Today, you're 31, and one month (and one day) old. The last thirty-ish days of the year are normally dripping with some reluctant anticipation of Christmas without mom and Mimi, but this year was different. Finally, the decorating and baking and hosting commenced without much of the once-familiar and overwhelming heaviness of being the last lady in line of a generation that has passed on.

The last few birthday celebrations came and went with dinner at one of your favorite Nashville restaurants, and a kick-ass Christmas concert offered by the illustrious and adored Kacey Musgraves. The endless slew of Christmas parties spattered their way throughout the calendar, and in the minimal spare time you etched out, you found a night to host your best girlfriends for a ridiculously fun pie party--complete with vintage vinyl blaring throughout, a bottomless charcuterie board, and cutthroat series of Catch Phrase battles, complete with high-decibel screeching and some spiking in laps of the game piece. You carried on the tradition of Christmas photos with the sweetest, sassiest pup known to man, and earnestly pressed on with the newfound cross-stitching side hustle.

There might have been a wicked stomach flu thrown in there on a Monday, but you countered with some fierce adulting, by finally getting new tires put on your car. Before you knew it, the parties had concluded, and with the unplugging of the tree lights, overflowing Samsonite suitcase, and snappy call to Calvin with Lyft, you were soon on a plane to Texas, pup and presents for family in tow.

All-in-all, the first month of being 31 served as a stream of reminders of how much love and promise you're wrapped up in, dear. Quality time and warm embraces far exceeded time spent shopping and making Christmas playlists, and thus the ever-present to-do list took a major back seat. You're not overly feverish to bid 2016 adieu, but thankfully and thoughtfully walking away with so many lessons learned, and reclaimed grace for the person, friend, daughter, and sister you are.

You're pondering a lot about what 2017 will bring, and it's all teeming with excitement... to quote your adopted, yet fictitious spirit animal, Penny Lane? "It's all happening." 

Four years ago to the day, I was on a flight home to Nashville after sitting at my mom's bedside for a week and a half, watching her die. She was hardly recognizable anymore, face stony and expressionless, her lower legs amputated two and a half years prior, her sunken body cocooned in a twisted web of wires and tubes. After ten days of slow, but steady deterioration, I finally and reluctantly reasoned that no one knew exactly how much longer she'd struggle to remain on earth, but that those days and hours were dwindling. After resolving that our family planned only for an eventual private service, I made as much peace with my decision to trudge back to the life I'd begun building for myself, even going so far as to forgive myself with the excuse that she'd want me to move on with my life and not dwell. Ironically, she was stubborn even in death, clinging to life for nearly two weeks after entering hospice until eventually passing away early on the morning of Christmas Eve.


Our relationship was at best, complicated--nothing at all like those I witnessed my friends sharing with their moms. For decades, I was so internally angry at the MS that robbed me of having a mom, and masked it with one more straight A report card, one more home run, another feeble accomplishment all in the name of trying to control what I could never control. My futile attempts at making her smile could never heal her tormented, ailing body, but it honestly took more than 20 years (and a pinch of therapy) for me to truly absorb that.
 

In her absence, I am heartbroken still. Saddened for her colorful life that was crushed by a disease that was so horrific to watch unfold, I can truly never fathom what it'd be like to attempt fighting everyday firsthand, for over half your lifetime. But mostly, I am broken for the woman I never knew, and the relationship I never had. Missing what never was sometimes hurts most of all.
 
I often hear stories from her classmates and others who knew her as a kid--they tell me about how much of a spitfire she was: sharp-tongued and always laughing the loudest, adorable and endlessly sassy--akin to a Molly Ringwald in the same small town she and I both grew up in. I caught glimpses of that version of her as I was growing up, but never to the degree of which I hear strangers describe her. 
And yet, as distant as we always seemed to be, the tiniest shreds of her are undeniably woven within me: I'm an incessant gum popper and the habit unfailingly reminds me of riding in the passenger seat, next to her when she was still driving--the aroma of Extra wintermint wafting throughout the car. When I clear my throat, it sounds so much like her, it truly stops me in my tracks. If the sound wasn't emanating from my own throat, I'd look over my shoulder and expect to see her sitting there.

She's the one to blame for my insatiable taste for Mexican food, shameless love of 80s movies, and habit for turning the music up just a little bit more. Like her, I'm always the one laughing the loudest--a trait I really love. While there was an abundance of disconnect, in her own way, she fostered in me a desire to not settle--to always want more, laugh harder, live fuller, hope for a better day.

I don't have that heinous disease preventing me from living, like she always did. I strive to feel it all, to love so fiercely, to leave absolutely nothing unanswered.

