NaNa's Southern Potato Salad Is the Only One I'll Eat
My NaNa made this potato salad every holiday at her house on Lake Murray. I've never found one better. The secret is Durkee's dressing — and yes, we're using Miracle Whip. Trust me on this.
NaNa never steered me wrong with this classic potato salad recipe.
I am a potato salad snob.
I'll own it. Most potato salads I encounter (at cookouts, at the deli counter, at potlucks), I'll taste them politely and then quietly not finish them. It's not that they're bad. It's that they're not this one.
This recipe came from my NaNa, whose name was Louise. She kept me after school most days when I was a kid because both my parents worked — mostly at our house, not hers. She lived on Lake Murray, so the holidays were hers. We'd pile into the car and head to her place to swim and waterski, and that's when the real cooking happened. She wasn't an everyday-in-the-kitchen grandmother. But on holidays, she showed up. This potato salad is woven into those memories.
NaNa made this potato salad every summer. Fourth of July, family reunions, any occasion that called for food in large quantity and a crowd that needed feeding. I watched her make it so many times that I can still see her hands doing it. She didn't measure much. She cooked the way people cooked before recipes were a thing — by feel, by taste, by knowing the steps by heart.
I've been making it for years and I've never wanted another version.
Let's Talk About the Miracle Whip Situation
I know. I know.
People have strong opinions about Miracle Whip versus mayo. Lifelong loyalty. Family traditions built around the jar. I respect all of it. In most applications, I'd probably side with a good mayonnaise.
Not here.
This recipe needs Miracle Whip. The slight tang, the sweetness — it works against the sharp bite of the white onion and the bell pepper in a way that straight mayo just doesn't. Mayo makes it richer. Miracle Whip makes it brighter. This salad wants to be bright. Trust NaNa on this one.
I usually use the light version and honestly can't tell the difference.
The Secret Weapon
Durkee’s Famous Sauce makes this recipe. You’ll thank me later.
Durkee's Famous Sauce.
One tablespoon. That's it. That's the thing that makes people eat three helpings and then ask what's in it.
Durkee's is a tangy, slightly mustardy condiment that's been around since the 1800s and is, mysteriously, getting harder and harder to find. I was at Kroger a few weeks ago and spotted it on clearance — marked down.
Buy two. You'll want it for other things (like every sandwich you ever make from now on) once you remember it exists.
The Recipe
A note before we start: the original recipe calls for peeled potatoes. I don't always peel mine. The skin adds texture and I like the extra nutrition. If you prefer a more classic, creamy texture throughout, peel them. Either way works.
Also — and I recently heard this somewhere and choose to believe it completely — cooking potatoes and then letting them cool in the refrigerator reduces their carbohydrate and caloric content. I don't know if that's scientifically ironclad. But this recipe requires you to let the potatoes cool before mixing anyway, so as far as I'm concerned, this is basically health food.
NaNa's Potato Salad Serves 6–8
Ingredients
2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes (peeled or unpeeled — your call)
1 white onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3-4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped (I like more egg)
1 cup Miracle Whip (I use light) — or more to taste
1 tablespoon Durkee's Famous Sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Boil potatoes until fork-tender. Drain and let cool completely — in the refrigerator if you have time. (See above: health food.)
Once cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces if not already.
Combine potatoes, onion, bell pepper, and eggs in a large bowl.
Add Miracle Whip and Durkee's. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving. A few hours is better. The flavors need time to get to know each other.
Serve cold, watch it disappear.
NaNa’s Southern Potato Salad for your summer picnic table or 4th of July potluck.
One More Thing
I'm a snob about all the classic summer salads, not just this one. Coleslaw, ambrosia, potato salad — I only eat my family's versions. Other people's are fine. They're not the ones I grew up with. There's something about those recipes that gets into you when you're young and just stays there. The taste of NaNa's kitchen on a Saturday afternoon in August. A bowl in the refrigerator, already made, already waiting.
That's what a really good recipe is, I think. Not just food. A memory.
Make this for your people this July Fourth. Double the batch if you're feeding a crowd — it goes fast, and people will absolutely ask you for the recipe.
If you want to hear the other side of what happens in my kitchen — and the stories I tell only to the people paying close enough attention — the Inner Listening Room is where those go. One song a month, with the story behind it. [Come in.]
More Good Food this Way…
Scars and Second Chances: Why I Wrote a Song About Stopping the Fight With Your Past
My new single, “Scars and Second Chances,” came from a strategic writing session, not a diary moment. But the truth snuck in anyway. It always does.
My third single of 2026. It took a co-write and 17 years of therapy to get here.
I want to tell you something about how this song got made, because it's not the story you'd expect.
Last year I made a decision to stop writing in every direction and start writing with focus. My sound — Southern Soul, a little swampy, a little dark, stomp and clap and soulful Americana — has a specific home on screen. Yellowstone universe. Landman. Tulsa King. Shows with grit and landscape and characters who've lived something hard. I have sync reps in L.A. pitching my recordings for exactly that world, and I needed catalog. So I wrote strategically. I came into rooms with titles, concepts, references. I was building something, not processing something.
That's how “Scars and Second Chances” started.
I came into the session with co-writer Devin Powers carrying a title, a chorus lyric, and a melody. My reference was ZZ Ward — specifically her track from the Cars soundtrack, “Ride.” That raw, gritty energy. Devin started playing guitar in this cool alternate tuning. Jangly, open, strummy. A little Fleetwood Mac. Honestly, it took it away from the ZZ Ward thing I'd walked in with. But it turned into its own thing. And it's cool. Sometimes the song knows better than you do.
What snuck in anyway
What I didn’t plan on was the through line.
Nearly every song I wrote in that focused, strategic year has redemption running through it. I wasn't writing from my diary. I was writing for sync, for catalog, and for the sound. But when I look back at the lyrics across all of it (“Scars and Second Chances” is one of the clearest examples) my actual life is in there. You can't keep yourself out of your own songs. I've tried.
The second verse is the one that gets me personally:
Tell me why we never change / Takes a breakdown before we find our way
I've needed breakdowns for real change in my life. Not metaphorical ones. Real ones that give you a wakeup call. I've been in therapy for about 17 years. Not crisis therapy — the kind where you do the slow work of making friends with who you actually are. And I can tell you from the other side of a lot of that work: the breakdowns were not the enemy. They were the door.
The chorus is where I land now:
There's no hiding where I've been / You can judge / But in the end / I'll sing Hallelujah / Redemption's sinking in
No judgment. No regrets. I wouldn't be who I am today without every single thing I've been through, including the parts I'm not proud of.
And I really like who I am today.
That's not something I could have said at every point in my life. Redemption's sinking in, indeed. It will, if you let it.
Who this song is for
An image from my photo shoot with Nathan Chapman. This was almost the cover artwork.
“Scars and Second Chances” is for the woman who has stopped running and started looking. The one who's put in enough work (therapy, prayer, time, hard conversations, quiet mornings) that she's starting to see her past differently. Not as evidence against her, but as the thing that built her.
She's done explaining herself. And she's proud of every scar that got her here.
If that's you, this song is yours.
