“One night getaway?” you say.  Yes, believe me, your spouse will thank you.  No spouse? Go by yourself and your soul will thank you.  I bet once you do it, a short time away becomes a mainstay must.

I met with owner and Nashvillian, William Cochran.  I like the fact that a Nashville family owns the Inn.  They know that we Nashvillians can be a little picky, and since they have school-aged kids, they know how hectic life can be. (I’m in no way saying life without kids is not crazy, but when kids are added to the picture, trying to get away for only one night means coordinating 5 schedules, which is challenging.) That said, I like knowing a local family with a crazy life knows that when we get there, we need a honest break, and that if we don’t like our stay, they will see us in line at the grocery store! The Cochrans strive to provide a place that they are proud to tell their neighbors about. 

The Main House

Inside the main house

The drive is easy. You exit in Lebanon and then drive a beautiful state highway into Smithville. The driveway and stone entrance to The Inn at Evins Mill immediately let you know to leave your stress behind – it seems to roll away as soon as you park your car. The Main House, where you arrive, feels very much like the mountains. I found out why: Smithville is situated the western edge of the Eastern Hemlock Forest, so you do indeed capture that mountain feeling. In fact, there is an easy hike to a gorgeous waterfall on the The Inn’s 40 acre property. Center Hill lake is just minutes away. With the pond, large creek, waterfall, mountainous foliage and rustic charm, you do feel further away from Nashville than just an hour and 20 minutes.

This waterfall destination makes for a nice hike.

There are several of these frog sculptures at Evins Mill and they just make you smile.

There are 12 cabin rooms, four within three separate cabins.  Each room has a separate outdoor entrance and it’s own covered porch.  The Inn is about to enlarge and screen these porches to provide more spacious accommodations.  The rooms are by no means large, but I’ve stayed in much smaller, higher-end places for 5 times the price. I suggest booking one of the top floor rooms (each cabin has two top floor rooms and two underneath), as the vaulted ceilings add a sense of spaciousness and the lofts in each of these rooms are perfect if you bring your kids — ones old enough to climb a ladder without fear, that is. 

During my afternoon of wandering around at The Inn, I ran into a lady from Oklahoma who was at the end of her three-day stay. “I don’t want to leave. This place is amazing. My company has had us here for a conference and it’s perfect.” I quizzed her more about the food, the beds, the staff.  She could not have been happier. Her glowing endorsement made me think maybe I should start coming here regularly for a night or two away. I ran into another man having lunch and peppered him with questions, as well. Again, 100% pleased and his favorites included the day trip opportunities for hiking, caving and golf. Like my Oklahoma pal, he also plugged the food — he loved every meal.

Entrance to a cabin room. You can see here how there are two rooms on either side of the cabin and two rooms underneath. There is also a large covered back porch. Plans in the near future include enlarging these side entrances into screened-in porches.

Each cabin has a king-sized bed (or you can request two twins) and the upper cabins have these lofts, which kids will LOVE!

King bed with rustic charm. If you are looking for European pillows and bolsters with heated bathroom tiles, this is not your place. If you are looking for a great getaway with comfort and charm, this is your place.

The back covered porch for the lower rooms

I enjoyed a BBQ lunch that Chef Jason Evans put together.  In the summer I have heard his homemade pickles are to die for.  But, I can tell you that as far as a traditional BBQ lunch goes, I give it a big thumbs up.  I asked about the dinner menu:  it changes nightly and is a four-course gourmet meal.  Local meats and vegetables are incorporated into the menu with The Inn’s effort to support local farmers.  To read more about the Inn’s “farm to table” approach, click here.

The prep kitchen

Pork Tenderloin dinner

Added to the hiking trails, a sincerely nice staff, good food and a location just over an hour away, the price tag is another plus.  One night, including all meals, starts at just $265, with the most expensive accommodations being just $325. 

• one night’s accommodation
• hearty breakfast buffet & omelet station
• four-course gourmet dinner
• social hour preceding dinner with delicious hors d’oeuvres
• boxed lunch with sandwich, chips, salad, fruit, cookies & drink
• unlimited access to non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks
• wireless DSL internet access in the Grand Lodge and Gristmill
• exclusive access to forty-acre property
• access to videos, board games, CDs and books

You can also plan ahead for a massage, which I’ve heard is worth every penny.

The original mill

Remember, you can leave home at 6:00 PM, arrive in time for dinner and still be home the next day in time to pick up the kids from the hookup line…  Sounds pretty perfect.  Snag me two nights and I’ve arrived at blissdom.  Did I mention ping pong?  Oh, I love me a ping pong table….

Call for details: http://evinsmill.com

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

This past Spring Break we booked a last minute trip to Colorado, splitting our time between Denver and Beaver Creek.  The trip was amazing.  So much so, we’re going back to Beaver Creek in December.

Where we stayed:

After many recommendations, we decided to stay at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa At Beaver Creek Mountain (ranked #1 out of 21 hotels in Beaver Creek by Trip Advisor).  This practically new hotel is actually located in Avon, just down the mountain from Beaver Creek.  Don’t worry, the ski area and village are just a gondola ride, or short bus ride, away.  This means no car needed, which was a must. 

The Westin River Front, Beaver Creek

The hotel is an eco-friendly hotel and welcomes dogs, has a spa, a workout facility, kids’ club, heated outdoor pools (that you can actually swim laps in), hot tubs and beautiful views.  The rooms are spacious and we are big fans.  On a previous trip (albeit a decade ago), we stayed in Beaver Creek Village, which is also great, but the prices at the Westin are a little bit better (especially if you take advantage of one of their special offers), and we liked being “close enough” with all these added amenities.  When I recently read that this property was honored by Condé Nast as the 2011 #2 Top Resort in Mainland U.S, I knew that I needed to share my experience as I completely agree.

We really liked this heated pool that is open year round.

Outdoor fire pits extend your time outside into the evening hours.

My kids love a creek, and even playing on the rocks just beyond the Westin property proved to be fun.

The dining options at the Westin were enjoyed by everyone.

If you want to know more about The Westin*, see their site here: www.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com.  And, they have some special offers right now that you just might want to see: click here.

*Note: We were not paid for this endorsement, not were we comped rooms.  We simply had a great time and wanted to share.

If convenience is your biggest concern and you want to be right on bottom of the slopes, the Park Hyatt is where you want to stay. (They are ranked #6 of 21 on Trip Advisor):

The Park Hyatt is your landmark at the base of the mountain - you literally ski right down to it, and the location is hard to beat. The outside bar is frequented by most guests and non-guests alike.

Skiing:

My kids had never been skiing before, and they each insisted that this was the “best trip ever” and they wanted to stay longer (we stayed four nights, so they got three days of skiing in).  I’ve never seen a more bummed out trio about leaving a vacation.

My oldest getting ready to ski for her first time. There is a separate gondola for the ski school to keep them all together.

The ski school was well organized and easy to navigate. Spring Break is their busiest time of year and we never felt overwhelmed. The kids were broken out by age, with about 8 to a group.  We waved goodbye at 9:00 and picked them up at 3:30. It’s amazing how quickly kids catch on, and these all-day ski lessons were perfect. I will say that my kids weren’t too thrilled after day #1. But on day #2, the tune quickly changed to, “Can we do this every year?” 

When you ski at Spring Break, temperatures sometimes soar into the 40′s, so you can get hot. But, being hot surrounded by snow is pretty fun.  And, having exhausted kids by the end of the day, who are eager to eat and go to bed gives parents a sense of peace.  They are pretty much too tired to argue and too tired to want to go “hang out” with their friends.  As my oldest is an almost-teenager, I like this part. I don’t want her begging to wander off to go hang with friends.  I want any “hanging with any friends” to happen on the slopes, in broad daylight, with hot chocolate as the reward for a day well spent.

The Village:

Beaver Creek definitely is not a poor man’s getaway.  Believe me, I felt poor walking around, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the sites, the food and the shopping.  Everyone is just so dang nice.  It’s no wonder its been voted “Best Guest Service in the Country” by the National Ski Areas Association for the last 5 consecutive years.  They know they have a reputation for being helpful, having one of the best ski schools is the WORLD and being friendly.  There are better mountains for more experienced skiers to ski.  There are bigger towns in which to ski. But, for an overall package that appeals to all ages, Beaver Creek gives other destinations a run for their money.

Fun, interactive art in Beaver Creek village

Lots of space to sit outdoors. Even at 20 degrees, the low humidity allows for an enjoyable time -- really!

In fact, one of the most appealing things about Beaver Creek is its size – it’s not huge.  However, it’s big enough to have shopping you are familiar with (Patagonia, The North Face and Gorsuch) as well as the locally-owned and unique shops which make up the bulk of the shopping experience here.  Beaver Creek is small enough to run into people you know and to learn your way around within minutes. There are plenty of options for dining, shopping and recreation. You can try something new everyday, if that is your wish.

Helmut Fricker has been entertaining guests at Beaver Creek since 1980.

Lastly, Beaver Creek is just really pretty. And, to me, that matters!

We all loved the outdoor ice rink.

We didn't "tube" last time, but plan to have some down time tubing on our next trip.

Escalators and heated sidewalks make navigating Beaver Creek easy.

My kids loved Blue Moose Pizza.

As you consider any upcoming travel this year or next, I heartily recommend a ski vacation.  It keeps kids of all ages (meaning age 3 – adult kids) happy and it’s a “healthy” way to vacation, as it’s jammed packed with exercise.  Plus, being from the south, embracing the beauty of our western states gives us a better perspective on just how beautiful our country is.

 We’d love to know you recommendations for a vacation to Beaver Creek!  

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

When Karin mentioned she was going to Istanbul recently, I knew we had to ask her to chronicle her trip.  Not only is she an amazing photographer, she a real sleuth when it comes to places tucked away from the common traveler.  

Seriously, get yourself a LARGE coffee because there are lots of photos to enjoy today. I couldn’t cut any – they are all exquisite.

Karen:

One of the nicest things about travel is meeting people, and meeting people often leads to happy coincidences. For example, this past winter, I met my new friend, Tijen, in Los Angeles at the Design Blogger’s Conference. As it turns out, Tijen lives in Istanbul, which is one of my favorite places on the planet. So, when Tijen suggested that I attend Istanbul Design Week, I didn’t hesitate.

Istanbul, considered to be the gateway to Asia, actually straddles Europe and Asia. This photo is taken from the Topkapi Palace and looks across the Bosphorus from the European side of Istanbul to the Asian side of Istanbul. My husband, Robin, and I visited Istanbul 5 years ago. Knocked out by the magnificent mosques and palaces in the old town of Sultanahmet,  we vowed to return.  For this second visit, Tijen encouraged me to explore the Asian side of the city.

This elegant breakfast of cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and simit (their traditional sesame-covered, ring-shaped bread) is a fantastic way to start the day.

Staying on the Asian side involves crossing bridges, which is where you come face to face with the reality of 20 million people all driving cars. Seriously snarling and stinky traffic that I have never encountered anywhere else.

However, staying on the edge of the Bosphorus is very soothing.

Just steps outside the lovely Hotel Sumahan begins the feast for the senses with this artful arrangement of figs…

A glorious haul of tiny cucumbers

These shiny little fish are called Istavrit and come right out of the Marmara Sea. They are lightly battered, fried and eaten whole. Yum!

Fat pomegranates ready to be juiced

Hanging Hookahs!

This friendly gentleman was happy to let me take his photo.

Ataturk founded the Turkish Republic in 1923 and his portraits are ubiquitous.

After my delightful morning stroll, Tijen came to pick me up to take me on a tour of the trendy neighborhood of Beyoglu. This exceptional view across the convergence of the Marmara Sea and Bosphorus Strait is on the terrace of the hip 360 restaurant.

Fantastic color dominates Cezayir Street as restaurants get ready for the lunch crowd.

Most of the boutiques in this area are independently owned and carry one-of-a kind, handmade pieces. This store carries clothes by the designer Cemil Ipekci.

This pretty shop window is at Bahar Korcan In Galata.

