Fall Travels: Blue Ridge Parkway

First, my apologies for the mega post. But as I think you'll see, the Blue Ridge Parkway* we traveled along last weekend was, for the most part, stunningly beautiful. Of course, it didn't start out that way...

In fact, it started out a lot more like this:



But let's back up a bit. On Friday night we ate dinner at the New York Times recommended Early Girl Eatery, in downtown Asheville. It was delicious, and the first time I've really noticed a difference between fresh, organic, local veggies and your standard supermarket fare.

The next morning was drippy and cloudy. This was our view for most of the day:



Nevertheless I was rocking an awesome outfit...



and we decided to brave the elements on two separate occasions: once to journey into a mountain laurel forest...



and the second time to explore a set of waterfalls just off the Parkway (Graveyard Fields, milepost 418).









That's about when it really started to rain, of course, so we called it quits for the day. Luckily the next morning dawned bright and sunny, and we headed back out to the Parkway. We began by driving to the top of Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi.





It was quite windy, which made for some interesting photo ops.



Most of the time we just tried to soak in the beauty all around us.




(Linville Falls, milepost 317)





It wasn't too difficult.

*For those of you who don't know, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile scenic highway that travels along the crests of the southern Appalachians and links Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

My new favorite...

...headband. From Bambako. Find it here.

Fall Travels: Serenbe

This past week I traveled to Serenbe in Palmetto, Georgia (about an hour outside Atlanta) for a photo shoot. Despite the previous days of near flooding, we had beautiful weather, and Serenbe itself couldn't have been more gorgeous. The entire community is a really interesting mix of rustic and modern, like the scratched wooden chairs paired with the steel-topped table in the kitchen of the house we stayed at, or the rickety antique metal furniture placed in front of sleek black walls.

My favorite parts? Besides everything, I'd have to say the house keys attached to cow bells, the Stables, and the Blue-Eyed Daisy Bakeshop. And the front porches - ohhhh the front porches. If you're looking for peace and quiet, or a place to gather friends and family for a wedding, give Serenbe a ring.

Fall Wreaths

Inspired by photos like this:


{from Matthew Mead}

I've really been wanting to make or buy a fall wreath, preferably with bittersweet. The one below, from the Marston House, is my first pick. They're built on an 18-inch vine base but the branches can extend 30 inches. Alas, they cost $75 + $20-$25 for shipping&handling, which is a little too much for my budget this year. But aren't they beautiful?



I next searched Etsy, where I found the option below from seller twoinspireyou. It's their Hint of Fall Wreath, which is again built on an 18-inch form but can extend to 27 inches. It's also $75 but shipping is included. Unlike the Marston House wreath, it's made of faux berries and leaves.





So I have a few options. I could try to find bittersweet vine for sale at a local farmer's market. There are a few near me but I have no idea if the vendors would sell bittersweet - it is considered worse than a weed, after all. I could also go the faux route and purchase the supplies from a craft supply store. I'm afraid it would look too... faux, though.

What do you think?

Board No. 49: Wild Roses

{Click to enlarge!}

Who's ready for fall? I am! I am! The top left bouquet was really what inspired this board - the mauvy purple, the deep pink, leaf green, burnished gold. I think it's a fresh take on fall colors, don't you?

The Details
Top row, left to right: bouquet photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo; tossing buds photo by Max Wanger via 100 Layer Cake; chocolate cake by Cannelle et Vanille

Second row: pink shoes photo by Sarah K. Chen; wreath table decor by Alison Events; lavender field portrait by Jose Villa

Third row: portrait by Sarah K. Chen; lace luminarias by Beth Helmsetter (photo by Jose Villa); purple maids dress photo by Leigh Miller

Fourth row: deep roses photo by Sarah K. Chen; gray suits from Martha Stewart Weddings; peach gallette from Ann&Ming on Flickr

Monday, Monday + White

via {this is glamorous}

Good morning, my loves! I apologize for the recent spotty posting, but I hope you all had fantastic weekends and are as ready as I am for another week. I have so many things I want to post - recent travels, party planning, outfit inspiration - now I just have to find the time to share it.

Fall inspiration board coming up soon!

My new favorite...

...cupcake liners. Available at Paper Orchid and a variety of other online retailers. This is the filigree design; I also like the butterfly and mini heart versions. And look at the colors they come in!

Thanks, Wanda!