Roadtrip to Nashville

2014 was going to be the year the Singleton's paid Nashville a visit. It was a goal and we were going to make it happen. Until it didn't.

It turns out 2015 would the the year of Nashville. It's a lot easier to plan a trip when you have a show at the Ryman on the itinerary.

During this past Thanksgiving, my cousin, Mitch and I discovered that we both have Mat Kearney tunes buried in our music library. December rolled around and what do ya know, Mat Kearney announced he was releasing a new album and going on tour in 2015. Unfortunately, there were no Charlotte dates but I did notice that the last stop on his tour was in Nashville, TN. It was too good to pass up. Especially when I learned the show was on a Saturday. More reason to go!

April rolled around and it was finally time to pack up and head to the music city we've heard only good things about. We arrived that night and Mitch had us out on the town in no time. We ate dinner downtown and headed to the popular Broadway Street shortly after. My cousin is a rock star and literally knew everyone in the street. We popped in and out of bars while he high-fived and chatted it up with all the bands playing at each one we entered. He also took us to the pedestrian bridge where we got a breathtaking overlook of the music city. Nashville was alive and hopping all night but we were tired from work that morning and the 6 hour drive. It was time to get some shut eye.

Morning rolled around and needless to say, we woke up hungry. We headed to the Pancake Pantry, a down-home breakfast spot where the line wraps around the corner each morning. If there's a line, you know it's good so we couldn't miss out on the opportunity. It turns out the wait was well worth it. After an hour long wait, we stuffed our faces with delicious pancakes galore. You guys. These pancakes were SO GOOD. I had no shame in eating all five.

We decided to walk off our breakfast, strolling through the streets and taking a peek at the adorable boutique shops here and there. I was in heaven but knew to keep it short with two guys tagging along.

Next, Mitch drove us to Love Circle, a small park that holds a beautiful view of the Nashville skyline. It is located at one of the highest points of the city and also sits next to Mt. Richmore, the home of John Rich from Big and Rich. My photo doesn't do the view justice but Mr. Rich is lucky to see that view whenever he is home.

Centennial Park was calling our name so we drove over to find an exact replica of the Parthenon sitting in the middle of the park. Its doors were closed to take a tour inside but it was mind boggling to see how large the building was.

The Gulch, a trip to Grimey's Record Store and a ride down Music Row were checked off our list next. You couldn't help but be inspired while passing publishing houses, recording studios and other businesses along the street. My heart was happy when we passed banners that expressed their accomplishments of their song being picked up by an artist. It's so cool to see where music begins.

The clouds began to darken so we headed home for a quick nap to rest up for the evening. We ended up sleeping through tornado warnings but woke up well rested, ready for our "wild" night out on the town. We were able to hang with the cool kids until the wee hours of the morning that night. Friends, you would be proud.

The next morning we were able to meet up with our dear friends, Josiah and Heather. Barista Parlor is one hip coffeehouse. You never would have thought you were drinking coffee in what used to be a mechanics garage. The redefined space was the perfect spot to catch up and reminisce our college days at App State.

We toured the streets of downtown Nashville a little more before heading back and taking another nap. Let me remind you, we were out late the night before and hadn't got much sleep. No judging, please.

We awoke to what felt like a brand new day. Believe it or not, there were still more streets to tour before we headed to see Mat Kearney, Parachute and Judah & the Lion. We headed to 12 South for pops from Las Paletas and a pic by the "I believe in Nashville" mural. You pretty much haven't been to Nashville if you haven't taken a pic by the sign.

Dinner that night was SO GOOD. We had some top notch burgers in East Nashville at the Pharmacy. We happily ate our burgers, sipped on our old-time sodas and headed to the entire reason for the trip, MAT KEARNEY at THE RYMAN!

Ahhhh, the Ryman. Such a beautiful and breathtaking auditorium. We found our seats and were lucky enough to hear the last two songs of Judah & the Lion. This trio was at home in Nashville putting on an amazing performance. Parachute amped up the crowd next, getting everyone ready for Mat Kearney. The sold out show got on their feet when Mat hit the stage. The story-telling, spoken word artist had our attention all night with his unique beats and dance moves that he wasn't afraid to bust out. It was great to be a part of a show that meant so much to him in his hometown.

And just like that, our trip to Nashville sadly came to an end. Mitch was the best tour guide around, making us feel at home and feeding us the best of the best. He simply made this trip a 10/10! It wouldn't have been the same without him. Thanks, Mitch! You da best!

The Dirty 30.

One day you wake up and suddenly you're 30 years old.

That happened fast.

Turning 30 is kind of a big deal. 30 is the benchmark for adulthood. No more 20s. 10+ years out of high school even though it doesn't seem like it was that long ago.

Hmm, suddenly making myself feel old.

I'm happy to be here. Happy I've made it to see 30. And very happy I have a wonderful wife and wonderful mother who had the great idea to help me celebrate.

I seriously couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. Started out with gorgeous weather and time well spent at the driving range with 2 of my best friends - my brother, Reuben and my brother from another mother, Johnaustin. The range has become a fun place to go to for killing time, thinking, and trying to capture that elusive perfect swing. Good times with good friends, doesn't get any better.

Next it was party time. And again, couldn't have asked for anything better. Friends and family all gathered at VBGB to eat, drink and celebrate. I didn't want a huge event. Didn't need tons of gifts or all the attention. I just wanted to hang out with some of my favorite people.

