Everything's coming up roses. I can't think of a better way to describe this May. This beautiful glorious redemptive month.

Read and Reading

Are You My Type? Am I Yours?: Relationships Made Easy Through the Enneagram (Baron and Wagele) is a fantastic basic resource comparing how each Enneagram type pairing gets along. It is uncanny to read how my type gets along (or doesn't) with the others and see my relationships written out on the page.

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life From Dear Sugar (Strayed) is more essay than advice column. Strayed transcends the normal rules of giving advice and therein lies the genius and soul of her response. Absolutely moving.

I was on the crew team for a couple of years in college so I was positively enthralled by The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, not only for its historical value but going down rowing memory lane. Even those without crew experience should find this story interesting. Written in the vain of Unbroken, The Boys in the Boat brings us back to the Depression era and the years leading up to WWII, all the more notable because of where the 1936 Olympics took place. The book centers on Joe Rantz, which is a wise choice in that the narrative keeps moving and provides the book its heart. We still learn about his fellow rowers in the process and see how they become a true team and where that eventually led them. Highly recommended.

You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads. 

Currently reading: We Make the Road By Walking (McLaren), De Niro (Levy), Strong Inside: Perry Wallace the Collision of Race and Sports in the South (Maraniss), Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Cannon, Harper, Jackson, Rah), Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church (Evans), Cooked (Pollan), Atlas Girl (Wieringa), Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town (Krakauer)

(I read 12 books this month.)

TV:

Must-see TV: Real Housewives of New York, Southern Charm, Outlander

I cannot wait to see what happens next season on Once Upon A Time. Their finales always take the show in such interesting and unexpected directions!

I am behind on Outlander but because I know what happens in the second to last episode of the season, I haven't been in a rush to catch up. I will probably sob and avert my eyes through the whole thing.

Music:

I haven't had much of a chance to listen to new music but I have been figuring out what CDs will accompany on my epic road trip.

Listen to the What I'm Into 2014 playlist. Here's the What I'm Into 2015 playlist.

Movie:

I saw Pitch Perfect 2 a couple of weeks ago and have mixed feelings. I LOVED the first movie so much. There were expectations there and they were high. Abby and I were super excited to see it! On the one hand, the music was still the star of the show and I enjoyed every song. On the other hand, so many of the jokes were one note and, frankly, racist. I'm befuddled over how that happened. Did they use an entirely different writer group the second time around? Did they lose touch with the heart of the first movie? There were still some funny parts but man. It coulda been a contenda.

Podcasts:

I also loved the Birds & Bees episode on This American Life. I first heard of comedian Kamau Bell through Death, Sex, and Money. In the second segment, it was really interesting to learn more about his experience with racism, how he's talking about it (or not) with his family, and what he did after this incident. The third segment is all about children and grief, which was my specialty when I was a hospice social worker. It's a topic that's close to my heart and I was glad to hear them advocate for honest conversations and discuss what children need while they grieve.

Things I Love:

• Since I'll be housesitting when I first get out to San Francisco, I won't be able to get my own library card. This is when my behemoth To Read stack comes in handy. I picked out a few that will accompany me on the road.

• Abby had a fabulous birthday party at her house which featured fondue and mules. And then we all sang along to our favorite songs and it was the best.
• My niece-in-love invited me to her ballet recital and school spring recital and I melted over how old she's getting and how she completely rocked her dance and her solo.
• I got to hang out with Christena Cleveland! She invited me along to a conference where she was speaking. It was such a treat to spend time together. Christena accepted a position as the director of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity and I can't wait to hear about how that goes. P.S. If you haven't read Disunity in Christ yet, you're missing out.

• Seeing how many times I can go to Edgehill Cafe in one month. Thanks to clients and my friends for accommodating my love for this place. I've got to go while I still can!

• Dinner with the family I nannied for. I love them so much and can't think about saying goodbye. A couple days later I went to Sweet Girl's toddler dance recital and about died of the cuteness.

