Nashville Adventure

I love traveling but I don't have tons of money to spend on extravagant trips no Italy for me right now but there is always Epcot, right? But for real as much as I would like to travel all over the globe it just isn't a reality for me at this time in my life. However, that doesn't mean you can't take trips, no flying required!

Nashville is a southern hotspot known for it's country music stars, southern comfort food and the famous Broadway street which earned it the nickname "Nashvegas". There is so much to do there and with it being only 3 hours away from Bham, a great weekend trip!

Taking December trips are always fun not only are you normally on a break (especially great for those in college, grad school or whatever) plus you have the joy of seeing all the winter décor up and ready for Christmas! This trip started last Friday when we arrived at the beautiful Hilton in Downtown Nashville around 6pm and what did I tell you? Love the décor!

After a quick change, we were off to the Bridgestone Arena, this is the arena that also hosts the Nashville Predators hockey team. Yes, the team that Carrie Underwood's hubby plays for. But tonight we weren't there for a game, instead we were going to see the incredibly talented and funny Amy Schumer! A little sight-seeing and photo taking were in order first, I mean all for the blog, right?

If you have been following the blog you know one of my favorite movies of the summer was Trainwreck, obviously others thought so too since the film and Amy Schumer have been nominated for Golden Globes and SAG awards recently. I thought I got really good tickets but as you can see...well what else would you expect when you pay $30 per ticket? Still we could see everything and Amy's standup was very funny. Some of the material was part of her HBO special that aired recently but it was still fun to hear it live plus she had plenty of new stuff too.

After laughing hard for two hours, it was time to take in some of the nightlife! Broadway is where you see all the bars and "honky-tonks". SO MANY LIGHTS, it really does look like a mini Vegas. We were hungry so after a little research we decided on Merchant's Restaurant located downtown.

The food was very good, it was crowded so there was a bit of a wait so I definitely recommend a reservation but if you go later in the night then it is much shorter than peak hours. Since it was late I didn't want anything too heavy so I decided on the tomato bisque and a delicious salmon salad with strawberries, feta and walnuts (sorry no picture!). My absolute favorite had to be the Blondie for dessert! Give this place a visit for sure!

After dinner we walked around Broadway for a bit then headed back since it was after midnight and we were exhausted. The next morning was a day full of sightseeing and we started it out at the "World-Famous Printer's Alley", so here is me in the alley. It was really cool!

I told you guys there is Christmas cheer everywhere! This alley reminded me of New Orleans a bit and I love NOLA so this area was fun to explore. Pack your comfy shoes since it is easiest just to walk around town! 

Again I love my friends who are so supportive of my blog and are always ready to take pictures for me, especially when they are touristy and cheesy. So big shout out to those who help me! I mean look at this posing but if you like to travel you need the tourist shots!

After brunch at Puckett's we got in the car and made our way to Howell's Alley area. It looked like something out of a movie! Tons of little shops, restaurants, coffee houses, and more. I mean there was a coffee joint called the Frothy Monkey, yes, the Frothy Monkey!

There is a wood carving of a monkey with a coffee cup. A MONKEY WITH A COFFEE CUP! I love this for some reason, this area had so much personality!

This local Christmas tree farm looks like it came straight from a movie set. These are the little details and spots that make a town so charming. We loved exploring!

Reese Witherspoon is one of my all-time favorite actresses so a stop by her own store, Draper James was a must. While some of the items are definitely not in my budget, they were having a sale that day so I did scoop up a few things. This store is pure southern charm!

You can't go to Howell's Alley and not get this picture! This sign is a must-stop photo opp.

I'm a sports fanatic so we had to see the Tennessee Titan's Stadium! Sadly no sign of Marcus Mariota around anywhere but I really want to go back for a game at some point. Love seeing all the NFL stadiums when I get the chance to do so! 

If you are from the South, you know what a Goo Goo is. If you don't then you will just have to "goo"gle it! Ok, I'll stop. But if you are in town visit the store and see how they are made!