This young tailor at Antijen in Beyoglu customized 2 very fun dresses for me!

Magical antique store

The House Café was created by the Turkish design team Autoban

At the end of the day, ready for dinner, we head down to Galata bridge also known as Fish Restaurant bridge. It crosses the Golden Horn estuary to join Galata and Sultanahmet. Fishermen on the top and fish restaurants below.

Raki is the anise flavored drink favored by Turks and drunk throughout dinner. I found this utterly delicious with fish.

For our last few days, my husband, Robin, and I moved back over to Sultanahmet. It is such a pleasure to return to a foreign city and to have a base of familiarity with the people and surroundings.

We decide to commit a whole day to the fabulous Grand Bazaar (next time it will be a whole week).

We were enchanted with the discovery of this tiny store in the Bazaar. This old gentleman has been selling exclusively Victrolas for decades. When we entered his shop he was listening to Ella Fitzgerald!

This 9’x7’ store in the jewelry section of the Bazaar has specialized in watches from the days of Constantinople for 3 generations. The shop owner enjoys his lunch while we look around.

These fantastic silk Ottoman robes date from the 19th Century

The view of the minarets and dome of the spectacular Blue Mosque combined with the enchanting call to prayer remind us of the complexity of Istanbul’s 8000 years of history.

 The combination of gritty and glamorous, ancient and modern, Asian and European combine to make Istanbul an exotic,romantic, and endlessly fascinating destination. We will return.

StyleBluprint tip:  “Our friends at Belle Meade Vacations have some excellent itineraries to Istanbul and know the best places to stay.  During a month with turkey on the brain, turn the bird into a trip, and discover Istanbul”

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Junk Sales, Paris Style

Merchandising-ly speaking, I’ve been an utter failure since expatriating to Paris five months ago. One day on the bus, near the Champs-Elysees, I passed Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent, only to wind up home later that day with pink toilet paper—ubiquitous in the markets here, and somehow cheaper than the white stuff—and a pack of off-brand diapers. My fashionable friends were appalled.

Pink toilet paper in Paris, who knew?

Another day, desperately in search of a salve that would help heal my lips—cracked and painful from the brutal Paris winter—I came back from the pharmacy with what I was confident would relieve me. When the cream instead burned and irritated, I Googled it and learned that it’s commonly used for … jock itch. It has since moved to my husband’s side of the medicine cabinet.

Determined to make banana bread one day in my Paris Barbie kitchen, I hit the hypermarché for some flour and wound up with wheat instead of white. Who but maybe the Amish bake with wheat flour? I’ve found unwanted ham (damn jambon!) in my tartine, have purchased potting soil meant only for acid-loving plants when what I needed was “terreau universal” and bungled my boys’ European shoe sizes so badly that my 4-year-old’s school slippers make him look like Peter Pan.

There, too, was the case of my first experience at the marché, or outdoor market, during which I picked up the bananas I wanted instead of allowing the vendor to choose them for me. It is a violation (truly, a faux pas) so basic, and truly horrifying to the French, that it took me a month to recover from the stares.

When it comes to shopping, I’m more at home in a place like Hohenwald, TN, rich in used-clothing thrift stores, than in an international fashion hub like Paris. (Once, in Hohenwald, I found a very gently used, chocolate-colored Ann Taylor wool coat and haggled the $6 price tag to $4, then wore if for years, until a basement flood claimed my prized find.)

So when signs recently started going up in our neighborhood for a “vide grenier”—basically a street-long flea market where regular folks, as opposed to professional vendors, register to sell their stuff—I felt hopeful for a shot at shopping redemption.

Our family of four arrived in Paris with just six checked bags, leaving the rest of our material lives stored in the states, so stocking the household affordably is always top of mind. When we got to Avenue Versailles Sunday, there was plastic kid crap for miles, DVDs in every language imaginable, naked baby dolls, Burberry raincoats, old clock radios, dead people’s china sets and old perfume bottles—all the makings of my kind of shopping experience. Fifteen minutes in, my husband sensed that I’d become slightly crazed and purposeful—as if estate sale queen Carrington Fox had suddenly taken up residence in my body—and, like a good husband, handed me some cash and took the boys to the park.

Two hours and 43,50€ (or $61.80) later, I had a pretty impressive haul: two pairs of shoes for our 2-year-old (3€), which is especially significant given how seriously the French take children’s shoes, often priced at 70€ ($99) or more; two framed prints (6€); an abacus, because who doesn’t want their kid to become a mathematician (1€); a pair of Cacharel sandals for me (9€); C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series (3,50€); two Tunisian table-top rugs (10€), three kids’ DVDs (6€), the dearest little wooden mirror (3€) and a small green tray (2€).

Parisian Flea Market conquests

So it’s settled: I’ll stick with the vide grenier—and ChapStick.

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The last time I gathered with my buddies, we immersed ourselves in a discussion the hottest male movie stars–not just the lookers, the ones with brains, too. (Can you say Kevin Bacon?)

With the summer heat pounding down upon us, I thought it might be fun to survey some women who have been in book clubs for aeons, or who are such avid readers that you know anything they suggest is a great read.  Here are a few recommendations from some of my bookie (as in book lover, not horse race bet-taker) friends in the following categories:

• Favorite read to take the beach
  

• Favorite book or favorite from your book club

• Favorite classic to be re-read
  

• Favorite movie to take on vacation
  

La-voe Mulgrew: Lavoe spent ten years in the halls of Harpeth Hall and now heads up Lead Academy.  She’s one of the most committed readers I know. And if you know La-voe, you also know she’s quite opinionated about what appeals to her.  I always trust her judgement when it comes to books and movies.

Beach: Good mysteries. Anything by Lee Child, Michael Connolly, Tony Hillerman and Robert Parker

Book Club or other: One Thousand White Women, The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

Classic: Great Gatsby, all Jane Austen, and Frankenstein (which remains my favorite novel to teach!)

Movie:Father of the Bride (the remake) because I’m living with one!

Perian Strang: Perian and I had the opportunity to hang out together during the StyleBlueprint Gift and Accessory show.  Suffice it to say, we had lots of time to chat, and chat we did.  Her first suggestion Cutting for Stone is one of my favorite book ever.  There are several quotes in the book that I consider so profound, they’re worthy of a tatoo.  

Book club: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Classic: EMMA by Jane Austen – So good, and timely with the movie re-make!

Movie: ET - a great “classic” from my childhood that we still love to watch!

Daphne Butler: Perian told me Daphne is her go-to girl when it comes to reading.  Not only is she the mother of four children, she is a committed community volunteer, and her years at UVA must have taught her to be a speed reader.  Daphne immediately emailed me her favorites and I asked, and I completely agree with her selections.  If you notice, everyone is reading Bossypants right now.

Beach: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Book club (although I am not in one): Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Classic: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Movie: The Princess Bride

Amy Dennison (former StyleBlueprint editor and professor’s daughter):  Amy reads all the time. Her suggestions continue to resonate with me in a meaningful way.  When I’m in a pinch for a good book, I call 911-AMY.

Beach: On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan

Book Club: Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston & Eleni, Nicholas Gage

Classic: Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

Movie: Julie & Julia or PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES! SO hilarious!

Martha Podesta (my sister from Memphis):  My sister reads a ton and tutors special education kids on the side.  She even went so far as to divide her beach book selections between short beach trips and long beach trips for this post.  You wouldn’t want to take War and Peace to a girls’ weekend, but you might take a Phillipa Gregory novel.

Beach: (short)

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (only non- science fiction he wrote)

Things my Girlfriend and I Have Argued About by Mil Millington

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Bell Canto by Ann Patchett

Beach Trip (long)

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson- entire series!!

Book Club:  Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Classic:  To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I know This Much is True by Wally Lamb,Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving and East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Movie:Jaws! ( great for a beach trip)

Elizabeth Colton Walls: I stopped by Elizabeth’s open house of my former residence, 3812 Whitland Avenue, to query her on her favorite books.  (Side note: The house is as lovely as it’s always been and is an incredible deal on one of Nashville’s favorite streets.)  Anyway, she writes the book review for nFocus magazine and is known in literary circles around town to be a voracious reader.

Here are her suggestions:

Beach: For Jane Austen fans, an ideal beach book is The Three Weissmanns of Westport (Cathleen Schine), the plot of which is inspired by my favorite Jane Austen novel, Sense & Sensibility.

Harried moms love I Don’t Know How She Does It (Allison Pearson), and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand (Helen Simonson)is a must read for fans of the Very English Village genre.

Book Club:  As for non- fiction, my book club recently enjoyed an animated discussion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot),  the story of the famous HeLa cells which were the first “immortal” human cells grown in culture. WWII buffs will enjoy Operation Mincemeat (Ben Macintyre)the true story of a British deception against the Nazis that reads like a spy thriller.

Movie: It’s Complicated or Winter’s Bone

Ann West:  Having walked with Ann West for over 7 years on the red trail in Percy Warner Park, we have had plenty of time to talk books and movies.  Like two nanny goats, we descend and ascend the ridge, huffing and puffing, but we managed to catch our breath enough to talk about all of our favorite things.

Here are Ann’s suggestions.

Beach: Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

Book Club: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Classic:The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Movie: Mrs. Doubtfire.

Happy Reading!  Don’t forget the movies.

And, if you think SUMMER and you think “Gee, I hate shaving and waxing” then check out our Laser Hair Removal deal today with Zap and save a whopping $581!! http://deal.styleblueprint.com/2011/06/20/Zap-Laser-and-Aesthetics-over-half-off-hair-removal-services

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Flying high on top of the RV

I realize most of you will never make it to Bonnaroo (perhaps a good thing, or maybe not) so I thought I’d share some of the highs (certainly wafting through the grounds) and the lows (any Porta-Potty in the general admission area) of my trip.

Mr. Potato Head on Steroids

Signs are key to finding your campsite

Bonnaroo is one of those experiences where you think you know what you’re signing up for until you go.

Early morning respite in preparation for a BIG day

Too long of a wait, too long of a night

And I am sure I did what most people do their first time there: find a hillside, gaze incredulously at the sea of humanity (tents, trucks, rv’s, tour buses), which stretches for miles and miles and think, “what I am seeing at this moment completely blows me away.”

Bonnaroo’s appeal is broad reaching: at this three-day music festival, you’ll find young, old, black, white, rednecks, preppies and Jerry Garcia fans alike, all crammed into 700 acres near Manchester, TN. Bonnaroo promises to titillate your senses beyond anything you’ve ever experienced.

Who knew fried chicken was controversial?

From the smell of Black Angus burgers grilling on food trucks, to the gorgeous visuals flashing on Jumbotrons at the main stage, to cell phones lit in unison (yes, like the lighters we used to hold up à la Freebird waaay back) while Eminem urges the crowd to scream profanity to the complete stranger next to you, to feet so grimy and black, it seems completely normal to hit the showers at 3AM — all of this is the experience of Bonnaroo.

Bob and the Girls

I spied cute, young girls, topless with daisies painted on their, um, petunias, as well as plenty of Nashvillians who you might not necessarily expect to bump into in the aromatic, earthy mosh pit that is Bonnaroo. (Really, I didn’t know So-and-So was so into “music.” Not to worry. Vegas rules apply. What happens at Bonnaroo, stays at Bonnaroo. Scout’s honor.)

If this is one of your daughters...sorry.

A serious Dip n' duo

America's youth, eager and ready to become wage earners.

And oh, the tattoos—intricate and gorgeous, raucous and angry—and they’re everywhere. I found myself wondering more than once, “Did your Mother approve of this?”

ouch

more ouch

I can attest, Bonnaroo is one of the most well-run organizations I’ve ever seen. The food is astoundingly delicious, the grounds maintained daily, the music is phenomenal and everyone has a great time.

