{Nashville}

I can't believe it has already been a little over two weeks since we've been home from Nashville, but the memories are still on my heart like it all just happened yesterday and I'm already wishing I could go back. It was another incredible week in my favorite place, and now more than ever, I am determined to move there after I graduate with my B.A. I know that there there are still plenty of things I need to do here first, and I've accepted that, but it also gives me an end goal to work towards and it gives me hope that even when things are tough..It WILL happen!

Anyway, it wasn't a typical trip to Nashville this time around since my dad wasn't able to go (heck, it was super last minute that we were going); instead we roomed with one of our friends from the Carrie Underwood fan club, Jamie, and we didn't actually go to CMA Fest itself, but we did get to do a lot of things we might not normally get to or haven't done before, which is always a fun adventure. I don't care what I'm doing as long as we're in Nashville...That's all that matters to me.

• Monday night:

The traditional stop at Cracker Barrel and walking around the Grand Ole Opry plaza. It was a GORGEOUS night! The weather was perfect and there was no one else around, so we just sat on benches and talked for awhile. We also got Sweet Cece's at Opry Mills!

• Tuesday: 

*Had breakfast at Pancake Pantry

*Got to see Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" exhibit before it opened to the public since we're fan club members!

*Fan Club party that was actually a songwriter's round with Josh Kear and Hillary Lindsey, two of the biggest songwriters around, and also a #1 party for "Two Black Cadillac's"! So cool to be involved with an industry event like that.

*Lunch at Demo's with my friend, Allie, Jamie and my mom.
*The Opry with Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Kree Harrison, Kellie Pickler, Ricky Skaggs, Diamon Rio, Bill Anderson, Lennon and Maisy. One of THE best shows I've ever been to! (Charles Eston, who plays Deacon on Nashville was also watching from the side of the stage; beaming with pride while Lennon and Maisy were singing, which was SO cute)
*Met Kacey Musgraves after the Opry show!

                            

Wednesday:

*Blown Away DVD screening for Carrie Underwood

*Lunch at Loveless Cafe with Jamie, my mom, and Allie

*Stood by the red carpet for the CMT Awards

*Ate at our usual sports grill across from Bridgestone to watch the awards, instead of actually going to them, which is just fine by me!

*Hung out by the buses behind Bridgestone to watch people leave. Saw: Carrie and Mike, Miranda (she didn't look to happy about waving to people and walked straight to the bus with her people), Nelly, Kacey Musgraves, Chuck Wicks (Who I called over and was super sweet to stop and chat.)

                                                   

Thursday:

*Lunch at Joe's Crabshack

*Explored some of the festivities downtown for a little while

*Hunter Hayes listening party at the aVenue--I was already a HUGE fan of his, but every time I see him live, he just continues to impress me! He's incredibly smart and what you see is what you get with him. 

*Went to Target and The Dollar Store

*Cut out a bunch of paper hearts for Carrie at The Opry the next night! and laughed...A LOT! HAHA!

                               

Friday:

*Two Story Road fan club party/meet and greet

*Kellie Pickler concert/meet and greet

*Both shows for the Opry with Lauren Alaina, Casey James, Josh Turner, Bill Anderson, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis and celebrating the 5 year anniversary of Carrie Underwood being an Opry member

 Saturday:
*Went to Frothy Monkey for breakfast with my mom! Such a cute place and good food/coffee!
*Went to the convention center and got to check out the new Music City Center, which was INCREDIBLE!
*Drove down Music Row
*Had lunch at Noshville Deli
*Made it to the airport...Sat by some lady screaming at everyone who looked at her after she was screaming and cussing on her phone...Word of advice, if you're ever in a situation like that do not make eye contact and don't chuckle to yourself, because that person will probably not find it charming and will also call you out...And so you just keep your head down for the duration of the waiting period so you avoid any other craziness.
*It's so strange, but every time we leave Nashville I feel nauseous just before the flight, so I've had to start taking medicine. Too many times I got really sick; once year, I threw up in the St.Louis airport and was miserable the entire time home..Another, coming home from my 18th birthday weekend, I had to grab the bag from the back of the seat, but ended up not actually needing it(sorry if it's TMI), and thought I was going to pass out. It was bad...And this time, I just felt really sick, even after the medicine. I was sitting on the plane, waiting to take off, and I just had this feeling in my gut that I shouldn't be leaving, or at least that I just really didn't want to. My mom said, "It's so weird that you only get sick on our way back. You don't want to leave do you?" I actually thought I was going to lose it right there, because I was tearing up before she even said anything. I finally just took a deep breath, caught my last glimpses of the city as we flew over it, knowing that I will be back someday...and I won't have to leave at the end of that week.

Stay tuned for a video of some of the adventures and a few more pictures from the trip! 

That's all for now,

Shelby :)

xoxox