Tennessee Aquarium

This weekend, L and I travelled to Chattanooga, TN for a quick getaway. It was just what the doctor ordered. We both needed sometime way to relax and regroup from our day to day lives and all the lovely stressors it brings. This trip gave me the opportunity to check off one of my majors items...to visit the Tennessee Aquarium . This is one of those things we talked about doing and just didn't get around to it. I am so glad we finally did.

I absolutely loved the TennesseeAquarium. It is divided into two buildings one housing a display of river aquatic life and the other housing oceanic life. I must admit the Shedd Aquarium still holds a special place in my heart but this one comes a close second. Maybe since both of them are housed on or near a body of water that makes the feeling a little bit more natural than a land locked aquarium. We also had the opportunity to view Wild Ocean 3D at the aquarium's affiliated I-MAX theatre. The film added to the entire experience and I highly recommend you see it if the opportunity presents itself.

The entire weekend was not spent at the aquarium. We spent a good deal of time just lounging around and relaxing at our hotel, The Chattanoogan. I highly recommend this space if you are considering visiting. We will certainly return for a quick visit. The staff was extremely accommodating and the space was beautiful.

I look forward to visiting this city again and seeing what other things it has to offer.

Take me out to the ball game…

Last week, my extended work department attended a team building in Birmingham, AL. We had the opportunity to see the Birmingham Barons play against the Mississippi Braves. Both are AA teams that feed into major league teams. Since these folks are being paid and I am not a huge sports fan this will count toward my professional sports event goal. L has expressed interest in going to a NFL football game so I will post if we make it to one.

100 Days of Stepping

To aid in increasing my daily step count I signed up to participate in my company's health challenge, 100 days of stepping. During the 100 days of summer, teams of three and four employees will monitor their daily steps and compete against other teams. My team, "Walking in the City" is off to a good start. I've increased the days I actually top 10,000 steps. As an added bonus, I've dropped two pounds. I'll keep you posted on my results at the conclusion of the challenge.

Restaurant Update

I had such a great time trying out new restaurants that I decided to continue it. My co-workers have been happy to accompany me. Since the beginning of the year we have the opportunity to visit several new places. Below is a quick overview of each. My apologies for no pictures, I'll try to remember to take some on our future restaurant visits.

Creole Nouvelle is a quaint (read tiny) New Orleans style bistro located downtown Atlanta. I attended college in New Orleans and fell in love with the food and culture. With that in mind I was anxious to try Creole Nouvelle especially since Red Fish Creole Bistro shuttered its doorsL. I opted for the red beans and rice while my co-workers tried the gumbo. OMG! My red beans were absolutely delicious as they were perfectly seasoned. I ordered some shrimp and crawfish etoufee to go for L which he enjoyed. My co-workers enjoyed their dishes as well. I will add this to my list of places for lunch takeout as it is walking distance from my office.

Ria's Bluebird located in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta. It is another cute little spot with the emphasis on little. No, I really mean little. Luckily, we got there in time for an open table and did not have to wait outside. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was equally good. Since they were also serving breakfast, a favorite of mine, I decided to go that route. Although I wanted the pancakes I also wanted to try something different. The sweet potato cake was my something different. Basically, it is a sweet potato pie or casserole filling that has been seared on a grill top to mimic a pancake. The food and staff were good but I am not quite sure if I'll visit again as the parking and seating is extremely limited.

Tin Lizzy's Cantina also located in Grant Park adjacent to Ria's Bluebirds. This Mexican restaurant is full of charm and big portions. We shared a half order of the fried jalapenos appetizer. Luckily we ordered a half because there was more than enough in our cute little tin bucket. My co-workers each ordered the nachos. A single order of nachos should really be shared by two people. I went with the buffalo chicken and black bean quesadillas. O.M.G!!!!!!! It was fantastic. This will be a definite after hours return visit for me as I would love to sample a tasty adult beverage with my meal next time.

Pure located in the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta is becoming a favorite of mine. I've visited twice in the past few months. This place really reminds me of my favorite bar in Chicago, The Bar Celano. They have garage doors instead of walls that can be raised for an alfresco dining experience. So far I haven't had a chance to visit at night to see if they actually lift the doors. The chips are fresh and amazing as well is the quesadilla. Instead of grilling, the quesadillas are deep fried for gooey goodness. The portion is huge and there is no way I can or should finish my entire meal.

Highland Bakery also located in Inman Park has become a fast favorite. So far we have had three visits and counting. Be prepared for wait. I've only been for a weekday lunch and can imagine what the wait will be for a weekend brunch. No matter what the wait time is it will be definitely worth it. My first visit I tried the white chicken chili and grilled cheese on rosemary garlic bread. It did not disappoint. The last two times, I've had their shrimp and grits. Although, I really like the shrimp and grits my favorite part of the meal is the grilled jalapeno focacciaRe. I certainly plan to keep this on the list and can't wait to take my sister there. She will love it

It's been a long time....

.... I shouldn't have left you...

Hello everyone!

It really has been a long time since my last post. I've had a lot of things happen in my personal life in the past few months that distracted me from my 101 journey. Well things are beginning to look better and I can focus on achieving my goals.

All was not lost during my hiatus. I finally made myself read a non-fiction book. Oddly enough this was hard despite my joy of reading. Like many others I prefer to read as a escape and fiction fits the bill. Any who, to aid in my professional development I read Empowering Yourself, The Organizational Game Revealed by Harvey Coleman. Coming from a world of social services to a corporate environment this is exactly what I needed. Now my task is to put what I've read into action.

Next up on the non-fiction reading goal is "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? " A Psychologist Explains the Development of Racial Identity by Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD. I am scheduled to attend a book club discussion with the author in two weeks and I hope to have it complete by then. I'll be sure write an update upon my completion of the book.