Friday Five

It's a rainy Friday night and I'm staying in, am getting up at 6am tomorrow to run a 5K with my colleagues to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I am not begging for donations like the 3-Day but you can make a donation on my behalf that will benefit the Strong4Life program. My company built strong4life.com, lots of man hours went into the creation of it, check it out!

2 weeks since my last update so here is another Friday Five post!

The usual excuse, work! I have not had much spare time during my workday, but lots of exciting things are happening!

{1}

I got some new plants for my little balcony -

3 new plants doesn't look like a lot but it was quite the process for me!

And a new hanging dragon fly stain glass I got at the Decatur Arts Festival -

{2}

I finally got a light blue Clarisonic Mia, obsessed -

How I ever thought I was cleaning my face by rubbing face wash on it with my hands.... It's like a Sonicare toothbrush I'll never be able to not use it now!

Here's some lovely examples:

And it just feels a gazillion times better. Like last Saturday night I had been out in the Virginia Highlands for the annual Summerfest. (one of my fav festivals in Atl) Humidy + crowds + alcohol + fatty food = Ick! When I went home at the end of the night and used my Mia and put on PJ's = Ahhhh :)

{3}

George got groomed last week so of course a photo shoot was in order -

And he had his first beer over Memorial Day weekend

My little cavy is growing up! Oh but a real George update: We've started going on long walks! I had held off because of his weight and being malnourished but I've started taking him on longer and longer walks. We've even walked the belt line trail by my condo a couple times and it's 3 miles!

{4}

I'm trying to eat more fruits and veggies and just more healthy overall. I have such a sweet tooth and crave candy like gummy bears, Twizzlers and Mike&Ike's. (random I know but I love 'em) Anywhere I can get the bag your own candy I'm in heaven because there's fruity gummy candy galore. (Chrissy tells me the serve yourself candy is germy) So I *try* to counteract this craving by drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of fruit. I've started putting frozen fruit in my water, keeps water cold and then I eat the fruit, surprisingly satisfying. The Very Cherry Blend from TJ's is delish -

I've made this fruit quinoa salad twice the past couple weeks, for a family cookout and for a small group dinner. It's super easy and you can add whatever fruit you want. The recipe calls for a honey, lime and mint dressing and the second time I made it with lemon instead of lime and it turned out great. Recipes you can't mess up are best for me :)

Recipe!

{5}

 I'm getting new kitchen appliances delivered tomorrow and on Monday! My yellowing white 70's appliances are getting replaced with new stainless steel, will post before and after pics!

Weekend Post

This past Thursday a group of us girls went to Sips and Strokes to celebrate Abby's birthday!

 Some of the paintings our group did -

 Aaannnd this beautiful rainbow, abstract one is mine -

 So the teacher was a little intense, it was very quiet and serious in there. A couple times I saw her looking straight at me from where she was standing on her mini stage, I guess I was being too loud going on about how I wanted Menchie's that was right next door. I tried to follow her directions, chose some new colors of my own here and there, but when I got done I decided I hated it and was going to make it "abstract." When I started smearing the paint around she was looking at me like I was rubbing a rat carcass all over it, I don't think she shared my artistic vision.

The whole class, most of the paintings were very good -

Our group, I randomly decided to pick up one from a stack they had sitting there, I didn't want people thinking I was totally cray with my intense, manic painting, so at the time grabbing one that was signed by Nicole seemed like a good idea, haha.

I stayed in Friday night and watched the Bachelor and made cookies, needed a lazy night in, aka a night not making scenes in public...

Will def be watching this season

 

 These are the cookies I made, cream cheese chocolate chip cookies -

Just get crescent roll dough (I used low fat) and spread beaten cream cheese (also low fat :), sugar and vanilla (Said to spread about an inch from the edges so I probably went too far)

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips

Then roll up in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours. Next time I'm going to let them sit in the fridge longer because they were hard to cut up.

Bake for just 10-14 minutes, they were super good and addicting! I made 2 batches.

 Saturday morning my small group headed to Lori's family's lake house on Lake Sinclair for a little getaway. Her home is beautiful, Lori had done most of the decorating, the whole house down to the smallest details is amazing. (That's the refrigerator and freezer to the right behind us)

When we'd just arrived

We were even able to take the boat out

Hat and of course I was coated in spf 100

Lori made us delish beer margaritas

The back of her lake house, gorgeous. I will definitely be inviting myself back there ;-)

 70's and sunny in January can't ask for better than that

 We made a healthy dinner of grilled chicken, veggies, couscous and salad, but may have cancelled that out with all of our snacking and wine and champagne cocktails. (Chrissy made us her fav one from Cafe Intermezzo, champagne, pomegranate juice and a cherry :) Was so nice to get away to such a beautiful place this weekend, very thankful for my small group. It gave me the motivation I need to face a rainy, dreary Monday!

Misc. Monday

Hi! I am not thrilled that it's Monday, weekend went by way too fast. But have just a 3 day work week, leaving for Vermont on Thursday for Tim and Shana's wedding, can't believe it's here!

A few random updates of what I've been up to -

I have been wanting an antique mantle for my living room area in my condo. Since my place is so small and a little older I like the cozy, shabby chic vibe for it. I've been on the hunt for the perfect mantle for the past year, all the ones I've found were either too big and bulky or too pricey. But I finally found just the right one for the right price at Highland Row Antiques -

 HRA started following me on Instagram so I followed them back, they post pics of stuff they get in and when I saw a pic of the mantle I made a beeline there to look at it on my lunch break. The seller hadn't even priced it yet. About a week later it was all mine thanks to them holding it for me. I borrowed Dawn's jeep to go pick it up but it didn't fit :-( Then I borrowed a nice coworker's truck and got it home safe and sound!

 Love my mantle :) Now I just need to find/make something to go in the hearth, am thinking some big candles or a painted fake log wrapped in lights.

I also love this burlap wreath Allison made me for my birthday!

 You know you're good friends with someone when you can send a message that says, "Make me this for my birthday please" :-)

The latter part of my week last week was super crazy at work so I stayed in Friday night, you know cause I'm usually out at the clubs ;-) The weather was beautiful this weekend, I went for a run around Buckhead on Saturday and then a long jog and walk in Chastain Park on Sunday. Glad I stayed in Friday night because I needed to rest up for this on Saturday -

My first time going to Music Midtown. 52K people out in Piedmont Park. It was crazy but fun!

With Sheena and Allison while Ludacris was on -

 After Ludacris was the Neon Trees followed by Florence + The Machine which I was very excited about since they are one of my fav bands. I've seen them once before at The Fox but since then I've listened to their music a lot more.

A random woman came up to me and said, "Florence! You look just like Florence!"

 We tried to get a little closer to the stage for them but the crowd was ridic, so many drunk people crammed together, not pleasant.

Last song, Dog Days Are Over

 Then Girl Talk, we didn't get up close for them obvi

Pearl Jam finished out the festival, but after having been out in the sun and drinking beer all day I was spent.

I don't know how people go to festivals that are several days and camp there!

Sunday I just ran errands, got sushi for dinner with Chrissy and our friend Abby then I made these healthy pumpkin cookies I pinned -

Don't know why they called them cookies they are def not sweet, I cheated and put some dark chocolate chips in one batch. If I make them again I will def add Splenda and cinnamon.

Excited for fall and ready to bake all things pumpkin and apple!