ballet

my dance studio is the greatest.  there's nothing like taking shelter from a cold, winter monday in a bustling, eclectic environment.  i look forward to the classes and never check the clock like i do with other exercise activities.  my ballet teacher in particular rocks.  specifically because her playlist sounds like she stole my ipod.  yesterday's mix - nikki minaj, bon iver, the civil wars and outkast circa '99.  makes for a splendid break in the day.

(this is exactly what i look like post dance.)

winter

for the first time in my life, i am truly enjoying the winter season.  perhaps because this past year has been quite busy or maybe i am just getting old, but i have an appreciation for the quieter months.  this week has been filled with cozy january festivities.  bundled up and met kelsey and diana at the dog park with bailey and turner.  spent an afternoon drinking terrapin stouts by the fire in a local tavern.  caught up on my movie game in preparation for the approaching awards season.  tearing through some great books.  daily hot tea and candles.  now heading to the mountains this weekend for some cabin wine nights with my girls.  a toast to finding delight in the cold.

tacky christmas dance parties

it's the most wonderful time of the year.  come for the cider, stay for the sweaters. 

link

city string lights

god i enjoy string lights.  i would keep these up year round if i wasn't pretending to be an adult....think i'll compromise this year and keep them up for all of winter.

(photo - my window and atlanta skyline)

georgia going to the SEC championship and not being blind

barely scraping by with a win over kentucky but i will take it.  UGA is going to the SEC championship this year....probably against LSU....yikes.  i am thankful for the W today nonetheless.  

i am not grateful for the $81.50 jimmy johns sandwich that i had for lunch today.  $6.50 for the beach club sandwich, hold the mayo.  $75 to get the boot off of my car that i received in the 4 minutes that it took to order the sandwich.  a boot?  really?  so dramatic atlanta.  but that's not the point of this blog.  moments later, i saw a blind man walking down the street and decided to be grateful for not being blind rather than pissed off at the jerkstore that gave me the ticket.  there.

generosity

generous people just tremendously warm my heart.  i experienced this on so many levels today.  through a serious of events, my family has become very involved in the Albert T Mills enrichment center.  this is a school for children ages 3-5 who live in a very rough part of atlanta.  the woman that started the school did so when her own son was shot and killed by a couple 16 year old kids.  she realized that they really did not understand the consequences of their actions.  she wanted to develop a place to teach kids right from wrong early and to prevent these tragedies from happening to other families.  the school is run completely on donations and they have SO much need.  they are out of money, and the teachers are now working without pay.  most of the students do not have heat at home and are sleeping on the floor.  the school serves the children breakfast and lunch and for some these are the only meals that they receive each day.  my mom and i have been talking about ways to help for the past few weeks and decided we really wanted to hit this hard for the holidays when people are in the giving spirit. 

this morning i set out to work on three initiatives that we developed.  one- give a thanksgiving meal to all 60 of the children's families.  i sent an email to my atlanta friends and had several people respond immediately wanting to participate.  two- organize a drive at my condominium for people to donate educational toys for their classroom.  the condo board is kind of uptight so i expected to receive push back but they thought this school was a great partnership opportunity.  three- one of my besties jill has her annual xmas party and plans to asks her 70 something guests to bring school supplies for the kids.  i'm so overwhelmed with how much everyone wants to help our community.  all i've done is send a couple emails....it is the people around that are so inspiring.  so excited to see where these projects go.....

the goat farm

this weekend we spent halloween at my new favorite venue.  the goat farm is an old cotton gin factory turned artist space/loft.  this hidden farm is unexpectedly located in the middle of bustling midtown atlanta.  exposed brick inside and out.  a little library and coffee shop playing the sweet sounds of django reinhardt.  for the party they had a haunted house, food trucks, bands, a photo booth, and performers dressed as fallen angel beasts on top of the buildings.  super cool.  also must give a nod to one of the owners - Chris - who came to the very end of the entry line and took me, kelsey, cristy and laura in the back entrance....giving us a good 45 minute jump on the open bar stocked with legit beer.  great costumes, fantastic crowd and fun vibe.  will definitely be on the look out for future events here. 

(photo- black swan costume at the goat farm)