Fab Find of the Day--GAP Wedge Bootie

Pierre Hardy peep-toe wedge bootie for GAP
$195

Heel lovers rejoice! The season's hottest shoe just became a little more affordable. These wedge booties from Pierre Hardy are a steal at $195 and go great either dressed up or down. Sure, you should probably be shopping for everyone on your list, but we won't tell! Take advantage of this great buy. Your wardrobe will thank you! The darling peep-toe footwear is a special to GAP's designer editions. To get the look, go online at www.gap.com or check out one of the select GAP retail stores. 

Fab Find of the Day-- Volunteer Traditions

Tristar Bow-ties in Orange & Red

Today's "Fab Find" comes from Volunteer Traditions. In the Spring of 2006, a couple of friends got together and decided to design a line of products that reflected the pride and traditions of the state of Tennessee. Now, four years later, Volunteer Traditions can be found in several retail locations across the state and beyond. The quality line of bow-ties, tees and hats can be purchased at Mast General Store, M.S. McClellan, Wm. King Clothiers, Bink's Outfitters, Westwin Clothiers, Initial This, You're Invited and The Hermitage. You may also purchase items from the Volunteer Traditions website by going to volunteertraditions.com. 

Fab Find of the Day--Diane Von Furstenberg Kindle Case

The Kallie Clutch

Today's "Fab Find" are the kindle covers by Diane Von Furstenberg. These gadget accessories are stylish, sophistacted and fun gifts for anyone on your list. All of the cases are outfitted in an ultra suede interior or canvas twill blend so that your kindle stays protected while in transport. Other special touches to the case include a shiny gold DVF clasp and convenient business card slots on the inside cover. To purchase one of these darling cases go to Amazon.com. Hurry, this hot item won't last long! 

Fab Find of the Day-- Sac à Baguette

Have you ever set out for a weekend of leisure, one filled with bakeries, small boutiques, fresh flowers or a flea market, wishing you had a larger, more stylish bag to carry?

Well, search no more. Sac à Baguette has created a sophisticated and most of all, sustainable tote with the urban female in mind. Going to the supermarket? Don’t let those flimsy reusable bags slow you down. Pick up groceries in your sac à baguette tote, and continue on with your day. The individual compartments make sure purchases stay in place, while sturdy materials ensure groceries don’t end up smashed along the way.

Fab Find of the Day-- Blackbox Case

The 32" Blackbox Case ($130)

Sometimes you don't have to do much to find that perfect gift; Sometimes the perfect gift just comes to you out of nowhere. While looking for kitchen products to feature in an upcoming issue, I stumbled on these great laptop cases for the MacBook Pro. They make a great gift for dad, brother  or even boyfriend. Each case is made from solid oak in a manly, yet sleek and sophisticated design, with a felt interior lining for added protection against scratching. The company behind such fabulous  products is Blackbox Case. To purchase a case, go to their website at blackboxcase.com. 15% of the purchase price goes to charity! 

Nashville's Tis the Season

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: 21st Annual West Tennessee Healthcare Gala

Saturday, November 13^th, 2010—  The Jackson community was full of the holiday spirit as nearly 500 guests attended the 21^st Annual West Tennessee Healthcare Gala. This year’s theme,  “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” was a particularly merry event whereby guests were greeted by Santa upon arrival. Dinner was provided in the eloquent Carl Perkins Civic Center ballroom.

The evening produced over $100,000 in donations to the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation. All proceeds will be given to the Ayers Children’s Medical Center and the Kirkland Cancer Center.

Fashionable and Functional: Stay Warm in Style

When it comes to choosing an outfit, you don’t have to choose fashion over function. This winter, stay warm in style with a few accessories that are sure to be favorites this season. Here are three practical, yet adorable looks for an adventure out into the cold. 

Puckered Salutation Scarf from Anthropologie

   

This ivory scarf is a great addition to any outfit. Throw it on over a plaid flannel shirt or a pea coat for an extra warming effect. Check out anthropologie.com for more fashionable winter accessories! 