I'll miss her forever, but with each passing year, the familiar ache is tempered ever so slightly, and in its place is growing a warmth and pleasure of knowing with utter certainty that she's so proud of who I've grown up to be, who I keep growing into everyday.
 

I love you, Mom. We miss you.

A few years ago, I began a tradition of documenting the highlights of what I'd gleaned from this little life of mine. Some of them are lighter and silly, while others are lessons sometimes learned through such struggle that they force themselves into the intricate weave of who I am as a human being.

If you care to go recap 29 and 30, please be my guest--and here goes with 31--a year I can say was unequivocally one of my fullest, most colorful and brimming with self-actualization. Gone is the anxiety about personal timelines and expectations passing me by, and what's nestled in instead is a deep-rooted relief, awareness, and grace for who I am and what I deserve. And an overwhelming appreciation for feeling like me again, for the first time in many, many years.

That said... take it from me:


1. Break up your bananas before you freeze them for smoothies and baking.
2. Trust your gut. If there's one thing you hone in on here, just cling to your intuition. Don't ever allow anyone to cause you to doubt yourself. As a kid, I always envisioned that with adulthood came wisdom and clarity, and so much more black and white--and in actuality, the water just gets murkier, the situations grayer. The key to staying afloat is being firmly grounded in who you are, unapologetic about what you want out of life, and resolute about who you can trust.
3. So many mental blocks can be alleviated by just being outside. Extreme temperatures be damned: step out, walk around, breathe deeply.
4. Working hard is the simplest way to really pave the way to earn respect. And aside from robbing you of sleep, over-preparing will never fail you.
5. (P)leather leggings are the ultimate game-changer.
6. Social media is a glorious beast--connect away with whoever you shall choose, but please... be cautious as to what you put out there.
7. My mimi's granddaughter, through and through: I get the absolute most fulfillment out of hosting people I love. Some of my favorite nights in life have concluded with a slew of sweet, goodbye hugs and a sink full of lipstick-stained champagne glasses. My best therapy comes in the form of sharing overflowing cheese plates with girlfriends, hearing their laughter drown out the sound of my turntable fired up in my tiny living room.
8. When you have a fantastic night, date, or workday--write something down about it. Even just a couple words. Remember what made you feel so wonderful at that exact time. Later, you can snap right back to that moment, and realize everything passes (good and bad), and if you're lucky, you can learn from it. You have to go through some of the rough in order to really have appreciation for the good.
9. Nine years in, and my feisty, little maltese is still my best friend in the whole world.
10. It's good for you to know a few things by heart--specifically your blood type, what exact shade of red lipstick works for you skin, and your car's oil weight (me? O+, clinique's matte crimson, and 5w-30).
11. Be front and center when your friends have babies--don't wait to be asked to come over, just show up with food, and hunker down on the couch next to her, prepared to fold tiny laundry and listen intently to topics you haven't experienced first-hand just yet.
12. Leaving your home spotless before you embark on a vacation is so, so very highly encouraged.
13. Take the time to use email filters.
14. Upon returning from a night out, here are your priorities: make-up wipe, a liter of water, four advil.
15. Take a tiny piece of home and place it where you see it everyday. The power something so seemingly simple has to wash away homesickness will blow you away (mine is a vintage map of Waco, framed in my living room, and the candle scent my Mimi forever had burning in her living room.)
16. So much of life is about meeting people where they are--understanding that what you want out of something (be it a project, a relationship, a learning experience, a vacation, etc) maybe isn't completely aligned with what someone else is seeking is a deeply mature skill to hone... and will go far in tempering emotions too.
17. Stop being intimidated by a budget. It can be a pretty empowering thing to take charge of your money. Also? Always put just a smidge more into your 401k than you initially think you should.
18. Do what you can to ensure your people know you love them. Sometimes that means impromptu babysitting, baking a surprise, calling them out of nowhere... and sometimes that means listening silently, offering "I don't know what to say, but you know that I'm here for you."
19. Stop challenging your gas gauge. "Six miles to empty" is a lie.
20. If you program the radio station's number in your phone, you and your nimble fingers are far more likely to win the concert tickets.
21. Document the exact months of the year you traditionally have X appointments--this makes it painfully easy to schedule your eye exam, teeth cleaning, vet appointment when a new year rolls around.
22. It's okay to not always be able to identify precisely what you need at any moment. You'll get there. At the risk of sounding cliche, and while patience is one of my biggest struggles, I've learned that so much of life is about the "getting there."
23. Someone you encounter today is having a much harder day than you are. Perspective is one of the most rewarding things we can grasp. Just be kind.
24. I've changed my tune about threading--it still hurts like a bitch, but no other method is as precise and lasts quite as long, so... suck it up and just do it. I mean, you know you're onto something when guys are complimenting how great your eyebrows look.
25. Home is more about who you're with than where you are. And y'all know how much Texas is in my veins. I will forever be a small-town Texas girl, but Nashville has been so, so good to me--and so much of that is because of the incredibly magnificent people who have become my family here. I will forever be grateful for that.
26. I once read Chrissy Teigen reference how, in the midst of her crazy, hectic life, she strives to floss everyday because it gives her some semblance of consistency. I love this... and I love my weekly routine: every Sunday, I try to go to church, do my nails and a face mask, spend time outside, and bake something. I try to send at least one handwritten letter each week too... you'd be amazed about how much being a creature of habit can keep you feeling aligned and fruitful.
27. Sometimes the only way to cope is firing up Spotify and curating a playlist to reflect exactly how you're feeling in that moment. Also? This is a fantastic thing to do for your friends.
28. Stop waiting for someone to reach out to you, but also take inventory on your relationships--while friendships evolve, when they become completely one-sided, it's time to reevaluate. And that's okay.
29. Handle the blade of your Ninja blender ever so gingerly. (I continue to slice my fingertips on a weekly basis, because well, I'm impatient and the clumsiest).
30. Buy the pre-peeled garlic.
31. Stop saying yes to things and people you really don't want to say yes to. This might sound a little brash, but this opens you up to more of what you want to do. Being known as a person of resolve is admirable and earns respect. People appreciate knowing where you stand, and you'll feel more alive by being authentically attached to the choices you've made.




