live it - Just so American

This Independence Day was the most American I have ever had and one of my favorites, to be sure.

I always like to go over the top on holidays and this 4th of July was no exception. After spending many 4th's abroad, there is something incredible about being in the grand US of A, on the most patriotic day of the year.

I started off the afternoon laying at a refreshing pool with my roommate and some of her friends. Even our swimsuits were red, white & blue. After chillaxin' in the sunshine for a few hours, I had a sudden rebellious craving for a hot fudge shake (wouldn't be American without a sugary, over-sized beverage!). We jumped into a friend's Jeep Wrangler (most American vehicle ever and my next car...I hope...) and went downtown Nash to an old fashion soda shop. We stepped into the 1950s style diner, with our wind-blown-Jeep-hair and sat on the bright-red bar stools to order our shakes(I highly recommend Elliston Place Soda Shop- adorable).

After I drank my shake in record timing, I made my way to the next party to visit a sweet friend and meet tons of people I don't know. The best part of the party (other than seeing my friend!) was the table full of fake patriotic tattoos. I went for peace sign fingers and an American flag heart tattoo, I forgot about fake tattoos and they are awesome!

I quickly ran home for a wardrobe change, baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies (because American ladies have to show off their baking skills any chance we can), quickly Skyped with an English friend (he congratulated us on our separation from England), before my roommate and I dashed to our next party. In keeping with our American theme we road with windows down, listened to Shania Twain, sang at the top of our lungs, "Any man of mine..." (you know you've done that too).

We arrived at a cute, front yard gathering, just north of the city, complete with Christmas lights, lawn chairs, hotdogs and that Classic American Spotify playlist that seemed to be all of America's soundtrack for the weekend. After I treated myself to an All-American staple, a hotdog, and relaxed for a little bit, we made our way downtown minutes before the fireworks were about to start.

After we found a miracle of a parking space, we ran to an apartment building in the middle of downtown and took the elevator 20 floors up to the penthouse. The views from this place were absolutely incredible and I am sure it is the best view I will ever have of Nashville. We made it just in time to watch the nation's (second) best firework show and it was great! I stood out on the balcony after the fireworks had ended, the post-explosion smoke hovered over the city, a chilly wind threatened to blow us away, it didn't even seem real and was the perfect ending to an incredible, American summer day.

Happy Birthday America, you are awesome. XX

live it - bring on the rain

Maybe it is because I miss England sometimes, maybe it's because it is mostly sunny Tennessee (which is lovely), but I really like a good rainy day every now and then.

One of my favorite things, is to get caught in summer rain. Last weekend, I was at a park with my dog and a few friends, under a huge oak tree, when it started to pour down rain. We all huddled under the tree for a while and decided to give up and run to our cars (mine was a lucky 1/2 mile away). When it rains in the summer like that and like today, I would much rather be under a tree in a park somewhere- with the air at it purest and the grass at it's greenest, there is nothing more peaceful or relaxing.

To make the most of a rainy day (if you can't be outside), you have to have the right soundtrack, one that makes you think, relax, dwell on the sweet, little things of life and inspire creativity. If you are lucky enough to be sippin' on a cup of tea (or yummy vanilla latte), sitting in a comfy chair on an old covered porch somewhere where it is raining (or stuck at a desk, wishing that's where you were), here are 7 songs to complete the experience of a rainy day.

1.



2.



3.



4.

The instruments in this...

5.

fyi America...despite what pop radio is telling you, this song is not even kind of new, but I do love this version!

6.



7.

You can't celebrate a rainy day without these guys and really any song by them will do:

...hmm and just as I posted this...it got sunny! Forget all of those songs and bring on some Bob Marley, we'll be ready next time.

live it - getaway

I have had a rough start to 2014 and never did I need a beach vacation more than I did this month! I was able to spend Memorial Day weekend in Florida for a girl's reunion weekend and it was SO lovely! I have known these girls since my freshmen year of college (...a very long time ago) and I haven't seen them in two years, this trip was overdue.

