Connecticut camping

It was a great work week - all the prototypes have been released for holiday so on top of my usual display coordinator duties, I got to start dreaming up where I want certain displays to go in the store, how I want to alter them to work best in our new store, and what special touches I want to make. I'll sketch them out next week but I've already started prepping displays for the christmas trees with the rest of the staff at morning meetings! It really is nice starting holiday work so early because it gets me excited about Christmas, which we all know is the best time of the year. There is just something about the Christmas mindset that makes everything special, so I don't mind having that feeling a month or two early :)

I started work November 4th of last year and at that time there had been no display coordinator in the store, and very little visual assistance the preceding few months so when I arrived almost no holiday display had been started.  I'm very excited that this year i'll be able to take a little time, plan things out, and even get started early so that I can create some thoughtful holiday displays on top of our concept displays. Anyway enough work talk - all week I have been so excited about going camping!

We did most of our packing the night before and woke up early on Saturday to head to Connecticut. We got to our campsite around 10 and immediately started a fire and threw our tent up. We acquired a few new (to us) camping amenities from the Anthony's including sleeping mat's and cookware so of course we put those to good use! 

We took it easy on the camping trip - no hiking because mike has stitches on his calf and we didn't want them ripping open but we did forage for our fire wood! 

Taking it easy involved crossword puzzles, good ol' truth or dare, and a trip into town to look at some antique shops and estate sales.

I made my chocolate-less lauren style smores. Cinnamon graham crackers, fire roasted banana and marshmallow. Then you scarf!

Don't you want some?

Sunday it started raining almost as soon as we woke up so we made a fire and had breakfast to see if it would blow over but after about an hour it only started getting worse so we packed up the campsite and hit the road.

We headed for Terrain, Anthropologie's natural cousin. It is a primarily kitchen and garden store with hints of luxury bath items, books, speciality food, lighting, and accents. There are only a hand few around the country and everyone at work couldn't believe I hadn't checked it out yet. After visiting I can see why.

There is a cafe inside where you can buy coffee, cocktails, or treats to enjoy while you walk around the store or sit at one of their bistro tables. We opted to have brunch in the midst of our walking around gawking at things.

For their brunch you can choose from indoor or outdoor tables which of course are to die for and make you feel as if your are in the gardening mecca. They serve you bread that has been baked in a terracotta gardening pot with butter that has been infused with lavender, maple, and sea salt. Needless to say we requested a second serving after finishing our first.

Brunch itself was amazing - I ordered a portabella mushroom sandwich and Mike got the quiche of the day. We ate in our camping gear while those around us wore their connecticut best, right down to the sweaters tied around their shoulders. 

I could have walked around that store all day, and I'm sure I'll be back around Christmas time to purchase some presents for people! Also if anyone is stumped for my christmas present there are always these petrified wood serving boards that they had set up as placemat sets. They looked ah-mazing.