Leesburg, GA’s Phillip Phillips was the big winner of the night!  (Kev is totally obsessed with this guy and threatening to change his name to Kevin Kevins in honor of him… Oy.)

AND, former Idol contestant Ace Young proposed to Snellville’s own Diana DeGarmo (another former Idol) on the show!!  It was sooooooooo exciting to watch!  I still have chills!

Congrats Lady Di!! 

What a great night!  Let’s hear it for state pride, y’all!  Georgia!  Georgia!  Georgia!

And now I’m ready for this to dominate my DVR… 

= SYTYCD addict.  Don’t judge.

xx, L

Please tell me that you are watching this show.

I’ll brilliant.  I love it.  Thank you, HBO, for such extreme cleverness + awesomeness neatly wrapped up into a glorious 30 minutes.  I’m a big fan – HUGE! 

Please watch everyone.

xx, L

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

This is one of my favorite summer events, y’all! 

Not to be confused with the youth soapbox derby, Red Bull Soapbox Race is a national race for amateur drivers, which is fueled by creativity and competitive fun – not to mention the need for speed.  This unique non-motorized racing event challenges both experienced racers and amateurs alike to design and build outrageous, human-powered soapbox dream machines and compete against the clock in a downhill race. 

Did I catch your attention??  If so, click HERE to find out super-fun info about the event like what the cars typically look like, how many Red Bull Soapbox Races have been produced, entrance fees (spoiler alert: FREE!), how teams are chosen to participate, the rules, what the winners get, etc. 

Soooooo, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 9th at Piedmont Park.  Pits open at 10:00 a.m.  First race is 12:00 p.m.  You do not want to miss this awesomeness!

Here are some pictures from previous races…

CK + I were there in full force two years ago!  See you again this year!

Can’t. Even. Wait.  Visit Red Bull Soapbox USA for more info!

xx, L

Behold the two most impressive Food-Stuffed-Inside-Food contenders I’ve EVER witnessed anyone eat.  (Bold statement, I know.)

1 – The Nook’s Award Winning Shrimp & Grits Stuffed Burger: certified angus beef stuffed with sauteed shrimp and gouda cheese, topped with an andouille sausage-studded grit cake + a smoked tomato beurre blanc sauce.

Holy hamburger!!  I’m pretty sure that’s not fat free.

2 – The Nook’s Award Winning Southern Comfort Burger: certified angus beef patty stuffed with a ball of homemade fried bacon mac + cheese and topped with cheddar cheese and The Nook’s secret peach and Southern Comfort barbecue sauce.

Wait for it….  Wait for it….

BAMMMMMM!!  

You haven’t LIVED until you’ve seen these monsters in person.  Take my word for it.

Move over Totchos…

xx, L

The Nook
1144 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.745.9222
www.thenookatlanta.com

Check it:

What’s old is new again, right?  Oooooh ahhhh, pretty colors…

Just ask these guys.

Zack Attack, y’all. 

Can’t live without one?  Get yours here at YUBZ for $30 – $55.

xx, L

= the biggest April fool.

xx, L

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

I mean, I’ve been obsessed with Harry Potter and the Twilight series, and so many of my favorite shoes have to do with the supernatural (The Walking Dead, True Blood, Vampire Diaries, the list goes on…)  So, I guess I am a Fantasy geek.  Whatevs.  I’m totally entertained, at least!  

Anyway, I felt a little left out of all the commotion (and y’all know how much of a pop culture freak I am) about The Hunger Games movie coming out last weekend + I kept hearing my friends talk about how much they loved/ quickly read the book.  So naturally, I HAD to buy it. 

Ummmmm, I had no idea what I was in for!  This books is SO unbelievably addictive – I may need a support group.

(1) I’ve never read a book so fast in my life.  I haven’t been sleeping to finish it.
(2) I’m completely OBSESSED with it now!  Move over Harry Potter…
(3) I can’t wait to see the movie this weekend!!  It’s pretty much all I can think about.

Are y’all reading?  Are y’all reading??

I’m taking a two-day breather + then diving into the 2nd book in the series, Catching Fire!

May the odds be ever in your favor,

xx, L