7 minute read
Southern Is Your Lifestyle
COMMUNITY Reid Anderson 615.406.3426
Making Memories at Christmas
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with Lessons Learned from Our PodcastGreg Fritz 615.347.1732
BY SARAH STONE SMITH
Josh Kile 423.309.6803
Lisa Culp Taylor 615.300.8285 For me, Christmas is all about the memories. As the mother to three girls, of course I want the holidays to be filled with cookies, magic and all the warm feelings of the season. I want the girls to grow up and remember the feeling they had riding home from church on Christmas Eve, the smell of the kitchen while baking Elisabeth & Butter’s gingerbread cookies (featured in Episode 55 of our Chris Fuller podcast), and the faint sound of Christmas 615.587.0260 music throughout the house.
The holiday season is a time when I rely on my own memories to help me cope with the loneliness that also comes this time of year. I lost both parents at a young age and this is the time of year when I miss them most. I wish they could see my children making their lists and hear them singing their favorite Christmas carols. I wish they could welcome me home with a hug and a spot at their dining table. I would love to watch Christmas Vacation just one more time with my mom laughing and quoting the entire movie.
But since I can’t be with them, I hold onto all the memories. I relive and tell stories from my childhood. I continue traditions that we did in my family, and have created new ones, so that one day, when I am gone, my children will feel the joy that the season brings and believe in the Spirit of Christmas.
So, I take advice from our first podcast guest, Katie Jacobs. She says cover the dirty dishes with a towel so you can enjoy the company. I use the tips for delegation from Mary Huddleston in Episode 13 of our podcast.
I’ve also fallen in love with new traditions I learned from our guests like the Bauble Stocking in Episode 96. To quote Dawn Barton from Episode 77: “Without the really hard moments, the wonderful ones can’t stand out so vividly.”
I know that so many struggle during this season. I hope they feel joy and appreciate all the memories they are making while holding on to traditions and memories from seasons past.
Jan Small-Beth 615.934.0446 SAY IT SOUTHERN Courtney Goolsby & Sarah Stone Smith
Say it Southern was co-founded and is co-hosted by two of the savviest southern sweethearts you will ever meet. Courtney Goolsby and Sarah Stone Smith are mothers, doers and dreamers who want to do good, live well and leave their mark – and always find a reason to celebrate. Two modern moms bringing you the hearts and stories of the people creating the best of the South. Subscribe to their podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or new episodes every Monday. Instagram: @thesayitsouthern | Facebook: Sat it Southern Podcast Web: thesayitsouthern.com | Email: hello@thesayitsouthern.com
Give the Gift of Memories!
Franklin Travel Services A Rejuvia Travel Company 1284 West Main Street Franklin, TN 37064 615.791.4690 Info@RejuviaTravel.com RejuviaTravel.com
Bungalows Key Largo The Tropics in Florida Await
The Florida Keys – steeped in timeless island elegance; an island oasis for downtime and disconnecting, Bungalows Key Largo rewrites the rulebook on all-inclusive experiences. The intimate resort sits within a botanical garden edged by the ocean and was designed as an intimate escape for couples who believe that time spent together is the greatest luxury of all. Endless adventures on and off protected iconic waters, restorative wellness programs, unspoiled natural beauty and a relaxed local culture fill guests’ days with divine disconnection from life on the mainland. Here, amidst whitewashed splendor, exotic flowers, key limes and sea salt air there is a stay-forever tone. Organic textures, soothing tropical hues and all-natural materials are the perfect expression of Key Largo’s relaxed cabana lifestyle, with bungalows that pair the finest features and furnishings with truly exceptional resort amenities.
The resort offers an exotic, tropical vacation - without the hassle of a passport or the worry of international trekking. Lending itself perfectly to those still looking to travel but seeking an escape free of crowded spaces and groups of people, the boutique, waterfront oasis offers an intimate guest capacity and 135 private bungalows (with not an elevator or tight hallway in-site). Dotted across the property’s sprawling twelve acres, each bungalow boasts its own bougainvillea-laden veranda, oversized soaking tub, outdoor garden shower as well as two Huffy beach cruisers, perfect for exploring the property while enjoying fresh air and an ocean breeze.
