Nashville Travel Guide

Although I'm not able to join in on the fun at TPT Nashville this week, I went there with my friend Lauren last year and wanted to share our favorite travel spots. These are all *must sees*! Prepare to bring all the stretchy pants and loose fitting clothes because you are going to eat your way through the small but ever growing city. Seriously. This was hard to me! I am a naturally whole wheat, non-fried, moderate carb, fruit and veggie eater BUT I didn't miss out on trying all the fried, spicy and sweet flavors of Nashville. 

Did you know that 80-100 people move to Nashville every day? I sure didn't, but every single Uber driver that picked us up somehow seemed to share this with us! Coming from the New York City/Philly area, we also found it comical when they kept warning us about "all the traffic." 

BREAKFAST & LUNCH: BISCUIT LOVE

Located in The Gulch is the modern, yet quaint breakfast and lunch spot, Biscuit Love. It has all the southern flavor and feels that warm your heart. Don't be alarmed by the line that winds down the road, as I was when we first arrived. It moved fast and we were seated in 25ish minutes! I recommend getting there early if you hope to skip out on a line.

It was so delicious that we actually went back for a second time in just our long weekend stay! The biscuits melt in your mouth and you'll most likely want to take some on the go!

There's even a precious gift shop for you to stock up on treasures and jams. 

Once we got outside, we even found this quaint flower truck! They pop around all different spots in Nashville selling the most beautiful fresh flowers. Follow them on Instagram at @Ameliasflowertruck to see where they will be next!

                                                                                                                    DOWNTOWN "GO TO" SPOT: ACME FEED & SEED                                                                                                                                     Looking for a great place to R & R on your trip? Acme Feed and Seed is located in the heart of Nashville. It's home to incredible chicken sandwiches, music and dancing. We were lucky enough to catch a live band our first night there.                                                                                                                 
We loved it so much that the next day we went back to explore it more during the day. We found it has the perfect rooftop area! You can see incredible views of the downtown area, Cumberland River and Nissan Stadium. We enjoyed to warm spring sun over some refreshing frozen lemonades.

Downstairs there's a great spot for a photo op too! 

                                                                                                                                                    SHOPPING: DRAPER JAMES                                                                                                                                                          This preppy meets southern charm flagship store was at the top of our list! Maybe you'll even get lucky and shop alongside the well known celebrity that's the owner and designer of this brand- Reese Witherspoon. It features timeless styles to add to your wardrobe and home!                                                                                                                          Even though we didn't get lucky enough to see her, we were greeted with sweet teas  to enjoy while we shopped. Talk about southern hospitality!!    

There are also these sweet signs to get some more photo ops just outside of the store!

DOUGHNUTS: FIVE DAUGHTERS BAKERY

Located in 12 South, just a few blocks from Draper James we stumbled upon the home to doughnut heaven. There are 100 layer doughnuts, stuffed doughnuts, iced doughnuts and more! 

I couldn't get over how amazing they were! Doughnuts for days!!!!

MORE SHOPPING: DISTRICT 18

Coffee Shop: Fido

Ice Cream: Jeni's Splendid

We found that the best shopping and boutiques were actually in the little less traveled section of Nashville. Search "District 18" and you'll find it all! Men's and women's boutiques, quiet coffee shops, consignment shops and more! We were so happy to find gifts for some special ones back home. 

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of Nashville. I hope ya'll have a great time! 

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Save the Date with Paperless Post

Thank you to Paperless Post for collaborating with me on this blog post. I received payment, trade, and or products from Paperless Post in exchange for promoting. However, all opinions stated are my own and I only promote products that I use and love. 

With spring in full bloom and summer just around the corner, I'm looking forward to finalizing my summer travel plans! As the years go by it seems that getting together with my high school friends becomes increasingly more difficult. Between work schedules, moving, engagements, and weddings, finding time to see each other is a challenge. Each summer, my friends and I try to arrange a special weekend away together.

This year we decided to have a girls' weekend in Montauk, NY. (The Hamptons are one of my favorite summer weekend trips! Interested in traveling there? More details later in the post!) I was so excited when I heard about Paperless Post, a company that designs customizable online and printed stationary! Their stationary includes colorful, creative and bold options, uniquely designed by world famous designers and lifestyle brands including kate spade new york, Rifle Paper Co., and more!



The online stationary feature is so convenient! It's difficult keeping up with everyone's changing addresses these days that I decided to use the digital option. There were so many fabulous designs that supported my beach theme- it was so hard to choose! Once I looked close enough to notice all the small customizable details, I narrowed my choice to the Palmier III Gold. If you know me well, I'm a sucker for gold! :) You can find all the Paperless Post save the date options here.

Paperless Post allows you to customize each and every detail that you can possibly think of. You can use the text sample as inspiration but don't have to be limited to it. This particular theme included a save the date text sample that I loved. However, the font text, color, size, spacing, etc. can all be personalized! Even small coloring details and the backdrop images can be adjusted.

After personalizing the card, you'll be able to customize the envelope, liner, stamp and postmark. There are plenty of stamp options to fit all occasions. Did you notice the postmark? I couldn't help but add the "I Love NY" postmark- it is so fitting! The little details make all the difference.

Paperless Post has proved to show that communication can be personal and well designed regardless of the medium.

The digital stationary also features an option to include a reply for your guests. Once again, you have the ability to customize the reply card design and backdrop. I love how effortless this is for the host to organize the responses and for guests to reply- no needing to pick up the phone to text or call!

Another great feature Paperless Post has included is that you are able to enter the event details. You can select any details that suit your needs, including a location, guest details, a gift registry and your contact information.

Once you have completed entering in all the necessary information, you will be able to send your save the date or invitation via email. Paperless Post created a very user friendly system that allows you to easily enter guest information on your own or even import it from other mediums. It also includes the option to send a sample to your personal email for free! This is the perfect way to confirm you are ready to send them out to all your guests.

Your guests will receive a card similar to the image below in their email inbox.

Once they select "view the card," the computer will generate a moving image of the envelope opening and the card sliding out.

It truly feels like a special treat receiving it in your inbox!

Below the card is where your guests will be able to to R.S.V.P. to the event. Paperless Post also keeps track of all the responses, making it easier to continue with the remainder of your event plans.

My friends absolutely loved receiving their save the dates! It has been an absolute pleasure using Paperless Post and I now look forward to our weekend away in The Hamptons.

If you live in the northeast and haven't traveled to The Hamptons, I highly recommend it! It's the perfect weekend getaway. It's home to pristine beaches, luscious green gardens, and the best beach boutiques!

Although there are plenty of shops, I find the best to be in East Hampton and Southampton. Both towns have the perfect mix of name brands and independent designers. You can find everything from clothes and home goods to farmers markets and the best cheese shops!

You'll find plenty to do and see in The Hamptons. There are a few small quaint towns that make up The Hamptons and getting around within the towns by bike is your best bet! It's perfect for easily finding a spot to park at the beach and getting into town for a quick bite to eat.

Also, I suggest you look into traveling to The Hamptons via The Jitney or by train. There is a significant amount of traffic heading west of NYC on the weekends. Consider driving during off hours to limit amount of traffic you will hit.

You'll quickly find that the streets and houses are lined with hydrangeas and boxwoods, accompanied by the sweetest gardens. Find a shady spot to read a book or enjoy your lunch!

Last but not least, my absolute *favorite* Hamptons treat! You can't leave without getting yourself one of Montauk's finest lobster rolls! They are so fresh and the perfect summer treat!

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