“Scars and Second Chances” is out noweverywhere you listen to music. If you want to get closer to the songs — the ones still in the vault, the ones that never made an album, the ones written in little rooms that nobody else ever saw — that's what the Inner Listening Room is for. One unreleased song a month, with the whole story behind it. 10 songs and their stories are already in the archive, and it grows every month.
[Join the Inner Listening Room →]
More this Way…
Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs: The 30-Minute Dinner My Husband Requests on Repeat
This is the dinner my husband has requested more times than I can count. Crispy on the outside, garlic butter pan sauce, done in fifteen minutes. It also saved the pesto pasta night — but that's a longer story.
The pan sauce is the whole point. Don't skip the part where you scrape up the golden bits.
My husband doesn't make a lot of requests in the kitchen. He eats what I make, he's grateful, and he’s a darn good cook himself. But this chicken. He asks for this one by name.
Crispy garlic chicken thighs. Thirty minutes. One pan. A splash of wine and a little butter and you've got a pan sauce that makes it look like you tried harder than you did.
This is also the chicken that saved pesto pasta night last week. I had leftovers in the fridge and chopped them up for my son the next night when he decided the other chicken wasn't happening. If you missed that story, it's in the previous post. The short version: he ate two bowls.
Here's how I make it.
What You Need
Boneless skinless chicken thighs — I usually do five or six for our family. Garlic powder, salt and pepper. Olive oil. Two large garlic cloves, minced (I use the pre-minced garlic from the big Costco tub and I have zero regrets about that). About a tablespoon of butter. A splash of white wine, sherry cooking wine, or chicken broth — whatever you have.
That's the whole list. Garlic powder is one of my most-used ingredients in this kitchen. It seasons everything, it's fast, and it never lets you down.
A note on the wine: the original recipe calls for dry white wine. I've been using sherry cooking wine lately because I don't always have an open bottle of white on hand and I got tired of opening one, using a quarter cup, and watching the rest slowly age in the back of the fridge for three months before throwing it out. Sherry cooking wine lives in the pantry indefinitely and works just as well. The alcohol cooks off either way.
How It Comes Together
Soft butter, always ready. This crock lives on my counter and I use it every single day.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat (I use my Our Place pan for this, same as everything else). Add the olive oil and place the chicken smooth side down. Don't move it. Press down lightly with a spatula and let it cook for five minutes until the bottom is deep golden and crispy. That crust is the whole point, and it only happens if you leave it alone.
Flip it. Press lightly again. Cook for two more minutes.
Add the minced garlic and about a tablespoon of butter — I keep mine in a butter crock on the counter so it’s always soft and ready. Cook for one more minute, moving the garlic around so it doesn't burn, until it's light golden and your kitchen smells like you want it to.
Add the wine or broth. Turn the heat up. Stir to dissolve the golden bits stuck to the pan — that's the good part, that's your sauce. Let it simmer fast for about a minute and a half until the sharp smell cooks off and what's left is just flavor.
Pull it off the heat. That's dinner.
The Side That Makes It a Meal
While the chicken is cooking, I throw broccoli or asparagus on a sheet pan — whatever I have — drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and roast at 400 until the edges are crispy. It goes in before the chicken starts and comes out around the same time. The whole thing lands on the table together in fifteen minutes.
No garnish. Not even parsley. I don't care for it and I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
Why This One Earns a Permanent Spot
30 minutes. This is what it looks like.
Chicken thighs are more forgiving than breasts. They stay juicy even if you go a minute or two long, which matters on a weeknight when you're also helping with homework and answering three texts. The garlic butter pan sauce makes it feel like a real dinner, not a survival dinner. And the whole thing is done before anyone has time to wander in and ask what's for dinner.
This is the other half of the pesto pasta rotation. Between these two and a handful of others I'll write up this summer, weeknight cooking stops being a problem you have to solve every night and starts being something you've already figured out.
More from the real weeknight dinners series: Easy Pesto Pasta for Summer Weeknights →
The Recipe
Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs with Pan Sauce Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 min | Serves: 4
Ingredients
5 to 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp butter
¼ cup dry white wine, sherry cooking wine, or chicken broth
Instructions
Sprinkle both sides of chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken smooth side down. Press lightly with spatula. Cook 5 minutes without moving it — the crust only happens if you leave it alone.
Flip. Press lightly again. Cook 2 more minutes.
Add minced garlic and butter. Cook 1 minute, moving garlic around until light golden and fragrant.
Add wine or broth. Turn heat up. Stir to pull up the golden bits from the pan. Simmer 1½ minutes until the sharp smell cooks off.
Pull off heat. Serve immediately.
Roast broccoli or asparagus at 400 with olive oil and sea salt while the chicken cooks. It all lands on the table at the same time.
More this way ↓
Easy Weeknight Dinners for Summer: The Pesto Pasta My Family Asks for on Repeat
It's almost summer in Nashville, which means it's already unreasonably hot and I have zero interest in standing over a stove for an hour. This is the dinner I make when the heat wins, and my son asks for it by name.
Twenty minutes. One pan. He ate two bowls.
It is already hot in Nashville. Not "oh it's warming up" hot. Like, we skipped the pleasant part and went straight to standing-in-the-driveway-at-7pm-questioning-your-life-choices hot.
This is the time of year when I start leaning hard on the handful of dinners that come together fast, don't heat up the whole kitchen, and actually get eaten without complaint. That last part matters the most.
The one my son asks for by name is pesto pasta. It takes about 20 minutes. It involves one jar, one bag, and a pan I'd marry if that were legal.
Here's how I make it.
The whole ingredient list, basically. Rao's pesto is non-negotiable. I've tried the others.
What You Need
Spaghetti noodles. A jar of Rao's pesto (I've tried others and I keep coming back to this one). Pre-cooked grilled chicken strips from Soules Kitchen (find them at Costco. They come in a double bag). A small handful of pine nuts. Shredded mozzarella or parmesan, whatever's in the fridge.
That's it.
That's the whole list.
Is this a mom dinner, or what?
How It Comes Together
Boil the noodles. While they're cooking, toast your pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat. Stay close — I burned mine last week because I walked away for what felt like thirty seconds, and toasted pine nuts go from perfect to tragic faster than you think. I do mine in my Our Place pan, which I use for approximately everything and have no intention of stopping.
Stay close. I'm serious. These go from perfect to burnt in the time it takes to answer one text.
While the pine nuts are toasting, heat the chicken strips according to the package. Drain the pasta using the Our Place built-in strainer — genuinely one of my favorite things about these pots — then toss with a generous spoonful (or three) of Rao's pesto right in the pot. Add the chicken. Top with the toasted pine nuts and whatever cheese you've got.
Done. Twenty minutes, one pot of boiling water, one pan.
The Version My Son Actually Ate
I'll tell you what really happened the first time I made this last week. I made it with the Soules Kitchen chicken, served it for dinner, and my son decided that particular night he did not want the chicken and systematically pulled every piece out and set it on his napkin. He proceeded to slurp down every pasta noodle and pine nut he could find. Fine.
This is the version without the chicken. He still cleaned the bowl.
The next night I had leftover crispy garlic chicken thighs from earlier in the week (a separate dinner, one of my husband's favorites that I'll write up soon because it deserves its own post) and I chopped those up and used them instead. He ate two bowls.
