I don’t know where the term “busy as a bee” originates, but it aptly describes the past month of my life.

Between Dream House activities, going to Atlanta, getting our remodel finished up, having my mom, sister and her four kids come for a visit and working vacation bible school at church, it’s been one b-u-s-y month!

I am just now coming up for air – so sorry I have been MIA! Has your summer been crazy busy too? It’s a good thing but I’m glad things are returning to normal.

I am excited to show you the progress we’ve made on our latest remodel. Hopefully I’ll have things put together in the house in the next week or so.

I love updating the house but not the mess it makes! Dust, dust, everywhere!

{photo credit}

How has your summer been? What have YOU been up to?

“And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” Genesis 9:16

In my last post I talked about the wonderful Kohler Purist Bubblemassage tub with chromatherapy that I had experienced at Spa Walden.

When I left the spa, I didn’t know what kind of tub it was other than it was a Kohler brand. Google helped me discover the actual tub and in my research I found out there is a Kohler Village {about a two-hour drive from Chicago) and the ultimate Kohler Design Center in Wisconsin. Who knew? And peeps, guess what? There is a Kohler Water Spa in the village – can you say ROAD TRIP!!

The design center looks amazing. It has three floors and an entire main floor of designer showcase bathrooms!! I can’t even tell you how happy that makes me .  . . maybe you have to be design crazy like I am to get excited about something like this? I’ve heard of the wonderful world of Disney but who knew there was a wonderful world of Kohler? They even give a factory tour!

The Kohler Design Center is three stories of kitchen and bath products, designer rooms, luxury furniture and Kohler history. Best of all – it’s F.R.E.E! Look at this stunning bathroom design you can tour in this design center: ”Fire & Ice” bathroom by Beth Slifer. I love the “fireplace” . . . it’s where all the white candles are! Isn’t that beautiful? And how about those light fixtures? So not your traditional bathroom light fixtures! No matching sinks either – fabulous!  See the video and read more about this fabulous bathroom design.

This is just one of many designer bathrooms at the Kohler Design Center. I’m not sure but maybe, just maybe, designer heaven in in Kohler, Wisconsin!

Last month for my birthday Mr. DH took me on an overnight trip just 40 minutes down the road to the Inn at Walden. We had an amazing evening in our huge suite which had a fireplace and two powder rooms! The next morning I was pampered at their spa and it was incredible. I have been to spas around the country and bar none, Spa Walden is the best I have ever experienced!

I was taken to my own private spa suite. {The spa suite shown here is a couple’s suite. Mine was similar except I did not have a fireplace, only 1 massage table, and my tub was a different style.} This is where I would stay. There was no going to a locker room to get undressed or sharing a whirlpool with other ladies, as I have done in Las Vegas and Scottsdale. No, my spa suite at Walden was my own private Shangri-La. It had a steam shower, massage table, vanity, bathroom, and an amazing day bed built into the window.

I loved every minute of my two-hour experience. It was simply incredible and at the top of my, “What I love about Spa Walden Best” was the indulgent Kohler Purist Bubblemassage tub with chromatherapy! This tub is amazing. In my suite I had a free-standing oval tub, not a drop-in version.

When my attendant brought me into the room they were running me a sea salt bath and I thought the tub was overflowing as the water seemed to be going right over the edge! The attendant didn’t seem worried, she just walked over and turned the water off. She left me to enjoy this wonderful spa room – I would have 30 minutes before my massage and an additional 30 minutes after my massage.

As I took a closer look at the tub, I discovered that it was kind of like a disappearing edge pool. It was ringed by an overflow channel on the outside of the bathing tub/well so water could appear to overflow but not be pouring out on the floor. I had never seen anything like it and I immediately fell head over heels in love!

Sadly, I did not have my camera so I don’t have a photo of my tub, but here is one from the Kohler site. It’s not exactly like mine, but you’ll get the idea. The tub is ”designed to provide a complete and balanced air experience that is truly customizable.”

