After a Friday Five fail last week, it’s back. My excuse for last week: a long work day and the Avett Brothers. I finally got the chance to see them live and they are now officially on my list of top 5 live performances. They should probably make up all five parts of the missing Friday Five. So here ya go: 1) all of their albums, 2) their lyrics and ability to beautifully tell a story with each song, 3) their live performances, 4) the fact that they’re family, and 5) their NPR Tiny Desk Series performance. There ya have it. 

Now, for this week’s list:

1. 3 weeks until my first {community} Thanksgiving!

Found this post on one of my go-to blogs the other day and got pretty excited. This year, as usual Halloween was over and I found myself wanting to dive straight into all things Christmas, but this blog was just the reminder I needed that I am hosting my FIRST Thanksgiving this year. A new stage of life, a new home, a new community, and Mom and Dad are coming to Nashville - all great reasons for my first Thanksgiving dinner. 

I have some planning to do. It hit me today that I finally get to host my first houseful of people for a holiday. That’s pretty exciting. So, here’s to planning, cooking, decorating, and giving thanks for all the good things - new and old. 

{I’ve been referring to this year’s Thanksgiving as my Felicity Thanksgiving. If you haven’t seen Felicity, I’m officially making Felicity on Netflix #1.5 in this week’s Friday Five.}

2. Sweet Potato Latte at The Frothy Monkey.

Basically I could just make this post about The Frothy Monkey in general because I love everything about that place, but I recently saw a tweet they posted about their new sweet potato latte and I had to have one because of my love for all things sweet potato. Holy sweet potato! There was no doubt what it tasted like and it was absolutely delicious. I tend not to stray from my usual americano, but this was definitely worth a little adventure. 

So, if you don’t live in Nashville or haven’t ventured over to 12 South to try out this great neighborhood coffee shop (also the first place I stopped on my first trip to Nashville), you should probably make some time to come to my neighborhood and try it out. And if you make it in time they just might still have the sweet potato latte for you to fall in love with.

They also recently started serving dinners at the shop that I have been dying to try thanks to all of the tweets and photos that have been posted lately. Good thing it’s right around the corner…

3. “Learn to love the fool in me”.

We’re not created to be perfect - but I’ve been trying to be more aware of things I need to work on to be a better friend, daughter, sister, employee, and even stranger lately. Whether it’s paying closer attention to those things that make other people happy, figuring out why I get frustrated by little things sometimes, or just making sure I’m letting things happen rather than controlling my day-to-day I’m trying to be more aware of how I’m affecting myself and others. This quote is the reminder we can, and will, make mistakes because it’s our nature. It reminds me that I’m not always going to have the right answer or know how to fix a situation, and that’s ok.

“I must learn to love the fool in me—the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool.”

— Theodore I. Rubin, MD

4. Riffs Food Truck.

So I have yet to find a Nashville food truck that I don’t love, but this one steals the show in my book. 

Riffs is a venture composed of two guys who have found a love for the creative outlet that food has become in their lives and the joy that comes from seeing others enjoy their efforts.

B.J. Lofback and Carlos Davis have created something beautiful and absolutely delicious. Their food speaks for itself and I will warn you - you WILL be addicted. Not only is their food unbelievable, but their service can’t be beat. Friendly is an understatement. Everyone in the truck has a smile on their face and they all make an effort to get to know their customers. Watching Carlos prepare each order it’s obvious he loves what he’s doing and has a passion for the food he creates. That’s something that is so unique to the food truck culture and what makes these meals that much more enjoyable. 

I’m going to stop here and let your mouthwatering and curiosity force you to hunt down Riffs on the streets of Nashville.

{I may have a slight addiction to Riffs’ Turkey Meatballs and Israeli Couscous.}

5. Random acts of kindness birthday.

This one is another find from one my favorite blogs this week. Just check it out and let it motivate you to surprise someone with a random act of kindness today.