Southern Summer Barefoot Blue Jean Nights

mason jars, sporadic thunderstorms, front porches, porch swings, sweet tea, good books, light blankets, outdoor concerts, sweaty runs, barefeet, food trucks, white shorts, sundresses, grilling, pinot grigio and gin&tonics, lazy pool days, fireworks, country music, long daylight hours, paletas & ice cream, movies in the park, yard sales, slow meandering, stargazing, late night drives with the windows down, candlelight, picnics, wedding after wedding after wedding, sun-streaked hair, chaco tan lines, cool pasta salad, s'mores, bluegrass...

summer in the south. i think my soul was born here.

Nashville Nugget No. 7 - Mas Tacos

Hey readers! Today, I want you to welcome dear friend and guest blogger Ally Thompson (remember her?). A fellow foodie, she quickly called dibs on writing this post after we ate at Mas Tacos with our lunch buddy Jillian last week. Thanks for your contribution to Nashville Nuggets, Ally!

You may recognize me from Karen's Grilled Cheeserie entry...obviously, I love food and I love East Nashville. Anywho, in order to resurrect our pre-Namibia tradition of Tuesday lunches, Karen and I decided to take lunch to Jillian at work. I've been scoping out all the hip places in East Nasty to try, so I knew just what to bring to Jill...MAS TACOS! It's a sketchy little taco shack with weird hours just down the street from my house. (check it...732 McFerrin Ave, they also have a food truck!) So Karen and I dropped in about 11:30 to pick up a mess of tacos and take them to Commons to see Jill. Important fact about Mas Tacos: THEY ONLY TAKE CASH. This is good, because it limits the number of delicious tacos I can eat, but also means you have to come prepared. Anyways, WORTH IT. The kindly hipster behind the counter suggested that two tacos would make for a good lunch, so I ordered a fried avocado taco and a quinoa and sweet potato taco for myself, and a cast-iron chicken and pulled pork taco for Jillian. All of the tacos are served with lime wedges, cilantro, and a red cabbage slaw on top (that Karen thought a bit too spicy, but I loved!). The fried avocado taco was crispy and the creamy texture of the avocado contrasted nicely with the crunchy slaw. The quinoa/sweet potato taco was FULL of well-spiced quinoa and strips of stewed sweet potato (although I must say, the sweet potato didn't add a lot overall!). The cast-iron chicken taco was served with a green tomatillo sauce that was perfectly tangy and gave it an enchilada-sort of feel. My favorite part about these tacos have to be the tortillas - homemade, warm, corn tortillas with just enough chew, and they triple-wrap the tacos, so there is plenty of tortilla to love! Mas Tacos has a lot of other fun menu items to try, including agua frescas in all different summer flavors, and elote, a type of Mexican grilled corn that I can't wait to try! I'll be going back soon!

Mas Tacos is located by Ally's house in East Nashville at 732 McFerrin Ave...or you can follow their Tweets and find their roaming food truck!

Workout Weekdays - Getting Started

Phew. You want to know what's not a good idea? Running in the Nashville Summer heat & humidity.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but in the 59 days that I've been in America, this is the first time I've made an effort to run. Sure, I did a solid two weeks of P90X back in June. But running? I found enough excuses to keep me away from that. Needed new shoes...IT Band woes...too hot...

A few weeks ago, I purchased new running shoes at Team Nashville, and found out that I "run funny." So funny, in fact, that the man I was working with made me run more than necessary in the parking lot (while wearing work clothes - just to make it funnier) and even videotaped me to show me how weirdly I run. I shared the excuse that it's probably because I had to relearn to walk from scratch when I was twelve years old and was told I'd never walk correctly again. I'm walking fine, but apparently running wasn't relearned as impeccably. I reminded myself that it didn't matter - I ran my first half marathon last year and have no intention to quit now.

So, with my new shoes, new sports bra, and new attitude, I drove over to my favorite running spot in Nashville: Belmont Boulevard. Just enough trees, bends in the road, and kind passersby to make running enjoyable over there. Today, I ran/walked from the Belmont end down to Woodmont and back again. It was a good first try, but undeniably clear how out of shape I am (and how easily I succumb to the heat).

My soundtrack was the "Hot Hot Hits" playlist on my iPod, and today's run included such pop hits as:
- "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas (don't worry, I did the ASB hand motions while I was running)
- "Every Other Time" by LFO
- "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles
- "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha (or "key dollar sign hah")
- "Beautiful Soul" by Jesse McCartney
- "Waka Waka (Time for Africa)" by Shakira
- "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry
- "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus
- "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi

I'd pretend to be embarrassed by some of these tunes, but that would be lying.

Until the next run!

Nashville Nugget No. 6 - Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream

On Monday afternoon, I had the privilege to share an ice cream date with my sweet friend, sister, and faithful blog follower Erica Nimri-now-Page! She so enthusiastically responded to my post about places I want to try in Nashville and called dibs on Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. Naturally, we went there as soon as I returned to Nashville - because what's better in the 102 degree heat than delicious ice cream? Nothing, I say.

