Savannah Smiled

Snack Good #FeelGooder

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:09:00 +0000

This blog post has been compensated by Linqia and its advertisers. All opinions are my own. Find out more info on my disclosure page. #FeelGooder

I'm not too proud to admit there's quite a few things I'm not good at. Some of the biggest on the list include leaving my house on time (for anything), eating in moderation, drinking enough water and prepping for the next day. I could be good at those, but I know I just don't try. Lazy, much?

Now that I really think about it, not being good at those things makes me not feel too good. Those definitely aren't traits that I want to scream from the rooftops and let the whole world know! Can I just hide my lazy? Not one bit. These lazy characteristics are something that can't really be hidden.

In the last few weeks, I've taken some steps to help make myself Feel Gooder and get those bad habits outta my life. Here's what's making my daily choas a little less frantic:

ONE. Punctuality

The main reason for my consecutive tardiness is because I'm looking for things the moment I need to leave. I'm not primping too long or still showering when I need to be leaving...I just don't know where to find my keys. Or my wallet. Or my phone.

It's amazing how having "a spot" for these in your home (and actually usuing it) can totoally change the game. Right by our front door, we have an area that perfectly holds keys, wallets and our mail. When my phone isn't in my hand, it goes there too. Now, when I'm ready to leave on time, all my things are ready to go as well.

TWO. Water

I'm a soda girl. All kinds are fine, I don't discriminate. As an adult, though, I do understand the dangers that soda can bring to our bodies...but, a lot of the time I choose to ignore it. Not too long ago, my friend Brittany got me hooked on water with a hint of lime and mint. It's basically a mojito without the alcohol. I can seriously drink this combo all day long. Now, it's a weekly habit to make a pitcher of mint/lime water for the fridge, so it's ready to pour when I head out to work (and when I get back home).

THREE. Eating in Moderation

In the past few months, my eating habits were off-the-charts awful. Because I wasn't prepping meals, I was constantly zooming through drive-thrus day in and day out. Yes, you can eat healthy at fast food places. No, I was not. Something about going through the drive-thru and seeing all those menu items makes it SO easy to just go ahead and pick out whatever you want...a meal for now, snack for later and....ice cream-filled coffee drink? Yes, please.

Putting a complete stop to that, I knew I'd feel hungry all day long just because I wasn't giving my body the outrageous amount of calories it had become accustomed to. My solution? Smaller meals with awesome snacks in-between. While sometimes I choose carrots or celery, it's also nice to get a piece of chocolate every once in a while...

ZonePerfect's Perfectly Simple nutrition bars are just the sweet I need to get through my hunger-cravings. They come in four great flavors: Almond Toffee Crunch, Bing Cherry & Almond, Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk and Roasted Cashew & Dark Chocolate (my favorite). Besides the great flavors, there's a lot more to love about these bars: They're loaded with protein without tons of calories, filled with trustworthy ingredients and they're made here in the U.S.A.

If you want to #FeelGooder about yourself; know where your keys are, drink lots of water (with mint, or without) and use this coupon for $1.00 off any ZonePerfect Perfectly Simple Bars.

Flipped Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:09:00 +0000

The last room to share in my sister's flipped house in the kitchen. This one probably had the most dramatic change and I am in love with everything about it! The initial plan was to keep the old cabinets and give them a good cleaning, after a while it was clear that we just had to bite the bullet and extend the reno budget enough for new cabinets.

Sometimes we don't understand things our Dad does, like leave a huge ledge of countertop across the bottom of the last cabinet. Fortunately, IKEA saved the day by having the perfect size cart for this spot. Bethany has filled it with Kuerig and coffee supplies.

A moment of pride for myself was helping pick out and create a economic backsplash for the kitchen. Quite a while ago, I saw Mr. Kate's post about fake brick walls and always thought it would be so cool for a kitchen someday. Well, It IS really cool for a kitchen. I think they purchased 3 fake brick panels, gave them a good coat or two of white and puzzle-pieced them into place. Once placed, the areas where two panels met needed a second coat, but after that the seams are virtually invisible.

Of all the spaces in this home, the kitchen had the most demo and reno going on.

But, it also turned out to be my absolute favorite.

One of the biggest changes between the living room and kitchen was creating a more open concept. There was only a small door area between the two rooms at the time of move-in. By doubling that space, it allows for kitchen-dining-lounging conversations to be happening without anyone feeling secluded. Plus, whenever you can cook and watch tv at the same time, it's definitely a plus!

I'm sad there's no more rooms to share. And I'm also sad I'm stuck in an apartment, while my sister gets this awesome place. Ha! I'll just have to visit and live vicariously through her!

Be sure to check out all the recent flipped house posts.

Flipped Bedrooms

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:14:00 +0000

My sister's "new" flipped home has 3 bedrooms overall. The smallest of the three has become a Man Cave for her husband Jon. Because of that, we totally had to girl-up the guest room to balance it all out, right? Besides the kitchen, this is probably my favorite spot in the house.

When they got the keys, this place was sponge painted to the max! Bethany and I are ALL about having light gray everywhere, so that's what the wall became soon after. They also added a new carpet and then the decorating could begin!

My sister bought the white trundle bed from a friend and used pillows she's previously had in her living room (probably all purchased at Ross). The bedding is a jersey comforter from the back-to-college section in WalMart. Yes, a JERSEY comforter. Feels so comfy! The rug is from IKEA (not seeing it available on the website anymore).

Although our parents made so much fun of us for buying a "hospital cart" from IKEA, we love this BYGEL cart for adding all the guest necessities. Along with towels, blankets and the wifi password (high priority, right?), it also has a jar filled with cute little travel-sized beauty products.

