1. Cause A Scene Music Blog.

Nashville’s music scene can be overwhelming at times, for musicians and fans alike. As fans, we’re constantly taking in new sounds and learning about an up-and-coming band or the newest singer/songwriters. At the same time, one of the coolest things about Nashville is the accessibility to all of the talent, and the fact that, as fans, we can help support new talent that we love.

Recently, Larry Kloess decided to help local (and some not so local) musicians and began working on a way “to champion the artists that make us come alive and believe in the transcending quality of music.” Larry created Cause A Scene Music Blog to help expose those artists and bands who are on the verge of something big but somewhere just below the radar. In addition to the blog, he has organized an exciting series of house shows that allow these artists to play for an intimate audience of Nashvillians who are anxious for new sounds. Larry is on to something big and has come up with a great new way of bringing musicians and the people waiting for their new favorite bands together. 

 You can check Cause A Scene out more on the blog and on Facebook.

2. Loft Resumes.

So this week I helped one of my best friends back in Ohio with a project. She was working on her resume for a job interview with a non-profit. It may sound boring to most, but I love this kind of project. Maybe that’s why I was a technical communication major, or at least now I can tell myself that my love for wording, conciseness, user-centered language and design are normal. The added bonus to this project was that it was for a non-profit where a little extra flare in terms of design would actually go somewhere with the potential viewer. I’ve heard my friend say more than once this week, “Molly, I don’t know why you like this stuff…”

So, after finishing the review on her resume, I was pretty excited to come across this site while reading through my daily collection of blogs - Loft Resumes. Seriously? People are getting paid to do this?? Gosh. Sign me up!

I’ve gotta say, this company is doing it right. For those who can afford to present a more non-traditional resume, this is awesome. Beautiful, clean, and effective design that knocks down any preconceived idea that a resume has to be black and white and follow a standard template. 

Nice work, Loft Resumes. 

3. The Garden Brunch Cafe.

Welp, I’ve found another spot to add to my “best-dang-brunch-in-Nashville” list - and this time I have my brother and sister-in-law/their friends Scott and Susy to thank. If you’re in Nashville and are looking for a place to eat Friday, Saturday, or Sunday between 9am and 2pm, this is your place. Phew. 

I got to try the Cafe out a few weekends ago for my birthday brunch and I’ve been craving it everyday since. I’m a sucker for any privately-owned cafe, and this one is doing it right. The restaurant is in an old, remodeled house near Germantown that immediately makes you feel right at home, and then you get your food. Holy deliciousness. 

I ordered the Fiesta Omlette (turkey sausage, green peppers, cheddar, onions, and jalapeno peppers) with cheese grits. Yup, I went all southern for this one. And let me tell you - for someone who usually doesn’t like the southern staple, these were the perfect addition to the meal. 

Other suggestions - Banana Foster Pancakes (above), Spinach Omlette, and their Eggs Benedict looked pretty amazing. I think it’s safe to say, you probably can’t go wrong with the Garden Brunch Cafe, unless you don’t go at all. 

4. Connect F1

As Williamses, my brother, Seth, and I have grown up with a dad and uncles who LOVE Formula One racing. It has never seemed abnormal for Dad to wake up super early (sometimes in the middle of the night) on a Saturday or Sunday morning to watch a live race that is happening on the other side of the world. Schumacher, Button, and Vettel are just a few of the names commonly overheard in day-to-day discussions, and we even have a cousin whose middle name is Senna after the famous F1 driver. 

So, needless to say, it is no surprise that Seth recently decided to have some fun and create a one-stop-shop for connections to all F1 drivers - ConnectF1.com. Seth has been busy sharing the site with some of the top names in F1 and multiple F1 publications and has received some pretty great feedback. If you’re an F1 fan, or know anyone who is, go ahead and share it/post it/tweet it - you know the drill.

5. Get pumped up.

I’m especially thankful for my friend Jess this week because of this video she captured at the Y last week… 

Nothing like a little fist pumping and rocking out during your early morning work out. After much discussion and consideration, she decided that You Spin Me Round was the most plausible jam to be playing in his headphones - what do you think?

Happy Friday, y’all!

So, after another unexpected week off, I’m back. Last Friday got away from me before I could post thanks to some exciting news. I was offered a position at Vanderbilt working for the university’s News and Communications office. This is such an answered prayer after a lot of change and reorganization has caused my current position to look a lot different than when I started back in June. 

