Pottery Painting

I can remember when I was a little girl I just LOVED attending birthday parties where you painted pottery in any way you liked! It was so fun to pick out the piece I wanted to paint and then select a number of colors to work with that afternoon. Well... I had a blast from the past this Thanksgiving break when I took 6 little girls to paint. We had the best time! Not only did I get to relive a fond childhood past time but I was able to see the excitement and joy in the faces of all the girls! 

We all picked out our piece to paint and spread out on a long table with all the right tools! All seven of us ( yes! I painted too) had our brushes in hand and were ready to get creative.

It's the perfect activity for a lazy afternoon. Whether you wish to make something for yourself of a gift for the holidays, its fun, entertaining, and allows you to express yourself artistically. 

Caroline made a Christmas gift for her friend!

I urge you to find a fun pottery painting place in your town! For all of my C'ville readers check out Lazy Daisy Ceramics, located on Monticello Road. Remember... it's fun to get a little bit MESSY once and a while! 

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

Mutton Top Cabin

This weekend my friends and I went on an overnight camping trip right outside of Charlottesville! Though the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club we had the opportunity to rent a cabin that is maintained by the volunteer club members. It was just wonderful! 

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains over 1000 miles of trails in Virginia. The Club builds and maintains free hiking shelters as well as renting out 33 different cabins, which are used by Club members as well as the general public. Club members have the ability to choose from any of the cabins, whereas the general public have a limited list of rentals. 


My friends and I stayed in Mutton Top Cabin! It was simple, rustic, and very welcoming. Without electricity or running water, we came prepared with saws, axes, and lots of bottled water. The boys spend most of their time, while the sun was still shining, collecting big pieces of wood and chopping them up to get ready for our nighttime bonfire... I helped find the perfect s'more sticks!  

The night was just perfect. We cooked steak fajitas for dinner... filled with all the right toppings and finished off the meal with pears and apples cooked by the fire in cinnamon, brown sugar, and honey. This meal was more gourmet then I usually have with electricity! We used a grill and our bonfire to cook up all the food for the night. With the use of cast iron skillets and the right ingredients we made a great meal. 

Later in the night we cranked up the fire, roasted up some marshmallows, and made too many s'mores to count... in my opinion, s'mores should be their own food group! While the temperature was quickly dropping into the night, the fire was letting off enough heat- some of us even to take off our extra jackets and gloves. 

After enjoying the fire for the night, we were able to retreat inside the cabin and hang out around the wood heater. The cabin was spacious and there was plenty of room for all of us to sit around the heater and spend time together. Mutton Top Cabin has room for nine people to sleep...make sure to bring a sleeping bag, blankets, and a pillow! 

If you happen to be an early riser like me you might be able to catch sunrise! I woke up for a brief period of time around 6:00 and had the most wonderful view outside the cabin windows. It was such a treat to arise to such a beautiful Charlottesville site! 

If you are in the mood to hike or take a short trail walk there are many paths right around the cabins. The scenery is great and the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are phenomenal! We took the time to walk around the area and found some awesome spots. 

This trip sure was relaxing.... I know I am going to go back one day! I encourage you to look into renting a cabin from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Located only twenty minutes outside of C'ville, it's the perfect weekend get-away! 

So Much Thanks

We all have SO much to be thankful for each year. I celebrated Thanksgiving last night with my family and friends and had lots of FUN! I am sure all of my readers had similar evenings spent in the company of those they love and are thankful for each and every day. My post today is less about my words and more focused on the faces and festivities that took place yesterday... Enjoy my friends!! 

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

Picking Out The Perfect Thanksgiving Tree

Each year my family hosts Thanksgiving dinner. Our house is architecturally very open and bright, and VERY, VERY people friendly. Ask anyone who knows us... the door here is always open! For as long as I can remember my family has decked the house with "Thanksgiving" trees... which are just Christmas trees, but usually a little shorter and on the smaller side. Think Charlie Brown Christmas. My mom says... not only are they more festive but the trees, once decorated in sparkling white lights, are less expensive than any other holiday floral arrangement. They make our home smell like the holidays and they add a very festive feel for our Thanksgiving celebration! 

Yesterday I took the little girls tree shopping. It was such a fun adventure. We went around 5:30, dressed in our warm winter jackets, ready to select the perfect Thanksgiving trees!

 We headed straight to the smaller trees and set out on a hunt to find the best of the best! While some of us were more into actually selecting a Thanksgiving tree, others had a better time playing in the trees or just acting silly. The holiday spirit was definitely around us! 

I had the best time, not only being home and among my favorite people, but allowing myself to escape my school work and submerge myself in the holiday spirit. We spend about thirty minutes selecting our trees and then played tag and goofed around in the lot of trees! 

Take the time to find a fun Christmas tree lot and purchase a cheap tree to add a festive and lively atmosphere to your home! They are beautiful just with white lights... check back tomorrow, I will post some pictures of my families Thanksgiving trees. 

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and a Thankful Thursday... and check back soon! 

Spaces around UVA

The University of Virginia has the most beautiful campus. Not only do we have Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village, but there are many other spaces around grounds where students can read, chat, and play. And that is just what I did yesterday with my group of Architecture 101 students... PLAY! 

As a review for their final exam, the other Teaching Assistants and I decided to play a game of charades... architecture style! Since it was such a wonderful C'ville day, we wanted to take our students outside for class to enjoy the weather, falling leaves, and crisp air. As an extra special treat Brian brought his new tinnie tiny puppy to play. 

