Artist Spotlight - Native Run

Last night I went to a show at The High Watt in downtown Nashville and got to see and meet some pretty amazing artists. All of the performances were outstanding and I was completely surprised that I had never heard of any of them. I live in Nashville and see a lot of really good singer/songwriters that have unbelievable talent, but will never make it because they just don't have that special spark that is needed to be a big time entertainer. That being said, I do believe that the acts I saw last night do have what it takes to make it in the music industry - they honestly were just THAT good. For this post I am going to highlight a duo that was a part of the High Watt lineup known as Native Run.

Native Run, made up of Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley, are new to Nashville, but that doesn't mean that they aren't getting the acknowledgment that they deserve. These Virginia natives are taking Music City by storm with their upbeat country tunes. I was so impressed by the couple's stage presence - running around, skipping and jumping - their energy was spunky and so much fun to watch! Not to mention that they both have an awesome, eccentric style - as you can tell from the photos above. Between Beauregard's vibrant red locks and Dawley's 3 inch spike, I'm not sure who would win a "best hair" competition! The duo recently signed with Creative Nation and Combustion Music and are working on their debut album. (When I find out, you find out! Promise.) 

Need more Native Run?

Don't forget to "like" them on Facebook, follow them on twitter and subscribe to their YouTube channel!

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*All photos borrowed from www.NativeRunMusic.com

DIY Magazine Strip Art

 

 

Are you a DIY enthusiast?? If so, check out my latest post on Butler U lala to find out how I made this Indiana "Home Sweet Home" Magazine Strip Art project. It was very easy to make and turned out great! It's the perfect accent piece to any home décor.

 

 

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Guilty Pleasure Gossip - Part 2

RECAP:

Last night... WHOAH!

Drew's overnight date, like their entire relationship, was just kind of boring. I think he is a sweet guy and really does "love" Des, I just don't think he is adventurous enough for her. Maybe it is his soft voice that throws me off, but he is just so boring to me.

Chris.. Where to begin? He is just such a charmer. I love that they are able to be goofy together one second and then extremely serious and passionate the next. I think Chris would be the perfect guy for anyone and Des is stupid if she doesn't realize how amazing he is. He would be a great husband and an even better father. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I love Chris and want him to come to Indianapolis and date/read me poetry, but I really hope she chooses him.


Brooks - HOLY MOLY! I don't even know what to say. I respect him for confessing that he isn't completely in love with Des. He, like everyone else, wants that crazy "I can't/don't want to live without you" love and isn't going to just settle for someone because he is on a reality dating show. That being said, I do think that Brooks liked/loved Des more than he thought because when he was "breaking up" with her and she said that she loved him, it caught him off guard - "why didn't you tell me this earlier" - ummmm, DUH BROOKS! She is the bachelorette. She cannot tell one of the guys that she is in love with him. That would completely ruin the show. Clearly you forgot that she was also supposed to be dating multiple other men. Then for the ten minutes that he was awkwardly pacing/crying/still contemplating, I really thought he was going to run back to her and apologize, but he didn't. I think he is really a goner.

NEXT WEEK:

Well, my predictions about this episode were correct, but I honestly have no idea what is going to happen in the final episode of this season. After the show last night, I was sure that she wasn't going to pick anyone and everyone was going to go home broken hearted. Then this morning on Good Morning America there was an exclusive sneak peek of next week's episode and she seemed to be calming down from the Brooks breakup and coming to her senses. I would love to see her end up with Chris, but I think the upcoming episode is going to be full of more tears and Des sorting out her feelings. I will say that I will truly be disappointed if she doesn't choose anyone. That will be around 16 hours out of my life that I have spent following her journey to find love that doesn't end up having a destination... and that would just suck. I guess we shall see!

If you have any guesses as to what will happen, don't forget to comment!

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Foodie - The Pfunky Griddle

The Pfunky Griddle, located just outside the heart of Nashville, is a little, hole-in-the-wall taste bud dream come true! It offers it's customers a unique dining experience where they become the cooks. Each table has a griddle inset, giving diners easy access to whip up their creations.

