First of all, you know she’s absolutely adorable

Duh.

and married to the best guy in the world

Love the Helds.

You also probably know that she’s…

a wine enthusiast

a lover of fine food

an excellent dancer
a Jenga ninja

a shoe expert
and generally awesome and a total riot to be around.

I think that hits all the high points, no?

What you may NOT know is that she suffers from a chronic auto-immune disorder called Lupus.

The Q+DD on Lupus is this: Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints and/or organs inside the body). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from foreign substances, like bacteria and viruses. With lupus, your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies (“auto” means “self”) to attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.  (www.lupusfoundation.org.)

While Katie’s Lupus does affect her everyday life in many ways, Lupus is largely a disease of “flares” and “remission” and Katie is a total fighter and does a good job of showing Lupus who’s boss.

However, for many people, Lupus is quite debilitating and can be fatal.  As of now, the cause of Lupus is unknown and there is no cure.

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus and providing support and services to all people affected by lupus and next weekend my sister will once again be leading TEAM KATIE in the Birmingham “Walk for Lupus Now”

Last year’s team was incredibly successful in their fundraising goals and in being totally adorable. Witness:

Tiaras for everyone!

Please consider making a donation to TEAM KATIE…every little bit helps…and if you are a Birmingham reader, Katie would LOVE to have you as a part of her team next Saturday, June 5th (and if you wanna come with us from Atlanta, there’s room in the car with La, Brooke, Olive and me!)

Please click here to visit Katie’s personal fundraising page!

See ya in Birmingham!

xx, L

(there’s just nothing like kicking a bag in the morning)

2.    Lunch at Zoe’s Kitchen

(with Amy and La one last time before ZOEY!)

back in the day

3.    QUICK shopping trip at Festivity

(I may or may not have walked out in a brand new dress and my old dress in a shopping bag)

4.    Dogwood Festival

(with the Shaps! It was crowded, but fun to see so many people out there enjoying the sunshine!)

5.    Sweetwater 420 Festival

(Seen at 420: fab music, fun friends, lots of artsy-fartsy wares (including a new collar for Olive by Hollywoof), an engagement, and an ACTUAL dance-off!)

6.    Treehouse

(So Olive could show off her new gear and HELLO, Cowboy Cobb!)

7.    Movie on the couch

(Where are the Wild Things? On my TV, yo.)

Fin.

P.S. Special thanks to the INCREDIBLE weather we enjoyed today.
P.P.S. You still have another day to check out the aforementioned Fests.  I recommend both, however, if I had to choose just one, I’d go with 420 Fest. Personal preference.
P.P.P.S. I love you, Atlanta.

Here’s the Q+DD on The SGM from Bethenny’s website:

The Skinnygirl™ Margarita On the Rocks
What you’ll need:
* 2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
* Tiny splash of Orange Liquor (I prefer Triple Sec)
* Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges
Combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge

Clearly, this woman is a genius.

Self-proclaimed “Health Foodie,” Bethenny is now a celebrity natural food chef and has penned several health food books, including Skinnygirl Dish, a recipe book for your “naturally skinny” life which she will be promoting this THURSDAY, January 14th, right here in Atlanta!  (Brought to you by Atlanta Magazine and the MJCC…and all coordinated by my spectacular friend “Celebrity” Staci Weininger!)

BF will be at Steel restaurant in Midtown from 7:30 – 10:30.  Click here for tickets to meet + greet and sample some of her new recipes and of course, enjoy a Skinnygirl Marg or two

I wonder if while she’s at Steel she’ll come up with a Skinnygirl Tuna Tower?

A girl can only dream…

xx, L

After careful thought, he will tell them that, yes – there is more to life. It’s called fantasy football.

If I was asked, I would also agree that there is more to life. But, my response has to do with food. You never know what a day holds for you. Not to be Deborah Downer or anything, but I text while I’m driving. I go to the grocery store at night by myself. I jaywalk and I’ve been known to shake my fist at bad drivers.  I consider myself to be a highly responsible person, but frankly, we never know when our time is up. So, if I am going to go sometime, I’d like to leave with a fabulous last meal in my tummy.  That – coupled with questionable self-control and enjoying the social aspects of sharing a great meal with friends – is why I am so into food. The End.

If I got to choose my “last meal” in Atlanta, there is no question that it would be at my favorite restaurant in town – Wisteria. I just love this restaurant, and I didn’t have to think twice about spending my birthday there last year. (Which is quite an honor – if I do say so myself!) See, TADA:

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria is consistently amazing and I frequently recommend it to friends, out-of-towners and business colleagues. My three favorite menu items are the North Atlantic Skate Wing, the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and the Pecan Encrusted Atlantic Salmon. Trust me. They are all to die for.

Inside Wisteria

Aside from a prime location in Inman Park, stellar wait staff, killer entrees and chic decor, my favorite part about Wisteria is their appetizers. I feel confident in saying that their appetizer list is the best in town – by far. It’s rare for me to look at a menu and want everything on it. I have tried everything on Wisteria’s appetizer menu – and trying to decide between a few of their items for any given meal is one of the most stressful decisions I have to make.  

