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12 South Carriage House
  • The 12 South Carriage House
    • About The Space
    • During Your Stay
    • A Little About Us
  • The 12 South Neighborhood
    • Neighborhood Noshes >
      • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
      • Drinks & Treats
      • Belmont Blvd.
    • Shop Til You Drop
    • Hit The Gym
    • Must See & Do >
      • Attractions & Activities
      • 12 South Murals "Public Art Crawl"
      • Events & Happenings
    • Necessities
  • Nashville
    • Nashville Noshes >
      • For The Foodie
      • Local Favorites
      • A Taste of Nashville
      • Cocktails & Speakeasies
    • Getting Around Town
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Blog

CARRIAGE HOUSE NEWS & TALES FROM THE ROAD

These are a few of our favorite things...

8/2/2021

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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!
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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.
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Cookin' Up Something Good

7/2/2021

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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!

A Place At The Table: Fresh Recipes For Meaningful Gatherings ~ Kelly Minter
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Kelly Minter has been a lot of things to me over the years: my boss, my dear friend, a mentor and now she's an honorary "Auntie" to my daughter.  She's an author, speaker, musician, Bible Scholar - one of those renaissance women that is amazing at everything she puts her mind to, and she's also a phenomenal cook.  She's fielded many a "how do you make...?" and "what ingredient do I need for....?" phone call from me over the years and so I'm not sure which one of was was more delighted when she finally released a cookbook that I can reference whenever I want to!

​My Favorite Recipe:
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Kale, Sausage and Cannellini Bean Soup​
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Love, Welcome, Serve: Recipes that Gather & Give ~ Amy Hannon

​
Spring of 2021 I had an AirBnB booking come through from a gal who was excited to bring her daughter with her to stay at The Carriage House.  We don't always get to meet our guests, but Amy Hannon texted me when they arrived that she'd love to meet me and deliver the gift-bag she'd brought with her from Euna Mae's, the kitchen store she owns in Arkansas, including her cookbook!  Fast-forward a few months and she's now a real-life friend and we even got to share the stage at an event last month: I was played violin and she gave a talk on hospitality.

​My Favorite Recipe:  "Hello Dolly" Brownies

Balanced: 120+ Recipes For The Healthy Home Cook ~ Laura Lea

I was first introduced to this cookbook by my friend Keely Scott who is both the queen of hospitality in general and also a bit of a foodie. [She and her husband Gabe own LadyBird Taco here in 12 South and you must drop whatever you are doing and go there!]. Her family had had my family over for dinner one night and absolutely everything she made was delicious and healthy...and straight out of the Balanced cookbook.  I ordered my own copy off Amazon on my phone whilst still seated at her dinner table and have used it ever since.  Laura Lea is originally a hometown Nashville gal so that makes it all the more wonderful.

​My Favorite Recipe:
​
Blueberry Coconut Morning Porridge
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A Quick Stop at Highway 65/Exit 361

4/6/2019

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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.  
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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)
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Last but not least, right next door was Paper Trail Antiques. Peggy and her husband who run the shop (open on Fridays and Saturdays only) were truly delightful and I was so excited to find an adorable wooden kid-sized chair to refinish for my little girl's playroom. I also bought a sweet children's book and was glad to learn that they donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of children's books to a local program that provides weekend meals for local children who qualify for the public school's free lunch program.

At an hour and 20 minutes from The Carriage House, it’s a little far for a day trip for guests. However, if you’re a Nashville local, or if you're traveling on Highway 65 either North on your way to Nashville or South on your way home, we definitely recommend that instead of stopping off at a fast-food joint, take the Elkmont Exit 361 and get yourself a good country meal followed by some goat-cheese ice cream across the street. And if it's the weekend, pop in Paper Trail and tell Peggy that I sent you.
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Hwy 65 Exit 361 - Elkmont, AL
The Red Caboose Cafe

​25483 Railroad St
Elkmont, Alabama 35620
(256) 732-7000

Mon-Fri: 10am-9pm
Sat: 8am-9pm
Sun: closed
Fromagerie Belle Chevre

18849 Upper Fort Hampton Rd
Elkmont, Alabama 35620
256-732-3577

Cheese Shop Hours:
Tues-Fri: ​10am – 3pm
Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun-Mon: Closed

Creamery Hours & Tours*: 
Fri:  9 am – 3 pm
(tours 10 am, 1 pm)
Sat: 11 am – 5 pm
​(tours 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm)
Sun-Thurs: Closed

*reservations required for tours $14 per person - kids 4 and under are free!
Paper Trail Antiques

18849 Upper Fort Hampton Road, Elkmont, AL
(256) 777-4458

Fri-Sat: 11am-3pm
Sun-Thurs: closed

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    bETHANY, YOUR HOST

    AirBnB Superhost Bethany has lived in Nashville since 2006 and loves finding fun things to do at home and on the road!

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  • The 12 South Carriage House
    • About The Space
    • During Your Stay
    • A Little About Us
  • The 12 South Neighborhood
    • Neighborhood Noshes >
      • Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
      • Drinks & Treats
      • Belmont Blvd.
    • Shop Til You Drop
    • Hit The Gym
    • Must See & Do >
      • Attractions & Activities
      • 12 South Murals "Public Art Crawl"
      • Events & Happenings
    • Necessities
  • Nashville
    • Nashville Noshes >
      • For The Foodie
      • Local Favorites
      • A Taste of Nashville
      • Cocktails & Speakeasies
    • Getting Around Town
    • Must See & Do >
      • Nashville Highlights
      • Music in Music City
      • Family Fun
      • Parks & Outdoor Fun
      • Day Tripping
      • Events & Happenings
  • Contact Us
    • Links
    • Construction Update
    • In The Press
    • Get Perks
    • Stay With Our Friends
  • Emergency Info
  • Blog