• One of the most exciting parts of this month was being offered a position at City Church San Francisco! I'll be their Children's Ministry Administrative Assistant. I promise to tell the whole story soon because it's a wild one. Apparently in my life, I must always decide to move to a city first. The job will come second. Such a wonderful confirmation of where I'm supposed to be!

• Celebrating all the good news with Amanda! I get a little teary just thinking about how much her friendship has meant to me the past few years. She has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders and I am so sad to leave her, though I know we'll see each other again. She's just the best.

• Living Room Dance Parties with my niece-in-love

• My nephew-in-love (almost 1 year old!) reaching for me to hold him when he sees me.

• Munching on french fries at Fido with Tracy. We don't get to hang out just the two of us outside of her house very often, which made this extra special.

• Getting to hear my friend Melissa preach at GracePointe. SO GOOD.

• Cheersing with Abby with Gin and Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

• Lunch at Woodlands Indian (so good!!!) with Allison. Every time we get together, we figure out more things we have in common. So good spending time with her!

• Lunch with Crystal- I've really enjoyed getting to know her the past couple of months! I'm glad we were able to get together while it's still easy.

• Emily Miller and her husband came to town for their anniversary. I took them to Burger UP for lunch and Las Paletas for dessert, where I ordered my usual avocado paleta and savored every bite. I always love hearing about what people think of Nashville and their plans while they visit. Plus, Emily is just good people.

• My roommate Valerie got me a complimentary ticket to see Newsies at TPAC. It's been way too long since I saw the movie so the show was quite the experience. I was blown away by the dancing!

• And then I had one of the most Nashville experiences I've had in a while: we went to the Newsies cast party at this exclusive legendary bar that recently reopened. This is where the stars would come after they played a big show. The stories that have come out of this place! Basically, there's no way I could get in of my own volition so I'm glad I could experience the fancy drinks and see the cast and obligatory reality star. Oh, and a burlesque dancer. I can't make this stuff up.

• Dinner with Casi and AE at Edley's BBQ. I loved hearing about the exciting developments in all of our lives! Plus, fried pickles.

• In my bid to move fewer things, I've been going through my closet and selling clothes to two different online consignment stores. I've sold items to Twice a couple times now and have had a great experience with selling and buying. I'm trying thredUP for the first time so we'll see how that goes. My referral links will get you $10 in credit if you want to try either place for yourself.

Favorite Instagram:

Hot days call for peanut butter fudge shakes and my favorite kiddos. #nieceinlove #nephewinlove #IScreamForIceCream

(If you want to follow me on Instagram, my user name is leighkramer.)

On The Blog:

I made a big announcement. I still can't believe I'm doing this!

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 What I'm Into Link Up Guidelines:

1. Today’s link-up will stay up for one week. The next What I'm Into link up will be Wednesday July 1.  I will have literally just moved across the country so if it's not up in a timely manner, please be patient.

2. Link the unique URL of your post, not your blog's home page. Readers peruse link ups months after the fact and you want to make it easy for them to find your What I'm Into post.

3. Please include the What I'm Into button or mention you're linking up with What I'm Into at Leigh Kramer.

4. Visit at least 2 other posts in the linkup!

What have you been into this month?

Disclosure : Affiliate links included in this post.  If you click through, any purchase you make supports this site.

I've lived in Nashville 5 years this month and have thoroughly relished eating my way through the city. There are, of course, plenty more restaurants I wish I had time to try before I move to San Francisco but these are the places I'll miss the most.

(While some have establishments in a couple of neighborhoods, I listed the one I go to. A few restaurants are in ambiguous areas so if you don't see a neighborhood listed, that's why.)

Coffee and Tea

Crema (Rutledge Hill)- If you go in the fall and they have Bourbon Barrel Double Sorghum Latte on the menu, order it post-haste. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with the Cuban. I've done a lot of great writing and conversing in this place. Amanda and I used to have weekly writing dates there, which means it will always have a special place in my heart.

