You’ve heard the expression, “Money isn’t everything” but do you really believe it? Maybe there is a part of you that wants to believe it but you’re not sure that you can really live by it. I’ve had little money and I have had plenty of money. I have been happy with both. Both situations can cause stress. Both situations can make you feel carefree. So, which one is right for you? There’s no right or wrong answer here, but here are some things to consider: Is acquiring money keeping you from family or friends? Are you able to use the money you are acquiring or are you too busy working for it? Have your eating habits changed? Are you exercising? Has your personality changed since focusing on acquiring money? How’s your mood? Do you live vicariously through social media? If you are in a work environment that makes you money but the culture is terrible, you may want to re-think your situation. Money can bring great joy but it can also cause you to be miserable and have health problems if the acquisition of it is consuming. A friend of mine recently told me that he ruined a relationship because he worked too much and that he’s not going to do it again. He will do what he needs to do to make money and be smart with it but not at the expense of his happiness. On the other hand, not focusing on money at all can cause just as much stress: Do you worry about paying bills each month? Do you have a savings account? How many credit cards do you have and are they maxed out? Do you live beyond your means? If friends ask you to go out, do you have to check your bank account first? The bottom line is, we need to have some balance when it comes to money. Money isn’t everything but it is needed to live comfortably in our world today. Another saying you may want to adopt is “Work Hard and Play Hard.” Make sure you are doing what you need to do to support yourself but take time to enjoy it...

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  This past weekend I went to the Pilgrimage Festival. It is a 2-day music festival, right here in the city of Franklin, Tennessee. There were 25,000 people, in over 90-degree humid heat with very little breeze, Ubers were expensive, there were long lines for food and drinks, and it was awesome! The whole weekend, I saw two police officers besides those directing traffic and they looked very bored. I didn’t see one of the 25,000 attendees causing a scene, getting upset, or being arrested. The crowd was diverse.  Straight, gay, singles, couples, all nationalities, all races, all religions (even a guy dressed like Jesus). The bands ranged from those playing children’s tunes to Southern pop/rock, to alternative, to classic R&B, to new independent bands making their own genre. Everyone had a great time and everyone was there for one thing – MUSIC. A friend recently told me a story about traveling with a band playing in a country that was war torn, where the language was not English and the crowd could barely understand anything they were saying. The people were oppressed but when the band played a classic Eagles tune, the entire audience sang the words in one voice. Music is a tremendous a language that causes political lines to be crossed, makes people color blind and brings masses together in a spiritual way that has nothing to do with religion. I typically write about the real estate market but our world needs more good news. Our world needs more music. Whatever you like to listen to, there are others just like you. Whatever transcends time and space for you and takes you back to a simpler time in your life, others will join you. Whether you’re turning on the radio, performing it, meditating to it, or are sitting out under the stars at a farm in the middle of Franklin, Tennessee watching some of the most skilled of their time, music can be the glue that holds us together when nothing else can. Next time you pull up next to a car and the driver is obviously singing the same song that’s coming out your speakers, sing along and wave. Play something soothing when the baby won’t sleep – it may not help the baby but it probably will you! If we can embrace each other’s taste in music, maybe we can learn to embrace each other, no matter our differences. And, come to think of it, having music on while you’re trying to sell your house can be helpful too. Sorry, had to do...

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I had a crush on this boy for several years in high school. He was in my youth group at church and he was a couple of years older than me (I really hope he isn’t reading this right now.) Anyway, he was the end-all be-all. I thought he hung the moon. I thought, “If I could just date him, everything would be great.” But I had a problem. I was a nerd – and he was totally popular. He was nice to me because he was a church kid. His parents taught him well and we all hung out and everyone had a good time but I was definitely not dating material in his eyes. So the years passed and my “love” for him stayed true. The day we had a party for the graduating Seniors and he left for college was a dark day. I lost my chance. I would never see him again, or so I thought. He came home for holidays and breaks and he would come to church with his parents. Now he was a college boy and that made it even worse! Much to my surprise, he came home for the summer and, well, I had grown out of my “nerdiness” I guess. Either that or he lost a bet. Nonetheless, he asked me out – on a DATE! I was speechless. I mean, this guy that I had been drooling over year after year, actually wants to take me on a date. I wondered if he realized he’d have to be seen with me in public and if he knew that I would call all my friends immediately and give them every detail. So that I don’t keep you in suspense any longer, I said, “yes” and we made a plan. Honestly, I don’t remember much about the date. I just remember being really bored and really disappointed (again, I hope he’s not reading this). I had spent so much energy dreaming of what it would be like to go on a date with him and then I was completely let down. So, there is a reason I tell you this story other than for entertainment and chuckling at my “nerdiness.” I have run across people that have had their eye on a particular house or a certain neighborhood for years. They think that once they live THERE, everything will be great. I have had others who think that once they get that bigger house, everything will fall into place. They have to keep up with the Jones’, have the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, the perfect car to put in the garage and the perfect furniture inside. What they don’t...

