Congratulations Beth Scott! Winner of the Tramonti give-away!!!

You've won the Midnight Row Anchor, now you can choose your chain!

The Midnight Row Anchor

The Positano Chain

The St. Tropez Chain

The next give-away will feature an item from the Whitney Williams Collection, details to come!

Easy to wear, easy to pack

This time of year i'm always on the lookout for clothes that look good but are easy to pack for beach vacations and weekend getaways. During my search I discovered this dress form Tara Matthews on net-a-porter. I love how you can wear it as a cover-up but it also looks great for a night out! 

Cynthia Vincent for Target!

Cynthia Vincent has given us many things to be thankful for. In 1993 it was St. Vincent, now known as the contemporary line Vince. In 2003 it was a collection of clothes and shoes under the label Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent. On April 18th it's a collection of Cynthia Vincent shoes designed especially for target. With a price tag under $30 what more can you ask for? Mark your calendars because these shoes will go fast!

A 48 hour Easter at the beach

Every Easter since I can remember my family has gone to Florida's panhandle near Seaside. With busy schedules, work and a million other things going on, we generally don't have time to get away for a long period of time. If you ever get the chance to go to Florida's panhandle, i've given you what I think are the best things to do in 48 hours!

Watch the sunset at Bud and Alley's

Assuming that you get into town on Friday evening before sunset, you need to immediately go to the rooftop bar at Bud and Alley's in Seaside. Even if you don't want a drink, you need to go for the sunset. You can sit at a table overlooking the ocean, snack on the amazing sweet potato fries or tuna dip and you might even get a chance to ring the bell alerting everyone that the sun has set. 

Stay at Watercolor Inn & Resort

If you want a place with miles of trails for running and biking, incredible restaurants, shopping and easy access to the beach, you should definitely stay at Watercolor. For your 48 hour trip rent one of the  rooms at the Inn, you can choose between the beach front dune room or the water front gulf view room. Each room is steps away from the beach and comes with complimentary bikes or kayaks, depending on your preference. Watercolor is also a two minute bike ride from Seaside!

Grab a Grouper sandwich at the Seagrove Market Cafe

When you see the Village Market off of 30-A don't drive past it, you'd be missing out on the Gulf Coast's best grouper sandwiches and sweet tea! Walk in the front door, pass through the market and   enter the cafe in the back. You can place your order then sit on the back patio and sip on sweet tea while you wait for your delicious food to arrive. If you don't like grouper they have plenty of other seafood options like shrimp Po-boys and golden fried oysters. I know this place may seem like a hole-in -the-wall but it's definitely a hole-in-the-wall that's worth your time!

Spend an afternoon at the Caliza pool in Alys Beach

Take a break from the ocean and drive over to Alys Beach, the most recent addition to the small beachside villages developed on 30-A. Its gorgeous Caliza pool is designed after the tradition of the Greek Agora with a saltwater pool, a separate family pool, a lap pool, a spa whirlpool and outdoor living areas and cabanas. I promise when you're there you'll feel as if you've been transported to a luxurious retreat off the coast of Europe. 

Easter Service at Rosemary Beach

 I have saved the best place on 30-A for last and it happens to be where you need to go for Easter service. A town with architecture that resembles the look of places like the West Indies, St. Augustine and Charleston, Rosemary Beach is a must see destination. Sunday morning, walk along the cobblestone streets, past gorgeous homes and tropical landscaping until you find a crowd gathered in worship on one of the pristine lawns overlooking the beach. The ocean crashes in the background, as the pastor speaks to his congregation of tanned locals and weekend travelers, all gathered together for the same purpose. 

Tramonti's April Give-Away is the Midnight Row Anchor and the Chain of your choice!

The votes are in and the winner of April's give-away will receive the Midnight Row Anchor and the Chain of their choice!

My favorite thing to do is help women focus on pursuing what they love to do by making it easier for them to look good while they do it... for April's give-away I want to know what it is that you love to do, the thing that you would do every day if you could. It can be anything from sky diving to horseback riding!

You have four chances to participate, which means you have the possibility of being entered up to four times in the drawing. If you participated in March's give-away, your name is already in the drawing, which gives you an extra entry!

All of the entries must be completed by 11 pm on April 7th and the drawing will be announced by 10 am on Thursday April 8th. If you are the winner, you will receive an email from me alerting you that you have won, otherwise the winner will be posted on this blog, facebook and twitter.

Here are the 4 possible ways to enter:

1. Reply to this post and tell me what it is that you love to do, it could be something you do every day like a job or a hobby or it could be something you only do occasionally but wish you could do more often. 

2. Tell me in a tweet @TramontiTweets or on my Facebook Fan Page the name of a piece of jewelry from my website that you would love to see included in the Whitney Williams Collection launching this summer.

