Two days later, as I made myself some breakfast, I found myself smiling at how Dad taught me some tricks to making eggs. And I can’t crack almonds, walnuts and pecans without thinking about how that was kind of a tradition as a kid in the winter… we’d sit on the floor and he’d crack nut after nut for us to snack on in the evening.

He taught me to check my tires (even though I admit I don’t do it as often as I should). He taught me to never let my gas get below a quarter of a tank. (Which reminds me, I need to get gas later.) He dragged me through my Accounting class in college. He taught me business sense and showed me how to treat clients.

He showed me love and respect, and he taught me what to expect from men and how I should be treated. He gave my husband permission to ask me to marry him, but not until after a lecture my husband still remembers today clearly.

He taught me that its okay to ask for help, but to also try my best to stand on my own two feet. He gave me courage to try new things, but also the sense to know when to keep my feet on solid, steady ground.

I still turn to him for advice and guidance. I still go to him for some of the best hugs EVER. I am forever and ever a Daddy’s Girl, and I wish with all my heart I could be with him on this Father’s Day. To thank him for everything he’s done for me through the years, and to give him a big hug myself. I WILL be there in my heart and in spirit, and I’ll make sure to call and talk for awhile on the phone. We’ll make up for it the next time we are all together.

I love you, Daddy!! Happy Father’s Day.

Last week was CMA Fest, and this was the first year that it just didn’t excite me. This is also the first year I had ZERO interest in going downtown to “check it out.”  And the reason for both is exactly the same: In my opinion, it’s just gotten too big for itself.

I attended Fan Fair in 1997 held at the Fairgrounds, and I left on cloud nine. I met the artists I wanted to meet (and then some!). I saw hours of great live music. I got to explore Nashville. I left vowing to live in Nashville “some day.” (And just under 10 years later, I moved here!) Upon moving here, Fan Fair had become CMA Fest and had moved to downtown Nashville. I didn’t like the move because it made it nearly impossible to traverse downtown as a local. As a music fan, I liked it. Lots of free music. I still got to feel a part of it without buying tickets. This was HUGE during the recession, when extra money didn’t exist.

Now? Now Nashville has been named the “It City” countless times. We’re the destination place to visit. And I think as a result Nashville has been forced to change in a lot of ways to keep up. It has to stand up to its new stature, but I fear its going to lose some of its charm within that.

One of the awesome things about Nashville is that there is music everywhere. Austin, TX might be the Live Music Capitol but Nashville is Music City. We stand on our own in the live music department! CMA Fest is a chance to have music fans come to Nashville to see their favorite artists perform, but its also a chance to see up-and-comers. This year, from what I understand, there were a TON of stages set up downtown with music going all day long. At the same time, the honkytonks were trying to stay alive with their acts as well. It broke my heart to hear (and see) great bands play to an empty bar, because no one felt any need or interest in coming inside to see a new act. So many, many musicians (and bartenders!) were left not making any money, and after paying to park and fighting the crowds, they were left working for free. In some cases, losing money.

Parking. Parking is something you’re going to find people complaining about all the time, but during CMA Fest? It was ridiculous. I lucked out to either use a parking pass or catch a ride to and from work, but I heard countless cases of people parking for $10 an hour, or if they were lucky, $35/day. Yeah, I said it. If they were LUCKY they paid $35/day. Just to park! I still can’t fathom that! Sure, tourists could take a cab or a hotel shuttle, but the people who got hurt the most by this was, again, the musicians. $35 to park, to go to work to make $40? The musicians, who are why music fans are there in the first place, are the ones getting hurt the most.

Let’s face it. CMA Fest is exhausting. A lot of locals avoid downtown entirely for the week. But even as I felt very downhearted at times, I was quickly reminded what I love the most about it: THE PEOPLE.

Some people I see every single year at CMA Fest, and I look forward to that all year long. They roll into town to big hugs and welcome backs. You look amazings and tell me everything from the last year. Some are people you know you’ll never see again, but that make a mark in your heart nonetheless. At one point last week, the entire bar was people from Wisconsin… people who walked in strangers and left exchanging phone numbers. My heart was so full that afternoon, I didn’t care that my feet hurt and I just wanted to go to sleep. I didn’t care. I was delighted by these kind souls that crossed paths with me and each other.

THAT is the essence of Fan Fair. THAT is. Not ten stages set up, giving out free pencils and water bottles. Its not fighting for a parking spot or paying 5x as much as usual for a hotel room (Oh don’t even get me started on THAT this year! $500 a night for a room!? Are you KIDDING me!?). It’s about interacting with people you’d never meet otherwise. It’s fellow music lovers on vacation.

