SMITH LAKE, ALABAMA
(ONLY TWO HOURS SOUTH OF BRENTWOOD)
55 COUNTY ROAD 142, CRANE HILL, AL 35053 BEDS: 6 | BATHS:7.5 | SQFT: 7950 | $2,995,000.
Smith Lake (Lakeshore West) First Time On The Market! This Home Is One Of Smith Lake’s Most Admired.
Situated on two stunning lots, you have captivating views down the main channel. This home includes 6BR/7.5BA on 3 luxurious levels of living. The lakeside pool views are simply spectacular! This home was custom built and there is no other home like it. A timeless design with an inviting layout.
The main level has soaring ceilings and an abundant amount of natural light. You will note the home is bright, open, and airy as soon as you walk in. The master bedroom and bath are on the main level, lakeside. On the upper floor, you have multiple guest rooms and gorgeous views from the loft! The lower level has a massive recreation space, kitchen, dining area, guest rooms, home theater, and a large garage with a glass door.
The aluminum boat dock sits in year round water. The manicured grounds are gorgeous throughout all seasons. The community of Lakeshore West is one of the most desired and well kept subdivisions on the entire lake. This established community has a gated entrance, paved roads, protective covenants, and a boat launch for residents. You are just minutes from Duskin Point Marina just across the lake. This is truly a spectacular one of a kind home lovingly cared for and maintained. It checks all the boxes!
Anyone who has boated on Smith Lake will recognize this remarkable estate. This is a rare opportunity!
Justin Dyar, the leading Realtor® on Smith Lake with over 1 Billion in Waterfront Sales.
MONDAY-FRIDAY 9-6 | SATURDAY 9-4 | SUNDAYS-CLOSED
Happy New Year from the LCT Team!
Leveraging real estate resources with a creative and tenacious spirit, the LCT Team of Onward Real Estate are experts in delivering a synergy of success for each client with long-time REALTOR® Lisa Culp Taylor as team leader. We are ready to help you buy or sell a home in the Franklin, Brentwood, or Nashville areas - and we have the experience and knowledge to make the whole process easier for you. View listings at LCTTeam.com.
Experience Luxury
MODERN LUXURY MEETS
CLASSIC CHARM IN FRANKLIN
1227 ADAMS STREET, FRANKLIN, TN
$1,775,000
Welcome to 1227 Adams St. Once a successful Air BNB producing more then $100k in income... the current owners have loving remodeled this amazing property into a modern day “Dream Home”!
The 4 bedroom 3 bath cottage boasts more than 3,000 sq ft and includes a brand new 500 sq foot primary suite addition, a new roof, new HVAC, new water heater, new stone patio with fire pit and lush new landscaping... this charming 1900’s cottage, just steps from Historic Franklin’s beloved Main St is simply PERFECT! From the quintessential front porch with porch swing, to a large and private backyard haven just made for FALL hot chocolate, marshmallow roasts or peaceful morning coffee, this home beautifully blends vintage charm with modern-day amenities.
1227 Adams Street begins by welcoming guests into a bright and open great room with original beams, a stone fireplace and even hidden steps leading up to a secret loft/play space! Next guests will step into a sun filled, southern style kitchen with a combination keeping/dining room complete with a window seat that overlooks the beautiful backyard. Just past the keeping room lies the stunning new primary wing addition with a renovation designed to harmonize the homes historic past with today’s luxury living! Featuring vaulted ceiling, french doors to a picturesque flagstone patio, dual closets and a spa like bath complete with penny tile, clawfoot tub and luxurious walk in shower. The first floor also has a second large suite (the original primary) and two additional guest bedrooms. Step outside into the beautifully landscaped and very private backyard and you will be WOWed! Perfect as it is, with flag stone walk ways, twinkling patio lights and a detached space perfect for a he/she shed... OR just waiting for you to create your own perfect place with room to add a garage/, art/ music studio, guest house or anything else you can imagine!
See photos, video, floorplans and more at https://www.1227adamsst.com or. or reach out to Paula Hinegardner with Keller Williams at 615-618-1330 or @ paulasellsnashville on Instagram
Health & Wellness
For many of us, this time of year is full of excitement. It presents us with a reset, new horizons, and goals to pursue.
However, for others, January can be a reminder of failed attempts from years past and the burden of expectation that this year will be different.
We approached this issue of Brentwood Lifestyle from a mindset of not supplying quick fixes to check boxes in the short term but valuing what is sustainable over the long haul. We wanted to provide inspiration for making lasting, realistic, long-term improvements to your physical, emotional, and mental health.
When it comes to anything in life - business, finance, food, home, and personal health – it’s not what you do on some days that move the needle - it’s what you do MOST days. For better or worse!