Zip Leather Gloves from J.CrewGloves make a great winter season accessory. Check out these from J.Crew. The zipper detail and cashmere lining make any outdoor adventure feel extra luxurious. 

Yukon Classic Bomber Hat from Eddie Bauer

Say goodbye to the toboggan, and hello to this year's newest cold weather trend--the bomber hat. The inside shearling lining is indescribably soft. Keep your ears cozy and face warm this season with one of these classic looks from eddiebauer.com or llbean.com. 

For more fabulous styles check out the December issue of At Home Tennessee Magazine! 

Text by Kelly Kriegshauser

Winterize Your Skin!

Even though the cold winter weather hasn’t quite reached us yet, it is never too late to winterize your skin! It is best to start exfoliating and moisturizing before the cold hits so that your skin is prepared. Here are some great products that will do the job and leave your skin feeling extra soft this winter season!


Kiehl’s Moisturizer
I recommend this moisturizer to everyone! It is light, but heavily moisturizes your face and body. It even has SPF 15 for those of you who will be outdoors or hitting the slopes. The best thing about Kiehl’s lotion is that a little goes a long way. One bottle of Kiehl’s lotion lasts an unbelievable long time. Check out Kiehls.com for more products that can winterize your skin. Grab a free sample of Kiehl’s lotion on the website.


Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm                                                               You can find Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm almost anywhere. Burt’s Bees is 100% natural, full of coconut and sunflower oils and rich vitamins your lips need for the cold weather. The beeswax seals in the moisture and keeps your lips hydrated for longer. Burt’s Bees Beeswax is only $3 on burtsbees.com!

C.O. Bigelow Rice and Bamboo Gentle Exfoliate
The C.O. Bigalow Rice and Bamboo Exfoliate is gentle on the skin, yet the rice and bamboo do a great job of removing dead skin and pollutants from  your body. C.O. Bigalow Rice and Bamboo Exfoliate improves and tones your skin, leaving it soft and radiant! You can find this product, along with many other great products to winterize your skin on bigelowchemists.com!  


Check out the December issue of At Home Tennessee Magazine for even more great products!! 
Text by Kelly Kriegshauser

Tinsel and Treasure

Knoxville Fun!

We got to spend the better part of last week hanging out in Knoxville! We had so much fun! Why you ask? Our fabulous fall fashion shoot took place there, of course! Check our October issue for more on that.

In the meantime, check out some of the fun things we did in Knoxville!

We love the Four Points Sheridan!

Yummm Ritas on Market Square!

Hanging out on Gay Street

The window of the S&W Grand

People watched at Market Square

Sampled Gelato from Coolato Gelato

Wandered around Old City

More from Old City

Ate at the Tomato Head! (We did a LOT of eating!)

What are some of your favorite things in Knoxville?

An Evening of Wine

Wind down this month with a wine tasting event. Whether you decide to visit a local winery with friends for an afternoon of perfect pairings or you choose to host a blind tasting party in your own home, At Home Tennessee’s Stephanie Alexander has all kinds of tips, from adorable cork place cards to tasting techniques.
Text Stephanie Alexander, event planner| PHOTOGRAPHY Phindy Studios
FLORALS Terry White, The English Garden| VENUE The Winery at the Belle Meade Plantation


This month is all about wine. When planning your tasting party, you’ve got multiple options—we’ve provided tips for two versions of a wine tasting event here. The first type of wine tasting is one in which you and your guests visit a local winery. The second type is a blind-tasting party hosted at your home.
If you’re lucky enough to live close to a winery, you’re in for a treat. You can gather several close friends and schedule a tour and tasting and let the experts handle all the details! If you visit a local winery, you’ll get to taste wines that are exclusive to that location as well as enjoy an expert-guided tasting. If you’re new to wine tasting, this can be a great way to spend time with friends and learn together.
This month’s party took place at the Winery at Belle Meade Plantation. The winery opened November 2009 and offers tastings seven days a week. Located in the heart of the city of Belle Meade, the winery’s grapes are grown in Hampshire, Tennessee, south of Columbia. Keg Springs Winery has produced award-winning bottles and its talented wine maker, Brian Hamm, is also at the helm of crafting Belle Meade’s wines.




