The Consulting Lifestyle

A young professional living the life of a consultant and pursuing his dreams! Traveling often and trying to see the world through different lenses.

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6 Best Everyday Casual Style Ideas You Need - LookVine

6 Instagrammers are rocking their outfits on casual style 1. To me there is no perfect fashion look. I feel like if you wear your outfit with CONFIDENCE anything you do or wear will look 1000x better than thinking about what others might think about you. Harrison Nevel is a YouTuber who mainly talks about …

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My Crystal Coast

The winter is a time full of holiday cheer, colder temperatures, and bundling up inside by the campfire (or maybe partaking in some winter sports if that’s your thing). For me, I typically escape the winter cold by jetting off to a location with a more tropical climate, think the Bahamas, Mexico, Aruba, etc. However, I recently took a trip to the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, a gorgeous beach in its own right even though its temperatures aren’t exactly at Mexico levels. This means that you can’t necessarily work on your tan, but there are plenty of other things to keep you entertained, and most importantly relaxed, on your vacation.

I’ve lived in North Carolina for quite some time now, over 10 years, however, I had never paid a visit to the Crystal Coast before this trip. I’ve heard a range of great things about the destination from friends over the years, but I never brought myself to go. Until now!

And I’m excited to share with you some shots from the trip, as well as great things to do that apply no matter what time of the year that you visit the Crystal Coast.

First is obviously the beach. The Crystal Coast is a total beach town, and my absolute favorite part about it is how it is still somewhat of a hidden gem. This means that there won’t be hordes of people at the beach and you won’t need to fight for prime real estate to enjoy the waves. Beyond that, the beach are spotless and make for amazing running and walking along the coast. This was something I did everyday that we were there and I can confidently say these runs were some of the most peaceful that I’ve had in a while. I can’t speak to the Crystal Coast during the summer, but if you go in the fall or winter what you’re going to get is a great location for relaxation and in some cases even reflection.

I would come here to potentially bunker down and study for the GMAT, or maybe even start that novel I’ve been toying around with.

The tranquility is enough to inspire any writer to be as creative as possible and draw out the highest quality of stuff. I basically called this my Hemingway nook, since it has the perfect setup and decor for productivity and creativity.

And if you ever get the urge to leave your beachfront mansion that you're staying in, or at least that we were for this press trip, there are a ton of fun things to do in the surrounding city areas. One example is a double decker bus tour of the downtown and marina area. This is a great way to get some history on the area while also seeing everything that is around town. The restaurants down here are pretty adorable and there are many that line the marina, which makes for a great lunch stop! You can also take in a lot of the old timey and very historic houses in this part of town, many of which are actually haunted! One interesting fact is that this area is one of the most "haunted" in the US, behind places like Savannah and New Orleans. Another nifty tid bit is that Black Beard spent a bit of time in this region.

And once you've explored town and the sun starts to set that means it is time for you to return to your cozy spot and throw on a sweater that is perfect for those beach nights, as well as for a sunset cruise! This was probably my favorite activity of the weekend because the sunset was obviously gorgeous and once the sun set and the spectacle was over the party really started! Make sure you find a cruise that has some speakers and as much champagne as you'd like. Beware though, certain boats have limits as to the number of people that can go on a trip, so look into that before hand. 

The next day we began to explore the various parts of the Crystal Coast, which included this horse farm that is know for taking in horses, both from the area and horses that have been injured. The area is famous for the wild horses that peacefully roam the beaches, however, there is a need to population control these animals because the island areas can only support so many of them. As a result, this farm will take in some of the ones that are struggling and provide them extremely happy lives.  

From there, our last stop before heading home was the famous Fort Macon, which has played a part in the defense of this area for centuries! It's a great spot with a ton of fun photo opportunities and interactive museum on its grounds that is definitely worth checking out. We also found a few really fun gifts in their gift shop for that history buff in your life.

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Shredding it Up with Woodward

As kids, didn't we all love Rocket Power? Ok, this might be a bit specific to people in my generation, I'm looking at you Millenials, so if you're not familiar with the show, I'll explain a bit. Rocket Power is a show that used to be on Nickelodeon and revolved around this gnarly (yes I used gnarly but you'll understand why soon enough) group of kids who were magically all amazing at extreme sports, think skateboarding, rollerblading, surfing, dirt biking, and basically anything you'd see in the X-Games. Long story short, it was a great show and made anyone who wanted to watch it have their parents go to Toys-R-Us (too soon to mention?) and buy them a skateboard so they could try to become the next member of Rocket Power.

But why do I mention this? What does this have to do with anything?

Well, as some of you know I was just in Mexico for the second time this year. The first trip revolved around rest and relaxation. However, this trip was all about action and adventure.

I attended a press trip for Woodward, which is basically a camp and training center for extreme sports much like those that the Rocket Power kids would do. There was so much excitement around this trip in the extreme sports community because Woodward was opening its first outpost in Latin America, where this kind of sport is surprisingly popular, and it has a bit of a different model since it is on property of the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.

Woodward decided to open up a state of the art training facility, pictured above, in this part of the world and they hosted a huge launch event with some skateboarding royalty attending.

You might have been wondering who the skateboarders were in the first photo and that would be a good question. I don't remember who one of them was but the other is basically the most famous skateboarder of all time, Tony Hawk. His presence is how you know that this entire launch was such a huge deal and a real game changer for the skateboarding community.

We were lucky enough to be guests of Woodward and explore the entire facility with all the crazy obstacles and training features they have for these world class athletes to use.

One of these cool features, that are available for hotel guests, is this "Mexican Ninja Warrior" course.

We got to take part and I got to try out my American Ninja Warrior dreams. Good news, I successfully ran the course! Who knows if my time would qualify, but I did do it twice and was pretty speedy the second time around.

After a day of exploring the facility we were treated to a Q&A with some of the biggest names in skateboarding today. Tony Hawk was the star panelist and it was really incredible to see his skills and how talented he is even though he's 49 years old! He can still keep up with all these young up-and-comers that he really paved the way for.

We heard from the different panelists about what this new facility means, especially for Latin American skateboarding, as well as for the Woodward brand. Everyone was blown away by the quality of the facility, as well as how it can cater to professionals, like themselves, but also people who are less skilled and have an interest or want to try this kind of thing out. 

