Category Archives: Life In Atlanta

Friday Favorites: Edition Two

16th October 2015

If you’re new here, this is round two of a Friday Favorites round up. Monday through Thursday can often get overlooked, so this is my attempt to show they can be just as cool as weekends. You can catch last week’s round up here.

On exotic animals

We had a company outing to Zoo Atlanta this week to visit the Scaly Slimy Spectacular, Zoo Atlanta’s redesigned amphibian and reptile experience. Our team built a mobile game for the experience, so it was great to see the experience in its natural habitat. I was particularly drawn to this gal, a Meller’s Chameleon. Fun fact, it’s breeding season and she’s not exactly thrilled with her partner at the moment. Those dark spots and her open mouth are signs that she’s less than pleased. Boys can be dumb. We feel ya girl.

On making reading fun for kids

This week was our bi-monthly meeting for the Young Professionals Council of Everybody Wins, a non-profit I’m involved with here in Atlanta. I always walk away from our meetings equal parts ready to change the world and ready to read endless amounts of Harry Potter with our kiddos. After a long hiatus, I finally signed back up to be a reader this week at our newest school, Garden Hills Elementary. If you’re interested in an easy way to give back to your local community with a short once a week time commitement over your lunch break, head over to the Everybody Wins website or read about my experience.

On Halloween

After a rainy Saturday spent DIYing some ~~scary~~ super cheesy tombstones we finally got the house spruced up for Halloween. While it’s unlikely we’ll end up with any trick-or-treaters on our dead end street, it makes me happy to come home to a house looking like this. Can we petition for more decor friendly holidays prior to October? They are the best.

On what’s ahead for the weekend

My college roommate is coming to town to celebrate her birthday. While I’ve already teed up Spice World on Netflix, we’re also making a list of Atlanta adventures. With the Brookhaven Arts Festival, the UGA – Mizzou game and Oakhurst Porchfest, we won’t have a shortage of activities around here.

With that, a very happy Friday friends.

Friday Favorites: Edition One

9th October 2015

Last week, I stumbled upon a new blog series from a favorite photographer on Instagram, Amy Demos, called Friday Fun and immediately knew I had to jump on the bandwagon.

Another blogging friend of mine, Jessica Lawlor, runs a similar series at the beginning of each week, called Links and Goals. Both are such a great ways to kick, or end, a week, and follow along with the amazing work they are both creating.

I’m especially guilty of focusing my blogging time only on the bigger updates in our lives: the exciting adventures, projects or big things around the corner. Inevitably, this leads to fewer updates and some of the best details being left out of the story.

Starting this Friday, I’m going to try something a bit different: highlighting a few of the weekly wins I often overlook, and hopefully give share a few high five hands (?) for the week.

Here’s a quick recap of some of the fun adventures of this week worth sharing:

On being a professional

This week, I had the opportunity to speak at SuperNova South, a digital conference here in Atlanta, on game theory. Guys, I was able to somehow intelligently speak about game design and all of the great work we’re doing over at Dragon Army. It was a ton of fun, even though I still haven’t managed more than a 15 on Paper Trail.

https://instagram.com/p/8i4LNjj1uq/

On running

I discovered there is a Hogwarts Running Club. While I still haven’t received my acceptance letter, HRC turns running miles into really cool medals, with registration fees to support charity. This month’s run was the Patronus 5K, which was a great excuse to run with a friend over on the west coast. Registration benefits Noah’s Light Foundation, a nonprofit supporting pediatric brain cancer. If you’re interested, the run is virtual and you can still enter and complete it this weekend. I’ll also be adding this shirt to my Santa List in a size small.

The best selfie I could muster up to send to friends in Seattle also running.

On #TBT

Timehop shared this gem with me this week. I’m not sure what the “claiming” comment is all about, but what I do know is nine years ago I was invited to stalk some boy named Patrick on Facebook, we were set up on a blind date and the rest, as they say, is history.

On animals

I wish I could record the antics of our crazy cat and loving dog everyday. In the meantime, here they are both proud and confused about the Halloween fun to come.

On what’s ahead for the weekend

My baby sister is making her modeling debut on the westside with an event called A Really Good Strut. She works for Anthropologie and was somehow roped in. P and I will be there for the champagne and embarrassing photo documentation supporting her future wedding slideshow.

With no little rain in the forecast, we’re planning to make good on these goals and with a trip to Burt’s Pumpkin Farm and the mountain biking trails.

When you document it, Monday through Thursday doesn’t look too shabby. If you have a cause for celebration this week, let me know, I want to hear all about it.

Looking Forward to October

27th September 2015

Atlanta may have done its best Portland impression this weekend, but at least the temperature is giving a hint of what’s to come in the next few days…October.

I’m not alone in this excitement, a 2005 poll by Gallup asked Americans for their favorite month of the year and October was only bested by May (I’ll attribute that to our Northeastern friends). Despite popular belief, there is more to October than pumpkin spiced things (though picking pumpkins is on the list). I’ve already made a solid list of October activities for P, so sharing the highlights here seems like a good place to start.

What to look forward to in October in Atlanta

1. The Spirit of Oakland

I have a thing for visiting Oakland Cemetery any season of the year, but their annual Halloween tours are a must. The tour is historical, having volunteers dress up as “residents” to share their stories and their contribution to Atlanta history. There’s also beer, wine and live music. Tickets sell out fast (they go on sale in July), but you may still be able to snag a last minute spot if you jump on it.

2. Trail running

There are plenty of great places to get off of the asphalt and into the dirt around the city, but Cochran Shoals along the Chattahoochee is my personal favorite. Take the gravel path around to mile two and head up into the MTB trails. They’re largely single track, so play nice, leaving the headphones at home and running opposite the daily traffic for bikes.

Bonus: while no longer open to the public on weekends, if you’re nearby on a weekday, swing over to the Chattahoochee Coffee Company riverside location, easily the most relaxing spot in the city.

3. Pumpkins (not the latte version)

I’ve been going to Burt’s since I was a kid and we still make the trek every year. Sure, they’re pricer than Kroger, but can you take a hay ride at Kroger? Expect crowds and don’t sit on the pumpkins for your selfie. With endless hiking trails nearby, it’s easy to make a day out of it.

Amicalola falls is right around the corner, and while beautiful, it’s always a little too crowded for our taste. Check out Jake and Bull Mountain as nearby alternatives. Both are more MTB focused, but offer great hiking options too.

4. Hocus Pocus

I confess, I already gave in on this one along with the candy corn that was purchased in August. #sorrynotsorry. Do yourself a favor and order the DVD. Money well spent.

If you’re looking for more October-ness, we’re also embarking on gourd season. So there’s that.

October, let’s do this.