Happy 2nd Birthday Nash

Happy National Pet Day & 2nd Birthday to Nash!

Thirty Flirty & Thriving

Today is my 30th birthday!

Because I took last Friday off to go to a cabin in Arkansas for the weekend, I'm working today.

While I certainly enjoyed my 20s, I've been looking forward to 30 for a couple of years now.  I am so excited to see what this next decade brings.

Here are 20 things my 20s taught me:

1. It's okay to be selfish sometimes

2. Sometimes poor choices lead to great things

3. You can't fix other people

4. Actions really do speak louder than words

5. Hangovers get exponentially worse after 25

6. Falling for the wrong guy is okay, just don't fall for the same wrong guy more than once

7. Life isn't going to turn out like you think it will or want it to when you want it to

8. Garth Brooks got it right when he said "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

9. Taking the trip is always worth it

10. What other people think of you very rarely matters

11. Walking away from someone or something that no longer makes you happy is always the right thing to do no matter how hard it seems

12. Having a few solid friends who are like family is way more important than being friends with everyone

13. Saying no is okay...

14. ...so is saying yes

15. Puppy cuddles & coffee fix everything

16. Ask for help

17. Never apologize for who you are or how you feel

18. ...and never change who you are for anyone

19. Your mom was right... about everything

20. It's okay to start over at any point in time

To The Other Kid On My Block

Happy 26th birthday to my not so little, not so baby, favorite brother of all time!

Happy 1st Birthday Nash

Happy 1st birthday to my main man, my hot doggo, Mr. Nash!

Tonight after work home skillet will be getting his very own birthday pupcake from Three Dog Bakery.  He also has a BarkBox on the way that he'll get as a belated birthday present.  Not that he's not spoiled enough on a regular basis as it is.

I am not one to dress up my dog, & Nash would fight me every step of the way if I ever tried to put a shirt on him, but I also really want this...

Happy 25th Birthday Baby Bro

Happy 25th Birthday

To my one & only baby bro!

Nashville Wouldn't Be Nashville Without You

This past weekend I spent just over 36 hours in Nashville with my friend Alicia celebrating my 28th birthday.  It was a relatively low key weekend, and if you follow me on SnapChat (nrthmeetsouthe) or Instagram (briannemcc) you've pretty much seen all that I'm about to show you.  But, you don't all follow me and a recap was promised so a recap you shall get.

Where We Stayed

I'm going to start off by saying this is not a recommendation, just a fact.  Originally we were going to do AirBNB but I procrastinated too long & everything was either gone or ass expensive.  Why?  Well the Predators played at home, the Titans played at home, it was Vanderbilt's homecoming, & it's Nashville.  

We stayed at an America's Best Value Inn.  It was about a 10-15 min drive from pretty much everywhere we wanted to go.  We stayed there though because despite both of us approaching 30 rapidly, we still stay at places that are just above needing hobo stab insurance.  Kidding.  Kinda.  We lived.  Actually, despite being next to a Hooters & a sketchier looking hotel, the inside had definitely been recently remodled & it served it's purpose.  Plus it was just over $150 for both nights.

There are no pictures because it was nothing special...it was just another motel.

Where We Ate

This is obviously the most important part.  Any trip that one goes on with me is quickly all about food.  What can I say?  Food is life.

We got into Nashville around supper time & we were both starving so before hotel check in or anything, food was first.  We hit up Hattie B's Hot Chicken on Charlotte because when in Nashville...  Seriously y'all I'm so glad we went there.  We both got the small dark plate, medium heat, with pimento mac & cheese and red skin potato salad.  It was so good.  The chicken & potato salad were to die for.  Just thinking about it right now is making me hungry.

We ate again late that night after bar at The Italian Kitchen.  This wasn't our best food choice of the trip.  We didn't really have a choice though.  It was the only place within walking distance of the bar we had been at that was open at 2 am.  Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't stellar.  For starters we ordered a small pizza...they accidentally made a calzone which was supposedly more expensive.  They asked if we wanted our pizza instead but we were hungry & tired so we ate the calzone.  It was mediocre & not worth the $20 we had given them... I wouldn't go back.

