Two weekends ago John and I had the delightful experience of visiting the Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC. We had the most wonderful time, and I’d love to tell you about it!

First, a few things about Highlands. It’s a tiny town tucked in the mountains and has a population that swells from about 900 in the winter to around 15,000 in the summer. It has an adorable downtown, plenty of waterfalls on the drive in, and mountains galore to explore. It also has the Old Edwards Inn, which is, as it turns out, the nicest hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying at.

Before checking into our room, we took a brief tour of the property. They have so many different accommodations, from rooms in the Lodge to individual cottages, and each was filled with adorable nooks and crannies and thoughtful amenities.

My favorite was this clawfoot tub in one of the cottages:

My next favorite spot was this little alleyway right below our room. Can’t you just imagine this somewhere in Europe?

After our tour we checked into our room. Which was intensely, seriously amazing. The bathroom had heated tile floors and towel bars, several people could have had a dance party in the shower, there were Molton Brown toiletries, there were two of the most comfortable chairs I have ever sat in, there was a fireplace (!!!) and balcony, they had peanut butter cookies waiting for us, there were free and copious Dove bars (!!!), and there was a little touchscreen device that controlled the temperature, lights, and TV. Heaven.

We did manage to tear ourselves away from our room for a quick hike at nearby Whiteside Mountain and a drive-by tour of the three close waterfalls.

We occupied ourselves the rest of the evening by watching a DVD we borrowed from the front desk staff and eating Dove bars!

If any of you are looking for a gorgeous place to visit for a relaxing getaway, I would highly recommend the Old Edwards Inn. We loved staying there in the winter, and are eager to see what the experience would be like in the summer!

A huge thank you to the Old Edwards staff, which was kind enough to host John and I for the night through my job. The opinions expressed, however, are all mine!

(Click to enlarge!)

How convenient that Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, the day of the week when we traditionally post inspiration boards! I decided to mix the customary deep V-Day red with a summer green. And isn’t that heart cake amazing?!

The Details

First row, left to right: arrangement by Flowerwild; salt water taffy jar photo by Limelight Photography via Style Me Pretty; cafe chairs

Second row: heart cake by I Am Baker; love-letter inspired stationery suite by Ruby & Willow via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Third row: favor bags via flickr; red lips photo by Jose Villa by Once Wed

If you’re looking for a fun, very easy project for your valentine, try these felt fortune cookies I made last year! DIY here!

1

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path leading wherever I choose.

9

Allons! we must not stop here,
However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling
we cannot remain here,
However shelter’d this port and however calm these waters we must
not anchor here,
However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted
to receive it but a little while.

11

Listen! I will be honest with you,
I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but offer rough new prizes,
These are the days that must happen to you:
You shall not heap up what is call’d riches,
You shall scatter with lavish hand all that you earn or achieve…

15

Allons! the road is before us!
Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

— Walt Whitman

Just a little love note to send you off into Valentine’s weekend. If you’re interested in reading the whole thing, click here. Photo by Millie Holloman.