Posted 2 new Italian videos to http://www.youtube.com/sherriehartzell highlighting Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy and Bus Riding.

Majors Sports Cafe 5651 La Centre Ave Albertville MN 55301

Albertville, Minnesota, outlet shopping allows the typical shopper enough store choices to satisfy most.   Restaurant choices vary widely from one mall to the next.  If you drive a short distance away from this mall, you’ll find Majors Sports Cafe.  This sports cafe emphasizes beer, sports, sandwiches, appetizers and burgers.  Bar seating, booths, tables and chairs provide variety for differing seating options especially in the early to mid -afternoon hours before the after work, sports fans, and shoppers arrive.  If there’s a popular game on television, arrive far enough ahead of time to secure a seat.  Sports fans arrive in droves for certain events depending upon the time of year and the sports in season.  Call ahead if you plan on celebrating a sport’s fans birthday to 763-497-7629 or visit http://www.majorssportscafe.com .  Their Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade) won an award from me and their Prime Dip (think French Dip) sandwich ranked high on my list.  Copyrighted 2009 and All Rights Reserved 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Knit Happens 127A N Washington St Alexandria VA 22314

When Knit Happens originally opened, all knitters in Alexandria, Virginia, and anyone traveling through the area for vacation or business rejoiced. Enthusiastic teachers and intriguing classes at all levels focus on helping every knitter. Visit their blog at: http://www.knithappens.net for their latest hours. Knit Happens posts Spring/Summer Hours and Fall/Winter Hours on their blog along with a map and a newsletter subscribe option. Reading this blog is well worth your precious time, because they share via blogging new patterns and their experiences with their various yarns. Phone 703-836-0039 for more yarn specific information if you want a certain color and yarn texture. They’re located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. 2009 Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Virginia Wine Experience 826 Caroline St Fredericksburg VA 22401

Wines, wines and more wines cover every corner of this wine shop both upstairs and downstairs on the main level.  They strive to cover price points from affordable to extravagant for their wines both domestic and imported from numerous countries.  If you’re looking for just the right wine for your next party or holiday event, stop by and get their recommendations for the wine pairings to best complement your menu.  Extremely enthusiastic, helpful wine consultants will assist you with picking out the wines for your gathering.  Their phone number is 540-373-8878 , their e-mail address is edwin@virginiawineexperience.com with a website at http://virginiawineexperience.com .  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.  Reach her at 540-903-0212 or by e-mailing sherriebh@yahoo.com .

Lydias Monogrammed Gifts 417 William St Fredericksburg VA 22401

Lydia’s Fredericksburg, Virginia, storefront fills the shopper with diverse gift possibilities for men, women, tweens, teens, children and babies.  Lamps, loafers with unique designs, gardener’s monogrammed clogs, bags for travel, everyday purses, baby bags, garment bags that actually fit longer, formal dresses, linens, acrylic and glassware, picture frames, an ideal cosmetics bag that opens to fit your TSA/onboard airline plastic, quart-sized zip lock bag, towels, pajamas, soft active wear jackets, robes, blankets, and the list continues.  Some items in-store have been monogrammed already, so you’ll leave with a gift.  Other items don’t need a mongram.  Their monogram specific items vary anywhere from two weeks to one item taking much longer.  This store has gifts for hostesses, hosts, Hanukkah, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, weddings, Christmas, wedding showers and any other occasion you dream up.    All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred Realty-Stafford, VA.

Barboursville Gift Gallery Rt 20 Constitution Hwy near Rt 33 VA

Their white road sign intrigued me, so I stopped in this gift shop filled with gifts ideas for you or someone special covering every inch of this store.  Located in Barboursville, Virginia, sitting one mile North of Route 33 on Route 20 on a country lot in a peaceful setting.   A butter churn from Louisa, lamps made of wood, handmade beaded necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, paintings of all sizes in different mediums, vases, and more abound. If you’re looking for a certain type of item(s), call their delightful shopkeepers, Sarah and Ernie Memery at 540-832-3312, for suggestions.

Alpaca yarn skeins, rugs, teddy bears, scarves, mittens, gloves, hats and cards with pictures of alpaca provide unique gift options.  Have you touched alpaca?  It’s so soft and cuddly feeling.  There’s also pictures of a lily and other flowers by the alpaca farm people.

While there I met a painter setting up her collections.  What an honor to meet a painter in person.   Their card says: “many works by local artists and open Thursday-Sunday 10am-6pm or by appointment.”

So before your designated driver drives you to Barboursville Vineyards, Horton Vineyards and/or Burnley Vineyards, shop here.

All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.

Blackstone Coffee Company 10341 Courthouse Rd, Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Every time I visit here, I leave with new knowledge.  To continue my learning, I typed in their website: http://www.blackstonebeans.com

and saw a slide show on coffee roasting then read about various types of coffee under their beans headline. The personalization available at an independent coffee shop brings new meaning to the word community; you’re not just another customer.

Blackstone Coffee Company now has homemade Moon pies in two flavors. I chose their biscotti(almond; other flavors available individually or in gift packs), but Blackstone Coffee Company also carries cinnamon rolls, muffins and other treats to add a good mix to your freshly roasted coffee drink or tea of choice.

On Sundays, their store opens at 8am and closes at 2pm, so while you’re making a stop at the grocery store across the street for the milk you ran out of at breakfast, stop and indulge in a coffee drink and sweet as a treat. Other Days Hours: Monday through Thursday from 6am-3pm, Friday from 6am-7pm, and Saturday from 7am-5pm. Their phone number is 540-710-7577. (In case their hours have changed, please call their store directly.)

All Rights Reserved and copyrighted 2009 by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, VA.

Carytown Teas 24 South Nansemond St Richmond VA 23221

Inviting, cozy, and an unassuming elegance encompass the Carytown Teas storefront.  Their sand-colored toile wallpaper in their restroom is lovely and classic.  A couch for sitting and sipping their teas is located along one wall.  This place smells fragrant and the taste of their teas are fresh and involve all of your taste buds.

If you prefer or live outside of the area, their website store (http://www.carytownteas.com) allows for easy ordering and they have e-mail (sales@carytownteas.com ) and phone number (804-358-8327) contact information for any questions.  Pictures and tea descriptions assist you in finding the best selection for you or your gift recipients.  Tea accessories are also available to order online.  There are black, green, mate (yerba), oolong, rooibos, pu-erh (means matured according to their tea list), tisane, and white teas to choose from instore and online; variety abounds. Last I read, all of their teas were organic and fair trade.

When ordering loose leaf teas, order some paperlike tea bags (usually two sizes) and a steeping ball option.  This way your loose lead teas can still be portable in the paper bags put inside a small, reusable, sealable container or brewed at home with a steeping ball.

If you enjoy adding soy milk, organic milk, almond milk, rice milk or cream to your tea of choice, ask if the tea blend you’re ordering will curdle or not.  It’s not enjoyable to have this happen.  With rooibos and green teas a lot of times there are all sorts of other flavors (especially citrus flavors such as lemon) added that might cause your tea to curdle.

If you take any herbal, vitamins or prescription medications, consult with your health care practitioner(s), doctor(s), nutritionists and/or pharmacist(s) before deciding on any item to supplement/change your eating and nutritional plans.  I’m not a doctor, herbalist, nutritionist, pharmacist or medical practitioner of any kind.  Any tea you try or order for yourself or anyone else is at your/their own risk.  All rights reserved 2009 and copyrighted by Sherrie Hartzell, licensed real estate salesperson in Virginia with Keller Williams Preferred-Stafford, Virginia.