Festivals

One of my favorite things about Atlanta is the festivals!  There are so many!  A few of my favorites are the Dogwood festival, National Black Arts Festival and Sweet Auburn Festival.  Each is different, but offer so much. 

Each April, the Dogwood festival is held in my favorite park, Piedmont Park.  I enjoy this festival because it is at the beginning of Spring.  While enjoying the nice weather you can browse the dozens of booths.  The vendors vary from jewelry to Artist.  This festival has a lot of artist.  I enjoy seeing their work.

The National Black Arts Festival takes place in July for about two weeks throughout Atlanta.  Various types of art takes place during this festival.  Including music, dance, visual arts, film, theater, literature, and creative speaking.  It also includes a marketplace the first week of the festival.  Vendors from all over the world participate.  There are also family programs.

The first weekend in October the Sweet Auburn festival is held on historic Auburn Avenue.  The SpringFest festival takes place here in May.  I have a deep love for both of these because of all the food they have!  Bar-b-que ribs, funnel cakes, Polish sausages and Italian ices to name a few.  Vendors line the streets with beautiful products.  Live performances take place on a stage.

S is for Sex Symbol

Is this a phase?

Lately, I’ve found myself … loving on myself — for lack of a better phrase. (No, not like that, people. Minds out of the gutter!) I mean, insecurities I once had are now distant memories and every day, I notice something about me physically and mentally that amplifies my self-admiration. It’s not like the teenage years when you’re just in the mirror every five minutes because “you’re smelling yourself” or “you’re hot in the pants,” to borrow a couple of my mother’s old terms. No, this is different, although I can’t exactly say why I’m suddenly so “sweet” on myself. 

For instance, I was driving downtown one night recently and my little green dress was so kind as to give me a glimpse of the beauty mark on my inner thigh. Now, I didn’t almost wreck from this distraction or anything, but it did give me slight pause. I thought, girl, you better be sexy! It’s not that I’d never noticed the small dot before, but that day, I fell in love with it. 

In the past few months, I’ve also noticed I fall deeper in love with my butt every time I put on my favorite jeans. I catch myself smiling more, just because I love how smiling also accentuates my almond eyes, and makes my brown cheeks ball up like ripe plums. I used to hate my thin nose, big head, full lips, pointy shoulders. Ask me how I feel about them now. Used to despise the deepness of my speaking voice; now I think it’s kind of sultry. I answer questions and solve problems, sometimes to my own surprise. Then, I give myself pep talks like, you go, girl! Never underestimate your intellect! I’m more confident now than I have ever been. And don’t let me put on my favorite bra because then, I am fiercely unstoppable! 

But is this a phase? Will I wake up one morning and suddenly be unfazed by my smile or my oddly shaped red birthmark or the mole on my inner thigh? Or does this blooming self-love come with age, self-realization and the blessing of finally being fully aware of my purpose and where I’m headed? I hope it’s the latter.

 

Peace and blessings, 

S.Monette

A Around the A

Hello!  My name is April.  I am an ATLien.  In my weekly blogs, I am going to share with you many aspects of the lovely, traffic filled city of Atlanta!  I will cover spas, restaurants, boutiques, family friendly places, tourist attractions and even nightlife.

What makes me an expert on Atlanta?  I was born and raised here.  I was born at Crawford Long Hospital.  I grew up in Dekalb county, metro Atlanta.  I went to the popular tourist attractions on field trips at school.  I spent my weekends at the malls, skating and movies.  My favorite memory is when I volunteered at the 1996 Olympics.

I moved around metro Atlanta a lot when I was younger and always wanted to live downtown.  I made the decision to move back here after I graduated from college in North Carolina.  When I began looking for a place to stay downtown was the only place I looked.  I have lived downtown for two years now.  I am right “by the action” as I like to say.  Though I am now feeling the suburban itch.

I am amazed by how different Atlanta is to me now that I get to enjoy it as an adult. I love all the art, history, and culture this city holds, which makes great restaurant, festivals and parties!  I am so happy that I will get to share the parts of Atlanta I love with you.
If you have any suggestions or places you would like me to review please e-mail me at acblog@mochamusings.com