It has a “variable-speed motor with an integral heater delivers a range of water treatments, from light bubbling to revitalizing massage, while 122 innovative airjets are precisely positioned to completely embrace you with bubbling water. Zones of Control at both ends and the midsection of the bath allow you complete control of the massage location and chromatherapy lighting relaxes mind and body with a full spectrum of color that washes over you.”

I felt like I had snuck into an episode of the show, “Lifestyles of the rich and famous” {except I am middle-class and anonymous!} I’m going back at the end of the month {they had a deal going if I booked  an appointment for April that day} and plan to get a snap of the tub!

The 36-hours we were at Walden were truly a blessing – thank you Mr. DH for such a wonderful experience. Ladies, if any of you want a pampered get away, I highly recommend Spa Walden. It’s a treat to be sure, but worth it!

Over the weekend we had our first snow fall. It’s only a few inches and because it is our first of the season, it’s magical. Enjoy!

Astilbe

Hydrangea mop top heavy with snow.

Snowy rosemary.

Snow draped pine branches.

Rings of snow on our pond.

Snowy swing.

Welcome friends from The Inspired Room! Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? I’m giving away a wonderful bundle – perfect for a stocking that needs stuffed!

When I was in Savannah, I came across some fabulous little shops owned by real people – NOT chains! One of them was NOURISH. They carry fabulous bath products and custom soaps!

The owner, Shoshanna Walker {shown below cutting a slice of soap for me}, was such a sweetie when I asked if I could take pictures of her shop and blog about it. She has even offered one of our readers three bars of their choice of her wonderful soaps!

Enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. Contest ends THIS Saturday, December 19 at 3:00 PM EST! That will give the winner time to order and have the product shipped in time for stuffing stockings!

If you are the lucky winner, I hope you will select a slice of Shoshanna’s glycerine “Island Mango” scent. It’s one that I bought and IT IS AMAZING! I seriously feel like I’m in the islands some place when using in.

Oh, and if you have a dog who gets stinky when s/he goes outside – I read that Nourish’s “Don’t Bug My Dog” soap works MAGIC! Nourish’s dog soap might just be what Fido needs in his stocking this year!

Isn’t her store adorable? Shoshanna said much of the decor came from her grandmother’s house – love it! Please visit the Nourish website to order any gifts still on your list.

{orange soap photo via flicker}

Charleston is one of my favorite places to visit. There are so many stories buried in the city’s history and I am always intrigued by its textures, scents and scenes. The cobblestone streets from 200 hundred years ago transport you back in time.

As we walked every block of the downtown area, I was amazed at the sheer number of art galleries. They are everywhere!  At one intersection, buried a block or two away from main streets, galleries were on each corner -  I’m not kidding!

The food was wonderful – I could not have eaten another bite of shrimp and grits. {I think we tried every version the city had to offer!}  And while we ate at some of the top spots, we both agreed that none of them could beat Jacob’s Kitchen in Mt. Pleasant, just a short drive over the beautiful bridge.

I was disappointed in the shopping on famed King Street, not nearly as many home decor shops as I would have liked and the ones that were there had the names of Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, and Pierre Deux. The antique stores were truely traditional and while beautiful, they didn’t have entice me to walk in.

Nevertheless, I was still in heaven with all the eye candy from the architecture of buildings and homes and from all the wonderful gardens! Just LOOK at those beautiful doors inset into the brick building above. Gorgeous!

So for my next Lowcountry giveaway, we have liquid gold from Savannah Bee Company! A three ounce jar of their “Gold Standard” Tupelo Honey and an adorable bee skep honey jar.

To Enter: just post a comment here on my blog – it’s that easy! If you’d like to subscribe to TDH – you’ll automatically be notifed about my next give away!

BONUS Entries: Blog about my honey give away and/or let your friends on Face Book know about our sweet giveaway (just copy and past a link to this post). Leave separate comments here for extra entries.

I think this would make a sweet stocking stuffer for anyone who loves honey, bees, tea, etc. Tupelo honey is valued for its uniquely delicious flavor and its inability to granulate.

I’m linking up to Melissa’s Beautiful Life Friday since Savannah Bee Company has definitely made life more bee-utiful!

Contest ends Tuesday, November 17th at Noon EST. Good luck!