More than anything this news helped me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by the community I have here in Nashville. I don’t really like a lot of attention for things like this, but my friends were so supportive and excited for me when they heard about the job. We went to dinner and they told me over and over how cool it was that I got the job. They helped me realize that it’s not every day that an opportunity comes along like this - just like it’s not every day that you find a group of friends who so quickly become family. 

So today I’m thankful - for Nashville, new jobs, friends, and for a new Friday Five of great things. Happy Friday, y’all! 

1. Roost Blog. 

Want to see some pretty fantastic things? Go here. Enjoy.

{Thanks, Renee!}

2. Mad Libs.

Yup. You read right. Those funny word games from your pre-teen years are making a comeback - at least in the crowd I’m hanging out with. Who knew these things could be so funny? Lately a lot of us have spent evenings with glasses of wine and laughed until our stomachs hurt thanks to the rediscovery of Mad Libs. Sometimes they get a little inappropriate or gross, but they’ll be bound to keep you entertained. Who knew, right?

So, the next time you have a group of friends coming over, don’t forget the Mad Libs. 

3. Sure Ink.

Pretty excited to share this one. One of my Nashville favorites and closest friends, Jess Cohen, has officially opened her Etsy store - Sure Ink. Jess is a woman of many talents - painting, drawing, graphic design, prints, etc. There’s not much the girl can’t do. Needless to say this Etsy store will be the first of many things to come. Keep an eye on the store for new projects and if you’re in Nashville definitely be ready for a gallery show or two from Jess. 

4. Cha Chah.

This one is long overdue. Gosh. I’m getting hungry just thinking about Cha Chah’s brunch. Phew. If you are in Nashville and are looking for a unique meal packed with flavor and fresh ingredients, this is your place. 

Arnold Myint, head chef at Cha Chah, PM and Susy Wong’s and Top Chef contestant creates some of the best dishes I’ve tasted in Nashville. If you make it to Cha Chah for brunch, make sure to take a few friends and share a few different dishes. My suggestions? 

• Smoked Turkey Hot Brown - House Smoked Turkey, Bacon Gravy, Roasted Tomato, Fried Egg
• Pumpkin French Toast  - Honey Cream Cheese, Candied Pumpkin Seeds, Maple Syrup
• Cha Chah Skillet - Farm Eggs, Pepper Potato Hash, House Bacon, Chickpeas
• Drink Special - $10 Sangria Pitcher (w/ red wine)

If you are free Sunday from 10:30 to 2:30, you now have plans. 

Cha Chah

2013 Belmont Boulevard

Nashville, TN 37212

5. A reminder.

This past week has reminded me of one thing - that things will always work out and unfold the way they are meant to, most likely when you least expect it. I find myself trying to plan and figure things out so often that I forget to just sit back and let things happen. When I finally do, I always end up less stressed about the little things and am usually surprised by something great. Things always work out the way they’re meant to, I truly believe that. The more we try to control or plan a situation the less the situation can play out exactly how it’s meant to. So this week I’m embracing this reminder…

I’m back. After two weeks of no Friday Five and very few posts of any kind, I’m back and ready to go. The past few weeks have been filled with a lot of friends (new and old), family, reflection, and preparation for the year ahead. 

I know it’s always easy to look back at a year and say it was filled with big things, but looking back at the past twelve months, I can honestly say 2011 was my most change-filled year yet.

I started 2011 off in a much different, very safe place. I was pretty sure of what was to come and how my life would look come at the end of the year. If only I could talk to that “me” now. That me would be living in Cincinnati with many of the same relationships and friends that I had had for the past 4 years within miles or blocks. That me would be going to the same coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and parks I had grown to know and love so much. That me would still be very dependent on all of those people and things and probably would not know much about myself and what that me was truly capable of. 

If you’ve ever read Don Miller’s A Million Miles In A Thousand Years you know about inciting incidents. Miller explains that characters don’t change without being forced. An inciting incident is the event in a story (real life, novel, or film) that causes upheaval in a person or character’s life. I credit my transition and unexpected change to a few inciting incidents that came along in the first half of 2011. Some are people, some are decisions, and one is a conversation on Skype that happened in May right before graduation. That conversation went something like, “Mom and Dad, I’m think I’m going to move to Nashville.”

One thing that all of my inciting incidents have in common are that they led me to Nashville after 22 years in Ohio. That move was much more than just picking up my stuff and starting a job in a new place. Moving to Nashville has allowed, and forced, me to figure out who I am, who I want to be, and what I’m truly capable of after 22 years of security and consistency.

