{easter camp trip}

{our little group}

This post is a little overdue…but ahh, here it is J

To celebrate this Easter we headed up to Lake Hartwell, SC with our family and friends for a mini camp trip. Jesse and I haven’t gone camping in over a year so this was a real treat for us. Usually we really rough it, but our friends introduced us to a new form of camping---glamping. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is basically just fancy camping. No long hikes into a campsite in the middle of nowhere, no digging holes for, well you know…, no hanging food in trees in order to avoid attracting unwanted visitors. No this camp trip was like a mini-vacation---we were really spoiled. The bathrooms (with showers) were only a few steps away, we had electricity and running water at our site, and our friends had an oven, yes an oven!, in which we cooked most of our meals very efficiently. It was quite relaxing and allowed us to spend less time on the menial tasks and more time enjoying each other’s company---which is really what you want to do on Easter weekend. I don’t know if Jesse and I will camp like this very often (afterall we do like the solitude that those rustic campsites provide), but I think we will definitely try it again! This was also my parent’s first camping trip (which they were very excited about), so glamping was definitely the ideal way to introduce them to the wilderness…haha.

{the pups packed up and ready to go}

We arrived Friday night and stayed until Sunday morning. Friday was pretty laid back as we just got everything set-up and made dinner. Saturday was more of an active day. We woke up bright and early (7 am early…ack!), started a nice fire, and cooked up some breakfast burritos. After we filled our bellies, we parted ways to enjoy a few different activities. Some of our group went to check-out the Easter egg hunt hosted by the park, while a couple others went fishing. Dad Ellis and I went on a 7 1/2 mile bike ride around Tugaloo State Park (where we were staying) to check out our surroundings and burn off those breakfast calories.

{sasha waking up jesse…he wasn’t too happy about that}

{haha}

{the morning crew}

{starting a fire}

{gentlemen}

{lubs}

{my pops and me}

We all met up around lunchtime and shared our adventures from the day. Afterwards, I took a little siesta in Jesse’s hammock whilst listening to some Eric Hutchinson (I did get up at 7 am afterall). Jesse, his brother, my parent’s, and our friends headed back over to the lake for a little walk. Dad Ellis took in some sunshine while reading his daily paper. Such a perfect afternoon.

{soaking in my vitamin d}

{my hubs}

{comfy?}

{gathered catepillars; anyone know what kind they are?}

Dinner on Saturday was untra delicious. We made thanksgiving foil packets---herb roasted turkey breast, stuffing, & gravy. We had fire roasted corn and cranberry sauce on the side---yum-my! For dessert, our friend Mark made a blackforest cobbler in his dutch oven. It was incredibly good! That night we gathered around the fire, roasted a few marshmallows, and shared stories. No scary ones unfortunately---maybe next time.

{sooo good}

{jesse with hus super cool swedish torch}

{take 1}

{take 2…much better}

{now that’s a fire!}

Sunday was pretty easy. We had a very nice breakfast and cleaned up our campsite. We didn’t leave before going on one last adventure however. Have you ever heard of geocaching? It’s kind of like treasure hunting. There are geocaches hidden all over…even in large cities, and you have to follow map coordinates or clues to find them. There is also a really cool app that shows you the gps location. Once you find the geocache, you can take the treasure you find (left by the previous discoverer) as long as you replace it with something. That way the geocache stays active. We figured out there was one close to our campsite so we decided to go and check it out. We had to hike up a hill, and search around a bit, until finally we found it casually hidden under a pile of logs. It was very exciting to pry open the box and see what treasures were hidden inside (which surprisingly there were several). We even got to log our names into a little book to document we had found it. We followed the rules and left our own treasure behind---a cracker challenge…hehe.

{on our way to the geocache…it was so nice out}

{the hike up}

{the pups were excited}

{we found it!}

{official rules}

{so many treasures, so hard to choose}

{the log book}

{our geocache contribution}

{the cracker challenge}

{returning the geocache}

{our reward}

What a lovely camp trip. We had such a great time with such wonderful company. I can’t wait until our next camping adventure! Maybe we will do more geocaching.

So long for now,

The Mrs.

{26 before 26: #12, #14, & #24 check!}

{yay! progress!}

I realized I haven’t updated you guys on the progress of my list for awhile (not that there has been toooo much), so here goes. I have gotten some big things crossed off! I have promised myself to be a little more active on this especially as the months really do fly by. I mean what’s the point in creating a goals list if I’m not going to do my very best to complete it?

#12: Organize and plan a camp trip.

About two months ago I actually started working on this one with my friend Nicole. Originally Jesse and I were just going to go with Nicole and her family, but after she found out my parent’s had never been (and that my mom was especially eager to go) she insisted we invite them along. After months of on and off planning we successfully camped Easter weekend! It was wonderful. Jesse and I hadn’t been for awhile so we were very happy to be out in the wilderness again. My parents absolutely loved it; my mom couldn’t hide her excitement..hehe. Read more about our camp trip here.

