staycation...

hellloooo from downtown ATL - I'm currently on a mini-staycation of sorts for the next few days. DJ got back from Scotland on Saturday but he has meetings with coworkers flying in from all over the US/UK so they've setup a "home base" at a downtown Atlanta hotel... which happens to be less than a mile from my office, SCORE.

So while DJ is working hard I'm relaxing and soaking it all up just doing nothing after work for the next few days. I'm staying out here with him and walking to and from work - does that beat a 3 hour round trip commute or what??

so excited for a few days of me-time and post work nothingness until mom gets in town Thursday! heck yes! I'll leave you with some pictures that capture what tonight has entailed thus far [and all that it will entail]....

room service in bed.

yes please.

[can I never leave?]

Dry Bar Atlanta...

Have you heard of the whole Dry Bar concept? Dry Bar is a "blow dry bar" salon-concept where they don't do cuts or color -- just blowdrys for $35 a pop.

I blogged about it almost two years ago [when they were just located in NYC and LA] and I was significantly upset over the fact that there wasn't anything like that in the Berkshires - and never would be] WELL, I just discovered - they now have an ATLANTA location!?

{via}

I don't even remember how I stumbled upon this earlier this week [I blame pregnancy brain] but I am SO excited that I did - they've expanded significantly since they last came across my radar - they're in five states now and I'm so excited that there is a dry bar down the road from my office- this is being added to my Atlanta bucket-list ASAP.

I love a good blowout [though with all this baby talk and diaper "training" - the term blowout has changed significantly in my mind over the past 8 months...]. 

now I just need a fun occasion to get one [like for example a maternity photo shoot? if we decide to do one! speaking of which, I really need to get on that... oops]. The other big decision will be deciding which blowout I want.... they have quite the menu to choose from, I think my faves are these....

{all images via}

can't wait to splurge on a visit to the drybar!

check out their webpage to see if there's one anywhere near you!

which are your faves?

lake laniers magical nights of lights...

last week my in-laws, mom and I ventured out to Lake Laniers Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier, it was a little pricey going the week of Christmas so I would recommend going earlier in the month and bringing a coupon - you can get them at a bunch of different places in the area including Publix, etc. The lights were great and it was relaxing to drive through the eight miles of lights and just listen to holiday music. My favorite part though was exploring Santa's workshop at the end of the light display and all the fun decorations.  Also, they had a smores pit, grilled corn, a carnival, a Santa kids could take pictures with and lots of other fun stuff! 

I just had a blast taking pictures of all of the fun displays of decorations inside Santa's workshop...

The Coke themed tree...

I loved this tree, it SNOWED, so cute!

loved this light colored tree with the fun lights on it!

more fun sparkly decorations...

four lovely ladies [don't forget about the little lady in my tummy] - my MIL, me (and baby j) & my mommy :)

can't wait to go back next year, I definitely recommend it if you're in the area! I really want to bring our little girl with us check out the lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens next year too!

marta musings...

so I've become quite the public transportation guru lately... well, not really, but I ride it to and from work every day so I've picked up on a few random things.

first, let me explain the MARTA situation... as I've shared DJ and I are so fortunate because we can carpool to work together [aka we get to use the HOV thank the LORD]. we make the horrendous commute about 45 minutes to Atlanta [aka inside-the-perimeter] DJ drops me off at the MARTA stop that's like two miles from his office, I ride around five stops and walk a few blocks to my office - then in the evenings same thing except reversed (funny how that works out, hah). so that's around ten train trips a week for me (except when DJ is sweet and comes and picks me up from work... AKA when it's dark outside and I tell him he has no choice ask nicely).  now a lot of people I know are sketched out by the MARTA (yes, it can be sketchy at times but I've never not felt safe - I just play it extra safe and choose not to ride it at night by myself).

here are my tips for an enjoyable MARTA/train/public transportation experience:

