Waterfalls near Spring Hill TN : Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls

Spent a lovely day with K at Jackson Falls. Its about the closest place to find a waterfall near Spring Hill / Columbia TN. I have been trying to get in touch with nature lately. I think I feel less sad when I spend time outside. Sometimes I get so tired that its hard to spend a very long day outdoors. However, Jackson falls is not hard to get to at all, and is very easy to walk too only about 900ft. I highly suggest stopping there if you are ever driving down the Natchez Trace Parkway. The falls are located at mile marker 404.7. They allow dogs too and there is an overlook trail as well. The falls are two part and you can climb up some rocks to get to the upper fall which is where we took these photographs. K said in the summer sometimes kids will go down the waterfall like a slide. I have no idea how they did that because it seems like it would be dangerous and painful. I took a lot of photos with my instant camera. ^_^ . The whole place reminds me of a fairytale, I would love to go back and take some storybook style pictures. Overall it was a wonderful day and very peaceful. I tried to collect some acorns to commemorate the occasion, I teasingly told K I was going to keep them forever and ever so that I could show them to our great grandchildren, but their tops ended up falling off. "-_-

A Happy Couple

K is an oh-so-serious photographer

Nashville Oktoberfest 2015 Event Review

Nashville Oktoberfest 2015 Event Review

Nashville Oktoberfest

Oh Nashville Oktoberfest…. I had such high hopes… but alas you have failed me…

I have always been a fan of German culture, I was enrolled in German for 3 years when I was in high school. Our teacher had encouraged us to visit the Nashville Oktoberfest but something always came up so I never went.

Well this year was different, I thought it would be a great time. I was looking forward to German food, music and Beer. My friend and I dressed up in traditional Tracht (dirndls) and were eagerly looking forward to it.

Upon arriving, it was packed! This was to be expected, in fact I believe that Oktoberfest is Nashville’s biggest event. However, I was not expecting to be as overwhelmed as I was. Sometimes in my head I decide to do fun things, and think “Oh yes you will enjoy a fun day outside with people” When really its just a day of sweaty loud misery slowing walking through crowds of strangers towards an unidentifiable goal.

These annoyances would have been alright if there were say… German music, German food, or traditional vendors at the Oktoberfest. But on the day I went only country music was blaring, and regular “fair” food served (funnel cakes, corn-dogs, curly fries etc.) and the same tents selling the same old stuff (candles jewelry, and the like) I will say I think I did see at least one place selling bratwurst, but that was about it. 

Nashville Oktoberfest

The Beer buying process was also long, confusing, and very expensive. Involving waiting in line to buy a ticket before you could wait in line to get beer. You also had to make sure you were at the right beer tent (non- VIP) Everything was cash only, and of course, the ATMS were broken. My poor friend K had to walk all the way to Walgreen's to get money. When he came back I was so stressed out and miserable that we ended up leaving. I still feel guilty about making him walk all that way “-_-…

Upon looking online, it seems I’m not the only one that feels this way about the Oktoberfest. There seems to be a trend with it becoming more and more commercialized with every year, with less o f a focus on German culture, to a shift towards pandering to generic likes of people in order to generate more revenue.

I do wish I had not put off visiting this event until now, I would have liked to have seen it a few years back when it was more of a real Oktoberfest.

In the end, the day was redeemed by going out for Vietnamese pho which was quite delicious.

I also got to spend the day with my friend S. I have known her since she was small but have never really spent time with her. She is in her senior year of high school now, and I am sure she will accomplish great things! Though, I do think that she will probably move away for school and I will seldom see her. That’s how friendships are sometimes though, and that’s ok. I will enjoy spending time with her now and treasure the memories we make for a long time.

In the end I suppose all we really wanted was an excuse to dress up... Next October we'll probably just get beer from the grocery store and have our own private Oktoberfest in a park or something... XD

Soapwalla Deodorant Review

Soapwalla Deodorant Review

I have been on a search for an all natural deodorant that actually works for a while now. Upon first using Soapwalla, I would have written a sterling review upon finding the holy grail of natural deodorant. However, this is no longer the case…

For the first month, using this deodorant was wonderful, it lasted the whole day with no smell whatsoever. In fact, I would say it worked better than the previous drugstore aluminum formula I had been using. Also despite as not being described as an “antiperspirant” I did notice that I was less sweaty, perhaps this is due to the natural clays in the formula. The fragrance is minty and fresh due to essential oils. I believe they have a citrus fragrance version as well.

Then after awhile, I started to burn a bit when I applied it, it did not last long. I thought at first it was due to the peppermint irritating freshly shaved skin. After awhile my armpits were bright red! I read other reviews, and I found I was not the only one with the redness, however, the other reviewers said that the redness dissipated in a few days after they “adjusted”, so I continued to use it.

This proved to be a bad decision, as it just got more erythematous and painful. Upon discontinuing, my underarms cleared up in a few days.

So what caused this to happen in the first place? The culprit, is the baking soda ingredient, which also so happens to be the same ingredient that causes this natural deodorant to work so much better than others. Baking soda causes the pH causes a more alkaline skin environment which inhibits bacterial growth. Well upon researching I found that the pH of the skin is delicately balanced, make the pH to alkaline and it allows more yeast to grow and also damage the skin (Causing the redness) However, this side effect does not happen in all individuals. So I can not completely discount this as a protect for everyone, I will use it still on days I wear things that are white to prevent staining but that's about it.

Ingredient List

(*: certified organic, +: food-grade)
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*; Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*; Rosehip Seed Oil*; Butyrospermun parkii (Shea) Butter; Corn Starch*+; Sodium Bicarbonate+; Kaolin Clay; Vegan Kosher Glycerin*+; a custom blend of essential oils, including: Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender)*; Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree)*; Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange); Mentha Piperita (Peppermint)*; Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergaptene-free Bergamot)*; Non-GMO Soy lecithin*+; Non-GMO Vitamin E*+.