Take A Bite

Peyton and Madison are back for guest post round two! See yesterday's "book club" post here. Today brings some sense appeal featuring my favorite season-fall! -Annie

We spent most of our childhood in Asheville, North Carolina, home to some of the most beautiful fall foliage due to its location among the Appalachian Mountains. Some of our fondest memories are of around this time of year.

Touch – We went for more of a "wear" theme here! Autumnal temperatures, thus dressing, is our favorite. A lovely coat and scarf combination is always welcome this time of year. If the weather isn't quite cool enough for a scarf, we are both big fans of hats. A wool fedora style being the favorite for this time of year, such.

See – No trip to Asheville is complete without a trip to the Biltmore Estate. We go almost every time we're in town. If not to see the house itself, to run the miles and miles of trails or visit the winery.

Taste – While the area is known for its microbreweries, the city was just featured in the Wall Street Journal as the next wine destination. Full article here. There is a wonderful wine bar located on the ground floor of the Battery Park Hotel downtown. Also on our list is Rhubarb, owned and operated by Chef Fleer formerly of Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

Hear – We've been listening to the new Johnnyswim album on repeat for the last week or so.

Smell – The most prominent smell of the season is probably pumpkin, but for us the fall smells outside top the pumpkin baking inside. The light this time of year shines a little differently and the leaves changing makes for a smell that can't really be described.

A season for the senses indeed.

Peyton + Madison

MB here taking over TAB for the day from BOD. Some call me Moll and for a few it's Bridge, but all of you probably know me as Annie's blogger bestie.

I'm honored to have that title and to guest post today, sharing my 29th edition from my regular 'Sense Appeal' series. It looks, feels and sounds (pun intended) a lot like Annie's 'Bites of My Life' posts with a focus on what has especially aroused each one of my senses in the past week.

for the eyes:

Inspiration board at the Camille Styles office fed our creative juices on the fifth and final day of the work week, Friday!

Click here to see me and Olivia's original, orange bloody mary that went live yesterday on the site.

for the mind:

I watched the sun rise on Sunday and Monday morning. Until my Dallas friends reminded me how unpleasant their trek home is on I-35, I took the scenic trip to Houston for granted.

So, this weekend, I soaked it up for all it was worth, finding it all the more therapeutic in the wee hours of the morning. It reminded me of this article, noting how we can take "immense pleasure in the natural world [because] all the natural world bears the stamp of the God that made it."

for the ears:

A story in lieu of a song this go-around.

I'm studying visual communications for my thesis, so Sister Corita Kent's ability to look at pop culture images "from a slightly different angle" spoke to me.

She makes art out of ads, turning mere marketing into powerful messages like in this Beatles poster:

Listen here for more on how this nun made a lasting and loving influence on the world of pop art.

fashion for feel:

In need of a mid-weight jacket on a mild Texas winter day, I bent (broke, really) the fashion rule of avoiding white before Easter with this blazer from Chico's.

Chanel had a spare after this shoot and encouraged me to add it to my closet, the perfect addition to the more professional wardrobe I'm building slowly but surely.

for taste:

Grandma's hummus spread on Ezekiel english muffins, topped with barely pickled cucumbers.

I've never pegged myself a picky eater. I'm not even partial when it comes to one part of the food pyramid over the next; though lately, my taste buds are becoming more selective when it comes to my favorites.

I'll forever be the number one fan of brussels from Fresa's and pitas from Smoothie Island. And in today's grocery store landscape where hummus varieties are as vast as cereal, I choose grandma every. single. time.

I finally made my way to grandma's (now operated by granddaughter) kitchen, The Mediterranean Chef Café, where they offer a small lunch menu as well as their wholesale goods. Grandma shows the love as all first timers leave with hummus on the house.

Hope I too have spread some love and inspiration on my first guest post. Happy Friday's Eve!