Hello October
LIFE + CULTURE
FEAST YOUR WAY TO WINTER
LOCAL SERVICES
BE INSPIRED: CUMBERLAND
PROFESSOR, NOA STROOP LEADS BY EXAMPLE
THE STORE WHERE FAMILIES FIND DIGNITY
Say Goodbye to StubbornPigment
Full Body Wellness & Complete Body Recomposition
At Glow Wilco, our experienced team of nurse practi tioners is dedicated to guiding you throug h ever y step of your wellness journey From hormone replacement therapy and medical weig ht loss to advanced peptide therapies and more, our providers offer personalized care tailored to your unique goals. Wi th expertise and compassion, we’re here to help you feel your best inside and out. We understand all too well how hectic and busy life can get, but we have a solution! Nicole, our Nurse Practi tioner Functional Medicine Provider offers Telehealth appointments for your convenience!
L aser season is off icially back! MOXI® and BBL® (BroadBand Lig ht) are powerful treatments that target sun damage, discoloration, and uneven skin tone at the source. MOXI gently refreshes and renews the skin, while BBL uses lig ht energ y to break up unwanted pigment and stimulate collagen. Together, they help you achieve clearer, brig hter, and more radiant skin just in time for the seasons ahead.
Find our complete and newly expanded wellness services on our websi te!
ANN BEADLE, RN, ACNP KRISTINA MOORE, PA-C
LUCAS B, RICHIE, MD
JONATHAN P. CORNELIUS, MD
WILLIAM
Hello October
Autumn: The season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.
As the leaves begin to change and the temperatures cool, our cravings shift toward comforting flavors that warm both body and soul.
There’s an art to creating a dish that not only satisfies your taste buds but also stirs memories of home. Food has a unique way of connecting us to our past while bringing us together in the present.
Whether you’re enjoying a meal out with friends or hosting a cozy dinner at home, these shared moments are what make life meaningful.
Lean into your entrepreneurs. Some of the simplest ideas can transform lives. Meet our friend Noa Stroop! Not only a professor (Doctor) of business at Cumberland University, but an innovative entrepreneur who is changing the script for moving companies in the greater Nashville area and inspiring his students in the process.
Harmony in the kitchen sets the tone for the rest of your home. "Bee" enlightened this month on how simple it is to tackle a graceful and functional kitchen with a little touch of organization and order.
Lastly but not least at all, we hope the story of "The Store" inspires you to do more for those in need this season. What a humbling couple, Brad & Kimberly Paisley are giving back in ways that will continue to support their community for generations.
Here’s to savoring every moment of slow this fall,
KIMBERLY THOMAS, PUBLISHER
October 2025
PUBLISHER
Kimberly Thomas | kimberly.thomas@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Kourtney McComb | kourtney.mccomb@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lindsey Conder
COPY EDITOR
Summer Thomas
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Karly Thomas
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kourtney McComb, Coast to Coast & Co., Paige Turner
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Coast to Coast & Co., Lindsey Conder
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
THURSDAY, November 6TH
8AM - 7PM 20% OFF ONE DAY ONLY LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE
We will be providing complimentary consultations to answer your questions about Invisalign treatment. Patients will receive a scan with our new iTero® digital impression scanner.
COME JOIN US TO START YOUR JOURNEY TO A STRAIGHTER SMILE
• All attendees entered to win a raffle prize
• FREE whitening with treatment
• Payments as low as $99
mor e With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only Expir es 10/31/25. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.
business monthly
Anderson Architects Welcomes Intern Verena Souryal
Anderson Architects is excited to welcome a new voice to its team with the addition of intern Verena Souryal. A graduate of Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering, Souryal brings both a strong academic background and a passion for design. Fluent in Arabic, she will also help strengthen connections with the firm’s Arabic-speaking clients, broadening communication and relationships as she begins her journey with the company.
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Cumberland University Launches New Psychiatric Mental Health NP MSN Track
Cumberland University’s Jeanette C. Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions has launched a new Master of Science in Nursing track: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). Designed for registered nurses with a BSN, the program prepares graduates to provide holistic mental health care across diverse settings, including hospitals, clinics, and telehealth. With a flexible online format and strong clinical foundation, the PMHNP track expands Cumberland’s commitment to meeting critical mental health needs.
