Friday Favorites: Edition Three

23rd October 2015

I have a three week streak going on here with today’s Friday favorites. Other posts, not so much. Baby steps you guys. Apparently, this week was for impromptu decision making, but not for pictures. I only have screen shots of calligraphy on my camera roll since Sunday. Oops. Away we go with words.

On cheese dip

My baby sister convinced me to forgo a run pre-pilates at Stellar Bodies in exchange for Taqueria del Sol. I told her no cheese dip. She ignored that request and ordered the cheese dip, which we devoured. I somehow managed to not throw up in class. What else are sisters for if not to help you make healthier life choices? By healthier, I’m referring to how good for your soul a dinner with your sister can be.

On the future

Confession: I actually did not do this this week. The first We Live in the Future event took place this week in Atlanta, opening to a killer crowd. After the sweaty class mentioned above, I opted to head home and recover instead. I’m sure I’m not the only one who sometimes feels the need to bail on your schedule from time to time. It resulted in some much needed GOT, on the couch, in leggings, with a cute boy instead. Rest assured, the next event is back on my to-do list.

On podcasting

I’ve been on the hunt for podcasts to replace music while running. I stumbled across Invisibilia from NPR this week and while I might be behind on the bandwagon, holy obsessed. If you’re fascinated whatsoever by how the human brain works, check it out.

On what’s ahead for the weekend

Making the most of fall. Burt’s will not be pushed off of our agenda and we’ll officially kickoff Halloween week with the annual Spirit of Oakland tour alongside my family.

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.