I ain't bashful, I'm from Nashville: Part I

 Born 'n raised in the Music City, I'm a Nashville gal by roots, but I've had very non-committal, summer romances with the city since 2006. I'm always coming and going when the sun is shining between school semesters and living abroad. Yet, each time I come back, I swear, Nashville gets hipper and hipper with new restaurants and fun places to go. Well, I'm about to continue my pattern of lovin' and leavin' Nashville again in a week....EEKK! I will be moving to Lexington, KY for grad school. So, before I go, I realized that I wanted to check out a few of those fun places that Nashville has to offer as well as some city staples that I never have been to. Therefore, I created an"I ain't Bashful, I'm from Nashville" Bucket List. [I got that phrase from a painting in Loveless Cafe, and decided to adopt it (despite the fact that I can be quite bashful--but we'll just overlook that aspect)]. So, I want to share a few of those experiences with you. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to cross off two of those lovely places on the list that happened to be right next to each other in East Nashville: 

 First we have The Silly Goose (1888 Eastland Ave):

Newly redone, Silly Goose's interior and atmosphere is creatively rustic and unique in an approachable way. The silverware is served in these bright red handkerchiefs and the delicious homemade teas are served in Mason Jars. We drank the Citrus, Mint & Ginger Green Tea. Very refreshing.

SO, meet my partner-in-crime Sarah Helen, one of my bff's who is much more of a Nashvillian than me, despite the fact she wasn't born here. Sarah Helen and I met almost 6 years ago making gelato together when she first moved from Mississippi.

For an appetizer, we shared the Mexico City Couscous: "Red chili couscous, grilled chicken, poblano peppers, cilantro, goat cheese, mango, and lime juice"

For the main dish, I chose The Sailor Sandwich: "Grilled eggplant, roasted red pepper, avocado, basil, arugula, lemon-kalamata olive aioli on grilled ciabatta." See more of their menu here.

So, this is me, awkwardly happy to eat this new sandwich:

 After lunch, we conveniently hopped on over next door to Jeni's (1892 Eastland Avenue). Jeni's just opened up about a month ago in Nashville. It's a chain, but damn, it's good! I had to include it on this post, despite it's non-locality.

Just look at all these inventive flavors:

"Hey, do you guys wanna go on a double date with us?"

I ate the Sweet Corn and Black Raspberries mixed with The Queen City Cayenne. Yum yum.

High school posed pic:

We Sarahs also admired the decorations and set up of the place: church pews; marble topped tables, faux milk-jug lights. We basically want to be Jeni. See more about the ice cream chain here.

So wohooo! I've already checked 2 off the bucket list. Not much time left, but I try my darndest to post more from  the "I ain't Bashful, I'm from Nashville" Bucket List.

Design Spotlight: ADG and Their Music City Cicada Invasion

Recently at Nashville's Donut Den, I was introduced to the Anderson Design Group's witty Cicada Invasion design and memorabilia (magnets, bumper stickers), and I was searching for a good reason to post them on the blog, as I am a sucker for great graphic design and anything that makes me laugh.

Well, days later, I found a big, beagle belly full of reasons: my dog Millie. You see, like most beagles, Millie has an overeating problem, and I came back from just a few days spent in Murray, KY only to find that her stomach had inflated to a hilariously alarming size. I assumed she was being spoiled with people food, but my Mom said she hadn't even really fed Millie. Then we noticed she even stopped begging for our food.


Well, the other day, we found the culprit: CICADAS. Everyday, Millie comes back miserable, slothful, and, well, flatulent after 3 hours of gorging in the wilderness. This led us to google the problem and we found out that apparently Cicadas are the equivalent of doggie Doritos. You can't just have one. Or perhaps, more fitting: doggie Pringles. Once you pop, you can stop...until, well, Millie's belly pops. So, I know I can survive the Music City Cicada invasion with only a little side effects like Cicadas being stuck to my Nikes:

But the question is, will Millie survive?

You can buy the memorabilia at the Donut Den in Nashville, visit the Cicada Invasion Survival Guide, or find more of Anderson Design Group's great Nashville hatch-print graphic design on their flickr. For example here are some of my Nashville favs:

Nashville Street Style

I would love to start a Nashville Street Style blog...if I were living in Nashville, but for the last few years, it's just been my home base. Yet, Refinery29 proves that it would, indeed be a great idea. Nashville was featured today on their website for street-style, and I can't help but share when my hometown gets a shout-out:

Enfin, Je suis en France

After many months of wait, delayed paperwork and a blinding breakdown the day before I left, 

I have arrived in France.

 No, Toto. We're not in Tennessee anymore.

Yes, Passport Smiles readers, I am embarking on another year of teaching English. This time, in another petite town called Forbach, where the closest big city is just 15 minutes away...in Germany! I've been here only two days and do not start my job until next Monday. However, Passport Smiles readers, all 10 of you, I do not have Internet set-up yet in my apartment. Therefore, blog posts will be a bit delayed. I know, I know. You are thinking, "Sarah, how will I survive?" And my 24 years of obtained sagesse would reply,
"Just act like you did before you found my blog. That advice plus a lot of drugs...and loads of alcohol.
You will be swell, just swell."

Outfit details:

1) Shirt (le chemisier): thrifted, Southern Thrift in Nashville

2) Skirt (la jupe): Vero Moda

3) Sunglasses (les lunettes de soleil): Clothing Exchange, Hillsboro Village, Nashville

4) Boots (les bottes): André

5) Fur coat (le manteau de fourrure): Clothing Exchange, Hillsboro Village, Nashville

Location of photos:

Natchez Trace Bridge, Nashville. Photographed by lil' sis on the day before I left for France.

Farewell to Nashville Part I: Bobby's Dairy Dip

Explanation: I'm (God willing) moving to France next week. In a farewell to Nashville, I am going to local places that I've never been that are also adored by Nashvillians. Yesterday, I hit up Bobby's Dairy Dip on Charlotte Avenue after some thrift shopping with a long-time bud, Jordan (standing in-line above). As you can tell by the name, Bobby's Dairy Dip is known for their soft-serve ice cream and yummy milkshakes.

And now the outfit shots...

 

Outfit Details:

Dress: Thrift (Southern Thrift, Charlotte Ave)- $5

Butterfly Belt: Thrift; $3

Knitted Beret: Camaieu 

Leather Boots: Andre