Renewed

Sometimes all it takes are some new knee socks to make an old outfit feel fancy. Getting back into retail really put a shift on my financial priorities for a second, and now I'm trying again to do the most with what I have. Everything else I'm wearing (aside from the fancy new knee socks) is over two years old. I love the feeling when I kind of forget about things, then rediscover them and remix them into an entirely new outfit.

I also chopped most of the rest of my hair off. This pixie/boy cut thing is so freeing. I literally just brush my wet hair into place, mess it up a little with some product, and I'm good. Loving it.

Last Week on Instagram

Patterns, Miles, vintage signs

pen pals, gifts, Breaking Bad

Sammy, breakfast, postcards

<3

Great Smoky Mountain Vacation

PHOTO HEAVY.

You've been warned.

 I love my family, I love the woods, I love the mountains, I love Tennessee.

And I love this super touristy take on Mount Rushmore that I just had to stop and photograph on my way out of Pigeon Forge. Marilyn has been my spirit guide this week/always.

Youth Novels

Sitting where I am now, layering and tinkering with photos from two very specific summer days, from years ago. It says a lot, although I'm saying very little because I've never been good with words, about time and circumstance and growth.

 

I never want to stop growing.

Sunday funday hike

We hiked today! 2.5 miles, basically entirely uphill. We were climbinnnn'! I could not make the very last stretch of hills. My face was so hot and I was saturated in sweat, but it felt amazing - even as we walked the paved trail back to the car. I'm looking forward to hiking and climbing more and more. That kind of exercise really excites me. I do not like treadmills, I do not like indoor cardio. But I feel really great after today, and hope to do this almost biweekly. Hopefully by winter, I will be joining Climb Nashville, an indoor rock climbing gym. With a membership you also have access to unlimited yoga and strength training classes. I've been paying a shitload of attention to what I'm eating lately, and now with all of this physical activity, I'm seriously feeling SO good. So positive! And ready to take on the week.

Juicy

Another Free People perk is that it's a minute away from the Whole Foods Andrew works at. After my shift this afternoon, I stopped in to visit and got myself some fresh juice. Cucumber, kale, chard and lemon. Next time, I may throw some apple in there for sweetness, but this very green drink made me feel so good.

Free People Post v.1

As I've mentioned (a few times!), I've recently become a stylist (which is a rad way of putting "sales associate") at Free People! It's a part time job that I work on nights and weekends, but it's really become my favorite thing to do. Already I've met such interesting and genuine girls, and that's a total perk since I'm still new to Nashville and work a 9-5 as an office manager with middle aged men. I met Melanie, who I've also mentioned, who is my most favorite new friend ever. And on top of the social aspect, Free People is so colorful and fun. If you've ever been in a store, you know it's an airy and almost whimsical experience (that will be the first and last time I ever use the adjective "whimsical", don't worry). Not to mention the discount! I've already started making over my wardrobe with some Free People pieces (which I've justified with frequent trips to Plato's Closet to sell clothing I've held onto but never wear). Today, while taking a break from monotonous data entry at my "real job", I got onto the website and instead of heading straight to the BLDG 25 blog, I browsed the Pre-Fall collection. Six items really stuck out, and in typical "me" fashion I've decided to share!

Molly Dot Swing Dress: Really, everything about the way they styled this dress is perfect to me. It's totally "back to school", which is something I still hold dear - even as an elementary education major college dropout. Pretty sure this dress is a definite "to buy" given how layer-friendly it is.

Cleary Tall Boat Shoe: I have a pair of faux-leather riding boots that desperately need replacing. These boots are such a fun mix of riding boot/moccasin/boat shoe. I think I love them.

Vegan Leather Hoodie: From what I'm hearing, it's basically hoodie weather all winter long here in Nashville. This hoodie is the perfect combination of bad-ass and comfy, and I think I could rock it. There's a pair of vegan leather shorts currently on clearance in our store, and they're so smooth and buttery (that's how you describe soft leather, right? "buttery"?). Could become a staple!