After a lot of reflection lately, I can honestly say that my rather last minute decision to leave what I knew and come to Nashville was absolutely the right decision and has left me reflecting on not only the year of the most change, but the best of my 22 years. I could not be more thankful for the opportunities, friendships (new and old), challenges, and lessons that have come with every change in the past year. I have a true sense of who I am and what I want to become thanks to each step of the way.

So to 2011 and all of the people and experiences that filled the best year yet, thank you. 

It’s that time again - the most wonderful time of the year.

I. Love. December. A lot. Christmas music, colder weather, music, blankets, snow (or at least a chance of it if you live in Nashville), red and green, Christmas lights/trees, family, walks in the cold, peppermint… So, here it is. A sort-of-December edition of the Friday Five…

1. A few homemade gift ideas.

Some simple but great ideas for little gifts to surprise someone with. Maybe a co-worker, your favorite baristas at the local coffee shop, a neighbor - just to let them know they’re appreciated. Find all the ideas here.

2. The Art of Dancing Advent Calendar.

I found these guys and their sweet dance moves last year and have been excited for their return. Forget the traditional Advent calendar and just dance - or watch these two bust a move - every day from now until Christmas! You can watch the daily videos and last years series here.

{2nd December - ‘Jailhouse Rock’ by Elvis Presley from lewisnluke on Vimeo.}

3. Yet another talented Nashville friend - Jamie Clayton.

If you had told me I would be posting about Jamie Clayton a few months ago, I would have laughed and said, “The guy who hates Ohio? Yeah right.” Today, though, I’m happy to share Jamie’s photography skills with you. This red-headed Charleston-native has a pretty amazing eye and definite passion for photography. He’s a pretty good friend, too (even though he’s from SC…).

So, go ahead. Check out his site here. And if you meet him in Nashville, be sure to tell him how great Ohio is (even if you’re indifferent).

4. Dave Barnes’ Santa Dance.

Not sure what it is about Christmas and dancing, but it makes for some great videos. This one get’s me every time. Even in July when you just need a good dose of Christmas cheer. If this is the first you’ve heard of Dave, go check out his albums - especially his Christmas album. Super talented singer who is pretty hilarious, too.

Maybe Dave and the Art of Dancing guys should partner up for a special Christmas Day video…

5. In the spirit of giving.

The season of giving is upon us and that can look like all kinds of things for different people. Some people might give their time, a meal, maybe a sweater, but an old article from NPR tells the story of a very different take on giving. A friend shared this one with me this week and we both agreed it had to make it in the Friday Five.

A Victim Treats His Mugger Right

“I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right. It’s as simple as it gets in this complicated world.”

Makes you think, huh?

This week’s Friday Five is a little shorter than usual because I’m spending the long holiday weekend with my parents who are visiting from Ohio. They helped me celebrate my first Thanksgiving in Nashville yesterday. We cooked and ate plenty of delicious food, listened to Christmas music, and spent time laughing and playing games with some of my friends and their families. Feeling so blessed and thankful for the past few months and where I am today. My heart (and stomach) are full after a perfect Nashville Thanksgiving. I hope you all had a great one, too!

{thankful for my Nashville community and goofy photo shoots.}

Here’s the Friday Five!

1. Got leftovers?

Thought this might come in handy - Top 10 Recipes for Turkey Leftovers. Keep the tryptophan naps comin’.

2. Address Is Approximate - a video for you and your food coma. 

My friend Micah posted this yesterday and after watching it a couple of times, I’m still amazed. Absolutely love everything about this - the stop motion, the song from Cinematic Orchestra, and most of all the reminder to be thankful for the fact that we have the freedom to explore the beauty of everything around us with very few limitations.

{Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.}

3. Sharing Spree. 

This one may look deceiving at first for anyone outside of Nashville, but don’t go anywhere yet. The deals posted on Sharing Spree are often for general, nation-wide companies like discounted movie tickets or franchise restaurants. Definitely check it out and get yourself a deal or two! 

4. Cranberry. Chess. Pie. (recipe here.)

{recipe from Nashville food blogger Erin at Erin’s Food Files}

This is a must-bake - especially for any upcoming holiday get togethers. Chess pie (a sugary, custardy kind of pie) is a southern staple, so I decided to make this variation for my first Nashville Thanksgiving. It was great! If you want to go the more traditional route, here are some recipes for regular and chocolate chess pies, too. 

Classic Chess Pie & Chocolate Chess Pie

5. A bluesy Joy to the World.

Just to get you in the spirit, here is a new twist on one of the Christmas classics by a local Nashvillian. Plenty more holiday posts to come!