Cue the bagpipes and pour yourself a finger or two of Scotch because Alexandria's Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend is just a few days away!

We're celebrating the weekend by giving away two tickets to the always amazing Holiday Designer Tour of Homes. Read on to find out which homes will be showcased and how you can enter to win.

The weekend's festivities mark The Campagna Center's 45th annual celebration of Alexandria's Scottish heritage and the start to the Christmas season. And it also marks one of our absolute favorite weekends of the year where locals and visitors alike get to experience a little of what makes historic Old Town Alexandria so very special.

The events of the weekend take place from December 4th to 6th, but the core of the weekend's celebration take place on Saturday. The Christmas Walk itself starts at 11:00 and winds with bagpipes, dogs, and Alexandria's represented clans through the historic streets of Old Town. Then the Holiday Designer Tour of Homes (from 11:00-4:00) highlights many of Old Towns very historic properties completely decked out for the holidays.

This year's tour is going to be a great one and highlights the following five Old Town 18th and 19th century historic homes.

201 N. Columbus Street

This two-story 1870 brick townhouse with a rare attached Charleston-style side porch is a jewel of North Columbus Street. It has been owned by several prominent Old Town residents, including Worth Hulfish, owner of a hardware store in 1895; Frank Warfield, a druggist who worked at W.F. Creighton and Co; R.L. Goods, an engineer on the Southern Railroad; and Denys Peter Myers, an architectural historian with the National Park Service. After restoring several rooms, including a recently completed kitchen renovation, the current owners furnished the elegant Victorian three bedroom home with antiques, original art, and family heirlooms. The home has been decorated by the homeowners with the floral arrangements donated by Free Spirit Floral. Free Spirit Floral offers a commitment to artistic excellence and personal service in floral design.

210 Prince Street

The Michael Swope House, named after its first owner, a Revolutionary War hero, stands with distinction on Gentry Row. The lot the home stands on was originally purchased by George Washington’s half-brother, Augustine Washington, in 1749, and was then bought by William Ramsey in 1751. The home was built between 1784-86. Much of the interior woodwork is original to the house. The homeowners have made a few renovations to the home, including a small powder room off the dining room, the restoration of the dining room fireplace to its original arched brick design, and a customized wine cellar with a beautiful gas ceiling lamp. The home will be decorated by family and friends with floral accents donated by Fleurelity. Fleurelity is a small local business offering unique floral arrangements at an affordable price.

321 S. Pitt Street

This historic home was built in the mid to late 1800s by local Alexandria architect, Benjamin Franklin Price. The imaginative design is influenced by the Victorian Gothic revival with pointed arched windows and simple bracketed cornice. Original pine floors can still be admired in the traditional “double parlor” rooms on the main level as well as the second level landings and the third floor bedroom. The modern renovations were completed in 2013. The home is furnished with art and decor pieces referencing one of the owner’s Scottish heritage, a perfect way to celebrate the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, both inside and out! The holiday decor will be created by Casey Sanford of Casey Sanford Interior Design with the floral arrangements donated by Flora Couture. A resident of Old Town, Casey Sanford offers interior design services, customized to the clients’ desired tastes. Local to Alexandria, Flora Couture provides tailored floral design, expressing the clients’ personality and style. 

509 Cameron Street

Known as the Pomeroy House, this home was built by William Pomeroy in 1804. It is believed that Thomson F. Mason lived in the home in 1816, 11 years before he became mayor of Alexandria. Mason, the grandson of founding father George Mason, was instrumental in the fight to separate Alexandria from the District of Columbia and was elected mayor three times, serving from 1827 to 1830. From an architectural standpoint, it is one of the few original “flounders” in Old Town and underwent very little change until 2007. The owners worked with builder and architect, Linda Serbian, to ensure much of the historic character, such as the fireplace mantles, moldings, trim and hardware were preserved while adding modern touches to the home. The holiday decor has been created by Ashley Baker of Ashley Baker Designs with floral arrangements donated by Wegmans Alexandria. Ashley Baker Designs offers design services for projects big and small. Wegmans Alexandria creates custom designed centerpieces that simply amaze.

712 Prince Street

This Federalist style home was built in 1802 by Mr. Thomas Swann, a prominent Alexandria attorney. When Henry Daingerfield purchased the house in 1835, he began to give the home a new “Italianate” and Victorian architectural look. The building was a part of St. Mary’s Academy and was also used a nurses’ residence and training school before it was sold to the City of Alexandria in the 1970s. Recently updated by the current owners, the design theme preserves and emphasizes the architectural beauty of the original 1802 home while incorporating many modern elements. The house holds a collection of unique art, including Buddha statues from the 1700s, a Khmer statue, and black-and-white photographs taken by famous 20th century photographers. The home has been decorated by family friends with the floral arrangements donated by Helen Olivia. Helen Olivia is a high end retail florist, offering stunning arrangements creatively composed in their unique signature style.