This portion of the year forces so much introspection... I'm fully feeling my newly-turned age, reminiscing about the memories of my mom and Mimi, swimming through the ever-reliable holiday rush. The Avett Brothers said it best: "if I live the life I'm given, I won't be scared to die." And heading into 2017, I feel so fortunate to be able to write the next page. And the one after that... and to keep learning, and loving on people and growing into who I'm supposed to be.

One little day at a time.

I'm all about a side hustle. I've always been wired that way. In college? I worked retail, in a craft store, was a lifeguard and taught swim lessons, worked for the yearbook and for two local newspapers (albeit not all at once, though there was overlap here and there). I just have entirely too many interests and thoughts going to kick back and trudge through a 9-5 only.

Exhibit A: I've been on the Beautycounter train for almost a year now (more on that later), and more recently, finally kicked off a little Etsy endeavor of my own. I secured the store name TheSewcialite several years ago, as I'd planned to make and sell throw pillows. Upon further investigation, I realized:


And so my dreams of an Etsy empire were dashed. My little ol' store laid dormant for years, although I played with some creative thoughts here and there. Cue late 2016 and my rush of a "now or never" mentality in damn near all areas of my life, and I finally settle on personalized cross-stitching! The idea was hatched after I customized an engagement gift for a dear friend, and thought, hey... I could do this.

...and so The Sewcialite was born.



Back story: my Mimi taught me to cross-stitch when I was maybe 10 or 11, but until this fall, I hadn't picked up a hoop and aida fabric since junior high. Designing and creating these makes me feel closer to her--especially at a time of year when the magnitude of her loss seems to resonate the most.





And so, I'm making custom cross-stitch pieces for any and every possible celebration--if you dream it, I will stitch. Christmas is right around the corner, and an obvious idea, but these make fantastic bridal and baby shower gifts, birthday surprises, and anything and everything in between. Let me brainstorm with you--I'm offering custom characters on the Etsy shop, but I can create basically whatever you have in mind. Shoot me an email and let's talk.

And if you have an idea in mind already, until midnight, I'm offering a 20% discount for Cyber Monday--just use code BF2017 at checkout. Come check out the goods!

Happy shopping!

The last month of my thirties was marked by all of the celebrations: the requisite birthday shindigs, with a side of revving up for the holidays too. And so, so much champagne.

November is traditionally my golden month: autumn is firmly in place, my birthday is at the end of the month, Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday... it's just unquestionably, the best thirty days of the year for me. December is much too bustly and anxiety-ridden, but November? November is all mine.

