So What Wednesdays

Happy Wednesday

You know what that means!  It's time to link up with Life After I Dew!

So What if...

• I've worn my hair "wavy" all week because I'm too tired and would prefer 10 extra minutes of dozing instead of drying my hair... if only I could figure out how to do both
• I bought 4 dresses last weekend -- I already wore 3 of them :-)
• I'm going to work a wedding until 12:30 AM Monday morning and then wake up at 5:45 AM again to volunteer for the Peachtree -- it's a sickness.  I don't know what rest is
• Husband REALLY wants me to do the Turkey Day half marathon with him and all I can think about is how painful running that long sounds... and a large fear of failing cloud rolls over and sits on top of my head every time we talk about it
• Husband will probably read the above statement and tell me there is no cloud on top of my head... 
• I ran by the cake store on the way home from the gym and saw they were making red white and blue cakes for the 4th and immediately started thinking about ways to conveniently NEED one of those cakes....
• I'm already counting the hours to the long weekend.  
• My new favorite thing is home made sweet potato chips... BFL style
• If my arms started hurting 5 hours ago from the workout I did 9 hours ago... I just don't want to know what tomorrow will feel like.  
• If I brought my recycling into the office because I don't have a better place to bring it now that my BFF moved to the "ghetto" 

What are you saying "So What" to this week?

Best Meal E.V.E.R.

Heyyyyyyy

Since I had a rare Saturday off last weekend, Husband and I planned a date night.

Naturally, I spent the day shopping for a dress.  I found this:

 

and two more, but I can't find pictures of them

Anywho, the really important part is that this was the BEST DINNER EVER.  All Fifth Group restaurants are pretty amazing, but this one was over the top.  I'm still new to the blogging, so I completely forgot to take pictures of our food.  Sorry friends.  However, you must trust me.  Husband must have told everyone the next day how great it was.  

EVERYONE.

SO, if you're a native or just visiting our fine city you want to know where you must go right?

La Tavola Trattoria is the place to go.

It was so lovely, with a comfortable atmosphere, a beautiful view from the balcony tables and a light cool mist to keep you cool in the summer heat.  

We had impeccable service, including some great suggestions from the server, that we ate devoured.   

 In short, if you live in Atlanta, you MUST go here on your next date night.  We had a $50 bottle of wine and our bill was still right at $115.  With appetizer, dinner for two, and dessert.  So on top of everything else, it is very reasonable. 

That's all for today Folks! 

Love, 

Susie Q

Do you remember the time when I went to a wedding and told you how much I loved it?

This is soooo another one of those posts.

We worked with Wolfgang Puck at the Georgia Aquarium last night.  He was not there himself (DANG IT!) but Clarence was.  Sweet, wonderful Clarence.  We weren’t even supposed to get vendor meals and he fed all five (that’s right, count them, 5) of us Magnolia girls a delicious 3 course masterpiece. 

In a private room

Right next to the ballroom so we could relax… just a tiny bit

Thank you Clarence, you’re the bestest.

What else happened you ask?  The very sweet, adorable groom spilled red wine A.L.L. O.V.E.R. the bride’s dress.  I mean BAAAAAAD.  

MAGNOLIA TO THE RESCUE

And you couldn’t even tell.(That's why they pay my bosses the big bucks)

I got a tour of the “Back of the house” in the Aquarium… very fishy

And took some pictures of the photog taking pictures of the Dolphins

Meanwhile:

Hubby went and played golf in Marrietta.  Apparently, he got rained off the golf course but is going to go back because it was such an awesome course (for a city course – and he’s got a voucher now).  So he headed home, but first, he stopped at the grocery store to get us some sides for our lunches today…

I proceeded to tell him he was the best Husband EVER.  He anticipated that that was stressing me and that was awesome.  (Reason #16463 why I love him)

He sent me this today… snapped it at the local Kroger.  Such a good photog… on an iPone no less!

I later came home to a sleeping house and for a brief moment wished they were all up so I could tell them about my incredible night (Dogs included… Daisy is very interested in Weddings, she listens very intently as long as I pet her).  Then I remembered we had to get up at 5:30 to get to the gym and promptly went to bed.

In other news… Hubs is trying to get me to do a half marathon with him on Turkey Day… I’m debating that one We all know I’ll end up doing it so we’ll see.  

Bits of Truth

 "When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what matters most to the heart of God. She lives in the balance of passion and contentment. She learns to love well, give without regard to self, and forgive without hesitation. The woman with a kingdom heart may have a duffel bag full of possessions or enough treasures to fill a mansion, but she has learned to hold them with an open hand. Hold everything with open hands. I don't think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven. When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated. And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small."

