My Morgantown Musings

consolidation of blogs

2010-10-25T13:04:00.002-04:00

i have been musing off & on this blog since march 16th, 2009. but if you are a regular reader, you know that i mostly muse on my other blog gussying up the tuttle. and since my posts are getting farther & farther apart and have mostly consisted of morganotown photo ops, i have decided a consolidation of my two blogs to be the best decision.

so, please join me over at gussying up the tuttle.

hugs!!

morgantown photo op

2010-09-30T10:52:00.002-04:00

these past rainy daze have made me think about last saturday when i hosted a free yoga class at hazel ruby mcquain park in downtown motown. this was our lovely view while we did yoga. notice the rainbow in the mist of the water spray. it's so wonderful to do yoga outside, weather permitting of course. :)

autumnal equinox yoga + creativity workshop

2010-09-09T20:16:00.004-04:00

if you missed my last yoga + creativity workshop don't worry - i'm hosting another on september 19th 10am-1:30pm. check out all of the juicy details here.

space is limited so please pre-register by sending me an email: melitamollohan@gmail.com

hope to see you there!

hugs & namaste

morgantown photo op

2010-09-08T09:06:00.005-04:00

welcome to a new version of my morgantown photo op. i used to show you the pic and tell you where it is located. i've decided to show you the pic and see if you can guess where the pic was taken (with a few hints of course!). :) who would have known that morgantown has these beautiful citizens?! this was a discovery i made monday.

hints: this was not taken on a farm. this was taken inside morgantown city limits. if you are at this place you might likely overlook the pigs unless you look up high enough.

any guesses?

answer: the pigs are above the recycling center on river road. next time you stop by to drop off your recycling take a look at the road that goes above the recycling center on the right. the beauties are in a big fenced off area with their own little cabin!! :)

FREE yoga classes

2010-09-01T09:52:00.005-04:00

september is national yoga month and i am celebrating by leading 3 different FREE classes & workshops throughout the month.

please join me this saturday, sept 4th 11am-12pm at hazel ruby mcquain riverfront park. we will try to fit on the stage but if something else is going on there is a big, lovely tree that will provide shade by the river (if you are looking at the stage this big tree is over to your left). this is completely free so feel free to bring as many friends as you want. please bring either a yoga mat or a towel (if you don't have a mat) and some water.

we will meet again saturday, sept 25th same time & same place.

sunday sept 26th 12 - 1:30pm i am hosting a free yoga workshop at blissblissbliss. during this workshop we will be doing some journal writing, yoga and meditation. you will need to bring your journal (or paper), something to write with, yourself and maybe a friend. we have all the yoga props you will need.

if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me: melitamollohan@gmail.com

hope to see you on the mat in september.

hugs & namaste

tranquil tuesday

2010-08-31T09:14:00.003-04:00

happy tuesday everyone! i woke up this morning, prepared the perfect cup of coffee (love my french press!!), checked email and started perusing around the ol' internet.

i was SO incredibly honored to have found this 1 minute video from local & fabulous blogger hollee of becky & hollee.

hollee frequents my hot yoga classes at blissblissbliss and this video was her take-away from last friday. hollee - you are a complete inspiration!

i hope everyone can find something to take off the mat from one of my classes. why don't you come join me fridays 8-9am & see if you can't find some tidbit of information to take off the mat.

i hope your tuesday is a tranquil one! hugs!!

image credit

splash bash at marilla park

2010-08-16T18:57:00.002-04:00

i'm very excited to be apart of this year's splash bash! check out a couple of pics from last year's bash. hope to see you and your pup there! see details below:

------------------------------------------

Please make plans to join us for the ultimate Canine Pool Party!

Animal Friends annual "Splash Bash 2010" - A Dog Day in the Pool will be held on Sunday, August 29 at Marilla Pool from 10 -4 p.m. A Special Thanks to O J White Transfer and Storage for sponsoring this years event.

We will be awarding door prizes for smallest, largest, youngest, oldest and best dressed swimmers and have a variety of games planned. The games for this year will include the Swim Relay, Dock Dive, Limbo, Best Pet Trick, Dog Owner Look Alike, Celebrity Look Alike and a couple new games for this year will include Simon Says, Find the Kibble and Duck Dive.

For everyone’s safety all dogs Must be on a leash at All times and no pronged collars or flexi-leads are permitted. All proceeds from this event benefit our no-kill sanctuary. Admission is by donation.

Joining us at this year’s Splash will be Dog Tags Training School, Petco, and our friend Mark Jones will again be trimming nails with proceeds benefiting Animal Friends no kill sanctuary – Thank You Mark!

New for this year…. Join Yoga Teacher Melita Mollohan at this year’s Splash Bash. Melita will be leading puppy parents through a 20 minute mini yoga session several times throughout this year’s events. Bring your yoga mat or a towel and your canine yogi – bring your own, borrow one, or even come alone for some yoga fun before jumping in the pool to cool off.

Debbie Scott from “Canine Body Works” will be with us and performing therapeutic canine massage.

info credit - image credit

eat pray love this sunday with the bliss book club

2010-08-12T10:54:00.004-04:00

whether you've read the book or not, please join us for our special book club meeting this sunday, august 15th.

we will meet at the hollywood theater in morgantown to watch the 12:50pm showtime. the movie is just over 2 hours in length.

after the movie i hope that you'll join the group at the kenyan cafe for dinner and/or drinks and a discussion of both the movie and the book. denis the owner is looking forward to us coming.

if you know of anyone that would like to join our book club meeting, whether they have read the book or not, please let them know about the places and times. as always, the more the merrier!

if you have any questions or need directions, please email melita: melitamollohan@gmail.com.

hope to see you there!!

* please note - i don't normally double up on my blog postings but i thought this one was worth it. it's going to be such a great time that i wanted to spread the word as much as possible. :) this plus tons of other fabulous posts can be found on the blissblissbliss blog.

image credit here

yoga & creativity workshop

2010-07-19T20:01:00.003-04:00

Mark your calendars for the yoga + creativity workshop. Saturday, July 24th 10AM - 1:30PM.

Join Melita for an exploration of creativity as an extension of your yoga practice. Spend time indulging in creative play by making a vision board, meditating, practicing yoga, discussing ways to live more creatively, and engaging in svadyaya (self-study) while communing with like-minded friends.

Creative visualization is a mental technique that uses the imagination to make dreams become realities. We start by flipping through magazines, pulling out any images that make you smile. Taking the images that speak to you, we’ll glue them down on a folder and make a vision board.

All you need to bring is your journal, your tea mug, old magazines that you don’t mind cutting up and an open heart & mind.

