We kicked off Friday night with Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.  I walked with the Sparks Grove/North Highland team who were proudly the TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM for the event!

The whole experience was so fun – dunk tanks, face painting, live bands, people of all ages, lots of good energy and my favorite part: a mass Zumba lesson! 

Witness:

The most powerful element of the evening were the luminaries that lined the track purchased in honor and memory of loved ones.  Walking past these symbols of love and hope over and over again was definitely touching.

I learned that Relay for Life is the BIGGEST fundraising event in the world…and I can definitely see why.

Then, Saturday we did a charity event double feature!

Part 1 was ParTee Fore a Cure also benefiting the American Cancer Society and kicking off tomorrow’s Tee it Up for Life golf tournament.

This was my third year to attend the event and although I didn’t win ANY of the items on which I bid in the silent auction, I had a fantastic time as usual.

Part 2 was Camp DANCE!  We had so much fun.

I mean if you're gonna have a canoe as decoration...

It was a really spectacular weekend for me - I hope yours was, too! 

Now, if you’ll pardon the cheesy, It did occur to me that this was the FOURTH Camp Dance Greg and I have both attended.

In 2009, we didn’t even know each other.

(but I did attend the event with some other LK-Lifers...)

We met planning 2010′s Camp Dance and, by the time of the event, we had been dating only a few months…

At 2011′s party, we had just moved in together…

This year, we’re engaged!

…I can’t wait to stroll into next year’s event as a Mrs!

(What?  I warned you it was going to be cheesy.  Sorry I’m not sorry.)

xx, L

I’m sorry I’m not sorry. 

I can’t even help it. Please don’t judge. And I am EXTRA excited because I LOVE EMILY MAYNARD.  

I don’t care if you think she’s boring. She’s so pretty and classy (please don’t let me down, Em) I can’t WAIT to see the degree of idiocy these guys reach over her.  It’s going to be amazing.   Plus, I can stare at her and her amazing clothes for 12 episodes.  #GirlCrush

Tonight at 9:30PM CANNOT come soon enough! 

I love you Emily…

xx, L

First of all, it’s in a great spot. Though not visible from the road, it’s nestled in the strip where B.Braithwaite, Dry Bar, and Flywheel are located…good company indeed! AND only a stone’s throw from the glorious St. Regis Hotel – I’d say this little resto has some primo real estate!

Secondly, it is ADORABLE. The design is so fresh and clean. You walk through the wine cellar straight into the fresh and sleek interior like the world’s most amazing tunnel.

Photo lovingly ripped off from my girl over at Baxter Bark Twice. Thanks, lady.

There are a few small tables, but most of the seating is a large U-shaped double-sided bar with this super cool riser for your pies! Bonus: your wine glass fits neatly underneath

They also have a pretty fantastic wine list with some very affordable vinos – which our server said was by design. (um, THANK YOU.) You can also choose your wine via their wine pairing app loaded onto an iPad at the table.

You had Greg at “iPad.” I loved watching him “help” my mom figure out how to use it:

Most importantly…the food was fantastic.  We started with the spring pea, prociutto, mozzarella, and rosemary bruschetta and it was DELISH. Witness:

Then…onto the pies. We went with

Pomodorini, oregano, garlic, and mozzarella

And

Mozzarella, fontina, taleggio, gorgonzola, and thyme

You’d think that 2 huge pizzas would be way too much for 3 people… but you’d be wrong. We ate almost every last bite. In our defense, they were surprisingly light.

You guys, I really liked this place a lot and can see where I could easily become addicted. (and um, hello – Flywheel, then Drybar, then STG? Sounds a little TOO convenient.)

And although I’m done with first dates, it did occur to me that this would be an excellent first date spot – it’s lively and sleek yet causal enough – and pizza is always a crowd pleaser. Plus – you can dash over to the bar at the St. Reg for an après dinner nightcap… I’m just saying.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for STG Trattoria. I WILL be back.

xx, L

STG Trattoria
102 West Paces Ferry
Atlanta, GA
404 – 844 – 2879

Camp Twin Lakes CAMP DANCE! 

Please see my recap of last year’s event by clicking here and please view some of my favorite Camp Dance memories over the years: 

Camp Dance Preparty 2009

Camp Dance Preparty 2007

Camp Dance Preparty 2007

Camp Dance 2008

Camp Dance 2006

Camp Dance 2009

Camp Dance 2010

Camp Dance 2010

Camp Dance 2010

Camp Dance 2010: Fun Fact - I met this guy planning Camp Dance 2010

Camp Dance 2011

Camp Dance 2011 (work it!)

Camp Dance 2011

Camp Dance 2011

 Here are the deets for this year:

You can get your tickets by clicking HERE: CAMP DANCE TICKETS! 

Open bar, delish dinner, music, dancing…all for $60?

That’s not even the best part.  It’s all to benefit Camp Twin Lakes!

Come on, get your tix TODAY and party with me on 05/19 at the Georgia Freight Depot!

xx, L

9. Katy from Mean Girls.  You go, Glen Coco!

8. Andrea Sachs from the Devil Wears Prada.  Bangs?  Check. Amazing handbag?  Check.  Ridiculously amazing clothing montage?  Checkity check check checkkkkk!

