The Suite Life - Noelle Nashville

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Is Nashville on your list of places to visit?!  Have you visited multiple times or are you in the process of booking your trip?!  I'll let you in on a little secret...I. LOVE. OUR. CITY and you will too!!!  Nashville is becoming more cool by the day (and more crowded too...sigh) AND there is so much more that I plan to share with you about our amazing city!

One of the questions that I receive most often is "Where should I stay when visiting Nashville?" and I've been sharing some of my favorite Nashville hotels over the last several months.  Each hotel is unique in its own way and I plan to continue giving you peeks into some of the best in town.  I want you to have a comprehensive list and then be able to make the decision on where you'd like to stay while visiting!

Often times people travel in for a special occasion...maybe it's just you and your significant other or you are traveling in with a group of friends.  Whomever your travel plans may include, booking a suite may be one of the very best ways to experience one of Nashville's best boutique hotels, Noelle Nashville. 

Noelle Nashville's signature suites make you feel right at home...they had the right idea by creating spaces that ooze comfort and southern hospitality.  Their suites are spacious, comfortable, and effortless.  The decor & furniture is modern yet not stuffy and there are plenty of nods to Nashville throughout.  Living the suite life at Noelle is the way to go...I promise you will feel right at home!  Even if you choose not to stay in a suite, their standard rooms are wonderful as well.  Each room has king sized beds in it, which is so hard to find!

While staying at Noelle, enjoy lunch or dinner at Makeready (read my review HERE), sit for a cup of coffee in their gorgeous lobby, or shop for something special at their onsite curated specialty boutique.

Noelle Nashville will ensure that you have a wonderful stay and I know from first hand experience, you will definitely enjoy your time there!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day.  See you back here real soon!

Guacamole Flight

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson 

BRIGHT STRIPED DRESS || STATEMENT EARRINGS || GOLD BANGLES || WATCH || AVOCADO SERVING DISH || PEPPER SERVING DISH 

I've never met a guacamole that I don't like, have you?!  Those who know me well will tell you that I'm the person who will order two appetizers or sides of guacamole just to ensure that there is enough to go around (I'm a bit stingy, ha)!  You can honestly never have enough guac.

I'll never forget trying guacamole for the first time when we were living in Newport Beach, CA.  My taste buds exploded and I was a little mad at myself for not trying it before then...I had been missing out.  But needless to say, my obsession with guacamole started with that first taste and my obsession has only grown over the years.  I'll order it anytime it's available and I especially love making it at home.

So today, I'll be sharing my guacamole flight...3 different versions of guacamole and all 3 are sure to please and keep you (and everyone else) coming back for more!  My mouth is watering as I type this!

The beauty of guacamole is that you can get creative and it is as simple as putting all of the ingredients in a bowl, mixing, and letting it set in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors can meld together.

Kicking off my flight with something a little sweet and a little spicy...

PINEAPPLE GUACAMOLE

• 3 ripe avocados
• 1 jalapeno (stem and seeds removed...mince jalapeño)
• 1 1/2 cups of fresh pineapple diced (reserve some for topping0
• 1/2 cup of red onion (finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1/2 teaspoon of course salt (more to taste)
• dash or two of ground cumin

*mix all ingredients together, refrigerate for a couple of hours, and then top with fresh pineapple...serve with blue corn tortilla chips and then enjoy!

Next up and possibly one of my favorites...a guacamole that has an Italian twist...

FETA TOMATO GUACAMOLE 

• 2-3 ripe avocados
• 2 plum tomatoes (chopped)
• 1/4 cup of red onion (finely chopped)
• 1 clove of garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley or basil 
• 1 tablespoon of dried oregano 
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar
• salt to taste 
• 4 ounces of crumbled feta cheese (and more for topping)

*mix all ingredients together, refrigerate for a couple of hours, and then top with feta cheese...serve with pita chips or even small crostini and then enjoy!

And of course I couldn't make a flight of guacamole without making a traditional guac...

CLASSIC GUACAMOLE 

• 3 ripe avocados
• 1 lime (squeezed)
• 1/2 teaspoon of course salt (more to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup of red onion (finely chopped)
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper (seeded and finely diced)
• 2 roma tomatoes (diced)
• 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro (add more if you love cilantro, reserve some for topping)
• 1 clove of garlic (minced)

*mix all ingredients together, refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving...top with additional cilantro and serve with traditional pita chips or veggie sticks (peppers cucumbers, etc)...serve and enjoy!

Let me know if you decided to try any of these recipes!  Would love to know what you think!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!  See you back here real soon!

Outdoor Refresh with Walmart.com

Today's post is in collaboration with Walmart.com.  All opinions are my own.

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Creating a comfortable and chic outdoor space is not only fun to do but it is also easy to do when you can shop from the comfort of your own home!  As a busy Momma with two kiddos who are now out for summer, I don't have a lot of spare time to go shopping, which is why I spend much more time shopping online!

