Life is good, but you can nearly miss it

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It’s about time I reprise this blog. For way too long, I have felt as if I didn’t have anything worth writing.  I worried too much about what people would think about my writing, if anyone at all was reading and thinking too much about a blog being like a business.

This blog is not my job. This blog is my creative outlet.

Not long ago, a co-worker said that she was asked to describe her co-workers. I don’t know the context of the conversation, but what my co-worker shared has stayed with me. She said that she described me as someone who isn’t afraid of trying something new and that she wishes she could be like that.

What? Really? Me? I tend to think that I am someone who is indecisive and has to think everything out before making a decision…sometimes to the point of making the decision so big that it becomes pointless. Am I this fearless person she sees in me? Have I been worrying too long that people think negatively of me and think it’s impossible for someone to think something positive of me?

When talking with her, I told her that I, indeed, feel fear when I try new things. I have shared my story with joining The Little Black Dress Club many times – that I worried myself so much that I made my co-worker (another co-worker than the aforementioned co-worker), go with me just in case I felt like I didn’t belong, needed someone to talk to or wanted to escape. By the end of the night, I had found my people and officially joined the club that night when I got home. That was 2 1/2 years ago, and I am still loving the adventures that I experience with the club and the friends I have made within this amazing group of women.

I took a chance, and as weird as it may sound, sometimes I still feel like I take a chance when I sign up for events. If you only knew how many “What Ifs” go through my head before an event, you would think that I am a crazy person.

Okay, don’t comment on that last statement…unless you must.

I often try to talk myself out of new experiences before the time comes to actually be involved in the experience. It’s part social anxiety, part low self-esteem, part introversion, part who the heck know what else. Those negative thoughts comes from all sorts of places and presents itself in all sorts of ways.

But you know what? Every time I go through with it, I have experienced an adventure.

I may not feel like I am that fearless person my co-worker sees in me, but it’s there somewhere deep inside me. Any time I do something that scares me, even just a little, it’s an adventure. And that’s how I am going to start seeing life. Just like this blog tag line has read from the beginning, “…life is good but you can nearly miss it.”

I don’t want to miss out on life. Will you join me in my adventures?

4 years ago, I took a left turn onto a dirt road in the desert of Arizona. By.myself! I was scared as the road twisted, turned and went up and down hills. At the end was one of the most beautiful views I have seen in my life. This was the beginning of many adventures, and I always go back to this memory when I worry about fear.

4 years ago, I took a left turn onto a dirt road in the desert of Arizona.ALONE!

I was scared as the road twisted, turned and went up and down hills. At the end was one of the most beautiful views I have seen in my life. This was the beginning of many adventures, and I always go back to this memory when I worry about fear.

 

 

 

Influenster J’Adore VoxBox

Posted in Influenster, Product Reviews by

 

Influenster JAdoreVoxBox

Last year, I heard about an online review community to provide feedback and opinions for various products and experiences. Since I already do this through other areas of social media, I thought this would be a great place for me to share my thoughts on products that I love and some of those that I don’t love so much.

This community is called Influenster.

Influenster sent me a box full of goodies in February and asked me to give them a try and let them know what I thought about the products.

Trying out all of the products was pretty fun, and most were products that I hadn’t heard of or tried in the past. I wrote a review for each of the products that I tried.

The only one in the box that I never had the guts to try out was the Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes. I have sensitive, watery eyes, that are sometimes irritated even by eye makeup, so I knew trying to add lashes probably wouldn’t go so well. The rest of the box was full of win!

Hershey Kisses Milk Chocolate

Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas

Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask

John Frieda Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat Iron Spray

Let me know if you’re interested in sharing your opinions on products through social media, and I can tell you how to sign up with Influenster. Keep in mind that there is never any guarantee what products they might send you to test or if they will send you products at all. Regardless, it’s definitely a great site to read reviews of products before making purchases, which is how I got started with the site.

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Under arms should not smell like food

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Thank you for not smelling like fruit or vegetables. Under arms should not smell like food. #raiseyourarms

Thank you for not smelling like fruit or vegetables. Under arms should not smell like food. #raiseyourarms

Let’s talk about under arms, or arm pits if you would rather call them that. Yeah, it’s a weird opening, but we all have them, right? Girls take care of them differently than guys, so we’re concerned about different things. For me, I don’t like them to smell like fruit or vegetables.