So is bigger really better when it comes to CMA Fest? Personally? I don’t think so. People are going to leave Nashville remembering the people and artists they met. They’re going to talk about the big named acts they saw, and a hand full of the newbies.  They’re going to remember the PEOPLE they met, perhaps even their newest best friend for life met over a drink in a packed bar or at a Fan Club Party.

I love all the free things CMA Fest offers, but I would beg planners to consider making it less commercial and more personal. I would beg them to remember there’s thousands of Nashvillians who live and work here that have to still making a living that week. I would beg them to remember the heart that is Fan Fair, that is about the fans and not the vendors. Let’s remember the love  behind CMA Fest again.

Because it’s Fan Fair CMA Fest Week!

Ask anyone in a Nashville, and you’ll get mixed reactions. Some people love it. Some people hate it. Some people (like me) have mixed feelings.

The music fan in me loves it. The people person in me loves it. The person needing some money loves it. (Hey, I’m just being honest here!)

My energy levels do not love it though. My feet do not love it. My wish to park easily and travel through downtown does not love it.  My wish to just see my own house for a day does not love it.

But on a whole, I do enjoy it more than hate it. And as such, I’ve written several Fan Fair posts in the past, and with my lack of time right now and just flat out being tired I’m going to direct you to those:

• CMA Fest Bingo 2013
• Advice to tourists
• My “Fan Fair” advice

Now, in case I don’t have time to share this later… my CMA Fest Bingo card for 2014!

Received my first VoxBox from Influenster! Couldn’t have come at a better time, nor could it have been a better topic: being on the Go! Here are some of the complementary goodies I got in my #GoVoxBox for testing purposes.

1. From Aqua Spa, I received Body Creme in Lavender + Chamomile scent.

This stuff is absolutely AWESOME. First, I love the combination of lavender and chamomile. SO relaxing. I used to have a linen spray in that combination that I had to use very sparingly, because it would knock me out and I’d sleep through my alarm! I haven’t had that in awhile, and it was such a treat to find this body creme in my box. An extra bonus is that its not greasy at all. It’s nice a thick and does the job wonderfully! Makes me smell great, relaxes me and makes my skin super happy again.

@AquaSpaBath / #RelaxwithAquaSpa

♦♦♦♦

2. Vitamin Shoppe Next Step Fit N Full Protein Shake, including the shaker cup!

True story here. This last Monday, I had to get up and head straight out of the house to pick up my husband from the bus. I got up, got dressed, put in my contact lenses and then… my tummy growled. I grabbed my new shaker cup and the chocolate Fit N Full Protein Shake. I read the directions, put everything in the cup and proceeded to shake it all up as I grabbed my purse and keys and headed out to the truck. I had no idea what to expect and was VERY pleasantly surprised by how yummy it was!! Great little meal replacement and it kept me going while I helped off-load the trailer, and then didn’t get lunch for another two hours. I was doing great! I’m a big fan already… can’t wait to try the vanilla and berries flavors!

@VitaminShoppe / #NextStep

 ♦♦♦♦

3. Blue Diamond Blueberry Flavored Almonds.

So I haven’t tried these yet. Saving them to take to work on Saturday night. But I know almonds are an excellent snack item, and I love Blueberries. So this should be win-win!

At the bar, I often end up having to go grab a bad of chips when I get hungry. Something fast that I can sneak in between orders. Sometimes I try to remember to bring some granola or trail mix… anything to keep me from greasy chips and candy bars.

Hopefully this freebie will help me acknowledge another option to snack on during a busy night behind the bar.

@BlueDiamond/ #GetYourGoodGoing

♦♦♦♦

4. A two-fer here since they are both from Profoot Care. Now this… this is something that arrived at the PERFECT time.

The next two weeks I’m going to be on my feet a lot. Filling in for co-workers, and then CMA Fest means I’m going to be working 12 of the next 17 days. 8-5ers are rolling their eyes at me… but that’s 8+ hours on my feet non-stop all those days. By the end of this run, my feet will be royally pissed off at me. The Profoot Triad Orthodic should help curb that a lot, and the Profoot Pedi Rock will help soothe things after the fact. I’m quite excited about these!

@Profoot_Inc / #GoProFoot

♦♦♦♦

5. Muller Quaker sent a voucher for a free Mueller Yogurt Product.

I’m super excited about this on as I’m going to need more breakfast and snack options coming up. I’m going to do some serious healthy eating coming up so I keep feeling good through it all!

