Southern Blondie: concerts

CMA Fest Day 2 & 3: Cowboy Up!

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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. 
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Let #CMAfest 2013 Begin!

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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... 
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Living Life Young and Free

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10 days, five states and another year older. That's what happened on my vacation. After a really tough semester and busy work schedule, I needed a break to unwind, relax and get ready to start new projects at work and mentally prepare for the next semester of school.


It worked. After 10 days of having more fun than an individual should be allowed to have, I came back to 'life' refreshed and energized.

So what did I do during those 10 days? A little bit of everything.

I went to Portfest, a community festival right outside of Newport, AR. It was a blast to see so many of my old friends from high school and college.



This is how low the river was at Portfest - let's just say, all that sand shouldn't be seen normally.


After a weekend at Portfest, my mom and I hit the beach.

It was fantastic. Beach. Sun. Sand. Not too hot, cool breeze. I didn't read, or text, just sat and watched the ocean.


For my birthday night, my mom and I went to Emeril's restaurant in New Orleans. 

It was delicious. However, the only photo I have is from my birthday ice cream.


After a couple of days on the beach I went to Atlanta to see some friends. 

When I got to Atlanta Thursday night two of my friends had extra Sting tickets so Melissa and I
decided to go!


Melissa and I at Sting


On Saturday, Courtney had her baby shower. It was pretty, elegant and actually a fun one.

That's it. My 10 day vacation in a quick re-cap. 

I also need to point out that while in Atlanta I went to Curly's Friend Chicken. That will receive its own blog post soon...
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YeeHaw and Giddy Up!

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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.
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What Was I Thinkin...

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Day two of Nashville CMA Fest was just as productive as day 1...

We started the day off going to eat lunch at Pie in the Sky. We ate there last year and it's close to our hotel so we knew we'd be in for a good time. 
We headed down to the day time concerts after lunch to listen to the Sawyer Brown band, James Wesley and Darryl Worley.

By the way...Darryl Worley isn't that good. At all.

After listening to the afternoon bands we went and ate at B.B. Kings then headed over to the big stage for the night concerts. 

Last night we listened to...Dierks Bentley...Lady Antebellum...Sugarland...Keith Urban...Clay Walker and Reba.

Sawyer Brown Band

While we were walking around we saw some BC Powder people whose motto is just...Shake it Off.

This happens from time to time...
Sitting in the shade, drinking lemonade, and listening to music.

We kept another tradition we started last year by eating dinner at B.B. Kings.
Between the shirt and the creepy guys things are starting to get weird...
Nashville Skyline at sunset.

Group shot!

Waiting for the big shows...
Luckily enough I found someone to spin around with!
He even flipped me around. He was fun. 

Sugarland...Keith Urban...Dierks Bentley...Heaven 

Shania Twain came out as a surprise to introduce Sugarland.

Stuck like glue... you and me baby we're stuck like glue.

I love this picture for so many reasons.
And the real one..
Guess who it is?
Reba...
I shall now call her Reba the Diva because she took forever to get on stage. 

 
Sharing love.
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