East Nashville

source

If I were to buy a home in Nashville, I definitely think it would be East Nashville.

This up-and-coming eclectic neighborhood has a character and charm I love.  Duke and I took a drive out there, taking in the cozy Craftsmans and locally owned businesses.  There's a huge list of restaurants I want to eat at in East Nashville, and I love the quirky shops.

It seems a bit hipster, definitely an eco-conscious area with a lot of people who value clean, green lifestyles, eating like a locavore, and shunning big business for a more pedestrian lifestyle vs. commuter.  It's like a mini East Village in New York, or Portland, or Seattle.

Today, being amateur burger connoisseurs, we decided to check out The Pharmacy.

source

While parking is a challenge, it was well worth the effort.  The beer selection is awesome, and we loved the atmosphere.  I had the Farm Burger, which was sheer burger decadence:  a local beef burger topped with local bacon, ham, and a fried egg.  A farm-fresh egg.  Phenomenal.  I washed it down with their homemade strawberry ginger ale.  Delish!  As far as Nashville burgers, Duke ranked The Pharmacy > Burger Up, because he liked the meat better.  I ranked Burger Up > The Pharmacy for their house ketchup and truffle fries.  But the burgers were equally awesome to me.

My Farm Burger

Afterwards, we headed over to The Green Wagon, where I found a gloriously-scented candle and lip balm.  It definitely reminded me of the little shops in my hometown, with tons of eco-friendly fare.

We also stopped at Porter Road Butcher, an old-fashioned butcher shop nearby.  I was in love.  So much delicious, local meat!  Farm fresh eggs!  Homemade jams and breads and cheese!  Milk!  Jerky!

source

We picked up some eggs and steak, but we will definitely be back for some special meat purchases; it's well worth the trip, and the guys are experts.  I had my eye on some Italian sausage and chorizo for next time.

eBags Packing Cubes

I travel fairly often... for business, road trips to visit my parents, and for personal vacations.  One thing I have always done well is organize my suitcase.  I know how to pack a carry-on to last a week, to roll/fold/layer to avoid wrinkles and economize space, and to meet airline weight limits.  It's a fun travel science!

I'm that girl that packs clothes that all coordinate to mix and match, and I only pack one extra outfit per trip.  I even manage with only one pair of shoes most of the time!  This article in the NY Times from a flight attendant, called "10 Days in a Carry-on" changed my life.

One recent investment I made was in some extremely lightweight packing cubes from eBags.  I purchased their value set.

I love these bags.  They weight virtually nothing and collapse completely.  I used to pack outfits in gallon Ziploc bags!  These little "cubes" are fantastic.  You can roll clothes to keep in the larger bags, use the smaller ones for underwear/socks, and even keep one just for phone and camera chargers.  It keeps everything from being completely jumbled around not only as you travel, but as you live out of your suitcase at your destination.

I even use this in my duffel bag when I drive up to visit my parents.  It makes separating clean from dirty very easy too.

Another tip?  I always make a checklist.  It helps me sleep the night before a trip.  I also keep duplicate toiletries specifically for travel: toothbrush, travel toothpaste in baggie, deodorant, etc.  I've forgotten these items too many times before trips to count, and buying them at my destination when I know I have them back at home bothers me.  So now I keep extra on hand.

Do you have any packing tips?

Cally, age 17 #crazycatlady

After hearing of my dear cousin's beloved dog passing away, I realized that despite my crazy cat lady presence on Facebook and Twitter, I haven't posted nearly enough about my beloved cat Cally here on the blog.  And that is unacceptable!

I've written the story of how Cally came into my life, but here's a little bit on how Cally has been lately, in her golden years!  Yup, we're guessing she is about SEVENTEEN years old now.  Yowza.

Mischief!

Big Changes:  As you know, I moved to Tennessee in 2012... this is Cally's third state of residence!  It was definitely an adventure.  Cally spent some time in Indiana during my move, so that the transition would be easier for her.  She had to spend a lot of time in the car, including an overnight at a hotel (her first ever!).  She did SO well, without any drugs or sedation at all.  No accidents!  I was so impressed.

Health:  Cally has always been a pretty healthy cat, but in her age has come down with some terrible cat breath, which unfortunately we just have to deal with... removing teeth/cleaning would require sedation that she might not be able to handle.  So we feed her plenty of treats like Temptations and Greenies to attack some of that tartar!

She has also lost a significant amount of weight, at one point weighing under 5 lbs.  For a formerly chubby cat, that had me worried!  Luckily, the veterinarian was able to diagnose her with hyperthyroid, which comes with chicken-flavored medication to help her out.  I think it's helping her gain weight, and I've noticed a little less night "crying" since we started giving it to her.  She also gets a can of wet cat food every night; she likes Sheba's chicken Premium Cuts especially.

Cally also has some trouble with grooming, specifically dreadlocks forming in her fur where she can't reach very well!  I've tried trimming and the Furminator (which is AMAZING), but I can't keep up with how quickly they are forming... so she has an appointment in a couple of weeks to be bathed and groomed.  What a spoiled cat!

Cat-itude:   Cally is extremely vocal in her old age.  She wants to drink from the bathtub faucet.  She wants treats.  She wants to sleep right next to my face.  But I love her companionship and social nature!  She's really come into her own as she ages; when we first got her, she was always hiding from us.

She was even the featured cat on the Temptations cat treat Facebook page!  Cally is famous!  :)  Isn't it fun to brag about your wonderful pets?