Following this panel was the grand opening and a bit of a cocktail hour before heading outside for a live half pipe demonstration!

During this demonstration, Tony Hawk himself shredded up the halfpipe with some sick tricks and at one point a run that featured him and 2 other skaters! It was low key insane. The rest of the panel also partook and showed off their skills, including a skateboarder who is barely a teenager!

They threw some really insane tricks and gave such an amazing show! It was so fun, the entire, audience was into it, and it made all those childhood skateboarding dreams come true! I'm sure everyone has played some sort of Tony Hawk skateboarding game at some point (probably on the Gameboy Color or something) and seeing that superstar in real life was unreal!

This demonstration was followed up by a street carnival and concert from a punk band, super fitting to go with the vibes of the whole skateboarding weekend. To cap off the street party there was a spectacular fireworks display. From there, it was dinner time before heading to the after party in the club at the Hard Rock Cafe's club!

So this is a low quality photo from a high quality night. The club, as I mentioned, is located in the adults only section of the Hard Rock Riviera Maya, which means you don't even need to leave the property to party hardy!

And nothing says party hardy like an actual pool inside the club! As the night got a bit later, and the drinks kept flowing, people (myself included) tested out the pool and had an amazing night!

I highly recommend looking into a Woodward camp, perhaps for your kids if you have them or there are adult versions available in major US cities. Also, if you're looking for possible vacation destinations the Hard Rock at Riviera Maya is a great choice! Not only do you get easy access to Woodward, you're also in one of the most scenic and relaxing destinations in Mexico! Do yourself a solid and check it out!

JRL

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~Watch~ Out: Mad Style is Here

Watch game strong. That's the first thing that comes to mind when you browse through the watch section of Mad Style's website. And in this blog and photo shoot I am emphasizing the watch that I picked up from their website not too long ago. The website features a ton of options but I went for the burgundy one that I'm rocking in these photos. You can shop the link here for the exact watch that I am wearing, and of course you should use my promo code jlucido to get an extra 20% off of your purchase, which is pretty awesome with their already super reasonable prices on the site.

Now some of you might be thinking to yourselves, "Wait a second, that watch is burgundy and could be hard to wear." Well to those of you mulling that over in your heads, I would say no! In fact this watch is very easy to wear and extremely versatile. I've styled it with two looks in this post to show how it can be worn with many different options in your closet. This blue plaid sport coat, as well as the solid tan sport coat, both look great with the watch (but of course it works great with a casual outfit that's really simple like a solid white shirt, black jeans, and some Chelsea boots).

To give a few more outfit details the tan jacket is from Ralph Lauren (shop similar and on sale here) and the blue plaid blazer is from Paisley and Gray. And since Paisley and Gray has launched the e-commerce site you can get the exact jacket here! The navy dress pants are from Banana Republic and the button down is Calvin Klein. If you're interested in the other accessories feel free to message me, but for this post I really wanted to focus on the watch and how it is such an attention grabber!

ut Mad Style isn't only responsible for having fun watches that you can work into your wardrobe. They have a ton of other accessories, such as belts, wallets, sunglasses, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and so on, that guys can wear for various parts of their lives. I can't wait to check out and style more of their stuff!

Don't forget to visit the website and shop around! If I didn't go for the burgundy watch I probably would have opted for this classic square faced watch with a leather band. And when you do some shopping remember to save 20% with my code jlucido!

JRL

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Super Eats with Superica

Happy Friday everyone! And you know what that means! It is time to grab your friends after a long week of work, eat some delicious food, grab some tasty cocktails, and get ready to hit the town for a wild Friday night out! Since I'm in finally in Atlanta for once, I'm doing just this at my new go-to spot, Superica at Krog Street Market! Superica specializes in Tex-Mex food and overall deliciousness, which is why it has become a favorite of mine in Atlanta. For this blog post, I'll be highlight some of my personal favorites and must try's when you check them out. Another bonus is that they have two locations - one in Buckhead and one at Krog Street Market, which is the one that I went to.

Now, I shall set the scene. You've gathered with your good buds, you're all tired from a long week of work and ready to let off some steam, and you're looking for the perfect appetizer to share. WELL, look no further than the Campechana de Mariscos! We started off our meal with this and after the first bite I didn't know how the food could get any better (but spoiler alert it did)! You may be asking yourself, "What is contained in this magical dish?" Well, it has shrimp, octopus, crab, avocado, and amazing cooked into it, which you then eat on tostadas.

Furthermore, the drinks here have to be mentioned. No, they have to be praised because they are great! if you're a horchata lover, which you 100% should be, then the Vampire Weekend is for you! That cocktail was easily my favorite because I could drink horchata all day, everyday. But we also tried the Margarita de la Casa, which of course they make to perfection, and the Slushie del Dia is a real crowd pleaser!

And while drinks are important, you're probably starving since you worked through lunch, or didn't who knows. But either way, the main course has arrived! So, one highlight that I think is great that Superica offers, especially if you and your friends are really into sharing, is the whole fish! The fish changes but when we went their offering was a red snapper. You can request tortillas and make your own tacos or just eat with rice and beans. The flavors on this fish are scrumptious and I would absolutely recommend trying it!\

It is also important to note that food isn't the only great thing offered at Superica. The ambiance and atmosphere are also great. It's always lively here and the decor is really interesting! They have tried, and in my opinion succeeded, in keeping the vibes of the Old West real. I honestly feel like characters in Westworld would hang out here. Another insider tip is that there is live music every Friday and Saturday starting at 9:30.

So we did share the fish but I also had my eye caught by the Tampiquena, which is skirt steak with two cheese enchiladas and a fried egg. And when I tell you this was life-changing I am not exaggerating. There was SO much cheese and I literally cleaned my plate. If you guy this is another must have in my opinion!

So all in all, you need to check out Superica! And if you go on a Friday you'll honestly probably run into me because I make my friends go all the time.

JRL

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Suited up with Suitopia

It's pretty clear that I love suits. I wear them constantly for work, when I'm outside of work, and while I'm relaxing in my apartment. Ok, that last one isn't true, but I seemingly do live in them. Or if I'm not in a suit and tie I'm at least in a sport coat or blazer. And nothing makes a guy feel better than a suit that fits him perfectly that is accessorized to his ideal specifications. And this is exactly what I have with this custom made suit from Suitopia! And when I say custom, I really mean custom! The way it works is that you shop around their extensive site and find something that you like, trust me that part won't take long. From there you will fill out your body profile and get the measurements you want on record. After that you pay for the custom suit you've just created and it arrives in a few short weeks! 

