March Top 10

March Top 10

So as you can see my New Year's Resolution to blog more has been super successful and by far the best resolution I have ever made.  Real truth- I suck at time management and my blog has take a backseat to my 'real life' priorities.  Considering it's half way through the month I will give you my Top 10 highlights of March so far and resume with the regular Top 10 format in April. (fingers crossed).

1.

I got an A in my first grad school class.  (Yup teacher has become student and I will fill you in on the full development in a separate post).  This is my study companion when I'm not reading at the local coffee shop.

 

2.

 I am super excited that I recently have started to replace old terrible doors in my house with free older doors.  Say goodbye to bland and hello to character!

 

 

3.

My favorite new App for my iPhone is called Typic.  It's my favorite App to add font to your photos!  It's super easy to use and that's how I edited the photo above!  Check out it here if you don't already have it! 

 

4.

Galaxy Playdough.  Homemade Playdough + Mounds and Mounds of Glitter = me living out my childhood dream as an adult!  Seriously, I pinned this from Pinterest and it has been sooooo much fun.  

 

 

5.

Extreme Nail Art.  Not sure if I nailed this look or not... but I must say I am getting pretty darn good at using my left hand to create designs.  The weird thing is I am right handed.  Another weird thing is that I have terrible cuticles. Yikes.

 



 



6.

Meet our friend the angry swan.  All I wanted was a picture and he was out for blood.  Until we meet again swan. 

 

 

 

 

7.

 Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!  Hopefully you ingested large amounts of green food coloring like I did, and got a little crafty.  We used a green pepper as a stamp to create Shamrocks.  Of course then we buried our painting in gold glitter.  For Irish luck you know.

 



 

8.

It's finally warming up here in Nashville and I have been taking advantage of the great outdoors!  Goodbye winter!

 

 

9.

I have finally become cool and joined the world of Instagram.  I cannot stop snapping photos and editing them with different filters.  Follow me on Instagram to see my life through the lens of my phone.



 

10.

Last but not least, if you have not seen this video you are seriously missing out.  I cried I was laughing so hard the first time I saw it.  Enjoy! 

 

 

Happy March Everyone!

 

Ten for Ten

October Top 10

1. Anything with a pumpkin spice flavor.

2. Pumpkin carving yo!  Although this year I think I am going to retire my knife and pick up my brush.

3. Being reminded how great your friends are and how lucky I am to have them.

4. Running while looking like a rainbow.  I’m talking Color Run people.  Memphis watch out.

5. Singing Hey Ho on the top of my lungs.  Thank you Lumineers.

6. Fall weather= layering of clothes.  Nothing makes me happier than my cardigans.  Wow. I’m a grandma.   

7. Getting a new phone.  I’m about to blow up instagram.  And kick your booty in Song Pop.

8. Having all the windows in my house open and hearing the train go by in my backyard.

9. Trying to narrow down all my amazing Halloween costume ideas.  This year is going to be epic.

10. A full year after leaving teaching and I am feeling more hopeful everyday about the future.  Whoever needs to grow up?

Sept Top 10

September Top Ten

1. East Nashville Tomato Fest-  Once a year they shut down the 5 points area and fill the streets with a dog parade, tomato costumes, local artists, and food vendors.  It is a must do for the summer.

2. Nail Art- I’m a little obsessed with changing the design on my ‘fancy nail’ and this is my current fav!

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3. Phillip Phillips-  I didn’t really care for him when he was on American Idol, but since the Olympics I can’t get his song out of my head.

 

4. Gallery Girls- this show had major potential to make me want to live in New York again… but now it just makes me what to rock a lot of black and a red lip.

5. Barista Parlor- If you need a caffeine pick-me-up or want to eat amazing waffles with Jack White you should swing by my new favorite coffee shop.  Their hand pour is amazing.

6. Ombre tights- Everything in my life needs to have an ombre.  Starting with these tights.

 

7. Made in Nashville- You will find me selling my crafty goodness at Centennial Park on September 15^th.  Get yo' self some!

8. Dexter- season 6 is off to a gross start… nothing like a full Labor Day Dexter Marathon to waste celebrate the day off!

 9. Vintage Paper- now instead of trying to find actual vintage paper to craft with- duh I can just make it look like it's vintage.  Genius.



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10. Summer- we had a good run this season and can’t wait to see your face next year.  You are by far the most relaxing time of the year for me.

Aug Top 10

August Top 1010Ten.

One. The Wonder Years: I have been re-watching this series on Netflix and I am obsessed!  I want to be Winnie Cooper.  Just need my hair to grow about 6 more inches!

 Two. Cumberland Park- Commonly referred to me as the Riverfront Park.  It is a super cool new green space right in downtown Nashville that allows you to be a kid again.  Heck I still am one and found myself running around at 10 o’clock on a weeknight.  With a stone climbing wall, sand area, tandem see-saw, cloud bridge and interactive splash pad who would ever want to grow up?

 Three. USA.  Olympics.  Gymnastics.  I have been glued to the TV to see how my girl Gabby is going to do.  She is adorable and has killer arms that would rival Madonna’s.  I love the girls team and so proud of them!  Go USA!!!

