The End.

 I've been thinking about new things to write about. I've been drawing a blank. My thoughts are so jumbled together at the moment that the only way to think clearly is to write out lists. Do one thing at a time. One thought at a time. Then you do the next thing. Which reminds of me that song in Frozen 2. Do the next right thing. 

School is starting soon and I can't deal with the conversations anymore. It's all exhausting. 2020 has been so exhausting. There's so much negativity and toxic words just in the air. I even feel like a broken record just blogging about it now.
I keep thinking of the movie "Tomorrowland" at the end of the movie the reason there was no hope for humanity was because all they ever did was completely consume themselves with the negative in the world. "Wars, famine, global warming, Save the dolphins, save the bees, save the children!"

With all the negativity you snuff out the light, the hope. It's not all fire and brimstone folks. There's love, compassion, truth, grace, mercy etc. 

I'm taking myself out of that narrative. I'm pulling a Taylor Swift. 

"Look what you made me do" 

I don't watch the news. 

I don't believe its the END of the world. However, every day we come closer to it. 

I won't go down the rabbit holes of conspiracy theories. 

I won't live in fear. But I will wear a mask.

 

The End. 

 

 

Fashion Friday {Fall In line}

Are you a Christina Aguilera fan? I've been from the beginning. I totally felt a connection with her music when I was in 6th grade. I thought to myself "Yes! Finally a girl who sings like I like to sing!" The rest is history! Now she has a new album coming out and I'm always excited about that. While I wasn't super excited about the first single. The latest "Fall in line" hits the nail on the head ya know what I mean. Talking about body image for young girls and how we were made for so much more than something to look at. I have no idea why that wasn't the first single because it is on fire! Now it's climbing the itunes top song list and I feel validated. Not sure who dropped the ball on that one. Especially nowadays with woman empowerment left and right. It boggles the mind! 

Anyway onto this weeks look.

The weather has got me feeling like fall/spring/summer all in one day and at the same time so when that happens you dress accordingly. The result is this.

P.S Yes that would be a Bluebird cafe tank from none other than my fave place Nashville. I still have yet to go there. One of these days. Also, I'm sad because Nashville the show is ending and I will miss it so much! 

Happy Friday ! 

Nashville you stole my heart.. {part 1}

So this summer I did a lot of traveling. I guess moving from Hawaii back to the mainland wasn't crazy enough for me. I wanted to add more to my plate. I planned a birthday trip with my friend to Nashville. I like to come up with crazy ideas and love planning them out. A girls weekend in Nashville seemed pretty crazy to throw into the moving mix. It was totally worth it though.

I went before we moved to Hawaii and got hooked. We barely had any time to explore or do touristy type things. This was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Day 1: First stop was Broadway! We at at Acme Feed & Seed again which was really good. Of course it was pouring rain by the time we left. We ran with everyone to the nearest gift shop to buy umbrellas and ugly plastic cover ups. You know the ones...basically going around Nashville in a trash bag. The rest of the night was going back on forth across broadway. We listened to all the different bands all night, met new people had a blast. We even found the Coyote Ugly bar....nothing like the movie, ....well maybe a little. It could've used some more Piper Perabo. 

Day 2: Went to the Johnny Cash museum again. I had to show Amber she's a Johnny Cash fun. I think it's a pretty fun museum. Last time I went though they had a separate room to watch old concert/tour footage. They took it out and replaced it with a green screen and a photo op with "Johnny Cash". I like the concert footage better the idea of posing with Johnny Cash was a little creepy. Then across the street to the GOO GOO shop which we didn't get to go to last time. However it was where Kim Kardashian was parked last time so maybe that's why. She was in the way of the chocolatey goodness! Then we had lunch at Merchants Restaurant. That place is really awesome loved all the black and white. All the bartenders had beards and mustaches it was great!

One year.

Today marks one year since my dad suddenly passed away.

I thought I would share this story for the anniversary.

I just recently went to Nashville with my friend to celebrate her upcoming birthday. 

