hnrealtors

What’s Happening in Peachtree Corners — Town Center Fall Events

by elizabethkaypinder

Peachtree Corners’ newest development, the Town Green — located in the popular Town Center, offers a variety of events during the fall season. From movies to concerts to livestream sports broadcasts on the giant screen, to early-morning yoga, there is surely something for everyone to enjoy!

Fall Events at PTC Town Center

Summer Concert Series

  • Tribute, Allman Brothers Tribute Band, with special guests Harvest Moon, Sept. 25, 7:00 pm

Night Music Series — Live, Local Music!

Flicks on the Green

  • Labyrinth, Oct. 2, 7:00 pm

Sports on the Screen

  • UGA v Auburn, Oct. 9, Time TBD
  • UGA v Kentucky, Oct. 16, Time TBD
  • Game TBD, Oct. 23, Time TBD Young Lions Obstacle Course, a youth event from 3pm-6pm
  • Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech, Oct. 30, Time TBD
  • Alabama vs. LSU, Nov. 6, Time TBD
  • UGA vs. Tennessee, Nov. 13, Time TBD
  • Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 20, 2:30 PM
  • SEC Championship, Dec. 4, Time TBD
  • Army vs. Navy, Dec. 11, 3:00 PM

Yoga on the Green provided by Sun Dragon Yoga

  • Every Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. through Sept. 28

Peachtree Corners Festival

Enjoy the annual weekend festival with art/crafts vendors, live music, fun food, and kids activities

  • Saturday, Sept. 18, 10:00am to 9:00pm
  • Saturday Night Concert:  7 pm
  • Sunday, Sept. 19:  12:00pm to 5:00pm

Veterans Day Ceremony

Veterans Day occurs on November 11 every year in the United States in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that signaled the end of World War I, known as Armistice Day. Veterans Day commemorates veterans of all wars. Please gather at the Veterans’ Memorial Plaza at the Town Center as the City of Peachtree Corners’ government honors those who have served our country in the military.

Veterans Day 2020

All events are tentative. Check city website a week prior to event for confirmation.

PTC Town Center

The 21-acre Town Center is the new heartbeat of PTC community, with over 15 restaurants (Fire and Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen, Marlowe’s Tavern, Salata…), retail shops (Hollywood Feed, Boardroom Salon, Hand and Stone…), office space, and now, 75 new townhomes that overlook a 2+ acre Town Green park. The park is a central gathering place for many in our community, and hosts live outdoor concerts and seasonal events. The city’s landmark bridge located at the main entrance to the Town Center guides pedestrians over Peachtree Parkway and connects with the Corners Connector, the city’s pedestrian and bicycle trail system, and The Forum Shopping Center where many retail shops and more wonderful restaurants await.

PTC Town Green

The Town Green, designed as space for outdoor activities, includes so many wonderful features: an active water play space, open air pavilion, café tables, fire pit, 22′ digital display screen, open lawn, playable art, a fitness trail, and a 2,500 square-foot veterans’ monument featuring sculptures of military service people.

Photo credit: TSW Design

Some tips to keep in mind when attending PTC Town Green events

  • Items Allowed: Chairs & Blankets, Coolers Items
  • Not Allowed: Tents, Grills, Glass Bottles
  • All events are tentative ; Please check city website one week prior to event for confirmation.
  • Park and Walk — Parking is available at the Town Center parking deck, and additional parking is provided at 3720 Davinci Court. You’ll park there, cross PTC Circle, and access the Town Green via a pathway. Look for signage.

I hope all our locals will come out and enjoy the fall events and this beautiful space we have here at the Town Center in Peachtree Corners. I hope that we will have the chance to welcome lots of visitors, too! I’d love it if you would leave a comment to share your favorite fall outdoor community event!