And for the highlights... I've upped my fundraiser game significantly in 2016--and had a blast at Taste of Nashville with friends I've grown closer to in 2016--and helped with Our Kids Hammer Down race early in the month. The dreaded election came and went, and we all held our collective breath for the duration of a Tuesday night--luckily, I was tipping back the bubbles at a surprise bridal shower I helped throw for one of my best friends that evening, so we had ample distraction from the circus. An obscene number of hours was spent skipping around my kitchen, prepping (that damn green bean casserole) for a handful of different Friendsgivings. I logged the last few outdoor runs of the season (thirty-one years and still not a morning person, so that ain't happening before work)--thankful the temperature and daylight savings time offered to be on my side for a bit longer. My sweet, sweet friends spoiled the hell out of me with--count 'em--four birthday parties. And I rounded it all out with the loveliest Thanksgiving here in Nashville with my sweet friend Morgan, and her adorable family.

All in all? Exactly what I needed. November was the proverbial bow on top of a pretty charming year, highlighted by friends who have thankfully and effortlessly become my family, showering me with their love, depth, laughs, and endless loyalty. "Friends" just seems like too hollow and generic a word for the category of people I've been surrounded by since moving her. Cheesiness, be damned: I am so, so thankful--every single day, I'm thankful.

At 31, I am still hopelessly in love with this town, its quirks, its magnetism--but undoubtedly, the absolute best element of my life are the people who I'm so unimaginably fortunate, love me as hard as they do.

Come at me, 31... I'm so ready for you.

loving ::: my abundantly full, color-coded calendar. the fog draped over the pond outside my balcony on these 40-degree mornings. movie nights. hilarious snaps of my nephew doing baby thangs. finally wearing boots with my skinnies.
listening ::: Anderson East's Delilah.
Lake Street Dive's Side Pony.
Sarah Hyland's cover of the Chainsmokers' "Closer." SWOON.
oh, and Kacey Musgraves's new Christmas album.
reading ::: "Blackout," by Sarah Hepola.
"The Sound of Gravel," by Ruth Wariner."
and this fantastic article by my friend Kimberly.
writing ::: plans for 2017 in my new agenda... a little blogging here and there. and another little project I'm not super ready to delve into yet, but I've been writing a lot and I really, really love how it's making me feel.
craving ::: all of the ridiculously rich holiday food. I made this green bean casserole Monday for a friendsgiving and it was insanely delicious. half+half instead of canned soup is a gamechanger, as are the homemade fried onions. and I really can't wait to bake my chocolate pecan pie.
planning ::: what am I not planning?? a few birthday dinners, a bachelorette party (first trip to Vegas!), going away parties, a pie party in December, my Christmas trip home, and lots of 2017 travel.
wearing ::: my newest go-to jeans. all of the Wildfox sweatshirts... my official wardrobe until March.
smelling ::: a version of my favorite winter candle. my good friend is mixing his own, and it somehow smells even better than Anthro's, and you better believe that I light that sucker, first thing as soon as I walk in the door, every day.
drinking ::: all of the lemon Lacroix (I go through flavor phases). my favorite sauvignon blanc from Trader Joe's. and this custom coffee/hot cocoa situation I dreamed up during a slow afternoon at work a few weeks back.
snacking on ::: cheese plates (always). lots of pepper jam. Trader Joe's gingerbread men = alllll the heart eyes.
bingeing ::: The West Wing, finally. just started Good Girls Revolt and loving it. also gearing up for a refresher of Homeland before it comes back.
working on ::: nailing down the perfect gift for everyone. divying up that Thanksgiving menu.
needing ::: gah, this sounds a little smug, but I can't come up with one thing I need. I am so, so delightfully content right now.
...but while we're on it, I really think my cheese will look fancier on this. and while "need" may not be exactly accurate, I really, really want this punchy coat for Christmas. and I've been obsessed with Hearne Dry Goods lately.
feeling ::: ...like myself for the first time in a really, really long time. And it feels really, really good.
anticipating ::: aforementioned birthday celebrations, surrounded by my dearest friends. the impending holidays and all that comes with them -- baking, decorating, buying surprises for everyone I love... the excitement of a new year!
wishing ::: the sunlight lasted just a wee bit longer here at the end of the day in middle Tennessee. other than that, I'm kinda living the dream, y'all.


What are you up to lately?

Fifty-five days sit between today and 2017. That's seven Sundays until Christmas Day, eight before a new year is sparked. Everyone seems to plow through this last stretch of the year at a feverish pace, but it's always been my favorite to try to savor... my birthday and Thanksgiving, and all things Christmas are reason enough to slow down and breathe it all in, but there's more to it than that.

It's intentionally considering the conclusion of another year... of what began as another list of weighty goals and proposed plans, dripping with promise, to months later, finally reflecting fondly and finding the grace for yourself to accept what was and what wasn't, all of the good with the bad. To not allow the holidays to drain you, to not feel down about not tackling enough of those resolutions, but to button up the year knowing it was exactly what you needed in one way or another.

