Christmas at the Mansion

Once upon a time back in the early 1900s, two mansions sat on a hill on the northside of Youngstown. One was stone Tudor home to the Thomas family and the other was a Gothic Revival style white manor home to the Sampson family. Eventually both mansions were left to the Catholic Diocese and later became a Retreat House for Sacred Heart. 

Evidence of this Catholic history remains on the grounds. Just driving around the paved drive that circles both mansions to the road, you can see remains of religious monuments and stations of the cross boxes along paved paths.

Now both mansions were purchased by Woodland Cellars, a winery out of Hubbard, to expand their winery to the property. This weekend though, the Sampson Mansion was open for a holiday vendor showing. The public was only able to access a small portion of the first floor but with that alone, you can appreciate the grandeur of the architecture in the small details. 

The large white columns in the front of the home invite you into a foyer that opens into a grand staircase and marble floors.

In almost every corner you can see that architecture detail and style of the era. Whether those be ornate cornices that arch around a curved window or detailed moldings that surround ornate lighting. It also fitting that a winery will be renovating the property by the iron work detail under that staircase that displays grapes.

Even the fireplace by where they posed Mr. and Mrs. Claus was just so intricate. You can only wonder what it looks like and how grand it must be in this mansion in areas we were not able to access!

As we left the property along the road winding through the back, I noticed the unkempt grapevines that once properly yielded a great harvest for the original residents......yet another sign it was fate for this property to take on the future as a winery.

Have you found any great new out of the way holiday shopping to do this season yet? Or visited anywhere that was so grand? Comment below...

Christmas Wish List

 It has been a rough couple years with lockdowns and Grandma's health so I decided it might be about time to add a little more pleasure in the small luxuries back into life on this year's wish list. Below are some of my Christmas wish list items... though I am sure Santa doesn't have the budget to drop most down my chimney... ;)

Leopard trim robe from Venus (reminds me of the one Beth Dutton wore in Season 1 on Yellowstone):

New cozy slippers (I live in my Ugg Dakotas at home, but how cute are these for an alternative?):

A gift set of my signature fragrance, Chanel No.5:

An LV shawl scarf....

Fur lined Gucci mules:

Cartier Bracelet:

What's on your Wish List, whether Santa can afford it or not? Dream Big! That's why it is a Wish List. Comment below....

Santa at the Farm

A few years back, you may remember that I attended a holiday shopping/ vendor event at the beautiful Highland Meadows Farm, right across the PA line in Enon Valley. Well, this year they held the event again, setting up the vendors in the horse stalls. It is such a cute idea and I just love visiting this property! 

I even got to put my Christmas wish list in to Santa early!

Sweater from Joules, lined puffer vest by Kori America, jeans by JCrew, boots by Ralph Lauren

Rescue Mission Rebuilt

 As in many other communities, the Rescue Mission has been a staple in the community for years helping the poor have a hot meal and the homeless a bed in to sleep in. Here in the Youngstown area, the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley was in dire need of a new facility to help in their mission they have been providing since 1893. The old building while looking historically grand was even losing bricks from the structure! 

Above is a photo of the old facility, pulled from their Facebook page. Ground broke on construction of a new facility in fall of 2019 and finally opened this past week. I was able to attend the ribbon cutting and dedication on Friday as well as get a tour of the new facility. There was a wonderful turn out of community support at the event. 

Throughout the entire facility, the art work showed inspirational and Christian quotations. 

The facility was divided into two sides, a men's side and a side for women and families. On the men's side there was still the large capacity bunk rooms and while this still looks to be lacking in privacy, it is important to remember that the old facility housed 60 men in one room. 

There is also a missionary program that patrons can enroll in that would allow for more semi-private quarters as well. 

Throughout the men's side as well were sitting areas and the new luncheon area was absolutely amazing compared to the old facility. 

The women's side looked very similar in housing except for the rooms that allowed for families to remain together and a playroom for young children. 

Two more features this new facility boasts that are definitely going to help many in the community get back on their feet are the addition of a computer lab and an after-hours area. Previously, if someone came after hours in need, they would still be on the streets regardless of the weather until the facility opened again in the morning. Now there is a waiting facility area to help those in need come in out of the elements while they wait until morning. 

While the new facility was absolutely beautiful and much needed in so many ways, my favorite part of the new facility though was the placement of the Bible in the floor of various areas open to specific scriptures. 

Should you wish to donate or volunteer, contact the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.

Romeo & Juliet- A Night at the Opera

 Every year the Opera Western Reserve performs in November and to me for the last 5 or 6 years, since I began attending, this has signified a glamorous kick off to the holiday season. Due to COVID, this event was cancelled, well ok.... moved to virtual for the past 2 years. Once I saw the ads this year announcing a return to in person performance, I bought my tickets immediately. While the event was still not back to what it had been in previous years, it felt good to get all dolled up and actually have somewhere to go. There is nothing like a night of culture and the arts in a glamorous dress to make you feel as if things "might" finally go back to normal...

What kicks off the holiday season for you? What events did you used to attend annually that had recently been cancelled? Comment below.... 

Pumpkin Smashing

What a beautiful fall day to have my Godson with me! But what keeps a 7-year-old boy busy without WiFi now adays?  Apparently smashing pumpkins is the answer. 

I was lucky enough to find a posting for just such an event at a local farm I had not visited before in Columbiana called Detwiler Farm. I couldn't believe I had never known of this gem before. They host a variety of other events on the property throughout the year as well. It was the posting for "Pumpkin Smashing" that caught my eye this weekend though.... 

The event is much like it sounds... you venture along the path after buying a ticket to catch the same hay ride that would've only weeks ago had taken you to choose the perfect pumpkin for fall display to now choose the perfect pumpkin to smash to smithereens! There was definitely no shortage of pumpkins left in the fields to choose from either!

Now as ridiculous as this whole event must sound, I have to admit it was a business model genius! Leftover pumpkins would simply rot in the fields and instead of losing all that revenue, these farmers decided to charge to let people come and break them up to use for fertilizer and wildlife feed with sledge hammers and baseball bats. There were no shortage of local folks willing to pay for this privilege either. Vinnie had a blast and I even found the stress relief benefit of the process by taking a few whacks myself.

On the way back, the hayride drops you off right by a pen of goats ready to be fed. It seems lately I am just drawn to being able to find where goats are even if I did not know in advance but I am sure you already know that quite a few quarters were spent here getting feed as well! 

All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon. What crazy events have you found in your community this year for late fall? Comment below....

Spooky Wine Tasting

Again, this year, as years past, I planned the Ladies Mt Carmel Society Italian Women's Club annual Halloween party, in conjunction with my mom and my aunt. Being more pressed for time this year, we decided to keep it simpler than some years in the past had been and simply planned a Spooky Wine Tasting theme. 

The first step was to create a buffet area that would go with the theme. The main table was covered in black party table clothes then strewn with some creepy clothe and fall grapevine swags. From there displays were added that incorporated some elements of wine and skeletons, to get that spooky effect. Grape crates were used to create height and battery candles added to the lighting. The food buffet was placed among these vignettes. 

Of course, being a wine tasking, we had to have wine! Labels were found on Pintrest, printed out and taped around the bottles to cover the current labels just to add some more creepiness to the event. A cart was set up near the bar area with a skeleton sommelier to help in deciding which wine to imbibe in.

At the tables, cheese plates were used as centerpieces along with a rubber rat who may want a nibble.

I also created a wine tasting cheat sheet for each guest to use during the actual tasting portion later in the night. I have added a copy of that sheet as well below, should you be inclined to have your own tasting. 

What cute Halloween party ideas have you used? Comment below...