Edgehill Cafe (Edgehill)- This place is my other staple, whether I'm writing or meeting up with friends. They have a great loose-leaf tea selection from Rishi and I am especially fond of the Tangerine Ginger. When I'm in a latte mood, I go for Always Fall Somewhere or Abbe Road or one of their fun specials.

Tea cup chandelier at Thistle Stop Cafe

Thistle Stop Cafe (West Nashville)- The cafe is a part of Thistle Farms, a social justice enterprise for women who survived prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. I'm a huge fan of their work. The cafe has a tasty menu (always get the soup) but I go mostly for the tea. You can order a pot of their loose leaf tea and it will be served to you in a china teacup. The cafe is lit by various teacup chandeliers. However, they also have great coffee and lattes, if that's more your style.

Ugly Mugs (East Nashville)- This shop sits next to Silly Goose, which is next to Jeni's Ice Cream, so basically all your needs are met for the day. Whatever special drinks they're offering that day, go with it. They've never steered me wrong.

The Well (Brentwood)- This is a nonprofit missional coffeehouse, which means any profit they make is put toward building wells in impoverished areas around the world. So there's that. But they also offer a range of loose leaf teas and various fancy ways of preparing coffee.

Breakfast and Brunch

Biscuit Love (The Gulch)- Started out as a food truck and now serving up breakfast and brunch daily. I could weep from how delicious the East Nasty is. Try it and thank me later.

Edgehill Cafe (Edgehill)- You can't go wrong with their frittatas but when I'm feeling indulgent, I get The Grilled PBCB, which is a grilled peanut butter, chocolate, and banana sandwich. Amazing. Their specials are top notch- I'm still dreaming about the Biscuit and Peaches dish I had last summer.

Marché (East Nashville)- I head here when I want a little nicer breakfast. They use local and seasonal food and the menu changes regularly. It's almost always busy so try to get there early. Otherwise you can order coffee and pastries at the counter while you wait.

Mere Bulles (Brentwood)- The best Sunday Brunch Buffet I've ever experienced. They have crab bisque, an omelet station, and crème brulee French toast. I rest my case.

Pinewood Social (Rolling Mill Hill)- The Pot Roast Hash won me over from the start. More on this interesting place below.

Star Bagel (Sylvan Park)- This is my breakfast (and lunch) go-to from even before I moved to Nashville. They have amazing bagel sandwiches. I usually order The Breakfast Sandwich with bacon or The California. If it's closer to lunchtime, I'll get the Asiago Turkey. And you MUST get the fruit tea. It is the best in all of Nashville.

Tavern (Midtown)- Brunch is served up on the weekend only. I recommend getting there right when they open. If they have a dish with their homemade sausage, get it. The Red Velvet Waffle sounds good but it sadly doesn't live up to its reputation. Skip the waffle and get a libation instead.

Lunch and Dinner

312 Pizza (Germantown)- I'm from Chicagoland so I have high standards when it comes to pizza. Lucky for me, the owners also hail from Chicagoland and decided to remedy Nashville's pizza situation. Lou Malnati's is my favorite Chicago pizzeria and this is almost as good as that. No small feat. I also love that you can get your Chicago sports fix here. It gets busy fast so I recommend trying to go early if you don't want a long wait.

Burger Up (12 South)- I go here for the Lamb Burger and fried pickles. I've ventured out into other burger territories but the Lamb Burger always tempts me back and rightly so. If lamb isn't your thing, try the Woodstock. My best friend swears by their Chopped Kale Salad and another friend raves about the Marathon Burger, which is vegetarian. 

The Dog of Nashville (Hillsboro Village)- This is the hot dog place of your dreams. I'm especially fond of the Chicago dog (shocker). The basket of fries is enormous so order one and plan on sharing. Be sure to take in all the Chicago sports memorabilia. Go White Sox!

Edgehill Cafe (Edgehill)- Yes, this is the third time I've mentioned this place. It is that good! The lemon-basil chicken salad is a refreshing choice, as is their kale salad, and I've loved every sandwich I've ever consumed there. But 9 times out of 10, I go with a special. The BLT Flatbread I had a few weeks ago might have changed my life.

