Preview Party - tomorrow night!!!!

We are finally here- tour weekend!!!!!

Tomorrow night is the preview party at the 102 Hollywood Boulevard from 6pm-8pm.  We are asking for a donation of $5 to help benefit the efforts of the Holly oak Garden Club.  In addition to supporting garden club a portion of the donations will go to the Red Cross of Alabama with hopes we can help those who are need.

After you make a donation you will have the chance to meet the designers that have appointed the home perfectly.  Participants include Table Matters, Soho Retro, Leaf and Petal, Suite Dreams, Birmingham Wholesale Furniture, CE Toliver, Pam Evans and Cater Landscape, Charlie Mabry, Beth Bradley, and Pam Till.

It will be a wonderful evening with light fare and great design.  Hopefully we will raise some money for a good cause at the same time.

See you there!

Hollywood Pride

Today has been such a long day of bad weather, including tornadoes.  Around dinner time tonight the Hollywood neighborhood was hit by the most severe of the storms that have lingered throughout the day.  It was during dinner that neighbors called neighbors to coordinate families into basements and to insure  that all were safe. I sat in my basement with my family and neighbors as we waited the worst of the weather together.

When it was over all my neighbors came out of their spaces to make sure everyone was ok.  Those without babies ran to help those who needed help.  Others collected limbs and miscellaneous weather debris.  It was amazing.  On a day that could be considered one of the most tragic weather wise it did not waiver the tenderness and sincerity of my neighbors.

I know this weekend we will show off our "best face", but I think I witnessed the best in this community today.  I love my little nook in Homewood, Alabama.

Looking forward to seeing the sun tomorrow.

Yolo joins the fun for the Preview Party

Yolo a new endeavor at Brookwood Village has graciously offered to donate some snacky cakes for our preview party this coming Friday from 6pm-8pm.  I am including a link to their website so you can see what Yolo is all about. 


Yolo (You Only Live Once) Dessert Bar is located on the sidewalk across from Brio and Cocina Superior at Brookwood Village. Yolo has the best small batch gelato, gourmet cupcakes, warm plated desserts, hand made yogurt, truffles, wines and a new fruit and cheese plate. Please see more information at www.yolodessertbar.com <http://www.yolodessertbar.com>  and friend us on Facebook for menu updates and special offers.

Just another reason to join us on Friday night.

A bit of a “twist” at tour this year

In past years the women of Holly Oak Garden Club had water for purchase at the front of the homes.  This year we are putting this job in the hands of the children of the neighborhood (and their dads).   The children will be offering bottled water and lemonade at two separate lemonade stands.  The first will be located near the Designer show house at 102 Hollywood Boulevard.  The second will be at the triangle near English Circle at Poinciana. The money raised will help programs and Shades Cahaba Elementary School.

This is a fun way to get the kids involved in the fun.  Please support them.  

In the home stretch and very excited

I'm not sure what to compare my anxious anticipation for next weekend to.  All I know is that I cannot wait for the preview party Friday night and, of course, the tour on Sunday.

 The preview party will be Friday, April 29 from 6pm-8pm at 102 Hollywood Boulevard.  This will be your chance to meet the designers who have participated with the Design Home.  There will be food and drink for you to enjoy after you see all the great furnishings in and out of the home.

Organizing the evening is Spruce.  They are a new company that styles, plans events and organizes your life.  Missie Crawford and Libba Hardwick have joined forces to create Spruce and I am eager to see what the final set up will look like.

You will be able to tag any item in the home for purchase.  The preview will give you the first look all for a small donation.  Please join me to support all those who have helped transform this home.

See you there.

Publicity now - publicity WOW!

For months I have been sending press releases about the tour almost as frequent as I type this blog.  Some days I would wonder why I hadn't noticed anything in print or on the web.  Well I guess the statement, "good things comes to those who wait" is my quote of the day.

I mentioned in a previous email that Over the Mountain Journal will be featuring the Logan home in an upcoming issue.  The Birmingham News is photographing the Hain home as I type for a feature in the "Spaces" section of the newpaper.  Susan Strickland at the Birmingham News contacted me today to let me know she will be including our reception for the featured homeowners in Februaury in this weeks "Scribblers" section of the paper.  And recently we were featured on www.inhomewood.com showcasing the designers and retailers participating in the Design Home. Last but not least, The Homewood Star has included us in their upcoming calendar of events.  I am so pleased to see so much support from the press.

Now we need to see more posters in the store windows and hear more talk at carpool.  After driving around the neighborhood this week and looking at all the beautiful homes and gardens, I feel like this is one of the best times to celebrate our neighborhood.  So let's talk up tour and make this the best tour yet!!!

Cut and Roll

The transformation of the Design Home has begun.  The peach living room and mauve dining room are now things of the past.  All the bedrooms have been "cut" and are ready to roll with designer selected colors.   It's exciting to know that things are progressing as the tour approaches.

In other news, Over the Mountain Journal will compose a feature article of one of the tour homes within the next 2 weeks.  I will keep you posted on the date it will be in print.

Next weekend the Homewood banners will be posted and the flurry of ticket purchasing will begin.

Have you purchased your tickets?  Go to Hunter's, Urban Cookhouse, Harmony Landing or Sweet Peas.