@MullerQuaker / #MullerQuaker

5.2. Playtex Sport and Gentle Glide sent me a box of Playtex Sport Fresh Balance.

Definitely will be handy to have these when all the fun happens to land during “that time of the month.” Especially as I eye some potential lake days coming up. Can’t let anything hold me back from the fun!

@Playtex_Sport / #PlayOn

… I love to write. I have often said I would love to write a book someday. I even had my heart set on writing the definitive book on the history of Printer’s Alley. (I still might do it.) But I also have a somewhat short attention span. I think that’s partly why I’ve grown to love photography. Instant gratification. Blogging is that for me as well. I can pour my heart into a subject and share it with he masses immediately with the click of the word “Publish.”

… I have something to say. I have all these words, stories and opinions in my head. And I want to share them. Whether anyone cares or not I don’t know. I’d like to say whether anyone cares doesn’t really matter to me, but deep, deep down it does. I hope what I say matters to someone. Anyone.

… I want to reach people. I’m finding I have a true passion for helping others. (This will be a post all it’s own someday.) And maybe, just maybe, through my blog I can make a difference to someone. Make them see something differently. Give them the courage to do so something they otherwise wouldn’t. Or maybe even just make them smile.

… There is money to be made writing. I do not write this blog for the money per se, but it is nice to make a little extra money here and there. Buys me a few cups of coffee, which makes me happy.

… To keep in touch with friends and family. My blog is not just about one topic. It’s not reviews only, nor photos only. It’s not about travel, booze nor fashion. It is life in general. And it helps me tell my tales and thoughts to family and friends all at once and hopefully keep in touch a little bit that way. Especially since I live 800+ miles from most of them.

… Because it makes me happy.

This book reached out and grabbed me in a way few books have in the past.  I found myself time and time again literally taking pictures of excerpts with my phone to keep at my fingertips. Some of them I shared on social media for others to read and hopefully find inspiration from in their own lives. It is, in my opinion, the perfect book for any leader or leader-at-heart to read and use to help them grow.

Catron skillfull winds life experiences, bible versus and core life truths in a way that pulls you in, then sits you back to think and contemplate. This book challenges the reader to think and soul search, all while keeping it laid back and easy to read. You’ll find yourself savoring every page.

This is NOT a book to read through quickly. I personally would read a chapter and then let it digest before moving on to the next one. Read every page let it lead you to fully discovering and nurturing your own path to leadership — your own natural and God-given clout.

I couldn’t have read this book at a better time. I have felt for awhile now that I’m right on the edge of discovering where I am meant to be in a stronger and more solid way than I ever have in my life. Reading this book now has helped set me up for success in whatever endeavor I choose to pursue — both professionally and personally. This is, in my opinion, the perfect “self-help book.” I highly, highly recommend reading it to anyone looking to set themselves up for the ultimate success.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Yesterday, the band was at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, which is only an hour’s drive from Nashville. I knew that with it being a show on-base that going just to go was pretty much not going to happen, but if they needed a merch girl I was available. If not, that’s all right. I have over two weeks of photos to edit, anyway. BUT, I was super happy that they did need a merch person, and I got the call to do it.

Don’t worry, I had my phone mounted on the windshield so all I did was tap the screen to take this picture as I entered Kentucky on I-24.

Now, my truck is the cleanest on the inside as its been since we bought it. I had no idea what to expect when entering the base, so if they needed to search my truck they really didn’t need to go through empty to-go cups and months worth of gas receipts.

Luckily, after some unexpected logistical changes, it all worked out that I had the tour manager with me and all I had to do was give them my driver’s license to get on base. WHEW!!

I hit the ground running as soon as we got parked, as they had opened the gates early and there were already a lot of people around looking to buy merchandise.  I was thankfully relatively busy from the time I started to the time we tore down to head out.

My view for the day… I couldn’t complain about anything except how ridiculously windy it was.

Now the highlights of the day:

• Being introduced during the show as being “from the great state of Texas!” — something I only heard in the background as I had a line of people wanting stuff at the time. But I DID hear it, and it made me smile.
• Military guys GET the importance of respect. I was called, “Ma’am” all day long, and it made me beam every single time. It was NOT an age thing (even though I probably was about *cough*10*cough* years older than a majority of them) but a total, “This is how you talk to a woman,” thing. And I loved it every single time.
• Met a guy who grew up maybe 10 miles from me, which was pretty crazy for both of us to realize.
• Big & Rich turned “You Shook Me All Night Long” into a country shuffle and as wrong as it was, it was so awesome that I want it recorded and on my computer RIGHT NOW.
• I was reminded that Pepperoni Pizza Combos are a totally legit dinner food.
• I sold out of the awesome hoodies that we sell and that I practically live in myself.

