Tour de Coffee Shops...Atlanta Edition

Well after a three year hiatus I thought I would get back at it and start blogging again! Mainly because I have started studying for my boards in July and my PT partner in crime and I are conducting a tour de coffee shops in the Atl area. I am planning on reviewing the coffee shops that make our list. DISCLAIMER: these reviews are only my opinion, and I am fully aware of my awkward tendencies and critical behavior at times, so take them with a grain of salt! Enjoy!

Today's adventure started at Javavino in Va-Highlands. This shop was recommended to me by one of the coolest people in my class who also happens to be a coffee connoisseur, so I thought we better try it out. It was a nice morning, so we decided to sit outside; however the inside looked like a great place to study too. I ran to the bathroom and on the door there was a sign that said, "Please be polite and knock." I thought that was weird until I went to lock the door and it didn't lock...so just FYI to avoid a potentially embarrassing moment. I ordered an iced latte and yogurt with granola. Both were delicious and even better because they have a ScoutMob!
The shop seemed to have regulars including furry friends too. We sat by some students that were studying as well and our favorite local that was chain smoking for about a hour. Although I keep getting whiffs of stale cigarettes, he was a very nice man and served as a mnemonic for compulsive behavior.
One of the baristas brought her dog and tied him up outside. He would bark at other dogs and humans on the street, and she would come out and look at him and say, "that is unacceptable behavior" like he was a kid or something. I thought it was a little bizarre. The poor pup lost being tied to a tree privileges and was taken inside.
The most interesting thing about Javavino is that they closed at 11am on Mondays. We were hoping to camp out all day and finish with a glass of vino from their cellar, but we got the boot. We packed up our stuff and headed to the new Dancing Goats off North Ave. This place is awesome! It is mainly outdoors with a great screened in porch with many sitting options. It was a little crowded, but we made a little sitting area and had our books on our lap. I felt like people meant business there. Even if they were just sipping their coffee, they had an extremely driven and determined face on. Some of the conversations I listened in on (oops) were so intense. It was intimidating yet inspiring.
We decided to lay off the coffee and go with a King of Pops! It started to rain, which was nice in the screened in porch! There isn't much room inside, but a great option to enjoy great coffee (or King of Pops) and be outside!

Well that was today's Neuromuscular day #1 adventure! Stay tuned... tomorrow we will be lounging by the Chattahoochee River at Chattahoochee Coffee Company (they have a ScoutMob too)! And by lounging I mean stuffing an absurd amount of information into our poor brains! Let's hope our hippocampus' are fully functioning. The nerd jokes are starting. Much love. Goodnight.

Winston

Well hello there!

So, as many of you know, I have started PT school! It is going well so far! I am taking Anatomy right now, and with that means cadaver lab. I had no idea how to prepare for this. I had no idea what my reaction was going to be, but I am not on crying, so I didn't think I was going to do that. Actually right before we went in I was being a two-faced bitch and "comforting" a classmate who was upset about the whole thing, but really in my head I was thinking," seriously, suck it up you pusillanimous!" Haha, well karma is a bitch...as soon as my professor unzipped the body bag I was in weeping tears, which wasn't pretty. The good news is I got over it really fast. Now, I kind of enjoy it. Not in a cannibalistic kind of way, but the human body is truly amazing! It is fascinating how everything has a reason for being there.

Anyway, I haven't had too much time to go out to eat, but I certainly enjoy and appreciate when I do! Tonight my wifey Mands came over to chat and we got Red Mango, which is delicious frozen yogurt. I have been at school and studying a lot, but when I stop to think about it I really miss spending time with my peeps! I think I will head back to my old stomping grounds Thursday for a happy hour with the Shepherd crew and then after the Peachtree on Monday, hang out up there for a bit!

Ok well back to studying about arteries and veins!

Much love :)

HAPPY FRIDAY PALS!

Guess what?!....It's FRIDAY!!! Yay!

Earlier this week I was asked, "how would you spend your perfect Saturday?"

I would LOVE for you to leave a comment with the answer! I will answer when I get back from work because I can't be late...we got an email yesterday : /...

Have a great Friday!

Timing is Everything...

Hello All!

So I have been a creature of habit on the weekends and have been sticking to the traditional White House breakfast with good old daddy-o for some time now. I have hit up Treehouse a couple of times, which is always delicious, but the service isn't always the best. My point being it is time for me to venture out of my comfort zone of Maria and Allay (who know our names and orders), yummy oatmeal, and free breakfast (thanks daddy, love you always). This thought was sparked at work when the clock hit 11 am, and we were all practically drooling on the treadmills over the thought of food. We were all talking about our favorite brunch places, and it made me think I need to step up my game...especially if I want to become famous for blogging about food, I mean, come on!  So, with the weekend right around the corner, hopefully I will be able to follow through!

On another note, I have come up with an interesting creation, mostly out of always running super late for work and running out of clean silverware. I have been making plain oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and then making a sunny side up egg and throwing it in the bowl with the oatmeal. At first it sounds weird, but it is actually really scrumptious and filling! You get grains, protein, and fiber all in one bowl. Today I ate it with a measuring spoon...time to run the dishwasher!

Last but not least (probably the most important), I was talking with my dad about a significant event coming up in my life, and he said, "in life, timing is everything." I have been thinking about how simple but yet complicated that thought can be. I am firm believer that everything happens for a reason I just think it gets complicated when we try to figure out why certain events happen. Anyway, like I was saying, I have been thinking about this a lot lately. It just so happens I was thinking about this when I threw on my jacket to take out the trash last night. I was also thinking about how I would kill for a damn good piece of chocolate (yes, I was thinking these things at the same time...my ADD was acting out). I put my hand in the pocket of my jacket to find a mini bag of peanut M&Ms...one of my favorite candies. Really timing is everything because it is an absolute miracle that I did not scarf down this bag when I took it from a baby (just kidding). I had them to satisfy my craving, which literally made my night! Timing is everything people!

