When I travel, I really like to seek out local goods and shops, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out “where the locals would go”. In order to share some of my favorite finds in different cities (and countries!), I created a “My Faves” resource, broken down my state. I hope it will help guide someone to a great shop they otherwise may not have found! If you know of a great shop from your travels, please tell me about it in the comments below.
Happy Gifting!
Wow - where did fall go? It seems as if the summer just ended and now we're on the cusp of the biggest shopping season of the year. While most everyone is mapping out their Black Friday shopping, I know that most of you are mapping out your Small Business Saturday shopping for November 26th - right? I thought so...in that case, let me introduce you to a lovely shop in Nolensville, TN - fresh blue mornings.
the shop is a bit hidden - it's on the lower, back side of the strip center that houses other shops and restaurants. image southern giftologist.
I was introduced to this shop a year or so ago by my friend, Meredith, who lives in the area. We visited around the holidays and I found these awesome sheets of retro holiday wrapping paper which I loved. So, I wanted to get back over there to see what holiday (and non-holiday) goodies Laura, the owner, had stocked.
holiday goodies - including a retro holiday wrap pack with twine, washi tape and tags. image southern giftologist.
So what can you expect to find at fresh blue mornings? Well, aside from the very cool old-school pink handset telephone that serves as Laura's business phone, the shop is full of grown-up party supplies, cards, candles, notepads, fancy matchbooks, washi tape, stamps, gift wrap, stationery, pens, pencils...basically great gift options!
this pack of prints was less than $20 - they could be framed or hung from clips on the wall..a fun gift for a teen or college student. image southern giftologist.
So be sure to check out fresh blue mornings on Shop Small Saturday or anytime you're in the Nolensville, TN area and say hi to Laura! Happy Gifting!
the pink telephone! image fresh blue mornings
Did you make it out to Porter Flea's Summer Market this past weekend in Nashville? I did and, as usual, left with a bag full of goodies and a list of new artisans/makers to follow. My first Porter Flea was at Marathon Village several years ago and I was hooked. My favorite Porter Flea was at Cornelia Fort Airport - not that you asked. Some of my favorite things have been purchased at Porter Flea (like my Modern Arks record cabinet from the Cornelia Fort year). What I love most about this event is that my shopping moods are different at each one; thus, what I buy totally depends on my mood that particular day and there are so many FABULOUS vendors to choose from!
Usually, I drag my husband along to these events. At first he was a reluctant participant but a few years ago, he was zeroing in on cool items and started buying his own stuff. Last year, I got my friend, Jenna, to attend for the first time...I ran into her Friday night at the preview market and the next day she was texting me pictures of all her cool finds. This year, I introduced two more friends to the Porter Flea experience - I gotta admit I was worried. One friend lives in Nashville and is a choosy shopper - I love that she shares my cutthroat shopping approach when it comes to mall shopping, but Porter Flea...I wasn't sure how she would take to it. The moment we stepped through the doors it was if we stepped into Willy Wonka's candy factory and my worries melted away.
My friend got these beautiful leather coasters from Pantote. Image Courtney Faighes.
My other friend was visiting from out-of-town and also has a very refined shopping palate. She couldn't make the Friday preview market so I was nervous about her attending the frenzy on Saturday and advised her to get there as soon as possible after opening. I received a text 30 minutes in "I am loving Porter Flea!" and relief swept over me. She returned home with her own fabulous finds from Saturday's market.
So, on to my true mission for this blog post - what I bought at the Summer Market! I elected this method as opposed to clogging up everyone's Instagram feed, so I hope you enjoy a peek inside my shopping bag, so to speak...and get thee to Porter Flea's next market - you won't be disappointed!
From the top:
As I've mentioned before, I love finding local shops that carry local products - I am continually amazed at how many great local food makers and artisans we have in Nashville. With my day job in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, it's hard to find stores in that area that specialize in all things local. But, thankfully one does exist! I'm excited to introduce you to Southern Jerky Co. located on Seaboard Lane in Brentwood - the Franklin part of Brentwood, as I call it. I first tried Southern Jerky at the Taste of Tennessee Wine Festival a couple months back. At the end of the festival I went back to purchase and the line was at least 15 people long (great for her, bad for me) so I decided to make a visit to their storefront one day - and that day was a couple of weeks ago.
Inside Southern Jerky Co. Image southern giftologist.
I wasn't sure what to expect (other than jerky, obviously) but what I found was also a wide array of local products. Jennifer, one of the owners, was on duty when I stopped in and graciously gave me the rundown of the Southern Jerky products and invited me to try as many samples as I wanted. They make jerky (beef and chicken) and these delicious protein bars. I loved the location and the product selection! Southern Jerky can also put together gift baskets of the products they carry - a great gift for any occasion. With this weekend being Father's Day, they will have representatives from some of the brands they carry in-store on Friday and Saturday offering samples of their goodies, so if you're still looking for a gift (or treats) for Dad, this is your place! Check out their Facebook page for the latest happenings.
So next time you find yourself in Cool Springs, be sure to stop in Southern Jerky, pick up some delicious products and say "Hi" to Jennifer. Happy gifting!