Colored Skinny Jean in khaki green: A standard. I've been searching for good khaki skinny jeans for over a year now, and if these fit like the Printed Ankle Skinny, then they're perfect. They come in a few more colors too!

Collegiate Cardigan in buttercream & Shaggy Knit Pullover in driftwood: Fall and sweaters are pretty much synonymous in my mind, so these pieces just make sense. I've been into the letterman jacket thing for a while but can't seem to find one that doesn't make me look like I'm auditioning for Grease. And that pullover, ugh. I think I speak for all of Free People Nashville when I say we need these. It looks like a pretty, wearable cloud, or with my color selection, smog, but whatever.

July Fourth and Moonrise Kingdom

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday! Though it is only 10 o'clock, and for some the night is just beginning. Andrew and I had a full day of fun. I loved it. Before happy hour and appetizers, thrifting, swimming, hanging at Laurie and Ed's with Miles, burgers and 21 Jump Street (hilarious), we went to Cheekwood for the treehouse exhibit! That was amazing - I've always had a fascination with treehouses. For example, I would love to stay at this treesort that I saw once on the travel channel. And also I adore this song by I'm From Barcelona. The exhibit at Cheekwood featured seven treehouses modeled off of dreamy works of literature. I want to share my favorites!

Ocean of Notions

“He looked into the water and saw that it was made up of a thousand thousand thousand and one different currents, each one a different colour, weaving in and out of one another like a liquid tapestry of breathtaking complexity; and Iff explained that these were the Streams of Story, that each coloured strand represented and contained a single tale.” -- Salman Rushdie, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, 1991

The inspiration for this treehouse is the magical “Sea of Stories” encountered by Haroun and his storytelling father, Rashid, in Salman Rushdie’s only published children’s book. As visitors explore this structure, they will find a giant, twisted ball of vibrantly colored ropes, representing stories flowing together in different streams. Children will climb in and play the role of Mali, the Floating Gardener, untangling the stories and watching them unfold.

The Jolly Roger

“One green light squinting over Kidd's Creek, which is near the mouth of the pirate river, marked where the brig, the Jolly Roger, lay, low in the water; a rakish-looking craft foul to the hull…She was the cannibal of the seas, and scarce needed that watchful eye, for she floated immune in the horror of her name.” – J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy, 1911

Cheekwood visitors of all ages will be invited on a high seas adventure through Neverland on board the infamous ship of Captain Hook. Reflecting the novel’s themes of youth and young at heart, this treehouse will invite hours of imaginative play. Turning the ship’s wheel will change the direction of the compass, and a look through the cannon sights will reveal painted images depicting scenes from the book. As children assume the roles of Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell, the century-old story of Peter Pan and Wendy will come to life every day at Cheekwood.

And, my absolute favorite.

The Rainbow Fish

"The Rainbow Fish shared his scales left and right, and the more he gave away, the more delighted he became. When the water around him filled with glimmering scales, he at last felt at home among the other fish." – Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish, 1992

Inspired by a simple, beloved children’s story about sharing, this treehouse will create a friendly space for children and adults to play. Guests will enter the mouth of the Rainbow Fish via an ADA-compliant ramp; once inside, they will peer down to the water’s edge to see their own reflections. Inside the fish, children will find shiny, detachable scales to “share” with other, smaller fish placed within the surrounding landscape. Just as the Rainbow Fish in the story shares his scales with others, children will role-play the story’s message of sharing and friendship around the grounds at Cheekwood.

An all around fantastic summer day, even despite the heat. It's been crazy. But it's all good.



Another event worth mentioning would be seeing Moonrise Kingdom last night with my new friend Melanie. I'd been waiting a month and scouring the internet to find out when the film would come to Nashville and it finally did! To the Belcourt, and they serve alcohol there! We had a great time and I want to watch the movie over and over and over again. So wonderfully done, as per usual when it comes to Wes Anderson. This film was particularly yellow and dreamy and cute. God, I just loved it.