Category Archives: Life In Atlanta

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.

#ClassPassChallenge: Complete

1st September 2015

I’m on month four with ClassPass and while there are hundreds of classes available in Atlanta, it didn’t take long to become guilty of falling into a routine with a handful of favorite studios ?. So when my friend Kate shared that ClassPass was challenging members to try out ten new studios before Labor Day, I was more than up for the test. Finding out that there was a trip to Wanderlust 108 on the line was icing on the cake.

The start and finish faces of #ClassPassChallenge

This past week we finished our tenth class, officially completing the challenge. Looking back through my account, I have been to 24 different fitness studios since joining ClassPass in May. Before ClassPass I had not been to a class regularly since UGA spin, so that alone is pretty impressive for this runner girl.

Since July, we’ve done everything from try our best ballerina at Dance 101, practice patience with 90 minute yoga at Active Sol Yoga, kick out Monday aggression with kickboxing at Blueprint Fitness and even gave our best Cirque Du Soleil performance with a silks class at Atlanta Kick.

In order to participate in #ClassPassChallenge, we we’re required to Tweet or Instagram proof of each class with a photo. At the time, I was incredibly embarrassed (all ten times), but now it affords this sweet collage (and a takeover of my Twitter feed).

If you’re starting out with ClassPass, looking for a new studio or simply want to keep from falling into a fitness routine, use the map above for a recap of what I took on this summer with #ClassPassChallenge. Google, you never cease to amaze me. If I really have my act together, maybe I’ll keep this updated.

PS still interested in checking out ClassPass? Here’s my shameless plug for $10 off for you and $10 for me. Sign up with this link and we both win.

Celebrating 27 with High Tea at Zen Tea Chamblee

30th August 2015

First, I turned 27 last week.

Second, I found 27 to be the magic age where birthdays stop becoming so exciting that you feel the need to tell the entire world for a week straight. Ugh.

Third, if you know my husband whatsoever you are probably aware that he likes to pretend he’s an all around boy with no link to emotion whatsoever. And he doesn’t like to admit birthdays might be a cause for celebration. In fact, you might believe he doesn’t even like them.

Lies. All lies.

Don’t let that guy fool you, he has plenty of warm fuzzies hidden away and has this habit of saving them for the best moments. So when he surprised me with a perfectly girly tea party for my birthday, I could not have been more thrilled.

Celebrating birthday-eve with the husband and pup

I have been asking, and reminding myself (and P), to stop by Zen Tea in Chamblee for months. I gush over pretty little tea pots and never miss my daily cup of English Breakfast, but had yet to make it over to the tea store that is less than a five minute drive from our house.

Earlier this summer, while grabbing breakfast at the Brookhaven Farmer’s Market, P and I stopped by the Zen Tea tent. Me for a cup of white jasmine, he for some intel. I must have missed his chatting with the employee from Zen Tea, but he learned about their high tea offering and put plans in motion.

Sunday morning, when I asked what to make for breakfast, he mentioned having a spot in mind he wanted to try instead. When we arrived, I was giddy to see it was the same little tea shop I had been eying. I was then surprised to find not only were we grabbing delicious drinks, he had also invited my mom, sister, his parents and my best girlfriends for a high tea celebration.

Zen has a great little back room where we enjoyed a private three course brunch. The event began with a tea selection (every gets their own pot) served with scones, followed by a selection of finger sandwiches and final course of a second tea selection paired with a myriad of deserts. It was a fantastic way to work around their extensive menu (they have 160 teas to choose from) and take a much needed break from planning a large birthday dinner party.

If you’re not up for the entire high tea selection, Zen Tea offers loose tea for sale and has a great selection of little pastries, we’ll be back to try both. Located right in the heart of old downtown Chamblee, this little shop just off of Peachtree Road is a gem.

In addition to Zen Tea, old Chamblee has a string of antique stores, the impossible to pass up ice cream at the Frosty Caboose (ice cream out of a train car is NOT just for those under the age of five, for the record) and a number of other great eateries, all tucked into a mile or so.

I’m glad to know that even though I may have crossed the “birthdays don’t seem so exciting” bridge, I have someone by my side who’s willing to fight for them, at least for two more years. As my mother reminded us time and time again as children, women don’t age past 29 anyway.