Anyway, this gift giving thing has always been a real problem.  My mom, sister and I all have the same taste (and the same closet) so birthdays, anniversaries, etc are a cinch: when we need to get a gift, we just go out and get whatever it is we want to eventually borrow/steal from the recipient. Easy peasy.  My dad’s a whole different story.   For years he’s endured our pitiful offerings of argyle sweaters (nope.), colognes (as if!), funky socks (you must be joking), and one year…power tools (no idea why we even attempted this.) Listen – we tried.  We failed.  Get over it.

Recently, though – we’ve been knocking it out of the park.   We finally got wise and started outsourcing this function to our husbands!  In case you’re stuck – here are a few ideas, straight from Mr. Katie and Mr. Lauren

(they totally love it when we say that)

1) Golf Watch with GPS.

Whatever.

Listen.  I have no idea what this thing does.  But I can tell you this: my dad LOVES it.  Maybe it gives you extra special powers not to get bored during a 20394813 hour long game, I don’t know.  But whatever it is – it was a winner. You can get it on Amazon HERE.

2) Scotch Tasting.

I was certain this idea would go over like a ton of bricks, but G was sure it would be a hit and it WAS.  No frills, no fanfare – just a whole crap-ton of varied whiskeys.  I don’t drink brown liquor and I think this stuff smells like gasoline – but the menfolk love it.  Here are some favorites in our house:

1. Bunnahabhain 2. The Macallan (standard) 3. Oban

There’s a guy named Matt Moses at Tower Liquor on Piedmont that I’m pretty sure my dad wants to adopt and G wants to befriend.  He’s been great to me too, when I need to pick out a special bottle.  Tell him I sent ya.  If you can’t go there, and need to know how to pronounce Bunnahabhain… here you go:

3) Flight Tray.

It’s part 2 to the scotch tasting, I guess.  This one I’m into.  If you’re going to sample several different whiskeys, at least do it in cute glasses.  This one is manly (it’s wooden, for crying out loud!) and on sale for the next 3 days.  What’s better than that?  Get a few.

Here’s the LINK.

 4. Anything for the grill. 

Greg once got his dad a personalized branding iron for steaks on the grill from Williams Soonoma.  (omg) and I think these monogrammed grill tools are awesome, too.  Check it: 

So…hope this was helpful.  Good luck this Sunday!

xx, L

PS.  Nobody send this to my dad.  he doesn’t read this blog and I hope he doesn’t start now…

Lemme back up a minute – the Camp Twin Lakes young professionals group has re-branded itself as “Y’ALL” (Young Adult Leadership League)

Cute, right?

Along with this new moniker, we’ve picked up SEVERAL new committee members (if you’d like to be involved, just email me!) and have dreamed up TWO new events for this year!

The first is Saturday, June 8 in the Highlands!

Since CTL provides life-changing camping experiences for children with disabilities, chronic or fatal illnesses, and other life challenges – we thought back to OUR camp days and decided that we’d pay homage to the great equalizer – COLOR WAR.

So we’re asking YOU to choose a color: Blue, Orange, White, or Yellow and come trot around the Highlands with us!

Lindsay and I are on Team Blue (otherwise known as Honey Blue Boo…thanks Kev…) or the Varsity Blues:

But you could also choose to be on Mellow Yellow:

Or Revenge of the White:

or, my personal favorite, Preppy Orange (you know how I feel about all things Preppy)

Sidebar: HUGE kudos to our buddy Randi for the amazing artwork on the posters!

In all seriousness, it doesn’t matter WHAT team you join, as long as you sign up and come have fun for a great cause with us!  Tickets are only $15 in advance and include drink & shot specials and a CTL Color War Koozie!  Get yours HERE! 

Registration will be open from 2:00-5:00 PM at Diesel Filling Station. Other participating bars include Atkins Park, Limerick Junction, Dark Horse Tavern and Neighbor’s Pub. 

Heads up: Save the date for CAMP FEST at Sweetwater 08/24 and let me know if you’d like to be involved!

See you in the Highlands for day-drinking and do-gooding!

xx, L

It was some sort of espresso with a chocolate toffee wonderful-ness.

It was everything I’d dreamed it would be and more. 

Q+DD: It’s only available at lunch and the flavors change daily.  For example: Peanut-Almond Toffee, Georgia Strawberry, Vanilla Brown Sugar, etc.  DELISH!  

and just check out the photo I ripped off borrowed from the website:

Bonus: They’re wrapped just like the ones your mom used to give you as a kid.  So basically – your treat has evolved with your taste buds.  I like everything about that.

xx, L

I don’t know about you…but if there’s two things I want to taste, it’s definitely Burgers and Beer.

Here’s the Q+DD: It’s a joint party being hosted by AVLF and Atlanta Legal Aid on the rooftop patio of Nelson Mullins law firm in Midtown on Thursday, June 6^th from 5:30 – 9pm and will feature a burger battle between two top Atlanta chefs….

