Thursday, May 30, 2013

Best Post of the Week: Week 204


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Red Mountain Park: The Ideal Weekend Destination!

Looking for a way to enjoy this fantastic Memorial Day Weekend?

You need to visit Red Mountain Park.

On Sunday, My husband Chris and I set off for grand adventure: Zip Lining at the park (along with our giveaway winners, the Haleys.) We dumped our kids with the grandparents at Church, and as they would be spending the night, we had an entire date day and night ahead of us.

So clearly, we skipped with giddiness, Hansel-And-Gretel-Style, down the trail.

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Aside from the Zip Lining, the trails alone are a fantastic reason to visit the park. Winding along the ridges of Red Mountain, there are currently ten miles of trails with two scenic overlooks and three historic Ore Mines. There’s even a treehouse that I have yet to discover – I have a feeling that I'll come across something new on every visit to the park!

RMP Map-Kiosk

It was a perfect day for our adventures - slightly hazy, on the verge of rain but never even sprinkling, and feeling nearly temperatureless.

(At least that’s what we call it, regardless of it’s scientific incorrectness.)

We arrived, signed our waiver agreeing that we would sue not for, among other things, panic and/or hurt feelings, death, or unwelcome touching (SPOILER: none of which happened), then hiked to the zip lining location with our two guides, David and Katie. The walk was relaxing, the forest was breathtaking, and the platforms high in the trees beckoned.

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I got hooked up and to the top of the first platform. I was swimming in excitement – I adore heights of all kinds.

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I looked down at Chris, who isn’t quite as in love with heights as I, but fortunately, he seemed equally excited.

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We zipped across the first line, and it was amazing. We went much faster than I thought we would, and landing (and staying landed) was a challenge in itself (one which, by the end of the course, I found myself to be quite the expert at. Not that I would brag.)

After the first zip was a rope bridge. And by rope, I mean a singular piece of rope.

Red Mountain Park Rope Bridge

It was somehow easier than I expected, and then we were back to zipping.

Chris managed to get one photo of me zipping, though not nearly as graceful and free-feeling as I imagined that I looked.

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I promise. I really looked like this on every other zip.

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Three of the zip lines were very long, and let us coast at up to sixty feet in the air. It was indescribably exhilarating to fly through.

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The course (which consisted of seven zip lines, the rope bridge, and one rope swing) ended at the Hugh Kaul Beanstalk Forest, the other adventure available at Red Mountain Park. Seeing the course got me excited to try it, as well.

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We rappelled off of the last platform breathless, excited, and more than a little shiny.

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I am so excited that Birmingham now has the wealth that is Red Mountain Park, and I plan to spend many days there this summer exploring their fantastic trails and adventures. I hope you join us!


Disclosure: I was given two passes to try the zip lines, as well as two to give away on my blog. But I’ve been itching to try it for a while anyway, and will definitely be zipping again. All opinions are my own.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Best Post of the Week: Week 203


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Atlanta Food and Wine Festival Shows off Tastes of Alabama and More.

May 31 - June 2 is the weekend to be in Atlanta. The Atlanta Food and Wine Festival is an unbelievable event, offering opportunities for everyone to enjoy as well as specialized tracks for the dedicated foodie.

I was able to attend last year, and it was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone - even if you just attend the tasting tents. Dozens of the best chefs in the southeast come together to offer a collaboration of the most creative and delicious food that you will ever eat.

Last year, one of my favorite dishes was Banana Kataifi (banana wrapped in shredded filo glazed in Greek Honey), served with flourless chocolate cake and yogurt sorbet.

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One of the most inventive (and genius) ideas I saw was Pimento Cheese deviled eggs - how delightfully southern is that??

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It was at The Food and Wine Festival last year that I was able to learn so much more about one of our beloved Birmingham restaurants, Jim N Nicks. The strides they are making in rekindling Alabama's pork industry is so exciting.

Alabama chefs involved in the weekend include Drew Robinson, Chris Hastings, Chris Lilly, Frank Stitt, and James Boyce.

Many options are available to enjoy this great event. Getting tickets for the Tasting Tents will take you on a culinary journey of the South where you can embark upon tasting tours, such as Southern Sweets, Seafood, and Southern Regions from other parts of the globe. The day passes offer three learning (and eating!) experiences, the tasting tents, and a one year subscription to Food and Wine Magazine. There are also many special dinners, where chefs from all over the South come together and collaborate to create a fantasy meal for you to enjoy.

This event is a world-class festival and they will ensure that you feel cherished and filled with the best food that the South has to offer.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Best Post of the Week: Week 202


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Monday, May 13, 2013

The Color Run - Giveaway!


After seeing everyone's photos and hearing the stories of The Color Run in Birmingham last year, I was truly disappointed that I had missed out. The Color Run is a five-kilometer, un-timed race in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.



The fun continues at the finish line with a gigantic “Color Festival,” using more colored powder to create happiness and lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid color combinations.









Doesn't that look amazing??

And The Color Run is coming to Orange Beach / Gulf Shores Alabama on May 25! Could you possibly need any more of an excuse for a beach trip?

The route will take you through The Wharf and along the intercoastal waterway, allowing for a beautiful view while you get pummeled with five different colors!

I have one free registration to give away! If you would like to enter, just follow the instructions in Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a quick giveaway - it ends at midnight this Thursday! So hurry and enter, and help spread the word!

But if you don't win, use the promo code "COLORBAMA" to get $5 off. Plus, if you register in a team of four or more, you get another $5 off, for a total savings of $10 per person. If you're a team, you get to pick a groovy custom team name, anything from The Roy G Biv All-stars to We Sweat Rainbows.  You then get to run/walk together and “help” each other get really colored up over the 5 color kilometers.  There is no “relay” component and team members can finish together as a unit or separately.

So hurry and enter, and best of luck!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Best Post of the Week: Week 201


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

May Blogger Meet-Up Scheduled for 17th!

Our next Alabama Blogger Meet-Up will be May 17 at Shane's Rib Shack on Valleydale Road. We will meet from 11:45 - 1:30, and would love to have you join us! Rebecca Kinney is our host, and this is the perfect opportunity for bloggers in the southern part of town to more easily attend a meet-up.

To RSVP, please comment on this post or join the Facebook Event. If you cannot access the Facebook Event, then that means that you are not yet a member of our Alabama Bloggers Facebook Group - please join us! It's a great place to share posts, tips, and information about blogging in Alabama.

The hashtag for the event is #AlaBlogMeet - help us spread the word on Twitter.

I hope to see you there!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Congratulations to Y'all Connect Winner!

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Congratulations to Leslie Wiggins, the winner of one ticket to Y'all Connect!

For the rest of you, you can still use the Promo Code ALABLOGSWEET for $30 off regular tickets!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Best Post of the Week: Week 200!


It's time to link in your best post of the week!

The purpose of this column is to make it easier to keep up with each other's blogs, so that even if we don't have time to read all of the Alabama Blogger blogs every day, at least we get the week's highlights.

So, link up, tell us why you linked that post, and let's start reading! And remember - the best way to get new blogging friends is to comment on other people's posts, so be sure to say "hi" to your neighbors when you visit!

p.s. - please feel free to interpret "this week" as loosely as you like!
If you haven't linked up and introduced yourself yet, be sure to go here to do so!