I hope everyone of you has an experience like this because it feels oh so good! I also hope that my timing clock, dial, compass whatever it may be lines up perfectly for big things in the future!

CONFESSIONS

I have always wondered what it would be like to be Catholic and confess your "sins." I wonder if it makes you feel better?

Anyway, these are hardly sins I am confessing. Actually they are quite embarrassing/funny...

1. I have run out of my free listening privileges on Pandora for the month, and it's only because I have gotten in the habit of bringing my computer to bed and listening with every intention of turning it off before I fall asleep, but instead I fall asleep within the first song...


2. This morning I planned to meet Daddy-O for breakfast around 11, so I decided I would get a little exercise and run to meet him. I was on my merry little way when I wasn't paying attention (imagine that) and hit some uneven pavement. I twisted my ankle and couldn't catch myself. I completely busting my ass, skidded my knee, somehow landed on both hips, and ripped a hole in one of my gloves. I got up and heard a man walking his dog say, "Oh man, are you ok?" All I could say was, "Yep," and limped away. Once the initial shock was over, all I could do was laugh. Karma is a bitch because I always laugh when I see people trip. 


3. A Shim gave me herm number last night...He was a guy, but had a girl face and hair longer than mine. Usually I do love me some long haired fellows, but this was just a little too much! 


All confessions aside, it was a great weekend! Friday I went to a Beatles and Pink Floyd Tribute band, which was awesome! Then had a little midnight snack at the Vortex...ammmazing! On saturday morning, my mom and I celebrated her birthday a little early and went to Treehouse for brunch then went shopping! I had a frittata with black beans, onions, and peppers...yumm!  Then Panda and I ventured down to Hard Rock Cafe to see some Hard Rock...literally! It was so different than any show I have ever been to, but such a good time. We finally got to meet the Italian's 6' 7 man too! Today, besides my fall, I started watching Californication, which is great so far. Tonight Panda, Aries Lashes (ha), and I went to see No Strings Attached, which was absolutely adorable and has sparked the topic for my next post, so stay tuned! :)

Water, Beer and Soy Milk...

That is what is sitting in front of me and what liquids I have consumed in the last two hours. A little disgusting, I know! 

Anyway, I felt like cooking tonight, so I made the most delicious dinner! I bought a bunch of random veggies at the store this weekend, so it was a veggie (not a front weggie) kind of night. I had a sweet potato, roasted beets, and brussel sprouts. The sweet potato was absolutely perfect! It did not need a thing, and I ate the whole thing, skin and all. The beets and sprouts were great too! I steamed the sprouts, and then put them in a frying pan with some olive oil, salt, pepper, dijon mustard, and garlic...yummy! 

I have been entertaining the thought of opening a restaurant. It has always been a dream of mine, but more on the I want to take over the world, unrealistic level. If my more realistic dream of going to PT school doesn't come true, then I think I will owe it to myself to really investigate the not so practical side of the world. I am almost positive my dad would absolutely disown me if I continued to pursue this what he would call a phase, and seeing as his brains, wisdom, and let's face it bank account would have a lot to do with this mission, it is most likely out of the question. Just something to think about :) 

Saturday night I was accompanied by great company to Urban Pl8, which was delish! If you are looking for something healthy with great favors, I would definitely check it out, and let me know what you think. There is a Scoutmob for it too, so even better! 

Peace my friendly followers...

 

I'M BACK!

Well hello all!

It has been a minute! While the little munchkin that I watch on Mondays was snoozing today, I decided to get on and spiff the blog up a little bit. I have been thinking a lot lately, which is generally pretty normal for me. The only difference being I used to have this amazing memory, like to the point of creepy, but lately I haven't been able to remember things that I would usually remember. I have come to the conclusion that either my self diagnosed ADD is getting A LOT worse, and I am unable to fully pay attention to things or I am just getting old. I haven't decided which one it is yet, but either way I think blogging will help and it was one of my many 2011 resolutions to blog more, so throw some Windex on it and there you go!

My thought tonight is about  receiving attention...

Today while I was watching the Today Show while redoing the blog while the babe was napping (I think I am proving my ADD hypothesis), they were talking about a survey that asked my generation if given the three things of 1. eating your favorite food 2. getting a complement or 3. having sex, which one would you pick. The majority said....wait for it.....getting a complement. I know I know I was surprised too, but then the more I thought about it that response makes perfect sense. As human beings we subconsciously or maybe even consciously crave attention, it's addicting. Anyway, they were saying it has something to do have a low self-esteem...really, you think?

This brought me back to the days when I would cuddle up under my dad's arm before bed and he would tell me a Houie, Douie, and Louie story, which were made up stories about the neighborhood squirrels. Man, I used to be so easily entertained! After the story, I always remember him saying something about the importance of a strong self-image and self validation. I was extremely young at this point, so I had no idea what to do with this information, but I am so grateful for these memories especially in these "defining" years. And of course in between the farting jokes and the urban dictionary topics my old man has thrown some valuable life advice my way.

Being in my early twenties and meeting new people, I have noticed insecurities within myself as well as others, which is a completely normal part of life. I am totally not denying that! It is just an interesting thought to think about that if we felt better about ourselves would we be craving that complement? Let's find out! I challenge myself along with you, my greatly appreciated reader, to look in the mirror everyday and say at least 5 affirmations about yourself to yourself.  Maybe this will change the majority of the answers to the survey... ;)

On a foodie note...This morning I was able to treat myself to my favorite coffee at Land of a Thousand Hills. The story is great and the amazing to-go coffee is only $1!

Ok, until next time!