Oh Tennessee: 3 years later

Three years ago to the day, I arrived in Tennessee with a single suitcase. Today I leave with so much more. My heart is full and heavy at the same time. I'm so lucky to have had these experiences and grateful to have shared some of them on this blog.

Since then, my father passed away, my name has changed, I've moved three times, I had a job I enjoyed, and I left said job for the birth of my precious daughter.

My Tennessee journey is not over as I'm sure we will be back to visit many times. The adventures will continue into my new life in Texas. I can not express in words what my love for Tennessee is like, but I was able to spend time with my father here. I met my husband here. I grew my first garden here. I gave birth to my daughter here. I have learned more about love and letting go in the past three years than ever before.

I have made the most amazing friends in Nashville and back in East Tennessee. Most of them are like family to me now. I'm so lucky to have been given this adventure. I'm also lucky to have had my best friend Tyler and his amazing wife Stacy along with me in this journey. They have been so supportive for many years and I have enjoyed living so close to them.

I've said it several times before but never written the words. If I was going to have to lose my father to cancer, I'm grateful it happened the way it did. I was able to take time to be his caretaker and learn from him. I still hear his voice in my head. I know what he would say to me in certain situations. Yes, Dad I took my car in before the trip. They put air in my tires since things are just harder to do with a baby. I know he's proud of me. I feel him watching over my sweet family. I see him every time I look into my daughter's eyes.

I'm forever grateful for everything that has happened. I know if I hadn't gone through some of those things that weren't easy, I wouldn't be staring at my baby sleeping as I type this. Certainly not while my husband is back at what was our first home together, wrapping up with the movers. It all seems surreal still but I get to wake up to a smiling baby who makes my life and heart full.

So Tennessee, cheers to you as we drive away. You have been so good to me. I may have arrived here with one suitcase, but we're leaving as a new little family with a truck full of memories and baby and a banjo!

XOXO,
Girl Meets Tennessee

First Time Mom Stuff

Everything is so much cuter in little sizes. It's easy to become "that mom" who wants to make everything for their child. I intend on growing and making my own baby food when we get to that point, but as I enter my third trimester of pregnancy I have resorted to nesting. I've been busy cleaning the house room by room, knitting a baby blanket, and now sewing some little dresses before I start the nursery bedding project that will consume all of my free time.

Again I find myself saying how quickly life changes, and how grateful I am to have had my grandma teach me some basic things I can put to good use as I add some personal touches to my new life.

Tennessee and Dogs

My puppies are growing up so fast! I'm lucky that they have a beautiful place to play and get into trouble. They love chasing cars now which is not good but we're working on breaking that behavior. They also love going into the neighbors yard and chasing the llamas. When they are behaving, they are fun to take hikes around the yard with.

Easter Eggcited

I LOVE Easter. I love the memories I have with my grandparents hiding our Easter Baskets and having to hunt for them on an early Sunday morning. Inevitably they were always in the oven, the last place we would look. I love the sunrise church service held outside. I love how pretty Easter Lillies are. Now in Tennessee, I love how Easter means the weather is going to warm up so I can plant my garden!

The Spring colors are fun to play with so I decided to make some Easter Basket Cupcakes with the kids. I showed them how to use a piping bag with a grass tip and let them create some really cute cupcakes! It was a lot of fun and great to see them be creative!

Easter also means egg dying and that was even more fun! Our eggs turned out awesome! Bart was having fun with us too, which serves to prove that you're never too old to have some fun! I think he spent the most time dying his eggs and they turned out the coolest. Now if he would just let me bring home some of the adorable baby ducks it would really feel like Easter ;)
Maybe next year...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Every year as a little girl my grandparents sent me a Valentine in the mail. My father continued the tradition until he left me to watch over me from heaven. My mother always made me little baskets every year and this year she mailed me one. Valentine's Day to me has always been a sweet day that my family has made special. Just a note to my single girlfriends, if you want to feel like it's Valentine's Day everyday, date a gentleman. Better yet, date a gentleman who writes country music. Get a puppy. You will feel as lucky as I do! Happy Valentine's Day! XOXO

Easy Valentine's Day Sweets

Cooking with kids is fun and easy. I enlisted my little helpers to make some sweet treats for the week. I think they were as excited as I was with how it all turned out.

With a few items from the store we were able to create an impressive dessert platter with plenty to share with friends.

I'm not always opposed to baking from a box, especially when you have children involved. It's great for them to be able to measure and follow the directions. They can then go into a store and see the options for making things themselves without feeling overwhelmed by measuring flour and sugar. It's a great starting point for any young chef!

Brendan is great in the kitchen. He's 12 and showing interest in making a variety of things. He's a great cook already. I enlisted him to make Blueberry Muffins so they would have a quick homemade breakfast option before school. With the addition of a teaspoon of vanilla extract and fresh blueberries as well as the enclosed can of wild blueberries, he was able to make some delicious Blueberry Muffins! I had him top them with a little raw sugar for a professional touch. They turned out perfect!

Baleigh is 14 and after our Super Bowl cooking extravaganza she's been excited about desserts. We made some fancy looking chocolate covered strawberries. The secret to easy chocolate covered anything is a product called Almond Bark. It comes in vanilla and chocolate options. It's usually found next to the chocolate chips in the baking section.

Baleigh wanted to add some color to the white so she added a few drops of pink coloring and a splash of almond extract. You melt the almond bark in the microwave until it's fluid and then get to dipping. While the coating is still warm you can add sprinkles if you like. I sliced up some fresh pineapple and dried it with a paper towel so the chocolate would adhere, dipped it using a toothpick, and set it on parchment to solidify. All of the fruit turned out great! Fun and easy!

Grow Your Own Mushroom Garden

City life is great except for how much I miss being able to walk down to my garden and pick what I'm making for dinner. Thankfully Back To The Roots has put a bandaid over my wound on this issue! I was in the produce section of The Fresh Market, and on a display were a bunch of cardboard boxes with a sign above that said "For Kids!". Why must kids have all the fun?

At $19.99 I thought it over an decided that I needed the kit. After reading the packaging I discovered that once my mushrooms grow, if I post a photo on their Facebook page they will donate a kit to an Elementary School class of my choice. So not only do I win, but so do some kids!

When I got home I followed the instructions and took off the side, slit a + into the bag and removed it from the box. I have the bag soaking in water for 12 hours, then in ten days I should have a harvest of Oyster mushrooms. The kit includes a little spray bottle for misting them twice a day. It's like a grown-up edible version of a chia pet! I will update you in ten days or so with a recipe if this all works out!