OK Bloggie Friends, are you ready for this... this is like a I heard this from my friends mother's dentist kind of post...

I happened along a blog after reading this blog where she was guest posting I liked her post so much I decided to keep reading and hopped on over to her blog...

From there I read a guest post from Casey who I really need to start following because this is not the first time I've read her stuff and loved it.

So Casey is the source of the little bit of truth up top.  I didn't think I needed that today, but turns out as I meditate on it, I do. 

I've struggled lately.  I'm impatient, I want us to be in the house of our dreams, I want to have the physique of the other ladies i see at the gym every day, I want to plan weddings -- like for real plan them, not just as a side thing, I want 500 followers, I want I want I want...

Each of these things I hold so tightly sometimes I think I might strangle them right out of reach.  Thank you Casey, you reminded me today that I need to let them go.  If they are God's desires they will happen in due time.  If they are not HIS, then HE has something better in store anyway.


Now... If I could just listen to myself.

And that bloggie friends is my Bit of Truth for today. 

Happy Friday!

Le Fleur

This little gem just became my favorite flower

Via

OK, maybe not "JUST" it did take a while.  But I think I've finally made my decision on this ever so life altering fact...

Cala Lillies have always been my favorite, like since the begining of time... not really sure why.  

Yet, these flowers!  I see them in bouquets every week and every time their smell is so amazing!  There's also something so graceful about the delicacy of the flower... 

I think I love the contrast of the Super Klutz that is me versus the sweet softness of this beautiful fleur. 

Hubby, little hint.  I would love a bouquet of these sometime

What is your random fact of the day?  What's your favorite flower?  Have you made any weird decisions lately?

So What Wednesday

I do love So What Wednesdays!  I think it's fun to share my quirks... (Nerd Alert again)

So What if...

• I enter my food into an online journal everyday... it doesn't stop me from eating the reeses, just helps me balance said candy
• I miss candy since we've been on Body for Life -- That does stop me from eating candy
• I get on the scale every morning -- even if I know it's going to be up from a night out the night before
• I sometimes brainstorm all the ways I could spend my day if I wasn't at my desk
• I just went for a mile walk around the city just because during my lunch "break"
• I drive with the windows down when it's 90* outside (I have working AC) just to feel the wind blow through my hair
• I sometimes day dream of what it's going to be like to have little versions of Hubby and I running around our life
• I look at Hotpads.com at least once a week even though we're no where near ready to buy another house
• I can hear the screws in my face creaking today... We all know I've got a few loose :-)

That's all for today.  What are you saying "So What" to?

In other news:

We're going to Atlantic Seafood for dinner tonight with some close friends... I'm so excited to get a sushi fix I don't know if I can begin to explain to you the levels... it's a bit ridiculous... I'm counting down the time... 5 hours and 6 minutes people!  I've only had my order planned for 3 days....

Random Musings from the Weekend

Hello Bloggie Friends!

How was your weekend?  What did you do?

I had a very nice weekend...

First, I have to share this tragedy with you:

I'm pretty sure I used to play dress up in 1990 with dresses like this one -- from my Mom's give away pile...

Now that my mean girls portion of the blog is over...

Sara came over for dinner on Friday night and we spent some time just comparing married women stories... at one point or another we were both laughing so hard it hurt and saying "I'm so glad it's not just me" -- oh the things you share with your best friend just to find out they aren't so strange after all. :-)

THEN-- Saturday I helped my best friend move 13 miles and 25 minutes from me... this will be the first time in almost 5 years that she has not been less than a mile from me.  We've been spoiled.  I had more than one moment of holding back tears on Saturday (while yelling at myself inside that I was being ridiculous and we're still going to see each other all the time).

I might have just once contemplated hijacking the stuff in Hubby's truck and refusing to bring it down there... oh so very 5 year old of me

Annabelle agreed with me though

She refused to get out of her litter box for a while once we got her in the house. 

Meanwhile,

Hubby was in Chicago being smart, sexy, intelligent, well-spoken, and representing his company that way (well, I might have added the sexy in all by myself)

After leaving Sara's Saturday I went home to prepare for him.  I cleaned the condo and let the dogs out and worked on my Father's Day gift so that I was not distracted when he came home...

Daisy was waiting patiently too.

Not much else to update, we spent Sunday with my totally tubular Dad, I got my Menchies Fix, we went to the pool with SeesTOR, and ate like pigs...

