Hanging on by a thread

I hope all of you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday. Today's go green tip is a fun one. Hanging onto some old jeans for no particular reason other than you just know you will lose those 5 pounds and fit into them? Take them to Madewell at Lenox instead. They will put your jeans to good use by donating them to the Arts Connection, and you will get 15% off your first Madewell purchase in 2010.

Go to http://www.madewell1937.com/2009/madewell_donateDenim.html for more information on this super cool program. Helping people, extra closet space, and special savings? It will make your friends green with envy.

Top 10 things I am thankful for this year

The Top 10 things I am thankful for this year are (I'm doing this Letterman style starting with #10-however, these are in no particular order except for my #1):

10. My new condo...what can I say, I just love it. My view is to die for!

9. Getting to return to Cape Town on another globalX mission trip. God is good.

8. Finally landing a job after 8 months of unemployment.

7. Georgia, the best dog in the entire world. She always brightens my day and makes my heart happy.

6. My new sister-in-law. I've always wanted a sister, and now I have one...well really I have two because she has a sister :)

5. Friends. My friends are the most amazingly loyal friends ever. I hope that I am the friend to them that they are to me.

4. Having the opportunity to get baptized at my church. What a wonderful experience that I will never forget.

3. Family. They are the best!

2. The hope I still have after a very tough year. I have a feeling that 2010 is going to rock my world.

1. God sending His son to die on the cross for our sins. I can't imagine a better gift than that.

I hope all of you have a very blessed

and Happy Thanksgiving

filled with love, laughter, and fond memories.

Roses are red

There's something about seeing a man at a grocery store buying flowers that just makes me smile. It's usually just after work, and they always seem to be in a hurry. But, they always looks fairly happy with a look of hope in their eyes. I tend to wonder what the flowers are for...was there a fight? Are they just because? Is it some one's birthday or anniversary? I really like it when I see a man buying flowers, wine, and some sort of dessert...smart guy! Throw in a movie and some takeout, and he is good to go for months.

The type of flowers these men buy always interests me as well. Many stick to a traditional bouquet of roses, while others will branch out and get lilies or something different. This also makes me think: are roses his wife or girlfriend's favorite flower, or does he have no idea? Did he bring her red roses on their first date and wants to re-create the memory?

I guess I could think about all of these things for hours since despite how much I have been trying to ignore it lately, I am and will always be a hopeless romantic. The idea of a man bringing me flowers after a long day of work makes me giggle and smile. I guess I see these men at the store, and the hopeful side of me knows that one day there will be a man who is there to buy me flowers. And, he will know to buy me purple roses.

The Leftover Dilemma

Today's go green tip has to do with Thanksgiving :) When I think of this day, I picture a table overflowing with food, and people stuffed to the brim with their favorite dishes. I also envision leftovers eventually being thrown away because too much food had been prepared. Let's all strive to make a conscious effort this year to cook an appropriate amount of food for the number of people in your party. Yes, leftovers are fantastic, but it only works when you actually eat them. With all the people who will be going hungry this Thanksgiving Day, let's prepare only what we need. Better yet, why not volunteer at a local shelter and serve meals to those in need? Or, think about donating your leftovers to a shelter that can give them to someone who would gladly eat them.

We have so much to be thankful for. Let's show our thanks by not wasting food and by lending a helping hand this year. God has made us all stewards of the many provisions He has blessed us with, so let's try out best not to waste what He has given us.

Is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence?

Is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence? The more I hear this phrase spoken, the more I think it is true. Or, perhaps I just want it to be true. I look at married couples and envy their happiness, yet I wonder if they envy my single life? Do they miss the thrill of a new crush and a first date, or do they marvel in the contentment of married life? Sometimes I see a mother with a new baby and ponder if I will ever be fortunate enough to have a baby of my own. But, I have no idea what her life is like. She could have three more kids at home, a husband who doesn't help her enough, and the desire but not the time to do something that does not involve diapers, formula, and pacifiers. Or maybe she is blessed enough to love being a mom and has a loving husband who works so she doesn't have to AND helps her whenever he can.

