franklin

Southern Fried Fab In Franklin

February 18, 2011 By Blonde Mom 5 Comments

Pictures from Jo-Lynne (Musings of a Housewife)

One of our favorite places to venture out for date night is quaint Franklin, Tennessee. We’ll forego the interstate and drive the scenic Natchez Trace, watching as busy urban sprawl and subdivisions disappear in the rear view mirror and rolling Tennessee hills unfold before us. We typically go out to dinner at one of the many unique restaurants just off the town square and just soak up the scenery.

I like to think of Franklin as country chic. I love the beautiful old Southern homes and the eclectic mix of boutiques, restaurants, and shops. If we ever win the lottery or hubby ever sells his business for a bazillion dollars, I’d love to buy a renovated home in downtown, historic Franklin.

I had the chance to play tour guide and took three awesome fashion bloggers in town for Blissdom recently to downtown Franklin to browse all the cute shops and enjoy a little down time and delicious lunch at 55 South. I’ve been to Chef Jacon McConnell’s Sol (best homemade guac ever) and the equally fabulous Red Pony, but not 55 South, which features a fun Southern fried menu with a bit of a cajun twist.

We also enjoyed browsing all the great fashion and accessories in Philanthrophy, which pledges 10 percent of all sales to their designated charitable causes. Right now they are helping fun the building of water wells for a village in Sudan. This is fashion with compassion ya’ll!

I got my Franklin fix…for the month any way. Hubby and I are way overdue for a date night. Watching the Science channel Valentine’s Day may have been a sign that we need an intervention.

p.s. Speaking of fashion, check out my Fashion Friday post on my review and shopping blog!

Filed Under: Nashville, Retail Therapy 5 Comments

In Which I Fantasize Of Karaoke Using Dove Deodorant As A Mic, But Refrain

March 14, 2010 By Blonde Mom 11 Comments

DSC_0177-1

Photo courtesy of Shab from No Todo Yago

Gorgeous hip vibe upstairs at Red Pony Restaurant in downtown Franklin

DSC_0181-1

Photo courtesy of Shab from No Todo Yago

(L-R) Amy from Milkbreath and Margaritas, me, Malia from Just Malia.

DSC_0180-2

Photo courtesy of Shab from No Todo Yago

(L-R) Kelly from Faithful Provisions, Mary from The Writer’s Block, Rebecca from Tooth Whale, and Tori from Baby Bloomr

Photo courtesy of Malia from Just Malia (Top row, L-R) Amy from Milkbreath and Margaritas, me, Shab from No Todo Yago , Tori from Baby Bloomr, Busy Mom, Rebecca from Tooth Whale Malia from Just Malia (Bottom row, L-R) Kelly from Faithful Provisions and Mary from The Writer’s Block

When I was little my grandmother always had Dove soap in the soap dish in her harvest gold tile bathroom. It had a distinct aroma and creamy texture that seemed luxurious to me as I stood on tippy toes to wash my hands. Today I use Dove cucumber and green tea deodorant and I’m a big fan of Dove’s Real Beauty campaign, especially since I have two daughters who are increasingly bombarded with pop culture images of what women are “supposed” to look like.

Dove contacted me about hosting a girls’ night out Oscars weekend and I was excited because a) hello get out of the house on a Saturday night and b) hello chance to wear a little black dress and not yoga pants and a stretched out Old Navy t-shirt. Dove also provided me and my guests with gorgeous blingy necklaces from enBeadia in Chicago. Swoon.

Dove is promoting their new Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant which helps gradually minimize the appearance of underarm hair. I don’t know about you, but pools will be opening Memorial Day weekend, OH MY LORD, and I need all the help I can get with all my nooks and crannies in their various states of ebb and flow and me in my various states of mama brain.

I invited several local bloggers to join me for dinner at the fabulous Red Pony Restaurant on Main Street in beautiful downtown Franklin, a place I fantasize about moving to so hubby and I can sit on the porch of our stately renovated home while sipping Bloody Marys. The Red Pony’s menu and vibe is absolutely phenomenal. Hubby and I had only been there once for drinks so of course I loved having an excuse to host a Red Carpet weekend dinner party there.

Thanks ladies for joining me for a fun night out courtesy of Dove!

Visit my review blog, Savvy Housewife, for a chance to win your own stick of Dove Visibly Smooth (5 winners will be chosen at random from all eligible comments left by Tuesday, March 23.)

To participate in the Dove Visibly Smooth VIP program, I was provided with five (5) product samples to giveaway on my blog as well as ten (10) product samples for my guests, and compensation for dinner out with my friends. Dove provided me with these items so I could organize the event myself and without any influence from Dove.

Filed Under: Bloggy Things 11 Comments

I Love A Parade

December 8, 2009 By Blonde Mom 6 Comments

Downtown Franklin Christmas Sign

If you were at the downtown Franklin Christmas parade Saturday you may have seen a very fancy no frills float hay wagon bringing up the rear, just after the Nashville Predators float and just before Santa’s grand finale float.

That was us! We were invited by an old friend from high school to join him and his family. They have three lovely daughters. We all bundled up and braved the cold.

We tossed lots of candy. We ate some, too.

Miss C Downtown Franklin Parade