In my Kitchen: Homemade Moisturizer

by elizabethkaypinder

I first learned about this wonderful cream, sometimes called Rosemary’s Perfect Cream, from my niece, 6 or 7 years ago. Originally created by Rosemary Gladstar, this recipe is floating around different sites on the Internet, and there is a wonderful how-to video on YouTube featuring Ms. Gladstar. The first time I made it I was astounded! I had made my own beautiful, rich, face cream, and it was a pretty easy process.

I Love This Moisturizer

It is luscious — lightweight, creamy, mild, non-irritating. . . You can customize this cream however you like. You decide which types oils to use (avocado, apricot kernel, coconut, almond oil), you decide if you would like to have a scent (lavender, rosewater, orange, almond) or none at all. And you decide how thick you want it to be. Use this as a face cream or a body lotion. In fact, you can make the recipe using only the “oils” ingredients, and make yourself a thick balm that is terrific for soothing rough, dry winter skin. Be creative with it — or follow the recipe exactly.

It’s Easy to Make

The recipe is divided into two ingredient types — waters and oils. Combine the waters in one container, and in another bowl, melt the oils and cool to room temp. Then put oils in a blender, turn the blender on medium and slowly drizzle in the waters. Once the waters are all poured in, you may want to turn off the motor a moment and use a small spatula to incorporate all the oils from the corners into the center. Turn the motor back on, and soon you will hear the motor slow down, as the cream begins to thicken. When it slows way down — Voilá — Parfait! You have Rosemary’s Perfect Cream:)

Storage

I prefer using jars that have easy-on, easy-off lids. I’ve found it’s easiest to use jars with a wide opening, that aren’t too deep. I’ve bought glass jars from The Container Store and plastic jars from Amazon. I also use a mason jar to store a larger batch and then decant it into smaller jars as needed. Some people recommend storing this cream in the fridge. I store it in my pantry when it’s in a mason jar, or on the kitchen counter and bathroom vanity in smaller jars. I have never had an issue with the cream going bad.

Benefits

Some of the benefits of making and using this moisturizer: it’s a wonderful, effective, and rich moisturizer; it’s made with natural ingredients you can easily ID and pronounce; it is customizable to your preferences; make it all organic if you choose; it’s easy to make a fresh batch; it is cost effective; it makes a wonderful and unique gift for teachers, co-workers, your favorite barista . . . everyone loves receiving and using Rosemary’s Perfect Cream!

I hope you will try making a batch yourself. Please let me know, in the comments section, when you make it, how you like it, or if you have questions about it! Happy blending:)

Rosemary’s Perfect Cream

Waters
2/3 cup distilled water (or rose water)
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1 or 2 drops essential oil of your choice
Vitamins A and E as desired

Oils
3/4 cup apricot, almond, or grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/4 teaspoon lanolin
1/2 to 1 ounce grated beeswax

Combine the waters in a glass measuring cup. Set aside. In a double boiler over low heat, combine the oils. Heat them just enough to melt. Pour the oils into a blender and let them cool to room temperature. The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid, and cream-colored. This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn’t become too hard. When the mixture has cooled, turn on the blender at its highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle, pour the water mixture into the center vortex of the whirling oil mixture. When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes and the cream looks thick and white, like buttercream frosting, turn off the blender. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon, but don’t overbeat. The cream will thicken as it sets. Pour into cream or lotion jars and store in a cool location.

This recipe is from Simply Live Well blog.

This is how I store the ingredients, in my pantry. The initial cost of ingredients is around $40 or $50, depending on your selection, but you don’t use much of most ingredients in one batch. Therefore, the actual cost per batch is ridiculously low.

What’s Happening in Peachtree Corners — Town Green Summer Events

by elizabethkaypinder

Peachtree Corners’ newest development, the Town Green — located in the popular Town Center, offers a variety of events over the summer months. From movies to concerts to livestream sports broadcasts on the giant screen, to early-morning yoga, there is surely something for everyone to enjoy!

