Gust | Monday Playlist

Well we’ve made it to Halloween week. The week when cobwebs are acceptable, being spooked is the norm and… Christmas music has started to play in three too many stores already. I can’t even talk about the commercials that have already started airing.

ONE HOLIDAY AT A TIME, AMERICA, COME ON.

Monday playlist this week is upbeat to keep you moving through this eerie week. Halloween is next weekend, so if you’re still trying to figure out your costume hopefully this list can get you through your fierce brainstorming sesh about how you’ll achieve being the most cleverly decked out at your upcoming masquerade.

(Pro tip: Marco YOLO is a great route to go).

Enjoy!

Speak to you soon,

 

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Milan, Italy | Photo Diary

The moment when I realized I’d left my cell phone on the table was a moment that was full of emotion–first silently and then loud. Profanities bounced off the walls of our tiny AirBNB apartment as I paced and retraced my steps of the afternoon in my brain.

Finally after going through my mental rolodex of curses, I determined that the only place it could possibly be was at the tavern with the slightly-too-sweet tiramisu. We were all the way back across town in our apartment and for a moment I thought “I can do this trip without my phone.” Then reality swung a punch and I realized “no, you absolutely cannot you fool.”

With a pit in my stomach and eyes to the ground I saw the pavement blur by as began to run (with little to no dignity or faith and a shortage of breath) to where I hoped my phone still remained.  Back down into the metro I’d go, barreling onto the train and then back off again; speed walking under the shade of the duomo, across the piazza, down the narrow alleys and finally stumbling into the kitchen of the tavern.

I probably could’ve come across less panicked (it probably seemed like I’d left my child there) but the servers understood, even through my broken Italian, what was going on. After the longest two minutes of my life, the owner finished his phone call, reached behind the counter and handed it to me with a smile. I have never been so happy in my life. Bless you sweet, sweet Italian man. May you be forever blessed with lots of happy customers to your restaurant of checkered tablecloths and delicious lasagna. Please take care of your bee problem on the patio. Sincerely, Lauren.

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There will never come a day when Italy does not hold a special place in my heart. Since my first visit there in 2011 I’ve known that the Italian lifestyle is one I can get behind. Schedules are more relaxed, there’s always pizza (or calzones), sentences sound like songs rather than statements, being surrounded by centuries old architectures with one million stories to imagine, dinners that run late into the night, wine continually flowing and.. the men. The Italian men, ya’ll. My kryp-to-nite.

 

And next time I’m in Italy? The south. I’m aching to see the Amalfi coast, Sardinia, and the secret panini places hidden in alleys in the smallest towns. They’re always the best.

Speak to you soon!

 

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By & By | Monday Playlist

 

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.

Carol Bishop Hipps

 

Monday playlist day! Favorites are Broods, Grace Mitchell, Rayland Baxter and Yumi Zouma. Check it!

Speak to you soon!

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Findlay Market | Cincinnati OH City Guide

Top 10 Reasons you should visit the Findlay Market in Cincinnati:

10. Buckeyes. If you’ve been to Ohio before, then it’s probably been recommended to you to try these sweet, ohio-specific, treats. Buckeyes start out with a creamy, peanut butter center that is dipped into chocolate which then hardens into the perfect shell. (It’s better than Reese’s, guys.)  Not only are there buckeyes available, but other sugary surprises like macaroons, homemade fruit tarts, and SO many cookies.
9. Fresh Flowers. One of my favorite parts of any farmer’s market are the buckets of fresh flowers set out for people to admire and purchase. The bright colors are so hard to resist and the temptation to buy some for the table is always too much to fight. The cool thing about the Findlay market was the selection of air plants and unique, decorative plants. I was really taken with this little fellow who had purple chiles growing off of it’s vines and I hope to find another one like it some day.
8. Butchers. You’ll never have more desire to throw a backyard end-of-summer BBQ than you will when you see what these guys have got for you. So many brats and steaks that looked like prime cuts.
7. Produce. There was such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available at Findlay! I was truly impressed by how many different things each of the venders was offering.
6. Local artisans. On Saturdays at the market the fun spills out the doors of the main building and into an outdoor area that houses artists from all over the city! You’ll be able to find cool mementos, decor and vintage items that you otherwise might be rare to run across.
5. Belgian Waffles. I was specifically told to find “the waffle place” in the market, so you better believe that (after finishing a slice of to-die-for bacon+spinach quiche) that I did. The menu was written on a chalkboard hanging on the wall above the waffle irons: nutella waffles, waffles with fresh fruit on top, crepes…all of it sounded like the best decision. I settled on one with fresh fruit and a dollop of whipped cream. The verdict: delicious. The texture was a marriage of crispy, sugary cinnamon roll and hot, crunchy waffle.
4. You’ll feel like you’ve somehow escaped to Europe. Surrounding Findlay Market are streets lined with houses that are painted in the brightest of hues. Flowers cascade out of window boxes making the buildings, that were once run down, come to life.
3. Cheese. One of the first food counters I saw inside the market was selling fresh cheese. This wasn’t your ordinary cheese display case, though; it was filled with cheeses from all OVER. Through the glass I saw manchegos, bries, mozzerellas, goudas, parmeseans…all sourced locally or from around the world. The selection offered was diverse, the man behind the counter was well-versed and the overall prices were super affordable, just in queso you were wondering.
2. The History. Findlay Market was built in 1852 and has been a running market since 1855. Throughout the market bits of history are inlaid within the mosiaics, the table tops and the walls themselves.
1. People watching. Get yourself out there on a Saturday, grab a coffee and watch the floodgates of Cincy burst wide open with people from all over: parents and kids, out-of-towners, farmers,  old, young, artsy, business, everyone from everywhere. Local musicians performing their sultry saxophone solos on corners and the hum of friendly conversation make up the perfect background noise for such a diverse and bustling place. Sit there all day if you want, not a second of it would be wasted.