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Snuggle Up & Save: $150 Off Newborn Sessions
Lindsey Condor Photography in Mt. Juliet is offering $150 off studio newborn sessions through November, making it the perfect time to capture your little one’s first moments. Each booking includes access to her curated client closet, featuring dresses in sizes S–XXL, infant through girls’ size 14 clothing, and newborn outfits, props, and wraps. With thoughtful details and timeless style, Lindsey creates portraits families will treasure for years to come.
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Berry Dental Group Marks 6 Years of Smiles
Berry Dental Group is celebrating six years of serving the community with compassionate, personalized care. Led by Dr. Zac Berry, the practice is known for its commitment to creating healthy, confident smiles in a welcoming environment. From preventative care to cosmetic services, Berry Dental Group continues to grow while prioritizing patients’ comfort and long-term dental health. Here’s to many more years of bright smiles ahead!
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Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville Returns with “American Elegance”
Mark your calendars—Nashville’s Antiques & Garden Show returns Jan. 9–11, 2026, at Music City Center with the dazzling theme “American Elegance.” Guests will enjoy stunning garden showcases, premier antiques and art dealers, and inspiring lectures, including a keynote with David Lauren and Lauren Bush Lauren. Presented by Northern Trust, this beloved event benefits Cheekwood Estate & Gardens and ECON Charities. Tickets are available now at antiquesandgardenshow.com.
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Photography by Peyton Hoge
Elevate
Every Meal
With chef-inspired function and beautiful form, Ferguson Home helps you create a kitchen that’s as inviting as the meals shared within it. From sleek appliances to statement lighting and stylish fixtures, every detail is designed to blend performance with beauty. The result? A space that elevates cooking into an experience and gathers family and friends around the heart of your home.
The Store:
ARTICLE BY KOURTNEY MCCOMB PHOTOGRAPHY BY THESTORE.ORG
Where neighbors find dignity, connection, and the comfort of community.
More Than Groceries
In the heart of Nashville, a beacon of compassion shines: The Store, a free grocery initiative founded by country star Brad Paisley and actress Kimberly WilliamsPaisley. But it’s not just what they’re giving—it’s how —that makes this endeavor so powerful. Here, food isn’t handed out, it’s chosen, and that choice feeds more than just the body; it restores dignity.
While many food pantries offer pre-boxed staples, The Store is firmly rooted in empowerment. Patrons shop in a real grocery-store setting, selecting fresh produce, meats, dairy, household essentials, and even items like greeting cards or flowers, tailored to meet personal, cultural, and dietary needs. This model grants
agency-customers aren’t just recipients, but respected participants in their care.
From its inception, The Store has projected both humility and aspiration. Inspired by volunteering alongside their children at Unity Shoppe in California, the Paisleys envisioned a place where “most people don’t want handouts. They want dignity and respect. Most people want to become self-sufficient.” That vision became reality when The Store opened on March 12, 2020, partnering with Belmont University and supported by volunteers, students, and charitable partners.
Every year, The Store serves over 1,000 households and delivers more than 600,000 healthy meals, supported by 15,000 volunteer hours. A remarkable 98% of shoppers choose fresh produce, 100% choose foods or items not typically provided by conventional food banks, and 82% select items to accommodate cultural or dietary preferences, simple metrics that reflect nourishment of body and soul.
Yet dignity extends beyond groceries. Through partnerships, such as with Belmont, The Store offers wrap-around services including legal aid, healthcare clinics, financial planning, cooking classes, and more, reinforcing that support extends beyond an aisle. Families not only shop but
also learn, grow, and connect to tools that carry them toward a stronger future.
The Paisleys are also expanding the reach: a second location is underway at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, fueled in part by their own $1 million contribution toward a $5 million goal. It’s a step that will allow The Store to serve even more neighbors with the same heart-forward philosophy.
At The Store, aid isn’t just provided, it’s tailored, tender, and transformative. In Nashville, that means neighbors are fed with dignity, and in return, hope, and community, flourish.
To learn more or get involved, visit thestore.org.
“THE
PAISLEYS ENVISIONED A PLACE WHERE “MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT HANDOUTS. THEY WANT DIGNITY AND RESPECT. MOST PEOPLE WANT TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT.”
PUMPKIN PERFECTION
Put the carving tools down and check out how you can add some pizzazz to your pumpkins with just a paint brush.
ARTICLE BY NICOLETTE MARTIN
the CREEPY crawler
For this design, you’ll need several pumpkins or gourds in various shapes and sizes, some white and metallic acrylic paint, hot glue and some fake creepy crawlers.