Seriously.

I actually prefer my under arms not to have any scent at all, whether it be good or bad (especially bad). I don’t mind the Fresh scents that many deodorants and anti-perspirants offer, as long as the scent isn’t too strong. I’m kinda sensitive to smells when it’s something that I smell all day, so I don’t wear perfume for that reason. I don’t want my under arms smelling like anything, especially fruits or vegetables.

I was asked to give Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture a try. I’m a long time fan of Dove, as much as anyone can be a fan of deodorant, and have used Dove deodorant for years. They offer the very mild Fresh scent that isn’t too strong, but it also keeps me from smelling like B.O., too. Right?

So I was excited to give their newer product a try! The most advertised feature was moisturizing under the arms, which I admit is not really something I have been concerned with in the past but wondered if maybe I should be more concerned. The Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture went on smooth and kept my under arms soft all day. It lived up to the expectations that I had in that regard.

As far as keeping away all of the wetness, the results were about the same as compared to my regular Dove Invisible Solid, which means that some fabric types in the clothing I was wearing, I would still experience a little bit of unwanted moisture. Hey, I guess nothing is perfect – or maybe it’s just in my genes.

The one area that I felt the new product failed was in how long it lasted. I went through the regular sized Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture in about a month’s time, where the Invisible Solids usually last about 1.5 to 2 times that long. Maybe it’s all that moisture that makes it glide on a little thicker than the regular? I’m not sure. I just know that the end of the stick was much closer than what I am used to experiencing.

All in all, it was a great experience! I am glad that I had a chance to try something new, especially a different variation of a much-loved staple in my fight against odor. If priced right, I might just try it again, but I always know that I have my faithful and reliable solid, as well.

 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

2013 Year In Review

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I have filled out this same Year In Review on New Years Eve every year since 2008. I’m not even sure where I found the original, but I’m sure it was on LiveJournal since that’s where I’ve posted it from 2008-2011. Last year was the first year posting it here, and I did some major editing of the format, but overall I’ve answered the same questions for reflection and for memory. Every year seems to get harder to remember everything from the past year. Thankfully I record a lot of events in my Google calendar.

You can read the past Year In Reviews:

2012
2011
2010
2009
2008

 

Life Events

Where do you live now?
Nashville, TN – in our home for 3 years this month.

Where did you begin 2013?
David and I spent our New Year’s Day in our home. I honestly can’t remember if David stayed up or I even stayed up, though I’m sure I did since I have most every year unless I’ve had to work early the next day. I can say for sure that we went to Red Robin for dinner New Years Eve.

What was your status by Valentine’s Day?
Married to David, together for 4 years at that time and married ALMOST a year.

What trips did you take this year?
Glamping at Dale Hollow with the Little Black Dress Club in January
Center Hill with some of the Introverts for crafting weekend in March
Las Vegas for MMS & The Extraterrestrial Highway in April
Memphis with Mom, Judy, Liz and Erica in May
Chicago with the LBDC in June
Holiday World with David, Lily, Jason and Cassidy in July
Louisville with Gisel in August
Pigeon Forge with Liberty and Rachel in September
Glamping at Center Hill with the LBDC in October
Disney World with the Overstreets in November
– That’s somewhere every month, except February and December. I guess I can’t say that I haven’t gone anywhere this year!

Did you know anybody who got married?
I know of a few people who got married this year, but we didn’t attend any weddings…or I can’t remember now!

Did you know anybody who passed away?
Shelton passed away on June 4th. He was 13.
My Aunt Dorothy Laster, who was my dad’s brother’s wife, on September 26th. She was 86.
I heard that Vernon’s Aunt Martha died on July 19th. She was 73.

Any new additions to your family?
Yes! Maggie was born April 25th and came to live with us on July 29th.

Have any life changing events in 2013?
Shelton passing away was a very life changing moment for me. He was more than just a dog, for sure.
Then, of course, Maggie joining the family has truly been life changing, as well.
I got a ❤ tattoo in April.