The next morning we went & got coffee and breakfast from the hotel quickly before getting ready to head out for our day in Nashville.

While out & about we both decided we need more caffiene, and caffine that tasted better than hotel coffee.  We stumbled across Bond Coffee while we were in The Gulch.  Despite not being a fan of anything pumpkin, the barista talked me into ordering October Sky.  Surprisingly it was really good.  It was a mix of pumpkin spice & salted caramel.  The pumpkin wasn't overpowering at all which is what made it great to me.

Lunch time on Saturday we found ourselves in East Nashville.  We talked about burgers but decided on tacos.  This was a solid choice.  I looked up best tacos in East Nashville & we wound up at Mas Tacos Por Favor.  This place was awesome.  The line was out the door & we quickly understood why.  Despite it's unassuming appearance, the food was incredible.  We both got a pulled pork taco, carne molida taco, elote, & a Mexican coke.  So so good.  I had elote for the first time this summer & I'm now obsessed.  Theirs did not disappoint.  It is cash only but the prices are very cheap.

We knew we wanted to be on Broadway Saturday night so we just ate at one of the bars there.  We decided on Honky Tonk Central.  We each just got a burger with tator tots.  I got the Cowboy Burger which came with provolone and jalapenos & then I added bacon...because bacon.  It was really good & the tots were the perfect crispiness.

Sunday morning we had intentions of going to The Flipside for their massive bloody mary but they didn't open until 11 & we needed to be on the road before then.  When we were in The Gulch the previous day we had seen a long line outside of Biscuit Love so we decided to go there.  We wanted to get a bloody mary from there as well but because we had arrived before 10 am & it was a Sunday, we couldn't get alcohol.  The food totally made up for it though.  We both got the Southern Benny & holy shit their sausage gravy.  The door guy had talked up their Chronic Bacon so I got a side of that as well.  I wasn't impressed.  The benny was more than enough food though so I wasn't too disappointed.

What We Did
We had no real plan for Nashville.  We knew we wouldn't be there for long so we didn't book any tours or create a long list of things we wanted to do.  Instead we just sort of went with the flow.  We knew we wanted to do karaoke so that's what we did Friday night.  After eating at Hatti B's & getting ready at the hotel we took an Uber to Ms. Kelli's Karaoke Bar.  We met a really fun couple there that we wound up hanging out with.  Alicia sang a little Merle Haggard & Kelli Pickler.  Together we sang 'Somethin Bad' by Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood because it's kind of our song.  We sang, we danced, we drank more than we intended, & spent too much money on an Uber back to the hotel after we hit up The Italian Kitchen.  Oh & those pickles?  I deemed those my purse pickles.  I love pickles...and they were extras from Hatti B's which were already in a handy to go container so I put them in my purse.  And yes, I ate them while at the bar.  No shame.  Probably going to make that a new thing actually...

Saturday was our day to really do whatever we were going to do.  Our only real plan was to find some murals.  So after our hotel breakfast of mini muffins & bad coffee, find some murals we did.  We went to The Gulch.  We went to East Nashville.  We went to some train tracks.  We went to South 12th.  In between finding murals is also when we got coffee at Bond Coffee and ate lunch at Mas Tacos Por Favor.

In between East Nashville and South 12th we hit up Centennial Park to see the Parthenon & enjoy the beautiful weather.  It was great to be able to enjoy the fresh air, see some leaves that were changing colors, and even hear the end of an impromptu performance by a couple of musicians.  The random musicians playing everywhere was probably one of my favorite parts of Nashville.

