About Time

March 24, 2014

I casually asked for movie recs the other day on instagram, and received several votes for About Time. Have you seen it? Since we hadn’t seen it yet, Gabe and I decided we would trust the general vote:)

For some reason, this movie had me up for hours in deep thought afterwards. I even dreamt about it. I guess its not uncommon that a movie leaves an impact on me, but this one actually affected my whole week…

Directed by Richard Curtis (Love Actually), starring Rachel McAdams, Domhnall Gleeson, and Bill Nighy. The characters were perfectly cast. You know how sometimes you think a movie would have been so much better had they had a better main actor or actress? Well I think they nailed it with this one. Tim’s pursuit of love and the small moments he lived to maintain love in his life was captivating. As in true British form, you never know quite what is going to fly out of their mouths (sometimes you need earmuffs), so we were thoroughly entertained the entire movie and laughed out loud on more than few occasions.

For those of you who have not seen it, the main premise throughout the was learning to be content with the present, and not only be content with it, but to LIVE in it. This seems to be the recurring theme of my own life in the last few years so that is probably why this movie impacted me so much. Tim is an average guy with who has the option to repeat moments in time, and re-live them if he wants a do over, but in the end he doesn’t feel the need to ever repeat a moment. The last few scenes are every day life moments that I have seen play out in my own every day life. They are moments he chooses to soak in and really take notice of his life.

(Image source one, type by IHOD // image source two)

The day after I watched this movie, it was a particularly mundane weekday. Holding a teething baby, cleaning up toys, attempting to answer emails and manage a business, de-boning a chicken for dinner, catching up with several loads of laundry, carpool, baths, diapers, bedtime routine, hanging out with Gabe before bed, etc. However, it was a particularly good day. One where I could tangibly touch deep happiness and contentment. One where peace was deeply settled in the atmosphere. The difference was I went into the day with no expectations, but just one thought. Today is a gift from God. The only important thing out of this day is that I love my kids and my husband well. It’s quite simple, but so easy to let our lives become one day bumping into another and a whirlwind of months ensue. Life can get complicated, but if we have a clear perception of our priorities in this world, peace always follows.

P.S. I am calling my bangs “fringe” from here on out…

What did you think of the movie? I would love to hear your toughts? And if you haven’t seen it, grab your guy or best girlfriends and get a movie night on your calendar!

(Just a little warning: As with most British films, there are moments of crude humor, nudity, and scenes. We were able to skip over them pretty easily. Not a movie for kids.)

Spring Looks and Closet Tips with Cupcake Mag

March 21, 2014

WEEKEND!! Oh how happy I am to see you!

If you all want some really fun weekend reading, head on over to CupcakeMag Spring Issue and get swept away in the fun pages.
You may spot me in there sharing some tips for building a smart wardrobe and a peek into my own closet;)
Here are some outtakes for the looks I shared. So thankful to be included among some favorite bloggers and cool mama Tori Spelling!

Have a wonderful weekend! Catch me over on instagram for some fun behind the scenes footage of tomorrow nights concert:)

x, Anna

Look 1: Sweater: J. Crew // Skirt: Dress Corilynn // Shoes: ShoeMint // Clutch: c/o Boden // Watch: c/o La Mer Collections // Necklace: Bauble Bar
Look 2: Dress: Gap // Jacket: c/o Sheinside (similar) // Boots: Jeffrey Campbell // Necklace: Shop Rkitekt
Look 3: Blouse: c/o Everlane // Jacket: Topshop via Twice // Denim: 7FAM // Shoes: Gap
Shoes: c/o ShoeMint // Zara // Gap (similar here or here) // JustFab
Scarves: Deloom, Gap // Hats: Parc Boutique, H&M

How to Make Roasted Strawberry Lemonade

March 20, 2014

Winter giving way to spring happens to me one of my favorite culinary seasons. There are a handful of fruits and vegetables at their peak – just teasing us of all the good to come in summer. Luckily citrus season is beginning to wane as sweet spring strawberries are coming to market just about the time we start bringing out sandals!

Strawberry lemonade is my ideal spring-time drink – refreshing and bright perfect for warm breeze afternoon picnics. Unfortunately – most strawberry lemonade doesn’t taste like strawberries to me.

My solution? Roasted strawberry puree! Roasting the berries concentrates their flavor making them sweeter and, well, more strawberrier. Bonus – roasted strawberries will make your whole house smell amazing. I also like to make the most of my lemons by zesting and juicing them for this lemonade.

Cheers to spring!

Roasted Strawberry Lemonade

Yield: 2 quarts of lemonade

Ingredients:
4-6 lemons
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 pint of strawberries, stem removed and halved
1 cup lemon juice (from the lemons above)
4 cups water, divided
4 cups ice
Lemon slices for garnish

How–to:

Heat the oven to 375 degree F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Set aside.
Zest the lemons on a micro-grater. Mix the lemon zest with the sugar – massaging the zest into the sugar until the sugar is a pale yellow and fragrant. Halve the lemons and juice them – you’ll need a cup of juice for the lemonade.
Toss the strawberries with ½ cup of the lemon sugar and spread them into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Roast the strawberries for 30 minutes or until the berries are shrunken, fragrant and juicy. Remove for the oven to cool for 10 minutes.
Combine the remaining lemon sugar with the lemon juice and 2 cups of water in a large pitcher. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the ice and stir again. Taste and top with additional water as desired. I find 4 cups of water is the perfect balance of sweet to tart!
Puree the roasted strawberries in a blender or food processor. Pour the puree through a fine mesh strainer into the lemonade pitcher. Stir well to combine and serve with additional lemon slices to garnish.