3. Upload a picture of yourself wearing Tramonti jewelry on my Facebook Fan Page, I always love to see my customers wearing Tramonti!

4. Suggest the Facebook Fan Page to a friend that you love

Email me by midnight on April 7th at Tramontibywhitney@gmail.com to let me know how you participated in the give-away. Good luck!

Spring

 

Michael Kors spring/summer 2010 collection

Bottega Veneta Clutch

Chloe  Sunglasses

Spring brings Michael Kors ads that transport you to the world of private jets, VIP access and most importantly the perfect tan from days on the yacht off the coast of  St. Tropez and Mykonos.  If you wear the leather Bottega Veneta clutch, you harness the colors of the ocean, sand and sky and to ensure that life always looks perfect, Chloe gives you the option to look through rose colored lenses. 

A rare sighting

(Makanyane Safari Lodge)

When I find a photo that interests me I save it to a file. I know there is a very rare chance that I will ever be able to find it again but it also means something important to me at the time. I was looking back through photos I found a few months ago and loved this one from a post on the blog This is Glamorous. I'm sure when I found this photo I thought the Makanyane Safari Lodge would make a great vacation spot to visit one day. Today it served as a reminder to take time to slow down and focus on the present. I put the photo up as my computer's desktop background. I also don't mind the view.

A change is coming

Life is a little ironic. I founded Tramonti in 2007 as a company that would allow me to fulfill my passion of designing jewelry but the longer I had Tramonti the more I focused on the business rather than the passion. I came to face with this realization one day while emailing a customer and signing off as Tramonti. The email looked more like an automated message from a department store rather than a personal letter from a jewelry designer to a valued customer. I think this was because I viewed Tramonti as a business, separate from jewelry design. The reality is, I would design and make jewelry whether I was making money or not. I was becoming drained from trying to make my company a business and I had to tell myself that business is not my passion, jewelry design is. I didn’t realize designing and selling jewelry was already a “business” before it was Tramonti.  My business was communicating with my clients, finding out what their needs were and making something for them that they were excited to wear. Although I still communicated with my customers, I was focusing on the wrong things.

I decided to look at Tramonti from an outsider’s perspective. If I visited Tramonti’s site would I feel welcome? Would I want to come back? The truth is, I didn’t feel welcome and although I might have wanted to buy the jewelry, I didn’t feel a connection to anyone.  I know I am being blunt about this, but I think it’s important to look at things honestly. I realized that I needed to give my visitors a trunk show experience while online and I think it will come from putting myself into the site. To go along with my “new” business, will be a new business name. This month I am changing the name of the company from Tramonti to the Whitney Williams Collection.  Re-branding my business with my name gives me the opportunity to personalize the business. The new website, which is set to launch in early April, is being re-designed to be an interactive experience between customers and myself. I will do this by keeping a blog on my site that I will update regularly to give customers information about new designs and upcoming trunk shows and it will also be an outlet for communication with customers. I will keep my designs, because they are a reflection of me, the only thing that will change is the name of the business and the experience of being one of my customers. I also hope to make the shopping experience a fun one.

Stay posted for updates on the launch of the Whitney Williams Collection and I hope you will enjoy the new experience!

An early mock-up of the web-site collection:

Stephanie Vann- Winner of the Tramonti give-away!!!

Congratulations Stephanie for winning the Lake Como bracelet in the Tramonti give-away! Don't forget to email me your shipping address to receive the bracelet as soon as possible!

ONE DAY LEFT TO WIN THIS BRACELET!

If you want to win the Lake Como Bracelet you have until 11 pm on Tuesday the 9th to participate!
Do any of the following for your name to be entered up to 3 times in the drawing:

1.Become a fan of Tramonti on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tramonti/139233347107?ref=ts

2. Follow Tramonti on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tramontitweets

3. Comment to this post about your favorite place to watch sunset (in honor of Tramonti, the Italian word for sunset)

Email me at tramontibywhitney@gmail.com to let me know how you have participated!

Remember, you have until 11 pm on Tuesday the 9th and the winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter... winner will also receive an email alerting them that they have won.

Lake Como Bracelet Give-Away: Enter your name up to 3 times for the drawing!

Win This Bracelet!!!

The give-away ends on Tuesday March 9th at 11 pm and the winner will receive an email the morning of March 10th and will be announced Facebook and Tramonti's daily blog!

(The Lake Como Bracelet)

The Lake Como is made with delicately twisted Italian gold vermeil chain and the size is adjustable with the Tramonti signature hook. Of course, everyone's favorite part is the stone drop... a gorgeous blue aquamarine... Tracy Hutson from Extreme Makeover Home Edition just bought one for herself!

Your name can be entered up to 3 times in the drawing!

