CMA Fest Day 2 & 3: Cowboy Up!

After a very eventful day one of CMA Fest in Nashville, we all woke up Friday morning with an appetite (granted I had a hot dog the night before) and a little adventure in our bones. We wanted pizza, and decided to venture out to the Farmers' Market to a place called Bella Nashville where the ingredients are fresh. 

I had the margarita pizza, but I like things simple. Just a lot of sauce and a little cheese and I'm a happy girl. 

Now, after we had a little bit of pizza we all took a nap. The first night was pretty exhausting. For round two, we hit up BB Kings in downtown Nashville where we go every year that we come to CMA Fest. It's an easy atmosphere, good food and usually we are in a hurry. I had wings. 

I know. Hot dogs. Pizza. Wings. 

I'm the living proof of health right now. 

Detox will start Monday. 

After our healthy bites, we headed to LP Field. Randy Travis photobombed our picture!

How rude, Randy... how rude. 

Now here is an interesting story. Back in 2011 we met this young fella named Nick. We were joking around one night taking pictures and snapped this one. Because I live for social media, I put it on Facebook then. This year, Melissa saw the same guy and knew it was him. Sure enough, it was. 

The top picture is 2011, the bottom is 2013. 

Sadly, even my hair curls in the exact same spot it did a year ago thanks to the humidity. 

We saw a lot of great people Friday night that include... 

Randy Travis ... Kip Moore .. Little Big Town ... Hunter Hayes ... Lady Antebellum ... Blake Shelton with special guest by Sheryl Crow and Jason Muraz. 

Kip Moore was really, really good and of course Lady A and Mr. Shelton were pretty good as well. 

To be honest, Hunter Hayes is kind of like a country Justin Bieber. Cute and little, but not for me. 

Oh look at the lights behind us! 

Friday night did not end up with a hot dog, instead, it ended up with Taco Bell. 

See why there will be a detox on Monday?? 

On Saturday we headed downtown earlier and I caught the Mountain Man from Duck Dynasty hanging out at CMA Fest. 

Just never know who you might see. 

We also visited Merchants Restaurant Saturday night. The story of Merchants is pretty cool... 

To sum it up, it was once an old hotel that opened right around the 1900's. It had different floors that had different things like a pharmacy, hardware and drug company on the floor. It also was a hotel that housed people for food and lodging for around a quarter a day. There have been some famous country stars to stay there that include, Dolly, Loretta and Hank. 

I'd stay there for a quarter if I could meet Dolly. 

While we waited on food, Melissa and I had a mini photo shoot. This is just one of like a hundred. 

The sun was right in my face but who can complain about a little natural light. 

Oh hey Nashville, hey! 

Saturday night was just as fun as the first two. That's the thing about CMA fest, even if you aren't a major country fan, you can still have the best of time because you know there will be surprises like... 

Lenny Kravitz! 

We also saw ... Florida Georgia Line ... Dierks Bentley ... Kelly Clarkson ... and Keith Urban with surprises by Jason Aldean.

Saturday night ended with a fireworks show, and I love fireworks more than one person should. It's probably why the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. 'Merica, fireworks and fun. 

After a fun couple of day ... all you can do ... is cowboy up. 

SHARE:

0 comments

Let #CMAfest 2013 Begin!

In 2010 and 2011, my Atlanta besties, Lauren, Courtney, Melissa and I all went to the Country Music Festival in Nashville, TN. Though we skipped 2012 because Courtney went and had a baby, we packed up our boots and headed to the country music capital for another year of boot-scootin-fun. From Little Rock to Nashville it's an easy 5-hour drive. (It could take you less but I had to stop and there was traffic...) 

The first night we go somewhere we like to do it big and fancy for dinner. We went to a restaurant called Kayne Prime that is part of the MStreet Nashville restaurant group. What was the first drinks we ordered when we got there? Well, champagne of course! 

I do love champagne. The older I get the more I love it. 

Melissa and I love a good bestie picture. We have been friends for six years now... and there's no way she's getting rid of me now! 

So, the food was SO good that I totally skipped the picture once it arrived. I had steak, mac & cheese, some kind of corn brulée, delish tuna, and blake kale salad. It was seriously a good meal. 

If only I hadn't been such a porker and remembered to take a picture. 