Repping AVLF is Kevin Gillespie (Top Chef, Woodfire Grill, Gunshow) and in Atlanta Legal Aid’s corner is the team from Farm Burger!  The event will also feature a Beer Tasting, as a younger spin-off of AVLF’s annual Winetasting event that annually draws over 1,000 attorneys.   United Distributors will be generously providing the craft beer for the event.

FYI, ladies and people seeking free legal advice on the fly – they’re expecting a crowd of at least 350 attorneys.

(Note: it’s not a costume party, Elle.)

xx, L

(I love you, Fashion Police.)

I have 5 “must see looks” that I want to discuss.

1. I don’t care what anyone says - I love her and I love this and I wish I got to wear it. From the crazy feather headdress to the plaid knee high boots. Want.

SJP FTW

2.  I die. Heids is perfection.

Just yes.

3.  We get it, Anne. You’re soooooooo edgy.  (and I really do love it.)

I dig it, Anne.

3. Elizabeth Banks looks like a gilded villain from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

EBanks. Did you forget pants?

B- stole my look!

4. From the “Pancho” Collection, we have Ashley Olsen…

…and Lily Cole

5. and I might give a straight up “WHAT is That” to Kristen Stewart.

#cameltoechic

Check out all the looks here!

xx, L

PS. Joan or E! -if you’re looking for new Joan Ranger… I’m ready! 

I'm ready, Joan.

Here’s the Q+DD on Pure Health Girls: it’s a blog dedicated to all-organic non GMO food, healthcare, skincare and bodycare set out to educate us on the dangers of pesticides, hormones, GMOs and more and support a healthier lifestyle.

It gets even better.  There’s a party. 

TOMORROW (05/04) from 6-8:

It’s a party to celebrate the launch! Live DJ, demos with natural/organic products, shopping, free samples, lite bites, raffle tickets (for giveaways) and the $10 entry fee donated to Open Hand Atlanta.

Pure Health Girls Launch Party
Saturday 5/4 6-8pm
433 Bishop St. Atlanta, 30318

Get your glow on, girl.

xx, L

and ohmigod, THIS:

This I Want Wednesday is dedicated to these nailhead dining room chairs that I am convinced I cannot live without…

…but definitely cannot afford.  Sssssigh. 

As my friend Jaimi would say… #PrincessProblems at an all time HIGH.

xx, L

(Well, she's southern anyhow)

…convinced me that while I would likely not use my crystal all that often “right now,” it’s so nice to have a set to add “sparkle” to my dinner table and I would probably never, ever get it any other time than now.  Listen, the lady has never steered me wrong so I ended up with a set of these bad boys on my registry:

and now, happily, in my home.

I really love them…but of course, have not used them (yet?) HOWEVER: you know what I’m using daily?  The boxes they came in. Check them out as decoration in our bookshelves:

Repurposed....BOOM!

In related news, stay tuned for a dinner party post.  I feel like I’m really letting down my dinnerware with nuked veggie burgers and frozen Brussels sprouts every night. 

Martha Stewart, this is an official cry for heeeeellllpppppp.  It’s a good thing?

xx, L

We’re glued to the coverage and have Boston in our thoughts and prayers.  Today and always, please…

xx, L + L

She selected the “Brunch Basics” class, and I felt pretty confident that I wouldn’t be the most remedial chef in the room since the word “basic” was used in the description.  (I still was, by far, but it wasn’t a big deal.)  We met for the class early on a Saturday morning at The Cook’s Warehouse in Ansley Mall (pictured below).

We sat down at a table full of friendly-looking aspiring chefs and the instructors brought us over a cocktail.  NOW they had my attention!  They started the class by introducing themselves and running through the tasty items we’d make over the course of the next few hours.

Then, cocktail in hand, they turned us loose in their massive kitchen!  (I didn’t get a picture of the CW Ansley Mall’s actual kitchen, but this one of their Brookhaven location is pretty close to what it looks like.)

Over the next two and a half hours, we made a breakfast strata, mix and match muffins of various kinds, two fruit salads (we learned how to properly cut fruit – Meagan is demonstrating what we learned in the picture below), and stuffed french toast.  The instructors also made us another brunch cocktail.  I certainly didn’t turn my nose up at that!

I learned so much over just a few hours in the Cook’s Warehouse kitchen, and Meagan and I had an excellent time working on the recipes.  She got married the weekend before I did, and we joked that we were practicing our “wife skillz” during the class.  (The wife skill I’ve been practicing the most over the past few blissful months of marriage has been letting Kevin think he’s making our decisions when I’m actually doing it. #marriedlife) 

I really enjoyed our cooking class at Cook’s Warehouse, and I’d recommend checking out a class to anyone who would like to learn a few new recipes or cooking techniques or anyone who wants to plan a fun date.  There is definitely a lot of teamwork involved!  Oh – and the very best part of all is that you get to eat everything you make! 

Click HERE for information about Cook’s Warehouse classes.

xx, L