I did not however, get my fix on the Starbucks petite... the coupon had expired and Hubby made me feel a little silly about eating cake at 8:30 in the morning...alas, I'll have to wait until next Sunday/Cheat Day

Happy Friday! Randomness

Dear Cheat Day,

When you arrive I would like to let you know what you should expect this week…  (Or a list of foods I’m dreaming of… sigh)

I've had this coupon forever... I plan to use it on you, Cheat Day.

 Via

UpStreet  gives us bagels... I plan for a blueberry one with hazelnut icing cream cheese

 Via

I don't care if no one comes with me... I've gotta get my fix

 Via

Oh Menchies, how I love you! But mine will look much more peanut butter chips and pomegranate yogurt

 Via

Don't they all look so yummy!?

In OTHER news my husband left me yesterday... he went on a jet plane to the Windy City... I miss him already.  I am very proud of him though.  He is emceeing an event for work.  

Because he's HOT

and Smart

and they want to show that off...

Never fear, he'll return Saturday night... LATE 

And we will celebrate with cheat day :-) 

Although, I'm pretty sure his Cheat "Day" is all weekend... 

In the meantime, I'll be helping Sara move to her new home in the "ghetto" of Grant Park... for realz, the house is adorable and she's moving in with her hubby so what could be bad? 

Happy Friday everybody!  What are your plans?  What fun things will you be up to?

Getting to know you

A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore you dislike: I hate doing the dishes -- luckily I've got a hubby to do that now :-)
D. Dogs: I've got a Papillon and a Golden.. they're precious see:

E. Essential start to your day: Workout and breakfast... it should be everyone's start!

F. Favorite color: Green and Pink... so girlie
G. Gold or silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'7"  5'6.75”
I. Instruments you play(ed): Does middle school still count when you're 26? If so the clarinet... nerd.
K. Kids: Yes please, but not right now.
L. Live: Atlanta, GA -- Buckhead to be exact
M. Mom’s name: Are we stealing identities or playing a fun survey game?
N. Nicknames: Laura Belle, LSB <--not anymore That's about it...I'm boring
O. Overnight hospital stays: Jaw surgery makes you do all sorts of things you don't want to do...
P. Pet peeves: burping with your mouth open, giving me 200 reasons why you can't do something instead of just saying "I don't want to", slow drivers, "Also too" <-- seriously, can we talk about this one?
Q. Quote from a movie: Can I do a TV show? Community last night -- "Oh! No, no juice!" if you don't watch the show, start.
R. Righty or lefty: righty.
S. Siblings: growing up -- 1 older sister, now that my dad's remarried and I've married: 4 older sisters, 3 older brothers -- that's right, it's a big clan!
T. Time you wake up: weekdays the unGodly hour or 5:30 AM, the things I do to go to the gym with my hubby; Weekends I sleep in all the way until 8AM... I'm nutz!
U. Underwear: I wear them...
V. Vegetables you don’t like: Collard Greens, Okra, Brussels Sprouts, beets
W. What makes you run late: Trying to fit too much in, or not being realistic about Atlanta traffic and the time it adds to get places.
X. X-rays you’ve had: too many
Y. Yummy food you make: Monkey Bread -- hear a fun story about that here
Z. Zoo animal favorites: Polar Bears!!! So fluffy!

So What Wednesdays

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!!

It's been a hectic week!  We had a great weekend, I worked a wedding and Matt played golf -- you know, the usual.

We did discuss that Matt will be taking over our weight lifting plan, this is great, I just do what he tells me and am supposed to get buff... yay.  I cook all the meals and he designs the work outs... sounds like TEAMWORK :-)

I love being a team.

So here is my 2nd installment of So What Wednesdays and I figured out the original!  Life After I Dew started this totally awesome idea!

So What if:

• I wear completely unsensible shoes to work sometimes -- otherwise, I'd feel guilty owning them since they'd never get out of the closet
• #1 makes me hobble home sometimes
• I love cinnamon in almost everything -- Chili included
• I'm craving chili while it's 100+ degrees outside
• I sweep and mop the floors and an hour later I find a hairball, that's life with 2 dogs and two people in <1000 square feet. 
• Sometimes I take a cat nap between when Hubs leaves for work and I have to start getting ready.  
• I got really excited when we met some neighbors at the pool Sunday. -- I feel like my dog's yippy reputation precedes us and no one likes us... It was really nice to be told differently
• I'm drinking water today pretending it is the home made cookies sitting in our break room... Sunday Cheat day can't come fast enough!
• I started my Christmas list yesterday... priorities

That is all :-) 

Love,

Susie Q

Body For Life

 Via

Hubs and I started Body for Life  again this week.  We did this last year starting in February 2010 and found great results!  We both lost about 18 pounds and were pretty pumped to be back to our pre-commited relationship selves minus a few pounds. 

