Perhaps the most famous… The I believe in Nashville. Location: 12th South Across from Edley’s. 2706 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204.
Ya’ll have been asking for Nashville Travel Guides and I’m finally delivering! I’m so grateful to live in such a fun and thriving city. It’s become the hottest bachelorette trip spot, and makes for a pretty unbelievable weekend getaway.
Let’s be real, we all want good pics that are Insta worthy when we go on trips. I got ya covered!
Each week I’ll be adding to the Nashville series with best places to eat, drink, stay, & things to do. First up, picture or it didn’t happen!
BEST MURALS & PHOTO SPOTS IN NASHVILLE
Location: The intersection of Charlotte and 28th street.
Location: Off The Wall Nashville. There are several different ones in a row, and they are often changed. Great spot to see several murals in one location. 3020 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37209.
Location: Fido in Hillsboro Village (Grab a coffee while you are there!) 1812 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212.
Location: Behind Frothy Monkey in 12th South. My ultimate go to coffee spot. (Warning, this is in a parking lot.) 2509 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204.
Location: Baked On 8th (Go in and try some cookie dough! It’s so good, and there is an adorable sign inside as well.) 1512 8th Ave South Nashville, TN
Location: 2028C Lindell Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Location: Barista Parlor in Germantown (The other side is has big open garage style doors with vintage motorcycles. Very photo worthy. The bourbon vanilla coffee is one of my favorites in the city! 1230 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208.
A notable thing about Nashville is the friendly residents. (In my experience living here..) So this is a special way to capture that!
Location: Germantown. On the building where Juice Bar and Little Donkey are located. 1120 Fourth Avenue North.
Positive Parenting: Daily Affirmations For Your Child
“Speak to your children as if they are the wisest, kindest, most beautiful and magical humans on earth, for what they believe is what they will become.” – Brooke Hampton
Mom life is hard, but one thing that truly helps me remain patient is knowing the gravity of my actions on the boys life. How you parent in the early years is shaping the way they will act, have relationships, and learn for the rest of their lives. WHOA. That’s some serious stuff.
A simple way you can practice positive parenting, is by giving your child daily affirmations.
The simplest things can make the most profound difference.
Every night, as I carry the boys up the stairs to their cribs, I make a point to tell them things I love about them. Great things they did that day, how proud we are of them, etc. The goal is to fill their minds with positive thoughts before they fall asleep.
In the morning, right when they wake up, we do the same thing. “It’s going to be a great day!” or “I know you will do such a great job sharing with your brother today.” It really starts the day on a positive note.
Again, they are just simple things. The important part is that they believe what they are told at this stage. Imagine what they can do when they are pumped up with positive daily affirmations?!
On the long list of daily “to do’s”, this is the one thing I make a point to NEVER forget. It’s just that important.
Daily affirmations for children has amazing benefits. Positive thoughts create positive actions.
What better gift can you give your child than confidence and self-belief?
Let’s raise a generation of positive, empathetic, strong, resilient, dreamers.
Lately, we’ve been doing A LOT of Amazon shopping. They just make it so easy! I’ve had some new series I’ll be starting, and one I’ll be doing monthly is Best Amazon Finds.
I wanted to share some of the things I have ordered and love as well as things that we constantly re-order.
With it being the start of the new year this one is focused on organizing, healthy eating and then just some fun things.
If you haven’t taken the plunge to declutter yet, be sure to check out my full post with checklists, articles and more on why it’s great to do that in the new year.
With cooking clean and eating healthy there are a few seasonings that help make everything still taste great. One I’m SO late to the game on is this Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. It’s all the rave, and so tasty. Another one we love is this Chili Lime Seasoning. (Try it on pineapple or watermelon…so great!)
Also, these BPA Free Silicone Muffin Trays are great. We make egg muffins in them and they are a great breakfast for the boys. Make a dozen and they’ll last for a few days.
Getting your mind right is the most important thing for a new year. If you haven’t read Girl, Wash Your Face yet. I HIGHLY recommend. It’s sure to give you the extra motivation you need.
I’ve talked a ton about this acrylic makeup organizer over on my Instagram stories, and it’s been a huge hit with everyone that has ordered it. It’s currently on sale for $44. I love mine!
If you are also on the organizing train, these acrylic bins are great. (Especially for your pantry and fridge.) Also, how did I not having everything in these acrylic lazy susans before?! You can find everything so much easier, and it is a HUGE space saver.
While you are cleaning everything out, wash your sheets in this laundry detergent. It seems so luxurious. It really is a hit with guests too.
These faux sheepskin rugs are so fluffy and such a great find. I use mine over baskets to hide toys, as rugs, and layered over other rugs.
Everyone needs this awesome on the go phone charger. It makes a super useful gift option as well.
Speaking of phones, this marble phone cover is $10 and comes in tons of similar other options as well. I’ve had mine for a few months now, and it’s been durable.
If you’ve got awesome any “best amazon finds” you’d like to share, please send them my way!
Any single ladies reading this? Pro tip…..find a man who can cook! Trey is such a great cook, and nothing is more comforting than a big pot of chili on a cold day.