Fried pickles and BBQ Nachos at Edley's

Edley's Bar-B-Que (12 South)- How do I love thee, Edley's? Let me count the ways. I love thee for thy fried pickles, BBQ Nachos, and Chicken Sandwich. And I love thee most for thy Brisket Sandwich. Get in my belly, right now, please and thank you.

Epice (12 South)- This is a Lebanese restaurant and it is beyond amazing. Try the hummos, of course, and any of the lamb dishes. The Fattayer, a trio of savory pies, is also a great choice.

Fido (Hillsboro Village)- While you can go to Fido for all your coffee and breakfast needs, I prefer to go there for lunch or dinner. I alternate between the Local Burger, which is one of the best in Nashville, and the Braised Beef Sandwich. I always get the fries. Sometimes I only get fries.

Hanging at Flip Burger with my best friends.

FLIP Burger (Sylvan Park)- If you're a fan of Top Chef, you'll be excited to learn this is Richard Blais's restaurant, which first started in Atlanta. Nashville got a location earlier this year and we are better for it.  I'm partial to the Lamburger, though the RBQ and Oaxaca are also quite tasty. Last time I was there, they used liquid nitrogen to create my cocktail, which had a mesmerizing effect. Viva la Gingerita! (Sadly now closed.)

The Local Taco (Sylvan Park)- I used to live a couple blocks away and loved walking down for an easy meal. Pick how many tacos and/or enchiladas you want. Mix and match to your heart's content. Favorite tacos: Tequila Lime Chicken, Carnitas, Smoked Brisket, Portabella. Favorite enchiladas: Chicken Tinga, Mushroom & Spinach. I always get the lemon crema sauce on my enchiladas, though I also love the verde. The Chicken Salad (really, a salad with chicken) is another great choice, especially if you get the jalapeno ranch dressing.

The Loveless Cafe (Bellevue)- This is a local institution that you should experience at least once. Go during off hours, otherwise plan on waiting a while. The Loveless is known for their biscuits and jam and I've been known to eat more than my fair share. A classic meat-and-three, I'm partial to their poppyseed chicken when it's on the menu. Otherwise, it's fried chicken all the way. (They also serve breakfast.)

Mas Tacos Por Favor (East Nashville)- It's not much to look at but the flavor that comes out of this kitchen is no joke. The menu is always changing but if you see cast iron chicken tacos listed, get at least one. This is another place to head to early, as seating is limited and the line can be long. They also have a food truck!

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor & Beer Garden (East Nashville)- If the weather's nice, plan on sitting outside. It can take over an hour to get inside so head here early. The burgers are great but if you're feeling adventurous, try one of the homemade German wursts to accompany your beer. Not in the mood for beer? They've got a soda shop, too.

Drinking the Good Sinner

Pinewood Social (Rolling Mill Hill)- Meet friends for coffee and stay for lunch or grab a seat at the bar or chill poolside. Bowl, if that's what you want to do. What I'm trying to say is: this place has options. They also have super fun cocktails. I recommend the fried broccoli if you order an appetizer. Really. I'm also partial to the fried chicken.

The Silly Goose (East Nashville)- This place never fails me. It's hard to pick a favorite: maybe the Sicilian Couscous or Bird Wrap. But I can't forget The Frisby either. The dinner specials change on the regular. No matter what, you can count on good fresh, quality ingredients. Plus, if you've got room, you can head next door to Jeni's Ice Cream for dessert. (Sadly now closed.)

Taco Mamacita (Edgehill)- The guacamole is top notch. I come here for the stellar margaritas (and drink specials!), as well as their interesting take on tacos, like the California Club, Loaded Gyro, and Oy Vey. I've been known to polish off the Grande Chopped Salad with jalapeno ranch dressing in one sitting. 

Thai Esane- This is my favorite Thai restaurant here. It might seem unexpected but order the homemade sausage. It's an experience! The papaya salad is as good as what I ate in Thailand.