PTC Town Center

The 21-acre Town Center is the new heartbeat of PTC community, with over 15 restaurants (Fire and Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen, Marlowe’s Tavern, Salata…), retail shops (Hollywood Feed, Boardroom Salon, Hand and Stone…), office space, and now, 75 new townhomes that overlook a 2+ acre Town Green park. The park is a central gathering place for many in our community, and hosts live outdoor concerts and seasonal events. The city’s landmark bridge located at the main entrance to the Town Center guides pedestrians over Peachtree Parkway and connects with the Corners Connector, the city’s pedestrian and bicycle trail system, and The Forum Shopping Center where many retail shops and more wonderful restaurants await.

PTC Town Green

The Town Green, designed as space for outdoor activities, includes so many wonderful features: an active water play space, open air pavilion, café tables, fire pit, 22′ digital display screen, open lawn, playable art, a fitness trail, and a 2,500 square-foot veterans’ monument featuring sculptures of military service people.

Town Green Summer Events

Summer Concert Series — Reservations Required

Night Music Series — Live, Local Music!

Flicks on the Green

  • Hook, Jul 3, 7:00 pm
  • Thor, Aug 7, 7:00 pm
  • Cars, Sept 4, 7:00 pm
  • Labyrinth, Oct 2, 7:00 pm

Sports on the Screen

  • Braves v Cardinals, Jun 19, 7:15 pm
  • Atl. United v New England, Jul 17, 5:00 pm
  • Atl. United v Columbus, Jul 24, 3:30 pm

Yoga on the Green provided by Sun Dragon Yoga

  • Every Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. through Sep 28

All events are tentative. Check city website a week prior to event for confirmation.

Summer Concert Series

The third annual Summer Concert Series features bands from across the nation at the Town Green in the Town Center at 7:00 PM. Admission is FREE (with reservations, see below) to enjoy live music with bands from all over the country. Concerts are the last Saturday of the month, through September. Fans can bring food or visit one of the many restaurants located within the Town Center for carryout. 

June’s concert will feature the ultimate Eagles tribute, On the Border. Treating fans to an authentic concert experience while journeying through The Eagles songbook, the band covers favorites such as “Desperado” and “Lyin’ Eyes” as well as rockin’ hits such as “Life in the Fast Lane” and “Heartache Tonight” with such accuracy, that listeners may permanently confuse “On the Border” with the real Eagles!

Opening for On the Border will be Atlanta’s own Carly Burruss. Carly’s whimsical, tongue-in-cheek disposition combined with her lilting sound make her the country music singer/songwriter who stands out from the rest.

Concert Tickets: To ensure everyone’s safety Summer Concert Series will require tickets this year. Visit the Town Center Events page here for a link to reserve tickets. Tickets will be available about a week before each of the concerts and there is a 6-ticket limit per household. You will be given wristbands the day of the concert, according to the number of tickets you have reserved, when you show your tickets. Participants will be able to get their wristbands and set up their spot after 2:00 PM on the day of the show. All areas will be first come first serve on the day of the event. Attendees may set up lawn chairs throughout the event area.

All tickets must be redeemed by 7:30 PM. Any tickets that have not been redeemed by that time will become available to those waiting on a first come first serve basis.

Guests are asked to social distance and wear masks as often as possible while attending the event. Space is very limited and expected to fill up quickly. Once all reservations are filled, the event will be at capacity and no additional guests can be accommodated.

Night Music Series

No reservations are required to attend this music series, which features live local bands. June’s Night Music concert features The Sawgrass Blues Band. As described on their website, they are “homegrown, Roswellian, blues-loving machines, specially selected for smoothness and taste. Acoustic, eclectic, bluesy, electric, — toe-tapping, foot-stomping rock, rhythm, & blues!”

Flicks on the Green

Join your PTC neighbors on the Town Green for Flicks on the Green a FREE movie series featuring iconic movies on their anniversary, on the 22′ digital display! Mark your calendar for the first Saturday of each month through October 2. Movies will be begin at 7pm; bring a blanket and stretch out on the lawn and experience movies under the stars. Bring a picnic or grab food from your favorite Town Green restaurants.