How old did each member in your family turn this year?
Tonya – 36
David – 43
Copper – 11
Penny – 6
Maggie – Born
Dad – 66
Mom – 59
Matthew – 29

Memorable Moments

January – First Glamping Trip
February – Birthday festivities
March – Crafty weekend, Tattoo
April – Las Vegas spa day, looking for aliens, inRL
May – several sets of house guests, Memphis
June – Shelton’s death, Chicago
July – Holiday World & Maggie joining the family
August – Wilson County Fair, Louisville
September – Pigeon Forge
October – David’s Birthday at The Melting Pot, Glamping Part Deux
November – Disney
December – Moving to a new office at work, Miss Mary Bobo’s

What was your best month?
November

What has been your favorite moment(s)?
8 days at Disney with the Overstreets
All sorts of LBDC events
Coming home to sweet fur babies
Reconnecting with Liberty after 18 years

Describe your birthday.
We celebrated my 36th Birthday at the McDonald’s where I had my 6th Birthday party 30 years ago.

2013 Events

What’s the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2013?
Get a tattoo

Made new friends?
Several new Introvert friends
Lots of LBDC ladies in Nashville, Chicago and Columbus

Were you in school (anytime this year)?
No

Did you have to go to the hospital?
Just an upper GI in July. Nothing serious.

Did you have any encounters with the police?
No

What sporting events did you attend?
Uhm…none! We didn’t even make it to a Rollergirls bout this year.

Did you make any major purchases?
David bought my first Mac in May.
David has helped me ALMOST get out of debt…just a few more months away 🙂
I got a new mattress!

Change your style?
After the weight loss surgery in 2012, my hair started thinning out a bit (which is typical). About halfway through 2013, it was pretty much back again. I cut it off in September (or was it August?), and I keep it short and curly now.

Start a new hobby?
Nothing new this year. I did a little sewing, lots more reading and watched tons of series on my iPad through Netflix and Amazon. Watching iPad and reading before bed is my new favorite relaxation at night.

What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Facebook…again.

What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Probably my writing again, though I slacked off more this year than last.

How many books did you read this year?
My goal was 50, and I made it to 47. I’d say that’s pretty good.

How many steps did you log this year?
Just over 1.5 million steps, which averages to 4200 steps a day. It was a lazy year with my walking. 1.8 million in 2011 was my highest recorded year in Fitbit, and to date I have walked 4,778,175 steps since I first got a Fitbit in December 2010. I have been known to go days or even a month without wearing it, so I know I’ve walked more, but not like significantly more.

Growth

What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Reconnecting with Liberty. It has been awesome to have her in my life again after so many years apart. We picked up like time had never turned.
British costume drama series – seriously! It makes me feel old to enjoy these so much, because when I was a kid Masterpiece Theatre was SO BORING!

What was an unexpected obstacle?
Losing Shelton. I still miss that little fella every day. I always knew it would be hard when the time came for him to go, and I was right. It was a really difficult decision to make to put him down, but it was without a doubt the right thing to do.

In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
This was not a good year for me emotionally. My weight loss has been stalled since early in the year, and I am dealing with a lot of emotional issues in my head. In May I made a change to my antidepressants, and I am still working on finding what works best for me. I haven’t yet found the answer to this emotional slump, but I am hopeful for 2014.

In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
Honestly, I think I grew backwards spiritually this year. There’s a lot lacking in that area in my life right now, too.

In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I’m working on finding out how to change that. See my emotional (lack of) growth above.

In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I am easily scarred by the negative words of people, even months later. It hurts, and I have a difficult time moving on from them. They scenes play over and over in my head frequently.

What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
To choose my words wisely and sometimes keeping my words to myself is best. If I can be so easily damaged from other people’s words, then they can be, too.

Any regrets?
I say it every year: I try not to live with too many regrets. Just learn from them and move on.

Are you happy to see 2013 go?
I always look forward to the future and a new year.

Overall, how would you rate this year?
A couple of months ago, I realized that I have not felt well all year. I have taken steps to try to change that, but I don’t feel like I have gotten far. I feel my health declining when it should be getting better, including my mental health. There were very few terrible things that happened this year, and many great things that happened, but I just don’t feel well. Is it age? Is it my health? I really don’t know yet.

Create a phrase or statement that describes 2013 for you.
Sticks and stones do break bones, and words can still hurt, too.

2014 and Beyond

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
To Lose 30 pounds – There, I set a number this year!
To read 50 books.
To walk 2 million steps, which averages out to be almost 5500 steps a day.