  Four. Acro-yoga.  It combines acrobatics and yoga.  Seconds after watching this video you will be dusting off your yoga mat and trying to convince your husband, partner, or cat to hoist you up in the air.  I so want to do this!

 Five. Moonrise Kingdom.  Congrats Mr. Anderson, you have done it again.  I found myself so captivated of this new world where it was adorable to carry around a cat, wear knee high socks and just free to be.  My next goal is to become friends with a khaki scout.

 Six. “Heaven Is For Real” I am only a couple of chapters into this one… but I already know that I can’t put it down and I need to know what happens next to this family and sweet 4 year old boy.

  Seven. Name Your Design.  This is a super cool website that let's you customize the absolute cutest things.  I totally ordered a couple of place mats for my two favorite boys.  I must remember this site for kids birthdays from now on!

 Eight. Glow sticks.  We just celebrated my best friend’s birthday with a glow stick party- and it was incredible!  They lit up the party and the glow-in-the-dark chalk on our chalk board wall in the kitchen was a huge success!

Nine.  Just when I thought I couldn’t chalkboard anything else… Pinterest has me considering a new surface. Hmmmm. 

 Ten. Future Plans.  I can’t share exactly what this means yet.  But let’s just say plans were made on a very infamous screened in porch in East Nashville that is leaving me excited, hopeful, and ready to move forward.  God please help us with this one!

July Top 10

*JULY TOP TEN*

1* The 4^th of July- It's one of my favorite holidays!  Anything red, white and blue- sign me up!

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2* Fireworks- As long as people aren't blowing off their fingers, I can’t get enough. 

3* Searching for God Knows What- This book by Donald Miller has completely changed my attitude this week about my faith and selfishness.  This is one that I need to re-read over and over.

4* Jeni’s Splendid Ice cream- I recommend the Salty Caramel!  P.S. They ship their flavors!

5* Initial rings from Urban Outfitters- You know I got a ‘B’ and an ‘S’.

6* Nail polish Heat Wave- Nothing could describe or be more perfect for Nashville’s weather this week.

7* Braid- I would kill for my hair to look like this.

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8* Meet Lint- he thinks he is a condiment and should be put on everything.

9* Honky Tonkin in Nashville- get out to Roberts on Broadway downtown Nashville.  Someone will take you out for a two-step!

 

10*  Staycation: Taking some much needed time off to just sit and relax.  Also unplugging for a week so see you next Monday!

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June Top 10

New 10 for June:

Sorry for the delay... I was living it up in Louisville with my favorite baby girl and best friends... so without further ado~

1. So You Think You Can Dance

The new season just started and I am already doing awkward leaps in my living room during the commercial breaks.  If you have never cared for reality TV, this show might change your mind.  SYTYCD is beautifully choreographed dancers in perfect movement, perfect costumes, set to the most perfect music.

2.  Tree houses

  Become a kid again and climb a tree!  Cheekwood in Nashville has recently built some pretty cool ones.

3.  Double Doozies

Yes please. Indulge. I know I did this weekend, and with the help of Kristan you can make your own.

4.  Flea Markets

I have always been a fan, but even more so now that I was on the other side of the flea this past weekend.  It was fun being a vendor and getting to tell people to stop taking pictures of my map desk if they weren't going to buy :)

5.  Fish Tail Braid

I'm still trying to master this one still... but I'm thinking I should maybe add the pastel to distract from my imperfect braiding.

6.  One Thousand Gifts 

This book was going to be my number 6.  But honestly I couldn't get through it.  If you have read it let me know... I need some advice on how or why I should keep reading it.

 7. Star Girl

quickly replaced One Thousand Gifts and quickly became one of the most interesting books I have read.  It should bring out the quirky qualities in all of us.

8.  Did I mention I'm lactose-intolerant?

 

9.  Abiella is officially a McConnell!!!

Check out the McConnell's journey of bringing home their daughter from Ghana, HERE.

10. Birthdays! 

Happy Birthday Mom and Courtney!  Let the celebrations begin!

May Top Ten

May Top TeN

1. Community art classes going on at Cohn Adult Learning Center.  I’m pumped about classes starting up and debating between bookmaking and woodworking.

2. Ombre hair.  Going on my third attempt to look like this:

3. Bananagrams- it's like scrabble for the simple minded.  It is perfect for me since i can only spell four letter words.

4. Insert Catchy Title- my dear friend Megan has a gift.  Her ability to catch life through simple snapshots is truly cool.  This is ONE of my fav pic's:

(Tomato Fest in East Nashville)

5. The Help.  After time froze for a week and a half for me to finish The Hunger Games trilogy, it's about time i go back and finish up reading The Help.  Man- it's good.

 

6. Fish Tacos at Whiskey Kitchen- enough said.

7. Fancy nails- yes please! I'm dying to try this:

8. I’m sure by now you have heard the song “Somebody I used to know’ by gotye.  But have you seen the SNL digital short poking fun at it?  Hilarious! 

9. Farmers Markets.  You should find one in your community if you haven't already.  Buy fresh local produce that is in season!

10. 5Ks.  This month i will be running in the Ellie's Run for Africa. Ellie is an amazing girl that wanted to help kids in Africa, and 8 years later has raised over $300,000 supporting their education.  You can join in by running or donating HERE.