Albert's Birthday & roadtrip to Savannah

For Albert's birthday this year I made a special dinner and marble cake for dessert!  We had a great evening together at home, and then took our first road trip, to Savannah, the weekend after.
Savannah was beautiful with so many historic sites and delicious food, particularly at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady & Sons.

Happy Birthday, Albert!

Outside The Lady & Sons in Savannah

Huge portions at Paula Deen's, of course!!

 

One of the many city squares in Savannah

We had dinner at The Old Pink House, which, as the name suggests, was an old pink house converted into a restaurant!

Mmmm... dessert!

Sunday morning we had breakfast at the adorable Goose Feathers Cafe

 

In the beautiful and historic Forsyth Park

As a former Girl Scout, we had to stop by the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts!!

All in all, it was a great birthday week and we can't wait to take more road trips to other cities around Atlanta!

First Visit to California!

Last week, I went home to California for the first time since we moved to Atlanta!  I had a great time visiting with my sister and my parents.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday with Elizabeth in Pasadena, and we did so many fun activities:  We went for a hike at Arroyo Seco, (So beautiful!  See pictures, below) went for a bike ride in San Marino, played tennis, laid out at the pool, and did some delicious baking and cooking with some recipes from Mama Pea.  My favorite part of the visit was getting to feel my niece kicking inside her.  I can't believe she's already 5 months pregnant!
I spent Thursday with my Mom and Dad, and enjoyed a trip to Fresh & Easy, my former employer.  It was so cool to see all the new products they've launched in the two short months I've been gone!  I bought some Illy espresso and pumpkin spice coffee to bring back home to Atlanta.
It was a great trip, and I'm already looking forward to going back in November.

My sister, Elizabeth!

The bridges are so huge when you're this close up!

Mom, wearing one of Nana's scarves, posing with a handmade wreath from her friend, Carol!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday!!

These are becoming our favorite days of the week, especially now that Albert has been traveling for work again!
And we had exciting things going on every day of the weekend.

Friday:  Karin was on the local morning news! 
I have been doing workouts at a local SPX fitness studio that just opened right around the same time we moved to Atlanta.  They invited a local news crew to film a class to try to get some publicity, and I wound up in the background of most of the video.  (I'm wearing a gray shirt and black pants, 2 machines over from the newscaster.) You can check it out here:

I felt like a celebrity!

Saturday: Potluck at Piedmont Park
On Saturday, we were invited by a friend to a potluck birthday party at the park near our apartment.  The weather was beautiful, and we had a great time playing Frisbee, bocce and soccer.  We were surprised by how friendly everyone was and made some new friends that we hope to see again soon!

Karin with new friends Owen and Emily, and Owen's dog, Ollie.

Sunday:  AIDS Walk Atlanta 5k race
Sunday we were back at the park for the 21st annual AIDS Walk & 5k race.  We ran the 5k, which started at 1pm, and it was the hottest and sunniest race I can remember running.  There was also a huge hill at the start of the 3rd mile, which made for a challenging course.  We were happy to support this worthwhile cause.

Albert & Karin at the finish line

This week, we will both be in California: Albert in San Jose for work and Karin in Pasadena & Newbury Park visiting family.  Next weekend should be another adventure, and we'll post updates soon.

Welcome, Fall!

This weekend was the first time we've actually been cold in Hotlanta!  Hopefully the hot, humid summer weather is gone for awhile and Fall is here to stay!
Albert got home from a work trip to New York City earlier than planned on Friday, so we decided to go out for a nice dinner at a local seafood restaurant called, "Goin' Coastal."  Everything they serve is sustainable and delicious!

Saturday morning we went out again and I tried some Southern specialties:  chicken and waffles with grits!  They weren't bad, but they're not a new favorite, either.

At Murphy's for brunch.  We actually discovered this place in July when we first came out to Atlanta!

After brunch, we walked around the adorable Virgina-Highland neighborhood, and discovered an amazing chocolate shop!  We couldn't resist getting some custom-made dark chocolate bark.

Inside Cacao

The chocolate tempering machine

bark add-ins

Making our bark

The finished product!

Saturday night, we ran our first ever night-time 5k race!  It was called the "Firefly Run" and it was so much fun.
It started in nearby Piedmont Park, and many people dressed up in costumes.  We were given reflective bands to wear, with flashing LED lights so cars could see us.

Before the race...

... And after!

Sunday morning, we decided to try the brunch at the W hotel, right next door to our apartment.

All in all, it was a great weekend and we can't wait to have even more adventures!

Our apartment

After what feels like a hundred trips to Ikea, we've finally settled in to our apartment, and it's starting to feel like our home.
Here are some pictures to help you visualize it until you come visit and see for yourself!  We can't wait to have visitors.

Our entryway

The kitchen

Behind the double doors are the washer and dryer

The living room & dining room!

Our master bedroom

Master bathroom

We have a second bathroom and second bedroom (Albert's office) which weren't quite photo-ready yet.  Maybe they'll make it into another post sometime soon.

So, who's going to visit first? :)

Hiking in Sweetwater Creek State Park

After enjoying the outdoors so much on our cruise excursions, we decided that when we got back to Atlanta we would definitely have to explore some of our local hiking trails.
After a quick Google search, we chose Sweetwater Creek State Park for our first Atlanta hike.
It was great and we will definitely be back to enjoy more of this beautiful park.

Starting out along the banks of Sweetwater Creek

Ruins of the New Manchester textile mill

Alaska Cruise!

We planned to go on an Alaskan cruise with Karin's family months before we knew we'd be moving to Atlanta, and the cool weather in Alaska was such a welcome change from the heat & humidity in Atlanta!
We did some great excursions and really got to enjoy all that the Alaskan wilderness has to offer!

Getting on the boat

Seattle Space Needle in the background

Dinner with Elizabeth and Albert Woo

In our first port: Ketchikan, AK

After snorkeling in the frigid Alaskan water!

In the helicopter for the glacier tour

On Taku glacier, near Juneau, AK

Bicycle tour in Skagway, AK

Hiking tour in Prince Rupert, BC