Oh, Hi! GHD Air Blow Dryer!

Let me just admit something really fast. It takes me about 90 minutes to get out of the house on a day where I am doing full (everyday) makeup and doing a full blowout....that's right....an hour and a half.  At least.

About 3 years ago I had purchased the Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium Blow Dryer, after reading tons of reviews, and there's a reason I've had it 3 years.  It works.  I can get a really great, glossy, pretty blowout with it, no problem.  The only thing is, if I start with right out of the shower hair, which is usually the case, it takes me a good 45 minutes or so to get it done.  This reeeeeally eats into my weekend mornings, not to mention that keeping heat on your hair for that long is not ideal.

I've been contemplating finding a new dryer for a while...but knowing that in about 9 weeks my personal prep time is going to get severely cut down for a while (helloooo....baby is due at the end of JULY! What ?!?!?) I decided it was time to bite the bullet and splurge.  

I was between the Bio Ionic 10x Ultra Light Speed Dryer, the T3 PROi Professional , and the GHD Air.  I went with the GHD....and couldn't be happier!

WHY?

Because my blowout today literally took 15 minutes.  It almost dried TOO fast.  It didn't get super hot, there was no "steam" coming off my hair like with my Babyliss, and although some reviews mentioned that this dryer was a little heavy, it's literally nothing that I even noticed. 

Oh...and I didn't even have to pull out the flat iron to tame or bend pieces...15 minutes and done.

I have had one bad experience with a GHD iron dying after about two weeks, so I am going to proceed with caution and see how this thing works as time goes on....but so far, BLOWN AWAY.

Beyond excited that I made this purchase.  DEFINITELY recommend!

Oh, Hi! We tried those BROCCOLI TOTS so you don't have to...

Healthy.

Baked.

Broccoli.

TOTS.

Those four words should add up into something that my husband and I can really sink our teeth into.

We saw the video you all did...and thought these little healthy tots looked like heaven on earth and were totally in line with our lowfat, minimally processed way of eating (never mind the pregnancy cheats this girl has been giving into lately)

We followed the instructions exactly...

 Blanched the broccoli...

 Mixed up all of the ingredients...

 Formed the mixture into adorable little tots...

Plated them with some chicken wraps...

And then the husband took a bite.

And he made the same face he made the last time I burned a pot of split pea soup...

As you can imagine, he wasn't a fan.  His main complaint was that they were just really really bland, and not in the "we should have added more salt" way.  He even tried dipping them in ketchup and Sriracha, just to see.  NOPE.  

I didn't mind them....the first two I ate I was actually kind of pleased, but I also am a fan of the somewhat bland world of veggie burgers and brown rice.  After the first two though, I really didn't want anymore, and that's saying something, because at six months pregnant I will pretty much finish of anything in front of me.

SO, our verdict is....if you like bland "health food" taste, and are just looking for a fun way to get some broccoli in....you may be cool with these.

Otherwise...yeah...not recommended. Darn it!

xoxo-A

Oh, Hi! True Food Kitchen!

There's a really delicious little brunch and lunch spot at Lenox Square Mall that we haven't been able to visit in about 8 months...but TODAY we brought back our Sunday tradition!

(and it was fabulous)

True Food Kitchen - Buckhead

With a slogan like "Honest Food That Tastes Really Good" and a mission statement that begins with "You don’t have to be a die-hard Yogi to dine at True Food Kitchen. You need only a desire to give your body nutrients, and your palate something memorable...", one might start to worry that you'll be sitting down to an unpalatable menu of raw, bitter greens and flavorless tofu, despite their insistence that this isn't the case....

Although their menu is based on Dr. Andrew Weil's "Anti-Inflammatory" diet, the dishes at True Food Kitchen are not lacking anything when it comes to taste and presentation, while the decor totally supports their healthy living theme.

We do have our favorites on the menu, including what we had today, and I tried out a new yummy beverage that is getting added to the normal rotation for sure!

Our MAINSTAYS:

Edamame Dumplings

Quinoa Johnny Cakes

Shaved Turkey Wrap with Sweet Potato Hash

And my new addition to the faves menu...

Grapefruit Cinnamon Soda

Other items we've tried and really liked include the Street Tacos, Teriyaki Bowl, Chicken Chopped Salad, and the Turkey Burger.

Service is usually pretty killer, and we LOVE that you can see the entire prep and kitchen area while dining!

