Reader Request Week: Q&A With ElleSees

Hey you! I had such a sweet and positive response to the first video that I decided to do another one. I'm thinking about making this a weekly thing. What do you think? I admit I wasn't feeling too hot in this one, so it's not as entertaining, but learning from my video mistakes and getting comfortable in front of the camera is what it's all about.

One of the possible entries in my $75 Sephora Giveaway is to ask me a question. I randomly chose 13 of them and made a video, so check to see if your question was answered! Enjoy!

Highlights:

• Me, being awkward as usual
• The Southern Accent Returns!
• Charlie, who was asleep most of the video
• The fact that I found an almond in my bra after filming (what the??)

I'm off to Waycross to see my youngest sister perform in her high school's version of Grease! I'll be back Monday with more tutorials and tricks. Have a great weekend. Be safe, behave, and be well. Love, Elle

PS: If you really want your question answered, or if you can't understand my accent, let me know in the comments. Thanks for watching!

Sunday Sisters

My Lil Sis was here for the weekend, so I spent all of my weekend with her, so this isn't a "usual" post--I'll be back with a giveaway and regular posting the rest of the week. For now, please enjoy my Sunday. Love, Elle


While I love all of my siblings equally, I share a strong bond with my youngest sister who is 18 (!!!!!) years younger than I. We always have the best adventures doing nothing and everything. Here's what we were up to Sunday:

{sleepyhead/tiny toes}

{homemade pancake brunch}

{Lil Sis getting ready}

{accessorizing}

{lucky number for late lunch}

{recent purchase}

{hair/makeup/dress up}

{black bean hummus}

{Georgia "Tea" because it's 88 outside}

You've gotten a glimpse into my weekend...now how was yours? Did it actually feel like autumn outside? Or was it hot like in Atlanta?

PS--Giveaway tomorrow! Guesses on what it will be?

Outfit of the Week: All-American Girl

Happy Independence Day, America! I want to keep things comfy, yet still look patriotic. BTW, since it’s summer, prepare for plenty of casual outfits for the next couple of months. Here’s what I’m wearing today while grilling out & (tonight, weather permitting) watching fireworks! Click the pic to learn more.

When: July 4, 2011

Where: Atlanta  

Why: Celebrating America’s Independence (at my pool and later the rooftop for fireworks, weather permitting!)

·        This button up shirt from Hollister has that red, white, and blue.

·        A *homemade* pair of cut-offs (done via the Great Closet Cleanout aka my Monthly Resolution)

·        Beachy hair (oh, about 10 tutorials coming soon on this. I’m serious)

·        Panama hat—not pictured but I'm bringing it along.

·        Aviators—another Summer Essential, like the Panama Hat

·        Havianas—ok, this post is becoming a rehash of my Summer Essentials post!

·        Star silver necklace—so I can show stars and stripes

·        Sunscreen--not pictured, but always essential

·        Lip gloss--Lancome Juicy Tube in a soft, juicy red

What are YOU wearing today? Follow me on Twitter for outfit pics and other useless fodder.

Snow Day

Sunday night the snow began to fall in Atlanta and by Monday morning, 7 inches had accumulated. Everything shut down--Interstates that were usually clogged with traffic had barely a whisper of a passerby. It was eerily quiet yet peaceful. I spent the day watching the powdery snow change to crunchy ice, getting warm by a fire with coffee & cinnamon bun, and taking these pictures. Enjoy.

Going Home

One of the many train tracks in my hometown. I miss the sound.

For Thanksgiving last week, I made the 5+ hour trek (with a dog, for the first time) to visit my family. I don't get to visit as much as I'd like, so when I do, it's all about soaking up time with family and enjoying my hometown. So where did I go for Thanksgiving? I went to my hometown of Waycross, GA, population 15k, and home of the Okefenokee Swamp.

Have you ever been here?

Growing up in a small town was something I couldn't stand as a teen. I hated how it took an hour to find a good mall. I hated how everyone knew everyone, and Wal-mart is where you'll run into everyone (and heaven forbid if you show up not dressed nicely! People will talk about how you've "let yourself go" to others). I didn't like the judgment I saw and I couldn't wait to leave. Fast forward 15 years...

I miss all of the pines and greenery too.

