nashville spotlight...new in town (kind of)

Melodie first spotted this cupcake place in February...I'm anxious to try them out. Sounds like they've got the best deal going in town ($1.50/cupcake)! Great write-up here.

nashville spotlight: pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!

It was such a treat to visit the pumpkin patch this weekend with my hubbie and son. It got me in the mood for fall, and made me wish we were having a Halloween party this year (luckily a good friend is having one instead!). 

We took a drive out to Gentry Farm with no idea what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised that there was so much to do- hayrides, a corn field maze, pick-your-own-pumpkin, goats and goat babies, birds, and more. If the weather had just felt a little more fall-like, it would have been absolutely perfect, but I'll settle for almost perfect instead!

nashville (and national) spotlight: kayce hughes / pears + bears

Watch out, Cath Kidston! Kayce Hughes is poised to be your American counterpart very, very soon. 

A former designer for Ralph Lauren, Kayce heads up the beautiful, whimsical brand of Pears + Bears / Kayce Hughes.  Kayce knows her brand very well- she started out by designing clothing for her SEVEN children (no twins, either!). Her line has expanded to include great women's items and accessories.  

I was so thrilled when I met Kayce a couple of years ago- yet another cool lady in Nashville. It's no fair that she's beautiful and super skinny (that's her and some of her children in the photos above)...but at least she shares her wonderful talent with us. I'm hoping I might one day have a daughter, just so I can have her wear the Andrea party dress!

Above, some favorites & press (she did the bridesmaids dresses for Gen's wedding) pulled from her website.

nashville spotlight: dulce desserts

I have been feelings pangs of guilt ever since misleading you on a previous post. When I went to try Gigi's for myself, I thought it was awful...so very awful. Besides the super nice staff; the atmosphere, the packaging, and the cupcakes were so very, very bad.

So I want to make it up to you by recommending Dulce Desserts. I can vouch that their treats are divine! You won't be disappointed, I promise. They even pack their cupcakes up in beautiful pink box tied with twine. Located in the Edgehill district at 1207 Villa Place.

nashville spotlight: libby callaway & flora vintage

Libby Callaway, a former NYC-er and fashion editor of the New York post, is now a Nashville-based clothing stylist and writer, and by far one of the coolest ladies in town. Libby writes two blogs: The Style Arbiter for the City Paper and Flora Vintage, which spotlights current vintage finds that she sells at Gas Lamp Antique Mall. Gen and I stumbled across Libby while setting up our own booth with vintage wares (now a thing of the past), and have adored this lovely lady ever since. Above is my latest favorite thing from Libby's vintage collection. So fun for a party!

nashville spotlight: gigi's cupcakes

What is it with the news today? I think I'm going to have to change my home page from CNN, since I am getting depressed every time I open up my browser. So on to a happier subject...cupcakes!

A friend visiting from NYC made a happy, but dangerous discovery here in Nashville...Gigi's cupcakes. After trying three different kinds, she now claims they are better then Magnolia Bakery's...that the cake itself is more moist, and the buttercream icing, just as good. Could it be true? I can't wait to judge for myself. Near Vanderbilt, at 1816 Broadway, Suite A, 37203.

photo from flickr's becheery

update from Sara: I hate to disagree with my dear friend, but my husband and I pretty much hated Gigi's. Aside from the very friendly and happy staff, the experience was entirely disappointing. Bad lighting, bad atmosphere, bad presentation (a styrofoam cup) and the cupcakes- tasted like strange Kroger ones, to us. I promise, dear readers, I will try something myself before making recommendations from now on!