Back-to-back to the guest room is the last bedroom. The funny thing about the setup of this home is it is nearly identical to the home we grew up in. The kitchen, living, two bedrooms and bathroom are all in identical locations to our parent's house. The only difference is that my parent's master is at the other end of the home (where this houses' garage is). It's funny to be in the same setup as where we lived for 15+ years!

My sister's master bedroom was equally as sponged as the guest bedroom! Gray paint saves the day again. This room also had a crack that had to be fixed before the new carpet could be put down. Not a huge snag, considering some of the horror stories we've watched on HGTV.

Bethany and I both like to keep our bedrooms very clean, white and minimal. I love how she added pictures from her beach wedding in place of a headboard.

Right inside the master is a tiny little bathroom. Not ideal, but at least there's more than one in the entire house. It does have a door that rolls from inside the wall. Just like one of the bathrooms in my parents house. Must have been a cool thing in the 40's!

Next up, I'll share my favorite - the kitchen!

Flipped Man Cave

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:30:00 +0000

One of the first rooms you see when going down the hall in my sister's house has become a low-key Man Cave. This is the smallest of the three bedrooms and it seemed like the perfect little spot for video gaming and game watching!

Originally, the room was a pale blue with very old carpet. Besides the regular hall entry, it also had a doorway to the kitchen. For such a small space, having two doors didn't seem like the best idea (plus, that was taking away a lot of potential counter space in the kitchen). The door was closed in and helped out both rooms a lot!

Bethany and I had recently talked about how much we love the POÄNG chairs from IKEA. On a whim, we stopped by a local Salvation Army and JUST so happened upon these two semi-new beauties and their footstool counterparts. We basically got all four pieces for less than one new footstool costs. Total score!

Instead of going in an all-out football/Dallas Cowboys theme, Bethany kept the room clean and neutral. The navies, grays and blacks all bring out the colors of our favorite team. On the wall is a large poster print of Jon during his last year of high school football (that I took).

Across the hallway from the Man Cave is the main bathroom. Our mom did an awesome job staining and cleaning the cabinets They look great paired with the new tile and gray paint job.

I'll share the other two bedrooms asap!

First Day of School | Year 3

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:26:00 +0000

Most first-day-of-schools I make my grown teacher-husband take a picture with a little "1st Day" sign, just like all the cute kindergarteners that fill our facebook feeds all day. Well, lucky for him, he got out of the picture this year. Since he's coaching, he leaves our house by 6:00am for practice...and I definitely kept on snoozing right on through that. Maybe I'll try again one afternoon this week!

In true procrastination-fashion, we spent this past weekend frantically getting his classroom together. When a room looks so new, it kind of feels like you don't have to do too much to make it look great. A couple of posters, plants and bulletin boards later, we were in business.

We bought three digital posters from ArtCoStore on Etsy (Failed, Wake Up, Second Chance). We printed them at Staples as engineering prints, which is on very thin paper. We'll probably need to re-print before the year is over and get the next set laminated to make them a little more durable.

I'm not sure what these cute IKEA storage cups can be used for, but they were the perfect fit on the filing cabinet doors. Markers? Pens? Pencils? All I know is they were too cute to pass up!

One of my favorite bulletin boards is the room is made from IKEA plastic fabric. Definitely not as cheap as butcher paper, of course, but it adds the best pop of color and pattern to the space.

Taking a great hint from my friend Megan, we bought two IKEA "trash baskets" to create the turn-in station. Since they are hanging on with tacks, each class' basket can easily be removed and taken home for grading.

On the large back dry erase board towards the back of his room, we used our measuring skills and taped off a small calendar using Scotch colorful masking tape. We tried to keep up the "super hero" primary colors throughout the room, since he's got some posters on the wall with all the Avengers and Justic heroes.

Congrats, Moms and Dads: School is back in session.

Teachers, hang on! Labor day is coming! :)

Flipped Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 18:29:00 +0000

Just inside the newly painted gray bricks on my sister's house is this cute, cheerful, colorful living room. It is just an instant fresh and light feeling when you walk through the front door. She's still missing a couch for now, but I'm still so in love with everything in it.

Before the fresh paint job and new floors were installed, the old blue carpet had to be ripped out and removed. Luckily, there was no popcorn ceilings or major restructuring that had to be done. This room basically just needed a new front door, fresh paint, new floors and a good cleaning.

Below, aren't the true before photos, since I missed all the carpet and original paint. This is the "before" when I arrived a couple weeks into the project. Even so, you can definitely see some significant changes!

Can't wait to share the next rooms with you all!

A Bright Yellow Door

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 01:01:00 +0000

While my parents and sister have had the summer off of work (must be nice, teachers), they have actually been a whole lot busier than I. A few months back when it was clear that my sister Bethany and her husband Jon would be moving to my hometown, my parents had the opportunity to buy a home and flip it for the newlyweds to rent. My dad has been known to do things like this before (laundromat, 60's VW beetle, 70's RV, newer home, etc), but this is definitely one of the biggest projects (and it needed to be done in about a month).

This was truly a family-sized undertaking. They all spent countless hours pulling carpet, cleaning the yard, painting and making the long trek to Lowes. Montrell and I helped out with what we could, the few days we were able to visit. From the very beginning, I knew this house would become so great!

The first major problem they ran into, as with most old homes, was asbestos. The kitchen tile had it and the air was a hazard for several weeks. We used masks when we glanced inside and immediately sterilized and cleaned off afterward. It was a nuisance, for sure, but eventually the air was given the all-clear again.

Did I mention we were working on all this during the hottest days of summer? It's the kind of days that you break a sweat walking from the front door to your car. Needless to say, we all stayed hydrated (prevented any further medical disasters) and made it through the heat.

