Raise a Glass to the Memories

Life is so so sweet with this Nashville family of mine. One of the scariest things about moving to a new city as a twenty-something is that fear of making new friends. Lucky for me, I've made more than friends, I've made a family [I can't believe how cheesy that sounds but it's the truth!] - and here's a glimpse at just a few of them!  

This past weekend, in addition to proving that "Yes you can rewear a bridesmaid dress," we all got together for The Pieces of Hope benefit for Autism awareness and it made me realize just how truly beautiful these guys and gals are inside and out. Just look at them all!! :)

Community Supported Agriculture

"Clean eating" is a term on the rise. It seems I can't go more than a day any more without hearing about someone's new trials or adventures in clean eating. It's so exciting and I'm trying to keep up! I first heard the term from the wonderfully energetic and wise girls behind the Tone It Up lifestyle page, Karena and Katrina. It's a community group of women set to inspire and motivate each other to live happy and healthy lives. Strict diet plans can be overwhelming and difficult to follow, causing so many people to cheat while they're on them. But TIU is a lifestyle change and K&K provide the community of ladies with healthy [and YUMMY] meals - using the clean eating method - as well as a fitness calendar they update on a monthly basis.

Now, I'm no health guru, but I do try my best to follow a more or less clean eating plan. One way I think this could be more fun is by joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and lucky for me there are so many great ones to choose from in Nashville!  I've always been tickled by the idea of one day owning a farm of my own because I'm 100% for buying fresh food locally. CSA's are just that! It's a way for consumers to buy local and seasonal food directly from a farmer. If you're part of a CSA, share your thoughts with me!

Something About a Doily

I've been thinking about doilies lately. More than anything because it reminds me of my grandma and I miss her. She was always working on a new one - even though she had a box full of unused and unfinished ones in her craft closet. "You can never have too much of the things you love." From time to time she'd pick up an old one and start where she left off, always sure to pull me aside and show me the details that had already been handcrafted. I loved how beautiful each detail was and how not one was ever the same. Somehow she would manage to wrangle me aside and sometimes we would look at it for thirty minutes, or more, admiring the work that was put into it. Even though it could take her months to finish one [hey, I get it, that's how crafting works], by the time it all came together each one was more beautiful than the last. 

This might not have been the metaphor she was trying to teach me, but I've learned to focus on the details and take life slowly and not for granted. In this fast moving world we live in, it's easy to lose focus and miss the details. With social media and technology soaking up so much of our time, it's good to just sit back and...make a doily. 

Happy Birthday!

If you want to imagine for a moment that this photo is not blurry [Mom - it doesn't look like you're paying attention in photography class!] then you would see what's probably my favorite photo of my sister and me. And guess what, it just so happens to be her birthday! This is the only second third time I've ever had to miss her birthday and each time it gets a little more difficult because I know as we get older, we'll probably be spending more and more birthdays apart.

I've always felt like I got the best bargain growing up because I had the privilege of having a brother and a sister. Not only did I have both, but I had the best brother and sister combo. My sister's kind, smart, domestic and beautiful. You know you've truly made her laugh because she'll quietly dab at the her eyes, wiping away those really really good laughter tears. And my gosh, she is one of the most honest women I know. I'm so proud of my big sister and best friend and I hope you are having one terrific day!! Miss you loads and can't wait to see ya soon!

Happy Valentine's Day, too ;)

You Can't Take the Girl Out of the South

It's good to be back in Nashville! This past week, I was able to take a quick trip out to the City of Angels to stay with one of my best friends, Michele. While it was much too short, for the first time it made me realize how lucky I am to be living right here in Tennessee. For years, I always thought I would move to Los Angeles after graduating from college. It's fast-paced, has incredible coffee shops [like Intelligentsia] on every street corner and is full of creative and talented folks. Then, I realized I say words like "folks" and "y'all" and "mighta could" and realized, Nashville is exactly where I want to be and am supposed to be. This place is a gem and I know it won't be the last time I say this: I'm so happy that Nashville is my home.

But ANYWAY, back to L.A., Michele and I had way too much fun and barely slept a lick! It was basically a much-needed four-day long sleepover and it was perfect. I miss this girl so much and I can't wait until we're living in the same city again and taking our kids to the park for play dates. She's going to do great things, this one.

And if you're wondering, yes that is Walter White AKA Heisenberg. For the past four years I've been lucky enough to attend the Director's Guild Awards and this year was no exception. Oddly enough I had just finished a marathon viewing party of "Breaking Bad" and found myself conversing with no other than Sir Heisenberg. I still don't quite understand how it happened, so I've decided to put this photo up as proof that I wasn't [and still am not] dreaming.

Currently

The wind is howling through the doors so to me that can only mean one thing: stay in for crafting!

I've been meaning to make these mugs for my best friends [who live in China and California] since CHRISTMAS and like everything else, time has got the most from me. But probably more than anything else, I was terrified to mark on these beautiful and coveted $1 mugs from the Dollar Store. :)

I got the idea from this adorable Etsy shop but I thought "No! I can do this on my own" So I followed these directions and went at it. Even though it's taken me almost 2 months to get around to it, I'm glad I stuck with my guns and am making these completely homemade. So currently they are in the oven and we'll see how long it takes for me to take to the post office...

PS, it feels so GOOD to be back at the blog.