Inside Jeni's Ice Cream - so airy and trendy! [photo cred]

Not only is this particular ice cream establishment sort of named after my sister, who I almost love as much as I love ice cream (kidding?), but it's also a well-known, we're-lucky-to-have-it-here ice cream store. Jeni's comes from the great city of Columbus, OH - the only city in Ohio I've ever known, so clearly the greatest. Plus, according to the Nashville Scene, Nashville attracts people from Ohio, which I think we all have witnessed. Jeni's boasts at least 24 flavors, sometimes in the low 30s, of rich, colorful, fresh, sometimes locally-grown ice cream flavors. They also have a flavor called The Milkiest Chocolate in the World, which is good enough for me. What's more? They're more than happy to give you as many free samples as you want. My kind of place.

What's even more? "Can there be even more???" you ask. Yes. Because even the SMALL size of ice cream allows you to get two different flavors. Praise the Lord, all ye poor decision-makers (poor-decision makers? Those of us who can't make decisions. Oh, grammar)! You may pay $4 for a small, but it is more than worth it - much better than spending $4 on a measly scoop of sub-par Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

If you remember from my post about Hot & Cold, I've already tried Jeni's Milkiest Chocolate in the World and Pistachio & Honey flavors. But upon visiting the actual store on Monday, I ordered a mouth wateringly delicious combination of Dark Chocolate ('nuff said...it don't need a fancy name) and Backyard Mint. In a waffle cone. Go big or go home.

A.ma.zing. AMAZING. THIS IS THE BEST ICE CREAM I'VE EVER EATEN. I'm never leaving America again. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Amen.

Get your butt over to Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. Today. Tomorrow. And every day after that.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is located in East Nashville, nestled by Ugly Mugs & Silly Goose and across the street from Rosepepper at 1892 Eastland Ave.

New Music from Melanie Penn!

One thing I missed terribly while I was in Namibia was the lack of new music in my life. Sure, my iTunes is chock full of tunes - almost 15 days worth, to be exact. I didn't have a lack of music in my life. But new music? Total lack. Thank the LORD I'm back in Nashville where new music is always just around the corner!

Fellow Grace-goer and musician extraordinaire Ben Shive has been tweeting for weeks about his work producing Melanie Penn's newest album, and just this week, The Rabbit Room posted her newest video from her album, "Wake Up Love."

I love it! Melanie Penn not only rivals Carrie Underwood in cuteness, but also has a sweet & intriguing voice and insanely beautiful lyrics. I especially love how much this song reminds me of the Holy Spirit and his movement in our lives in every ordinary day.

Oh, I'm a summer breeze
I brush across your cheek
I have always been and I will always be
You can hear me blow
Though you don't know
Where I'm coming from or where I go.

Beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. What's even better is that so many of my favorite Nashville artists worked on this album, too, like Ben, Andy Gullahorn, Andy Osenga, and THE Gabe Scott (where is he online? Kind of obsessed...and I don't care who knows it).

Check out Melanie's work and buy her album here!

A Shout-Out to Switzerland

Did you know that my number five country for blog viewers is Switzerland?? No? Neither did I until recently. But I'm excited about it!

Unlike most countries, I have no idea who you are! But readers, you must know of my secret love for Switzerland.

You see, back in Chicago we have our own little taste of Switzerland. At the Museum of Science and Industry, there's a little-known exhibit by the food courts called the Swiss Jolly Ball. As a strange young child, this was my favorite MSI exhibit - far and above the plane my uncle had a hand in building, or the underground coal mine, or the extravagant doll house, or the walk-through heart. The Swiss Jolly Ball at the Museum of Science and Industry is an extravagant pinball-like machine called a "flipper," in which a metal ball journeys through all of the tourist attractions in Switzerland. In fact, this particular flipper is one of only two Swiss Jolly Balls in the entire whole world, and was proclaimed the largest flipper in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1988.

[photo cred]

Needless to say, it's AWESOME and has always made me want to visit Switzerland. Too bad I've only gotten as far as the airport.

So hey, Swiss readers. Thanks for being here and for spicing up my blog statistics. I'm happy to have you!

TIA Tuesday - Target, Part 2

Remember how much I love Target? This week's TIA Tuesday exemplifies that continued love.

The day after arriving in Nashville, I was having a slightly downer night and happened to be near a Target, so I stopped by to pick up a bar of Dove dark chocolate. ONLY that. Little did I remember that "only" never applies in Target.

As I entered the store, bombarded by the sight of cute women's clothes, I remembered the state of my post-Africa v-neck tees. See, they don't stand up to handwashing very well. They're faded, stretched out, rubbed thin, and some even have holes poked in them from hanging them to dry on my metal fence. Being the fashionista that I am, I still wear them around America. Needless to say, I'm slowly trying to replace my stash. And I don't have a black one! Oops #1.