The trip was so much fun and I was sad to see the weekend go! Since it is so close, I know another visit there is in order soon. You can definitely do a weekend trip on a budget to Nashville and I highly recommend the city. Southern appeal in a big city might be the best way to describe it. If you get the chance, take a visit to the Music City!

Nashville you made a believer out of me!

Happy Travels

xoxo,

5 Things Friday

TGIF! We made it to the end and I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Next week I have several looks and exciting posts I can't wait to share with you all but let's kick off the end of this week with a little Five Things Friday!

1. Jackson and Hyde Crossbody

I discovered this fun collection of cow print inspired bags and clutches a few months ago and while they work for summer, I think they are the perfect accessory for fall. The crossbody can be worn as a clutch for a charming touch at an upscale event or pull out the straps to go dancing at your favorite local bar. I love the size of the crossbody clutch because it has enough for the essentials but not too huge where it looks like you are heading to a rodeo. Check out the wide array of patterns and colors here!

Jackson and Hyde

 

2. Why Not Me? by Mindy Kailing

The follow up to Mindy's delightful first memoir, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) is another sure-fire hit. Seen as a more "real" celebrity, Mindy chronicles her life in Hollywood and faces the struggles that everyone has felt at times including love, success and being lonely by telling her stories in the most endearing way. At the end of both her books, you see Mindy as a friend you might spend a Saturday catching up with. And seeing yourself in similar situations that she tells you about.

Why Not Me?

3. The Visit

It doesn't feel like it's been 15 years since we infamously heard the phrase "I see dead people'" from the mega-hit, ultimate twisty The Sixth Sense. In that time director M. Night Shyamalan has gone from Oscar nominee to films that lack that extra scare (or plot in some cases). He may have gotten back on track with The Visit. M. Night seems to have finally returned to his classic spooky story telling and of course, the twist. Get some pre-Halloween action at the theatres this weekend and see for yourself!

4. Piko Tops and Dresses

I can not get enough of these comfy tops and dresses! The feel like pj's and are that super-soft tee material that you just want to wear everyday. The come in every color that you can think of including hot fall hues such as olive, nude, charcoal and teal. Extremely flattering and can easily be dressed up or down. How can you not love this brand!?

Piko (on Sale $21!)

 

5. Avondale Brewing Co.

My local pick of the week is the Avondale Brewing Co. There are so many breweries to choose from but Avondale remains a constant favorite. I love the official mascot Miss Fancy, the famed elephant who was the prize attraction at nearby Avondale Park, many, many years ago. Her presence and logo are everywhere and there is even a brew named after her (warning it is strong).  You can find a list of all the brews here. I'm not much of a drinker but I enjoy Avondale on a sunny afternoon/crisp night in autumn. If you are getting ready for your tailgate or just to watch the games at home, Avondale brews are sold in numerous areas outside the brewery so find them at location near you!

Hope you enjoyed my five things today! Have a fab weekend and check back here Monday for a new fashion post!

Happy Weekend!

xoxo,

Red, White and Blue

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I'm already dreaming it was Friday again, long weekends seem shorter than the regular ones. So happy and grateful that I live in such a beautiful country and thank you to all the service men and women (past and present) who let us have such freedom! Of course, I had to rock my USA tank and check out the shorts (they have little poms!) and completing the look are my tried and true converse sneakers. Shop the look below and follow along this week for more outfits, recaps and more. I wish I could cut a slice of cookie cake for all of you!

 

Happy Monday!

 

XOXO,

 

 

Tank:// Wildfox Couture (older tank but lots of similar options), Shorts://Target (only $12.99) Shoes://Converse

Creating Your Own Vintage Tee Look

The graphic tee is one of my favorites, in fact my typical go-to outfit is a vintage looking tee and a mini-skirt (I love the tribal inspired skirts that are so poplar at the moment!) and you can't go wrong with a basic black skirt either. But it seems everyone loves the graphic tee trend...I sometimes see tees for over $80-$100. I'm here to tell you that you can make that rock look on your own without breaking the bank.