Meet the Wines: An Overview of the Winery at Belle Meade’s Bottles
•Blackberry A deep, dark, sweet wine with pronounced berry flavor, this wine is a perfect companion for flavorful cheeses, pork tenderloin or ribs, a full-bodied steak or as a reduction for a sauce. It also makes a great ingredient for a host of unique recipes, such as Easy Blackberry Cake, available on Belle Meade’s website.
•Muscadine is a traditional Tennessee wine that was made on the plantation for more than a century. Muscadine is a true American grape and is recognized today for its high antioxidant qualities. Many muscadine vines still grow wild along the fencerows surrounding the plantation. This wine is best served chilled on a front porch while rocking!
•Carriage House White Made from a Tennessee-grown grape, Carriage House White surprises you upon opening with the aroma of apple pie and citrus. Once on the tongue, the fruity characteristics continue as this semi-dry, full-bodied wine offers a crisp taste of Tennessee. Serve as other whites with seafood, chicken, nuts and cheese or as an aperitif.
•Blush The best of Tennessee grapes joined to create a blush that makes an ideal light sipping wine as well as an accompaniment to a wide range of foods. Serve slightly chilled at your next picnic, or dress it up this fall with Thanksgiving turkey.



If you don’t have access to a winery or would rather host a party in your home, hold a blind tasting for your friends. To start, find a fabulous wine-themed invitation to send to your guests. Because of the nature of wine tastings and the discussions they evoke, keep your guest list small, between six and 12 people. Also, on your invitation ask each guest to bring one of their favorite wines to the party.

Themed Tastings
You may want to limit the wines you will taste to a certain type. For example, sample all whites in summertime or specify that the bottles brought should be organic. Or try some of these fun suggestions:
Grape Geography If you want to taste wines from a certain region, such as South America, make sure to specify that on your invitation.
Budget Bottles Try putting a price limit on the bottles your guests bring. It’s fun to see what $15 or less tastes like!

The great thing about wine tasting parties is that they can be relatively easy to organize. Keep the food selection simple and allow the wines to be center stage this evening. Do serve light hors d’oeuvres that pair well with the type of wines; experts recommend providing snacks like fresh breads, artisan cheeses and crackers to help clean the palate between wines.
If you have a plethora of wineglasses on hand, the best option is to allow the guests a different wine glass for each type of wine. Another option is to rent inexpensive glassware from a party rental company to ensure that each guest gets a fresh glass for each wine. On the other hand, if you do not have enough glasses, provide a bucket that guests can pour their wine into between tastings.
Once all the guests have arrived, cover each wine bottle label (do-it-yourself instructions follow), affix a number to the bottle and set the wine bottles in numerical order.
Pass out your guests’ wine journals, which feature a wine tasting grid (instructions to follow), or provide simple notepads or scorecards with a wine tasting grid. Encourage your guests to take notes so that they can compare with other guests after the tasting.
Once everyone has sampled all the wines, it’s time to reveal what each one is!
Ask participants to write down the name of the wine next to a number in their journal. Also, have everyone vote on his or her favorite wine of the night. Give a small gift to the guest who brought the evening’s favorite bottle!



For Do it Yourself tips and more, pick up the August issue of At Home TN!

A Younger You

In our August issue, we took a look at some great anti-aging products. Here are a few of our favorites

Lavera Anti-Aging Sun Screen

lavera.com

Josie Maran Aragon Oil Moisturizing Stick

josiemarancosmetics.com

Skin 2 Skin White Tea Anti-Aging Face Wash

skin2skincare.com

Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus

clinique.com

Trail of (Blood, Sweat) Tears

Mandi and baby Rinks

Ashley and Buddy Lee

At Home Tennessee writer Mandi Gaskin discovers that all you need in life is laughter, family and a good map.