Paint your “background” pumpkins in metallic colors. For your centerpiece, use white paint to cover the body, metallic paint for the stem and hot glue your creepy crawlers all around.
the GALACTIC gourd
Go to the “dark side” with this design that requires matte black paint, white paint, some metallic paint (for an out-ofthis-world vibe) and some newspapers. Be careful—this one could get messy!
Leave your stems natural or cover with metallic paint if desired. Then, coat your mini pumpkins in matte black paint—be sure to cover everything!
You can leave some matte black, but for an extra touch, lay out newspaper and splatter your white paint onto some of your black pumpkins. Bonus—as long as you catch it before it dries, any paint should be easily removed with some warm water.
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- Tone (think: 20,000-30,000 crunches or squat s per session!)
$500 off all Morpheus8 packages $300 OFF all vTone + Tone packages for the month of October
info@seleneskinmedspa.com First wellness shot FREE when purchased with another ser vice!
Harmony in the Kitchen
Kim Burge of Bee Organized Nashville shares how functional design makes cooking, connection, and entertaining effortless.
Step into any great gathering, and you’ll quickly notice that the heartbeat of the party isn’t in the living room or even on the back porch, it’s in the kitchen. For Kim Burge, owner of Bee Organized Nashville, that’s exactly where the magic begins.
“A well-organized kitchen is the heart of the home,” Kim explains. “When everything has its place, hosting loved ones feels effortless, joyful, and stress-free.”
Her approach to kitchen organization is more than lining up bins and sorting utensils.
At Bee Organized, she and her team work to create a balance between functionality and warmth, ensuring the space works both for everyday life and the special moments when family and friends gather.
Kim begins every project with sorting and purging, whittling down items to what truly belongs in the space. From there, she builds customizable systems where everything has a purpose. The result? A kitchen that makes both meal prep and entertaining smoother.
“The goal isn’t just efficiency,” she says, “it’s creating a foundation for life’s memories.”
Her philosophy stems from her role as what she calls a “Memory Keeper.” For Kim, objects often carry the stories of late-night snacks, recipes passed down, or holiday meals shared. “Our kitchens are where life unfolds. By organizing them thoughtfully, you can focus less on stress and more on the moments that matter.”
ARTICLE BY PAIGE TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY BY COAST TO COAST & CO.
Because no two households-or hosts-are alike, Kim and her team customize every layout. “If a system doesn’t fit your lifestyle, it won’t last,” she notes. That’s why she spends time understanding a client’s rhythms. Do they host casual pizza nights, elaborate dinners, or coffee with neighbors? Every detail informs how zones and systems are designed.
HER FAVORITE HACKS FOR HOSTING EASE
A few tried-and-true tools that instantly reduce chaos:
• Clear bins and drawer dividers: Categories are visible at a glance, making tools easy to grab.
• Zone-based layouts: Grouping items into Prep, Cook, Coffee/Tea, and Serving stations ensures guests flow through the kitchen naturally, without crowding the cook.
• Dedicated hosting area: A bin or cabinet with candles, linens, serving pieces, and a lighter means set-up takes minutes instead of hours.
As Kim puts it: “When items are visible, it’s easier to take inventory. Store things at the store, keep only what you’ll actually use.”
Organizing isn’t only physical. It’s also emotional. “We know that clutter can be tied to memories and that letting go can bring up emotions,” Burge says. That’s why she and her team approach every project with compassion, confidentiality, and zero judgment.
The transformation can be profound. “The beginning and middle of a kitchen organizing job can be overwhelming,” she admits. “But when a
client sees the space come together, especially during a move, it symbolizes a fresh start and a lifetime of new memories.”
Kim encourages broad labeling categories so systems adapt as life changes. She also recommends grouping and containing items throughout the kitchen so that even guests know where things belong. “If your mother-in-law wants to put away groceries or a friend helps with leftovers, the space is set up to make those moments easy and enjoyable.”
For Kim, the true reward is seeing clients experience not just a tidy space but also a shift in energy. A thoughtfully arranged kitchen doesn’t just reduce clutter, it creates room for connection, laughter, and harmony.
TRANSFORM YOUR LAWN WITH TOP DRESSING!
October Events:
October 8: Read, Move & Groove
October 23: Read, Move & Groove with the Mt Juliet Fire Department
• • • • • October 3: Parent Survival Night-Monster Mash
October 25: BOO Bash 2-4PMFREE for the community: face painting, gym obstacle courses, pumpkin painting, trick-or-treating, snacks & more!
