Sponsor Spotlight

Sponsor Love 2018

At the end of each year, I revisit some of the brand collaborations I have had over the last 12 months. 2018 was another positive year for White Cabana, and I’m thrilled that I get to work with so many great people and brands. I am glad that brands continue to recognize the value and impact of blog writers, and I thank the following brands for their eagerness to collaborate. I look forward to fostering these relationships and to building new ones in 2019. Thanks, too, dear readers, for supporting the brands that support White Cabana!

Baroccopost

Blancopost, post

Direct Door Hardwarepost, post

Grey County Tourismpost

Home Depot Canadapost

Langdon Hallpost

Loews Vanderbilt Nashvillepost

Metriepost

Pamuk & Co.post

Reitmanspost

Ritz Carlton Sarasotapost

Ryman Auditoriumpost

Warmuppost

Sponsors listed in alphabetical order. All photos are my own. See Sponsor Love 2017, Sponsor Love 2016, Sponsor Love 2015, and Sponsor Love 2014.

Sponsor Love 2017

As has been my tradition for the last few years, I’m ending this year with a post featuring the brands I’ve been fortunate to work with in 2017. Each year, I am grateful for meeting amazing, intelligent, and interesting brand reps, company owners, and press team members who teach me more about the blogger-brand partnership and who are keen on working on creative projects. I have worked with some of these brands for years now, and I’m certainly happy about our relationships.

Audi KW

original post

Caribou Cabin

original post

Fairmont Montebello

original post

Hotel Henry

original post

L.L. Bean

original post

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

full post to come in January

Minted

original post

Ritz Carlton

original post

Rowenta

original post

Seabags

original post

Smith Publicity

original post

Thousand

original post

I look forward to partnering with old and new brands in 2018 to continue to share with you interesting products and helpful services in the marketplace as well as travel itineraries that encourage you to explore the world. I’m always eager to learn something new, to experience something new, and to return to ol’ favourites.

Thanks, dear sponsors, for supporting my work here at White Cabana, and thanks, dear readers, for making time in your day to visit White Cabana.

Sponsors listed in alphabetical order. All photos are my own (except the LLBean photo). See Sponsor Love 2016, Sponsor Love 2015, and Sponsor Love 2014.

Travel: Ritz Carlton Sarasota Spa Experience

How many massages have you had in your life? I’ve had two! Two!? One was earlier this year at the Scandinave Spa. The other was at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota last month.

When my friend and I took a vacation-in-a-vacation to the Ritz Sarasota (read about our stay here), we were lucky to be treated to massages at the beautiful Ritz Spa.

I know the Ritz staff see thousands of people come through the hotel each month/year/day, but when I’m there, I feel like I’m getting all of the attention! How do they do that? My spa visit was a perfect example of this kind of attentive service.

We arrived at the spa first thing in the morning after an easy drive from Madeira Beach, Florida. After reviewing the spa menu and consulting with the Ritz staff in advance of my visit, I was booked in for an 80-minute lemongrass bamboo massage. Here’s the description straight from the spa menu:

“Therapeutic hands, warmed bamboo and an infusion of lemongrass soothe tension through this deeply holistic and balancing massage. Be transformed as your mind rests and muscular stress melts away.”

I can confirm that the description and the reality matched perfectly! I lay on a heated bed under the softest covers. My masseuse started by scrubbing my feet and wrapping them in a warm towel. She then used lemongrass-infused oil on my skin before she started  massaging me, alternating between her hands and warmed bamboo sticks. Oh my goodness – the warmed bamboo sticks were incredible! I don’t think I was very stressed to begin with (because I was on vacation after all!), but the systematic, thoughtful rolling of the bamboo sticks across my body really made sure that any and all tensions left my body. It was fantastic!

Honestly, I didn’t know if I would be bored for an 80-minute massage, but there was no way! I was unbelievably relaxed, and if my appointment was later in the day, I surely would have fallen asleep.

Of course there were some points in the massage where the masseuse applied more pressure – and I wasn’t sure if it would lead to some soreness later on in the day – but it didn’t. I felt great! She checked in with me several times about the pressure, and switched the bamboo sticks depending on tension and body part.

My skin was so soft – and my body felt relaxed – for days after my massage.

This spa visit was a very special experience, and I’m grateful to the Ritz Carlton for welcoming us in so warmly.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ritz Sarasota, read about my visit last year, my visit last month., or check out my posts on Instagram at #WhiteCabanaGoesToTheRitz, or #WhiteCabanaGoesToFlorida.

Side note: Love for the Ritz runs in my family. At the same time that I was booking a return visit to the Ritz Sarasota, my sister was booking a return visit to the Ritz Lake Oconee Georgia for her and her family. As you may remember, she and her husband have four kids, and the whole family absolutely loves the Ritz! She has told me that the Ritz staff have treated the kids so well, and there are plenty of fun activities for them! It’s a very kid-friendly resort!

Thanks to S.A. and the Ritz Carlton Sarasota team for sponsoring this post. All opinions and photos are my own.

 

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Sponsor Love: 2016 Edition

Near the end of 2015, I wrote a thank you post featuring all my sponsors for the year (see this sponsor love post). I’m repeating this post for 2016. I’m very grateful to the PR representatives, brand account managers, social media whizzes, and shop owners for putting their trust in my writing and in my blog.

I’m sending out a big thanks to all the following companies for their enthusiasm, loyalty, and generosity:

Abus (post)

Amara (post)

Bed Bath & Beyond (post)

CIL Paints (photo)

Delta Waterloo (post)

Expedia.ca (post, post, post, post, post, post)

Fairmont Palliser (post)

King Edward Hotel (post, post)

Langdon Hall (end of 2015 post) (post, post, post, photos)

L.L.Bean (post, post, photo, photo)

Minted (post, post, post)

Needham Lane (post, post)

Quarto Group (post)

Ritz Carlton Sarasota (post)

Rug Expedition (post)

Stephen Hawes (post, photos)

Stratford Festival (post)

TYR (post, post, photo, photo)

UncommonGoods (post)

Windsor Arms Spa (post, post)

Thanks again, dear sponsors, for supporting me and my blog, and for making such fabulous products and experiences for all of us to enjoy! See you in 2017!

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Sponsor Spotlight: Caviar20

Today I’m so happy to share some of the amazingly stylish products from Caviar20. Troy carries so many exceptionally gorgeous pieces – and they go quickly – so if there’s something you’ve got your eye on, go ahead and get it before it’s sold!

Caviar20-DavidHockney-OlderRapunzel-icon_grande

David Hockney The Older Rapunzel etching, $3000

Caviar20_RachelWhiteread-icon_grande

Rachel Whiteread “untitled” ditone print, $3000

Caviar20-SoliNero-Platter_1_grande

Fornasetti “Suns and Moons” ceramic serving tray, $475

Caviar20-FontanaArte-sconces-main_grande

Veca “Fontana arte style” sconces, $1750