I love trying new restaurants, especially ones that are unique to a city, so when a friend and I were looking for somewhere to go for brunch this weekend, The Pfunky Griddle seemed like the perfect place for us to go. (And I was right!) After browsing the menu, we accepted the all-you-can-eat pancake challenge. First, you choose from a white batter or a 5-grain organic batter (we went for the boring, classic white). Next, it's toppings time! There are about 20 options, ranging from the normal blueberries, strawberries and bananas to more alternative options like cottage cheese and apricot & almond spread. (Once again, my friend and I stuck in our comfort zone and chose various fruit as our toppings.) The waiter brings you all of your ingredients, gives a little directional spiel and then it's your time to shine!

I don't really know what makes this any different from making fruit-filled pancakes in your personal kitchen, but it is so much fun! If you are ever in the Nashville area, I highly recommend that you channel your inner "Top Chef" and go to The Pfunky Griddle for brunch.

Shout out to one of my very best friends, Tanya, for enduring the 9 hour Mega Bus ride from Chicago to spend the weekend with me! I had such an amazing time trying out new restaurants and exploring the city with you :)

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Artist Spotlight - Kirstie Lovelady

One of the many things that I love about the city of Nashville is that there is live music every day of the week. Last night, I went to Soulshine Pizza Factory for their Writer's Night that they host every Tuesday from 7-10 PM. (If you are ever in Nashville, check it out! It's delicious and the artists that performed were great!) Which brings me to the meaning of this post, last night I saw many talented songwriters perform, but Kirstie Lovelady was my favorite, by far!

Kirstie is gorgeous (as you can tell from the pictures I stole from her Facebook page) and she has an amazing voice - the perfect combination to become the next country superstar, right? I think so!  By the end of this post, I think you will agree with me.

As children, we all dream about what we want to be when we grow up, this was no different for Kirstie. She knew at the young age of 3 that she wanted to be a singer (which is pretty impressive because I thought I wanted to be a bus driver…). Her first live performance, at age 5, was in front of a crowd of 300+ people. The next step in her music career came when she was a 1^st grader and her mother enrolled her in piano lessons. Being that she had real musical talent, the typical “Mary Had A Little Lamb” beginner songs weren’t enough for young Kirstie, so she began writing her own music. The next instrument to be added to her musical repertoire was the guitar.

Kirstie, now 21, wrote her first song when she was 15 years old after she got her heart broken by a stupid boy that is probably no longer relevant. “My dad kept telling me I should just write songs, but I kept telling him I didn’t know how. He told me to just pick up the guitar and vent. I then told him I only knew how to play 4 chords, so I couldn’t write a song. But he quickly responded with, ‘All you need are 4 chords and a broken heart to write a song.’ He might have been joking or being sarcastic, but that’s how I wrote my first 12 songs – 4 chords and a broken heart.”

So you might be thinking that this is all starting to sound a little “Taylor Swift”-esk, but don’t worry – I would never expose you to that, one of her is enough for this world. Kirstie has a rustic sass in her voice that you will fall in love with. Her powerful punch comes out in her vocals – something I would not want to be on the receiving end of! She sees the lyrics she compiles more as “venting” than “songwriting” – so as you can imaging, her songs are the perfect soundtracks to “burn your ex-boyfriend’s favorite t-shirt” or “long drive in the country to make you feel better” moments. And let’s face it, we all have those every once in awhile!

“I don’t do revenge. I write songs” – Kirstie Lovelady

Want more?? Check out the playlist on Kirstie's Offical Website here!

Don't forget to "like" her on Facebook and follow her on twitter.

Grab your coolers - it's time to go ca-brewing!

Ca-brewing - the art of simultaneously canoeing and drinking.

Embracing the torrential downpour and making the most of our day in the great outdoors!

This weekend I went back to Indianapolis and some of my friends had planned a canoeing trip for Saturday during the day. I joined them on this adventure and couldn't be more happy that I did! Although we didn't have the best weather, it was still an amazing trip and I am definitely happy that I went.

We went to Blue's Canoe Livery (about 45 miles from Indianapolis). This is where we rented our canoes and grabbed some life vests. From there, a schoolbus took us to the water where we went down a seven mile trail. It took us about 5 hours to complete the seven miles, but we stopped at the half-way point to take a break and do a little bridge jumping (probably not the safest thing we have ever done, but we are all still alive and healthy!) You could probably get the course done in an 1.5-2 hours if you try really hard. It ended up costing about $20 per person and was worth every penny!