Initially I was overwhelmed with the number of choices! I wasn't sure if I wanted to go wild with a printed suit that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere, or if I wanted to go for something a bit more classic that I would be able to wear to work. Ultimately, I went for the professional piece BUT I did mix it up with a double breasted three pieces suit, something that surprisingly wasn't present in my wardrobe. And as a cherry on top, the windowpane pattern is in Carolina Blue!

I eagerly anticipated the suit arriving and when it came in about 2 weeks I was SO pleased with the results! Everything fit like a glove and the process was much easier and more cost effective than what you typically have to go through when getting a custom suit! However, if you don't want to design every aspect, Suitopia also has a ready-to-wear collection that draws from their wide range of fabrics and looks wonderful as well!

I knew that I wanted to shoot with this wonderful suit, which is so versatile, fits perfectly, and looks pretty great if I do say so myself! Not to mention the monogram on the inside of the jacket, sadly not photographed but the stitching is also Carolina Blue. These photos were captured by Benjamin Pete, check out his insta here, and I was decked out in accessories from a wide range of spots that you should also consider checking out.

The tie and pocket square are from Korbata an awesome Guatemalan brand that specializes in ties, bow ties, pocket squares, etc. The company is so amazing and unique because they promote Mayan textiles made by artisans from indigenous communities. Not only this, they also improve the environment through community development and the establishment of sustainable income for the communities that they work with. I'm a huge fan of the tie and pocket square combo that I'm wearing and you can shop some of their other patterns, I'm particularly fond of this one.

The other parts of this outfit include one of my favorite pairs of Cole Haan loafers my pair is a little bit lighter than the ones that I linked but besides that they're essentially the same. The lapel pin is an awesome tennis racket that I actually inherited from my mom! As a tennis player I'm a huge fan of it and it matches well with the gold bit on my loafers and my two tone gold/silver watch. The last component is my glasses, which are from David Kind. And if you haven't heard of them yet, you will soon enough! This brand is very similar to Warby Parker in terms of the home try on setup, however, the quality is undisputed! I've done Warby Parker and somehow the glasses look great online but don't always fit my face like I want them to. David Kind gets it right everytime, offers stellar service, and the quality of their product is so high it's insane! I've currently got my eye on a second pair and can't wait until I order them.

So, I've shared some pretty cool brands with y'all and I highly recommend trying them out. But for all you young professionals that read my stuff, Suitopia is really ideal! I'm lucky enough that I have had custom suits made when I was abroad in Thailand, where the craftsmanship is great and the cost is low, but Suitopia is the best that I've experienced in terms of custom suiting since then! I always say that young professionals should invest in their wardrobe because not only will you look more professional at work but you will also feel great! Suitopia is the perfect place to do it. Not only can you have something custom, but you can have 100% say in every aspect of it!

JRL

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New York Fashion Week Men’s: Day 2

So this is super delayed, especially since women's fashion came and went from New York and is currently in Milan. BUT, that doesn't matter! Because I still need to share how amazing New York Fashion Week Men's was since it was shockingly the first time I'd been to men's fashion week! Plus, we can definitely still talk about the trends that will be popping up from men's fashion and all the outfits that I wore to the shows!

So the first show I went to on Tuesday, which was easily my most booked day, was the Steve Aoki and Dim Mak collaboration collection! Steve Aoki is obviously a huge star in the music industry and his collab collection brought out some starts to the show! Most notably was the NYC rapper Fabolous. And no big deal or anything but I stood next to Fabolous during their half pipe themed show and was low key featured in his Instagram Live Video!

But yes, as I mentioned the brand did their entire collection by presenting it on a halfpipe! Talk about a change up! I didn't think after the outer space themed Nick Graham show the day before that things could get more interesting but I was wrong! I loved the concept of the show but the skateboarding aspect did make it a bit more difficult to actually see the clothes and photograph them. However, the vibes were SO strong and everyone loved the concept!

And in the midst of all the excitement it started to pour down snow during the show. This was exciting because yay snow and it was very New York and very pretty. But also not exciting because I had to get to the shows, which were pretty spread out the rest of the day and Ubers were just not wanting to pick me up.

But that did not stop me from venturing out to the Cadillac House, luckily only a 5 minute walk, for the EFM (Engineered for Motion) show, which I had a front row seat for! 

And in all honesty thank goodness I made the trek to the show because I absolutely LOVED it! Seriously, their clothes were exactly what I loved and what I think represents my life and style. They had awesome suiting pieces that are still perfect for the work day because of their comfort and quality, hence the name of the brand, but also had awesome casual pieces with a street style edge! Still think this might have been my favorite show of the entire week!

From that show I had to go even further to my next one at the Samsung experimental space for the DYNE presentation. They took over the entire space and used Samsung as their platform and official collaborator for their activewear pieces that link to Samsung technology to digitally track your fitness and workout! 

They went super high tech with this amazing video played in the center of the presentation while the models walked around and demonstrated how you can use your Samsung devices with the pieces of clothing.

In theory I loved the concept! But in practice it wouldn't work out for me because I am #TeamIphone all the way. The clothes themselves were nice and have a very Adidas edgy feel, but not being able to utilize the full functionality because of the type of phone you have was kind of a turn-off for me.

The next show I was attending was back at the Cadillac House and was the Brett Johnson show! The venue of the Cadillac House is great but the collection underwhelmed just a little. It was nice and I did love certain pieces, but as a whole I wasn't overly impressed by the overall collection.

This suit is a printed suit from Zoss Urban paired with shoes from Aldo, shirt from Banana Republic via their Insiders Program, and tie from Nautica, whose show I went to later in the week! I really love the print of this suit and I think it is diverse enough to really be worn in any season, depending on how you style it!  With this I wore my Ralph Lauren camel coat and had to bring along my handy dandy Brooks Brothers brief case! 

And to close out what was a jam packed day of fashion I paid a visit to the Metropolitan Opera to see Carmen and catch up with an old friend! 

The opera was amazing, the company was brilliant, and by the end of the day I returned to my hotel in Union Square exhausted but SO happy!

