if only taylor and miley had been there.

Last week, my dad asked me if, on Tuesday, I wanted to go into the office by myself or drive to Nashville with him to shop and tour the city. as if that was even a real question. Obviously, I chose Nashville. Now seeing as how neither my dad, nor I are big country music fans, I think we kind of missed out on the real experience. Despite the fact that we may or may not have walked right past the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry was anything but old, I still had a great time. We did eat at a barbecue restaurant (and even if I did have a veggie burger, it still seemed like the appropriate thing to do). There was country music playing, vinyl record, cowboy boot, and guitar shops all around, and a plethora of southern culture. It was the ultimate bring-your-daughter-to-work day. And don't worry, Big Dave had us listening to country music the whole way home.

sometimes i like to pretend they're my own.

every day should be a day dedicated to dads.

I have the greatest dad in the whole world. And he better know I believe it. Seriously.

My sister, Kristan, came up with the bright idea to make my dad dinner for Father's Day. It started out being, "Oh let's ship him this fabulous frozen meal, and then we can have make Mom prepare it, and we'll be the greatest daughters of all time." Until, the realization hit-- "Sam, you'll be home! You can make him the dinner!" Then it turned into, "Let's buy dad lobster! He loves lobster!" 

Being a vegetarian and all, I thought...yes, brilliant idea. Please let me go to the store and pick up these innocent little creatures and listen to them their little claws scratch the sides of the cardboard box they're shoved into the whole drive home. (I know, I know. I'm being dramatic. Me? Never.) Then let me cook them. There's just something about shoving a live lobster head first into a pot of boiling water that seems inhumane. I dunno, that's just me.

But Daddy was happy, G-Dawg (Grandma) found way too much pleasure letting them run around on the kitchen floor, and watching my cousin, Courtney, try it for the first time made the whole experience worth it. If he didn't know it before, he better know it now. I'd do anything for ya dad (and I know you do everything for me). You really are the absolute best dad in the whole world. I love you.

And the entire dinner kind of reminded me of this. If for nothing other than they were eating lobster too (and those lobster claw hand puppet things in the background).

via youtube.

And we can't forget....Dad's really do know best. When there's a pause in conversation, we can always talk about Diet Coke.

road trip? let's all go!

I spent my last few weeks in Utah doing things I've never done before, like hiking Red Cliffs in Cedar City, boating in St. George, and going to Vegas with 15 other girls to see Celine Dion. I'm not kidding when I say I'm living the dream. Life is grand. And so are these people.

Highlight of Vegas: We met a group of girls there for a bachelorette party and the conversation went something like this. "How many of you are there?" "16." "What are you doing here?" "We came for Celine." "What? Seriously? Where are your parents? You really don't have any parents with you? You're like 5." Awkward laughter all around. (See Kelli, you're not the only one who thinks it.)