Text Mandi Gaskin | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy Mandi Gaskin

As I write to you at this very moment, I am unable to bend my legs or walk without looking like I have been on a horse for 12 straight hours. Why, you ask? Allow me start from the beginning.
Like many of our fellow Americans, we have been cutting back during this recession and getting back to the basics. After all, isn’t that what life is all about— the simple things? And so on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my husband Ashley and I decided to get creative and go old-school by having a family picnic in the park (just call us “The Cleavers”). We packed up baby Rinks and Buddy Lee the dog and headed off for a day of family bliss. We had a wonderful lunch of crustless pimento cheese sandwiches courtesy of yours truly (a.k.a. June Cleaver) while conversing about how pleasant it was to stretch out under the summer sun. In fact, we were so proud of ourselves for being thrifty that we thought, “Why not stretch out our family fun and go on a stroll on one of the nearby trails?” So once again we packed up Rinks in the stroller and Buddy Lee on the leash and off to the woods we went. You might even say we had a pep in our step; enjoying the scenery and smelling the fresh scent of pine, while appreciating the simple things in life that money can’t buy. Sure, there were hills that were at least 45 degree angles, but I welcomed the challenge since I am still trying to lose the last 15 pounds from pregnancy (or maybe from my excessive love of chocolate chip cookies). We were having great conversation along the way, so good in fact that we looked at the time and realized we had been walking for an hour and were on our third mile.
And as Paul Harvey puts it, here is the rest of the story:

2:15 p.m., Mile 4: I casually start to wonder when this trail is going to end and begin looking around for any signs of an exit. I don’t see one, but I decide not to panic because we are still appreciating the beautiful scenery on our blissful family outing.

2:33 p.m., Mile 5: We look at each other nervously as there is clearly no immediate end in sight, but neither of us wants to admit it, so we mumble something about needing some exercise and laugh uncomfortably. I look ahead to see the next hill coming up, which is starting to resemble Mt. Kilimanjaro.

2:48 p.m., Mile 6: My legs are in the third realm of hell, so I start pleading to God that if he would miraculously send a cab then I will never swear again. (He didn’t, so the hell with that.) The once beautiful scenery now looks uncannily like the forest in Hansel and Gretel, minus the breadcrumbs, which I would have willingly paid $1,000 dollars for at that very moment.

3:05 p.m., Mile 7: Ashley starts getting Walker’s Delirium, as I have now named it, and begins ranting on about how the trees are really alive and naming off flowers that look like trumpets. I know this should cause me to worry, but my big toe is starting to go numb and I am pretty sure it’s bleeding through my sock which of course conjures my inner hypochondriac telling me that surely it will have to be amputated.

3:23 p.m., Mile 8: At this point Rinks has practically spent a full day of daycare in his stroller as he has already played, napped, eaten lunch, had a snack and then fallen back asleep. Again.

3:41 p.m., Mile 9: Ashley starts negotiating who would be the first to be sacrificed for food so the rest of us could survive. Buddy Lee wins by unanimous vote (our apologies to PETA).

4:04pm, Mile 10: Like a veil unfolding from the heavens, we see civilization sprawling out before us and we practically start hugging and crying. But since we can’t really move at that point, we just give each other knowing smiles. Because we know that when nature calls again, we will be heading straight for the nearest Chili’s.

Mandi is a writer and a mom. She is married to Ashley, who for reasons she cannot understand, never uses a map. You can follow her on her blog or check back for her monthly columns in At Home Tennessee.

For this article and more, check out the August issue of At Home Tennessee on stands now!!

Tennessee Tailgate in Style

Summer is coming to an end and the kids are headed back to school. This only means one thing: Football season is just around the corner! Below are some ideas to show your Vol pride, whether you’re at the game, tailgating, or just watching the game from home!

footballfanatics.com

This Columbia Tennessee shirt is great for all ages.

Footballfanatics.com

Will the Vols have another blackout this year? Stay prepared with this lightweight windbreaker.

Volplanet.com

This breezy summer dress is perfect for the lady of the tailgate.

footballfanatics.com

She'll feel like she's one of the squad with her very own Tennessee cheer outfit.

Volplanet.com

Don't forget your biggest fan! Pets tailgate in style with this collar bandanna.