October 29: Bugs class (4mo-10mo) My Very First
615-854-4687
www.thelittlegym.com/tennessee-mt-juliet
Lift, Learn, Lead
HOW MOVE IT TENNESSEE COMBINES MOVING DAY WITH HANDS-ON BUSINESS EDUCATION
ARTICLE BY KOURTNEY MCCOMB | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSEY CONDER
For Cumberland University professor Dr. Noa Stroop, starting a moving company wasn’t about trucks or boxes-it was about inspiration. Stroop, who holds a doctorate in business administration and is a lifelong entrepreneur at heart, had been working on a book about how to start a business without money or even a big idea. When his wife, Nicole, asked where his “social proof” was, he realized he needed a living, breathing example to show the process in action.
“I wanted to prove that anyone, regardless of background or resources, could build something successful,” Stroop says. Looking at his own assets, summers free from teaching, a pool of hardworking students, and the universal truth that no one enjoys moving, Move It Tennessee was born on March 18, during spring break.
From the start, the business doubled as a classroom. Stroop doesn’t just teach entrepreneurship, he demonstrates it. Students get to see financial statements, marketing plans, and client funnels up close. Sometimes they even help solve real-time challenges, like voting on a scheduling conflict that ended up landing a great job. “It’s one thing to read a textbook,” Stroop explains, “but it’s another to see theory applied in real life with real stakes.”
His message to students and the community is simple: stop waiting. Don’t wait for investors, the perfect timing, or the dream idea. “Pick something, get up, and do it,” he says. His guiding principles-stay humble, ambitious, confident, and kind-shape both his company and his classroom. Stroop emphasizes that entrepreneurship isn’t just a career path; it’s a way of looking at the world, solving problems, and believing you can create your own opportunities.
The Move It Tennessee team reflects that mindset. Operations Manager Nathaniel Chiarizzio, a retired Army veteran, and Marketing Manager Ryan Calvert,
a former Cumberland University baseball player and graduate, join Stroop. Together they form the backbone of a business that’s both reliable and approachable.
Move It Tennssee is on a mission to transform moving day into something smooth-even enjoyable. Their four pillars guide the way: Professionalism, with crews neatly dressed and ready to impress; Punctuality, because timing matters when stress runs high; Principled, hiring only trustworthy workers, often Stroop’s students; and P’fun, because sweating through the heavy lifting is always better with good company.
“Many hands make light work,” Stroop says, noting that his teams often bring in extra movers to save clients time and money. And when it comes to health and belongings, he reminds people that moving is tougher than it looks. From hauling couches through narrow doorways to navigating staircases, accidents happen. His team—often made up of former collegiate athletes, has the strength, stamina, and training to handle challenges safely and efficiently.
Stroop also pushes back on the idea that movers are a “luxury.” DIY moves may seem cheaper, but hidden costs, like broken TVs, damaged floors, sore backs, and strained friendships, add up quickly. Professional movers bring not just muscle but foresight, proper tools, and peace of mind.
Behind the scenes, Stroop shares practical tips: start packing early, disassemble furniture, empty drawers, and keep valuables close. Moving, he says, often marks the first chapter of a new season and deserves to begin on the right foot.
Ultimately, Stroop sees moving as more than a service. It’s about trust, care, and helping people through one of life’s biggest transitions. And for his students, it’s proof that with creativity and determination, you can quite literally move your dreams forward.
“I wanted to prove that anyone, regardless of background or resources, could build something successful.”
realty report
FEAST YOUR WAY TO WINTER
Fall’s best cookbooks for perfect cold season prep
Crisper air and shorter days call for cozy nights, whipping up a homemade meal in soft slippers and your favorite robe. Staying home on a Friday night in the fall doesn’t mean you’re giving up — quite the opposite! Think of it as carb loading before the championship game or a prep session before that major test. You’re practicing your winter hibernation skills, stretching those lounging muscles, and getting ready to win winter. And consider this roundup of cookbooks as your personal trainer. If you can make a hearty, succulent roast with confidence and ease as the leaves fall outside, imagine what you can do when it’s 20 degrees and snowing. Now, go get ’em!
