The week after the Braves game I kicked off my event season with Taste of the Nation Charlotte on April 16.
(Obvi I had to take some time to hang out with my friends.)
Followed by Taste of the Nation Palm Beach on April 23.
Post-event drinks at Buccan with our favorite waiter, Francisco!
Spent the weekend with Barb in Orlando! She is one of my absolute favorite people.
And Taste of the Nation Atlanta on May 8.
I work with some amazing people!
This year's Honorary Chef, Carmen Quagliata from Union Square Cafe, was so fun!
Handsome was able to join!
4 weeks, three events and more then $900k raised for No Kid Hungry! I'd say it was a successful use of my time.
The day after Taste of the Nation events, you typically sleep in and try to relax that morning before heading into work to start doing clean up work. Well, Atlanta clearly has a curse on me. Last year, I had to get up at 6am to meet our movers at the storage unit (long story short, don't ever use Smart Stop Storage on Powers Ferry).
This year, I had to get up at 4am to head to Stamford, CT for my final interviews with Nestlé Waters. (Oh, yeah. That happened.) I got the JOB! I'll be handling the fine dining key accounts for San Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Perrier in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. SUPER excited, because I still get to work in the hospitality industry, with chefs and restaurants I already know from Share Our Strength. Nestlé Waters is a Share Our Strength sponsor, so I still get to be involved - which I'm also excited about. Funny story, I actually posed with an Acqua Panna bottle while we were in Italy to prove to Share Our Strength that I was "working on vacation". It was meant to be!
In May, my best friend got engaged on her birthday - and I had been scheming with her now-fiancee for a couple months to surprise her. They returned to Colorado Springs from their engagement trip to San Francisco on the night of Friday, May 16 - and I was there to surprise her! I actually flew in on Thursday, so I was able to spend Friday in Denver with my cousin, Christopher, and my ex-manager/friend, Jamie. So much fun!
Christopher works for Native Roots - a marijuana dispensary. I was so interested in how everything works (since it's legal out there) and he literally speaks a different language. So many "industry terms" I'm clearly not aware of. Proud of him for working so hard at something he's passionate about (ha)!
Corn hole with Christopher at Viewhouse
Jamie!! Love her.
JACK IN THE BOX!!
The newly engaged couple looking so cute in their California shirts.
She officially asked me to be her Matron of Honor - let the fun begin!
Being touristy at Garden of the Gods.
After a quick stop in Florida the next week for my Share Our Strength Farewell Tour (I named it that, of course), it was back home - finally. The next weekend - Memorial Day - we celebrated my dad's birthday. Jeff and Katie flew in to surprise him and we had some good ole fashioned Reaves Family Fun. I love when the whole family gets together!
The whole fam!
Cards Against Humanity!
Hank, please help yourself.
Birthday dinner at Del Frisco's Grille.
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival was the following weekend, and after a day of volunteering with Allison we were able to hit up a couple events. We went to the Chef After Party at Empire State South on Saturday, May 31 and the Tasting Tents on Sunday. Good times!
For our volunteering, Allison and I were the sous chefs for Buttermilk Kitchen. It was my first time dealing with food in that type of setting, but we totally rocked it out. (haha - I'm sure.)
The following week I took off between Share Our Strength and starting at Nestlé Waters. I didn't take a break between MLT Creative and Share Our Strength, and felt like I didn't know which way was up! The break was so great - very relaxing, with some sun, friends and family sprinkled in.
Adam was a groomsman in his old roommate-groomsman-friend-Kirklan's wedding at the Robson Event Center on Friday, June 6. As always, we had a great time with those North Georgia, peeps.
Kirklan is a huge Batman fan, so he had this fun picture taken of all the groomsmen as different superheroes...
..Adam was Thor!
Randi was stunning!
After party with some of our favorite people at the Monkey Barrel.
I saved the BEST news for last... ADAM AND I WILL HAVE A NEPHEW IN SEPTEMBER!!!! (Well, we're not having him.) Meagan and Nathan are expecting the little bundle on September 18, and she has to be the cutest prego, ever. All of us Baker girls went shopping for Baby Causey last week and I just about died. I also broke the seal and have now been buying way too many baby things for this little bebe. Eeeeeeek! We are so excited for this little miracle and can't wait to spoil him rotten! We love you, whatever your name is!
It's a BOY!
Celebrating the exciting news!
Shopping for Baby Causey last week. Ugh, I can't even handle how cute baby clothes are!
And finally, here's a picture of my favorites. Hank has a newfound fascination with looking out this window and Ruthie is just OVER it. Love this little fam of mine!
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