Now for the parts of the day that made me chuckle and shake my head:

• “I want that one!” *points* “Which one?” “That one! Right there!” “The blue t-shirt or the brown one?” “No, the grey jacket!” “Oh.”  Note: Please be more specific on what you want, because when you point, Merch people can’t tell which one you mean exactly and then we just all get frustrated.
• “So are the kids games going to be here tomorrow?” “I don’t know…” “Is there anything to do around here for kids?” “Really, I don’t know…” “Do you have a program?” “No.”
• “$25? Can I just give you $20?” “No.”
• “Is he coming out to sign autographs later? The opening act did.” “I don’t think so.” “Why not? Can you call and ask someone?” “No, I can’t. I really don’t think there will be any open meet & greet after.” “Should I just hang out over here after he gets done just in case.” “Whatever blows your skirt up.”
• “Hey you can run credit cards!?” “Yup!” “Really?” “Hey this ain’t no dog and pony show!” “Huh?” *sigh*
• “Any way I can get this autographed?” “Will this shrink?” “Do you have it in another color?” No. Maybe. No.

I wonder if ppl that stand in front of the Merch table for 20 mins staring at the display stand in front of the fridge with the door open?

— TheMerchDude™ (@themerchdude) May 16, 2014

I seriously had a blast. Ironically, after I got home and I thought about the day, I realized that while we were at the same venue all day, my husband and I saw each other for MAYBE an hour and a half, and that was mostly because we were able to grab McDonald’s after the show together. But you know, I wouldn’t change ANYTHING about the day, and I honestly can’t wait to do it again.

I requested Tender Warrior by Stu Webber for my husband to read and give me his feedback. This was pretty much forever ago, as life got busy and he never got a chance to read it. It got shelved and (to be completely honest) forgotten about. Until I ran into the Blogging for Books twitter feed and was reminded I had the book lying around. Time to drag it out and read it myself!

“Every man’s purpose. Every woman’s dream. Every child’s hope.”

This book is a wonderful guidebook for men with the aim of becoming all they can be through real life stories and scripture. Weber divides manhood into four divisions: King , Warrior, Mentor, Friend. Within that, he shows how it is important for men to be (as the title implies) both sensitive and strong.

This is definitely a book for men, and I hope I can get my husband to still read it some day. I love that a book like this exists, and I think it is one all men should read. I especially think it would make a great gift for young, college-age men to read to give them a positive start in all their relationships as they embark on life.

 Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

1. My husband is the only guy I ever dated. I’m rather proud of this fact. Oh I went out. And I had serious interest in other guys at one time or another. But nothing worth mentioning. No, I got a “Teen Creed” when I was… 11? 12? But the one item that stood out the most to me on that plaque was, “Choose only a date that would make a good mate.” Some would roll their eyes at that, but it really stuck with me. And I honestly did just that. I didn’t want to waste my time or anyone else’s time with anything that clearly had no future or direction. And as a result I can honestly say my husband is my one and only.

2. Junior year of high school was brutal. People think your Freshman year is tough. Pshaw. That was a cake walk for me! I pretty much excelled in everything I put my hands on that year. Junior year? Junior year was HARD. It was that last full year that would appear on all my transcripts when I applied for college. So as a result I took a full — and I do mean FULL — course load. On top of pretty much every organization I could be a member of, on top of band and color guard. Look, I lived on either popcorn, potato chips or Fritos because they were the only thing that didn’t give me an upset stomach. Stress? Oh yeah. That was serious stress.

3. I played a piccolo for awhile. I played flute in high school. And I was pretty darn good at it. I sat within the first four chairs at all times — often first or second chair. (The first time I got first chair was playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” in sixth grade.) As a result, for a period of time I was stuck playing piccolo. Because, well, you can’t frickin’ hide when you play piccolo. You have to know your stuff because YOU CAN’T HIDE. Those damn little instruments are shrill and LOUD. But I did it. And I’m kinda proud I did. Even though I would never, ever, ever, ever ask to play it again.

3a. I still have my flute.

3b. No, I never play it any more because it desperately needs new pads and corks and all that jazz.

4. I hate peas and carrots. I might not hate them now if not for “a bad experience” when I was little. You know, one of those moments I’ll remember to the day I die, even if I have memory failure and can’t even tell you my own name. The day the daycare worker went, “How do you know you don’t like it? Here let me shove his spoonful in your mouth for you.”  I don’t even know who that woman was any more, but I still hate her right there along with her precious peas and carrots.

