We're All A Bunch of Snowflakes

I wish I could explain how different life in a small Southern town really is. I’ll admit it— while in Tennessee I worried and stressed too much. I thought my purpose there was to start my life and find a job in Nashville. Really, looking back on those four months, I realize they were simply a gift. It was a time to reflect, relax and enjoy the little things in life; a time to slow down; a change of pace; new scenery and new experiences. I was a city girl stuck in a small town, so it’s strange to think I miss it. I miss walking the dogs down little streets with pretty houses and taking the shortcuts through backyard alleyways. I miss the tiny mop dog with the funny bark who would run to the street in attempt to scare us away. I miss escaping on roads that brought you back to a different time. Below the trees and in the shadowed streets existed a different world. Looking up at the sky, I could actually see the stars. Silly adventures like hunting for a gravesite due to mother’s obsession with Ancestry dot com. An evening could be spent on a fallen tree trunk in the middle of the park, waiting for deer to pass.

10 Things I’ve Learned Since I Moved To The South

1. Eating can become a hobby. Call it a hunch, but I’m willing to bet there will be some sort of eating contest at the upcoming state fair. This is the land where everything is fried and BBQ has its own special place on the food pyramid. So it’s easy to understand why Tennessee is the second fattest state in the nation (tied with Alabama), where 31.6 percent of the adults are obese. In the small town where I currently reside, it appears the only thing more popular than Walmart is the dozen or so fast food restaurants that sit off the main highway. & Many of the food items found at Wally World look as if they belong in a Costco or Sam’s Club because of their economy-like size. Let's just say, I miss Fresh & Easy and I’ll stick to having my food grilled, not fried.

Travel All Across This Land

My parents are on the constant hunt for a house. We're currently renting a place, while I continue to search for a job in Nashville. Mom and I continued to search for property today. I decided to snap some pictures. Here's the result.




More pictures can be found below.

Free As We'll Ever Be

There are few things more freeing than driving down narrow, windy roads at dusk, the windows rolled down and the humid air blowing through the car. You can hear bugs makings a fuss in the woods. The air is a cool 68 degrees. Roads are consistently branching into more and more roads. You could easily get lost out here. Thankfully, there's a GPS system. I've developed Deckadeeraphobia, the fear of my car hitting a deer at any possible moment. Kidding, but still. There's also the possibility of hitting an armadillo or dog. Move to another city with no open highways and you have me, known to go five over the speed limit, driving under 35 mph. Tomorrow marks two weeks of our arrival in Tennessee.  I'm realizing I love it here. The South really is a beautiful place. A bit strange and unusual at times, but beautiful all the same. ★

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I can not thank you enough, readers. Your comments on my last post were a wonderful encouragement. You truly are little shooting stars in my world, sending me glimmers of light in all my dark moments. I love you.

This Is My Temporary Home

Tennessee is endless green. The past week we’ve escaped down small roads, driving below tree branches with the sun peering through the leaves. The roads are bumpy, curvy and scattered with potholes. Driving up and down hills, never knowing what lies on the other side or around the bend. The air is humid, but cool. Every few days clouds appear and sprinkle rain.

Tennessee ♥

Prediction: I will live in Nashville in 365 days.

sweet home tennessee

Tennessee

It doesn't get much prettier than Tennessee.

{Tennessee}

This girls gotta wedding to make...

Off to Tennessee in two and a half days. ♥

Short and sweet

I decided today's entry would be short and sweet. Someone I don't even know by name gave me this advice: Just be yourself. And I thank her for these simple words. So here's to being me. And I'd like to send along these simple words to you as well.

Adventures in Franklin

Oh Franklin, Tennessee. One of my favorite places in the world, I must say. I hope to live there one day. I love the indie shops that align the antique square. Not to mention the brightly colored, lucious Ben & Jerry's. My mother and I have made it our tradition to stop by this lovely town every time we visit the wonderful state of Tennessee. One of my favorite stores I visited this past summer was Rock Paper Scissors. I was able to snap some pictures of this modern shop (see first two photos above!) The victorian houses with the iron-rod fences are also magnificent. It's no wonder this place is a home for several country singers who wish to escape the busy-ness of Nashville. No doubt that the whole city is a delight.