For instance, taking a vacation every day would be financially and practically unfeasible, but taking a trip a few times a year is doable. Having a beautiful steak dinner with a few cocktails and creme brulee every night for dinner isn’t best for your health, but doing so once in a while might be fine!
It’s not the choices we make sometimes; it’s the choices we make most of the time.
So plan the vacation AND work to establish more regular rest in your work week. Join a fitness community or gym, AND enjoy that flavor you’ve been wanting to try at Jeni’s. It’s not what you do some days - it’s what you do most days that will lead to a more peaceful, filling, and fabulous year.
Here’s to you! We’re rooting for you.
JENNIFER DOWNS, PUBLISHER
January 2025
PUBLISHER
Jennifer Downs | jennifer.downs@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Sophie Brock | sophie.brock@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Stephanie Krejci | Stephanie.Krejci@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mary Compton, Morgan Raum, Sophie Brock, Sue Baldani, Lauren Kelly, Angela Broockerd, Emily O’Brien
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Christy Hunter, Matt Andrews Photography, Kailey Hall with PHEEL STYLE, Janie Jones, Eb Combs
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick Learn
inside the issue
city scene
1-7: The Canvas Skin Holiday Party, photos by Kailey Hall with PHEEL STYLE
home services
Happy Holidays. Feliz Navidad. Joyous Kwanzaa. Happy Hanukkah. Yuletide Greetings. Merry Christmas. Season Greetings.
There is no place like home for the holidays. Wishing you a season full of warmth, love, and family.
Brentwood Academy Quarterback Commits To University of Tennessee
George MacIntyre, a senior at Brentwood Academy, committed to playing football at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2025. MacIntyre is one of the top five quarterbacks in the class of 2025 and is a five-star recruit.
Royal Recycling Offers Better Recycling Options in Brentwood
Locally owned and operated, Royal Recycling now offers better recycling options in Brentwood, Nolensville, and nearby areas in Williamson County with curbside recycling and sustainable living solutions. The business provides personalized recycling centers that cater specifically to the needs of individual customers. All materials collected are sent to WM Recycle America, located in Nashville.
Allison Spears To Run for Re-election in Spring
Allison Spears, one of the seven Brentwood City Commissioners, is running for re-election in Spring 2025. Spears has held this position for several years, and she was also appointed to the City of Brentwood's Historic Commission.
HIT YOUR HIG
RikkiHarris,Chief
BUILDING WELLNESS AND BREAKING STIGMAS
Tennessee Voices for Children Inc., also known as TN Voices, is a nonprofit mental health provider that is a community based organization in all 95 counties of Tennessee. With staff that live in all counties, they seek to ensure that mental health needs are met across the whole state. Chief Executive Officer, Rikki Harris shares more about this organization, and how our community can be engaged during January's Mental Health Awareness month.
Q: WHERE DID TN VOICES BEGIN AND HOW HAS IT GROWN?
A: We were founded in 1986 by Tipper Gore, who worked with a group of people who were concerned about children’s mental health needs and their ability to be educated when they have a diagnosis that might cause educational struggles.This group started to explore how to work alongside schools, parents, and kids who might be struggling with mental health needs to accommodate those needs and make that a more collaborative topic between schools and mental health partners. We’ve grown over the last 38 years.
With 250 employees, we now have services that are tailored to all different stages of life. We also have programs for adults who may have come out of mental health hospitals or institutions to provide housing options for them to live in our homes with support around them so that they can enjoy being a part of a community. At the heart of TN Voices, we try our best to advocate for peoples’ mental health needs and use our own lived experiences to help others.
Q: WHAT ROLE DOES TN VOICES PLAY IN CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR THESE CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES?
A: We partner with families and meet them where they are to guide them to the services they need, which can be anything from talking with their school to get an individualized educational plan set up, to accessing services to have outpatient therapy and medication management. Most of the time we have services to help, but other times we walk them to a partner organization to ensure that their needs are met. So collaborating with schools, hospitals, and anywhere else that people show up with mental health needs is important. We also do a lot of training sessions to help support the workforce and families who work with children.
Community engagement event with Tennessee Voices
Q: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN ENCOURAGE PURSUING MENTAL HEALTHCARE?
A: I would love to see a world where we all view physical healthcare and mental healthcare through the same lens instead of separating mental health as an embarrassing struggle or something that’s not real.
“I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A WORLD WHERE WE ALL VIEW PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE THROUGH THE SAME LENS.”
