Summer Getaway {Camping Les Ormes}

I've mentioned before that I like tents, and I've also shared how much I enjoy stealing away for a day in a fabric "fort," so, as you might imagine, when I spotted this image on Cote Maison I was completely smitten.

Cote Maison

After visiting the property's website, Camping Les Ormes, located in the French countryside, immediately joined the list of luxury camping (or perhaps I should say glamping,) locales I've bookmarked over the past couple years.

This and all remaining photos from Camping Les Ormes' website

Situated on 25 acres, Camping Les Ormes is open from late-April until mid-September. It offers 100 campsites, as well as a number of luxury "desert tents." The grounds, including open fields, forest, an animal farm, and a lake with a white sandy beach, allow for activities such as biking, hiking, and fishing.


For those who prefer more of the luxury side of the experience, a pool, tennis courts, a restaurant and bar, a small boutique, and on site masseuses are sure to please. While my family's luck with camping has never been the best, surely this is "camping" even my mom could get behind!


During high season, a breakfast of fresh bread and croissants is delivered directly to your tent, and during the rest of the season, you can enjoy the breakfast buffet served on the restaurant's terrace five days a week.


The food at Camping Les Ormes is not quite standard camping fare; consider this sample menu for a typical summer day--

*Bread with homemade hummus
*Gazpacho of watermelon and pineapple
*Duck breast with honey thyme sauce accompanied with a puff pastry tart with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, and basil and a Roquette salad with fresh summer fruit, parmesan and pine-tree grains.
*Swiss nut cake with orange and maple syrup.

While I'd pass on the duck, to everything else I'd say, "Yes, please!!"


Beyond the activities available at on the grounds, nearby villages offer the opportunity for shopping local markets, antiquing, wine tasting, visiting historic chateaus, and playing a round of golf.


Gorgeous views. Activities aplenty. Gourmet food. Close proximity to historic villages. Sounds like a pretty perfect summer getaway to me. There is only one thing I am left wondering about Camping Les Ormes-- how soon can we go?

At Your Leisure

My list of dream vacations is long and continually expanding. Some places are closer to the top of the list than others and some have long-held their spots, but all are vacations I'd love to experience one day.

One item on the list is to cruise the canals of Europe on-board a hotel barge, like the Golden Odyssey, a private barge-yacht available for charter out of Flanders, Belgium.


This setting looks like perfection. I might not be much of a morning person, but I would love to watch dawn break from the deck chairs.


I'll happily meander through quaint villages as we weave our way through the countryside.


I'm content to dock in small towns


Or larger cities.


A glass of wine as we cruise through Paris? Why, I'd love one. And you?


The deck is a perfect place to relax


And take in the sights... oh,look! It's Notre Dame ahead on the left.


When the night air gets chilly, we can retreat below deck with our glasses of wine and sit by the roaring fire.


With three cabins, including one with twin beds, there is plenty of room for friends.


We'd even have our own bathrooms, as each cabin has one en-suite.


Now, don't mind us if we turn in early. There's champagne waiting, and I hate to keep it waiting long.

Among the Trees

When I was little, I was captivated by the Disney film "Swiss Family Robinson." I loved the storyline and the characters, but what I most loved was the idea of living in a treehouse.


Treehouse life seemed utterly romantic and adventurous, and I can remember thinking that Fritz and Roberta were wise when they decided to stay and begin their joint life on the island.


While I can't say that the idea of full-time treehouse living seems quite as fantastic as it once did, I still love the idea of a treehouse escape.


It seems like a perfect tranquil place to step away from the hectic pace of everyday life, whether in your own backyard or perhaps even as a quaint vacation home. I would happily load up with books, magazines, and snacks and sneak away to read and nap in this treehouse featured on Cote Maison.

Should you tire of being among the leaves, a daybed close to the ground would be a perfect accompaniment to your getaway in the trees.

Photos by Jean-Marc Palisse

Let the Rain Fall Down

It's dark and stormy outside and opposed to wishing the weather away, I am wishing for a grander location to enjoy such a downpour. This seaside house in Scotland looks like the perfect place to watch an onslaught of wind and rain.

I can imagine watching the waves crash furiously upon the beach from this window seat, a spot that seems made for daydreaming.


The rest of the Blackett House and Estate doesn't look too shabby either...








Also, while I wouldn't actually want to make use of the dogs for hunting, I am thrilled to see that the house comes equipped with Hunt Kennels-- you know of my love for dogs.

Photos Courtesy of Dixcot Locations

Utilitarian Chic

Earlier, I pondered what type of weekender bag I'd love the most if I were getting one for my road trip today. I considered some bags with fun prints, but I equally love the idea of utilitarian-chic totes with buckles and leather...

When I look at each of the following bags, I can imagine exactly how I'd want to travel while carrying them. I'd be driving a lovely vintage car or hoping on-board a private plane, perhaps one I'd pilot myself.

Jonathan Miller

I'd wear a crisp white button-down with a well-cut pair of linen pants (ones that miraculously never wrinkle, natch) and a pair of bronze metallic sandals. And I'd have a pair of aviators to shield my eyes from the sun.

