Love Circle

When my sister came to visit earlier this summer, we packed up a picnic dinner one evening and headed up to Love Circle Park. 

As much as we loved gazing at the skyline, nothing beats a pink and orange Nashville sunset behind the Smokey Mountains.

flower crowns for the flower children

I can't think of a better way to leave the day behind than to kick off your shoes, lay in the grass, listen to the crickets, and watch the sun inch its way down. 

We walked back to the car with the lightning bugs buzzing all around us and grass sticking to our legs--just as it should be. Even though fall is my favorite, I'll be sad to see these perfect summer nights go.

Color Run

Just before finals, my friends and I decided to run in the Color Run. We missed it the first time around in the fall, and even though it was cloudy and cold, we made our way over to LP Field and got ready to race through the city. While the run is a 5K, its not timed or competitive--the purpose is more to jog slowly through each color station so that you can get covered in as much pigment as possible. 

Just in case you don't get enough color during the run, there is essentially a color-rave after the race. We all jammed out to the DJ while the Color Run staff threw pigment into the crowd. It smelled so weird and literally got into my eyes, mouth, up my nose, and just about every other awkward nook of my body, but it was so much fun. 

After days of being cooped up in the library, it felt so good to just be loud and obnoxious and enjoy the morning. 

Even if you hate running, if you like wearing costumes, dancing, and looking like a rainbow exploded all over you, I suggest signing up! Lots of people walk it and its more about having fun rather than setting a good time.

literally covered in pigment with the runicorn.

Iron Forks

A few weeks back, I won tickets to Nashville's Iron Fork's Competition at my school's silent auction. Its our little city's version of Iron Chef, and as an avid food lover, I pounced the second I saw those tickets. We spent the evening watching local chefs go head to head with a mystery ingredient and indulging in all the Nashville restaurants that lined the room with samples for everyone to try. 

I quite literally ate one of everything--every restaurant just outdid itself.

The pulled pork + fruit puree combo + crunchy chips made for some of the best nachos ever.

After eating my way through the venue, it was time to watch the chefs get to work! The secret ingredient was maple syrup, and it was so much fun to watch the chefs scheme with each other and figure out how to serve it up for the judges.

We got lucky and ended up standing next to Chef Jamie Watson (of Cafe Fundamental) as he was plating his food. He let us munch on his leftover bits that didn't make the plate and holy.deliciousness.  Since I'm sure every other chef's plate tasted just as amazing, I think its fair to say the judges had quite an enjoyable evening. 

It was pretty much a [foodie] dream--I left so uncomfortably full and ridiculously happy. Success.

Snapshots

Snapshots from February & the last few days of March:

A fruit and cheese spread while we watch episodes of New Girl (Jess & Nick--be still my heart.) Although we try to be classy, we're using Christmas plates. Long after December. On our shattered coffee table. One day we will be real adults. 

Snow came to Nashville! While I realize this is pretty much just a dusting, its still beautiful.

Oh hey books.

And laptop. Why do you own me?

Wine Down Wednesday at Music City Flats with the girls. Wine tasting + flatbread makes for the perfect midweek pick me up.

This was me & my friends' Valentines Day. Not pictured: giant beer and bruised egos.



Gourmet grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheeserie. HOLY DELICIOUSNESS.

We celebrated a 24th birthday with salted caramel cupcakes with chocolate bourbon frosting and candied bacon. Gluttony & extravagance are simply not part of our vocabulary.

Please hurry up, spring. For once in my life, I want warm weather for sundresses, picnics, and brunch on patios.

Treating myself to my all time favorite Nashville place: Jeni's. Toasted Coconut + Roxbury Road was probably the best way for my spring break to end (welp)

A Visit

A few weekends ago, my sweet friend made the trek west to come and visit me. We have such a lovely weekend together--I'm still having a hard time accepting the fact that not all weekends can quite as wonderful as that one.

We ate so much delicious food (so.much.) and pranced all over Nashville visiting old favorites and some new cool places I've been wanting to try. Throw in there a night on the town that had us dancing until the wee hours of the morning, and lots of good conversation, and it was pretty much the greatest three days ever.
***

Adventures in East Nashville began at the Barista Parlor which was just a cool place. The coffee was amazing (yes, I'm looking at you Bourbon Vanilla Latte) and the people watching was spot on.





After grabbings some locally made raviolli from Porter Road Butcher, we walked down to five points jus to remind ourselves just how far from hipster cool we really are.

Naturally, I could let Jenny leave without trying my favorite place, Jenis! Between us, we sampled a million flavors (thank you Jeni's staff for being so kind and gracious with those tester spoons...) and we were smitten with our final choices.

Honey-Pistachio and my favorite, Sweet Potato with Torched Marshmallows. 

walking along my favorite spot downtown.

So full after a delicious restaurant week meal at Holland House.


As avid brunch goers, I had to take her to one of the best brunch spots in town:  Tavern. Its conveniently located across the street from my house, and their sangria and just about every entree on the menu makes my heart skip a beat.

I miss you already, friend. Please come back and visit again soon.

Snapshots

Snapshots of fall & winter:

my favorite place ever, Jenis, gave out free ice cream in 12 south as a thank you for winning Best of Nashville awards. The most delicious ice cream (Brown Butter Almond Brittle & Bramble Berry Crisp were sampled & savored) coupled with a burger from Burger Up made for the greatest afternoon ever.

also...as an aside, for those near a Jeni's, or who order from Jeni's, don't miss out on the deliciousness that is their Sweet Potato & Toasted Marshmallow holiday flavor. I feel the need to defend weird ice cream flavors, but this one is so delicious, you will wonder why you ever doubted the presence of sweet potatoes in ice cream

gameday football brought down to the field by a skydiver.

school owned me this semester, and breakfast was often had at a cubicle in the library at 6am. At least I got to see pretty sunrises while I got dressed.

my amazing mom sends the best care packages to get me through studying--my favorite european chocolate treats, the best granola ever, and sweet words of encouragement.

I'm pretty obsessed with how gorgeous campus is. Fall was so beautiful that I had lunch on a bench in the above courtyard almost everyday.

speaking of gorgeous fall...I definitely abandoned the tedium that is memo editing one weekend to go run in centennial park instead. I hate that guilty feeling of leaving work behind to go do something for yourself, but sometimes its just necessary to be outside, in the sun, with fresh air, and no computer in front of you.

My new favorite running path takes me from my apartment to the pedestrian bridge in downtown Nashville. Even though the entire jog back is uphill (cue screaming calves and a mental dialogue where I have convince myself that  running is good for me), I love that bridge enough to put up with it.

Richland Park Farmers Market root vegetables were out of control delicious. Crunchy kale, jewel colored carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes...be still my heart.

My precious kitten, Chloe, helping me with my summer job applications.