Well after our wedding I think we both lost some motivation and I for one am B.O.R.E.D. in the gym right now.  SO, we decided to give it a go again. Not that either of us have gained any weight since we got married, I've lost a few pounds and Hubs has lost many (must be all my cooking ;-) But  we both felt a need for a push... so here we go.

Problem, I'm not sure either of us is quite as motivated as the first time, but that's OK.  We'll be each other's accountability partners and we'll do it! 

So why am I telling you?  Well, part of my passion is health and fitness.  I have a LOT of opinions about it, and more knowledge than most people would think on the subject.  However, I am NO expert!  I still have much to learn, and want to share my journey through the next 3 months of this program.

So far we've had a great week.  I went to their website and chose some recipes for the week so we've been eating much tastier meals than the last time around!   However,  food is not so much what I'm worried about this time.

I've stuck with the same exercise program for the last year and a half -- with just a few variations.  I know this is not right... but I'm a bit scared to change!  This time I'm challenging myself to not do the same exercise program two weeks in a row.  I can use some of the same exercises, but MUST change it up every week and incorporate different exercises from the week before, preferably not the same for the last 3 weeks (this could be hard depending on the muscle group).  SO.  Any new weight lifting routines you can think of, let me know! 

I need to do two for each muscle group each workout!

So What Wednesdays

I’m not really sure who started the trend, but I would like to join in… Here is my So What Wednesday!

So What if…

·          

• I have 4 outfits for work and I just keep mixing/matching and re-wearing (the get washed)
• My dog likes Marmi’s house better than our house
• The only new accessories I own are from people’s weddings… everything else is from college at the earliest
• I talk to our dogs… a lot
• I  talk for our dogs all the time
• Don’t worry, I don’t have full conversations back and forth
• I think pretty much anything fried is the bomb digity
• I say “bomb digity” -- and "the bomb.com" (NERD)
• I hate the gym… but I go almost every morning
• I like lists – lots of them!
• I  used to be on-time
• I want the biggest loser game for Kinect
• My new signature looks like a child’s writing
• I still have my maiden name on my driver’s license.  The DMV really needs more convenient hours. And to not be horribly inefficient. And to take better pictures so I don’t dread it so much….

That’s all for today! 

A Weekend in Big Canoe

Hello Everyone!

We had a very fun and exciting weekend being a part of my best friend's wedding.  She's off in Maui now on her honeymoon and I'm jealous... She sent me this just this morning:

Unkind...

Anywho,  The weekend really started on Thursday night.  My company's two year anniversary party was held at the Millennium Gate Museum  at Atlantic Station here in the ATL.  We had some pretty special guests...

Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones is our Co-Founder and he brought along his friend Billy Bob

We had a very good time at the party, but I had to leave a bit early as I needed to pack for the weekend!  

Friday Daisy and I went for a walk at 5AM, then I came home and got ready, kissed the hubs goodbye and took the pups to their respective hotels for the weekend.  (Daisy is a bit big for Marmi Camp so she stays at the Pet Hotel).  Then I ran by Starbucks and slid into my parking space just in time to catch my ride and be off to the Rehearsal in Big Canoe!  

It was a good rehearsal if I do say so myself, and Nona from the Chapel is a little spit-fire!  I like her.  

Don't we all look nice? :-)

The bride is in the back chatting with the videographer.    We had a lovely bridesmaid's luncheon at her parent's friend's house in Dawsonville followed by a race back to Big Canoe before the bus came to get us for the rehearsal dinner.  Hubs met us JUST IN TIME -- seriously, 5 minutes to spare.

We filled the bus!

I will say there is nothing nicer than transportation when you have no idea where you are going AND you know you'd like a glass of wine or two...

I may have dominated at Cornhole... 

But no one likes a bragger.

Please notice my shoes had come off by now... 4 inch heals all weekend was not the best idea.

THEN IT WAS WEDDING DAY!

We had such a lovely morning relaxing in the cabin while we got our hair done and did our make up.  The photographer came by and we staged some shots for him and we even played a card game -- I need to get my hands on this game -- Phase 10, t'was fun.

The beautiful bride walked down the aisle and then we partied all night.  Hubs has misplaced our photobooth pictures, but when the bride gets back I'll get copies from her.  I was too busy running around between dancing, fixing bridal hair, busselling the dress, getting everything in the getaway car, and much much more to get any good pictures of the Par-TAY but trust me... it was quite the night.