That's a deeply accurate description of the stage I'm firmly planted in right now. My personal history of loss around the holidays always casts its own shadow, but with each passing year, the ache is dulled a bit more. Also? I've learned more about myself in the past year than maybe ever (get ready for that annual birthday post), and as much as I am grinning through these last few bustling weeks of 2016, I'm really, genuinely excited to embrace a sparkling, fresh, new year.

Until then...

T-minus two days until the most effed up election ever. TheSkimm has done a pretty fantastic job of informing voters this election cycle--can you believe it? 95,000 voters were registered through this insanely cool start-up.

Oh. In case you are still in need of a November desktop calendar, here's the one I'm using.

I'm ridiculously excited for one of my all-time favorite books to make it to the big screen.

New emojis?! Predicting I'll be using the crossed fingers and avocado a'plenty.

It's old news at this point, but did you watch the World Series? I adopted the Cubs for the week, so I'm thrilled that they pulled it off--side note: I had not one, but two lengthy conversations with guy friends who teeter on psychotic when it comes to sports--on whether adopting a World Series team is considered being a bandwagon fan. I say no--that it's just a little luxury afforded to Americans who crave competition and love sports. They both think otherwise. What say you? Regardless, there was just a lot of goodness to come out of this year's World Series. (there are three links tucked in there, don't miss them!)

True to my long-standing November tradition, I bought my 2017 planner this week... can't get enough of Sugar Paper's sleek and playful paper goods.

Nashville has been ridiculously warm for November--but I'm really itching to make some ratatouille. What's your go-to chilly weather recipe?

I finished Jessica Valenti's Sex Object today. So, so, so grippingly good--a solid memoir, alongside highlights about how society has basically encouraged and embraced the objectification of women, and what that means for us as a culture, and as individuals. My synopsis doesn't do it justice--I definitely recommend it.

Kacey Musgraves gifted us all with a Christmas album, and one of my BFFs surprised me with tickets to see her for my birthday! "Excited" doesn't even begin to cover it. Christmas music, Kacey, the Ryman... all the heart eyes.



What are you most excited about this season?

On my sporadic nights in, clad in beloved yoga pants, I can be found with my laptop aglow, Maizie flanking one side, Netflix providing the welcomed background noise amidst the soft rattle of my keyboard strokes. Occasionally, whatever show I've mindlessly clicked my way through ends up being gripping enough to capture my unbridled attention... and somehow I've managed to hit the viewing jackpot lately.

Here's the top five that I've had queued up lately:



Holy hell. I was fascinated with this case when it was happening in real time (can you believe it was nearly 10 years ago?), read her book and followed the subsequent trials. But this? Completely chronicles Knox's perspective, and the shoddy way the trial and cases were handled by Italian authorities, and where they all are now. Highly recommend.



Ah, we meet again. I haven't wrapped up season two yet, but I am more captivated than ever by Mr. Escobar and the intricacies of his insane Colombian drug empire. This one is definitely worth the hype, just be prepped to be glued to lots of subtitles and witness the gore escalate as the episodes roll on.





A classic that's been suggested to me time and again. I was left grasping for a new political drama after I concluded my Scandal binge, and since House of Cards and Homeland won't be returning for a few more months. Oddly enough, the show kicked off in 1999, and yet the first few episodes feature storylines about Syrian terrorism and police shootings. Sad, and yet strangely prophetic. The characters are wonderfully developed and you'll get attached... can't believe I've waited this long to get into this one.







The perfect musical interlude. Most music specials are prime background noise material, but how can you not watch this man dance? The whole performance (we're talking like a dozen people) is just phenomenal. Run, don't walk. Watch it now.



...this is my tiptoeing back into Hey, Friday territory--thanks, Karli!

Today, I'm a mere month shy of 31. The theme of the past several weeks has been go, go, go. I haphazardly dipped my toe in the dating pool, kept trucking along with Junior League and Special Olympics events, and took some time out for--what else--live music. Pilgrimage fest was even better than I expected it would be (Langhorne Slim, City and Colour, and Kacey Musgraves being the highlights--in addition to the 300+ folks we got registered to vote!), and a return trip to ACL was just what my soul needed... so much of my favorite music in my favorite city, right smack dab in the middle of a week with all of the people who know me best. I spent a lot of quality time--usually over Mexican cuisine--with my Pops (and visited with mom too), and laughed and wined with my Baylor friends as if no time has passed since I left Texas four years ago. Hockey season returned (!), and all at once we found ourselves basking on the porch, soaking up the chilly nights and dewy mornings of a changing season as our pool days concluded. My girlfriends have been a welcomed, constant fixture on weeknights and weekends alike, as we find any excuse to make grandiose events out of chili nights and debate-watching parties. I excitedly hopped on board a spin bike for the first time in months, as my friend opened a brand spanking new studio on the east side. I also ventured back to Vanderbilt to work my fifth year at Reunion--which is always a ton of fun for me, reigniting all of excitement of playing event manager, if only for one night.

