ATLANTA WEEKEND

Goodbye Saturday and Sunday, hello Monday! This past weekend was a good one - I spent it in Atlanta! I haven't actually been back to the ATL since I moved a year ago (my 1 year in Nashville is coming up!) It's kind of crazy to think it has been that long. In some ways, I feel like I've lived in Nashville for way longer than a year, but being back in ATL felt like just yesterday I was living on Piedmont Rd. Crazy how time has a way of doing that.

It was a quick trip - so quick, apparently, that I didn't take a single picture. Patrick and I drove down Saturday morning and got in that afternoon in time for some football watching and Tin Lizzys eating. I of course had to stop by the mall and it was so crazy busy packed. I really forgot about the madness of Atlanta - it hasn't slowed down one bit, that's for sure. For dinner we went to Horseradish Grill, which is one of my favorite restaurants in ATL. I highly recommend to anyone who is living or visiting the city. Sunday morning brought church at Peachtree Presbyterian with Courtney. As always, it was an amazing message, and it was so great to be back and worship with Courtney! After brunch at Murphy's in the Virginia Highlands, we headed back home. 

Now I'm back in Nashville for one more week before it's time to head to Champaign for Thanksgiving! Oh how I love the holidays. Be sure to check back here tomorrow - I'm starting holiday gift guides that you don't want to miss!

Happy Monday!

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Some Big News

Hello friends.

I'm still here. I realize this absence has been bad, really bad. I didn't leave a note, warning, nothing... just completely off the grid. There have been a few things going on in life.... like the following. I'll try to keep it concise.

1. I'm nannying during the week and working at a boutique here in Atlanta on the weekends. Things I've learned: I'm not ready to be a mom and I'm pretty darn ready for a full time, real person, benefits paying job. Like I wasn't aware of that one already :)

2. I am also, more excitingly, working part time and remotely for a fellow Theta in Nashville, doing social media - specifically blogging! I'm really, really enjoying it and it has been an great opportunity thus far. I am constantly challenging myself with design and content, and I'm getting so much better at Photoshop! The blog is called Sunshine & Sandals (check it out!) and it is a honeymoon focused blog. Let's just say I'm going to be a pro when it comes time for me to plan my own!

3. Speaking of Nashville, here's the big news. I'm leaving this city of Atlanta and embarking on what I hope to be a happy journey and experience. When a couple job opportunities didn't come through how I had hoped, I had to reevaluate my life and figure out a plan. And with a lot and a lot of contemplating, tears, prayers, and realizations, I decided that my time in Atlanta needs to come to an end. It was a big move for me to come down here knowing only a handful of people, with no job, internship, nothing. I've gained so much from my time here - both professionally and personally. I know that I can survive being completely on my own. But when it comes down to it, moving to a new city without some of my close friends was a lot harder than I expected. As my mom has told me, I'll never have college again, but I would like to still have a piece of it. With a move to Nashville, I'll be with my college friends and closer in location to friends from growing up, college, and my home. It's a better fit, and I am really excited to see what it brings. Now the hard part - landing a job!

I'll try to update more - I'm not promising anything, but I don't think a post here and there on style, home decor, music, etc. would be too much to ask for :)

Source: images.piccsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Hello Again

Please excuse my brief hiatus. What with the 4th of July holiday and Patrick in town for an interview, I kind of took a break from posting.

And I kind of have a confession to make. 

Sometimes I just don't feel like blogging or give up on a post because it seems too hard. Which is embarrassing, but true. I'm not the biggest expert in graphic design or web design and sometimes I just can't figure out where to find a shot of a J.Crew shirt or Tibi dress that I love without the model in it. So then I don't really feel like putting together a collage of "what I want to be wearing on the 4th of July"! So forgive me. I'm trying.

Speaking of the 4th of July, I hope everyone had a great holiday. It was weird, right? Being on a Wednesday and all? Not particularly ideal for traveling... but for those of us who stayed in town, it was kind of nice having a kind of weekend in the middle of the week! My 4th was spent laying all day by the pool with Courtney. I think both of us were a teensy bit homesick -- pool games at the CCC, the annual 3rd of July party, family and friends... so it was perfect that we spent it together. We grilled out because I felt un-American if I didn't eat a cheeseburger and while at Krogs I found SPARKLERS! Which were put to use when we realized our apartment complex was not tall enough to see the fireworks over Lenox Mall. Oopsies. 

The weekend was a pretty typical one - lots of pool time, lounging, and reading. The extra bonus was that Patrick was in ATL so I got super duper lucky getting to see him again after only a few days apart!!! I made it a priority that we didn't eat at the same places that we always do, so after seeing Whitney post about the Atlanta Food Truck Park, I KNEW I had to go! And oh it made me so very happy. Even though I had sweat trickling down my back from the 100 temps and I was eating barbecue, I was completely entranced by this little park of food trucks. It was wonderful, and I need to go back very soon :) 

Happy Hump Day everyone!