We woke up the next morning and drove back to Dawsonville for the brunch at her parent's house.  I put in the address but my phone took us to a totally different and random location.  I had a bit of a melt down realizing we were going to miss the Bride & Groom leaving and I didn't get to say goodbye (I might have even dropped a few very unladylike choice words... sorry Hubby)  and yet, we got back on track and raced in just as they were leaving. Hubs is awesome!

Happy Ending.

More Pics:

Neither one of them is looking at where they're going.... That's trust my friends

 The back of the dress with the veil hanging on it. 

 

What did you do this weekend?  Where was your favorite wedding?  Have you ever melted down over the littlest thing?   

PS, I need a new screen for my Macbook... it's cracked all over... any advice from other Macs out there? 

What is Beautiful

What is Beautiful?

The Shine Project has tasked her readers this week with giving a definition of sorts as to what "Beautiful" is to us.  I love The Shine Project and her weekly challenges to make the world a better place.  Admittedly, this is the first challenge I will complete since starting to read her blog a few weeks ago, but I always have the best intentions on Mondays --- It's just making it come to fruition by Friday that seems to stand in my way!

This is a tough question.  Beauty is not really something one can define.  It comes in all shapes and sizes and is WAY more than skin deep.  I know so many of us have struggled with this definition, always believing the girl next to us is beyond any example of the definition while not ever putting ourselves in the same category.

I HATE THAT!

I see beauty every week.  Brides are beautiful.  ALL of them, they've worked their tales off making that day right.  They have struggled with the party decisions, decor, the dress, a diet/work out regimen that was most definitely taken to a new level from where it started after e-day, family dynamics, and much much more!

However, the brides that stay in my mind most after they are off to their honeymoon are the ones that have confidence on that day.  The ones that stay free of worrying about what they look like or if they planned everything to everyone else's liking and just relax.  I think the most beautiful women in this world are the ones that are confident in their own skin.  Thin, tall, small, large, black, yellow, white, orange, purple... doesn't matter.

Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser?  I love that show.

The show isn't awesome because of the body transformations though.  Admittedly, they are incredible, but what I love about that show is that every single one of those people is standing in their own way of enjoying their life.  Each one of them has lost their confidence in themselves and their knowledge that they deserve to live a happy life.  Yet every week you see them change, not just on the outside, but they slowly realize that there is a whole life out their that they were missing, hiding from in their own bodies.  You start to see them SHINE.

I cry every finale.  You see people that were such introverts standing on stage screaming and jumping and LIVING.

THAT is beauty. Living, truly living and enjoying your life.

Beauty

One last thing.  This video is old, and you've probably all seen it.  Yet every time I discuss beauty and people's perceptions of it I think of this video.  

You are beautiful, just the way you are.

Pass the message on

Love,

Susie Q

Memorial Weekend Update

Hey Everyone!

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything fun and exciting??

I worked most of mine.  After of course my date night with Sara!

Look at this pretty bridal bouquet from Saturday's wedding though (it was too big to get the whole thing in the picture)! 

Saturday was a nice day for me.  I got a lot done around the house (laundry, swept/mopped the floors, vacuumed...ya know, house wife stuff) and took Daisy for a nice long walk.

Isn't she pretty by the flowers

 

And this was a VERY big feat for her -- she walked through the busiest intersection in Atlanta!  So proud of our Waffle! 

After our walk I went and drove the course (while running errands), it was about 3.5 - 4 miles (there were parts I couldn't drive). That should get some energy out of her right?

Maybe not...

I spent the rest of the day before the wedding cleaning the condo which royally freaked the waffle out.

The wedding was at the Atlanta History Center,  this place has some great spots for photography and since Our Labor Of Love was the photographer you know they got some GREAT stuff!

I snapped this little ditty myself because I love my Daddy.  

Tehe.., you can totally see my hands in the reflection. 

Sunday was another wedding, but I don't have any pictures from that one.  They were a very sweet couple though.  So in love :-)

Monday I was so exhausted from all the weddings that I did absolutely nothing, and it felt GREAT!

I did go to the grocery store and make my risotto one last time before Hubby returned... note to self, have more respect for our totally amazing knives! 

Opps...

Meanwhile,

Hubs was in California running from his High School best friend's wedding to his parent's camp site, to his best friend's house for a jazz festival, going out, and then they played golf Monday morning before he caught the red eye home that night.  I picked him up at 6AM yesterday.  

I missed him very much but I'm glad he had some QT with his friends and family.  

Anywho!  That was our Memorial Day happenings.  What did you do?  Anything fun and exciting?