In addition to the houses on the tour, St. Paul's Episcopal Church will be open as a rest stop for those who want to take a break for a moment.

Having enjoyed this annual event since 2000, we can't wait for this weekend's events. As we mentioned above, as a special reader reward, anyone who can make it to Alexandria on Saturday for the tour is eligible for three chances to win two tickets to the event. Details are as follows:

• PRIZE: Two tickets to the 2015 Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Holiday Designer Tour of Homes. Tickets retail for $35 per person.
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Thursday, December 3rd at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Friday, December 4th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The tickets can be used for entry to the 2015 Scottish Christmas Walk Designer Tour of Homes in Alexandria, VA on December 5, 2015, between 11:00am and 4:00pm.
• TO ENTER: 
  1. Comment on this post with the words “HOLIDAY HOMES”, and tell us a little bit about what you'd like to see on the tour. (One comment entry per person please.) 
  2. For an additional (optional) entry, Like my Facebook page or follow my Instagram account, for a look at local real estate, home improvement tips, and design inspiration.
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to anyone who plans to be in Alexandria, VA on December 5, 2015 and can attend the tour in person.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. If you're interested in learning more about the event and purchasing tickets, please visit the Campagna Center's event webpage.

We hope to see you on Saturday!

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As many of you may know, I'm a bit of a tool junkie. Whether I'm researching, using, or wishing I had a particular tool, I've become tool obsessed over the last few years.

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but at some point my Christmas list experienced a metamorphosis of magnificent proportions.

While I once wished and hoped Santa would bring the latest and greatest in GI Joe play sets, the coolest new video game tech gadget (Nintendo power glove), or the Star Wars action figure set I was certain would likely complete my life...

...at some point, roughly coinciding with the purchase of our home, my holiday wish list quickly began looking like the inventory list of a tool store in search of that item that might just let me complete a project.

Tape measures and hammers turned into saws and routers, and a hungry tool monster was born, always looking for that perfect tool to make life just a little easier, and project results just a little bit (or a lot in many circumstances) better. Besides, there's just something about a new tool bag or crate straight from the box that get's me all giddy. Unlike toys, a brand new, clean, and unblemished tool holds so much potential! 

So when we were recently asked by Rockwell Tools to review an item in their arsenal of "Tools for People that Rock" campaign, we were naturally intrigued. We don't do a lot of sponsored posts on our blog, and that's primarily because I really only want to share things we really and truly believe in. However, I was very impressed with the tools Rockwell has in their product line, and when I looked over the list Rockwell offers, one in particular caught my eye. Their Sonicrafter 20V MaxLithium cordless oscillating multi-tool looked to be a portable cordless wonder.

I've been a tremendous fan of oscillating tools since I picked up my first one about eight years ago. Its tremendous versatility can be seen in the hundreds of different cutting, sanding, grinding, and polishing attachments. Whether I'm working on detailed cutouts or need to cut a quick hole, an oscillating tool is sure to do the trick.

However, the fact it's a corded tool means I always need an outlet nearby, the blade change process requires an Alan wrench and several minutes of trying to secure the screw while holding the blade still, and I have to make sure the attachment I'm buying works for the brand of tool I have. These are all inconveniences that I'd rather not be bothered by.

As a result, I've actually been looking for a good cordless oscillating tool for some time, and with the purchase of our second home, my need for duplicates of essential tools like this really jumped up on the priority list.

So in steps the Rockwell Sonicrafter 20v Litium-ion oscillating multi-tool and 27 piece attachment kit Rockwell sent us to review. This great handheld tool set includes five cutting attachments.

The 20v MaxLithium battery offers a substantial charge that will keep the tool operating at the desired adjustable speed until the batter is drained, rather than slowing as the charge is lost. It also obviously means I can work freely and untethered, no longer bound by the reach of the tool's cord.

Overall the tool feels solid and well made. It's just over three pounds with the battery installed, and the battery weight really offers an excellent balance while using the tool. When switched on, two LEDs on the sides of the tool's body light your work area rather well.

But the absolute best part of this tool is its quick change and locking clamp "Hyperlock" that allows you to change from a blade to a sander to a paint scraper to any number of other attachments with only a flip of a lever and a twist of your wrist.

