Roasted Strawberry Lemonade on In Honor of Design

Apologies for being MIA last week. I'm not promising it won't happen again this week. The last two weeks have been filled with travel, a bad experience with a tree service company, a dog with a cast and a cone, AND a toddler with a double ear infection. I'm extremely grateful for all of it and grateful to all of you for sticking around. I might be back with a brand new redesign to boot! 

I did share the awesome Roasted Strawberry Lemonade on In Honor of Design last week. I'm kind of obsessed with it and have made several pitchers since I first perfected it. Get the recipe here. 

Grapefruit Pomegranate Mimosa

Hello friends! I'm over on Annette Joseph Style today sharing a delicious cocktail perfect for Valentine's Day. This Grapefruit Pomegranate Mimosa is as pretty as it is tasty. 

Also Annette is hosting a crazy awesome (a.k.a. huge) giveaway with Minted - be sure to check it out! 

We're half way through the week! Cheers! 

ATL LOVE | Westside

Many thanks to Natalie Kilgore, she created this artwork just for the ATL LOVE series.
Find more of her work at Natty Michelle

Welcome to the ATL LOVE Series! I've asked a handful of my favorite Atlanta bloggers to give us an-eats-and-treats tour of their favorite Atlanta area neighborhood over the next few weeks.

Today we tour Atlanta's Westside (which is sometimes called West Midtown). The Westside is one of my favorite neighborhoods and I'm so happy to have one of my favorite Atlanta food bloggers - Erika Council of Southern Soufflé - show off her work-hood. Erika  is a working mama, who also just moved houses, and yet still some how manages to churn out amazing recipes every week. Her Gin and Ginger cocktail is one of my new favorites. PS Erika has a quick wit and a fabulous eye for photography - you'll love her blog. 

Find more of Erika at Southern Soufflé  or stalk her on Twitter, like I do. 

What you love about your hood: My hood caters to the foodie in me. Some of Atlanta's best restaurants live on this side of town. From the Optimist to Atlanta's best soul food at K & K. With Star Provisions, which is like the Anthropologie of the food world, topping my list of what I love the most. It's a marketplace, a bistro, a bakery and beyond. 

Favorite breakfast/brunch: WestEgg Cafe 

Favorite coffee stop: OctaneCoffee 

Best working lunch: Bocado 

Best date night bet: TheOptimist 

Best meeting friends for drinks: JCT Kitchen, Ormsby's, Northside Tavern for some hole in the wall dive bar greatness.

Favorite dessert stop: SublimeDoughnuts 

Donuts, pie, or ice cream: Yoforia 

Diner, greasy, spoon or grab and to-go dinner: Thumbs Up Diner or K&K Soul Food (best soul food spot in the Atown) 

Neighborhood Shop or Farmer’s Market: Star Provisions 

Non-food shopping: Westside Provisions Market

Many thanks to the talented Natalie Kilgore, who's incredible hand drawn illustrations "really tie the series together". You can purchase her work in her etsy shop, Natty Michelle Paperie or follow her blog, Natty Michelle, for her insightful "free-lance ladies" series or peeks into her charming home.

more ATL LOVE: Marietta|East Atlanta Village|Tucker|Buckhead|Decatur 

ATL LOVE | Decatur

Many thanks to Natalie Kilgore, she created this artwork just for the ATL LOVE series.
Find more of her work at Natty Michelle

Welcome to the ATL LOVE Series! I've asked a handful of my favorite Atlanta bloggers to give us an-eats-and-treats tour of their favorite Atlanta area neighborhood over the next few weeks.

Today's ATL LOVE post takes us on a tour of Decatur Georgia! Our tour guide is Patty Catalano, my colleague and good friend. Patty was sort of the catalyst for this series, because she is expecting her first child and will be out of the office for maternity leave this month. I'm happily taking on extra work during this very special time! Patty is our Culinary Researcher, a loyal Bulldog fan, and a lover of maple syrup. 

UPDATED: Patty and her husband welcomed Lucy Grace into the world yesterday! Congratulations Patty and Vince! 

What you love about your hood: I love North Decatur for a lot of reasons: it is where my husband and I bought our first house, it is easily accessible (just a half mile or so and I'd be OTP...phew, just made it), it is close to good restaurants and grocery shopping (as you'll see below), it is close enough to downtown Decatur that I can pretend I'm part of that special club (yeah, that's me sneaking in to a Decatur resident only dog park), and it is close to Stone Mountain (I love it for the trails, not the Lasershow Spectacular).

Favorite breakfast/brunch: Though my go-to breakfast spot is Goldberg's Bagel in Toco Hills (cinnamon raisin bagel double toasted with cream cheese, thank you), the best breakfast spot in my neighborhood has got to be No. 246 in downtown Decatur. My sister and I stopped in for brunch one weekend just after I found out I was pregnant, so naturally we ordered one of everything off of the menu. I spent the next few weeks...ok, months...thinking about the thick, gooey yet crispy French Toast. Yum. 

