Lilly Pulitzer, Travel, Uncategorized

Lilly Con! The Pink Retreat

No Comments

Lilly Con! The Pink Retreat was a Lilly themed weekend in Palm Beach Florida, founded by Tosha Davis Williams in 2018. I was lucky enough to secure a spot for the 2019 event. Let me tell you tickets sold out like hotcakes. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the event was canceled for 2020 but I am already registered for 2021. It can’t come soon enough. I thought I would share some of the fun from the 2019 event. I went only knowing one person and left with so many new Lilly loving friends from around the country.

The home base for the event was The Colony Hotel, a stunning boutique hotel. The Colony is what you think of when you think of old Palm Beach. It was stunning. The staff was amazing and anything you needed they were happy to help. Turn down service, chocolate, and little gifts every night made you feel special. The hotel has pink bikes available to ride around the island and car service as well. The pink golf cart was certainly a hit. Beach chairs and supplies are also available and will be set up for you at the beach. Beautiful gardens and pool area just invite you to sit, relax, and enjoy a cocktail. They do think of everything. I highly recommend The Colony to anyone wanting to experience the old fashioned Palm Beach charm. Coming in a day early gave me time to settle in, explore, and do a little shopping before the events started.

                                                                       

The entire weekend was a whirlwind of activities. Friday morning started with check-in and shopping at Lilly on Worth Avenue. Their juice bar and adorable shift cookies were certainly a hit with all of us. Everyone was so welcoming and it was so fun finally meeting people that I had connected with on Facebook. We headed to The Breakers for lunch. Wow, the hotel is breathtaking. We walked around the grounds and explored.  The Colony hosted a Happy Hour that night by the pool and it was just a sea of Lilly dresses. Michelle Kelly, CEO of Lilly Pulitzer joined us and she was so sweet to chat with us all. Lilly’s granddaughter also stopped by. It was a fabulous evening.

Saturday started with sunrise yoga and mimosas. I can’t think of a better way to start the day. I signed up for the Worth Avenue tour with Rick Rose and he is a  wealth of information on the history of Palm Beach. We saw Lilly’s original store as well. Walking through Via Mizner made you feel like you were stepping back in time. The shops are made to look like an old Italian market with crooked windows and pieced together. Lunch at the historic Ta-boo was delicious. Our next adventure took us to Palm Beach Gardens Mall for a little shopping. Paint night was next and we created a Lilly inspired painting to take home. It was fun seeing everyone’s different styles. GNO rounded out our evening at The Colony. We were having so much fun that we decided to head to The Breakers for cocktails to finish out the evening. We really didn’t want the evening to end.

Sunday was a farewell brunch and print tour. The print tour with Lilly artist Melissa was so interesting. She showed us some of the local places where she finds inspiration for her prints. What would be a trip to Palm Beach if we didn’t see Lilly’s house? We stopped there and took a photo. I decided to stay until Monday and see more of Palm Beach. Quite a few other ladies did as well and we enjoyed a quiet evening in the lounge at The Colony after the busy weekend.

 

One of the highlights of my weekend was custom designing my very own Lilly shift dress. This is only available at the Worth Avenue store. I chose the Palm Beach toile print exclusive to this store. My dress is beautiful and it was so much fun picking out the fabric and lace and designing it. The girls at the store were so helpful and work with you every step of the way. When my dress arrived it was in a beautiful bag and my name is sewn on the inside of it. A once in a lifetime personal experience.

Honestly, the very best part of The Pink Retreat was making new friends. I have kept in touch with many of the ladies and have taken some vacations with friends I never would have met if not for TPR. We all keep up with each other on Facebook as well. I have enjoyed catching up with fellow Lilly girls on some of my other travels as well. I can’t wait until 2021. We all share a love of Lilly and to all be together was so special. Lilly would have been proud to see how her legacy lives on. After all, it all started with a juice stand.

 

 

Carrie Kelly is an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters. She is available to assist you in creating a beautiful, personalized, and welcoming home, bridal planning, personalized jewelry, and accessories for yourself and to help you select the perfect gift for every occasion. She is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle Blog. 

Find her at: https://www.initialoutfitters.net/CKELLY/

                   https://pineapplesandsweettea.com/                                                

                   https://www.facebook.com/IObyCarrie

                   https://www.instagram.com/pineapplesandmonograms/

                   pineapplesandmonograms@gmail.com

Everyday Life

A Little About Me

No Comments

I hope you have enjoyed Pineapples and Sweet Tea so far. I thought this week I would introduce myself and tell you a little more about me. I am a wife to Bob, mom to Bobby, and fur mom to Finn. I always thought about starting a blog and thought this was the perfect time. I’m really enjoying sharing the things that I love with you, and I hope you are enjoying it as well. I split my time between Illinois and Arizona, and I’m lucky to escape the Illinois winters. I’m sure many of you can relate.

Masters 2019

 

Little Finn
The Arizona Biltmore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am an independent consultant with Initial Outfitters and have been with the company for two years. This was really the perfect company for me because it allows me to combine my love of all things monogrammed and personalized with my love of fashion and decor. It really is the best of both worlds. Initial Outfitters is based in Auburn, Alabama and monogramming and personalization is our specialty. I really enjoy setting up displays at shows and helping my customers find just the perfect gift for themselves or a loved one. I have been lucky to meet some great women within the company and made  many friends around the country.