Each of the following counts as one entry:

- Respond to this post with your favorite destination to watch the sunset 

  (in honor of Tramonti, the Italian word for sunset)

- Become a fan of Tramonti on Facebook HERE

- Follow Tramonti on Twitter HERE

Once you have completed any or all of these things, send an email to Tramontibywhitney@gmail.com and write about your participation in the subject line. Example: became a fan of Tramonti, commented on the blog post. 

Good Luck!!!

Ralph Lauren Fall/Winter 2010... from sketches to the runway

 I get daily email updates from a fashion site called Trendland. Yesterday I saw these pictures from photographer  Nathan Copan and just had to share them. I love how he gave us a story in pictures of the Fall/Winter 2010 Ralph Lauren Collection. We can see everything from the first sketches to the runway!

A Mini-Break to the Countryside

I watched Bridget Jones Diary this weekend and was inspired by the English countryside. Although i've never been it seems like the perfect place for a relaxing vacation.

Inspiration: Fall Fashion

(3.1 Phillip Lim: Trousers)

(Proenza Schouler: Graffiti)

(Badgley Mischka: gemstone clusters)

Fall’s silhouettes may represent the classic simplicity of a recessionary era but the embellished details and luxe fabrics rise to the surface like the phoenix. A few of the most noticeable looks on the runway… Graffiti print skinny jeans by Jbrand, woven jacquard baby-doll minidresses at Proenza Schouler, Mongolian lamb trim at Vera Wang, animal print and silk trousers at 3.1 Phillip Lim, feathered tunics at Tory Burch, cinnamon alpaca at Oscar de la Renta and a breathtaking liquid silver gown at Marchesa…

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

If I could choose any day to hop on a plane to NYC it would definitely be today. I love New York, but New York during fashion week is a million times better. Today's fashion week line-up: Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Milly, just to name a few. The looks reported so far? Coyote vests at Michael Kors and sequins at Tory Burch, I can't wait to hear what else shows up on the runways!

Letters to friends

We are constantly flooded with emails, tweets, texts, facebook messages, etc. but letters? Now that would be a rare occurrence. I saw this cute stationery from Kate Spade and it inspired to start writing letters again. You wouldn't believe how much a letter can make someone's day!

Tramonti: Toscana

  

(Sunset over a vineyard in Tuscany)

(The centuries-old aging cellar at Castello di Verrazzono winery)

(The entrance to Amedei chocolate factory)

This Valentine’s weekend, celebrate the Amore that a sunset in Tuscany has to offer. Pick up a red Vespa (the Vespa factory is located in Tuscany) and cruise over to the Chianti Region for wine tasting.  Visit Castello di Verrazzano winery; producing wine since 1170, this family is also famous for one of its members, Giovanni Verrazzano, who discovered New York.  Before the sun sets, try Amedei chocolate, from a local chocolate maker who is said to produce some of the best chocolate in the world from cacao found in Chuao, Venezuela.

Taste Italy in your own home this weekend by making a pizza! The recipe is easy and fun to make with a group of people or with a date:

INGREDIENTS:

       Pizza Dough: trust me, it’s a lot easier to buy it

·              Central Market’s café to go section sells pizza dough at a very reasonable price, just tell them how        
             many people you are trying to feed and they will tell you how much dough you need

·                       Pillsbury also sells pizza dough and it’s available at almost any grocery store

        Other: Flour

·    

                       Pizza Ingredients: this is where you can be creative and add whatever you want!

·                     Tomato Sauce (I generally use a pasta marinara like Classico’s Tomato Basil, if I’m using sauce) you    
            can also supplement the sauce with Olive Oil if you want a lighter pizza

·                    Mozzarella, gorgonzola, or any cheese you prefer (I usually mix both of these)

·                     Parmesan (to shred on top later)

     
      Topping suggestions:

·                     Caramelized Onions

·                     Sundried tomatoes

·                   Cherry tomatoes

·                    Sautéed Mushrooms

·                    Italian sausage, cooked ahead

·                   Pepperonis

·                   Bell peppers

·                   Basil

    

     PREPARING THE PIZZA: Directions are for Central Market pizza dough. For Pillsbury dough,  
     directions can be found on the package.

     
      Preheat oven to 375 or whatever the back of the pizza dough package says

1.               1.  Prepare the countertop and a rolling pin with a sprinkling of flour

2.               2.  Place dough on the floured surface and use the rolling pin to roll the dough into desired thickness  
                and shape.

3.               3.  Transfer dough onto a flat baking sheet or pizza stone.

4.               4. Spread desired amount of tomato sauce onto the surface of the dough. If you are using olive oil,
              drizzle desired amount on top.

5.              5.  Sprinkle the mozzarella or whatever cheese your prefer on top (if you want to use cheese).

6.              6.  Add the toppings you desire and create any type of pizza you want!

    Baking Instructions:

      Place pizza in pre-heated oven and cook for 13-17 minutes

  When the pizza is ready, allow to cool for a few minutes then slice and enjoy!