Lindsay raced through the kitchen, eyeing the oven clock as she passed. If she left right away, she’d arrive at her son’s school just in time for the afternoon bell. Grabbing her keys and purse from the counter, she hustled through the door with a determined look on her face. Lindsay hated being late. “Okay, […]

Family, Fun, Humor

December 7, 2021

True Story

“This tastes just like eating the best grilled cheese sandwich and the best cup of French onion soup at the exact same time,” I told my husband recently as I finished the last bite of yet another glorious sandwich from Bill’s Sandwich Palace. This time, I’d ordered their French Onion Shroom, an intoxicating mix of […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

December 1, 2021

Joy Proves Elusive at Joyland

This post is made possible with support from the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, part of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All opinions are my own. With four kids in our family, we’ve discovered that some are savers and others, spenders — and the tendency starts very, very young. For the most part, the kids […]

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November 29, 2021

This is One Teen Milestone We Really Loved

One morning a few weeks ago, I woke up as usual, hopped out of bed (our bed is very high off the ground, so hopping really is what I have to do), and gasped in pain. My knee was locked at a 90-degree angle. Trying to straighten it was excruciating. I did the only thing […]

Fun, Humor

November 15, 2021

I Feel Bad About My Knee

I’ve written more than a few posts over the years about a subject that’s near and dear to the hearts of parents everywhere: The car rider pick-up line. As a work-from-home parent, I’ve never been able to come up with a compelling reason as to why I couldn’t take the kids to and from school […]

Family, Fun, Humor

November 4, 2021

Everything I Thought I Knew About the Car Rider Pick-Up Line was Wrong

Like many other longtime Nashville residents, my husband and I talk often now about leaving the city for good. The Nashville we knew and loved is dead and gone, God rest its soul, and I’ve cycled through all the stages of grief over this truth, only recently landing on acceptance. Right about now, I feel […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

October 29, 2021

The Best Pizza in Nashville is Now at St. Vito Focacciaria. Pinky Swear.

Think you know all there is to know about Franklin, Tennessee? Think again. A new downtown hotel has changed the tourism game here, whether you live nearby and are looking for an easy, fun staycation or you want to add a Southern charm-filled few days to your Nashville vacation. Dennis and I spent a weekend […]

Nashville Guide, Travel, United States

October 26, 2021

Spend Two Days in Franklin, Tennessee: No Car Necessary!

I have news. And it’s going to shake some of you to the core. I’m not even kidding. At a dinner I attended last night, the small talk turned briefly to teens and tweens. “I just learned something horrifying from my teens, actually,” I said. (Because ‘something horrifying’ is always good for dinner parties with […]

Deep Thoughts, Fun, Humor

October 4, 2021

This Texting Mistake Could Be Ruining Your Life

Texting Etiquette

After months of anticipation, Justin Timberlake’s Twelve Thirty Club is finally open for business in downtown Nashville. But does it live up to the hype?  I really struggle when out-of-towners ask me for restaurant recommendations in Nashville. Most of them are staying downtown and don’t want to have to drive or Uber somewhere — but […]

Nashville Guide, Travel

September 29, 2021

The Twelve Thirty Club Sets a New Standard for Downtown Nashville

My husband and I have been hiking Middle Tennessee’s many trails for the last two decades and we’re finally coming to the end of the line. There are very few trails within a two-hour drive from Nashville that we haven’t tried at least once, which is kind of a downer, but I suppose it had […]

Nashville Guide, Travel, United States

September 28, 2021

Window Cliffs: An Adventure-Filled Hike 1.5 Hours from Nashville