Sports on the Screen

Come tailgate with fellow fans on the Town Green in July! A Braves baseball game and two Atlanta United soccer games will be live cast on the big screen (22′ digital display) at the Town Green. Sports fans are encouraged to bring their own coolers or purchase food and drink from one of the many restaurants in the Town Center. 

*Times and games could change last minute due to network availability

Yoga on the Green

Stretch and strengthen wit your neighbors at Yoga on the Green every Tuesday at 8:30 am, April 27 through September 28. Everyone from beginners to experienced yogis are welcome to this FREE class taught by David Penn from Sun Dragon Yoga.

What to Bring — Water (no glass containers), a small towel or two, and a mat if you have one. Please note the ground can be wet for these early morning classes so a towel under your mat can be helpful.

What to Wear — Wear comfortable clothes that allow a range of motion. Consider a close-fitting shirt, or a shirt that can be tucked in.  Come in whatever shoes you would like, as practice will be done barefoot.

EV charging is available at the Town Center

  • 4 Electrify America DCFC Stations 150kw – 350kw (parking deck, lower level)
  • 12 Tesla DCFC stations 350kw (parking deck, lower level)
  • 6 Level 2 charging stations (parking deck, two on each level)
  • To access charging, when entering Town Center from Hwy 141, head straight through the traffic circle and turn right, in front of Cinebistro. You’ll find chargers on the lower level there, and more on every level.

Some tips to keep in mind when attending PTC Town Green events

  • Items Allowed: Chairs & Blankets, Coolers 
  • Items Not Allowed: Tents, Grills, Glass Bottles
  • All events are tentative; Please check city website one week prior to event for confirmation.
  • Park and Walk — Parking is available at the Town Center parking deck, and additional parking is provided at 3720 Davinci Court. You’ll park there, cross PTC Circle, and access the Town Green via a pathway. Look for signage.

I hope all our locals will come out this summer and enjoy this beautiful space we have here at the Town Center in Peachtree Corners. I hope that we will have the chance to welcome lots of visitors, too! I’d love it if you would leave a comment to share your favorite summer outdoor community event!

Limewash Fireplace Transformation

by elizabethkaypinder

My family bought our 1980s Williamsburg-style home, in Peachtree Corners, GA, in 2006. The home is tucked near a nice little cul-de-sac, deep in a subdivision full of 1980s Williamsburg-style homes. The homes are not too varied, interesting, or exciting, but do we love our home, our yard, and our neighborhood. The previous owners, who were the original owners, had made some quality upgrades to the house over the years. We have enjoyed continuing with numerous renovations ourselves.

Our home, in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

One update we made a few years ago was kind of a big leap for me. It wasn’t a huge project, but was definitely a commitment. We limewashed the brick fireplace surround. When it comes to painting brick, there’s no going back…you can’t really “unpaint” brick. I’ve always felt that brick and wood are some kind of Sacred — you just can’t paint them on a whim! I realize many people feel this way. …but many don’t!

To my eye, the brick in our family room was a drab color, and while the surrounding oak bookcases were a great quality and of nice workmanship, I was tired of the heavy, honey-colored oak. That whole end of the room was dark.

This is from 2016, before we limewashed fireplace surround and painted the woodwork. Even with the inset lighting, that end of the room was dark and kind of blah. The wood and brick colors blended too much.

I looked into adding a fresh, current tile over the brick to update it, but after looking at pricing and logistics, we decided to try the limewash (since it’s inexpensive), and if we hated that, we could reconsider the work and expense of adding tile.

