The Pop Five
What are your plans this weekend? My in-laws arrive tonight, so we’ll be lying pretty low, enjoying their company. Hope you had a good week—here is a roundup of my favorite finds.
Doesn’t this Halloween bark look amazing? The recipe sounds pretty simple, too.
I stumbled across Julie Bee’s flats after hearing about a trunk show in Atlanta on Tuesday night. The eco-friendly line is functional, gorgeous, and sustainable. A win-win-win (well, except for the wallet … cheap, they are not). Julie Bee’s officially launches November 9 and is currently taking pre-orders.
I’ve had outfit envy a ton lately. Thinking these cobalt jeans will be a good goal to work towards post-baby. Here’s hoping brightly colored skinny jeans are still on trend in 2013.
I had a couple of days this week where I was totally cranky. Then, I reread this and love the idea of no complaining for a week.
Image: Courtesy of quotepictures.net
So, this happened. Justin Timberlake finally made an honest woman out of Jessica Biel. Isn’t her petal pink custom wedding gown stunning?
The Pop Five
I feel as though my life is in a bit of a hurry up and wait stage. There’s a bunch going on with last minute baby preps and house stuff, but at the same time, it all feels very different than the pace I’m accustomed. I’m normally juggling multiple work projects and last-minute deadlines. Right now, I’m just trying to relish in this quieter space, which is admittedly feels very in-between existences of my old life and new.
My friend, HollyBeth Anderson, sent me the sweetest bundle of goodies for the baby and I from her fabulous line, HollyBeth Organics. Love!
Image: Courtesy of Phillip Vullo
My twin sister, Ann, and business partner, Kirby, signed a lease on their gallery space! That’s right, the Santa Cruz Institute of Contemporary Art is slated for a winter 2012 opening!
We feasted on an incredible hearty weeknight vegetarian dish of mushroom stroganoff and enjoyed the leftovers throughout the week. It was almost better reheated. I love meals like that.
It’s amazing that discovering a ratty tennis ball on our routine morning walk could make Otis so proud of himself. He strutted all the way home with this dirty ol’ thing in his mouth.
My husband surprised me with a lovely bouquet of flowers for our anniversary yesterday. The arrangement even contained sunflowers, native to the state where we got married.
The Pop Five
This week went by quickly, making way for a jam-packed weekend loaded with finishing up house projects and a child-birthing class. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
I loved this piece on last Sunday’s 60 Minutes and it stuck with me throughout the week.
I was on the hunt to replace my dresser (which was going to be converted to a diaper changer/storage), but ended up finding this vintage gem for the nursery. I spent a few days this week folding teeny newborn clothes in preps for her arrival.
I recently started watching Call the Midwife after reading an article comparing it to Downton Abbey. It’s not exactly the drama on par with the Crawley family, but certainly worth the marathon on TiVo when home alone. (My husband went in another room while I was watching an episode, which was better than his constant commentary and eyerolls prior to that decision.)
Image: Courtesy of the BBC
A clever art opening reception tonight in Buckhead. Huff Harrington’s show titled, Fifty Shades (inspired by the book) runs October 12-26. Color me intrigued.
Image: Laurie Adams, Lovers Found
I adore so many of the recipes on everybodylikessandwiches.com and these double chocolate cherry muffins are amaze-balls. Though, calling them a breakfast item is a stretch (even with coffee) these suckers are good enough to be dessert (or my daily afternoon snack).
The Pop Five
This week’s pace was much slower than usual for me (which admittedly feels a bit strange). I’m wrapping up a couple of writing projects in preparation for the baby’s arrival next month, but finding myself in a limbo-land of sorts between what’s next versus what is in the here and now. The highlights:
So jealous of this photograph … my husband had a shoot yesterday at the Bellwood Quarry with Anthony Bourdain to promote his upcoming show airing on CNN in 2013.
I was one of several writers that attended a luncheon with Aida Mollenkamp in conjunction with her gorgeous new cookbook, Keys to the Kitchen. She is as smart and lovely in person as she appears on television.
I helped host an event called the Midtown Mommy Mixer at Bobby Berk Home last weekend and it was so much fun! The three of us pictured are all expecting within weeks of each other. It was fantastic to meet other ladies in the same stage of life.
I caught up with friends at this spot … because sometimes you really don’t need a fancy night out, a hot dog and good conversation will do just fine.
Image: Courtesy of Heidi Geldhauser for The Reynolds Group
I stumbled across this gem of a tutorial. Over the top nail art is nothing new (and did you know navy is the color of choice this fall?). But, this sweet and seasonal how-to courtesy of thebeautydepartment.com is beyond cute.
Happy Birthday Playlist
OK, shizz is getting real with this baby on the way. The crib now holds an actual mattress, her cradle has freshly washed sheets lining it, and we’ve got the onesies in every color of the rainbow ready to be filled with teeny baby arms and legs.
It’s tough to say what sort of music I want to bring into the delivery room, so I’ve tried to prepare for everything. I waffle between songs that are soft and sweet and ones that are riddled with angst to hopefully help me pull through the pain.
