How To Botch An Interstate Road Trip
If You’re Going To Pack Your Whole Life Into 26 Feet . .
And move to a new state you might as well have a juicy story about the journey, right? Right! Well then, I have got some advice for you:
First – and if you’re not going to listen to me on this you might as well skip the rest – make sure to come down with the flu two days before launch day. Walk around your house in your ugliest bathrobe moaning, mislabel a few boxes, and then go sleep in the cul-de-sac one street over because your family is too embarrassed to have you in the house during showings.
Now, you’ll be right as rain by the big day. But if you’ve timed things right chances are that **just** as you are ready to strap the littles into their seats they will get the flu, too!
This, of course, is awful, and you will feel guilty for relishing the peace while they sleep all. day. long. Don’t feel too bad, though, because on the morning of Day 2 you’ll be calling the front desk and begging to dig through lost-and-found for some puke-free kids clothes. It’s the last thing you’ll be able to hear yourself say all day.
That fish smell in the backseat? It will haunt you for weeks I’m sure. But eventually you will arrive to your destination. In our case, HOME! Here are a few views of historic downtown Franklin . . .
And our new favorite restaurant, Joe Naturals Farm Store & Cafe. This is true farm to fork goodness, ya’ll!
Unfortunately, “home” is an elusive word right now. We’re staying two hours away at Gigi’s new place while we look for a place to call our own. On the out way there I snapped this pic while trying not to lose the Uhaul ahead. Unfortunately, when I looked up from putting away my camera the truck had disappeared!
Turns out he’d just pulled into a driveaway . . . the view I was obsessing over is my mom’s!
And the Mennonite cows who eat their breakfast three feet away from us, I suppose 
Texas, I sure do miss you. And oh, what I wouldn’t give to be able to pop over to The Urban Poser’s place for these divine-looking almond flour cinnamon rolls. But this ain’t bad.
No, this ain’t bad at all . . . .
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
~ Martin Buber
Julie Charbonnet Whetstine via FB
just like every wedding, every move has it’s story — but it’s the happily ever after that matters most…
Mommypotamus via FB
Well said, Julie Charbonnet Whetstine!
Christy Thompson via FB
So glad you are it safely! Here’s to your new happily ever after!
Carrie Blaesing Dadey via FB
Oh Katie, poor thing. But what a view. A great place to stay while you find your bearings. Best wishes in your home shopping.
Melody
We were just in Franklin on Saturday – spent the whole day there to avoid Mule Day here in Columbia. But first we drove by a few houses in Spring Hill because we’re house hunting too. The duplex we are renting is being eaten by termites (floor in spare bedroom would calapse if you jumped on it), so we are looking to buy something soon. Good luck on your house hunting! And welcome to TN!
Heather
We were there, too! Next time let’s try to actually meet, okay?
Melody
Agreed!
Heather
It’s a (play)date, then!
Angelica Biernat via FB
Oh my goodness! What a trip! But it looks like your destination is so gorgeous that the trip was well worth it. We actually left Dallas this last week also, but our move involved a four day caravan up to Oregon. What’s your advice for finding real food locally? I’m missing Paidom already!
Jadah
That farm to fork restaurant looks awesome! It’s amazing what we as parents can handle when it comes to a move with kids. I’m sorry you had to deal with the flu. That sounds pretty tough. My friend just did a cross country move from California to Florida. And they made a road trip out of it here with a 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old: http://familysponge.com/travel/road-trip-with-kids/
Jadah´s last [type] ..Rock out like these Princesses and Donate Your Hair to children
Heather
It was awesome! And wow, their cross-country move looks much more exciting than ours was!
Leah
Welcome to the countryside! I started reading your blog a few weeks ago and decided that in a different time or place we may have been very good friends. We have very similar stories. Health issues leading to dietary changes leading to homebirthed babies and extended nursing. My husband and I moved from FL to NC on the border of TN about 2 yrs ago and built a house. thats anther story. we’re setting up the gardens and animals this year which is exciting. the lack of places to shop, the lack of like minded people stinks! Glad to have found you. Hope you enjoy TN. You picked a beautiful part of the state.
Heather
Ah, I hear North Carolina is beautiful! We’re hoping to visit soon
bethany
Beautiful!
Elisabeth Carol Harvey McCumber via FB
what? how did I miss this?! congratulations!!!
Mommypotamus via FB
Thank you, Christy Thompson!
Mommypotamus via FB
Angelica Biernat – Yay Oregon! I hear it’s gorgeous there! Re: sourcing food – I would check out eatwild.com for local resources first. Or maybe Google your town + “farmers market.”
Mommypotamus via FB
Kathleen Pelton – My mom’s place is 2 hours north of Nashville. Maybe we can meet up sometime!
Mommypotamus via FB
Elisabeth Carol Harvey McCumber – Thank you!
Megan
Hope you enjoy your new place! My in-laws live an hour or so north of Franklin and it’s beautiful! There’s something to be said for the rolling hills of Tennessee
Megan´s last [type] ..When daddy ain’t around…
Heather
Yes, there is! I’m totally amazed by how many people have connections here. My mom is 2 hours north of Franklin . . . maybe next time you’re in town we should meet up!
Megan
I would love to… they’re actually in the Gallatin/Hendersonville area… we also have lots of friends in the Bowling Green, KY, area, so I’m sure between any of those visits we could wander over to your neck of the woods!
Emily Cowles Brown via FB
oh, bummer to hear of all the sickies!!! Nothing like stress to bring the immune system down!
Glad everyone is safe and sound….praying for that *perfect* house for you!
Mommypotamus via FB
Thank you, Emily Cowles Brown!
Stephanie Spaulding Carruth via FB
How beautiful! I am sorry you all were sick for the move though. And if you are in need, we have a friend that is a realtor in the Nashville area. Our husbands were roommates in college.
Stephanie Spaulding Carruth via FB
Here is her site: http://www.fykrealtygroup.com/home
Alexis D
The pictures are amazing! I would just want to take my sandals off and run around in fresh green grass with M
Here’s to hoping you and the family find a place sooner than later in Franklin!
Christine
You’re SO lucky! I lived in Nashville for almost 10 yrs and am dying to go back. Downtown Franklin and Leiper’s Fork are the best. LOVE Joe Naturals! Enjoy it all for me!
Heather
I will! If you ever stop by for a visit let’s meet up at Joe’s!
Homeopathy 101: Emotional First Aid « The Mommypotamus
[...] maybe it's because I recently completed an interstate roadtrip with the flu, somehow made it to Gigi's with only a few items of mismatched clothing, got a black eye, [...]
The "Naughty" Skin Care Ingredient You Absolutely Must Try! « The Mommypotamus The Mommypotamus
[...] It’s what I’ve been using for years and I’ve been very happy with it. Thanks to a botched interstate road trip, though, my precious coconut oil ended up in a 10×20′ storage unit, so I cooked up a [...]
The “Naughty” Skin Care Ingredient You Absolutely Must Try! « The Mommypotamus
[...] It’s what I’ve been using for years and I’ve been very happy with it. Thanks to a botched interstate road trip, though, my precious coconut oil ended up in a 10×20′ storage unit, so I cooked up a [...]
Skip The Peeps – Make Healthy Marshmallows At Home! « The Mommypotamus
[...] stumbled into my kitchen after napping in the cul-de-sac one street over and tried to make marshmallow peeps. Thank goodness I accidentally deleted the photos I took [...]