But years later, I've come to love and appreciate my small town. There are just some things you cannot experience growing up in a big city. And there is just something about going home. I miss my family, being close to the beach, knowing everyone, and that sense of community. I miss the Southern Hospitality (where I lived you wave at people as they drive by--even if you don't know them). I miss the food. I miss the Swamp. I miss how the high school football team is everything to the town. And I wouldn't trade growing up in a small town for anything.

Driving on a beautiful highway.

What do you love about "going home?"

HURRY, HURRY, HURRY to get your requests in for gift guides you'd like to see. 

Atl in Autumn

When I first started this blog, I would share weekly happenings in Atlanta. I thought I'd revisit that today. Atlanta in autumn is simply sublime. There's so much to do!  Here are some of my favorite things to do in Atlanta, in Autumn.

Piedmont Park in the Fall

• I love to see the leaves fall like glitter and hear them crunch under my feet. Surely I'm not the only one, right? The weather's nicer and I can enjoy the outdoor markets before it gets too cold. AND amazing live music.

Pumpkin Patches

• Burt's Pumpkin Farm is my fave (they have hay rides too), but here is a list of even more places to pick the perfect pumpkin. 

Apple Picking

• Visit Ellijay, GA to tour an apple orchard.

Ghost Tours

• My fave tour is the Roswell Tour that I've written about here.
• There are plenty more ghost tours and cemetery tours as well

Corn Mazes

• I can't believe how many of these there are. Go see here.

Fall Festivals

• Fall Festivals have always been a fave of mine. There is a giant list of ones in Atlanta (or around it) here.

Oktoberfest

• Helen, GA is a town that is a permanent German village. They have some great Oktoberfest events.

Haunted Houses

• Atlanta boasts a couple dozen haunted houses. My fave is Netherworld--a top pick in the US.

Day of the Dead

• I can't wait to see the activities, listed here.

The Drive In

• Starlight Drive In is a great autumn activity. You can hear the crickets chirping and feel the breeze blowing, all while watching a movie either in your car or in chairs. 

What are your fave things to do for fall in your city?

Scenes From the Weekend: New Orleans Edition

I had an amazing birthday weekend! I've been all over the States and the world, but have never been to New Orleans. Seven hours later, my wish was granted. I didn't have high hopes, since I had heard plenty of negative things (e.g. it's dirty, full of drunken frat boys) and was pleasantly surprised. I loved my trip and New Orleans may now be my favorite US city! Come with me to New Orleans!

The first stop was the free ferry to see NOLA from a distance. That's the Mississippi River--the third largest in the world. The weather was perfect!

The food was great everywhere we went. Here's some fried alligator. Tastes like chicken!

Next were Cajun Donuts--one of the best things I've ever eaten!

One of the most famous streets! The cafe behind it is featured in the movie Benjamin Buttons. Yes, I sat there about 2am and had an amazing burger. The Location Finder was a phone app I used. 165 movies have been filmed here. It was great to track down locations from movies.

A little taste of Europe still left in the US.

I took a ghost tour and a bus tour. Both recommended! Here's St. Louis Cathedral....creepy at night.

This just makes me think of what I've seen on tv. Loved the Spanish architecture everywhere.

More beautiful scroll work

The live music I heard in the bars and on the streets was some of the most amazing music ever. 

You gotta ride one of these, right?

Pat O'Brien's, home of the Hurricane drink & where the older crowd can be found.

The famous Cornstalk fence.

Where we stayed--Hotel Le Cirque. The street cars weren't running so that sucked and having your window be a part of this light display sucked. But the trip was one of my fave ever. I'm going back.

One of the famous above-ground cemeteries. I'm using "famous" a lot in the post, sorry!

Cafe du Monde and a cafe au lait--you gotta try these big funnel cakes once. I liked the Cajun Donuts better.

 Remnants of Mardi Gras were everywhere. I didn't get any beads, thankyouverymuch! 

Car broke down 2 hr & 45 min from Atl in Montgomery, AL. NO rental cars were to be found, so luckily we have amazing friends that drove 1.5 hrs from another town to get us! It took two shifts to get back I had to pee on the side of the road (gross. i was desperate, ppl) & survived seeing a fight that turned to gunplay in front of a Piggly Wiggly. I was so glad to be home, even if it took 12 hours instead of 7. The car is great, btw.

