five things I love today.

It's raining.  Again.

Might I suggest a bowling trip if you're in Atlanta and are looking for something to do this weekend to escape the cold and the rain?

I'm channeling my inner Andy Cohen today to tell you the five things I'm obsessed with right now.

Nashville

More about this long-weekend trip Jacob and I made to Music City in later posts, but what a cool city that continues to grow up and evolve since my days of working for CMT.  Our weekend was full of music and good food, and therefore waiting in long lines, but that which made both that much more enjoyable.

 

There were also selfies, including this one which so accurately demonstrates the two worst offenders of all selfies - the "Duck Face" and the "Taylor Swift - OMG I can't believe I won?!?!?! Surprise Face."  Nice job, guys. 

 

Amy Poehler

I know, I know, this is an easy one.  I mean, who doesn't love Amy, right?  And her work wife Tina Fey, who completely slayed at the Golden Globes a few weeks ago.  But I just finished reading Amy's book, Yes, Please, and I love her even more.  Annnnnnd, Parks & Rec's bittersweet final season is now underway, which means more Leslie Knope in my life.  This show is genius and I laugh out loud every time I watch it.

Fixer-Upper

With the exception of House Hunters, I pretty much love everything on HGTV.  I definitely have my favorites (Love it or List It and Flip or Flop), but when it comes to home improvement shows, I'm an equal opportunity offender.  My MOST favorite show, Fixer Upper just started a new season and I'm completely obsessed watching husband and wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines find the worst house on the block and turning it into something beautiful.  Sometimes the show frustrates me, considering they're buying homes sometimes for less than $100,000, but the housing market in Waco, Texas is a little different than most places, I guess.  Regardless, I think I have a woman-crush on Joanna.  She's so cool.  

 

I'm not sure my personal style is quite as rustic as hers, but I think she has such decorating vision and impeccable taste - in home furnishings and in clothes.  I also find her relationship with her husband Chip completely charming.  I have big dreams of finding my own fixer-upper and completely gutting it, Magnolia Homes-style.

My Amazing Niece

She found her shadow this week and the two became fast friends.  

This article.  This study. This idea . . .

 . . . that love is something you do, not always something that you feel.  For someone whose cold, black, cynical heart has only thawed slightly over the years, I connect to this on so many levels.  I may not always feel the sticky sweet, gooey love stuff all of the time, but love as an action?  A verb? In the words of my BFF Amy, "Yes, please!"

Go do love this weekend.  Enjoy yourself.