atlanta – Page 3 – tide & bloom

howard finster’s paradise garden

Sitting down to write this, I realized the for all the art I’ve taken in over the course of my life… I still feel challenged when expressing my thoughts or feelings about it. Food is easy, style is logical, but art – perhaps because it’s what I feel most deeply about – doesn’t translate to words. So while I’d love to say to you that I can help you navigate the arts scene in Atlanta, it’s probably the last thing I’d be able to help you with.

It took me way too long to find the time to take the drive to see Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden. And of course I ended up forgetting my real camera, so please enjoy these photos from my crappy old phone (lost my iPhone recently). It’s the best I could do, but really nothing can do this justice. Or really, any art justice.

Art HAS to be experienced in real life. Digital reproduction will never be the same as seeing something in front of you.

yet tuh

Okay so I’m Asian and I love food, but that doesn’t mean I’m an expert on all Asian food. Of all the variety of Asian cuisine out there, I undoubtedly have strong opinions about Chinese food and Vietnamese food because that’s my heritage and that’s what I’ve been eating all my life. What I don’t know much about is Korean and Japanese cuisine. So when it comes to trying new Asian restaurants, it’s those that I’m going to go for because I want to continue broadening my experiences with each. Being in Atlanta, I have plenty to choose from! Last week I tried Yet Tuh, a small little spot off of Buford Highway. Thanks Instagram!

We got there extremely early so the place was completely empty. Its location is definitely off the beaten path but it’s well worth the trip. Again, I remind you that I know nothing about what good Korean food is supposed to be like. But I very much enjoyed most aspects of this dinner. It was tough to only be a two-person party because of how many items we ordered (we just had to try them), but that made for plenty of leftovers to carry me through the week. Of all the dishes, my favorite was

a weekday drink

I love myself a weekday drink with a friend and I’m assuming you do too. I mean if you don’t, you’re missing out on one of the great joys of being an adult. Meeting up in the afternoon and knowing that you’re going to catch up and simply enjoy a smooth drink and a salty snack – there’s not really a better way to top off your workday.

I’m pretty lucky that I’m surrounded by women of such a high caliber in my life. I’m even luckier that they don’t hate me for taking pictures of our food and drinks before we dig in (they know me by now).

Last week I met up with a friend and we dipped our toes into the menu at Cooks & Soldiers over on the Westside. To be completely honest, I can’t say I’ve made a decision about whether or not it’s worth a visit. I’ve had high expectations for this restaurant for quite some time now. Maybe that can be blamed on instagram, particularly the mouth-watering shots of their chef stirring huge pans of paella.

style in review

For most bloggers and creative makers, December is when there is the most social media activity. Holiday gift guides, giveaways, vlogmas and the like. But if you’ve been following me at all then you know that I also work as a retail manager full-time so that means for the month of December (and well into January too) – my focus is on being merry for others IRL and preserving my energy for that part of my world. Hence, I’m going to commence the year in review! First up is my style.

These are my favorite looks from the past year and yes, they’re all from Anthropologie. As you can see, I am a lover of a little flair – whether it be in the pattern or silhouette. The older I get the more I gravitate towards length (even in summer) to accentuate my features. That way my look is less about skin and more about my face and how I carry myself. A little bit of confidence goes a long way.

And don’t get me wrong, I wear separates just as often as I wear dresses.. I just happen to take more photos of the dresses because of their wow factor. Next year I’ll try to mix it up more and showcase assembled looks instead of all just statement pieces.

electric love

The clothes I buy fall into two categories. The first being versatile basics – the moto jacket, the turtleneck, the black pencil skirt, etc. The second is the “I can’t live without this” category. The combo of these two categories make my closet wearable while still having a stylish edge. Women typically overthink their outfits and make it much more complicated than it really is, but after enough practice you begin to see the formulas pretty easily.