I did my research by looking at every single New Orleans book I could find & taking notes. I also downloaded a New Orleans travel app on my phone. In a weekend I saw The French Market, rode the free ferry, took a ghost tour, took a bus tour, was convinced that every single NOLA resident is a Saints fan, walked up and down Bourbon street (and all over), saw where the Real Worlds were filmed, saw celeb houses, and ate amazing food (including seafood safely). I can give specific names of restaurants if desired.

Yes, I saw some Hurricane Katrina damage outside of the city but chose not to photograph it. I talked to survivors who wanted to honor that memory, thanked me for my patronage in their city, and wanted to move on. New Orleans is a place of hope and rebirth. These are some strong people and I loved being among them.

And that was my birthday trip to New Orleans! Have you ever been? Where would you recommend going there?
PS ENTER MY GIVEAWAY: http://ellesees.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway.html

Elle's Atl

I was asked to do a guest post on Atlanta and thought I'd share a rough draft of what I wrote. Enjoy! Love, Elle


In the year that I've lived here, I've created a list of things to do and places to eat; some that tourists love as well as some local spots. So if you're in the awesome city of Atlanta for a day or two, here's what I suggest:


SITE SEEING

• World of Coca Cola Museum  A favorite of mine that demonstrates the process of making the beloved Atlanta-based drink, as well as memorabilia.
• Georgia Aquarium Billed as the world's largest aquarium and is a recent addition to the must-see list.
• Zoo Atlanta/Cyclorama Next door to the Zoo is the Cyclorama, a huge painting that depicts the Civil War; an important part of Atlanta's history.
• Piedmont Park This is one of my favorite places in Atlanta; you get city views while plenty of greenspace. There's always an event happening.
• MLK Center Take a tour of the amazing life and legacy of MLK Jr.

Nearby Trips

• Stone Mountain If you have time & the ability to travel a little outside of Atlanta, this is a must-see. Plan on staying late to see the nightly laser show.
• 6 Flags Over Georgia For the roller coaster enthusiast and the kid at heart.
• Roswell Ghost Tour One of the BEST ghost tours I've ever been on. (Read my account here.)

Off the Beaten Path

• Atlanta Botanical Gardens If nature is more your thing, check out the beautiful grounds dedicated to nature education and conservation.
• Center for Puppetry Arts This is something I never thought I would go to, but the creativity here is amazing! 
• CNN Tours A great behind-the-scenes look at how news is made.

SHOPPING

• Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square My pick for the poshest stores and best celeb siting. Both malls are located across the street from each other.
• Atlantic Station One of the newest shopping areas in Atlanta with plenty to see, do, and eat.
• Underground If you're a first-timer in Atl, this is on my list of places to go. 
• Little Five Points This area of Atlanta is considered the melting pot of hippies, indie, and different. Eat at The Vortex.
• Buckhead Plenty of shopping can be done around this pricey area.

FOOD
The Big Meal
No trip to Atlanta is complete without sampling the food of the South. Put a napkin in your lap and mind your manners, because there's fried food to be had!
Gotta Go: Pitty's Pat Porch A Southern tradition
Mary Mac's Tearoom Another eatery for traditional Southern cuisine.
Off the Beaten Path: The Colonnade Cash only here but the fried chicken is incredible.

Fast Food
Maybe burgers and fries are more your thing. Here are some great choices:
Gotta Go: The Varsity--bonus points if you know the ordering lingo!
Off the Beaten Path: Holeman & Finch At 10pm only 24 burgers are made. Get there early.
Ann's Snack Bar Be prepared for a long wait & order the infamous "ghetto burger."
Fat Matt's Rib Shack Listen to live blues as you eat the best BBQ in Atlanta.

Elle's Tips: Parking is rarely free in Atlanta, so have cash handy. If you plan on seeing several of the places listed above, I recommend a City Pass to save money. Also, use the Marta subway system to get around. Additionally, Atlanta has plenty of sports teams, so check the local news to see what team is playing.