For the exterior, we picked out "Tynewood" by Sherwin Williams. It's a really dark gray/brown. I've heard that if your roof is a more natural color, the brown is really brought out. Fortunately, our roof was already gray, so they just compliment each other. The shutters got a nice coat of white (or...several coats of white!). Bethany also worked so hard clearing out the vines and bushes.

After the base of gray and white was set, the real fun began! I was tasked (or "allowed") to add the brightest punch to the new front door. "Dutch Tulip" by Sherwin Williams is certainly bright enough for us without being too mustard or too pale.

Probably my favorite touch to the front porch is the new house numbers. I'm a little obsessed with type and font, so I wouldn't allow anyone else to make the call of the ever-important house number choice. After seeing SO many expensive options online, I got a lead on some modern floating numbers by Hillman Distinctions at Home Depot. These babies were just $5 each and I could not be more proud of how they turned out.

My sister's thrifty ways shine through near the yellow door with a table she refinished from Goodwill and a chair that someone threw out. I think our dad's dumpster-diving ways are getting to all of us. Add in some pretty succulents from WalMart and we were totally satisfied with the home's first impression!

It wouldn't be a overhaul post without a few old and new comparisons. Here are some of the before-and-after shots to really show off the thought and hard work put into the front of the house. Although, the grass got drier as the weeks passed, so the yard looks a little like a "before" should. We're in burn bans and on a 35+ day streak without rain. Hopefully we'll get the yard green again soon!

Of course, I'm totally jealous of this whole thing because I've betrayed myself by helping them design MY dream home. I really wish we could pick it up and put it in Dallas for me! Until that's a possibility, I guess I'll let them enjoy it! Stay tuned for new posts with all the room updates.

Royers Pie Haven

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 13:42:00 +0000

Through my Yelp searches looking for some dessert in Austin a couple weeks ago (because it's the most important meal of the day), I came across Royers Pie Haven. I'm so glad we went, you guys! It is truly the cutest little place with so many quirky and vintage accents.

I wasn't too hungry, but Montrell said his pecan pie was as amazing as it looks. I was too busy looking around at all the decor and taking pictures to even get one bite (not that he would have let me!).

We don't always go to pie shops, but when we do...they're the best!

"Acute Kidney Failure"

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:20:00 +0000

If you asked me about a phrase such as that, I'd think of a very sick person. A very old person. Someone who has been in the hospital a lot. I never thought I'd be hearing that my healthy 26-year-old husband was suffering from it as we finally made it to the ER on Saturday afternoon.

As most Saturdays go with the two of us, we headed out to a volleyball tournament. This one is extra special each year because it's a way many of us celebrate the life of our friend Jared. Unlike most outdoor tournaments, though, Montrell and I didn't really do our usual prep. We didn't bring a cooler. We didn't bring snacks. We didn't bring water. We didn't bring sports drinks.

We knew we'd have access to water there, so that's what we depended on. Montrell drank a lot of water throughout the day. A liter here, a liter there. Then, a 44-ounce from Sonic. Then a refill of that. He thought he'd had plenty, but we'd never had to account for temperatures like these before. At its highest point of the day, it was 102.9 °F. We both stayed in the shade as much as possible, but he ended up playing 11 sets of volleyball in the direct heat.

After the last game, we began the 40 minutes home and made it nearly all the way. He was cramping severally, which happens after a lot of tournament, so I pulled into the parking lot of a Wendys. I went in to get some more water, a cup of pickles and some sports drink. That's when I started realizing these cramps weren't normal. They sounded really painful. He was yelling. I was scared. After a few suggestions from my Dad and realizing this situation wasn't improving at all, I called for help.

The paramedics arrived and poor Montrell's body was locking up so much that he had to be carried from the car, onto the stretcher. I answered some questions and followed along to the hospital. It took a few bags of saline and some meds before his cramps were at ease enough for him to seem like himself again. Along the way, there were talks of really high blood pressure and tests proving he was in acute kidney failure. It all made my head spin, while I tried staying calm. Naively, I kept thinking, "he's JUST dehydrated, right?"

After some slight improvements were made and we were ready to begin the waiting game, we got a room and both spent our first night in the hospital. It's like staying in a really expensive hotel, without a comfortable bed, without those fluffy pillows and with people walking in your room each hour of the night to wake you up. I'm joking, of course, but the nurses did take such good care of him. We really felt like we were in great hands.

After he was tested and pricked all night and morning, we had some breakfast and got all the final paperwork ready for release. His latest tests were all clear: Something we'd been waiting to hear for nearly 12 hours. Now, he's under directions to chill out and stay out of the heat for quite some time.

There are so many things to be thankful about from all of this. I'm thankful we did not make it home. If we had made it home, we probably would have wasted a lot of precious time trying to treat him ourselves. I'm thankful my Dad, who lives 2 hours away, just happened to be a couple miles down the road from the hospital visiting friends. It was great to have him to lean on and pray over us. I'm thankful Montrell's kidneys began working again properly. That was a long wait for those tests, but they did exactly as they were supposed to. I'm thankful we now know a lot more about preventing anything like this again. We will be the most hydrated couple at the next tournament, for sure!

We definitely left this weekend with a newfound respect for a Texas summer day. Please, please, please take every warning and precaution to heart. My husband is healthy. My husband is fit. And this hit him with so much force, it nearly did irreversible damage. Stay hydrated, friends.

Hope Outdoor Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 12:00:00 +0000

This past weekend we were in the Austin, Texas area for one of Montrell's volleyball tournaments. When we're in a city for a tournament, there's not a whole lot of time to explore, unless we plan out a day or two before or after volleyball. On game-days, we are always too drained to do anything but have dinner and sleep. Luckily, we had free time the day after this tournament ended to have a couple of hours in Austin.