I've spent many hours recently browsing Walmart.com for our outdoor space updates and I've been so thrilled with how user friendly their new website is!  Not only is it a beautiful site but more importantly it is very easy to navigate.  I've been able to find exactly what I am looking for (and MORE) and I've had so much fun shopping!  Their new website is clean looking and well organized. I also appreciate how great the product images are as I can easily get a feel for what each product truly looks like and how it will fit into our outdoor space.

Walmart.com has a great selection of outdoor living and decor pieces at amazing everyday low prices.  I love that I'm able to create a beautiful outdoor space with high quality items and still stay within our budget.

I wanted to share with you some of the items that we've selected for part of our outdoor refresh so I've created a collage below! 

All of the pieces that we've pick are super affordable!  I love a cozy outdoor space so I've picked hanging planters, lanterns, bistro lighting, a gas fire pit, a striped rug, and some decorative pillows from Walmart.com!  Our space will be inviting, cozy, and chic!

Have you given your outdoor space a refresh this spring?  If you are looking for great outdoor living inspiration, you must visit Walmart.com...I guarantee you will also spend hours browsing their new site, planning out your outdoor space refresh!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great start to your week!  See you back here real soon.

5TH & TAYLOR - NASHVILLE RESTAURANT REVIEW

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson 

Featured Restaurant: 5th and Taylor

I'll always remember the first time that we ate at 5th and Taylor...we were relatively new to Nashville and didn't know much about the Germantown area but we had a list of places that we wanted to try.  Peter and I ate there for dinner and I remember thinking how good it was...especially the sausage biscuits (a MUST HAVE if you eat there).

Since my first time, I have been there for many other occasions, the last occasion being a girls night out!  You can enjoy 5th and Taylor for any occasion and this time of year the patio is open, which makes for such a pleasant dining experience outside as well.

The space is warm and inviting with unique and interesting art throughout.  My most favorite thing about the decor at 5th and Taylor is the candlelight.  It makes you feel as if you are in your own home having an intimate dinner with those closest to you. They have the best fiddle leaf fig trees too!

During our recent visit,  Chef Daniel prepared several amazing dishes for us.  Of course we had to start with the sausage cheddar biscuits and as I said, these are a MUST.  I can promise you, try these one time and you will crave them every time.

After devouring the sausage cheddar biscuits, we enjoyed two different salads.  The first salad was an octopus salad with an avocado vinaigrette.  The Spanish octopus was served frisse, avocado, lemon supremes, and crispy sunchoke.  Think fresh, light, and delicious!  We really enjoyed this salad!

Next up...a beet salad!  I'm not a huge fan of beets but I've got to tell you, if I'm ever to eat beets, it will be this particular salad.  The beets are roasted and served with avocado, orange supreme, caramelized onions, olive oil, and micro greens.  Before the beets are strategically placed on the dish, they are tossed in a herb and citrus vinaigrette.  This salad takes beets to a whole new level!

Now onto the main dishes that we tried.  The first dish was wild caught halibut which was pan seared until crispy and lightly browned.  It was served with braised watercress and spinach with a calabrain chili.  It was light airy and satisfying.  The flavors were delicious!

The second main course that we tried as the Venison.  At first I was timid to try this as I had only eaten venison a time or two before but it looked so delicious so it was hard for me to resist.  I'm so glad I tried it!  The venison is free range from New Zealand and it was served atop of caramelized leeks, maitake mushrooms and hen of woods mushrooms.  It was finished with a black trumpet demi glaze and a huckleberry gastrique.  In other words...it was delicious and the various flavors made for a perfect combination.  Oh...and I can't forget, we were served some of the most delicious mashed potatoes I have ever eaten...also a MUST to any main course that you may order!

This is only a tiny peek into the variety of dishes that Chef Daniel and his team create!  I highly recommend that you put 5th and Taylor on our list of restaurants to try.  You won't be disappointed!  Make sure you call ahead and make a reservation!

And while you are there, plan to go to the Back Corner if you are looking to take your night from dinner to dancing!  The Back Corner is a really fun spot off the beaten path!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Our Home on Canvass - Kayla Weber Art

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

WHITE TOP || DENIM || SHOES || BRACELETS || RING || WATCH

ARTWORK BY: KAYLA WEBER ART

We've lived in many places over the years but it wasn't until the closing of our home 2 years ago this August that we felt like we were truly settled and "at home".  We wanted to find a home that would instill a desire to really dig our roots in...a home that we could foresee ourselves living in for a long time.

Our house hunt did not come easy...in fact, there were lots of ups and downs and I'm pretty sure a tear or two along the way.  The real estate market in Nashville and the surrounding areas has been tough because so many people want to live here.  After all, Nashville is one of the nations fastest growing cities.  At the time that we were in the market nearly two years ago, people were buying homes sight unseen and there were always multiple offers on the table.  It has been a Sellers market and unfortunately for Buyers, not a very easy market to navigate.

