All Shook Up

The best of our Fall Break was spent in Memphis (and Tupelo, MS too. It was a real Elvis tribute, our break.).

I still haven't told you about our travels to Chattanooga or all about the new house but meanwhile, you must get yourself to Memphis. Walk, drive, take a personalized plane. However you go, you'll love it.

If you live in Nashville (or maybe anywhere) Memphis gets a bit of a bad rap. So expectations were low but determination was high.

BBQ at Rendezvous was amazing. The boys are now fully indoctrinated in the art of ribs. They're becoming so Southern.

Let's just say Baby Sister took this snap of us with our legendary waiter.

The ducks paraded for us at The Peabody.

We toured the Lorraine Motel and the balcony at Room 306. It was like traveling back in time.

We rode a bus with Rosa Parks.

Later we drove to Oxford and toured Rowan Oak, William Faulkner's home and then onto Tupelo and a beautiful drive home along the Natchez Trace Trail.

But. Of course, in Memphis we went to Graceland.

Maybe it is our having just purchased a hip 1950s house, but we felt right at home here.

Life's funny like that. A year ago (or let's be honest, really ever) I would not have thought the Mister and I would seriously be lingering in Elvis and Pricilla's kitchen getting decorating ideas.

I fell in love with the Mister all over again when we were swooning over the TCB (Taking Care of Business - In a Flash!) room. Call our contractor stat. We want this recreated in Nashville.

I'm not a big fan of white damask, but the sheer size of his living room couch is enviable. Truly, this couch sums up Memphis. Maybe a little beyond its prime but somehow amazingly cool and very okay with itself. Wow. If that's the case, I think I aspire to personify Memphis!

As always, unsung heroes of the trip are adjoining hotel rooms, elevators, breakfast buffets and a swimming pool. To the King, and all of Memphis, for all we learned and enjoyed we say, "Thank you. Thank you vuurry much." 

Party of Four

I took these little pumpkins out over Fall Break. Even if we were wearing shorts and t-shirts, it felt very seasonal to pull a wagon through cornstalks and hay bales. To try our hand at pumpkin bowling and sort through lots of gourds and pumpkins.

We bought a few pumpkins and roasted seeds. Biggest Brother and Baby Sister made their own wagon ride at home. 

And I've been hard at work making our home welcoming to the season and lots of guests, too.

We're magnets for pumpkins and gourds lately so there are lots more just since I took these pictures.

You can bet I'm already thinking how we'll decorate our new house before long. It is all so exciting and well ahead of November, I'm very thankful.  xo

Treasure Hunting in Nashville

The Mister and I've had such fun treasure hunting in Music City lately. Every find is better than the last. This city has so much character. In the people and places. It is full of hidden gems. Our favorite parts of Nashville are the quirky old bits (Quirky Old Bits also being a great name for a band) which are lovingly updated. 

So as we've settled into our new town, we've happily been on the hunt for the best of Nashville's cool old charm.

We found this beauty straight out of Darren and Samantha's Bewitched kitchen.

We fell for this 1955 RCA Victor.

And dozens of vintage Jack Daniels barrels stacked two stories high.

We stumbled upon these retro bathrooms that make rainbows envious.

This old pub is oozing with history. If those walls could talk, right?

I adore this atomic age restaurant booth.

We loved it so much that we bought it. 

All. 

These goodies and so much more are parts of our new home! Can you stand it?!  I wish you were here to walk through it right now. Just like us, you'd scream and squeal when you see it. You might even do a little dance of glee. It is the coolest. We're in love. 

Our new house is a complete departure from the train line Chicago suburbs and a pre-war flat in London. The kids may get architecture degrees by osmosis.

This gem needs some TLC and a few updates so we're not moving for a while (whew! I'm in a bit of denial about boxing up our life again), but we spent a fantastic afternoon there today exploring inside and out. Much as the small people loved the house itself, the enormous backyard really won them over. They have an especially neat part of the house to call theirs. A pocket door, that blue bathroom and maybe even one big bunk room!

In what's becoming the story of our life, finding this house was unexpected but equally meant to be. We're thrilled to carry on its legacy from the original owners and their four children.

So thanks for reading along for this new chapter. It promises to be full of vintage goodness. And a whole lot of Jack Daniels.