So. Both versions work. Use what you have.
Why This Is a Summer Staple
I have a whole rotation of dinners like this. Meals that aren't completely from scratch but aren't just ripping open a bag either. You're doing something: you're toasting the pine nuts, you're building the flavor, you're making it yours.
But you're not making it hard.
When it's this hot outside and the sports schedule is crazy, that detail matters.
Caprese salad with good tomatoes from the produce stand. Coconut shrimp with sweet potato fries. Taco night with premade meat and whatever's in the fridge. These aren't cheating. These are how real people feed their families in the summer.
I get my produce from a stand down the street from us here in Nashville. They source from Amish country in southern Tennessee ( the same area where we have a farm) so the strawberries this week were genuinely good. The kind you eat standing over the sink before they ever make it to a bowl.
Summer produce. Fast dinners. A pan that doesn't stick.
That's where I am right now. And the crispy garlic chicken thighs that saved dinner the next night deserve their own post entirely. Coming soon.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
The Recipe
Easy Pesto Pasta with Toasted Pine Nuts Prep: 5 min | Cook: 20 min | Serves: 4
Ingredients
Spaghetti noodles (1 lb)
1 jar Rao's basil pesto
1 bag Soules Kitchen pre-cooked grilled chicken strips (or leftover chicken, chopped)
¼ cup pine nuts
Shredded mozzarella or parmesan to top
Instructions
Boil and drain noodles.
Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat. Stay close — 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pull them the second they're golden.
Heat chicken strips according to package.
Toss drained pasta with pesto right in the pot. Start with a generous spoonful and add more to taste.
Add chicken. Top with toasted pine nuts and cheese.
That's it. Twenty minutes, one pan, no drama.
Exactly What I Used for this dish
Rao’s Basil Pesto - the only one I keep coming back to.
Our Place Pots and Pans - I use this for everything. The drain feature alone is worth it.
Soules Kitchen Grilled Chicken Strips - Costco, double bag, grab two.
saga
If you want to hear what I do when I'm not cooking (the songs I've been sitting on for years, the stories behind them) that's what the Inner Listening Room is for. One vault song a month, with the whole story. Come find it at laurenlucas.com.
More Summer Dishes from my kitchen ↓
5 Things People Always Ask Me About (And Why I’m Obsessed)
Five things people stop me about in real life — my hair, my lips, my pans, my Spanx, and my garden beds. Here they are, with links, so you don't have to hunt them down yourself.
I get asked about these things constantly. In real life, on Instagram, in my DMs. So here they are — with links — because I'm done answering one at a time.
01. The Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb + Blow Dryer Brush
The tool behind the blowout. Worth every penny.
I have been asked about my hair more times than I can count. The honest answer used to be "my colorist is a genius" — and she is — but the other half of the answer is this tool.
It's a heated comb and blow dryer brush in one. No more holding a round brush in one hand and a blow dryer in the other while slowly losing feeling in both arms and sweating through my shirt. One tool. One pass. Salon blowout.
But here's the part I love most: I wash my hair once a week. This keeps it looking fresh on day three, day four, and honestly day five if I'm being real. A few passes and it smooths, flips, or softly waves depending on what I need that day.
$119.85 on Amazon — currently 20% off. Comes with a carrying case. Worth every penny.
02. Spanx Clothing (Yes, the actual clothing, not just the shapewear)
I'm a Spanx partner because I love them so much! All opinions are my own. And they’re all glowing.
Most people know Spanx for the shapewear. I'm here to talk about the clothing line.
I get stopped regularly and asked about my jeans. My shorts. My tracksuits. The answer is almost always the same: Spanx.
Are they a little pricey? Yes. Are they worth it? Also yes. Here's why: they know how to clothe a woman's body. They smooth the right things, they're long enough if you're tall, and they actually last. I've had pieces for years that still look brand new.
The jeans especially. I've had people tell me they look expensive. They do. Because they are. But you wear them constantly so the cost per wear ends up being embarrassingly reasonable.
If you've only ever tried their shapewear, go look at the clothing line. You can thank me later.
Spanx jeans are good enough to wear on TV! I wear them all the time on tour dates. This was a live performance on Channel 4.
I live in the Spanx Air Essentials separates. This color is my favorite around the holidays.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
03. Rosebud Salve
Not lip gloss. I promise. Just this little tube doing all the work.
I have been stopped and asked what lip gloss I'm wearing more times than I can count. The answer is always the same: it's not lip gloss. It's this.
Rosebud Salve is a lip moisturizer that pulls double duty as the softest, most natural-looking lip stain you've ever seen. No gloss, no sticky, no "I just applied something" feeling. Just hydrated lips with a hint of color that looks like you’re glowing from within.
I buy the three pack every time. One in my purse. One in my car. One on my nightstand. Because I hate needing it and not having it within reach.
It's on Amazon. It's inexpensive. It's one of those things you'll wonder how you lived without.
Shop Rosebud Salve on Amazon →
04. Our Place Always Pan & Perfect Pot Set
Christmas gift. Used every single day since. The pot with the strainer lid changed my life a little.
I got these pans as a Christmas gift and I cook with them every single day. Every. Single. Day.
Last night I toasted pine nuts in one while boiling pasta in the other. That's a Tuesday.
The pot is the thing I can't stop talking about. It comes with a lid that has a steam vent on one side and a strainer on the other. So you can drain your pasta without hunting for a colander. It has a built-in spoon rest on the handle. It's nonstick. And it is light as a feather. You're not getting a weightlifting workout just moving dinner from the stove to the table.
Listen, I love a good heirloom pan for my favorite family recipes. But for everyday cooking — the weeknight pastas, the quick sautés, the pine nuts you're toasting at 6pm because you promised your family pesto — this is what I reach for every time.
They come in the most beautiful colors too. Mine is Spice and I'm not sorry about it.
05. Raised Garden Beds
Three weeks in. Everything looks intentional. The tomatoes are lying.
I started my first vegetable garden this spring and I built it around these cedar raised beds. They are beautiful. Like, genuinely beautiful. My husband wants to know why I'm outside at 7am talking to my tomatoes. Valid question.
I have two of them set up alongside a galvanized stock tank and one very ambitious horseradish plant that won't be ready until fall. Together they hold my lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, and marigolds. The beds are sturdy, well-built, and elevated enough that you're not breaking your back every time you need to water or weed.
If you've been thinking about starting a garden and just need a reason to commit, well, this is your reason.
Fair warning though: I am three weeks in and my tomatoes are already staging a protest. Read the full tomato story is over here if you want to feel better about your own garden struggles.
Shop the Raised Garden Beds on Amazon →
These are the things that genuinely make my daily life better. Not sponsored, not gifted — just five things I actually use and get asked about constantly. If you try any of them, come back and tell me what you think.
And if you have something I absolutely need to know about, I'm listening.
Shop the Post
Everything I actually use. Everything I actually get asked about. Links to all of it in one place.
Five things I get asked about constantly. All of them worth every penny.
Keep Going →
My Tomato Leaves Are Yellowing — Here's What I'm Trying (And What You Should Too)
My tomato leaves are yellowing and falling off in my hand. I'm a first-time gardener in Nashville and I'm figuring it out in real time — here's what's wrong and what I'm trying to fix it.