I was initially skeptical the lever system would be able to hold the blades securely in place. I've often had issues with the blade moving on my other oscillating tool, no matter how much I tighten the lock nut. But it seems Rockwell has the formula for keeping the blade in place with only minimal effort. Their materials state it has a holding force of one ton. 

If you're not sure whether or not you need an oscillating cutting tool in your tool box, trust me when I say that you absolutely do. It's so versatile that there's a use for it in almost any project. And if you've already got another tool and a whole truckload of attachments, the Sonicrafter has a "universal fit system" that allows you to use the blades of other manufacturers with this tool. The only caveat, you must use a set screw to fix it in place. No twist and lock action when you're not using Rockwell attachments.

Being a true tool nerd, I couldn't wait to break it out of its packaging and give it a spin, but I needed a quick place to give it a try. Then I had an idea.

We're doing a little exploration behind drywall at the new house and I suspect that the original plaster is lurking just behind the layer of sheetrock that a previous owner hung. Being a naturally curious chap, I wanted to see what kind of shape the walls were in, but there was no good place to start the drywall demo on the ceiling. Before we had the tool, we made a small hole and then just started ripping away at it. Granted, I could have done a much cleaner job, cut with a utility knife, then sawed away, but I was impatient.

Now I'm not one to typically tear away, but that's just what we did on that poor ceiling. The end result of ripping down drywall, as can see above, is often a torn paper covering that is both unsightly and difficult to repair.

But using the oscillating tool to cut a more even and straight line in the drywall was just what the tool doctor ordered. In under a minute I had adequately cut back the drywall covering enough to see that the ceiling plaster is actually in pretty great shape. Perhaps this is something we can bring back out and repair throughout the room? At the very least, I have a decently square opening that will allow me to either open up more of the ceiling, or prepare a patch piece to repair eventually. But between you and me, I plan on using my new tool to cut out a lot more of this drywall and expose the rest of the plaster. And since the tool is precise and small, I'll be able to do all of the work without further damaging any of the fragile plaster.

This was just one of many projects this tool has been mentally slated for. And while this goes nowhere near showing the ridiculous number of uses this tool has in projects, I was able to get a good feel for the tools power, comfort, and ability to work its way though material. Overall it felt really good, and I'm looking forward to using it more. However, It did require me to pull it out of the packaging and use it, but as much as it looks great clean, every tool tends to look just a little bit better once it's covered in a little demo dust and project progress. Don't you think?

Reader Reward

We liked the cordless Sonicrafter so much that we asked Rockwell if they wouldn't mind offering one as a giveaway to one of our readers. Being fans of all DIYers that rock, they were more than happy to do a giveaway. So whether you're looking to round out your own tool collection, or to score a pretty spectacular gift for the tool lover in your family, this great tool will surely do the trick.

Beyond this giveaway, if you're interested in possibly winning other tools from Rockwell's line, Rockwell has a promotion going on right now that's a "Give one, Get one Sweepstakes." You can win the whole suite of Rockwell's tool lineup for yourself, as well as a whole set for someone else. You can enter on their sweepstakes page.

Also, as part of our review, Rockwell is offering readers of Old Town Home 15% off any purchase you make on their website through December 31, 2014 using coupon code HOMESWEETHOME15. The code is valid on any purchase from RockwellTools.com

Details

• PRIZE: One Rockwell 20V MaxLithium Sonicrafter Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock - (a $159 value)
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Sunday, December 14th at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Monday, December 15th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The winner will be asked to provide their home address and the tool will be shipped directly to them.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “TOOLS THAT ROCK”, and tell us a little bit about projects you'd like to use this tool on, or who you'd like to give it to as a gift. (One comment entry per person please.) 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to participants in the United States only.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. This post was made in partnership with Rockwell Tools. While they donated a tool for our review, our projects, thoughts, and opinions are solely our own. 

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We're very happy to announce the winner of the complimentary tickets to the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend's annual Holiday Homes Tour. Congratulations to Kristin Frykman, who we hope to see on the tour.

They don't say "it's the most wonderful time of the year" for nothing.

In our home and in Old Town Alexandria in general, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. A nip is in the air, the lights are all hung in the trees along King Street, and the storefronts are all decked out in their holiday finest.

But most of all, the town is all abuzz over the annual Scottish Christmas Walk events this coming weekend. An annual tradition in Old Town for many years, the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend is a series of events organized by the Campagna Center that celebrated Alexandria's Scottish heritage and the Christmas season.

In addition to the annual parade...

...the Scotch Tasting at the Masonic Temple...