I ended up getting some pretty sweet gifts too! Apparently I've done a fantastic job letting everyone know I'm a big fan of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and the Ninja Turtles. But my favorite gifts were the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack on vinyl and… a new vacuum. (What can I say, I like a clean floor.)

To those who were unable to be with me and sent messages through text and Facebook, thank you so much. It actually does mean so much to me to get those messages. And to everyone who came and celebrated with me, I can not thank you enough. I genuinely love you all.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Mraz Superfan Status

I'm pretty sure you all know by now that I am a huge fan of Jason Mraz. On Februray 20th, I'd say I finally reached the super fan status by attending my 10th show. Seeing my favorite fedora wearing, earth loving, happy hippy artist never gets old. Each and every show I see is different in the best ways possible. He is always changing things up for the better. From ad libbing songs, to acoustic sets, to creating visuals made out of recycled plastic bottles, Mraz is constantly doing something new to keep things fresh.

When it was announced in January that Jason Mraz and Raining Jane were finally making their way to the Carolinas, I was one happy girl. So happy that I tweeted about it. That tweet led to the Jason Mraz Team kindly reserving a pair of seats for Jeremy and I on the 5th row, smack dab in the center. They were perfect seats where we sat beside a few other Super fans that I was happy to meet.

The night began with Jason introducing  Raining Jane, an electric rock-folk band, who he created his last album of upbeat, acoustic songs with. Although down one Jane, the three women warmed the audience up with their sweet harmonies and stories of how some songs came to be. Jason joined them soon after starting with one of my faves from the new album, Love Someone.

I was on cloud 9 the entire night. By the time we reached intermission, my cheeks hurt from smiling the entire time. I have never heard Jason talk so much during the show. It was awwwwwesome. He cracked jokes, serenaded a couple who just got married that day and told stories of his garden. The venue made the show feel intimate, almost like we were sitting in a coffee shop, which I love.

My favorite part of the show was when Jason showed a video of when he and percussionist, Mona, went on an Antartic voyage with Al Gore's team for The Climate Reality Project in 2012 . The video played behind them as they sang along. You couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking sites, say "awwww" at the penguins and laugh at their attempted dance moves. They made you feel like you were right there with them on the trip.

Another personal touch of the show I enjoyed was seeing Jason's garden while they played, "Back to the Earth". A beautiful picture of his garden was shown during the set and afterwards he shared his gardening skills and stories of his avocado farm. I'm hoping to follow in his footsteps this spring by building my own garden box! (Okay let's be real. Jeremy is building the box for me.)

I didn't want the night to end and even attempted waiting by his tour bus to get a print I have signed. Sadly, I wasn't the only one waiting and have to dream of getting the print signed another day.

I could not have asked for a better little getaway for Jeremy and I that weekend. It was nice to explore the streets of Greenville, SC and treat our ears to some great music. I couldn't have asked for a better 10th show. 

L-O-V-E

Every February, we like to update everyone on what we're currently loving. It's our way to share with you all some of the awesomeness we've got going on in the Singleton household.

So without further ado, let's put a bow on this month! Here's a quick look at what we're loving at the moment!

Vinyl
We definitely have a bit of 'hipster' in us, but we've totally fallen in love with vinyl records. There's just something about the crackling noise made once the needle touches the album that just feels (and sounds) good. We've quickly increased our little collection with a wide variety of albums. From Jay-Z to Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson to Hozier - relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with the smooth sounds from a vinyl record has become routine.

Date Nights!
Recently we've enjoyed time spent together and have had some fun date nights! Our date nights have included:
Comedian Hannibal Burress. This guy is funny. He's pretty quirky, but undeniably hilarious. He's played small rolls in a few movies (most recently the police officer in 'Neighbors') but his stand-up is must-see.

Black Violin. This duo of hip hop violinists was quite a surprise! Mixing classical violin with hip hop culture, this fusion was a delight to experience and dance to. The creative mix of genres and styles made for a fun and highly entertaining evening the sold out theatre clearly enjoyed.

Mraz. Asha's favorite artist finally put a tour date that was semi-close to home. She bought tickets and instantly told me I was her date for the evening. It was a great show and of course she loved it. I'm pretty sure she'll be blogging about it in the next post.

Coaching
I enjoyed another fun year of coaching JV basketball at Carmel Christian High School. This past season was the debut of almost an entirely new coaching staff. We didn't quite have the same success on JV as the previous season, but there's definitely a new culture forming within the basketball program. The new staff had a seamless transition bringing in much needed excitement and energy which definitely translated onto the court. The best thing about coaching is that it continues to be fun and I'm already excited for next season.

TV
Thank God for DVR! A couple shows we're enjoying right now are 'Empire', 'Blackish' and 'the Goldbergs'. Empire has been surprisingly addicting. I've labeled it as the "black version of Nashville". Lots and lots and lots of drama within the music hip hop music industry. Plus, there's some good music.

After a slow start, 'Blackish' has now become a favorite. It helps that the show is very relatable to us, but it's nice to see familiar scenarios played out comedically on screen.

Asha has also been into the Goldbergs. She's been watching since season 1 but I seem to laugh any time I get a glimpse of it. It seems to be having a good run.

We really wanted to bring you at least 5 subjects to talk about but that 5th was a struggle. We'll just have to settle for 4 and hope that you enjoy those.