Team Lucky Charms
Conference banquet

 

IO Conference

In my spare time I enjoy all forms of yoga and working out but my absolute favorite is aerial yoga and fitness. It is definitely one of the most challenging classes I have ever done. Learning circus tricks is always fun. For someone that doesn’t like heights I was really nervous my first few classes. I also enjoy restorative yoga the repetition of Ashtanga yoga. It’s always a good idea to balance the types of classes you do.

Hanging around in aerial yoga

I really enjoy travelling too. This past year I have taken some great trips. I was lucky enough to go to The Masters in 2019. Augusta National is even more beautiful then it is on television. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. After Augusta, we headed to Charleston and stayed on Isle of Palms. I love the history and beauty of the south. My next trips were girls only. The Pink Retreat in Palm Beach was a Lilly Pulitzer lovers dream. I also met some amazing women that have become wonderful friends. Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 it was cancelled this year, but I’m meeting some of the girls in Tampa. I met up with some Lilly friends at Disney in January and did we have a blast. I had not been there in twenty years. It was so fun to see how it has changed. We had an amazing time. I will do future blogs on my travels and some of my recommendations as well.

The Pink Retreat Palm Beach
Who doesn’t love Olaf?

That’s just a little about me. If there is anything you would like me to blog about let me know. I love new ideas. I also hope we can all have a little fun and I hope one of my ideas will spark your creativity. Remember Anything is Possible with Sunshine and a Little Pink.

Gardening and Outdoors

Happy Memorial Day

No Comments

It’s the unofficial start to summer. I love all seasons, but summer has to be my favorite. Backyard barbecues, 4th of July parades, sundresses and sandals, fireflies, sweet tea, and hydrangeas are some of my favorite things about summer. Who doesn’t love a beautiful late night summer sunset? I know I do.

I had waited long enough and it was time to get my front porch summer ready. First off, I needed a new wreath for the front door. An Adirondack style chair wooden monogram really says summer and choosing a beachy blue and light coral paint fits my summer theme. Re-purposing an existing wreath and adding a few flowers and ribbon finished it off. I always love something personal with our name on it for the front door.

Rearranging the furniture and adding a focal piece really made the porch come alive. How gorgeous is this potting bench? My husband made it for me for Mother’s Day a few years ago and I love it. Usually I use it as a potting bench in my garage but I have always wanted to use it in my decor and thought the front porch was the perfect place to display it. Very eye catching. Adding herbs, plants, statues, and lanterns completed the potting bench.

Finally, I grabbed my outdoor pillows, new garden flag, rugs, and added a few pots of colorful flowers to make everything pop. I love the layered rugs by the front door and the flag is from our newest collection. Lavender and herbs smell wonderful as you walk up to the front door, and I enjoy having fresh herbs for my sweet tea. I decided on simple ferns this year for an organic element and to add some green to match the faux boxwood topiaries. I bought the topiaries for holiday decorating but really liked the look so I decided to use them year round. My other pots add just the right pop of color.

I think it’s the perfect time of day to grab a book and a glass of sweet tea and enjoy my beautiful porch. Care to join me?

A perfect summer read

Everyday Life

Surviving The Stay At Home

No Comments

We are all living in this new strange world of quarantine. Places are starting to open back up, but how different will it be? I’ll be the first to admit that I really fell into a rut when we got back from Arizona. I miss my friends, my yoga studio, and just being able to go places and enjoy a nice dinner out.  I imagine most of you feel the same way. We did tackle a remodeling project so that was fun. After a couple of weeks I decided to create a new routine for myself  and carry on.

Having always been one of those people that enjoys getting up early, I make sure I do. It’s always quiet and peaceful. Starting the day writing in my journal and reading something inspirational is a great way to put yourself in a positive frame of mind first thing in the morning. I’m just using the Five Minute Journal, just a few minutes writing in it morning and night. I ordered A Yogic Path by Sahara Rose to start reading. First off this book and cards are beautifully illustrated. The guidebook and cards are meant to insight and guide you to your inner inner wisdom and unlocking a deeper understanding of self. Fascinating. I also love this little box of cards on my table to quickly read throughout the day. It’s easy to get into a rut during this time, but I am making a conscious effort to not let that happen.

I am also back in the habit of making sure I get a workout in first thing every morning. Workouts don’t always have to be traditional. Moving furniture, yardwork, and walking are all great workouts. It really gives me more energy and helps me keep on going throughout the day. I find that setting your workout gear out the night before makes me more motivated to make sure I get my workout in. Of course, cute gear always helps. I am so looking forward to the day we can get back to the yoga studio. I really enjoy working out with a group and really miss the camaraderie we all share.

This time at home has also given me time to do a little refresh of my office. I may move it or completely redo this room but just a little change makes me happy. I set up a small work display that I rotate with new items weekly to keep it fresh. Pretty baskets and bins make organizing a breeze and I cleared my desk for a more simple look. Adding a scent diffuser lets me change the scent for my mood. I’m spending a lot more time in here lately.

 

I’ve saved the best for last. Being able to stay connected to my Network Together group and my Initial Outfitters team during this time has been wonderful. We are all learning and helping each other through our zoom calls. It’s a way to connect us all since we are spread throughout the country. My absolute favorite thing I have loved is the zoom happy hours with my girlfriends. Why did we not think of this before? Our last happy hour we dressed up and wore hats and had a great time. Just having some fun , a cocktail, and a laugh for an hour or two is really good for the soul. Again, we are spread throughout the country.

These are some of the ways I have been dealing with quarantine. How are you handling it? I would love to hear your thoughts and tips. We are all on a different path but in this together. Remember it’s temporary and to be kind.