JRL

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New York Fashion Week Men's: Day 1

"Welcome to New York, it's been waiting for you!" as on of my favorite artists Taylor Swift proclaims in her pop hit "Welcome to New York." And of course I had to blast this song on my phone as I departed Atlanta and flew into LaGuardia Airport. But you may be asking yourself, "Joseph, why were you going to New York in the dead of winter?" And that would definitely be a fair question because if you know me you know that I'm not the biggest fan of the cold. However, one of the few things that could entice me enough to brace the cold and the snow is Fashion Week. Specifically, New York Men's Fashion week returning to the city!

This was an exciting time to come to NYC (let's be real though when isn't it exciting) because not only was it Men's Fashion Week from the January 30th-Feb 3rd, but it was also Restaurant Week and Broadway Week! So I was in for all sorts of shows during my time in the city. I flew in the Saturday before Men's Fashion Week started to spend some time with good friends and attending my fittings for what I would be wearing throughout the week. And during the weekend before the shows started I of course had to stop by some of my favorite spots in the city, including MOMA!

Some of my favorite pieces in MOMA are included in the photos in this blog post.

MOMA is home to some of the most famous pieces in the world, including "The Starry Night" by the incredible Van Gogh.  

Amazing art led into a Chinese New Year's celebration that was full of making wantons and creating new friendships! That of course led to a wild night out in the Lower East side, and in typical New York Fashion we didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning.

The only way to recover from that kind of night out is to, 1. Sleep in. And 2. go to brunch! For Restaurant Week New York we chose Il Mulino in Midtown for our brunch spot and it was amazing and perfect. Scrumptious Italian food in the perfectly elegant (and dimly lit) environment gave us all the life we could need! And as a book work, no trip to NYC is complete without a visit to the Strand. I was searching for a first edition of a few different works, but I had to restrain myself since my suitcase was already bursting at the seam! 

And now for what we have all been waiting for: Fashion Week! Monday was a crazy day for sure. I woke up early and had to head over to my hotel for the week in Union Square then go directly to Dune Studios for New York Men's Day, which is always the first day of Men's Fashion Week. For the first day of NYFWM my outfit was provided by Macy's and Bar 3 Men's! This modern day formal look included a foulard tuxedo jacket and skinny and cropped tuxedo pants, both from Bar 3 at Macy's. The shirt is a white formal button down with a subtle polka dot print. I was in love with how the prints of the tie, given by Banana Republic, and the shirt and jacket all went together, yet still maintained that formal feel. My Chelsea boots are from Giorgio Brutini and they are actually the most versatile shoe I own at the moment! This pair looks amazing and I got so many compliments thinking that they were from Tom Ford.

At Dune Studios they host a large number of designers that do mainly presentations in the studio. On this day some of the brands included: Bristol, David Hart, Kozaburo, Kramer & Stoudt, Max N' Chester, Uri Minkoff, Wood House, Robert James, and so on! Really a great group of designers and I absolutely loved the space that was chosen. I was in-between shows and meetings the entire day and sadly couldn't attend the Joseph Abboud or Billy Reid shows that night because I went to watch Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, which was AMAZING!

Overall, it was such a solid first weekend and day in NYC. Coming to the city always brings up so many fond memories I have of this place and there really is no doubt that this is one of the greatest cities in the world! More blog posts to come on the rest of what was an AMAZING week!

JRL

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Smile Brilliant!

I'm all smiles in this photo above, and do you want to know why? Because my teeth are definitely whiter than I've ever been thanks to Smile Brilliant! Smile Brilliant is an awesome teeth whitening kit that helps you avoid having to go through whitening treatments at the dentist and save money when compared to typical whitening treatments!

Now for a close up of some actual results. Excuse the close up of my face, but this is really the best way to show how good my results are. It goes without saying, but the photo on the top is a before photo of my teeth, literally the day before I started the whitening process with Smile Brilliant. The bottom photo are my teeth after the whitening process. As you can tell, my teeth are several shades whiter and all the coffee and wine stains have seemingly disappeared!

The kit comes with the following things that all help to give you the whitest teeth you've ever had: custom fitted teeth whitening trays, professional lab service, 2 impression trays, 3 sets of impression material, professional teeth whitening and desensitizing gel, and postage to mail your impressions back to be made. You can find more details about the different treatments that they offer for varying sensitivities of teeth here: http://www.smilebrilliant.com#theconsultinglifestyle

As you can tell from the difference between this photo and the first of this post, my teeth are WAY whiter after going through the Smile Brilliant process! The process is super easy and you can do the whitening right before you go to bed, so it is extremely convenient no matter your schedule. Plus, the materials you need are lightweight and easy to carry around. I travel all the time for work and it is not a hassle at all to bring this stuff for whitening when I'm traveling during the week!

This is a photo of my custom fitted trays that I use for the whitening process. They really do fit perfectly and make the whitening process as impactful as possible! Usually, custom trays like this would cost at least $500 from a dentist, but with Smile Brilliant you pay a fraction of this cost and you can choose the treatment that best suits you. This link will tell you a little bit more about why having custom trays is so crucial to the whitening process: http://www.smilebrilliant.com/articles/benifits-of-choosing-custom-fitted-teeth-whitening-trays#theconsultinglifestyle

Here are the trays on my teeth. As I mentioned, I usually do my whitening just before I go to bed, which is really the best and most convenient time to do it. They fit perfectly and are extremely comfortable, you can barely tell that they're there.

And since I've been whitening I've gotten tons of compliments and questions about what I've been doing to them! My teeth are so white and they definitely pass the notorious "Napkin Test" since I've started using Smile Brilliant. Check out this YouTube link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmnEEYERXO8&feature=youtu.be#theconsultinglifestyle) for a great video that gives even better insights into the Smile Brilliant process. The girl in this video, Kelli Tanner, used Smile Brilliant as well and her results are awesome! She demonstrates pretty much everything you would need to know about the product!

I usually will keep my trays in for 45 minutes - 1 hour, but it totally depends on the time that you have, as well as the sensitivity of your teeth. The products really do the best job possible and have made my teeth look amazing! I've been so happy with the results and I wanted to pass it along to all of you if you were looking for some teeth whitening options! I've tried the whitening strips and toothpastes and all that stuff and it kind of works. BUT I can tell you with 100% certainty that Smile Brilliant is so much better than these and ends up saving you money in the long run!