Then, I discovered some cute clearance cardigans right next to the v-neck tees! I've never had a teal cardigan. That'll be a great adult work clothes purchase, right? I want. Oops #2.

As I quickly walk towards the check out in hopes of not getting distracted again, I remember that when I visited Target in June, I saw "Dirty Dancing" on sale for $7. I love "Dirty Dancing" and have only seen it once. Plus, I checked online and you really can't buy it anywhere for that cheap. My shopping policy is if I don't buy it but am still thinking about it weeks later, then it would be a worthwhile purchase. Thankfully, one month later, the movie is still on sale. Oops #3.

Practically running through the middle of Target, I'm trying to keep my eyes on the floor in front of me and not looking at the tempting products on each side. But then it hits me. I remember Dad saying I should get one of those plush fleece blankets that I've been eyeing. You know them...the super soft, really big target blankets? Only twenty bucks for a twin XL size! As I pull one out, one of those dreaded silver fish bugs crawls out from under the endcap. Gross. Good thing bugs don't faze me anymore. Oops #4.

At this point, I don't even need the dark chocolate to make me feel better. The spree should have done it. But what do I do? Pick one up anyways. Oops #5.

Fifty dollars and less than five minutes later, I'm out the door with purchases in hand.

A few observations:
Pro: I actually hate shopping. So at least I lose my cool at Target at not a more pricy store like J-Crew.
Pro: Target has a good return policy, so I usually let my bag of loot sit for a day and then reassess what I really need.
Con: I live a life of little to no income. This cannot happen again.

Reader, you'll be happy to know that since this series of Oops last Tuesday, I have been in Target twice and avoided purchasing anything. Self-control!

TIA.

Nashville Nugget Nos. 4 & 5- The Perch and Hot & Cold

Guess who was in town this weekend??? My Senegalese friend Michelle! I had the privilege of spending all day Friday with her, gallivanting around town and doing the most Nashville things possible.

Reunited in AMERICA! Remember that the last time we saw each other was on the streets of Senegal?

First stop? The Perch, located just over the border in Brentwood. The Perch is a fun little coffee & crepes & more shop. And by more, I mean coffee from Zimbabwe (hey, southern Africa) and even waffles! This place was so good that Meesh and I didn't even pause for photos...we just chowed down. We came from Africa, so that's okay, right?

[photo cred]

Having only ever eaten sweet crepes at The Perch (oh.my.holy.sweets. The s'mores crepe? Unbelievable.), I dove into the world of savory crepes on Friday. I ordered the "herbed turkey, brie, arugula, cranberries w/balsamic" crepe and devoured it. Brie on a crepe. So good.

And, being a connoisseur of independently-owned coffeeshops, The Perch's hot chocolate is high up on my list.

After jumping around Franklin for a while, we headed back north to escape the heat and indulge in another new Nashville place: Hot & Cold. This extension of Fido/Bongo Java Roasting Co opened last December after Michelle and I had left Tennessee, so neither of us knew much about it. However, while at Fido earlier this week, my eyes were drawn to a sign enticing the reader to try Hot & Cold because it offers Las Paletas dipped in Olive & Sinclair. My oh my, I just about fainted from excitement. If you're not from Nashville, then you have NO IDEA of the implications of this offer. And there's simply no way to explain what combining Las Paletas and Olive & Sinclair might do to the joy of your mouth and tummy.

But like The Perch, Hot & Cold is so much more than Las Paletas dipped in Olive & Sinclair. They also have a great selection of Ohio's very own Jeni's Ice Cream - which of course can be covered in an Olive & Sinclair dark chocolate shell. And in addition to some of the well-known drinks from their neighbor, they have chocolate shots. Chocolate. Shots. What?! So tempted. So overwhelmed.

We smartly decided to try Jeni's Ice Cream - a new thing for both of us - since they had run out of most Paletas flavors by the afternoon. I had a scoop of Pistachio & Honey ice cream and a scoop of "the Milkiest Chocolate in the World," all covered in Olive & Sinclair dark chocolate. Whoa. I have to say, the deep taste of Olive & Sinclair was a little overwhelming and I might just choose to pop the $7 for a bar of it instead of pouring it on my ice cream. But it was a treat indeed.

I will definitely be returning to The Perch and Hot & Cold. I'm impressed, very impressed. And full.

The Perch is located near Old Hickory Blvd at 117 Franklin Rd in Brentwood.
Hot & Cold is located next to Fido in Hillsboro Village at 1804 21st Ave S.

Nashville Nugget No. 3 - The Grilled Cheeserie

I finally made it to my very first Nashville food truck!

On a hot and sweaty Friday afternoon, sweet 'n sassy friend Ally Thompson and I braved the heat to support Blood:Water Mission's Lemon:Aid Block Party in East Nashville. Much like all other Nashville Summer events, a food truck was present. And what better than The Grilled Cheeserie - the first food truck I ever heard of in Nashville!