Working out and sleep took a backseat, but I still managed to somehow get exactly what I needed. Crazy to think that in just a handful of weeks, a new year--of promise and challenges, growth and so much laughing--will be at my feet. Until then, I'm (planning on) taking time to just lay a little low.

But then? Bring it on 31.

My musical education was fostered very early on. While my mom favored '90s country and the Eagles, my dad inundated us with the very best of classic rock, incorporating the steering wheel and dashboard of his F250 (lovingly known as Ol' Blue) as his percussion elements, head-banging along the drive from point A to point B, offering us performances unrivaled by anyone who'd ever graced the cover of Rolling Stone.

I spent an inordinate amount of my junior high evenings, hunched over my beloved boombox, recording top 40s music from 97.5 on a beloved cassette tape, complete with broken bits of DJ introductions and hokey, local commercials. Think TLC, Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler, Lisa Loeb.

The highly coveted CD burner was unveiled during my high school years. Two words: game changer. Cue my best friend, the budding entrepreneur, who debuted her bootleg CD business in the hallways of Lorena High School--five bucks a pop for a custom mix , complete with jewel case and laminated playlist insert. Fun fact: I very recently found two of the CDs she made me--aptly dubbed "Meg's Mix" and "Meg's Mix 2" which are every bit as quality as you can imagine (BBMak, Coyote Ugly soundtrack, Mandy Moore, to highlight a few). She had minimal competition (looking at you, Ben Geeslin), so was obviously an overnight success.

For as long as I can remember, my every memory has a song interwoven within it... whether it was my Mimi cooking in the kitchen to "Unchained Melody," to my mom blaring "Hotel California" while cleaning, to my parents rocking the Beatles Anthology (cassette) on roadtrips across the country... and of course the break-up ballads, what we girls danced to in the locker room, and finally, the jams that filled up our ipods once Apple tapped (no pun) into that little gem (still have mine, by the way. Both of them.)

(is it any wonder my favorite movie is Almost Famous?)

Thankfully, my tastes evolved. I transitioned from whiny boy rock (think Ataris and All American Rejects) and angry girl rock (Liz Phair and the like) to lots of Bob Dylan and some oldies, everything in between--and finally an acoustic/indie/Americana phase that planted itself in 2002 and just never ended. If I was a genre, that'd be it. Strum an acoustic guitar for me and watch me melt.

I first learned about ACL as a Baylor girl... a few of my friends made the 90-mile trek to Austin all in the name of good jams, and I desperately yearned to go too. Alas, the price-tag for a three-day pass far exceeded my measly budget as a coed, and I instead vowed to myself "one day." My "one day" finally rolled around last year, I returned this year, and will go again and again and again. It's just that good.

Disclaimer: my photo game was weak due to my snap game being strong--hence the temperature report on the following. Can't win 'em all, right?

Here I am, your self-appointed ACL tour guide...






I elected the one-day situation, as I wanted to allocate the majority of my vacation with friends and family (all over the great state of Texas).

When I made it down to Zilker Park on Sunday, here's the ridiculous line-up I dove into:





If you're planning on heading to a festival, here's my advice:

1. Make a friend who works for BMI.
Ha--okay, so maybe a little harder to hook this one up, but my dear friend Kat got me into their VIP tent for 1) drinks, 2) a better bathroom situation, 3) snacks, 4) TV for football (although on Sunday, this was less of a thing for me), and 5) yeah, maybe a little shoulder-rubbing with their bands. It was nice to sip on my Tito's and decompress from the crowd a little.

2. If you're getting merch, get your merch upon arrival. They always sell out of the coolest designs, so make this a priority.

3. Plan on eating the best food ever. I live for Salt Lick's nachos... (see also: empanadas, tamales, snow cones. Take me back already.)

4. Plan to park downtown (I paid $10 for the day) and shuttle down to Zilker. So much easier than trying to park near the show... I walked four blocks to Republic Square to catch the (free) shuttle that takes 15 minutes to usher on down to the festival.

5. Cell service blows there. Take screenshots of the festival map and line-up so you don't drain your battery further by accessing the internet.