Gorgeous salads

Food Truckville

Without doubt, the highlight of the festival for me was the performance by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. She commanded the stage and owned the crowd. But for this Bonnaroo neophyte, you can’t beat dancing to the Scissor Sisters at 2AM to finish out the evening. If you want to see their magic tune in:

Bonnaroo is the only reason Coffee County isn’t dying on the vine like so many other small, rural towns in Tennessee. Bonnaroo supports the local theaters, the churches, the school bands and brings a whopping 24 million to the area.

Feel the love

Hanging out on the lawn

When I think of Bonnaroo, first I start to smirk, then smile, then laugh hysterically. Forever changed, for the better, having experienced it.

Free shampoo and everything

Enjoy the ride!

My Bonnaroo family

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

My husband got a hall pass on Good Friday, so off we went to discover the “new” Leiper’s Fork, as well as visit many of our old time favorites, too.

Yours truly snapping photos in the wind.

A quick note:  A visit to Leiper’s Fork provokes a nostalgic feel, and the community feels as though it’s been there forever. I’m not saying Leiper’s doesn’t have a ton of history, but as a tourist destination, and a great one at that, it is relatively new. The vision of Aubrey Preston and Marti and Bruce Hunt has made Leiper’s Fork what is today. For the past twelve years, their vision has molded Leiper’s Fork into Mayberry, USA, with a community of close-knit shop owners. If you’ve noticed Barney Fife’s police car parked in front of the local convenience market, you know this trio is serious when it comes to props. And, events like Benton Town 1812, Old Tennessee Trail Yard Sale, and Gospel in the Fork contribute to the town’s authenticity.

Leiper's Fork ambassador, Marti Hunt

Here’s what we found while tooling around town:

Moonshine Hill Inn - The ultimate in luxury, this B&B is located on 22 acres of pristine countryside. And here’s the best part – you get to have it all to yourself. Ann Johnson, Moonshine’s owner, spent hours of hard labor making this quaint B&B an oasis for relaxation. It has a massive old stone fireplace, porches, luxurious bedrooms and wonderful amenities. Moonshine Hill was previously home to a famous still, whose patrons traveled as far as Sumner County to purchase its magic elixir. Moonshine has hosted weddings, family gatherings and romantic interludes. There is a two night minimum—so leave stress at the door. Breakfast is included, with special touches all the way around.

Moonshine Hill Inn in the Fall

Moonshine Hill, cozy and inviting...

Joe’s Naturals Farm Store & Cafe - From homemade soups to fresh garden bowls of raw veggies and hummus, everything at Joe’s appeals. If you are a carnivore, the Sami’s Cuban and Miss Mary Bobo Grilled sandwiches rock! This quaint eatery is located next to Leiper’s Fork Gallery and is run by Paul and Deborah Schertz. “Why not call it Paul’s?” we asked.  “Well, Joe’s sounded better.” Gotcha.

Meet Joe, better known by his wife and family as Paul.

Most of the menu items come from local purveyors like Nobel Springs and Hatcher Dairies. Also, Paul and his wife grow many of the vegetables on Waddell Hollow farm. Do not leave the premises without sampling their cakes. “Aunt Bea,” endearingly named by locals, lives down the road and makes them from scratch for Joe’s. We ordered both coconut and the carrot cake. Divine.

Fresh baked bread and crispy veggies accompany each sandwich.

the veggie bowl at Joe's is worth the drive.

Gypsy’s -  For all you Channel 4 fans (I’m one of them) who are wondering what happened to Aaron Solomon, fret no more—we found him. Seriously, follow the blogs. His fans really are looking for him. Aaron and his wife, Angie, are owners of the kitschy store, Gypsies. Gypsies is filled with jewelry, soaps and lotions and some delightful high-end apparel. The store is charming – its open air porch and sumptuous day bed are perfect for relaxing. Angela is trained as a compound pharmacist (quite the dying breed) and was hard at work in her upstairs office when I was there. Compound pharmacists go back to ancient roots, when pharmacists focused on herbs, roots, oils and natural substances to heel a myriad of ills in society. Today, compound pharmacists can concoct homeopathic remedies to meet their customers’ special needs.

Outdoor veranda at Gypsys

There's only one word to describe these boots: tough

Leiper’s Fork Art Gallery - Have you ever thought why you love one gallery over another?  It’s usually something so subtle, it’s hard to articulate. Lisa Fox finds artists who show well together, but who can stand alone individually, too. On my recent visit, I saw work by Anton Weiss, Kem Alexander (our favorite goddess of concrete), Butler Steltemeier and Michael Shane Neal. The gallery has lovely open air rooms with tall ceilings, and the incandescent light is perfect for the paintings.

Leiper's Fork Art Gallery with its wide open spaces.

I have long been a fan of Butler's work.

Kem Alexander has tons of new creations in concrete.

Warm weather brings the start of the Leiper’s Fork Lawnchair Theater. You can enjoy free movies behind the gallery during summer nights. Lisa welcomes the seasoned collector and casual day tourist alike, as though they are one in the same.

Hard to believe LIsa Fox is also Mrs. David Fox.

Serenite Maison – When we stopped by this shop, Alex Cirimelli, the owner of Serenite Maison, was designing Michael McDonald’s home in Hawaii! (Not too shabby for a day job.) So instead, we were able to chat with Marti, the original owner of the store and one of Leiper’s Forks’ visionaries. It was the Friday before Easter, and Marti (the constant ambassador) and her crew were busy planning ” Feaster,” a garden-to-table celebration in her back field. She could not have been more gracious in her invitation to join in on the fun. Unfortunately for us, we had other plans.

If you drive fast, this ottoman can be yours in an hour.

Back to Serenite Maison. This charming shop is chock-full of 19^th and 20^th century antique lighting fixtures, mirrors, garden vessels and fabulous jewelry. I found myself wandering around the shop one way, reversing and going the other way. Serenite Maison is perfect for gifts, and even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll walk out swirling.

Take your time in Serenite Maison

Yeoman’s Bookstore-if you are mourning the loss of Nashville’s local bookstores, Yeoman’s in the Fork is an answer to your prayers.  Elegant bookcases adorn this antebellum structure and Yeoman’s inventories include many signed first edition and collector’s books.  Previous owner, Mike Cotter couldn’t be more helpful and informative. It seems that a good fairy (aka health care executive, Charlie Martin) found his way down to the Fork and invested heartily in many stores. Yeoman’s was fortunate to be one of them.

Check out Yeoman's collection of work from The Fugitives.

Gorgeous wood cases adore Yeoman's bookstore

A quick glance at my watch—darn, it’s time to pick up the girlies from school.

Other establishments worth noting are: Country Boy Restaurant, Green’s Grocery, Katydid’s, Leiper’s Fork Market and Puckett’s Grocery. All offer local delicacies and goods from the area. We know we’ll be back soon.

Follow our lead and spend an afternoon in Historic Leiper’s Fork.

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Cindy:

If we happened to live in England and weren’t among the 1,900 guests invited to the Royal Wedding, we’d be buying bunting this week.

The Royal Wedding dominates the newsstands.

Apparently, bunting is an essential decoration for a proper English street party. This Friday, many more of the Queen’s subjects will toast the happy couple at street parties than at Buckingham Palace. The British press reports that 5,500 applications for street party road closures have already been approved, with 800 in London alone. And those are just the official tallies. While not everyone cares about the wedding or the monarchy (and some are very opposed), it’s still a national holiday in the UK.

Street parties are a London tradition.

I’m just back from London and a visit with my sister who’s lived there for 15 years. While there was lots on my itinerary that had nothing to do with Prince William and Kate Middleton, the wedding buzz was everywhere.

Kate and William dominate the magazine covers.

Along with regular updates on street parties, reports that the prime minister would wear a “lounge suit” (your basic Savile Row business attire) instead of a traditional morning coat caused an uproar. He’s since relented. There were Will and Kate sightings around town: the future king showed up unannounced for a pick-up game of football (soccer to us) in south London; his fiancé was spotted shopping along fashionable Kings Road. The Queen finally met her new in-laws at a private lunch at Windsor Castle. The country’s official Poet Laureate announced she’d write a poem for the wedding. And chatter about Kate’s pre-wedding diet seemed more prevalent than rumors about the dress designer.

Of course, resplendent wedding tchotchkes were everywhere. Semi-elegant, hilarious, cute and downright tacky…something for everyone!

April 29th, a day to remember

Royal Plush

The official commemorative china doesn’t come cheap. And isn’t dishwasher safe.

A commemorative plate for your cupboard

The "official" commemorative mug for your cupboard

These were better looking, I thought…and more practical.

A limited edition poster from the Victoria & Albert Museum could have been done by Nashville’s own Hatch Show Print.

The venerable Fortnum & Mason had wedding chocolates, cakes, cups and a new Royal Blend of “stronger” tea.

Chocolates for sale

Cakes for sale

Extra strength tea to get you through the day

Flags and more flags. Signs and more signs.

For your street party, a Kate mask. Or maybe a life-size version of the happy couple?

With a royal wedding on Friday and a bank holiday on Monday, it’s a four-day weekend for the Brits. Reason enough to celebrate! Or not…

I’m quite fond of these plates. My sister’s promised to see if they go on sale post-wedding.

And I like this tasteful tote, maybe since the official C&W monogram happens to also be my initials!

Of course, there’s plenty of important wedding memorabilia I didn’t manage to see.

As I left London, the barricades and press boxes were well underway, and I swear I saw some people already staking out their camping spots along the Pall Mall.

It’s going to be a spectacle for sure, but I’m perfectly content with the prospect of watching it all from this side of the pond. In HD, of course. Though maybe we should throw together a street party or two…





Cindy Wall is a Nashville-based communications consultant and social media strategist. This week, she’s following wedding details on Twitter from @BritishMonarchy, @ClarenceHouse and @WAbbey.

Cindy in Chelsea

© 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Here is Ann, on a hike outside of Santa Fe.

Ann:

Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of my favorite destinations.  It is America’s oldest capital city, a 400-year old community.  Creativity and inspiration are part of its identity – from architecture and design to world class dining and galleries, to views of serene mountains and endless skies.  It is a high desert town situated at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and has 300 days of sunshine a year.  There is no off-season for being outdoors!

These two pictures are from my sweet friend Rachel's blog, Nest Egg.

www.nestegg.typepad.com

It sits 7,000 feet above sea level, so adapting to the thinner air takes several days.  I have been going there for almost 20 years to study art, shop and enjoy the rich Spanish and Native American heritage.  Take the train from Albuquerque or rent a car and drive up the old road, Highway 14, through the little town of Madrid, full of art galleries and shops less expensive than Santa Fe’s.

Hiking, biking, rafting, kayaking and skiing are among the outdoor activities, as well as fly fishing and golf:

The next three pictures are courtesy of Wiff Harmer: www.wiffharmer.com

Santa Fe has gorgeous places to hike...

Nashville gals enjoying a hike in Santa Fe

There are wonderful spas, such as Ten Thousand Waves, a beautiful place to relax and be pampered in the hills outside of town, and hotel spas in town with gardens and restful environments. Whatever you choose, a few hours or a full day at a Santa Fe spa is sure to transport you to a place where ringing cell phones and multi-tasking are but distant memories.

Downtown’s many shops and boutiques are centered around the Plaza where Indians come daily to display and sell their wares. I have bought gorgeous silver earrings there for as little as $15. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, etc. are all handmade.

Here is Ann looking over some jewelry in the plaza.

Downtown shops deal primarily in luxury items such as jewelry, leather belts, boots and hats, Native crafts, and high–end clothing.  Just southeast of downtown, Canyon Road is lined with even more high–end options.   A game trail in ancient times and an art colony in the 1920’s, this street is now internationally famous for its art galleries.  The city’s new Railroad Park and Plaza, within walking distance of downtown, opened in 2008.  Once an historic depot, it has become a lively, casual community meeting place, much like the original plaza, and is a great place to shop and to dine.  It houses a wonderful Farmers Market.  One of the quirkiest shopping spots in the area is about six miles north of town on Highway 84/285: the Tesuque Pueblo Flea Market, where you can find creative items such as African imports, oriental rugs, textiles, silver jewelry and handmade clothing all at really good prices.  It is a must for everyone who goes to Santa Fe and is only open on Fridays and Saturdays in spring, summer and fall.

