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Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
I’ve always looked forward to hosting overnight guests. Yes, I’m admittedly a homebody, but I relish the opportunity to have loved ones here with us at home, especially this time of year.
As you may remember, I shared my five steps to get the house “guest ready” a few years ago. It’s one of our most popular posts with its easy entertaining inspiration and hotel-like details to replicate at home. It’s still a favorite of mine as well, but I’d like to say I’ve honed my house guests prep game even more since then. Today’s post is the proof.
The secret to hosting friends and family throughout the holidays (and really any time of year) is in the details and little luxuries that so many people overlook; include things that make them feel like they’re staying at a 5-star hotel. Think of the necessities you need and the extras you would want, but wouldn’t want to ask for! I’ve broken the details down to five separate areas below with none being outlandish or fussy, but instead achieving that warm welcome and feelings that will make guests never want to leave. Truly, MKR
Nothing beats clean sheets and gorgeous bedding…it’s the obvious statement of the room that can always easily be changed. I recently bought a new comforter; I realized I was sort of over duvets in general and how they lay. So being ready for a fresh change, I ordered this punchy comforter and sham set. I’d say it was just the refresh the room needed!
The personalized sheets are a detail I just love too; they’re subtle, crisp and simply timeless.
I always like to prepare a tray or two with the necessities that people never want to ask for. That includes things like Advil, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, razors, and even your wifi password written out on a piece of paper.
These rattan trays are great because they’re easy and functional as they organize and corral all of these necessities. They don’t have huge handles, so they add just the right amount of texture without being overpowering to the overall design.
You want to make your guests feel welcome—almost as good as home—and one of the easiest ways of doing that is by providing cozy details. A huggable throw blanket and sets of pajamas are two of my go-to’s when creating am oasis for guests. But remember: when buying pajamas, you’ll always want to have them bigger than smaller, so size up if you want to offer a standard pair.
One of the reasons being away from home gets wearisome sometimes is the feeling of dependency over the little things. By offering plenty of refreshments in the bedroom, you give your guests the chance to feel more at home…on their own.
To celebrate the season, I knew I wanted to hang a giant boxwood wreath above the bed. Hanging a wreath is nothing new, I know. But unlike other wreaths, boxwood won’t allow trimmings to fall on your guests’ heads in bed. Boxwood and eucalyptus are my preferred greens whenever hanging a wreath like this one. I hung this one with a gorgeous green velvet ribbon; one that was substantial enough to hold the large wreath and had wire to make a nice bow. And to keep things fresh, spritz frequently with a homemade Balsam Fir spray (check out @thewellcode) for more on that.
I also displayed paperwhites I sprouted from the bulbs, along with a basket of white poinsettias. Both are so festive, but a lot less expensive than other flowers this time of year. But you’ll want to be careful with your poinsettias on the ground if you have furry friends around.
Lastly, I like to have a few magazines, newspaper and any other reading material on-hand for guests. I also place a guestbook on the dresser; it’s such a nice tradition to have people share memories, especially at Christmastime!
One of the favorite things I have in my home is a makeshift tea station upstairs in my bedroom. Ove the years, I’ve become a major night-time tea drinker. And because I spend the majority of my evenings cozied up in my bed working, reading, or watching TV I got tired of running downstairs 2-3 times just to put the kettle on to get more tea. So, to alleviate that last year I purchased an electric tea kettle and turned a bar cart into a tea station.
It’s nothing fancy, just an electric tea kettle and a tray full of mugs, tea bags, mulling spices, and all-things cozy. So when thinking about hosting all of our holiday guests this season I thought, why not turn my upstairs bar into an at-home holiday breakfast bar.
If you’ve been following my Blog for a while then you know I have an upstairs loft that I turned into a sort of game room/bar area. It’s an awkward space, that truly doesn’t get used a lot. But it’s beautiful and I knew it would perfect for this self-serve idea.
So why not set this up in the kitchen? Two main reasons. One, it’s festive and fun, and I love doing small things like this to really make guests feel welcome and like you went all out for them.
And two, all of the bedrooms are upstairs while the kitchen is downstairs. I, like many people, love a slow, quiet start to my morning. I don’t necessarily want to get dressed, and ready and head downstairs and start my day right away. By having everything guests need right outside their door they can pop out and grab a cup of coffee or tea, and a breakfast pastry and head back to their room to have that nice leisurely start that every vacation should have. Plus at night it can be used as that sleepy time tea station has become part of my nightly routine.
Regardless of where you set it up, a self-serve, holiday breakfast bar is beyond easy to create. First, I made sure that I had all the morning necessities present. Coffee maker, electric tea kettle, and toaster. I love this new vintage set from Russell & Hobbs. It’s well priced, works like a gem, looks adorable, and the toaster even has a croissant toasting shelf!
Second, stock your holiday breakfast bar with everything guests would need to make it self serve so everyone can run at their own speed in the morning. Think mugs, water, tea bags, coffee, sugar, utensils, napkins, etc. And I stashed all of the extras in the drawers making it super easy if guests run out of anything.
Third, I made it festive with holiday-themed coffee blends, pastries, jams, packets of cocoa and tea. And of course, added a wreath and a few of my favorite rosemary and lavender Christmas trees as decor.