One of the tours we went on was the RCA studio b tour. If you are a music lover this is an awesome tour. I grew up in a radio family so this was right up my alley. We heard some cool behind the scenes stories of Dolly Parton, The Everly brothers etc. I was getting a little emotional already because it was something my dad would've liked. I almost felt him beside me telling me interesting facts that the tour guide probably didn't even know. 

The tour guide took us back to the recording studio and started telling us stories of Elvis Presley. One interesting thing was how he liked the lighting while he recorded. He liked to feel the music. So while recording "Are you lonesome tonight" it was pitch black {picture above}. 

While the lights were still off he started to talk about his love of gospel music. Elvis loved to rehearse with gospel music. He was nominated for 18 Grammys but only won three Grammys all for his gospel records. The tour guide then proceeded to play us one of the records. I felt the moment before it happened. Something was coming.

"How great thou art" started blaring from the overhead speakers. I completely lost it at the point. In the dark with a bunch of strangers. 

Some of you may not know. How great thou art was my dads favorite gospel song. In the hospital when we had to shut the machines off that we're keeping him alive. We all gathered around his bed and sang that song one last time for him.

I couldn't believe out of all of the songs they played that one and right in time for the one year anniversary. It was an incredible and emotional moment during my trip that I will never forget. 

I love you daddy! 

NASHVILLE {PART 2}

We stopped and had lunch at the Acme Feed and Seed! I'm so glad we did. That place is amazing! Not just the food but the whole atmosphere! It has multiple floors that you can eat at. I really wanted to sit on the awesome vintage furniture but got overruled. So we opted for the roof. I couldn't complain that view is amazing. We could see everything! 

There was a lot of craziness because Kim Kardashian was in the area promoting some energy drink. We didn't think we would see her at all. But as we we were  headed to the Johnny Cash Museum her big mysterious black bus was parked right outside. Us ladies went inside to get our tickets and the guys ran outside trying to get a glimpse. Apparently they have never seen a "celebrity" before. They must have been something to see. One with a diaper bag and one holding the baby in the bjorn! I'm sure Kim Kardashian was saying how cute they were from her tinted windows. 

The Johnny Cash Museum was awesome! You could listen to a ton of his tracks in the different formats and watch live performances. They had a room set up to see all his movie clips and guest appearances. It's definitely a must see if you love music! 

We wondered off to take our family pictures after that on the Shelby Street bridge. Click link to check them out http://meadowsandreeds.blogspot.com/2015/07/family-pictures.html

When we met up for dinner we found ourselves at Five Points Pizza after asking some locals of a good place. It did not disappoint. Between the music, food and the atmosphere there I would probably move there tomorrow. While we were eating I noticed a guy who looked familiar to me. He was making faces at baby Caleb so a mom always notices that. But I also have a knack for spotting celebrities even if I don't know their name or can't remember what they are in. Luckily, my brother in law mentioned "Arrested Development" after I snuck a picture of him for reference so I had something to search for. Figured out it was Tony Hale and we have seen him in a ton of stuff. We started a conversation with him. Trying to play it cool as much as we can. It was pretty hilarious! 

There is never a dull moment on our family trips that's for sure! 

Until the next Vacation!

NASHVILLE {PART 1 - RYMAN AUDITORIUM}

I've been feeling nostalgic for our trip to Nashville this summer. Then quickly realized I never blogged about it. Yikes !! 

Only one of our cars could get shipped to  Hawaii. So we took that as a sign to do a  road trip cross country to leave our other car. Nashville was one of our many steps. But definitely one of my favorites!! How can you not fall in love with Nashville ?!

Our first stop was the Ryman auditorium of course. I remember one of my favorite movies growing up was coal miners daughter. That was the first time I ever saw ryman auditorium. It's so full of musical history and movie history. Such a gorgeous venue! We were able to meet up with my sister and brother in law. We are all such big music lovers so it was the perfect sibling trip to do together. They have a few little fun extras like record your own song or cover one from their list. So Emily and I decided to record Patsy Cline's "Crazy". They have a little recording studio inside the auditorium. We got a couple tries and they gave us two cds. This place a must see if you are stopping in Nashville!