Grab your bathing suits, coolers and best friends and enjoy a day full of laughter, exercise and memories that will last forever!

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Berry-licious Blueberry Muffins

Baking has never been so easy! This homemade blueberry muffin recipe takes only half of an hour (10 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to bake) and will leave your tummy completely satisfied. This is a recipe for basic blueberry muffins, but nothing about them tastes basic. I will also include some tips on how to make them as moist as possible!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of milk (I used skim)
• 1/2 cup of salted butter - melted
• 1 cup of fresh blueberries (I used about 1/2 cup more to make them extra blueberry filled)

optional:

• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon & sugar (gives the muffins a little extra flavoring)

First, preheat your oven to 375. By the time it gets preheated, you will be ready to put the muffins in!

Step 1) Mix your dry and wet ingredients separately. This will help make your muffins as moist as possible. After you have mixed both the wet and dry ingredients with a whisk separately, it is time to combine the two. Mix until all the dry ingredients have mixed completely with the wet ingredients. 

Step 2) Time to add the star of the show - the blueberries! Mix the berries in with the muffin dough and then pour into 12-count muffin pan. (Make sure you spray your with non-stick spray. I use PAM Original Non-Stick Spray.)

Step 3) Put muffins in the oven (preheated to 375) for 20 minutes. After time has expired, check the center of the muffins with a toothpick to make sure that they are completely done. (When checking with the toothpick, stick it in the center of the muffin and if it comes out without any dough on it, they are done!)

Step 4) Let the muffins cool before you take them out of the pan. I recommend putting a little dollop of butter on top of a warm muffin - ENJOY!!!

I'm sure you can tell from pictures, but these turned out amazing!! They were extremely moist and lasted for multiple days. To keep them fresh I put them on a paper plate and put them in a large Ziplock bag.

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Homemade blueberry muffins inspired by Team Breakfast.

Guilty Pleasure Gossip

As embarrassing as this is to admit, I am an avid fan of the ABC hit show The Bachelorette. So I want to do a little recap of what I thought about tonight's episode and then what I think is going to happen in the upcoming weeks. (If you are one of those "Reality Steve" junkies, don't be a life ruiner and spoil the surprise for everyone. That takes all the fun out of the show!)

Hometowns Recap:

Zak - ohhhhh, Zak. What a goofy guy. Going into this episode I had my money on him going home tonight (looks like I was right), but after watching him in his natural habitat, I wasn't so sure. Of all the families tonight, I think that Zak's family was the most fun and adorable. His family definitely would have gotten a rose from this girl... but unfortunately for Zak, it's about the guy, not his family. Can we also talk about the song for a second? At first I thought that Des was holding back laughter because it was such an awkward moment, but it turns out she was holding back tears.. Awkward. Then there was the grand gesture of the "I love you" ring. And once again, Des was holding back tears, but this time I think that the tears were "I don't feel the same way and I am about to break your heart" tears.

Family: Check Plus          Zak: Meh, average

Drew - Drew. Where do I begin. I have always liked Drew, I just don't think he is a stand out. Maybe it is that extremely soft voice, or that perfectly gelled hair, but I am just kinda over him. His hometown date was kind of that way for me too. Meeting his disabled sister was the cutest thing ever, but then it was all just kinda "blah blah blah" from there. I definitely think that Drew will be the next to go.

Family: Check          Drew: Over it

Chris - Aaahhhh, Chris! (Cue the heart eyes, confetti and balloons. I think I am in LOVE!) There is no hiding it that Chris is my favorite.. by far! But his hometown date was just sort of bizarre. Them going to the baseball field where his athletic career began was really cute and normal, but then it was just downhill from there. It starts to get a little questionable when Chris' father takes Des to the basement for a "realignment". The he does something weird with a balloon and Chris' nose.. I don't really know what was going on there, but it was just odd. It only got more uncomfortable when his sister started to talk about how everyone in the family (even sweet old granny) hated his ex. Sorry to whoever you are, but you just got thrown under the bus! Clearly you're a terrible person. All in all, I think the best word to describe that hometown date is "peculiar". 