Workshop is 3 ½ hours. Cost is $40 and includes a free goodie bag. Tea and light snacks will be provided. Space is limited, please reserve your spot by e-mailing Melita: melitamollohan@gmail.com.

morgantown photo op

2010-07-16T11:33:00.000-04:00

photo taken in the field across from blissblissbliss last tuesday after the crazy rain we had.

morgantown photo op

2010-07-12T11:21:00.003-04:00

a consol energy tug boat pushing empty barges through the lock and dam on the monongahela river.

morgantown photo op

2010-07-06T22:32:00.003-04:00

ryan and i spent a few hours at cheat lake yesterday. spending some time in the lake was exactly what a hot day called for.

yoga workshop with deb neubauer

2010-06-25T10:04:00.006-04:00

hello all of you yoga loving motowners. hope you are having a fabulous friday. i wanted to share with you a yoga workshop that is coming up in july.

"the heart of the yogi: a weekend of anusara yoga and a joyful celebration of freedom"

(click image to make larger)

i will be attending the entire workshop. if you make it, please be sure to say hello. have a fabulous weekend. hugs!!

morgantown photo op

2010-05-26T22:25:00.006-04:00

located in the window beside the crescent frame shoppe on lower end of high street

"global gothic" cooperative art project by the 7th grade art class at st. francis de sales central

"global lisa" cooperative art project by the 8th grade art class at st. francis de sales central and cirec school, cartagena, colombia

morgantown photo op

2010-05-10T15:09:00.001-04:00

morgantown photo op

2010-04-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

corner of high st & pleasant st from great wall

barrackville covered bridge

2010-04-21T13:27:00.005-04:00

if you've never seen a covered bridge in person and are local then you have a chance. just outside of fairmont is barrackville which is home of the barrackville covered bridge.
the barrackville covered bridge was built in 1853 that spans across buffalo creek. it is really quite a magnificent sight.

mickalina's a mermaids curiosity shoppe

2010-03-23T14:25:00.016-04:00

if you haven't stopped by mickalina's a mermaids curiosity shoppe yet, you should. there are so much wonderful stuff for us girls!! i literally spent hours in here just looking at all of the eye candy!

so many bags to choose from

stuff for the little girls too

mix your own scents for lotions, perfumes & more

scarfs galore
if you wear many hats, there is one for you
tons of beauty products
winter hats on sale
gorgeous displays
beautiful artwork
bath goodies & cute necklaces
more gorgeous displays
serenlipity lip gloss
tons & tons of beautiful unique jewelry
what's not to love?!?!

ladies (or gentlemen looking to buy for your ladies) stop in mickalina's soon, i'm sure you will find it tons of fun and come out with something special to call your own.

mickalina's a mermaids curiosity shoppe
223 fayette street
morgantown, wv, 26505

events & workshops at bliss bliss bliss

2010-02-01T23:00:00.005-05:00

you remember when i wrote about bliss bliss bliss before? well, my love for bliss has only grown. bliss has a wonderful yoga program, fun workshops, reiki shares, book clubs and more!

if you've never checked out bliss bliss bliss but have wanted to please take a moment to check out their website for upcoming events in february. chances are i'll see you there!

you can also stay current by following updates on twitter or become a fan of bliss bliss bliss on their facebook page.

logo used with permission of bliss bliss bliss

kenyan cafe

2010-01-19T21:53:00.015-05:00

if you haven't eaten at the kenyan cafe it is high time you do! the food, atmosphere and staff are fantastic. you are warmly greeted by the staff. a lot of the times it will be denis gekara, the owner of the kenyan cafe.
their menu offers lots that appeal to just about everyone. there are plenty of vegetarian options available.

ryan enjoyed the briani beef
while i devoured the mong beans and rice
and of course you know i can't go without desert, ryan and i shared the vanilla plantains
there are lots of drink options as well. organic coffee and homemade teas
as well as organic juices, gatorade, bottled water and sodas
the kenyan cafe was proudly awarded the taste of morgantown 2009 eater's choice award for their chicken and beef stews
there is ample seating complete with a authentic kenyan artwork and a flat screen tv
while you are there you can also learn the swahili word of the week
a shot of denis and myself after my lovely lunch

if the kenyan cafe has been on your list of restaurants to try in morgantown be sure to do so. you won't regret it. it is by far one of my favorite restaurants in morgantown. tell denis i sent you his way. :)

be sure to check out their website and become a fan on their facebook page and most importantly go eat the food!!

happy new year

2009-12-31T12:42:00.005-05:00

i wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who have come in to help support my education by receiving a massage from me.

i am happy to say that i only need to complete 15 more massages to meet my 100 requirement. if you haven't had a chance to come in now is your chance.

both swedish and deep tissue massages are $37 (i can accept tips). gift certificates are available if you want to give someone the gift of relaxation.

to make an appointment call morgantown beauty college at 304-292-8475 and ask to book a massage with melita. i will be available saturdays from 11am-1pm. hope to see you soon!

image credit

morgantown photo op

2009-12-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

woodburn building of wvu at night with snow falling.

happy new year! may your 2010 be filled with joy, sparkle, warmth and most of all love.

pre new year massage hours

2009-12-27T23:49:00.005-05:00

if you haven't gotten a chance to get a massage from me you definitely don't want to miss out. i only have 18 more massages before my 100 massage requirement is met. i have several openings for this week. be sure to schedule soon so you don't miss your bliss.

tuesday, december 29th:
9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

wednesday, december 30th:
9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

did you forget to get someone a present for christmas? if so you can always give someone a gift certificate from morgantown beauty college so they can come in an get a massage and end 2009 on a high note!

photo credit here

updated massage hours

2009-12-07T11:17:00.004-05:00

i am so happy that some of you have come to see me at massage school. i wanted to give you an updated massage schedule through christmas.

appointments available are:
dec. 9th - 9am-11am & 5pm-7pm
dec. 10th - 5pm-7pm
dec. 12th - 11am-2pm
dec. 15th - 9am-11am & 1pm-4pm
dec. 16th - 9am-11am & 1pm-4pm
dec. 17th - 9am-11am & 5pm-7pm
dec. 19th - 9am-11am & 5pm-7pm
dec. 22nd - 9am-11am & 1pm-3pm
dec. 23rd - 9am-11am & 1pm-7pm

don't know what to give someone for the holidays? morgantown beauty college offers gift certificates which you could use towards a massage with me. hope to see you soon!

image credit here

massage hours

2009-10-25T16:26:00.005-04:00

i am excited to share my massage schedule with you. i hope that you will come and see me.

i am available:
- Oct. 31st 11am-2pm
- Nov. 4th 5pm-7pm
- Nov. 5th 1pm-7pm
- Nov. 7th 11am-2pm
- Nov. 11th 5pm-7pm
- Nov. 12th 1pm-7pm
- Nov. 14th 11am-2pm
- Nov. 18th 1pm-7pm
- Nov. 19th 1pm-7pm
- Nov. 21st 11am-2pm
- Nov. 25 5pm-7pm
- Nov. 28th 11am-2pm
- Dec. 2nd 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 3rd 9am-noon & 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 5th 11am-2pm
- Dec. 9th 9am-noon & 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 10th 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 12th 11am-2pm
- Dec. 15th 9am-noon & 1pm-4pm
- Dec. 16th 9am-noon & 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 17th 9am-noon & 5pm-7pm
- Dec. 19th 11am-2pm

call the morgantown beauty college to schedule your massage 304-292-8475. make sure you tell the receptionist you request melita.

