Last Minute Valentines Day Ideas in Asheville, NC

It happens every year the same way. A few days before Valentine's Day and .... nothing. No ideas come to mind, every fancy schmancy restaurant downtown Asheville is all booked up, and here you are, scrambling to tell your boo thing not to fear. This town has a way with the people I know, where we love to linger around with time until time is all up. Classmates file in with seconds to spare before the starting time, the hipsters in coffee shops talk slow and deep, and everyone's in sort of a time lapse with the mountain-scape's sunset. That's not a legit excuse when it comes to your love-friend, though. I'm sorry to tell ya. But alas, it is the city of romance. Here are some quick, lovely ideas for the latecomers to the love parade. It's okay, breathe, I got you covered.

The Lookout: Wall Street, Asheville NC

Here I am in the streets of Asheville. It's freezing outside, but I decided to layer up with a few warm tones to even things out a bit. Let's start off with details of my outfit from head to toe. 

My hair, lol. If you don't know me you don't know that I'm growing my hair out. It used to be shaved on all sides with a bush of curls on top. I've had lots of people ask me who does my hair and where I get my hair from. I get my hair from a beauty supply store called Venus. They don't have a website, but they're located at Suite D, 891 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28806. The person that does my hair is a friend of mine, so if you want to get in contact with her you have to get in contact with me. She is great and charges affordable prices. 

                        


I wish I could have gotten a better picture of my shirt for you guys. Don't worry, I'll wear it again when it gets warmer and you'll have a complete 360 view! It's from Zara by the way. Over the holiday season, I was shopping for an outfit for the New Year celebration and stumbled across this jacket at Forever21. I've been wanting to grab one of these bomber jackets for the longest time. I've always been a fan of them. My sister is 12 years older than me and used to be a tomboy. When I was a lot younger and she was my age, she sported an oversized classic of one of these. The all black with the orange on the inside. I am so glad this jacket has made it's way back to the timeline. The bomber is always my first pick when out and about.

In the brown paper bag is our first giveaway. Keep reading to see where it's from!

My pants are from H&M. Am I the only person that wonders what those letters stand for? If you know, please let me in on the lowdown. Ion like being left out. I really enjoy wearing these pants. They are slightly darker than the normal olive tent, but I absolutely love this color. These pants are high wasted, have a nice comfortable feel and hug your curves in all the right ways. 

I was shopping in Old Navy before their Black Friday sale when I found these double wrap infinity scarves. I picked up a grey one and a burgundy one. They were a little pricey for me, but a discount was included so it ended up being good enough for me. I proceeded to check out and headed to Target. I headed for the lane where they have really cute cheap, but handy gadgets and crafts. And boom! I spotted this super cute infinity scarf! It was grey and 5 bucks! I think you guys can figure out what I did from there.

Underneath that scarf I wore my classic choker with my hamsa hand choker purchased at Gypsy Creations.

My bracelet came in a pack of two and was a gift from my mother. They go with almost anything I wear. These yellow socks were added for contrast to my outfit. Two pairs for $5 from Old Navy. Originally, they're $5.95 per pair. And lastly, these are currently my favorite shoes. A nice pair of suede Reebok Classics. I ordered these online from Urban Outfitters.

 

Hearing the words Wall Street, I think of the stock markets in New York City. Literally, that is all that would come to mind until I set foot on Wall Street in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you've never been there, it's located across the street directly facing Urban Outfitters in the center of the city. Wall Street is magical. There are lots of local businesses that thrive from the support from of its people and thousands of tourists who travel through.

There's a yoga studio, a few restaurants with tasty dishes that will make your tongue twirl, along with a couple of clothing boutiques, maybe an antique shop and a few more other places. Out of all of these places there was one place that stood out and that place is called Appalachian Naturals.

Appalachian Naturals is a store owned by a deeply rooted Appalachian Family. They focus to produce pure, high quality, 100% Natural Soap and Skin Care products using traditional mountain techniques that have been passed down through their family generations. Their products DO NOT contain any chemicals, preservatives, petroleums, paragons, phthalates, sodium laurel/th sulfates, fragrances or artificial colors. Their products are composed of all natural and a large variety of essential oils, herbs, spices and botanicals.

When you walk into the store, it's such a warm atmosphere. The owner is a really nice gentleman and an awesome person to talk to! It's definitely a place to invade.

Photos by Makeda Sandford

Sounds of Asheville: Omnitat

Music plays a key role in Asheville's artistic scene. From the buskers in the streets to local bands performing in all the venues throughout the city, there is always a chance to experience new music.

