Hooray! We didn't have to travel far for this week's installment of "Explore". Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea Co. is one of our favorite places to visit in town and I often find myself toting around a mason jar hoping to find one of their many farmers market stalls or downtown stations.

This family operated tea company boasts gourmet blends straight from the garden, farm, forest, and briar patch (my favorites are Front Porch Special and Healing Honeysuckle). Although Aissa, Ginny & I would drive almost anyway for our favorite brews, Piper & Leaf is currently calling Lowe Mill (a cotton mill turned arts & entertainment center frequented by Huntsville's artist community) home and what a beautiful home it is... With handcrafted details like the custom woodworking (done by one of the shop's proprietors) and personal touches such as the take-one-leave-one "little library", Piper & Leaf just might be my favorite spot in town.

The magic happens when businesses truly feel intentional, authentic and have an air of family history supporting them.  I can always count on finding Lydia, our favorite tea master and model (she worked on this editorial with us!), brewing up a little bit of love and goodness. Recently nominted for Martha Stewart's "American Made" awards, these tea people are on an amazing journey and I love following along/stopping by to smell the swirl of sweet tea in the air.

p.s. Don't forget to stop by Aissa's blog for more.

A huge thank you to Piper & Leaf for allowing our little tribe to explore and for always providing the refreshment for our meetings, projects and celebrations!

Just short of six months ago I met two incredibly creative and talented women (Ginny from Sleepy Fox Photography and Aissa of Aislerchic) and we've been dying to come together and collaborate on a project ever since. Today marks the beginning of an exciting new feature for CATC, "Explore". We've curated the best spots to eat, shop and play in the South (and maybe even beyond) and are sharing them with you, one at a time!

First off...

photos by Sleepy Fox Photography

suede shirtdress, polka dot shift, jumpsuit

Billy Reid is the epitome of edgy Southern style. With a foundation of well crafted garments and simple silhouettes, the men and women's designer definitely knows Americana. Our little team (and our resident mascot, Lo) visited the Billy Reid flagship store & studio in downtown Florence, Alabama and were instantly enamored with the classic styles and perfectly curated grassroots meet cool storefront (right down to the quirky portraiture wallpapering each fitting room). A major player in the four-city region referred to as The Shoals, Billy Reid is one of the best places to shop in Northern Alabama!

Visit Aislerchic for Aissa's account of our trip!

serena & lily sconce, otte ny eyelet tee, portrait of george washington, country estate ginger jar, one kings lane julep cup, antique brass desk lamp, serena & lily leather stool

The longer I live in the South the more I fall in love with its charm... you just can't find history, hospitality or tradition like this anywhere in the world! We've been living below the Mason-Dixon line for almost six years and I'm finally coming to terms with abandoning my Yankee upbringing for a slower, sweeter lifestyle.

The funnest way to acclimate to Alabama has definitely been finding ways to incorporate a little bit of Southern comfort into our home. Where I may have opted for a minimalist Parsons desk before, something from the antique store fits nicely now (paired with an Eames chair, of cours... I'm never letting those babies go). A framed portrait of our first president? I would have called you crazy a few months ago but now I just can't get enough! One of my 101 in 1,001 goals was to start a collection and I've already picked up a few antique pieces of blue and white china. The challenge now will be to blend the two styles that I'm loving so much (modern and traditional).

There sure is something sweet about the South, ya'll. It's probably tea.