I. AM. TOTALLY. OBSESSED.  What a great way to jazz up some empty wall space!

These are some of my personal favorites…

Check out Minted’s Art Collection HERE!  I want it allllllllll.

xx, L

The holidays are here!  For the entire month of December, you can find the perfect gifts and enjoy all the holiday experiences that Midtown has to offer! 

The kick-off reception was last night (and it looked like fun!), but there’s more! 

12/2 + 12/3: Local Gifts + Treats Pop Up Shop at MidCity Lofts (West Peachtree at 6th St. between Tech Square + Renaissance Hotel).  Vendors include: Olive, Pieces of Me, Lisa Jill Jewelry, Kristi Hyde, and JuneBug.  To compliment your shopping experience, enjoy treats from Sinless Cocktails + Rockin’ Cupcakes!

All Month Long: Midtown’s holiday festivities continue! 
- Ice skate in Piedmont Park at Park Tavern
- Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s “Garden Lights - Holiday Nights” installation
- Visit the ”Picasso to Warhol” exhibition at the High Museum of Art
- See “A Christmas Carol” at the Alliance Theatre
- Get tickets for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Fox Theatre
- Revisit the story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Center for Puppetry Arts
- Hear “Handel’s Messiah” at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

More info below…

December may be 31 days long, but you’ve got A LOT to do.  It’s going to fly by! 

Happy Holidays from the Q+DD!

xx, L

Here’s me two weeks ago with 8-months-prego Anjali as we were celebrating her pregnancy in DC.  Check out our awesome traditional outfits:

She had two parties that weekend (one a religious Indian ceremony + the other a Western baby shower for friends).  Anj spent the weekend opening gifts and chatting with folks who can’t wait to meet her little bundle of joy arriving in late August.  I spent the weekend supporting her (SO excited to meet the baby!) + sipping on Captain Kurt’s custom adult beverage he created for me over the weekend entitled: “All My Friends Are Pregnant + I’m Getting Drunk.”  Witness:

Here’s what was in it: Bols Genever (about 2 ounces), lemon juice (about .75 an ounce), a splash of grenadine + two drops of cherry bitters.  Shaken and strained and topped with blood orange soda.  Sweet, sour + pink…just like my iPhone case.

Drinking these over the weekend was delightful.  Bring ONNNNN the babies, I say!!

Anyway, over the past few months I’ve thrown a handful of baby showers + attended a number of others.  While I am still really uncomfortable setting foot into Babies ‘R Us (OMG – that place is s.c.a.r.y), I can tell you what My Breast Friends is, I can recommend bella bands + maternity jeans, and I consider myself to be an expert on fun baby shower games. 

Let’s take Anj’s shower for instance, because it was recent + she had a slew of fun games.  First was the Never Have I Ever College Fund Game that I thought was super cute.  All you need is a decorative piggy bank + shower goers who are willing to donate their wallet change.

Everyone goes around and says baby shower-related (+ appropriate) Never Have I Evers like “Never have I ever changed a baby’s diaper” or “Never have I ever given dirty looks to a crying baby on an airplane,” etc, and those who have done that walk up to the piggy bank and drop in wallet change to start the baby’s college fund.  Here’s Anj with her baby’s piggy bank:

Although it’s not actually a game, I thought this was a really sweet idea: Anj’s sister put out a baby’s bedtime book + pens for shower goers to flip through and write a note to the baby.  Such a thoughtful little keepsake for folks to work on over the course of the shower.

Another one of the baby shower games that I think is a big hit is Guess How Big Momma’s Belly Is.  We purchased string from Michaels + passed it around to everyone with a pair of scissors.  Shower goers cut the string to the length that they thought was Anj’s belly circumference.  Then, everyone measured their strings around Anj + the shower goer who cut the string closest to the size of her belly won a prize. 

We also had a station running for shower goers to personalize onesies for the baby.  We purchased paint pens + markers and iron-ons (we set up an iron and ironing board for those) from Michaels to encourage folks to be as creative as possible. 

Shower goers ate, drank, chatted + made adorable onesies (in a variety of sizes) for the baby.

This one was mine. 

We hung them up with twine and clothespins in front of the area where Anj would later open her gifts.

This was another onesie I loved…

Finally, we did not play this game at Anj’s shower, but I have to admit that it’s my favorite.  I call this one: Identify the Poop!  To set it up, all you need is a variety of candy bars + diapers.  Open the diapers and inside of each one place a different candy bar.  Write a number outside of the diaper corresponding with the candy bar within it, i.e. Milky Ways in diaper #1, Twix in diaper #2, and so forth.  Microwave the candy bars until they are melted.