both swedish massages and deep tissue massages are $37.00 (which goes to the beauty college so tips are greatly appreciated).

photo credit

my apologies

2009-10-22T21:48:00.004-04:00

i know i have been terribly behind on posting. since starting massage therapy school and doing yoga teacher training i have been crazy busy. i am extremely happy to tell my lovely readers that you can reap the rewards of my training. starting october 31st you can book a massage with me. massages are $37.00 (which goes to the beauty college so tips are greatly appreciated).

i will post an update to let you know which hours i will be available as soon as i find out. don't worry if you can't come that day, there will be plenty of other days. and please, share the news with your family and friends!

photo credit

morgantown photo op

2009-10-07T18:09:00.000-04:00

scene from one waterfront

provence market cafe

2009-10-03T21:22:00.006-04:00

ryan took me to provence market cafe in bridgeport to celebrate finishing my first week of massage therapy schooling. let me just say, it is worth the drive!

the atmosphere was relaxing.. the service was excellent. the food was phenomenal! and it's always nice to see the owner being involved in their restaurants. anne hart is the owner and executive chef of the provence market cafe. it was lovely having ms. hart visiting each table to make sure that the diners were enjoying their experience.

ok, let's talk about the food!

we started off with some wonderful french bread served with butter and an olive tapenade and a side salad with champagne vinaigrette dressing.

ryan ordered coquilles st. jacques a la provencal
i had roasted duckling michel
and the best creme brulee i have ever put in my mouth with two spoons for sharing

everything about provence market cafe was perfect. i highly recommend taking the trip to bridgeport for this lovely restaurant, in fact, it's a must!

morgantown photo op

2009-09-25T16:33:00.003-04:00

i was walking on my way to orientation day and noticed that this was a perfect shot. i always carry my camera so i knew that i had to get this shot. the shoes on the power lines is not an uncommon sight in morgantown, but the way the fog was behind this house was just beautiful.

morgantown photo op

2009-09-23T16:00:00.000-04:00

ugh, this is sometimes what it's like to live in a college town.

wine & jazz fest

2009-09-21T14:09:00.009-04:00

ah, the annual wine & jazz festival. ryan and i try to go to this every year. and this year was no let down. we enjoyed the local west virginia wines, the food, the jazz bands, and the local artisans. although it was a little humid on sunday, we had a fabulous time.

pumpkin tortellini from synergy
the salsamba latin-jazz group
some beautiful watercolors
thousand oaks barrel company
eddie spaghetti art
the soy shoppe

richwood grill

2009-09-20T13:00:00.004-04:00

ryan took me to the richwood grill for our anniversary dinner. it was quite a treat let me tell you! i didn't get as many pictures as i wanted because we were outside on the deck and it was dark but don't worry, i definitely plan on going back there because their food was fabulous!!

ryan had xingu which is a brazilian beer ($4). i enjoyed a nice glass of hibiscus infused cava (with the hibiscus being edible - which it was sweet and delicious)($9).

we started off with wok seared peppered brie with pickled blackberries and pita chips($7). (this i did not get a pic of because we devoured it - it was that good)!

for entrees, ryan had lemongrass smoked pork ribs with grilled sweet pea cakes and mint mojo ($18). i had the pan-fried eggplant gado-gado with sugar snap peas, baby carrots, heirloom tomatoes and warm peanut sauce ($16). they both were absolutely delicious!

there will definitely be another post about this gem of a restaurant as i hope to eventually work through their menu!

morgantown photo op

2009-09-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

it's been a few years since i've seen a rainbow. after my trip to fairmont to the labyrinth i stopped in to visit with the friend who i went with. after stepping outside of her house, this is what we saw. life is beautiful!

bliss soul retreat

2009-09-16T17:42:00.007-04:00

i am elated for the weekend to arrive. i am attending the bliss soul retreat. what is the bliss soul retreat you ask? well, i am glad you asked!

this retreat is set in nature at the chestnut ridge park september 18, 19, 20. the retreat is to help you unwind, rewire, and reconnect with your bliss body. there will be yoga, meditation, energy and bodywork. there is a package to select which options best suit your needs and budget. don't worry if you can't spend the whole weekend, there are workshops that you can choose a la carte.

package options are:

the bliss body for $191. this includes one private energy work session and one yoga workshop.

the soul star for $216. this includes one private energy work session and both (two) yoga workshops.

the bliss soul body for $256. this includes two private energy work sessions and one yoga workshop.

the soul purpose for $281. this includes two private energy work sessions and both (two) yoga workshops.

in addition to the package you select from above each retreater will enjoy:

a single bed in shared cabin for singles (a double bed in shared cabin for partners)
dinner on friday, 3 meals saturday, breakfast on sunday and snacks
special meditation circle friday night with soul assignments designed by you with assistance from elasa
saturday morning "yoga & grounding sounds" session led by elizabeth
saturday afternoon "silent" walking meditation to water ritual led by elasa
saturday evening earth, water, fire circle led by elasa
sunday morning yoga & meditation practice led by elasa (this will focus on the ancient five tibetan rites which are exercises for healing, rejuvenation and longevity)

all of that sounds fabulous but you say you can't spend the entire weekend? no worries! the yoga workshops can be taken separately.

good morning yoga -10 am to noon - $30

join heidi sherwin for a morning yoga class intended to awaken, stretch and enliven the bliss body through graceful sun salutations, guided relaxation, and a blissful meditation. good morning yoga will help to prepare the bliss body and mind to welcome the day as it unfolds with joy, peace and gratitude. all levels are welcome. please bring your yoga mat, water and a towel.

assisted yoga - 12:30 to 2:30 - $30

join mary jo schick as she helps you bring a modern twist to an ancient art. in this yoga assist workshop you will stretch deeper and move more effectively into poses, sometimes with less physical effort on your part, thus giving you a glimpse of the full potential of a pose - before you can achieve it alone!

assisted yoga fosters a sense of trust as many times your stability rests mutually or solely on your assister. it increases you ability to experience the pose knowing that your partner will support you. it makes balancing poses easier with the support of another person. it creates an environment for easy, open and fun communication (both verbal and nonverbal). come enjoy assisted yoga and see how it fosters a deep sense of connection, sensitivity and attunement. all poses are adapted to fit (we are all a variety of sizes, abilities and flexibilities). see how fun, lighthearted, and exploratory yoga can be. find how assisted yoga can help your body remember and visualize the pose for your other yoga practice. please bring your yoga mat, water and a towel.

as with all yoga - these classes are not about being flexible but about feeling your body - where you are at, being in the moment and in this case experiencing and enjoying yoga in a beautiful outdoor setting. please note we have reserved a covered space for the yoga workshops in case of rain.