Favorite coffee stop: There's no question about this one: I love Dancing Goats. It is right in the heart of downtown Decatur, serves great coffee and snacks, and has plenty of seating both inside and out. Bonus: there's a Little Free Library just outside the front door.

Best working lunch: I'm not often around my 'hood for weekday lunches, but Leon's Full Service is always a favorite for weekend lunches or dinners. They serve a warm chickpea salad that I've hacked and made several times at home, and a quick Google search tells me that I'm not the only one who loves this dish: http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/from-the-menu-of-leons-full-service/nQMgb/ 

Best date night bet: My husband, Vince, and I aren't too fancy when it comes to date nights, and for that reason we usually end up at Sushi Avenue on the Square. 

Best meeting friends for drinks: Twain's is the spot if you want grab a beer and seat (if the beer is more important than the seat, you should head over to Brick Store Pub in the Square). I've yet to try the Pinewood Tippling Room, but I've heard they serve fantastic cocktails. It is at the top of my list once I have this baby!

Favorite dessert stop: Bakery at Cakes & Ale

Donuts, pie, or ice cream: Two words: Revolution Doughnuts

Diner, greasy, spoon or grab and to-go dinner: Can't choose just one. I love Community Q - they've got great BBQ, mac & cheese, and lemonade. Monterrey's Mexican Restaurant on LaVista Road wouldn't be anything to write home to mom about as it serves your standard Tex-Mex fare, but Vince and I are regulars there and have struck up a friendship with one of the waiters. If you find yourself in the neighborhood and in the need of a taco, head on in and ask for Jacob.

Neighborhood Shop or Farmer’s Market: This one is tough, because I'm pretty lucky to equi-distant from both Your Dekalb Farmer's Market and Buford Highway Farmers Market. I have a love/hate relationship with YDFM, and if you have ever been there on a weekend or heaven forbid the week of Thanksgiving (somehow I always do and barely make it out alive) you know that there are a few ground rules. #1: Go in with a game plan #2: Don't be that fool with a shopping cart. Use a basket. If you have too much for a basket, bring a buddy, divide, and conquer and #3: There is no such thing as keep to your right. Still you can't beat it for some things, especially spices. Buford Highway Farmer's Market is AH-MAZING. If you love food and haven't been, you need to spend a Saturday wandering around. Compared to YDFM, Buford Highway Farmer's Market is cleaner, has greater variety, and is much less hectic--plus it is just plain fun to wander the aisles (arranged by country) and see Turkish cotton candy, fresh tortillas (yes---I'm talking fresh as in made in-house), a thousand types of Asian noodles, and locally made Georgia olive oil and cheeses. I do want to throw in one more farmer's market that I've been obsessed with this summer, and that is Sherry's Produce Stand on Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker. They have great quality produce (I may have cleaned them out of figs and corn on more than one occasion this summer), fresh flowers, and vintage sodas. The folks that run the place are really nice and the prices are very reasonable.

Non-food shopping: KudzuAntique Market has got everything from vintage clothes to garden art, tchotchkes, records, and retro home furnishings.

Many thanks to the talented Natalie Kilgore, who's incredible hand draw illustrations really tie the series together. You can purchase her work in her etsy shop, Natty Michelle Paperie or follow her blog, Natty Michelle, for her insightful "free-lance ladies" series or peeks into her charming home.

more ATL LOVE posts: Marietta|East Atlanta Village|Tucker|Buckhead

ATL Love | Peachtree Hills + Buckhead

How wonderful are these illustrations by Natalie Kilgore. She made each one specifically for the ATL LOVE series. Find more of her work at Natty Michelle

Welcome to the ATL LOVE Series! I've asked a handful of my favorite Atlanta bloggers to give us an-eats-and-treats tour of their favorite Atlanta area neighborhood over the next few weeks.

Today we are touring Peachtree Hills/Buckhead with the fabulous Nicole Melvin of Probably Polka Dots. Nicole is super stylish school teacher who loves polkadots, monograms, and sweet tea. She is currently planning her wedding and I love her Wedding Wednesday Series - and I'm not even planning a wedding! 

Find more of Nicole at:

Probably Polka Dots / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

What you love about your hood: Ironically, I love the hustle and bustle. There is always movement and there are always people to see and things to do. I also must say that the location is a prime spot. We can hop to just about any other neighborhood in about 10 minutes. 

Favorite breakfast/brunch: Buttermilk Kitchen: the fried egg BLT is a must have. They pickle the tomatoes which gives the sammie a little zing that is irresistible. 

Favorite coffee stop: Henri's Bakery: Henri's has been in business for over 84 years! It's inviting staff and quaint garden patio is a wonderful place to read the newspaper or a good book on a Saturday morning. 

Best working lunch: Souper Jenny, hands down. If the line is short, zip in and out in under 5 minutes, and if it's long, it's worth the wait! Grab a bowl of soup with a salad or sandwich, a cookie, and a drink for $14. I know it sounds steep, but everything is homemade by Jenny. If it's your first visit, snag a steaming bowl of "My Dad's Turkey Chili." And, if you're visiting on a Thursday, wait until 5:30 and go for their grilled cheese night! 