Y'all should check out this link for some more testimonials of the amazing results that Smile Brilliant can give you! My teeth look so white right now and they're only getting better. Plus, it's given me increased confidence and I'm literally smiling all of the time! Trust me you guys, try out Smile Brilliant! You won't be sorry and your teeth will definitely thank you! But if you're curious to see the results that other people have had, or if their teeth did really whiten to such a serious degree check out more testimonials here: http://www.smilebrilliant.com/teeth-whitening-reviews#theconsultinglifestyle Smille Brilliant is the real deal and there are so many people they've helped to get the whiter teeth that they've been wanting!

BUT perhaps the most exciting thing about this post is that I'm doing a giveaway with Smile Brilliant! If you just fill out the info via this link: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/theconsultinglifestyle you'll be signed up to win your own whitening kit!

JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

What to Wear Today: Your Boldest Pair of Pants

Fall may have passed us by in what seemed like a flash and now we are in the dead of winter, freezing our butts off depending where you live. Even I, being based in Atlanta, have gotten some true winter weather and have begun pulling out coats and layering my outfits. 

But one thing that I strive to do during the winter months is to inject some life into my clothes, into what could otherwise be a sea of dark colors, barely any patterns, and honestly clothes that are as dreary as the weather itself! As a result, my suggestion is to wear your brightest pair of pants today to mix things up a bit! I opted for this mustard yellow pair from Club Monaco, go for their Connor fit for the slimmest pair they have, which really added a pop of color to the overall outfit!

Now understandably, this mustard yellow is a bit more of a fall color, but don't be limited by the season! Honestly, you can where pretty much whatever you want as long as you style it correctly for the situation and season. 

For me, living in Atlanta has a few benefits in terms of this outfit. First, winter in Atlanta is definitely on the milder side, which usually allows you to be a bit more free with the colors that are "acceptable" to wear. So, this yellow went over great and popped enough to be interesting but wasn't out of place in the city.  To go with these statement pants I opted for a textured navy blazer, that actually has some really interesting speckles of white and gray mixed in, and basic white shirt so as not to overwhelm the outfit, a blue, white, and silver tie with some shine but not too much, and accessories to fit into the whole theme.  All of my accessories are silver and match one another and I opted for a fun lapel pin in the actual shape of a rose and is all metal. I feel low-key awful because I actually can't remember which brand this is from. BUT when I do I wholeheartedly recommend them because this lapel pin looks great and is so unique! You can also slightly see my boots in this photo, brown with laces and side zippers.  

Now, if you are in a colder climate I would definitely recommend adding a coat onto this outfit so that you don't freeze. If I needed to wear one I would have gone with a simple navy peacoat. But one suggestion to jazz up your navy peacoat is to change out the buttons to something you love! I have my eye on some bold buttons that will definitely add some pop to that classic piece.

So take a chance and be bold with your choices! Take a pair of pants you don't regularly wear and make a statement! Remember, just because it is winter doesn't mean that your colors are limited. There are tons of ways to throw in some fun colors and liven up your winter wardrobe. JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

Capturing the hottest trends for guys and girls this fall!

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Guys & Girls Favorite Fall Trends ft. Emsies

Hello friends and happy fall! To be fair, it has definitely been fall for a while, but since I've been crazy busy I haven't been able to post about fall fashion for guys. Until now! And as an added bonus, I've collaborated with a good friend of mine Emily, the brain behind both Emsies and Atlanta for the Young!  

We got the opportunity to shoot with the very talented Kelley Raye (check out her website for the link and then check out her Insta here) and had the best of time at one of the coolest places to shoot in Atlanta, The Goat Farm! P.S. they shot part of the Hunger Games here! Basically, I look like someone from the Capitol came on down to District 12 for a visit.

This space was really cool and as you can see featured these random filing cabinets. Truly, there were some great backdrops at the location and it was the perfect setting for this fall themed shoot.

And now, it's time for me to talk about the falls trends that I wanted to focus on Boots and Burgundy!

So first is boots. But to be honest we all know that boots aren't a trend. They've been hot in men's fashion for years on years on years, but since they're such a mainstay they are always worth talking about. I'm wearing this great pair of boots from Ralph Lauren that have seen me through many a trip during my time abroad and even made a cameo at London Fashion Week! These black boots can go with pretty much any outfit and here is a pair from Ralph Lauren that is pretty similar. I would definitely consider investing in a solid pair of boots that will get you through the fall and winter if you don't have a go to pair.

The rest of my outfit I am literally all about, and you should be too if you're interested in keeping up on the latest fall trends. Next we can talk about the burgundy pants I've chosen for this shoot from J. Crew! Here is a pair from Topman that is also a slim fit in burgundy. This is a prime color for the fall and can be paired with a wide spectrum of pieces. I personally prefer the fit of J. Crew's chinos because Topman's slim fit are definitely more on the skinny side and my thighs are on the more "athletic side" so pants always fit differently.

The other components that make up my outfit are the sick blazer and from ASOS, which I am literally in love with. It's got a prime pattern with a bold black and white checker (Check out ASOS right now for their 20% off sale). I personally go for more classic pairings when you are letting pattern and color take the lead, for instance with this outfit the bold jacket and the color of the pants are the statement makers while the shirt and tie are on the simpler side.

The tie I chose is black with a sort of diamond weave pattern and is from Tommy Hilfiger. Here is a similar tie from Calvin Klein that you can pick up at Belk. It has a similar texture and pattern and is muted enough to pair with bold patterns.  

The tie clip that I'm rocking is from Wurkin Stiffs and the silver flower lapel pin is from Peacock Lapels. Love both of these pieces and if you want to elevate your style game definitely consider pieces from these two brands!

And for all the ladies out there I have to cover what my good friend Emily is wearing! She is all about this neck tie dress that she got from ASOS, which has a really interesting play on neckwear that is more typical for men. I'm personally a huge fan and I think ASOS has made great strides in terms of their offerings and quality! And of course we have to mention her killer black booties that are from Franco Sarto! They're a great shoe for women to wear during the fall that look both stylish and are actually practical for colder weather.  

