this weekend was the loveliest. 
my friend becca came to town!

it was a delight to have her here. we bopped around town and enjoyed a weekend removed from daily life.
 
i love this time of year -- slipping in and out of stores with their doors propped open, dusk creeps closer and closer to bedtime,  snocones are necessary -- there's just a buzz about town with the sun shining down on so many outdoor events and farmers' markets. 

and, oops -- i just bought this lil diddy. so i don't have as many photos to show for the weekend...until i develop film!

thankful for weekends that feel like vacations 'cause friends come to town!

1.     My favorite moment in friendship is issuing carte
blanche, “talk about whatever you want to talk about.” It
can be spoken or unspoken and I’ve actually started saying it to
people because I think it’s important given how much time we spend
reflecting on questions no one will ever ask. Neil, would you tell us
how we can be better drivers? Yes, if I must. Questions
like this are my favorite hobby, besides Netflix, of course.

2.     So what if someone asked for my perfect analogy to describe
Arlington, Virginia. My answer: a tadpole in pond.

3.     (Really?)

4.     (Yes, really.)

5.     First the tadpole. The first year out of college exposes us to
an old, established world. I’d prefer not to delve into Wikipedia
searching for how tadpoles are made so I’m assuming that it’s weird,
quick, and a blur to those involved and thus somehow analogous to
college. But once you’re out, you legless, clawless, barely
employable, tadpole, quickly realize that it is a long road ahead. For
me this moment was in Harris Teeter attempting to cross “Publix Bread”
off my grocery list.

6.     I’ve only seen tadpoles in groups. Most days I feel like a
single thread of a carpet that sits at the foot of the working-world
ladder. We all look the same but we’re all a little different.
Different skills, different relationships, different careers. In this
sense I don’t worry about individualism that much. Give it a few years
for our trees to keep branching and the minor differences will become
major changes. Realizing that people a year older were 5 years more
mature was the point I put my non-conformist journey on pause.
Sometimes it’s just better to sit and soak everything in.

7.     What’s difficult is realizing that you are changing just as
much as your circumstances are changing. People love to say “it will
all work out.” They’re right. Tadpoles become frogs one day even if
they can’t explain exactly how it will happen.

8.     Which brings us to the pond, Arlington, Virginia.

9.     The pond is self-sustaining. The sandwich shop to resident
ratio is federally mandated to remain at 1:1. There is no shortage of
places to drink outside or to spend money. It even boasts the planet’s
last Boston Market, which will be my first stop if rioting ever breaks
out. I’m not really exaggerating when I say that a loaf of cornbread
is worth more than my bank account some weeks.

10. There are fun parts, proverbial rope swings in this watering hole.
The history: the Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, the George Washington
Parkway. The neighborhoods are nice too. There is an obsession with
intramural sports in the entire metro area that offers residents the
chance to find love (looking at you, Bellott!). But most spots involve
cheap drinks and a roof and make you realize how lazy you are even
when looking for fun.

11. The weird smell emanates from Clarendon Ballroom. Historians will
take samples from here as evidence that society failed.

12. That green, slimy layer on top represents your neighbors,
coworkers, and, after a little bit, your friends. People who wear
sunglasses on the metro. People who wear weird shirts. People who try
too hard. You view them as people to make excuses for – he doesn’t
know, he’s from Pittsburgh  – but they view you as the
part of Arlington that needs apologizing for too so don’t get too
confident. You get used to it and learn just to swim through it. Their
presence isn’t lethal. Judging someone from a snap shot is always
dangerous, but especially right now. Take for example that night when
the bouncer scolded me for playing with the lights and I learned the
hard way that “I just wanted a strobe light” is no excuse. We’re all a
million times dumber than we think.

13. Last summer I kept a journal of everything I thought before I
moved here. Reading back through it there’s an obsession with what I
was moving from. But a year later I see the same move as a step
towards something. Don’t get me wrong, I have no idea
what that something is. But I’m thankful for the chance to grow in a
small, fun, smelly, weird pond.

let's have some real talk:
i pretty much dislike suburbs. i come alive in the city. i crave the city, in all her glory—sidewalks full of people, bicycle messengers, narrow streets with cars that are too close together, crowded downtowns due to numerous + simultaneous events, & the distinct smells that accompany public transportation. 

but that doesn't mean i haven't had my fair share of suburban living. i was born in the suburbs of los angeles. i grew up in the suburb farthest from the memphis city limits in shelby county. i swore i'd never leave campus / downtown in knoxville; but, i found myself living in west knoxville. such is life. 

but i always find myself returning to the city-esque nooks of these suburban worlds. 
in collierville that means 

THE COLLIERVILLE SQUARE. 

it's the most quaint little corner of town. 
and a redemptive spot in a world full of walmart, chili's, and every fast food chain imaginable. 