The video below features a local Asheville jazz band, Omniat, who are an exceptional contribution in bringing people together with the use of their talent. They have performed in a number of venues, including Aloft and The National Lounge in downtown Asheville.

Since I am studying abroad this semester, I haven't had the chance to edit the video due to exploring the streets of Hong Kong, China. It's a solid shot, so I think that's fair enough! Be on the lookout!

Best Spots in Asheville for Coffee and Quiet Time

Sometimes it's nice to get away from your room or campus to study, create and write. You can look up and not recognize someone, for once, and you can be inspired by an ever-changing atmosphere. I prefer it, even. The surroundings are very important for me when picking where to go. I am introverted when it comes to my study style, so I like to be able to close off the craziness of the world for a bit and get away in a nice, quiet spot. Being a college student also makes it quite hard to really pay for $5 coffee every time I have a paper due, so I look for reasonable prices which isn't easy to find in a world that loves their high-dollar espresso. And good chai. Always good chai. Check out my favorite spots to wind down, drink coffee and get inspired in the Asheville area below. 

1. Battlecat Coffee Bar

373 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC

If you’re anything like me, you have to be surrounded by people doing shit in order to get your own shit done. Battlecat is a beautiful mix of Asheville flavor and hard work, artsy flare and quiet time. I love this place mostly for their low prices and iced specialty drinks like their iced chai (my go-to order) or their thai iced coffee, a wonderful blend of thai tea, cream and coconut. The wifi is fast, the chairs are comfy and the vibes are great. Go here if you feel like blogging or finishing up some homework in nice natural light. In the back of the coffeehouse, Tigerbay Cafe houses colorful, fresh brunch options for the early parts of the day, and the room is covered in a signature Paper Frank mural of pink, yellow and tigers. The crew is super friendly also.

2. High Five Coffee Bar

13 Rankin Ave, Asheville, NC

Oh how I love this little spot! You’ll probably catch the Let It Be Yours team here on a random morning planning and plotting, ‘cause this is our favorite place to get things done. The coffee is delicious every time. Although it is a little pricey for my college wallet, I learned what suits me and I love supporting the High Five crew of talented baristas. This place fills with sunlight early in the day, with awesome seating high up or down low. The tunes are eclectic, ranging from old school hip hop to chillstep. The cool thing about High Five on Rankin is that it stays open until 8 p.m., even on weekdays. So even if you’re procrastinating that paper, you can still start it here as the sun is going down.

3. Filo

 1155 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC

This is quite possibly Asheville’s coffee scene’s best kept secret. Filo is a one-room stone house in East Asheville serving up fresh pastries, warm coffee and dinner to a cozy crowd. I went in here during exam week alone not knowing what to expect. I ordered their supposedly popular grilled cheese dinner with a vanilla latte and man did I fall in love! The grilled cheese rested lightly on a homemade tomato soup, serving as a sauce to the sandwich. They are open until 12 a.m. (yeah, seriously) so they are pretty much a godsend to the late starters in search of an off campus hideaway.

4. Vortex Doughnuts

32 Banks Ave #106, Asheville, NC

Okay, yes, this place might have the best doughnuts you've ever tasted. But stop for a sec and focus. I know. The coffee here is actually just as dope. Yes, it's true. And the vibes, even better. Head down to Vortex Doughnuts to not only be overwhelmed by the aroma of glaze and sweet, sweet icings, but also head down there to finish that paper due at 5 p.m. Go! This spot is beautiful and comfortable, with lots of space to breathe and think. You've gotta grab a doughnut, of course, but you'll want to come back for another flavor, another drink, and another spot near the window. You're welcome.

5. Bomba

1 N Pack Square, Asheville, NC

Wondering where all the cultural flare in Asheville is at? I’d like to argue it all resides within the walls of Bomba, right across the street from Vance monument downtown. Walking into this half-windows, half yellow establishment will warm you up instantly. The menu is Mexican and Latina-inspired with lunch and dinner dishes with delicious espresso creations. It’s slightly cramped, but the food is worth it. Take a seat on the side and people watch like crazy. Oh, and please order the plantains.

  

Honorable Mentions

Old Europe DOWNTOWN

This place is always open. Like, I don't think I've ever seen it closed. Known for being downtown's oldest coffee shop, Old Europe keeps an old timey style in pastries and coffee drinks. The vibes give it a romantic quality that makes it great for studying or hanging out with significant others. I wouldn't study here alone, but the coffee selection is reasonably prices and the desserts are to die for.