This would make it a normal conversation for children to identify feelings and teach them how to express them instead of avoiding them. It also looks like encouraging and celebrating those who seek help and well-being in their life. Most families know that it’s a good idea to make sure that their kids have annual check ups, regular dental checks, eat nutritious food, and participate in physical activity, but when it comes to mental health, there’s not one specific idea that most families know is a way to prevent their kids from having mental health struggles. A focus on mental wellness is really just a focus on whole self care and understanding your needs. We all need to figure out what we need physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially, and then make time for those things.
TNVoices.org
Tennessee Voices Staff focus on involvement and connection in the community
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Our relationship managers are proactive, offering high-touch timely service, with a full range of personal/private and commercial banking services.
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HEALING WITH THE HORSE SHOE FARM
Welcome To The Horse Shoe Farm, Where Guests Can Just Be
ARTICLE BY SOPHIE BROCK
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Nestled in the heart of Hendersonville, North Carolina, lies The Horse Shoe Farm – a family-owned boutique resort that sits on 85 acres of gorgeous land where guests are met with tranquility and a serene experience. Known to be a destination of healing, it offers a relaxing retreat for those seeking peace, healing, and rejuvenation.
“We call it 24 hours on the farm. If someone is here for 24 hours, you just see their entire demeanor change."
One of the most important mantras of The Horse Shoe Farm is that it is a place where guests can just be.
“We call it 24 hours on the farm,” Owner and Steward of The Horse Shoe Farm, Jordan Turchin, explains. “If someone is here for 24 hours, you just see their entire demeanor change. Their sense of self, the way they want to connect, the way they treat us, the way they treat the place, you just realize their being just takes a deep breath and comes to life.”
Originally started in 2018 as a simplistic retreat offering a handful of lodging options, The Horse Shoe Farm has quickly transformed into a luxurious boutique resort that perfectly blends relaxation with elegance. Guests are invited to unwind with one of the
many rejuvenating treatments offered at The Horse Shoe Farm’s Stable Spa and can afterward enjoy delicious farm-to-table meals at The Silo Cookhouse, the property’s on-site restaurant.
Or, bring the whole family and create unforgettable memories by hosting events, from gorgeous weddings to heartwarming family reunions. Whatever the occasion, The Horse Shoe Farm is committed to making every experience not only special but deeply restorative and truly healing.
But now, their guests aren’t the only ones who have found healing through the resort, as The Horse Shoe Farm has been able to provide aid and healing to all of those impacted by the Asheville flood.
When the unexpected flooding occurred back in October, The Horse Shoe Farm had 25 guests on site but luckily suffered minimal damage due to the resort’s infrastructure. After successfully getting the guests evacuated, they were able to contact GEM - Global Empowerment Mission – to come in to provide aid to the community. Thanks to the 85 acres that make up The Horse Shoe Farm, GEM was able to transform the resort into a central hub and dispatch center, providing critical support to those affected by the flooding.
“We just became this beautiful hub being able to be a really good nucleus of clarity of what to do,” Jordan recalls. “We have fields, we have a landing pad, and the infrastructure was just right. It was big enough for large trucks to get in with aid, and we were safe, and we were 20 minutes from Asheville, so we were able to get in and help.”
Besides going into Asheville to aid rescue efforts, The Horse Shoe Farm was able to utilize a restaurant that never lost power and turn it into a food pantry to feed those who were without water, power, and food. As the storms cleared out and GEM left North Carolina, all that remained was for the community to rebuild.
“This area is built off of all these small businesses which are crushed, and no one has flood insurance up here,” Jordan says. “There’s the emergency phase, and then there’s phase 2, which is “How do you keep people here? How do you get businesses back open? That’s where the GEM and The Horse Shoe Farm funds step in.”
Besides being a part of the rescue effort, both GEM and The Horse Shoe Farm have created grants, where both the organization and resort are providing $1,000 to $10,000 to small businesses, farmers, and local artisans impacted by the floods in an effort to not only reopen but to recover and remain in Asheville.
“We learned so much, we’ve come together in so many ways, and it’s just a beautiful way and a reminder of our humanity, and this is just a really strong community.”
Now, all that’s left is for the community to look toward the future and focus on what’s next.
“I think everyone is just focusing on the future now,” Jordan says. “We learned so much, we’ve come together in so many ways, and it’s just a beautiful way and a reminder of our humanity, and this is just a really strong community.”
Since the floods, The Horse Shoe Farm has remained open. Kicking off in January, Jordan
is putting on the Winter Wellness Betreats series, where guests are welcome to come and experience the perfect sanctuary that will nurture the mind, body, and spirit through 2 and 3-night programs led by wellness coaches and providers who specialize in holistic practices and personal growth.