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One more Cincy recommendation and a full city guide coming to you later this week!

Speak to you soon!

 

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Countdown (On moving to Seattle) | Monday Playlist

I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I moved into my house in Nashville.  I can’t believe it’s already been five years since I moved away from my home state of Arkansas to start a completely new chapter of life that has shaped me more than I can explain. College, friends, people who introduced me to hot chicken.. it’s been a doozy. Although this won’t be my sappy “I’m going to miss you Nashville,” post  you can rest assured that one will be coming at some point in the next few weeks. Why? I’ll tell you.

For those of you who don’t know, in a few weeks I’ll be uprooting from this amazing town I’ve been calling home and relocating to the pacific northwest. Seattle! There are a lot of things on the horizon for me and it’s just a move I know I need and want to make. It’s certainly not that I’m hot happy in Nashville, I love it here; Everything just fell into place so quickly and seamlessly and there has never been better time for relocating. I’m so excited for a new wind of creativity and inspiration; a regular diet of coffee and poutine (thanks canada); and new people and experiences that await me.

Before I get there, though, I’ve got a trip to the beach in two weeks and a trip to europe in a month. This playlist is called countdown for more reasons that I can even explain. So here it is! Monday playlist: Countdown.
 

 
Speak to you soon!

 

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Krohn Conservatory | Cincinnati, Ohio City Guide

Cincinnati may boast beautiful architecture and an up and coming restaurant scene, but it also boasts some of the most beautiful parks I’ve been to. After spending the morning snaking through the city’s allies, Rachael and I were longing for something a little more alive than a concrete jungle, so we opted for a real one instead.

  
Krohn conservatory is a greenhouse, about five minutes from downtown, that houses over 3,500 plant species from around the world. The building, another example of the recognizable art deco style that so boldly ornaments many other buildings in the area, is fully glass and surrounded by an army of flowers dressed in every color of the rainbow. The conservatory is a site in itself, but it sits right in the middle of several other parks worth spending time in, as well.

 

I think my favorite part  was either the room full of succulents or the room with tropical vegetation. If you know me at all, then you know how I feel about desert plants–I have five and they are my nearest and dearest friends plants; so you can imagine the amount of time I spent oggling the many species of cacti and aloe. The tropical room housed so many bright colored, interestingly shaped flowers that I was simply entranced by it all. I know this post has a lot of photos, but really…this wasn’t even the half of it.

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Highly reccomend checking out the Krohn conservatory if you’re in Cincy! Beautiful way to spend a day (especially a rainy or hot one). More tips on visiting the city/photos come in the next week!

 

Speak to you soon!

 

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Metropole | Cincinnati Ohio City Guide

While I was in Cincinnati last weekend I had the opportunity to try out a lot of new food and drinks. By far my favorite restaurant that we visited (and the only one we went to more than once) was Metropole. Metropole is located inside the 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Cincinnati.

Conde Naste Traveler Readers Choice Awards put  21c in Cincy as the number one hotel in the US right now (and 11th in the WORLD), so needless to say I was anxious to pay it a visit. The building is in the art district of downtown, next to the Contemporary Arts Center and adjacent to the Aronoff Center for the Arts, and used to house the Metropole Hotel which opened in 1924. The hotel doubles as an art gallery and houses rotating exhibits on several of its floors. So cool.

Walking in I immediately knew we were in another one of Cincinnati’s restored 1920’s buildings by the mesmerizing terrazzo tile flooring and colorfully carpeted spiral staircase that corkscrews through the center of the hotel. Though I didn’t see one of the rooms, I can only imagine how fantastic they are.

  

 

The restaurant in the hotel, keeping the namesake of the landmark, was just as spectacular. Natural light poured through the arch-framed windows and spilled onto the dark wooden table tops and illuminated the golden, bell jar lanterns hanging from the ceiling. We went for brunch and menu was simple, but the flavor profiles were incredibly interesting and the dish presentation was immaculately executed. We went for the olive oil poached tuna, avocado toast and the burnt carrot salad.