Ok, so by “famous” I mean by our family and friends. No joke every person he has made this for has said it was the best chili they have ever tasted. We need to find this guy a chili cook off to enter though, because no doubt he would win.
There are a couple of “secret” ingredients that aren’t found in a traditional chili recipe, and they really give it that extra special something that sets it a part from the rest.
We also love to add avocado to the top. Try it added with any other traditional toppings you love!
I had him write this one up himself so here it is..the famous chili recipe! (I’m actually totally shocked he was willing to share this. It’s letting a big ole secret out of the bag!)
Quick Side Note: Can’t say enough things about this Le Creuset is on major sale right now. We use it ALL.THE.TIME. You can find it HERE.
BEST CHILI RECIPE
Ingredients:
2 lbs Ground Beef
1/3 lb Chorizo
1 White Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Teaspoon Salt
Pepper to taste
1 Teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 – 8oz Can of Tomato Sauce
1 – 28 oz Can Whole or Diced Tomatoes
1 – small Can Diced Chilis
1/4 cup of Masa (you can find this in Mexican cuisine section of the grocery)
1 – Can Chili Beans OR kidney
1/2 Can (b/c Ashley doesn’t love beans) Refried Beans
1 Tablespoon Goya Adobo powder
1 bottle of your favorite beer
* Diced jalapeños if you like *
Juice of 1 Lime
Instructions:
1. Brown the ground beef and the chorizo, drain fat.
2. Chop the onion, throw it in until they are translucent. Add salt and pepper.
3. Add Chilis.
4. Put in garlic, cook for about a minute together.
5. Add chili powder, Adobo, cumin, cayenne, oregano.
6. Let cook together until it starts to get a little dry.
7. Add the beer in… save a swig for yourself.
8. Add tomato sauce and tomatoes. Stir together then turn heat down.
9. Add beans and bring to a simmer for 25-30 minutes, turn down heat.
10. Mix masa with a little chicken stock, beef stock, or water, stir in.
11. Stir in refried beans.
12. Squeeze in some lime, put on some cheese, sour cream, onions, avocado, Fritos, crackers, whatever you like, I like all of it.
As a long time subscriber and Garden & Gun fan, I was elated when they reached out to collaborate on a romantic weekend getaway to Columbia, South Carolina.
Trey and I had never been, and were thrilled to escape for a few days and discover all this charming town had to offer.
Be sure to pick up your copy of Garden & Gun (Feb/March) issue to check out our stay in print. You can also see the article on their website… HERE! (Eek!)
We were so impressed with the historic town, and how much it’s been rejuvenated in the last few years. It was a super quick flight from Nashville (totally drivable as well!) If you are looking for a unique and fun getaway, you’ve found it!
This hotel was southern hospitality at it’s finest. We were greeted with our choice of sparkling rosé or local beer (CottonTown Brew Lab’s TropiCarolina.) From that first special touch to the time we checked out, no detail was missed.
The decor was so dreamy! It was quirky meets charming, in the best possible way. We loved having a kitchenette in our room and the exposed brick were beautiful. Don’t miss all the unique artwork and photography throughout the building.
SHOP
Devine Street and Saluda Avenue
There were tons of funky little locally owned and operated shops that we loved popping into. While we were going from shop to shop we stumbled upon the coolest coffee shop, Drip. They had a backroom with tons of records that you could play and they used the drip method to make your coffee. We listened to music while we waited, and took our coffee to go while we shopped.
This is renovated engine supply building from the late 1800s, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They serve up local, fresh ingredients with the menu changing daily. We absolutely loved the spin on southern classics, and the drinks were fabulous as well!
Local, hand crafted and small batched ice cream. The zucchini bread ice cream was one of my favorite things I’ve ever tasted! They had so many unique flavors, and it was the perfect spot for an afternoon sweet treat.
A Columbia staple. They are famous for their chicken salad, but we were really loving the mimosa kit (shocker, I know) and the charcuterie board with local cheeses. They also have lots of gifts, wines, cheeses and cigars to go.
This whiskey bar and Cajun-Creole restaurant located right next to the South Carolina Capital Building. They boast the biggest whiskey list in South Carolina. Since Trey’s family is from New Orleans, he is pretty picky with his cajun… this place held it’s own!
We had some amazing food, but the drinks were so spot on too. Order the “Heart of Darkness” drink. It comes out with smoke and is so cool and delicious!
This might have just been the highlight of the trip. It really captures the charm that is Columbia. We sat with the owner as we sipped on organic, carefully curated wines and he explained the history of the place. The historic building had recently been renovated, but had formerly belonged to the gathering place’s namesake, Lula Drake, a woman who paved the way in the 1920s for female business owners. A trunk filled with her business cards and documents inspired the decor and logo of the wine shop.
This one could also totally go under, “Eats.” We had some late night bites. The truffled pasta dish with crème fraîche, black pepper, and lemon zest was out of this world. Yum! I still think about that meal!
Head out to the cute patio with string lights and grab a fun drink! They had some great classic apps to bite on as well. We also loved their hot sauce! You can buy it and bring it home…highly recommend!