Tesuque Market

Art is everywhere.  Artists began coming to Santa Fe in the 1920’s, attracted by the magnificent landscape and famous golden light.  It is the third largest art market in the country.  There are more than 250 art galleries and one sixth of the residents make their living in art – as painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, curators, framers, foundry workers and more.  There is a wealth of museums as well.

Michael Madzo's work was recently featured at the Hunter Kirkland Contemporary Gallery.

The Santa Fe Opera was established in 1957 in a simple, open air theatre on a hillside north of town. It is fabulous.  There is a Chamber Music Festival with a host of renowned musicians, a symphony, ballet, film festival and theatre to enjoy.

Sante Fe Opera House

Day trips in five directions:

• West on the Jemez Mountain trail…..Los Alamos (home of  the first Atomic bomb), Santa Clara Pueblo (pottery studios), Bandelier National Monument  (extensive ancestral pueblo ruins), sweeping views of the Rio Grande far below, dramatic rock monoliths at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.
• Northwest at Georgia O’Keefe Country.
• North to Taos on the high road…incredible scenery! (Chimayo and Truchas are must sees on the way).
• East to Las Vegas.
• South to the Turquoise Trail….a National Scenic Byway with mining towns.

Places to stay in Santa Fe:

Hotels….Inn at the Anasazi (my favorite but very expensive), Eldorado Hotel and Spa,  Inn and Spa at Loretto, La Fonda Hotel, La Posada Resort and Spa, Inn on the Alameda.

Inn at the Anasazi's Patio. To die for.

Eldorado Hotel and Spa

Less expensive stays:  Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Days Inn, etc.

****VRBO…Vacation Rentals By Owner website has wonderful casitas and houses in town to rent and in this economy they are negotiable!  VBRO provides virtual tours and location descriptions.  If you stay in town, you do not need to rent a car.  http://www.vrbo.com/

B&B’s:  El Paradero is a really nice B&B with an eight-minute walk into town and great breakfasts…..very reasonable!

Dining:

Café Pasqual’s is my favorite….not expensive and has wonderful breakfasts, lunches and evening meals.  Reservations are required as it is small, but you can walk in and sit at the group table in the middle without calling ahead if you are one or two people and do not mind sharing space.  They have great T-shirts and cookbooks to take home.

Painting of Cafe Pasqual by Jared Gillet

The Compound (expensive), La Casa Sena and La Casa Sena Cantina (has singing waiters….fun), Santacafe (another of my favorites!),  Maria’s (best margaritas),  Inn of the Anasazi (delicious and expensive breakfast, lunch and dinner), Pinon Grill and Julian’s…..all good.  Coyote Café is good but expensive and touristy.

Santacafe, in Sante Fe. Excellent reviews.

Bars: Coyote Café rooftop bar and Pink Adobe Bar.

If you are considering a trip to Santa Fe go online and request a 2011 Visitors Guide from the Chamber of Commerce.  It has all of the information you need and includes ratings and pricing of places to stay and to dine, as well as maps, history and calendar of  events!  I recommend going for no less than four days and, really, a week is best to take advantage of everything you want to see and do.

It’s Liza writing now: I hope you got a feeling for the special person Ann is by reading through this post about Santa Fe.  Her passion for her friends, her family, her art and Sante Fe are apparent when talking with her.  Now that you’ve had an introduction of sorts, I want to show off her paintings as I think they are lovely and her prices are really fabulous.  On top of that, they are 20% off if you contact Ann during the month of November and mention StyleBlueprint.  While I love the portrait I have of my kids, I do kick myself that I didn’t use someone local, like Ann, where I could be a part of the process and progress.  And, I wish I had paid Ann’s prices….  do a little homework on oil portraits and you will instantly realize what a deal she is.  For more information on her pricing, see StyleBlueprint’s THIS WEEK.

Ann Cowden’s website is www.anncowden.com.  Forget about the new couch, do a portrait instead! It will last for generations….

email: acowden@comcast.net

For more information on our sponsors who are giving 20% off discounts, see THIS WEEK.

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The Grand Hotel

As we continue to battle one of the most oppressive summers ever, it occurred to me there may be some of you out there in blog land who might want to consider a place where you don’t talk about the heat index – a place where the daytime temp hovers around 80 degrees. Consider Mackinac Island and The Grand Hotel. The island has no cars and no smog, the air is cool and clean, air conditioners are optional, and you will wrap up in a pashmina at night and just say, “Ahhhhh.”

With that thought in mind, I set up an appointment with Bob Tagatz, resident historian at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island while on my family vacation. Bob knows everything about the history of the Grand Hotel and a bunch of weird facts which I will share with you later. The Grand Hotel truly is the grand dame of Mackinac Island. She’s classically beautiful, interesting, flirtatious and promises to deliver one great time if you stay with her. Can you imagine being built in1887 with the notoriety of being one of the world’s greatest summer resort?

The lobby of The Grand Hotel

If you can throw together a quick trip alone with your husband or significant other, I promise you, as a card carrying tour guide at Mackinac Island from 1975-1979, you will fall in love again and not look back. If you can’t do that, the Grand Hotel has tons of programs for kids.  In fact, they even serve free snow cones at the pool.

First, a quick history of the Grand. The Grand Hotel was built in 93 days with 600 laborers working 3 shifts a day and no electricity.  The Grand has had over 33 expansions over the years and is one of the most “green hotels” in the US.

Carlton Varney, president of  Dorothy Draper & Company of New York, the oldest established interior decorating firm in the US, is the Grand’s formidable and quite famous decorator.

Carlton Varney

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Mr. Varney continues to embrace Ms Draper’s motto, “shock you without clashing you.”  With that theme in mind, the Grand is filled with bold graphic patterns embellished with splashes of geranium pink, cornwall blue and county club greens.  And yes, each of the 385 suites and rooms have a completely unique decor.

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Here are some of Bob’s fun facts..…

• The Grand Hotel plants over 5,000 geraniums in their flower beds on the grounds.
• When golfing, the front nine is called the “Grand”, the second nine,” The Woods”, and they are separated by one and a quarter miles, and the only horse-drawn carriage ride between nines in the US.
• Five U.S presidents have stayed there: Clinton, Bush, Ford, Kennedy and Truman.
• More than 50,000 of the Grand’s most decadent and delicious signature desert, the famous pecan balls, are served each summer.

Once you get to Mackinac Island, you can bike, hike, swim, ride horseback and play tennis–all of these amenities are provided by the Grand or can be arranged by their staff.  The pool was made famous by the movie “This Time for Keeps” starring Ester Williams.  I haven’t seen the ghost of Ester around the pool, but they serve a drop dead delicious rum punch.

How to get there: If you book a trip from Nashville, you fly to Detroit or Chicago, quite inexpensively, on Southwest Airlines; you then connect via a puddle jumper to a small town called Pelston, MI.  Pelston is about 40 minutes south of Mackinac with shuttles running continually.  Once in Mackinac City, you can take a ferry – they run almost every 30 minutes to Mackinac Island.

Once there, the Grand Hotel with its impeccable customer service will cater to your ever need. Promise.

To book your next stay, call your travel agent or go the Grand’s website:  www.grandhotel.com

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

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Today’s post is written by Katherine Louw as her stories about the Canary Islands have put this destination on my ‘must-go’ list.  I admit that previous to my talks with Katherine about her travels, I thought the Canary Islands were in the Pacific Ocean.  I just didn’t know. For those of you still guessing, think Europe. To entice you to plan a vacation here, Katherine has collected deals ranging from 10-20% off at fabulous hotels and area attractions just for StyleBlueprint readers – see the end of the post for details.

Katherine:

In the year of 1492, before Columbus sailed the ocean blue… he made a stop in the Canary Islands, Spain to stock up on fresh food and water – and as legend has it, for a “rendezvous” with the wife of a Canary Island noble.

courtesy of www.worldatlas.com

My family and I went at the new year to visit my husband’s family, who immigrated to the island of Tenerife in 1972 from Denmark. His grandparents wanted to retire to the most southern point in Europe, which is Las Islas Canarias, Espana – located 70 miles off of the west coast of Morocco.

This archipelago of seven islands, nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, is full of history, charm and some of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine. I will write about the largest of the islands, Tenerife, because this is the island that I have explored and grown to love. My first trip there was in September 2001. I had been out of college for just over a year and was not ready to fully commit myself to “the real world.” A friend and I decided to spend a semester in Spain at the language school, don Quijote, which has seven locations scattered around the country. We would spend six weeks in three locations. I agreed to go to the “touristy” island of Tenerife for the first leg of our journey only because she agreed to the more historic, Spanish cities of Granada and Salamanca for our final two stops. As fate would have it, I met my future husband during our first week in Tenerife. That is another story, but I’ve gotten to know Tenerife pretty well since then.

See? I really did meet my husband here and now we visit with our two daughters! Notice the waves breaking against the rocks in the background.

Tenerife is a tourist destination, but I found that it is so much more. There are structures that have been standing for hundreds of years, quaint European streets full of cafes and almost everywhere you go there is a view of the Atlantic to one side and El Teide to the other. El Teide is the volcano that makes Tenerife and is the tallest peak in Spain, standing at 12,200 feet.

A view of El Teide from Puerto

Whether you are looking for a romantic, European get-a-way or an adventure vacation for your family, Tenerife can provide. Recently named the best luxury holiday destination in Europe, Tenerife offers five star resorts, black sand beaches, hiking, mountain biking, shopping, wine tasting and learning Spanish, on an island that is 40km x 70km.

Air Europa is currently offering a direct flight on an Airbus 330 roundtrip from Miami-Tenerife through October. You can search for this flight through Air Europa (flight code 095 and 096). This six and a half hour flight is as easy as it gets if you are going to Europe.

The town of Puerto de la Cruz is a great place to make “home base” and is just about 20 minutes from the airport.

image from www.webtenerife.com This picture shows a balcony in Puerto with the active volcano, Teide, in the distance.

Puerto de la Cruz, (“Puerto” for short), is a beautiful, pedestrian, coastal town. It is full of tourists, mostly German and British, and mostly retired, but don’t let this deter you. Here, you will find all restaurants offer menus in English and everyone working in the service industry speaks English. This will prove helpful to set you on your way for daily excursions because once outside of Puerto, you will find fewer English speakers.

Things you must do on any trip to Tenerife:

Culinary (this is my favorite part of Tenerife) –

• San Diego: Don’t miss the French bread with garlic ali-oli and guacamole dips. For our table of 11, with apps, entrees, wine, and a few desserts the total bill was 158 euros.
• Meson El Monasterio: The setting of this restaurant is unmatched, and the food is always awesome. Lots of pictures on the website.

• Wine: Tafuriaste winery in Los Realejos – They also have a great family restaurant, El Engaso on the other side of the vineyard from the winery with very typical Canarian food.

Shopping

Santa Cruz, the capital city of Tenerife, is the best place to shop. Shopping here is not high end, but is very European and fun! Think Ikea, H&M, and lots of other fun European Brands like Desigual, Zara, Mango, Corte Ingles, Pedro del Hierro, and Cortefiel. There is also a world famous opera house right on the water.

La Orotava

My favorite quaint Tenerife town. Here you must go to any café and order a Zaparocco. This is a shot of expresso with sweetened condensed milk, Liquer 43, small bit of lemon rind, and a dash if cinnamon on top. Yum!


La Orotava, a must see on any vacation to the islands.

Hike Masca

I admit, I have not actually done this, but it is supposed to be an incredible hike.

Trip to Teide

Where else can you see an active volcano?

Family fun

Loro Parque (in Puerto de la Cruz) You will see signs all over town and you must go to see the killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, penguins, gorillas, and of course, parrots (loros)!


Puerto coastline and promenade. Don Quijote school, which has a great language program for anyone wanting to vacation while immersed in a Spanish program, is one of those buildings right on the ocean.

