Saturday, July 30, 2011

Ladies night out

On Tuesday, I went to dinner with some friends in downtown Roswell at NINE Street Kitchen.  I had taken my camera along to get some street style photos, but when I walked up and saw my friends looking so pretty at this cute little restaurant, I had to take their picture. 




Katie's white top with the flowery cut-outs is so pretty for summer.  And I love the bright blue color of Lisa's top.  Alison always looks cute and put together, but what I like best about her outfit are her shoes -





I love the plaid.  They remind of items I often pass up, because I worry they won't "go with everything".  But it is really those items that end up making the outfit. 

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Food truck scene - Atlantic Station

I have shown you the food trucks (and related fashion) in Midtown here and here.  Last Friday, I visited the food trucks in Atlantic Station.  For those of you in Atlanta, I highly recommend this location.  There is FREE parking, an area with tables, air conditioned shopping nearby, and slightly more casual fashion -





This time around, I chose a small hamburger from Slider U - 




This food truck was started at Penn State and is run by recent college graduates -




The hamburger tasted like it had been fried...and was delicious -





My daughters and I sat at a table near this lady who looked so cool in her splatter paint t- shirt -



She obtained it from the boutique she is opening soon in Atlanta.  If I can find out more information about it, I will pass it along.

Right across the street from our table, I saw this lady in a cute BCBG dress -



She was working at the station for The Grape, which is a wine bar and bistro.  They have a brick and mortar location in Atlantic Station (as well as Phipps Plaza and Vinings Jubilee).

Then, my kids spotted the snow cone man -







The syrup turned their mouths some lovely colors -





This guy with the cool hat was talking to the snow cone man when we walked up -




He recommended the spoken word open mic at the Urban Grind on Thursdays.  It sounds like a unique place.  I may have to check that out.

Then, I noticed the girl in the cute plaid shirt walking by -



So, I caught up with her -



I like the outfit even better from the front as the ruffle is set off by the high waist on the denim jumper.  The white sunglasses are a perfect offbeat touch.  Jacqueline and her friend Marji run a vintage shop on Etsy called Pony Up!

The next food truck location on my list is the Buckhead Theatre.  Maybe I'll see you there next Thursday night...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

What I am learning in Vacation Bible School

That might be the most uncool title ever posted on a blog.  However, it is my current life, and I have never claimed to be cool.  And if you think Vacation Bible School isn't cool, try being one of the 5th grade boys in my group.  I see their struggle every day between doing what is cool (refusing to participate) and doing what is good (being an enthusiastic example for the little kids).  Besides the guys in my group, I have been inspired this week by all of the Middle School and High School boys laying their "cool" aside and teaching little children that "God made you" and "God loves you" and "God hears you".  I think choosing to do what is good over what is cool is one of the bravest things a person can do. 

(Sorry, no pictures today.  Just my thoughts.  I promise to give you a food truck street style post tomorrow...)

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Real life style

After spending time around perfectly "put together" people, I start to crave something more earthy and real.  On Saturday, I walked down to the perfect little village in Mountain Brook to get some coffee.  Everyone was beautiful and well dressed.  As I was walking back to my friend's apartment, I spotted this woman walking her dog in what appeared to be her night gown/dressing gown/house gown - I don't know what you would call it.  But I was immediately drawn to her huge hat that allowed her to walk around completely incognito.  It added a bit of elegance to what could have been a throw away time of day.  And the stripes on the gown are bright and flowy.  She looked chic walking among the huge oak trees in her "real life" style.






Monday, July 25, 2011

Market Day

I went to Birmingham last weekend to visit my friend Lori, who was wearing these cute wedges -



Lucky Brand


She lives in Mountain Brook, and fortunately for me as a blogger, Saturday was "Market Day".  So, all of the stores in this quaint historic area put some stuff on sale and moved it to the sidewalk to create a shopping "event". 





It brought out many stylish women.  My favorite of the day was this young lady in a beautiful Anthropologie dress -


 

I love the purple and aqua and green in her dress.  Then, I walked by Victoria who was visiting from Australia.  I had been wondering how you wear a black hat in the summer, and she answered my question with her colorful purple and green printed dress paired with an elegant scarf -





Tere caught my eye in her vibrant yellow skirt from Zara -





Then, I went into a clothing store with a beautiful tin ceiling and aged brick walls and found this sales girl looking very pulled together and summery in her ruffled BCBG top -






Most of the merchandise at Market Day was fairly pricey.  However, I did find these pink and gold earrings in Stella Blu for $10 -






Overall, it was a very fun window shopping and outfit watching day.



Sunday, July 24, 2011

I've missed you!

I've been so busy that I haven't had time to show you what I've been doing.  I just got home from Birmingham, Alabama.  ("Market Days" was on Saturday.  Evidently, it works just like the food trucks in that it brings all of the well dressed ladies of the city to one spot.  And speaking of food trucks, I also visited those in Atlantic Station on Friday.  More on that later this week.) 

