batch nashville

Have you guys heard of Batch Nashville?

I recently stumbled across their website and let's just say I'm picking up what they're laying down.

The concept? Each month Batch will deliver a box of local goodies right to your door. Ingredients, confections and other artisan products from local purveyors are pulled together for the company's themed monthly deliveries.

September's batch featured a "Rise and Shine" theme and included purveyors such as Haulin' Oats, our friend Rob at Garage Coffee Company, pancake mix from My Friend Who Loves to Cook, Dozen Bakery, TrueBee Honey, etc. Here's a peek at their cute packaging:

I'm bummed to have missed September's batch and October's is already sold out. Getting my order in for November now. Wouldn't these boxes make a thoughtful gift?

Check out Batch's website here.

(images via batch and style blueprint)

home & hill magazine

Yo, Tennesseans! Have you guys heard of the new quarterly magazine home & hill?

The quarterly publication is "a medley of in-depth cultural essays, culinary insights, travel literature and music features." In a similar vein as the popular Kinfolk, home & hill focuses exclusively on the Volunteer State.

a swell getup for...date night with the mister

Ah-the jumpsuit...such a passing fad...

Every few years it seems these make a comeback. I've always laughed them off as one of those trends our children would tease us for wearing one day. So how can it be that lately I can't stop daydreaming about owning one?

There is something so subtly sexy about a jumpsuit that feels perfect for a romantic night out with the mister.

The silhouette of this royal purple version is working in all the right ways--the wide, flowing legs and the tailored sleeveless top? Whoa, mama.

What a perfect piece to take you from warm summer nights to cooler fall evenings. Wouldn't this also look tasty with a buttery brown leather jacket?

A sparkly necklace, a smart clutch and a rocking pair of heels have me craving some candlelit canoodling at the Patterson House.

Get the look below.

Jumpsuit: halter belted jumpsuit, Warehouse, $120
Clutch: similar grey envelope clutch, Svpply, $100
Necklaces: crystal circle necklace and Venus Fly Trap crystal necklace, both J. Crew, $85 and 135
Watch: bow watch, Kate Spade, $195
Shoes: Sydney snakeskin sandals, J. Crew, $200
Lipstick: Luminous Fresh Pink Peach, YSL, $32
Eyeliner:  Crayon Yeux Liner in Earth Brown, Revlon, $12

(image via barrett adair)

billy reid shindig

S and I have been longtime fans of Billy Reid's. His clothes blend modern, rugged edge with Southern gentility. I'd be a liar to say that we've often been able to resist their charm.

Back in NYC we would frequent the shop on Bowery and 2nd. After all, where else in the East Village could you find the perfect gauzy white button up and Southern Foodways Alliance t shirt?

When we started coming down to Nashville last summer, we were stoked to learn that TN has an outpost. (see post here). Over the past year, we've gotten to be pretty good pals with the people who work there, and they've all been wonderfully supportive of the business venture that brought us back South.

So when our friend Bentley shared that Justin Townes Earle was playing a small show at the shop last night, let's just say we were more than a little stoked.

There were tasty snacks, strong whiskey cocktails and only about 50 people in attendance. JTE played most of our favorites. The setting made for a pretty rad way to see him perform...and we should know!

Check out a few seconds of  "Memphis in the Rain" to get a vibe for the low-lit show.

As for libations, Bentley was whipping up the signature "Billy." Recipe to follow in a later post!

P.S. S also left with this dapper pair of suede lace ups he scored for a steal. Not too shabby.

P.P.S. Did I mention that Nashville is awesome?

high waisted jeans

High waisted jeans are all the rage, but I assumed these would be one of those trends I would never try. Sure they are fabulously retro, but the wrong cut or wash can also scream MOM JEANS!

Our oh-so-fashionable friend C insisted that I try a pair so I caved and picked a pair of sweet indigo Elizabeths at Nashville denim mecca imogene + willie while we were in town last week.

The verdict? Mad love! They are stretchy and surprisingly the most flattering pants I own.  Who knew? I love how the legs are skinny instead of flared.