Swimming

Costa Martiánez (in Puerto de la Cruz) An enormous salt water pool, built on the ocean. The ocean waves crash up against the sides of the pool and provide a great mist on a hot day.

For other useful information please visit www.webtenerifeuk.co.uk

Buen viaje!

For StyleBlueprint readers:

Webtenerife, the tourist board on the island, has helped us obtain several offers, exclusive to StyleBlueprint readers.

Accommodations:

Hotel Botanico – A luxury 5-star resort in Puerto de la Cruz. Styleblueprint subscribers will receive a 10% discount when booking. Use Promotion code: Styleblueprint. Offer good for reservations made through October 23, 2010 and stays through December 23, 2010.

Hotel Contemporaneo – An upscale, contemporary hotel in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. Styleblueprint subscribers will receive a 20% discount when booking. Use Promotion code: www.StyleBluePrint.com This would be a perfect place to stay if you prefer an urban experience while visiting Tenerife. Santa Cruz is a popular port for cruise ships. Hotel Contemporaneo would be a wonderful place to stay if you plan to participate in a cruise that leaves from Santa Cruz.

Sailing:

If sailing the open seas is your pleasure, ECC Yacht Charter is offering a 20% discount to StyleBlueprint readers. Mention StyleBlueprint when making reservations to take advantage of this offer.


Also, please take a moment to vote for StyleBlueprint, along with all your Nashville favorites, in the Nashville Scene's best of awards. You can vote everyday! Thanks!

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

When my friend Ann Shayne asked me to write about the 47th Monteagle Sunday School Assembly Cottage Tour and Bazaar, my response was a speedy, “Are you kidding?  I’d be happy to.”   Not only is she one of my favorite people, Monteagle is absolutely one of my favorite places.

Let’s face it, women run the world.  Most of what we love best (think parks, zoos, art museums, greenways) is a result of some woman offering her time and talents (free of charge, I might add) to help make an event successful.   With that being said, here’s why you want to pen, not pencil, this event on your calendar.

What’s not to love about a place steeped in history with lovely grounds and Victorian architecture?

Monteagle is a mere 85 miles down the road from Nashville and its high altitude offers a nice reprieve from the hot weather.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Monteagle Assembly, here’s a quick description:  It is one of the last remaining chautauquas in the county with 161 Victorian cottages and buildings under the Nashville Register of Historic Places.  Monteagle’s slow tempo and meandering ways truly change people’s lives for the better, providing educational, spiritual and physical guidance for the old and young alike.  Kids zip around on their bikes, women take lectures on gardening and everyone finds respite in the cool mountain breezes.  This has been going on for 127 years.

The Cottage Tour and Bazaar is Friday, July 23, and features six cottages inside the Assembly.

The moment you step into one of these charming Victorian abodes, you’ll want to spend the rest of your life there.  They are whimsical, charming and quirky just like the Victorians.  A yummy lunch will be served in the dining hall (also a historic place) or you can grab a box lunch.  If you miss the Corner Market as much as I do, you can experience Emily Frith’s magic, as she is the chef for the day.  The Bazaar features over 30 craftspeople and artists from the area.  What a great way to stock up on holiday gifts.  The proceeds from the event benefits the restoration of properties inside the assembly and local not-for-profits.

You may want to consider staying on the mountain to get the full benefit of clean, cool mountain air.  The Adams Edgeworth Inn, a charming B & B inside the Assembly, is just one of many accommodations offered in the area.   If hiking and swimming interest you, check out the trails in the South Cumberland State Park.

Ready to head East?  Here’s some more details…

Monteagle Cottage Tour and Bazaar
Date: Friday, July 23
Cottage Tour Hours: 11am – 4pm
Bazaar: 9am – 4pm
Lunch Provided:  Tasty and inexpensive
For more information:  http://www.mssa1882.org

To get to know Ann Shayne better and thank her for finding the best tea punch recipe:  www.masondixonknitting.com

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

I don’t have a lot of age-related hang-ups. Getting older doesn’t bother me: the alternative, as they say, is much less desirable.

So on April 30, I faced the first day of my fifth decade with no regrets – not to mention a belly full of  pain au chocolate from the amazing bakery next door to my hotel in Paris.

My decision to head to France for my birthday was a fairly last-minute decision. I’d always planned to take a big trip for my Big 4-0, but the purchase of my first home in January made me reconsider.

It was the promise of free accommodations and travel that convinced me to go. In late March, I found out my friend Kerry was working in Paris for three days during my birthday week and had space in her hotel room (the amazing Hotel Amour, where I ran into our Nashville home-girl Karen Elson, who was also staying there); our mutual buddy Alex offered to put me up at her apartment for the other four. The flight was purchased with frequent flier miles.

It wasn’t my first trip to Paris: I spent half of my junior year at Hollins College studying there, and a high point of my old job as a New York fashion editor was getting to cover Paris Fashion Week.

But this trip was not about work: it was about relaxing in a city where I knew my way around and had logged in enough time at national landmarks that I didn’t feel guilty about not working them into my itinerary.

Basically, my Paris plan was not to have a Paris plan … and to shop, bien sur.

I landed at Charles de Gaulle armed with Euros and ready to scout secondhand goodies for my East Nashville vintage store, Diamond Star Halo, and to pick up some special birthday treats for myself.

Though it was a memorable trip all around, there were some definite highlights:

Hotel Amour

Enjoying the scene at the Hotel Amour. This is easily the hippest hotel in Paris right now.  Located just off the steep and beautiful Rue des Martyrs in the Montmartre district, it’s a choice environment for watching Beautiful People: lovely girls in very little makeup and very much Isabel Marant (she’s the hottest indie designer in Paris – nay, the world – right now) and pale guys in skinny suits and simple, collared shirts.  The look is deceptively simple: it makes everyone looks like Someone.

Amour only has 20 rooms, and each is decorated in a different variation on what I can only describe as “haute perv”.  The walls of our white lacquered room (the hallways are a shiny peony pink with black trim) was hung with arty black and white photos of jeune filles in various stages of undress.  Save for a the Minnie Mouse-esque plastic doll dressed up in Karl Lagerfeld/Coco Chanel drag that sat on a short table beside a vintage biography of Marianne Faithful, the room is otherwise spare – right down to the plain white towels with the hotel’s name hand-stamped on the seam.

Don't you just love Chanel?

Shopping

Scoring a limited edition Karl Largerfeld Diet Coke bottle. The week I arrived, Coke released a pink, white and black metal bottle of “Coca-Cola Light” featuring the Chanel designer’s signature and famously slim, pony-tailed silhouette.  You could buy them at supermarkets for under 3 Euros, which is a helluva good price for something that’s already a collector’s item. (Funny story: When Kerry showed her Karl bottle to her boyfriend when she got home, he asked her why the French would want to put Thomas Jefferson on a Coke bottle. Hysterical. “Well, at least you can be sure he’s straight,” Alex told her.)

Locating the perfect pair of khakis. The going cut is slim-fitting at the dropped waist, slightly baggy through the leg and then pegged and rolled above the ankle.  All the French girls had them on with Breton stripe shirts (no, these tops are not just a cliché: people really do wear them!).  I found my perfect pair at the chain Comptoir des Cotonnaires, which is like a chicer version of our J.Crew.  I’ve been wearing my khakis with a navy tank and the vintage bandeau-style fabric belt with metal horse themed buckle, one of my only purchases at the wildly over-priced Clingancourt flea market.

Purchasing four dozen vintage dresses at Free P Star. Paris vintage can be prohibitively expensive. So while searching for secondhand stores in my price range, all signs (and all the cute girls) pointed me to this small boutique located in the Marais (8 rue Sainte-Croix de la Brettonnerie).  It is very literally packed from the bottom of the basement to the ceiling of the main shopping with racks and bails bulging with vintage clothes.  The shopping is competitive and stressful (and tiring: my arms ached the next day from carrying all the dresses I could hold!), but worth it considering everything is 10 euros or under.  SCORE! (You can still view some of my Free P Star finds at my store, Diamond Star Halo Vintage, located at 1101 Holly Street in East Nashville.)

Spying my vintage blue sequined showgirl headdress. I was perusing the wares at the very charming Porte des Vanves flea market when I spotted this gorgeous blue sequined headdress, which looks a little like something a“mermaid” would have worn in a Folies Bergere review. It’s not extremely old – I’d date it as being from the early 60s, maybe 50s – but it is extremely cool.  And very tall: I actually had to dissemble it in order to ship it home.  The 1930s top hat I bought the same day has already appeared in a shoot I styled for this month’s issue of Her Magazine, so you can probably expect to see my mermaid topper show up in one of my photo spreads sometime in the future.

Buying the biggest Comme des Garcons wallet on the market. The Comme wallet – a simple slab of high-quality leather with a wrap-around zipper and multiple pockets inside – is, well,  comme il faut among my fashion friends, and I’ve always admired how handsome and sleek they look.  In fact, every time I’ve been in New York over the last year I’ve come this close to getting one.  On my birthday, I threw all practicality out the window (I mean, the wallet I had wasn’t in that bad shape …) and hit the very minimalist, very hard-to-find CDG store (54 rue de Faubourg Saint-Honore) to buy a large, 5 x 9 model in bright orange – a risky move for a graduate of UTK, I know.  But I can guarantee you Rei Kawakubo wasn’t humming “Rocky Top” while choosing the color range for her small leather goods line.  So orange it is.

Eating warm chocolate-filled croissants sprinkled with smashed pistachio and almonds for breakfast. Enough said.

Treating myself to some birthday treats at the Right Bank consignment store Reciproque. In big cities like Paris, I always like to hit consignment and upscale resale stores as well as the down-and-dirty joints.  Among my favorite high-end stops is Reciproque (88-101 rue de la Pompe), which is located in an old-school residential area near Trocadero.  On my birthday, I spent three hours in the two-story women’s store (there are actually four storefronts, including those for accessories, menswear and home goods), trying on pieces from Sonia Rykiel (iconic striped sweaters), Gaultier (I was in Paris, so it seemed like required trying-on-ing), Chloe, Chanel and YSL (a safari jacket, which his a major score – alas, it was too small).  I ended up leaving with only two things.  I got a killer pair of 1970′s gold snakeskin wedge sandals by London designer Terry de Havilland, the mastermind behind Elton John’s early stage shoes as well as a favorite of Bianca Jagger, who my shoes would look amazing on (in my daydreams, this is the exact pair of shoes she wore to Provence to visit Mick at the storied villa Nellcote, when he and the Rolling Stones were there in ‘71 recording Exile on Main Street).  And I also snapped up a dazzling metallic lavender zip-front jacket by Herve Leger; it has a handwritten tag on the inside that reads “ETE 2000 Modele No 10265,”which makes me think it must be a one-off runway sample.  Together, they were under $400 – pretty good for pieces that will stay in my closet forever.  In fact, I’m going to wear the jacket with my new khakis to a party this weekend. Viva la France!

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The shopping area of Homewood is like a mixture of Nashville’s Hillsboro Village and The Hill Center.  You’ll find Zoe’s Chicken and Pure Barre to make you feel at home.  Plan to spend a few hours wandering in and out of boutiques; there are shops for kids, men and of course, plenty for women.

Right off the bat I made a bee-line for Mary Evelyn interiors shop. You’ll see the sign on the main street and follow the sidewalk back toward the parking lot and you’ll find the store.

She was the featured designer interviewed in the last issue of Southern Accents and I just adored what she had to say.  I chatted with her for about 20 minutes and she is just delightful.  Her store has a wide range of prices and my favorite piece was this stainless steel with wood dining room table for just over $1,000.

I also wanted to bring this sofa, on sale for half off, home.  But I’d have to leave my three kids in behind if I had done that!

Soca is a great women’s store in Homewood.  I’d say their average client in probably late 20′s but I found it full of tempting items.  And, my wallet was glad my girls were not with me as they would have screamed in delight over the mini-me version of Soca for younger girls.

However, my own big scream came when I saw this sign in front of Four Seasons Antiques and Art.