The last piece of this post are the killer sunglasses that I'm rocking. This pair is from Smoke & Mirrors, which is a new brand I've discovered and I love! Here's why. The glasses that they make are unique and unlike any other brands that I've encountered! For example, the pair I'm wearing are from their Sodapop collection. They do a bunch of collab collections which is why they keep their styles constantly fresh! They also do optical lenses if you're looking for a pair of prescription glasses! I hope that you all enjoyed the post! I think the shots turned out amazing and I'm so glad I got to worj with Emily and Kelley. Be sure to check out their pages everyone! JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

Spend a Day at Chateau Elan

Working for the weekend has never had more meaning to me than it has since I started my career in consulting. And what better way to spend a weekend than at a gorgeous winery sipping some of the finest wine in the Southeast? Yeah, I couldn't really think of much better either! Here comes in Chateau Elan. With over 220 awards won since 2013 and a wine genius by the name of Bergese behind their success, this winery is coming up fast and challenging wineries on the West Coast.

The Chateau is a simple 45 minutes drive from Buckhead, where I live in Atlanta, and makes for a lovely weekend drive! So, grab some of your closest friends and make a day out of it by taking a the tour, sipping the wine, and having dinner in the area! And, if you are so inspired, which you definitely will be, even stay the night!

The Chateau offers wine tours at several times throughout the weekend and you are more than free to sip while touring. There are different tours that you can book beforehand, or you can take the general tour and see the facility where the wine is made. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and I learned a lot about the wine made and the region of Georgia, which isn't typically known for its wines.

There is also a wonderful golf course for the avid golfers out there at the Chateau! Sadly, I didn't get a chance to hit the course, but from what I've heard from golfers during that day it's definitely to check out a couple of rounds.

You can even have the chance to walk around the actual vines and have even more fun! Fall is the perfect time to take tours of Chateau Elan because the weather is absolutely gorgeous and walking around is so so so so so nice! You also can't forget about the throngs of special events that happen every weekend. When I was there the event on display was an old time car show and was such fun!

The vineyards are also the perfect place for some prime photo opps! And yes, I like 4 outfit changes throughout the day. It was necessary to get all the pics I could ever want!

And you would think that since the exterior is so picturesque the interior would play second fiddle. I am happy to report though that the interior is just as lovely! The Chateau is massive and has the capacity to host any event that you could think of! Need a place for a conference? Done, they have you covered with numerous conference rooms and the ability to grab wine during breaks. Getting married and looking for the perfect place to tie the knot? Boom, that's covered as well! There were two weddings on the Saturday I was there and you have the option of an outdoor ceremony with a gorgeous reception in their stunning atrium!

Now, when you finish either the 6 glass or 8 glass wine tasting, these are generous pours y'all let me tell you, it's about time for dinner. Now you can feel free to change for dinner and be as dressy or as casual as you want. There are several choices you can choose from for dining options that offer really anything your heart could desire.

I was so excited to dine at Cafe Elan and of course since the wine is so good they have to make sure that the food you pair with it is just as delicious!

But also don't worry if you're feeling wined out, they have a delectable selection of cocktails to choose from! And you can always switch back to wine for your main course!

Now, I'm going to take you through what was a delicious and memorable meal at Cafe Elan! I was quite surprised that they still had a watermelon salad on the menu, since we are essentially in the midst of fall, but the freshness could not be questioned! This was paired with prosciutto, some light greens, and a light and airy foam to create a truly sensational salad and the perfect start to the meal!

From there the entrees arrived, with intermittent rounds of freshly baked bread brought to the table. I opted for the lamb chops with quinoa and baby onions. Oh. My. Gosh. This lamb. This lamb could make a person smile just at the taste. And the tenderness of the meat was to die for! I genuinely loved every bite of this entree and was extremely impressed by the cook, taste, and tenderness! 

And of course no meal is complete without dessert! As a total chocolate lover I went for the port chocolate cake, pair with a chocolate ganache and poached pear. Anyone who knows me knows that combining fruit with dessert is one of my favorite things ever! Maybe it's the sense that it adds a health aspect to what is otherwise a total indulgence and a cheat treat, but whatever it's my thing. And this cake definitely met expectations! Chocolately and very rich! The cake too was light and airy, while the pears went perfectly with the port!

By the time the end of dinner rolled around I was so content and so pleased with how the entire day had gone! It was an amazing day and literally the perfect way to spend my Saturday! From the fantastic wine, to the gorgeous venue, to the amazing food Chateau Elan is really the perfect weekend destination if you're looking to get out of the city, relax, and unwind! My mom was visiting me for the weekend and this is also the perfect place to bring the family or visitors from out of town! It's close enough so that you don't have to stay the night if you don't want to and it makes for the perfect day! Staying the night though is a wonderful option! The rooms well decorated and so cozy! I actually can't stop gushing about this place! Also, don't forget to pick up a bottle, or 4 like I did, from the winery before you leave!

JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

Fall Accessories for Guys: Scarves and Sunnies

Fall is nearly upon us and you can feel the excitement emanating. Whether it be from the changing store displays, to the fall themed commercials, or even the reinstatement of the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks fall is nearly in full swing. And another bonus to the cool and crisp weather is the chance to break out fall fashion! This blog post is all about fall accessories for guys that should not be ignored for this season if you're looking to up your style game.

To start off we are going to focus on the scarf! Oftentimes, I feel like most guys are afraid of the scarf and aren't usually willing to incorporate it into their outfits, at least in the South. In the north I feel they are much more common but more out of necessity than style. Personally, I love scarves and think they're perfect for the fall and that transitional period where you don't necessarily need a heavy coat to stay warm.  

This scarf from Animana is a great way to jump into the scarf game! The length is perfect because you can wear it and tie it in so many different ways. On this day, I went for the simple over the neck, however, there are numerous other ways you can style it. The other accessory you shouldn't forget about in the fall (and the winter for that matter) are a good pair of sunglasses (I've found myself calling them sunnies more and more after my time abroad). These seem like such a thing for the summer, and without a doubt they are. However, the sun shines all year round and you need to protect those eyes from the sun no matter what season it is! 

I've discovered a sick new sunglasses company called Barring Eyewear! They have some unique, fun, and truly high quality pieces that I'm crazy about. For example, the Haverford, which are pictured above, are just oversized enough and have a play on the two tone that make the very interesting and unlike what I've seen with other companies. The pair that I'm wearing in the photo by the pool are the Neo Noir that can easily go from the streets to the club.