So happy to be back to our old Sunday True Food routine, and hope you get a chance to try it out too!

DETAILS:

http://www.truefoodkitchen.com/locations/atlanta/

Address: 3393 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone:(404) 481-2980

Oh, Hi! Gluten Free French Toast Pancake Roll-Ups!

Gluten Free French Toast Pancake Roll-Ups With Yogurt!

Growing up, anytime my parents served up pancakes at our house, syrup was never a condiment option.  We splurged on whole grain pancakes with yogurt on the side to dip them in!  I've taken the inspiration from those kid friendly breakfasts and spiced the idea up a bit, bringing in the Gluten Free side and pairing it with a delicious French Toast inspired flavor.  My pancake roll-ups were absolute perfection dipped in Liberte French Vanilla yogurt...but during non-pregnancy life I would be opting for a low fat / greek yogurt option for sure! (And yes...my Orange Juice is being sipped from a stemmed glass....give a girl a break, I can't have mimosas for four more months) Hope you enjoy this super easy, super fast breakfast / brunch!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup GF Flour (Try Cup4Cup Gluten Free Flour)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (Clabber Girl is Gluten Free)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• Dash of salt
• 1 cup (organic) 1% milk
• 1 egg (organic/grain fed/ free range/ antibiotic free)
• 3 tablespoons melted Smart Balance Omega -3 butter substitute

How to Whip These Bad Boys Up:

1. Mix all dry ingredients (Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Baking Soda, Salt) in a medium sized mixing bowl.
2. Melt butter
3. Mix Butter, Milk, and 1 Egg together in small mixing bowl.
4. Whisk wet ingredients together with dry ingredients. Set aside.
5. Warm medium sized non stick pan on stove on medium / low heat.
6. You know what to do from here....pour your preferred amount of batter into the pan, cook one side until bubbling in middle and lightly cooked around edges.  Flip, wait for batter to be completely cooked and pancake to be a pretty golden brown.
7. Roll each pancake and cut in half if you'd like.
8. SERVE with your choice of yogurt to dip the Roll-Ups in!

Yum!

xo-A

Oh, Hi! REVIEW: Guaco Joe's Vinings!

After a super busy day at our restaurant this past Saturday, we decided to grab a bite at a place close by.  We looked at the options in Vinings that were open after 3pm, and found "Guaco Joe's"...and here's what it was like:

Guaco Joe's is located in the Vinings Jubilee Courtyard, and has a fair amount of parking as well as an ample dining area (we went at an odd time, between the lunch and dinner hours, so we were one of maybe three or four tables in the whole place).

Admittedly, when I'm going for Mexican (or any meal where I KNOW I'm going to be kind of bad) I really, really enjoy low lighting and a darker room, because, like, maybe the calories don't count as much?? J/K...but one can dream.  This place for sure had that going for it.

We didn't order anything way experimental, but what we did chow down on was pretty delish.  Here's what we ate:

Black Bean Queso Dip: When ordering, I expected it to be a bit more black bean heavy, but hey, Queso is Queso and while it wasn't anything off the charts, it hit the queso craving spot!

Grilled Chicken Quesadilla: I was in the mood for a kind of basic dish - so I ordered a chicken, cheese, and sauteed onion quesadilla.  I will say that I was pleasantly surprised because they didn't overload it with cheese, so it really was quite palatable, and exactly what I wanted.

Shredded Chicken Tamales: This is the normal way it's served, COVERED in a ton of cheese - after we modified it and had it brought back to the table sans cheese, the hubs was thrilled.  He's a tamale connoisseur, and to get his stamp of approval means a BUNCH!  Way to go Guaco Joe's!

Mexican Street Corn: This was pretty good, but a little less flavor and a lot more onion was involved than expected.  

Roasted Cauliflower: This was the only item we ordered that we just were not into.  The seasoning they used was something we couldn't quite pinpoint, and even our waiter said that a lot of customers decide to pass on this because of it's unique taste that's totally unexpected.  

Shredded Chicken Taco Salad: This was DELISH.  I ordered it with a side of black beans and rice, and after I mixed that into the salad, it was perfection!  They give you a TON of chicken too, which was a great surprise. 

Shrimp Fajitas: Another dish that the hubs ordered, and was pretty darn happy with.  Portions were generous, and seasoning was on point! 

