The Last Days of 2011

Happy Holidays from Miami!

Atlanta Botanical Gardens Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

What is the holiday season without a night to wander through a garden full of lights?

Our walk through Atlanta Botanical Gardens Christmas light display really  got me in the mood for Christmas and excited for all the festive events that happen in December.  Then again, it’s not everyday you see a million lights on display.

Just seeing the rows of trees covered in lights in the front of the garden got me into the holiday spirit.  While standing in line for our tickets, you could smell hot chocolate and marshmallows roasting.

Marshmallows… writing that word bugs me.  It’s odd to me that it isn’t spelled marshmellows, since that is how I say it.  I don’t say marshmAllows, maybe I should start to pronounce the A, but I digress.

I really loved these gigantic fall leaves (had to be at least 8 or 9 feet long) that were on the wall in the main building before stepping into the garden.  I wonder what they were made of?  Metal, iron? I want them!

This is the first view of the garden when you walk in.  I absolutely loved it, and my most favorite display out of all of the displays in the garden.

How I wish he would smile, he hates me.  No, just kidding, but seriously, smile!

This is what happens to the camera when you don’t smile, or could it be the person working the camera?  I am posting it because I think the crazy streams of dancing lights look pretty neat, and I know my mom would enjoy it.  As she says; “that’s trippy man”.

The garden had so many details, even the sidewalk had lights that shadowed snowflakes.

Looking at the two pictures above, kind of make you feel like your in space surrounded by stars, or is that just me?

After taking a billion pictures in the first part of the garden, Luis and I took a right and went for a stroll on the canopy walk.

Shots from below the canopy walk, looking into the next display in the garden.  I believe they call this part Dr. Seuss Land?

Shots while walking on the canopy above the display.

I couldn’t decide which shot I liked more so, I put both.  I won’t tell you how many pictures I actually took of this blue tree since it’s ridiculous.  Why!? Because, I wanted to focus on one light and have all the other lights come out clear, but still have the view of the red tree in the background.  Sounded cool in my head, then again,  I am an odd person.

These awesome paths lights were almost throughout the entire outside gardens and gave off a nice romantic glow.   Another neat little detail to help guide you to the next display in the garden.

In the courtyard every tree and bush had lights, and they also had fire pits so people can roast marshmallows to make s’mores and have hot chocolate, along with lots of other tasty treats.

All that was missing was a group of Christmas Carolers.

Luis seemed to enjoy the next part of the garden the best, and I wished that I had taken video to post instead of just pictures to give you the full effect.

The Great Lawn had these color-changing lights that were choreographed to holiday music.  We stood there for awhile and just got lost in the music and the changing of the colors.

Then off to wander through the edible garden and greenhouses.

It was a nice night.  The garden wasn’t very crowded and the night wasn’t too cold.  The next morning I was inspired, and put up snowflake lights in our living room window, and added a few other holiday items around the house.  We are not putting up a tree again this year since we won’t be in Atlanta for Christmas and after putting up so much stuff for Halloween, I wanted it to be less crowded in our place.

In the holiday spirit, I am entering in a holiday dessert bake off this week.  It’s being held by our 10th and Home residence, and after winning the Halloween door contest, I would like to keep winning.  I will post pictures of my minimal holiday decor and dessert later this week.

How are you getting into the holiday spirit?

So… Whatcha Doin’?

Just of Today

Quick snaps of today…

(Click on a photo to enlarge)

Grey Ruffle Coat : Old Navy

Grey Tweed Skirt : Old Navy

Flower Tights : Charlotte Russe

Black Boots : Alloy

Veggie Pasta

Lightly steamed asparagus and green beans, tossed with chopped turkey bacon, onions that have been sauteed in the turkey bacon juice with shredded ginger root and garlic.  Shaved raw carrots and pine nuts over whole wheat pasta with parmesan cheese and oregano.

A quick car ride around Buckhead that ended with Lenox Square Mall

The End!