6. Dress comfortably (I wore a tank, sandals and cut-offs). Here's your arsenal:

A couple times a year, usually in early spring and early fall, I begin sensing this insatiable itch. A slow-rolling anxiety for a shift. It sneaks in subtly, and my constant breakneck pace overpowers it just enough that I blindly dismiss it as a need for something else: another project or maybe a haircut or to delve into a plan to get distracted. But when I strip away the mental nonsense, take a breather and consciously reflect for a sec--it dawns on me.

Of course: time to go home.

Life in my hometown is so reliable, so constant. My family still being there is the obvious, foremost reason for my venturing back, but the routine of Waco is as consistent as it is sleepy. Y'all know how much I love the life I've built in Nashville, but the sweet predictability of life in central Texas gives me the recharge I crave every few months.

My most recent trip back (with the exception of trekking to ACL) was by most counts unremarkable... a blur of backroads and breakfast tacos, big city skylines and having a front row seat to all the stars in the sky. But this is what I love and what I crave. It's what rejuvenates me: that the more things change, the more they stay the same.



Home is the same series of errands and meals--down to sitting in the same places, at the same tables, in the same restaurants. At HEB, I scoop up Shiner to share with my Pops, and my favorite Texas Pecan coffee to bring back to Nashville. At Spice, it's Circle E candles and tops and dresses I can't find here. I always read the Wacoan and Texas Monthly cover-to-cover before nodding off in my childhood bedroom (to be awoken right at sunrise by the aggressive light pouring through the east-facing window... something I hated in high school, yet have come to love as an adult). I visit mom at the cemetery, usually with flowers in one hand and a half-and-half tea from Bush's in the other.



As a kid in Texas, you learn the backroads as soon as you slide behind the driver's wheel (funnily enough--my dad was asking me for names of roads when I was home... and I reminded him that I've been gone for over four years). A day into my trip, I excitedly raced to Houston to stay with my childhood best friend, a three-plus-hour drive from my parents', connected by two-lane highways and farm-to-market roads that are as memorable to me as if I still drove them as frequently as I did as a college girl. 77 to 7, 6 to 290, 45 to 3--GPS utterly unnecessary. With my pup assuming her position in my lap, spotify blaring, and the familiar stream of main street strips zooming past us, the roadtrip melted away and in no time, we were sipping on Shiner, laughing on the patio with my best friend since I was 11 (and her hysterical husband, who just as effortlessly as she did in fifth grade, has become family to me).



We watched football and feasted on steaks, sizzling from the grill. We swapped stories on high school friends and commiserated about politics. Lauren and I talk nearly everyday, but there's just no substitute for face time with your best friend--the one who knows all your secrets and loves you anyway. Twenty years of inside jokes and encouragement, bitter loss and heartache, the knowing side glances and uncontrollable laughs. I've never called Houston "home" but make no mistake--home is absolutely defined by the people in your life. A little piece of my heart absolutely lives in Houston.


I spent Sunday at ACL (much more on that later), and returned back to Waco, groggy but so very content. The next few days held minimal plans, which allowed me more time to just immerse myself in the small-town life I left. Isn't it funny--those things that make us almost desperate for a change of pace, are the exact things you dream of and cling to when you get to go back?






Home is roads peppered with monikers like "Bullhide Creek" and "Pecan Ridge" and "Longhorn Trail." It's I35 being perpetually under construction, and Blue Bell in every fathomable flavor, and the fact that it takes 15 minutes to get anywhere you need to go. It's running into your high school teachers and friends' parents at the grocery store, knowing which snakes will hurt you, and the flood of nostalgia at seeing the stadium lights flicker on, as the sun sinks behind the visitor's side of the field.

It's the farmer's cows grazing in the pasture next door, gargantuan pick-up trucks, and huevos rancheros with my dad after we walk his Airedale, Ben on the Cotton Belt Trail at the crack of dawn. It's a smattering of leopard paws--my high school mascot--painted on the residential roads that serve as the perimeter to the schools. My non-Texan friends get a kick out of my pride, but there's really no explaining it. I liken it to a time warp--little has changed in my teensy hometown of one stoplight since well before I left it in my own rearview.

It was a pretty fantastic trip for me. I ate too much whataburger, lit up at the sight of Baylor's campus (repeatedly), and sat with my dad at the vet with Ben (to receive his next anti-venom shot after an encounter with a rattlesnake last month, no less).  I spent Monday night laughing with my dear friends from my Baylor career days, cooked dinner for my parents, and successfully got my dad into Narcos.


After a tumultuous return trip (diverted flight back to Love Field after a "hydraulic emergency" and the rockiest plane landing I've ever experienced), I hit the pillow for a three-hour nap, heart so overwhelmingly full.