As The Horse Shoe Farm continues to host guests and the community continues to heal, it remains a beacon of hope and unity, inviting everyone to come and experience healing.
thehorseshoefarm.com
globalempowermentmission.org
Make Wellness a Priority
STAYING HEALTHY FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR TOES
ARTICLE BY SUE BALDANI
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
People are busy, and they don’t always dedicate enough time to their physical and mental health. Unfortunately, small problems can often lead to big issues if not addressed.
Dr. Yerusalem Lanier and Dr. David Farnen of Cutting Edge Foot and Ankle Clinic understand this all too well. “Feet are overused, overworked, and they are very durable, but we don't always understand how important they are to us,” says Dr. Lanier. “We abuse them, and then when it comes to recovering from an injury or disease, it can take a long time.”
Adds Dr. Farnen, “I've been very blessed to treat some elite athletes and entertainers around Middle Tennessee, and what I love about these folks is they come in to see me before a problem arises. I then have the ability to prevent foot and ankle issues.”
While both doctors are dedicated to treating their patients so they can improve the quality of their lives, they also make sure to take care of themselves. “I think overall, what I consume, what I burn, has a lot to do with how I treat my patients,” says Dr. Lanier. “If I'm not eating healthy and exercising, I’m not going to feel great, and
then I'm not going to be a great clinician that day. Everything correlates.”
Luckily, she and her family - husband David, an ER physician, and daughters, 13-year-old Alexandria and 11-year-old Hope – love the outdoors. “We’re big hikers, and we recently came back from hiking the Alps. We also go to many local parks. The girls play lacrosse as well and are very active physically, and they also play the piano and guitar and sing.”
Dr. Lanier also belongs to Orange Theory and goes at least five days a week. “Mental health and physical health are important to function well in all aspects of life,” she says.
She incorporates this mantra into her practice, especially with her patients who are moms. “I’m always open about talking about this because moms need to know it’s okay to make that time for ourselves.”
Dr. Farnen also carves out time from his busy work schedule for health and wellness. “It's my team at home that keeps me young, spirited, and healthy, and keeps me mentally sane. I have a beautiful family. My wife Natalie and I have three wonderful children – 6-year-old Charlotte, 3-year-old Lillian, and 9-month-old Oliver.”
“Mental health and physical health are important to function well in all aspects of life.”
“It’s the relationships that I think are important in medicine, and I feel that many doctors lose sight of that. No matter how busy we are, we never turn patients away.”
His wife, he says, keeps him grounded. “She’s a superwoman. In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s an aesthetics nurse practitioner who created an aesthetics institute here in the Franklin/ Brentwood area.”
Golf is another outlet and what he calls his therapy. “I try to go once or twice a week and I also work out locally at various YMCA locations here in Brentwood, as well as in neighboring cities such as Franklin.”
A work-life balance is important because burnout can happen in any profession, says Dr. Farnen. “You can't be happy inside unless you feel relaxed and have a clean state of mind, especially in our profession.”
Working at Cutting Edge Foot and Ankle Clinic with Dr. Lanier also makes him happy. He joined the practice four years ago and finds immense joy interacting with patients. “It's the relationships that I think are important in medicine, and I feel that many doctors lose sight of that. No matter how busy we are, we never turn patients away.”
Podiatry, he says, is a hidden gem. “It's the one field of medicine that I feel provides some of the most joy and happiness.
The feet are our foundation and it’s important to keep them healthy and functioning well.”
For Dr. Lanier, who founded the practice in 2019 as a small clinic and has watched it grow to five locations with another opening soon in Spring Hill, she finds immense satisfaction in her career. Her parents suffered from many foot ailments. “One of the things that I love about podiatry is a lot of my patients are older, and I can connect with them,” she says. “I feel like I’m treating my parents, and it’s so sweet.”
Since opening its doors, Cutting Edge Foot and Ankle Clinic has gained a sterling reputation and has been named one of the five top podiatrists in the Nashville area. “We are all just genuinely nice people too,” says Dr. Farnen. “We don't hire anybody who’s negative. From the front desk staff to the doctors, you're going to have an amazing experience. That’s what sets us apart. You can read thousands of our reviews, and each one is five stars.”
Adds Dr. Lanier, “When you love what you do, there's a kind of peacefulness in that. And, we love what we do.”
CEFOOTandANKLE.com
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THE VANISHING OF Josephine Reynolds
Preorder this book now as it will surely vanish from book shelves in a hurry
ARTICLE BY MARY COMPTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT ANDREWS PHOTOGRAPHY
Gather a nice cup of hot tea or sophisticated hot chocolate, a warm blanket, comfy reading socks, and the new book by best-selling author Jennifer Moorman. The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is what to read next while snuggling in for the New Year amid the busy rushing about and, not to mention, the cold to stay clear of. It’s the perfect excuse to stay in and enjoy a spectacular read.