Cook’s Notes: The lemon sugar and roasted strawberry puree can be made up to a week in advance. I served the roasted strawberry puree on the side so guests could make their own glasses strawberry to their own tastes.

Both the strawberry puree (on its own) and the finished strawberry lemonade make killer popsicles – just pour into molds and freeze!

Meghan Splawn is a professional recipe developer, wife, and mama. Meghan’s blog, Stir and Scribble, is full of clever cooking and useful kitchen tips. She’s a fan of candy, classic cocktails, and fuss-free family dinners.

Find more of Meghan here: twitter | pinterest |instagram.

Visit the food gallery for more recipes!

Local Notes: Salt Factory Pub

March 19, 2014

No matter how many health documentaries I watch or articles I read, I can’t every quit french fries and a good burger. I almost always order it over numerous other menu choices. Chelsey told me about Salt Pub Factory and that I might like the look and feel of this place. Well, it won on all fronts. Really cool vibe and the food has you dreaming about it for days.

Apparently Salt Pub Factory is right across from another favorite spot and I never even noticed till the last visit. It’s hard to spot unless you are looking for that red sign. We grabbed the corner booth in the back where you get the view of the whole pub:) Beautiful wood tables, modern light fixtures, wine walls make for an urban touch with a good ole’ pub type of experience. It’s a place that makes you want to stay a while.

I ordered The Steakhouse and it actually went beyond my already high expectations. Gabe looked at me with shock over the fact that I actually consumed the entire plate in one sitting since I usually leave at least some for him. Gabe’s meal was equally delicious (because I had to try that too of course), and he savored every sip of the beer on tap. A good brew on tap is a must to get Gabe’s stamp of approval. He agrees we are going back for our next date.

I think we will become loyal visitors to this friendly joint. Such good people and a very fun atmosphere.
There are actually two locations (and I here one has outdoor Bocce Ball!) in Roswell and Alpharetta:

952 Canton Street
Roswell, GA

102 S. Main St.
Alpharetta, GA 30009

If you check out any of the IHOD Local Notes spots, let me know how you like them!

*Outfit details here. A huge thank you to Chelsey Heidorn who is always up for an adventure and snapping the photos for us!

Country Deep Tour + Giveaway!

March 18, 2014

(Photo via Jana Kramer, type by IHOD)

Ever since our Nashville sister weekend, I have been hooked on country music. (I was the last of my sisters to jump on board, and they are as shocked as I am;)) Even Gabe is tuning in to country more than he ever used to. We have discovered some fun artists in the process. One of those is Jana Kramer, which is why this announcement is so fun…

AT&T U-verse, a service that brings country music to its viewers’ screens daily through the Country Deep App, announced in February that they’re presenting the Country Deep Tour! Have you all heard about this??

Well, cool news is, the tour is coming to the Atlanta area! Here’s the deets:
Where: 120 Tavern in Marietta
When: Saturday, March 22nd, 8 p.m. (You can buy tickets here.)
Who: Headlining rising star Jana Kramer, featuring Canaan Smith and Austin Webb.

In association with AT&T U-verse and the Country Deep Tour, Gabe and I will be hitting up the concert as well as hanging out with Jana and her team, so I can bring a little piece of the experience back to you! (Eeek!!!) Who else wants to come to the concert?! We are GIVING AWAY TWO TICKETS today here on IHOD! We will draw a winner this Thursday PM!

TO ENTER:
1) Leave a comment below letting us know you want to win (and maybe who you’d bring;))!
2) For an additional entry, share on any social media platform (use #ATTCountryDeepTour) and comment below with the link to the share. (Pinterest, instagram, twitter, or facebook!)

Can’t wait to see who wins these! So looking forward to this concert and getting my country music fix. There is nothing quite like a live country music concert. Stay tuned for the re-cap post and interview with Jana!
x, Anna

This post was made possible through my association with AT&T Country Deep. The prize was provided by AT&T, but AT&T is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of AT&T.

Designing a Tote with Wink and Winn

March 13, 2014

I have something fun in store for you all from Wink & Winn. They sent over a sample wring and the coolest triple clutch to help me figure out what materials to go with in designing my own bag. It’s as cool as it sounds. On their site you can literally choose the size, color, material, and hardware for your clutch, tote, or crossbody bag! Such a great concept, because it makes you feel like Rachel Zoe for the day;) There are so many good options, that I am having the hardest time narrowing down which to get. Want to help me choose?

Bucket tote or Satchel? I already know which color/print I am going to use. They are all 50% off right now too, FYI! We have a something coming up for you too friends, so stay tuned!

Will let you know which I choose soon:)

x, Anna

Calypso St. Barth Atlanta

March 12, 2014

My sister Jana is in town visiting, which means day trips and exploring whenever we get the chance. She appreciates finding new places as much as I do which makes it all the more exciting. We headed down to Westside Provisions and had the best afternoon.

Calypso St. Barth so kindly invited me to check out their space there which has was a sight to behold. A bunch of natural light, modern fixtures, and of course racks of beautiful clothes and accessories. Their spring collection is a perfect mix of silks and soft cotton pieces in both classic colors, and fun prints. This navy dress had me wanting to head to the nearest coast as fast as I could pack my bags. The whole atmosphere of the afternoon was such a nice experience. (And the gals who work there are so kind!) If you are in the area, stop in and see for yourself!

Also, online and in stores, they are offering a fun shopping incentive for you to check out with code: GCSPRING2014FB