Family: Uhhhhh, not so much          Chris: Come marry me right now!

Brooks - Does anyone know what happened with Brooks this episode? I think that he made me more confused about his feelings. One second he likes her and the next he is unsure. I don't think I have even dated a guy that is this indecisive. You are 28 Brooks, not 12. Make up your mind! On the other hand, Brooks' family was great! There were so many of them and they all wore name tags (Which I loved! Totally something that the Kirkwood Clan would break out). The family seemed loud, exciting and very open to the possibility of Des joining the family - more so than Brooks was! I could see Brooks going to the final two and then "winning" the entire thing, if he wants to that is. And do we know if he wants to?? No. Because the guy can't make up his mind!

Family: Check          Brooks: Great, but not perfect

In the upcoming weeks:

This is what I see happening in the upcoming weeks - I could be totally wrong, but I am going to try. In two weeks when there are three men left, I think that something dramatic is going to happen with Brooks and he is going to finally realize that he doesn't want to be there or isn't ready for a serious relationship and confess to Des that he just isn't the one for her. That is going to flip her world upside down because she is already telling everyone on national TV that she is "in love" with Brooks. (I also don't think that they would be playing up this "I love Brooks" thing this much if he actually does win. That would just take the fun out of it for die-hard fans like me!) So I think that it will come down to Chris and Drew and she will ultimately end up with Chris. From there, the couple will not speak in words, only poems, and ride off into the sunset on a yacht (or something ridiculous and over the top like that - true ABC style).

If you have an opinion about what happened tonight or what you think is going to happen in the future, leave a comment! I would love to see what other hopeless romantics have come up with. How will Des' fairytale end? I guess we will find out in two weeks!

-ck.

PS - Is it sad that instead of looking forward to all the juicy secrets and lies that will come out next week on the "Guys Tell All" episode I am looking forward to the blooper montage?? 

Sunday Funday

Sunday - the day of rest... But seriously, there is only so much resting that one can do in 24 hours. So, today I decided that I was going to take my Sunday and make it a day of not rest. (Don't get me wrong, I did squeeze in a nap after my adventure in downtown Nashville!) After looking in my very sad and pathetic refrigerator, I came to the conclusion that my outing of the day would be to the grocery store, but when a friend suggested heading down to the Nashville Farmers' Market, this farm girl couldn't say no!

Not familiar with a Farmers' Market? Don't worry, I will tell you all the "ins" and "outs" of getting all the best deals!

First of all, a Farmers' Market is place where farmers and locals with a green thumb come and sell their goods directly to the public. This cuts out the middle man, known as your local grocery store, and most of the time cuts out the ridiculous prices as well! Shopping at farmers' markets is a great way to support local businesses and get the freshest, ripest produce. What more could you ask for?

I have come up with a few tips to help you get the most out of your trip to the farmers market. So, here we go:

Tip #1) Make a list! You should always make a list of what you need BEFORE you go to the market. If not, you might get overwhelmed and think that you need one of everything! (Especially if you are a farmers' market virgin) This will help you be more efficient with your time.

Tip #2) Walk the entire farmers' market before you buy anything! This is probably the most important tip. Seeing as the produce isn't sorted by type, but by vender instead, it is very important to see what all the sellers are offering before you commit to buying anything. You are at a farmers' market for a reason - you might as well get the biggest bang for your buck!

Tip #3) Be educated. Do some research. See what's in season for your area. If you don't already know, look up how to tell when fruits and veggies are ripe and ready to eat. You don't want to take home 4 peaches that are already completely ripe because by the time you get to the last two they might not be good anymore. (And wouldn't that just be awful!)

Tip #4) As always, HAVE FUN! The farmers' market is an experience, not just a grocery store. Ask the venders questions. I'm sure they would love to tell you all about how their Great Grandma used to grow peaches and make peach pie for every summer family reunion. If something catches your eye, don't hesitate to ask the seller if you can try it. They want you to love their product so that you buy more and more and MORE of it! If there is one great thing about the farmers market, it's that there are free samples... of everything!

Tip #5) Don't forget to clean all your yummy purchases! This tip is also very important. Most of the produce at the farmers' market is straight from the garden. You want to make sure that you get all the dirt off before you go biting into that amazing Georgia Peach you just bought!