ARTICLE BY EMILY MCKEEVER
Pizza Night: Deliciously Doable Recipes for Pizza and Salad
When you hear “Pizza Night”, a picture appears of the entire family gathered ’round with good food and lots of laughs (with popcorn and a movie to wrap up the occasion, naturally). This collection of yum contains 52 seasonal pizza varieties, each with unique salad pairings. It’s like pizza night on overdrive. Now, when you plan the family’s favorite end-of-the-week event, you’ll have this in your arsenal.
Mastering Bread:
The Art and Practice of Handmade Sourdough, Yeast Bread, and Pastry
Health
Nut: A Feel-Good Cookbook
3 4 1
We know you want to turn and run in the opposite direction after reading this title, but don’t be afraid! Take a glance at the reviews, and you’ll see words like easy, lovely, informative, inspiring, and our favorite, “great for beginner bread makers!” No equipment is required, just basic ingredients and a can-do attitude. It’s also a nice little piece of décor for your kitchen countertop.
2
You may see Health Nut and say to yourself, ‘Booooring!’ but healthy food doesn’t have to be tasteless food. Flip through the vibrant pages of this trusty sidekick, and you’ll find good-for-you dishes with flavorful combinations the whole family will love. With practical instructions and helpful tips, it’s almost as if the author peeked into your pantry and built her recipes around ingredients you already have.
The
Modern Hippie Table: Recipes and Menus for Eating Simply and Living Beautifully
You’ll find more than 70 recipes in this gorgeous compilation. Author/ lifestyle blogger Lauren Thomas wants her readers to slow down and create a whole mood around their food, one that is beautiful, inviting, and… delicious. Her recipes are achievable for the novice and experienced chef and come with tips on tablescaping, cocktail mixing, and more. So, double knot that apron because you’re going to learn some stuff and eat very, very well.
events
OCTOBER 3RD
Movie in the Park: Ghostbusters
Charlie Daniels Park | 7:00 PM
Kick off spooky season with a community favorite—Movie in the Park! On October 3, bring your blankets and chairs to Charlie Daniels Park for a showing of Ghostbusters. Concessions will be available for purchase, and the movie begins at dusk (around 6:55 PM). Gather friends and family for a fun night under the stars!
OCTOBER 4TH
A Doggone Good Old Time!
Charlie Daniels Park | 10:00 AM
Join Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary on Saturday, October 4, 10 AM–3 PM at Charlie Daniels Park for a free, family-friendly celebration of senior dogs. Enjoy live music, food trucks, local vendors, a silent auction, games, and meet-and-greets with beloved pups. Bring your dog and share the joy! Details at www.ofsds.org.
OCTOBER 4TH
Pickles for Pups Pickleball Tournament
Charlie Daniels Park | 8:00 AM
Grab your paddle and join us for the Third Annual Pickles for Pups Pickleball Tournament presented by Cedar Stone Bank! Enjoy a funfilled day with food trucks, friends, adorable dogs, and plenty of pickleball—all to support animals in need on October 4 at Charlie Daniels Park starting at 8 AM!
OCTOBER 18TH
Spooktacular Fun at Halloween in the Park
Charlie Daniels Park | 11:00 AM
Celebrate spooky season at Halloween in the Park on October 18, 11 AM–3 PM at Charlie Daniels Park! Enjoy free admission to a day full of costume contests, hayrides, a petting zoo, inflatables, vendor booths, and of course—tons of free candy. Bring the whole family for festive fall fun. Details: www.MJparksandrecs.org
OCTOBER 19TH
ElevateHER Mt. Juliet: A Wellness Experience Rooted in Community
Hamilton-Denson Park: 1855 Tate Ln., Mount Juliet, TN | 12:00 PM
Join Burke Fitness and Priority Physical Therapy for ElevateHER, a free event celebrating wellness, connection, and women-owned businesses at Hamilton-Denson Park in Mount Juliet. Enjoy community workouts, hands-on activities, local shopping, family fun, and inspiring conversations—all designed to uplift and empower. For more info, visit burke-fitness.com
OCTOBER 25TH
Touch-A-Truck at West Wilson Middle School
935 B Mt Juliet Rd, Mt Juliet, TN | 10:00 AM
West Wilson Middle School is hosting a Touch-a-Truck Fundraiser on October 25th from 10 a.m. to Noon at 935 B Mt. Juliet Road. Tickets are $10 per family, with all proceeds benefiting the school. It's a fun, hands-on event the whole family can enjoy while giving back to the community.
Photo Credit: Relive Studio
Photography Credit & Location (Josh Vaughn + Circle S Farms)