Lisa had put her life on hold for the past 9 years, so when we asked her what she wanted to do, she had the simplest wish list. One was to go to Lifetime Fitness, our health club, that we had told her about, but she had no idea what to expect. We got her a 10 day pass. As lavish as LA should be, she had seen nothing like our resort-like health club and has not stopped talking about it. When she got back to LA, she was on a mission to find a comparable place. Needless to say, everyone in LA now knows about Lifetime thanks to Lisa. The rattiest places there in LA are triple the price of Lifetime. Lisa, our hero, also over the past two years lost over 80 lbs. Her eating is so disciplined and healthy...she inspired me and Monique. Since she mostly walked for exercise, she was so excited to be at Lifetime every day to try out different methods. Above, she, Monique, Tandria and cousin, Lorren, attend Dance Jam, with Larry T. This is a hip hop dance class that Monique attends regularly. Lisa fell in love with it.She also wanted to rock climb, which she did not get to do, although the club has a huge rock climbing area. She did get to do a spin cycling class, something she has wanted to do forever. I did this with her. Many of the club activities we had not tried until Lisa came to town. We were signing up for everything. This class wore me and Lisa out. SO HARD. The room is filled with a good 50 bike apparati. The teacher comes around and adjusts the whole bike for you before 'the ride.' You are literally bent over on this little seat like a real cyclist. Then the lights go out, and on the sides of the little stage with 3 instructor bikes on it, two movie screens come down and you are number 4 in the Tour de France race. Lance Armstrong is ahead of you at number one. You feel like you are literally in the race as you perfectly choreographed, ride up and down hills, pass the cheering, wild crowds all over France. Very pumped up, club music is playing in the room as the instructor rides you through, making you adjust your bike along the way for ease or harder tension. I am tempted to try it again, but the bigger part of me wants to never go in that room again. I have never been so challenged. Oh, the sweat!! I did not have the camera but got this photo of Lisa in the dark room with my phone. She is acting here. We were done and trying to hurry up on out of there.
Go Lisa!! We also did a kick box class and did not get around to pilates and yoga or the CORE classes. She was able to enjoy our waterfall spas, the steam rooms and the saunas. She took a tour of the salon, manicure, pedicure, and massage areas. We had not been back there ourselves and were blown away.
Another thing that was not necessarily on her wish list turned out to be a 1st for her, I do believe. Since most, if not all historically black colleges are in the south and along the east coast, our California friend had not experienced a black college game. Luckily, me and my dad's school, Morehouse College, was having its Homecoming game. She got to see all the pomp and circumstance, all the traditional happenings, two black college bands, and crowds and crowds of people at the tailgate festivities. It was a beautiful day that you thought was an Obama rally versus Morehouse's Homecoming with all the Obama paraphenalia worn and for sale. Election Tuesday was the next week.
My dad is whispering in Leslie's ear, "you gotta go to Spelman (the all-female college across the street from all-male Morehouse)."
Future Morehouse Man?
Getting a little eats at EATS restaurant after the game.
Three girls in boots.
Lisa is/was a fan of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reality show. She loved Ne-Ne and we actually printed a photo of Ne-Ne and had a framed photo of her in Lisa's room at the house...she was in tears laughing. We took Lisa to Chocolate Pink, a dessert bistro of sorts, owned by a friend of Monique's and also a featured venue on the reality show where the ladies had a party. Lisa was too excited. Before our dessert, we ate at neighboring Beleza, the coolest, chic-est restaurant in Atlanta. Li-Li loved it. The DJ in Beleza is bananas!!
Lemon Meringue...a piece of pie and also a piece of art.
In some of their down time, Lisa and Monique did a little crafting. They made Leslie two no-sew tu-tus for her upcoming ballet classes. Lisa pumped out the pink one.
Monique cranked out this pink and brown one...Leslie's signature colors that are now all the rage.
Lisa gets a thank you head/hair massage from Leslie Mykael.
Whenever we chat or get to visit face to face with Lisa, we always talk about her moving to the Atlanta area or being bi-coastal. With such chatter, I was feening for a visit to my newest dream neighborhood, Vickery. This kind of set-up is sort of common in the city, but for those who want that city-feel and not be in the city with all its issues, there are developments popping up in the burbs of Atlanta.
I love this set up. A mother-daughter team are the developers/masterminds of the Hedgewood Communities, so the attention to detail is out of this world.
Powder room with country sink and walls made of rustic, country wood laid in horizonally.
So much open space. Reminds me of our present house, just much bigger and super well-appointed.
Three large bedrooms are upstairs with walk-in closets and the laundry center. The master bath is like a luxury hotel-feel. The wood flooring is unique and incredible, and the ceilings are even high upstairs. You feel like you are in a 100 year old Manhattan apartment with the colors and the wood, but the place is brand spankin new.
This house is on top of a row of about 10-15 upscale boutiques and 4 restaurants. In the center is another restaurant, a gelato/dessert cafe and the most beautiful little park with gorgeous, plush outdoor furnishings. There is even a super modern YMCA in the community with walking parks all over the place. There are other home styles in this huge development. Barn-like bedrooms with actual huge barn doors to enter the master baths. 3 story brownstones with mini elevators in each home. In the neighborhoods where there are homes with yards, each home is different. Some have courtyards. Some have columns out front made of tree trunks. The place is like no other. My home-buying paradigm has totally change. Can ya tell I am excited??? Lisa was tripping out and loved the boutiques, especially the ones with home furnishings. We miss our friend!!
