Our First “Atlanta Food Swap” Event

We’ve been making kombucha at home for a while now and felt like it was getting to the point where we’d like some objective feedback and to see if it’s in-demand. We’re not ready to sell it so the Atlanta Food Swap seemed like the perfect next step for us as we hone this craft beverage. Sean and I work together on all our batches of kombucha and think that our Lavender-Mint Kombucha is our best and most unique flavor to date. So that’s what’s going to the swap later today. I’ll probably update this post with a report on how it went, but wanted to get this up in case we had site visitors from the event today.

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! If you’re interested in potentially ordering some kombucha, leave a comment. All kombucha is made-to-order and can take 1-2 weeks.

img_1533img_1534img_1536img_1538

Update: The Swap Meet was great! There were all kinds of items from fresh produce to canned jams and jellies and handmade toys to spice blends. We got a lot of stuff and had a wonderful time meeting everyone and learning about their crafts and hobbies.

IMG_1548IMG_1539IMG_1542IMG_1543IMG_1551

Easy Refrigerator Pickles

IMG_0613Ah, summer produce. It’s here in all its glory and abundance. In past summers, I’ve had great success with cucumbers, often having many more at one time than we could eat. This summer is our first one with a garden at our new house, so it’s been a learning experience on what will grow, where the best sun is in our yard, etc. I’ve still gotten quite a few cucumbers from just a couple of plants but they’ve been very small. I don’t think they’re getting quite enough sun but they’re still tasty. 

One of my favorite things to do with “too many” cucumbers to make refrigerator dill pickles. They keep in the fridge for a few months (but are generally best within the first few weeks) and are a great snack. I’ve experimented with a few different recipes and have finally put together the one that I think delivers the most crunch and flavor while being QUICK and EASY! Continue reading

Out and About: Tea Tastings at Zen Tea

IMG_7036

Sean and I try to go on a “date night” 3-4 times per month. It’s more than a quick dinner on Buford Highway – it’s planned out with reservations and is generally somewhere we have not been or something we haven’t done previously. This works great for us as a way to keep exploring Atlanta beyond our own favorites on Buford Highway.

One site I always check for fun and interesting date night ideas is Scoutmob and their “Hand-Picked” series. It goes beyond food to include activities, massages, music, museums, etc. and all for great prices. When I saw the Hand-Picked promotion for tea tastings at Zen Tea in downtown Chamblee, I knew it was perfect for date night. Continue reading

New Year’s in the Outer Banks

IMG_6068

On November 29th, we were standing at the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California. One month later, we were standing at the Atlantic Ocean in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Coast to coast in such a short time span – what a treat!

The theme of the first half of 2016 was “new home” with us selling our home and buying a new one. The theme for the second half of 2015 was “travel” because we simply couldn’t get enough. So it made perfect sense to take a little trip to the Outer Banks and ring in the New Year with my mom, stepdad, sister and all the dogs.

Off season on Cape Hatteras is quiet and peaceful. Many things are closed and nearly all the tourists are gone. It’s a great time to relax and enjoy the empty beaches and mild weather. The first few days were cloudy and rainy, but warm so we had some fun time on the beach. Our last day was cold but sunny and we saw a fabulous sunset on the ferry from Ocracoke Island to Cape Hatteras. Enjoy the pictures and Happy 2016! Continue reading

California Road Trip: San Diego

IMG_5558

I know I’m a bit behind on getting this final post of our California trip done, but here it is! Whew!

On Thanksgiving morning, we left Solvang early and got on the road. We drove through the hills back over to the Pacific Coast Highway, headed to San Diego. This would be the last leg of our trip and we were both excited to explore the city and its many unique neighborhoods. 

We stopped off at many spots along the way, including several beaches, to take in the sights and revel at being in this glorious place. Every corner we turned gave us another amazing view. And we loved each one! Continue reading

California Road Trip: Big Sur, the Central Coast and Solvang

IMG_20151124_083206986_HDR-PANO

Our first few days in San Francisco, Point Lobos and Monterey were amazing and as our evening ended in Monterey on Monday, we grew more excited for the rest of our trip.

We woke up early on Tuesday and were greeted with cloudy skies and light rain. On our day to drive through Big Sur and down the coast. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I stood in front of the window of our hotel room in Monterey, stamped my feet and pouted like a baby for 5 minutes. I then pulled myself together and set my mind to making the best of the day, regardless of the weather. After all, we had raincoats! Continue reading

California Road Trip: San Francisco, Point Lobos and Monterey

P1030033 (1)

California dreaming. I’d been doing it for a long time. The weather, the natural beauty, the cities, the endless blue ocean, the wine, the food…it was time to make it a reality in 2015. Sean and I had both been before, but about 20+ years ago as kids. We were ready to experience this beautiful place again as adults. This is the first of three posts about our California road trip. Continue reading