• avoid eye contact [I hate when strangers talk to me]
• always, always, ALWAYS wear headphones... this one took me awhile since I'm usually reading on my kindle. then one day I realized it makes it even harder for people to try and make conversation when you can pretend you can't hear them
• when you do listen to music put your iPhone/iPod/mp3 player on shuffle... it makes the train ride so much more entertaining [exert from yesterdays playlist: fat boy slim, enchanted soundtrack, phish, the killers, ben folds, eminem... tell me that's not amazing?!]
• feel free to also listen to your music while walking down the street from the train station to your destination in a big city - it helps me attempt to bring to reality my dream of my life being a disney musical. [don't judge, it could happen]
• almost every morning without fail 5 different people are hacking up their lungs on the train: hand sanitizer... lots of it. hold your breath if possible.
• don't eat on the train [did you not read the last one - everyone is coughing and sneezing, you don't want to open your mouth more than necessary]
• walk with a purpose - there is nothing more annoying than lazily walking down the stairs to find the train doors closing in your face
• if there is a pregnant woman that gets on the train and you're sitting, GET UP -- it baffles me how many people don't do this [don't worry, I hardly ever sit so this has never happened when I was sitting or trust me I would]
• don't be an a-hole and put your bag down as a seatholder... especially when there are 20 people standing because there are no seats - this goes along with the last one - be a decent human being, come on.
• avoid eye contact. it's a big one, it needed to be mentioned twice.
• perfect the art of taking a picture with your cell phone inconspicously... I still haven't mastered this one but it's a must - you never know what you're going to see... especially when comic-con is in town -- 

I almost got a good one of this zombie/anime/I have no clue what she was but she was a trip. 

also, yes I was sitting on this train ride - no there were no pregnant women standing.

do you ride public transportation?

what are your helpful tips?

babies at the ballgame...

So Monday night at the ballpark was a great time! I met my MIL at the MARTA downtown, Danny came and picked us up, we went and had some yummy asian food for dinner and then took the shuttle over to the Braves game where we met Mike, Julie, Sarah & Greggie. The Braves were playing the Marlins which was fun for us since we all (well minus the babies) lived in South Florida and they were our "hometown team" for awhile, I'm a Braves fan now. I decided. I mean, I live here and plan to for a long time so I might as well root for the home team!

Anyways, onto the game - let's be honest, I didn't really watch the game it was all about the babies... they are just so stinking cute. I love them. examples....

seriously. so. freaking. cute. oh and of course, it wouldn't be complete without Greggie stealing someone's beer....

that baby sure does love beer. calm down, before you call CPC - the beer was empty and we took it away after the photo opp.

great night with the family...

and my love....

but I know what you're all wondering about.... and the answer is YES.....

we got cotton candy. and it was glorious. 

take me out to the ballgame...

ready for light and fluffy?

heading to the braves/marlins game tonight...

our seats won't be as good this time [aka we're in the nosebleeds]

but we'll definitely have a blast with the fam.

plus, it'll be fun to see our hometown team play

...and you better believe I WILL be getting some cotton candy this time.

what-a-week....

welp, it's been an quite an eventful week over in our neck of the woods! so here goes the cliff notes version....

guess who got a new job this week??

that guy.

DJ's been freelancing since we got to GA and has been doing really well for himself, but just he landed himself a fulltime gig at a local start-up! this guy, I swear - he hasn't written a resume since he graduated college and people just keep offering him great jobs. I guess it helps to be extremely charming and good at what you do [and have an amazingly supportive and beautiful wife... maybe? no? well, worth a shot]. he took a big risk to follow his heart and change career paths to do what he loved and it's paying off... so proud of you jiggs!

guess who went to their first MLB baseball this week?? meeeeee! 

that's another thing checked off the 30 before 30 list! DJ's friend Joey called us and said he had some extra tickets to the Braves v. Nationals game on Tuesday and offered them to us... so a group of us headed to Turner Field and watched the game. High: Great seats! Right behind the Nationals Dugout and a spontaneous night out with friends. Low: The Bravos lost and I didn't get any cotton candy. sad day. I'm excited to go to see them play again on the 12th vs the Marlins! here are some pictures from the game....

guess who is going to try not to eat meat for the next month??

yup. this gal.