Coming Soon: Back to Bama-- Essentials for a Crimson Tide Tailgate

September Shoot: Behind the Scenes

While shooting our September home we couldn’t help but be amazed by the level of detail and artistry overflowing from Norbert and Sheryl Putnam’s Jackson, Tennessee home. Especially interesting were Sheryl Putnam’s hand-stitched designs and heart-warming accessories. The designer, who started her own company in 2002, says “I believe all women would like to do something creative with their life, they just don’t know where to begin.” As an antique collector and shop owner Sheryl has been involved in everything from upholstered furniture to sewn lavender pillows to vintage fur vests. Her most recent success, however, has been her prayer pockets. You can find these and other terrific pieces at Sherylputnamdesigns.com.

Truly a woman of many trades, it would only make sense that she find such a creative counterpart in her husband Norbert Putnam—life-long musician and producer. For the full story on this famous duo be sure to pick up a copy of our September issue or subscribe online at athometn.com.

New Designer Makes Home in Nashville

Joan Dress Cerise Silk Faille $288.00

Darling tiered skirts, bow-tie details and bright textures have us anxious for Leona’s fall collection to hit stores. Lauren Leonard, the creative force behind Leona, says “It’s about gaining the adoration of your boyfriend's parents and making him swoon all in one dress. It's a balancing act of charming and sexy.”

Swoon indeed, these looks we’re just what we were looking for when we began our September fashion pages. Leona offers the perfect mix for style you can wear now and into fall. The young designer, who recently moved to Nashville, is sure to be a hit. Leona can currently be found at Hemline boutique in Nashville or online at Leonacollection.com.

Stylish Splurges

In our August Issue (on stands now!) we look at some stylish splurges that you should spend your money on. Here are just a couple of those splurges!



"The perfect dress for almost any occasion and any season." -Suzanne Bishop from Frankie and Julians

Ali Ro Dress
available at Frankie and Julian’s,
Chattanooga, 423.266.6661



Rick Owens Biker Jacket
available at H. Audrey, Nashville
haudrey.com, 615.670.5701



Frye Vienna Lace Up Boot in tan
thefryecompany.com



"A great piece of jewelry is always a best splurge because it not only can make an old outfit look and feel new and exciting again, but it also can put an exclamation point on a fabulous new outfit. This statement piece can be worn in the day paired with comfy jeans and a white t-shirt, as well as in the evening with your favorite little black cocktail dress.”
-Debbie Swacker, Mam’selle

Virgins, Saints and Angels Magdalena necklace
available at Mam’selle, Jackson
731.668.2420

For these Stylish Splurges and more, check out the August issue of At Home TN magazine!

Guest Blogger The Fashionable Wife

This post originally appeared on The Fashionable Wife blog

Peach Cobbler



My grandmother makes the best peach cobbler. Not too doughy, not too sweet. It is absolutely delicious! Peach cobbler is one of hubby's favorite desserts, and it was time I learned how to make it!

So, this weekend after we went to the farmers market, I made Peach Cobbler with her. And now, lucky for you, I am sharing her recipe with you!

Maw-maw's Peach Cobbler:
Ingredients:
3/4 stick of butter
1 cup sugar (divided into 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup)
3/4 cup of self rising flour
3/4 cup of milk
Peaches (amount varies, depending on personal preference)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Start by boiling water and dropping in peaches for about 2 minutes. This makes it easier to peel the skin off the peaches.
2. Once the peaches are done, remove the skins an cut into pieces



3. Mix 1/4 cup sugar in with the peaches. This makes some juice.



4. Put butter in a dish and put in the oven until melted.
5. Mix in a separate bowl flour, sugar (3/4 cup) and milk.
6. Pour mixture in the bottom of the dish with the butter in it. Make sure to put your dish on a cookie sheet in case anything bubbles over in the oven.
7. Spoon in peaches in an even layer



8. Bake in oven for about an hour.




I like my peach cobbler warm and topped with ice cream! My Husband likes to add a little bit of cinnamon to his.

For more information about guest blogging, email naviotti@athometn.com