This weekend I'm attending the Black Jacket Symphony performance featuring songs by Nirvana and Pearl Jam. I'm more than a little excited, I've seen several Black Jackey Symphony shows and they are fantastic! The show this weekend at Iron City (a GREAT concert venue) is sold out but get your tickets here for the same show on June 5th and 6th being held at Workplay (another awesome venue). But, back to the look for this weekend! Check out how I made a basic men's t-shirt look like one of my fashion staples I would buy at my local boutique! 

Step 1: Purchase your band's shirt. I like this option from Target (it's only $12.99!).

Step 2: Cut the sleeves to create the sleeveless tank look. You can go for a typical tank or cut a little wider if you want to wear a decorative tank or bra under to be seen. 

Step 3: Repeat step 2 on opposite sleeve.  You can use previous sleeve to line up to make sure you cut evenly.

Step 4: Cut the collar of the shirt. You can do this straight across or make a V-neck. Obviously straight across is a tad easier plus if it looks a little frayed, it goes with the style.

Step 5: You are done! Now you can add fringe to the bottom just by cutting small pieces (see Pearl Jam shirt example on my Instagram) and this looks really cute with jean cut offs. Or you can mix it up by wearing fun jewelry and go up a size or two if you want to make the look as a dress (depending on your height).  Style as you wish! 

Check out my Instagram to see how I've styled the look!


 

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

Like millions of you last weekend, my friends and I checked out Avengers: Age of Ultron. Some of my friends are into comic book movies, some have no idea (check out my post here if that's you!) and some just came to see Chris Hemsworth. We all agreed after this film...it was very entertaining! Ok, you know it won't win all the oscars (except special effects, which are very well done), some parts of the plot don't make sense and no, none of this could ever happen in the real world. But, isn't that what makes the perfect summer movie? Here's my take (minor spoilers)!

Age of Ultron is similar to the first Avengers film that came out back in 2012. Except this time the Avengers have to come together to take on the artificial intelligence known as Ultron (voiced by the superb James Spader). How does Ultron come about? Well, technically it's some of the Avengers fault. Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and Bruce Banner aka The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) create Ultron to help bring peace to the world. Yeah, that doesn't happen. Instead he wants to not only destroy the Avengers but also human civilization (picture a world filled with nothing but robots). The superheroes must band together to stop the destruction. 

I thought the plot was well written and I yes, it is similar to the last movie, I'm not sure how you can change it up too much. The actors seem like they are having a blast playing their respected characters. There is some romance between Black Widow (JohansIson) and The Hulk (Ruffalo), they have some chemistry but I will admit she has more with Captain America (Chris Evans). I feel like the audience learns more about Black Widow but her character could be shaped more (maybe time for a Black Widow stand alone film?). She and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), who we learn ALOT about in this film just seem kind of there at times. But when you have this many characters, I get you can't carve out every individual aspect. My favorite character may have just been villain Ultron. Flat out...he's creepy, intelligent and quick with the one liners. Although I don't really understand why he's so obsessed with getting rid of the Avengers (especially his dislike of Iron Man), but you do have to realize it's just a movie. The other new characters, twins Scarlet Witch (Olson) and Quicksilver (Taylor-Johnson) are a welcome addition, it's weird that they played husband and wife in last summer's blockbuster Godzilla and actually have better chemistry in this film where they are portraying siblings. The whole cast seems to appear to be having a great time in their roles and this film is perfect for a night out with friends, family or if you just want to watch some stuff blow up for two and a half hours. I have heard some fans didn't care for it, and others have already seen it multiple times, while I know nothing about the comics, I really enjoyed it!

While you debate on seeing the film, check out Jeremy Renner singing about his character Hawkeye to the tune of Ed Sheeran on Jimmy Fallon .

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Directed by: Joss Whedon

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Elizabeth Olson, Aaron Tyler-Johnson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel Jackson

Did you see the film? What did you think? What summer movie are you most looking forward to? I want to know!

