Around Chattanooga: Fiery Gizzard Trail

Last week Dan ended a tour in Chattanooga so Liam and I took a little road trip down there. Liam napped on the way down and we stopped at Fiery Gizzard Trail. It was super hot and muggy. I brought Liam’s swim trunks and we set out down the trail. What I failed to bring was a suit for me or a change of cloths but we improvised. We climbed over boulders and went up to the mouth of a cave. We threw rocks and dipped our feet in the cool spring. He absolutely loved it. He fell on the climb out and I had been carrying him so I was dirty and tired and he was scratched up. I lost track of time and showed up at the concert just as the show was starting. I was pretty much covered in mud and dripping with sweat. But, guess what? I have no regrets. 'Twas far better than sitting at home, waiting for him to return. Liam rocked his headphones and got to see his daddy do his thing. I forgot all about how tired and sweaty I was when I got to eat free food and sit backstage. This summer: more adventures, more live music. Making memories is never a mistake.

The Nashville Narnian

The new blog name, Nashville Narnian, came to me when I was thinking about other blog names. "The Tiny Twig", "Paper Mama" and "Delightfully Tacky" dont really mean anything. They are just words put together and they become a brand. The only reason I was LMR Photos was because...it's a long story. I screwed up my URLs when my blog was "dontknowhowtorelax.com" and there was something about not paying Google? [Dont ever not pay Google. Google owns everything.] 

So, The Nashville Narnian popped into my head and I didn't question it. Sometimes I mull things over for far too long and other times I make a decision and never give it more than a second's thought. This was the latter. And, in that second, I was transported to a magical, beautiful place in time. A place where I'm sipping my favorite beverage amongst the company of my friends, on a boat, or I guess in snow storm a la The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Wherever it is, I'm happy. Narnia is magic and joy and a little bit of fear and that's what my new life in Nashville has been. It's a place where I can dream and be anything I want to be. It's a place that , like Eustace, can turn you into a dragon or turn you into kings and queens.

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New Site! New Blog!

I'm changing things up a bit! I'm not blogging as much as I used to and I'm taking a lot more photos. It had been a few years since I had an actual photography website. So, Dan and I spent the last few days putting together this:

I'm so happy to introduce to you the new LMRphotos.com!

I'm also happy to introduce "the nashville narnian" to you! This blog has a new name and URL, too, so please update your browsers and bookmarks! It's going to be just like the old LMR Photos but you can expect a few more photos from Dan, too. 

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Happy Father's Day

This man. This wonderful man. I always knew he'd be a good dad but he has blown me away with the way he loves our son. He is Liam's hero. He spent countless nights feeding Liam in the middle of the night and hours playing Legos. Just because he travels doesn't mean that he's not fully committed to being a father.

We're going to go visit Dan in Chatanooga today - even though he's coming home tonight! We couldn't bear to not see him when he's so close to home.

Daniel, I don't know what we'd do without you. You are the light of our lives and we love you so much. Happy Father's Day!

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"Let Me Help You Through This Day"

We moved to Nashville for so many reasons. To further Dan's career, to be more focused, to be around like-minded dream-chasers, to do life with people who live like we do.

I didn't move to Nashville to be lonely. But...... I'm lonely. Why is that so hard to admit? Is my pride so big that I cant stand the thought of being pitied? (Yes.) Do I not want my friends and family to worry about me? (Yes.) I love this blog post by Kristen from When at Home about loneliness. It encouraged me to embrace this slower season of life. Motherhood is lonely. Especially in a new city. Especially with a traveling husband. When most of your friends are traveling and touring or married to someone who is traveling or touring, it's lonely.

I've been through constant change over the past 4 years and just when I so desperately want to settle, more change is coming. Our future is a bit uncertain. I may be taking on more work which means Liam may be going to daycare. I might see Dan a lot less. We might jump through all the hoops to get approved for a mortgage. I might have to, yet again, report a change of income to Obamacare and deal with finding another new healthcare plan. Or, life may continue on as it has. But hopefully, no matter what happens, life in Nashville will go on with lots more friends, more hope and less stress.

The journal entry below is my new daily prayer. A Seattle-blogger friend of mine, Ally, posted it on Instagram just when I needed it so badly. I need to stop relying on my own strength (or Dan's strength) to get through each day when God offers peace, joy and contentment. I know a lot of lonely people in Nashville and I want to do something about it. I'm dreaming of prayer groups and dinner parties and mommy-outings. I am dreaming of helping others while ultimately helping myself - it's disgusting when you put it that way but it just might work.