Yummy items that came home with me! Image southern giftologist.
The green flag has been waved and the 2015 holiday shopping season has begun (at least for those of us who didn't finish our shopping 2 months ahead of time)! Traditional retailers have been tempting us with their Black Friday deals for weeks, but today I want to talk about my favorite post-Thanksgiving shopping event - Small Business Saturday.
Image Pinterest
Basically, the day was created to encourage shoppers to get out and support smaller, local shops within their community (which, personally, I feel we should do much more frequently than one day a year). So, I'd like to encourage each of you to save some of your Black Friday budget to spend at locally-owned retailers in your area tomorrow, Saturday, November 28th. Be sure to post pictures of your Small Business Saturday purchases on social media with #southernggifts so we can see all your awesome finds!
Happy {Small Business} Shopping!
Ok, so the holidays are fast approaching - have you started thinking about your gift list yet? Here's an idea for those of us who exchange gifts over the holidays with friends or family that live in another state - consider a "Local for Local" gift exchange!
Nashville goods. Image southern giftologist.
The concept is simple - agree on a dollar amount (or not!) with the only criteria being that the gift must contain locally-made or sourced goods from each respective state or city. How easy is that?! And what a great way for each of you to seek out and discover local goods not only from where you live but also from another area!
Does your recipient like to cook? Your gift could be as simple as a local cookbook!
So if you and a buddy decide on a local for local gift exchange, post a photo on social media with #southernggifts so we can all see the cool stuff you gave and received! Note: You could also apply this concept to "secret santa" and "white elephant" exchanges that you're involved in.
Local goodness. Image southern giftologist.
Happy gifting!
Now that Halloween is over, the countdown to the biggest gift-giving season of the year has begun - but there is no need for anyone to panic! There is still plenty of time to figure out what to gift everyone on your list and I'm going to do my very best to help point you in the right direction. There are several local, holiday markets on the horizon that would provide a wonderful opportunity to think - and buy - outside the gift box this season.
Happening Friday, November 20th (noon - 7pm) and Saturday, November 21st (9am - 6pm) is the MADE South Holiday Market at The Factory in Franklin. This is a ticketed event for both days - $15.00 in advance; $19.00 at the door. I attended their first event a couple of months ago and it was chock-full of wonderful goods by regional vendors. Get more info here or check out my previous blog post about their last market here.
Image MADE South
You're going to want to clear your calendar the weekend of December 4th - 6th for these next two markets. As I mentioned a couple of blog posts ago, Porter Flea is back for their holiday market Friday, December 4th (ticketed event 6pm - 9pm) and Saturday, December 5th (free event 10am - 5pm) featuring an amazing roster of artisans and their handmade goods. This event takes place at Silver Point Studios in East Nashville. Click here for more info or check out my previous blog post.
Image Porter Flea
Also that weekend, there's a NEW holiday market taking place Saturday, December 5th (10am - 6pm) and Sunday, December 6th (noon - 5pm) - the WEHO Holiday Market & Art Crawl at the Track One building in the Wedgewood-Houston area of Nashville. This free market promises to bring together the "best of art, fashion, design and vintage" and will include artisans and vendors from Nashville and the surrounding region. This event is in conjunction with both the First Saturday Art Crawl in the area and the 2nd Annual Designers in Music City event presented by The WJA Nashville Chapter. Get more information about the WEHO market here.
Image WEHO Market
In case you're wondering, yes, I plan to attend all three markets! If you go, please tag your photos with #southernggifts so I can see all the awesome goods you find. Happy gifting!
I understand - life gets busy and shopping for gifts can become a burden or chore. Next thing you know, you're stressing out about that gift for "insert occasion here" that you need to find but time to do so is what you really need. Wouldn't it be great if there was an online shop where you could find unique, local gifts to send for any occasion? Well there is! Today, I'd like to introduce you to Nashville-based High Note Gifts.
The Bourbon Bundle. Image High Note Gifts.
This online shop offers the best in locally-made goods from the Nashville area. They create their own gift combinations but will also work with you to customize gifts to meet your gifting needs. Want your gift to include certain local products? They can do that! Best of all, they work within any budget to make sure your gift is perfect for your recipient and for your wallet. Additionally, they offer corporate and special event gift services - just contact them with details of your occasion and budget and they'll work on creating a gift to fit your needs.
Just For Her gift. Image High Note Gifts.
For the holiday season - Halloween through New Years - they're offering special holiday-themed gifts. I follow them on social media and love seeing their creative ideas!
Trick or Treat basket. Image High Note Gifts.
So what are some occasions where you might find High Note Gifts to be your go-to source? Pretty much any gifting occasion! Get well, housewarming, birthday, welcome-to-Nashville, farewell-Nashville or simply a thinking-of-you gift.
Welcome Home gift - I think this would make a fantastic housewarming gift! Image High Note Gifts.
So next time you find yourself struggling to find a gift for that upcoming occasion, consider letting High Note Gifts take the stress from you and put together a custom, local gift that's perfect for your recipient.
Happy gifting!