I am a huge fan of Peter’s Pottery and no one in Nashville sells it.  It was hard not to go overboard, but my one purchase of the day was a Peter’s Pottery salt and pepper shaker.  I really wanted so much more…

And because I am such a huge fan, one more picture:

Here’s a sampling of what else you will find in Homewood:

I can attest that both these stores are wonderful. My sweet mother-in-law got me the cutest top from Theadora for Christmas.

See why I made the Hill Center comparison?

When in Homewood, you have to promise me to stop by White Flowers.

White Flowers

It’s like no other shop I’ve EVER been in.  Everything in the store is white.  In fact, it’s so different from everything else in this world, that it makes you squint – like walking into a winter wonderland – as your eyes adjust to the lack of color.  It is serene and the angelic music being piped through the store just reminds you to breathe deep and enjoy life.

There is even a shop for Fido:

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Laura Lyn:

For Christmas, my wonderful husband surprised me with a trip to The Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.  I was speechless when I opened his creative gift of clues that included airline reservations, hotel reservations and a photograph of a Grammy Award.

The Grammy's in L.A. Needed a picture of that Hollywood sign as it might not be there much longer.

With a trip to the Grammy’s on the horizon, I had to get myself in gear, get a dress and prepare for the trip of a lifetime. So after Christmas break, I hit the pavement driving all over Nashville and Franklin trying on dresses in every shape, size, color and length.  Being a mom of four, it’s hard to stay on the fashion front…Enter, Liza Graves, who knows our town upside down, inside and out.  I emailed her my “911” and she got back to me ASAP with her “411”.  The hunt was on, and hunt I did!

Here I am before the Grammy's with my fabulous husband.

I went to so many stores, some two and three times.  My rounds included Blush, Jamie, UAL, The Cotton Mill, and Najib in Nashville and Haven, Philanthropy and Ivey in downtown Franklin.  I even hit Designer Renaissance and Designer Finds.  I Googled and visited as many dress websites, designer forums and online runway sales as I could find. I’ve never been to so many stores and tried on so many dresses or labored so hard on my wardrobe.

After two weeks of plowing through every glam, hip, 2nd hand, designer and exquisite boutique, I found my dress at BCBG.  At that point it was easy to choose because from all this shopping, I knew what I wanted and what I didn’t want. I actually ended up with a dress in a color I hadn’t tried!

From picking out my dress, my jewelry, my shoes and my makeup to helping me regain my body’s PH level, I had “fashionista angels” helping me all along the way.  My shopping mantra came straight from Liza, “The thrill of the hunt is half the fun.”  And fun it was!

My Mom went to every store with me giving me valuable input. My beautiful and talented friend, Karee Hays, an aesthetician at Dr. Retief’s office in Green Hills, helped me with my skin and makeup.  She gave me some wonderful peels and set me straight with makeup trends and “smokey eyes”.

My husband thought I was crazy, but Karee cheered me on and reminded me that, “75% of the FUN is the getting ready and having something fun to look forward to.”  My husband had no idea what a girl needed, or how much fun I was having!  He indulged me (with one eye closed), as I glammed it up big time.

Here we are in the limo on the way to the Grammy's!!!

My beautiful friend and model, Tiffany Baker, helped me all the way from Asia via Facebook giving me health and well-being tips, and suggestions for makeup that she loves as a high fashion model (i.e. makeup that lasts).  Tiffany told me, “…don’t stress too much on what (dress) to choose. Wear what YOU feel good in!”   That’s exactly what I did. Total self-indulgence, especially as a mom of four, is not my thing, but I decided to embrace the whole experience, enjoy the hunt, bathe myself in some totally out-of-the-ordinary “me focus” and have fun doing it.  Mission accomplished.

I had to sneak this picture with my camera phone which is why it is so blurry! No pictures allowed on the red carpet, but look - that's me! - standing ON the red carpet!!

I got cut & color at Unruli in Franklin, a mani/pedi and a beautiful necklace from my Stella & Dot consultant, Kim Wright.  I also picked out a new suitcase from Home Goods because with all of the fashion advice I’d received, I had A LOT that I needed to take on my trip.

The trip itself was a true once-in-a-lifetime… top on my list of best gifts EVER!  The experience was surreal.  The Grammy & L.A. hoopla was intimidating but I felt totally comfortable in the dress I chose and confident with all of the support of my sweet Franklin and Nashville peeps.

The Grammy’s themselves were so much fun.  We walked the Red Carpet and attended parties pre and post show.  We had seats near a backstage tunnel where I could call to the stars walking in and out and get a nod or a wave back.  We even received a gift of Moroccan Oil beach bags filled with Moroccan Oil hair products (love these products!).

The trip was terrific. The hunt for my dress and accessories was a blast, and the gift itself from my dear husband will never be forgotten.  At the end of the day, though, nothing compared to the welcome home from our Fabulous Four, our true gifts of a lifetime!

At the Grammy's

If you want to keep up with Laura Lyn, and her efforts to raise money to rebuild her mother-in-laws house, destroyed by the flood, click here.

Laura’s blog:  lauralyndonahue.blogspot.com

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

We are notorious as a family for winging it when it comes to vacations, especially Spring Break.  By the time we finally get the Christmas decorations down, it seems time to head off for Spring Break.  This year was no different.  The Gulf Coast with its mercurial weather had no appeal this year and a big trip like Washington, D.C or New York was out of the question–too much planning, on too short of notice.  So, off to San Antonio we went.

San Antonio is frequently listed as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the US. It is beautifully preserved thanks to a group of determined-take-no-prisoners women who said, “No, you are not going to tear down our historic buildings.” And the River Walk, (El Paseo del Rio) with its meandering paths and lively atmosphere, was a complete stroke of genius as it was only created in 1939.  San Antonio is known for its festivals, and through the visitor bureau, I heard about Luminaria or Arts Night in San Antonio.  It is wonderful evening of dance, music and drama.

St. Patrick's Day on the River Walk

San Antonio is an easy city if you are a tourist. You don’t have to rent a car unless you want to head to the Hill Country to see the bluebells, and on every corner there is an information officer ready to point you in the right direction.  Even the downtown public bathrooms are immaculate.

Skip

We began our trip with Skip, the cab driver, a colorful character to say the least, and a native San Antonian. I have listed his number as you will glean a wealth of information from Skip.  He used to be a big game hunter and told us as a boy he used to feed live chickens to the crocodiles in the Historic Menger Hotel cement pond.  Since we were staying at the Menger Hotel, our ears perked up.  We knew it was haunted – but live chickens?!- this was too good to be true.

The Menger Hotel is beautiful with its Victorian architecture. Tales of ghosts and slamming doors are provided at no charge by every chamber maid and door man. With its proximity to the Alamo (only a stone’s throw), it’s plausible because of the bucket loads of blood shed there. The Menger isn’t five stars, but it’s darn affordable.  The trip to Miami where we booked the entire family – yes, all five of us – in one very small suite, cured us of booking one room. The Menger is known for its homemade Mango ice cream (a favorite of the lovable, pudgy Bill Clinton) and we concur–it’s delicious.

The Alamo is always crowded, but Skip said to watch the IMAX film next door to understand why the Alamo held such an important place in history. The film is short, sweet and worth your dough.  We decided not to wait in line to tour the Alamo, so we rode a carriage around the Alamo instead.

The River Walk is spectacular. Not only can you see the lovely historic buildings while you walk, it’s filled with fabulous restaurants and shops.   Boudro’s is always on every must go list of places to eat.  It’s got it all: Texas Beef, seafood and big ol’ margaritas! My favorite is the guacamole made table side.

By all means, take a River Boat Tour to get an overview of the city. The guides are well-informed, funny and give you a great sense of the  history of the city.  We learned that the River Walk is drained every January to clean it out of all the items tourists find necessary to pitch in the waterway.  If you’re wondering, the #1 thing they pull out of the river is restaurant silverware; the oddest thing has been a wheelchair.

For the kiddos, I give San Antonio really high marks on stuff to do. Here’s a quick list:  SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Brackenridge Park including the San Antonio Zoo, Schlitterbahn Water Park and Witte Museum.  And, I haven’t even listed the things to do in the surrounding area.

We hit SeaWorld with a vengeance and totally got our money’s worth. SeaWorld has great shows with whales, porpoises and rides.  After my second ride on the Vomitorium, I thought, “Why don’t they have an age restriction on this ride, not a height restriction?”  The entire fam suited up and sat in the splash zone to see Shamu.  Dripping wet and cold– we agreed, it was worth the money.

San Antonio is a city to wander in and enjoy the sunshine.  With the Gulf Coast oil spill, we may all be spending more time inland.

There is a second part to this post:  San Antonio for Lovers. I must disclose that I did not do this tour; however, I did lots of research while I was there.  My second post, coming sometime in the next month, will include the perfect hotel, romantic meal including a brunch suggestion and stroll through a gorgeous neighborhood.  Of course, I found the perfect shop and shopping area. More to come.

If you want to go in June, Southwest is offering flights for as little as $123 one way.  We know the ladies at Belle Meade Travel and they, too, can hook you up.  See our related posts below for more info on them.

Skip Jennings-Yellow Cab
Phone: 210.833.0545

If you do want to see the Hill Country outside of San Antonio, one of our favorite design blogs might entice you: http://hillcountryhouse.blogspot.com/

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Our first stop was a famous place on the north side of Lake Ponchartrain called Middendorfs. Middendorfs is a quintessential American dive and its specialty is fried thin catfish.  We waited about 20 minutes to get in and were then served HUGE platters of thin catfish and mugs of chilled Dixie beer.   OK, I have never had thin catfish, but as I asked about the process of “thinning it” I found out that long knife toting elves in the kitchen literally cut paper-thin slices from HUGE catfish.  The end result is deeeelicious.  This is worth the 20 miles out of your way drive.

Jacques-Imos Cafe is located in uptown NO and (again) looks like a dump from the outside (notice a theme?).  Once inside, it was a rockin’ find as plates of crayfish etouffee and gumbo raced by accompanied by exotic drinks for all.  We were escorted next door to another dump-like building and feasted on maux choux ( a Cajun version of succotash with zip), and a fried eggplant shell filled with seafood delights in a lemon cream sauce (calories don’t count on vacation).  Yum.  The owner of this popular joint,  Jacques Leonardi, is a character.  If you want your own private dining experience, the car in front of the restaurant is available.  I’m serious – check it out below.  I give Jacques-Imos a sincere thumbs up.

your own private dining car at Jacques-Imos

By Saturday lunch, my jeans were tight and the idea of yet another fried anything made me queasy.  So with complete reluctance,  I headed into another dive called Domilises. This hole in the wall has about 10 tables with an exposed kitchen and the fryers going full-tilt-boogie.  Huge loaves of the famous Leidenheimer French bread were housed in baskets on the floor!  Not sure how that passes health code…   After ordering my morning coffee and a cold Dixie beer – placed together before me – I sank my teeth into the BEST and most INCREDIBLE shrimp po’ boy I have ever had.  Another crowd favorite of Domilises is their thin roast beef sandwich with gravy.  I think it was inspired by the Rex himself.

Cafe’ Du Monde.  Everybody goes to Cafe’ Du Monde while in New Orleans.   But navigating Cafe Du Monde on a busy weekend morning takes some skills.   So, here’s my skills lesson: what you do is walk around back and wave a $5 bill at the cute man in the white hat.  He will hurry up, take your order and in less than 5 minutes, hand you a bag of piping hot beignets and cup of  ‘jo.  There are any number of places to sit and savor the delicacies of Cafe’ Du Monde.

The best pralines in New Orleans can be found at Southern Candy Makers.  Owned by the Tomkins Family, it was voted the best in the US by Bon Appetit magazine.  You can order online at www. southerncandymakers.com.

Herbsaint. How could I go to New Orleans without the sage advice of foodie, Julia Reed, creative director of Taigan and enthusiastic resident of the city?  Julia immediately emailed me her list of fave restaurants.  Herbsaint topped the list.  If it is good enough for Laura Bush (yes, Julia hosted Laura) then,  it is good enough for me.