5.  I was madly in love with Bryan White in high school. How I still have any friends from back then is BEYOND ME. I was obsessed. Much like girls are obsessed with Justin Bieber or… uhm… whomever is big right now. (I’m so out of touch…) I mean, I spent every free moment trying to find out everything I could about him and playing his music non-stop. I was in love. Right along with half the other country music loving teenage girls in America. I love it when, today, I’ll bring it up to friends. New friends who will go, “OMG, me too! I had the pillow case, t-shirt, posters…” and old friends who roll their eyes and change the subject.

6. For being a very positive person, I have a long (very long) list of pet peeves. Every sort of driving offense you can make. Lots of peeves in the kitchen (don’t you DARE double dip a spoon).  I have a serious need for security and any breach of that, like leaving doors unlocked, can put me in a bad mood. Mornings. Mornings are a pet peeve. I’m actually much higher maintenance of a person that I appear to be when it comes to these minute and random irritations.

7. I have zero formal photography training. Well, maybe that’s not 100% true. In high school we had a shortage of photographers. I never could fit photography in my schedule, but I was newspaper editor. So the photography teacher (aka history teacher aka coach) gave me about a 5 minute crash course using one of the schools old black and white 35 mm cameras. That’s the extent of my training. I’ve signed up and paid for an online course, but I’ve yet to do anything with it. Everything I do is self taught. And I am learned every single second of every single day.

8. Denise. Niecie. Nise. I answer to ‘em all. Denise is, of course, my given name. Niecie is the nickname I’ve perhaps had the longest, off and on. Not really officially so much as just a shortening of “Denise” that some would use from time to time. I had a teacher in HS that pretty much deemed it a permanent and official nickname. I didn’t mind. Then a group of friends online later made it just “Nise” which I actually use quite a bit today.

9. If I had made “A” team in 8th grade basketball, I’d have played sports in high school. Its true. I was “B” team in pretty much everything in junior high. An athlete I am not. I might be tall, but I’m all knees and elbows. But I was pretty good in basketball, and rumor was that I’d make the “A” team. If I had, I’d have played in high school. However, regaled to “B” team, I dropped all notion of that. A blessing in disguise.

10. I hate wearing shorts. I think it comes from years of not finding shorts that fit the dress code in high school. So I just gave up on it. Today, if I wear shorts, even my husband comments how short they are. Well, when you’re practically 6′ tall and are all legs, you almost have to buy capris to have long enough shorts! So, again, I gave up on it. About the only time you see me in shorts is around the house, at CMA Fest and maybe going to the lake. Past that? Jeans all the way.

11. I went to bartending school in Austin when I wasn’t having luck/interest in finding a journalism job. I’m pretty sure no one expected me to ever use the skills I learned there. Ironically, not long after finishing the class I landed two job offers at newspapers. It would be over 5 years before I got back behind a bar, grateful I invested in that class. Some weird life foreshadowing? Perhaps.

12. I learned about wanting something TOO much the hard way. In elementary school, I decided I wanted to be a “flag girl.” End of my freshman year, I finally got my chance to try out. I was good. I was REALLY good. There was murmurings of my even making lieutenant my first year out. I declared time and time again that I could not imagine not making it. Life would basically end if I didn’t make it. And guess what I did. I choked. Hard. So hard that when I saw the scoring afterwards I discovered the three directors who knew my skill ranked me first to offset the impartial judges dismal scores, but it still wasn’t enough. I tanked. I was out. And life went on. A lesson was learned.

12a. I made it the next year. And at tryouts I had the flu and was running a temperature over 100. I went in wanting it more than ever, but with a realistic view of how life did not hinge on making it. Again, lesson learned. Since then, I’ve known life goes on and I’ll land on my feet. Dreams can still be reached after failure.

13.  “Yay!” is one of absolute favorite words. Well… It is.

14. Write right! If you can’t write dollar amounts correctly, I will not buy from you. Type a message using shorthand that I have to decipher, I probably will ignore you. I literally get ANGRY at the bastardization of our written word. Like, physically feel my blood pressure rise.

15. There are three things I wear every day without fail. My watch. My wedding & engagement set. My Aggie ring

LOVE taking photos of old cars! It was a gorgeous day… HOT and dusty. I earned myself a nice sunburn (my first in over probably three to five years). My nephew took second place in his category for his car. And I got to spend some great time with family. All-in-all a fantastic experience.