Three weeks in. Most everything looks fine. The tomatoes and I are having a disagreement.
I planted my first vegetable garden about a month ago. Everything was going great until it wasn't.
Two of my tomato plants started developing yellow leaves about a week in. I did what any reasonable person does — I ignored it for a few days hoping it would resolve itself. It did not. So this morning I went out to investigate, clipped the yellow leaves off, and about half of them just fell off in my hand before I even touched them. Which is either completely normal or deeply alarming. I genuinely don't know which.
Here's what I do know: I'm a first-time vegetable gardener in Nashville, it's May, and my tomatoes are struggling. So I did what I always do when I don't have the answer: I Dr. Googled. Here's what I found.
Why Tomato Leaves Turn Yellow: The Most Common Culprits
There are actually several reasons tomato leaves yellow, and not all of them are catastrophic. Here's what I'm working through:
1. Overwatering (or inconsistent watering) This is the one I suspect most because, well, it’s me watering them. Even when the soil feels dry on top, the roots can still be sitting in too much moisture underneath. Yellowing lower leaves that fall off easily (like mine did) is a classic sign of overwatering stress. I'm backing off the water and letting the soil dry out more completely between waterings.
2. Not enough sun My tomatoes get direct sun from about 10 AM to 2 PM, then shade the rest of the afternoon. That's technically enough (tomatoes need 6-8 hours), but in Nashville's heat, I'm wondering if the combination of intense midday sun followed by cool shade is creating stress on the plant. Something to watch.
Exhibit A. Those yellow leaves fell off in my hand this morning. We're figuring it out.
3. Pests — specifically spider mites I checked the undersides of the leaves this morning for spider mites — tiny bugs, webbing, or small spots. I didn't find anything obvious, but spider mites are small enough to miss, so I'm keeping an eye on it. If you're seeing yellowing plus tiny dots or a dusty look on the leaves, that's worth watching more closely.
4. Nutrient deficiency Yellow leaves can also signal that your plant needs more nitrogen or magnesium. If the yellowing is happening mostly on older, lower leaves, that's often a nutrient issue rather than a watering one. I'm considering adding a balanced tomato fertilizer this week to rule this out.
5. Natural leaf drop Apparently, some yellowing and leaf drop on the lower leaves is completely normal, especially as the plant grows and focuses energy upward. If it's only the bottom leaves and the rest of the plant looks healthy, it might just be the plant doing what plants do.
What I'm Actually Doing About It
Here's my plan, and what you might want to try if your tomatoes look like mine:
First, I clipped all the yellow leaves off today. “Clipped” is a loose term. More like, they effortlessly fell off in my hand as soon as I touched them. Either way, the yellow leaves are gone. This stops the plant from wasting energy trying to save leaves that are already gone.
Second, I'm adjusting my watering. Less frequent, deeper watering rather than a little every day. I want the roots to reach down for moisture, not stay shallow.
Third, I'm adding tomato fertilizer this week to rule out nutrient deficiency.
Fourth, I'm checking for pests every few days — undersides of leaves, any webbing, any unusual spots.
And fifth, I'm watching and waiting. Which is the part of gardening I'm horrible at.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
The Honest Update
I don't have this figured out yet. That's the truth. I'm three weeks into my first vegetable garden and I'm troubleshooting in real time, just like you might be.
I'll be back in six weeks with a full update — what worked, what didn't, and whether these tomatoes actually made it to summer. Come back and find out with me.
In the meantime, my cucumbers are thriving, my herbs are doing exactly what they're supposed to, my beautiful cedar raised beds are saving my back, and somewhere in a very large pot, horseradish is establishing itself for the fall. So it's not all bad news out there.
he cucumbers are thriving and very smug about it.
Marigolds and lavender doing their job as pest control. At least someone is on task.
This is the horseradish. Won't be ready until fall. I'm already excited. That's a whole other story.
[STAY TUNED — Part 2 coming in six weeks]
What have you tried that’s worked for your yellow tomato plants? Drop me a comment below and give me any tips! I’m learning right alongside you.
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What It's Like to Compose for Netflix From the Inside
I compose the score for Leanne, Chuck Lorre's Netflix sitcom starring Leanne Morgan. Keb' Mo' called me to lead the team. Here's what it actually feels like from the inside.
I Compose the Score for Leanne on Netflix.
Here's What Season 2 Felt Like.
I'm Lauren Lucas. I sing the theme song for Leanne, Chuck Lorre's Netflix sitcom starring Leanne Morgan. I also compose the music for the show (and if I’m doing it right, you don’t even notice the music, you only feel it). I’m wrapping up the music for Season 2 this week.
Not a bad room to be in. Leanne Morgan and Keb' Mo' in L.A. at the Season 1 wrap party of Leanne on Netflix
Season 1 was already a full-circle moment. Keb' Mo' (one of my genuine musical heroes) was hired by Chuck Lorre to compose the music for the show. He called me to lead the team of musicians actually making it. I sing the main title theme. I compose the instrumental cues between scenes. Even though this was a new way of making music for me, it starting feeling like the reason I moved to Nashville 27 years ago.
Season 2 felt even better.
Here's what I've learned watching Keb' work: the man will walk into a session, play one bass note, pull out a single snare hit, and the entire piece transforms. Not because he's doing more. Because he knows exactly where the music needs to breathe. That's a lesson I will carry for the rest of my career.
By Season 2, our whole team had found that same language together. We understood what Chuck wanted. We understood each other. The deadlines were still real. The stakes were still high. But the work felt less like pressure. The experience felt like we found a purpose.
That doesn't happen often. I’m not taking it for granted.
Season 2 of Leanne launches late summer on Netflix. When you watch it, you'll hear what that kind of collaboration actually sounds like.
If you want to get closer to the songs — the ones that never made an album, the ones written in little rooms that nobody else ever saw — that's what The Inner Listening Room is for. One vault song a month, with the story behind it. Eight songs are already waiting inside.
More from the Blog
Lauren Lucas is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and composer. She sings the main title theme and composes the score for Leanne, Seasons 1 and 2, on Netflix. She is a former Warner Bros. recording artist with a 27-year Nashville catalog.
Easy Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
These lemon blueberry pancakes are my favorite slow summer morning breakfast. Made with Kodiak Cakes, fresh lemon zest, and blueberries, cooked in ghee for crispy edges. Simple, protein-packed, and always a hit with the whole family.
Doesn’t this batter look bright and delicious?
Most summer mornings at our house aren’t slow.
They start early. There are shoes to find. Lunchboxes to pack. Some days, it’s frozen waffles and a half-hearted banana.
But when the rhythm loosens on the weekends, or when we’ve just decided we’re all tired. We pull out the pancake mix.
And not just any mix. Kodiak Cakes, milk + egg version, for extra protein.
Add a handful of fresh blueberries, a good dose of lemon zest, and suddenly, it feels like summer again.
Why These Pancakes Are on Repeat
They’re easy, for one.
The mix does most of the work. You just follow the box.
But it’s the lemon zest and fresh blueberries that make them feel a little special. Like, “hey, I tried” even when I didn’t try that hard.
They’re also one of the only things my six-year-old, my husband, and I all agree on. We make them together. We eat them outside if the weather’s nice. We stack them high and drizzle just enough syrup to make it weekend-worthy.