To Love more
To Accept more
To Be more patient

What do you want to change in 2014?
Lose weight, save money…but what’s new with that?

What are you wishing for in 2014?
Health, love and happiness

What are you looking forward to in 2014?
My first nephew!
Trip to Venice, Italy for Julie and Diana’s wedding.

Notable Books Read in 2013

  • Wild by Cheryl Strayed
  • Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
  • The Dangerous Animals Club by Stephen Tobolowsky
  • Nickel Plated by Aric Davis
  • The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
  • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
  • The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg
  • Stardust by Neil Gaiman

31 Days of Nashville – Monell’s

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Photo Credit: Michael Kappel

Photo Credit: Michael Kappel

Monell’s offers a unique dining experience, called Family Style Dining. The name says it all, really. It’s almost like a buffet, but the buffet comes to your table instead of you going to the buffet. The concept is that they fill the tables, no matter how many people are in your party. If there are 5 people in your party but the table holds 10 people, then most likely they’re going to seat another party of 4 or 5 at your table for you to share the meal. The kitchen prepares several main dishes, sides and desserts every day and brings it straight to your table to share. Every day they serve homemade biscuits and fried chicken. The other dishes rotate, depending on what day of the week it is. There’s no ordering involved at Monell’s, other than deciding what you want to drink.

Monell’s has been around since 1880 and now has 4 locations in the Nashville area. The Germantown location was the only location open for a long time. Over the years, they have branched out to Gallatin and to the Manor in the Donelson/airport area, as well as adding Cafe Monell’s in Berry Hill.

It truly is a unique southern, home cooking experience that the locals love for themselves and sharing with out of town guests. It’s a great way to dine with people you probably wouldn’t normally connect with when dining in a regular establishment.

Monell's

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy. 

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31 Days of Nashville – Big Brothers Big Sisters

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19 - Big Brothers Big Sisters

At one point or another, I’m sure you’ve heard of Big Brothers Big Sisters in some form or fashion. If not, let me introduce it to you and share my story. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization in numerous areas throughout the US. The program is mentor-based where an adult can mentor a child who might need a positive influence in his or her life. Before I was involved with the program, I always had the idea that it was for kids who might not have one or both parents alive or in their lives, but that’s not always the case. Children are usually identified through teachers and educators in the child’s school as someone who could benefit with some one-on-one time with an influential adult.

I became part of Big Brothers Big Sisters almost 5 years ago. I was recently divorced at the time and had heard about a few experiences that my work supervisor had with her Little Sister. I’ve always been a fan of volunteer work, and I was looking for something to do with my time other than working and dating.

The interview process has multiple levels so that you are more likely matched with a child who can get the most out of an adult with common interests. They carefully match kids with adults and never press it on too fast just because they have unmatched kids and unmatched adults. I applied in October of 2008 but wasn’t matched until April of 2009.

There are more women volunteers and more male kids needing to match, so it’s not always a Big Sister with a Little Sister or a Big Brother with a Little Brother. Some women prefer having a Little Brother for various reasons, usually because they grew up in a house with more boys, so it doesn’t have to always fit into some standard scenario. In the class that I took to learn about being a mentor, we learned it’s more about how you bond with people. I knew early on that I wanted a Little Sister.

Another misconception is that you are only matched with kids missing a parent of the same gender as the mentor. In my case, I was matched with a Little Sister whose mother was (and still is) a great mother to her two kids. I was not taking the place of an absent mother. I admit that it was a little odd at first, given the misconception that I had, but it was soon apparent that my Little Sister might not need another female role model in her life, but having any role model was a positive experience.

My Little Sister was introduced to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program because her older brother was in the program, and she felt like she was missing out on something awesome if her brother was getting to go out and do things with his Big Brother. I soon learned that my time with my Little Sister gave her some one-on-one time with an adult, where our time was about doing something she enjoyed. It also allowed her mom to have some one-on-one time with my Little Sister’s brother while I was out with my Little Sister. It ended up being beneficial to everyone.

Through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, we attended many events sponsored by, through or because of the program. We attended picnics, skating parties, craft parties, hockey games and nature outings all because of our connection with the program. Not everything you do with your Little Sister or Little Brother is free, but they generally try to help you find low cost outings. It doesn’t have to be expensive, so don’t let that deter you from looking into mentoring a kid. It really is all about spending some quality time with a kid. Many matches enjoy sports, reading or other adventures together. My Little Sister and I have done lots and lots of crafts together.

