The Brookses go to Nashville

Jake and I celebrated our two year anniversary a few weeks ago! So many of our friends have sung Nashville's praises, so we decided to take a little trip down to Tennessee for our anniversary. We loved it! It was a music lover's dream. So much history to see at the Ryman, tons of record shops (Jack White's Third Man Records!), and live music everywhere you go. Seriously though, we walked around at 3:00 on a Tuesday and heard many places with bands playing. 

The highlight of our trip actually happened on our anniversary. We went to Prince's Hot Chicken for lunch. It was an...interesting place. However, their chicken was really amazing. While waiting for our food, we met Brian. He is a music producer and told us all of these places in Nashville we should check out. He even invited us to see him play in a band that night at The 5 Spot. It is a great hole-in-the-wall place that was featured in the show Nashville!

The band was great and we chatted with Brian after his set about our upcoming days in Nashville  and what we were going to do. It was so fun getting to know someone from the area and trying something a little out of our comfort zone. Sometimes those circumstances make for the best memories I think.

It was a wonderful start to a great vacation!

You know it's fall when...

Renaissance Festival 2013

We made our annual trip to the Ohio Renaissance Festival with Jake's youth group on Saturday. Luckily, we had a break in the rain just long enough to enjoy all it had to offer. 

I hung out with the Nordic Power Rangers...

 ...and Thor

 I found some writing utensils...

 ...and made a new friend.

 We stopped to smell the (iron) roses...

...and generally did some amazing people watching. Great day!

Copperlily

I am a huge fan of House of Heroes. When I heard that Tim Skipper and his wife, Stephanie, started a band, I knew I was going to love it. They did not disappoint. This song is just too sweet.

Enjoy Copperlily!

Country Living Fair

I have been a huge fan of Country Living Magazine for years. I know it sounds kind of old lady-ish, but it is nothing like the Americana decor and cowboy boots you're thinking. It is full of vintage and flea market finds and home tours that are just my style. 

Well lucky for me, Country Living hosts a craft and vintage fair in Columbus, Ohio! If I didn't like Columbus enough already, this sealed the deal. Mom, Kels, Michelle, and I spent a full day shopping the many, many booths and ran across way too many amazing finds. I think we should have taken a U-haul instead of Mom's Jeep. We will take that into consideration for next year, because I have a feeling this will become an annual tradition.