Chef Donald Link of Herbsaint

We ordered every appetizer imaginable and then our entrees.  Plates of duck confit, dark roux gumbo, and mussels in broth arrived and yes, the food was divine.  Dropping Julia’s name (hey, I wanted  a good table and waiter) gets you primo treatment. You can read more about Julia in the StyleBlueprint interview. My sister Annie rangled the Coconut Cream Pie recipe from Herbsaint.   It’s to die for!   Herbsaint won the 2007 James Beard Award for Best Chef.

In the next couple of weeks, I will write part II:  Where to shop, where to stay and where to play.

To sister Sarah, Happy 40th!  Bon Appetit and de Reve’ la Vie.

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Ann West and Elizabeth Dingess, travel agents extraordinare'

With the 2nd Annual Belle Meade Vacations Travel Show slated for this Thursday evening at Cheekwood, I knew I had to find out how the travel agent business was doing in this day of endless online travel sites and discount bookings. I wondered, “How are Travel Agents surviving?”

For over five years I have hiked with two of the most experienced travel agents in town, Ann West and Elizabeth Dingess of Belle Meade Vacations. With that being said (full disclosure here), I am NOT their best customer.  With a couple of wins under my travel belt and probably as many flops, I thought it might be interesting to look at the travel agency business in light of the recession, the internet and our ever-changing virtual world.

I posed this question directly to Ann and Elizabeth, “Girls, is your business doing OK?”  They both smiled and replied, “Our business is good and in the past six months, REALLY GOOD.”

Here’s is what Ann and Elizabeth have to say….

Booking travel is tricky, especially internationally.  There are so many details (like forgetting to renew your passport) where a misstep can ABSOLUTELY ruin your trip.  Having a complete itinerary with all the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed, is worth its weight in gold.  For your agent, the itinerary is the GPS of travel; they know where you are, if (and when) something messes up.  Both Ann and Elizabeth have more than one horror story of missed planes, forgotten documents and unforeseen circumstances.  When you’re in a pickle, your travel agent is there 24/7.  Based on 30 years of relationships, these two can pull you out of a jam QUICKLY.

Some trips simply necessitate a Travel Agent:

1. Anything exotic like Africa, China or India
2. Most cruises due to the complicated lingo and upgrades
3. All important occasions like anniversaries, honeymoons and birthdays
4. And pretty much (now that I know) EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

Belle Meade Vacation’s affiliation with Virtuoso allows them to pass on upgrades and freebies to you. Access to Virtuoso perks is like having access to the American Express Platinum Club — exclusive benefits and great perks.

Let’s face it, traveling is about the ADVENTURE, not about the HASSLE.

This Thursday Belle Meade Vacations invites you to their 2nd Annual Travel Show.  Most of the exclusive travel companies will be there to answer questions and give advice.  If you’re like most seasoned travelers, you have some idea where you want to go, you just want to know the best way to go.  I may just go to simply get ideas and start planning.  I can’t imagine something more fun.

Safari in Africa catch your attention?

Me, too.  Mark Nolting, president of the Africa Adventure Company will be there.  His customized expeditions are first class with private guides and tours.  You can rough it by sleeping in a tent or stay in one of the gorgeous lodges.  I hope you know that “roughing” it is a relative term with Mark’s company.  Let’s face it, a wrong turn in the bush is not a good idea.

Sleep under the stars in your African tent.

Elephant crossing

What:   Belle Meade Vacation Travel Show

Where:  Cheekwood with valet parking at the Botanic Hall

When:  Thursday, January 21st from 5PM – 7PM

Who: Some of the companies attending will be Four Seasons Hotel and Resort, Lindbland Expeditions, Orient-Express, Abercrombie and Kent, Canyon Ranch, The Africa Adventure Co., St. Regis Hotels and many more.

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The gorgeous Grace Bay

Here is what we came up with: Turks and Caicos.

Turks and Caicos is located at the Southern end of the Bahamas Island chain known as the British West Indies  and is often overlooked as a vacation destination. If you say “Turks and Caicos,” most people acknowledge they’ve heard of it, but that’s about it.  Interesting, because of all the vacation destinations in the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos has the best website.  All the hotels, condominiums and all-inclusives are listed in alphabetical order, by island and by rating, with great photos of each locale.  Most flights connect through Miami, however American Airlines offers direct flights from New York, US Air from Charlotte and Delta from Atlanta.  All airlines fly into Providenciales, the main Island.

One benefit of selecting Turks and Caicos as a beach destination is that once you clear customs at Providenciales Airport, you can cab to your hotel, check in and be in your lounge chair, on the beach with a fancy umbrella cocktail, in less than 3o minutes.

Most of the big hotels are located on Grace Bay, one of the prettiest and most dramatic beaches I’ve ever seen.  The water is so intensely blue it gives you pause, as you know you’ve never seen a color quite like it.  I booked a room at Le Vele, a small Italian inspired boutique hotel and condominium located smack dab in the middle of Grace Bay.  As we pulled up to the hotel, my husband asked me, “How did you hear about this  place?”  My reply, “I didn’t.  I just liked the look of the place on the website.”  Yikes.  I can tell you from experience those gut decisions can either work for ya’ or against ya’.  Thankfully, this time it was the former.

Le Vele, an Italian inspired boutique hotel

Le Vele was perfect for what we needed.  It was small and intimate with only 22 rooms.  The general manager, Clayton Thomas, and his staff were incredibly accommodating from greeting us upon our arrival with a rum punch to assisting my husband in finding his briefcase left in our cab from the airport.

I love how the rooms are like mini-apartments

In the morning, we awoke to a basket of croissants and fruit left by the staff, then wandered a short way over a dune to the beach with chair and umbrella awaiting us.  After a couple of hours of swimming and sunning, we faced our toughest decision of the day: whether to head out to the right or left down the beach in search of a late lunch.

StyleBlueprint HQ located on Grace Beach

There are some great restaurants on Providenciales, we were told, but for us, the restaurants within walking distance on the beach were perfect.  Grace Bay’s restaurants cater to all types of palates with conch being a staple in the Islands.  Conch is considered a poor man’s lobster and is absolutely delicious.   We ordered conch in all sorts of ways from fritters to chowder, but our absolute favorite were the award-winning conch wontons served at the Bay Bistro located in the Sibonne’ Beach Hotel.

The conch wontons at Bay Bistro are fabulous

Walking down a quiet beach on a starry night on our way to dinner was its own special treat.  There’s nothing like looking up together and seeing the same falling star to make you feel good about where you are.

Turks and Caicos offers wonderful options for massage, facials and therapeutic treatments at several hotels.  We booked a massage at Point Grace Hotel, which has a small spa cottage tucked away from everything which affords you an outdoor massage experience not to be missed.  As you fade away under the masseuses’ hands, a gentle breeze from the ocean lulls you into an altered state. It’s a little bit of heaven.

A view from the veranda at Turks and Caicos

Of course, Turks and Caicos offers every snorkeling and diving experience known to man, I just wasn’t up for moving off of my chaise lounge. The Islands are under British rule so driving can be somewhat precarious as you drive on the left side of the road.  The shopping is fine, but not as sophisticated as St. Thomas or other destinations in the Caribbean.  Turks and Caicos is about the beauty of the place… and it’s astounding.

For more information about Turks and Caicos, the New York Times featured the island in the travel section on Sunday November 15, or pick up last month’s Architectural Digest and read about Donna Karan’s oasis of a resort.

If you decide to book Le Vele, be sure to ask for Clayton.  He’s the unofficial ambassador of the Island and rest assured, all your needs will be taken care of…

Turks and Caicos awaits your weary bones, ready to refresh and inspire!

© 2010 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Before I dive in on all these other travel deals, let me say that Southwest Airlines is running a great deal if you book it by the end of day October 29th. I just got a round trip ticket to DC for $150.  I’m thrilled to fly “home” and see my friend from childhood’s baby girl!

Jetsetter

Ok – onto bigger deals than Southwest.  How about Jordan?  Smiles, I know you weren’t expecting that.  No, I never had thought about going to Jordan either, until yesterday when I decided to check out what Jetsetter, a division of Gilt.com, was offering. (If you need an “invitation” to view the site or purchase, just email us and we’ll send it your way) I love this newly launched site and I found myself suddenly longing to see a Jordanian sunset, from Six Senses Jordan, when I had never considered the Middle East previously.  Jordan is pretty safe and I did what all good daughters do: I called my Mom and told her she and Dad needed to book it!

Six Senses Jordan is a great and luxurious base from which to explore the spectacularly beautiful country.—Travelandleisure.com

And, yes, you can drink wine in Jordan.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to have dinner here:

You can book a room at Six Senses with this deal, available through 2 a.m. on Oct 30th, for anytime through February 2010 for just $120 a night for a room or $209 a night for a one bedroom suite.  Roundtrip airfare is just about $1,000 per person.  Talk about a Romantic get away.  I want to go.

Jettsetter is offering a deal starting Nov 1 for Capella Telluride in Colorado.  Anyone planning a ski trip for December should know that the Holidays are not blacked out for this sale, so you may want to check it out on Sunday.  Most sales run for three days at a time.

Luxury Link

How did I not know about  LuxuryLink.com?  I’ve been searching auctions for the past 90 minutes ready to pounce.  The one I’m just moaning about is a trip for SIXTEEN people to a Tuscan Countryside Haven for a “buy now price” of $5,099!  It includes:

• 7 nights in Casa al Piano
  • 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms (4 two-bedroom apartments)
  • Modern kitchen and washing machine
  • Private pool and barbeque area
• Four cases of Il Borro Pian Di Nova wine upon arrival
• Three course gourmet dinner for sixteen on one evening of your choice
• Estate winery tour on one day of your choice, including tastings of Il Borro wines
• Housekeeping service each weekday and Saturdays
• Unlimited use of driving range and soccer field
• Taxes & service charges

Why are we not grabbing seven other couples and doing this?  It’s only $637 a couple for THE WEEK with no taxes or service charges added!  Did you read the UNLIMITED DRIVING RANGE?  Housekeeping everyday?  If I did my math right, you have until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday to buy this package.  A quick look at airfare shows most roundtrip flights starting at…. OH OH OH – I just read “babysittng included….”  are you kidding?  Jay, my dear husband, are you reading this?  Becky, Kristen: how about this for Spring Break?  There is a POOL!  My mother-in-law: how about this for Stan’s 65th?  The possibilities are endless, just someone, include ME!   The ugggg part is, going back to where I interrupted myself, is that airfare is about $1,500 per person.  Ok, I’m back to a couples trip.  Or, just invite one of the many Nashville folks who have access to jet planes to join the trip and fly us all there.  So, who has access to a TRANSATLANTIC JET?  Ahhh, friends with jets…it’s like friends with pickup trucks, only sooooooo much better.

Anyway, check out Luxurylink for seriously hundreds of great trips that let you save heaps of money and experience trips that don’t fit the cookie cutter mold.

Tablet Hotels

Next travel tip site: Tablet Hotels. The best part about this site is the “last minute” deals.  For example, you could fly to NYC this weekend and stay at Gild Hall for $209 a night, not $499 a night.  Pretty darn good.  So, if you are unlike me and have access to family to throw your kids at or you are not in that stage of life, check out this site.  Apparently you will get lots of email from them but the type you really want to open….you know, just like StyleBlueprint!

Concierge & Trip Advisor

For general travel info, I like CondeNast’s site www.concierge.com.  I also planned an entire 10 day Mexican vacation for my parents, without a single stop in Cancun, through suggestions available on www.tripadvisor.com

Locally

Lastly, with this weak economy, the high end auctions here in town have some great trips, at a great price, on the block.  Be on the lookout when those invitations come your way.  Ones known for great trips include The Swan Ball Auction and L’ete du Vin. But almost all auctions have some trips and you get to support local when you bid.  And do check with your travel agent of choice.  They know so many details and can plan a great trip and save you money as well.

