Date night gets a makeover!

Since moving to Blacksburg we have discovered there are so many more options for date night than there were in Texas.  Last month we went to a murder mystery dinner at the Inn at Virginia Tech and a dinner theater at Chateau Morrisette, fabulous food and entertainment.  Then on Veterans day we had the pleasure of staying at The Inn at Riverbend for free.

For anyone that is active duty or retired military take note of this for next year and the years to come, there are tons of bed and breakfasts that offer this getaway on the house.  Since we scored big on our accomodations we had no problem spoiling ourselves to a fabulous dinner at the Palisades, delicious!  It's going to be hard to top this month of date nights but December brings our anniversary...

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house with my family, my sister's boyfriend, and Alan's grandparents.  I was so thankful to be able to have the day off to enjoy cooking and spending time with my family, a privilege that I now have as I have changed my status at the hosptial.  I am now considered "prn staff" or as needed, basically that means I fill in the holes in the full time staff's schedule, I am not guaranteed any hours but I am not required to work any holidays.  More to come on my new plans as they firm up next week...  Anyways my mom and I served turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green been casserole, cranberry salad, dinner rolls, macaroni and cheese and for desert, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, and mince meat tarts.  Bottom line, no one went hungry and everyone left with leftovers, just how it should be.  Here is a peek at our table settings...

The Biltmore

Yeah I suppse I could live here if I had to...

Halloween

From the Black Swan...

Happy Halloween!

Dreaming of my dream home...

My sister laughs and tells me I'm turning into our mother because of my files.  It's true my mother has files for every season and holiday of the year.  I do however have technology on my side as most of my files are digital.  In addition to my seasonal files I have a collection of inspiration for my future dream home.  It seems like my tastes and preferences in regards to most everything has matured lately.  My dream home used to be a tudor reminesent of sleeping beauty.

Like I said, my taste has uh hm, matured.  Now my dream home takes inspiration from English countryside, southern Georgia manors, and the traditional brick home (a la Home Alone).

There is something I adore about each of these but right now my stand out is...

Isn't she beautiful?  Add flanking boxwoods along the drive and show me where to sign.  Next project is   adding dream rooms and decor to my dream home, all of which is currently only in my dreams.  Now that the wedding is over what else am I supposed to plan and dream of?  

Fall Football Weekend

First on our agenda for the fall football weekend was my brother's high school game.  The team as a whole hasn't had the best season but my brother has been playing his heart out and the local media has really made him a shining star of the team.

He plays on offense, defense, and special teams, so needless to say he is exhausted after the games.  Next week is senior week and will be his last game so a win would be amazing!

After my brothers game was the tech game, we got awesome tickets from one of the doctors I work with and he threw in his parking pass which can only mean one thing...TAILGATING!!!

Needless to say we are not professionals at this like some people (yes people in the Mercedes Sprinter van upholstered in maroon and orange velvet I'm talking about you) but we put out a pretty good spread.  The hot chocolate carafe was an especially delicious compliment to the crisp fall weather.

Hey Tech fans time to start jumping!!!

It was homecoming at Virginia Tech that was made even sweeter with a win over Boston College.  We could not have asked for a more beautiful fall day, it was perfect football weather.  After the game we went out for a celebratory dinner at Bull and Bones, yummy!

Luuuke!

This year for Luke's birthday I framed one of his winning touch down catches.

Here is another one of my favorites pictures from this season...

Living in Texas I missed most of Luke's football games.  It was his senior season this year and I am so glad that we are back in the 'burg.  He had a great personal season!