Behold its majesty:

Oysters – cold water, served by the half dozen

Black-Eyed Pea Hummus – with homemade sweet potato chips, olives, and tomatoes

Kobe Beef Carpaccio – with arugula tossed in a horseradish vinaigrette and aged parmesan

Charleston-Style Jumbo Lump Crab Cake – over roasted corn and sweet pepper succotash

Cornmeal Fried Calamari – with sweet and sour apricot sauce and wasabi crème fraiche

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs – with pickled okra and spiced pecans

Ahi Tuna and Crispy Flatbread – avocados and fresh micro-greens in a citrus horseradish vinaigrette

Prince Edward Island Mussels – in a charred vine-ripened tomato, white wine and herbed garlic broth

Pigs in a Blanket – house cured pork belly, in pastry, with a spicy apple cider vinegar mustard

Tempura Fried Okra – with a horseradish cream sauce

Seared Sea Scallops -over braised pork belly and radicchio with a bourbon molasses reduction

People, life does not get much better than this!! (Unless you are into fantasy football or are really, really, ridiculously good looking…)

P.S. Don’t forget about these two great Wisteria specials:
1 – Burger Sundays for $10
2 – Mussel Mondays for $15.95- Endless bowl of mussels and a glass of house wine.

Make a reservation ASAP!  Life’s too short not to eat great!

xx, L

Wisteria
471 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
404.525.3363
www.wisteria-atlanta.com

Bar @ Aja

- $10 All You Can Eat (AYCE) Sushi: 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday – Friday

- $15 AYCE Dim Sum: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Sunday

- 1/2 Price Bottles of Wine on Wednesday

Dining Room @ Aja

I definitely recommend taking advantage of these specials if you are in the mood for Asian fusion/ sushi in Buckhead.  The scene is pretty cool – love the decor – and I really enjoyed all the food we ordered.  Also, don’t miss the 10 ft. brass Buddha they imported from Thailand located in the dining room.  It’s impressive!

xx, L

Aja Restaurant + Bar
3500 Lenox Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30326
404.231.0001
http://www.h2sr.com/aja/

- Audrey HepburnLike Audrey, I take my cuticles very seriously. Even if I am broke as a joke, my manicure and pedicure are the last thing to go. You’ll never catch me without neatly lacquered nails. Fact.

If you’re like me, you probably have a go-to manicurist in your neighborhood. For me (and Linds and Mer…), it’s Lily’s Nails on the top floor of the two story strip mall at Monroe and Piedmont. You don’t need an appointment (which is key for last-minute girls like myself) and my fabulous $10 manicure lasts at LEAST a week. Plus, Lily, the owner, is adorable and will occasionally serenade the entire salon with Top 40 songs as she bustles around the place. Fab. If that is convenient for you, I suggest you try them.

Lily’s Nail & Spa
1529 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 249-8080

BUT: We have all been stuck outside of our ‘hood in desperate need of a mani. Never fear. I enlisted a glossy little group of girlfriends (Linds, La, EZ, Stephanie, Stefani, Christine, Cari, Meredith and Stacey) to help make a handy-dandy list of our favorite places around town!

However, if we have somehow missed your favorite place, PLEASE kindly leave the address and phone number in a comment.

Buckhead:

Both Stephanie and Stefani recommended Sugarcoat (www.sugarcoatbeauty.com)
And when I lived in the Eclipse, this was my go-to as well. It’s the cutest salon ever. It’s pink and girly and PRISTINE. It’s also the best place to get an adorable gift, they offer fabulous products (Haviana flops, Hanky Panky, Lollia, etc.) and Sugarcoat is owned and operated by the cutest duet of ladies (well, besides L+L, of course), Christie and Colette, who are PERFECT to consult with on gift options or polish colors! C+C – I miss you!
Note: You DO need an appointment, though, they book up quickly.

Sugarcoat
256 Pharr Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 814-2121

Stefani also recommends Eminence (on the top floor of the two story strip mall in Buckhead Loop) She says the massage chairs are to die fah!

Eminence Nail & Spa
3495 Buckhead Loop NE Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 846-1555

EZ is faithful to Nail and Toe. (They do a great job and offer a fabulous shoulder massage with every manicure…)

Buckhead Nail and Toe Spa
3210 Roswell Rd NW # B Atlanta, GA 30305-1822
(404) 869-8999

Christine goes to Glamour Nail (in “The Peach” shopping center)

Glamour Nail
2900 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 239-0717

Midtown/Highlands:

If you can’t make it to Lily’s, Christine recommends Highland Nail (off Amsterdam)

Highland Nail
1190 N Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 249-6245

Sandy Springs:

You can find La at her weekly Friday 3:15 appointment at Hammond Nails (off Roswell Road)

Hammond Nails & Spa
4279 Roswell Rd Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 250-9698

Recently, she has been getting “Gel Nails” which is a new process by OPI. For $25, they will paint your own nails with a similar solution as acrylic nails. The benefit? It lasts 2 weeks without ANY chipping and does not harm your nails. Note: you must have them “soaked” off a la acrylics as well. As far as I know, Hammond Nails is one of the only places in town offering this service.

