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Sweetwater Creek State Park and Casual Hike Attire
This past Saturday was a fun but exhausting day. I started my morning with a 9 mile run with my friends at 6 AM and this particular run was a difficult one as there were many hills. I came home to make my boys some banana pancakes and we decided that since there were no sports activities that we should do something as a family. We decided to hike. Did I really want to hike after that run? Not really, but it was a beautiful day and we decided on a hike that was somewhat of a short drive from home at about one hour. Sweetwater Creek State Park is…
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Prints for the March Sunday Showcase
Spring is in the air! I wanted to share some pretty prints that would give a nod to spring but would still be appropriate for the end of winter. While thrifting a week in February, I came across this Zara dress new with tags. I was attracted by the large blue print against the cream background and while I knew it would be too short to wear as a dress, I could envision it as a tunic or a jacket. I was correct: after trying it on, I found out it was a winner. The dress has buttons and a tie at the waist which really makes it versatile. My…
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Adventures in Bread Making
For the past month and a half my bestie and I (she lives in France) have been baking bread. She has been experimenting with different recipes and shared them with me and I have learned several lessons about good bread: it takes time! All of the quick recipes are disappointing. The first lesson I learned was that either my bread machine does not stay warm enough or it doesn’t work well so I finally donated it after my last quick 3 hour bread in it. I was also using old yeast which probably didn’t help but the bread was very dense and had no air bubbles. I then tried a…
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Nantahala Gorge and other views
The drive to Boone, NC is such a picturesque drive. It takes you through Ellijay and Blue Ridge in the North Georgia mountains and through the Nantahala Gorge. We often stop at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) for the pretty views and to have a picnic by the river when we head to North Carolina. We’ve gone white water rafting nearby before (before kids) and have also taken a train ride that turns around there. There are many activities you can do and I am thinking we might make it a destination this summer since it is only 3 and half hours from our house. It also might be cooler…
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Winter Break Outfits: Sweatshirts and Jackets
It was fun to plan a comfortable but stylish winter break wardrobe! I packed a little more than what I wore but that gave me some options. I typically pack more when we drive versus when we fly. Of course, I looked at the forecast first and since we were planning to go snow tubing, I planned accordingly. These outfits feature sweatshirts and jackets! Sweatshirts A thrifted tunic length sweatshirt worked great for my traveling outfit. I drove the 5 1/2 hour drive so my husband could get some work done on the way to North Carolina. I did throw out these thrifted boots after the trip as they were…
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The Blowing Rock, NC
On Sunday afternoon before the snow started, we decided to go on a little excursion. The Blowing Rock was only about 15 minutes from our rental and is the oldest attraction in North Carolina. The Blowing Rock overlooks the Johns River Gorge and is 4000 ft above sea level. “The phenomenon is so called because the rocky walls of the gorge form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps with such force that it returns light objects cast over the void.” We were able to observe this with the snow flurry that were coming up toward us instead of down. So we actually got to observe what is described…
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Boone, NC: Snowed in!
Well, we technically were not snowed in at all! However, we were very excited that the ever changing forecast during our stay actually did stay true and we did get 3-4 inches of snow. The predictions kept changing and ranged from less than an inch to 8 inches. so we were grateful for what we got. For all of you Northerners, us Southerners do get excited when we get snow. The last time it snowed near Atlanta was 6 years ago and we drove 5 and half hour to Boone, NC in hopes to see snow on this short winter break! I went on 3 walks in the snow and…
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Thrifted Outfit Head to Toe for less than $25
When I put this outfit together, I realized that it was thrifted head to toe. Who says you cannot dress on trend on a budget? After most of January shopping my closet, the temptation to shop with some gift cash was too strong and feeling a little moody the last week of that month, I went on some thrifting adventures. I did purge and sold a few pieces that I hadn’t worn in the last 2 years, so my closet reflects more who I am now. The 2 new thrifted pieces in this outfit are the pants and top. Both were found at the consignment store, Uptown Cheapskate, the top…
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Kindness with the Ageless Style Link Up
I always enjoy seeing what theme my Ageless Style friends and I are going to share with you! This month’s theme was kindness and what better way to style it than to choose my Be Kind sweatshirt! I shopped my closet and took advantage of our vacation in North Carolina this past weekend to take some pictures. I wore sweatshirts every day and have curated a comfy, but stylish collection over the years. This particular one is several years old and an Amazon find. I often wear it when running, but occasional wear it for a casual outfit. I don’t like feeling sloppy or frumpy so I chose to pair…
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A Visit to St. Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, AL
Two weekends ago, I traveled to Birmingham to my old church parish for my Goddaughter’s wedding. It was a beautiful occasion and emotional for me as I felt like it was my own daughter getting married. I have watched her grow from a baby and even though I moved away when she was young, I visited some and was able to see her during our church camps once a year for 5-6 years as a teen as she and her friends would spend a week at our house in the summer. I am very grateful for that special time and her visit this past summer. I am hoping she will…