I was inspired by a few photos I found after Googling “painted brick fireplace” and settled on the limewash effect. We went with Romabio Avorio White Limewash Interior/Exterior Paint, which was in stock at Home Depot. I liked the limewash because it wasn’t going to completely cover the tones of the brick. Limewash paint gives a unique “whitewash” effect. The product we chose is a one-coat process, no priming required. That’s what sealed the whole deal for me.  According to the Romabio website this product is toxin free and environmentally friendly. Romabio Limewash is mineral-based and is derived from sustainable materials. . . . Bonus! And we were thrilled with the results!

The limewash process gives an old-world, antiqued/weathered look. Some of the brick color remains exposed, which results in a warmth you just wouldn’t have with a painted brick.

Here is a terrific sampling of the Romabio Limewash colors, found at brick&batten.com.

We decided to keep the oak mantle in place, as is, as it compliments our oak floors, and has a nice, neutral style.  So after taping off the edges by the mantle, bookcases, floor, and ceiling, we were ready to experiment.

The application was very easy. We went with the recommended 50% dilution (see chart below; the .67-gallon can was plenty for our fireplace surround). Before applying the limewash, we misted a 3’x3′ area of the brick with a spraybottle of water. Once the brick was damp, we used a paintbrush to apply the wash. It soaks right in!

Keep your brick damp with water as you apply the limewash.

We adjusted the look by applying plenty of the product and then washing off in random areas, so the brick color would peek through. We were able to balance out the intensity with some vigorous buffing, and there was lots of stepping back to observe, adding or removing the wash, and more observing after that!

This was at the end of the first day. We did remove a little more the next day, as it was a little more opaque than we wanted.

Removal is possible for up to two days after the initial application — very forgiving. This product can be re-applied to add color depth, even past the two-day removal limit. Since the finish is flat, touchups are undetectable. Nota Bene: the product dries more opaque and it looks “thicker” or “darker” when dry than when it’s wet. We ended up removing quite a bit over the next couple of hours, adjusting the amount of brick color and the “location” or “pattern” of the red that showed through.

Romabio Classico Limewash dilution recommendations


1L/1QT.2.5L/0.67GAL15L/4GAL
50%500ml1.25L7.5L
70%700ml1.75L10.5L

After the wonderful transformation with the limewashed  masonry, we decided to go ahead and have the woodwork painted to coordinate with the wall color, Silver Strand (7057, Sherwin Williams). The paint colors we used are: bookcases “Attitude Gray” (7060); wainscoting “Unusual Gray” (7059); all Sherwin Williams colors. 

‘White Rose Trio’ over mantle, by Tatyana Klevenskiy

This update truly brightened this part of my home. Adding the limewash to the fireplace surround and then painting the woodwork gave everything a fresher, cleaner, more updated feel. I just love it!

Gone Thrifting!

by elizabethkaypinder

[For “1969 Poodle Wall Plaque” giveaway, see end of post and leave a comment!]

Do you ever go “thrifting”? The phrase is trending, but the act itself has been around for decades. As a teenager (early 1980s), I loved heading to Little 5 Points, in Atlanta, to visit the vintage clothes stores (Stefan’s, Junkman’s Daughter) and then head over to the AMVETS thrift store on Moreland Avenue, for hours of perusing. I scored all kinds of wonderful, magical things in those shops…clothes, of course, but also jewelry (they don’t make ‘em like they used to!!) shoes, purses, scarves, gloves, and at AMVETS they sold household items as well — I got some fantastic blown glass vases and some glasses, framed art, all the fun stuff! I still have a lot of the things I bought. Some are put away in boxes, but some are out, about my home, and I enjoy them every day! 

Currently I frequent just two thrift shops in the Atlanta area, City Thrift in Lilburn, GA and the Goodwill near my home in Peachtree Corners.  I have scored some SERIOUS loot at these places! I want to share some of the amazing finds I’ve had recently, and how I’ve upcycled some of the items. I also want to note how appreciative I am that people are willing to take the time to donate items they no longer need.

Visiting a thrift shop can be overwhelming, so I have a few tips to share for folks who are interested.