So, I’ll get back to fashion and shoes tomorrow.  Right now, I’m dreaming of the trip…but that includes what to pack, so my mind will get there, I just need to sift through all the possibilities today….

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

View of the Straits of Mackinac

My love affair began with Mackinac Island when I was about seven years old. My mother told me I always dreamed of working up there in the summers and even marrying there one day.  Some of those dreams did indeed come true and many did not.  I just returned from a two week vacation from what I lovingly call “Shangri La” or Mackinac Island, a small island, with no smog and no compelling reason to have a TV ANYWHERE.

Imagine a family vacation where your kids are on their bikes ALL DAY LONG, you are surrounded by blue skies and water with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees, and there are bursts of color by ways of FLOWERS everywhere. To add to the wonderment, there are no cars on this small island (just 9 miles of shoreline) so there’s not much to worry about except running into a horse….. or perhaps, another biker.

Mackinac Island is historically significant.  There are many tales  of early fur trading with the Native Americans , Fort Mackinac and the lovely  Governor’s Residence.  It also sells about a gazillion pounds of fudge and offers day tourists a chance to get on a bike, eat some incredible ice cream  and become an official “Fudgie”-a term of endearment given to the tourists by the locals.

The Grand Hotel in all its glory

When I was 18 years old, I arrived at Mackinac Island to work as a tour guide at Historic Fort Mackinac. Fresh from college in Mobile, AL, I walked into my new home, the soldiers barracks, to face a group of women right off the Ann Arbor campus of University of Michigan: talk about a study in contrasts.  They did their best to understand what was coming out of my mouth as I simultaneously pondered, “Heavens, why don’t they don’t shave their legs?”

The rest is history – so to speak – as I make an annual trek to Mackinac Island EVERY YEAR.  It’s my absolute center of the universe.

As tour guide extraordinaire, I’d like to offer my top 5 picks for things to do on Mackinac Island.

1.  Early morning ride around the Island with a stop at the most secluded shore, Point Aux Pins, for a quick dip in the icy Straits of Mackinac.  End the trip with the best hot chocolate EVER from the Beanery.

2.  Lunch at the Chippewa Hotel.  Order a crock of the steaming hot French onion soup and some Labatt’s Blue Beer.  When done, take a dip in the huge hot tub… even kids are allowed.

3. A visit to Fort Mackinac where you can see an authentic canon and musket firing with Victorian Games for the kids to play.  The tea room overlooks the Straits of  Mackinac……not a bad place to have lunch.

A ride down the lovely Leslie Avenue

4.  A ride through the interior of the Island on the most beautiful road of all time, Leslie Avenue.  It’s always fun to stop along the way and look down from Arch Rock and watch the horses rest.  Afterward, you head through the Annex (quite similar to the Monteagle Assembly) and stop at the Grand Stand Restaurant for a famous Pecan Ball- a round ball of vanilla ice cream rolled in pecans with hot fudge sauce.

5.  Afternoon at the Grand Hotel pool with the kids.  The pool was featured the famous movie “This Time for Keeps”  with Esther Williams.  The pool has a huge inflatable called ‘the worm’, free snowcones all day long and killer Pina Coladas for the adults.  We all know it is 5 o’clock SOMEWHERE.

The infamous Grand Hotel pool inspired by Esther Williams

Folks, when I say Shangri La, I sincerely mean it!  – Elizabeth

http://www.mackinac.org

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

When the 4th hits, you can dress very appropriately (as we did the year we spent the 4th at Sea Island) or you can go all-out-tacky. Balsam calls for all-out-tacky dressing and people hunt all year for the tackiest of all.  Next, you decorate your car as wildly as you possibly can.  Streamers, flags, horns, balloons, cans dragging behind.  If you think it might make someone’s smile just a little broader, then on your car it goes!   You finalize the whole thing with candy to throw to the few people on the mountain that are not actually IN the parade.

Everyone lines up in the meadow, next to the horse barn, at 1:00.  Any earlier would disturb the hangovers felt by all after the community wide July 3rd cocktail party held at the most beautiful house, with a 270 degree view of The Great Smoky Mountains.  This cocktail party is where the nice and appropriate patriotic wear is seen!

The 4th of July parade winds through the mountain community at about 10 miles per hour.  My favorite spectators are inevitably the 75+ year old ladies in their high-school sparkly baton twirling outfits, in red, white and blue, and yes, they have their batons and a synchronized routine to boot!  Another lady sings next to them and we all wave hoping they will be back next year.  The road takes everyone over a 100 year old bridge that clearly states that driving over is at your own risk.  75% of the cars ramble over. We however, turn around.  I just won’t risk it!
The parade ends at The Balsam Mountain Inn (formerly owned by TN native Merrily Teasley who also previously owned and restored the Edgeworth Inn in Monteagle, TN).  Current Balsam Mountain Inn owners Kim and Sharon Shailer, provide a free lunch and concert for all parade participants.  Hot dogs and BBQ with local brewed Heinzelmännchen Brewery beer sets the perfect mood to sit and listen to every single patriotic song you could ever imagine sung in an opera style, by a sweet elderly lady who is given the stage each 4th.   She needs to be a YouTube sensation…and we may just work on that this 4th.

The fireworks take place at 9:00 in the cleared meadow.  Many a 4th we are wearing jackets and jeans as it gets pretty chilly at 3,600 feet above sea level!

We celebrate with a huge family get together of about 30 of our closest and dearest.  My Dad then has our own personal fireworks display in which he inevitably burns a hole in his shirt…or face….each year.  But, it always provides a lesson to my kids about the dangers of fireworks.  This lesson hits home when we are forced to occasionally take cover under the picnic table!  Ahhhhh, family fun!

I love the 4th of July.  If you want to experience a 4th of July Balsam style, make a reservation at The Balsam Mountain Inn and join us!  It’s a great Inn to visit anytime of year, with an award winning restaurant and a huge porch just full of rocking chairs waiting to be used.

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Speaking of the possibility of leaving town with some of your fave friends, it makes me think about how much I am missing my Girls Night Out tonight!  Some friends and I get together the 2nd Wednesday of each month for food and drinks.  Our go-to place is Rumba…really for the Mojitos and Nam bread.  We sometimes throw in a movie.  My favorite is when we add something like Yoga, a walk, or PureBarre to the night with dinner afterward.  We had to postpone until next week and I’m just in a funk as I need this “fix” each month and now I have to wait another week!  It doesn’t help that partner-in-crime Elizabeth is happily drinking wine at her GNO just a few houses down from me….grrrrrrr…..So, my question to all of our lady readers is this: where do you like to go for a Girls Night Out?  Please comment in the “comment section” and we will write a blog about Girls Night Out: the Nashville Way in the not too distant future.  Thanks for all the input!

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

The lodge is gorgeous at night.

Trying new vacation spots takes a little bit of courage.  This past April our family ventured to Miami’s South Beach only to stay at a hotel that specialized in generous sized women wearing not so generously sized thong bikinis, luxuriating and lathering poolside!  You are thinking to yourself, “What do you expect,  you were in South Beach.” Yeah…yeah.

So, when my birthday came around a few weeks ago, my darling husband said, “Let’s go to Atlanta. The Ritz has incredible deals going on.”  My initial reaction was “Book it!”.  Is there anything better than sitting at the bar in the Ritz in Buckhead anticipating their 500+ count sheets?  But, then I started considering, “What do I really want from my rare foray away from our three daughters?”

What I really wanted was a slower pace with the outdoors mixed in.

My friend Betsy mentioned the Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, TN.  The minute I heard it was owned by Blackberry Farms I was sold.  The Dancing Bear Lodge is a little bit of heaven on this Earth.  The property is a combination of a huge lodge (it feels like a hunting lodge) with combinations of 1 & 2 bedroom cabins.  We stayed in a darling one bedroom cabin with a fireplace and hot tub.  And, just as I expected, there were touches of Blackberry Farm’s magic everywhere like the comfy leather chairs by the fireplace, the terry cloth bathrobes, the down comforters and the great linens.  The word I conjure up is tasteful.  Everything was simply tasteful.

The sense of seclusion is magical at Dancing Bear Lodge.

Townsend offers many possibilities for exercise or you can be a total slug and read books all day. The Great Smoky Mountains are at your backdoor as are many rivers for rafting.  The Dancing Bear Lodge rents bike and has trails all through the property. What I loved most about Townsend is its pedestrian friendly nature.  Bike paths and walking paths are everywhere.

Once you have had your fill of whatever suits you for the day, you can look forward to relaxing at the lodge. We made 8PM dinner reservations, perfect timing for the end of the day.  Strolling up the lane to the lodge with a full moon, bottle of nice wine in hand and anticipation of a gourmet dinner is about a close to Nirvana as it gets.

Don't underestimate a romatic getaway with your husband.

The dinner was divine:  fresh trout, crispy duck, roasted chicken. Incredible desserts and a full wine list in the event you don’t want to pay the $15 corkage fee.  After dinner, we grabbed a port and sat on the front porch gazing at the full moon and enjoying the breeze.

The meals are lovely: simple, using local purveyors.

I always said my favorite birthday was my 8th birthday:  I had a store bought cake and party at Overton Park.  Oh, and the policeman stopped by so we offered him a piece of cake.  Well, I think this one even tops that!

So, instead of a present, consider a mini-trip for your next big day.  ”People who spend money on experiences are happier than those who buy “stuff,”according to a study from San Francisco State University (as quoted in this month’s Shape magazine).  Being just three hours away, Dancing Bear can be your happy booster as well.

Rates vary depending of cabin size.  $139 – $399

All rates include an incredible continental breakfast.

Dancing Bear Lodge
137 Apple Valley Way
Townsend,TN  37882
1.800.369.0111

www.dancingbearlodge.com

© 2009 – 2011, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Peering in the window, my eye caught a complete section of darling espadrilles and a sign: yellow dot $29, red dot $39, green dot $49.  I love espadrilles and wedge sandals for the summer.

Curious???  Well, it’s smack dab in the middle of Green Hills!  Harlin Whitley (a proud Hillsboro High School graduate) owns Red Door Shoes and designs shoes under the label of Mariana.  Not only are the shoes manufactured with a green environmental consciousness: they are darn cute.  When asked to explain the green angle, it is all about using vegetable dies and their impact on the earth.  The process makes the leather soft and malleable; all of the Brazilian factories are certified.

Erin Michael espadrilles $29-$39

mariana pumps $39

men's shoes for $49

Harlin has been in the shoes business forever, cutting his teeth at Genesco.  As a wholesaler, he sells to 400 boutiques across the US, one of them being POSH. Because of his many contacts, he is continually getting overruns from all over the country.  In fact, he has an entire wall of shoes left over from the now defunct Graces.  If someone needs to move inventory, (including purses, clothing and jewelry), they’re likely to call Harlin.

As he walked me through the store, he paused at a display of men’s shoes. “Look at the lines of these shoes,” he mused,  “They look like Cole Haan, don’t they?  That’s because they are made from the exact same molds in a factory that used to produce Cole Hahn.  Basically, they are the exact same shoe.”  Except that they cost $49.00!!!

Again, back to the curious question of, “How can you sell shoes so inexpensively?”  (There is an incredible amount of goods being sold in this town that are truly high quality at really low prices.)  Harlin explained to me that last September was D-Day and the markets became flooded with so much unsold inventory that you could buy for Pennies on the dollar.  Harlin’s sources=low prices for us.  The continual foot traffic from Rebecka Vaughan and Brushfire Pottery has made Red Door Shoe outlet an instant success.

Shipments arrive daily, like the  case of Anne Klein shoes being unpacked when I was there.   There is a backroom with only sample sizes and last shoes in the run for $15-$19.

With prices so low,  buy some shoes, then treat yourself to lunch in the Hill Center.  Lunch may cost more than your shoes!

Red Door Shoe Outlet
(In the Calico Corner strip mall)
4004 Hillsboro Road
Nashville, TN
phone:  615-292-2945
Monday – Saturday  10A-5:30PM

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.