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds will transport you to another time, the 1920s prohibition area, when the heroine Josephine Reynolds passes through a magically charmed door to meet her great-grandmother, who runs a hidden speakeasy. After placing the antique salvaged door upon the doorframe of her ancestral home that she bought to distract herself from being a newly alone widow, she travels back and forth through time only to realize she’s altered the past, and her current reality is being changed. She must stop her family and herself from vanishing forever.
Jennifer Moorman whips up more fantastical plots with this magical realism novel. It's not quite fantasy; think more like Practical Magic
Inspiration for this charmed-filled tale came about 15 years prior when Moorman herself was antique shopping. Lightning struck when she discovered a beautiful vintage hand-carved wooden door. This piece of art and home décor intrigued her curiosity. And so, years later, the memory of that door returned, and The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds came to be.
How does this author of magical realism find enchantment in her own life? Moorman says she’s “Always looking for magic… [for example] the sun is out today. It’s beautiful.” She finds delight in the small details of life, placing sun-catchers in her kitchen that fill the room with beautiful rainbows and light. “Loving people is magical,” Moorman beams. “I love the magic a book gives you,” she says. “Writing is a part of who I am. It lights up my heart. It’s part of me. I’ve always written, so it feels like breathing to me.”
CONTINUED >
A little bit about the author:
Moorman is originally from a small town in Georgia called Tifton. She moved to Nashville to study music, playing and singing rock and roll, country, and classic rock. She had a heart for writing, so she went back to school to get a second degree in English and Linguistics. She then landed a job in publishing and worked as an editor for more than 20 years, including for bignamed HarperCollins Publishing as Senior Editor for 10 devoted years.
The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds will be on shelves on January 14th, and Moorman’s book tour will kick off then as well. Moorman will be speaking, signing books, having Q&As, and introducing her new story. She will be traveling to Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and of course, right here at home, Tennessee. Stop by Parnassus Books in Green Hills on January 17th at 6:30 p.m. for a celebration of the launch. To learn more about her book tour, check out Moorman’s event page for upcoming projects, events, and news on her website.
Moorman co-hosts the One Happy Thing Podcast with bestselling authors Maddie Dawson and Kerry Anne King. Together, they uncover bright moments, silver linings, and everyday magic to bring a little more joy into the world! The podcast is available at your favorite streaming site.
jennifermoorman.com/events
OTHER WORKS BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
JENNIFER MOORMAN INCLUDE:
The Baker’s Man, The Magic All Around, The Necessity of Lavender Tea, The Legend of James Grey, Finding May, Little Blackbird, Sweet Canary Jane, The Wickenstaff’s Journey, Wednesday’s Child, Honeysuckle Hollow, Full Moon June, Average April, Starry Sky July
Singer/songwriter Tiera Kennedy talks about her debut album, Rooted, and how she uses her music to stay true to who she is.
Rooted in Song
ARTICLE BY MORGAN RAUM PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTY HUNTER, TAKEN AT THE RUSSELL
Singer/songwriter Tiera Kennedy is embarking on a new journey through her music. With strong values of authenticity and reflecting on where she came from, her debut album, Rooted, showcases everything from vulnerability, love, and heartbreak. Available on all platforms since October, this record shows a new side of Tiera.
The songstress, who hails from Gardendale, Alabama, first moved to Nashville nine years ago to pursue her dreams of becoming a musician. Within two years of being in town, she reached her goal of signing a publishing deal, which ultimately blossomed into a record deal after her 2022 track, “Found It In You,” independently achieved over 20 million streams. Now an independent artist herself, Tiera is thrilled to embark on this new era of her career and show her true self through her music.
“It’s been a wild year for me… I went through a lot of life changes, and this is the first full project I’ve ever put out,” Tiera shares. “I wanted it to represent me as a person and what I’ve been through.”
With a knack for storytelling and a sound that embodies traditional country with an R&B flair, Tiera continues to share that a couple of songs on this record were written as long as four years ago. From marrying her husband, Kamren – who doubles as her creative director – in 2021, leaving her record deal, becoming an independent artist, and truly figuring out her path and sound as an artist, Tiera landed on the title Rooted to remind herself to go back to her roots and remember where she came from.
“Being rooted, to me, means standing firm in who you are and being confident in that, no matter what anyone has to say… that’s really where this stemmed from for me,” she shares. “Being my debut project, I wanted it to represent all parts of me. I think in being rooted, there are some days you don’t feel confident, but it’s the constant reminder to bring yourself back to center and be confident in yourself.”