Lastly, I always make sure guests know that this is there for them to access at any time. There’s nothing worse than being a guest who feels they have to tip-toe around their hosts.
And that’s it. An easy at home holiday breakfast bar that is as festive as it is functional! Tell me, how do you make guests feel welcome in your home? Truly, MKR
You may remember back in August I spent 10 magical days exploring all of 30A. The plan, in collaboration with 360 Blue, stay and explore 4 different 30A beach towns. The goal, make what can seem like an endless amount of confusing options a little less confusing. So with that in mind, Anthony, Addison and I set out for our trip; 10 days split between Destin, Rosemary Beach, Watercolor/Seaside, and Seagrove.
But before we get into the trip itself I feel I need to lay a little groundwork. First, we stayed the entirety of the 10 days in homes managed by 360 Blue. 360 Blue manages over 550 of the most luxurious vacation rentals located in Destin, WaterColor, WaterSound, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, Seagrove, and more. Basically, if you want to stay in a home along 30A it’s likely to be managed by 360Blue.
This was my first experience working with a home management company such and it was glorious. 360 Blue is a well-oiled machine. Pretty much everything is completed in their very user-friendly app that you download before arrival. While I’m someone who loves writing things down, I loved having everything stored via app instead. Let me give you an example. We were headed to the beach for the day, and because many of these beaches are private with access only for the nearby homes, there’s gates everywhere. In the app, all of the gate codes are listed so I could easily find the access code quickly. Same with all of the door locks, garage locks, check out times, etc. All in the app.
Aside from the app, 360 Blue’s customer service was above and beyond. Not only that, but they’re not just a management company, but are also an at-your-service concierge setting up all sort of activities for you and your family. We took advantage of this and had 360 Blue schedule a private poolside yoga session, golf, and my personal favorite an at-home 4-course wine dinner with one of the best chefs in the area, Chef Kalli.
Probably most importantly, 360 Blue’s selection of vacation rentals is vast. There’s a rental type, location, price for anyone and everyone. I was very, very impressed with all aspects of 360 Blue and trust me I’m not super easy to impress.
Second, When writing travel recaps it’s hard to sum everything up while providing helpful insight to those who are reading in hopes to travel to the area in the future. I feel it really comes down to the type of traveler you are. I especially think it’s extremely important to evaluate that thought when planning any trip, but especially a trip to 30A. Reason being, each area is different and plays to different strengths and weaknesses, so best to stay in the area that is most like your traveling personality. Because everything is so close in proximity you’ll be able to easily visit each area, but I highly suggest staying in an area that you’ll feel the most like you. So with that in mind, here’s what’s most important to me when traveling so you understand where I’m coming from in rehashing my personal experience.
When traveling to the beach I want a relaxed and quiet atmosphere. I don’t want to worry about getting ready or being dressed up, the more no-makeup casual the better. I don’t love crowds in general, but I especially don’t love them during a relaxing beach vacation. I want to be on the ocean or at least be able to see it and smell it from my window because that salt air is the whole reason I’m at the beach rather than in the mountains. I’m a homebody who loves to cook, so a great rental home with a fantastic kitchen is key. Double bonus if there’s an indoor and outdoor kitchen, and private pool because the Florida heat is nothing to play with. Great non-chain food options is a must. And lastly, I’d prefer to get around via golf cart or walking.
Okay, now that I feel like I’ve laid all the groundwork I can let’s get to the trip itself. I’d been to 30A once before, but it was to speak at The Southern Coterie Conference. It was a brief 3 days full of work, so I barely had any time to explore or gain any insight into the 24 mile stretch of 30A so I was excited to get down there and see it with true vacation eyes.
Our first stop was Destin. While in Destin we had the pleasure of staying at the “Beach House on the Moon.” As far as houses go, this one was definitely the newest, coolest and had the most bells and whistles. The outdoor space was what dreams are made of complete with a huge pool, walk up bar, full outdoor kitchen, and outdoor living. This house would be best if you had a large family or a were planning a fun girls or guys trip.
As far as location goes, Destin isn’t really my jam. It reminds me a bit of how I typically think of Florida; spring break city. Not to mention there weren’t a lot of great dining options and vacation for me is always heavily influenced by food. I did love however the golf cart driving I was able to take advantage of, and Destin was a great way to get our feet wet and prepare for the rest of the week.
Overall rating: House 9.5 (if this house was oceanside it would be an easy 10+) Location 5 (Destin just isn’t my personal ideal vacation town)
Next up, Rosemary Beach. Out of all the spots, I thought this was going to be my absolute favorite. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful. The architecture of the homes and the landscaping is simply breathtaking. Plus it butts right up to Alys beach which is equally stunning in a totally different way.
The home we stayed in was your typical Rosemary Beach style home and the Rosemary transportation of choice, bicycles, were lined up and ready for exploring. The best thing about this house (besides the amazing staircase) was its location, just steps from private beach access. And the beaches in Rosemary, and all along 30A for that matter are breathtakingly stunning. In fact, when I first spied the ocean of 30A I was shocked at how clear and turquoise it was. This home would be perfect if you were looking for a family vacation home and the guest cottage above the garage would be great for anyone traveling with you like grandparents who wanted some privacy.
