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The Nashville Mom

/ Outdoor Fun

Nashville Fishing Holes

Today is my son’s 10th birthday! To celebrate his love of fishing, I’m sharing some of Nashville’s best spots to fish!

Tennessee requires a permit to fish, you can find the information on obtaining a fishing license here.

/ Covid Crisis, Fitness, Indoor Fun

Workout From Home Guide

It’s time for me to put down the Quarantine snacks and get active! If you’d like to join me, here are a few ways to work out from home. My workout gear is also on sale with free shipping and an extra $10 off $50: No seam capris and Tie Front Tee

  • Walk/fun around your neighborhood
  • Go for a hike or nature walk at Radnor, Timberland Park, Edwin Warner, Fall Creek Falls, Cummins Falls, Stillhouse Falls, Harpeth River State Park and Tennessee State Parks are open and free of charge.
  • Fit 52 Carrie Underwood’s new fitness app. Get 14 days free.
  • BFab Fitness will be offering online videos
  • Neighborhood Barre Brentwood and Nashville-tune in on their Facebook group
  • Peloton is offering three months free (no bike needed)
  • Shakti Power Yoga-free classes of meditation, power flow and yoga. Donations are welcome @shakti-nashville
  • Nashville Fit Style have workouts on YouTube
  • Small World Yoga-offering one live class per day via Zoom and shared to their YouTube page. Free of charge but a $5 donation via Venmo (@smallworldyoga) is appreciated
  • Megan Conner is offering one on one training, run coaching and pre-made online workouts
  • Camp Gladiator has a #hustlefromhome series live from Facebook, Monday-Friday at 5 a.m., 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT and Saturday at 8 a.m. They will also have printable workouts.
  • Inner Light Yoga offering community and movement everyday at 12 p.m. CST on Instagram
  • Strong Mom Fitness Baby Wearing Cardio and Resistance. Use code WESTUCKINSIDE for free access to online classes
  • Faster Way to Fat Loss: My friend Danielle has a $50 off the group that begins on Monday
  • Beat Box Fit offering videos for purchase
  • Core Power Yoga Free classes to use anytime
  • FitElyse is offering 50% off at home fitness programs if you mention “The Nashville Mom”
  • SHED Fitness offering live classes
  • Lifetime Fitness streaming classes live
  • Barre3 has online classes for their members
  • PureBarre on demand classes for members
  • CycleBar Maryland Farms Join the Cycle Bar Music City Community Facebook group. They’ll have wellness challenges, fun videos, studio updates and more. Follow Cycle Bar Go on Facebook for classes streamed live
  • Sculpthouse will have live classes on Instagram

Share any other fitness programs or online classes to add to the list.

/ Covid Crisis, Outdoor Fun, Weekend Happenings

Weekend Happenings-Quarantined Version

The days are running together lately between socially distancing, “homeschooling” and trying to rebuild our city from the tornadoes. Our weekends look a little differently but there are still ways to get enjoy time with your family.

Join The Nashville Book Club

If you’re looking for an online community, great book recommendations and fun meet ups (when we are able to), come join us!

Pick Your Own Tulips

  • Monday through Sunday (hours vary)
  • Liberty Grace Farms
  • Pack a lunch and enjoy some time on the flower farm where you can pick your own blooms. Admission is $7 per person and blooms are $1 each. Read about our experience here.

Get Outside

  • There’s never been a better time to get outside and enjoy fresh air and any sunshine that we can. Here a few ideas on places around Middle Tennessee for hikes, nature walks and explorations.
    • Radnor Lake
    • Edwin Warner
    • Timberland Park
    • Natchez Trace-Jackson Falls, Garrison Creek
    • Percy Warner
    • Falls Creek Falls
    • Cummins Falls
    • Stillhouse Falls
    • Harpeth River State Park
    • *Tennessee State Parks are open are free of charge

DIY Kits to Go

  • AR Workshop Franklin has DIY Crafting Kits that you can pick up for an at home project for kids of all ages

Online Easter Cookie Decorating

Summer’s Sweet Shoppe is hosting an online decorating cookie class on Tuesday, March 24th at 12 p.m. central time. The class will take place in a private Facebook group. Supplies can either be ordered via Amazon or cookie kits can be picked up locally.

