Our Weekend Getaway to Virginia!!

Virginia Here We Come!

Nothing like a relaxing weekend full of fabulousness, it's always a MUST to just get away and recharge, there's no better place to do so than Virginia. We arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Sunday evening, that way we were able to enjoy the whole weekend. We stayed at Lansdowne Resort & Spa, located on Woodbridge Parkway in Leesburg. We chose Lansdowne because of their amazing pet friendly atmosphere, obviously you know we took Piper along so it was important that they welcomed her as well. If you let them know at the front desk that you have a pup joining you they will bring you a pet bed, bowls ect, they even have a pet area called Bark Park for the pups to enjoy some time outdoors. 

The rooms are spacious, bright and clean, not to mention the beds are super comfy. I really think Piper enjoyed the decor, as you can see she made sure she checked out every single bit of it...lol! She ate up all of the attention she got from the friendly staff, they were there to help with whatever we needed. The hotel sat on a huge property with a beautiful golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a huge fire pit for s'mores, a spa, a gym, restaurants, stores and much much more. We spent most of the first evening wandering around exploring everything on the property.

When our stomachs started growling we began searching for a great dinner spot. I found a local restaurant called Lightfoot, it was about 15 minutes from the hotel. As usual we had no idea where to eat so I took to google to see what was good. I'm so glad we discovered Lightfoot because the food was absolutely amazing. I ordered the short rib and Rob ordered the filet mignon. Let's just put it this way, we were both linking our fingers when we were done. Everything looked beautiful, was cooked to perfection and full of flavor, I even had the pleasure of meeting the owner/cook who was more than amazing. She makes sure each plate that comes out is just how it should be and that really says something. We enjoyed the food so much that we went back for brunch on the following Sunday which was just as spectacular. Lightfoot is located on N.King Street in Leesburg, the next time you are in the area for dinner or brunch I recommend them 200%, you are going to LOVE the food.

By the time we got back to the hotel we were more than stuffed and ready for some rest, and boy did we get it. Both Rob, Piper and I slept soundly and comfortably all night until 7am when we woke to start the day. We had a day planned out at Stone Tower Winery which is only a 15-20 minute drive from the hotel, it's located just atop of Hogback Mountain in a stunning location. The view was amazing as you can see from the pictures below, we couldn't enjoy the outdoors like we wanted due to the cold weather so we definitely plan to go back in the summer months. 

We took part in a tasting tour that was so insightful and fun, we got the 411 from Kevin Chung aka @TheWineProfessor check him out on Instagram. He can answer just about any question you have when it comes to wine, I know Rob and I asked him a ton while we were with him. He walked us through the entire facility, showed us some of their 75 acres of vines, the barrel rooms, and shared some really spectaular bottles with us. Everything was clean and well taken care, and wow was it packed with people. They have a variety of nibbles in the Harvest Barn like local and imported cheeses, fresh chibatta, crackers, and artisan chocolate. On Friday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday they have wood-fired pizza. and last but certainly not least there is the gelato, yassssss I said gelato. I got myself a mint chocolate chip gelato and a hot cup of cocoa.

I almost forgot to tell you guys, Stone Tower has a wine club that offers a ton of "members only" discounts, events, tastings and much much more. Check out their website (Stone Tower Website) for more info, the clubhouse has thee best laid back feel with a cozy ambiance. I'm a bit bummed they aren't closer because I would definitely be visiting on a regular basis, we really enjoyed our time at Stone Tower. As you can see Piper more than enjoyed it as well, she always loves exploring new places, she's the most curious soul you will ever meet. 

When it was time to leave Stone Tower we were more than exhausted, so the bed back at Lansdowne was calling our names. We stopped at DC Prime for dinner on our way back to the hotel, they have thee best french onion soup. For a main course I ordered the roasted chicken, and Rob the salmon, kinda backwards to order everything but steak at a steakhouse. That's us though, always a bit off...lol!