The Grilled Cheeserie at the Lemon:Aid Block Party

The Grilled Cheeserie specializes in gourmet grilled cheese melts. Remember how much I love cheese? Well, at The Grilled Cheeserie, you can choose from one of their specialty melts or make your own melt using such decadent options as sourdough, wheat, or Italian herb bread; local cheeses like buttermilk or smoked cheddar, queso fresco, soy blend cheese, or Italian blend; and additional toppings like avocado, tomatoes, eggs, bacon, ham, or salami. You can even order a variety of tomato soups or tater tots...but if it's almost too hot during Nashville Summer to enjoy a fresh grilled cheese, then it's definitely too hot to enjoy tomato soup.

Given my recent love affair with Italy, I chose a simple Italian blend of cheeses on Italian herb bread. Holy smokes - this was by FAR the best grilled cheese I have ever eaten!!! I mean, look at this face of pure joy!

Grilled cheese = happy girl

I cannot WAIT for fall to arrive, when grilled cheese and tomato soup will be a more seasonally acceptable food choice. Frankly, it's too hot to eat hot-off-the-grill grilled cheese these days. But I have no doubt I will not be able to resist The Grilled Cheeserie if I ever see it roaming around town.

So thank you, owner Crystal De Luna-Bogan, for gracing us with your presence. Keep 'em coming.

The Grilled Cheeserie roams around Nashville. You can find their location by following them on Twitter or texting CHEESE to 88000.

When Ice Cream Becomes Cookies

Miracles are happening in the McGee household! The illustrious Jenny McGee, my sweet not-so-young younger sister, has recently taken up cooking and baking. While I returned from Namibia with a little fear in my heart about this change, Jenny has grown a lot from her days of cooking the Nestle Tollhouse Cookie recipe by throwing all the ingredients in a bowl at once and hoping it turns out okay. Baking is a science!

In case you forgot, one of the foods I craved most while in Namibia was mint chocolate chip ice cream. The green kind with big fat chocolate chunks in it. Oh, heavenly day.

Well, Jen magically transformed mint chocolate chip ice cream into mint chocolate chip cookies. Miracle? I think so.

Mint chocolate chip cookies: inspired by Betty, made by Jenny [Photo/Recipe Inspiration Cred]

This recipe is too good to be true - and too good to keep a secret from the mortal world. Bake and indulge - and look forward to Weight Loss Weekdays posts where we will start to justify all this eating.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients:
1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/4-1/2 tsp peppermint extract
6-8 drops green food color
1 egg
1 cup mint chips
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, stir together cookie mix, butter, extract, food color, and egg until soft dough forms. Stir in mint chocolate chips and semisweet chocolate chips.
2. Drop cookie dough on an ungreased cookie sheet using a teaspoon.
3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until set. Try not to eat them as soon as they come out of the oven.

Nashville Nugget No. 2 - Hermitage Cafe

Guess who's in Nashville this weekend?! The adventurous and intriguing Banks Benitez who's been whiling his year across that other pond in Sydney, Australia! Reunions are sweet, to be sure, but even sweeter when they lead you to new discoveries.

Yesterday's discovery was called "Hermitage Cafe." Now, I'm no stranger to the rumors surrounding Hermitage Cafe. Nashville's very own Chris Climo incessantly boasts about some "two dollar burger" that is "definitely the world's best" and is "within walking distance of his abode." After partaking in a $14 burger with him less than two weeks ago, I was wary of his burger judgment.

Rest assured, readers. All of his claims about Hermitage Cafe are true.

Hermitage Cafe [Photo Cred]

Having both recently returned to America and rediscovered the joy of American diner food, Banks and I might have mistaken Hermitage Cafe for heaven. Sadly, I do not remember the names of the fascinating people we met here, but I would bet you five Hermitage Cafe burgers that they always remember the names and orders of their many regular customers.

The food: hothothot and made to order. The fries: decent. The water: ice cold. The wait staff: hilarious. The two dollar burger: incredible. This was certainly the most successful meal for under $5 that I've ever eaten.

Aside from the character of the place, the best part about Hermitage Cafe is their MENU.

Hermitage Cafe Menu

What you can't see is all of the individually framed featured menu items surrounding the restaurant, including extensive Meat&3 options and an oversized Texas Breakfast. All at insanely cheap prices.

Better yet? Banks and I were graced by the presence of friends Aaron, Nick, Kevin, and the aforementioned Burger Boaster, who were starting Lazy Guy Thursday at the Hermitage Cafe. Once again, the food was devoured before a camera was even considered, but that just testifies that Nashville's food is too good to be true.

Happy bellies, happy hearts.

Hermitage Cafe is located three blocks after 1st Ave turns into Hermitage, just east of downtown Nashville, at 71 Hermitage Ave.

Nashville Nugget No. 1 - Elliston Place Soda Shop

Welcome to the first edition of Nashville Nuggets! I'm getting really pumped about all the unique Nashville eateries in which I have the privilege to indulge. This first Nashville Nugget came on the radar very suddenly and unexpectedly.