I smile at a young teenage girl and miss the days of no bills, no cellulite, and no real responsibility. Does she look at me and want to live on her own, pay her own bills, and have a full-time job? I find myself envying my friends with more high profile jobs that involve restaurant openings, travel, and other exciting opportunities. But maybe they wish they had a more simple job that was less stressful, so they could have more free time. So, is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence? Does the A-list celebrity wish she could become invisible for a day while the struggling actor continues to wait for his big break? Does the married couple of 5 years who fights all the time look at their single friends and want to turn back time? We want what we don't have. Yet, it also seems that when we get it, it doesn't look the way we thought it would. The marriage, the job, the divorce, the baby, the trip around the world, the new house...while these things are all lovely blessings, they might not be what we thought they would be when we finally make it over to the other side of the fence.

"A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of a faraway place.

A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of home."

(Carl Burns)

Happy New Moon Day!

The day has finally arrived :)

Happy New Moon Day to all the Twihards out there!

Whose team are you on? Review to follow tomorrow.

(photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment)

'Tis the season to go green

Looking to take your unused items somewhere? Take them to Buckhead Thriftique, a Christian-run thrift store at 2409 Piedmont Road (in between Lindberg Avenue and Lindberg Way). The employees are very friendly and are happy to take your unwanted items off your hands. They will cheerfully and quickly give you a receipt for tax purposes. The store does not have a Web site, but its phone number is (404) 365-8811.

Right now, they are looking for used home appliances. So, if you have an old computer, microwave, or other appliance that is just sitting around your house, donate it to this great business. No need to have these items take up space in your garage when someone else could be using them. Let's share the love this holiday season by passing on our unwanted/unused items to someone who needs them. 'Tis the season to go green.

Just to make you smile :)

Happy Friday from two adorable baby tigers :)

Fashion Friday-@gapeachelle

I've decided that Friday's blog postings will now be dedicated to something fashionable and fun...hence Fashion Friday! I saw the coolest necklace idea since the Carrie necklace on skirt.com yesterday. You can have your Twitter user name made into a necklace! Check it out at http://www.survivalofthehippest.com/index.html. The company is called Survival of the Hippest, and it is hip indeed.

Their slogan, "Increase Your Social Networth," just makes me smile. You can choose either silver or gold, and prices start at $49.95. Once I have my first sale, I am definitely be ordering my very own @gapeachelle necklace. What a twerrific idea.

She's foxy

During high school, my friends and I all determined that everyone looks like some kind of animal. Depending on your face shape, coloring, behavior, etc, we thought that everyone resembles SOME type of animal. My friends decided that I look like a fox. They called me Baby Fox and my mom Mama Fox. Do you see a resemblance? Really, I think I just like saying that I am foxy :) What kind of animal do you look like?

(photo courtesy of Tony Northrup)

Helping hand

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others."

(From my beloved Audrey Hepburn who spent many years

of her life helping others-

thank you for your grace, talent, and service.)

Take out tip

Today's go green tip centers around one of my favorite things in life-food! When you order something to go from a restaurant, tell them that you don't need a bag. If you really do need one, then by all means, take one. However, if you just take the bag because they hand it to you, then don't. For example, Chipotle (burrito bowl...yum :) automatically puts your order in a large paper bag. Since you really don't need a bag, just carry the container in your hand. You still get to feast on your delicious meal while saving a bag.

Also, if you normally grab a large handful of napkins, just take a few. No need to waste what you don't need. This also goes for ketchup, plastic ware, straws, etc. Now I know that a lot of places (like my beloved Aqua Bistro) have your order waiting for you tied up nicely in a plastic bag. I just re-use the bag for a doggie waste bag, trash can liner, you name it. It would be great if we could send a message to all of the restaurants out there that all of this excess packaging is unnecessary and wasteful.

In touch

"If one is out of touch with oneself,

then one cannot touch others."

(Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

Get Fat menu

I went to a certain Mexican cantina on the corner of Piedmont and Roswell last night for dinner with my girlfriends last night. This place serves up the most amazing nachos ever, and I had been looking forward to eating them all week. The portion they give you is enough for two people, but I like to tackle them myself. I don't like to think about the massive amount of calories I intake when I eat them...food this good is meant to be enjoyed.

I dreamed of said nachos all during my Pilates class yesterday and could not wait to get to the restaurant. After waiting forever for a table, we were finally seated. I didn't need to look at the new "Get Fit" menu...I knew exactly what I wanted. My mouth watered as I placed my order. Visions of cheesy deliciousness danced in my head. Our young, inexperienced waitress brought out our food, and we all munched away happily.

