I just wanted to say thanks for watching me today on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta!   Not sure if you could tell by the show or not, but I have been having a lot of pain lately due to some feminine issues and couldn’t drive myself to Atlanta today.  Thanks to my hubby for taking the time to drive me and for putting up with all my doctor appointments surrounding the show today.  Anyway, to my new fans –  I hope you will continue coming to Life with Lisa.  I would love to get to know you better.  I’m going to post later this week and give you a chance to win a T-Fal ActiFry just like the one I featured today.  Check back soon!

I’m sooooo sad that we won’t be making it to the annual Harvest Moon Festival at Callaway Gardens this year, but it just isn’t in our budget.  Just because our family is going to miss out on the awesome bands, world-class chefs, farm to table foods, college football, and amazing family entertainment doesn’t mean you have to!

The four-day festival is a celebration of the harvest and of man and nature’s fruitful coexistence, combining farm-to-table foods, eco-centric vendors, cooking and gardening demonstrations, fun and educational activities for children, and of course, this unprecedented lineup of big-name bands. Four big screens in the Festival Tent will be featuring college football.  Yoga outdoors and the Harvest Moon Golf Tournament will add some fun.  For tickets, information and the complete list of confirmed acts, visit harvestmoonfest.com.

I got the list of bands today and wanted to share them with you:

Friday, October 7, 2011

Main Stage

5 p.m.     Francisco Vidal

6 p.m.     Allgood

7:30 p.m.  Parachute

9:15 p.m.  the B-52s

Festival Tent

5:15 p.m.  Zaib Kahn

6:30 p.m. Dread Clampitt

8:15 p.m. Shawn Colvin

11 p.m.    DJ Jobe

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Main Stage

11:30 a.m. Derek T. Givans

1 p.m.     Ed Roland & the Sweet Tea Project

2:30 p.m. Company of Thieves

4:15 p.m. Mat Kearney

6:00 p.m. Big Head Todd and the Monsters

7:45 p.m.  John Hiatt and the Combo

9:30 p.m.  Gin Blossoms

Festival Tent

12 p.m.    Martha’s Trouble

1:30 p.m. Stevie Monce

2:45 p.m.  Already Taken

4:30 p.m. Classic Addict

6:15 p.m.  David Ryan Harris

8 p.m.     Infantree

9:45 p.m.  Shawn Mullins

11 p.m.    DJ Jobe

The inaugural Callaway Gardens Harvest Moon Festival is sure to be a memorable experience.  Plan to stay for the festival and savor every moment.  Overnight packages include festival tickets and shuttle service to the events but space is filling up quickly in the Mountain Creek Inn, Southern Pine Cottages and Mountain Creek Villas.  Gather friends and family and call today to reserve a Harvest Moon Festival overnight package.  VIP upgrades are available for those who want to experience this incredible event in style.

For more information, visit www.harvestmoonfest.com.  For overnight reservations, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com. Keep up with updates for the Harvest Moon Festival at www.facebook.com/HarvestMoonFest and at www.twitter.com/HarvestMoonFst.

 Callaway Gardens is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.

When the season changes I have this uncontrollable urge to change my decor.  Am I alone in this?  I think not.  Kirkland’s has just released their new Fall line and I’m taking advantage of the deals.  Not only that, they are opening 3 new locations in the Atlanta area to make my shopping even easier.  In October (22nd or 23rd) they will open their Gainesville location and the Buford and Kennesaw locations will follow on November 5th and 6th.  Keep your eyes open if you are in Atlanta for great deals and lots of coupons.  There are even rumors of  onsite interior designers who will be offering decorating consultations free of charge.

This year I’m changing the color of my livingroom for tan and black and spicing it up with some slate blue and dark brown.  I found a great rug and awesome decorative pillows (Chocolate Bloom Pillows).  The pillows measure 18″ x 18″ and are made of a faux silk material featuring floral appliqué & embroidery.  The quality is consistent with high-end decor  but the price is much more affordable at only $14.99 a piece.

