burger, although tasty, not worth $15 (originally priced at $14, but apparently they add $1 to have it made 'Inside Out'). While I saw the prices on the menu, I guess I didn't really think too much about total cost of the meal.

Regardless, the company was great, the meal was overall good, yet pricey. I think I'd head back there for another go-round but be a little more cautious about the consumption of drinks since that certainly jacks up a total bill. Looking forward to next month's Restaurant Club ... like any good foodie, I'm always down for trying new places!

Good Advice Monday

I got an email today from my friend, Devon, that I just thought would be good to share. While you don't always think of someone wanting to harm you or your home, you never know what could happen. It's always good to read these emails, although some can be a joke, I think this one has some good information! 

*TWENTY-ONE THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:*
1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your
carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your
yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my
return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... And taste means there
are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me
wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I
might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to
remove it.

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and
foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead
giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let you alarm
company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it
too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows
on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your
jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock
your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off
because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere oroffer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check
dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you
keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system.
If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can
buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of
a real television. 

14. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and
carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

15. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

16. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your
neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear
it again.. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was
doing. It's human nature.

17. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy
alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

18. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home,
and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk
through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to
pick my targets.

19. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than
you think to look up your address.

20. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to
let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

21. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Finally Printed

I told you about being in BRIDES Magazine; Atlanta in July and guess what ... it's finally printed! 

Check it out! Our cake is there in all it's gorgeous glory! 

Lovin' My Lilly

I have to admit, one of my absolute favorite things is getting a new planner. Even more than that, I like filling them out with all the fun things I have going on at work and in my personal life. For the past few years, I've kept two planners, one for work and one for personal. However, thanks to my awesome intern, Becca, I've now got a new awesome planner that has everything rolled into ONE! I present to you the most fabulous and insanely adorable Lilly Pulitzer planner!

"These useful and unique daily agendas are full of frisky fun!
The colored tabs make for happy planning" ... {source}

According to the stats on the website, this fantastic planner is 17 months and complete with both weekly and monthly calendar pages. It also has a "dates to remember", "contacts", "notes" and the best yet...snazzy stickers! The pattern I picked out isn't listed on the website, but there are four other color options available and all are just precious! Not to mention, it has this oh-so-true quote right on the front page!

source

Can't wait to get to filling out my new planner! If you're in the market for a planner or just want a new one, I recommend this one for sure! Can't go wrong with Lilly!

Ten Things Your Pooch Wants You To Know

Saw this over at Hello Miss Chelsea  today and knew I just had to share! Miss Kona is one of my absolute favorite things in the world and I am so grateful that my hubby and I made the choice to get her this past November. While she can sometimes be a bother when I'm trying to focus or get stuff done, I know that when I take even a few seconds to praise her or scratch her belly, she savors those moments and appreciates them greatly. I'm a firm believer that a pet is a part of the household and I can attest that Miss Kona is 100% a member of our family!

Reading this today made me take a step back and remember that Miss Kona is precious to both my hubby and I as well as our family and friends. It's important that she knows how much we love her everyday!

Miss Kona

Ten Things Your Dog Wants You To Know

1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years. It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.

2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.

3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together. If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.

4 - Don't stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me. You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!

5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible. Even if I can't comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you're telling me by the tone of your voice.

6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.

7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently. Maybe I haven't been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can't do what I used to do.

9 - Take good care of me when I get old. Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.

10 - Be there for me through good times and bad. Never say you can't handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side. Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life.

Make sure you love on your pet, whatever it may be, each and every day. I can promise you one thing, they will return the favor!

Source

Edwards Wedding : Charleston Good Times (Round 1)

Mike and I, along with some of our friends, headed up to Charleston this past weekend to celebrate our dear friends big day! Our weekend went something like this ...

After our 4.5 hour drive from Atlanta to Charleston, we headed to dinner at a recommended place, 82 Queens. The atmosphere was great, the food, phenomenal and the company, good as usual.I enjoyed a yummy wedge salad and some scallops & shrimp and everyone did nothing but rave about their food as well. Post dinner, we headed over to Vendue Inn Rooftop Bar to meet up with another group of friends also in town for the wedding. A few beers later and fun conversation (and attempting to name our friend Carla's baby), Mike and I were exhausted and decided to head back to our hotel.

photo credit

Saturday morning came early and Mike and I were up and ready to head to downtown Charleston for some shopping. We had heard about a great deal on suits at M. Dumas & Sons. Mike was able to score a fantastic new suit, shirt and tie for a great deal. The best part ... we bought the suit at 9am and they had it altered and ready to go by 11:30am so he could wear it to the wedding! Talk about service! Post suit shopping, we headed to brunch and then to the market to walk around and pass some time. I was able to score a new purse (by JPK Handbags) I've had my eye on for weeks. My husband is AWESOME and bought it for me! Double Score for the day with the suit and new purse!

Mr. and Mrs. Edwards!!

The wedding was gorgeous and in a beautiful Catholic cathedral. Kristin looked stunning and Mike looked pretty awesome himself! The ceremony was shorter than I expected and then the crew headed out to Vickery's for a quick snack before the reception (since there was a 2 hour gap in events). Once we arrived at the wedding, the props table was scoured for goodies and seats were secured for the long haul. Beer and wine were flowing and everyone was having a good time.

Thank you for the stunna shades 

with my adorable husband in his new snazzy suit!

yummy cake!

with the gorgeous bride!

cutting up

good times

trouble makers

totally crazy but lovable great group of friends!

We had such a blast celebrating Kristin and Mike! Thank you both for letting us be a part of your big day! What a fabulous way to start our two weekend tour of weddings in Charleston. Bring on round 2 this upcoming weekend!

New Atlanta Find ...

I've found a new place in the Atlanta area that I'm dying to share with those that live here and also those that might be visiting. I present to you ... Empire State South!


"Empire State South takes a modern approach to creating authentic Southern dishes relying on the beautiful foods of this region. A community restaurant that appeals to a broad range, Empire State South is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a to-go lunch program, courtyard bocce ball and an extensive coffee bar."    (from Empire State South's website)


The atmosphere is awesome, servers and staff are friendly and the food is great! Located walking distance from bars, restaurants and living in Midtown, it's a great place for dinner, pre-going out drinks or a game of bocce. If you're going for drinks, I'd recommend the Pimms Cup for something a little different but a kick of yumminess ... all served up in a mason jar (my favorite!!). 

Pimms Cup

Pimms, Plymouth Gin, Lemon Gastrique, Cucumber, Ginger Ale

If you're in town and looking for something new and different, definitely give this place a chance, I think you'll like it a lot...I know I did! 

Chuck-Town Bound

First of two weekends we're Charleston bound is upon us. We'll be heading out on Friday to get there in time for the nuptials of our sweet friends, Kristin and Mike. Can't wait to celebrate with them on Saturday and party down with all of our friends!

Kristin and Mike at our wedding 

Next weekend we're back in the car heading to Charleston, yet again, for some more friends, Adam and Nalini's pure Indian wedding ... can't wait!

Crazy Man

My hubby is nuts, in a good way. He's obsessed with triathlons and training for them. He's currently putting in hours upon hours to get ready for his first Ironman .... Ironman Florida this upcoming November in Panama City, FL. He's got a few more races this year before the Big Dance in November.  It makes me proud to see him so dedicated to something he really enjoys...and happy that it's a healthy choice (although its quite pricey).

At Chattanooga Waterfront Tri -- July 2011