I did remember to take a picture of the birthday cake shot. Taste just like birthday cake!

Lauren invited her old boss and we also had an old friend of Lauren, Courtney and Melissa's join us. 

Totes fun. 

(Totally fun)

Can't celebrate a (late) birthday without some sort of candle! 

Thanks, Kayne Prime! 

Another group shot outside of the restaurant.

I would go back there any day.

We hurried down the LP Field in Nashville to make sure we saw Luke Bryan. 

Lauren and I had to shake it to the birds and shake it to the bees for Luke.

Big crowd. Fuzzy Picture. 

No night in Nashville after CMA Fest without a hot dog. 

I'm a ketchup, mustard and relish girl. 

Time to get ready for night 2... 

SHARE:

0 comments

I'm Feeling 27!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 27... And I know that it will all be okay, because I have all of you! The fact that I'm 27 today is a little strange, I'm always surprised every year when I make it another year. Blessed, thankful, happy, so many things that can describe how I feel about my life. 

For a little fun I came up with these 27 facts about my birthday, because don't you always want to know more about someone? No? I'm sharing anyway! 

27 Facts on my 27th Birthday! 

1. I was born in Panama 

2. I've always been terrified of cottage cheese. 

3. At times I am extremely, extremely shy. At other times, I am extremely, extremely loud. 

4. When I get nervous, I either bite the side of my thumb or scratch my collarbone. 

5. I practice ballet moves when I'm home alone. 

6. My dream job is my actual job, but if I couldn't do that I would want to bake pies and be a cardio kick boxing instructor. 

7. I couldn't live without my iPhone 5.

8. One of my favorite things to do is read a stack of magazines. 

9. I like to make my accent thicker at times just to make people curious. 

10. I love tacos more than a person should. 

11. 27 is my "scary" age. 

12. I couldn't be happier than where I am right now in life. 

13. My patents are turning into my best friends (now) in life.

14. I can honestly say I have no regrets on any decision that I've made. 

15. I love anything with a monogrammed "M" 
16. Some might call me a hoarder - but I have a hard time throwing away a lot of things like magazines, or cards, or clothes. 
17. I could eat spicy food every meal. 
18. I have two accents - Southern and VERY Southern! 
19. Summer and fall are my two favorite seasons. 
20. I am terrified of driving in the rain. 
21. I really like to save money. 
22. One day I want to run a half-marathon. 
23. I can barely run 3 miles right now. 
24. I really want to go to Italy one day. 
25. Actually, I would settle for Napa. 
26. Actually, I would settle for a box of wine. 
27. Champagne is my favorite drink. 

There you have it ... 27 of the most random facts about me that you could ever want to know. 

What's on the agenda for my birthday? Lunch with my parents, getting a new drivers license  class and drinks with friends! Tomorrow I'm headed to Nashville for Country Music Festival! Let the fun of being 27 begin! 

SHARE:

0 comments

Champagne & Cocktail Dresses

It's been a while since I've been to Atlanta. Though it's a wonderful city and at times I miss living there like crazy, I don't get to go back as much as I'd like. With life being so busy lately because of school, work, and everything in between, I needed a break. My mind, soul and everything inside me needed a getaway. Sometimes when you go all day and night for weeks, a burn-out happens.

Before that happened to me, I knew I needed to change locations, see some old friends, and just have some dress-up fun. 

So, that's what I did. Courtney was having a birthday party for her husband Dave. Melissa and I schemed with Dave to surprise Courtney with my presence. (She loves surprises.) Melissa wanted to surprise her. And, well I wanted to see both of them. I think we all won. 

The plans were in place. I was headed to Atlanta. Plans for Friday night were drinks and a low-key dinner. Saturday morning slept in a little, had a little lunch, did a little shopping and then started getting ready for Dave's birthday party at the Zoo.

Yes. The Zoo. We all dressed up fancy in our cocktails dresses and went to a benefit at the Atlanta Zoo called Jazzoo. It helps raise money for kids who can't afford to pay to go to the zoo. If it helps out kids, I'm in.

Hi Atlanta! Oh how pretty you look!

All dressed up Saturday night. 

You may remember these girls from Nashville.

This may look like a simple picture, but this dress was one of three that I couldn't decide on.

Dave and all of his ladies.

On our way to the event!