Ever since I was a little girls the Scouts have played an important role in my life.  I was actually a Brownie and “flew up” to be a Girl Scout in a ritual I will never forget.  I always said my daughter would join one day, but that never came.  I never had a daughter to share scouting experiences with….but I did have two boys and they have each enjoyed Cub Scouts.  My boys are 10 years apart and my oldest son’s uniform was passed down to my 7 year old this past summer.

Through Cub Scouts my boys have had some of the most valuable experiences and you can read about some of them in the new Adventure Manual available through Scholastic and the Cub Scouts.  Although different troops do different things my son’s have gone camping, participated in nature field trips, learned the proper way to use a knife, archery, cooking, and so much more.  The Scouts have also given them great guidance and advice on being a positive and productive citizen.  The organization is also a great place for children to meet others and build friendships that will last a life time.

The 10 Benefits of SCOUTING:

• SCOUTING Is Fun.
• SCOUTING Has Ideals.
• SCOUTING Strengthens Families.
• SCOUTING Helps Boys Develop Interests and Skills.
• SCOUTING Provides Adventure.
• SCOUTING Has an Advancement Plan.
• SCOUTING Creates Fellowship.
• SCOUTING Promotes Diversity.
• SCOUTING Provides a Year-Round Program.
• SCOUTING Is a Positive Place.

Regardless if you live in Atlanta or just come into the city for the fireworks there is no better deal than the Red, White, and Boom Package at the Glenn Hotel (a Marriott property).  You can celebrate Independence Day with a romantic getaway or a girls weekend out at the Glenn Hotel and view the fireworks display in Centennial Olympic Park from the roof-top sky lounge.  The affordable $129 a night package includes free parking, unlimited access to the Sky Lounge (rated Top 23 Best Roof-Top Bars), BBQ on the roof from noon to 3:00 p.m., breakfast and an early check-in of 12:00.

Reservations
Be sure that promotional code HO9 appears in the Corporate/Promotional code box when making your online reservation, or call 1-800-228-9290 in the US and ask for promotional code HO9.

• Valid through:   July 5, 2011
• Promotional Code:   HO9

The Glenn Hotel is located at 110 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

Fryer

Bays

English Muffins

Eggs

Quaker

Quaker Oats

Scharffen Berger

Chocolate Pies

The Dole Crew

Charlie was not there...

Introducing POM Lite (my sponsor)

Mangos

Swag

Check out Atlanta Military Mom for another awesome WW post!

The Georgia Aquarium in Pictures

We missed the Dolphin Show, but got to check out some really interesting sea life.

Check out Wordless Wednesday with Atlanta Military Mom!

Have you ever been to an aquarium?  This was a first for me.

Every year James has his picture taken for school two times, once in the Spring and once in the Fall.  We have NEVER bought his school picture – ever.  He either sits there looking mad, refuses to do it, or poses in a way that makes it look like he is being tortured.  Recently we had a chance to see how a true professional works when we went to the studio of Deana Levine Photography.

One of my favorite things about her studio were her backgrounds.  The fabrics she had were all so unique and colorful.  I especially love the one she choose for James’ sitting.  She also had an amazing assortment of props – some old, some new, and all were different from what you normally find.  However, the most unique thing about Deana was her ability to connect with James and the way she brought him to life in her photography.

Deana made my son look like a professional model. It took her all of 40 minutes – start to finish to get the most stubborn 7 year old alive to do these poses.  We actually had a bunch of pictures done with him in that time frame – both indoors and outdoors.  Deana Levine Photography is located at 305 East College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 and if you make an appointment from now until May28th you can save $50 off your sitting fee if you tell her you saw James’ pictures.  You can reach her at 404-748-4353 or email her at studio@deanalevine.com.

Have you ever had pictures done professionally?