Back to the scarf. Solid color scarves are easy to pair and neutral enough to wear with patterns and bold colors. Pair them with rich fall tones, like this burgundy t-shirt from Brooks Brothers, to create a nice contrast between the two that still works well with Southern weather that can change on a dime! Now, be sure to stay tuned for more fall inspired posts! Also, all of the photo cred goes to Diane Lin! She's an awesome Atlanta based photographer that attends Georgia Tech. I had the pleasure of working with her last week and we got some prime shots! I've linked her Insta account to her name, so be sure to give her a follow! JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

Brunch is Bae

Happy Sunday everyone! And you know what that means: BRUNCH DAY! Obviously, there are many other things that can be done on a Sunday, but for a #yopro Sunday's are synonymous with brunch (oftentimes boozy brunch). So this is Joseph's quick guide on why brunch is bae and a few hot spots for brunch in Atlanta!   

The first step you need to take for a good brunch is to gather the squad and head on over to your destination. Good company pairs perfectly with good food, and you need the amigos in order to have an effective booze brunch. In Atlanta good food can be found around every corner, so I'm going to highlight a few different areas where you can grab some great brunch!  

First, is General Muir which is a bit closer to Emory and its campus. The food here is Jewish inspired and you can partake in some delicious brunch food and pick up some bread and pastries for the road after you've been stuffed full of goodness! I went for the latkas paired with arugula, smoked salmon, and green apple! Truly delicous and a nice change up from the typical brunch choices. This was a solid brunch option, but if you're living in the Buckhead area it is a bit of a drive. However, it was more than worth it to catch up with a good friend.

Next, I'm going to feature a spot in Midtown, South City Kitchen. This particular choice has spots in Buckhead and Vinings as well, and since the menus are the same at each venue I would recommend checking out the ones in the other neighborhoods (mainly because I think they have free parking). If you go to Midtown you can try to find street parking (but good luck on a Sunday during brunch time) or you'll have to pay $10 for parking right across the street. The food is modern Southern and features everything from chicken and waffles to the brisket eggs benedict that I opted for!

Now for Sandy Springs. This area is north of the city and can also be a bit of a drive, but if you're from that area or maybe want to get away from the crowds this is a good option. Emidio's is one of my favorites in the area for 2 reasons. 1. You can often get 1000 point reservations on Open Table. 2. The owners are so sweet and the food is extremely fresh! This is a Portuguese restaurant which is a rare type of cuisine for these parts. The seafood here is definitely what I would recommend, and I am constantly blown away by how fresh their food is!

Now for Buckhead! Since this is the area that I live in I have the most suggestions for here. First, my ultimate favorite spot in Atlanta that I've been to so far: Bistro Niko. This place (in my opinion) can't be beat. Why, you ask? Well 1. The first picture of this post with that amazing bronze pineapple filled with liquid awesomeness is from Bistro Niko. 2. They have live jazz on the weekends. 3. The food is AMAZING. 4. The atmosphere is like your in a Parisian cafe. Definitely get the pineapple drink and charcuterie plate when you stop by for a visit, and if you get there early you can get a table close to the jazz players.

Houston's is another wonderful choice for Sunday brunch. They have two locations, one right by where I live, and one that is more between Midtown and Buckhead. Either way, the food at both is amazing. The burger I got was like 50% avocado and amazing! Plus, they shoestring their fries and somehow make them even more addictive than normal fries.

The last one for this post is also in Buckhead and features some classic Italian fare. Portofino is pleasantly located near some great shopping that can be done pre or post brunch. They also feature a seasonally changing menu that shifts and features various regions of Italian cuisine. I opted for the Carbonara, which was amazing, and I stole some of my friends truffle Parmesan potatoes, which are a must. JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

Joseph’s Fashion Week Tips

It's been a crazy past few days, but I wouldn't have it any other way! As many of you know I have been at New York Fashion Week for the past few days, and I was lucky enough to attend several shows and have a wondrous experience in one of my favorite cities. I thought it would be ideal to share some quick tips I've learned over the past few days before I dive in with separate blog posts about what I saw at Fashion Week. So here comes "Joseph's Quick Fashion Week Tips"

1. Be prepared for the heat. New York Fashion Week is a wonderful event and is tons of fun, but it also takes place during one of the hotter months in the city. This was made even more troublesome this year because of the change in venues. Instead of the typical Manhattan locations that are all fairly close to one another there was a wider range of venues, with some designers choosing to go for more artistic and intriguing spots, that are further apart. Usually, this would be totally fine, but for a guy who is wearing a full suit and has to walk that means lots of sweat! Obviously, this can be avoided by wearing super light clothing or taking a car to every venue so you barely spend any time outside.

2. Bring a bag that can take you from the morning to the evening.

Since I knew each day that I would be out from the morning to the evening and couldn’t return to the place I was staying in Brooklyn with friends to change, I had to make sure I was fully prepared for whatever the day might bring. This meant for me outfit variations, hair products to restyle, snacks for the day, my laptop, notebooks, etc. Guys have the options of bringing briefcases, like I did, backpacks, and even duffel bags. I personally don’t agree with the duffel bag option because it looks like you’re either going to the gym or about to head to the airport. And odds are you won’t be heading to either of those places, so maybe leave the duffel for those things. 

3. Know your schedule and try to arrive early.

It is imperative to keep yourself organized amidst the craziness of both Fashion Week and New York City in general. Be sure to know your schedule in terms of what shows your attending, what times the shows are,  where the shows are in relation to one another, and of course which ones have after parties! Additionally, try to get to your shows early. This is mainly if you don’t have a specific seat assignment. For me, I was able to pull off a few shows where I had seat assignments but for some I was put into the “priority standing” section. What this means is that there is a small chance you may have to stand during the show, but odds are that you will get the seat of someone who decides not to show up. I was lucky enough to not have to stand at any of the shows I attended, but I did make sure I arrived early to the shows where I was priority standing to ensure I did get a good seat.

4. Coordinate with friends/other bloggers Fashion Week is just more fun when you’re with people or meeting new people. When else are you surrounded by other people that have such an intense passion for the industry and are essentially interested in all the same things as you? There are bloggers, designers, photographers, and an entire spectrum of people that you can chat with about nearly anything in the fashion industry and that’s something to definitely take advantage of! Not to mention the networking opportunities! I met a guy who worked with Bette Midler and Cher! So you never know what could happen and who you could meet. Also, if you can try to get tickets so you can bring a plus one, such as a photographer or a friend, to not only keep you company but snap those all-important pics for blog posts at a later time like this.

