Exclusive: 24 Hours in Nashville With Mrs. Carolina Herrera

If you had told me I'd be strolling the halls of the Johnny Cash museum or trying on cowboy hats with Mrs. Carolina Herrera this time last year, I would have thought you had a romanticized and slightly strange perception of what my job entails. But it's true—and I'm still pinching myself. The elegant and gracious designer, who celebrates her brand's 35th anniversary this week (alongside her charismatic team), welcomed me to the Music City to attend the Nashville Symphony Show, at which she was the featured designer. But before we get to that, read on for a quick peek into what was perhaps the most special and delightfully unexpected 24 hours I've had in a very long time.

Registry: Wedding and Mother’s Day Gifts for Pet Owners

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For pet owners, a clever or useful item for their cat or dog could be more welcome as a wedding gift than a place setting of china, a duvet cover or yet another toaster oven. And for mothers who have a dog or cat, such an accessory would make for a talked-about present on their day (May 8), too.

Active types who track their fitness levels can now work out with their dogs and see how many steps their four legs have taken. For homeowners, a weather vane can be hand-carved with a likeness of their dog.

A set of stemless wineglasses is etched with the saying, "Home Is Where The Dog Is" or with the pet's name. For couples with minimalist home décor, a pet bed by a designer of modern furniture blends right in.

And for those folks without pets, a charitable contribution is always a good alternative to a gift.

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The Prismatic dog leash is dyed by hand and made of marine-grade rope and solid brass hardware. The leash, produced by a Brooklyn company whose owners are committed to spreading the word about animal adoption, comes in small, medium or large and in a choice of many colors; $64 from foundmyanimal.com, 718-384-6203.

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The Meow Cat Cave is handmade by a women's craft collective in Nepal of a blend of New Zealand and Nepalese wool. It offers just the right hiding place for a kitten; $75 from Uncommon Goods, uncommongoods.com, 888-365-0056.

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Luke Wong, a Chicago furniture designer, created the Zz Bed to fit into a modern, minimalist interior. Made in Chicago, the beds are covered in gray upholstery-grade polyester fabric; the covers zip off for washing. In small, medium and large; $169 to $289 from Docapet, docapet.com.no phone

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FitBark is for dog owners who wish to track their animal's fitness and activities along with their own; $69.95 in a choice of many colors from store.fitbark.com or amazon.com.

Photo Ceramic food and water bowls have lead-free glazes and are made to order in four sizes; $60 to $90 from etsy.com/shop/JumieMade.

Ceramic food and water bowls have lead-free glazes and are made to order in four sizes; $60 to $90 from etsy.com/shop/JumieMade.

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Stemless wineglasses for a dog's peeps, by Rita Bean, are laser etched with the saying, "Home Is Where The Dog Is." A set of four is $69.99 from Puplife, puplife.com, 877-489-9322.

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Hand-carved weather vanes depicting nearly any dog breed are made of basswood and hand-painted; $575 to $695 from anythingdogs.com, 877-298-0638.

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The SnoozePal cat hammock is a fleece-lined sling available in a choice of fabrics. It is in a cardboard box that holds up to a 20-pound cat; $39 from catabove.com, 910-796-1116.

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