Support Small Businesses and Restaurants: How to help our local businesses, shops and restaurants

Making The Most of the Quarantine: Resources for “Homeschool”, Kid-friendly activities and ideas for self-care

Nashville Strong: Tornado Relief Efforts

/ Green Hills, Local, The Nashville Book Club

Parnassus Books

*Parnassus is currently closed to the public but books may be shipped or are available for curb side pick up.

Parnassus Books, located in Green Hills, is a beloved book store in Nashville.

Owned by author Ann Patchett and business partner, Karen Hayes, Parnassus opened in 2011. Parnassus is a one-stop shop for the best selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, arts, local interests and more.

Parnassus also hosts weekly story times for children, author signings and visits. Make sure to sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date with the upcoming events.

Not only will you feel the warm fuzzies from this quaint bookshop but you may also get to visit with one of their shop puppies.

Call Parnassus to order Regretting You and join me for The Nashville Book Club. Books can help us travel, be inspired and fill our minds with great stories all from the comforts of our couch.

/ Columbia, Go, Outdoor Fun, Things to do

Liberty Grace Farms

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”-Laura Ingalls Wilder

During this quarantined time, we are trying to get outside as much as possible. Liberty Grace Farms in Columbia, Tennessee just opened their tulip season with you-pick flowers making the perfect day trip for families in Middle Tennessee.

Admission is $7 per person and each tulip you pick is an additional $1. Season passes are also available. The farm harvests sunflowers later in the year. Bring your lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery from one of the picnic tables or swings located around the property. Popcorn and drinks are available onsite to purchase as well.

Make sure to wear shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy. I didn’t realize that pulling tulips could land us on our bottoms a time or two!

You can find vibrant blooms in yellow, deep reds, pinks and purples throughout the fields.

In addition to the you-pick, Liberty Grace hosts events throughout the season like a Mommy and Me Picnic (next Sunday, March 22nd) and a Girl’s Night in the Tulips with floral arranging, a charcuterie board styling lesson and wine pairings. (March 26th)

The Gathering Barn is also available to rent for weddings, parties, reunion or when this quarantine is over and we don’t want to be socially distant anymore!

These days look very different than what we are used to but I’m finding it’s the simplest things that are bringing joy each day.

/ Dawn's Latest

Making the Most of the Quarantine


School is out, kids are at home and we are supposed to socially distance ourselves… leaving us all wondering…what in the world are we going to do with these kids? Here are a few ideas…but if all else fails, turn on the tv or let them play with their tablets because we all have to juggle during this stressful time. And of course we need to take care of ourselves too!

*Free Learning Websites*

Switch Zoo: Animal Games, Animal Profiles, "Field Trips"
Fun Brain: Reading, Math Zone, Games
National Geography for Kids: The magazine comes to life with animals, videos, games and explorations
PBS Kids: Games, videos and sign up for daily activities
Star Fall: Reading activities for grades kindergarten-third 
Suessville: All things Dr. Suess
Storyline Online: Celebrities read children's books through videos
Scholastic : Day to day projects to keep children learning
Raising Wonder-Free daily art activities and lessons
GoNoodle: Movement and mindfulness activities
Math Playground: Hundreds of math games, puzzles and educational resources

*What Mom's Are Saying*
These are kid-friendly activity suggestions given by readers

Cooking with Kids (I have this cute cookbook I enjoy with the kids)
Tippi Toes Online Dance Class (get a free 7 day trial here
Decluttering and organizing
Being forts
Movies (Disney+ to the rescue)
Building with legos
Crafts
Make cards to send to the local nursing home
Making obstacle courses
Gardening
Nature walks and hiking
Reading
Learn to play an instrument
Drawing and painting
Puzzles
Bubbles
Exercising (Kids Yoga on YouTube)
Board games
Sensory boxes
Slime, play doh, kinetic sand, shaving cream
Kiwi Crates 
Sidewalk chalk
Play outside, climb trees 
Facetiming friends and family
Dance parties (glow sticks for a glow in the dark dance party)

*Self-care for Moms
Join my book club to discuss good books 
Paint your nails (a new color I'm eyeing)
Take a long shower or bubble bath
Order yourself some new pajamas (These are on sale for under $12)
Go for a walk or run
Give yourself a little spa night (These are my favorite eye masks)

*Additional Resources*
My friend Meghan has a great blog post on keeping kids busy
Emily Ley: Series of posts on Simplifying Life in a Crisis