 

Bahama Buck's now in Bham

As I was driving to my weekly dance fitness class a few weeks ago, I noticed a new building in the shopping center in Cahaba Heights (near Blackwell's Bar and Grill), a Bahama Buck's right here in Birmingham! Now you are probably most familiar with the shaved ice in beach areas but seem to be making their way to more cities which don't include sand. There are two locations currently in the Birmingham area, the above mentioned in Cahaba Heights and another in Pelham (next to Gold's Gym). I decided to try the Pelham location after a particularly hard run and plus it was 80 degrees outside (welcome to the South!). If you want a snack that isn't as heavy as ice cream or something different than frozen yogurt, this is an excellent choice! There are so many flavors, I settled on basic strawberry but there are so many options I know I will have a different pick next time. To find out a location near you or maybe you just want to see what flavor to try next just click here Bahama Buck's!

 

What's your favorite summer treat? Is there a new restaurant or snack I need to try in the Birmingham, AL area? Tell me about it!

 

While We're Young Review

While We're Young

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried

 

The indie dramedy, While We're Young, tells the story of a 40-something married couple, Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia (Watts), who begin to feel distanced from their friends who have children. After attending one of Josh's film classes, they meet a young, hipster couple, Jamie (Driver) and Darby (Seyfried) and begin to have a youthful revival of their lives. But, soon find out the friendship isn't all that it seems.

Stiller (who I personally like acting wise, I'm not ashamed to say Along Came Polly is one of my favorite movies), plays struggling film documentary maker Josh, who has failed to release a new film in years but has been working on a specific historical one for at least ten years. Cornelia (portrayed by Watts) is a more successful film producer, presumably due to the fact her father is a well known filmmaker. As soon as you see them both on screen the scene portrays them uncomfortable around their longtime friends who have just become parents. It's clear they no longer have much in common with their pals as the dynamic has shifted from friends to baby. Josh and Cornelia appear to be a average, happy married couple even though they can't remember the last time they took a vacation or shocked to see how long ago a certain event was. They are getting older...and they realize this. Josh teaches a non-credit film course and after a painful class (Josh doesn't know how to fix a PowerPoint), Jamie and Darby come over to introduce themselves. Jamie ( Driver, who is more commonly known for his work on the HBO hit Girls) and Darby (Seyfried) are the quintessential hipster, Brooklyn couple. They ride bikes everywhere, make vintage products seem cooler than what they are, and at first appear to be a perfect couple. Josh is taken with the couple and soon introduces them to Cornelia, who has her doubts about Jamie but likes Darby. Soon Josh and Cornelia are blowing off their older friends to hang out with their new, young friends. Josh decides to help Jamie follow his dreams and help him make a documentary on a Facebook style project. Through the filming, Josh begins to realize how entitled Jamie is and it take a look at young people today and differences of the past and a look towards the future.

The acting was great! Stiller and Watts were perfect in their roles, even though I'm in my 20's I could emphasize with the couple. In one scene, Cornelia sees one of her best friends out with her new "mommy friends" and they invite her to come along to a Wiggles-esque show with the babies. It shows exactly how people with no children feel when they attend something of that nature. Stiller acts similar in many of his films, I'm glad he didn't go too over the top and loud with the role. It's clear his character wants to emulate his new, young friend and Stiller does a great job with that (love it when Jeff begins dressing like Jamie complete with a fedora style hat).  Adam Driver is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, I've been watching Girls since the first season and he keeps getting better and better. He just sort of has that appeal to him, he can play the trendy, fun hipster guy because that's what he appears to be in real life. However, I'm not sure the writers had to make him so unlikeable in this film. Or maybe it could have been done more gradual, Jamie goes from charming to sleazy in just a few scenes. But, if the point was to make the audience dislike him then they did their job. Seyfried is a good actress but she just seems kind of there in this movie. I wish you could have gotten to see more of Jamie and Darby without Cornelia and Josh so you could have more of a feel of the couple and their relationship. Still, I think all the actors did wonderful in their respected roles.

I won't give away everything that happens in the movie but I think the ending was pretty clever and makes you think at the same time. I would recommend this indie, perfect for date night or a night out with friends. Watch the trailer to While We're Young here!


While We're Young is in theaters everywhere now.


Let me know if you've seen this film! Did you like it? Plan on seeing it?