5. Find an outpost.

This is a critical tip if you have shows throughout the day! At some point you’re going to need to eat or leave the venue. What happened to me was that I had show after show lined up on the various days, but the shows aren’t always one after another. So there are times where you have to wait maybe an hour before the next one begins letting people in. So, that means you need a place to hang out for an hour if you can’t go to your hotel/place you’re staying. Based on convenience I went to Starbucks, which was super close, various nearby places to grab lunch, or at the venue on the Lower West Side I would hang out in the VIP lounge, featuring an open bar!

6. Really think about what you're going to wear

This might sound painfully obvious since it is Fashion Week and you will be surrounded by literally the most stylish people on the planet, but there is a surprising number of facets that need to be considered when doing so. First, there is the question of do you have to wear something that can go from day to night? Logistically, because I was staying in Brooklyn I had to keep this in mind and it definitely affected what I decided to wear. But if that isn’t a problem and you can go change to something more formal for evening shows then more power to you! Next, you should always bring/wear comfortable shoes. This tip definitely is more catered to the ladies in attendance because we all know the more important the fashion show the higher the heels usually are. Luckily, for guys like me I could literally live in my loafers and I don’t mind sporting them all day long. I will say as another general tip if you just happened to get a sick pair of shoes that you want the world to see at the event make sure you break them in first. Nothing is worse than blisters that you have to deal with for days of walking around New York. Lastly, and probably most importantly, always adhere to your personal style and what YOU want to wear. I’ve heard of several instances of people changing their personal looks to adhere to the designer that they’re watching, which in some instances can be fair such as if they gave you an outfit to attend their show in. However, I personally think that you should wear what matches your style to these shows, unless there are circumstances like I just mentioned. If you’re watching a streetwear designer but your style is classically preppy, don’t change! It will never look as good on you because you won’t be as confident in what you’re wearing. Also, if you look different than the rest of the crowd as a bonus you’ll be almost guaranteed to be called out for some photos. JRL

[theconsultinglifestyle]

The Magic of Coffee Shops

Some of you may remember my coffee adventures throughout Europe and Asia during my year on GLOBE. If you don’t, I’ll give a little background. As a self-proclaimed coffee aficionado I took it upon myself to explore as many coffee shops in as many countries as I could during my time on GLOBE. This paired pretty well with my dedication to try as much food and shop as much as possible while I was traveling, and it resulted in my finding and discovering some true gems in cities across the planet.

To me, coffee shops are like little oases spotted throughout cityscapes. They give the promise of energy, rejuvenation, some mellow tunes (depending what spot you go to), and most importantly when traveling, Wi-Fi! They provide the perfect little pit stop during the day for the period of time where you’re still just a little too full from lunch and you’re not wanting to get dinner yet. Oftentimes these coffee shops will have the perfect little baked morsel to satisfy your cravings. And even more often you can meet some of the most interesting people in coffee shops.

I’ll give a quick little anecdote of why coffee shops are so intriguing, but before I do I will advise that anyone reading should not do what I did in this scenario. Now, to set the scene. I was in Hong Kong’s Soho district spending a day exploring some new boutiques, having lunch with friends, and killing enough time before my dinner plans for that night. After lunch concluded we went our separate ways and I headed for a coffee shops that was on my list of must tries. It’s funny because to this day I can’t actually remember which coffee shop it was that I visited, but I certainly remember what happened to me.

I was sitting at “Unnamed Coffee Shop” minding my own business, probably on my laptop either blogging, uploading, pictures, or doing homework. It’s an average sized crowd, not so many people that you feel surrounded but enough where you may not notice everyone in the shop. Anyways, I’m casually typing listening to some playlist or other I’ve devised, and I look up and there’s a woman, probably in her early to mid 30’s, dressed in a chic dress looking like she should be at work and not at a coffee shop. Said woman approaches me and asks if the table next to me is taken. The table is free so I politely respond with a “Yes, feel free.” She does so, gets her order, and silence is restored to my life.

However, said woman begins talking to me. And what is her lead up question you ask, “Are you interested in art?” Apparently, because I was wearing a “edgy” outfit, from her description, it had to mean I had a creative side and appreciated that world. My response was a yes and the conversation ensued. She tells me she is a gallery owner that travels the world looking for the next famous artist to represent. Easily one of the most interesting people I’ve met and we exchange information and carry on talking about what on earth I’m doing in Hong Kong. Ultimately, the conversation leads her to asking if I would like to see a secret gallery that she owns in the city. Typical Joseph says that he would love to check it out and we are then on our way.

Since we are already in Soho it is a simple walk to where we have to go. She begins to lead me down varying corridors and alleys and I begin to get worried. But then I think to myself, “Hey if it came down to I bet I could take her. I just hope she doesn't have armed assailants in the wait.” These feelings get stronger and stronger as we continue and I legit begin to panic.

We eventually arrive to her supposed “gallery” which is literally this rusty scary door that looks like the entrance to a potential slaughterhouse but hey, it’s fine I go in anyways. I mean, I’ve already come this far. I walk in and I kid you not it is pitch black. First though in my mind, “Well it has been a good run.” But then the unthinkable happens. She flips on the lights and I’m in a gorgeous contemporary art gallery with paintings from countries around Southeast Asia that are beautiful enough to take your breath away!

After looking around and hearing the various backgrounds of the artists we have a seat in the gallery’s sitting room, have some drinks, and just keep discussing. In the end, this purported art dealer says she likes my moxie and offers me a job as her “apprentice” to travel the world and discover artists with her. I say I have 0 experience and she would be much better off hiring someone who actually studied art in some capacity, but she gives me her card just in case my mind ever changes (I still have it by the way).

So to wrap back around to where I started this post with, I love coffee shops because you literally never know what can happen when you walk into one. Should I have gone to this mystery art gallery with a woman that I barely knew, probably not. But I did and it was easily one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. So in short, I want to thank coffee, who at the root gave me this chance, and I coffee shops for attracting all types of people to their establishments. Here’s to hoping I have a similar experience during my coffee shop explorations in Atlanta!