Cari loves Nail Talk and Tan (in the Target Shopping Center by Perimeter mall.)

Nail Talk Tan & Spa
90 Perimeter Center Pl NE Atlanta, GA 30346
(678) 320-0400

Stacey either goes to Hammond Nails or Fancy Nails (She said Fancy Nails is cheap + good but not actually Fancy.  Which is funny because conversely, Stacey herself is fancy + good, but not cheap.  Interesting?)

Fancy Nails
6125 Roswell Rd NE # 10A, Atlanta
(404) 257-1205

Please stay tuned for a post regarding polish color. For now, I’ll leave you with a quote from the American cinematic masterpiece, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde (2003):

“Never underestimate a girl with a French manicure and Harvard Law degree.”

(Listen, I don’t have one of those things, but don’t you underestimate me, either.)

xx, L

PS. Thanks, ladies!

Right on the heels of Downtown and Midtown restaurant weeks comes INMAN PARK restaurant week! Check it: http://www.inmanparkrestaurantweek.com
You know the drill: 3 course meals at fabulous restaurants at fabulous prices. IPRW has three tiers – $15, $25, and $35 as follows:

$15
Pure Taqueria (ok I may be too blonde to understand this, but Pure in Inman Park won’t be QUITE open yet in time for IPRW. But they’re listed as a participant and I’ve been to the one in ‘Phretta courtesy of my fabulous OTP friends L+J and LOVED it. We were super rowdy and I was glad I had a designated driver to cart me back down to Exit #1. There is also a location in Woodstock. What is a Woodstock?)
Sauced – only on Sept 25. I don’t get it, but whatevs, I really dig their logo.
The Albert

$25
Fritti - I adore Fritti. I love their little patio, I love their thin crust pizzas, I love their calamari, I love their risotto croquettes, and I love that the chef once brought me a glass of his personal homemade limoncello…which isn’t on the menu.
Sotto Sotto – I have never had a bad time or a bad meal at Sotto Sotto. Plus – if you’re lucky, you’ll see this girl there:

She’s what you call “obsessed” with the place.

Wisteria – This place must be magical because out of all the restaurants in Atlanta, Linds elected to have her birthday there this year and it was spectacular. Witness:

Rathbun’s -sigh. Just go. And don’t forget about Krog Bar, either.
Parrish – see here
Park’s Edge
Zaya
Shaun’s (but don’t forget…Shaun’s also has $12 pasta Sundays. Talk about recessionista dining!)

$35
Kevin Rathbun Steak

Bon Appétit!

xx, L

Cher!

My point?  Tapas is one of my favorite meals.  I’m a grazer with commitment issues, so ordering a taste of everything works out great for me!

This is exactly what we did on Sunday night at Pura Vida in the Highlands.  I almost forgot about this restaurant until Chef Hector Santiago made it onto Top Chef this season!  (Speaking of quirky: I am so obsessed with Top Chef and as you know…I cannot/will not cook.  What’s that about?)

We. Ate. Everything.

Malanga root chips with crimini mushroom dip and truffle oil, diablo shrimp coctel (with butternut squash gelee….what what!), tilapia ceviche, pizza latina…all of it was ah-ma-zing.

My favorites were the mussels (they were perfect and our server let us know the trick was in the marinade which had some kind of herring in it that gave it this delicious smoky, salty flavor.  To. Die. For.) and the steamed coconut buns with pork belly inside…y’all: they were beyond.   Benjy said he felt like Hector was really taking care of us, and I have to agree.

We had a really lovely evening, just the two of us, but I’ll tell you: I have also been to some fantastic parties there over the years.  Some of the most memorable included when my office had our 30th anniversary party at Pura Vida and all the past recruiters sat along the “Great Table” in their dining room, while listening to live music from the bar area and had an absolute blast.
Another time, I went to a friend’s 30th birthday where he had reserved the whole space and we were served passed tapas and their famous mojitos (they are divine and adorable with a raw sugar cane stirrer) while we milled about the restaurant, and last year, Jeff and I threw La’s birthday party in their downstairs party room (“El Salon”).  We were able to choose a selection of tapas beforehand, order cocktails, and had a really rowdy (yet contained!) evening…major hit.

In summary:  love.

Go, nosh, be happy.

xx, L

Pura Vida
www.puravidatapas.com
656 north highland avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306
404-870-9797

we partied our masks off!

It’s so different than the regular Midtown scene: a little European, a little off-beat…quirky even. You know how I adore quirky. (Thanks for the article, L)

Bill Kaelin, the owner, is an awesome guy. As is Tony, his charismatic manager, who always sends a glass of champagne over whenever he sees me. That’s the kind of customer service I can appreciate.

The space will reopen in September with a new concept and will be more of a resto than a bar, but the doors don’t close until this Sunday so you can still get your groove on for one last weekend!

For more information, check out the following Creative Loafing article:

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/cribnotes/2009/07/28/bye-bye-bazzaar/

xx (+ tear!), L

Bazzaar
654 Peachtree St.
Atlanta GA 30308
404.885.7505
www.bazzaaratlanta.com