Camp Twin Lakes has been on my mind a lot lately.  As you may know, I just took the helm as the President of the Junior Board and Y’ALL (Young Adult Leadership League) and we’re having a REALLY fun time re-organizing and re-branding and dreaming up a BRAND NEW Signature Event to take the place of Camp Dance this year.

Also, I did a TON of shopping with my Partners Card these last 2 weeks.  (Not to brag – but I was a Partners Card maniac this year.  In particular, I got some AMAZING deals at Baby Braithwaite, FlyWheel Buckhead, Williams Sonoma, Michael Stars and Anthropologie.  It was a massacre on my AmEx.  It was awesome.)

But NOTHING is as fun or as rewarding as spending a day at camp.  Greg and I, along with about 20 other volunteers, went to Camp Twin Lakes (Rutledge) today and had a BLAST.  I just wanted to share some pictures that I lovingly ripped off of my darling friend Bjanca who came out with her hubs!

choose your adventure!

part of the ropes course!

Slide on the amazing tree house!

Nature trail and everyone's favorite totem pole

I mean we loved it.

Brad hauling away our debris. Go Team Debris!

Bjanca and me...totally rocking those rakes

Greg and Brad checking out the sundial

The dock looked gorgeous

It was an AWESOME day and totally what I needed right now.  My manicure is a little worse for the wear, but my attitude was greatly improved.

For those who don’t know - Camp Twin Lakes is a not-for-profit organization providing life-changing camp experiences for Georgia’s kids with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and other life challenges, and it’s basically the coolest place in the world.  The young professionals group (Y’ALL) is doing some really fun stuff right now – obviously more information to come, but if you’d like to get involved – please email me at LaurenKCohen@gmail.com.  We’d LOVE to have ya!

Camp is totally one of my “happy” places.  Thanks for the awesome day, CTL.

xx, L

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You guys.  My favorite night of the year IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!  

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

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Ok guys – please bear with me.  And send some good thoughts my way because my beloved MacBookPro is on the F.R.I.T.Z. 

BUT: I need to tell you guys 2 things A-Snap.  1. Spiralween is SATURDAY and you can get $5 off your ticket with promo code LKWeen

2. Partners Cards have been on sale and shopping starts TOMORROW! Official dates: October 28 – November 6th, 2011

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, The Q+DD on the Partner’s Card is this:

You purchase a Partner’s Card for $60 and pretty much the entire city of Atlanta becomes 20% off. Buy yours here.

It is seriously mind-boggling how many retailers and restaurants are participating. I spent all of last weekend doing re-con work and planning my attack.

Strategery.

There are about a zillion participants, so for me to go over each one would turn this post into a novel.I’ll just highlight some of the locations

I’m particularly excited about:

Shopping: Tassels (hint hint, Greg and Kev!) Banana Republic, GAP, J. Crew, Anthropologie (no, I’m not kidding.), Boogaloos, Dakota J’s, Festivity, Just the Thing, K-La, Kate Spade, Luna, Mitzi and Romano (my fave!), Fab’rik, Nicole Miller, Tory Burch, Jimmy Choo (for complete list of shopping click here)

Gifts and Stationery:  Dolce (adorable custom gourmet baskets), Fragile, Limetree, Paper Affair (for full list of gifts and stationery click here)

Beauty: Kiehl’s, L’Occitane (get your Almond Oil!), Natural Body Spas, The Spa at the 4 Seasons (for complete list of health and beauty click here)

Jewelry: Dora Rae Boutique, JenBoaz.com (I have a ZILLION Jen Boaz pieces), Tassels (Gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous!) For complete list of jewelry click here

Kitchen and food: Cook’s Warehouse, Piece of Cake, Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma (for complete list of kitchen and food click here)

Restaurants: Alon’s, Ecco (yum!), Fritti, ONE. Midtown Kitchen, sotto sotto, STEEL, No Mas! Cantina, the entire Buckhead Life group of restaurants (Kudos to you, Buckhead Life!) For complete list of restaurants click here

There’s an APP for that: Get the Partners Card App for your Smart Phone HERE.