CONTINUED >
“Being rooted, to me, means standing firm in who you are…”
One of her favorite tracks on the album and the project’s lead single, “I Ain’t a Cowgirl” speaks on the strong emotion behind having faith in yourself. Her angelic voice shines, proving the heartbreak that can stand behind strength. Sharing she was in a broken place when she penned this track, it has felt very full circle for her to be able to reflect on the past year and see how much she has grown alongside this song.
“It’s been the most special time putting out music… seeing people gravitating towards different songs on the project has been super cool,” Tiera shares. “I feel like I put together a project that really represents me, and I’m so proud of every song.”
In the new year, Tiera is excited to focus on new projects, release new music, and live life to the absolute fullest.
A featured collaborator on Beyoncè’s Cowboy Carter album, Tiera has also landed on several of the most impressive Artist to Watch Lists, including CMT's Listen Up, MusicRow's Next Big Thing, and Pandora's Country Artist to Watch. She has also taken her music on the road, opening for artists including Kelsea Ballerini and Danielle Bradbery while playing festivals across the country.
tiera.com | @TieraMusic
ARTICLE BY MORGAN RAUM PHOTOGRAPHY
PROVIDED
A songwriter concert series designed to raise awareness of charitable organizations through the healing power of the song.
Whole Notes
Healing
Jason Krupek is the co-founder, alongside his wife, Misti Dian, of IAOMAI Global, and a compassionate retreat leader and facilitator. As a life-long supporter of charitable causes and purpose-driven work, Jason is a huge supporter of everyone who has a positive message and purposeful mission to share. He finds joy in making meaningful connections and organizing events and retreats for IAOMAI Global. Jason is the head of their conscious music efforts and the creator of The Whole Notes Concert Series. With a degree in Recording Industry Management from Middle Tennessee State University, he dedicated 19 years to the music business, helping dreams come true for aspiring artists and songwriters.
Going on to work at several record labels and then running and becoming a partner and general manager of an independent publishing company, Jason formally left the music industry in 2012 but shares that he “realized you never really get out of the music business if it’s in your heart and it’s your passion.”
Jason now cultivates these connections through their nonprofit, Spiritual Sustainability, to provide artists and writers a platform to share their healing journey and to give back to causes they love. When he and Misti first met, they bonded on their mutual passion for spirituality, healing, and music. In 2020, the pair bought a piece of property in Tracy City – a town about two hours outside of Nashville - to use solely for retreats. Since then, they have hosted songwriting retreats, healing retreats, yoga retreats, men’s retreats, and ultimately started Whole Notes there in 2021.
“Whole Notes started as a livestream from the house,” Jason shares. “Our guests would come, they would have a nice meal prepared by our caretaker… [our songwriters] would perform for an hour on our livestream, they would get to stay the night and just enjoy the nice atmosphere of the mountains.”
After doing this for about a year, Jason shares how emotional and inspiring each livestream left all who watched. It didn’t take long before he and Misti decided they needed a larger space to host a larger audience. Since June of 2024, Whole Notes has found its home in the Mockingbird Theater in Franklin.
Using music to make a difference, Whole Notes was designed to bring strangers together through the magic of song. Once a month, they hold their concert series where they partner with a different charitable organization or foundation, making each show its own fundraiser. Working with charities like Musicians on Call, Hope on the Row, The Jason Foundation, and Treehouse Recovery – to name a few, Jason explains the connections made at each show help introduce them to other foundations to connect with and help support.
“MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE AS A WHOLE.”
Jason and Misti love building their shows around their songwriters’ personal connections towards a charity close to their hearts. Not only does this introduce them to new organizations, but it also gives the songwriter a chance to give back through their talent and share something they’re truly passionate about.
“There are a lot of songwriting rounds and shows in Nashville, but Whole Notes is different because of how it serves the songwriter and the charitable cause,” Misti shares. “In the green room before the show, we let them know we want them to flow and be authentic, and if they’ve got a setlist, we encourage them to put it aside and not use it. If they feel a nudge or whisper and don’t know why they’re thinking about playing this song, [we tell them to] please play it because someone in the audience is needing to hear it,” Misti says.
Whole Notes is a sober stage, which they share offers a greater level of authenticity that isn’t always available at other songwriter showcases. With Better Than Booze mocktails as a locally owned, corporate sponsor and offered at every show, this allows the performers and audience to fully take in all the magic each performance has to offer.
“[Jason] works so hard at curating these shows, and you just can’t plan that spirit-led, heart-led moment that happens between people – that connection – that’s how you know it’s bigger than you,” Misti explains. “I can only hope that whoever we partner with [each] month walks away feeling fulfilled by the show,” Jason adds.
