Crazy Town.

I have found it’s a crazy town, full of neon dreams.
Everybody plays, everybody sings.
Hollywood with a touch of twang.
To be a star you gotta bang, bang, bang.


Nashville.

This town is like none other. It’s the place in America where people come to make their dreams come true. Jason Aldean said it best when he said “Everybody plays, everybody sings.” I can’t tell you how true that is. Every waiter and waitress we had, or store clerk that helped us check out, are living a different version of the same story; they are here to make it big. This town is bursting at the seams with incredible talent. Some that will become the “next big thing” and some that won’t be so lucky. After being around this city for the past week, it really makes me wish I had any semblance of talent, but no such luck. This Spring Break has been exactly what I’ve needed recently. No stress, a solid week with my family, and just utterly relaxing. I’ve spent the entire week sleeping, eating, shopping, and listening to music. While it may not be the beach, I’d say it’s done a pretty fantastic job of rivaling it.

Have any of ya’ll found a place, whether you live there, taken a vacation there, or just heard or read about, that you feel could honestly be your Heaven on earth? For everyone it’s different. The city or the country, a warm beach or a snow covered ski town. Well for me, it’s Nashville.

First of all, downtown. If you have a chance to visit Nashville, you had better take a walk down Broadway. There are restaurants, bars, and shops upon shops lining the street. Country music is pouring out of every honky tonk bar and people letting loose and dancing into the wee hours of the night. And did I mention the boots? Cowboy boots. Every store has them, and every person is wearing them. Don’t worry if you don’t own a pair. Any store on Broadway has you covered. For men and women, children to adults, and cheap to authentic alligator skin. If I had had any money in my checking account, and wasn’t a broke college student…I would have been in t.r.o.u.b.l.e.

Next, and my favorite part of the trip, was the suburb of Nashville, Franklin. This town is literally the cutest thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting in my life. First, the historic district of Franklin has it all. The town square, Main Street, cute little boutiques out the wazzoo, and rows and rows of precious little Victorian style houses. It’s like the perfect picture of small town America, and what I wish every city was like. Yet just a short drive away and you are in the heart of every teen girls passion, shopping centers. I didn’t think a tiny town like Franklin would have such fantastic shopping, but boy was I wrong. A mall, outdoor shopping, and boutiques are spread out throughout the newer part of the city, and my sister and I definitely left our “Tattoo On the Town” (Jason Aldean for those of you living in a hole). It’s safe to say I am definitely ready for spring to be here!

And last, but as sure as my love for blue coconut slushes, not least- the food. Oh gosh. First off, I daily ask myself how I am not three hundred pounds. I eat food like the world is going to run out. And Nashville just fuelled that fire. Let’s start with downtown: HardRock Café, I would have to say was a slight let down. It had been so talked up, that I was expecting more than a cold hamburger but the atmosphere was incredible. They had live music walking around, and in between you could vote on the music video to play from the touchscreen at your table. Then there was SATCO (San Antonio Taco Company). This came highly recommended by some friends of mind and boy am I glad I took them up on their advice. DELISH. If you’re a Mexican food fan, GO. We happened to go during a massive hail storm, so we had the entire restaurant to ourselves, which may have added to the experience but seriously, you do not want to miss out on this place. And for the best ice cream literally on the planet: Mike’s Ice Cream Shoppe (I think). Fanfreakintastic. Forget the diets, and calorie counting for the night and a get a scoop of the Nutter Butter ice cream. Seriously. Go.
Now breakfast, that took the cake for all the meals. Between Pancake Pantry, Puckett’s Grocery, and Loveless Café, I plan to be hitting the gym hard as soon as I get back to the Boro. Each of these places were so unique, and literally some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. And this coming from a girl that tends to skip the whole breakfast thing altogether.

Now as I sit cross-legged in the front seat, blasting some country music, and eating some goldfish, I am just wishing this week wasn’t coming to an end so soon, yet thanking the Lord that I get to see my friends in 3 days. It’s been tooooo long ya’ll. I hope everyone has had a phenomenal Spring Break, and stayed safe all week. Below are a couple pictures from my trip, and please feel free to comment about ya’lls week and fill me in on all the fun that I’m sure ya’ll had!



Always, Stevie







Today’s Soundtrack: This is Country Music by Brad Paisley

Almost There.

Two days. One class. One lab. One test.