here is the retreat event calendar:

friday
check-in: 2pm-5:30pm
meal prep: 4:30pm-5:00pm
dinner 5pm-6pm
sitting circle with elasa: 8pm

saturday
sitting circle - grounding sounds and chakra yoga with elizabeth: 7:30am
breakfast: 8am
private sessions: 9am-2:30pm
good morning sun salute yoga workshop with heidi: 10am-12pm
yoga assist with mary jo: 12:30pm-2:30pm
self serve lunch: 12:30pm-3pm
silent meditation hike: 3pm-5pm
meal prep: 5:30pm
dinner: 6pm-7pm
sitting circle with elasa: 7:30pm

sunday
breakfast: 9am
sitting circle with elasa: 10am
check-out: 12pm

locations:
all meals are in the klaer lodge
private sessions in designated spots - check with your practitioner
yoga workshops on the covered stage behind the main office
sitting circle: check with your practitioner

please keep in mind that you can opt-out of any activities that we have planned so that this is the healing environment you are seeking.

if you are interested (and i hope you are) in any portion of the bliss soul retreat please visit the bliss bliss bliss website or contact elizabeth at 304-685-9942 or at elizabeth.blissblissbliss@gmail.com.

as for me, i am doing the soul purpose package. i need the whole shebang! please come and hand out with like-minded individuals and renew your bliss body. i hope to see you there!

image credit and retreat information used with permission of bliss bliss bliss

labyrinth

2009-09-14T14:52:00.001-04:00

did you know that there is a labyrinth in fairmont? neither did i until just recently. i was invited to get together with a few like-minded individuals and walk the labyrinth. it was exactly what i needed to do. i had a wonderful time and met some wonderful individuals.

the labyrinth from the side

the labyrinth is on the property of judy roylance and her husband. they walk the labyrinth even in winter. if this is something that interests you they would be happy to take you to the labyrinth. judy also does reiki sessions and tarot readings. you can contact her at jroylance@aol.com.

the outside of the labyrinth
inside the labyrinth

morgantown photo op

2009-09-11T14:25:00.002-04:00

everyday's a party - located at 3119 university ave in morgantown (where the bilo used to be).

wheeling symphony orchestra

2009-09-10T12:05:00.001-04:00

ryan, my friend T and i got the pleasure of spending last monday evening listening to the wheeling symphony orchestra at the hazel ruby mcquain amphitheater. guest guitarist joe negri joined in the fun as well. thankfully the rain held out. it was a fantastic performance and the best part was it was free.

my town

2009-09-09T22:05:00.002-04:00

this video makes me proud to be from morgantown, wv.

video credit ici

morgantown photo op

2009-09-08T13:30:00.000-04:00

a double decker shroom in cooper's rock.

charleston photo op

2009-09-05T14:05:00.004-04:00

while i'm here in charleston, wv for the weekend i decided to sneak in a charleston photo op. this little mortar man is tucked in between some buildings on capital street in charleston. he watches over all the happenings but never tells his secrets.

ray's pastries

2009-09-04T11:24:00.001-04:00

in the mood for a donut? a really good donut? then you have to try ray's pastries.

ray's offers all kinds of tasty donuts, cookies, danishes, and cakes.
we got to take home these goodies
ray's is now located in sabraton behind long john silvers. be sure and stop in today for your donut fix.

morgantown photo op

2009-09-02T19:35:00.000-04:00

busy day down at one waterfront place...

cooper's rock

2009-09-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

i always enjoy hiking around at cooper's rock. while my parents were visiting we took it easy this time around and only went out to the actual cooper's rock. the views are breath taking. enjoy a photo tour of cooper's rock. if you haven't been there i suggest you go!

i saved the best for last!

botanic gardens

2009-09-01T20:24:00.011-04:00

i have driven past the botanical gardens before but never stopped in to check it out until this past weekend. i love playing stranger in my own town and doing things for free. visiting the botanical gardens was very peaceful and relaxing.

once you go down the hill, the botanical gardens is set in this beautiful valley

walking around the reservoir loop trail you can see the old water outlet source

some beautiful flowers along the way

my favorite picture of all

the back side of the old water outlet source

and an old stone foundation covered with moss

"begun only as a dream in 2000, the west virginia botanic garden (wvbg) is on its way to becoming a reality on the 82-acre former tibbs run reservoir property off the tyrone road in monongalia county, wv. the former 15-acre basin will be transformed into two or more smaller pools with islands and aquatic plant displays. the old water works, still present, will stand as a link to the past."
-quoted directly from the wvbg pamphlet

if you would like to know more information regarding the botanic gardens in morgantown, please visit their website.

while it is still in the beginning stages it is still really nice to go out and visit nature.

morgantown photo op

2009-09-01T11:57:00.002-04:00

saw this cutie at morgantown honda suzuki yamaha on the mileground. i'd love to cruise around motown on this.

good counsel friary

2009-08-31T09:00:00.000-04:00

anyone want to buy a castle? there is one for sale in morgantown...
this beautiful structure is home of the good counsel friary. it was put on the market in march 2008 and has yet to be sold.
ferdinando pitassi, an apprentice stone mason from the age of 7, began construction of the friary in the 1920's. pitassi moved to the pittsburgh area from italy to live with his brother. pitassi was later known as thoney pietro due to immigration officers not being able to pronounce his name. (pietro means stone in italian)
after visiting morgantown pietro decided that he and his family would move here. pietro found morgantown to be reminiscent of the italian town he grew up in. he also built walls and stone houses in the south park area of morgantown.
this magnificent structure was built without the use of any blueprints. construction took five years to complete.
pietro and his family lived in the castle until 1949 when he donated it to the franciscan friars. the friars decided to sell the structure until father jude mili convienced the other friars that the center would be used retreats. father mili moved in the castle in 1968 and stayed there until he died in 2007.
if you wish to find out more, please check out our lady of good counsel friary blog. there is a ton of historical information and musings regarding the friary.
also additional information can be obtained by visiting the light of life community who holds regular meetings and programs at the good counsel friary. also, the charleston daily mail had a wonderful article here.
(i obtained information from the above listed sites to provide this blog post.)

dog day at marilla park

2009-08-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

today was dog day at marilla park in sabraton. we didn't take our pooches because we had other plans for them but i couldn't resist stopping by and snapping some pics.

morgantown photo op

2009-08-27T20:59:00.005-04:00

my parents spent the weekend camping at cooper's rock. while my mom & i were hiking around i noticed a nature made heart in the rock. (more pics of cooper's rock to come soon.)

new day bakery

2009-08-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

aahhh, the new day bakery. i've written about getting yummy pizza from the new day bakery before. but what i haven't blogged about is their fantastic selection of breads, scones, cookies and muffins. (click here to see their bread schedule and descriptions of each bread they bake.)

