Happy February, friends!

So far 2016 has flown by…I spent lots of January getting ready for Thrive Creatives Retreat (a retreat for creatives of ALL types and all levels that I co-hosted with Alyssa Anne and Sweet Root Village), making pages and pages of plans for 2016 for A Daily Something, planning most of our 2016 A Daily Gathering schedule (including a fall workshop + retreat in the Hudson Valley!!!!), setting business goals, working on my website overhaul + redesign with Jen at Tonic Site Shop, and generally getting all motivated and excited for the year ahead! I have another huge project I’m working on and cannot wait to share more details with you so soon! Now that it’s February, it’s almost launch time for lots of the things! Next week we celebrate 5 years of A Daily Something, and we’ll be celebrating all month! So much excitement!

Today I’m sharing more photos from my 2015 winter A Daily Gathering retreat (co-hosted by Melinda of Knead & Know), The Alchemy of Hospitality. For four days, about 15 of us gathered at a restored home in Bluemont, VA for workshops exploring the art and science of hospitality. It was such a wonderful time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I already shared some photos in two posts: elegant & rustic winter table // gathered & foraged wintry floral arrangements, but now I’ll be sharing more about each individual day at our retreat. These photos are from our first half-day, where we got to know our students at an afternoon cocktail hour, and then sat down for a scrumptious French-inspired dinner made by Melinda. I’ve dreamt about her cassoulet (and her arsenal of copper kitchen provisions) many times since November.

These creative retreats & the students who attend are such a wonderful part of my work. I remember several years ago, just before I launched A Daily Something, my aunt handed me a magazine she had picked up at Costco. I don’t remember the name of the magazine, but it featured all sorts of gatherings and retreats. I was SO inspired to do something similar, but had no clue how. Fast forward 5 years, and here we are. I don’t even know how it happened, but I am so incredibly blessed to call A Daily Something & A Daily Gathering my work. Bringing people together for meaningful conversation, learning hands-on skills, sharing a meal, and fostering community have become something that I yearn for and crave! Thank you to everyone who makes it possible: our sponsors, partners, students, and assistants!

Enjoy these lovely photos from my dear friends, Lauren & Rachel at Sweet Root Village. Lots more from The Alchemy of Hospitality coming in the next few days, including a stunning video made by Joy at Mornings Like These!