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  If you want to see a star, hear a star, or be a star, come to Nashville. This is the week that makes history in our city every year. It’s the CMA Music Festival! Country music fans come from, literally, all over the world to hear, meet, and photograph their favorite stars. The four-day festival has music, dancing, food, baseball, and dogs – yep, dogs! This year, Miranda Lambert will be marching for mutts at the Muttnation March on Thursday morning, June 8. If you love country music – you certainly won’t be disappointed, but that’s not all we have to offer in Nashville. While you are here, take advantage of our culture and history. You may want to visit The Frist Center for the Visual Arts,  Belle Meade Plantation or The Hermitage. My personal favorite is The Carnton Plantation that was used as a hospital during The Battle of Franklin. And not to be forgotten, as I write this, Nashvillians are basking in the afterglow of sweet hockey victory. Our beloved Nashville Predators are tied in the Stanley Cup final 2-2. And, just in case you don’t think we can tie everything back to music, not only is Carrie Underwood a Predator wife, the talk prior to every home game is, “Who do you think is going to sing the National Anthem?” Of course you will need to eat something more than food from a street cart, so I encourage you to venture out of downtown for a bit and explore some of the culinary delights that have popped up around town. You don’t have to go far to get everything from Southern-style meat and three, to famous “hot chicken,”  to a high-end dining experience you may not expect to get in “Nashvegas”. Whatever you decide to do, wherever you decide to go, you are sure to experience the hospitality, kindness and sincerity of our locals. Yes, you make our commute challenging and we can’t get into our favorite restaurant but we are happy to give you directions and make sure you feel the warmth of our city. So, enjoy Nashville this week and if you decide you’d like to explore making it your home, I know someone...

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  I live in Nashville – Music City, USA but I did what a lot of people do. I got busy with my career, with my family and my hobbies and failed to take advantage of what this great city has to offer. I looked around and saw all these people coming from out of state to hear great music and I was rarely going out to see my own friends play around town. I used the excuse that I was too tired, too busy or that there was nothing going on when I was available. HOGWASH!! There is a quote that I love that says something like, “If it’s important to you, you make time. If it’s not, you make excuses.” So, I was telling myself that hearing live music was not important to me. NOT TRUE! So, at the end of last year, I put “live music” on my vision board. With such a plethora of live music venues and bands that want to play here, I had no trouble finding a place to start. Funny thing is, I started in my own living room. My friend, Debbie Cunningham, was looking for a way to raise funds for her new album. I suggested a house concert and a couple months later, she and a keyboardist were set up in my living room with people spread out with their wine and cheese, enjoying the sound of her smooth voice as it danced over notes with the ease of an Olympic gymnast. Then I “bumped into” friends playing at a great local venue, 3rd & Lindsley. Great bassists, horn players, keyboardists and singers who are talented enough to have played with people like Diana Ross, Kelly Clark, The Monkees, the list goes on. I have heard rock bands at Marathon Music Works, a Shania Twain cover band, a Journey cover band named Resurrection (twice!), local singer songwriters in the round whose songs are on the radio, Country Gospel greats like Jimmy Fortune, and local bands that play on porches and stages in my own neighborhood! I went to CMA Fest one night and saw some country favorites like Blake Shelton, along with mine – Steven Tyler. I’ve seen 80’s sensation, Duran Duran and adult alternative great, Ray LaMontagne, both at the cool outdoor Ascend Amphitheater. Last but certainly not least – I, yet again, saw Steven Tyler at the Mother Church – The Ryman Auditorium. I have more coming up. Besides friends’ bands, on the calendar is Heart, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, and hopefully, Chris Stapleton. I have learned several things from this: Putting things on a vision board WORKS! Every city can be AWESOME if you open your...

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  It’s that time of year again. Tourists will fill our city in hopes of seeing a country music star walking down Broadway on their way to a gig. It’s CMA Fest 2016 y’all!   Officially, CMA Fest runs from June 9-12 and is set on many stages and many venues throughout downtown Nashville. If you’re here early you may want to watch Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill and much of the cast of “Nashville” in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball game at First Tennessee Stadium on June 7. You can attend charity concerts, Q&A sessions, get an autograph from one of your favorites and maybe make some new friends along the way. You’ll also want to take it the sights while you’re in our great city. Besides things like the Country Music Hall of Fame, we have beautiful hills, farm land, art galleries, lakes, and some mighty good restaurants.   On the stages this year, you can see artists from the classic greats like Jimmy Fortune, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bill Anderson and Neal McCoy to some of today’s hottest acts such as Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Ashley Monroe, and Chris Stapleton and perhaps find a new favorite like Carly Pearce, High Valley, Levi Hummon, and MamaDear. And if you’re like me, you won’t want to miss Steven Tyler on Saturday night!   You may want to download the app, available for Apple and Android products. You can keep up with all the happenings and make sure you are at the right stage at the right time. The weather is set to be perfect for being outside and taking everything in. We have ordered up high 80’s to mid 90’s without a drop of rain so be sure to bring your wide brimmed hat and lots of sunscreen.   Yes, this week is full of road closures, traffic jams and packed restaurants that can be a challenge for locals, however, I am glad we have CMA Fest in Nashville every year. It is just another way to show off this city that I love. It’s where I live, work and play and it’s awesome. I am proud to show off all we have to offer, and if you’re just crawling out from under that rock, it’s a lot more than country music. P.S. As you’re visiting our awesome city you’ll no doubt want to become a local yourself! Click here to download our app to get the current Real Estate information. Photo courtesy of zirconicusso via freedigitalphotos.net  ...

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