That is all I have to get through until one week. One week of my parents and favorite little sister. One week of no homework, no stress, and sleep. Lots and lots of sleep. Not to mention the possibility of some shopping, and hopefully some sunshine if Arkansas ever decides to make up it's mind on this whole weather thing. Spring Break. The one week out of the semester that is set aside for literally, nothing. Where kids get to forget all about school, work, and the pressures of "real life" and just spend an entire week having FUN. Obviously, this week is going to be fabulous.

Now while the obvious spring break destination for the typical college student would be the beach with a group of friends, I get the pleasure of making a seven hour car ride, with my parents, to Nashville, Tn. Now while I am not a huge fan of extraordinarily long, and unavoidably uncomfortable road trips, the fact that it's with my family makes it somehow bearable. If you know my family at all you know they're a little crazy. My Dad, having lived in a house with four girls for the past twenty years, has officially embraced his feminine side. This is a man who one minute is talking about all of his "real man's work" out in his shop, and in the next sentence with no shame, will ask us to play the Highschool Musical soundtrack (then accuses my sister of being a communist when she says she doesn't have it). My mom on the other hand, is the one I wouldn't want to mess with. She's about 5 inches shorter then me, but I'm pretty sure she could still take me if I got her mad enough, so it's a good thing I'm just so easy to get along with (insert my mother rolling with laughter here). She's the one in our family who pretends to not think our sense of humor is funny, or attempts to keep my dad from completely reverting back to acting like a three year old. But deep down we all know that that is simply just an act. Then there's Sam. My little sister. She's fifteen going on twenty-one. She is also the thuggest five foot, bleach blonde, white girl you will ever meet in your life. She can dance circles around anyone I know, including Shakira. If the energizer bunny and the little guy from the red bull commercials had a child, it would be her. She goes and goes and goes and there is no off switch. So obviously, if you hadn't figured this out already, this seven hour car ride should be quite entertaining to say the least.

Now all that is separating me from this fabulously entertaining week is two days. What really amazes me though is the fact that Friday night, when I finally make it through my Chemistry 2 test, and get home I'll look back and think this week flew by, that I can't believe Spring Break is really here! Then in no time the week will be over and I'll be headed back to the good 'ol 870 for just a few more weeks of school. And there went my first year of COLLEGE. It's crazy looking back over the year, and realizing that it's almost done. That in approximately a month, I will be a college SOPHMORE. Is that even possible?! It seems like yesterday I was 10 years old, playing on the playground with my bestfriend Hannah Blake. I feel like the older I get the faster time goes, and while I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for my future, I also wouldn't mind a little slow down. A breather, and a time to take in what will supposedly be the best years of my life. But how about after I get this test over with Friday? ;)




Always,
Stevie




Today's Soundtrack: Doo-Wops and Hooligans by Bruno Mars

Inspiration

And now these three remain: Faith. Hope. and Love. but the greatest of these is Love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith: Confidence or trust in someone or something that is not based on sight.

Hope: A person or thing which one looks forward to with desire and confidence.

Love: A passionate desire or longing for something.

Everything in my life is inspired by these three things. First, my faith and hope in my Lord, Jesus Christ. Faith. Not being able to see or touch anything tangible but knowing in my heart, through His word and promises that He is who He says He is. Hope, because without the hope that He is the one He says He is, I would be alone and drowning in a world so overrun with pain and saddness I wouldn't be able to handle it. And Love. "The GREATEST of these is Love. Not for just those who Love. you, or who are easy to Love. or you want to Love. But each and everyone here, because they are God's child.


Now you may be thinking, ummm Stevie, typo much? The title of this thing is GRACE.Hope.Love. What happened? Well the last thing that inspires me in my daily life is Grace.

Grace: Freely given, unmerited favor, mercy, or pardon.

Unmerited. Means, I do not deserve it. I am saved because the Lord delights in extending mercy and Grace. Therefore, why shouldn't I extend the same Grace. to everyone I encounter in my daily life? It astounds me daily that Christ Loves. me enough that He took the punishment for my screw ups, and everything wrong I have ever done, and suffered through a horrific punishment for me. That's what I call Love.

Now I'm new to this whole blogging thing, so please bare with me while I'm sure this is going to be off to a rough start! Writing is a passion of mine; something I've loved since I was little, so I can't wait to share with ya'll! I plan to just write about my life; the typical college kid life, but if there is anything in particular you want to hear about, or have any suggestions or critiques for me, please feel free to let me know!


Always,
Stevie