...the jewel in the crown of the town square? 

tom jones said it best:

she's got style.
she's got grace.
she's a winner.
she's a lady.

but i'll add a few more to the list:

she's unpretentious (see wrinkled menu). 
she's vintage (boasting the best ceiling the city + an authentic soda fountain). 
she's delicious (you really can't go wrong with a meat + three situation). 
she's tea-lightful (best sweet tea ever). 
she's got character (the waitresses are old enough to be your parents' parents).
she's got squash casserole (need i say more?).
she's unpredictable (mother & i were filmed for a tv show while here. did i mention we were basically in PJs?)

she's a keeper... let's end it with that for now (i could go on and on).

after enjoying a most delicious meal, i like to mosey over to hewlett and dunn for cowboy boot lust, to city hall cheesecake for... cheesecake, to the little hair shoppe for a haircut, or to dee larue designs for tyler candles. 

the square guarantees a lovely time.
best enjoyed during at night during christmastime with thousands of twinkling lights surrounding you.

to end this little lovefest i have for the silver caboose, this quote from their website captures her essence best:

"The Silver Caboose is about tradition.  It is not about trendy restaurant dining.  It has no superstar chefs but relies on good old fashioned cooking using tried and true recipes from our mothers and grandmothers.  It is a place you can go and know that things will never change."

while i'm in the decade of life where change seems to be constant, it is a comfort that the silver caboose will always be there -- to welcome me home with a glass of sweet tea & a card of handwritten daily specials.

THIS WEEK'S BEST _______

news | i'm going to dc in a few weeks
weekend plans | becca is coming to town
discovery | i might've found a replacement for the soon-to-be-gone google reader
playlist | so saturday via spotify

"Only in America" by Brooks and Dunn.
'Merica, y'all.  I want to be in the back of a pickup, jorts and cut off t, driving down the back roads.  I love this country, and I love this song.  Brooks and Dunn get extra points for having this song on an album titled STEERS AND STRIPES.  What!?  Too good.  I dig it.  God Bless the USA!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK by RYAN ADAMS
i always seem to play this song on the fourth of july. it's a bit sentimental since the twin towers are still standing when he shot this video (he actually shot it on september 7, 2011—crazy). america, i love you a little bit more when i listen to this song. 

Hello, friends!  Thanks for stopping by today.  Are you doing alright?  Happy that it's almost the WEEKEND!?!  Thank goodness for Thursdays, right?

In anticipation of CINCO DE MAYO (or Cinco de Chi O.  I said it.), I thought I'd share my favorite margarita recipe with yall.  It calls for a few simple ingredients, is perfect for making the night before, and can be served in everybody's favorite cup--a mason jar!  If you're looking for an excuse to host a fiesta, look no further.  Here it is!  Let me introduce you to the crowd pleasing...

When I've decided to whip something up the in the kitchen, my first step is to survey the land.  What ingredients do I have?  What do I need?  Are the mixing bowls clean?  Is the counter top free of clutter?  So, do that. 

In this case, you need to make sure you have a blender, mason jars, and the following fixins':
Makes 6 Margaritas

1. 1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate
2. 1 cup (8 oz.) tequila
3. 1/4 cup (2 oz.) triple sec
4. juice of 2 limes (plus 1 lime to cut for garnish)
5. 4-5 cups ice
6. kosher salt or margarita salt (it's more coarse than table salt) *optional

Once you've hunted and gathered appropriately, plug in that blender!  In the blender, combine limeade, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.  Cover and blend briefly until mixed.  Fill blender to top with ice.  Cover and blend until slushy and no ice chunks remain.  EASY!

You can serve the margaritas in boring cups OR you can pour the delicious margs into mason jars.  If you want to make them ahead, just pour the margs into the mason jars, screw on the lids, and keep them in the freezer.  To serve, remove from freezer and use a fork to break up and stir the semi-frozen margaritas into a slushy consistency.  The alcohol keeps them from freezing to a solid state, so they're always ready to remove from the freezer, serve, and drink. 