The Hope Outdoor Gallery was one of our first stops. We had seen pictures of this graffiti park on Facebook before, but we both had never been to see it for ourselves. It's really quite a site!

"The HOPE Outdoor Gallery is a 3-story educational art project located at 11th & Baylor Streets in Austin – one of the largest outdoor galleries in the US. This project was developed to provide muralists, graffiti artists & community groups the opportunity to display large scale art pieces driven by inspirational, positive & educational messaging. In addition, the project activates & beautifies a dynamic yet underutilized space...The project was officially launched by the HOPE Campaign in March 2011 with the support of Shepard Fairey and Obey Giant Art." [via HOPE]

The beautiful chaos of the art-covered walls is juxtaposed at the top by this very orderly pristine castle. It's bizarre, but at the same time cool to see both of those different scenes in the same spot.

The art is not just contained to the giant cement walls of the Hope Gallery. No matter where you look, from the trash cans to the living flowers and leaves, a mist of spray paint has definitely made its way across it.

Once you climb to the top of the hill (and it is quite a climb), there before you is the most amazing view of Austin's cityscape. I'm sure there are plenty of great views of Austin, but this has to be at the very top of the list.

It was a really hot day here in Texas, so the sweat was rolling, but I'm so glad we stopped by. The colorful vibe of the place was definitely a welcome environment. In one corner there's new art being sprayed by a group, in others photographers were snapping pictures of clients, and a shirtless man was rapping his heart out from this "stage." My kind of place!

Keep the weirdness, Austin. I love it.

DIY Gold Starbursts

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:30:00 +0000

Lately, I've been away from our home a lot more than I've been in it. I think the last time I was in our apartment for a complete weekend was sometime in June. Lots of traveling, lots of tournaments, lots and lots and lots of laundry! Hotels are comfy and staying at my parent's house is nostalgic, but I still like the familiarity of my own home! I love that feeling when I'm finally back in my own environment.

Since our place is starting to feel like a place of our own, I love coming home to it even more. With the recent brightening up of the living room, the space above our couch really needed some new decor. I blew up a black and white print of a pineapple (current favorite fruit and it makes me feel a little tropical). Then, I added some white and gold bursts to either side.

I followed this awesome tutorial from Design Sponge to make the SUPER cheap wall art. Anytime I can get a mid-century look for a nearly-free price, I'm all about it. Seriously, y'all, we're talking styrofoam and kabob sticks here!

When I get home from traveling, they are the first things I see when I walk through the door.

Not a bad sight, if I do say so myself!

IKEA Family: July 30 - September 1

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Every month, my favorite blue warehouse puts tons of items on sale at a discounted price for all IKEA Family card holders. Not a family member? Sign up now. Along with the discounts, you get free coffee or hot tea in the restaurant, more Småland time for the kiddos and a 90 Day Price Protection. Basically, you really shouldn't shop at IKEA without it!

Here's some favorite items I've chosen from the family discount list this month. You can always go see all the discount items on the IKEA website. This time around, there's a lot of back-to-school/back-to-college items to get everyone prepped and ready for the busy fall season.

1. Curtains $49.99 | 2. Bunk Beds $127.20 | 3. Candle $1.34

4. Cable Box $7.49 | 5. Magazine File $9.74 | 6. Transparent Chair $59.00

7. Wall File $11.24 | 8. Picture $22.49 | 9. Drawers $67.99 | 10. Backpack $27.99

Dining Downtown Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 18:44:00 +0000

When I travel to new places, I always try to let Yelp or friends be my food guide. My goal is to never eat at a chain or national eatery when I know there are so many great local options. In downtown Nashville, there really isn't a chain to be found (yay)! Here's 5 places I went to while in Music City:

1. MERCHANTS: 401 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203

This was our first stop after settling into our hotel rooms. We were all really hungry and I'm so glad we chose to go here. Merchants was opened in the 1800's as part of a hotel. There's so much charm to the busy downstairs bistro. Throughout the building, you can see remnants of the old hotel, as original fireplaces are all around. The countertops and flooring are the original, historical marble and tile as well. I also love that the servers all where bow ties and suspenders!

While you wait on your food, they bring you a small container with the most amazing garlic popcorn and kept the bottled water coming. From the menu, I picked the Soup-n-Sammy (white cheddar, smoked gouda, crispy bacon with tomato soup and potato chips). Good choice! It was like having the greatest grilled cheese you can imagine...but, with bacon! The homemade potato chips and tomato soup were perfect pairs to go along with it.

2. FROTHY MONKEY: 235 5th Ave N Nashville, TN 37219

This was a breakfast staple while we were staying in Nashville. This Frothy Monkey was right in-between our hotel and our conference, so it was easy to stop in and grab a muffin and coffee before heading to our sessions. Once morning, I got to sit in for a full breakfast of fruit and a bagel. I loved their coffee options and the chill atmosphere.

3. NASHVILLE STREET TACOS: 129 2nd Ave N Nashville, TN 37201

One night, I was in the mood for some street tacos (as I always am) and didn't have any luck finding an open food truck in the area. Through Yelp, I found this awesome little spot within walking distance of my hotel. When I saw the exposed brick style inside, I knew I'd enjoy this place!

What I loved about Nashville Street Tacos is the build-it-yourself aspect. I didn't have to choose from a list of pre-made taco choices, but got to pick out each and every topping I wanted (which I great for me because I'm pretty much good with just chicken, cilantro, lettuce, onion and feta). Y'all, I am so happy with a great street taco and they did just that!