Iconic Elliston Place Soda Shop sign

Tuesday morning, a dear Vanderbilt alum located in Huntsville, AL, frantically emailed me to deliver the sad news that the Elliston Place Soda Shop was closing. The Soda Shop is an institution in Nashville and has been in its location for nearly 72 years. My roommate, Kelly, reminisced about how her dad used to frequent it back when he was in college at Vanderbilt. The news was sudden: they announced on Monday that they would be closing this Friday.

So with heat indexes pushing 110, Kelly and I ventured out to stake our place in line early at the Elliston Place Soda Shop. Despite arriving well before the lunch hour, the place was hopping!

The crowd was rapidly growing Wednesday morning

It was exciting and bittersweet to see so many people - young and very old - eager to eat one last meal at their local spot. The staff was doing a spectacular job of running around and filling made-to-order meals.

Inside the Elliston Place Soda Shop - hopping!

Kelly and I miraculously scored a coveted booth - complete with a personal jukebox! Too bad the cords had evidently been cut. Why, oh why?!

Eating at a diner calls for a very specific, traditional order - burger, fries, and a milkshake. The all-American meal!

My cute Idahoan roommate. Don't worry, that TV camera captured us enjoying some shakes.

I cannot emphasize enough how delicious everything was. The milkshake was make with fresh Purity ice cream (join hands, southerners, and rejoice in how great Purity is). And that burger. Nothing better than a diner burger.

Enough milkshakes for 5-6 glassfuls each. And a phenom-nom-nominal burger. Sorry I'm not sorry Sorry we inhaled the food before photographing.

The day was bittersweet and wonderful. What a shame to discover such a great Nashville eatery just as it's closing!

But readers, have no fear. Today, the Tennessean announced that Elliston Place Soda Shop will remain open for five more years. We saved it! Glory, glory, hallelujah. So hop on your bicycle and head over for some delicious food and great service.

The Elliston Place Soda Shop is located two blocks west of Vanderbilt University at 2111 Elliston Place.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

As you've undoubtedly noticed (unless you're on Google Reader...in which case, click on over to the blog!), some big changes are happening with Nan these days!

In entering a new season of life, I am at a crossroads: to continue with this blog, start a new one, or give it up? Given my excellent - albeit quiet - readers, I have decided to transition this blog as my life moves into new phases. I don't want to lose you, so allow me to explain what you can expect from the new Nan:
- revamped design (not strictly Namibia anymore)
- new title
- a search bar on the right for you to easily navigate older posts on the blog
- new labels on many posts: click on the label name below the post to see other similar posts
- an "honor roll" of friends' blogs that I simply love to read on the right panel for you to check out
- a short list of my favorite books since I'd love to share in the joy of reading with you
- several new and evolving tabs along the top of the blog where you can easily access a mini-bio, all my TIA Tuesday series posts, and the short list of my Namibia photos on Flickr. Check them out!

The most exciting change that I've been itching to announce is the addition of two new blog series: Foodie Fridays (scratch that - it's called Nashville Nuggets and has the freedom to be posted any day of the week) and Weight Loss Weekdays. This may seem ironic or hilarious: as I said before, who tries to keep a "Post-Africa Weight Loss" and "Best Food In Nashville" blog at the same time? Me. That's who. So, as I work through my list of Nashville eateries on the weekends, I will negate the weight gain and lose the Africa pounds by training for the Country Music Marathon (yes, marathon) on the weekdays. Hopefully having a consistent blog series will motivate me to get both of these things done on a regular basis...though, I really don't need any motivation to indulge in good ol' American food.

I get it: no one loves change. But that's where my life is now and I hope you'll continue to walk alongside me as I navigate my twentysomethings in Nashville!

TIA Tuesday - Roadtrip Edition

Driving past endless cornfields instead of vast savannas/cattle farms. TIA.

The temptation to stop next to cornfields and pick some fresh sweet corn. You can take the girl out of Illinois, but you can't take the Illinois out of the girl. TIA.

Celine Dion Power Hour. Although I'm sure they'd love this in Nam, too. TIA.

When I moved to Namibia, I packed up my life for a year in two <50 lb suitcases. In moving to Nashville, I've brought down one entire Matrix full of stuff - with at least one or two more trips to go. TIA.

Being surrounded by friends who know and love me well. TIA.

Filling your car with gas yourself. And American gas stations in general. TIA.

Two lane highways are "backroads." In Namibia, the biggest highway is only two lanes. TIA.

Free public restrooms! TIA.

Honesty Box, Part 1

Sometimes, I need to spend some time sitting quietly in the Honesty Box, resting in the truth of my life. That's not to say that the rest of the time I'm in the dishonesty box. This blog is honest, through and through. But some days call for real, vulnerable honesty. Maybe I should call it the Vulnerability Box instead...

Tomorrow, I'm moving to Nashville, TN. Land of the free, home of the brave. The promised land. Home sweet home.

