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Lotta Frutta in Atlanta, Georgia

Recap: My Week at Home

written by Parita 17 Comments

Trips to Atlanta are always filled with activity.  However, this past week at home was ultra productive.  We did so much in just six short days.

In semi-chronological order, here’s a recap of my week at home!

1. Lotta Frutta – After picking me up from the airport last Sunday, my parents, sister, and I had lunch at Lotta Frutta in downtown Atlanta.  This is one of my favorite little café type restaurants in the city.  The food is so consistently good.  I try to go every time I’m home.  YUM!

Lotta Frutta

2. Meeting my sister’s wedding hairstylist – All of my sister’s wedding vendors are incredibly nice people, and Kimberly is no different.  We met with her for 45 minutes to talk through Aekta’s hair ideas.  And in those 45 minutes, my mom and I went from not wanting to get our hair done to signing ourselves up for all three events.  Can’t wait!  Now to find some pretty styles…

3. Family quesadilla night – My mom never lets me cook when I’m home.  She always says that I can cook for them when they visit us.  I don’t usually complain because I love my mom’s food. 

Well, our dinner plans fell through on Monday night, and we had no back up plan, so I ran to Kroger and picked up the necessary ingredients to make quesadillas and guacamole (Aekta made this).  Not sure why but this meal was a huge hit!  My mom said it was the best Mexican food she’s ever had!  I wouldn’t go that far, but it was really tasty. I think it had something to do with the queso cheese I used.  Or perhaps it was Aek’s delicious guac.

Homemade veggie quesadillas

4. Masti – We met with a potential wedding caterer at one of his restaurants – Masti.  Since our meeting was around dinnertime, we decided to eat there as well. 

Atlanta peeps, this is a must try restaurant!  The food is inventive and unique.  The menu is a mix of traditional Indian food, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Mexican, and Indo-Italian.  We tried momo (dumplings), Korma alfredo pasta with paneer, Uttapam (Indian pancake) tacos, and pav bhagi (toasted bread and mashed potatoes/peas with spices).  The pasta was by far the best dish…so creamy…just thinking about it makes my mouth water!  Hoping to go back to Masti when we’re back in Atlanta next month.

Masti Atlanta - Korma Alfredo Pasta

5. Apple TV – Vishnu found a great deal on an Apple TV a while back and ended up buying one for my parents since they’re looking to upgrade their TV.  Once my sister set it all up, we tested it out with a YouTube Bollywood video night.  So. Much. Fun.

6. Time with friends – I got to see Samir and Roshni for a couple of hours one night.  It was great to just talk and catch up (it’s been 4 months since I saw them last!).  Later in the week, I was able to meet up with my college friend Farnaz for dinner.  Again, we spent a couple of hours eating and chatting (we were the last ones to leave the restaurant!). 

7. Unintentional Black Friday shopping with my mom – My mom wanted me to go to Sephora with her at some point during my visit.  Well, the only time we could find was on Friday…Black Friday.  And while we did stop by Sephora, we also went to Loft, JC Penny, Belk, and the Limited.  In my defense, Loft was the only store that got my $$$. 

8. Thanksgiving dinner with Vishnu’s parents – We headed to Vishnu’s parents house around 5 pm on Thanksgiving day and left at 11 pm.  In those 6 hours, we ate, talked and laughed (a lot!).  Can’t wait to do it again at the end of December!

Thanksgiving 2015 with the family

9. General wedding stuff – The entire week was filled with random wedding related tasks and conversations – outfits, invitations, cake, etc..  Just six more months until the big day…can’t wait!

10. Home workouts – Thanks to Shaun T, Barre3 online, Jillian Michaels, and the park near our house, I was able to fit in 4 different workouts while at home.  Look out for an upcoming post filled with all my favorite at home (and mostly free) workout options!

11. Attending an Indian wedding – I ended my trip with an Indian wedding.  While the basic formula for every wedding is the same, it’s amazing to witness two people get married and start their lives together!

Family picture at an Indian wedding

I obviously miss my family a lot, but it was great coming home to Vishnu.  He was working when I got in on Saturday night, but I shot out of bed when I heard him walking into the apartment on Sunday morning! 

