My Bachelorette Party: 5 Stops in Decatur, GA

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I’m not having a traditional wedding so I struggled with the idea of having a bachelorette party. We had already had our big “party” for our wedding in the form of an engagement party back in May. A bachelorette party in August was a little out of order of the usual way of things. 

And then I said “oh well, who cares?!?”

I enlisted the help of Cherish and Krista who will also be at my wedding next month to help plan the bash. They kept most of the details hidden from me which was great because I was able to be pleasantly surprised on the day.  Continue reading →

48 Hours in Raleigh, North Carolina

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IMG_7455“Raleigh is like Atlanta 20 years ago.” This statement from a friend seems true – I wasn’t in Atlanta 20 years ago but I imagine it was probably very similar. Raleigh is a great town – laid-back with good food, beer and music. Still small enough to be cozy and welcoming, but big enough to always have new things to see and do.

I have a good friend who lives in this fun place and I try to see her at least once a year. This year, Sean and I were able to go together for a weekend before a work trip for him. We took a half-day on Friday and drove up to Raleigh in plenty of time for evening festivities. We made the most of our 48 hours there in spite of some pretty chilly and rainy weather. Read on to learn what do with two days in Raleigh. Continue reading →

Fourth of July Fun in Charlotte, NC

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IMG_8719When I heard that Sean’s best friend wanted to come to Atlanta from Denver over the Fourth of July weekend to have Sean’s bachelor party, I decided to get out of town for the holiday! Best to let the boys be and have some fun without me hanging around at the house. 

And what would be a better way for me to spend a summer holiday than with my best friend Lindsey in Charlotte, NC? There are always plenty of good times when I go to visit and this long weekend was no exception! 

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Tori’s Tzatziki Sauce and Memories of Greece

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Screen Shot 2014-06-24 at 9.15.36 PMIn 2005 I spent 6 weeks traveling and studying abroad in Greece. It was an amazing experience and I loved so many things about the country – the history, the ancient ruins, the nice people and especially the food! Never before had I had french fries in a gyro – but it was great. 

Another dish I came to love was souvlaki. Tender, marinated chunks of grilled pork served with warm pita, a Greek salad and fresh tzatziki sauce was always delicious and a bit different at each restaurant. Everyone seemed to have their own way of making both the meat and the sauce – and now I do, too. My first bite of this tzatziki took me right back to my time in Greece.
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Wedding Planning in Savannah: Cake Tastings and More!

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IMG_8260I’d heard that cake tastings were a fun and favorite part of many couples’ wedding planning. After a weekend in Savannah for more wedding planning that included two awesome tastings, I have to agree! 

We had a variety of flavors including chocolate, red velvet, strawberry and carrot with buttercream, cream cheese and whipped frostings – and all were delicious. I’m sure you’re wondering which one we ended up choosing… 

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Opening Night at Wild Heaven Craft Beers

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IMG_8212Let me start by saying I’m not an expert on beer. I’m sure there are many others writing critiques of Wild Heaven beers right now, but that’s not what this post will cover. I love to support local and small businesses of all kinds – and that includes breweries! This new spot is long-awaited and we were thrilled to be there on the opening night. Continue reading →

Blueberry Lemonade Cupcakes

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IMG_8009Ah, summer. Sweet, sweet summer. Warm weather, sunshine, flowers and beautiful produce – especially fruit. There are many delicious flavor combinations that come together just a bit more perfectly in the summer months with blueberries and lemons being one of my favorite.

Blueberries and lemons are great in drinks (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic), in breakfast foods (waffles, crepes, yogurt) and in desserts. Cakes, pies, puddings, cupcakes, tarts…lemons and blueberries are a winning pair. These Blueberry Lemonade cupcakes are no exception and are easy to whip up for a summer barbecue. And did I mention they taste like summer in dessert-form? Yeah, there’s that, too. 😉

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Tori’s Tandoori-Style Marinade

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photo 5We love meat and vegetables and find that they make a perfect dinner for us. This type of meal is nutritious, filling and yummy – and it lets us cut out the carbs in the later part of the day.

While the combinations are seemingly endless, sometimes we seem to get stuck in a rut with similar flavors. I’d been craving Indian food but didn’t want to make a curry sauce that would make me yearn for rice. So I got to thinking about what I could make instead….
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