As a short-term rental host, we are always on the lookout for products that help us make our space clean and welcoming for our guests.  We've had several hosts and guests alike reach out lately with questions about specific products so we thought we'd compile a little list here...who doesn't love a good "favorites" list?

Quick note: this blog post does contain Amazon.com affiliate links which means if you click on a link and purchase that item, I will receive a small commission (but it won't change the price for you at all.)  I'm only sharing items with you that I personally own and wholeheartedly believe in - and think you will love as much as I do!

1. Cubietime Alarm Clock - We saw this alarm clock in a high-end hotel on vacation while we were building our Carriage House and I'd Googled it and ordered it right on the spot.  One of our all-time favorite electronics, it features a dimmable screen, alarm, lots of plug-in-ports and a sleek design.

2. Amazon Basics "Hotel" Duvet - We make our beds with a lightweight down-alternative comforter inside these inexpensive-yet-luxe duvets.  The guests love them because they are comfortable and gorgeous and we love them because they are easy to launder, relatively wrinkle free and well made.  We prefer them in white with either light or dark grey trim...word to the wise, the grey embroidery trim is not bleach-friendly and turns tan.  However, if you accidentally run the duvet through with bleach (like I did), just bleach the pillow shams to match and you've got a tan-trimmed matching set!

3. 'Lectrofan White Noise Machine - I'm almost ashamed to admit how many of these we own, but I can attest to their supreme awesomeness in the world of white noise machines.  We were gifted our first one by our friend Erin who boldly ignored the wimpy "baby shusher" I'd added to my registry when I was pregnant and bought me this instead insisting it was the only way to go.  She was right.  We recently hosted chef/blogger Amy Hannon in our Carriage House and she told me that she and her daughter had each ordered one the minute they woke up from their first nights sleep.  So now you have 4 endorsements in one paragraph and really, what are you even waiting for?  I also personally own this custom made travel case for when I'm on the road and highly recommend.

4. Hairdryer Bag - A great way to keep your hairdryer and all it's accessories organized.  Stash the whole thing in a drawer, under the sink, on a bathroom shelf...no matter where you put it, this bag keeps it clean and fancy-looking.

​5. Hairdryer - Truly the number one thing I always want to bring but never want to pack, we've loved keeping this hairdryer in the drawer for our guests.  It's not the most expensive one on the market, but it's been a solid little workhorse that gets the job done.  We keep the attachments in the hairdryer bag so its all together for anyone who needs to utilize them to keep their locks looking their best.

6. Makeup Washcloths - Makeup stains are the number one threat to the safety of your bed and bath linens so we highly recommend including some of these black cloths with a little note encouraging folks to use them to remove heavy makeup.  *Most* of our guests are happy to comply and a few have even asked where I got them.  There are some cheaper options on Amazon as well like these, but I haven't personally tried them so I can't vouch for towel quality, and I didn't love the embroidery font as much.  But if you have a property with lots of bathrooms or just need to save a few $$ where you can, they might be worth trying out!

​7. Shaving Kits - This is an amenity that we have recently begun to offer and guests have really appreciated them.  The shaving cream and razor come in individually (not tested on animals) boxes so it's easy to leave in your bathroom organizer.  Even if you don't own/manage a short term rental, these are just great to take on trips anyway!

8. Dr. Fresh Toothbrush/toothpaste set - We love these sets because they come with both toothbrush and toothpaste and are TSA approved for a guests who might want to tuck them in their bag for the flight home.  Full disclosure, this isn't the cheapest place to order these little oral health kits.  We use these same ones but actually purchase them from The Dollar Tree because they are $1 each.  They are currently back-ordered on the DT website, and you have to buy a minimum of 24 of them if you purchase online, but here's the link in case you want to do that instead of just picking some up at your local Dollar Tree.

9. Dr. Teal's Bubble Bath - We've offered this bubble bath from the very beginning and guests absolutely love it.  I often hear feedback like, "after a long day of driving/flying, it was amazing to soak in a warm bubble bath before bed!"  I've found that this particular one is popular and often out of stock at stores like Target, Kroger or Wal-Mart so I tend to order it from Amazon for convenience.

When I think about the word Hospitality, food inevitably is part of what comes to mind.  I've always found this a tad bit unfortunate because while I love people and making them feel welcome, I'm by no means a chef. My friends and family will tell you that cooking not my strong suit and they would be right.  BUT, I do enjoy creating meals or treats when I have a sure-fire recipe.  I thought I'd share with you three of my all-time favorite cookbooks in case you too enjoy being in the kitchen as long as someone else has already figured out how to make a tasty meal and all you have to do is follow the instructions.
                        ~ Bon Apetité 

Quick note: this blog post does contain Amazon.com affiliate links which means if you click on a link and purchase that item, I will receive a small commission (but it won't change the price for you at all.)  I'm only sharing items with you that I personally own and wholeheartedly believe in - and think you will love as much as I do!

This weekend we took a quick trip to see my parents that live on the Tennessee/Alabama line.  For lunch we decided to head a few miles down the road to Elkmont, AL and I thought I'd share a couple of great photos from three worth-the-stop local spots.

​Our first stop was for lunch at The Red Caboose Cafe and everything was delicious Southern cooking.  Our waitress was very kind and helpful (dining with a 15-month-old is always an adventure, right?) and the sweet tea was just as it should be.  The cafe itself was adorable, and kiddos will love being able to see an actual red caboose just across the street.  You can check them out on their Facebook Page where they post daily specials and menus.  

Next we headed across the street to Fromagerie Belle Chevre, a goat-milk creamery.  We stopped in their tasting room and picked up some fantastic goat-milk hand cream and were amazed at all the ice-cream & cheese products available to taste and purchase.  While we didn't have time to do the tour (which includes getting to meet and pet some of their herd of goats), it's definitely on our list to go back and do that soon. (see more info in the yellow box below)