#CampCourtlyCheck – My Journey into the World of Mackenzie-Childs

Mackenzie-Childs first came into my life through the pages of the famous Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalogue. I remember pouring over every single detail of this whimsical world they had created. I was completely transfixed, imagining what kind of impossibly chic people would call this room home. As it turns out, this was the exact magically daydream effect that caused Mackenzie-Childs to be sold at Neiman’s in the first place.

As the story goes, a buyer from Neiman Marcus was at the Home Expo in NYC. She was trying to dodge a particularly aggressive vendor, and ducked into a booth. To her surprise and delight, this particular booth did not contain the usual simple presentation of the latest wares on a plain folding table but something else entirely. The husband and wife team behind MC had transformed their booth into their living room…rumor has it there was even a chicken wandering about. Their irreverant style was infectious and the buyer (who was none other than Mrs. Marcus) was hooked. She passed along her business card, which they promptly lost. Long story short, eventually Mrs. Marcus tracked them down to Aurora, NY and was able to give them their first big sale.

In my opinion, the reason why the Mackenzie-Childs brand has such an engaging appeal, why I was so enamored with that spread in the catalogue, why Mrs. Marcus pursued these off beat artists so intently, is because they aren’t just making stuff. They are presenting a point of view on living. And while on this trip to the quaint town of Aurora, staying at the EB Morgan House, touring the Mackenzie-Childs Farm House and Factory, I became completely immersed in this point of view. I would almost liken it to being inside a snow globe. Not in terms of weather (although it was a bit chilly), but in the sense that this whole town purposefully and thoughtfully executed to thrive and work together to achieve such a breathtaking picture.

Our stay at the EB Morgan House was absolutely dreamy. From historical decor to the breathtaking views of the lake, I honestly wanted to curl up in front the fireplace in my room and never leave. And I can’t forget our wonderful inn keeper Cody.  I’ve scarcely met someone so well suited to their job. She was warm and inviting and didn’t let one detail of the weekend slip past her.

Our first day in town we got a chance to tour the other Inns of Aurora properties, all with their own Mackenzie Child’s flair. I personally was obsessed with the beaded Ethiopian thrones. After the tour, we embarked on a floral arranging class which was quite fun! My arrangement can best be described as Secret Garden gone awry. 

Our second day started bright and early with a tour of the Factory. If I didn’t have an appreciation for the artisanship before, I absolutely do now. Seeing the pieces being handcrafted and painted was awe inspiring…espeically when it was my turn to pick up the paint brush. Let’s just say my mug would have been flagged for production issues haha. For lunch we headed over to the farmhouse – there is bathtub on the second floor that is everything my millennial pink dreams are made of. After that we headed over to the Heart & Hands Wine Company for a little tasting – Ash and I loved the Rose! Then it was onto dinner at the Aurora Inn Dining Room which was full of great food and conversation.

Then just like that it was time to leave this lovely place, I had grown so fond of already. I’m so excited that I got to share what was such a meaningful trip for me today. I want to extend such a sincere thank you to the entire Mackenzie-Childs team for such an unforgettable experience. Your enthusiasm for this brand is contagious, and it was such a pleasure getting to spend time in your world.

PS. For more information on the Inns of Aurora please visit their website here. And to see even more photos from my trip make sure to check this album on out my Facebook page!

This post is in partnership with Mackenzie-Childs. All opinions remain my own.