This outfit is pretty close, and I wouldn't complain about looking like her!
Jonathan Miller

And, of course, I'd be jotting off to some exotic locale, such as Morocco for a long weekend (never mind that such a trip wouldn't likely entail only a weekender-size bag for me...)

Above and below photo- Tripod Agency

Where I'd take a glass of tea under this rooftop tent and watch as the sun set.

Marie Claire Maison via The Style Files

-Sigh-

Oh. Right. The bags!

I carried a white bag nonstop a few summers ago, and by the end of the season, it was definitely showing its wear. I know how impractical a bag like this is, especially for travel, but I can't help but lust after them all the same, including this lovely one from J.Crew.

I'd more than happily carry the gorgeous Balenciaga Giant Weekender in Sahara or almost any of the multitude of colors in which it is available.

The six-pocket extra large travel bag by Valhalla certainly looks roomy enough to carry all the things I could throw in it, yet it retains a stylish appearance too.


I love the Mulholland Safari Bag in waxed canvas; the bag, like many of its Mulholland counterparts, makes me a little weak in the knees-- a bit masculine, yes, but still oh-so-chic. And I'm positive it's a bag E would be happy to carry too.


I saw this tool bag mentioned months ago on Urban Grace; with its canvas and leather exterior paired with an interior full of pockets and dividers, I was instantly intrigued with the idea of it as a weekend tote-- I have been ever since.

I am about to hit the road, sadly, without any of these beauties, but I am excited all the same. I love a little roadtrip with some good tunes and a sunny day!

Packing Light

I am a horrible packer.

I don't lack the ability to arrange things well in my suitcase or car, rather I seem to lack the ability to limit what I bring. I always wonder what I'll actually be in the mood to wear and even sometimes what array of activities I might do, so, it is rather inevitable-- I overpack.

Chris Everard

I'm getting ready to head home for about a week (to work on our house as we continue getting it ready to put on the market.) While normally a trip of this length would entail stuffing my large suitcase to the brim, since most of my spring clothes are still at our house, I don't need to take quite as much with me this time.

Marisa Crawford Indri- stylist

I would love to have a new weekender-size bag to throw my things inside, and I can't quite decide which of these bags would make the final cut if I were getting one for the trip (ok, so I might actually need two...)

I might love a bag with a fun print...

This bright orange and white bag from Anny & Me seems perfectly suited for summer.

I adore this DrikaB bag; even with its print and detailing, it still appears neutral enough to pair with a variety of outfits and color palettes.

I don't love looking at this many cars while sitting in traffic, but I do love looking at them on this Orla Kiely travel tote.


I'm not sure which of the above Virginia Johnson bags, available at Beklina, I would want the most, but I am sure if I were taking a trip to the beach, I would love to have either at my side.

Stay Tuned-- more possible bag options later today!

The Square

Oxford, Mississippi is home to 19,000 residents and The University of Mississippi, lovingly called Ole Miss. Writers, artists, and musicians populate the city, and there is also a large sorority and fraternity scene that thrives on campus. Add in working professionals, especially in the area of law, other college students, and the intellectuals who populate the ranks of the university faculty, and you'll find an area that manages to be both artsy and preppy, and traditional and eclectic at the same time.

The Lyceum at The University of Mississippi. Photo by flickr user rachelluttrell

While there are many different types of people who populate the city, the epicenter of life in Oxford is, undoubtedly, "The Square." The Lafayette County Courthouse sits in the middle of the historic square and is flanked by City Hall, as well as numerous stores, restaurants, and bars. The boutiques and eateries even spill out onto the surrounding streets that lead in and out of The Square.

Photo by flickr user jimmywayne22

Beautiful photos of The Square at night- here, here, and here. Photos by flickr user briantmurphy

With an ever growing and changing restaurant scene, I can't speak for all the joints in town, but there are certainly some tried and true favorites that are must-visits for me when I am in town.

Breakfast or brunch can't be beat at Bottletree Bakery. It is located just off the Square, and, with its fabulous pastries, coffee, sandwiches and other delectables, there is surely something to please any appetite.

Love the reflection in the image at left! Photos here and here from flickr user UGArdner (away for a while)

With its southern-style cooking, delicious vegetable plate, and fried pickles (Yes, seriously. Fried pickles. If you've never had them, they're amazing, and these are by far the best fried pickles anywhere!) Ajax Diner is always on my list. The atmosphere compliments the food to make the whole dining experience quite perfect.

In the photo on the left you can barely see the sandwich toothpicks in the ceiling. They are shot there through straws. Quite a tricky feat. Photo on left: deepfriedkudzu.com. Photo on right: flickr user lucianveutian

City Grocery, an Oxford institution since 1992, is an excellent choice for fine dining. The restaurant has an extensive wine list and a variety of southern-influenced entrees, including Tabasco Bacon-Seared Swordfish and an upscale take on Shrimp and Grits. Find their menu online here.

Exterior Photo found here. Interior Shot found here.

Although not located on the Square, just a few miles outside town you will find Yocona River Inn. Another fine dining establishment, this small and cozy restaurant is housed in what was once a small country store. Yocona River Inn is located in what is a dry county, so this eatery is BYOB.

While this is far from a through account of all the amazing restaurants in Oxford, you can find a full list of dining choices here.