Frederick Blog Tour: Volt

If you watch Bravo TV or follow Top Chef religiously, you may want to sit down.

Are you sitting yet?

Does this beautiful man look familar?

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That's right, the second-place winner of Top Chef season Season 6. Bryan Voltaggio has graced us with his expertise in the kitchen in the award-winning-lots-of-hype-over restaurant, Volt. Many of you will check out the website and see that a similarly looking fellow won the Top Chef title, and that, my friends, is Bryan's little brother Michael. Both Bryan and Michael are Frederick, Maryland natives. Bryan and his family live on the outskirts of town while Michael has taken residence on the west coast.

Although I only live one block away from this gorgeous building, getting reservations at Volt is a challenge. When Top Chef season 6 was still showing, there was a wait numerous months long! However, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a delicious lunch at Volt over the summer. Cory and I took my parents for a Saturday lunch in a way to say thank you for helping us so much with the wedding. My stepfather is quite the foodie, so he had a blast. Plus, Mr. Voltaggio himself graced us with his presence! So cool!

Last fall, when season 6 was airing on Bravo TV, Volt held special "garden parties" out in the court yard to the right of the restaurant. They would have a giant flat screen attached to the brick wall, an open bar, and host an all-around good time! I really miss hearing the hoops and hollers on Wednesday night.

Here is a little visual stimulation of this beautiful, beautiful restaurant.

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Road Trip!

Cory and I are heading to Alabama this weekend!

That's right, we're hitting the road Thursday night, meeting up with Rich and Beth (Rich was the best man in our wedding) in Reston, Virginia and continuing on. We're staying the night in Greenville, SC and then heading into Alabama (by way of Georgia) on Friday. Our destination?

Auburn University!

I am so excited for this mini-vacation. I am packing up a storm today/tonight and will be back with lots of "how to prep for a road trip" info!

Happy Tuesday!

(Gosh, it's so nice to be off work today. Wow!)

Check back tomorrow, I promise, to check out what I'm packing in my bag.

A few cell photos

So, I realized I haven't cleared my cell phone photo gallery in almost 3 months! Here's what I have been up to (and apparently forgot to tell you about)...

I chopped off my hair and love it! I needed a sassy change, and this hairstyle was just the way to go after months of long locks for the wedding!

We got a new kitten and named him Flip (Flipper for short, a joke). This photo accurately depicts how energetic he truly is:

But really, he is such a loving kitten. We love him and Ralphie does too!

I had the prettiest flight to and from San Diego. The clouds looked like an orchard in the sky! Look at how organized they are!

While we were there, we swung by the WWII monument:

This is the gigantic thrift store that I drooled over here and then decorated with here:

I found this orange yarn while we were there... perfect for finger knitting!

Cory and I went out for sushi....twice.

My new favorite treat Smoothie King (so delicious):

And saw this adorable owl!

I guess I have been busier than I thought! Huh..

Check back later for the next stop on the Frederick Blog Tour and a little sneak peak to what I'm packing for our weekend roadtrip!

P.S. If you share any cell phone pics showing what you've been up to, paste a link in the comment section! I'd l-o-v-e to check 'em out!

Frederick Blog Tour: Serendipity Tea Room

Our next tour stop is the Serendipity Tea Room. This quaint tea room is the perfect place to hangout with girlfriends on a Saturday or Sunday morning. This is my favorite place to have a casual conversation or catch up with an old friend. They also have a wide assortment of lunch options and, of course, tea!

Here are a few more photos that I am borrowing from their website. Enjoy!

Yum!

The Frederick Blog Tour is a self-designed tour of my favorite hot spots in downtown Frederick, Maryland. I have lived here for almost four years and have loved every second of getting to know this mid-sized Maryland town. The pictures provided are my own personal unless otherwised sourced. Please note that I am not compenstated for any of the information provided and all opinions are my own!

Frederick Blog Tour: Sky's the Limit

This quaint little jewelry and gift shop is my favorite place to treat myself. This "unique boutique" was named after the owner's son, Sky. They carry some of the trendiest/cutest dresses I am able to find in this area. Also, this is my favorite place to buy rings and jewelry! This is the only jewelry store that focuses on selling precious stones and not gem stones. I have never been a gem stone kind of gal; I have always preferred more natural, earthy stones.

On a regular basis, I exchange two rings throughout the week that I wear on my right index finger. One of the rings is a rectangular dark-jade stone, and the other is an oval amber stone. Both of these were purchased from Sky's the Limit as a gift to myself! (Sometimes you just have to spend a little money on yourself, ya know?)

Now, the cool thing about Sky's the Limit is there is a sister store in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. So if you're closer to that side of the mountain, you may want to check out that location! If you're in Frederick, though, check out Sky's the Limit on N. Market Street. It's right in thehub of business, so it's super easy to find!

So, thank you, Sky's the Limit for your vast selection in amazing jewelry and affordable prices!

The Frederick Blog Tour is a self-designed tour of my favorite hot spots in downtown Frederick, Maryland. I have lived here for almost four years and have loved every second of getting to know this mid-sized Maryland town. The pictures provided are my own personal unless otherwised sourced. Please note that I am not compenstated for any of the information provided and all opinions are my own!

Long time, no see...

Long time, no see...

I know, it feels like it has been forever since I've last posted. I have had a whirlwind of a few days, but now I'm ready for a nice little break and to get back on schedule blog-wise. Cory, my husband, turned the big 3-0 last Friday, so the last few days have been all about him. Friday night we took it easy and enjoyed each other's company after a pretty big miscommunication. It was much needed quality time, if you ask me. Saturday we had about 45 of our closest family and friends over for Frederick's In the Street festival and a bbq at our place. It was such a fun night, we continued out at our favorite Irish pub. Yesterday, Cory and I dedicated ourselves to football (Cory) and crochet (Liz). It was such a lovely rainy day around the house. The cats loved all our attention! So there's the wrap up!

This week is sort of wacky. Tomorrow is Maryland's election day for the primaries; therefore, I do not have school. Typically, schools would be closed but teachers would need to report for a day like this, but since there are so many "election" days this year, I think they just let this one slide. What does this mean for you? Lots of blogs! Hooray!

So here's a little taste of whats coming your way this week here at Donna's Decembers:

-a mini photo tour of my town, Frederick. I want to show off the places that I LOVE and different aspects of this small little town that make me never ever want to leave.

-how I pack for a weekend/road trip. Space in the car is limited (considering there will be 4 of this time), so you'll see all the ways I avoid over-packing, while still keeping room for the fun stuff.

-my latest crochet project.

-musings about fall (you know, just for the sake of loving it so much).

I hope that whets your whistle a bit!

Here's a little taste of the photo tour of Frederick:

See you soon!

Liz

An awesome goal...but I need your help!

So, I have this crazy idea. Wanna hear it?

When Donna's Decembers has 100 followers I will host a super HUGE giveaway with crochet patterns, crafty supplies, and everything else you will need to have a gorgeous handmade holiday! Sounds lovely, right?

Spread the word about Donna's Decembers and as soon as we reach tripple digits, giveaway specifics will be posted!

Are you in? Spread the word!