...the Christmas marketplace, and other events, one of the major highlights of the weekend is the Holiday Tour of Homes on Saturday morning and afternoon. It's an unique opportunity to tour some of the beautiful private residences of Old Town decorated for the holidays. This event is particularly near and dear to our heart as it helped us fall in love with Old Town many years ago, and we were honored to lend our home to the tour in 2012. I don't think our home has looked as good since. 

This year's Holiday Designer Tour of Homes boasts a stunning lineup, including the following residences:

415 Prince Street

519 South Lee Street

400 South Lee

501 Prince Street

512 Duke Street

We're really looking forward to this weekend as it traditionally marks the official kickoff to the holiday season for our family. As a special reader reward, anyone who can make it to Alexandria on Saturday for the tour is eligible for a chance to win two tickets to the event. Details are as follows:

• PRIZE: Two tickets to the 2014 Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Holiday Designer Tour of Homes. Tickets retail for $35 per person.
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Thursday, December 4th at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Friday, December 5th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The tickets can be used for entry to the 2014 Scottish Christmas Walk Designer Tour of Homes in Alexandria, VA on December 6, 2014, between 11:00am and 4:00pm.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “HOLIDAY HOMES”, and tell us a little bit about what you'd like to see on the tour. (One comment entry per person please.) 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to anyone who plans to be in Alexandria, VA on December 6, 2014 and can attend the tour in person.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. If you're interested in learning more about the event and purchasing tickets, please visit the Campagna Center's event webpage.

We hope to see you on Saturday!

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We're very happy to announce the winner of the complimentary tickets to the Twig's 73rd annual Homes Tour. Congratulations to "mp," who will be traveling up from Richmond with her daughter (and hitting up IKEA too). We can't wait for a new visitor to the Old Town Homes Tour to fall in love with the area.

I want to take a moment today to share a little love story with you that relates directly to a giveaway we're kicking off with today's post.

As you know, Wendy and I are completely and absolutely head over heels in love with Old Town Alexandria. I really never knew it was possible to love a city in this way, and it may be totally cheesy, but we really, truly love our town.

However, every love story has a beginning. Whether it's a first knowing glance, an unexpected encounter, or that wonderful first date that sets you on a path for bliss, the catalyst that kicks it all off is a memory that lasts forever.

In our case, these moments of our blossoming feelings about Old Town, and more specifically with the homes of Old Town, can be traced back to the annual Twig Alexandria Homes Tour in 2002.

This year's event marks the 73rd annual tour and takes place on Saturday, September 27th, and though the list of homes isn't announced until the day of the tour, the highlights of this year's list are enough to entice anyone.

• A home on the National Register of Historic Places, lovingly restored;
• Homes first owned by freed slaves;
• A home first built in the 1700s and one in which today's owners still maintain original features of the home;
• A home that was once a grocery and another that was first a tannery;
• A very small home, built in the 1800s that has been remodeled with impressive creative use of space;
• Two homes whose owners are artists in their own right, displaying their artwork throughout their homes. 

In honor of the event, we're giving away two tickets to the tour courtesy of the Twig (an $80 value). To enter, simply leave a comment on this post with the phase "Touring Old Town" along with something you'd like to see on the tour. One lucky commenter will be selected at random and will be able to pick up their tickets on the day of the tour.

Wendy and I will be attending for sure this year, and it will actually be the 12th anniversary of that first fateful homes tour in 2002 when Wendy surprised me with tickets. It was my first time getting to actually go inside of some of the homes in Old Town, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

We had been walking the neighborhood blocks for two years, but until that day, had only been able to admire the historic residences from the outside. We were getting married in October 2002, and we'd hoped to maybe find a home in Old Town after the wedding, but we really had no idea what to expect from the homes. Rather than going into it blind, Wendy learned of the tour and got a couple of tickets. Granted, we'd be touring many grand homes well outside of our budget, but it was an experience to say the least.

As we walked from beautiful home to beautiful home we couldn't help but to be simply enamored with everything we saw. From the home where George Washington spent his final 4th of July to the stunning restoration of a Captain's Row three story brick Federal that is more than 200 years old.

Little did we know, but one of the homes we visited was in the same block where we ended up buying our Old Town home. We weren't actively looking for houses at that point, but I distinctly remember walking right past our eventual house with a For Sale sign on the front and thinking, "Wow, maybe some day we could live in Old Town too."

There's really no better way to experience the wonderful things the homes in Old Town have to offer than by taking a tour that includes a wide variety of the styles and ages of homes in our area. This is precisely what you get with the homes tour, and the event benefits an organization dedicated to providing financial aid, volunteer service, and support to Inova Alexandria Hospital. It's a win-win in our book.

We hope we'll see you on the tour!

