21st Ave S

I'm sitting outside one of my favorite cafes in the city, braving a blustery wind because today is one of those rare winter days when the sun peeks out and the temperature is bearable and everyone rushes to be outside because they can't believe spring might actually be returning. There is even a saxophone player 100 feet away, providing an incredibly excellent soundtrack to this afternoon.

Joy always fills my heart when I sit here and take in the view of colorful shops all in a row, and colorful people bustling about their days. This is the first street in Nashville I fell in love with. I remember my first visit. I had just finished my junior year of college, and used some about-to-expire frequent flyer miles to come to Nashville. It was a perfect weekend. Summer had arrived in full force; the sun was out, not a cloud in the sky, and I was high on the feeling of accomplishment that only comes from leaving your textbooks behind for three months of freedom.

A friend invited me to spend the afternoon with him, exploring the city and catching up. We came to this street. I remember sitting on the brick sidewalk, eating frozen yogurt and thinking, "Oh yeah, this city is perfect. I want to be here."

While I have always been a big dreamer, I have not always been a big doer. My Nashville dream felt far away and unattainable for the next two years, as I toiled through senior year and the seemingly insurmountable goal of financial stability.

And yet, here I am. Sitting outside the very same cafe I walked past all that time ago. This is a place I come often. It is part of my life. The employees in the shops up and down this street have become friends. I am known. It was at this table, where I'm sitting now, I told a wonderful man that I would let him date me.

I have become one of the people I so envied the first time I came here.

This street is a reminder to me of God's grace, provision and goodness. A reminder that He has put desires in my heart that He WILL fulfill, in His own timing. Never, I've noticed, when I demand it, but when He deems me ready.

That knowledge, in addition to this sunshine, is cause for great joy.

For the (super broke, twenty-something) lovebirds.

Blues on the record player: Check

Cozy blanket: Check

Coffee mug: Check

Let's talk about date night.

(I know, right?! Who would have ever guessed I would be blogging about something as couple-y as date night?)

My handsome gentleman caller (who will henceforth be referred to as "Boyfriend") and I had a conversation a few weeks ago about dates, and what to do about them. Because, frankly, we are just as easily pleased with pizza and fifteen episodes of "Chopped" as we are with putting on real pants and going out for a fancy dinner. I know, how typically twenty-something of us. But, hey, we are both strapped for cash most of the time and pants are just... hard.

Lounging around all the time is not exciting, we've noticed. Nor is it stimulating. Boyfriend and I decided we wanted to spice things up. So I said to him, "I HAVE AN EXCELLENT PLAN, MY SWEET."

Thus was born, Ten Dollar Date Night.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Ten dollars
A boyfriend
Target, Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store

WHAT YOU WILL DO:
1) Take your boyfriend to Target/Wal-Mart/the Dollar Store and give him five of your ten dollars. Tell him to pick out whatever he wants. You take the other  five dollars and do the same. If desired, up the ante and give yourselves a time limit. 20 minutes maybe?

2) Let the games begin.

This is what Boyfriend and I ended up with after our trip to Target:

BOYFRIEND:

Disney Princess tattoos

Baby Animal valentines

ME:

Star Wars puzzle

Bubble bath

Mini Airheads

We began our evening by tatting ourselves up. And by that I mean, I ended up with 15 trillion Disney princesses all over my forearm, and they didn't wash off for two days. No. Really. Two days. (THE PRICE OF LOVE, Y'ALL.)

Then we moved to writing valentines for all our favorite people, including each other. My roommate ended up with many sweet little nothings, since she happened to be home and we could just throw valentines at her.

Next, we hunkered down for a THRILLING half hour of putting together an incredibly difficult Millennium Falcon puzzle, with Airheads for sustenance. Those cosmos are no joke. They all look the freaking same.

Finally, for the grand finale, we lit all the candles I own and filled up the bathtub with hot water and bubbles. Which obviously meant...

We soaked our tired, old people feet in a bubble bath and listened to Louis Armstrong. (The best part was, Boyfriend had to sit on the toilet since the bathroom is set up such that only one comfy chair could be pulled up beside the tub.) Okay, so it wasn't as relaxing as I was thinking, but we cracked ourselves up in the attempt, so that counts for something.


 All I'm saying is, Valentine's Day is later this week. You're welcome.