ryan and i are addicted to their scones. fortunately they are on the way the mornings i drive ryan to work. when we do stop in for our breakfast scones there are always different options to tantalize our taste buds. being the pigs we are, we always get 3 scones. we get 1 each and then we split 1. yeah, i know, but if you've ever had their scones before you would know exactly what i mean! :) the other morning we split a strawberry scone and had a plum scone each.

here is chocolate chip scones and cherry vanilla cream cheese scones (and they were so delicious - as i'm sure you could imagine!) fresh out of the oven.

puglioni's

2009-08-19T15:15:00.009-04:00

tucked away in the corner of the chelsea square shopping center on the evansdale side of morgantown resides puglioni's homemade pasta & pizza. if you want good italian food, this is the place to go. puglioni's is the perfect place for a date night with your loved one or for hanging out with a group of friends.

dinner comes served with the biggest, best loaf of bread glazed in garlic butter & salt

you get a salad with your choice of dressing. i love their homemade creamy tomato basil.

for dinner this time i chose their special - manicotti (more than enough to take home)

and i simply cannot pass up my favorite dessert - tiramisu - especially if it's this good

if you are in the mood for good italian food, trust me, pass up going to the olive garden and try puglioni's instead. you won't be disappointed!

puglioni's is located:
1137 van voorhis rd
morgantown, wv 26505
(304) 599-7521
see their menu here

the bookshelf

2009-08-16T14:08:00.001-04:00

the bookshelf is the independently owned and awesome local bookstore. if you are from the area you will remember they used to be over by keglers and suburban lanes. the bookshelf has been located on 139 greenbag rd in morgantown for 3 years now. after labor day they will be beginning their 36th year in business in morgantown! and they say that local businesses can't make it. jim sachse (pronounced sax) owner of the bookshelf proves that local businesses can survive.

there are lots of great things about the bookshelf. here are just a few:

get 10% off new books everyday (with no silly membership card to buy)
purchase used paperback books at 60% of the publisher's price
take advantage of their book trade policy
special order books at no extra charge (some exceptions do apply - see store for details)
local artist's can display their work
if you are a member of (or want to start) a book club you can hold your meetings at the bookshelf for free
receive friendly and well-informed customer service (julian has been working at the bookshelf for 10 years and knows what he's talking about.)

hours are: monday through saturday 10:30am-9pm
thanksgiving to christmas hours are: monday through saturday 10:30am to 9pm and sunday 12pm to 5pm

new book display

just part of the new book section

row after row of used books

be sure to check out the bookshelf if you haven't already!

morgantown photo op

2009-08-15T10:47:00.004-04:00

driving around town yesterday we came across an interesting cars display at university motors. this was too good to pass up.

ogawa

2009-08-05T22:17:00.010-04:00

ogawa is the best sushi in morgantown period!! the sushi chefs know what they are doing and they do it well. ryan and i decided to meet at ogawa for lunch on monday. monday's lunch special is the sushi bento box. it's fast, it's cheap ($7.95) and it's fantastic.

i will do another post from a dinner aspect of ogawa at a later time. but trust me, if you are in the mood for sushi, go to ogawa. ogawa is located 2920 university ave in the evansdale part of morgantown.

my partially eaten bento box before i realize i forgot to take a pic

the sushi chefs at work

dining area of ogawa

a row of bonsai trees

haught diggity dogz

2009-07-31T20:08:00.005-04:00

around morgantown and in the mood for hot dogs? my suggestion would be to visit haught diggity dogz. they have the best hot dogs in the area. the place is small, just like you would expect a hot dog joint to be, the people are friendly and the prices are comparable. all dogs are $1.50 no matter what you put on it. they also have really amazing homemade seasoned french fries.

i like mine with mild chili and slaw (sometimes with onions).

ryan enjoys his dogs with hot chili, slaw and jalapenos.

haught diggity dogz is located on rt. 7 in the rock forge camrock plaza.

after writing this review i got to browsing around on the internet and found that haught diggity dogz received the 2009 weenie award for monongahelia county from the west virginia hot dog blog. if you are not in the morgantown area and have a hankering for a hot dog check out their website west virginia hot dogs to find information on local hot dog eateries and reviews.

announcing baby sheridan elise

2009-07-29T23:24:00.004-04:00

she is finally here!! i wrote about four months ago about my dear friends katie & eric announcing that they were having a baby girl.

well, i am happy to announce that miss sheridan elise has finally arrived and is absolutely adorable!

congratulations!!

dragonfly

2009-07-11T14:13:00.014-04:00

i've heard mixed reviews about dragonfly and with my love of sushi, i decided to try it for myself. when ryan & i got to the hostesses (yes there were two and i have no idea why) they told us that it would be a 30 minute wait (and there were plenty of tables open as far as we could see). we preferred to sit at the sushi bar anyways and there was no wait to do that.
after being seated at the sushi bar our waiter promptly came, introduced himself and took our drink order. it was a pretty hot day yesterday so we both wanted water, but as hot as it was, i still can't pass up hot green tea when i'm having sushi. when our waiter returned we got one glass of water and a beautiful pot of tea. we had to ask again for the second glass of water.
for starters i ordered a tomato & avocado salad: sliced tomatoes topped with avocado, hearts of palm, and sesame-crusted goat cheese, with a sherry vinaigrette. the tomato & avocado salad required more than just chopsticks (and trust me, i can eat just about anything with chopsticks however, even i can't cut up a huge chunk of tomato with them) so i had to ask for a fork. i love goat cheese but even this portion was a bit too much for moi. the sherry vinaigrette dressing was good but there was just too much of it.
ryan opted for pork & edamame pot stickers: handmade dumplings with pork and soybeans served with a citrus ponzu dipping sauce. ryan is a big fan of gyoza and he liked the addition of edamame but when he bit into his last one, he found that the pork was a tad too pink.

while we were waiting for our sushi to arrive (which we waited for a while), i snapped pictures of the inside of the dragonfly. ryan described the atmosphere to be sushio 54. the crowd was definitely younger. it seemed like the place to go if you wanted to be seen. the restaurant's music was very loud which in turn made everyone talk even louder. i don't particularly enjoy this aspect.
you can kind of tell that the columns are covered with iridescence to mimic an actual dragonfly. i thought that was a very nice added touch.
for our entree ryan ordered the high rise: spicy hamachi, green onion, and cucumber inside with spicy tuna and tempura flakes on outside topped with eel sauce & the waka: snapper, cucumber, and avocado inside topped with salmon, ponzu and green onions. i ordered the tsunami: crab, salmon, and asparagus inside with snapper and tobiko on top & the pink lady: mango, cucumber, and shisho leaf topped with tuna and green onion. (details of all dishes provided by dragonfly's menu)

left to right: tsunami, high rise, the waka, and pink lady

i enjoyed the tsunami very much. the pink lady was decent but i didn't enjoy biting into the stem of the shisho. ryan preferred the high rise to the waka.

