Market Street Market

This fall Market Street Market opened right off the downtown mall on East Market Street. As a full service grocery store, this small historic building offers everyday items as well as specialty foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Just perfect for those who live on the downtown mall and need a box of cereal for themselves in the morning or bottle of wine and crackers for friends. 

I love the feel of this tiny grocery. It's has all you need and makes the shopping experience fun and less stressful than other grocery stores. The staff are friendly and very helpful and can point you in the right direction or even offer cooking tips and advice. 

Market Street Market offers local produce, dairy products, and meats. It's the perfect C'ville place...

You can even order personalized sandwiches with Boars Head meats and cheeses. I really liked the tuna salad wrap. There are freshly baked breads and homemade dishes for all to enjoy.  You can take your lunch to go or eat in the small sitting area in the front of the grocery. 

Market Street Market is open Monday thru Sunday and is the perfect little place to pick up your groceries, if you live off the downtown mall, or grab a bite to eat. Take time to visit the store any day of the week!

Have a Fun Friday and a Happy New Years Eve... and check back soon!! 

Night Snow Tubing

Wintergreen Resort is located forty five miles away from Charlottesville! If you are looking for something to do one night this winter... make a visit to the Plunge, Virginia's largest tubing park. The Plunge is a part of the Wintergreen Ski and Snowboarding Resort. 

The tubing park has become very popular and the staff at Wintergreen recommends calling ahead to make reservations ( 434-325-2100) . Tickets are purchased for two hour sessions and prices vary depending on the time of year you wish to visit the park. The cost is eighteen dollars during the week and non-holiday periods. Ticket prices are raised to twenty seven dollars during the weekends and holidays. 

The crowds gather in lines after grabbing their tubes. It's easy to attach the tubes together and makes it more fun to ride down with a friend! The bigger person in the front and the smaller in the back... I swear I got some major air when my dad was in front! The Wintergreen staff calls one, two, three and with the help of a push you are off and flying down the track. 

We had a blast and I highly recommend taking a trip to the Plunge this winter season! What a fun night activity with friends and family. 

Afterwards you can travel home and get warm by the fire! 

Have a Tremendous Thursday... and check back soon!

La Taza Coffee House

Craving a hot chocolate or latte on this cold winter day? La Taza, located in Belmont, is the perfect place to spend the afternoon with a friend or bring a computer or book and spend time alone. With wireless internet and comfy chairs this coffee house is perfect! 

In the warm weather there is a perfect outdoor seating space... I can't wait to go back this spring with my friends! 

I LOVE the indoor space, recently renovated, La Taza has a southwestern vibe with exposed brick and tree truck columns.  The tables are even made of old tree stumps... what fun! 

Look at the flooring....

There is lots of space to spread out within the coffee house on leather chairs. There are stacks of extra pillows ( made out of old burlap bags) if you wish to sit up higher or get a little comfy and relaxed. 

Their menu looks amazing too. From sandwiches to salads, La Taza uses local ingredients and freshly baked bread! How does this sound: A fried green tomato BLT with a roasted tomato and garlic aioli served on grilled sourdough bread?! Or a classic chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. Even the fruit cup sounds delicious... served with a honey lime dressing! 

Visit La Taza, on Monticello Road,  next time you want a fun and fresh coffee house experience. 

Have a Wonderful Wednesday... and check back soon! 

Walking Caroline Street

Caroline Street, originally known as Main Street, has been a prominent street in Fredericksburg, Virginia for many many years. Only an hour and a half drive from C'ville, Fredericksburg is a great day trip! I love the old architecture and small town main street feel. Just the other day I spent the afternoon walking down Caroline Street snapping photos and loving the atmosphere created on the main street. From little boutiques to multiple antique stores I highly recommend making a visit! 

In the 20th century, Caroline street was the quintessential American main street. Complete with two theaters and a soda shop. Today these buildings still stand and are occupied by local businesses. 

I loved just taking the time to window shop and even enjoyed some remaining Christmas decorations inside and outside of the stores! 

fun!

I LOVE the architecture and mixture of the old and new buildings... mixed in with old churches and civic buildings! 

Right behind the street is the Rappahannock River and makes a wonderful backdrop for Caroline Street. 

Have a Terrific Tuesday... and check back soon! 

Christmas Day!

Well... It's December 26th. Presents have been unwrapped, families have gathered, and holiday meals have been consumed. Now we can sit down, relax, and reflect on the Christmas day. 

Welcoming the troops to her home...

Oysters and clams 

Ready!