Now that you have been on a picture tour of my time at the Nashville Farmers' Market, I will conclude with one last piece of evidence that farmers' markets are the way to shop when it comes to fresh fruits and veggies. 

A basket of strawberries, 4 peaches, a pint of blackberries, one cucumber, one green pepper and 3 tomatoes for a grand total of $12. And everything is fresh! (like really fresh.. like "straight form the garden" fresh) Next Sunday when you are thinking about just calling it a day at 11 AM to lay in bed and be lazy, Google "nearest farmers' market" and get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors!

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DIY Wooden Monogram (under $20!!)

Love the way wooden monograms look, but hate the price tag?? Not to worry, so did I! So I took it upon myself to figure out a way around buying a $40+ wooden monogram. And guess what, I did it! Above is a picture of my finished product. It's hard to believe that I was able to make that for under $20, right? Well, I am going to tell you all my tricks so that you can make one for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member.

I got all of my materials from Hobby Lobby, but I am sure you could get them at any craft store.

What you will need:

• one 18" Wooden Unpainted Letter (my "K") - $12.99
• two 9 1/2" Wooden Unpainted Letters (my "C" and "E") - 2 @ $3.49 = $6.98
• 6" natural burlap roll - $4.99 
• paint color of your choice (I used paint that I had from refurbishing a dresser earlier this summer, but you can also buy paint/spray paint at Hobby Lobby. Small cans of spray paint are around $3.50 at HL)
• paint brush (You can use the cheap sponge brushes for this project. You can get those for less than $0.50 at HL)
• hot glue gun

When I went to Hobby Lobby to get all of my materials, the "natural burlap roll" was on sale for 50% off, so I was able to save a few dollars there. Also, don't forget your 40% off coupon that Hobby Lobby offers to all its customers online. You don't even have to print it off, you can pull it up on your phone and show the cashier the coupon code. I used my 40% off coupon on my 18" Wooden Unpainted Letter and ended up only paying $7.79 for it!

Making my grand total for all of the materials around $19 including tax!!

Now moving on to the fun stuff - how to make them!

Step 1) Make sure the letters are clean. You can wipe them down with a damp paper towel if necessary, but normally a dry towel will work. 

Step 2) Paint all three of the letters with your choice of color. Make sure that you have a good surface to paint on. I used a large piece of cardboard that I found at my parents' house. There is no need to paint the entire letter. The front and sides are the only surfaces that will be seen, so don't worry about the back. If you are using a light color (like I did), I recommend doing a few layers of paint on each of the letters. Let the letters dry. 

Step 3) Time to attach the burlap bows. This part might stress some people out, but I promise, it's not that hard. Depending on the size of your letters, cut the burlap to wear it looks proportional to the width of the letter. For the 18" letter I cut the roll in half. For the 9 1/2" letters I cut the roll into three strips. This is the size that I found to be most proportional for the letters that I bought. Once you decide on the width and length that you would like the burlap to be on your letters, simply hot glue two strips to the back (one on the right and one on the left side) of the letter. Then tie them together in a knot at the height that you would like your letters to hang.

Step 4) To add a little more girly-ness to mine, I added a little extra burlap ribbon in my bow. Do this as you would when wrapping a present, making a figure 8 (I did two) and then tying a knot around the center at the point where your two sides of ribbon meet. 

I hope that I have made this simple enough and understandable for those of you that aren't in touch with your inner crafter :)

ENJOY!!

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A summer in Music City

This summer I was fortunate to get an internship at PLA Media, a PR & Marketing firm in Nashville, Tenn. I have had so many amazing opportunities and gotten to do some of the most incredible things and I thought this would be the best way to share my stories with friends, family, and the world! So yes, I am officially a BLOGGER!

On this blog, I will share about events that I go to, people that I meet, bargains that I find, music that I hear, places that I eat, clothes that I wear, and projects that I create. My hope is that everyone will be able to find something to relate to in my posts. If you aren't into fashion, then I hope you can appreciate my highlighted artists, mouthwatering meals, or decorative crafts. Whatever your interests, I hope that you will follow me on my journey through life in Music City.

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