Thursday morning, the hubs and I loaded the dogs in his car and headed off.  The first stop was to drop the big girls off at boarding - their first time without their neurotic leader - and the second stop, after two hours of cuddling in the front seat, was to drop the little girl off at the in-law's.


My in-laws were pretty excited to meet her, but not nearly as excited as their own GSD.  I'm trying to talk them into getting her brother now.

After watching the introductions and making sure they had everything they needed, we stopped for lunch at my favorite hometown Italian restaurant, Guiseppe's.

And then it was off to Atlanta, where we had some time to kill but not enough time to kill.  We stopped at a brewery to fill the void and I researched Atlanta's Mount Patrol, which was housed across the street (smartly behind an electrical fence with barbed wire).

Stalking.

My palate is refined enough that I enjoy nitros.

Then it was off to the John Mayer concert.  D said it wasn't likely that he would play my high school/college favorites, but I squealed and slapped D's shoulder when "Wonderland" and "Neon" started.  I don't even really like music, but it was awesome.


We were hungry afterwards, but getting back to the hotel took forever.  Wife stepped up to the plate and called a pizza place four minutes before they closed to ask very kindly if they would deliver two pies to us.  They did and I showered them with thanks (and money).

This was really weird - behind the first curtain was the shower and behind the second was the toilet.

The next morning we slept in before packing everything up.  We'd only planned a night in Atlanta.  D heard about a breakfast place called Flying Biscuit Cafe.  The wait was forever, but food, oh my god, the food.  We ordered a little bit of everything and just gorged ourselves.

I thought I hated all of Atlanta and then we discovered Midtown.  <3

After breakfast, I spent too much money at my favorite why-the-fuck-isn't-this-in-Savannah store:  Ikea.  Planters and frames and dog food containers (repurposed recycle bins).  Then we wandered at Ponce City Market, which looks like the Highline in NYC, but doesn't have any of the cool niche sellers.  And after that, it was off to Athens.



We stopped off at a grocery store to get munchies and found nine cases of my favorite beer.  It's been discontinued, and that was nine more cases than I've seen in the last six months.  Then checking in and naps before going to our favorite Athens restaurant, the Trappeze Pub.  They make a vegetarian reuben and it is to die for.



The next morning had us up early - breakfast at Mama's Boy (another Athens favorite) before the hubs dropped me off for the UGA Horse Owner's Seminar.  I'm not going to go into details about that, but I did win an adorable saddle pad through silent auction.  I'll write the lectures up and post them every week or so - only six.

Goat cheese and spinach.

He picked me up at five (when I was perfectly burnt out on surrounding myself with other crazy horsewomen) and we headed off to our favorite brewery, Terrapin.  Then off to a place called White Tiger Gourmet, that was featured on some travel show at some point, and had the epitome of Athens charm, with the bathroom around back (this happens a lot, I think).  I had a BBQ tofu sandwich and inhaled both pimento cheese and macaroni sides.  It was phenomenal.  I don't remember talking or breathing while shoving food into my face.




A shower and a nap later, we ran to a little cinnamon roll shop before calling it a night.  Early up the next morning, we were headed back home.

Inside joke.  Sorry.

*I feel like I should preface this:  no ponies were met on this trip because we were there for like 36-48 hours over three days.  Blitz trip!

After Houston, we booked it in the stinky rental to Austin.  I couldn't go to Houston without seeing two of the most popular equestrian bloggers, right?  I mean, Amanda is my internet wife and Lauren is just awesome.

We got to Austin kinda late and headed to Amanda's house, promptly greeting her three dogs and completely ignoring her and her BF.  Amanda's dogs are epic.  After introductions, we headed out to get pizza so Amanda could carb load.  Can I mention how much I love plants?  Because I interrogated them on their plants before we did much else.  (I love plants.)  (And I'm awkward AF.)

The next morning, D and I met Lauren at an awesome restaurant called Bangers.  They have this magical drink that involves like the thought of orange juice and a bottle of champagne.  They stamp your hand so you can't over-indulge.  I bypassed that because I drank from Lauren's, too.  #signsyoureanalcoholic  In my over-imbibed state, I contemplated getting the restaurant's logo as a free tattoo.  After sobering up, I decided against it - which I honestly regret now.

it was all so. good.

Hubs left the brunch a little smitten with Lauren (sorry - should I have told you this first?) because of her intelligence and approachability.


We took Lauren's suggestions to heart and headed to SoCo (this is what locals call it, yeah?) and did some shopping.  Succulents, because I'm a secret hoarder, and art because that's tradition.

he joked the entire time about getting one of these damn things.

After returning from brunch and shopping, we had to get tattoos.  Because tattoos.

I've got a set procedure for how I approach my out-of-town tattoos, which, I don't fucking know, might help someone one day:

• Yelp.  Yelp the fuck out of them.  Figure out where you're staying and look in close proximity because traveling across town can sometimes be a bitch.
• Read the actual reviews.  Did the shop get poor reviews because some wimp walked in and requested some piece of shit tattoo and didn't expect to get charged at least the shop minimum? Because there is a shop minimum and there is an hourly rate.  Ask questions. Be logical. 
• After finding a reasonable shop, go to their website and review the portfolios.  Pick an artist.  Consider that what they have as their portfolio is what they consider to be their best work.  Does the style match what you're looking to get?  Are they consistently good?  Look closely.
• Reach out to them.  Schedule.  Pay the deposit, because if the shop is worth anything, there will be a deposit.  They should ask you questions - what are you getting and where?

On Thursday of last week, the hubs and I flew to Houston.

Layover.  I've never seen a Blue Moon can.

After landing, we took a cab ride to an off-site car rental place (cheaper) and picked up our little weird-smelling rental.  I asked the attendant if he could recommend a Mexican restaurant and off we went to gorge on our favorite food.

I had to get a new enchilada, because they used beef in the red sauce.  :(

Watermelonnnnn.

We AirBNB'd a place to stay in downtown Houston, which felt like it was meant to be when I saw the decor.

This horsie.

After resting for a little bit, we headed to Karbach Brewery to take a tour.  We like beer.  But I gotta admit, maybe it's the Georgian in me, but I feel like Terrapin does a better job with less.