Buy a pair of your very own here.

(images via i+w; bottom photo by adrian morales)

hello there

Well, hello there! Remember me?

After an insane two weeks of work, travel and some serious steps toward a big life change, we are back to a sweltering NYC and back to work.

Daydreaming of our recent adventures in an attempt to fight off those office blues...

 We saw a college friend get married, visited with family, met Steve Earle in a parking lot, had a cannon ball contest and ate more than our fair share of delicious food.

Where did these magic events occur? On a whirlwind trip down South. Here are a few snaps from our adventures.

getting in the mood with a pre vacation JTE show at Webster Hall

Nashville honky tonks

 deliciousness at "meat and three" favorite At the Table (why yes, that is fried chicken)

eating our way through East Nashville: tacos, burgers, cocktails, oh my!

 the water tower in my hometown (read NYT article about it here)

a visit with my Grandma Nora and her gorgeous hydrangeas

before RM's wedding in Oxford

a late night date a John Currence's Snackbar

get ready...

for a swinging holiday weekend!

It's a special, long, last bit-of-summer sort of weekend so please, whatever you do, get down.

Before things get going, take a gander at this awesome collection of photos of the terribly romantic Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.

While I was down-and-out a few weeks ago following my wisdom tooth extraction we watched "The Long Hot Summer" starring the famous couple.

As the plot unfolds, the couple's chemistry was really fun to watch. Random factoid? The film is based on stories by William Faulkner.

(images courtesy marshall matlock, soundtrck collector and gdenny)

baxter knowlton

S and I were devastated to learn a few years ago that our favorite Oxford restaurant (and site of many of our early dinner dates) had closed.

L & M's was a wonderfully authentic, rustic Italian restaurant and salumeria on the town square. Sadly, their website is still kicking even if the kitchen isn't...

The restaurant had a wonderful ambience with deep mustard colored walls covered with oil paintings from Little Rock-based artist Baxter Knowlton.

I would love to save up and purchase one of Knowlton's pieces for our home one day. Not only do I love his work, but I'd love for us to dine under those same great pieces that overheard our first dinner conversations years ago.

Here are a few samples of Knowlton's works. Does anyone know a gallery where they are sold?

(images courtesy l & m's and arkansas arts council)

fern hair accessories

As a child in Mississippi, my great grandmother Vivian always had an exquisite collection of ferns. I remember them being so striking and beautiful placed both inside and outside of her home.

Independent jewelers Conroy & Wilcox's fern collection takes me back to visits there. Aren't their silver hair pieces lovely? A very nifty touch for a special occassion.

My personal favorite is the hair pin, but


a pair of fern barettes and the headband aren't bad either.

(images courtesy belle decor and conry & wilcox)

knife pleat skirt

While hanging out with my ever trendy sis-in-law in Nashville last weekend, she mentioned wanting a knife pleat skirt.

What a gorgeous idea! Don't they look light, breezy and kind in soaring temps?

Out of context, this skirt fact could seem a tad random. But this information came to light while we were standing in the middle of Billy Reid drooling over the skirt below. Notice the subtle purple pinstripe?

Pricey? You betcha, but here's the kicker. It was on sale! Half off to be exact.

No pressure, E, but between us girls, I still think you should get it.

P.S. Did I mention my love for Billy Reid? S scored two perfectly tailored shirts while we sipped cucumber infused water out of mason jars.

(images courtesy the sartorialist, billy reid, get kempt, the wonderlust journals and elevated southern)

nashville bound

Creeping out of NYC as we speak for a nice, long weekend in Nashville. S and I are SO very excited to spend time with the darling PeanutJB and to explore such an awesome city we haven't been to visit in quite some time.

Although I know temps in Tennessee are sure to be brutal, NYC is expected to pass the 100 degree mark while we are away. How cruel is that?

Speaking of cruel summers, this charming ditty from Nashville resident Karen Elson (the soon-to-be ex Mrs. Jack White) seems like a nice way to kick off our steamy, Southern adventure.

(image courtesy design*sponge)