Before we knew it Sunday morning crept up on us and it was time to start heading home, all in all it was great weekend that I recommend 100%. It's the best way to slow down and recharge, plus Virginians are so sweet and friendly. As I told you guys we stopped back into Lightfoot for brunch before we headed back home to Baltimore. The whole trip went smoothly thanks to Mitsubishi Motors, we got a beautiful new 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. Recenetly we've been car shopping because this year we plan to get a new car, what better way to test one out than take it on a road trip for the weekend. It handled beautifully and wow was it comfortable, we are more than considering the Outlander. It has a sleek body style and plenty of room inside, so all of my camera equipment and luggage fit perfectly. it just made the whole trip that much more enjoyable, even Piper took to the idea of a new car, she was more than comfy riding shotgun..lol!! I definitely feel us becoming a Mitsubishi family very very soon.

I hope you enjoyed our little weekend road trip, I would love to hear about any great spots you have been too. We're always looking for fun new places to visit and explore, so your recommendations will be more than welcomed. I hope you guys have a wonderful holiday!!

Read More

Pumpkin Patch Perfection!

Fall Vibes Rock!

We had an amazing time at Laugher's Orchard last week, it was so full of fun things to eat, pick and see...not to mention pet! It's a huge orchard/farm not far from my house in Westminster Md, they grow every kind of fruit and vegetable you can think of, then they have different times of the year that you can come and pick them. Peaches, apples, pumpkins, berries, and much much more. Now that I know about it I definitely plan to come back next summer and enjoy their fresh strawberries and apples, yummy peaches and blackberries. They also have a little country store like atmosphere where you can buy fresh fruit already picked, fresh apple pies, homemade ice cream and so much more. Along with huge posts of beautiful mums, and halloween decor.

They also have a tiny little petting zoo area, when we walked in the gate all of the animals ...billy goats, turkeys, sheep, pheasants and a donkey all came jogging across the yard to say hello. The video of this is posted on Piper's account on Instagram -> (HERE!) They all loved sniffing Piper curiously, and wow were they all so cute and friendly. The one jumped up to get a better look at Piper and myself as you can see below. 

They billy goats where the coolest, they just loved Piper and the idea of another little furry creature in their midst, they came up and sniffed noses with her over and over. I also grabbed some of their feed from the grate and fed them for quite some time. All in all it was an amazing and super fun experience and I really loved that its only a half hour from my house. I can definitely see us making many more trips to Laugher's in the future. Even the Turkey was cool, he flew up next to us and just checked us out, animals are so cool. It always makes me smile when I see how excited Piper gets to interact with them, and because she's only 1 year old she's still much like a puppy. 

Therefore she's always getting into some kind of trouble, as you can see below she was insanely interested in seeing what the mums where all about. She sniffed them and she ate them...lol!! This is her way to check out everything, she reminds me much of a baby. I'm so glad that the rain held out but the cold surely didn't, I'm sure as you can tell by my outfit it was chilly as heck. I know when I have to pull out the North Face Fleece the cold weather has definitely set in, add a pair of Uggs and some jeggings and you have my winter uniform. I love the soft and comfy feel of winter fashion, it's by far my favorite seasonal wear, people think I'm crazy when I say fall and winter is my favorite but thats for many good reasons. A. No sweating like crazy, the heat kills me, I'm definitely not made for it. B. I love hot cocoa and comfy sweaters, boots, hats and scarves. C. I love snow and the holidays. Trust me I could go on forever, but you guys get the idea. 

I'm curious what's your favorite season??

Well I hope you guys enjoyed my little Pumpkin Patch Fun, I always love sharing these great outings with you. I have an amazing trip coming up in a couple weeks, it's all about a Weekend Getaway Trip to Virginia. It will include a beautiful Hotel & Spa, a stunning Winery, and lots of local charm and fun. It a fun and affordable trip that I think y'all will absolutely love. In the meantime have a wonderful week.

Read More

The Baltimore Chef Shop!!

Absolutely love this place!!

Hey guys!! Sorry I have been a little MIA, not only is October my birth month it’s my favorite time of year because of course FALL IS FABULOUS so I have been taking a bit of a break from work to enjoy it before it's gone. I recently went to thee coolest class that I can’t wait to tell you all about, it’s a spot called Baltimore Chef Shop, located at: 807 W 36th Street, in Hampden Baltimore. It's one of the most interesting things I have done in a while and wow was it fun, first you choose from their calendar what type of class you want to take. We chose Moroccan food because it’s one of our favorites and I’ve never actually made it before, it's alway neat to learn something new. As you can see below they offer so many different options from sweet to savory, and much much more. 