in both of our opinions, the best part of the meal was the lemongrass cheesecake: not listed on the menu but according to our waiter is homemade & hand whipped in the back. it came with strawberry glaze on top. it was very creamy and delicious.

if it's sushi you want, i say go to ogawa. but i would definitely return for a slice of the lemongrass cheesecake.

imagine my surprise

2009-07-06T20:10:00.019-04:00

ryan and i love watching skateboarding videos. we had just finished dinner and were watching gordon ramsay's the f word when some skaters went past the house. this is a pretty common occurrence so we didn't think anything of it. we noticed that they were slowing down and then came back up the street. we watched out the window for a bit and noticed that one of them was recording the other one doing tricks. of course, i grabbed my camera and asked if they minded if i got a few pics.

the guy recording is chase bartee from morgantown and the guy doing a nollie-heelflip is eric jones from providence, ri:
then on down the street to an ollie from the neighbor's driveway:

chase records and edits videos for fountain of youth skate shop in providence, ri. he also edited and was featured in the film "all i need." here's a teaser. and if that leaves you wanting more you can check out his youtube channel for more video action.

morgantown photo op

2009-07-06T13:37:00.004-04:00

an adorable smoke bush in the neighborhood.

white park

2009-07-05T18:51:00.011-04:00

well, we were planning on going to cooper's rock but unfortunately there was a fatal accident on i-68 that had the interstate at a stand still. we decided to go to white park instead to have our picnic & hike.

our view from the blanket

cadyn in foreground & sadie in background

pyrotechnics

2009-07-05T13:28:00.008-04:00

ryan and i decided to walk downtown yesterday to go see the fireworks. (yesterday was a day of walking & my hip is a little cranky from it but i plan on getting the kinks out by taking the dogs to cooper's rock shortly and, yep you guessed it, walk some more.)

my camera has a fireworks setting on it and this was the first time i got to try it out. here are some of the photos i took:
photos by moi

colorful tour of jerome park

2009-07-04T18:21:00.020-04:00

ryan and i took the dogs for a nice long walk around the jerome park area of sabraton today. enjoy some of the beautiful flowers i captured.
photos by moi

dam & nature

2009-06-26T12:22:00.013-04:00

yesterday morning i took my dog cadyn for a walk on the caperton rail-trail by the dam. we had such fun walking along looking at all of the birds, bunny rabbits, beautiful flowers and friendly morning commuters & exercisers.

if you've never been to this part of the trail before you should check it out. it's really quite pretty. there is a little september 11th memorial. don't worry about how where to park when you get there, there is a convenient place to park right beside of the waterfront jeep dealership.

enjoy some photos that i took while on our little artist's date:
photos by moi

yama

2009-06-18T22:36:00.016-04:00

the fact that i love japanese food isn't a secret. one of my favorite places to eat in downtown morgantown is yama. yama is so tiny that it has a hole in the wall feel but has the most delicious food.

tonight i ordered a seaweed salad:

ryan ordered gyoza:

and for our main course we both ordered miso-ramen (mine vegetarian and his not):

i just love their decoration as well. (the last one is my favorite).
photos by moi

storm clouds over sabraton

2009-06-18T09:57:00.006-04:00

last night was quite a spectacle. we had lightening and thunder and quite a bit of rain. before it all began i ran outside and snapped a few pics of the gorgeous storm clouds that filled the sky.

i tried to get these pics up last night but due to the storms our internet kept coming in and out (mostly out). so, i did what anyone would have, gave up and enjoyed the light show.

photos by moi

tea garden

2009-06-01T22:18:00.007-04:00

i spent my morning and early afternoon at zen clay's cafe or the tea garden. it is a wonderful place to meet up with friends to share a pot of tea (or two or three in my case), sit and read, grab a bite to eat, or study (as was in my case today). anyway you look at it, the tea garden is one of the best cafe's in town. (and for all of you in the dc area, this is as close to teasim as morgantown has.)

when i first got there i ordered myself a pot of pu-erh tea with rose hips. i set down inside the cafe and laid out my things to begin to study. but i decided to pack everything back up and move onto their deck. there was no one on the deck and the sun was beaming in brightly. how could i resist?! so, outside i went. i set everything back up and got my study on!!

after an hour and 15 mins into studying, i needed a little lunch break (and another pot of tea). i ordered their "peanut sauce wrap." this wrap had mixed salad greens, tofu, green peppers, carrots, red onion, roma tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers and peanuts in a ever so slightly spicy and delicious peanut sauce. it was even better than i described. with my wrap i enjoyed a pot of gunpowder green tea with hibiscus.

one of the best parts about the tea garden (besides all of the delicious things i have already listed) is that their staff is extremely friendly. this is something that is really important to me.

after lunch break, i went into another little round of studying before i headed off to unwind with a great yoga class at bliss bliss bliss.

photos by moi

mediterranean deli & tutto gelato

2009-05-30T23:56:00.012-04:00

for lunch ryan and i decided to head downtown and eat at the mediterranean deli. we really enjoy eating outside when the weather permits. the mediterranean deli has the best gyros in town. we each had one, split a side of greek pasta salad and washed it all down with a san pellegrino aranciata.

and now for some lame pics of me and ryan while enjoying our food on the sidewalk at the mediterranean deli:

me looking like a dork

the action shot as ryan calls it...

ryan and his aviators

after lunch we followed it up by going to tutto gelato. i had a bambino of blood orange and mango. it was delish!!

photos mostly by moi (except ones of moi by ryan)

vegetarian dreams

2009-05-28T23:25:00.008-04:00

tonight's dinner was courtesy of new day bakery. ryan and i were in the mood for pizza this evening and didn't want your run of the mill pizza from the regular pizza joints in town. we wanted something more exciting. and that is exactly what we got!! we went to the new day bakery and ordered their "vegetarian dreams." it is a green pizza (basil pesto with parmesan and mozzarella) with spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, roma tomatoes and ricotta cheese. it was delish!!

the vegetarian dreams is their weekend pizza special. stop by and pick one up, you won't regret it!!

photos by moi

mother india

2009-05-26T21:32:00.007-04:00

it was a little chilly in motown this evening due to all the rain (this is seattle east you know?!). after i got back from yoga class ryan was talking about soup for dinner. at the same time we were figuring out what to have for dinner i saw a tweet from michael wendell talking about how hot the vindaloo was at mother india. i immediately thought indian food would warm us up!

i am a huge fan of indian food but i am a wuss when it comes to spicy food. i always ask for mind to be on the mild side so that i can actually taste what's going in my mouth rather than the burning sensation. ryan, on the other hand, loves hot food. the hotter the better for him.

i ordered chana masala, had some of ryan's garlic nan, and of course some masala chai tea!! oh how i adore masala chai tea...

the restaurant is spacious and a painted in a soothing yellow color. if you haven't been to mother india i highly recommend going.