To get extra fancy, use your extra limes for garnish.  I like to cut them into wheel-slices (Is that the proper term?  It is now.), crosswise.  You can place the lime on the rim of the glass by making a small cut in the center of the lime.  Olé!

The Mason jar Margaritas are best enjoyed outside, in the company of an abundance of friends + chips and salsa.  If you make 'em, let me know how they turn out! 

Cheers, my dears!

This recipe was adapted from allrecipes.com.

"The Ceiling" by Wild Feathers.
Look at all those guitars!  You can't ignore how catchy this song is and how, together, these guys just work.  I think these fellas are just getting started...  I dig it.

MY NUMBER by FOALS

this is one of those songs that you listen to on a sunshine-filled day, with the windows down while you're cleaning house! something about it is bounce-y, playful, and (of course) fun to singalong to.

In the wake of such awfulness that stirred in Boston last week, I’m grateful to share some of the things I like the most about this town. My heart goes out to all who reside in Boston heartbroken this week.

Boston is sometimes called “the city of neighborhoods” which makes it a delightful collection of identities knit together by sidewalks and subways. I’ve been able to visit twice—first, the summer of ’12 with four college girlfriends…a venture that included 38 hours on a Megabus, stops in NY & DC, and 9 bakery visits. The second was spring of ’13 with my two younger sisters in tow. Today, I’m thrilled to show off a city I have come to love. 

drink & read BROOKLINE

drink: While originally based out of Portland, Maine, Otto feels like a perfect little neighborhood pizza joint. You can’t miss the fire engine red double doors and glowing marquee sign. It’s the kind of spot you’d want to go for a late, lingering dinner with friends. Their thin pizzas are the perfect pair with craft brews (They offer their very own OTTO Ale by Magic Hat.) The topping options rotate and next time I’m hoping to catch pulled pork with mango!

read: Brookline Booksmith is everything a bookstore should be—local, crowded, quirky. Coming from the south, it was an appreciated dip into an establishment whose owners are gutsy and liberal. I found my favorite spot immediately, as the area around the front door boasted a stellar cookbook selection and an assortment of bright kitchen goodies. The used-book basement isn’t bad either.

caffeinate & peruse CAMBRIDGE

caffeinate : Located near the dreamy Harvard campus, Crema is a darling coffee shop that makes you want to sit and stay a while. If you go, it’s absolutely imperative that you get the sweet potato sandwich…with avocado, apples, sprouts, hummus, caramelized onions, shallot vinaigrette. My cousin and I haven’t stopped talking about it since we left. 

*extra: While I snacked on this, my friends grabbed pizza at Pinocchio’s instead. Best. Crust. Ever. Rumored to be a favorite haunt of Ben Affleck’s.

peruse: Next store is Black Ink-- a teeny shop with floor-to-ceiling shelves housing “unexpected necessities.” Something about this store resonated with me the minute I walked in…maybe it was the rainbow of trinkets arranged in colored order or the independent artist support. Either way, I was smitten by its carefully curated collection of artistic gifts, books, and ceramics. Go here for the stacks of clever letterpress cards from brilliant little artists. 

wander & devour NORTH END

devour: We knew we were approaching Mike’s Pastry shop when it seemed that 1 out of every 3 people we passed were toting a box wrapped in navy baker’s twine. While Mike’s is no underground, unheard of find, it is one worth the crowded line (which I promise moves surprisingly quickly!) Mike’s is an Italian bakery serving up an unreal variety of pastries…colossal cupcakes, decadent cheesecakes, jumbo cannolis and the like. My mom, a talented baker herself, asked to go back again the next morning. But there is only one reason I go to Mike’s—the peanut butter cannoli. Imagine a shell full of creamy peanut buttery goodness dipped in chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar. Life-changing, I tell you. 

wander: Boston is famous for it’s Italian North End, and with good reason. You could spend an entire afternoon wandering around the streets of the Italian district. The sidewalks are bursting with street-side cafes, drippy florals, and Italian treats. I can’t even recommend a favorite dinner spot because it seems so many of them are great. You can’t go wrong ducking into any of the restaurants that catch your eye. As you walk home from dinner, you will be entranced by the canopy of golden market lights strung overhead. 

Boston is bursting with color, cool air, and cleverness. Go find out for yourself! 

KATIE

I’m a student in Knoxville who is falling in love with my new city, but always a little homesick for Nashville. I’m all about trying new recipes and reading Anne Lamott. These days I can’t stop thinking about watercolor, Madelyn L’Engle, and where I want to travel next.