Another awesome thing is you can BYOB ....yasssss!! Bring your own bottle of wine or beer, I don’t think you can bring liquor due to MD laws. The good thing about this is you can enjoy a glass of wine while you are cooking. Basically there is a whole meal set out in recipes on each table, there are two groups of 8 people. All of the needed utensils, bowls, pots, pans and plates are available and surrounded by a fully equipped, clean and modern kitchen. Then all of the fresh ingredients are set out on each table, spices, herbs ect. Each of the two groups get the same recipes, so both groups are cooking the same meal. Each table/group it broken up into 4 pairs, and each pair gets a recipe to work on, that way you all work together to create this amazing meal, while the chef walks you through each step and helps make sure you don’t burn the place down ....lol!! Rob and I got the main dish which was chicken tangine with olives and lemon. Our other recipes included a tomato and chick pea soup, chermoula spiced carrots, vegetable couscous, Moroccan mint tea and Moroccan flat bread. Yassssss we made all of this in one class and did it quite well, we were all quite proud of ourselves and how great it tasted. 

The team we got was phenomenal, the chef was patient, super down to earth, and more than friendly, Rob and I literally got the coolest table of people ever to work with. This is the best part about the whole thing, because you’re all working together as a team to create this big meal together you all become friends in the process then you break bread together, or at least we did at our table. We drank, laughed, cooked and ate together, it was a more than fabulous experience. So much so that I definitely plan on going again. Did I mention the food turned out ahhhhhhhmazing? I have to say I recommend Baltimore Chef Shop, it was a more than awesome experience.

For more info on upcoming classes, pricing and more just check out their website https://www.baltimorechefshop.com, or give them a call at 443-869-5121. Just tell them Dana sent you, i know you will love these classes if you go. Well I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did attending, if you have any questions feel free to ask away.  

Also keep an eye on my IG for video and posts on stories, there will be much more coming up.

PS....What class would you choose? 

I would love some ideas for my next one.

Have a wonderful week Dolls!

Read More

My Rainy Trip to NYC!!

I was so bummed that it just did not stop raining from the second we left for NYC, right up until the second we came home. We did get a couple hours of dry weather on the last day, so we rushed to Dumbo Brooklyn to get some of the oh-so-iconic Dumbo Brooklyn Bridge shots. I can see why so many people flock there, it's an amazing view that makes the bridge seem so massive and beautiful. As you can see in the shots the tippy top is tucked up into the foggy rain clouds, and the sky was thick and gray. I definitely plan to return on a beautiful sunny day so the colors pop and the pictures are much more crisp and clear. Light is the one thing that can seriously make or break a shot, and in this case I had NONE...lol!

I just had to share the below shot, I saw this on the corner just up the street from the bridge, I thought it went perfectly with my shoes. As most of you that follow me on Instagram know they're my absolute faves. We also stopped into a great little spot called Vida Verde where I met up with some friends Erin and Christina. Erin is the brunette and Christina is the blonde, we all sat down for some more than delish food, I had some sliders that were just out of this world. They were made up of ground brisket and short rib, omg they were so tasty. I can't believe I ate all three of them, yah know how you continue to eat it even after your full because it tastes so darn good. This was definitely one of those situations. They were so cute as was the restaurant, fun and colorful. You know I had to get in a photo op, and what better chance to show off my new Kate Spade bag and Gucci sunnies. 

All in all we didn't let the rain get us down, yes it made exploring the city a little more difficult but oh well wish happens. I did mange to find some more than amazing ice cream cone spots, keep an eye out for this week's Dessert Diva post on Instagram. For those of you that don't know, I post a delish sweet treat every Saturday. During the warmer months I do ice-cream cones, and boy did I find some great spots in NYC. There are so many cool places that I more than wish we had here in Baltimore or eve DC. 

Read More