And I have a secret weapon:
Ghee or clarified butter in the pan.
It gives the pancakes those crispy, golden edges that feel just a little elevated.
(Not necessary. But so worth it.)
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Recipe
More of Rhythm than a recipe
Listen, I cook with vibes, not measurements. This is super easy. So, let’s go:
Kodiak Cakes (milk + egg option). I think the box says 1 cup Kodiak Cake mix, ¾ cup milk, 1 egg.
A handful of blueberries (fresh, not frozen)
A little lemon zest (I use a microplane )
Cook in ghee for crispy edges
Serve warm with butter, syrup, or whatever feels like love that morning
It’s light, fresh, and done in 30 minutes — and yes, my five-year-old calls it “butterfly pasta.”
A delicious stack of lemon blueberry pancakes drizzled in maple syrup
If you're looking for more things I reach for constantly in the kitchen, I wrote them all down here.
More recipes for warmer weather
Simple Summer Front Porch Ideas
There’s a quiet kind of beauty at the end of summer — soft storms, slow mornings, and the way light starts to change. In this post, I’m sharing how I styled our front porch and garden beds to reflect that feeling: with a magnolia wreath, faux-and-real plant pairings, a cozy candle in the window, and a few simple touches that whisper “welcome” to the season ahead.
A Soft Goodbye to the Season.
Pin this summer front door look with stained glass windows and realistic magnolia leaf wreath!
There’s a certain kind of goodbye that doesn’t announce itself.
It lingers—like the last golden hour, the steam from a coffee cup, or the way a summer storm rolls in slow and sweet.
That’s how our front yard feels right now.
We’re not to fall yet, but the light is starting to shift. The air has a different hum. And I’ve been leaning into that quiet in-between with a few simple touches outside our front door that feel rooted, relaxed, and ready for what’s next.
Here’s a peek at what’s setting the tone:
1. A Magnolia Leaf Wreath that Feels Like Home
Magnolias have always said “Southern welcome” to me. This season, I found a magnolia leaf wreath that looks rich and lifelike without being too bold. The leaves have just enough variation in tone to feel dimensional up close, and it holds up beautifully on hot days and through passing storms.
I love how it brings subtle movement and warmth to the front door — a gentle nod to what’s been blooming, and what’s still to come.
2. Faux Window Box Plants (That Don’t Look Faux)
My secret to great looking window boxes in the dead of summer
I used to swear off faux plants outdoors — but hear me out. When done well, they can be a game-changer for curb appeal, especially in those tricky spots where the hose won’t reach or the light’s inconsistent.
Here’s my formula for getting faux window boxes right:
Keep your distance: If they’re far from the road or sidewalk, you instantly get a little visual grace.
Mix your textures: Think beyond boxwood! I layer in different shades and varieties of faux green amongst the pink and white flowers. The thrillers, fillers, and spillers rule can also apply here, just like with real plants. Varying the heights and shapes keeps it lush.
Surround them with real greenery: Ground them (literally) with live plants in the beds below. My new limelight hydrangeas add real movement and seasonal charm nearby — the blend makes everything look intentional and full.
🌿 Shop my exact window box picks here →
Layered front door look
3. The Layered Front Door Mat Look
You know I love a layered moment. At the door, I kept things neutral — a large, natural woven base mat topped with a simple cream look with tassles. It adds texture without competing with the wreath or the soft green tones and color of the window boxes.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Ranger Station Tennessee Tomato Leaf candle
4. That Tomato Leaf Candle in the Window
If summer had a scent? It might be my tomato leaf candle — bright, earthy, and unexpectedly nostalgic. I’ve been keeping it lit in the front window lately, just above the flower bed view. It makes even an afternoon rainstorm feel like a little ritual. I’m bummed I couldn’t find the Ranger Station brand I love (local to Nashville!), but you can find some of their products on Amazon. I did find a tomato candle in beautiful red glass that I’ve added to my favorites list…
More Summer This Way…
The Best Personalized Baby Gift (Plus How to Wrap It Like You Mean It)
The best personalized baby gift I've found — plus the ribbon trick that makes any wrap look like a professional did it.
Whimsical and classic gift wrap - perfect for a baby gift
There’s something about the early days of fall — the golden light, the quiet shift indoors — that makes me want to slow down and give more intentionally. I call it nesting into fall — cozying up the house, tending to small rituals, and leaning into thoughtful moments of care.
Recently, we wrapped a gift for friends who just had a baby, and it turned into one of my favorite “slow gifting” moments yet.
When our son was born, someone gave us a personalized bedtime storybook from I See Me! with his name woven into the story. At the time, it was sweet. Now that he’s five? It’s one of our most treasured books. He lights up every time he hears his name on the page, and it’s even helped him learn to recognize, read, and write it.
So when our friends welcomed their baby, we knew exactly what to send: their own ISee Me! book, personalized just for their little one.
This kind of gift becomes a ritual — something that’s not just opened once, but read over and over again.
Whether you're headed to a baby shower or dropping something on a doorstep, this is one of those gifts that truly grows with them.
How I Wrapped It
I love a gift that feels like part of the experience — not just what’s inside, but how it’s presented. For this one, I kept it simple and sweet, but added a few easy touches that make it feel extra special.
We wrapped it in alpaca-themed kraft paper — soft and whimsical — and tied it with a neutral silk ribbon with polka dots in a simple bow. The whole thing felt classic, cozy, and just right for this season of life.
Here’s how I wrapped the personalized See Me! book:
I used the alpaca-print kraft paper for a playful, neutral base.
I wrapped a soft cream colored silk ribbon with gold polka dots around the gift, folding it into a clean bow.
Then I trimmed the ribbon ends on a diagonal cut (this makes a huge difference!) to give it that polished, professionally wrapped look.
I even snapped a few action shots as I went — scroll down for a closer peek at the folding and trimming process!
It doesn’t take much to make a present feel extra loved — just a few intentional touches, folded with care.
Use soft, neutral ribbon that’s easy to tie.
Fold your ribbon in half length-wise, then cut on the diagonal to make the perfect, polished ends to your bow!
Viola! Perfectly cut ribbon ends.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Shop This Gift
Whether you're celebrating a new arrival or looking for a baby shower gift with heart, here’s everything I used (and loved) to create this cozy, personalized present:
Exact Gift Combo – Shop on Amazon
This includes the actual items we used — perfect if you want to recreate the look one-to-one:
The personalized ISee Me! storybook
Alpaca-print kraft wrapping paper
Neutral silk ribbon with polka dots
I See Me! Customizable Children’s Book
Whimsical and neutral gift wrapping for baby gift
Inspired Baby Gift Edit – Shop on LTK
Want to build your own version with a similar feel? I pulled together a fall-toned edit featuring:
Cozy-neutral gift wrap options
Soft, timeless baby gifts
Thoughtful extras for slow gifting
No matter which route you take, this gift is one that truly grows more meaningful with every bedtime read.
Pin this adorable baby bedtime book for a gift idea!
