Travel is one of the most underrated forms of education. When we visit countries, islands and even states outside our personal environment we learn about other cultures and lifestyles, and in doing so we learn more about ourselves. For our highly anticipated travel issue Lenox & Parker traveled to Sardinia, Italy with 1/2 of the best-selling girl groups in the US and an actor from one of Hollywood’s most beloved families. Chilli and Matthew Lawrence made their relationship social media official a little over a year and a half ago after meeting at a 90s con convention.
Surprisingly their lifelong careers in entertainment were the last thing that resonated with their budding relationship- instead the two connected on faith, core values and the importance of family. “When we are together, we don’t talk much about work. If she’s on tour or I’m filming we support one another. She knows I’m her biggest cheerleader and vice versa but our careers are a small part of who we are,” Matthew explains. Matthew was excited to visit Sardinia because he was familiar with the island being one of five blue zones in the world. The term blue zone refers to a region where people tend to live measurably longer and healthier lives, often exceeding 100 years old. These areas are characterized by specific lifestyle factors that contribute to longevity and well-being, including healthy fresh food, an active lifestyle and clean water. These areas are designed to promote daily physical activity, strong social connections, prioritize family and community and a sense of purpose.
Landing in Sardinia, the difference is immediately recognizable in the fresh air and untouched rich flora and fauna. The island’s beautiful stone architecture is stunning, with charming arches and narrow cobblestone streets. Framed by the Mediterranean Sea set against mountains and rolling hills, Sardinia feels, smells and tastes like an escape from reality. Aside from the preserved environment, one of the biggest cultural differences is the Sardinian workday. Most businesses and restaurants close from 2PM after lunch and open again at 7PM right before dinner. This allows the community to prioritize familial relationships in a very intentional way. “That was the biggest challenge for us initially,” Chilli laughs. “When we first got here we were jet lagged and then couldn’t find anywhere to eat. But after we learned about the times and found Bambusa, our favorite restaurant, things were better. Going to the grocery store is one of my favorite things anyway, but in Sardinia they don’t have the big corporate grocery stores. There is no Publix or even Whole Foods. You have these small stores that are filled with fresh meat, fruits and vegetables. All the good stuff that’s around the perimeter in our grocery stores. Next time I visit l have to have my own kitchen so that I can cook!”
Aside from the beautiful surroundings and clean living, Matthew experienced a deeper connection with Sardinia because of his Italian family roots. “My family is Italian and I remember some of these dishes being prepared by my grandmother. My stepmother learned the recipes passed down in our family and so coming here has been a trip down memory lane,” he explains. Matthew enjoyed the spaghetti and pasta created with simple fresh tomatoes and carrots, and of course Italy’s famous breads. “The bread here is totally different. The way it’s processed and it’s gluten free. It’s amazing that you can eat bread here without becoming bloated or feeling heavy after eating it,” he says.
Chilli and Matthew both say they enjoyed the simplicity Sardinia offered as a perfect getaway sandwiched between TLC’s summer tour schedule and Brotherly Love’s demanding shooting schedule. Six hours ahead of Atlanta and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles, Sardinia allowed the couple an opportunity to re-connect without distraction, in the midst of their often conflicting busy schedules. Chilli tours with TLC for most of the year. She also has a gospel apparel line titled, ‘All Things Godly’. Matthew films a podcast with his two brothers titled ‘Brotherly Love” and is a caretaker for over 35 exotic amphibians. Both have built their lives around family and the simple things in life although their careers are what many would make their primary focus.
During their two week stay in Sardinia, the couple spent lazy days on the island walking while holding hands exploring the charming shops and eateries. Matthew says he discovered the magic of linen after buying a pair of Italian linen pants in Sardinia. “I didn’t know how comfortable linen was. I’m sold on it. I got my brothers a pair too.” Chilli enjoyed buying gifts for family members also. “I found a really pretty Italian silk scarf for my mother and some really neat things, “ she shares.