While in the South 12th area of Nashville we found a Sprinkles Cupcake ATM.  We both were wanting something sweet & this was on my "Fun in DFW" list so when we came across Sprinkles we had to make a pit stop.  While waiting for the line to go down for the I Believe in Nashville mural we sat on a bench eating our double chocolate cupcakes.  So sweet but so good!  I considered this a check off for my to do in Dallas even though we were in Nashville.  However, the cupcake was so good that I might just have to hit up the one in Dallas as well.

After South 12th we decided to head back to the hotel to relax for a bit & get ready for supper/going out that night.  As soon as we were ready we called an Uber to take us to Broadway.  Traffic was insane because of everything that was going on in town so we just had the driver let us out once we got close.  Neither of us were starving yet so we found the walk of fame & then tried to find the Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson murals that we hadn't found earlier in the day.  We couldn't find the Willie Nelson mural at all but we did find the Johnny Cash one...it was mostly covered due to construction.

Finally we decided to walk our way to Honky Tonk Central for dinner.  After we were done eating we spent some time there listening to music on the first & third floors.  We quickly decided to find a new place.  I found a place that said they had line dancing, the Wildhorse Saloon.  We walked in the door & right back out the door.  It was bright & the were line dancing to some modern pop song...no thanks.  We were briefly drawn into a couple of other bars simply because of the music we heard, one being Benchmark & the other one I don't recall the name of.  We then made our way to The Stage where we finished out the rest of our night.  While waiting for an Uber home we listened to Lexi Lew perform outside of some of the bars on Broadway.  That girl was good.  You should definitely give her a listen.

But Wait!  There's More! Memphis

The next morning we ate breakfast at Biscuit Love, failed to get more coffee from Bond Coffee because they're closed on Sundays, & then made the drive to Memphis.  Alicia had flown into Memphis because it was cheaper for her to fly into there than Nashville, & because I was driving through there since it was cheaper for me to drive to Nashville than it was for me to fly into there.  With it being a Sunday, & us not having a ton of time, we didn't really do much.  I took her to Beale Street so that she could see it since she had never been & also so that she could try some Memphis BBQ since she had never had it before.  We each got a bloody mary at Rum Boogie Cafe.  She also got a BBQ sandwich but I decided not to eat there.  I am definitely more of a Texas BBQ kind of girl & since I had already tried Memphis BBQ in the past I wanted to eat elsewhere.  After that we crossed the street & went to Silky O'Sullivans.  Silky O'Sullivans is actually where I spent part 2 of my 26th birthday/Halloween 2014.  We each got another drink & I got an order of oysters.  It had been so long.  It was a good choice.  We listened to some blue's music, ate, drank, talked, & then it was off the the airport.  I then made the remaining 7 hour drive back to Fort Worth.

I definitely want to go back to Nashville someday.  But next time with more time & money.

The Second Half Of My 20s Have Begun

Today I am 26.  Technically not until 10:43 am but whatever.  This year I did something big.  I bought myself a present.  Not a small deal present either.  I bought myself a trip to Memphis, TN to see Eric Church in concert.  The concert isn't until Halloween but I am so ecstatic!  He's my favorite & I have never been to Memphis.  I also bought myself a trip to San Antonio on Oct 25 to see Kip Moore.  I have friends from MN flying down for both!

Here is my 27 by 27 list.