Treat Yo Self Restaurants

Scenes from my 34th birthday at City House. Look at all that mood lighting.

City House (Germantown)- I love coming here when there's something to celebrate or I have company in town. The menu is ever changing according to the season and what's available locally. But I can tell you this: try the pizza, made in their wood-burning oven. Add a farm fresh egg. Revel in ecstasy. The cocktails are inventive and refreshing. Reservation recommended.

Husk (Rutledge Hill)- This place, y'all. If I could afford to eat there weekly, I'd sign on in a heartbeat. The menu changes with the season and each dish comes together thanks to complicated technique and layered flavors. Sean Brock is a culinary genius. I had a filet of beef that practically melted in my mouth from the tenderness. I'm drooling just thinking about it. I haven't tried going for lunch but I hear the fried chicken is out of this world and sells out fast. My friend and I treated ourselves a couple of years ago and decided to save room for dessert. This was a wise decision, as Lisa Donovan was still the pastry chef at that time. I got to take a baking class from her and she is the real deal. Dinner reservation recommended.

Rumours East (East Nashville)- On a nice evening, there's no place I'd rather sit than their back patio. The food is tremendous, as is the extensive wine and cocktail list.

Food Trucks

There are literally hundreds of food trucks in Nashville. These are the ones I can't resist. Follow them on social media to find out where they are.

Deg Thai

Grilled Cheeserie

Loco Donut (not currently operating as a food truck but I hope for your sake they come back around)

Riff's Fine Street Food

Sum Yum Yum (banh mi!!!!)

Sweets and Treats

The Cupcake Collection (Germantown)- The perfect cake-frosting ratio, I'm a happy camper when Red Velvet, Blackout, and Peanut Butter Mousse are on the menu.

IveyCake (Franklin)- Gold Digger (chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting) is my absolute favorite. I'm not ashamed of how many of their flavors I've consumed over the past 5 years.

Jeni's Ice Cream (East Nashville)- Nothing wrong with this gourmet ice cream and I've sampled about every flavor to prove it. Get out of your comfort zone and try something new, like Goat Cheese and Cherries (tastes like cheesecake) or Queen City Cayenne. Just make sure you leave enough Buckeye State for me. Flavors change seasonally.

Las Paletas (12 South)- These Mexican popsicles are a refreshing treat. Avocado is my favorite but I've been known to eat the fruity paletas, too. You can also go to Hot & Cold in Hillsboro Village and get your paleta dipped in chocolate or dunked in your coffee.

Fried Pickles

I will never turn down fried pickles and have eaten more than my fair share around this town. These are especially superb.

Bobby's Dairy Dip (Sylvan Park)

Burger Up (12 South)

Edley's Bar-B-Que (12 South)

Rotier's

Whiskey Kitchen (MStreet)

When I decided to move to Nashville 5 years ago, I thought a lot about the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken. Two roads diverged in my Illinois life and I could have stayed the course. I chose to freefall and head South instead. I would never trade what I've learned in the years since.

I've made some great friends, gone to incredible shows, and become a healthier version of myself. I wrote a (still unpublished) novel. I see my best friend's family at least once a week. I learned it's possible to uproot your life and start again, just because.

I'd be lying, however, if I said my life in Nashville looked the way I had dreamed it would. I've been treading water the last couple of years, wondering if this was all there was, if this could be enough.

***

A couple of weeks after my nanny job ended last September, I sat in a room on a rainy day with some of my dearest friends and cried. I could not staunch the tears even if I tried.

I took the paper I'd written last year's goals on, then crumpled it in my hand unread. I didn't need to look at it to know I'd failed.

If it had been any other group of friends, I would have summoned an excuse to skip my turn. But when everyone's eyes turned toward me, I remembered they are my Someones. I let the tears slide down my face while I spoke in fits and starts about how I was truly doing.