My day job requires semi-regular travel between Nashville and Birmingham and several months ago I noticed an "attraction sign" for Belle Chèvre Creamery just over the Alabama state line. This past week, I decided to venture off the beaten path of I-65 and travel 5 miles to the center of Elkmont, AL to visit the tasting room and shop at Belle Chèvre - and I was so glad that I did!
The cheese board. Image southern giftologist.
I managed to arrive shortly after they opened at 10:00 a.m. and was greeted by Julie who promptly offered me a cup of freshly-made French press coffee and samplings of their locally-made goat cheeses and ice creams. The space was bright and relaxing - a great little out-of-the-way stop. Not only do they offer their products for sale, but they also serve breakfast and lunch items if you need a bite to eat. The shop also offers other items such as hats, soaps, t-shirts and various other goods.
The tasting station at Belle Chèvre. Image southern giftologist.
Image southern giftologist
So what does any of this have to do with gift giving? I’m so glad you asked! Their goat cheeses were delicious and I’ve seen a few of them available at Whole Foods here in Nashville. It would make a great item to bring to a dinner party, get-together with friends or to serve guests at your next party or girl’s night in…just add some crackers and wine! Or, as a gift to yourself, stop in at Belle Chèvre next time you find yourself traveling around the Alabama/Tennessee state line and take a moment to savor some delicious, locally-made products!
In just a couple of days we'll flip the calendar over to September - does anyone else feel 2015 is quickly zooming by or is it just me? There are some people out there (I am typically not one of them) that start holiday shopping by this time. There are still others who - legend tells me - are DONE with their shopping by this point!
I think this year will be an exception to my early holiday shopping rule. Each year, I look forward to attending any local maker markets where I can shop for unique, local gifts to give during the holidays or for any upcoming occasion. This year, there's a new event taking place at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, TN on Saturday, September 12th - the MADE SOUTH Market - and I can't wait to check it out!
In case you're not familiar with MADE SOUTH, check out their website here. They offer subscription gifts whereby they send a "curated shipment of Southern goods to your door every three months". You can purchase a quarterly, four-box or one-box option. It's a great gift idea for a birthday, "welcome to the neighborhood", or for that friend or loved one who moved away and misses the South. Maybe it's a great gift for yourself to check out some new, regional goods.
How fun are these paper coasters? Image MADE SOUTH
Maybe you can see why I'm so excited about attending this market event! According to their website, there will be 80 artisans and makers from all over the South in attendance. A quick view of the vendor list shows a lot of Nashville representation but also many other vendors from surrounding states.
Image MADE SOUTH
Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door - the link to purchase tickets can be found here. I'll report back later next month on my market finds!
Plan on attending? Let me know in the comments below!
Bonjour, mes amis! After a brief break, I'm back and happy to share with you this wonderful French market located on Bandywood Drive in Nashville. I've followed Little Gourmand on Instagram since it opened late last year and first visited Easter weekend to purchase a box of beautiful macarons from Sweet Darling Patisserie. Last weekend, I had an opportunity to visit (during a torrential downpour) and was greeted by the lovely owner, Guenievre Milliner, who so graciously answered my questions about many of the products she carries in her store.
As you know, dear readers, my mission is to find gift ideas outside of the ordinary and yet stay within a reasonable price point. Little Gourmand is a French market with wonderful, unique products to fit any budget. So, I'd like to share just a few of the things that caught my eye during my recent visit.
Jars of honey...French honey! Imagine one of these paired with a loaf of artisan bread, a box of tea or alone as a "hey, you're sweet!" gift to brighten someone's day.
Image southern giftologist
Chocolate helps alleviate many woes in life and Little Gourmand has your chocolate needs covered. How about these chocolate spreads? They look good enough to eat straight from the jar with a spoon but since we're not savages, how about picking up a box of butter cookies that are 2 shelves over at Little Gourmand to pair with? Or ask Guenievre for her recommendations on how to serve this chocolate goodness.
Image southern giftologist
Little Gourmand has many gift options that will satisfy any foodie or someone who likes to cook: gourmet salts, oils, mustards, tapenades, a cold case with many specialty foods - the list goes on - but you can also find non-food items such as cookbooks and these gorgeous dish towels which Guenievre tells me many of her customers frame and hang in their kitchen.
Image southern giftologist
Back to my original visit Easter weekend - the macarons! Every Thursday, Little Gourmand receives a delivery of macarons from Little Darling Patisserie. When I visited last Saturday they were already sold out, but I made a return trip this weekend when I saw the picture below posted by Little Gourmand on Instagram. A box of these would make a wonderful gift for most any occasion: new baby, birthday, welcome home, just because...
Looks too pretty to eat...but I'm going to! Image Little Gourmand Instagram
Whether you live in Nashville or are planning to visit, I encourage you to stop by Little Gourmand the next time you're in need of a unique gift or just want to pick up some special products for a dinner party or to keep at home. Also, starting next week, Little Gourmand will begin serving pastries and sandwiches on-site! I can't wait to plan my next visit to enjoy a croissant and espresso and to visit with Guenievre.
Au revoir - and happy gifting!
Add a little something special to that next celebration! Image southern giftologist
