Welcome Guests to Atlanta

Atlanta is a very diverse and unique city. I love it here in Hotlanta, the A.T.L., A-town or whatever ya wanna call it. And just a little FYI for all you non-atlantans - if you live near the citylimits, the burbs (which can be over an hour away) or inside the perimeter of the city, EVERYONE says that they live "in Atlanta". It is home of Coca-Cola, the Braves, the Falcons, the dirty south, Stone Mountain, and a kick-A aquarium. I am very proud to say that I am an Atlantan.


So naturally, this book caught my eye last time I was scoping out the sale section at Barnes & Noble. I had a gift card in tow and swooped up a copy in a jiffy.

I think they make these books for pretty much every major city. It can be great for introducing your alma mater to guests and if you ever move (gasp! the horror!) then you have this wee book to remind you of the place you once called home.


I thought it would be perfect in our guest bedroom for our overnighters to experience a little photo action of our beloved city. Plus I am the type of person that prefers pics to words in a book - and this little diddy was chock full of befores & afters.

Plus, the magazine with the Tennesse Volunteers on the front just wasn't satisfying my decor taste buds. I think that was a Jeremy selection :)

The magazines got stashed and the new Atlanta book took over. Not only informational, it is also decor friendly with it's natural colored cover. The color pallette is a little more in sync - no more blazing orange in our woodsy colored room. And next time we have guests, the area will be perfect to set out a basket of overnight essentials such as towels, toiletries, some Atlanta postcards and stamps, and a water carafe.


It is coming up on holiday season and that means family and friends coming to celebrate. But what do they need? Do you have a hard time figuring out how to personalize the space for your guests? Well, Martha has some great ideas. And I always love SimpleMom's hints. Also, hit up Families.com for other ways to make sure your guest has a uber-comfy stay. And if you have your own idea for how to make your special visitor feel like a superstar, throw it in the comments to share with my nine other readers (yes people, I have tasted popularity and it is SWEET!)

Shaq up with Coke

Have you all seen that Shaq superbowl commercial? It's actually for Vitamin Water - a Coke product. If you haven't seen it - you should check it out cause there ain't nothin funnier than a man bigger than his horse :)

For all you history buffs out there - Coca-A-Cola actually hailed from the Great State of Georgia. SHOUTOUT A.T.L! Not only invented here but first sold here, Coke is as natural to a native Georgian as hot boiled peanuts at a Braves Game.

Sorry about rabbit-trail (although Atlanta does totally rule!).

Back to the Point -

The title today should actually say "SHACK UP WITH COKE" because today I want to share (I am very excited about this) how many great home decor magazines are available under the MyCokeRewards program.

I personally collect Coke points and have been for a while. I have about 1000. So I went to see how many more millions of points I would need to get something cool and I realized...nothing really cool was to be had. I would have to collect for the next decade to be able to get the Rachel Ray cookware...and that was all that I was really interested in.

(pretty right?!)

That is until I went to the lower point categories. I discovered that for the same number of points to receive a Pirates of the Carribean Poster, I can get a YEARS subscription to a home magazine!

After I stopped hyperventilating, I knew I had to share this info with my three blog readers (Yes - my sister also now reads this - welcome Lori!)

So here are the options if you also want to share in the paperback wealth -

1. Veranda - all about home design and interior decorating
2. Architectural Digest - international magazine of interior design
3. Ready Made - a magazine for people who like to make stuff
4. O at Home - get all the inspiration you need to make your home a reflection of you
5. Good Housekeeping - most trusted online source for advice about food, diet/nutrition, women's health and your home
6. Better Homes & Gardens - ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden plus recipes and entertaining ideas
7. House Beautiful - a magazine of style to inspire your own
8. Traditional Home - how to transform a home into a victorian home, create a comfortable second home, interior design ideas, and how to make a sassy sorbet
9. Country Living - home decorating, recipes and antiques and collectibles
10. Country Home - country lifestyle magazine with features covering antiques, decorating, weekend projects, travel, food and gardening

I think I am going to get four of them - wanna guess which ones?

Goodwill Goodies

Jeremy and I hit up the local Goodwill this afternoon. I always seem to find some treasures that I can't live without. Today I got everything for $11. It was so cool.

2 glass domes - I want to use these during a party to cover appetizers or use as a place setting during a fancy meal or to put a little plant inside like these -->

2 little shelves...as soon as the laundry rooms gets done in the basement these will adorn the bathroom wall



Bennington Potters pots and dish - I googled this Vermont company and now I can't wait to go up north to take the free tour of their factory.



Already read the first chapter - she's no writer but her life is so interesting I couldn't put it down.



Cole (my nephew) is gonna celebrate his fourth birthday in two weeks. This is gonna be one of his gifts (along with a giant bag of gummie bears - contradictory, I know). Gotta love Dr. Seuss!

If you find any cute photos or great ideas on what I can use my new lightly used items - please share...I can't wait to hear the feedback!