Bottom line:  

If you're looking for a satisfying, Mexican style joint with some unique offerings and a wide selection, as well as REALLY FRIENDLY service - we would definitely recommend Guaco Joe's if you're in the Vinings area!  As you can probably guess from the photos, we made two stops there, two Saturdays in a row, so obviously it kept us coming back!

The DETAILS:

Guaco Joe's

2950 New Paces Ferry Rd SE

Atlanta, GA 30339
770.801.0020

HOURS:

Mon-Thurs 11am-Midnight
Friday 11am-1am
Saturday 11am-1am
Sunday 11am-Midnight

xo-A

Oh, Hi! TOP FIVE THINGS You're doing that TURN YOUR MAN OFF.

We've ALL been there...you're several months into a relationship, feeling pretty sure about things.  He finally drops the L-Bomb, and you breathe a sigh of relief, which equates to "OhmyfriekingGAWD THANK YOU I can relax now and maybe not put on that fifth layer of mascara before every single da*n dinner"...

While you should ALWAYS be 100% you, 100% genuine, and represent yourself exactly as you are from the beginning of a courtship, we all know (admit it ladies) that before you've got that reassurance and comfort level in a relationship, it's like you're in a constant tizzy to make sure every little piece of hair is in place, every outfit is on point, and your naturally gorgeous, perfect cheek bone  and pouty lip equipped face might consist of just, like, an hour or two of prep.

There may be a certain level of glam that isn't practical to keep up every.single.day....but there are 5 KEY things that, if you want to keep that fire burning bright, you just can not let go...

Here they are, verified by guys, and fact checked by yours truly and countless girlfriends, in no particular order:

1. THE STUBBLE FACTOR - You've totally spoiled him by prepping for each rendezvous so far by making sure you're super smooth and totally touchable pretty much everywhere.  Then winter time hits, you're wearing pants, and figure you can let things slide for a few days. NO.NO.NO.  There's nothing worse for him than reaching across the bed to stroke your silky, umm, legs....and getting hit with sandpaper instead.  Talk about instant turn off.  We've all made out with that guy who leaves you with an unexpectedly exfoliated chin after your hot and heavy session. You think your man wants to experience that in areas a little less visible, and hello, way more sensitive? Ah-hem...nope....
   
2. THE FLAT FAUX PAS (and other wardrobe laziness) - Your outfits so far have been pretty killer...tight hot dresses and stilettos on late night dates, saucy skin baring ensembles and wedges for day time events, and slinky lingerie when you hit the sheets.  Like it or not, men are visually stimulated beings...So when their saucy little kitten all of a sudden starts rocking nothing but sweats at home, jeans and sneakers with a hoodie during the day, and OH MY GOD...FLATS on date night....don't be surprised if the steam in the bedroom follows the decline in the height of your heels. We're not saying you've got to be turned up to 10 all the time, but it's a mistake to just let it all go.  Save that for when he's out of town and it's time to Netflix and CHILL. SAME THING can be said for the makeup routine.  Again, full glam all the time isn't necessary, but how tough is it to throw on some concealer, mascara, and gloss? Just do it.
3. FILTERLESS BODY TALK - Believe it or not, your partner does not need to hear about what just happened in the bathroom, what effect your Mexican dinner of queso and bean burritos had on you, or get details about the ebb and flow of your cycle.  When it comes to what's going on with you internally, keep it to yourself, or text a girlfriend and have a good laugh.  Hell, even swap a few war stories.  The man...he doesn't need any of this info, and if you give it to him...let's just say that's not the visual you want him to be conjuring up when he's thinking about you during his day at the office.  
   
4. HYGIENE HIJINKS -  Similar to the Body Talk issue, he also shouldn't be made witness to any evidence of the issues we talked about in number 4.  Dispose of your girl garbage discreetly, use a bathroom out of ear range if possible, and DEAR GOD do not release any, umm....wind....from either end if you want to keep any feminine mystique going.  Just don't do it.
5. THE CRAZY COMES OUT -  You're chit chatting about life, having a fun little date...and then somehow the ex-factor gets brought up.  Instead of flipping out, throwing a million questions or sarcastic comments his way, or my personal favorite, going completely silent and into lockdown mode....get it together girl.  He's there with you, not anybody else.  He clearly feels comfortable enough to share with you, which is kind of killer, so don't ruin it.  Let him talk, and again, if you must flip out...text a girlfriend.  Spend an entire girl's night frieking out about it.  But don't let the CRAZY out.  We know that momentary insanity passes, and afterwards you feel pretty silly and embarrassed, not to mention you've got to rebuild your air of total security and get him back to a place where he can talk to you again...so just lock it down and move on.  SERIOUSLY.

