cozy professional
as winter rolls in
there is a tingle in the air
pulling you down slowly
closer to stillness
closer to another death
awaiting regeneration
discovering east lake atlanta
There are way too many effin cute neighborhoods in Atlanta. It’s wonderfully overwhelming and keeps me feeling alive to discover all the little gems scattered inside the perimeter. A recent Saturday took me to East Lake in search of Thread Count, a unique vendor’s market focused on raising awareness for local craftsmanship, sustainability, and design. In other words, it pretty much had my name written all over it plus there was no cover charge at all. I expected the typical Atlanta craft market experience where you come, covet, eat, and leave. Little did I know that East Lake’s neighborhood would charm the pants off of me. Why?… Just look.
On the way to Thread Count, Ben and I stumbled upon the East Lake Urban Farm. Due to our impending move to a duplex unit with a backyard begging for a garden, I’ve recently become obsessed with nurseries, farms, and vegetable gardens. Perhaps it’s the farm to table trend seeping into my blood. Perhaps it’s my desire to save money. Either way – it’s a healthy new interest and I’m looking forward to what I might be able to pull up from the earth with my own two hands. In the meantime, I’ll just keep ogling cute places like this.
The event was held in the East Lake Community Garden which is filled rows of blooming vegetables and a den of weed-eating goats (even little ones). Though there weren’t many vendors in total, each one was dripping with a genuine desire to share the love of their craft. Not to mention there was also free beer from New Belgium. Did I mention that I like stuff that’s free?
I met a number of darling artisans who were just beginning their creative journey. Like KJo – audiologist by day and jewelry maker by night! She scavenges for vintage items and reclaims them into sweet little pieces to wear. Her display felt like the awesome attic of an eccentric aunt who has a taste for the feminine along with the slightly strange.
And Rachael of Neva Opet, who hand-crafts elegant leather accessories. She’s an absolute doll and more on her later!
Do you need any more convincing to go see East Lake for yourself? Just a little drive around the neighborhood will do you a world of good, but a visit to the garden and farm will be enough to make you want to plant your own roots here.
paris in atlanta
Sometimes I fall into the delusional trap of thinking I’ve seen it all. Seen all the places, eaten all the food, roamed all the markets. As much as I try to convince myself that sitting at home on the weekends is the best course of action, it just isn’t true. There is just too much to be found out there in our wonderful city and even the things you think you know can surprise you. Case in point: Paris On Ponce.
I used to go to Paris on Ponce pretty frequently when I first moved here to ogle the mass amount of antiques (not gonna lie, also because they so adorably laid out cookies and lemonade too), but had fallen off the wagon due to the fact that I could never take home the secondhand furniture I coveted. A chance whim took me back there recently and I was stunned at all the changes that had taken place, in a very good way.
Paris on Ponce is now Paris on Ponce & POP Marché. Still housing a crazy amount of antique treasures, but now also home to unique vignette boutiques filled with home goods from various vendors and curators from around the city. And here I was, thinking it couldn’t get any better! Every booth is like a miniature world with a landscape abundant with patterns, texture, and color.
Despite my best efforts, I didn’t manage to make it out empty-handed.
props to style bloggers
MEHR. Here I go again, trying to act like I’m comfortable throwing my visage out into the interwebz. I finally caved and bought some basic color crop tops to wear for the rest of summer and here was my attempt at mastering the art of the color block outfit.
Willingly putting pictures out like this makes me feel so incredibly vain. It’s really weird and I hope you don’t think that I think that I’m super amazing or comfortable dressing like this every day. The thought running through my head over and over again was “do they think I’m trying to hard,” knowing full well that I DID indeed try hard. Props to all you style bloggers out there who post your outfits every day, every other day, or even once a week. I do not know how you manage looking so cool, well-curated, and yet unpretentious. Someday I will be able to join your league of awesomeness.
lovin that kudzu
Atlanta holds so many treasures that I forget all the different places to find them. Usually it takes an out-of-town visitor for me to recognize the things I fell in love with when I first moved here. A great example of that is Kudzu in Decatur (not technically Atlanta, but close enough).
Kudzu is full to the brim with vendor stalls holding things like antique treasures, mid-century modern, vintage toys, and more. I seem to always find something to take home with me whenever I go, but that’s probably because I’m good at rationalizing utility for random vessels.
Not quite sure what’s wrong with me, but I’m just obsessed with collecting vases, cups, plates, etc! Maybe it’s a way for me to compensate for not being able to purchase the larger furniture I covet.
may daze
This month has gone by way too fast. The older I get the more convinced I am that time is speeding up. That being said, let me take some time to share these moments from some wonderful memories made in May.
Free fun? Who can say no! This was one of my favorite festival-type events to date. Not for any singular reason, but just because it felt so perfectly simple. It was small yet held a lot of quality vendors and I enjoyed getting acquainted with the Kirkwood area. The food stars of the day were Nectar and Atomic Ice Cream Sandwiches. Again, who can say no?
Finally got a chance to sample the Indian street food delight in Decatur. While I definitely enjoyed what I ordered (kale pakoras and a mango lassi), I walked away still feeling hungry. The menu is set up in a tapas style and so the best way to go is with a huge group. All in all, it was quick and easy, but not the best option for just two. Side note – I was completely enchanted by the vintage Bollywood movie posters on the walls.
Nestled right next to Fernbank Museum of Natural History, I’ve driven past this garden for three years and only discovered it because my mom pointed it out from the road. Best of all is that it’s free and open to the public every day!
this post features kittens
I’m not quite sure what’s happening with the amount of adorableness in my blog posts. I just can’t help it, I guess! This last road trip I went solo which sucked but was awesome at the same time. I very much enjoyed being able to sing as loud as I can and stop wherever I wanted. The most surprising stop for me was the Plantation House gas station in Tifton, Georgia.
(an abandoned building beside the gas station)
The pumps were old and I felt like an alien in the whole scene. But there were two amazing things at Plantation House. First one being, feral KITTENS.
a sweet medium
I’ve seen quite a lot of cakes in my day (I used to work at a custom cake bakery), so it’s pretty rare when I see a sweet tiered treat that makes me take a second look. And then I saw M Robin Cake Design. Her stunning creations just about knocked my socks off and they made me re-think what cake decoration could be. The best part is that the concept is actually rather simple and it begins from the inside out.
Marcella Robin makes entremet wedding cakes with jaconde designs. Say whaaa? Entremet = a European torte made with sponge cake, mousse, and other delectable creamy goodness. Jaconde = a decorative exterior sponge in which the design itself is baked INTO the cake. Ummm… just watch this video.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/62210449]