1. Move back to Minnesota

2. Get some type of teaching job

3. Get into the U of M for my 2nd degree

4. Get a serving/bartending job

5. Visit a new state

6. Monthly girls' nights/weekends with Kickass Cousin

7. Read at least 12 books

8. Go to at least 6 concerts

9. Run at least 6 races

10. Get either both of my credit cards or 2 loans paid off

11. Create a different wreath/door sign for each season

12. Make 12 new recipes

13. Send a just because card to someone new each month

14. Do the 52 week money challenge

15. Get my motorcycle license

16. Paddleboard

17. Keep a my day in 6 words journal

18. Turn my Pinterest quotes board into a coffee table book

19. Visit 1 new MLB ballpark

20. Attend at least 1 NFL, MLB, & NHL game

21. MN state fair

22. Attend a food festival

23. Photograph Minneapolis/St Paul

24. If I'm still single on my 27th birthday start online dating...again...for real...like paid accounts

25. Skydive

26. Learn to play my guitar

27. Go fishing at least 3 times

Happy 25th Birthday To Me - Part 2

Back when I was...snap 21 years old...I created an 30 by 30 list.  That list is about to change my friends!  Why?  Well life as changed in the past 4 short years.  Some of those things are completely irrelevant at this point.  What was on the list you ask?  Well here it is:
1. Go on a cruise. (I guess I'd still like to...but I don't have a huge desire to go on a cruise really...& it's definitely not a before 30 bucket list type of thing)
2.Vistit 9 more states (Check...before 25)
3. Get married (This can stay)
4. Have kid(s) (This can also stay)
5. Read the 30 books you should read before 30 (I don't even remember what these books are...& according to who?? I googled it...there are lots of lists...this is out)
6. Drive coast to coast (This can stay)
7. Visit Europe again (This can definitely stay)
8. Find a "grown-up" job & love it (This is sticking because well I'm on year 2 of "grown-up" job but I defintiely don't love it)
9. Own a home (This stays)
10. Create a coffee table book (Let's be honest what kind of goal was this?  Out...)
11. Visit 3 more countries (This is out simply because I already have go back to Europe...)
12. Travel the Pacific Coast Highway (I'll make this a 101 in 1001 someday...not a must do before I'm 30)
13. Visit NYC (Again this is 101 in 1001 material)
14. Visit DC (Yep this one too)
15. Get a photography degree (This is also out...I go back & forth all the time with what I want to do...I don't know that that's it anymore either...)
16. Have at least 35% of my student loans paid off (Let's make that 50% as I'll have been paying for 6 years at that point...)
17. Become at least a part-time photographer (See #15...I think about it but I don't know that it's what I really want)
18. Get engaged (Out because doesn't getting married...#3...imply that I got engaged at some point...)
19. Survive deployment(s) (Out...I'm no longer with anyone in the military)
20. Repay my parents (As much as I'd love for this to stick...my original plan won't happen...)
21. Plan an amazing 5 year high school reunion (planned one...wouldn't call it AMAZING...but I did it...before 25...)
22. Plan an amazing 10 year high school reunion (Still have to be the one to plan it...don't care enough to put it on a 30 by 30 bucket list...)
23. Start a savings account for child(ren)'s college fund (Awesome idea but this won't be started until I have kids soooo OUT)
24. Build dream home (This one is out...just cause it's the same as owning a home...although I prefer it's one I build...)
25. Live in a big city/suburb for at least a year (Check...once again before 25...so out?)
26. Settle in a small town (This stays...I more than anything want out of the city/suburbs)
27. Participate in a 5k (Check...again before 25)
28. Get a tattoo (This happened at 22...out)
29. See at least 3 National Parks (This one stays)
30. Camp at at least half of the MN state parks (This is out...I don't even live in MN anymore & more than likely am not moving back...)

It's funny how much things can change in a relatively short amount of time...in just 4 years only 7 of my original goals even interest me anymore.  So while I started this post with the intent of creating a new, more relevant 30 by 30, it's come to my attention that who knows where I'll be in the next 5 years...so instead I'll create a realistic 26 by 26 that I have one year to complete.  Some may come from my 101 in 1001 & some may not.  No promises that I'll stick to it but perhaps I'll do this each year...26 by 26, 27 by 27, you get the picture ha.

