A Warm and Wonderful Florida Thanksgiving

IMG_5910I usually spend Thanksgiving with my grandparents in Florida and enjoy the warm weather and relaxation. This year, a cold front delivered the most fridged temperatures in Atlanta in 100 years and pushed cool air into the normally balmy Florida coast. It was certainly warmer there than in Atlanta so we were happy with that and to spend quality time with our families as a newly engaged couple. Continue reading

Fall Colors Around Atlanta

IMG_5589It’s been a beautiful, long fall here in Atlanta and that means lots and lots of bright colors on all the trees. Everywhere I turn, there are vibrant shades of orange, yellow and red. Even on industrial streets, the colors are absolutely stunning.

I’ve taken many photos over the past two months and am sharing some of my favorites here. I hope you enjoy them!

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Handmade Holidays: Seneca Hills

wreath1This is a series for the holidays that will focus on several small businesses and/or people who make quality, handmade or locally produced items. I asked friends to ask their friends if they knew anyone who fit the bill, and the responses I received were wonderful. I want to share the beautiful and quality creations of people in my community and life. I’d like to encourage others to consider purchasing these amazing gifts for the holidays instead of mass-produced and low-quality products at mass retailers.

All these handmade items have a story and smart, passionate people behind them. The first post is about Seneca Hills, an Etsy store where a dear friend sells wreaths, t-shirts, block print-stamped napkins, onsies, pillows, and other crafty items. While I love all of her work, her holidays wreaths are stunning and will be highlighted here. Continue reading

Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Pumpkin Spice Glaze

1459278_504674168300_1734309853_nI love bundt cakes – they’re beautiful with a glaze on top and are easy to cut and serve at parties. I’ve been making lots of them lately – lemon, strawberry, blueberry – they seem to be perfect for just about any occasion. This recipe was imagined when my friend needed a cake for her baby’s first birthday. She wanted it to be a bundt cake, and to be pumpkin. All the ones I’d made had been fruit-flavored, but I devised a way to alter the recipe and it worked out so well.
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Birthday Celebration, Part 2: Weekend in the Mountains

IMG_5494For the second year in a row, we headed up to the North Georgia mountains for my birthday weekend. We had such a great time last year in Helen, but we decided to mix it up a bit and go to Blue Ridge for this trip. We booked a cozy cabin right next to a creek, and took the dogs with us. And of course, no trip to North GA is complete without a visit to at least one winery… Continue reading

Birthday Celebration, Part 1: Dinner at Amura

IMG_5438For my birthday this year, I decided to go to Amura, a new sushi and Japanese fusion restaurant in Buckhead. It’s a chain that started in Orlando and Sean introduced me to it a few months ago when one opened in Atlanta. They have unique and delicious sushi rolls, as well as tons of other rice and noodle-based dishes for the non-sushi lovers out there. The space is large, sleek and modern. All in all, I knew it would be a great place for a birthday bash with my closest friends.
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