Lilly Pulitzer, Botanical Gardens, and Cocktails!

For the next four Thursdays in June, Lilly Pulitzer will be hosting the Atlanta Botanical Garden's "Cocktails in the Garden". The cocktail hour goes from 6-10pm with DJs, chef demos, and a free cocktail with admission. Better yet, the first 50 guests to arrive wearing Lilly get a FREE gift bag!  If you're not doing anything on Thursday evenings, make sure to take advantage and enjoy this lovely experience! 

Visit @ATLBotanical on Twitter to get tickets for $10, instead of the normal $18.95. 

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Oh Happy Weekend

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and spent lots and lots of time outdoors and with family and friends. I had such a lovely weekend with two dear friends in town. Thursday night started the fun, with Ashley in town. We went to dinner with her Dad at Twist, where I expanded my food horizons a tiny bit (I ate seared tuna!) followed by a drink in Buckhead. It was so nice to see her and I can't wait to see her again this weekend in Indiana! 

Friday night Natalie came in town for the weekend to visit Courtney and I. It was just the best having her here, especially since I won't be seeing her in a couple weekends to celebrate two friends' wedding. We had a late dinner at Miller Union, a fun spot in Midtown, and spent hours just catching up and chatting about anything and everything. Great food, great drinks, great atmosphere, and great friends. What could be better?!

The next day followed with a long walk in Chastain Park and more chatting. The weather was beautiful and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend for Natalie to see the city. We had lunch at OK Cafe in Buckhead and then ran errands to get ready for the Braves game! This was not only Natalie's first Braves game, but also mine. Some UVA friends got a spot to tailgate, and after a long, extended ride on the Marta, we finally made it. Best part about Braves games? It's not the 4th of July, but we all sure look the part. The game was great, we somehow managed to get in a box, and had a fun, fun time. The weekend definitely went by way too fast and I was sad to see Natalie go back to Dallas - I think we needed a few more days - but I can't wait to visit her and Kaitlyn after she moves to D.C. this summer! 

Patriotism at it's finest. USA!

Middle school again taking selfie pics? Guilty. 

Hope everyone has a great Monday and start to the week! 

Loren Hope

I absolutely love statement necklaces, especially when they are bold with color. Jewelry line Loren Hope, designed by Loren Barham, is the perfect combination of everything I love in jewelry. It's beautiful, colorful, and in my opinion, timeless. I could see myself continuing to wear the pieces year after year, with a plain white tshirt and jeans to add some spice, or with a cocktail dress to add some extra pizzaz! Check out her line here, and see if there is a store near you that carries Loren Hope. For those of you living in ATL, you can find select pieces at Festivity and Poppy's. Some of my favorites from the line are below, but let's be honest, I would be fine owning ALL of it :) What are your favorites?

1. Libby Colorblock Necklace //  2. Roxy Necklace //  3. Samba Necklace  //  4. Elizabeth Necklace  // 5. Trina Bracelet  //  6. Sophia Studs

I Dream of Justin

I think it's safe to say I have a teensy bit of a crush on Justin Timberlake. I mean, check out his resume:

• N*Sync boy band superstar
• Successful solo artist (Senorita, I feel for you)
• Awards show host - pretty sure the ESPY's haven't been the same since 2008. Come back, JT?
• SNL Host... hands down, the best.
• Proven actor - The Social Network was incredible. No argument.
• Business man
• Sports dude. He knows what's up in the world of sports, probably more than Charles Barkley and he gets to provide commentary during the NCAA. Hmmm.... a switch perhaps? Women viewers would probably skyrocket.

I'd like to think that JT's real life personality is the same when he's hanging with his friends as when he's hosting the ESPY's or SNL. He's really funny. And I would really, really like for him to be my friend so that I can enjoy his funny-ness (not a word, I know) on a regular basis. Unfortunately this is as realistic as me being a Broadway star... It's not.

However, last night I probably got as close as I ever will to Timberlake when I took my sister back to Athens. Apparently, Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Timberlake are filming a movie and they're using ATL and surrounding areas, aka Athens, to film. Two blocks of Athens downtown was shut down, so naturally Charlotte and I, along with many other Athens residents, went as close to set as we could to stalk. And I saw him. 100 yards away from me, stood Justin Timberlake in a plaid shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. And although my eyes were probably fuzzy from the high pollen in the air, he looked great. The only thing stopping me from running through the taped off area to him was the high security and my inevitable arrest. To my sister, if I were there, I would stalk out all the places he could possibly go. And then give him my number. Thanks :)