Walking Richmond's Floodwall

One of my favorite things about Richmond is how it's so tied in with its natural surroundings. The James River winds right through the city, offering some of the only Class IV rapids you'll find in an urban setting. The James River Park extends for miles along the river, through meadows and forests, and past a historic cemetery and Civil War POW camp. Last weekend we took a stroll along the Floodwall, which has some of the best views of the city I've seen. With Legend Brewing and Blue Bee Cider just up the street, it's got everything you need for a lazy summer afternoon.

Friday Favorites: Twentysomething Edition

via. 

To ring in the big 3-0, Todd and I are heading up to D.C. for the weekend. The weather's looking rather dismal on Saturday, but I'm still excited to stroll around Georgetown, see the National Christmas Tree, and eat some good food (reservations here and here).  Here are a few other things I'm liking during my last few hours as a 20-something.

• The renovation of this Brooklyn townhouse is pretty perfect. 
• I love all the end-of-year best book lists coming out now. Time to load up the ol' Kindle!
• The New York Times wrote about one of my favorite Richmond neighborhoods, Church Hill.
• I would love to do this with River. He's already grown so much!
• We're having a few people over for a holiday open house and I definitely plan to do this.
• Christmas is making me feel extra crafty. Love this gold DIY garland.
• This garlic cheddar beer bread was a big hit — and super easy to make.

lazy days.

maggie siner.

The weather isn't looking too promising this weekend in Boston, but as eager as I am to explore, I'd also love to just sleep in, eat breakfast in bed, and read all afternoon (I'm currently on a Ron Rash kick). This chilly, foggy weather just brings out the lazy in me.

If things clear up, we'll probably check out the SoWa Market, find a dog park for Muni, drive up to Rockport, and do some al fresco dining in Cambridge. If not, you'll know where to find me.

friday favorites.

via.

What are your plans for the weekend? I'm headed up to Virginia to see my siblings' new houses and to celebrate my sister's and my sweet neph's birthdays. I have yet to get them gifts, so I guess that means we'll have to do some shopping — she's already scouted out some great antique stores.

Some interesting things I've run across this week: 

The cicadas are coming. And I'm pretty terrified.

Have you heard of "elimination communication?" Basically, it means letting your babies go diaperless. I think it's crazy. You?

I really want to go to the Kentucky Derby someday, but for now I'll just drink mint juleps.

I'm loving jar salads for lunch. It almost makes up for dinners like these.

I bought this necklace for $3.80 at Forever 21, and I love it so much I went online to buy another. I ended up buying four or five dresses, four pairs of sunglasses, three rings, and a few other things for less than $200. I love that place.

Have you seen my new venture, Copy Cat Editorial Services? Please help me spread the word!

weekend.

I hope your weekend's like this:

I plan to sleep late, make pancakes, spend a day at the beach, and read a book or two. We also need to finish some stuff around the house, like putting together the office and hanging up pictures. What do you have planned this weekend?

happy weekend.

 

***

It's our first weekend in our new home in which we don't have a million errands to run. And yet my to-do list keeps getting longer. Good thing it's almost all fun stuff.

• Hit up some early morning yard sales, on my bike if I'm ambitious. (It's a wee bit hot in Charleston.)
• Spend at least half a day at the beach.
• Take our kayak on its maiden voyage in Shem Creek. 
• Work in the garden a bit.
• Stock up on veggies and herbs at the farmers market.
• Go to a cookout, and host one myself complete with melon-y cocktails (although choosing which one will be a tough decision).
• Finally see Midnight in Paris. 

What's on your weekend to-do list? 

weekend.

Some highlights:

1. Flowers, tomatoes, peaches, and fresh foccacia at the farmers market.
2. Rapturing with a pitcher of strawberry daquiris at a tacky beachfront bar.
3. Bike rides through the park with the hubs.
4. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the porch.
5. New swimsuits.

How was your weekend?

goal-setting.

My goals for this weekend are quite attainable, I think.

• Show up early for the first Farmer's Market of the season. Sample ice cream for a story I'm working on.
• Long days lying on the beach. Pasty legs in dire need.
• Cocktails al fresco.
• Macarons. Lots of them.
• Make dinner for someone(s).

weekend/monday.

Things that made my weekend/Monday:

• Making spaghetti carbonara for girlfriends. And enjoying lots of leftovers. (I've consumed little besides cheese, cream, and pasta in the past 48 hours.) 
• Also, arugula. I can't get enough of it with olive oil, vinegar, and salt.
• Getting my hands dirty potting basil, mint, cilantro, banana peppers, and sweet little succulents.
• Almost staying under my $20 goal. The New York Times put me $3 over, but it was definitely worth it.
• Relaxing on the deck in the sun with the aforementioned paper and my lazy dog.
• Lots and lots of the Avett Brothers. Emotionalism, specifically.
• Learning to make cold-pressed coffee. (This may actually fit in the making my life category.)
• Long walks on the beach filled with plan-making followed by hotdogs.

I think I want to start a habit of making sure Mondays don't suck. Monday Funday, anyone?

happy weekend.

The weekend is upon us. What do you have planned? As suggested by these pictures, I'm anticipating a lazy one. Poor Todd: When he's home, I insist on making the most of every second with a full schedule of events. When he's gone, I generally allow myself to decompress.

So for this last weekend of February, I plan to eat cereal in bed, catch up on my favorite shows, cook something(s) yummy, and have a fun night out with girlfriends at some neighborhood bars. I'll clean up the house, and maybe even my car, and reward myself with a creative cocktail (recipe suggestions welcome). I'll take the dog on long walks and leave the screen door open all day, because the weather's going to be beautiful. I hope you have a good weekend, too.

p.s. I saved these images before I had the sense to save sources as well. If you know where they're from, please let me know.

formula for a perfect weekend.

This weekend was nothing short of epic. It included but was not limited to:

• An intimate bachelorette party that included sweet gifts, amazing cocktails, and a leisurely dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. 
• Farmers market followed by a few hours at the beach, where I got burnt to a crisp. And I didn't even care, because it's October and I was at the beach.
• A sunset fashion show by the docks, with lots of wine, followed by a mind-blowing art party. And more wine.
• A bike ride around the peninsula that included a car-less King Street, run-ins with friends, a rest on the Battery, a s'mores bar from Baked, and tacos at Santi's. 
• A trip to a local farm with my nephews, where we got to see them dork out over cows and goats and pumpkins.
• Grilled pizza and Mario Kart and friends and family.

P.S. This dude's doing our wedding. There will be a photobooth, but it might be a little more low-key. Apologies.

curioser.

As expected, I very much enjoyed my time wandering solo around Savannah.* I ran around like an art school student with my camera and have some fun, colorful photos to share later. Until then, here are some of the strange/spooky things I ran across that I may not have even noticed had I been more sociable.

A mysterious wall of graves at Colonial Park Cemetery.

There is no doubt in my mind that this old hospital/"poor house" is haunted.

Speaking of ghosts...

 Ghost kitty.

* That is until I was involved in a minor car accident that has given me a (hopefully temporary) driving phobia.

south bound.

Oh Darling! Photography.

I'm headed to Savannah again this weekend. I sort of invited myself along on the boy's tournament weekend, so I'll be stuck entertaining myself for most of it. I'm quite looking forward to it. 

I don't get to spend much time alone, and I've been thinking all week about browsing antique shops, getting lost on side streets, discovering new bakeries, taking artsy photos, lounging by the pool, and reading — an actual book, not just the internets. Heck, I might not even take my computer. 

OK, that's a lie.