As an appropriate end to my weekend in Alabama with my best friend Lori from my days at Auburn University, I followed Charles Barkley all the way back to Atlanta. 




That is his Escalade right in front of me.   I had the chance to take his photograph at a gas station but decided to not be a paparazzi on his casual Sunday afternoon.  But it was fun to watch the little old ladies come up to talk to him while various men called out greetings across the parking lot -"Yo, Charles!"

Tomorrow afternoon I will start showing you the cute outfits I have found in the last few days, but in the morning (and every other morning this week) I am working at Vacation Bible School at our church.  It's a pretty big commitment for me, and I think they are trying to make it harder on me to come back next year by telling me I have to wear this shirt-




How am I supposed to be happy while wearing this shirt ALL WEEK?  So, I've already doctored it up a little -






We'll see if I get in trouble for that.  And I promise I won't show you this shirt ever again (unless I come up with some really transformational ideas for it.)  Better clothes on the post tomorrow...

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Flowers in Midtown

I noticed a lot of flowers in Midtown last week.  First, this crisp black and white flowered skirt -





Then, I love the colorful flower printed on this black dress and perfectly accessorized with the long pendant necklace and tan sandals -





These young girls heading to the museum look fresh and stylish in their flowered tops -





Finally, I saw this young lady relaxing outside of the museum -



I like the flower headband paired with the classic gray dress.  It all feels a little retro with a pop of modern in the flowered purse -  




Lizard

I have to say something about the lizard in the previous post.  My kids and I keep seeing this type of lizard everywhere this summer.  We notice them immediately, because they have bright purplish blue tails.  After I took the picture, I noticed that it has a rainbow of colors down its back.  Has anyone else in Atlanta seen these?  Have they always been here or am I just now noticing them?

Monday, July 18, 2011

Are we talking about fashion or balance here?

"Your new hat is elegant, Diana, and so becoming.  When I saw you come into church last Sunday my heart swelled with pride to think you were my dearest friend.  Do you suppose it's wrong for us to think so much about our clothes?  Marilla says it is very sinful.  But it is such an interesting subject, isn't it?" - Anne from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery





I have been wondering lately if my blog is no longer about "soul balance" and is now just about fashion.  (The butterfly top is Zara, by the way.)  If I had the time, I would be out every day taking pictures of strangers in interesting outfits.  Then, I realized that constantly searching for someone or something to post on my blog has trained me to notice details in all of life, analyze significance, find the story.  Fashion draws me out of myself and into the world.

G.K. Chesterton wrote, "How much larger your life would be if your self could become smaller in it; if you could really look at other men with common curiosity and pleasure...You would break out of this tiny and tawdry theatre in which your own little plot is always being played, and you would find yourself under a freer sky, in a street full of splendid strangers."

The world is filled with a limitless number of details to discover, and so many details contain a universe of depth at which to wonder.  I think it's that wonder that leads us ultimately to truth.  I've tried it the other way; and believe me, searching inside yourself just leads to a downward spiral.  Soul balance begins out there.



Thursday, July 14, 2011

Food truck food

So, I finally tasted the food truck food. Today, I went to Midtown with my four year old daughter.  I could only carry one food item for each of us while making sure she didn't run into the street, so I walked up to the most unique looking vendor-





Love the huge glasses, flowers in the hair and bicycle tattoo.


...and ordered the most unique item on the menu -




It's a Poodle - a hot dog with apple slaw, spicy mustard and maple syrup on a French toast bun.  Very tasty.

My daughter had a hot dog - plain.


Here she is eyeing my strange hot dog while I am taking a picture of it.



I took a few other photos before my daughter wanted to move on.  I really like this lady's floral top- 




It is kind of like an abstract painting -






I saw this lady from a distance and was drawn in by the happy stripes and the little skirt over jeans -






She has cute yellow toe nails, too.

I'm going to end this with some good news/bad news.  Bad news first - the happy little band across the street has been replaced by a guy with too much angst.  I thought I would get a good dancing shot out of the band, but the angsty guy produced this -




So, now the good news.  I hear that there are food trucks in Atlantic Station on Fridays.  You know that is one of my favorite places to hang out - and they have free parking.  I'll be heading that way soon...

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Denim shirts

Here are two outfits I saw in Midtown, both incorporating a denim shirt -




The denim acts as a neutral with everything else that's going on this in outfit.  I really like the colors in the skirt, and the gold gladiator sandals are a great finishing touch.



Here's another denim top.  This time belted and paired with a floral skirt -



A few of years ago, I got rid of my denim shirts thinking that they were so out of style.  I have now learned that if you love an item, keep it.  Eventually, it will be back in style. 


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Big hair and boots

I love this woman's hair and energy -





She has a great style with the summer prairie dress and cowboy/girl boots and the bright yellow purse.   I was going to speak to her about a close-up, but she was having an intense conversation.  From the amount of arm waving I saw, she seems like a passionate person.  Maybe she was describing the Radcliffe Bailey exhibit at the High Museum (directly behind her).  It's the kind of exhibit that could elicit such emotion.