Have everyone gather around and pass out the candy bar-filled diapers + pens and paper.  Shower goers have to taste each one and try to identify which candy bar it contains.  Whomever is the most accurate gets a prize.

It’s a total blast + SO funny!  And, definitely not for the squeamish…

That’s all I’ve got for now.  There are several more babies on the way, though, so Aunt Lindsay may have more to share in months to come.  In the meantime, I’ll be sippin’ my pink martinis + jet-setting to meet new additions to my friend’s growing families…while tightly holding on to my B Braithwaite mayorship.

xx, L

Until now.

meet the OSTRICH

The OSTRICH offers a micro-environment in which you can take a warm + comfortable power nap at ease.  It is neither a pillow nor a cushion nor a bed nor a garment, but rather a bit of each at the same time.  Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates our head + hands for a few minutes w/o needing to leave our desk.

More info on the OSTRICH here: Studio KG

Ummmmmm, obsessed…  I NEED this immediately.

xx, L 

…but a v. close #2 just popped right up in Atlanta at the Westside Urban Market!

Jonathan Adler - Atlanta

Jonathan Adler’s new showroom in Atlanta made my weekend…and put a little dent in my bank account…but mostly made my weekend! 

JA was very busy on Saturday + I didn’t feel right taking pictures inside his gorgeous new Westside spot, but here’s a sneak peek inside the L.A. store:

So lovely!  So energizing!  So inspiring!  I fell totally head over heels in love with JA’s bright colors and whimsical knick knacks!

I wanted to buy e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. (West Elm + CB2 who?? I mean, really.), but only had a couple of minutes to pick up some adorable doodads for our humble abode.  Here’s what I grabbed…

A Snake Trivet:

Mr. + Mrs. Muse Salt + Pepper Shakers:

(Which was a hard decision because there were so many cute ones to choose from…)  JA’s Salt + Pepper Collection below:

And, I really wanted this Enamel Bracket Frame, but I am waiting for them to get the orange one in stock:

I’m also obsessed with JA’s bedding, but that’s for another day…

This store is AMAZEBALLS + it’s going to be very hard for me not to run in there on a weekly basis during lunch.  Love, love, LOVE Jonathan Adler! 

Welcome to the A, JA! 

xx, L

Jonathan Adler
1198 Howell Mill Rd.
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.367.0414
http://www.jonathanadler.com/

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

She’s an Austin-based jewelry designer + retailer who I’ve recently become obsessed with.  Please see how gorgeous her designs are… 

She specializes in colorful cuff bracelets, cocktail rings, bib necklaces, chandelier earrings + bridal jewelry.

If Kendra sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen her stuff featured in InStyle, Lucky, Real Simple, Allure, People, Martha Stewart Weddings or US Weekly – just to name of few of the publications she’s been in thanks to her celebrity clientele.  (I believe that I’ve also seen her on Gilt Groupe before…)

She has her only retail store on South Congress in Austin, and (fun fact), it was recently voted one of the “Top Ten Places to Work in Central Texas.”  When I was visiting Austin last weekend, I stopped by her boutique with my girlfriends to check it out.

Here’s a peek inside:

It’s a really energizing space + makes you want to spend lots of $$$.  (Go w/ your girls…)

Anyway, one of the coolest things about her store is that there’s a color bar for you to design your very own customized jewelry.  You can also do this online on her website, but I thought it was so much fun to do it live when you could actually hold the various settings + stones up to you.  After much consideration, I selected a pair of teardrop earring settings + iolite quartz stones for my creation.  Within ten minutes, one of the colorists put them together for me + I was able to wear them right out of the store! 

Soooooooo…what do you think?!

my customized earrings

If you have a classic solid color dress to wear but you still want to make a statement, check out Kendra Scott Jewelry online.  Her stuff is so amazing - I want it ALL.  (Just another reason to love Texas, if you ask me…)

xx, L

I saw Ryan Bingham for a sold out show at The Loft on Friday + he definitely fell into the “even better in concert” drop box for live performances.  Smoking + drinking on stage didn’t affect his perfectly raspy voice in the least, in fact it made it even richer.

The new Anthropologie was a warm + welcomed escape from the cold on Saturday.  If you haven’t been to the Howell Mill location yet, you need to check it out.  The store is just great + there’s something that I can’t quite put my finger on about the dressing rooms that makes me want to try on the entire store.

Slick + I chowed down on some “gator bites” at Six Feet Under on Saturday afternoon.  Kinda tasted like chicken…don’t be a’feared.

