Weekending

Happy Monday y'all! Well, another lovely weekend came to end, and I already can't wait for the next one. This past weekend I decided to go ahead with my plans to purchase a new phone. I admit it, I'm an Apple lover (sorry but not sorry Android lovers); so, I purchased the iPhone6. I decided I'd upload some of my favorite (often random) photos from my previous phone in remembrance. I hope y'all enjoy the endless amounts of selfies, food pics, and whatnots. Have a wonderful week :D 

 Yes, I stop to take a pic every time I see a breath-taking sunset! 

My kind of afternoon; just chilling at the coffee shop :)  

 This picture makes me laugh every time! Gill and I plus some random cute Italian guy we met a party one time.   

 Home of the Braves!

Never realized how OCD I am when it comes to packing.

 A little Motivational Monday!   

 

The Smell of Autumn

The Georgia weather is cooling down, the smell of burning firewood fills the night air, and I find myself constantly craving pumpkin spice lattes... Well, that must mean that fall is here at last! Don't get me wrong, I love summer time (the beach, poolside tanning sessions, iced coffee, breaks from schoolwork, and so on), but I am crazy for all things fall. There's nothing quite like being able to leave the windows open while the cooling breeze wafts in, knowing that the leaves can begin their gorgeous transitions to amber/red/yellow/orange any time now. I've already taken the time to adjust my wardrobe accordingly, ditching the majority of my maxi dresses and tank tops in favor of knit sweaters and plaid (a new fave of mine - I'm loving the 90's throwback look lately). As you can see in the following outfit post, I've already embraced the lovely fall weather. I started by pairing a solid top with a super-cute, red vest from H&M to add a pop of fall color to the mix. I broke out some of my fave go-to boots, along with a nice pair of  darker wash jeans. What better way to welcome autumn than to incorporate those classic fall colors into my outfit? I kept the accessories simple, with a couple of elegant gold necklaces, a pair of gold bracelets, and some new aviator-style sunglasses; of course, I had to throw on my cherished gold Michael Kors watch for extra pizzaz. I hope y'all are enjoying the changing of the seasons as much as I am!

Outfit Essentials  Vest: H&M Boots: Target  Jeans: J. Crew Bracelets: Marshall's Top: New York & Comp. Clutch: Forever 21   

Blazer & Shorts

 

        There's nothing like classy summer blazers and shorts. I have been beyond obsessed with this outfit combo! Sometime last week, I posted a pic on Instagram showing off the look. With that post being such a big hit, I decided to do a full outfit post of my favorite summer blazer and my flirty short-shorts. The blue, pin-striped blazer seems to have a real sailor-type look to it. I wore a white sheer top to give my outfit a more polished clean look. When it comes to an outfit, knowing when and where to keep it simple goes a long way. The shorts are solid navy-blue, adorned with patterns. Of course, an outfit is never complete without a dash of bling, so I added a statement necklace and bracelet that both had dusted-gold undertones. My shoes, which were a steal by the way, were from Rue21. At only $10, I couldn't walk away! I've worn these shoes to the tee, and they still look brand new. My current summer purse obsession is my white Kenneth Cole handbag, which was just the right finishing touch on my look. This outfit is perfect for the cooler summer days and evenings, especially when going out for a date or an event.     

 

Outfit Essentials:    Blazer: J Crew Top: New York & Comp. Shorts: Old Navy  Heels: Rue21  Jewelry: Charming Charlie Purse: Kenneth Cole Outlet     

July Favorites

I seriously cannot believe that July is over! Add to that the fact that my summer is almost over... Eek! This will be the first of a new segment on Catoura, which will consist of my favorites for a particular month. The following items were my ultimate must-haves for the month of July. What were your monthly favorites?
             

Eating with Catoura: Gio's Chicken Amalfitano

I take to Italy! Well maybe not literally... Yes in the heart of Atlanta you can get a taste of authantic italian dishes thanks to Gio's Chicken Amalfitano. This hidden gem is located in Westside district of midtown. It has multiple Italian cafes along with small shops. I picked Gio's Chicken Amalfitano because well I wanted some authentic italian chicken for dinner.    I ordered the Sorrento Lemon Chicken and plate full of pasta to go along with it called the Napoletana. Let me tell you the chicken was to die for! Marinated with lemon juice and seasonings and a whole lot of garlic. Seriously so many flavors wrapped in one chicken breast. The pasta was a tad spicy but overall enjoyed the sauce especally when it came to dipping my italian bread in it. The poroptions are big enough to serve two people. What I really liked most about this place was the atmosphere it's definitely a family friendly place great for family gatherings. After our dinner we headed to my local/ very popular fudge shop in Atlantic Station called Kilwins. Talk about a fun place to be surrounded by all kinds of sweets: candy apple, ice cream, and fudge! This is not your average candy shop the music is bumping and so is the beautiful decor. Brian and I chose to get the cake batter ice cream. It literally tasted like cake batter... mmmm yum! I always love stopping by there. I hope y'all are having a wonderful Thursday and be sure to stop by at these places if you are in Atlanta!

Google's City Expert

This was by far the BEST event I have ever attended, mainly because it involved an absolutely breath-taking view of Atlanta! Google invited me to their City Experts event, which was held in the beautiful Ventanas venue in Atlanta (hint-hint, this place is a perfect wedding venue).

The venue had a dual level indoor area with two-story floor-to-ceiling windows, along with a rooftop patio featuring a gorgeous skyline view. Small, bite-size hors d'oeuvres were served along with an open bar offering specialty drinks that inspired by the city. I met some lovely bloggers and other City Experts throughout the evening. The best part of this event, by far, was the helipad. From the helipad, you can see all of Atlanta (even out towards Stone Mountain and Kennesaw Mountain); add in a big Google sign in the middle, and the photo ops are priceless. It was a truly breathtaking and exciting event. I definitely danced the night away! I cannot wait for more City Experts events to come :)