Coming from Washington D.C., Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale(ish) and NASHVILLE :)we all met up in Panama City Beach, FL for our getaway adventure. Waking up at 3:30 a.m. to catch my flight (shout out to the best roommate who drove me to the airport at 4 a.m.!) was not fun, but it was definitely worth it. I was the last to arrive, so we went right from the airport to the beach and after our driver (cough- Kayla) nearly ran over a cyclist, we made it to the white sand and gorgeous blue water. I forgot how perfect Florida beaches are on a sunny day!

It was so awesome to spend time with these girls again. I am so thankful for the friendships that can pick right back up, even if you haven't been around each other in a while. There were four of us that met up and we really couldn't be more different from one another. Britt (the other one) is super beachy, has a natural chill/beach style I wish I could pull off, Kayla sports a sweet Alabama accent, loves football and never wears the same outfit twice (<-impressive!), Beach is a southern business lady with heels, pearls and monogrammed everything, super tan and always put together, then there is me- the only one who had vintage granny sandals instead of flip-flops at the beach and searched for weeks for a high waist bikini (not-so-awesome tan lines).

Even though we are so different and when we drove along the coast with windows down, blaring country music (ironic the one from Nashville doesn't really listen to country) it was very apparent, but we just get one another on a rare level. These are girls that I don't have to try around, they just get me. Maybe it is because all of us have lived together at one point, but there is not one question or topic we don't cover or ask, nothing is held back even to the most blunt of statements. The rawness, realness of our friendship is so refreshing and rare.

Nearly running over pedestrians, turning down movie requests, wasp stings, observing the amount of germs living on money, staying in sketchy hotel motel holiday inns, exploring small beach towns, singing songs about treading water like an egg beater, late night chats about past, present and future boys, running near-marathons in airports, can't wait for the next reunion.

live it - end of an era

(arriving for the last time at my family's Grass Lake home.)

I vividly remember the phone call I received a few months ago from my mom. It was something I never ever expected to hear from her, "We are going to sell the house." As silly as this may seem, I was devastated. Growing up, we moved around roughly every two years and this place felt like our first real home. I always thought my parents would stay at that house forever and it didn't seem real. I loved our fireplace, our forest, our barns, what were they thinking?!

Sure enough, someone fell in love and purchased my utopia a few months later. I traveled to Michigan this weekend to help my parents move from our family home of 14 years. Though I moved out many years ago for college, we built this place and it always felt like it was my home no matter where I lived. It felt strange when I arrived this time and walked into a mostly packed and more empty house. It was even more strange when a few minutes later I met the excited new buyers who were around my age.

As a family, we spent countless Saturdays working on the land around our home, clearing brush, raking leaves, mowing the lawn, planting flowers, and it finally had turned into a beautiful piece of land. My last afternoon there, I walked the property with my dad, ran into the house taking one last mental picture of each room and then drove down the long driveway for the last time.

Recently, I have come to realize that stuff, is just stuff. Though we may get super attached to things, they are just blessings that may only be with us for a season. I am so grateful we had that house for the time that we did and I am excited for the new adventure that my parents are on now. Their new home is lovely, tons of sunshiny windows and lush green fields, it is just what they needed and they will make this new home just as cozy.

(what I woke up to each morning.)

(that's my mama!)

(all the effort to move that mattress and it was brought to the wrong bed.)

The best part of the trip was seeing all of my friends and family. There is something so refreshing about surrounding yourself with people who get you completely and love you despite all of your issues. There is never a dull moment in my family, trying to catch runaway chickens and runaway dogs, digging up baby trees to start our new forest, bonfires and spontaneous parties, just laughing until we cry (thanks for that trait mom), it was an incredible weekend and a reminder of what actually matters. I came back to Nashville feeling blessed for the time I had with them and with a deeper sense of Nashville being my home (...at least for now!).

(Their new driveway and start of the new adventure!)

wear it - Denim Denim dooo it

Thank goodness it's finally warm outside! To celebrate, I broke another rule, denim on denim AND black shoes after Easter.

