Sometimes reunions are great, and then there are times when they exceed your expectations. This was one of those times. Nashville has been on my travel list for a while and as excited as I was to check that off my list, I was even more excited for the people I would explore it with.
After a very early flight, Hope and I spent the morning with broiled grapefruit, porridge, tea, and mimosas. Just as mornings with your best friend should be spent. Light the candle and smell the roses. 
After a long, slow morning we were off. First stop? A refill on coffee at the Frothy Monkey. Rosemary honey lattes should be a thing at more places. So should meeting up with Meriwether. Gosh it’s just the greatest when your worlds collide. It happened in London when Hope and Hannah became friends and it happened again in Nashville when Meriwether and Hope became friends. There is something so special when two people from two different aspects of your life become friends. Heart warming, I tell ya. 
We hit up a few shops along with way and found some gem finds. After working up an appetite we wandered over to Lynne Lorraine’s to try a Pitaya Bowl, which is essentially the new Acai bowl made with dragon fruit. It was fluorescent and delightful and perfect. Look it up, and then go try one.
What heroes.
How very natural of us. 
But seriously, these things are next level.
Not pictured between the picture above and the picture below is a nap, the best dinner at Butcher & Bee, music at Acme, and sweet time with friends.
Now on to the picture below. After finishing up a barre class (with two girls who grew up dancing and the girl who grew up playing lacrosse…) we hit up Avo for brunch and boy can they make a mean raw superfood cinnamon bun. I am honestly baffled how on earth they made that gooey goodness. Our pear mimosas were a nice touch.
Faith and I split the avocado toast and the pad thai. Excellent choices that made me entertain the thought for a hot second I could be vegan. 
It was as if Hope, Faith, and I entered into a time machine that afternoon. Growing up I spent countless dinners at the Ammen household. I walked through the woods from my middle school to Hope’s house and we played all afternoon in the backyard before heading in for dinner. There was the treehouse, the swing, the lake, and the random games we would make up, and generally one of us would have a camera. Not much has changed at all. There was the woods, the lake, family dinner, and a camera involved and it was the best flashback. On to a million pictures.
We’ve nailed the cute engaged couple look.
Forever thankful for family dinners at the Ammens. A special shout out to Mrs. Ammen’s homemade hummus, Faith’s key lime pie, and Mr. Ammen’s grilling skills.
The next morning Hope and I hit up a workout before heading to her office. She hands down wins “coolest office” award. Everyone else just give up.
Then it was the sweetest of surprises! On Saturday I had a little voicemail from Steph asking if I was in Nashville because she was in Nashville and that was a VERY GOOD THING. Thank goodness for unexpected reunions with your roommate. A little lunch date to Pinewood Social was good for the soul. God love ya, Steph. Ben still has a year and a half until he is tied with you for longest roommate. 
Monday evening was full of almost everything I love in life: friend dinners with a glass of wine and swing dancing. Again, I repeat, it was good for the soul.
This weekend could not have come at a better time. Sometimes all you need is to jam out to music, dance like no one is watching, eat porridge with someone who understands why it should be called porridge, chat about all the hard and easy and fun things in life, dream dreams, and do life with some of your best friends.
I am constantly reminded just how blessed I am to have a friend like Hope and how rare and special this friendship is. I am confident that I am who I am today because of the two little 13 year old girls who dreamed big together. How comforting it is to know that while our homes will change, jobs will change, and everything in between will change, deep down we are still those two little girls living our dreams. One day we will be 80 and still frolicking through woods and dreaming big together.
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