Taking a walk to the pier

We had a white Christmas.... at least for a few minutes. I hope all of my readers had a WONDERFUL Christmas day! 

Have a Snowy Sunday... and check back soon! 

Celebrate Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas Eve!

With a little sister around the house the Christmas Eve spirit is among us... I hope all of my readers have made it home for Christmas. This is such a special time of the year! 

This morning I woke up to my sister singing Christmas tunes and jumping up and down hoping she would be making enough noise to rise me from my deep sleep. I had to remind her that Santa is still watching and I KNOW she wants doesn't want to mess up now! 

Once up... I was ready to celebrate Christmas Eve! We have started our morning with fresh coffee,  grits, and bacon and of course Christmas music. 

We have lots to do today. From last second shopping runs to wrapping our gifts we better get started! I hope you spend the day with those you love... 

Tonight there will be feasts, Christmas hymns, and twinkling lights.... and best of all time together... 

After reading the Night Before Christmas little ones will fall asleep with ' visions of sugar plums in their heads' and the anticipation of Santa's treasures! 

Have a Festive Friday... and check back soon! 

For The Love Of The Horses

The other afternoon my family and I went out to the barn to watch my sister during her horseback riding lesson. We had the best time standing by the white fence watching my sister during her THIRD lesson!

After she brushed and tacked up Tempi we were ready to head out into the cold fields to watch her ride! 

It's fun for the whole family to go out and partake in the horseback riding lessons...

There are many opportunities around the Charlottesville area where you can take horseback riding lessons, go on trail rides, or just watch the horses and maybe even feed them a carrot! 

Here is a little sampling to get you thinking about what is offered around C'ville... first TRAIL RIDE opportunities

1. Graves Mountain is a family owned and operated rustic mountain retreat located in Syria, Virginia. Families can rent cabins, stay in a small hotel or just sign up for horseback riding trail rides. These rides are offered by the hour or for half and full day rides. The trail guides take the riders through the valley of Syria as well as through orchards, across streams, and into the woodlands. 

2. The Outdoor Adventure Social Club of the Greater Charlottesville area is another great opportunity for trail rides in the area. This club offers rides with views of the mountain tops and large open meadows. Riders do not need previous experience before attending a trail ride.

let's move onto horseback riding LESSON opportunities within the area...

1. Sundown Farm is located in C'ville and offers lessons, horse shows, training, and horse care.

2. Field Crest Farm, located in Earlysville, is a small farm with a strong focus on hunting as well as lessons for all ages!

3. Four Socks Farm is in Keswick, Virginia and specializes in lessons, breeding, and the even sells horses. 

4. Southern Belle Farms, in Schyler, Virginia, offers lessons, and boarding for all

5. Little Pond Farm is in Gordonsville and has trail rides and lessons!

This is just a SMALL list of what is available in the Charlotteville area... I encourage all of my readers to take some time to go horseback riding. It's a great way to see the beautiful C'ville landscape as well as fun opportunity to spend time with friends and family! 

Have a Thrilling Thursday... and check back soon!

Cinnamon our Christmas Elf

Elf on the Shelf : A Christmas Tradition  is the story of the teeny tiny elf who lives within the homes of little children around the world during the Christmas season. This Elf, personally named by each family, watches over the children day and night to see if they are being naughty or nice and then reports back to Santa Clause. Each morning he is in a new hiding space within the home of the children. It has become a fun tradition for children to search for the elf every morning upon waking....

This morning our elf, also known as Cinnamon, was hiding in our Christmas village!

Invite an elf on the shelf into your home this year... he makes for a great holiday tradition for the young and old! 

Have a Wonderful Wednesday... and check back soon! 

Last Second Christmas Shopping

If you still have some shopping to do for those girls on your list stop into Eloise right off the downtown mall! This C'ville boutique opened in 1999 by a mother-daughter pair who had a life long dream of opening a dress shop together... and thats just what they did! From Milly to Splendid Eloise carries party dresses, laid back sweatpants, and colorful scarves for all on your list. 

Even if you just have the urge to browse... this shop is beautiful, stylish, and fresh! Not only do they have fabulous clothing, their shoes and jewelry are to die for... rain boots, colorful flats, simple necklaces and glittering rings can be had by all. 

And everyone wants their fabric hair ties.... fun colors for any occasion. I just love these things!

Another fun thing about Eloise is the artwork on the walls. Each month this boutique features a special artist! Not only can you find something for that special someone on your list... BUT there is artwork there to boot. 

You can even find something for that baby on your list....

Stop into Eloise for some last minute Christmas shopping... I promise you will not be disappointed!

Have a Terrific Tuesday... and check back soon!