{our little group minus Dad Ellis}

#14: Start an herb garden.

I had been postponing this one for awhile because of my fear of my death thumb. However as the weather has turned nicer and I’ve started browsing through new recipes, I found that I wanted to challenge myself and give it a try. I got my wonderful hubs to make me the most beautiful standing plant box and I filled it with all my favorite herbs. I decided not to start from scratch (or seeds) and just went ahead and bought pre-grown herbs. Now all I have to do is KEEP THEM ALIVE...which I intend to do! I’m happy to report that it’s been three weeks and they are doing beautifully! I even harvested a few to make an herb roasted turkey breast for our camp trip. Nothing beats fresh herbs!

{jesse’s handiwork}

{all my beautiful herbs}

#24: Avoid fast food for at least one whole month.

This one was tough. Really tough. Especially when all I could think about were those delicious Mickey D’s cheeseburgers. No one makes them like Mickey D’s, which is probably why they’re so bad for you. Anyway, I did it! All of March I was fast food free, feasting on home cooked meals and sandwiches. It felt great. I was tempted a few times but never gave in. Final thoughts---I don’t think a fast food meal every once in a blue moon (and it better be navy) is horrible for you. You can and should indulge yourself every now and then, but just keep in mind that not all foods are created equal, and some things are harder to recover from than others (i.e. carrot stick vs. French fry). We control the future of our bodies. This never hit home harder than when I noticed my metabolism slowing down. I realized that I had to get my butt in action and learn some self control.

I will stick with my healthy diet and treat myself (probably after a ridiculous night out) every now and then to my guilty pleasure---a cheeseburger kids meal.

How fun! 3 down, 23 to go!

{a-town adventures: mardi gras weekend}

{mardi gras fun}

So I know Mardi Gras has passed but I just wanted to share a fun experience Jesse and I had here in A-town. Mardi Gras weekend we headed on over to Little 5 Points (right after showing up at the wrong event…oops!) and got our Abita beer and Hurricane drink on! The Front Page News restaurant celebrated their 5^th annual Mardi Gras festival with good beer, food, and music. We had a great time, met some new friends, and explored a new (well new to us) area in Atlanta. Little 5 Points reminded me a lot of NODA in Charlotte---very artsy with little boutiques and unique restaurants. After we enjoyed the festivities at the Front Page News we got to walk around the area some and our new friends introduced us to this neat little brewpub called Wrecking Bar. At first glance it looked like we were about to head into a funeral parlor but once inside we melted into the cozy atmosphere. The beer was delish and the food was amazing. I had the gooiest grilled cheese and beer & cheese soup. I think I could go back just for a few more bowls of that soup!!

All in all, it was a fun weekend and I think we’ll head back to the festival again next year! St. Patty’s day is upon us this weekend (my, how time flies) and we have some fun plans in store. My cousin and her husband will be coming down to celebrate with us and we will meet-up with our Mardi Gras friends for some more shenanigans.

Do you have anything fun planned for this green holiday?

Until next time!

The Mrs.

{a-town eats: three sheets}

Jesse and I ventured out again recently and checked out Three Sheets, this little tapas bar in Sandy Springs. I love tapas as they are basically just fancy appetizers. When I found this place I knew that we had to check it out. The menu was very appealing and it looked like it had a trendy atmosphere.

{three sheets}

In summary:

Atmosphere: For some reason I thought that Three Sheets was a restaurant, but in reality it is more of a social club. We went on a Wednesday night and it wasn’t very busy (although their website suggests they definitely have their share of packed nights). Walking in we saw a very cool piano on one side with candles dripping all over it, a large open dance floor, and lots of private lounge areas with unique lighting and large modern couches. We were sat in a private area in the back where the majority of our lighting came from the tiny tea light on our table (until Jesse blew it out). I wouldn’t say it’s the best choice for a dinner date, but a good pick for an after work meet-up with friends.

Service: When we walked in we were a little confused because we were expecting a restaurant, however someone immediately noticed and helped us find a comfortable spot. Our waitress was nice and came to check on us frequently. It did take awhile to get our check but that didn’t necessarily ruin our experience.

Food: The menu has very good variety and unique options. There didn’t seem to be anything I wasn’t interested in trying. Sometimes places like these tend to over complicate their menus and confuse customers; however Three Sheets kept things pretty simple, listing sauces and basic ingredients for each item. To start we ordered albondigas (filet meatballs) and the trio of french fries which came with ketchup, ranch, and a spicy sriracha aioli for dipping. I was a little disappointed that we only got three meatballs and they weren’t really that big. They tasted pretty good though. There were more than plenty of french fries for the two of us and the dipping sauces complimented them well. There was nothing really special about the fries---they were hot and crispy but that’s about it. I once had a great trio of fries in Sacramento at this place called Cafeteria---BBQ (which tasted just like BBQ chips), Sweet Potato, and Garlic Parmesan---and on top of variety in fries they had three different sauces to compliment them. Now that was a memorable trio.