Each students took time to write their own ideas on slips of paper and than one by one they stood in front of the group while acting out their building, style, or architectural theme which we have discussed this past semester. We all had the best time... laughing, learning, and spending time together in the beauty of Charlottesville. 

I encourage my readers to explore the grounds around the University of Virginia. There are numerous spaces where one can submerge themselves and get lost in the beauty of the landscape. Take the time to read, write, or even PLAY! 

Anna, Lu, Irene, Evanka, Sam, Dylan, Graham

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

Sunday Funday

One of my very best friends in the whole entire world and I had date night last night on the downtown mall! After spending the day with our noses in books and our eyes glued to word documents, we decided it would be the perfect night to spend out on the town together... just the two of us! We met on the mall around 7:00 and set out to find a great place to have an appetizer and glass of wine. It was the perfect night... the decorations were glowing and the atmosphere was clean and crisp. 

Bessie by the downtown tree!

After strolling the mall ( be aware: many places are closed on Sunday nights downtown) we settled on Petit Pois, a cute and tiny little French Bistro style restaurant. The two of us had never been before and were in for quite a treat when we stepped through the doors. 

The interior space is filled with little round tables and chairs for two. There are a few seating arrangements for larger groups... but not too many! If you plan to have a larger sized group, I recommend calling ahead and giving the staff time to prepare for your arrival. 

The table top settings are simple and tasteful. Each table is adorned with a tiny pot filled with soil and grass. Little tea lights add a romantic glow to the tables as well. After arriving, our waitress brought out slices of bread from a French baguette as well as salted butter. It is the perfect amount to hold one over before the meal arrives. 

 The menu offered at Petit Pois is to die for. Offering a fairly large range of French cuisine, there is sure to be something on the menu for everyones appetite. Bessie and I each ordered a glass of wine, off the extensive and wonderfully selected wine list, and Bessie ordered a Quail salad topped with butternut squash, cucumbers, and other delicious additions! 

If you are searching for a simple yet upscale restaurant to take your girlfriend, best friend, or mom and dad, Petit Pois is the perfect choice. The setting is intimate and romantic and you feel as if the wait staff is there just for you! Even the chef wants you to have a good time...

Have a Marvelous Monday... and check back soon! 

Winter Hats

Yesterday afternoon, after spending my day researching for a paper, I drove to the downtown mall for a little study break. I love strolling the mall, people watching and window-shopping! I was in for a treat when I arrived yesterday for it was the Christmas Tradition Day... can you believe it? Christmas celebrations already?? 

There were carriage rides taking place on the mall, twinkling lights, and even a visit from Santa Clause. Of course all of the vendors were out there too...a great opportunity for them to sell their scarves, gloves, and HATS!

Many of the tables set up around the mall offered a wide selection of colorful winter hats. With a variety of designs and styles there is sure to be a hat for everyone. For only $10 you can prepare yourself for the snowy days ahead ( fingers crossed!) 

Some of the hats for sale have animal faces... perfect for young children or even the youthful adult. With many options how do you ever choose which animal to wear?!

This weekend was the kickoff for Charlottesville's holiday events. The grand downtown Christmas tree was illuminated this past Friday as well as the lights strung on the mall light posts! Saturday morning was the Holiday Heritage Parade... where Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe were all in attendance! Check out the downtown mall if you are in the mood for some holiday cheer! I know I will be going back during exams to get excited for the holiday ahead! 

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

Sprinkles and Frosting

Every time I spend my night babysitting I am reminded of the fun, carefree, and easy lifestyle of kids. From a simple tickle to extra dessert after dinner time, they honestly could not be happier. I am refreshed by these simple pleasures every time I have the opportunity to babysit. So today... I hope you find the sprinkles and frosting that make this day wonderful! 

Lily

Carrington

Have a Super Saturday...and check back soon! 

The BOX

Heading to the Charlottesville downtown mall for dinner is always a special treat! Last night we decided to choose our restaurant once we got downtown... making it more fun and spontaneous. It was a pretty lively night: pedestrians out strolling, men in Santa hats stringing the holiday lights, and people lined up around the corner waiting to get inside the Jefferson for a country show! 

After walking by all of the well known and commonly visited restaurants, we happened to notice twinkly lights surrounding a tiny little spot on one of the side alleyways off the mall. It looked lively and exciting so we ventured over to find it was a Pan-Asian American Noodle Bar...what fun!! On top of the yummy looking dishes that we saw on the menu, we noticed there was going to be a musical performance later in the evening as well!

We decided to go ahead and try something new and different, and it ended up being one of my favorite nights spent on the downtown mall! Charlottesville has SO much to offer, it's fun to do something out of your normal routine once and a while.

The Box serves as a restaurant, bar, and music venue... all found in this tiny little place! Decorated in a lively and youthful decor, the restaurant was upbeat and funky. 

Our waiter, who was super friendly and laid back, introduced us to the menu and showed us the chalk board drink drink list above the bar. With a minimal selection of food items and a choice of "a red or white" wine it was easy to select what was in store for the meal ahead.

The Box works to include, " local and organic ingredients blended with intricate sauces, home-made broths, and exceptional noodles. Lots of choices for carnies, omnies, vegans, and vegetarians!" We started with some drinks and salted edamame. As for dinner, Pat had the brown friend rice with beef and I opted for a dish of lo mein with veggies. Boy...It was delicious! 

C'ville offers so many wonderful surprises, you just need to look down the alleyway to find what you have been missing out on... I sure did realize what I was missing. Try The Box, or somewhere else you have NEVER stepped into before, I know it will definitely be worth it! 

Have a Fantastic Friday... and check back soon