The Perfect Day: A Day out with the Girls

As much as I love a great date with my significant other or hanging out with my kids, there is something magical about spending time with my girls! For one, it doesn't happen nearly enough; especially now that I'm in Atlanta and they're spread around the country from DC to NJ. But also, it's just the super close bond we share that makes it special. Everyone likes to do the same things and we do a lot of talking and laughing. When they come here, I keep them busy from morning to night trying to show them EVERYTHING this great city that I've come to adore has to offer. So in celebration of girlfriends everywhere, my first perfect day is for "all girls" "all day." Remember, money is no object; we're balling!

Morning Activity: Take a run or brisk walk around scenic Chastain Park. Regular exercise is vital to good health and doing it with a group makes it fun. Best of all, getting your "cardio on" and out of the way in the morning revs your metabolism up and motivates you to make good food choices all day.

          Breakfast: Resist the temptation to pig out on pancakes and bacon, destroying the benefits of your morning work out. Instead, grab a smoothie from Planet Smoothie. They are delicious, nutritious and filling and the perfect meal replacement after a good workout. My personal favorites are the Thelma & Louise and the Mediterranean Monster. The closest locations to the park  are in Lenox Mall and in the Peach Shopping Center: 2900 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30305

Midday Activity: Shoe shopping and pedicures- Go home, get showered, dressed and meet up at Town Brookhaven Shopping Center where I recently made the most adorable discovery. There is a shoe store that sells the high end designers we love like Jeffrey Campbell and his fierce wedges, Stuart Weitzman and more AND also does pedicures!! Yes! Strange but perfect, right??? The store, Happy Feet Boutique, is fabulously decorated and the pedicure section in the back looks like it was designed for a princess. It's very dainty; no bulky, massaging pedicure chairs. No, just posh, feminine chairs that look as if they would be in the boudoir of a princess. They also have all the great designer polishes we love like OPI and licensed professionals to get your feet dolled up enough to deserve the sassy, new kicks you're spending the rent money on! http://www.happyfeetboutique.com/    705 Town Blvd, Ste. 430 Atlanta, GA 30319

          Lunch: Girls love to lunch but we're always watching calories as well so I'm going to suggest that you have lunch somewhere where you can get a delicious salad. My top pick for a delicious salad is restaurant staple, Houstons. I know there are trendier, newer places but Houstons still offers one of the most delicious salads that you can buy. Additionally, they have wonderful soup and salad pairings just in case you need a little something more to tie you over until dinner. My favorite soups are the chicken tortilla and the red beans and rice but they are only available on certain days, so find out ahead of time.
http://www.hillstone.com/  Go to the Hillstone Restaurant groups website for locations around the city.

Evening Activity: We love our girls, but we also need a little "me" time to rest and rejuvenate and get ourselves gorgeous for the evening. So take it in, relax and prepare for the fabulous evening you plan to have. And for goodness sake, pick your clothes out in advance. Try them on too! Make sure you know which ones make your butt look too big, too flat or shows your back fat! You don't want to waste time trying on and tossing a thousand outfits when it's time to get dressed.

          Dinner: Acoustix Jazz Restaurant and Lounge - You had your decompress time and now you've all come back together looking sexy and sensational. Time to make your way over to your one stop shop for dinner and entertainment, The Acoustix Jazz Restaurant & Lounge. This must be Atlanta's best kept secret. When you pass it, the exterior is very unassuming and basic. But if you ever go inside, you're hooked. The decor is glamorous and eclectic all at the same time. The entertainment is always on point; varying bands and singers whose talent and passion fills the cozy interior and envelops its patrons. Very sexy indeed. And the food? Stupendous. Acoustix Jazz has a sumptuous menu of musician inspired and aptly named items that are sure to please every appetite. The appetizers are listed on the menu under the caption, "Down Beat" and boast Frank Taylor's Crab Cakes w/brown butter, red pepper and capers remoulade and Duke Ellington Grilled Lamb Chops with sauteed onion, green pepper and mushroom. On the "Main Stage" portion of the menu you can find a list of decadent entrees. You can choose from Billie Holliday Pan Seared Salmon on sweet corn risotto w/citrus butter and sauteed spinach or John Coltrane 14 oz seared New York Strip w/mashed potatoes, mushrooms and seasonal vegetables. If you want an extra side item, you can find them under "Back Up Singers" and they include Ray Charles roasted mashed potatoes w/garlic cream and butter and Cecil McBee sauteed garlic spinach just to name a few. This is the perfect place to enjoy food, atmosphere, entertainment and friends all under one roof.  840 Marietta Street Atlanta, GA 30318
http://www.acoustixjazz.com/index.php

So ladies, please make the time to hook up, have fun and nurture one of the most precious relationships of all: Sisterhood!