Well, I hope you have a great Monday.  And for those of you who are also getting back to the grind today…I feel you!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Written on November 30, 2015 Related:Family, home, Life, Travel

One Word: Thankful

written by Parita 8 Comments

Lots of wedding talk, thoughts, etc. going on around these parts.  Where else would my head be?  After all, in exactly 93 days, my first wedding event will be starting.  When I think back to 93 days ago, it was around Christmas time.  WHAT!?  Craziness.

A lot of people have been asking me how things are going, and they’re pretty surprised when I sound calm and controlled.  Things are happening exactly how they’re supposed to. All my vendors are booked and ready to go.  Wedding rings have been purchased.  All of our outfits (and jewelry) are either on the way or already in our possession.  Invitations have been sent out, and people have started replying.  Vishnu already went to NOLA for his bachelor party, and I’ll be heading to Miami for my bachelorette party in just a few short weeks!  Basically, we are ahead of schedule!

There are a few things that still need to be organized/completed before the big weekend, but we’re getting there.  For example, Vishnu and I need to get our wedding certificate, we still have to go apartment hunting for “our” new place, I need to organize the wedding program (speeches, dances, etc.), etc.  Oh and I need to figure the whole job thing.  No big deal.

93 more days…

Even with the few things that still need to happen, I am grounded, excited, and focused on our special day (weekend).  And I truly owe all of that to the wonderful, supportive people in our lives.  And because of all of these amazing people I’ve been feeling very thankful over the past few months.

If I’m going to start anywhere, it has to be with our parents.  My parents have worked so very hard to ensure that every desire of mine is fulfilled with this wedding.  They’ve put their hearts and souls into every aspect of it.  I kinda love them a lot!  Vishnu’s parents have been equally wonderful.  A lot of people have not so positive things to say about their in laws and wedding planning, but mine been so open and loving throughout the entire process.  Every time I see them, I’m reminded of how lucky I am.

The next two people who are so dear to me are my sister and Vishnu’s brother.  My sister has been my rock through everything and has managed to keep me grounded and focused on the things that matter.  I can’t wait to have her by my side at every event!  Vishnu’s brother, Niel, has also been very surprisingly involved over the past few months, telling me what he likes and doesn’t like every step of the way!  I will never forget when Vishnu and I called him after the proposal, and I said, “Woo hoo!  I’m going to be your SISTER IN LAW!!!”  And he replied saying, “No, you’re going to be my sister.”  Smile 

My family has been pretty awesome over the past few months as well.  A number of family members have been calling me regularly to see if I need any help leading up to the big day.  It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the people who have watched you grow up are going to be present for one of the most important days of your life.  My grandparents are probably the most excited out of the bunch because I’m their first grandchild getting married.  I honestly think they’ve been waiting for this day longer then anyone, Vishnu and myself included.  I’ve spoken to a few of Vishnu’s aunts and uncles over the past couple of months, and it pumps me up to hear them talk about the wedding and how much they’re looking forward to it.  I can’t wait to celebrate with all of them!

And our friends, how I love them all!  Their level of happiness for me and Vishnu has touched us beyond words.  From the day we got engaged, each and every one of them has expressed nothing short of excitement and love.  There is no doubt in my mind that our lives are better off because of these people.  Plus, a lot of them have known me and Vishnu both as individuals and as a couple, so I truly feel like our day is their day too.

And last but certainly not least, Vishnu is the #1 reason why I am as calm as I am right now.  He makes it a point to tell me how lucky he is to be marrying me, but I believe the joke’s on him!  I’m the lucky one.  And I thank my lucky stars every single day.

Don’t let this post deceive you though.  Like with any major event, we’ve had our fair share of “moments” since June 10, 2011.  But my point is that we’ve been able to get through it all because of the people in our lives…the loving, amazing, and incredibly thoughtful people.  And June 30, 2012 is going to be that much more fun because of them!

One word: thankful.

93 more days…

Written on March 27, 2012 Related:Family, Friends, Relationships, Wedding Planning

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