JoZoara's Coffee Shop

One of my main priorities once I moved to Tennessee was to find a hole in the wall coffee shop that could be my home away from home. I am someone who needs to get away from all the madness and zero in on some "me" time with a great glass of coffee. Well in Murfreesboro, there is an EXCEPTIONAL coffee shop named JoZoara's coffee.

JoZoara's offers an amazing selection of coffee's (hot and cold) as well as food. They are a local, no chain coffee shop. Inside is so welcoming with plenty of chairs, tables, and LAPTOP OUTLETS for people to enjoy. The staff is so kind and pleasant and honestly treat you like you're family. It's definitely a welcoming place (especially for someone who is brand new to the town)

I had the pleasure of drinking the Mint Chocolate coffee (on the left) and also asked for a glass of water which is served in a Mason Jar (which I loved). Wi-Fi at JoZoara's is free with a purchase of an item. It does have a timer on it, but if you just ask the cashier for another code they will give it to you once your time is up with no problem. I felt at home at this place, and it was way better than trying to study at a Starbucks or a Panera. Oh! Did I mention the music selection is wonderful, and not too loud... just perfect!

So if you're ever in the Murfreesboro area, this is the place to go for some GOOD coffee and a great time of serenity.

Sweet CeCe's

One of the first things I heard when I arrived in Nashville was I have to try Sweet CeCe's, a frozen yogurt place to die for. Now in Tallahassee we have a SLUE of what we call fro-yo places- pretty much one on every corner. But here in Nashville, there is one fro-yo place with multiple locations, and they were right it is to die for.

Now at Sweet CeCe's you get to sample around 6-8 different flavors and then fill up a cup with whatever toppings you would like. At the counter, you place the cup on a scale and they charge you per pound. I recommend sharing with someone, they are large cups. I also recommend mixing the Cupcake Batter w/ the Cookies and Cream- heaven in a cup.

The best part about Sweet CeCe's is the customer service. They are so nice and helpful and just always have a smiling face. No one looks like they hate their job, and the place is super clean and inviting. You also get a coupon card they punch everytime you come, and on Tuesday's they punch two!

My first experience was at the Grand Opening in Nipper Court- which gave out free fro-yo from 6-9. We had an awesome time and it's definitely different than what I am used to. The southern hospitality here is so amazing!

The Grilled Cheeserie

Yesterday I came across an amazing website : Nashville Food Trucks which proceeded to tell me about all the different food trucks Nashville has to offer. I was completely blown away because Tallahassee only has a small handful of trucks.

Now if you didn't already know food trucks are becoming the newest trend of take-out. The Food Network recently did a special on food trucks and the unique ones in the country. Well, upon arrival to Nashville, I heard there was a Grilled Cheese food truck that has become quite popular. Grilled Cheese is like the best food in the world, why wouldn't I want to DESPERATELY try this amazing food. So I signed up for RSS updates for The Grilled Cheeserie and a couple of other interesting food trucks in the area. I called up a friend and headed to the Nashville Farmers Market, where the Grilled Cheeserie would be on Tuesday.

Since Grilled Cheese is already amazing, it wasn't surprised that a Specialty Pizza Melt wouldn't be to die for. At a small price of $7 the specialty grilled cheeses are worth it. If you're on a budget (which I should be on since I'm broke) you can order a Grilled Cheese with a large array of cheese selections for only $4. Plus they have the old fashioned cokes to drink for only $2, which is an awesome experience in it's own. My friend tried the Macaroni and Cheese w/ Bacon Melt and loved every minute of it.

I recommend this food truck HIGHLY and I will be making a return visit. Make sure to "Like" their FB page to receive daily updates on where they will be located. It's worth it, I promise.

Nashville Sounds Baseball Game

On Sunday I went to a Nashville Sounds game. The Nashville Sounds are a Triple AAA baseball team and a major league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The games are held at Herschel Greer Stadium downtown. 