We went in style.

I mean, it was Dave's birthday and all.

My Lauren love.

I think I found my new hobby. 

Who doesn't want to know how to do that?

All in all it was a wonderful weekend. I couldn't ask for better people in my life than my Atlanta friends. They are more fun than fun knows how to be.

The best part? This entire trip put everything back into perspective. Coming back, I feel clear headed and happy. Ready to get back to work, school and tackle all the life stuff in between.

I'm writing this after I've spent all weekend having way too much fun, but I know I have one devoted reader who likes my 'stories.' If it's a little wordy, or not well-written, it's because I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open right now.

SHARE:

0 comments

I'd Settle for a Slow Down...Now.

I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.
- Mae West 

  Sunset it Little Rock this week.

Okay. I feel as if I've learned my lesson. Going 90-to-nothing for weeks straight isn't good for your body. Especially if your body was sick last week. Especially if your body was sick last week and the doctor told you to slow down. Especially if your body was sick last week, the doctor told you to slow down and you went to Nashville for four days and nights and went 120-to-nothing.

I get it. At some point in life, you have to slow down or your body will slow down for you. Well much like my car on Monday, my body decided that it would take control of itself, become sick and sleep for 14 hours yesterday.

Eh. I'm going to learn this lesson one day.
 

Say hello to the second  tomato that was picked out of my dad's garden. The first one went to my mom...second to me. There is a pecking order in my family apparently. A pecking order never bothers me as long as I am first...put me second and you're going to hear about it.

The tomato was delightful and I now cannot wait until I receive my next one.

This is what I would like to share with everyone. All eight of you. I appreciate all eight of you as well. This is the absolute BEST yogurt I have ever had. I don't even like yogurt. I use to buy it just to act like I was a yogurt person. I was a wannabe yogurter. After I tried this yogurt off of a co-worker I became a real yogurter. This stuff is good. Real good. I cannot talk about how good this stuff is. I ate some last night. I had some this morning. I was afraid to bring it to work with me today or I would just eat it all day. I think that would be too much yogurt. Anyways. Best Yogurt Ever. Period.

 

Back to the Nashville trip, I know I never updated on the last day, but it was lots of fun. We had a great time all in all and even though we may not be going back next year (two years in a row is a lot) I cannot wait to go somewhere else with all of em! 

 Scott Plauche Photography, Inc.

Oh...and remember that wedding I talked about a lot? Well here is a professional picture that was taken from all of the girls. Fun, right?

Today is Friday. My ramble is over. I'm taking it easy this weekend. Don't believe me? Well me either really.

SHARE:

0 comments

YeeHaw and Giddy Up!

Yesterday the whole group was tired.  Everyone needed a break so we took it easy and just hung out for a while, went to eat lunch and didn't push it too far. Billy Ray Cyrus was playing at around 4:45 p.m. and I knew this was my chance to hear Achy Breaky Heart. There is no way I would have missed this. Lauren and I got dressed and headed down to the daytime concerts.

I'm not going to lie - Billy Ray did a much better job than I would have expect him. He played for almost an hour, seemed really into it, and played lots of his old songs...which I know all the words to. I was getting worried because he kept waiting to play Achy Breaky Heart. My heart would have been broken had he not sang it...luckily for my heart, he sang it!

Hi Rednecks! 

Hi Billy! I wish everyone could see his mullet. It's still pretty awesome.

Don't tell my heart, my achy breaky heart, I just don't think it'd understand...

After Billy Ray, Lauren and I headed to meet Melissa and Courtney for dinner. There are pictures but they aren't on my camera so those will have to be shared later...

Josh Turner played last night...amazing. 

Trace Adkins played last night and this was the first time I had ever seen him. He's good. He's real good.

Courtney, Me and Lauren enjoying some country music. 

This was the one night we actually sat in our seats.

Oh Trace... No way would I ever take you. You're scary looking.

Martina will sing you out of the stadium. 

This might be the most awesome picture ever. 

Lauren...where are you looking?

I can't get anyone to focus!

While Martina was singing she brought on one of the American Idol contestants named Lauren. That's about all I know.

Rascal Flatts. Eh.

After a long weekend what makes it all better? Pizza at 1 a.m.

Day four starts as soon as I can get off here and get dressed.

SHARE:

0 comments