photos by moi

the blue moose

2009-05-25T18:41:00.005-04:00

if you live in morgantown then you surely know about the blue moose cafe. it's the hangout spot for locals and college kids alike. with excellent hours chances are that most times you are driving or walking by they will be open.

there are great things to drink, eat and sometimes live entertainment. and with works of local artists adorning their walls what's not to love?!

i made a recent trip to the blue moose before heading over to my hair appointment at the beauty college to get some pink added to my tresses. i ordered a cup of joe and my favorite sandwich, the lox bagel. i highly recommend it.

if a slower paced blue moose experience is what you are looking for, now is the time to go since the students are gone for the summer.

photo by moi

bliss bliss bliss

2009-05-22T19:18:00.006-04:00

i've been going to yoga classes at bliss bliss bliss for a while now, but last week was my first massage there. it was heavenly!

lauren, my massage therapist, was very professional and paid attention to detail. with a foot massage as the finale, i was over the moon.

your budget is something you need to keep in mind when booking a massage and bliss bliss bliss offers membership massage packages to suit your needs. you absolutely can't go wrong (or find a better price) than their 12 one hour treatments. a membership with $10 new client intake fee lowers the cost to one massage a month for $40, who can't afford that?! what happens if you decide 12 massages per year isn't enough? after the 12th the price drops to $35 per massage.

in case a membership isn't exactly what you are looking for they offer hour or 1/2 hour massages at comparable prices to other local spas without all the fuss.

there is nothing pretentious about bliss bliss bliss or the wonderful people who work there. they make you feel immediately welcome, as if you have known these people all along. want some water or a cup of hot tea while you wait or afterwords, no problem. don't be surprised if you don't have to ask.

if you haven't been to bliss bliss bliss, you must go! isn't your bliss worth it?!

logo used with permission of bliss bliss bliss

morgantown street art

2009-05-10T23:59:00.010-04:00

i've been collecting pics of morgantown's street art. here are some of my most recent findings.

photos by moi and ryan

farmers market part deux

2009-05-10T23:47:00.008-04:00

the second week of the farmers market pics for you to enjoy. there are more vendors which is great. we are still missing the new day bakery but as per serafina they should be back next week. sure hope so.

photos by moi

i love the farmers market

2009-05-03T22:46:00.013-04:00

saturday was the first day of this years farmers market. i love the farmers market and wish that it was more than 3 1/2 hours on ONE day of the week. you have to get there early, otherwise, you'll miss out. while i was perusing the usual stands there seemed to be one missing, the new day bakery. a fellow local blogger who works at the new day bakery explains this much better in her blog, edgehill house. i hope this matter is resolved soon because the new day bakery stand is a fantastic one.

some beautiful bibb lettuce

lots of rhubarb (love these guys strawberry rhubarb jelly - it is the best)

red barn farm's stand

the best local soap around (made from this adorable jersey cow's milk & local honey)

potent ramps (a wv delicacy) click here to see my favorite ramp dish

easter egg & french breakfast radishes

hand spun yarn

photos by moi

fifth annual adventure film & photo festival comes to morgantown

2009-04-28T02:02:00.014-04:00

this past friday ryan, myself and a few friends got together at one of my favorite places to eat in morgantown, the black bear. they have the best burritos around. if you are vegetarian, no problem. they also support west virginia farmers as much as possible. and chances are high that when you choose to dine there you will encounter some type of entertainment. friday we were able to kick back and enjoy our burritos and beers to the brew house crew featuring elmer rich. the fiddle work was absolutely amazing!

after dinner we headed to the fifth annual morgantown adventure film and photo festival at the met theatre. the film festival was presented by the adventure's edge. this was a chance for all of the local filmmakers and photographers to get in on all of the outdoors action.

the event featured several short films that included kayaking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and cycling to name a few. after watching the films the audience got to vote on their favorite. the winner this year was dan fowler for his film "endless season" which featured a video guide, kayaking and whitewater paddling in west virginia and the surrounding appalachian states.

it was a great time. if you missed this years events, make sure you keep on the look out for next years festival. i highly recommend it!

photo by moi

brewfest '09

2009-04-19T17:43:00.006-04:00

we are freshly back from the star city vfd brewfest '09. we got to sample quite a few beers and eat some barbecue ribs from russ' ribs. we also got our fill of bluegrass music from the hillbilly gypsies.

photos by moi

a day 'choc'-full of events

2009-04-19T10:40:00.022-04:00

i finished my first ever 5k race yesterday. it was the earth day 5k. although i walked most of it due to my lack of training recently, i still finished and with a time i can clearly beat next time!

there were several kiosks set up at the event. rusty, the screech owl was there because of friends of the four-legged. he was rescued because he was hit by a car and unfortunately lost an eye. he is definitely adorable!

after the 5k, we went into downtown for the 10th annual chocolate lovers' day festivities. this is something that neither one of us had been to before so we were eager to check it out. while we didn't do all of the necessary steps to try to win the raffle to hershey park we had a great time going from business to business eating chocolate. here are a few photos i took while walking around downtown with chocolate in my mouth.

a kitty that lives in one of the shops downtown

lady with her two french bulldogs (although one of them was camera shy and behind her)

anywhere you saw a red hershey's kiss balloon was a participating business in chocolate lovers' day

the old stone house

tree in bloom by the monongalia arts center (look closely and you can see the bees flying around the blooms)

blooms up close (they smelled SO good)

after the morning and early afternoon activities, we headed back home to rest (complete with a nap for me). later we headed back downtown for a show at 123 pleasant st. my friend brian (whom i call peach - long story) is in the band it's birds (which is fantastic! if you haven't heard them, you should!) it's birds, amongst other local bands preformed radiohead's ok computer and pavement's slanted & enchanted albums.

photos by ryan & moi

wvu greenhouse fun

2009-04-18T20:20:00.012-04:00

my boyfriend, ryan, is taking a basics of bonsai class that is offered through wvu. i would have taken it with him but it is at the same time as my yoga class. i dropped him off early one day before class and decided to check out the wvu greenhouse. of course, i snapped some photos.

photos by moi

more signs of spring

2009-04-16T09:17:00.010-04:00

i love spring, don't you? all of the flowers (especially the spring bulbs) make me really happy. the flowering trees are beautiful and when i walk by hyacinth i breathe just a little bit deeper and smile a little more. it is official, spring is finally here.

another sign of spring is the arrival of "peeps and bunnies" at morgantown ag in sabraton. i went to get a few seeds to plant in my tiny garden and saw the chicks and bunnies. they are so cute they just melt my heart.

photos by moi

spring is coming to morgantown

2009-03-31T11:34:00.006-04:00

photos by moi - taken in front of one waterfront place

a visit to the morgantown beauty college

2009-03-27T09:55:00.006-04:00

i have been going to the morgantown beauty college for several years now. you really can't beat their prices. i know what you are thinking but it isn't that bad. besides, they have to learn somewhere right?! i have never had a bad experience or a bad haircut there before. usually when i find someone that is competent i usually stick with them until they graduate. that is exactly what i have found in siara. she is wonderful. she's not the typical prissy girl that works there and i love that about her. she is down to earth and knows what she is doing. she will graduate in september so you have a chance to go see her for yourself. i highly recommend her!!