Overall rating: House 8 (there wasn’t a lot of indoor sitting/relaxing space, nor was there any outdoor cooking space, but there was outdoor dining and a pool. Stairwell was insane, and while not oceanside the location was fantastic). Location 7.5 (everything is so tight, and it definitely doesn’t have the relaxed atmosphere I crave. Not to mention, no golf carts allowed. Great food and shopping though!)
Our third stop was WaterColor, the location I was most familiar with. While many love the architecture and vibe of Rosemary/Alys I actually think I prefer WaterColor. I’m not sure why, maybe because it feels a bit more relaxed? Maybe because golf carts are welcome? Or maybe it’s because I knew one of my favorite doughnut trucks was eagerly awaiting my arrival. Whatever it was, I was anxious to get back to WaterColor.
Sadly, the house we stayed in has sold and is no longer an available rental. And I’ve got to say it’s really sad because the house was a show stopper. I went through some available rentals and feel this one and this one are the closest to the one we stayed in.
Overall rating: House 8.5 (if this house was closer to the ocean, which very few in WaterColor are, it would be an easy 10) Location 8 (WaterColor is super adorable but it’s not a 10 because it’s a little too busy and too many kids for my current taste.)
Our last stop was Seagrove and this was the perfect place to end our journey. Located halfway between Rosemary/Alys Beach and WaterColor, Seagrove is my perfect idea of quiet. Not to mention our home was the closest we got to true oceanside living.
I loved this location so much that we didn’t really leave. Each day we’d walk on the beach and each night we’d pick up fresh seafood from GoatFeather’s and I’d cook in the open air kitchen, and we’d end our evening cozied up with a movie. I cannot stress how “me” of a spot this was.
The home itself struck a perfect balance between oceanside casual and high-end. I loved the balconies off each level and the overall feel made me feel like it was my actual home more than a place I was visiting. Also, there was plenty of space to get cozy and watch a movie which as I stated is basically what we did each night. We in fact loved everything about this space and place so much we extended our vacation by one day just to soak up one more day.
The only place that I feel would be a tad more me would possibly be Grayton Beach which is where we’ll stay next time. Grayton happens to also be home to our two favorite 30A restaurants; Red Bar and Chiringo.
Overall rating: House 8 (would have been an 8.5, but unfortunately construction is making those ocean views a bit more limited. Also wish it had more of an outdoor living/kitchen space. Access to the beach though was fantastic.) Location 9.5 (I told you I like quiet, and Seagrove is quiet but its location makes it easily accessible to everything.)
And that’s it. That was our 10 (actually 11) days in a nutshell. To make things a tad easier I’ve listed below each location and rated them in a few different categories to help you decide just where you want to stay. The where is the hard part, the renting a house through 360 Blue is the no brainer/easy part.
Please do remember these ratings/ranks are based on my personal experience and opinion. Also, because food is so important to me, I’ve listed out my personal restaurant recommendations below as well as other’s recommendations that I can’t vouch for because I didn’t get a chance to experience them, but felt they were worth mentioning. Happy travels friends! Truly, MKR
Seagrove – Food: n/a (restaurants are close, but not really in Seagrove) Beaches: 9 Kid Friendly: 7 Crowds/Busyness: quiet Shopping: n/a Transportation: Car & Golfcart
My Restaurants Recommendations that I can personally vouch for: Beach Walk Cafe (this oceanside spot in Destin located inside the Henderson Inn was a great surprise, loved it!) Red Bar (one of my most memorable dinners ever), Chiringho (tacos were amazing, definitely suggest it for lunch), Georges (lunched here twice, and dog friendly), La Crema (amazing tapas, amazing!), Bud & Alleys (fun, casual place for dinner), seven daughters (give me all their doughnuts, all day everyday), green juice, strawberry cake at Modica Market (not the absolute best I’ve ever had, but definitely worth the slice), Fonville press (yay coffee). Neat (great spot for drinks & to pick up wine & some interesting bottles to take with), and Goatfeather’s Seafood Market (this is where I picked up fresh seafood to cook almost every day).
Other’s Restaurant Recommendations that I can’t personally vouch for: The Great Southern, Stinky’s Fish Camp, The Hub at 30A (I went, but didn’t eat there), 45 Central, Paradis, The Meltdown, Cafe 30A, The Shrimp Shack, Pescados, Edwards, Elm’s Grill, Blue Mountail Creamery, Local Catch, Cowgirl Kitchen, The Wine Bar, Pescado, Paradis, Cuvee Beach, Caliza, Fish Out of Water, Black Bear Bread Co., Borago, Basmatis.
**A side note about the Pearl in Rosemary Beach. It’s absolutely beautiful, but I’ve had drinks and dined there on 3 different occasions and the service was so terrible (like shockingly so) I cannot personally recommend it. I can recommend the pool for an amazing Instagram worthy shot. It pains me to even write this, but because I know people will bring it up since it’s such a landmark of Rosemary Beach, but I have to be honest.**