4. PROVENCE BREADS & CAFE: 1705 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212

I needed a quick lunch near my conference one afternoon and this little french bakery was just a block away. So many great options for a cafe. I ended up with the sandwich and soup and I believe it was named the "Librarian's Lunch." I also grabbed a french macaroon becase that's what you must do in a french cafe, right? Plus, it just so happened to be Bastille Day, a French National Day celebrating the unity of the French people in 1790. So, I celebrated!

I was just about to head back to my conference when I spotted a special menu on the way out that included their Honey Lavender Lemonade. Since I'm a fan of each of those things individually (honey, lavender, lemonade), I figured this would be a great combination. I was right! And I should have gone back for more...DELICIOUS.

5. ACME FEED & SEED: 101 Broadway Nashville, TN 37201

On the night before we headed back to Texas, my coworkers and I all had dinner together at this extra-large restaurant. You order your food downstairs and once it's delivered, you can pick any of the 4 floors to find a table. The place was packed, but in the best way. People chatting, live music, and the rooftop was awesome!

The view from the rooftop may be the very best in the city. From our table, we could see Nissan Stadium, Riverfront Park, the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and a bit of Broadway. If you want to see it all, that is definitely the roof to visit! (Plus, the food was great)!

What's your favorite local restaurant in Nashville?

Share below in the comments, just in case I get to go back soon!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Biking the Bicentennial

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 02:25:00 +0000

A next door neighbor to the Nashville Farmer's Market, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall Park is a site you can't miss while visiting Music City. Pair it with the perfect weather (seriously, were these clouds even real) and this place is as picture-perfect as any postcard could make it seem to be.

I'd been looking for a great opportunity to take a bike ride since Nashville has easy do-it-yourself rental stations across the downtown area called B Cycle. The park is a great place to ride around, especially since a station is close by. I paid my rental fee and my shiny red bike was released from its locks. Added bonus: the bikes have a basket, where I put my backpack and cameras!

I think some of the desire to learn a little bit of history (for fun) is gaining as I get older. I was put through many museums while growing up (as I had a history-teaching-Dad who stopped at every museum and historical marker he ever saw) and now I find myself reading along too. I can't pretend to know much about Tennessee's past (as I probably couldn't even ace a Texas History exam at the moment), but the Bicentennial Park was definitely a great place to start.

"...experience many facets of Tennessee’s history including a 200-foot granite map of the state, a World War II Memorial, a 95-Bell Carillon, a Pathway of History and the Rivers of Tennessee Fountains. The 11 planters along the Walkway of Counties show native plant species from different regions of the state." (via TN State Parks)

I know I didn't even see most of the park because the whole thing is a total of 19-acres. I don't think I could have pedaled that much in one evening! I did enjoy the small area I was able to see in such a short amount of time. It was a good workout too!

Even if history isn't your thing either, this park is definitely a Nashville-must-see. Rent and ride a bike, take a jog or just snap some pictures with all the beautiful scenery. Check out all the park has to offer on their website.

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Nashville Farmers' Market

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 16:19:00 +0000

After seeing a few cool pictures on Instagram, I knew I had to go check out the Nashville Farmer's Market while I was staying in the city (if not for the corn stalk and tomato-shaped bike racks, alone). It took me a bit to make the walk from my hotel, but I finally made it to the decorative pieces!

Unfortunately, I waited a little too late in the evening for the full experience. Most booths were shut down by the time I arrived, just before closing time (and it was a Monday night, so probably not the most hopping day of the week). I did get a chance to walk through a few plant and vegetable areas once I arrived.

Beginning on Nashville's town square, the tradition of the Farmer's Market has been around since the early 1800's. I'm sure we have a lot more craft and decorative items now, but how cool that the same veggies and plants are being bought and sold in the same fashion as way back then?

The farmer's market is open 362 days of the year from 8am to 6pm, only shutting down for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Overall, the market has numerous booths and shops to browse around in. (You can see the full list on their website). On weekends, the craft sheds are open to 50+ merchants that sell handcrafted, vintage, upscale and international good. I'll have to come back on a weekend, just for that!

I've never actually been to a farmers' market, but Nashville's was a great first time! I love the emphasis they've put on this long-time tradition by making the aesthetic of the buildings themed around veggies and farming. Little things like that make the whole experience even more memorable for everyone. Keep it up, NFM!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

The Frist Center

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 13:56:00 +0000

One day in Nashville, I had some time in the afternoon to walk to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and check out their current exhibitions. The center is surrounded by some of those amazingly beautiful buildings I posted about before. This part of Broadway really is a work of art in itself.

The first notable you see when approaching the Frist is the Rose on 65th Street by Sculptor Will Ryman. You don't realize how large the piece is until you stand right beneath it! Those roses are huge (and so are the bugs crawling on them!)

Before checking out the exhibits, I grabbed some lunch at the cafe. They had a lot of soup, salad and sandwich options and the tea was a complete necessity after my hike from my hotel. I went with a trusty fav; Caesar chicken salad (really, I don't think I've ever had a Caesar salad I didn't like).

The Frist has photography restrictions inside the art galleries, which is kind of a bummer for me since I think I've taught my mind to "remember" in photographs. I followed the rules, though, and photos or no photos, I'm so glad I got to see Italian Style: Fashion since 1945 in person! There were so many iconic pieces that I remember from pop culture and it was awesome to read about their designers, wearers and reasons behind each piece.

"After the Second World War, Italy emerged as a fashion powerhouse by capitalizing on its traditions of bold design, exquisite textiles, fine craftsmanship, and dressing with sprezzatura—graceful nonchalance. This dazzling exhibition, assembled from more than forty collections, celebrates all that Italian style embodies, and charts its major historical developments over the past 70 years." (via Frist)

I also had a little time to breeze through Postcards of the Wiener Werkstätte. I was so impressed with the artistry that were put into these tiny postcards so long ago. Some had such fine detailing that you'd forget they weren't photographs.