For our main courses, Jesse got a trio of sliders---BBQ pulled pork, angus, and grilled chicken---and I ordered the grilled cheese w/tomato bisque. We shared of course! Of the sliders, the BBQ pulled pork was my favorite because it had a jalapeno coleslaw that gave it a nice kick. The grilled chicken was a little dry for my tastes, but the angus was pretty good. My grilled cheese was just okay---I was not a fan. It was very dry around the crust and didn’t exactly have the gooey middle I was looking for. The cheese used was applewood smoked cheddar, but I didn’t really get that smoky flavor. Smoked Gouda might’ve been a better choice. The bisque on the other hand was an unexpected surprise. I’m not usually a fan of many things tomato, but I couldn’t get enough of this bisque. It had a very light earthy flavor and was perfect for dipping my grilled cheese in. I consumed every last drop.

We didn’t have any dessert because we were stuffed by the end. They do have a nice selection to accommodate many different palates.       

Moola: All the food prices are very reasonable. You can try many different items without having to break into that piggy bank. If you add in several drinks though, you might want to think of splitting those tapas with friends.  

Additional Notes: The drink selection is extensive. They have their own specialty cocktails and plenty of beers and wines to choose from. I got a glass of the Dreaming Tree cabernet, which complimented my meal well. The drink prices are what you’d expect of a place like this.

They have a specific dress code and it is not exactly casual. It’s a nice place so pull out those dress shoes!

If you check out their website, you’ll notice that they post upcoming music acts as well as foodie events (which are very reasonably priced).

In the end, it was pretty good. We may not return by ourselves but will definitely consider taking some friends there. I’m curious to see what it’s like on a busy night.

{a-town eats: tin can fish house & oyster bar}

Hello Again!

As Jesse and I explore our new town I thought it might be nice to share some of the places we’ve been checking out. Most recently we visited Tin Can Fish House & Oyster Bar, this great little seafood joint in Sandy Springs. Jesse has recently joined the seafood wagon and is slowly trying all the good stuff he’s been missing out on all these years. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember and am very happy to have discovered this place to satisfy my cravings.

{tin can fish house & oyster bar}

In summary:

Atmosphere: A little dark, but really warm and inviting. It was a slow Sunday evening, but I’m sure it picks up on other nights. The décor fits the theme without suffocating you with it. They have lots of nice pieces on the walls and a very open layout.

Service: Our server was fantastic! He brought out waters when he came over to greet us and checked on us often throughout our visit. We had arrived closer to closing time but neither he nor the rest of the staff ever made us feel like it was an inconvenience. Our food also arrived in an adequate amount of time and was nice and warm.

Food: The menu is pretty simple and straightforward with the perfect amount of options and variety. Jesse got a burger and I got their oysters rockerfella and mussels cooked in a traditional white sauce. The oysters were substantial and very delicious and there were more than enough mussels for one person in the half pound pot. The white sauce was also nice and light and complimented the mussels very well. Jesse ordered his burger medium but he thought it was a little more on the raw side. For dessert we had a brownie sundae which was decent but not quite what we were hoping for.

Moola: The prices are all pretty reasonable and you definitely get your money’s worth in respect to portion sizes.

Additional Notes: They have a pretty nice beer selection with good variety of domestic and craft brews. I do think the beer prices are a little high though. I was also disappointed that they advertised Abita beer, but only had one of their brews---I was kinda hoping to get a Purple Haze.

Even though it was slow, it was nice that they kept everyone spaced out so that we weren’t all cramped in the same section. This gave Jesse and me the opportunity to have a good intimate conversation.

Overall, we had a wonderful meal and will definitely be returning!

{christmas fun: a trip to stone mountain christmas}

{postcard material? i think so!}

For awhile Jesse and I had been hearing about this fun Christmas park at Stone Mountain and this Saturday we finally had an opportunity to go! We went with our wonderful neighbors and had so much fun. The whole park was decorated beautifully and covered in lights. They also had s’more stations, hot cocoa everywhere, and a train ride all around the mountain. I imagine the North Pole would be a very similar experience.

{arriving at stone mountain…so excited!}

{jesse trying to figure out where we are or hiding from a picture?}

{i decided to open up my very own restaurant…hehe…so cool!}

{gingerbread stories}

{waiting impatiently in line for the train}

{here comes the train yay!}

{on the train…next time we’ll sit on the left side; that’s where all the action is}

I think the highlight of our visit (other than the train ride) was the 4-D polar express movie! What makes it 4-D you ask? How about falling snow, hot cocoa smells, and splashes of water when the train hits the ice! Soooo much fun!

{like our look? we know we’re cool!}

Bye for now!