It was not pretty. I could not dress my fears up. The future was blank, I told them. Not in that "the possibilities are endless" kind of way but one in which I had no plan B and no sense of direction, all while the rent and other bills need to be paid. My job search had remained fruitless. I had not figured out what I wanted to do with my life, which was the very goal I'd written down the year prior.

My friends saw me. They saw through what I said and didn't say. They asked me the best kind of questions, the ones that lead to a truth you didn't realize you believed, and they also spoke words over me that filled the aching spots inside. They loved me.

That was the darkness and even though I felt like I'd talked too much already, I began to share with them the light. Almost a decade before, I received an impression that 35 would be an important year for me and I could not help but wonder what 2015 would hold as a result.

One of my friends said this would be "the year of Leigh" and as the words left her mouth, a clap of thunder filled the house.

***

Since that weekend, my life has been a series of questions. When you're not sure what kind of job you want, job searching is an almost backward process. I've figured out what kinds of jobs don't interest me or that I wouldn't be good at. I've tried different jobs on for size. I've wondered which of these jobs would offer stability and consistency. No two days have looked the same.

Some days are flexible enough to include coffee with a friend or a slate of conquered errands. Some days mean working at one job, then working at another, and then another. Always, in the back of my mind, I wondered where it was leading and how long I could sustain myself this way.

***

The first glimmer might have arrived last September but certainly in January. There was no mistaking it, though I wasn't entirely sure what direction it would take me. Then there were impressions from two years ago and, of course, ten years ago. I would be remiss in thinking the particular set of circumstances that led me to move to Nashville weren't at work even now.

In January I knew something had to change but that blank slate remained blank. In February I contemplated moving out of state. I gathered up all the glimmers and started considering three distinct options, each of which made me laugh in astonishment. In March I decided not to renew my lease. I keenly felt something was coming down the pike and I needed to be ready for it. Each week the glimmers were refined by fire.

I asked for and received wise counsel. Mostly, I listened to that still small voice.

Then came April. The week before Easter, "house sitting" leaped into my mind.

***

It would take a miracle, I thought, but all the interesting jobs were in San Francisco. Three of my cousins and a few friends lived there but I'd never so much as visited.

I applied for a couple of dream jobs but nothing came to fruition.

And yet San Francisco kept coming up. It was relentless.

***

While I was back in my hometown for Easter, I went on a walk with my friend Megan. We were talking about how we make decisions and how our intuition plays a role.

"It's the jar lid click," she said. And that was it exactly.

You know when you're trying to close a jar and it's not quite aligned and you have to keep unscrewing it and trying until it fits the grooves correctly and snaps into place? For my friend and me, we think consciously and unconsciously about whatever decision we're making from a variety of angles and then one day, sometimes out of nowhere, it snaps into place and we know without any doubt what we're supposed to do. Jar lid click!

We can't rush it but we trust it will happen when it's supposed to.

***

The week after Easter I talked on the phone with one of my good friends from San Francisco. She already knew the things I'd been contemplating and I wanted to bring her up to speed.

I talked about how my virtual assistant work meant I could work anywhere and that maybe house sitting for July and August was the way to go because then I could cover my expenses while I looked for full-time or part-time work.

"You could house sit for us," she told me. My heart started to hammer as she filled me in on the details. I had no idea they had travel plans. I could test the literal and figurative California waters.

Could it be this easy?

Jar. Lid. Click.

***

When you take the road less traveled by, you get to see what lies beyond the fork and sometimes that means you wind up where you needed to go. Or sometimes you come to another fork in the road. You must decide, again, whether to stay the course or take the leap.

I'm taking the leap. I'll be moving to San Francisco at the end of June. I don't know if it will be a permanent move but I have no doubt it is the next right step. After months of considering what to do, there are so many stories and signs already that have confirmed this decision.

My spirit is lighter already. Though it will be hard to say goodbye to my Nashville friends, I am excited to see what San Francisco holds for me, no matter how big or small a role it will play in my life.

This is the time in my life to explore, try, leap. This is the time for adventure.

I'm heading around the bend.