"The Wiener Werkstätte (or Vienna Workshops) was an association of artists and artisans founded in 1903 by architect Josef Hoffmann and designer Koloman Moser with the support of textile industrialist Fritz Waerndorfer. By designing every aspect of daily life, they hoped to create a Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art) and eliminate the distinction between (fine) and (decorative) art." (via Frist)

Along with the galleries, the Frist has the Martin ArtQuest area, which is a really fun, interactive place to bring the kiddos, make your own art and learn from others. Whether you live in Nashville or just planning a visit soon, definitely check out what the Frist is offering in the upcoming months!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Wandering in Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 12:00:00 +0000

I love walking around a new city (semi-aimlessly) and just taking in all the new sites and sounds. Staying in Downtown Nashville proved to be such a great spot to explore some beautiful art installations, intriguing architecture and rich historical sites. A couple of afternoons and evenings, I'd take a solo trek around the city with my camera, finding so many different beautiful things to see.

At the end of bustling Broadway, the Water Front Park has a few amazing points of view. Ghost Ballet for the East Bank Machineworks is a large red "dancing" sculpture beside the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge. To the left, Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, glimmers in the evening light. Not to mention the dozens of lively restaurants and eateries nearby!

On the way to the Frist Center one day, I stumbled upon some fantastic architecture in these cathedrals and churches. Beautiful, ornate buildings were everywhere I turned (and some were built back in the early 1800s)!

If you were to ever get lost in a city, Nashville would be the one you want it to be in!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Downtown DoubleTree

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 01:13:00 +0000

When I come back from a trip, the first thing I want to do is blog about it and my body only wants me to sleep and be unproductive. It's taken me a while to get back into the swing of things after being at an out-of-state conference, hosting family for a couple days, then backing that up with an all-weekend tournament. I'm here now, web! Ready to share my Nashville adventures.

Although I've been to Nashville before, I'd never stayed in the downtown area. For our conference, we were booked at the DoubleTree by Hilton just a few blocks from where our sessions would be held each day (and really, just a few blocks from all kinds of amazing stuff!) When you're greeted with rustic chic pink and green furniture in the lobby, you know you're in the right spot!

True to Music City form, the hotel had touches of country music and historical Nashville art and decorations. I know there's a ton more to Nashville than good old country music, but it's fun to have decor play on the theme of the city. When you've got a reason for tourists to love you, use it up!

Our rooms were modern and new, complete with a leather-looking wall. Beds were as comfy as you want a bed to be and I so wish I could have taken all those pillows with me! Hotel pillows are just always better than home pillows, right? Maybe I should have checked the tags to see where to buy my next set! Yep, I'm definitely missing those pillows. Anybody have any pillow suggestions for me?

Along with the pillows, it doesn't get any better than hotel room coffee. I'm telling y'all, I've never had a bad cup in my hotel rooms. They also had a few different teas for me to try, as well as plenty of sugars and creams. Morning necessities!

Perhaps the best part of staying at the DoubleTree is the delicious warm chocolate chip cookie they give you when you check in. Hot off the press, it was such a treat to indulge in after flying and driving and getting to where we needed to be with all our luggage. Plus, sometimes late at night if you ask really nicely, they may just give you another one (even if you're not checking in).

Not every view can be great, of course, but I was really pleased with mine. From my room on the third floor, I could see the giant arrow painting leading me to historical Printers Alley, which had some amazing live music when I passed by. Really, that arrow lead to a lot of the cool hot spots downtown! A Nashville beacon of sorts.

Here's some other fun places to visit within walking distance of the DoubleTree:

Ryman Auditorium - 8-minute walk, 0.4 miles

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park - 9-minute walk, 0.5 miles

Riverfront Station - 11-minute walk, 0.6 miles

Country Music Hall of Fame - 11-minte walk, 0.6 miles

Nashville Farmers' Market - 13-minute walk, 0.7 miles

Music City Center - 15-minute walk, 0.7 miles

The Frist Center for Visual Arts - 16-minute walk, 0.8 miles

I loved the whole vibe that the DoubleTree had going on. I mean, that light fixture is straight up out of the shabby chic Pinterest handbook. It's great to be in an environment that was intentionally styled, unlike a lot of places you can stay in with generic "hotel" characteristics. It was like being in a boutique hotel, but on a MUCH larger scale.

I really enjoyed my time at the DoubleTree in Downtown Nashville. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting or needing a quick getaway. If only I could have packed up my husband and brought him there too...I probably would have stayed forever!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Bathroom Guest Prep

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 21:27:00 +0000

There's nothing like the pressure of guests coming to stay with you that causes you to clean and organize and get it together! My cousin is bringing some friends at the end of this week and it really made me take a few more minutes of prepping our guest bathroom (which is also "my" bathroom).

In "real life," I don't keep my bathroom this clean. Counters are usually covered in makeup and hair products, etc. That's the way the daily grind cookie crumbles. But, now that we've got some new guests coming, I've got a few ways to make them feel as home (and hotel-like) as possible.

1. Organize Personal Items: Since this is the bathroom I use on a day-to-day basis, I'll still have some of my things around when guests are in town (toothbrush, vitamins, etc). I make sure it's all tidy and organized and that the counters are free of clutter (makeup drawers too!).

2. Pretty It Up: This doesn't mean you need to redecorate the place anytime someone visits...but, I finally made the effort to frame some prints ("Trust Me, You're Lovely" is by Jenny Highsmith and "Spaghetti" is from IKEA) after a long time of bare walls. Add in a cute shower curtain, a few colorful towels and a rug or two. You don't have to do it big, but make sure it doesn't feel empty...and sad!