7. Two words: MRS. DOUBTFIRE.

6. Elfaba’s POPULAR Makeover in Wicked….

5. Sandy from Grease.  Now that’s one way to get some attention…

4. Ronald Miller from Can’t Buy Me Love.  Don’t make me laugh, lawn boy!

3. Eliza Dolittle from My Fair Lady (even though her “before” would be totally acceptable in Little 5.  What a hipster!)

2. Vivian Ward from Pretty Woman  Enough Said. 

 and… the #1 Makeover of all times is……

The QUICK + DIRTY DIRTY!!!!!!

Thanks to our amazing web designer, Mark Wolfe, of Wolfepack Creative – we have a brand new style and we’re feeling GREAT.  

What do you think of our new look???

xx, L + L

The annual Inman Park Festival takes place in one of Atlanta’s oldest + most scenic neighborhoods.  First developed in the late 1800s, Inman Park is home to many historic homes and parks.  The Festival began in the early 1970s as a means to attract attention to gentrification efforts that sought to revitalize the community.  Now celebrating its 41st anniversary, the festival offers something for everybody.  Music, kids activities, a Tour of Homes, a marvelous street parade, an artists’ market + some of the city’s best people-watching!

Check out Inman Park Festival pics below…

Get all your Inman Park Festival information riiiiiiiight HERE!

And, don’t miss our buddy J. Rishel Woodworks’ vendor booth!  He’s going to have some really great stuff.

Just 2 weeks and counting! 

(Funnel cake, funnel cake, funnel cake…)

xx, L

Here’s the Q+DD on Flywheel: Crafted by Ruth Zukerman, legendary fitness instructor, Flywheel is a spinning “experience” that cultivated a cult following in NYC and is now out to claim the nation!

Each choreographed spin routine is 45 or 60 minutes long and includes arm work with weighted bars. Awesome news: the studio is set up with stadium seating, so no matter where you are, you’ve got the best seat in the house.

Big time bonus: One of Atlanta’s BEST spin instructors (and all around cool guy), Jeremy Levison is now teaching there (although I hear ALL the instructors are amazing.)  

If you’re asking yourself what’s different about this class than a typical run of the mill spin class, here are a few other things you should know:

1. You reserve your bike ahead of time like a seat on an airplane. This is HUGE for chronically tardy front row geeks like myself.

2. They rent you special spin shoes with clips

2b. If you are too blonde to get out of said clipped in shoes after class, some kind Flywheel employee will help you.

Don't worry, I'm not still here!

3. The tailor-made bikes are completely customizable to your preferences and have a “tech-pack” which shows your resistance (“torque”), your speed (RPMs) and your “power output” (current and cumulative for the class)

4. For the overly competitive, you can opt in to participate in the in-studio “Torqueboard” – a leaderboard that show’s how participants in the class are doing. BONUS: your stats for every ride will be recoded and made available in your private account on the website!

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE.

Also open: FLYBARRE

Billed as the perfect compliment to your Flywheel cardio, Flybarre combines yoga, dance, circuit training, pilates, and strength building and I am here to tell you that I was lucky enough to be invited to a class by my girls Hess and Kate and I think I speak for the group when I say: “Seriously, OUCH…but when can I go back?”

The studio is small-ish. Witness:

But no fear of running out of space - you reserve these mats airplane-style too and trust me, you are feeling WAY too much in your muscles to feel any claustrophobia whatsoever. Fact.

It was fast paced and fun and they do this super cool “dynamic arms” routine that changes monthly with the idea that you’ll come back enough times during the month to learn the routine and look like a cheerleading squad.  I like.

Confession: You do a full-on lights-off stretch twice in the class and I was a little heartbroken when I found out the first stretch wasn’t the end… but very proud of myself at the legit end.

They’re both incredible workouts and I’m SUPER excited to have our very own Flywheel here in the ATL!

Welcome, welcome, Flywheel!

xx, L

Flywheel Sports Atlanta
102 W Paces Ferry Road NW
Suite A
Atlanta, GA 30305

P.S. EXTRA BIG THANK YOU to Flywheel for donating a Spin Party for the silent auction I’m working on for The Tasting next Tuesday!  Please come to the event and bid on it… I will try not to elbow you out of the way or give you the side-eye if you outbid me.  

Before

The course...

after the first Kilometer

At the Finish Line!

even Jamo got painted!

The event sold out at 10,000 runners…but never fear, Atlanta - there is an ENCORE next weekend! Click HERE for info.

It was an AMAZING day and I will be back for next year.

xx, L

Here’s the Q+DD on The Color Run: It’s a race that’s less about speed (thank goodness) and more about enjoying a run in the park and emerging looking like a bag of Skittles. The only rules are that you must wear a white shirt and end up covered in paint. Each kilometer of the event is associated with a designated color: 1k is yellow, 2k is blue, 3k is green, 4k is pink, and the 5k finish is a “Color Extravaganza.” I LOVE an Extravaganza.

Registration is closed, but please come on out to Piedmont tomorrow to witness and cheer on Team “We Dream In Color”

Should be hilarious!  

xx, L

Hope to see you at Tulipano this Thursday!

xx, L

Tulipano Boutique
3145 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 185
Atlanta, Georgia 30305