But tonight, I'm grieving leaving my home in Glenview. I'm unexpectedly sad to leave the creature comforts of home and the proximity of my family. I will miss waking up and eating cereal with Dad while watching the Tour de France. I will miss monthly family dinners with my mom's side. I will miss hearing Jenny's tales from camp firsthand. I will miss sleeping in my twin bed. I will miss teaching Boris to fetch. I will miss Giordano's deep dish pizza and ice cream from the Dairy Bar.

I have never not been excited to return to Nashville. I mean, it's the adult equivalent of Disney World.

Perhaps this is a product of my "life whiplash," as I explained it to a friend earlier today. In the last fourteen months, I've moved seven times, I've worked four jobs, and I've lived in three states and two continents. I'm ready for some freaking stability, for Pete's sake.

Maybe this is a result of my new, or perhaps magnified, fears and anxieties. The fear of being far from family and the ones I love. The uncertainty of not yet having a definite purpose in Nashville. The trepidation about making any decisions, since so many have ended in failure in the past. Or my newfound social anxiety and being surrounded by so many wonderful and happy people at once.

I'm tired. I'm sad. I'm nervous. I'm overwhelmed. I'm exhausted. Honestly, those have been some defining characteristics of my time back in America, even though I try to put on a good face in my blog and around people. Many people have said, "it sounds like you're doing great back in America!" That I am; certainly better than in Namibia. But that's not to say it's not still hard every day in its own unique ways.

I am certainly full of gratitude that I have a Savior who already knows all the plans for my life and is hemming me in behind and before; right where I need to be.

So honestly, tonight I'm wearing my heavy boots. I struggle to put words to the truly vulnerable side of readjusting to America and processing all I learned in Namibia. But as I am able, I'll jump back into the Honesty Box and attempt to share with you. Thanks for reading, friends.

Things I'm REALLY EXCITED About!

Today is Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday (insert Rebecca Black lyric here? I wouldn't know, that fad didn't make it to Namibia...). Sunday comes after. And on Monday, I'm moving to Nashville!

In preparation for my glorious, long-term return, I've started compiling a list of all the places at which I want to eat asap. You see, Nashville is full of some of the most awe-inspiring eateries. There are so many trendy, local, one-of-a-kind restaurants, coffeeshops, dessert boutiques, and even a whole fleet of food trucks that have popped up since I left.

I want you to share in my excitement, and perhaps even share some meals with me. Here is my comprehensive, but not all-inclusive, list of places I'm dyyyyying to eat at:
- The Grilled Cheeserie
- Barbie Burgers

- Foxy Baking Co.

- I Dream of Weenie
- Pizza Buds

- Taste of Belgium

- The Bang Candy Company

- Tin Can Treats

- Moovers & Shakers

- Jeni's Ice Cream
- 12 South Taproom
- Hot & Cold
- Pied Piper Creamery
- Taco Mamacita
- Yazoo Brewery
- Elliston Place Soda Shop
- Family Wash
- Dose
- Sunday brunch at the Copper Kettle
- Arnold's Country Kitchen
- Germantown Cafe
- The Cocoa Tree

And clearly, there are countless Nashville establishments I can't WAIT to return to...and you should visit, too:
- Puckett's Grocery
- Fido
- Crema
- Jackson's
- Burger Up
- Bobbie's Dairy Dip
- Bricktops
- Mafiaoza's
- Bella Napoli
- Bread & Co
- Jack's BBQ (affectionately called, "That Flying Pig Place")
- Monell's
- Pancake Pantry

Any recommendations or favorites? Perhaps this will turn into a quasi-food-blog. Although I guess it's contradictory to have a "Post-Africa Weight Loss Blog" and a "Best Food in Nashville" blog...hmm.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting the hygiene post.

2011 has been a year of ever-changing cleanliness habits. And now it's time for the TMI and dirty truth (pun fully intended).

As my most insightful readers probably noticed early on, I had a little list posted on my wall that I affectionately called "Nam by the Numbers." This was a way to keep track of the most shocking things I did in Namibia; things that appalled me in 2010 but were strangely normal in 2011. It included events like cold showers, cockroaches, handwashing, and trips to Oshikango.

"Nam by the Numbers" next to my desk on tiny blue construction paper

While I thought it would be sweet Namibian revenge to boast about just how many cold showers I survived while in the bush, it unfortunately became a very accurate account of just how little I showered or washed my clothes in Namibia. After 100 days in country, I had only just reached 30 showers.

And guess what? I turned out okay. I didn't get any diseases. I only occasionally found a cockroach in my pants. NBD.

Showers and I have always a mixed relationship. On one hand, I love the time it gives me to think and stretch my vocal cords. There really are not many things better in life than long, hot showers.

But those who know me well know that I'm quick to give up the Almighty Shower. Really, you shouldn't wash your hair every day anyways. It adjusted to the shower-every-four-days routine after a while. Showers also take up three to twenty minutes of precious time. And as long as I liberally reapply deodorant, I don't smell that foul. Let's be honest: no one else in Namibia was showering that often, let alone shaving their legs. Why should I?