3. Freshen the linens: I took some time over the weekend and washed all hand towels and bleached/washed all body towels. They've been cleaned before, of course, but I want them to be as fresh off a clean as I can for my visitors. Plus, they just fold and look so much more presentable when they're right out of the dryer!

4. Stock and restock: Sometimes guests bring their own hygiene items, but will usually forget at least one thing they need. It's good to have products for them to use, where they can easily be found. In the shower, I have new shampoo, conditioner, body wash and a bar of soap in the caddy.

In the top drawer of the counter, I have a few spare toothbrushes, toothpastes, hair gels, face masks, lotions and an emergency kit. Basically, these are just things you can get in the travel-size area of any store. These items are all pretty cheap and disposable, but they're perfect for the visitors who will be around for just a day or two.

The last place that I hide guest necessities is in the little box near our trash can. The box has a spare roll of toilet paper, a variety of feminine hygiene products and a little bit of air freshening spray. If you're thinking, "Oh gosh...potty talk is so gross," then you'll probably agree that it's a really nice touch for guests who may be too shy to ask!

That's how I prep and ready for guests to take over my bathroom.

How do your make them feel home away from home?

Visiting Nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

In a week I'll be flying off to Nashville for a work conference. I haven't been to Music City since I was in high school, so I'm excited to be going back! This weekend, I've been diving into articles and yelp and all kinds of online sources, so I can find a few fun things to do while I have some free time. I've realized that I need to do that in my own city (because I know Dallas has tons to offer!), but it's something about being in a new place that makes you put in a lot of research.

I'll totally be fifth-wheeling it while I'm there, since my two co-workers' spouses will be on the trip and Montrell is staying here in Texas. As an effort to NOT be that girl and ruin all the married-away-from-kids bliss, I've been looking for things I can walk/bike to on my own from our hotel! Here's a few things I want to do if I have time during my conference (crosses fingers):

NASHVILLE FARMER'S MARKET

Instagram Photos - @yo_fit_ | @alexwarmath | @godfreyre | @pjpnyc

Nashville Farmer's Market: I really just want to see those corn bike racks, because how cool is that? From what I've seen, it looks like there's a wide variety of food and crafts here that I'd love to see, even if I can't bring a bundle of veggies back in the plane!

NASHVILLE B CYCLE

Instagram Photos - @nashvillebcycle

Nashville B Cycle: Like I said, I won't have a car and a few places are a little further than my little feet would like to walk. Luckily, Nashville has these awesome rental bikes with stations all over downtown. I think I'll buy a week pass and bike wherever I go!

FROTHY MONKEY

Instagram Photos - @frothymonkey

Frothy Monkey: I'm a sucker for pretty coffees and delicious breakfasts. Everything on their menu looks fantastic and the place looks even cooler. Super photogenic!

FRIST ART MUSEUM

Instagram Photos - @fristcenter

Frist Art Museum: Right now, there's an exhibit on Italian Fashion that is really intriguing. Not to mention, the building itself is amazing. Whether I go in, or just stand in awe outside, I must stop by!

Anyone been to Nashville recently and have some ideas for me? I'll be downtown without a car, so anything nearby would be fantastic! Let me know in the comments below, or social media!

[Check out all my adventures in TN here: blog posts | instagram photos | tweets]

Get That Look! Friends: Season Six

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 13:50:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've done a "Get That Look" post, but now that I've finally retrieved my Netflix password again after a bit of a hiatus (cue the Hallelujah chorus), I'm back with Season Six of Friends. Here's some modern looks I've created from a few character's fashion choices (1999-2000):

RACHEL from "The One With Joey's Porsche"

H&M - Plaid Shirt | White Shoes | Gold Necklaces | Gray Jeans

PHOEBE from "The One Where Phoebe Runs"

H&M - Running Belt | Red Tank | Purple Sports Bra | Running Tights

ROSS from "The One With the Routine"

H&M - Purple Shirt | Coffee Mug | White Sneakers | Jeans

CHANDLER from "The One That Could Have Been"

H&M - Baseball Tee | NYC Cap | Denim Jeans | Red Shoes

IKEA Family: July 2 - July 28

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:40:00 +0000

Every month, my favorite blue warehouse puts tons of items on sale at a discounted price for all IKEA Family card holders. Not a family member? Sign up now. Along with the discounts, you get free coffee or hot tea in the restaurant, more Småland time for the kiddos and a 90 Day Price Protection. Basically, you really shouldn't shop at IKEA without it!

Here's some favorite items I've chosen from the family discount list this month. You can always go see all the discount items on the IKEA website. Just in time for summer travels, these items will help you get prepped and ready for vacation-time:

1. Backpack $19.99 | 2. Slippers $1.99 | 3. Messenger Bag $24.99

4. Small Padlocks $3.99 | 5. Thin Backpack $3.99 | 6. Travel Bottles $0.99

7. Rolling Luggage $69.99 | 8. Umbrella $4.49 | 9. Bandages $0.79

DIY Magnetic Makeup Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:45:00 +0000

When we moved into this apartment, I was really excited about the long horizontal drawers in the bathroom. I thought it'd be perfect for hiding my makeup. Well, I've found a couple drawbacks while using it over the past year. 1. The drawer is like 2 inches high. Not a lot of room for chunky products. 2. I'm a mess! Ha. We all really knew that, but when I get a drawer, I prove it oh so fast. I've come up wish a solution for my slim space and I'm loving it so far:

As embarrassing as it is, here is the terror of a drawer I was working with each morning. I found those little white organizers in the Target Dollar Spot and they actually fit the drawer. What was meant to help me organize, just looked awful since I tend to throw things around and not put them back where they belong. Basically, it looked like a storm ran through Chaosville every day.