• PRIZE: Two tickets to the 73rd annual Twig Alexandria Homes Tour.
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, September 19th at 11:59pm EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Saturday, September 20th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The tickets can be used for entry to the 2014 Twig Alexandria Homes Tour in Alexandria, VA on September 27, 2014, between 10:00am and 3:00pm.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “TOURING OLD TOWN”, and tell us a little bit about what you'd like to see on the tour. (One comment entry per person please.) 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to anyone who plans to be in Alexandria, VA on September 27, 2014 and can attend the tour in person.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details. If you're interested in learning more about the event and purchasing tickets, you can learn more from the Twig's event website.

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You know what they say. "It's the most wonderful time, of the year." In Old Town this is very true as this coming weekend marks the highly anticipated Christmas events celebrated throughout the town by locals and visitors alike. Yes, that's right, it's the Campagna Center's annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, and we can't wait!

In celebration of the occasion, we've got a great giveaway for two tickets to an event that's near and dear to our heart, the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Holiday Designer Tour of Homes, but more on that a little later in the post.

The Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend has been celebrated the first weekend in December for the last 42 years, and the 43rd annual event kicks off this coming Friday. Starting with several kid friendly events during the day, the first night is capped with the Taste of Scotland. The Taste of Scotland is a great charity event at the George Washington Masonic Temple where the attendees taste many different types of Scotches having a grand old time. The men don kilts, the ladies their tartans, and the town really kick off the Christmas season by celebrating the night away. 

The main event, the Scottish Walk parade follows on Saturday morning, celebrating Alexandria's Scottish heritage with lots of kilts, bagpipes, dogs, and classic cars. This event is one that is celebrated by many in the area, regardless of Scottish ancestry.

One of the other major events for the day is the Holiday Designer Tour of Homes, where several private homes throughout Old Town are opened to the public, allowing onlookers a unique glimpse into a few of the homes that give Old Town its character.

If you remember back to last year, our home was one of the houses on the Christmas Designer Tour of Homes. The level of effort we put into getting our house ready for the tour was staggering, but the overwhelmingly positive response, that fact our home was bursting with beautiful floral arrangements, and the knowledge we were supporting a great cause made it all completely worth it. This year we're not participating by opening our home, but we'll be attending the event to check out this year's tour homes.

But just because we're not opening our home this year doesn't mean we can't give you a glimpse into one of the other homes on tour. This home happens to be that of our blog readers, Cara and James, and their adorable daughter Alexandra.

Cara and James live in an historic home just down the street from us and have done wonderful things with their quaint and stylish home, proving that modest sized historic homes can still boast modern style while meeting the needs of a young family. 

Cara has been working tirelessly on an ombre tree theme and corresponding table scape, going as far as to paint ornaments and vases the perfect shade of Tiffany blue. I'm so glad I'm not the only person in town that would go to these lengths to achieve their holiday vision!

It's definitely a place, along with the other homes and locations on the tour, that should be seen in person. That's where today's giveaway comes in. For the second year in a row the Campagna Center has generously donated two tickets for Old Town Home to give away to our wonderful readers. The two tickets are valued at $70. 

• PRIZE: Two tickets to the 43rd annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend's Holiday Designer Tour of Homes
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: Friday, December 6th at 12:00pm (noon) EST.
• AND THE WINNER IS: One lucky winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Friday, December 6th, so be sure to come back then to see if you're the winner.
• PRIZE REDEEMABLE: The tickets can be used for entry to the 2013 Holiday Designer Tour of Homes in Alexandria, VA on December 7, 2012, between 11:00am and 4:00pm.
• TO ENTER: Comment on this post with the words “AN OLD TOWN CHRISTMAS”, and tell us a little bit about your Christmas traditions. (One comment entry per person please.)
  Tweet the following for an additional entry: @OldTownHome is giving away 2 tickets to @ScotWalkWknd's Holiday Designer Tour of Homes. Leave a comment to enter. http://www.oldtownhome.com/2013/12/3/2013-Scottish-Christmas-Walk-Designer-Tour-of-Homes-Giveaway/. Just click on the link and it'll open up Twitter with the tweet already composed. Don't worry, we'll keep track of the tweet entries too.
  We'd also love it if you would "like" us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, but that's not mandatory. 
• WHO'S ELIGIBLE: This Reader Reward is open to anyone who plans to be in Alexandria, VA on December 7, 2012, to celebrate the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend.

Please see our complete terms & conditions page for more details.

We hope you're planning on attending this year's Scottish Christmas Walk. We'll be wandering around town all day, so if you see us, be sure to say hello.

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