More Fall Inspiration ↓
The Slow Sunday Ritual That Resets Everything
There’s something sacred about a slow Sunday. The kind where the sunlight filters through the curtains just right, coffee brews in the French press, and you finally have time to call your mom back. This morning’s ritual? A quiet kitchen, barefoot steps, and the sweet, familiar comfort of baking peach cobbler from scratch — because rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing. Sometimes, it looks like remembering where you come from and stirring love into something warm.
Some Sundays call for a reset.
Not a productivity sprint. Not a fresh start with big intentions.
Just… a quiet morning. A warm cup of coffee. A scribbled to-do list with call Mom right at the top. A little sunlight stretching across the dining room table.
That’s the kind of Sunday I love the most.
It’s the kind where the French press does its thing while I water the plants. Where I flip through old recipe books until I land on something that smells like comfort.
This week? It was peach cobbler. The kind you don’t have to fuss over — just juicy fruit, a little sugar, some butter, and a delicious crust that comes together in one bowl.
It baked while I talked to my mom on the phone. We didn’t solve anything big. We just caught up. I could hear my dad in the background asking questions; trying to be in the conversation by way of my mom. They were spending the weekend at their mountain home getaway in the Carolinas. I asked if they had seen a return of their “neighbors” (aka a mama bear and her two cubs).
Coffee in a summery orange grove mug with a family recipe book
A vintage water spayer spritzing a snake plant in a white pot
Steaming coffee being poured from a french press into a summery mug
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Carolina peach cobbler summer dessert fresh out of the oven
That’s what makes these simple slow activities a ritual — not because it’s always the same, but because it matters in the same way every time. They ground me. They warm the house. They remind me what’s enough.
If you’re looking for a little comfort today, here’s the cobbler recipe I always go back to. I adapted it from my dad’s original recipe: Simple, Southern, and full of soul.
Peach Cobbler Recipe — click here.
More Cozy This Way…
Carolina Peach Cobbler (The Best Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe with Fresh Peaches)
This easy Carolina peach cobbler is made with juicy South Carolina peaches and a simple batter using self-rising flour. A true Southern summer classic, straight from a Carolina girl who knows her peaches.
Georgia might be called the “Peach State,” but let me tell you—nothing beats a juicy South Carolina freestone peach. Sweet, sun-ripened, and dripping with flavor, they’re what summer dreams are made of.
And in my (very biased) opinion, they’re the only kind of peaches worth baking into a cobbler.
Before peach season slips away, head to your local roadside stand or farmer’s market and grab a few. This easy Southern peach cobbler comes together in just minutes and is a perfect last hurrah for summer. It’s simple enough to whip up with kids in the kitchen and flavorful enough to bring to a potluck or summer Sunday dinner.
Secret ingredient:
South Carolina free stone peaches
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Uses self-rising flour – No need to measure baking powder or soda
Kid-friendly prep – Just mix, pour, and bake
Perfect for summer produce – Fresh, ripe peaches are the star
Don’t Miss Peach Season
Colder weather will be here before we know it, but there’s still time to enjoy one more sweet, sticky bite of summer. Serve this cobbler warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it disappear.
Trust me: once you’ve had a Carolina peach cobbler, there’s no going back.
Make the Recipe:
Click here to download the printable recipe.
Carolina Peach Cobbler
Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 45–50 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour
Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup), melted
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole milk
4–5 fresh South Carolina freestone peaches, peeled and sliced
1 tsp almond extract
Optional: cinnamon for sprinkling on top
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Pour the melted butter into a 9x13-inch baking dish (don’t stir it in!).
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and milk until mostly smooth.
Stir in vanilla (or almond) extract.
Pour the batter evenly over the butter — do not mix.
Layer the sliced peaches over the top.
Optional: sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth.
Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.
Let cool slightly before serving. Best enjoyed warm with vanilla ice cream!
Tips & Swaps:
Don’t have self-rising flour? You can sub with 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt.
Frozen or canned peaches can work in a pinch, but fresh freestone peaches truly make it shine.
Want a little crunch? Add a sprinkle of turbinado sugar on top before baking.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Other recipes you might like…
Simple Summer Kitchen Table Decor for Everyday Moments
A simple summer kitchen table setup that took ten minutes and made the whole room feel more like home. A wood tray, fresh blooms from the garden, a seasonal candle, and one good vase. That is really all it takes.
There’s something grounding about a table that feels lived-in but lovely. I’m not talking about holiday centerpieces or tablescapes that require a Pinterest degree — just a few intentional touches that make your kitchen feel warm and rooted in real life.
This week, I pulled together a few simple decor touches I’ve been using lately:
A round wood tray to ground the space
Fresh greenery (a gift from my neighbor’s garden!) in a bud vase or recycled jar
A seasonal candle to add warmth
A white textured vase that doubles as sculpture
You can see the full table in this short video, and I’ve saved everything I used — or close lookalikes — in this LTK collection if you want to browse.
Why Keep It Simple?
Because beauty in the home shouldn’t feel like a production.
This table setup took me all of 10 minutes — and made the whole space feel more intentional.
Shop the Look ↓
This Simple Neutral Tray (a timeless neutral base- under $30!)
Terracotta Vase (I love it empty!)
A summer scented candle from one of my favorite brands, Paddy Wax
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
More Table Moments to Come
I’m planning seasonal versions of this same space — next up: early fall textures and maybe a rustic bowl of pears.
If you like soulful, cozy home style with a little bit of imperfection, I’ll send you seasonal inspiration as the months change. Sign up [here] — the candles will be lit, and the pears will be perfectly overripe.
Apple Cider Bellini
A bonus episode of Happiest Hour calls for a bonus cocktail! My guest on this episode, Kaci Bolls, brought in her friend’ss recipe for a Apple Cider Bellini. Let me tell ya, if this doesn’t taste like fall, I don’t know what does.
Make yourself this delicious libation and then come enjoy your conversation! The link is below to listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube!
A bonus episode of Happiest Hour calls for a bonus cocktail! My guest on this episode, Kaci Bolls, brought in her friend’s recipe for an Apple Cider Bellini. Let me tell ya, if this doesn’t taste like fall, I don’t know what does.
Make yourself this delicious libation and then come enjoy our conversation! The link is below to listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube!
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Try this Dessert…
Bourbon Vanilla Apple Cider Donuts
Kaci’s Apple Cider Bellini reminded me of one of my favorite Happiest Hour recipes. It’s a really yummy fall staple from Episode 2. I thought I’d share it with you here!
Catch the episode!
Bonus Episode: Dare to Be Me with Kaci Bolls
Bonus Episode: Dare to Be Me with Kaci Bolls
For decades, Kaci Bolls Scott has been a sought after Nashville session singer and songwriter. When life nudged her to do an about-face, get her Master's Degree in education and become a kindergarten teacher, Kaci found a way to combine her love of music and kindergarteners by releasing chart-topping hits of original children's music. Based on her song, "Dare to Be Me," Kaci has recently released a children's book by the same name.
We sat down to enjoy her delicious Apple Cider Bellini, and to chat about how she went from pro singer/songwriter to kindergarten teacher, chart-topping children’s music maker and author! Click to enjoy our conversation on your favorite podcast platform or on YouTube!
Bonus Episode: Dare to Be Me with Kaci Bolls
Get the Book!