Tip 1 — Visit often, keep it short.

I found that if I visit the shop often, say — once a week, and stay for about 30 minutes, I tend to be able to spot great stuff easily. Some items will stay on the shelves for weeks, so if you visit regularly you will stop noticing the things that don’t interest you and be able to recognize the new inventory. Taking in everything on the shelves or racks can be overwhelming. Thirty minutes is about the maximum time I can focus while thrifting, too.

Tip 2 — Focus on one or two departments per trip.

This is related to my first tip: One thrifting trip might be a visit down all the “home goods” aisles — kitchen items, home decor, small appliances, and outdoor decor such as flower pots and garden items. In another visit, focus on shoes, handbags, belts, hats/scarves, and jewelry. Or focus on looking at just jackets and sweaters. My brain gets foggy when I try to take on much more than that. I do admit, I always head straight to the small appliances, though, every single visit. I am obsessed with finding espresso machines — I’ve found three so far (gifted them to two of my sons)!

Tip 3 — Fuel yourself!

Make sure you aren’t hungry, thirsty, or in need of a bathroom visit. Sorta ruins the fun otherwise…

Tip 4 — Keep your eye out for the unusual, and keep an open mind!

Most everything is cheap in a thrift store. If something really catches my eye, I will buy it even if I don’t want to keep it “forever”. As my sister-in-law once said, “Think of it as a rental program! Buy it, enjoy it a while, then re-donate it!” That actually makes a lot of sense to me. I’ve always been of the mindset that, when I buy something, I’m going to always have it, and I’d better make the best use of what I have. I do that to a degree, but thrift shop items are low cost, and it can be fun to buy something a little outside my comfort zone or my taste, and get creative with it! Upcyling (refashioning something thought to be useless into something of greater value) can be delightful and rewarding, too!

Tip 5 — Prepare for AMAZING finds!

Read on to see the fantastical stuff I’ve found while thrifting!

This Italian-made espresso machine retails for $200+ and it was new, in-box when I spotted it at City Thrift! My BEST buy ever!!

Unique Barware

George Briard Mid-Century cocktail glasses, on eBay for $50+, and have real gold detail. Festive at the holidays!
Another set of fun holiday glassware!

More kitchen and housewares

This German dessert set looked as if it was never used! It was one of my pricier purchases, $50. It’s so much fun to use in when friends are over. I love the curve of the coffee pot, and the sassy style of the cream and sugar set!
Some 99-cent items, and how I use them.
These square vases caught my teen’s eye. He used them to create a vignette of succulent plants for his nightstand.
This wicker trunk is from Bombay Company. It matches my decor perfectly!
I found these frames on different visits at City Thrift. I like to look for unusual shaped frames, and especially tiny frames! These are pics of me with each of my sons:)

Fun Apparel

Unicorn Thrifting Find — A 3-D Printer

This 3-D Printer had just been rolled out onto the floor when my son and I walked in to Goodwill, in late 2019. We already had a 3-D printer but this one had additional features and was half retail price (it came with original receipt from Amazon!). It took the guys a little work to get it going, but now they use it for most of their 3-D projects.

Upcycling

I love these medallions, but decided to upcyle them to fit with my bedroom decor. I do love using the chalk paint!
This mirror was on its way to the thrift store from my dad’s garage. The frame is plastic, so I decided to try chalk paint on it!
In its finished space, it looks like a fine wood-carved frame! I love it!

Do you enjoy thrifting? Have you had fun and success, upcyling? I’d love to read about your experiences. Please share in the comments!

***If you’d like to enter my Thrifted Giveaway, (randomly chosen 4/30/21) to become the lucky owner of this adorable pair of 1969 Miller Studios Poodle Wall Plaques, please leave a comment below!***

These plaques measure approximately 6″ x 9″ and are painted plaster, 1969/1970 Miller Studios originals. Similar here!