All of this was fine and dandy until I returned to the good ol' U.S. of A. LAND OF THE GLORIOUS HOT SHOWER! I basked, I bathed, I melted in the hot goodness of the water pressure.

But wait...shaving? Blow drying? Plucking my eyebrows? Makeup? Picking out acceptable outfits?Not wearing Chacos everyday (let alone figuring out how to make them stop smelling so foul)? There are so many things to remember here! Some people might argue, "why worry about it if you learned to live without it?" Well, some things are socially unacceptably to omit from your hygiene routine, like shaving your legs...

And you know what I've relearned in the past month? It's great to feel pretty, to feel good, to feel like a woman, as Shania would tell you.

So that's your insiders look at readjusting to America. It's not just cultural or emotional - it's also hygienal(?). Here's to better hygiene habits for the rest of 2011!

TIA Tuesday - Weather Edition

When 90 degrees really feels like 110. Not because of close proximity to the sun, but because of HUMIDITY. TIA.

Speaking of degrees, Fahrenheit?? TIA.

When the buzz of the morning at Caribou Coffee is widespread power outages due to a 30 minute summer storm...and how people will survive from now until ComEd turns their power back on in an hour. In Africa, power outages go for days before people start to complain. TIA.

The heavenly blessing of radar! And The Weather Channel! And knowing what to expect when you start your day! TIA.

Lastly, even though this isn't the time of year for it, lake effect snow is so TIA.

Mallory & Tyler Get Hitched!

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the wedding of two dear Vanderbilt friends, Mallory Morse and Tyler Whitmore. What a blessing it is to be in America and get to celebrate with friends!

Over the past few years, it's been sweet to get to know these two individually and as a couple. Tyler grew up just a suburb away from me (though we didn't know each other until college) and Mallory was one of my dear friends, and then roommate senior year. Mallory is certainly a person to love and I have looooved having her in my life and seeing her grow these last few years. Not only does she have a deep love for Pizza Rolls, documentaries, Braille, African babies, and crazy TLC reality shows, she also deeply loves our Lord and has a great gift for investing in friends and bringing them joy. From spending countless agonizing hours in our Bible & Music class to being the first friend I saw upon returning to the States (over ice cream, of course), she is a pure joy to have in my life. And guess what?! Now that she's a Chicagoan, I get to see her every time I come home!

Mallory & Tyler's wedding was held outside of Columbus, Ohio at the Darby House. We entered the front hallway to a stunning presentation of 18 cakes - one for each table - all made by Mallory's brilliant mother for the big day.

The ceremony was held outside under shady trees overlooking a gorgeous lake, and with the beautiful Ohio temperatures, it couldn't have been a more perfect day for a wedding.

In true Nashville lovers (Nashville-lovers?) style, our sweet friends Kiely and Lauren brought hundreds of Paletas up to Ohio for the big day. Talk about best cocktail reception yet!

I love weddings...and for Mallory & Tyler's, there was nothing more perfect than witnessing the great peace and love surrounding their marriage. It's a beautiful thing to realize how perfectly the Lord creates us for one another. And even more exciting to know how much He must have been jumping for joy to see them unite in marriage on Saturday!

So after much cake eating...

...unusual wedding traditions and well wishes...

(photo compliments of the talented Sara Gast)

...Kissing Booth (5/6 of my senior year roommates) reunions...

...and of course, dancing...

...we sent them off for a long, long honeymoon in Aruba. I can't wait to continue to see the Lord work through Mallory and Tyler and am so excited about the path ahead for the newlywed Whitmores!

TIA Tuesday

Kids running around with glowsticks instead of watching the Americanest fireworks show. TIA.

Complaining when the cable goes out. TIA.

Surprise visits from your uncle! Because you don't have to hitchhike for 10 hours just to get somewhere...TIA.

Eating brownie batter and not loving it so much anymore. And letting your brownies sit around an extra day so they get that perfectly tasty day-old crust on top while remaining soft in the middle. TIA (This is definitely not Africa-TIDNA).

Sleeping in a real bed and taking hot showers. Never gets old. TIA.

Why I Love America

If there's one thing I did on a regular basis in Namibia - other than eating brownie batter and watching too many TV shows - it was talk about America with Amy. I lovelovelove Africa. And pretty much the idea of ANY place in the world. Call it wanderlust, call it what you will. But living far from home has helped me discover a newfound appreciation for the good ol' U S of A.

I love BBQs, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheesy potatoes, and mac&cheese.

I love fireworks, slip 'n slides, and kiddie pools.

I love neighborhoods, sidewalks, street football games, playgrounds, and pick-up softball at the park.

I love my extended family.

I love processed American foods. Ho-hos, cheese balls, Doritos, Chips Ahoy, and M&Ms.

I love American stores like Publix, Old Navy, and most of all, Target (but not really Wal-Mart).

I love board games and bookstores.

I love Funfetti in all shapes and sizes (but mostly in oversized cookies and underbaked brownies).