We're NOT SAYING that you have to keep up some kind of false front to make a relationship work...but there are certain items, most importantly in our experience the ones in this list, that with a little effort can make a huge difference in the heat you keep going...

Agree? Disagree? Have something to add to the list? Comment below!

XO-A

Oh, Hi! Seven Lamps Restaurant Review!

Oh, Hi! Seven Lamps Restaurant Review!

Situated in a cozy little corner at the Shops Around Lenox, Seven Lamps is a warm and inviting gem, perfect for a casual to semi-casual date night, get together with girlfriends, or dinner with a small group.  With  co-owner and Chef Drew Van Leuvan (formerly of Toast, Spice, Saga, Tap, ONE.Midtown Kitchen, among others) at the helm, Seven Lamps is serving up consistently delicious fresh, original, craft food and beverages in a perfectly realized aesthetic that makes the diner want to return again and again...and not just to work your way through the menu.

Friday night we were headed out to grab a bite before going to see a movie.  While our initial intention was to find a steak/seafood/salad type meal (apparently this baby is into really manly, macho style meals right now)...parking and traffic were of course a nightmare in Buckhead at 6:30pm.  We happened to turn into the Shops Around Lenox parking lot, and the husband suggested that we pop over to Seven Lamps since it was literally right in front of us, he enjoyed the food in the past, and hello...there was parking!

So, in we went...and had a fantastic meal that's got me having mad cravings to go back already! Here's the scoop:

We opted to sit inside with the benefit of a little A/C, although they have an adorable little seating area outside and the weather is just about perfect to enjoy it.  (I had also hit the highlighter/bronzer game a little heavy and didn't want to sit in direct sunlight...a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right?)

After perusing the menu and ordering a Blackberry Citrus homemade soda, we decided to order and share the Steamed Lobster Bun, the Cottage Fries, the Scarlett Butter Lettuce salad, and the Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Breast.

They brought a small plate of pickled green beans and house made creme fraiche to the table to get us started, which was actually quite yummy - the pickling spices were balanced and not too heavy, leaving you with a crisp refreshing bite of green bean, accompanied by the light, cool flavor of the creme fraiche. Yum!

The Steamed Lobster Bun was ABSOLUTELY to DIE FOR.  Generous lobster pieces cooked in a decadent celery aioli, served on a steamed brioche bun (a.k.a. the carb that dreams are made of)...and just the right size.  Honestly, we could have each had one on our own, but we wouldn't have had room for the other dishes that we indulged in.  This has to be hands down the best lobster bun/lobster roll in the city right now.

The COTTAGE FRIES. So - when I asked the waitress to describe the fries, her explanation was that they were hand-cut, fried to order fresh fries.  While I would have explained them as more of a lightly friend and seasoned potato slice dish...this dish was a welcome little surprise.  The fries are served with Duke's mayo to dip in, and while I did mix it up with some ketchup...even just eating the fries sans sauce I was obsessed.  

The Scarlett Butter Lettuce salad was an easy, mixed green style salad accompanied by a light "Green Goddess" dressing that gave the dish just enough flavor without ruining the "I'm being like so so healthy and eating my greens" feeling.  Would definitely order this again, and totally think it would be perfect for lunch (maybe with a side of Cottage Fries??)

The only thing that we ordered that neither of us were in love with was the Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Breast.  It WAS the juiciest piece of chicked, like, ever...but it was totally lacking in flavor. Maybe we were spoiled by our other tastes of the evening, maybe they had an off night with the cook in charge of the chicken...who knows.  Maybe it just wasn't our thing.  It's not that it was BAD...just didn't leave an impression or make us want to have it again.  

We totally loved the experience from the time we walked in the door, to our fabulously friendly waitress, and of course the FOOD.  We will definitely back (probably sooner than later!) and you should swing by and give it a try too!

DETAILS:

www.sevenlampsatl.com

Address:

SHOPS AROUND LENOX
3400 AROUND LENOX RD.
NO. 217
ATLANTA GA 30326

Phone: 404 467-8950

xoxo-A