So here's my 26 things I want to accomplish by Oct 23, 2014.
1. Read at least 5 of the 65 Books You Should Read in Your 20s (According to Buzzfeed...I'm an addict!)
2. Visit at least 1 new state
3. Have at least 20% of my student loans paid off
4. Step foot in a foreign country I've never been to before. (Considering I live 4 hours from Canada 3 months of the year & 5.5 from Mexico the other 9 you'd think this wouldn't be too hard...)
5. Check off at least 4 more things on my Texas Bucket List.
6. Get a teaching job in a new district.
7. Cook 12 new Pinterest meals.
8. Create 6 new Pinterest DIY projects.
9. Go on at least 1 date a month with a new guy (until I find a special someone)
10. Go to a movie by myself.
11. Watch 12 of the movies that people keep saying "OMG you've never seen that?!" to.
12. Get my 4th tattoo
13. Run at least 1 5k I've yet to run.
14. Start a mason jar of memories (screw waiting until Jan 1st!)
15. Attend a fitness class at least twice a month.
16. Watch all of Breaking Bad on Netflix
17. Watch all of Friday Night Lights on Netflix
18. Learn to play at least 1 song on the guitar...well
19. Get a psychic reading done for the fun of it
20. Kiss someone on NYE (for the first time since Dec 31st, 2009 I might add)
21. Learn Spanish
22. Go zip-lining
23. See at least 3 people/bands in concert I'v never seen before
24. Fall in love again
25. Ask a stranger to dance
26. Get 50 blog followers.

Happy 25th Birthday To Me - Part 1

1. Staying up past 11.

2. Leaving the house when there’s a Top Chef marathon on.

It’s the Voltaggio brothers’ season!

3. Crushing on boy bands without feeling a tad creepy.

You’re super cute, Harry Styles, but I could also be your mom. I mean, not really, but you know.

4. Recognizing your Facebook friends, because they’ve all gotten married and changed their last names.

5. Fighting the urge to get a dog.

You’re ready, right? You’re SO ready!

6. Rallying after day drinking.

That 6 p.m. nap is going to turn into a 12-hour snooze.

7. Making plans on summer Saturday nights…

…because of all the weddings.

8. Putting up with BS from anyone.

You’re too old for high school drama. TOO OLD.

9. Experimenting with trends.

Neon pink ombre hair might be cute, but it’s harder to pull off in, say, law school.

10. Going into Hot Topic.

YOUTHS.

11. Fitting into your bathing suit every year.

It shrank in the wash. It shrank in the wash, OK?

12. Going out on Halloween.

No, seriously, though. Why.

13. Making friends.

College and grad school, your ready-made social infrastructures, are dunzo.

14. Going out on both Friday AND Saturday night.

It’s not a real weekend if it doesn’t involve at least one sweatpants night.

15. Not feeling a little bit weird about being single.

Not that you’re on a timeline. BUT, society/your grandmother might make you feel like you should be.

16. Witholding your opinion.

You’re getting less scared to say exactly what you think — in a polite way, of course.

17. Eating whatever you want and not gaining weight.

That 2 a.m. grilled cheese actually does some damage now. RIGHT IN THE MIDSECTION.

18. Pulling off a graphic tee.

Not that it can’t be done, but your days of sporting suggestive Abercrombie-esque slogans on your chest should probably be behind you.

19. Recovering from a night out.

Remember getting drunk, going to bed without drinking any water, and then waking up and feeling fine? LOLOL.

20. Dating someone just for the heck of it.

You’re not necessarily ready to settle down just yet, but you ARE less likely to hook up with someone who’s totally wrong for you just because they’re cute or fun. It’s all about self-respect.

21. Blowing your bonus check on a new Macbook without feeling guilty.

Yes, you want to take a trip to Europe. But you know you *should* put that in your savings account.

22. Living on pizza and Red Bull and not feeling disgusting.

Salads? FINE.

If only because you’ve started to notice a difference in how you feel on the weeks when you eat right, vs. the weeks when you subsist on croissants ‘n’ mac and cheese.

23. Shopping at American Eagle.

That tube skirt would fit ONE of my thighs.

24. Not going after what you want.

The best part about getting older is naturally feeling more self-confident. You’ve stopped apologizing for your needs, and you’re more assertive about how and with whom you spend your time. Go get ‘em, tiger!

25. Watching MTV.