Jason and Misti are truly partners in everything they do. From raising five children together to building a conscious living brand designed to help people, it is not lost on them how special the community they have created is.
“These artists and writers are sharing their stories, and these charitable organizations are sharing their hearts and souls. The more people we can reach through the songs, the performances, the shows, the charities, the more it helps,” Jason says. When asked about the future of the show, Jason is clear on his vision. “I see Whole Notes becoming a sober side stage at established music festivals globally, eventually becoming its own festival that highlights and supports hundreds of charitable causes at once.”
Whole Notes Healing is looking forward to growing both private and corporate sponsorships, new songwriters, and new stories in 2025. To purchase tickets to a Whole Notes concert – where a proceed of all ticket sales help benefit the show’s charity –visit their socials.
@WholeNotesHealing @iaomaiglobal iaomaiglobal.org
THE BREADCRUMBS to healing
HOW MISTI DIAN’S PASSION FOR HEALING LED TO IAOMAI GLOBAL
ARTICLE BY SOPHIE BROCK PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
In 2017, Misti Dian went to bed expecting an ordinary night’s sleep, unaware she would have a dream that would soon change her life forever. This dream became one of the first breadcrumbs for the birth of IAOMAI Global, which brings together an authentic and collaborative community to help lead each other to live more authentically. Misti had already dedicated herself to aiding others as a guiding light on their path to wellness and healing. This dream, however, solidified her purpose to help others heal.
“I was in a very painful part of my life, and I had a dream, and I could see the word IAOMAI, and I could hear the way I was pronouncing it, but I didn’t know what it meant it just stuck with me,” Misti, co-founder of IAOMAI Global explains. “That word just felt like a gift to me, and finding out it meant to heal, to cure, to make whole really led me to know this was going to be about doing retreat work and providing safe and sacred spaces for others doing that healing work.”
IAOMAI, pronounced aye-OM-eye, means to heal, cure, and make whole, and helping others heal and create a space to learn from one another has always been Misti’s passion.
“Misti is the master of letting it be and letting it flow,” Jason Krupek, co-founder of IAOMAI Global and Misti’s husband, says.
The married couple crossed paths on social media in 2019 when Jason came across one of Misti’s posts and reached out to her, encouraging her to keep sharing her inspiring content. As the two messaged back and forth, Misti decided to look into the meaning of Jason’s name. What she discovered left her stunned. Not only did “Jason” mean “healer,” but the definition also included the word “IAOMAI.”
Instantly, she sent him a screenshot of a website she had purchased two years prior in 2017 – IAOMAIretreats.comand explained the fateful coincidence.
CONTINUED >
“It’s such a crazy story, but it’s such an important piece of the IAOMAI story because, again, it’s been a path that I've been led on my entire life,” Misti explains. “The breadcrumbs have always been there, and there have been detours and pitfalls, and there's been amazing highs and terrifying lows, but from the moment we met, I knew that I had been brought a partner to go the distance for what this vision was.”
Together, the couple has been able to join forces and create IAOMAI Global, where they guide others in self-discovery through their numerous ventures, whether that be from leading retreats, their concert series Whole Notes, or through their nonprofit, Spiritual Sustainability. This nonprofit promotes healing and transformation through conscious music events, intentional partnerships, media, and advocacy.
The IAOMAI Global website highlights the phrase, “Your message matters,” a principle heavily incorporated into the IAOMAI retreats. These intimate gatherings create a safe and vulnerable place for those involved to rest, heal, and reflect, all while taking place in breathtaking destinations. During these retreats, Misti is pivotal in guiding group discussions where participants sit in a circle where everyone can engage face-to-face. Another crucial aspect of this experience is giving back to the local community where the retreat takes place.
Most retreats are escape-based, but Misti leads retreats that teach you to live in a way you don't want or need to escape from
your life. "I design retreats around a unique service-based mindset, and there's always some way you can serve others by giving back," Misti says. "Nothing dials more into your personal gratitude than being of service.”
Misti has effortlessly created a vulnerable space for others to open up and heal in, and she hopes that this continues throughout the new year.
“Based on the foundation that how we serve is as important as who we serve, our hope is that IAOMAI Global is recognized as a “gold standard” of authenticity and integrity for mission-driven leadership,” Misti says. “A collaborative platform that expands, amplifies, and sharpens service-based work.”
The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to embrace healing – whether through retreats, focus groups, non-profit work, or simply by engaging with others through meaningful conversations.
“Going into 2025 and just knowing the energy of change, and healing, and expansion, people are ready to sit in circles and do the work and show up and support people willing to do the work,” she says. “By showing up, you are helping someone in the room; whether you know it or not, you’re someone else’s breadcrumb.”