[definitely not that dog...and yes, I am wearing shorts - thanks for asking]

yup. 30 days: no meat allowed. they say it takes 30 days to make or break a habit. when we were in the berkshires, we didn't eat a lot of meat at all, and when we did it was grass-fed and almost always local so we knew were it was coming from and that it wasn't loaded with chemicals or hormones. since we've been in GA I can't say that's the case. not that I eat a lot of meat, but I'm not sure it's the quality that I really want to be eating.  not to mention, I know there a lot of health benefits that come from not eating meat so why not see how my body handles it? I mean, if it's good enough for Bill. who knows, after 30 days I could not want it anymore - or I could immediately scarf down a bacon cheeseburger. either way, I tried something out.quite honestly, I think I'm going to miss sushi the most. pescatarianism anyone? maybe I'll do that after my meatless month. I know some people may think it's silly, but whatever, as bobby says - it's my prerogative.

...and lastly, guess who is still ridiculously cute and spoiled??

[couldn't leave Ollie out now could we??]

lastly, SO excited for college football starting today!!!! 

aaaaaaaaaah dafkljsdfjkld 

that was me being really excited.

GO GAMECOCKS!

GO KNIGHTS!

Gwinnett International Farmers Market

This weekend we finally ventured out to the Gwinnett International Farmers Market [right of I-85 Pleasant Hill Exit] and were not disappointed! We headed over to get a few ingredients for our Asian Meatloaf [recipe coming soon] and were blown away. First off, this market is extremely inexpensive, I was very happy with their produce prices as well as their dry goods. They have a great variety of produce, seafood, Latin and Asian food products. If you're cooking any Latin/Asian food and there is a "hard to find" ingredient in the recipe, I guarantee it you can find it here!

we also grabbed a quick lunch at their "food court" and were equally impressed. We got Korean Pork [with soup, rice and kim chi for $5.99] and Fried Dumplings [12 for $4.99] and had to take leftovers home because the portions were so big.  The food was fresh and tasty and we're already planning on what we're going to get the next time we go...

all in all a successful trip to the Gwinnett International Farmers Market and we can't wait to go back!

Chateau Elan Winery

so a few weeks back when Lindi came to visit we finally ventured over to the Chateau Elan Winery - I was excited because it's pretty close to our house and if we liked it we could frequent it more often [DJ had been there before and told me it wasn't anything special, what does he know - clearly, a LOT].


so first we paid our $10 for the tour/tasting... whatever, money aint a thang... but wait, it is - that's kinda a lot for a craptastic tour and to barely taste five [not very good] wines. I threw caution to the wind and we went for it. 


the tour started out with a video [bad sign #1], lindi then mentioned to me that she had already watched this video on the webpage [bad sign #2]. oh yes... and this was my view....

yeah, not very good.

so we went on and toured the facilities, nothing exciting, and our tour guide didn't know the answers to our questions [annoying?!].... 

then we ventured outside and tasted the grapes [yum]....

back inside to taste the wine [eeehh]....

and back outside to grab a few photos before heading home....

clearly, the best part of the experience was the company. 

I wouldn't recommend it, especially not the tour...

I think you can do the tasting for $5 which might not be bad depending on what they had. 

I say skip the winery and head over to Paddy's Pub for a Guinness! 

sweetwater brewery tour

so my old friend Kristen [we went to UCF and USC together] was coming Atlanta to visit her family and we were trying to make plans to get together [and so she could finally meet DJ] and she suggested the Sweetwater Brewery, which was great because we'd been wanting to go and I could scratch another thing off the 30 before 30 list!


so Kristen met up with DJ and I for lunch at Hobnob [which was amazing, great food & beer selection! of course, we scarfed it down so fast I didn't have time to get pictures] and we caught up for a bit and then headed the brewery.  we got to sweetwater at 2pm [they open at 2:30] and there was already a line?! it was packed but we had a blast, it was great to catch up and kristen and DJ got along great [I knew they would, they're a lot alike].  I definitely recommend visiting sweetwater, for $8 we got a pint glass and six drink tickets (they also have an smaller option without the pint glasses for free!), the beer is awesome [sweetwater blue is my fav] and we even snagged bar seats so we could just sit and chat in the AC!

all in all, great day with great people!

thanks for spending some time with us coop-a-loop, it was great seeing you! DJ, Ollie and are looking forward to our trip to VA to visit you and the boys this fall!