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

I loooooooooved them!  Gobbled them up!  (Took several weeks because I’m a v. slow reader.)  I even dreamt about them.  I was totally transported to Panem for WEEKS!  Needless to say, it was exciting to find out what happened to Katniss + Ko., but I’m SUPER bummed that it’s all over.  Blahhhhhhh.

So, what am I supposed to do now? 

Shall I read these bad boys??

May the odds be forever + ever if your favor…

xx, L

way to go, adele!!

And, she looked STUNNING in Armani.  Watch her Grammy performance here!  She was simply perfection!

yowza!

I’m a really big fan.  And, I don’t only appreciate Adele for being an unbelievably talented artist, but also for how she has addressed negativity in the press regarding her weight.

“I’ve never wanted to look like models on the cover of magazines.  I represent the majority of women and I’m very proud of that,” she said, according to the U.K. edition of Marie Claire.  “I’d lose weight if I was an actress and had to play a role where you’re supposed to be 40 pounds lighter, but weight has nothing to do with my career.  Even when I was signing [a contract], most of the industry knew if anyone ever dared say [lose weight] to me, they wouldn’t be working with me.”

Now THAT is an incredible sense of self.  A true role model.  What a beautiful, strong woman!  I think we could all learn something from Adele.  Many congratulations, lady!!   

xx, L

So, as your elder, I’d like to share a few New Year’s Resolutions (better late than never…) with y’all that LK + I thought were worth a double-read.  If you haven’t quite made your 2012 resolution(s) yet, or if you made one and have already broken it (like me…I was hoping to eliminate my Diet Coke consumption), here is a little something to think about from the Thought Catalog.

20 New Year’s Resolutions for 20-Somethings (30-Somethings count, too…)

Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.

Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.

Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses.  If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy.  If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.

If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best.  If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.

Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.

Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them.  It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.

Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.

Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.

Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.

Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months.  You’re not going to deactivate your account.  You don’t know how.

Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain.  This is what the olden days were like.

Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television. 

Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussel sprouts.  They really don’t need any more attention.

Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do.  Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.

If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.

Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.

Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis.  To their face, not in a text.

Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.

Poop or get off the pot.  This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.

And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”

All worth at least considering…  We hope that 2012 is treating everyone really well! 

xx, L

I had seen it under-construction for a while, but didn’t realize that it opened until recently when Kev came home from a haircut at Mint.  He burst into our condo and raved about New York Butcher Shoppe for the following 20 minutes.  He was talking rapidly, but I caught that he walked into NYBS after his haircut and didn’t want to leave because it “smelled UNBELIEVEABLE in there.”  He was particularly impressed with their assortment of prepared dinners; “all you have to do is pop them in the oven, Linds!”  He made me promise that we could give them “a ton” of business.  (This coming from the guy who would eat a Lean Cuisine every night if I didn’t intervene.)  “Sure – absolutely we will,” I said.  Eh, it was fun seeing him so excited about a new business + the place sounded great.  So welcome, NYBS, to the neighborhood!  I hear that we’ll be signing over our paychecks to you very soon… 

Have you visited NYBS yet??

Here’s the Q+DD on New York Butcher Shoppe:

NYBS is a unique shopping experience for customers seeking top-quality products and exceptional customer service at great prices.  We’re a high quality market with an emphasis on personal customer care.  The prices are as good or better than supermarket prices, but at the New York Butcher Shoppe, customers enjoy personal service and expert advice on cooking, grilling and meal planning.

From certified Angus beef steaks and incredibly prepared chicken cordon bleu, to fresh seasonal vegetables, pastas, sauces, wines and more, NYBS is the perfect place to experience cooking bliss.  We are way more than just a butcher shop.  We take pride in the quality of what we serve and the care in how we serve it.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you walk in the door at the selection of products we have.

NYBS

The D’Elia family established the New York Butcher Shoppe in 1999 on Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  Bill D’Elia is originally from Brooklyn, NY where he began learning the butcher trade at age eleven.  His career has been in the grocery industry since 1970, primarily in butcher and meat areas.  The store in Mount Pleasant quickly grew in popularity, and the concept began franchising in October of 2003.

The NYBS concept is founded on the principles of outstanding customer service and the highest quality product, in a clean and inviting atmosphere.  Our line of hand cut steaks using Premium Angus Beef, prepared entrées, side dishes, salads and dips are always fresh and fill a unique shopping niche for our customers.  We also offer fresh sausages, frozen pastas, vegetables, hard-to-find grocery items, and a top selection of fine wines and cheeses.

a peek inside NYBS

NYBS sounds AWESOME – it’s very clear why Kev is such a big fan!  I can’t wait to visit ASAP.  I bet they have a number of great items we could add to our holiday celebrations. 

In the meantime, here’s some more info about NYBS:

Take a NYBS store tour: Where’s the beef??
Check out their menu: What’s cooking, good lookin’?!
Oooh, they cater, too: NYSB on the move!