ACCOMODATIONS
Bungalows Key Largo is home to 135 individual bungalows surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the Gulf of Mexico. This adults-only oasis, welcoming those twenty-one and older, invites guests to slow down and reconnect with nature and each other. All accommodations come complete with private verandas outfitted with outside rain showers and soaking tubs, a spa bathroom with rainfall shower and plush robes, among many other in-room amenities. Each bungalow also comes outfitted with two cruiser bikes that can be ridden throughout the property.
DELECTABLE DINING
Home to three distinct restaurants and an oceanfront Sunset Tiki Bar, gourmet dining and premium drinks are all included with every stay.
AQUATIC EXPERIENCES
Bungalows is home to two gorgeous pools, one oceanfront and one lushly cloaked amid tropical palms, as well as two serene Jacuzzi pools, all with full service. Guests can also choose to relax on the beach in a hammock or lounge chair, under an umbrella, or in a private beach cabana.
Paddleboards provide a fun and easy way to get a little workout while taking in glorious views of the bay. In our kayaks guests can paddle the shoreline and explore the diverse marine and bird life in premium, single, or double kayaks. Look out for our family of manatee - they’re known to pop up for a truly delightful surprise.
Featuring an expansive fleet of boats, Bungalows offers a variety of vessels perfect for exploring the surrounding waters. Groups can ride aboard “Lady B” the fifty-five foot custom sailing catamaran, holding up to forty-nine passengers while the WorldCat power catamaran, a twenty-eight foot vessel, provides a smooth, versatile ride for six passengers.
Guests can depart from the dock and spend the day exploring nature’s splendors above and below the surface. Spot a variety of marine and bird life, including manatees and dolphins, on a scenic ride through Florida Bay and beautiful mangroves. At John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, snorkel two extraordinary places: Dry Rocks, home of the Christ of the Abyss, and Molasses Reef.
Enjoy a scenic catamaran cruise from the dock through Florida Bay to the mangroves, anchoring in calm water for a scenic paddle into this amazing ecosystem. Guests can look out for a variety of wildlife and marine life while enjoying this serene environment.
DESTINATION DIVERSIONS
Home to tropical hardwoods, winding creeks, two state parks, a national park and a portion of a national marine sanctuary, Key Largo boasts some of the most fascinating botanical scenery in the state. Visitors can enjoy Key Largo’s ties to the sea including scuba diving, snorkeling, sport fishing, eco-tours, beaches and dolphin encounterprograms. The island also offers numerous on-shore attractions including nature trails and a rehabilitation center for wild birds. KeyLargo is flanked by the Everglades National Park to the west, a premier destination for kayakers, birders and other eco-tourists. To the east is the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, and Key Largo has earned the moniker of Diving Capital of the World.
KEY LARGO
Key Largo, located in the Florida Keys just south of Miami, has an overall average high temperature of 82° and an average low of 71°. Sandwiched between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it is no wonder that most outdoor activities in Key Largo revolve around the water. On average, Key Largo’s warmest month is July and February is the average coolest month.
GETTING HERE
Miami International Airport (MIA) - 60 miles • 1.5 hour drive from the airport to the resort, pending traffic. Or take the scenic route to and from Bungalows Key Largo with exclusive seaplane service from Sheltair Aviation located adjacent to Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Tropic Ocean Air, Bungalow’s official travel partner, takes guests on a forty-minute picturesque flight over turquoise waters, giving a bird’s eye view of coastal Florida in all its splendor. Come by car - Key Largo is around sixty miles from Miami International Airport (MIA), a little more than an hour by car. Along the drive down Overseas Highway guests can take-in views of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.
For more information and to make your reservation for paradise visit: bungalowskeylargo.com.