And then we fell in love with this handsome little guy at the Atlanta Humane Society.  We aren’t in the market for a furry friend right now, but this pup (Charlie Bucket) stole our hearts.  Adopt him!

Feeling brave enough to take on a potential tornado, we warded off cabin fever by spending a few hours at the Georgia World Congress Center for the 2011 Atlanta International Auto Show.  This Camaro caught our eye, but the Lotus stole the show in my opinion.

I went with LK + some lovely ladies to see Red Riding Hood on Sunday. 

I went in with seriously low expectations + ended up actually pretty pleased with the film.  Although that wasn’t the general consensus of the group, I think keeping your expectations low is oftentimes the best way to approach things.  Just sayin’…

We drew the weekend to a close at Mellow Mushroom in Sandy Springs for dinner.  Couldn’t have imagined a better way to end it.  MM truly is “happiness as expressed in pizza…”  Will always love my Pizza Sundays!

Slick did some shopping at Richards Variety Store + picked me up a Lite Brite (never had one as a kid) which kept me busy until I hit the hay.  (It’s certainly not an iPad 2, but it will do for now…)

It wasn’t the craziest weekend we’ve ever had, but it was super relaxing + now I’m rested for the excitement ahead. 

So, bring it.

xx, L

brother pictured left (dragon eyes...) w/ his adorable gfriend.

Michael lives in Oklahoma, which doesn’t exactly provide him with the most creative culinary scene, but he makes do.  He also watches quite a bit of the Food Network + Travel Channel and recently saw one of the two (can’t remember…) cover Spread: The Restaurant in San Diego.

Michael thought that this was totally up my alley (+ he was v. right), so he e-mailed me a link to Spread’s site the next day.  I’m not lying when I say that this place makes me want to pack up + move in with Ron Burgundy in sunny Californ-i-a!

Okay, so check it: Spread’s mission is to stimulate + challenge the culinary imagination of their diners by working with and serving only locally grown, organic ingredients.  They specialize in the rarest fruits, vegetables and edible flowers + strive to constantly create new and exciting menu items and tastes.  Sounds fun.

The restaurant does regular meals, private events, catering + offers signature seasonal couture spreads! 

Their sensational spreads are all listed online here: SPREAD ‘EM! + include descriptions, ingredients list, nutritional facts + all ship within three days of your order being placed.

Here are six that look pretty freaking awesome to me:

No. 30: White Chocolate Blueberry Peanut Spread
No. 32: Cinnamon & Silver Goji Berry Peanut Spread
No 55: Butterscotch Almond Spread
No. 73: White Chocolate Inflused w/ Pretzels Peanut Spread
No. 113: Chocolate Curry Peanut Spread
No. 137: Rose Salted Basil Peanut Spread

I think that this might even be something that catches Captain Kurt’s attention…

…or maybe not. 

Spread’s spreads look so decadently delicious to me + I think they’d be a fantastic little surprise for a foodie friend!  Check ‘em out. 

xx, L

This business is brilliant – and I’m not the only one who thinks so…  It’s been featured in The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, Brides, The New York Times, etc.  Chocomize’s list of supporters goes on and on and on.  The concept is simple + delicious:  You design.  They create.  They ship right to your doorstep – the most creative chocolate bars you can imagine!

And it arrives in nice packaging, too!

Here’s the Q+DD on Chocomize:

Choose your favorite chocolate base and from more than 100 types of fruit, nuts, herbs + candies to create your very own personalized chocolate bars.  Our Belgian chocolate bars are handmade to order with only the finest ingredients!  More than 30 billion custom chocolate combinations are possible.  You decide which one is perfect for you.  It’s easy, fun + simply delicious.  Also, great for bulk chocolate gifts, corporate gifts and chocolate wedding favors!

This is SO perfect for me as I view candy within the same terms that I also view creative accessorizing - MORE IS MORE!  And, I love gummy bears in chocolate + that isn’t always easy to find…  Believe me.

Just think!  You could make Beef Jerky Chocolate Bars:

Or an Obama Bar:

The possibilities are endless!  You use their simple Creation Station to choose your chocolate + select your toppings and order away!  Viola!

Folks:  Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, too.  Personally, I’d much rather receive customized Chocomize chocolate over a generic heart-shaped box of old standbys.

Visit Chocomize: http://www.chocomize.com/

I’m just sayin’…Chocomize is REALLY awesome.  Dark Chocolate + 23 Karat Gold Flakes (+ Gummy Bears?), well, don’t mind if I do!  If they are putting beef + herbs into their chocolate, I seriously doubt anyone’s judging! 

xx, L