Happy weekend!! Another summertime weekend looming ahead, praise Jesus. We're solidifying Labor Day plans and looking to fall already, and it's a little jarring, isn't it? Here's a little of what's been going on with me:

I've really tried to up my correspondence game. The thoughtfulness of a handwritten note is unrivaled by much--anyone can spend 30 seconds on an email, right? But to carefully select a card with someone specific in mind, pick out a stamp, take the time to scrawl in your handwriting, drop at the post office... it means the world to me. I've had pen pals since I was about 7, and really try to send notes a few times a month (outside of birthday and anniversary cards). To up my game, I snagged a couple sets of awesome cards... and I think these are adorable. And come on, who could resist these?

Finally caved and invested in a couple of these tops too. Super lightweight, but wick away sweat and incredibly comfortable. I've become skeptical of Lulu's quality as it's definitely slid back in recent years, but I am loving these--great for running or to throw on after Barry's, or yep, even lounging.

My Spotify obsession is no secret. Somehow I stumbled across Megan Davies and her mashups and fell head over heels. Bonus: she'll be in Nashville in a few weeks and you can bet your boots I'll be there playing fangirl.

My office is pretty laidback, wardrobe-wise, but in the aftermath of a recent back injury, I was in desperate need for a non-stiletto situation. I found these wedges and literally get a compliment nearly every time I wear them. Really versatile, inexpensive and comfortable for all day wear. Getcha some. (...also--best summertime top ever. Ditto to the compliments.)

Move over top knots. I've been rocking a messy braid updo and I can't get enough. So painfully easy, works with any outfit and a welcome variation from my former go-to. Be ready with your dry shampoo and bobby pins.

I try to down my body weight in water everyday... This app is so badass, and will send you reminders to get your sip on when you're say--lost in spreadsheet hell. It makes it a lot easier to keep track (as does lugging a camelbak everywhere).

Earlier today, I finished Mary Louise Parker's book, Dear Mr. You. Wow. I breezed through the series of short stories in just a few days--she scrawls to all sorts of men in her life... romantic interests, family members, near-strangers. It is so ridiculously well-written, I can't recommend it enough.

Speaking of books, have you seen the trailer for Girl on the Train? I wasn't crazy about the book but the movie looks like it's going to be awesome. And who doesn't love Emily Blunt?

Are we having fun yet with this political season? Sweet Lord, I'm just ready for November to be here... take a break from reading everyone's rants on facebook, and go take this quiz to see if your favorite foods reflect your political ways.

Welcome to my new favorite food blog. Fantastic recipes, ridiculous photography, funny banter.


Enjoy your weekend, y'all! Monday brings us into August!

Hello, hello, hello!

Summertime, man. And all at once, 2016 is half over.

I'm in the throes of planning and doing all of the things (baby shower! independence day feast! etsy store! book draft! show after show! travel, travel, travel!) and wanted to pause for a breather to catch up on my little corner of the internet. I'm (finally) perfectly okay with just checking in when I want to, versus stomaching the blogger's guilt that formerly ensued upon realizing weeks--nay months--had passed between my ramblings. But these warmer days have been treating me just fine, thank you, and I've stayed all kinds of busy... I've bounced around on planes and highways for the past six weeks (six states in as many weeks!), but you know? Life is good, and I daresay, the living is easy.

(forgive the variance in photo sizes. I don't have the time or patience.)

Between ample pool time and girls nights,


 and skipping around to shows,

(Mayer Hawthorne)





(The Lone Bellow)



(Punch Brothers)



(Lumineers)





(Avett Brothers)



(Wild Feathers--show two of three for the year)



tearing it up at hockey playoff games,


lazy weekend mornings together that turn into the coziest of afternoons,



dinners spent belly laughing with friends,




lots of QT with my best girl,


first of many trips to The Peach Truck,



marveling at the my new shelves,



a gorgeous, breezy Memorial Day in Kentucky,





a long, rejuvenating weekend home in Texas,













hosting sweet friends for weekends of exploring my city,


requisite summertime snacking,



a little bit of work travel in one of my all-time favorite cities,




starting a new study that I'm crazy about with my small group girls, (go get a copy of Brene Brown's Daring Greatly),

to finally, finally, savoring some sunshine and dipping my toes in the Atlantic,




...sleep hasn't been a top priority, per se, but I guess you could presume that summer in Nashville is looking pretty fabulous from where I sit. And that 2016 has been pretty good to me so far.

I really, really hope yours is shaping up to be as wonderful!!