This July 4th, I've been meditating on America's independence and democracy. After all, that's the reason we celebrate this day. This year, I'm especially reminded of all the countries that don't get to celebrate independence yet. I'm reminded of Zimbabwe, the Ivory Coast, and Libya. I'm reminded of soon-to-be-independent states like South Sudan. I'm reminded of recently independent countries like Namibia and Rwanda. 

As America celebrates its 235th birthday, I feel removed from "Independence." On March 21, 2011, Namibia's 21st birthday, the ONLY thing being celebrated was freedom. It's so new, so fresh, so real. Freedom is certainly something many of us take for granted in America since it's all we've ever known. Having experienced Namibia's very new independence - as well as its continued struggles in gaining real social freedoms - I have a greater appreciation for the rights I have in America. Perhaps this is a product of my sheltered, (mostly) white suburban upbringing. I am certainly aware that many Americans still struggle to experience equality in our precious country.

However, as I celebrate the 4th of July this year, I'm not celebrating Funfetti or backyard barbecues or Toy Story Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. I love America because it's my home. Even with its faults, I will always love it and be drawn to it. And ultimately, I believe that's the reason all of us around the world celebrate our respective countries every year.

You're Beautiful

It's taken me days to put my thoughts in order, but I wanted to tell you all about the wonderful week I spent with the Grace Community Church Youth Group last week. Surprisingly (clearly the hand of God was at work), I received a called from our youth pastor, Josh, just a few days before the trip asking if I would like to chaperone. Blessed by the freedom of unlimited time and travel this summer, I seized the opportunity and drove down to Nashville once again a few days later.

(Max the Matrix and I are really ramping up the miles these days!)

I got to spend that Sunday with my favorite church pew families, watching a magnificent storm pass through the giant window behind the altar. After church, we loaded the bus and headed off to join several other churches at Crossings Camp in Hardin, KY at Jonathan Creek.

Let me tell you...our youth group is FANTASTIC. I mean, talk about a relatively flawless trip. The bus was even quiet on the 2 hour drive - unreal!

We spent the week living together in an older building at Jonathan Creek (hey, mold in the vents). I shared a room with the older high school girls: Kathleen, Madelyn, Alyssa, and Bethany - four sweet young women who are very dear to my heart. With 46 of us on one hallway, we had very close contact with everyone throughout the week!

The week was chock full of activities and quality time with almost 300 other youth from around the Mid-South. The kids had worship, large group, and small group Bible studies in the morning. The afternoons were threefold: time with just our youth group, POIs (activities the youth chose ahead of time, like tubing, zip lining, arts&crafts, kayaking, messy games, etc), and time at the Blob Lake. In the evenings, we had a long worship and large group Bible study time and free time until lights out at 11:30 (way past my bedtime!). All the time in between was filled with me gulping down unlimited sweet tea in the cafeteria and eating delicious American food (as I was often reminded by these snarky youth, "it's not that good - you've just been living in Namibia.").

Throughout the week, the youth got to dive into the Gospel and study our sin and God's grace, led by camp pastor . Not surprisingly, the adults learned a lot as well and were blessed with ample free time to reflect ourselves and have great conversations with the youth.

I am incredibly encouraged by the youth at Grace. Here are few examples of things that made me smile throughout the week:
- Asking them bold questions about what they were learning and wrestling with at camp, and having them take the time to think and honestly respond with what's on their hearts.
- Escaping with the high school girls for milkshakes at Belew's and singing Taylor Swift loudly on the car ride back.

Our sweet high school girls

- Highs, Lows, and Hard Questions with my girls every night, and having them open their hearts and lives to each other.
- Getting to know our young men better and hearing them share what's on their hearts, pray out loud, and grow as Christian men.
- Watching our youth worship and pray every night.
- Their courage in trying really new activities, like climbing, zip lining, tubing, and blobbing - some for the first time.
- Youth wrestling with being called to ministry and what that will look like in their lives and post-high school decisions.
- Hearing them share their passions and burdens - this year, Crossings strongly emphasized identifying our passions and our burdens and using them to serve our communities and the world.
- Having a group of adults and high schoolers gather to pray over a dear friend of mine and the girl she mentors who was in a horrible accident...watching them gather around a Sister in Christ that they don't even know and actively pray for and ask about her in the days to come.
- Living life alongside these youth and getting a glimpse into their lives - the things they struggle with, the decisions they have to make, their lives outside of youth group.
- Having a bunch of girls let go of their teenage shells and follow my outrageous idea to synchronize swim in the Blob Lake and make fools of ourselves - and then beg to do it every day thereafter.
- Standing in awe and gratefulness for what our great God is doing in each of these youth's hearts as they worshipped deeply to Phil Wickham's "You're Beautiful" on the last night.

Every conversation that week was so sprinkled with the grace of God and I could not feel more privileged to have lived life alongside these dear Grace friends - new and old - for a week. It makes me so excited to return to Nashville and see them every Sunday.

Grace Youth 2011