You can get a copy of Kaci’s children’s book, Dare to Be Me, by clicking the button below. This is a great book for kindergarten aged children, grandchildren and teachers to have in their personal libraries!
mORE GOOD STUFF THIS WAY!↓
For decades, Kaci Bolls has been a sought after Nashville session singer and songwriter. When life nudged her to do an about-face, get her Master's Degree in education and become a kindergarten teacher, Kaci found a way to combine her love of music and kindergarteners by releasing chart-topping hits of original children's music. Based on her song, "Dare to Be Me," Kaci has recently released a children's book by the same name.
In this episode, we discuss:
• How she went from a top Nashville singer/songwriter to kindergarten teacher (and being awarded "Teacher of the Year," nonetheless)
• What propelled her to start making chart-topping children's music
• Coming to terms with how she was holding herself back (but NO more!)
• The #1 message she wants kids to know, and the theme of her new book, Dare to Be Me
...and so much more!
We pair every episode with a delicious beverage (because... it's the happiest hour, right?!). Make sure to grab Kaci’s Apple Cider Bellini recipe here that we enjoyed on the episode.
——————
Connect with Kaci here.
Grab a copy of Kaci’s children’s book, Dare to Be Me, here.
Enjoy Kaci’s wildly successful (and catchy!) children’s music here.
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The Happiest Hour theme song was written and performed by... me! If you'd like to hear more of my music, click here!
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Keep scrolling to get your recipes! They’re just below. ↓
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Don’t Forget the Recipes!
In this episode, we sipped on a cocktail Kaci brought in — a delicious Apple Cider Bellini. It reminded me of one of my favorite Happiest Hour recipes, Bourbon Vanilla Apple Cider Donuts from Ep. 2, so I thought I’d share for you to enjoy!
Cheers!
Apple Cider Bellini
Bourbon Vanilla Apple Cider Donut
More Happiest Hour…
Project Together
I don’t always know when my music is truly making a difference in someone’s life. We write and record songs with the intent of moving people, but after we throw these creations out into the world, we rarely know whose ears they’re hitting or if they’re moving anyone at all.
I got to experience a life-changing musical moment recently. I want to tell you about it. Keep reading…
Project Together - featuring Keb’ Mo’ & Lauren Lucas
Project Together
Project Together
Keb’ Mo’, Lauren Lucas, Bob DiPiero, Pat McMakin
I don’t always know when my music is truly making a difference in someone’s life. We write and record songs with the intent of moving people, but after we throw these creations out into the world, we rarely know whose ears they’re hitting or if they’re moving anyone at all.
From time to time, I’ll get an email or direct message on my socials saying, “I played your song at my wedding.” Or there was that one time I was invited to sing a song live as a proposal (true story! And she said, “yes!”). Those are moments when I know, without a doubt, that something I was a part of hit home.
I got to experience a life-changing musical moment recently. I want to tell you about it.
A few months ago, I was asked to record a duet for an international marketing campaign for Canadian National (CN) Railway Company. This was a dream gig in so many ways. For starters, my duet partner was one of my musical heroes: multi-Grammy award winning blues/Americana artist, Keb’ Mo’.
I’ve been a fan of Keb’s music since college and even performed one of his songs for my senior project to graduate from Belmont University. I’ve heard it said you shouldn’t meet your heroes. Meeting Keb’ Mo’ did not disappoint. He was as kind and authentic as I expected him to be. I loved getting a bird’s eye view of his recording process, but most of all, I enjoyed our conversations in between takes.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Ocean Way Studio A
Lauren Lucas, Keb’ Mo’ & CN Employees
Getting to record a song written by hit-makers, Bob DiPiero and David Kalmusky, in historic Ocean Way Studio A wasn’t a bad deal, either. Pat McMakin, along with David, manned the ship in the producer seat, with Mills Logan engineering.
Here’s where the real magic starts to happen: CN, a company with over 23,000 employees spanning across North America, held auditions to find 14 musicians to help us record the song. Most of these folks had never met each other. Very few had ever been to Nashville, and even fewer had stepped foot into a recording studio.
Given the bad press lately about derailments and spills, it’s easy to forget how integral trains are to our every day lives. I learned that one triple-stacked train car replaces 10,000 eighteen wheelers on the road. I also learned that more women work in the railway company than I expected, including the CEO and many of it’s engineers. Two women train engineers joined us for this recording.
It was heartwarming to see these 14 strangers connecting over 2 commonalities: a love for music, and pride in a company where their jobs are demanding, isolating and often times dangerous. They bravely sang or played their solo for each other while being amplified (some for the first time), and with video cameras up in their faces!
Taillight TV documented the entire studio experience. They even traveled to all 14 employees’ hometowns to get B roll footage.
What you are about to see in this video is stunning scenery of Canadian countryside, footage from our studio process recording the song called, “Together,” behind-the-scenes interviews from employees and Keb’ Mo’, and the huge hearts that guide the spirit of CN.
Just a few weeks ago, several of these CN employees had to evacuate their homes due to wildfires. These 14 people, once strangers, now see each other as brothers and sisters because of their shared bond in Nashville. They sprang into action, sending train loads of supplies and doing anything they could to help.
The CN employees saw first hand that no matter where you are, or how autonomous the working conditions, business and life mean more when we do it together.
Heck, Pat, David, Keb’ and I could have recorded this song and sent it to CN to enjoy. But it wouldn’t have touched them the way this experience did.
It only matter because we did it together. Push play below to enjoy the song and video of Project Together.
Credits:
Recording Team
Mills Logan, Pat McMakin, David Kalmusky, Lauren Lucas
Executive Producer: Pat McMakin
Song Producers: Pat McMakin, David Kalmusky
Guest Artists: Keb' Mo', Lauren Lucas
Production Coordinator: Bridgette Slater
Audio Team Engineer: Mills Logan
Asst Eng: Katelyn Prieboy, Wolf Robinson
Mixed by: David Kalmusky
Songwriters: Bob Dipiero, David Kalmusky, Marc Pavlica
SESSION MUSICIANS Leader and Drums: Chad Cromwell
Keyboards: Jeff Roach
Bass: Marc Rogers
Electric Guitar: Sol Littlefield
Acoustic Guitar: Bryan Sutton
Electric Guitar: David Kalmusky
Video Team —
Video Producer: Matt Houser
Video Director: Justin Key
Production Coordinator: Taylor Campbell
Director of Photography: Tyler Oaks
Camera – Steadicam: Trent Millspaugh
Camera – Broll: Maria Valetta
1st Assistant Camera: Kenny Herron
2nd Assistant Camera: Quentin Lesser
Camera Utility: Sheila Dunaway
Gaffer: Barrett Depeis
Key Grip: Kitt Fresa
Swing: Luke Lamar
Audio -
Doc Crew: Hunter Vickers
Production Assistant: Patrick Tyler
Production Assistant: Kristen Herbert
CN TALENT:
Anuoluwapo (Anu) Adeola Brian Chojnacki Claire Levesque Eugenia Kefallinos James (Jimmy) Mitchell Jeffrey Aitchison Jonathan Moorman Mariah Lambertus Mark Girgis Rick Laboucan Ryan Whittle Sneha Cherian Timothy Evans PROJECT TEAM: Mark Seland Bridgette Slater Sunny McKechnie Marc Pavlica Alessia Longo Cathy Stojak Sheila Bourque
Recorded at: Ocean Way Nashville, Addiction Studios, Curb Studios
A Delicious Hummus Hack
If you read about how I came up with the idea to launch my podcast, Happiest Hour, then you know I’ve been influenced by my favorite online influencer, Landyn Hutchinson (better known as Living with Landyn).