Denim Top- My new blue denim top is one of my favorites! For some reason, I like this one buttoned all the way up to the top. If you don't feel completely comfortable with the 90's tie-up style, then you can always tie a lower knot or wear even higher waist shorts/jeans. (I feel like this look can be super classy- but easily trashy, so maybe ask a friend to tell you the honest truth, "Is this way too much belly? I'm not trying to be Britney Spears," is a good way to phrase it.)

Denim Shorts- Black denim shorts, high waist, really cool buttons, you can't go wrong! I think I got these at Macy's.

Shoes- My go-to black, slip on, (non)smoker slippers. I wear these little loafers with anything from business dresses to denim shorts.

Details- I will never be over red lips, add a punch of color with your lips, nails, or both.

live it - Easter escapade

As Easter approached this year, I wanted to do something different. I have attended church on Easter (and nearly every single Sunday) since I was born. I talked to my dad and he recommended I go hiking to celebrate this year. Just God, creation and Millie Mae Vanilli Lapham (my scruffy rescue dog).

At first, the idea of hiking on my own in America me a little nervous. I know this seems completely ridiculous, as I traveled on my own in Europe many times, but something about how spread out we are here in good old 'Merica, makes me a little nervous...all the more reason to overcome this fear and take the trip! After a couple recommendations of safer/more-traveled trails, I landed on the Fiery Gizzard trail in southern Tennessee. (Side note: Not advocating hiking on your own as girl, use your own judgement ladies!)

On a perfect, sunny Easter morning, I packed up my dog and drove an hour or two (<-may have been slightly lost) to the trail. My GPS told me to turn down roads that I was certain were not actual roads. I passed houses that seemed abandoned and a baseball stadium that looked to be out-of-use since 1970, but then I turned into a parking lot full of Jeep Wranglers, and I knew I was in the right place!

(may be a picture from a previous, non-solo, hiking adventure...but I was wearing nearly the same thing...it counts.)

The trail was the most beautiful trail I have ever been on. A cascading stream followed along the trail as I climbed over boulders, hopped along rocks and crossed bridges. The deep blue swimming holes and waterfalls were stunning and looked like they belonged in a Disney World boat tour.

Years ago, I read this book, Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul's Path to God, by Gary Thomas, and (turns out I have been misquoting it all these years thinking there were only 5) about the 9 'Sacred Pathways' to God (clearly time for me to read it again). Anyway, one of the strongest ways that I connect to God is through nature. With all of the craziness and uncertainty in my life right now, there was something so simple and powerful about not hearing anything around me, but creation.

Towards the end of my hike, I stepped out onto a huge rock in the center of a stream, water rushing on either side of me, cascading down the waterfall behind me and I just sat on this huge boulder. It was the perfect moment to be still and be thankful for everything Easter represents, forgiveness, redemption, new life, peace and hope.

Happy belated Easter!

the best part of it all...Millie slept the rest of the day!

wear it - busy blazer

I never know what the technical rules of fashion are and I sort of feel like these days there are no rules! So forget that you aren't 'supposed' to wear black shoes- or black in general after Easter. If New Yorkers can wear black year round, then so can the rest of us.

This is my model/love of my Nashville life/#fellowtallgirlproblems, Sandra, you may see her on here ruling the world in fun clothes.











Blazer - This busy-patterned blazer is one of my favorite pieces, it can be dressed up and worn to work or paired with fun shorts like this.

Shoes - The black boot heels are definitely in my top 5 favorite shoes I own. I know that April isn't exactly black boot season, but I am sure it is snowing somewhere still (shout out to my Michigan fam!), so I think that justifies us to wear boots anywhere!

Shorts - The shorts are amazing! Plain black shorts are great, but there is something really cool when you mix patterns and this is a subtle way to do that.

Tee - I am not normally a printed tee fan, but I am warming up to the idea. I feel like there is a way to have a printed tee and keep it classy (ex: the neon fishing shirts sold in every gas station in the South, do not count as classy). I really liked the girliness of the LOVE shirt mixed with dark colors and boots.