Spoiler alert: we had to keep taking pauses during lunch to talk about how good everything was. Or to just exclaim, “YUM,” or just  “MMMM.”

But onto more important things: the cocktail menu. Not only was the food exquisite, but the cocktails are what we returned for in the evening. I tried the Phil Collins and the Annie Hall (both Bulleit bourbon based), and also had a sip of the Vespa (gin+vodka with a hint of cucumber and lavender). The Phil Collins was my favorite. Must have been the notes of cilantro or the guava bitters. I wish I could drink one every day (without having a problem).

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If you’re in Cincinnati I definitely recommend checking 21c/Metropole out. Not only is it an award winning hotel, but Metropole just won best restaurant in Cincy as well. Get going!

I’ve got so many more photos/places to share, but it wanted to break it down into digestible bits. Be on the lookout for more.

 

Speak to you soon!

 

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For a Good Day | Monday Playlist

Monday again and I know we’re all ready for a new week + new tunes. Here’s your Monday Playlist!

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Had an incredible weekend in Cincinnati! Looking forward to sharing all of that with you all this week!

 

Speak to you all soon!

 

 

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9 | Monday Playlist

It’s Monday again and that means it’s new music day again! Making these playlists is something I genuinely look forward to because not only do I get to show you guys (potentially) new bands, but I get to seek some out for myself. I usually try out the playlist for a week before I launch it live on here, and this one is no exception. In fact, based on that one week trial, this one may be one of my favorite one’s I’ve ever published. (That may or may not be based solely on the fact that Ryan Gosling’s band is the first track. I’m serious. Google “Dead Man’s Bones.”)

(…Also be careful googling that because your results might be weird).

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It’s officially the second week of July, so here’s to nearing the dog days of summer.  I wish that meant:

A) Free puppies!
B) There is no other choice!

But what it means instead is that things are about to get a little toasty here in the southern United States. Now would be a great time to start hydrating, allowing yourself more time than normal to walk places, getting milkshakes more frequently and warning your friends that it’s hot so you’ll be reaching “hangry”* status more quickly than normal.

*hangry: hane•gry, adj- being so hungry that you are visibly upset. “Lauren had to wait to sit down at the pizza restaurant for dinner, and impatiently watching everyone else crunch their piping hot crust made her hangry.”

Here’s this weeks playlist! Stay cool! (Literally)

 
 

Speak to you soon!

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Sunday Inspo | A Note on Patience

1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11

A little inspiration for the beginning of a new week. I know, for me, this is may be a little bit of a challenging one. Why? Because patience is hard. Patience is one of those things that’s easier said than done in almost any situation, but it’s also one of those things where I have to drop my hands because I am not in control. Why worry about something that you can’t do anything about until you can, right?

Hang on tight this week. Remember that whatever you’re waiting on is worth the wait.

10 ways to distract yourself from the waiting game:
1. Put on your jogging shoes and go out the door before you have a chance to change your mind. I know from experience that just going on a brief (and still struggle filled) run around your neighborhood can help to put things into perspective…or at least help you focus on how awful the hill you’re about to run up is (*life metaphor, am I right?!?*). Spoiler alert: you are going to make it to the top. Promise.

2. Drive. Go anywhere. Blast your favorite music,  blast Coldplay’s new album (or Ed Sheeran if you’re into that kind of thing) and watch your city roll on by. And SANG. Loud. Who cares who’s next to you at the stoplight (unless it’s that person you smiled at, at the bar last weekend…then you cool it).

3. Find yourself a snow cone. There is nothing that a snow cone on a hot day can’t help. (If you live in Nashville figure out where Retro Sno is because it will not only change your day IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE OKAY?

4. Say yes to things this week. I know that I’m really guilty of holing myself up in my room and shutting down when I’m stressed out, but I’ve found that if you actually LEAVE your room (aka the center of all stress) then you will be able to breathe a lot easier.

5. Make a to do list and check thangs off. Getting things done always makes me feel a sense of accomplishment and makes any stress I have seem a lot less daunting.

6. Pizza.

7. Fill up your schedule so you don’t have time to think about whatever it is you can’t stop thinking about.

8. Laugh as much as you can; watch a funny movie, binge on buzzfeed, hunt down the next big youtube sensation, cruise the internet for comedy gold…I swear it helps. I make a point to spend some time on my favorite funny websites before bed most nights. Laughing relaxes you and makes your brain feel 100 times better. Or call me because I’m hilar.

9. Plan something really great for what happens after you know you’re going to find out about whatever it is you’re waiting on. That way you’re looking forward to something and not dreading it.

10. Pizza. (Needed to reinforce how important this step is. Ask for ranch.)

 

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Speak to you soon!

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