Long Weekend in the Mountains

The weekend after Thanksgiving, Chapin and I traveled a few hours outside Atlanta to enjoy a long weekend in the mountains with some friends. Although we called it a "cabin," the house we rented in Blairsville, Georgia, was huge, with four bedrooms (a TV and bathroom for each), a game room, living room and enormous kitchen. I don't even know why we started calling it a cabin, because even the website refers to it as "Majestic Lake Manor."

It was a fun weekend, filled with lots of game playing, outdoor walks, reading and... eating. All the couples took turns cooking, and since I don't cook, I assisted Chapin or mainly just helped clean up after all the meals. Rahul made everyone a personal omelet on our first morning, and the next morning, we had shrimp and grits from Kate and Russell. The dinners were divine as well: Chicken marsala a la Chapin one night, and pasta with a Turkish twist on another. I'm sure I gained five pounds just from that weekend alone! I also discovered a great new game that I ended up buying myself when we got home: Bananagrams! As a Words with Friends fanatic, this game is perfect for me!

One of the biggest perks of the "cabin" was that we could all bring our children with us -- our dog children, I mean. George definitely enjoyed the different scenery, and he was generally well behaved... except when we would sit down to eat. He would go around the massive table (it sat ten, I think) to each person, begging for food. Chapin and I were so embarrassed, but that's George for you. We have never been able to break him of this habit. I still remember the day we saw him for the first time. He and his brothers and sisters were all playing together and running after their mama. Well, George was the one running after his mama to get at her teat!

Chapin actually celebrated his 35th birthday during our cabin weekend, so we surprised him with a chocolate and peanut butter cake. I think he was amazed we fussed over him so much, but it's an important birthday, and we couldn't let it go by without at least acknowledging it. He got so embarrassed when we sang "Happy Birthday" to him, but I think he loved it, too.

I spent most of the weekend in jeans and t-shirts, which -- as readers of this blog know -- is not normal for me. The outfit I wore in most of the pictures here was probably my favorite: Paige Premium Denim Skyline Skinny Jeans, v-neck t-shirt from INC International Concepts, Old Navy red ruffle coat (last season).

It was a great weekend that I hope to make an annual tradition!

The Cabin Group (Dec 2011)

Birthday Cakes and a Charity Dinner

Chapin has spent the last six months traveling back and forth to Dunedin, Florida. After one last weekend away, I am happy to report he will be working from Atlanta for the foreseeable future. Although I had George to keep me company, and I spent some extra weeknights and weekends with my parents in Alpharetta, I definitely am glad he's home. I got so lonely without him! I guess that's what happens when your husband is also your best friend.

George with Chapin: Weekend of Aug 27th

This past weekend, we had something going on every day, which is my favorite kind of weekend. (I hate feeling like I am wasting any kind of precious time off.)

We started off the weekend on Friday with tickets to Cirque du Soleil's Dralion show. (You can read The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's review here.) We saw the Cirque du Soleil OVO show this past December, which was held in a great big tent outside Atlantic Station. This show was held at Philips Arena. Although I didn't enjoy the venue and the story as much as I did with OVO, Dralion was still a wonderful show. I remember feeling my jaw drop several times. The tricks were just amazing... from bodies contorting into head-turning positions to eye-popping acrobatics, I loved every minute.

We followed the show with dinner at 5 Napkin Burger, which just opened up a new location about a mile from our home. I had the Ahi Tuna Burger, which was so yummy. It was a huge sandwich with onion rings and wasabi mayo, and the flavors had me floored. Chapin tried the Italian Turkey Burger, which he enjoyed as well. I don't eat beef, so Chapin is also so courteous and tries not to eat it in front of me, even though I know he wanted to during this particular dinner out!

We have probably tried every gourmet burger joint in the city: Yeah Burger, Grind House Killer Burgers, Flip Burger Boutique and now 5 Napkin. I actually think the tuna burger at 5 Napkin might be my favorite... and the sweet potato fries were definitely worth all the calories!

Saturday we spent the day with my family in Alpharetta to celebrate my paternal grandmother's 90th birthday. Here is a picture of my sisters and I posing with my Grandma Marie.

Laura, Gail, Grandma and Michele (me!) 

We ordered Chinese food and had a chocolate birthday cake for dessert. My Grandma is a major chocoholic... which I guess is where I got my sweet tooth! My sisters and I also treated ourselves to pedicures. Chapin was disappointed he didn't get to come along.

George

It's a very exciting time for our family, because my little sister, Laura, is expecting her first child with her husband of two years, Matt. She will be the first in our family to have a baby, and she's also the youngest, which I guess puts some added pressure on me and Gail. I'm still not sure if I want a baby or not. I guess I will see how things go with Laura.

Sunday, Chapin and I slept in, and I got a workout in and a little time at the pool before I had to start getting ready for a charity event we were attending that evening. The Give Me Five Charity Dinner, to benefit Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry. It's a great cause, as there are so many children in our own country who go hungry each night. We bid on a bottle of wine in the silent auction -- and won! That was really exciting, as was meeting local radio veejay Jenn Hobby, who hosted the event. After one glass of wine, I marched myself right up to her and told her how much I liked her show (The Bert Show on Atlanta's Q100 radio station). She was wearing Louboutins, so I was quite jealous! I also met her husband -- she is newly married (hubby #2) -- who was very handsome. I wish them all the best. They seemed very happy together.

So that was my weekend. I love getting the opportunity to share my life with you, even if it doesn't always have to do with fashion.

Shout

As planned, Chapin and I had a low-key weekend. Although I had been debating making the four-hour drive to see my sister in Nashville, my parents decided to go instead, and asked us to stay at the house in Alpharetta to take care of my grandfather for the weekend. As city folks, there are two main things that affect us when we're out in the suburbs:

First, George isn't used to all the suburb sounds. Every time a bird chirps, or he sees a jogger or other dog passing outside, he starts barking away. He is more used to zooming cars and police sirens! You have to remember that he has lived in our city loft since he was a just wee pup. It's hard to believe he turns six years old this December.

Second, my ears ring! I am just not used to all that silence.

Anyway, we ended up having a very nice weekend. Auburn beat UGA in a very stressful game, we enjoyed Thai/Chinese food from Lon U with my Grandpa, and we came home early enough on Sunday that we still caught a movie - albeit a bad one (Due Date). Here's to relaxing weekends...