I hope you all enjoyed my recommendations for this city I love. If you want even more suggestions, feel free to contact me: elleseesyou@gmail.com

Elle Can't Cook: BBQ

Since this weekend is the Fourth of July in America, I thought I'd include an American classic: Barbeque. Have you had it or heard of it? In the South, we say we're "grilling" if we're putting anything on the grill, but I know in other parts of the US/world, people call it "barbequeing." So barbecue/que is not a verb but a noun--a food!

There are many methods and variations on this classic. In certain areas of the South, we use a tomato-based sauce (it tastes sweet), whereas other Southern states use a vinegar-based sauce. Since I'm from Georgia, I'm gonna share my super easy (remember, I can't cook!) way to make sweet BBQ for the Independence Holiday.

Normally bbq is made with pork, but I had some steaks that were too tough to eat. Since I bought the economy pack and didn't want to throw them out, I did some quick-thinking of what I could make.

I have a slow cooker (Crock Pot), so I put my frozen steaks in there. I mixed some BBQ sauce (you can buy it in a bottle) and 1 cup of Coca-Cola (another Atlanta staple that I know you've all heard of, my world-readers. You MUST visit the World of Coke if you're ever in Atlanta). I put this mixture on the steaks--it should cover them--and set the timer for 8 hours.

After that, I shredded the meat, put it on a wheat hamburger bun, and was ready to eat! I included some homemade coleslaw and baked beans. A perfect All-American meal. Enjoy!

What do you eat on the 4th of July? Maybe some hot dog-flavored chips? Haha

For my non-American readers, have you ever eaten BBQ? 

Do you have a dish similar where you live?

BEACH WEEK! Steamhouse Lounge

Today on BEACH WEEK 2010, I'm bringing the seafood to you, even if you can't get to a beach!

It's a well-known fact around here I have beach on the brain often. Growing up near beaches and some excellent seafood, I get a hankering every now and again. I'm pretty picky when it comes to fried shrimp and was convinced that unless I'm at an ocean view, good shrimp was not to be had in Atl.

I was wrong. Enter The Steamhouse Lounge.

Here I was, is the middle of the city, and it felt like I was at the beach! I was in heaven listening to the music with the cool, casual, beachy vibe as I sat on the deck and perused the menu. There's an inside bar, upper deck, oyster bar, and a patio. The staff is super helpful and laid back. 

Known as the "best little dump in Buckhead," The Steamhouse Lounge serves ice cold beer, tropical drinks, oysters, award-winning lobster bisque, fried baskets, a variety of seafood dinners, sandwiches, and choices for land-lovers. I had the fried shrimp basket with my choice of side. It was $10 for a dozen. The shrimp were great! Excellent batter and not greasy. I'll definately be heading back. If you like

ELLE's TIPS: Parking is valet, so have a couple of bucks handy. If you drink, order the Goombay Smash. If you order a basket, you get a choice of either cocktail or tartar, not both, like I'm used to. Everyone in my group had the oysters and the verdict was good--not gritty.

The Steamhouse Lounge

1051 West Peachtree St.

Monday to Saturday 11am-2:30am

Sunday 11am-Midnight

Another Atlanta Weekend

pic

This was a quick week for me, since I got back from the beach on Monday. I'm not sure what I'll be getting into this weekend, but here are just a few options:

• Lots of concerts this weekend, including the original diva Diana Ross and American Idol alum Daughtry
• Virginia-Highland Summerfest--I just wrote about this neighborhood yesterday
• Gatorade Skateboard Event--this even is open for amateurs
• John Hughes Double Feature at The Fabulous Fox Theatre--who's not a John Hughes fan? This is definately a way to enjoy a rainy day

So my loveys, what are you up to this weekend?

Scenes From the Weekend:Random

This weekend flew by wayyyy too fast. Did yours? The theme for this weekend was RANDOM. Really, none of these images go together. Read on...

Friday, the rain drizzled and kept the sun away but not me.

Out and about, I spotted graffiti behind a restaurant. I liked the colors.

Saturday, blue skies again! I'm not used to sunny skies like this, since all of my views are of the city and smoggy.

I went back to where I used to live for a friend's baby shower. It was great to see the sunny skies, the cleaner air, and my old friends. She almost has all of her "ducks in a row." The baby's due in August!

The cake was cute and tasted good too!

Back home to the city.

I don't think I've washed my car since I've lived here, but it was oh so time for it.

What did you do this weekend, loveys?