For two decades of my life, I was horribly lonely. Obviously, being lonely had never been part of the plan — After all, I’d spent a lot of time and energy trying to make friends when I moved to the suburbs twenty-odd years ago. I joined moms’ clubs and book clubs and Bible studies, volunteered for Field Days and the PTA, invited neighbors over, and made so many plans with so many women for coffee and dinners and drinks. But while I didn’t have any trouble making acquaintances, true friendship eluded me. I yearned to find women I could pour out my heart to, laugh and cry with, and build the kin ..read more

Between pop-up bars, light shows, concerts, holiday markets, and more, we have scores of entertainment choices here in Nashville when Christmas rolls around, and every year the options seem to get bigger, brighter, and a whole lot more expensive. Case in point: Enchant Nashville. Billed as ‘The World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze & Village,’ the Hallmark-sponsored event features a light maze with more than 4 million lights, a 100-foot holiday tree, an ice-skating trail, live entertainment, Santa visits, a village marketplace, ‘festive culinary treats,’ and holiday cocktails, all located ..read more

One of my favorite things to do before I travel is find out all the best secrets about the place I’m headed. Is there a restaurant the locals love? A time of day or week to visit an attraction and beat the crowds? A tour with the best guide ever? TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. Yes, I realize it’s a little nerdy, but i have to say this kind of research has led to some pretty amazing discoveries — and then I get to share them with you! That’s why I wanted to write a post spilling all the best secrets on how to make the most of Holiday World, my absolute favorite theme park 2 1/2 hours from Nashville in S ..read more

I never went to camp as a kid and I’ve always regretted it. I wanted in on the kind of lifelong friendships that are born from sweaty summers spent singing ‘On Top of Spaghetti” around a campfire, splashing around in a muddy lake, and checking each other for ticks. As a sort of consolation prize for my inner child, I sent my son to camp for a few summers instead. When I went to pick him up after his first session, he eagerly ran to me for a hug, but for the first time in his life, his allegiance was clearly torn. After hugging me fiercely, he looked back at his new friends, tears welled in his ..read more

  Supposedly, everyone’s in Europe right now, which is fine with me because it means the lines are shorter at Holiday World. America’s first theme park happens to be just two and half hours from Nashville in (heh) Santa Claus, Indiana. It is big, with both a sizable amusement park and an equally impressive water park, it is surrounded by cornfields, and it is definitely one of my greatest guilty pleasures in life. I know some of you think sunning yourselves on a pontoon boat or gossiping with your neighbors at the community pool is the perfect way to spend a hot summer day — Personally ..read more

When you think of Franklin, Tennessee, your mind probably goes straight to its historic downtown, filled with shops and restaurants and Civil War-era homes and buildings. Much has been written about the downtown area and I’m definitely one of its biggest fans — but there’s so much more to do and see in Franklin and Williamson County, and today I want putting the spotlight on Franklin’s many hidden gems. All these spots rank high on my list and I’m just sure you’ll love them, too. Sugar Drop Bakery Possibly the most magical stop for sweets in all of Middle Tennessee is Sugar Drop, a dessert bo ..read more

In a city where dining out now means being charged $200 a head for doll-sized plates of freeze-dried zucchini and macerated eel belly, I find myself longing for simpler times and simpler meals. And lo! My wish has been granted. I’ve discovered a place that takes two of our nation’s least complicated and most beloved dishes and puts them together, with unexpectedly magical results.   That place is called Fryce Cream. You’ll find Fryce Cream in the heart of Nashville’s 12 South neighborhood, a hip shopping district favored by the kinds of tourists who are eager to drop $300 on a designer p ..read more

An iconic view of downtown Nashville. (Source: wolf4max/Flickr Creative Commons) A couple of months ago, I was at a coffeeshop in L.A. when a man overheard me tell the barista I was visiting from Nashville. “You’re from Nashville, huh?” he said. “I heard Nashville is really cool. I heard it’s the place to be.” “It isn’t, though,” I said quickly. “I promise you, it really isn’t.” I leaned in with a confiding air. “Nashville is just okay,” I whispered. The man gulped and stared down at his designer sneakers, looking abashed. I walked away from that encounter feeling like I’d done an important ..read more

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks as my kids finish up school and my daughter prepares to graduate (!!!), but I wanted to quickly put out a Friday Favorites post because, well, why not? Here are a few things I’m loving lately:   Car Headrest Hooks Who knew such a small thing could be so life-changing? I saw these car headrest hooks on TikTok and instantly knew I had to have them. They are simply hooks that hang on my car headrests… AND NOW I HAVE A PLACE TO HANG MY PURSE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. Which, as a mom, is pretty much always. I can’t tell you how frustrati ..read more

You’ll find some of the best donuts in the country at Gramps Coffee & Donuts in Owensboro, Kentucky. But the story behind the shop may be even sweeter. I challenge you to drive through Owensboro, Kentucky’s historic downtown without stopping — It’s pretty much impossible.  The streets are lined with beautifully restored Victorian buildings that today hold trendy boutiques and antique stores, neighborhood bars, cozy coffee shops, and restaurants. Sure, you could keep on going to wherever it was you were going, but why not stop instead and explore for a few minutes, especially when ther ..read more