It is no secret anymore that I am a coffee junkie. Maybe someday I will go profesh just to have the title “coffee connoisseur.” For now, I am a willing taste tester.
Coffee shops are as frequent as ATM’s around here, so narrowing down the finest coffee shops in Atlanta was a difficult assignment, but ohhh was it a delicious one. Head over to Condé Nast to see who made the cut!
Haley Sheffield toured these shops with me and snapped all the photos. She is a talented one that girl. Will try to share more photos of the spaces in the coming weeks:)
I am off to Chicago for my last Brand Market workshop of the year! Very much looking forward to it, but will be so happy when I can settle in for the rest of the year with my family.
Wishing you all a good crispy fall weekend ahead.
x, Anna
We were given the perfect weather weekend at the Alexandria, VA Brand Market workshop held at one of the cutest studio’s I have ever seen, Sweet Root Village. Old historic charm, an enviable prop shelf, wooden floors, hanging plants, and white picket fences. Charming as they come. The Sweet Root Village team created that stunning mantel decor….
Got to meet long time blog friend and co-host Rebecca Beach of A Daily Something, as well as newer instagram friend Joy Janes of Mornings Like These. Both of these women killed it on delivering relevant and relatable content to grow your business and do it with passion and success. So grateful to have worked with them!
The next workshop is in Chicago this weekend which you can keep up with on The Brand Market instagram, and finishing the year here in Atlanta (registration went live yesterday!)
Three.
It presents a whole new meaning for the words: strong-willed. New vocabulary with mixed consonants and expressions for every occasion. My life is never short of entertainment.
Three with a little girl is drastically different than three with a little boy. Snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails are replaced, with sugar and a whole lot of spice with a side of sass. My little wild flower seems to have inherited the strong will of her mother and the stubbornness of her father. Lord help us all…
And yet, I am so grateful she has that strong will. It’s the one that will help her fight the good fight when it seems the world around her is giving up. It will help her finish strong when her team is behind, and there is only a minute left on the clock. It will also help her stick to her guns when the wrong boys come calling. It will help her stand by the people she loves and never waiver in that loyalty……….but how do I help turn that will to all that is good?
I am realizing in raising my little ones, that the daily battles are building my own patience and strength of will in the process. How do I help this fiery wildcracker hold on to that iron will, without letting it become Veruka Salt or Regina George?…Well Gabe and I are still figuring that out. We have looked at each other many a times and ask, are we doing the right thing? What ARE we doing??
Little by little, day by day we are learning. We hope to raise these little ones with strong minds and loyal hearts who hopefully will be able to make good decisions on their own when the time comes. Gabe and I pray for this every night. In the process it is a lot of consistency, setting clear guidelines, always backing each other up, and loving them unconditionally no matter how tired we are.
My little Veronica Rose is our live comic section in the daily newspaper.
As I always say, I wouldn’t wish this age away for anything.
Every age is my favorite.
Now go check out these incredible mothers who hand make the most delicious dresses and other things for little peeps! Duchess and Lion and Dream Catcher Baby
I have lived in Atlanta for several years now, and I am still discovering new places. Every area takes on it’s own character, and Kirkwood is no exception. An older part of Atlanta with old Victorian homes that give you heart eyes as you drive past their wrap around porches and three story windows. Sigh…
Tucked in a cobblestone shopping street is Taproom Coffee. I have yet to find a space that offers both a strong cup of joe and brew on tap. Something for morning, noon, and night! Pastries are made fresh by Mae’s Bakery if you need a little something with that latte. Taproom Coffee offers a very upbeat urban vibe with bold oranges and blues, hanging light pendants, and cement walls.
If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of trying Counter Culture Coffee, this is the place to try it. They use Bonmac drip cones to make sure an ounce of flavor is not lost in the process.
I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story. These are extra from a story I am working on for Conde Nast Traveler. Will report the rest of Atlanta’s finest coffee shops this week!
Taproom Coffee
1936 Hosea L Williams Dr. #R106
Atlanta, GA 30317
Well now that it is on the blog, I am committed! 😉
Taking the leap and putting a conscious effort to build a smart closet and eliminate excess.
I thought it would help to show you items I already have or recently purchased I am putting into this category. This way, you all can join along with the challenge if you choose, but really it’s just to hold me accountable;)
About the pieces: I wanted to choose pieces that are interchangeable, comfortable, high quality, and timeless. Trendy pieces are fun, but I realize it ends up being money down the drain, since the trend leaves as fast as it comes. Granted, I will still report to you on trends for the eHow style blog, but these are the pieces I am focusing on for a long term closet.
I admire minimalism and simplicity and want to be more disciplined about this lifestyle. It can be challenging when you are surrounded by a materialistic culture, but ultimately, I know I feel so much more at peace when there is less, and gratitude for what you have.
Also hoping to support brands who incorporate ethical guidelines in their product creation and distribution. I am learning so much about this topic and hope to learn more!
Ready? Join in the fun on instagram and share your closet building fun!
Finally found a few good options for classic trenches to style this fall. Did a little Nancy Drew sleuthing and styled these a few ways over on the eHow style blog. See ya there!
I am headed to D.C. this weekend for The Brand Market workshop Any good spots to check out while I am there?
x, Anna
P.S. If we were playing a game of who wore it best, I would obligingly agree that Audrey wore it best;)
After three little ones I have quickly realized how pointless it is to buy shoes that a) do not stay on their feet or b) are not durable. I have concluded leather lasts the longest and fits the best. I will only get a few pairs for each (Veronica sometimes being the exception;)) and they wear them on repeat until they outgrow them.
When I stumbled on Zuzii footwear I died a little inside of the miniature cuteness and handmade leather quality. I just want you all to go peek at the whole collection, and then come back and tell me what you think:) Pretty bonkers right?
Veronica insists on wearing her pair to bed at night and I reassure her they will still be there in the morning. The proved durable and stable enough for Max the tornado and so I am nodding my hat to their successful design.