My Little Sister and I are still together, almost 5 years later. We’re no longer matched through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, because she moved to another county, but we still do things together at least once a month. One thing I have learned through this entire experience is that it is not only about what my Little Sister gets out of my mentoring her, but it is also about what I get out of being her mentor and learning from her, as well. The experience has been tremendously great for me, just as much as it has been for her. I am truly blessed because she and her family are in my life.

I encourage you to think about what you might be able to offer in mentoring a kid. The Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee information is below, but there is most likely a program in your area through another Big Brothers Big Sisters group or other similar mentor programs.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 130
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 329-9191

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy. 

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31 Days of Nashville – Theatres

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18 - Theatres

Nashville is home to numerous theatres (and theaters), both performing arts and the big screen. The majority of our big screen theaters are fairly standard like you’ll find in most cities where you can catch Hollywood’s latest film, so I would like to introduce you to a few alternatives in the Nashville area.

Belcourt Theatre

The Belcourt Theatre is in the heart of Hillsboro Village and has been through several changes and renovations since it opened in 1925. The Belcourt is a “nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to presenting the best of independent, documentary, world, repertory and classic cinema.”* The Belcourt is where you go to see the annual showing of It’s A Wonderful Life every year in December, as well as Hitchcock movies at least once a year. It’s also where you go for smaller films that the large theaters aren’t carrying. The venue can also be rented for concerts for musicians. You can also catch films that are part of the Sundance Film Festival every year. October 31-November 2, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is playing as part of their Midnight Movies event.

 

Lakewood Theatre Co.

In the small town near Old Hickory where locals know not to speed, The Lakewood Theatre Co has held performances since 1983. The theatre is small enough so that you really feel part of the production you’re watching. My mom and I have been season ticket holders several years in the past, and it was well worth the commitment. When my brother was younger, he was part of their summer workshop for kids and participated in a few plays after that. The theatre company just wrapped up their production of The Beverly Hillbillies last week, and their next production of Charlotte’s Web (which happens to be my most favorite childhood book) runs from November 29th to December 15th.

 

Nashville Children’s Theatre

I have so many great memories of going to the Nashville Children’s Theatre during school field trips in elementary school. My friend, Liberty, with the awesome memory can probably remember all of the plays we saw there, but I’m pretty sure that I remember seeing Charlotte’s Web and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe there. I am pretty sure that my love of live theatre began all those years ago. I took my Little Sister there a couple of years ago to see a juggling performance, and the place had changed quite a bit from what I remember as a child, but it’s still an awesome venue to introduce children to the wonderful imagination behind acting. If you’re a child of the 70’s and 80’s, you’ll probably enjoy their current production of Schoolhouse Rock.

 

Tennessee Performing Arts Center

The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (aka TPAC) is home to Nashville’s larger theatres where you can see Broadway shows and other popular performing arts. The Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera and Teneessee Repertory Theatre also perform at TPAC. I have seen countless productions at TPAC over the years and love getting dressed up to see a performance downtown…you know, like an adult. Just to name a few, I’ve seen Cats, Miss Saigon, Annie (my favorite!), Wicked and To Kill a Mockingbird at TPAC, and they have all been awesome productions. The Nutcracker is performed most every year around Christmas, and it looks like another favorite of mine, A Christmas Story, will be playing from November 29th to December 22nd.

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy. 

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31 Days of Nashville – Adventure Science Center

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12 - Adventure Science Center

Way up on the hill behind Fort Negley, facing Nashville’s beautiful skyline is the Adventure Science Center where children of all ages can spend a day learning about many areas of science and have fun.

I have visited the science center more times than I can count. When I was a kid, it was called the Cumberland Science Center, and we went on numerous field trips with school throughout the years. The center had been remodeled several times since I was a kid, but I can still clearly remember a few exhibits that were there when I was a kid, like the brain in a jar where we could push a button, and it rotated around so that we could see a 360 view of a real human brain, not from a photo or drawing. There was also the general store set up in a little town-like environment with a real cash register (a big deal for kid me!).