Welcome, welcome again!  I’m looking forward to meeting you soon, NYBS.  (I have a feeling that we’ll be your most enthusiastic customers…)

xx, L

New York Butcher Shoppe
985-C Monroe Drive
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.343.3614
www.nybutcher.com

And, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, no less! 

Gorms + I are celebrating completing the 3-Day tonight by dropping by Ecco to say “hello!” to our man, Eric, and then heading to the Fox to get our best Mamma Mia on!  Oh yes, there will be dancing.

Here’s the Q+DD on Mamma Mia:

Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding on the small Greek island in which she lives.

Mamma Mia is based on the songs of ABBA – a Swedish pop/ dance group active from 1972–1982.  ABBA was one of the most internationally popular pop groups of all time.

Mamma Mia awesomeness below…

Get your Mamma Mia tickets here: SUPER TROUPER! 

You have to act fast, though, because the show is only in town from tonight through November 6!

So go…”see that girl/ watch that scene/ diggin’ the dancing queen!” 

xx, L

And, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, no less! 

Gorms + I are celebrating completing the 3-Day tonight by dropping by Ecco to say “hello!” to our man, Eric, and then heading to the Fox to get our best Mamma Mia on!  Oh yes, there will be dancing.

Here’s the Q+DD on Mamma Mia:

Longing to discover the identity of her true father before she exchanges her wedding vows, the daughter of a once-rebellious single mother secretly invites a trio of paternal candidates to her upcoming wedding on the small Greek island in which she lives.

Mamma Mia is based on the songs of ABBA – a Swedish pop/ dance group active from 1972–1982.  ABBA was one of the most internationally popular pop groups of all time.

Mamma Mia awesomeness below…

Get your Mamma Mia tickets here: SUPER TROUPER! 

You have to act fast, though, because the show is only in town from tonight through November 6!

So go…”see that girl/ watch that scene/ diggin’ the dancing queen!” 

xx, L

 It’s really cute.  (Special thanks to Kev’s pops for getting me hooked on this one!)

Here’s the Q+DD on 2 Broke Girls:

Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business – if only they can raise the cash.  Sassy, streetwise Max works two jobs just to get by.  Sophisticated Caroline is an uptown trust fund princess who’s having a run of bad luck that forces her to reluctantly give waitressing a shot.

2 Broke Girls in action...

Catch it on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. EST on CBS.  It’s very entertaining + funny, and it’s the perfect amount of time: 30 minutes live/ about 24 minutes DVR-ed.  (I swear, I don’t know where my attention span has been these days…  Oh, right – I do.  It’s here.)

Enjoy! 

xx, L

In case you didn’t watch it last season…Top Chef: Just Desserts is a spin off of Bravo’s Top Chef featuring pastry chefs competing in a serious of culinary challenges focusing on pastries and desserts.

Top Chef: Just Desserts Season 2 Cast

Anyway, our friend Amanda Rockman (pictured below) is a contestant on TC: JD this year and she KILLED IT in the first episode last Wednesday winning both the Quickfire + Elimination Challenges!  Way to go, Amanda!

Isn’t she the cutest, little pastry chef you’ve ever seen or what?!

Catch Amanda on Wednesday nights (tonight!) on Bravo at 10:00 p.m. EST/ 9:00 CST.  We can’t wait to see how the season unfolds!   

xx, L

Check it:

Rihanna performs tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Chastain Amphitheatre as part of her Loud tour!  Do I care that it’s going to be 98 degrees outside today?  I care not.  I’m going to be an amazingly sweaty mess of white girl dancing it up with colleagues (yes, colleagues; again - I care not) at Rihanna tonight.  I’ve had “Rude Boy” stuck in my head all morning… 

chastain

But wait, there’s more…  Thursday night, I’m taking colleagues to the High Museum to see the Modern by Design exhibition.  We’re starting with drinks + hors d’oeuvres at Table 1280, then moseying over to the museum to see modern masterpieces from the MoMA + High’s growing collection of contemporary design. 

Here’s the Q+DD on Modern by Design:

As part of the High’s ongoing collaboration with The Museum of Modern Art, Modern by Design presents groundbreaking designs of the past, present, and future.  The exhibition features a selection of works chronicling three key moments in MoMA’s design collection and exhibition history—“Machine Art” (1934); “Good Design” (1950-1955); and “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” (1972).  Nearly 150 objects created by over 120 of the most influential artists + designers of the twentieth century are included.

I. can’t. even. think. straight. I. am. SO. excited.

It’s going to be a long night, but it will be worth it.  (TWSS.) 

I feel like the next day I’m going to need some time for reflection: who am I? what does all this mean?  what do I do now?  and so on + so forth…  I’ve been seriously invested in + excited about the Harry Potter stories for well over ten years!  It’s hard to believe that it all comes to an end this week. 

Whelp, let’s get it started, shall we?  We shall.  Happy week to you all! 

xx, L