Needless to say, I did not eat all of the nachos, but I put a rather large dent in them. I mean, come on, I only eat them every few months, and I have eaten healthy ALL week. When our young, sassy server came up to clear our plates, she had the audacity to ask me the following question. "Wow! Did you eat all of those yourself?!?" I stared at her in disbelief and then started laughing. Luckily enough for her she caught me in a good food as I was in the beginning stages of a lovely food coma induced by my nachos. I found something sweet and polite to say to excuse her tacky question. My friends and I laughed it all off, but we were all quite shocked by her rather rude inquiry. Who does she think she is? Does she think this will earn her a good tip? While I am confident enough in myself to not care about this little transaction, I still can't believe she had the guts to ask me this. If I want to consume 1,000+ calories in one meal, that is my choice. Leave me alone little waitress...one day you will be 28 and in need of a large serving of nachos after a particularly stressful week.

Bistro Niko-c'est fantastique!

It's an exciting day for Atlanta foodies and Francophiles alike as Buckhead Life Restaurant Group's latest venture, Bistro Niko, opens its doors to the public. Located in the heart of Buckhead in the Sovreign Building, Bistro Niko promises to deliver fantastic French fare in a Parisian chic space.

I attended a private tasting at the restaurant on Saturday and the soft opening party on Tuesday and was delighted at the wide variety of delicious menu options and fabulous cocktails. The servers presented each item in a sophisticated manner that would cause any foodie to swoon. Bistro Niko will serve dinner seven nights a week, lunch Monday through Friday, and Sunday brunch. I have no doubt that Bistro Niko will be a hit this holiday season and beyond. It is the perfect combination of superb food, drinks, and oh-so-chic ambiance. Bon appetit mes amis!

For more information on Bistro Niko and/or to make a reservation, go to: http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/index2.html.

Team Edward

He just makes me swoon.

I will always be on Team Edward no matter how cute

Jacob and his wolf pack can be.

(Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair)

Kindle me this, Kindle me that

Today's go green tip is a bit different. While I absolutely love the look and feel of a book, I am quite tempted to buy a Kindle...especially since Amazon recently released the Amazon Kindle 2, a small version of its previous counterpart. It holds up to 1,500 books, weighs just 10.2 ounces, and is $259.00. I was finally able to check one out in person the other day when my uncle was in town. He got his Kindle a few months ago and really loves it. I couldn't get over how small and lightweight it was. Plus, there is no glare when you turn it on. This was my only major concern since the glare of a computer can be quite irritating especially since most of us stare at computers all day long.

Prices for most books you download-in less than 60 seconds-for your Kindle (even new releases!) are just $9.99. So, you are saving money AND the environment by not wasting paper to print the book. I'm not sure how they manufacture Kindles, so there could be a few drawbacks there. But, I think the concept behind the device is brilliant. If and when I get my very own Kindle, I can't wait to travel with it. Carrying whatever book I'm reading, my Bible, and a magazine or two can be quite cumbersome. Let's all Kindle today!

To purchase a Kindle, go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4513406277&ref=pd_sl_a6eh7sgtv_p.

Colossians 3:23

Jeff Henderson's sermon at Buckhead Church tonight was JUST what I needed to hear. What a great reminder that our purpose at work is to work like we are working for God...the way He intended us to do. To quote Jeff, "the purpose of your life at work is to show that God is at work in your life." Wow! This is such an inspiring challenge for all of us as we head into the work week.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men..."

(Colossians 3:23)

The goods girl

Attention all fashionistas! I want to tell you about a jewelry line that my friend Susannah Cox designs. It's called goods, and the line is "designed to wear, delight, and adorn." Believe me, her pieces do just that. Last year, I commissioned her to design two pieces for me: a purple and blue feathered necklace and a peacock feather chain necklace. I love them both and always receive compliments when I wear them.

The piece I'm currently coveting is the one pictured above (called the "rosy blush necklace"). I think it would make the perfect addition to any dress, blouse, or sweater. Plus, I will be able to wear it now and in the spring. You can check out the rest of her line at http://www.etsy.com/shop/thegoodsgirl.

Susannah can also custom design a piece of jewelry for you. With the holidays right around the corner, these one-of-a-kind pieces are the perfect gift. Feel free to visit her Web site at http://www.forthegoods.com to learn more about her and her line. Prepare to be blown away by her stylish, whimsical jewelry...I guarantee that when you wear a goods piece you will be both delighted and adorned.