The Barefoot Mermaid

Happy 2018. The older I get the more I love the fresh start of a New Year. A renewed sense of excitement for a year ahead full of possibilities. If you haven’t thought about your goals or maybe just have not started what you intended, do not be discouraged. January 1st is in reality no more special than any other day. You can use any day, hour, minute or second to declare a fresh start and conquer your dreams. But yet there is something magical and refreshing about a New Year. I hope you have the day to reflect back on where you have been and dream of where you are going. May 2018 bring you love, hope, courage, strength and wellness.

As a New Year rolls in we all make grand plans to keep us happier, healthier and wealthier in the new year. Here are some tools and products to help. The key is they are no good tucked away. You have to use them and use them often!

Emily Ley’s Simplified Planner I adore this planner and have been using the daily version for a couple of years now. Emily also has a blog and an Instagram which are full of information to simply and start 2018 on a good note.

Cultivate What Matters Power Sheets is a goal setting workbook and progress tracking tool by Lara Casey. Again she has a blog and her team have wonderful resources for goal setting and chasing your dreams.

Val Marie Paper Prayer Journal I linked the yearly but the undated 6 month journals fit perfectly in the pocket of the Simplified Planners.

Paperblanks make some beautiful journals. I ordered a fresh one for a cleans start this year. I am going to attempt to journal more to track my thoughts, feelings, and goals this year. A wonderful way to check progress and continue to grow.

Three15 My favorite workout studio in Homewood.

If you want to get more water in Swell and HydroFlask bottles are my favorite.

I am a fan of the Whole30 Program and I plan to complete another round early this year.

Check your local library for access to great books. I have created my 2018 reading list and already placed some title on hold. Jefferson County Alabama has one of the best system ever. I imagine other places do as well. You have one library card to access any library in the county. You can go online request items and they will be delivered to your preferred location within a few days if available. Also, they have free checkouts of audio and ebooks through Hoopla. Check into this great service if you are local or check your library for a similar service.

in reality you don’t need any fancy planners, just a pen, paper and some time spent with your mind, heart and soul thinking and dreaming. Thursday I will be sharing my 2018 goals and a peak into my Powersheets. Check back then. One of my intentions this year is to check in once a month to share my action steps progress for that month and the ones I plan to do in the coming month. I am hoping that will hold me more accountable.

Nashville is about a 2.5 hour drive from Birmingham. The drive time makes it a great day trip or weekend getaway. We have been a few times over the last several years for birthdays, concerts and to meet my cousin there. This is in no way a comprehensive list. Just things we have chosen to do and would recommend.

Stay:

Hotels are outrageous in Nashville in my opinion. We generally stay in Brentwood or Franklin area as the hotels are cheaper than downtown. With the amount of events and people in the area hotels are always in high demand. We usually can find an decent price on a discount site such as Priceline, but they are in no way a steal. On our most recent trip we stayed further out and more east, it was not as inconvenient as I had imagined.

Eats:

Gojo Ethiopian Cafe is a stop we make every time we are in Nashville. Out of Ethiopian we have tried in Orlando, Chapel Hill, Atlanta , Birmingham and Houston, this my favorite. If you like Ethiopian or trying new things I highly suggest Gojo. Must eat.

Blue Sky located in East Nashville we tried this per a friend’s recommendation and now go here when we are in town. Delicious breakfast/brunch. There usually is a wait but its manageable and a nice neighborhood to walk around while you wait. Must eat.

Franklin Juice Co. has locations in 12 South and the Franklin Factory. We tried this on our last trip. You know my love for smoothie bowls. It was nice to split one on our way to brunch which we knew would have a wait.

Loveless Cafe is a Southern institution. Ryan and I ordered food to go and ate it at a near by park. If you have a large party or even just a party of four I would try dining in family style. I am glad we went but now that we have been I am not sure we will go back for a while as there are so many other places in Nashville we have not tried yet.

Urban Grub located in 12 south. We ate here one time for my sister’s birthday. Reservations are a must. We had reservations and still waited almost an hour to be seated. Again, yummy food but with so many places to eat in Nashville I am not sure we will circle back until we have crossed some other places off our list.

DeSano Pizza is a delicious treat. Similar to Atlanta’s Antico. We usually eat here every time as it is quick and crowd pleasing while also tasty.

The Pharmacy located in East Nashville serves up burgers, beer and house made sodas. we have eaten here plenty of times. A good place to grab lunch when you first arrive in Nashville.

Coco’s Italian Market and Restaurant is somewhere new we tried on our most recent trip. It was delicious and fun to look around the market since we have recently been to Italy. They have a ricotta stuff mozzarella ball that was drool worthy. We will definitely be back.

No Baked Cookie Dough is opening up a store front this Fall. We grabbed some from the pop up in front of the new store. We tried all the classic flavors. I was hoping to grab some Pumpkin Spice but they did not have any that day.

Mas Tacos located across from The Pharmacy. We have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally did in September. It was good, cheap and we will be back. Try the avocado taco and elote. Must Eat.

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate. You can eat, tour and shop here. The duck fat caramels are my favorite.

Play:

Ryman Auditorium we took a tour a few years ago. The tour was self guided with some video education along the way. I really want to see an actual show one day, especially after listening to current Nashville resident, Annie Downs book Looking for Lovely. She wrote a chapter about the Mother Church while sitting in the Mother Church that brought me to tears.

Grand Ole Opry offers guided tours. We did this recently, I can not recommend it enough. You actually get to walk back stage, into some dressing rooms, and into the circle. Highly informative and fun. Must do.

Bridgestone Arena catch a concert or a hockey game. We try to catch the Blackhawks when they are in town since its closer and cheaper than Chicago.

Parthenon was originally built for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition, now serves as an art museum. We have never been inside but we have walked around the outside and park.

Nashville Murals. We have not done them all but a fun stop if you are close by.

Shop:

Franklin Farmer’s Market open every Saturday year round. Located next to the Factory at Franklin. Cross both off your list one Saturday Morning. We often pick up breakfast here. Must do.

The Factory at Franklin is home to many good stores and bites. Wonder around one morning after you have visited the Farmer’s Market.

The Mall at Green Hills. Nordstrom. Need I say more? Ok, Lilly, Lush, Athleta, and Absolution.

Parnassus Books an independent bookstore located across from Green Hills mall. One of my favorites ever.

The Shine Project has opened a store in Nashville. I love Ashley (ok I don’t actually know her) and her work. There are many cute small shops located in the same area. Worth a look.

Thistle Farms located close to Coco’s Italian, in fact that is how we stumbled upon the Italian restaurant. Ryan’s parents gave me some bath products they bought in a shop in Rome, Ga. When I read they shop was located in Nashville and employed women survivors of human trafficking, addiction and prostitution I knew I had to visit the store and support them. I may have picked up some Christmas gifts.

Amelia’s Flower Truck. A flower truck can life get any cuter?

White’s Mercantile has a little something for everyone. Located in 12 South a wonderful stop if you are strolling the area.

Draper James is also located in 12South. Reese Witherspoon’s Brand based off her Grandparent’s name. A fun stop. I am going to buy a piece one day but which one they are all too cute. Their kitchen/household things are adorable too.