I don’t consider myself the fashionista that people think I am. It’s really more about knowing what works for your body shape, skin tone, and age. Like I said I’ve had a lot of practice since I work in retail (having to dress stylishly every day) so I’ve had the advantage of being able to try out many different silhouettes and trends. This moto jacket I’m wearing here – which you’ve seen before since I’ve worn it all of fall – has literally worked with almost anything I put it with. The color is neutral yet rich and is cut in a flattering and feminine shape.

5 thing i’ve learned from doing festivals

Now that I’ve completed my two craft festivals for the season (that’s the max I can handle right now), I wanted to put together a short list of the big takeaways I have from doing craft festivals. Take these with a grain of salt, because everyone has a different experience and I’ve really only done a few. Things may be totally different in different cities or with different organizers, I’m not sure.

photo via Capture Life Through the Lens by JONATHAN PHILLIPS

The very few I’ve done are Indie Craft Experience (Holiday 2015 and 2016), Root City Market (Holiday 2015), and American Field (Atlanta 2016). I mainly sell art prints of my own artwork so that may also affect my experience as a vendor. But I feel somewhat confident that if you are at all interested in doing shows like this, these things will be useful for you to know before going in.

8 arm

When a new coffee spot in town opens up, you know you’ll find me there drinking lattes like there’s no tomorrow. Typically I visit a new place just once or twice to take pics and feel the vibe, but with 8 arm I’ve already been there like 5 times since I first visited it a month ago. Is that insane? I very rarely find a place I love as much as Octane but this one is right up there.

First of all, how come no one knows about this spot? It’s right on Ponce, in that spot that used to have all the scooters. It’s open morning until night and has a breakfast lunch AND dinner menu. While the pricing is a little too high to be my every day spot, everything I’ve tried there is delish. Atlanta magazine claimed that 8 arm now has the best biscuit in Atlanta, but the item I’m dying over is the CINNAMON BUN. Go get it. The dining room is flooded with natural light and a weekday is quiet enough to sit and really enjoy the morning.

This particular morning that I went, I was feeling really down, out, and tired.

the new basics

If you’re into fashion at all, then you know that everything that was once out is now in again. With that said, all your favorite “basics” are getting a retro makeover to take it over the top. The silhouettes and materials are getting deliciously indulgent and the normal rules need not apply anymore. I officially own at least 3 velvet pieces. Yes, we’re officially there now.

This outfit is the perfect example of the new throwback basics you didn’t know you needed in your closet: the culotte aka cropped wide-legs and the cropped over-sized sweater.

They can be worn together for a dramatic look or with more tried-and-true silhouettes to take it down a notch for those of you who feel intimidated. I promise you that both of these can actually work for you, depending on how you style them.

The sweater would be perfect for any high-waisted anything. For me, I’m planning on wearing it mainly in the following ways:

with a black pencil skirt for a more conservative feel
with high waisted flares and a rancher hat for another totally 70s vibe
over spring dresses that I want to take into the fall

The possibilities are really endless. For example, I’m sure someone could rock it with a miniskirt and tights but that’s just not my jam.

The culottes! Oh, the culottes.

octobers in oakland cemetery

there’s a chill in the air

If you were ever in doubt of what your closet might need for fall, it’s almost all here in this outfit. Every single piece of this look can often be found with every other piece I wear. A moto style jacket, a pullover sweater, black stretch denim, and booties. I put them all together to show you that casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy. The neutral palette from head to toe keeps it simple, but chic. I got so many compliments in this outfit, but not like about the actual clothes – all the comments were like “you look really good” or “you look really pretty”. This tells me that I wore the outfit, not the other way around. I’m confident that almost anyone could pull off this look, and in varying tones of fall colors like creamy whites, maroon, forest greens, and navy.

And let me tell you about the non-Anthro accessories which go so well with this look. The sunnies are from Urban Outfitters, and I’ve worn them nonstop all year long. I’ve even bought different colors for different moods! The lovely asymmetrical gemstone threader earrings are made by a dear friend of mine, Stone + Arrow.

sweater / jacket / citizen denim / boots
earrings by stone + arrow