Last year sometime, Landyn shared a recipe for hummus she tried at a restaurant on the west coast. It just elevates the regular ol’ hummus dip from a package by mixing in some fresh herbs, cheese and a little kick (to taste).
I’ve adapted this idea into my own favorite hummus dip. I consider it a hack, since you use store bought hummus and just give it a little extra pizzaz. Give it a try, then whip up some frozen watermelon margaritas from Ep. 10 of the podcast (recipe below), and join my conversation with hit songwriter, Kirsti Manna!
If you read about how I came up with the idea to launch my podcast, Happiest Hour, then you know I’ve been influenced by my favorite online influencer, Landyn Hutchinson (better known as Living with Landyn).
Last year sometime, Landyn shared a recipe for hummus she tried at a restaurant on the west coast. It just elevates the regular ol’ hummus dip from a package by mixing in some fresh herbs, cheese and a little kick (to taste).
I’ve adapted this idea into my own favorite hummus dip. I consider it a hack, since you use store bought hummus and just give it a little extra pizzaz. Give it a try, then whip up some frozen watermelon margaritas from Ep. 10 of the podcast (recipe below), and join my conversation with hit songwriter, Kirsti Manna!
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Try the Cocktail…
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
My guest in Ep. 10, Kirsti Manna, brought in the most amazing frozen watermelon margarita recipe to pair with her episode. Try it here!
Catch the episode!
Ep. 10 - Staying Inspired with Kirsti Manna
Ep. 10: Staying Inspired with Hit Songwriter, Kirsti Manna
I started my professional career in Nashville as a teenager. My first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was at age 11. Because I started my professional path so early in life, I have had the amazing privilege of knowing some of my co-writers, collaborators, teachers and mentors for nearly 30 years.
One of those mentors is Kirsti Manna, my guest on Ep. 10 (the grand finale of Happiest Hour Season 1). Kirsti is a hit songwriter, record label president and a fierce advocate for female creatives.
You’ve heard Kirsti’s hits like “Austin” for Blake Shelton and “Loud” for Big & Rich, to name a few.
We sat down to enjoy her delicious watermelon margarita recipe (more on that later), and to chat about the difference music and creativity makes in our lives. Click to enjoy our conversation on your favorite podcast platform or on YouTube!
Ep. 10: Staying Inspired with Kirsti Manna
I started my professional career in Nashville as a teenager. My first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was at age 11. Because I started my professional path so early in life, I have had the amazing privilege of knowing some of my co-writers, collaborators, teachers and mentors for over 30 years (and counting)!
One of those mentors is Kirsti Manna, my guest on Ep. 10 of Happiest Hour (the grand finale Season 1)! Kirsti is a hit songwriter, publisher, record label VP, and a fierce advocate for female creatives.
You’ve heard Kirsti’s hits like “Austin” for Blake Shelton and “Loud” for Big & Rich, to name a few. Her songs have been heard around the world in such places as CMT, ESPN, Gayle King’s Grammy Special, The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show, Friday Night Lights, and Dance Wars.
Known as the go-to person for inspirational information, Kirsti’s “whatever you do, stay inspired” mantra has helped girls and women find their creative voice. In 2008, Kirsti launched “Songwriter Girl” and “Songwriter Girl Camps” (www.songwritergirl.com).
Kirsti and I sat down to enjoy her delicious watermelon margarita recipe (more on that later), and to chat about the difference music and creativity can make in everyone's life.
In this episode, we also cover:
How she and her producer-husband, Bill Warner, came to Nashville from Ohio
Her goal of wanting to move people with her art — and how she’s accomplished that
What hard work looks like in the music business
Why mentoring women is so important to her
Her secret to success of working with her husband and staying married over 30 years
What she hopes to leave behind
Okay, now back to that mouth-watering margarita. As with every episode, we paired our conversation with a truly delicious watermelon margarita recipe (thanks to Kirsti’s husband, Bill), and a hack for making excellent hummus that I adapted from the woman who inspired me to start this podcast in the first place.
Get your recipes here! Blend yourself up a batch of Kirsti’s margarita recipe, then join us for the conversation!
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Connect with Kirsti here.
Ready to get inspired and spark your creativity? Check out Kirsti’s Spark Your Creativity Course here.
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The Happiest Hour theme song was written and performed by... me! If you'd like to hear more of my music, click here!
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Keep scrolling to get your recipes! They’re just below. ↓
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Don’t Forget the Recipes!
We paired two delicious recipes with this episode. Get them below.
Cheers!
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Hummus Hack
More Songwriter Inspiration…
Becky Knowles' Peanut Butter & Brown Sugar Sandwich (from Jay Knowles)
My guest on Ep. 09 of Happiest Hour, Jay Knowles, said to me: “How ‘bout I make the peanut butter and brown sugar sandwiches the way I remember incorrectly that my mom used to make.” That’s Jay’s sense of humor for ya! Eye ball this nostalgic after-school snack and enjoy the sweet and sticky memories. Read on for Jay’s recipe!
My guest on Ep. 09 of Happiest Hour, Jay Knowles, said to me: “How ‘bout I make the peanut butter and brown sugar sandwiches the way I remember incorrectly that my mom used to make.” That’s Jay’s sense of humor for ya!
Eye ball this nostalgic after-school snack and enjoy the sweet and sticky memories. Read on for Jay’s recipe!
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Try the Drink…
Clever Coffee
My guest in Ep. 09, Jay Knowles, teaches us the secret to making the best cup of coffee… ever. Click here for the recipe!
Catch the episode!
Ep. 09 - The Art of Loosening Up with Jay Knowles
Clever Coffee Recipe
My guest on Ep. 9 of Happiest Hour podcast, Jay Knowles, asked if he could bring in a recipe and make black coffee in the very specific way he does. This recipe is more about the gadgets and tools needed to make an exceptional cup of coffee. Start with a high quality coffee bean and read on to learn how to make the best cup of coffee… ever.
My guest on Ep. 9 of Happiest Hour podcast, Jay Knowles, asked if he could bring in a recipe and make black coffee in the very specific way he does. This recipe is more about the gadgets and tools needed to make an exceptional cup of coffee.
Start with a high quality coffee bean (Jay and I are partial to Nashville’s local Frothy Monkey). Then, read on to learn how to make the best cup of coffee… ever.
Enjoying this? I wrote a letter I wish someone had sent me at 35 — plus a playlist to go with it. Both are yours, free. Grab them here.
Try this Nostalgic Snack…
Becky Knowles’ Peanut Butter & Brown Sugar Sandwich
We paired this super simple dessert dip with the French Toast Latte on Ep. 8. I made this for friends over Christmas break and it was a huge hit. Just throw a couple of ingredients into a skillet and bake. Viola! No campfire needed! Get the recipe here.
Catch the episode!
Ep. 09- The Art of Loosening Up with Jay Knowles