Believe me when I tell you that even though I just listed a bazillion places, that is only the TIP of the Partner’s Card iceberg. You seriously have no idea how many stores are participating. Even big-ticket stores where 20% is no joke!

Ok, here’s the best part:

100% of the Partner’s Card sales go directly to Camp Twin Lakes. You get ALL of these fabulous deals, plus all the good Karma, and help sponsor these amazing kids’ experience at Camp Twin Lakes. Get your Partner’s Card today!

So, get your game face on, y’all. It’s Partner’s Card 2011 and I’m not taking ANY prisoners!

xx, L

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The 32nd Annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off will once again be held in beautiful Stone Mountain, GA, where more than 300 culinary teams from across the country will battle for chili bragging rights!

In addition to sampling chili, Brunswick stew and cornbread, guests of all ages are invited to enjoy live music from some of the nation’s best tribute bands + partake in games such as the Mullet Flop (dying – OMG) and the Jalapeno Eating contest.  As in previous years, 100% of the proceeds will benefit Camp Twin Lakes!  Since 2005, The Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off has raised more than $380,000 for Camp Twin Lakes. 

Recap: Chili, tribute bands, mullet flop + jalapeno eating contest, AND Camp Twin Lakes.  My brain is exploding with awesomeness…

Here’s the Q+DD on The 32nd Annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off:

When: Saturday, September 24: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stone Mountain Park, GA – Coliseum Meadow
Tickets: Tickets are $10 for adults.  Children 12 + under are free.  Tickets can only be purchased on-site the day of the event, and will not sell out. 
Parking: Each vehicle will be charged $10 for entrance into the park.
Benefit: 100% of the proceeds benefit Camp Twin Lakes!
Sponsors: Miller Lite, Aaron’s Sales and Leasing, Waffle House, Metro PCS, Rock 100.5, Camp Twin Lakes, Caren West PR
Event Website: www.theatlantachilicookoff.com

Sounds super fun + delicious!  If I wasn’t going to Music Midtown, I’d definitely want to check it out. 

This weekend is going to be ridic. 

xx, L

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The weekend is almost upon us… I can feel it already!  I’m moving in 2 weeks, so I feel like this is the last weekend that officially belongs to me… before I am consumed with packing tape and bubble wrap… and couldn’t be more excited. Luckily, there’s lots of fun stuff going on in Atlanta:

1. Food Blogger Bake Sale: Saturday 04/15 at Phipps Plaza

Our girl Wendy A.K.A. @ATL_Events gave us the heads up on this – all your favorite food bloggers including will be baking some tasty treats for cash…all to benefit Save Our Strength – an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger.  So come on by Phipps and pick up some delicious baked goods or please consider donating directly to the cause!   As little as $1 can help to provide a hungry child with 10 healthy meals. Click here to donate!

2. Dunwoody Beer Festival: Saturday 05/14 at the Perimeter Mall parking lot

Hops for Hope! This is one of my FAVORITE annual events…and not just because it benefits Camp Twin Lakes. It’s a fabulous day of beer sampling, hopefully sunny weather, and fun.  Insider Tip: consider taking Marta to the event!

3. Tim Meadows at Dad’s Garage 05/13 and 05/14

Get your tickets HERE!

oooooooh...it's a Lady!

4. Brett Dennen at the Variety Playhouse

Up-and-comer Brett Dennen lays some sweet sweet tunes tomorrow, Friday 05/13 (Click HERE for tix!)

Of course, I have a special affinity for gingers, but this guy has something special.  He’s been on tour with the likes of Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews and O.A.R…so catch him solo at the VP tonight!

5. Every Saturday through December: the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market. (April – September 8:30 AM – noon, September – December 9:00 AM – noon) L.O.V.E. Check out my post (here) or their website (here) for more information if you’re not already clued in, but it’s a fab market.

Plus: Saturday you can see a chef demo by David Sweeney (creator of Dynamic Dish…RIP)
and Live with the Hidden Springs Honey Bee Hive

(Bonus: you may even see my girl Adrienne there – she often works there as a volunteer and tomorrow is her BIRTHDAY)

Happy Birthday, A! I love you!

It’s Thursday, people. One more day.  YOU CAN DO IT.

xx, L

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