Best date night bet: Georgia Grille: This quaint, southwestern restaurant named for artist Georgia O'Keefe is my favorite place for date night. The staff is friendly, the margaritas are plentiful, and it's tucked away in a small corner of a shopping center. Order the shrimp and grits for a light meal of shrimp and veggies in a balsamic reduction. The house favorite? Lobster enchiladas! 

Best meeting friends for drinks: Treehouse: Nestled inbetween some trees in a corner of Peachtree Hills, Treehouse is a watering hole for happy hours that turn into dinner hours that turn into late night chats. The majority of the restaurant is outside, so plan to go on a nice evening where you can enjoy the atmosphere and the company. 

Favorite dessert stop: Cami Cakes: The original Atlanta cupcake destination that has the moistest, most delectable cupcakes in the city. You can't beat the red velvet, but my personal favorite is the Raspberry Chocolate. The kids will love flavors like Cotton Candy & Lemon Drop. YUM!

Donuts, pie, or ice cream: Cacao Atlanta for artisan chocolate, cakes, and fantastic milk shakes!

Diner, greasy spoon, or grab and to-go dinner: Grindhouse Killer Burgers: Get the pimento cheese burger loaded with cheesy-goodness, a fried green tomato, and coleslaw...and maybe wash it down with a Boozy Milkshake. Just trust me. 

Neighborhood Shop or Farmer’s Market: Peachtree Hills Farmer's Market: Saturdays from 8:30-12 in the parking lot of the Cathedral of St. Philip. The vendors are incredible and provide the best local produce. I always pick up a jar of Phickle's Pickles & buns from H&F bread company for burger night! 

Non-food shopping: Swoozies: This is my go-to for unique gifts for just about any occasion. 

Many thanks to the talented Natalie Kilgore, who's incredible hand draw illustrations really tie the series together. You can purchase her work in her etsy shop, Natty Michelle Paperie or follow her blog, Natty Michelle, for her insightful "free-lance ladies" series or peeks into her charming home.

more ATL LOVE posts: Marietta|East Atlanta Village|Tucker

ATL LOVE | Tucker

Illustration c/o Natalie Kilgore, find more of her work at Natty Michelle

Welcome to the ATL LOVE Series! I've asked a handful of my favorite Atlanta bloggers to give us an-eats-and-treats tour of their favorite Atlanta area neighborhood over the next few weeks. Many thanks to the talented Natalie Kilgore, who's incredible hand draw illustrations really tie the series together. You can purchase her work in her etsy shop, Natty Michelle Paperie or follow her blog, Natty Michelle, for her insightful "free-lance ladies" series or peeks into her charming home. 

Today's ATL love series takes us to Tucker where my dear friends and Isn't She Lovely blogger Jana Burrow is raising her sweet little family. Jana's blogging is my go-to for uplifting lady talk and real life mom advice. She is also a gifted writer and her post "Inside a Year and a Weekend" really moved me. 

Find more from Jana: blog|facebook|pinterest|twitter|instagram

What you love about your hood: It has a small town feel right next to the big city! We are incredibly close to major highways, but we always feel like we live in a little bubble. The surrounding areas of Decatur and Oak Grove are nearby and we frequent those areas for eating out as well. 

Favorite breakfast/brunch: Sunday brunch at Marlow's is my favorite. However, Seth loves to take the girls to Old Hickory House on days when he lets me sleep in!

Favorite coffee stop: Paramount Coffee Shop and Books

While I have only been there once, I look forward to going again! I went because there was a Scout Mob and I was not disappointed. Can't wait to go back.

Best working lunch: I don't technically work, so a working lunch for me is Chick-Fil-A so the kids can run around in the play equipment. However, if I did have a working lunch with adults I would go to The Greater Good. I love their sliders, but really you can't go wrong. 

Best date night bet: Shorty's

Usually for a date night we try to get out of Tucker and find something new. But, when we want to stay close to home and have a really yummy meal we head to Shorty's. Seth is a pizza guy and I do not love pizza. They apparently have great pizza, but their menu offers so much more too! I prefer their shrimp fajitas.

Best meeting friends for drinks: Local Seven...it's bar food, but great atmosphere!

Favorite dessert stop: Sweet Dee's

I love that Sweet Dee's is on Main Street. I have never been one to just buy a cupcake, but I find myself unable to resist at Sweet Dee's.

Donuts, pie, or ice cream: I struggled with this one because outside of chains there's not much of these around here. So, Seth told me to put his favorite place on Main Street which is Growler Time. 

Diner, greasy, spoon or grab and to-go dinner: Matthew's Cafeteria. It's pretty historic, and really greasy!

Neighborhood Shop or Farmer’s Market: Tucker Farmer's Market (summer only) This farmer's market is really impressive. There's music, food, and fun for the kids. Our routine is to get a King of Pops treat, pet the goat and buy the goat cheese, stock up on veggies, play in the kids area, and head to Main Street for dinner. 

Non-food shopping: Tucker House has all of your boutiquey needs and is just a cute place to go!

previous ATL LOVE posts: Marietta|East Atlanta Village| more coming next week..