Hotel Fraye: Nashville

For my husband’s birthday this year we decided to go on a weekend away in Nashville. We are Hilton Diamond members, so we tend to always look for a Hilton hotel. I found Hotel Fraye. My husband’s one big request was a big pool on a rooftop or at least up high with a fun vibe.

We arrived Friday evening. We were instantly impressed by the decor and ambiance. The room was lovely. I loved the little things the most, like motion sensor lights under the bed, the little pocket reading lights on the bed, the chaise, the decor, and the little hidden fridge. The bathroom was beautiful too.

I loved the mixed textures and sophisticated colors. The lobby and restaurant are classic and bold. I loved the furniture so much that I’m on the lookout for a couch just like the ones there.

The gym was exceptional. My one and only complaint about anything at all with this hotel was that the Peloton bikes didn’t have cages for shoes other than Peloton cycling shoes, and those weren’t available, so if you didn’t pack your own you couldn’t ride (also, if you have cycling shoes with SPD cleats they will NOT work).

The pool was everything my husband hoped it would be. The vibe was sophisticated and upscale, all while being fun and laid back. They had a poolside bar that had yummy drinks and snacks. The frozen grapes are a very nice refreshing treat. We met lots of really interesting people. The cool thing about Hotel Fraye is that it shares the gym and pool with an attached apartment building. This allows visitors to meet people who live right there in Nashville, and get real locals suggestions on what to do and where to go in the city.

Photo credit: Hotel Fraye

I was able to go for a run near the hotel both days without any issues.

Looks like a Golden Globe in one of the attached apartments. You better believe if I had one of those babies I’d be showing it off too!!

Right outside the hotel is Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and Chuy’s. Obviously, Chuy’s is a chain that you can find just about anywhere. Hattie B’s is a Nashville creation. We tried to go there, but the line was just too long. The hotel has a restaurant as well, but I didn’t see anything on the menu that looked good to me.

Super cool lighting in the lobby

We had the best weekend at Hotel Fraye, and are thinking about what future weekend trips we can take sooner than later. If you’re on the lookout for a cool, eclectic hotel in Nashville, I feel confident in recommending Hotel Fraye!

Five Daughters Bakery {Nashville}

Recently, we had a Nashville-themed birthday party for my eldest, and since she’s not much of a cake fan, we always look for a different dessert for her birthday. Five Daughter’s Bakery is in Nashville (and a couple of other locations as well) and has rave reviews. I asked people if it was really worth the hype and the price (at around $4.50 a doughnut). EVERY PERSON I asked said it was totally worth both! My sister is one of the most generous and helpful people who you could ever meet. She lives in Nashville and was so sweet to offer to run all over God’s creation collecting things we needed for this party. She went on Saturday morning before the party and got three dozen doughnuts. We got a variety. Since they are huge, we split most into three and everyone got to have a sampling of Five Daughters.  My favorite was the simple cinnamon sugar doughnut. I also really like the vanilla filled doughnut. Now, I can confidently say that they are indeed worth the hype and the price. If you’re ever in Nashville, stop by Five Daughters Bakery and get a doughnut or two. You’ll thank me later!

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Spicy Tennessee Deviled Eggs {Low Carb}

While waiting for a flight in the Nashville airport, my husband and I stopped in O’Charley’s to grab a quick bite. We were looking for something fast and low carb. They had Tennessee inspired deviled eggs on the menu. We ordered them and quickly decided that this was a flavor we would need to replicate at home.

I had to search around for the ingredients but after I found them all, I was able to copy the flavor almost exactly.

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Here’s my recipe:

2 boiled eggs

2 tsp. mayo

1 Tablespoon Tennessee Chow Chow

drizzle of Historic Lynchburg Habanero Hot Sauce

4 pickle slices

Boil eggs. Let cool. Peel eggs. Cut the eggs in half and take out the yolk. In a bowl combine the mayo, chow chow, and cooked yolks. Mix until mostly smooth. Place pickle slice under each egg. Put the yolk mixture into the egg. Drizzle the hot sauce on the top.

Enjoy!