here is a sampling of her work:

lavender cafe

2009-03-25T12:09:00.008-04:00

last night ryan, our friend rob and i all went to lavender cafe for dinner. lavender cafe opened in 2008 and i am so happy that it did. it is the only taiwanese restaurant in morgantown and a welcome change!

they have the best bubble tea there. all 3 of us decided to go for hot tea instead of cold. i do like iced tea but i prefer mine hot. rob ordered apple green tea, ryan ordered lychee black tea and i ordered coconut (green) milk tea. i want to try different kinds of tea but every time i go i end up getting the same thing.

here are our tea cups, you can definitely tell which is which.

while the boys ordered pad thai noodles (shrimp for rob and beef for ryan), i ordered taiwanese rice noodles with vegetables. everything was fantastic!!

this is my dinner. the portions are huge to say the least!!

the staff are extremely friendly, the food comes out very quick and the quality of the food is excellent. if you haven't tried lavender cafe before, i highly recommend it! it's one of my favorite places to eat in morgantown.

nose piercings at thinkin' ink

2009-03-24T13:21:00.004-04:00

my co-worker (become good friend) kristi and i went saturday the 14th and had our nose pierced. this is something i have thought about doing for years now. kristi had wanted hers done too. so after a good mexican dinner and a couple of pitchers of margaritas we decided, you know what, let's do it!!

we went to thinkin' ink tattoo studio and brandon (their piercer) took very good care of us. all of us, including brandon, kept referring to our nose piercings as "super cute." we had a good experience and they were very friendly and helpful. i can't speak for their tattooing capabilities (although kristi highly recommends patty for any tattooing that you may need done) but their piercing services are great!

that's kristi's son, mason, in the background. looks like he's getting ready to hit me on the back of the head :)

my affair with new york

2009-03-24T12:48:00.012-04:00

ryan and i had a fantastic time in my favorite city, new york city. it was a short weekend. it always seems that time flies when you are having fun. and fun, we did have! i wanted to share a few of my photos with you.

please visit my other blog gussying up the tuttle to see additional pics.

feel free to comment, i love reading your thoughts!
photos by little ol' me

my first ever acupuncture experience

2009-03-23T11:15:00.012-04:00

last october for my 30th birthday (sigh) i decided to tell people what i wanted for my birthday instead of letting them guess. my lovely boyfriend's father got a hint that i wanted to go to an acupuncturist. i was so thrilled to hear that he got me a gift certificate. i was so excited that we had one in morgantown. so, last thursday i went to my appointment to get acupuncture for the very first time.

once i got off work, i headed over to roman's acupuncture and herbal clinic. i was warmly greeted and promptly taken back to my room. there i was given a bunch of forms to fill out. these forms covered everything from my medical history to how many times i urinate in a day and what color it is...let's just say, it was very thorough.

stacy roman was very friendly and super knowledgeable (pencil thin and totally adorable i might add. her photo is on their website if you want to see for yourself). i love how open-minded she is about eastern medicine. i have always been a huge fan of other alternatives than our western minded pill popping society.

after stacy looked through my forms and asked a couple of questions, she took my pulse and asked to see my tongue. of course, i stuck it out at her but i (always being curious) asked why. she told me that doctors in china see about 150 patients a day all they have time to do is look at a person's tongue and take their pulse. more info regarding the tongue diagnosis can be found here.

the main focus of my acupuncture treatment was for weight loss. i am disappointed in the condition of my body is in. part of it is to blame on my thyroid and the other part is, well, me. the fact that i'm a total foodie doesn't help matters much. especially the sweet tooth factor.

i lay on the table and stacy proceeded to put in approximately 15 needles. some i didn't feel at all and others felt like a tiny prick. no big deal. (and this is coming from the girl who usually passes out after having her blood taken, mind you!). after the needles were in, stacy turned off the light, put an infrared light on my exposed belly and left the room for about 20 mins. while in the room i practiced some pranayama and mediation. when stacy came back she asked how i was doing. i was feeling fine, very calm and relaxed. it was a wonderful experience.

i then went to the front desk to check out. thankfully i didn't have to pay since my gift certificate covered it (thanks again tim!). while i was out there i was talking to the receptionist, cynthia and it's as if we instantly connected. it was like catching up with an old friend that i haven't seen in a while. she was such a sweet-heart! cynthia said she had been working for stacy about two months and has already noticed major changes in herself as well as the other clients.

for the best possible outcome i should come in at least once a week. unfortunately due to all things recession, my handbag doesn't go that deep. i plan on going at least once every two weeks and will certainly keep you posted.

for anyone who's ever thrown around the idea of checking out acupuncture or any of the long list of services or products at roman's, i highly recommend it!!

p.s. check back soon for details and pics of my ny trip.

photos by little ol' me

goodbye morgantown, hello new york

2009-03-19T14:07:00.002-04:00

yes, it's true, i am leaving the metropolis of morgantown (ha) to go to new york. oh how i HEART ny! i don't know how you'll ever be able to go on without me morgantown, but you must try to find a way. i will be back soon, i promise. i will return with stories of another city soon enough.

sheridan elise

2009-03-18T20:06:00.003-04:00

congrats to my friends katie and eric. they found out today they are having a baby girl!!! they are naming her sheridan elise. looks like a cutie to me. of course i'll have pics post-womb... eventually.

where's the beef....literally

2009-03-18T12:32:00.006-04:00

since my boyfriend needed to use the car today he dropped me off at work. i didn't bring any lunch with me today so my co-worker offered to pick me up something while she was out. last night my boyfriend and i were talking about the reubens at maxwells being absolutely delicious which got me wanting one. i asked if she could get me a reuben sandwich from arby's since it was close by. when she brought back lunch, i opened my sandwich wrapper, to discover that my ruben was made with....turkey. everything else was correct about the sandwich minus the corned beef.

at that point there was nothing i could do about it besides give it a try. a turkey reuben is OK but i would have much rather had the original. come on arby's, pay attention. surely it can't be that hard. next time, i'm not thinking arby's!

spring break

2009-03-17T11:11:00.003-04:00

this week is a prelude of what's to come for summer. the kiddies at wvu have fled town. some back to their parents and some in search of warmer climates. wherever they have gone, it sure feels nice to drive around with out all of the congestion of the kids. my favorite time in morgantown is summer. i feel as though we get to take back over our town. so, if you are still around, enjoy it while you can!

Welcome to My Morgantown Musings

2009-03-16T20:48:00.002-04:00

thanks for stopping in. i am starting this blog about my daily adventures in morgantown. i'll post about things i find interesting, amusing, or any combination of these. i hope you enjoy. comments are ALWAYS welcome.