Community Blog

Hey Overlook! I know that it’s a little early for predictions, but I’ve decided to put up a poll anyway. Who do you think will win the NBA finals? Be sure to cast your vote on the right! Let’s get some friendly competition going in the comments section!

This…is different. Wild Bill’s has a kind of Hard Rock Café flavor with a hometown feel…and bikes. LOL. Bikes are the name of the game. When walking through the door, you can’t help but notice the motorcycle hanging above you, or the tables made from hubcaps. Those were pretty cool, actually.

But Wild Bill’s isn’t all about it’s décor. The food is pretty good too. The restaurants brings a little bit of New Orleans to downtown Nashville. I’m a huge fan of beignets straight from the N.O., and these come a close second. The house specialty are the banana beignets covered with caramel or chocolate sauce. YUM!

The menu isn’t very extensive, but the food is delish. Try the Fried Fresh Cajun Shrimp platter. It has just enough spice to give it a kick, but not enough to make you tear up from the heat. There’s also a wine bar for those wine lovers out there.

So when you get a chance, check out Wild Bill’s, it’s sure to be a treat.

Your parents weren’t kidding when they told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets the tone for what you’re going to eat for the rest of the day, as well as giving you a significant energy boost.

I’m a firm believer in this. There have been days when I have gone to work without eating breakfast, and I couldn’t focus on my work, at all. I would snack on sugary treats, but that only gives you an energy boost for a short amount of time. I’ve found that even eating a bowl of cereal in the morning will help. If you get hungry before lunch, snack on fruit, carrot sticks, or a Snicker for a kick in the right direction.

What do you like to eat for breakfast in the morning? What about for breakfast on the go?

Let’s face it; there are very few people that are happy in their jobs.  Companies are cutting positions left and right, leaving the remaining workers to pick up and sometimes do the work of 2 or 3 other people.  It doesn’t seem quite fair, but in this economy who wants to complain?  Instead of suffering in silence, Glamour Magazine’s Alisha Davis gets advice from fashion world guru Christine Beauchamp in the September 2009 issue on 7 rules for being happier at work.

1. Speak Up – share your ideas.  If you are new to a job or industry you may be a little shy or overthink your idea.  Be bold.  You never know what can come of it.
2. Have a life – be present.  When you are at work, give it 100%.  When you leave, leave the office at the office and enjoy your life outside of work.
3. Don’t be a fashion victim – dress professionally, yet comfortably.  This is a delicate balancing act but it can be done.
4. See the big picture – don’t get caught up in the minutae of the day to day tasks.  See them as the steps toward your career goals.
5. Consider challenges a way to up your game – always approach challenges as a positive.
6. Find inspiration, and keep it close – a picture, a quote, even a rabbit’s foot will work if it keeps you focused on your goal.
7. Work hard, have fun and be kind.

Hey Overlook! Are you going green today? What about every other day? What about everyday? Well, you should. You don’t have to do it all at once, take baby steps. Every little bit will help our planet.

In the oncoming years, efforts will increase to reduce the carbon footprint that we are leaving behind. Hopefully, we will turn to more energy friendly measures in the future. This video outlines the problem. Let us know what you think!

What are you doing to help preserve the environment?

I have never been a runner, but lately, the thought has been crossing my mind more and more. I figured that once I was ready, I would just head up to my old high school track and take off. I didn’t realize that there were other things of importance that I have to consider before my routine. Specifically, what kind of running shoe to get.

Being the amateur that I am, I believed that all I had to do was go to my nearest shoe store, buy some cross trainers, and be good. Nope. It turns out that if you are actually serious about running, you should be fitted for the very best exercise shoe for you by a professional.

Don’t just go for the most popular, colorful, or stylish shoe. Make sure you actively do your research and find what is most comfortable for you, and what will most support your foot type. A lot of running injuries are the result of wearing the wrong type of shoes. Right now, my injuries will probably sustain from wearing too many high heels throughout my lifetime.

What about you? Do you have a particular type of shoe that you like to run in? Are you partial to a particular brand?

With such wonderful weather ahead, who would want to spend it inside? There are so many wonderful things to partake in!

Of course the Nashville Film Festival will bring in the numbers. For the kiddies and the kiddies at heart, you have the Eakin Elementary School putting on it’s annual carnival on campus at 2500 Fairfax Ave. It’s $5 per child and $15 max per family.

Tonight, Cheekwood opens its door from 7-10 pm for its annual Highballs and Hydrangeas fundraiser. It’s $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Rain or Shine. You may also want to attend the Sounds’ home game opener against the Iowa Cubs at 7:05.

There’s plenty more to choose from; the hard part is choosing which to do first!

What are you doing this weekend?

Isn’t it a lot to try and lug a handful of chargers around with you everywhere? After a certain period of time, you have to charge your phone, computer, Bluetooth, GPS, and whatever other electronics you may carry. This can be a hassle, and I know for a fact that carrying around my phone charger everywhere is taxing. (I lose things easily, and my charger’s normally the first thing to go).

If this is a hassle for you, you’re in luck. There are now backpack-cum-solar-powered chargers. A site called Reware sells three styles of the backpack for your convenience: a backpack, messenger bag and a daypack. All of the bags are made from reclaimed soda bottles which create a thin fabric that is very durable.

How does it work? On the back of the bags, there are small solar cells that turn sunlight into electricity. Votaic carries similar bags, and they all come with a battery pack to serve as a power reservoir.

Though the devices may be a little pricey, they will be well worth it in the long run.

Would you purchase something like this, or would you rather carry around your chargers?

Looking for something to do this spring? Well, you’re in luck, because Nashville has a number of activities that lets you embrace the warm weather and enjoy yourself!

April 8th – Free Day at the Frist from 10 am to 9 pm. The Frist is celebrating it’s 9th birthday today! Be sure to go out, enjoy the art, and take a trip through history.

April 8th – 11th – Southern Women’s Show at the Nashville Convention Center. $9 adults, $8 groups of four or more in advance, $5 youth 6-12, free children under 6 with paying adult. The show has been traveling all around the country and have gotten rave reviews. Why not add yours to the list.

April 9th – Stanley Clark: Schermerhorn Symphony Center. $50-$110

April 9th – Who’s Bad? Michael Jackson Tribute. The King of Pop will reign forever. 9 p.m., Cannery Ballroom. $12 advance, $15 day of.

April 10th – Second Saturday laser shows: Shows including Laser Beatles and Laser Led Zeppelin run throughout the night. Admission varies.

April 15th-22nd – Nashville Film Festival. Regal Green Hills Stadium 16. Admission varies depending on event.

And many more!

With all of the environmental issues that we’ve been having lately, it’s beneficial for you, your neighbors, and the planet itself if you take measure to preserve the environment around you. You’ll be surprised at the little things that you can do to save energy, while cutting the costs of your bills in half.

If you’re thinking about buying a new computer, consider buying a laptop. Not only are they more convenient because they can go wherever you go, but they also don’t use as much energy as a standard desktop computer. Laptops only draw 12 to 15 watts, while desktops draw about 50.

To save even more energy, plug your laptop into a power strip that you can turn off when done charging. This way, it won’t draw energy needlessly, and you can preserve your battery.

Let’s go green Overlook!

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