I’ve been a few times as an adult, too, when the credit union where I am a member offers a family night once a year for members. Each year I’ve been, I always try to visit one of the planetarium’s presentations to see the stars and constellations. Maybe Neil deGrasse Tyson will show up one year 🙂

The Adventure Science Center also offers Way Late Play Dates where every few months they open their doors from 7-10 pm to adults-only for a night of science and fun. They offer themes for these nights, and the next Way Late Play Date is October 24th with the Zombie theme, Blood Thirsty Thursday. The price for the ticket includes 3 beverage tickets (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and they also have food trucks on site, because what event in Nashville doesn’t have food trucks these days?

Adventure Science Center
800 Fort Negley Blvd
Nashville TN 37203
(615) 862-5160

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy.

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31 Days of Nashville – Centennial Park

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16 - Centennial Park

The hub of Nashville events can be found in Centennial Park. Most weekends when the weather is pleasant, there’s usually an event going on somewhere in the park. There’s a huge amount of open space that makes it perfect for festivals and large events that attract many people. If there’s not a specific event on a nice weekend, the park is usually filled with people playing frisbee, walking or just enjoying the scenery.

In the middle of the park is The Parthenon replica, which was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition to celebrate Tennessee’s 100th anniversary. Tennessee was added as a state of the union in 1796. If you’re figuring the math, the exposition was a year late. History seems to indicate that they decided to build a replica of the Parthenon in Greece because Nashville is nicknamed The Athens of the South.

My favorite memories of Centennial Park are of the gardens on the northwest side near the pond (aka Lake Watauga). There are photos of me when I was very young, playing among the flowers, and I still enjoy being in that area when I go to the park today. Also nearby is a train and airplane that have been parked there for as long as I can remember.

When you decide to visit Centennial Park, it’s well worth the $6 admission to see the massive Athena Parthenos reproduction statue, standing 42 feet tall. It’s quite an experience to be in the open hall with her standing on the other end in all her golden beauty. The park is also really close to Cori’s DogHouse that I wrote about yesterday!

 

Athena

 

Centennial Park
2500 West End Ave
Nashville TN 37203

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy. 

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31 Days of Nashville – Cori’s DogHouse

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15 - Cori's DogHouse

If there is a combination of ingredients to be topped on a hot dog, then Cori’s probably has it. I first discovered Cori’s at their first location in Mount Juliet back when David and I were still dating, and I live in Mount Juliet. Cori’s was our go-to restaurant when he came to my side of town. Shortly after we moved in together (in Nashville), they opened a second location on West End, so I kinda feel like Cori’s knew I would miss them being close to home. 

Most of their menu dogs are named after states, cities or areas in the US. You can basically eat your way across the country, and if you do eat one of each (and get your card marked), you can be added to the Wall of Wieners at either location. Seriously! David and I have been slowly working or way across the US since 2009, and I think we’re each about half way there. We have a rule between the two of us that we can’t get our card marked unless we’re dining together so that we can both be wieners on the same day.

Without a doubt, my absolute favorite dog is the Jersey Breakfast dog that comes with bacon, shredded cheese and a fried egg. I get weird looks sometimes when I mention it, but it really is good if you like bacon and eggs. I also prefer the turkey dog over the beef dog, but that’s just a personal preference, and there’s nothing wrong with the other choices. You don’t have to order exactly what is offered on the board (unless you’re trying to get your photo added to the Wall of Wienders), so they will add any topping they offer if you order it that way. They also have sausages and other sandwiches, too.

If you’re feeling brave, try the Fried Twinkie for dessert. I’m usually full by the time I’ve eaten my hot dog, but I’ve had a bite or two of the dessert. It’s well worth it if you still have room for more.

Cori’s DogHouse Jersey Breakfast

Cori’s DogHouse – Nashville
106 29th Ave N
Nashville TN 37209
(615) 329-9444

Cori’s DogHouse – Mount Juliet
(near Belk, facing Mount Juliet Road)
401 S Mount Juliet Rd
Mount Juliet TN 37122
(615) 758-6960

This post is part of a series I am writing, 31 Days of Nashville, where I am introducing several awesome places that make Nashville a great place to live and visit. Each day of the week has a different theme, and I am trying to focus on those hidden gems that aren’t as well known but just as worthy. 

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