Checking It Off

            The bucket list, that is.  As the end of the semester, and my time here in Nashville, are coming to an end in just two months I have decided that I really need to start taking this whole bucket list thing seriously.  I have definitely made the most of my two years here and have experienced much of what this fabulous city has to offer, but there are still some things that are lingering on the list and I plan on crossing them off one by one over the next sixty days.

            One of the items on last summer's bucket list was a movie at the Belcourt Theater in Hillsboro Village.  Okay, so my original bucket list included an outdoor movie complete with popcorn and a lawn chair but last weekend's showing of the Oscar nominated animated short films counts too, right?  It was the perfect way to spend a Spring-like Sunday night...especially since this ultra-light semester has left me with no homework and a pretty significant amount of free time.

            The Belcourt Theater first opened in 1925 as a silent movie theater.  Today, it is known for being the only true neighborhood theater in the city and is the place to go for independent, foreign, and classic films!  But the very best part of the Belcourt Theater just might have to be the concession stand.  Complete with popcorn (duh) and adult beverages!  It is my personal belief that you might as well skip the movies if you're not gonna get the popcorn...and a Yazoo Pale Ale makes it that much better!

And just because I can't resist...a very cute hello from the little man...

Made in the 80's

            When I graduated from college and passed my costume box on to my Chi O owl pal, I thought that I had hung up my 80's workout gear forever.  The days of theme parties were over and I was off to the real world.  So you can imagine my delight when I learned that I had one more chance to break out the leg warmers and get down to old school Madonna with the Vandy Med School.  Yep, we get to benefit from all of my roommate Meg's hard work and can usually snag an invite :-)  But before walking into the party we always make up our smarty pants alter-egos just in case...Keeley is usually a third year specializing in plastics.  Works like a charm.  And though I consumed a little less cheap champagne than in my undergrad glory days, there were certainly no grandmas at this party.

Sorry this last one is so blurry...there was a fog machine...don't worry about it.  I just had to include it because it sums up the kind of raging that was going on.

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend!

Utterly Random But...

            Complete GENIUS.  I really, really hate soggy cereal.  I once heard a story about a girl who made her cereal the night before and put it in the fridge because she loved her cereal extra soggy.  That's pretty much my worst nightmare.  Which is why I love this little invention...and the milk and cookies set up is pretty amazing too.  It's called the Obol and you can buy it (for me!) here!

Forgive this less than insightful post...it's been a long week and my eyelids are heavy as I sit in this thrilling three hour lecture.  Grad school senioritis has officially begun.

Happy Love Day

"To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous." ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's hoping you are surrounded by love on this Valentine's Day!  And for some insight from people who really know what love is all about...check out love ever after.

T.G.I. (No Class!) F.

            One of the perks of grad school (yes, there are a few), is the fact that I don't have a typical nine to five schedule.  Now, usually my schedule is more like eight to ten and I would trade it for the life of a working woman in a heartbeat but this semester grad school has decided to cut us some slack.  After all, we have been slaving away for the past 18 months so I guess it's about time that we got a little bit of a breather.    So for the next three months my classmates and I are going to have FREE FRIDAYS!  Can you tell I am a little bit excited?  And yesterday I took full advantage of my fabulously class-free Friday.

Started the day off right with a giant cup of coffee and some early morning blog stalking (and yes, it was still an early morning even without class...thanks a lot Coop :-).

And a snowy walk with my buddy.

Then lunch with some fabulous friends at Silly Goose.  And can I just say that I'm pretty sure that this restaurant was created just for me.  They specialize in being all-organic and creating some of the most delicious couscous dishes.  And if you know me, you know that I eat couscous a lot.  Like multiple times per week.  So I was very excited to check this out.  I got the Baby Goose wrap with herbed couscous and a basil lemonade.  Yum!

And to top it all off, Nashville decided to let some sunshine in which made my do-anything day that much sweeter!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Seriously, Vanderbilt?

It hasn't even started snowing yet and this is the email that we just got...

"Yellow Alert for Inclement Weather - A Yellow Alert for inclement weather is in effect for VUMC.  Staff accommodations are available in the Wadlington Conference Room, located within the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt from 7pm tonight until noon, Thursday."

Bundle Up!

Firsts

            As many of you know, I recently had a new addition to my life.  Yep, a little man has stolen my heart.  And though I typically prefer my men with a little less hair, this one is a keeper.  Since he is new to my world, and the world in general, we have shared a lot of firsts over the past few weeks that I thought you might like to see!  And you can go ahead and forgive me ahead of time for going all proud mama on you cause I'm smitten and not afraid to say it.

First bath...not so sure about this one huh, Coop?

First trip to the dog park where he was so brave until...

this horse-dog showed up and scared the crap out of him...(ps. check out that woman's hair...yikes!)

Puppy's first snow day!

Cooper's first rager where he spent most of the party doing this...

Not really used to the nightlife yet.

Stay tuned for pictures from the man's first day at puppy school!

Winter...I'm over you.

            Recently, the weather in Nashville (and my mood) have been a little too gray for my liking.  Though we had one little tease of warmth and sunshine last weekend, the general trend has been dark and below freezing which is not exactly ideal for dog walking which is where you can find me most of the time these days.  And Cooper isn't all that into it either...especially since his mama makes him wear a sweater.  Poor guy lives with seven girls.  Clearly his masculinity never stood a chance :-)

            So in order to combat my serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (okay, hypochondriac moment but you know what I mean), I have been scouring the internet for all things Spring.  Spring fashion, vacations to Spring-like destinations, basically if it has to do with Spring and warm temps, I'm into it.  And I guess that since I am down here in the South and our Winter hasn't exactly reached blizzard status, my yankee friends may be needing the warmth in an even more desperate way than I am.  So in that case, I figured I would share some of the things that are getting me through these gray days.

Loving this summer yellow dress from Trina Turk's Spring collection...found it while doing some blog-stalking of my own over at Buckhead Belle.

Counting the days til my Spring Break vacay to San Fran...thanks for the screen grab Han :-)

Dreaming of this picture perfect day in the South of France

Wishing I was headed somewhere beachside with one of these fun totes over my shoulder...

...and one of these babies (the grown-up version obvi) in my hand.

How are you staying warm on these cold Winter days?