Regardless, I hope our little one comes into this world to something fantastic playing in the background. Though, I’m pretty certain caring about the music situation will be the last thing on my mind. Here’s part of the happy birthday playlist that will be playing in about four weeks.
The Pop Five
It’s starting to feel like autumn in Atlanta with nips of cool air on morning dog walks and leaves beginning to blanket the ground. Here are my favorite moments from this past week.
The lobster roll at the new Atlanta lunch spot, Olmsted – unbelievably good.
Up close and personal with the Avett Brothers at Music Midtown.
I recently finished What Remains by Carole Radziwill and it has really stuck with me. The book tackles meaty subjects like love and loss, but is done in such a graceful way. It is as inspiring and insightful as it is well written.
That should be a word. My twin sister’s perfectly made-up definition for the merging of technology with art. As in, “Thank goodness that techarty guy was there to hook up the computer for the video installation.”
The Bowery Presents Bon Iver, so good it gives me chills!
The Pop Five
Here are the top five things I’ve adored about this past week.
Danapop got a new look and a new headquarters! My office has officially moved (same address, different room). The custom built-in desk was installed and it includes this gorgeous marble top I get to write on everyday. Also, I’m obsessed with the new wall color – Benjamin Moore ice cap … it’s the prettiest hue of gray/pale blue.
I love driving past this image on Dekalb Avenue in Atlanta. It’s part of the Living Walls 2012 exhibit. The co-founder and executive director of the Living Walls project, Monica Campana, is speaking at this year’s TedXAtlanta on September 26.
I’m bouncing off the walls … my baby shower is this weekend (making all the changes in our life feel very real). Gifts are arriving daily and it’s taken everything in me resist registering for these adorable and totally impractical shoes. Want vs. need. Sigh.
We’ve got appetizers covered for the next year with my Grammy’s pepper jelly that I whipped up recently. Just serve over goat cheese on a pretty platter with crackers and call it a day.
I stumbled across this ingenious beverage company, Stacked Wines. The wine is already in the glass! Perfect for Shakespeare in the park, outdoor concerts, and evenings spent on the deck. Cannot wait until I’m able to partake.
Where We Belong
In an endless sea of chick-lit authors, Emily Giffin manages to float to the top. Her incredibly well crafted characters are laced with very human elements like being flawed or making less-than-favorable decisions, paired with Giffin’s solid storytelling. All of this ultimately puts her as one of the most likeable and talented literary voices around.
I got a chance to interview Ms. Giffin just before an event in Atlanta where we chatted about her latest novel, role models, the publishing industry, and date nights.
Bookworm
I’ve been all over the map with my summer reading. From this (for work), to this (I found the entire series meh, at best), to this (re-reading), here are my recommendations.
If there’s one book you should read right now, it’s Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Seriously, stayed up WAY too late every night until I finished it (in perhaps record speed, beating out last year’s fast-paced read of The Help). It lives up to the hype.
Chick-lit queen, Emily Giffin’s latest book, Where We Belong just released yesterday. I cannot wait to fly through it. And be sure to check back on these pages next week where I’ll publish my interview with the witty author who happens to be a fellow Atlantan.
I breezed through Wild, which I wrote about briefly, here. It’s a compelling work of a woman who, while in the midst of huge life changes (a divorce and loss of a parent), hikes the Pacific Crest Trail alone. So brave.
Elton John recently released his memoir titled, Love is the Cure: On Life, Loss, and the End of AIDS. I grew up in a house where Elton John ruled beyond the stereo (we even had the Captain Fantastic pinball machine!), and as a creative person, I’ve always been intrigued by his relationship with lyrics writer, Bernie Taupin. It’s a partnership that has lasted (very successfully) for 47 years. The NPR interview that ran last week is incredible. Listen here.
I haven’t addressed this yet, but as a woman writer, it doesn’t get any better than Nora Ephron. Her words are the perfect combination of eloquence while still having the ability to be a ballbuster. I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections, is the last book she wrote before passing away last month at 71.
What’s summer without a little eye candy? Though the pre-order reviews have been less than stellar, blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere’s gorgeous book about style and entertaining goes on sale August 1. This one begs for a nightstand or coffee table display for the pretty pictures alone. You can read my interview with Emily from back in 2009, here.
Now, go. Fill that head of yours with great story.
Road Trip Tunes
My husband and I often travel to Florida and Ohio for vacations and holidays, so we’re pretty used to making those almost 7-hour trips. Last month, we decided that in conjunction with me being on assignment for MSN to cover Bonnaroo and since it coordinated (almost perfectly) with a planned bi-annual family vacation in Michigan, we would drive the whole thing (all 14 hours of it). We road-tripped from Georgia to Michigan with one shut down highway, countless bathroom stops, loads of conversation, one horrific avocado experience on a sandwich, and sadly, zero Chick-Fil-A. (Why is it I always want it on a Sunday?)
Boy I wish I would’ve created a decent playlist before we left. But, because I didn’t, I can now fill it with amazing bands I heard at the festival mixed with loads of my other favorites … score. Here’s the summer road trip playlist for 2012, ready for a listen throughout the holiday week.