I've always seen those cute magnetic makeup boards on Pinterest that people hang on their walls, but I don't really have a place for that near my bathroom mirror. All I have is that skinny drawer! After getting tired of the disorder lately, and downsizing my makeup, I knew I wanted to do something similar. I saw this great neon magnetic board at Five Below and went to find these small sticky magnets from Walmart. The simplest of DIY projects, I'm telling you.

Every piece of makeup got a magnet. On items with "tops," the magnet was placed there (mascara, lip gloss, foundation, etc). That's so I can buy new makeup and put on the old top, so I don't have to re-magnetize with every replacement. Sometimes the sticky part of the magnetic stuck really well, but I found that by using my hot glue gun, it worked much better.

Once each item was magnetized, I added the orange board into my drawer and set in the makeup items by order of use: primer, foundation, powder, blush, eyes, lips, etc. Since they're not sliding around with every close of the drawer, it's so nice to keep them in that order. Makes morning wake up calls much simpler!

With the board, I still had room for one of the Dollar Spot organizers. Since I purged a lot of useless or old items, I was able to fill it with a few necessities like deodorant and ponytail holders. So much better, right?

To show you the big difference this little project made, here's a little before-and-after action. It's always a sigh of relief to get rid of things not being used (or just plain old trash). Drawers are so hard to keep organized and tidy anyway, but with only the necessities, I trust my new little system will help!

Just FIY: this magnetic board is not very strong, as it is only meant for small magnets and holding paper (like, in a school locker). With this one, you probably wouldn't be able to hang your makeup onto the wall. It's perfect for drawers, but if you're looking to hold up heavy pieces of makeup, you'll probably need something more powerful.

How do you all organize your daily makeup routine?

A Capsuled Stylebook

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Remember that moment in Clueless when Cher's computer had software that would help her get dressed in the mornings? I know my 5-year-old brain couldn't comprehend such a concept, especially since all my computer could do at the time was type green text on a black screen...or, play Dig-Dug. Well, now I've fulfilled my 90's dreams, becoming Cher-ish with my new closet app. I also did the opposite of Cher and basically got rid of most of my clothes. She would be loser-loser-as-if-ing me so bad right now.

Lately, I've been obsessed with studying the concept of a capsule wardrobe. According to Wikipedia, "capsule wardrobe" was coined in the 1970's by Susie Faux, who concluded that it is a collection of essential items of clothing that will not go out of fashion that can be augmented with seasonal pieces. (Unfancy is a great place to start researching). I'm not a "clothes" person anyway and shopping isn't one of my favorite things. I've always liked having a lot of black items with a few pops of color. Really, I just miss school days when it was socially acceptable to wear sweats and basketball slides every day. Anyway, because I already have simplistic clothing choices, a well-planned capsule wardrobe seems perfect for me.

Through my searches on the subject, I discovered the Stylebook app. It helps you take your own clothes from your closet to your iPhone and let's you build "looks" using your clothes. It's pretty much what Cher's computer did for her way back then. I promise you, it's about to CHANGE. YO. LIFE.

Before getting the app, I purged my closet. Y'all, I purged more clothes than I ever have before. So much so, I'll probably have to have an IG closet sale soon. I only have about 30 pieces left. Here were my "musts" when deciding whether or not a piece was a keeper: 1. Must match/coordinate with 3+ looks. 2. Must fit well. 3. Must be length-appropriate. 4. Must still be in quality condition. Basically, anything too short, hole-y or not neutral got the boot. It. Felt. Good!

With the clothes I had left, I designated a few hours one afternoon to photograph and add them into my Stylebook app. With universal items like my black jeggings, I'd just type in "black jeggings" on Google and upload any photo. No need to photograph the generic stuff! For un-Google-able patterns and color-specific items like cardigans and dresses (which are from older Target collections or discount stores like Ross or Marshalls), I'd set them out on my white coffee table and snap it.

After all my items were in my virtual closet, it was time to sit down and create some "looks." Dress by dress, skirt by skirt, I came up with a few different ways to wear each item. Mix and matching cardigans and shoes, I created so many more looks than I expected. Who knew all these different outfits were already in my closet? I even planned out my outfits for work for the next two weeks:

Since the purge, I've realized there's quite a few items I need to complete my capsule wardrobe. I have a list on my Google drive to keep me in line when I'm shopping. If it's not on the list, it cannot be purchased. In the meantime, my Stylebook app is helping me make the most of what I already have and it's made planning for the work week SO much easier.

From now on, buying a piece of clothing for me means adding it to the virtual closet before it's hung in the real one! Soon, when I'm feeling ambitious, I'm going to add in all my jewelry, bags and workout clothes. Creating the virtual closet takes a little bit of time, but I'm so excited for how much it's going to save me in the long run!

Anybody trying out capsule wardrobes?

Have you used apps like Stylebook to help you succeed?

Get That Look: Inside Out!

noreply@blogger.com (Savannah Pyron) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Like all good people of the world, I am super pumped that Pixar has a new movie coming out today. Inside Out! looks like a different take on animated movies we're used to, so I'm really excited to see this adventure of feelings! Here's some color-inspiration based on some of the main characters Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust. All these clothes can be found at H&M:

SADNESS

Shoes | Skirt | Dress

Shirt | Shorts | Dress | Skirt | Dress

ANGER

Swimsuit | Jumpsuit | Shorts

Skirt | Tank | Dress | Tee | Dress

FEAR

Dress | Wedges | Skirt

Tee | Tank | Shorts | Flats | Top

DISGUST

Tank | Dress | Top

Top | Shorts | Dress | Flops | Dress

Have fun at the movies!