Before the game on Sunday, 94.1 The Fish hosted a christian concert featuring Jonny Diaz. There have been other Sundays this summer who have featured Britt Nicole, Jaci Velazquez, etc. They are called faith nights and also feature $1 sundae's. 


Tickets were $10 for general admission and $14 for assigned seating. The game was really fun and you definitely got the bang for you buck. 

The Sounds played the Rock City Rockets- an affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Unfortunately the Sounds lost 8-4, but a fun and exciting game nonetheless. It's definitely an event you want to attend while in Nashville. It's fun, cheap, and great for the whole family. 

The season ends in September: Nashville Sounds Website

Blue Coast Burrito

So I am successfully moved into my apartment in Murfreesboro (pictures to come later). I still have plenty of unpacking to complete and redecorating to start. My roommate got back from vacation yesterday, so we have a lot of collaborating to do for the kitchen and family room. I already love my apartment, its become very homey. My dad is here with me until Sunday (tomorrow) so it's been a blessing! 


Yesterday we went and tried one of Nashville's own: Blue Coast Burrito. 

I got a good recommendation from a friend, but to my surprise I found it lacking something. Being from South Florida and Tallahassee I am used to the chains of Moe's and Chipotle (Moe's always won over Chipotle) Now while, Blue Coast still beats Chipotle in my mind, it didn't have the same WOW factor as Moe's. 


Positives of Blue Coast: 


1. Cheaper! It was a lot cheaper than your typical Moe's menu - 5.50 for a small burrito
2. Have the option to pick different tortilla's if you order a regular burrito
3. Get student discount if from the local University
4. Very vibrant colors and welcoming dine-in atmosphere. 


Negatives: 


1. First off, no one leaves a lasting welcome like Moe's does: "Welcome to MOESSSSS"
2. The pico de gallo ..... tasted really funny. 
3. Paid extra for chips and salsa - salsa choices very slim. 
4. Sour cream came out of a dressings bottle - very weird to me. 
5. Did a calorie count when I got home ... what I believed to be less fat and low in calories, was in fact 800 calories. 


Overall Opinion: 


I would go back to Blue Coast eventually if people wanted to meet for lunch or dinner there, but it will not become a place I get take out from or recommend as one of the first options to eat. 


One TN chain down, plenty left to try! 

The End of an Era

I have always been a fan of blogging, but now I am going to attempt to keep one (successfully) myself. At this point in my life, it is a Sunday and I am sitting in my completely destroyed apartment attempting to pack up my entire Florida life into a Penske truck. Come Thursday, I will be leaving the land of palm trees and sunshine for the rolling hills and country music state of Tennessee. Normally you hear about people moving from all over the country to Florida and describe it as the best state ..... well I am ready to say Goodbye to the state that has housed me for 22 years and excited about the new adventures that Tennessee will bring me. 

I am moving to Murfreesboro, TN mainly for graduate school at Middle Tennessee State University. I will be working on my Masters of Science degree in Mass Communications. The greatest thing about where I am moving is just the endless amount of opportunities that I will have living so close to the capital. Nashville has a large array of non-profits, commercial tourism, and of course professional sports; all in which I would love to gain experience in on my path to becoming a Special Events Director. 

Living in Tallahassee for the past 5 years has taught me so much: how to drink immense amounts of alcohol, how to love a football team more than your own family, and to grow up and find a place that fits you but just don't forget where you came from. I loved living in Tallahassee, it completely made me the person I am today. But I have hit the wall of growth here and it's time to move on and make a new name for myself. I have been blessed with so many amazing experiences, a wonderful job for all 5 years, and the ability to legitimately "bleed" garnet and gold. 

This blog is going to act as a memoir of my new adventure in Tennessee. It will illustrate my life changing moments and my struggles. I know it won't be the easiest transition: a puerto-rican/italian female from Miami - then a Florida State Seminole in Tallahassee- to now a Tennessean, but I am excited for what God and the world has to offer. My journey officially starts Thursday, July 28th.... it should be a WILD ride <3