We had fallen head over heels for a different home and we made it through the entire process and then WHAM...the appraisal came back and and it was appraised for nearly $50K less than the asking price.  We tried our best to get the Owners to come down but they just wouldn't budge so we had to cease our contract and get right back into the market, having lost precious time looking at potential other homes.

The day after we ceased the contract on that home, our agent called us late afternoon on a Tuesday and told us that a house just hit the market in one of the neighborhoods that we were targeting and she said, "I really think you guys are going to LOVE this one"!  We met our agent at the home an hour later and she was right...we really fell in love with the home, more so than the home we had just ceased the contract on.  This was going to be our home...I just new it.  It was perfect and it was far more than we could have imagined.  It was nestled in a beautiful neighborhood with lots of young families within walking distance from school. 

We put in an offer the same night and prayed and prayed and prayed about it.  Having felt a little heartbroken and discouraged over the other home, we just felt like that happened to simply bring us to this home.  The other home was not meant to be and this one was.  I envisioned it all...our children playing outside, family holidays, friends, etc. I just knew that it would all work out.

Our offer was accepted...YAY and now comes all of the other steps.  We tried not to get our hopes up until the home was appraised because after all, that is where we were letdown previously so staying level headed is the best we could do.  Ha!  That was so hard to do because I lead with my heart and often times can't think rationally.  

Patience, prayer, and faith were all that we needed because everything went well, very few tiny bumps along the way, and this beautiful new home in the most perfect neighborhood was finally ours...CHEERS!!!  I get emotional just writing this because our experience was such a true testament to believing that all things happen for a reason and that God knows what is best for us.  This home was meant to be ours and before long we closed on our new home and moved in!!!

I share all of this with you because today's post is about the beautiful home artwork that Kayla Weber did of our home!  Kayla is such a talented artist and her work is absolutely stunning.  I knew I wanted a painting of our home...a way to honor new home and one way to symbolize digging our roots in.

Working with Kayla was a pleasure.  I took video of our home and sent pictures of all angels and she created a piece of art that showcases our home exactly as it is and in such a beautiful way.  This painting is truly one of my most prized "possessions" if you will.  It symbolized everything I hope for and dream of for my family.  It symbolizes the start of a beautiful book with some many life chapters.  This was a new beginning for us and this very special piece of art commemorates that.

If you are looking for a special piece of artwork for your home...you should check out Kayla's work.  A home painting is an incredibly special gift for your home, for your parents, for a friend, for a child who has bought their first home, etc.  It is personal and it will be something that you (or someone else if gifting it) will cherish for a lifetime.

Who would you gift this personalized painting to?!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

My 1st Charcuterie Board

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

STRIPED FLORAL DRESS || STATEMENT EARRINGS || WEDGE SANDALS || WATCH

Easter may have passed but there is ALWAYS a reason to serve a charcuterie board, even it is just for yourself and your family!  Plan ahead for a night in with your family/friends or plan ahead for the next time that you host a get together at your home...a delicious charcuterie board is always a crowd pleaser!  And if I am being honest...I have made mini boards for myself recently too, ha...it is just too good!

Although I've enjoyed many charcuterie boards over the last several years, I have never made one at home until recently.  As I planned for Easter, a charcuterie board was part of my menu.  I knew what I've seen and enjoyed on other boards that I have tried so at least I had a slight idea of where to start.  And as much as I love cheese, I don't know much about specialty cheeses so I had to ask for a little help.  Luckily my friend Madi helped guide me with advice on what cheeses and meats to buy!

I shopped at Whole Foods for all of the yummy goodies to create this beautiful and flavorful charcuterie board.  They had everything that I was looking for and so much more more!  You can build and build and build your charcuterie board but sometimes sticking with some classic flavors and crowd favorites is best.

So let's talk about what all I used to build my 1st charcuterie board...

Cheeses:

Robusto Gouda

Manchego (3 months)

Humboldt Fog

Meats:

Pepperoni

Salami

Prosciutto

Fruit:

Strawberries

Green seedless grapes

Gala Apples

Other goodies:

Marcona Almonds

Fig Jam

Raspberry Jam

Flatbread crackers

Crostini

Peppadews 

Honey

Arranging your charcuterie board is simple and fun...it's like a little piece of artwork!  You start with your cheese and meats and then you place your fruit, peppadews, nuts, etc around them and to fill in the space on your board.  We wrapped our apples with prosciutto as well.  My board wasn't large enough to place the two jams on it so we set it over to the side of the board along with the flatbread crackers and crostini.

For my 1st charcuterie board, I was so pleased with the way it turned out and with all of the flavors...the cheese/meat selections were the perfect pairings and the fruit, jam, peppadews and nuts complimented them so nicely.

I'm sure many of you have made a charcuterie board before!  I'd love to hear from you...leave a comment below and let me know what you include on your board!  Maybe you include a cheese that I didn't think of or something else that is a nice compliment to the meat.

Charcuterie boards are one of my new favorite ways to dine and enjoy others company...I will be making many of these in the future!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!