Last Tuesday was such a fun day! Deb (Raney) my dear friend and writing critique partner for some 20+ years now and I met at a midway point for a visit—and that place happened to be Paris, TN!
We started our visit at Sweet Jordan’s, a wonderful restaurant that happens to serve some of the best bread pudding we’ve ever had!
Sweet Jordan’s is an extraordinary, not-to-be-missed establishment! Check it out here.
Next, we hit the Eiffel Tower, of course (because we’re in Paris!), where the wind was NOT our friend! But we didn’t let it stop us!
Incidentally, Paris, TN is just one of 15 U.S. cities named Paris. Little known facts: The historic Henry County town of less than 11,000 residents is known for the “World’s Biggest Fish Fry” as well as its 70-foot, to-scale replica of the original Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower. Paris, TN which dates back to 1823, is the oldest incorporated town in West Tennessee.
Following the Eiffel Tower, we did some really fun thrift shopping, talking and laughing the entire time.
Here are pics of Deb’s fun (and thrifty!) purchases—
Pic 1: Look at that adorable Coca Cola cookie jar! Pic 2: The lovely round blue and white “scroll” jar on the left (that perfectly coordinates with the other jars she has). Pic 3: That adorable “Cracked Egg” sign that she tucked with her cute little chicken timer. And finally, pic 4: I brought her a little teal “church” spoon rest that she’s using in her coffee center.
Here are some of my thrifty purchases—
I love bowls! Especially vintage white mixing bowls, so those two thrifty treasures came home with me. As did that cute little pitcher (and another bigger one not pictured). And I couldn’t resist the sign, which, if that offends you, well . . . ; )
Finally, we grabbed some quick chips & salsa and caught up some more, and even did some brainstorming on the book I’m writing now—thanks, Deb!—before hitting the road. Even the drive there and back was a gift from God. So beautiful! As I told Deb, the tree and clouds were showing off just for fun. She said the same was happening for her!
And lest you think we weren’t thinking of others as we shopped . . . We picked up a little reminder of our trip to share with one of you! A pretty little Paris sign, plus Deb’s giving away a copy of her newest O Little Town, and I’m giving away a copy of Christmas at Carnton!
To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this blog post by 9 PM Central TONIGHT—telling us who you would meet in Paris, TN for a day if you could—and we’ll choose a winner at random and post the name below the following image!
Please respond to the email, and Deb and I will get your gifts in the mail. THANK YOU to everyone who commented and shared today! And I hope you all get to Paris someday (TN or France, both are great!). ; )
Both Deb and I highly recommend Paris, TN. It was such fun and we didn’t even scratch the surface! And Lord willing, this was just the first of many fun “meet ups” for us in Paris!
Hugs from Nashville,
Tammy
Tick, tick!
LAST DAY to enter to win the phenomenal book
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
VISIT TAMERA’S WEBSITE TO ENTER TO WIN GENTLE AND LOWLY
Tamera Alexander
Latest posts by Tamera Alexander (see all)
- Someone should do something about this - May 20, 2025
- Meet Megan Soja (and enter a GIVEAWAY) - April 15, 2025
- Amazing Women in God’s Word - April 1, 2025
I’m not entering the giveaway, of course, but just wanted to hop on and say what fun it was to relive our day in Paris through your pictures and story! It WAS such a fun, fun day! Can’t wait till next time—and can’t wait to see who wins the giveaway!
Ditto to all, friend! 🙂
Sounds like a perfect day! I’d love to meet my sister in Paris, TN!
It was perfect! Love that you’d meet your sister!
Awww how fun! Paris looks like a fun town and I definitely go with my mom. We’d have a blast there! Glad you both had fun!
You and your mom would love it!
I LOVE the church spoon rest! If I had a day for a girls’ adventure, I’d want to meet my best friend . . . or my “spiritual mother” . . . or my friend who is an interior decorator (and gives the best advice) . . . clearly I need more than one of these such adventures!Thank you for sharing!
Yes, you need a Paris, TN day, Andrea! 😉
Oh my, what a delightful day you had! I would meet my sister in law, Kelly, for a day in Paris, TN. I discovered Tamera’s books when we visited Nashville and Franklin for the first time last summer. What a beautiful state!
Thanks for visiting Nashville and Franklin last summer, Erin, and so grateful we “connected” then. Bless you!
Love you two and your friendship!
You know how important girl time is! ; )
You two have so much fun when you are together! This post made me smile! I’m excited for your next visit to Paris.
If I could meet up with someone in Paris, TN it would be my friend Cindy who lives about 15 hours away. We catch up via texts or the rare video chat periodically and pick up right where we left off. Such a special friendship…even with the miles between us. I’m sure we would have a blast visiting the same spots you gals did!
Wishing you and Cindy an adventure together soon, Jennifer! 😉
That sounds like such a fun trip! I loved the fun things y’all came back with. In answer to your question. I would love to meet up with my sister & nieces there in Paris. (And I’d bring our mother along with me!) Thank you both for sharing the fun trip & for the giveaway opportunity!
What fun you all would have, Amy! 😉
You have some very nice thrifty finds! I would love to meet up with my dear friend Liz, who is a great thrifty shopper and a fun travel buddy. Thanks for posting!