Please, if you're the praying type, lift up our family in prayer when you think of us.

Pure, American Grit

I've had so much on my mind lately. Dan leaves today, and after spending 16 days with a dreamer I am exhausted and hopeful all at once. I am also a dreamer but I dream a lot bigger when he's around. We sit and chat after Liam goes to sleep and we plan our life and bounce ideas off one another. 

We've sacrificed a lot to be in Nashville and we keep reminding ourselves of the amazing 10-day Mediterranean cruise we did in October and that we got to see all of his family in Chicago at Christmastime (even the ones from South Africa and Boston)! We really want to buy a house after our one year lease is up. I'll try to be okay if we can't and remind myself that we've been prioritizing our independence, travel and, you know, eating over working for the man to get approved for a mortgage. I'm of the belief system that everything happens for a reason and that everything works out the way it's supposed to. It always has and it always will.

I wore this outfit to the park (and I found a tick in my hair afterward... dont get me started on that) and I felt pretty comfortable in it. I really dont like shorts but I tried something new with the tied top. Dan found the location for these photos. It's off Chestnut in a not-so-nice area of Nashville that is still so very much the heart of this city sans glitz, just pure American grit.

Plaid top: thrifted (with the sleeves ripped off), tank top: TJ Maxx, Shorts: Gap, Shoes: TOMS. Sunglasses: Forever 21.

Getaway to Gatlinburg, TN

Liam's first ice-cream cone from Mary Pop's. "The Goob" = peanut butter and grape jelly. So good.

It has been so nice having Dan home for more than 36 hours. We get 2 and a half uninterrupted weeks with him. Earlier this week we got to stay at Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee so that we could relax a little. It's a 3 and a half hour drive east of Nashville, just 45 minutes south of Knoxville, Tennessee.

We ate fried chicken, pizza, pancakes and had the THE BEST EVER ice cream at a new place called Mary Pop's on the main street. Gatlinburg is in the Smokey Mountains and it is just beautiful. It's a tourist trap but it's still got a lot of authentic charm and retro nostalgia in every corner. The Glenstone Lodge hadn't been updated - and that's exactly how I liked it. It was the perfect, little getaway. Gatlinburg, we'll be back!
 

Asleep in a queen sized bed - with propped -up pillows blocking the light from the TV. (Thank God for closed captioning!)

 

The Thrifted Midi Skirt + Summer Style Tips

A few weeks ago I was HOTT (two Ts) and I didn't know what to wear. I've since hit up some thrift shops for vintage midi-skirts and with the help of my "stylist" (my friend from Tacoma: Sarah, of Lady Go Lightly) I started throwing together creative summer outfits. In the NW we had about 6 weeks of summer and I worked full time so my summer clothes are shabby. Suitable for camping, at best. Jorts, tank tops and too-short sun dresses is about all I had and most of it was a decade old. So now that I'm a grown lady with a career, living in a place with 6 months of summer I needed help. Here are some of Sarah's tips for dressing nice when it's hott. Sarah has lived in Virginia so although she's a Pacific Northwest girl she knows what's up with Southern weather.

Thrifting (esp. Summer skirts) is your best friend. I like essentials in a bunch of colors, like a tank top (or cropped top) that is perfect... In mint, white, peach, grey, blue, etc. Because then you can make skirt outfits without too much effort. You can dress down pretty vintage dresses. Also, I'm super into all things 70s right now which happen to be great summery pieces. You already know those tricks though, just keep an eye out for cotton, light colors, and flowy things! Also, mumus. They are all over the Goodwill. I even buy them a bit oversized if the pattern is cute (which is kind of rare)... Trust me, belt those babies and it's like instant cute. Also when you are getting dressed really quick, pattern play. Like a striped top with a floral skirt. All sinched at the waist but flowy with sandals and aaah cute.

I paired this 80s midi skirt with a tucked-in top from last summer and strappy wedges. My hair has been a mess so top knots are a must when it's really hot and humid. I'm not so scared of the heat anymore. Pour me another cool glass of [un]sweet tea, please! I'm ready for 3 more months of summer. [I think.]

Shirt, Wedges, Headband: Target. Skirt: Thrifted.