The Swan House in Atlanta

By Laurie Bower Epps

Many don't know that I'm really from Atlanta. Somehow, as I've gotten older, it just seems to be natural that I'd go home to the place of my birth for my birthday. This year is exciting because it marked my 50th birthday. I'm fortunate enough to still have my dad with me, so I got include my dad in the celebration. My dad is 90 years old, so in a way, it was his birthday too. Dad let me pick where we were going, and I have a running laundry list of places that I'd like to go. My brother was sweet enough to offer me passes to the visit the Swan House which put it on the top of my list.

Pictured in the library

The Belmont Inn

By Laurie Bower Epps

Sometimes while going on a fashion adventure, things don't work out. But occasionally, you've got a serendipitous moment for your blog as I've had with this one. After the last venue being closed, I decided to call ahead on this one. Which I did. But I got the unfortunate news that this hotel doesn't serve food on Sunday's.You see, I just love the Abbeville Opera House across the street, but I'd already been there for a blog last year. This news also conflicted with their website and recording. As all good reporters do, I decided to stop by anyway knowing that hotel's are always generous with their grounds for free publicity.

The Lunney Museum

By Laurie Bower Epps

I'm always looking for a new adventure, so my GPS found a historical home and museum in Seneca that I'd not yet been to, so I felt that I had to go. Situated right at the heart of downtown Seneca's historical district sits this little bungalow waiting to be uncovered. 

Now that Sunday's are my only day off, I headed out with my daughter on the first day of sun since my last blog for a new adventure. I'm a lover of the sunshine and warm temps of the spring and summer. Even though it was a bit nippy on the day we went out, the sunshine seemed to promise that spring is around the corner.

Patch of Sun at Cedars Falls Park

By Laurie Bower Epps

Sunshine has been in short supply here in the Upstate. After raining for seven straight Sundays (and Sunday's my only day off), when a day did turn out sunny, we headed out for one of my adventures. On Instagram, one of my dear friends had taken many excellent pictures of this waterfall series, I just had to go and see it for myself. Plus, the sun was calling me out.

There has been a change for me, I'm working a lot more hours at work, so I'm definitely going to be outside if weather permits. I also love sunshine despite being of Scots-Irish and extremely fair. I can't wait for summer to wear my sundresses and flip flops.

A Tale of Two Sweethearts

By Laurie Bower Epps

Much like the two key cities in the book, A Tale of Two Cities, two people are drawn to each other due to attraction but they're nothing alike. From there, if they fall in love, they move side by side trying to forge a life together. If they can face the good with the bad, they build a future. If somewhere down the road, those differences cause one of them to detour, usually it leads to heartbreak. For love to succeed, both need to submit to facing the good along with the bad but always looking to each other for comfort, or towards common goals.

Two Fashion Icons Hit the Ballfield

Pictured on Liberty Bridge, Falls Park

By Laurie Bower Epps

This column on my blog is also a copycat of my friend, Dana Evans fashion blog. When talking to other women my age, many mentioned that she's beautiful but they didn't feel represented in the sense of body type. Personally, I believe that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. But I can get on board with the idea that just because you don't fit in the typical misses section of the local department store, you still want to be fashionable. Since Dana is truly my muse, it's been a vision for me to join forces with a bit of double-trouble fashionably speaking.

Being a card carrying girlie-girl, you might be surprised to learn that I also love soccer matches and baseball. Ok, so I probably won't be in a ball cap anytime soon, that doesn't mean that I can't indulge in the favorite pastime.

An Afternoon With Kate & Jan

By Laurie Bower Epps

I'm a bit of a museum-rat. Frequently, I'm purusing local websites to see what exhibitions are in town or in nearby cities such as Greenville, Atlanta, Columbia, Charlotte or Asheville. Can you imagine my surprise when the Katherine Hepburn and Jan Brett exhibitions were at the local Upcountry History Museum?

So on this balmy winter's day, my youngest and I set out to visit some of cinematic movie great memories, and the children's books wonderful pages created by Jan Brett. A perfect combination for me and my little one. I've loved and followed the unrelated Hepburns for years. Jan Brett offered up some beautifully illustrated books for my daughter. We were both mesmerized.