You and Liz would have a blast in Paris, Linda!
Great pictures! I also love hearing about the fun times you and Deb have together.
I’ve always wanted to go to Paris, France, but since I’ll never get there, Paris, TN sounds great – even an Eiffel Tower! I would meet my daughter, Danielle, who has a French name!
Thanks, Betty. But don’t say never. You and I and Deb will go to the REAL Paris together on the New Earth some day. And I’m serious. Forget having to fit everything in on a bucket list here. Not for believers. We have an ETERNITY to explore not only the new redeemed and “made new” earth but ALL the glorious works and wonders of God’s gracious and creative hand!
I love that you’d meet Danielle there! Y’all would have a blast!
This means so much to me! Thank you.
Sounds (& looks) like a lovely day! I love the little Coca-Cola jar!
If I could meet a friend in Paris, TN, for the day, I’d choose my BFA, Sandy. We always have so much fun together! 🙂
You and Sandy would rock Paris, Lori. And yes, that jar is so cute!
I would love to meet either or both of you in Paris, TN. It would be so exciting to meet you two and I have never been to TN. so that would be fun, too. Looks like you both had a wonderful time!
Keep writing!
Thanks for those kind words, Joan. We’d have such together! Hugs from my corner of TN.
I can’t decide between Deb Rainey who would be an enormously fun garage sale partner or one of my beloved sister friends! It would be lovely either way!
LOL on that predicament, Jeannie! Love it. And yes, lovely either way!
I love spending time with long time friends! Your time together sounded like so much fun.
Amen to that, Robbie. Hugs to you!
That looks like a really fun day trip, and how special you can do that once in a while!
I’m so grateful, Connie. Praying a fun adventure for you soon too!
I love this! You ladies are a lot of fun. Meeting you two was one of the highlights of ACFW 2018!
Ditto to you, Gretchen. It was a joy meeting you too. So appreciate your contributions to our community here. Hope our paths cross again soon.
I would meet with my youngest daughter who is away at college. We would have a fun day!
Oh you would have such fun! Blessings to her as she’s away at college. I remember those days with my own daughter.
Sounds like such a fun day! I would definitely meet my two girlfriends who live a bit further north than me.
And you gals would have such fun, just as we did. Thanks for sharing, Patty!
I would like to meet the two of you, Deborah and Tamera, two of my favorite authors!! (Not very original — I see that was posted numerous times, but it was my first thought when I read what the comment was supposted to be about!!)
Thanks for your kind words, Ann, and I hope our paths cross someday soon. Thanks for being part of the community here!
Since I live near Paris, I go there almost every week. I would like to meet some of the nice ladies I have worked with or my cousin who is an expert shopper in the second hand stores.
What?? How cool that you live near there, Brenda! Those second hand stores are such fun. We laughed and laughed. : )
We have a Paris in Texas too! I love Paris, France, and been blessed to go there twice. I was even born on Bastille Day. I love the Coca Cola jar you bought, Deb. If I went to Paris, TN, I would go with my daughter, Ana. I have told my husband that if I ever disappear, you will find me in Paris. Maybe we could disappear there together for a few days!
Wonderful on your trips to Paris. Isn’t it amazing? Feels like walking through history at times. And great on going to Paris, TN with your daughter. Y’all would love it!
I’d love to meet my grandkids there, what fun to all be together again!
Oh meeting your grandchildren there would be such a delight, Joy! Family time is the best. Period!
I would meet a good friend who is also a former co-worker – she moved to Iowa a couple of years ago to be close to new granddaughter. I see someone else has already mentioned the Paris, TX. Since my favorite hobbies are reading, genealogy, and visiting estate/tag sales, I enjoyed the pictures of all your good “finds”.
I love that you love estate/tag sales. Woman after my own heart! 🙂 I hope you and that former co-worker are able to meet up sometime soon!
Love this! We are heading to TN this week to see our son & DIL since their wedding in June and meet our new grand dog! I don’t think Paris is on the way.
You both look like you had a ball! How sweet to have such a friendship. I’d meet my friend Nancy there. What fun!
Looks like you gals had a really fun day. I like having lunch and shopping with my bestie. And we don’t let a little rain (or snow) stop us unless it becomes a major downpour or snowstorm. Really loved the treasures you found as well.
I have a friend Tandy who lives in Tennessee. I would love to meet her in Paris for a visit. It looks like your visit there with Deb was so much fun.
I saw Deb’s pictures and viewed her post the other day. If she mentioned Paris, TN, being in Henry County, I missed it. I live in Henry County, VA. I bought a car in 1973 in Paris. However, it was in another of the 15 states with a Paris. Paris, KY, was only an hour or so from where we lived at the time. Concerning your question, I can’t really think of anyone I would meet in Paris, TN, but it sounds like a great place to take my wife for a visit sometime. Glad y’all enjoyed your time there.
My love of reading really started in Mrs. Barton’s third grade class. Now over 50 years later, I still love to read. Thanks for the ability to discover new authors by giving away a book. Even if I don’t win, there is joy in knowing someone will have an awesome book to read.