“The quality of everything here is out of this world. It lets you know the people take a lot of pride in their work, it shows everywhere.”
For the most part, Matthew and Chilli have kept their relationship outside of the Hollywood tabloids except for rare occasions when they allow fans a glimpse into their loving relationship.
“We share sometimes but there is a lot about our relationship that’s just for us to enjoy. When you share everything- you don’t have anything left for you and people feel like they have a right to all your business. Both of us are very private people in many aspects of our lives so that’s another thing that makes us compatible,” Chilli says.
Finding ways to prioritize their relationship in the midst of their often hectic schedules is what has allowed the couple to grow even closer although technically they are in a long distance relationship. Chilli lives in Atlanta, Ga while Matthew resides in Los Angeles. The distance forces them to be intentional with the time they carve out for each other.
Considering divorce wasn’t legal in Italy until 1970, it’s easy to imagine the divorce rate is much lower than in the United States. For Sardinia specifically the lifestyle built around simplicity, family and community has created an environment where marriages and familial relationships can thrive. “There is such a strong sense of community here,” Matthew explains, “during the evening you see families eating together, walking together and it’s a daily thing. You don’t see people on their phones operating in silos, you see shared experiences happening in real time. It all works together with the water that is still alive and comes from moving streams, to the fresh food that doesn’t have preservatives or high fructose corn syrup or dyes or so many of the additives that our food is subjected to. It creates a collective lifestyle that promotes real health and wellness. I think if we can adopt just little pieces of what is happening in Sardinia – it could make a big difference in our quality of life.”
Staying true to the islands way of doing things, the cover shoot was the simplest photo shoot Lenox & Parker has ever curated. Cover shoots are usually defined by wardrobe stylists, makeup artists, groomers, assistants and endless racks of clothing. Instead, Matthew and Chilli rented a boat from a local shop in their swimwear and enjoyed the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. A natural beauty who is infamous for not wanting her features transformed by makeup Chilli decided the sun-kissed glow would be her only additive. “Getting a tan gives your skin a healthy glow that can’t be recreated. It just makes everyone look healthier,” she says. With her tanned complexion, natural waves billowing in the wind, and a flawless smile stretched across her face, Chilli decided she was ready to start the shoot. Armed with his iPhone and his own interpretation of his girlfriend’s beauty, Matthew captured the cover shot for the travel issue.
If you are blessed to visit Sardinia, Italy it will immediately make sense why the region qualifies as one of five blue zones in the world. Matthew and Chilli stayed at the Sestante a beautifully renovated hotel with a backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. They also enjoyed ‘The Sporting’ a beautiful resort style hotel with a backyard that backs into the ocean. They ate at Bambusa almost every night, elated to find a restaurant that served fresh food daily, some even caught in their early morning before the owner opened the doors.
We wanted to take a moment mid 2025 to celebrate the simple things that make life worth living. Our quality of life is directly connected to the choices we make everyday. From who we spend our time with, the food we choose to put in our bodies, the jobs we allow to monopolize our time, the amount of time we spend moving and the stress we allow to steal our joy. Shooting a musical icon on a tiny boat with nothing covering her face but love and happiness was a beautiful interpretation of Chilli and Matthew’s visit. Our hope is that anyone reading this will take the opportunity to implement one thing into their daily lives to improve the overall quality. Walk to lunch instead of driving, enjoy your family during dinner and keep the phones off the table. Instead of coming in early and working through lunch, be intentional about getting outside to enjoy the fresh air each day. There is so much to this beautiful earth God gifted us that we don’t see or even know exists. Take the opportunity to learn a little bit more about this big beautiful world by getting off your phone and or computer and putting your feet on the ground.
Special thanks to
Chilli & Matthew Lawrence
Bambusa
The Sporting
Photography: Matthew Lawrence
Photo of Matthew Lawrence: Chilli
Image Refinement: Jahim Baskerville
Design and Layout: Victor Flavius
Words by: Christal Jordan