Firestorm Co Op WEST

Best book selection in town although the coffeeshop side is kinda over-priced. Great events and meetups for twenty-somethings throughout the week. If you dig social justice, you'll love this spot.

Izzy’s Coffee Den DOWNTOWN

Coffee lacks where the vibes pick up. Sometimes the baristas were pretty rude to me, but I brushed it off because of the cool factor and artsy quality of the spot.

World Coffee  DOWNTOWN

Super touristy, tasty, and upbeat spot. Although the priciness breaks my heart, the coffee specials are so on point and great for dessert-drinks. Treat yoself.

Edna’s NORTH

Weird place and the wifi sucks, but it’s very spacious and has an eclectic menu. I've gotten lots of things done here, and it's north Asheville location is nice to get away from downtown sometimes.

Double D's Coffee & Desserts DOWNTOWN

 This red european double-decker bus in the heart of downtown may be a super hot tourist spot, but they definitely have some of the best coffee and prices in downtown Asheville. Climb up to the top floor of the bus to find some nice quiet space when downtown isn’t too hectic.

Craggy Gardens

I had so much fun doing this shoot with Makeda! She is one awesome photographer. For our first shoot, we decided that we’d take it to the mountains of North Carolina. It makes it more special for you because you get to see not only my outfit, lol, but you get a glimpse of some beautiful scenery. 

Craggy Gardens isn't just an overlook on the parkway. 

Craggy Gardens is located at mile marker 364 heading north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, coming from downtown Asheville. If you guys are familiar with the area, we took Town Mountain Rd, passing the Cove that looks over Asheville. It’s about a 30 minute drive from there. Craggy Gardens isn’t just an overlook on the parkway. If you drive one mile further, there’s a trail that you can take. It’s not long at all and it’s very easy to hike. I’ve seen many pictures, but this was my first time taking on this trail. As you can see, this trail looks just as craggy as it sounds. It kind of reminds me of Hocus Pocus and it was definitely worth freezing my ass off! You should definitely check it out if you haven’t already. Once you get to the top of the higher look over (there’s two off the trail), there is a magnificent 360 view of mountain range! It is definitely a healing experience. 

Now, about my outfit! I love to find great deals and I only have one brand that I admire more than I do any other. So you’ll hear a lot about me thrifting and a lot about Zara! 

So, my dress, that cute little baby doll dress is the only item that I’m wearing from Zara. Oh, how much I love it! It’s so comfortable and I can do a lot with it. I think the next time I wear it, I might do something a little bit more sporty. I’ve had that cream sweater for a while now and I’m pretty sure I got it at either Ross or Marshalls, Americas favorite discount stores. I go through phases where I like to wear it and then I don't, so it doesn’t get old to the point where I have donate it to a local charity. I could look at the tag and tell you where I got it, but I doubt you’ll find it. However, there are plenty of places where you can find something similar. 

 Eight bucks! Yeah, I scored fa sho!

My shoes and my socks are from Old Navy. I’m not ashamed to say socks are from the mens section, as most of my socks and 1/3 of my wardrobe are. Old Navy always has great prices on their mens socks. One time, I got 3 packs of socks with two pairs in each for $8! Eight bucks! Yeah, I scored fa sho! 

My classic choker? I got that from H&M. The other choker I’m wearing with the cute little cupcake was made by a girl I went to high school with. Her name is Kay Millar and she makes her own little jewelry and paintings to sell on her website. Her brand is called Gypsy Creations. I love ordering from her because she sends these cute 3D stickers with your order. I have them on my laptop, lol. Here’s a direct link >> www.gypsycreations.storeenvy.com << Hope you find some things ya like!

I don’t know what I was thinking when picked this outfit out. I just knew I wanted wear this cute dress and I wanted to pair it with my burgundy socks and that the boots gave it a nice edge. I put the cream sweater on to balance all the colors out. Wallah! Magic...

Photos by Makeda Sandford

The Lowdown: Bari Naturals

Christina and I had the pleasure of posing for Bari Naturals today. The new brand & salon located in Asheville, NC produces an all natural, locally sourced dry shampoo that smells like nature heaven in your hair. They are colored by natural dyes and it's a light & refreshing powder that instantly made my hair & head feel much cleaner. 

They are teamed up with The Her Initiative, donating proceeds to their efforts of empowering women through clean water and health education.

Check out the kickstarter to Bari Naturals here.