@iaomaiglobal iaomaiglobal.org events.humanitix.com/host/iaomai-global
MIXING HEALTH AND FLAVOR
A Delicious Mocktail to Savor Without the Alcohol.
ARTICLE
BY ANGELA BROOCKERD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
• 5 tablespoons pear juice
• 1 tablespoon rosemary simple syrup
• 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
• sparkling water to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO MAKE ROSEMARY SIMPLE SYRUP
Combine sugar and water in a pot and cook over medium heat. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and toss in rosemary sprigs. Cool Completely.
HOW TO MAKE ROSEMARY PEAR MOCKTAIL
Pour pear juice, rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling water into a glass. Add ice and garnish if desired.
INGREDIENTS
THYME SIMPLE SYRUP
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup fresh thyme
GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice
• 1/3 cup thyme syrup
• Ice
INSTRUCTIONS
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP:
Combine water and sugar in a pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer for a few minutes. Remove from the heat and add fresh thyme and steep.
HOW TO MAKE GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL
Rim glass with sugar if desired. Fill glass with ice. Add 3 tablespoons thyme syrup to each glass and fill up with 1/2 cup grapefruit juice and approximately 1 cup sparkling water. Garnish.
GRAPEFRUIT THYME MOCKTAIL WIZARDLY BUTTER BEER
INGREDIENTS
BUTTER BEER
• 2 liters of creme soda
• 2 tablespoons butter extract
• 2 teaspoons rum extract
CREME TOPPING
• 7 ounce container of marshmallow creme or fluff
• 1 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon rum extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the rum extract and butter extract to the 2 liters of cream soda. Close lid and gently mix. Prepare the topping by combining the marshmallow creme, whipping cream and rum extract. Beat on high for a few minutes until peaks appear. Add a few tablespoons of whipped topping to the bottom of glass. Pour cream soda over topping. Enjoy!
smart SWEETS
The beginning of the year is packed with inspiration and motivation to get back on track after a sweet-filled holiday season. It can feel extreme, and it also can be depleting to cut oneself off from everything indulgent after weeks of eating favorite sweet and savory recipes. For sugar lovers who believe going cold-turkey feels intimidating or overwhelming, nutrition-packed desserts are a great way to stick to healthy food goals without the guilt.
Nutrient-Rich Dessert To The Rescue
ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN
This recipe is a classic favorite. If you cut the bars into 16 pieces, they are around 270 calories each. They are very filling, packed with healthy goodies and taste, oh so delicious. If you can’t finish them yourself (it makes a lot!), bring samples along to your next workout class to share the love. Your accountability group will be asking you for the recipe! These come in handy for a quick breakfast on-the-go or an afternoon snack. You’ll want to taste these out of the oven once they cool a bit... simply scrumptious.
Combine:
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
• 2 cups oats
• 2/3 cup of your choice of chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2/3 cup raisins
• Optional: chocolate chips as desired
• Optional: add additional seeds or nuts on hand such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
Notes: Boil quinoa at a 2:1 water to rice ratio. For estimating, 1/3 cup of uncooked quinoa yields 1 cup cooked quinoa.
Add this mixture slowly to combine:
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until when the edges get golden brown. Bake in a 9x13-inch glass dish. After they cool, slice and enjoy. Keep them covered to maintain freshness.
Quinoa BREAKFAST Bars
Frozen PEANUT BUTTER Bites
Danger ahead: this snack is amazing. It’s the easiest of the bunch and also satisfies a sweet tooth craving. This can be whipped together in just 5 minutes and makes just a small amount. Feel free to take creative liberty here with your amounts, but if you make it to this recipe, they are around 90 calories per bite.
1. Cut a banana into 8-10 small slices, around 1/2 inch each.
2. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter (or your choice of nut butter) on each banana slice.
3. Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate chips or caramel over each bite.
4. Freeze for 15-20 minutes and enjoy!
Pro tip: A dash of sea salt flakes on top of these can be *chef’s kiss.*
These are great to keep on hand in the freezer all weeklong. Once they set, add them to a closed container to keep the bananas from browning.
Late night snack cravings are real! When finding yourself rooting through the cabinets for a sweet fix, these protein cookie dough bites are a great way to curb temptation. This recipe yields around 20 small bites, which can be cut into small squares or rolled into dough balls. Each bite is around 105 calories. If you find the dough is a little too dry, add a dash of milk as needed.
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (or alternate nut or sunflower butter)
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Chocolate chips as desired
Pro tip: Use mini chocolate chips and for a dash of savory add sea salt flakes on top. Once combined, store the bites in the refrigerator in a covered container to keep them moist.
Protein COOKIE DOUGH Bites
2024 Porsche Macan Electric
