Jan 30, 2013

Wine-down Wednesday

Happy Hump Days Peeps!!! With it being Wednesday and all I thought I would talk about one of my favorite things: wine. I'm going to just let you know about some of the wine I use to buy at World Market (the city I leave in now does not have one and the nearest one if Birmingham). I tend to drink Mosacto, sweet ones, and a red or two on occasion. Here are some of the wines that are my favorite:

redtree moscato
Redtree Mosacto

 
Schmitt Söhne Riesling

Opera Prima Tempranillo (2008), a La Mancha Tempranillo by J. Garcia Carrion La Mancha
Opera Prima Tempranillo


Rex Goliath Wines
Rex Goliath Wine (tried all but the Moscato, which is new)

And this wine from Easley Winery is some of my absolute favorite. My roommate from college (who you hear a lot about) is from Indianapolis and she would bring my 2-3 bottle each time that she would comeback to Florence from holidays and vacations. The one I usually drink which is the Reggae Red is a bit sweet but they have wine for each type of wine-drinker.

reggae wines
The three types in the Reggae line:White, Blush, and Red
During the Spring and Summer (at least I know they did a couple of years ago) they had a Blackberry and Raspberry dessert wine that was pretty good. It went really well with molten chocolate cake or any form of chocolate for that matter.

Anywho, that is all for now. Everyone enjoy the last Wednesday of January (hopefully I won't get blown away by the weather here) and until next time, Later....

Jan 29, 2013

Sweet Home

I share few things about myself my blog. So, I decided that every week I am going to tell a little bit about who I am, where I lived and so on. For the few people who actually read my blog, you know that I went to College in a semi-small town in Northwest Alabama. All of a sudden everyone is writing articles and making movies about it and the Quad Cities (that is what we call Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia).  In case you have no idea what I am talking about:

First:the movie called Muscle Shoals about the Muscle Shoals sound. A bunch of artist from Rolling Stones to Aretha Franklin recorded at FAME studios. Of course, most people learned who the Muscle Shoals Sound was from the line in Sweet Home Alabama talking about The Swampers, which was the rhythm section at FAME. Side note: my friend's ex did his internship there and works there now. The movie showed Sunday night at Sundance (another side note, one of the guys we knew from school with works for them now. I know it's weird what a small world it is). I'll probably watch it at some point when it airs on Sundance. Here's the link to the trailer here.

Second: Garden and Gun calling Florence the Most Creative Small town for Best Arts & Design Town. I can see why they would say that but still it's hard for me to hear. Most of my friends were "art kids". I never pay for photograph (I got saddled with college roommate's senior exhibit leftovers), paintings (two of my friends majored in it), lighting and glassware (another one of my friends makes light fixtures, glasses and votives from wine, beer, and coke bottles). When I think about the people I know, I guess they are right. Boo!!!

Third: Some people would have put this first but when I tell people I lived in Florence, after the Muscle Shoals connection they talk about Billy Reid and Natalie Chanin. Billy Reid is a menswear designer whose Flagship store office/design studio are in downtown Florence. Here are some pictures of the store:



Saw The Civil Wars for free there at a listening party like 2 years ago. I would describe his clothes the stuff you would see Mumford and Sons or Fun wearing. It's kinda hipster with an early 20th century look to it.

Natalie Chanin has a line called Alabama Chanin. She use to have a line called Project Alabama but all her clothes are hand-sewn here in North Alabama. I meet her once when she came and talked to my textiles class in the dark ages (or as I like to call it College: Part 1).

And the reason I went to Florence: The University of North Alabama or TUNA as some of us like to jokingly call it:



And the school is home to two lions: Leo and Una

I was actually there when the school got them back in 2003 (my friend was SGA secretary at the time) and she got to feed them with bottles because they were so tiny. They were so cute. Anywho, that is a little bit of who I am. Rather a bit about where I lived for most of my 20s. And I'm forgetting some other places over there: the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Ivy Green (we all know The Miracle Worker and Helen Keller), Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House, The Indian Mound (which is actually just a hill, a very large hill but still a hill). I went to all those places with my friend who was interning for the county's tourism but that is another story for another time.I know I lead a boring life but oh well. Until next time, Laters.....

Jan 23, 2013

Favorite Brands

     I have been super busy for the last 2 weeks because I finally got a JOB!!! It is at a spa called Blue Med Spa and they have to locations: the one I work at and in Atlanta. One of the perks of it is that I get half off all service (hello massages). Anywho, I thought would talk about one of my favorite t-shirt brands: Michael Stars.

I starting buying his tanks back in college at a boutique in town. If I am not in an Old Navy tank which are like $5 except for that one time of year one they are $2 (I know this because I worked there for almost 5 years and the crazies come out for $2 tanks and $1 flip flops), I am wearing a Michael Stars one. They are so awesome that my friends were "borrowing" them. Here are some of my favorite things that they have out right now:

Slub Jersey Off-Shoulder Dolman Top


1x1 Slub Boyfriend Tank


Scoop Neck Tank w/Chiffon Contrast


Yachting Stripe 3/4 Sleeve Wide Neck Dolman


Warm Nights Wrap


Gorjana Graham Leather Studded Wrap


Everyone have a good Wednesday and if you are in the ATL you should check out Blue Med Spa (yes that was a shameless plug). Until next time, Laters...

Jan 9, 2013

Party Hearty

The other day I posted some of the drink recipes that I found on Pinterest. Today I am going to post some of the finger food that I am planning on making over the next month, with a large part being the Super Bowl on February 3rd:

Skinny Baked  Mozzarella Sticks
I have actually made these before. All you need is string cheese, Italian breadcrumbs (I make my own breadcrumbs and add Italian seasoning), and a egg/milk mixture to make the breadcrumbs stick.
Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks | Skinnytaste


Pretzel S'mores
Pretzel S'mores

Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites
Ham and Cheese Pretzel Bites

Oreo Cookies Bark
Oreo Cookies Bark


Marinated Greek Chicken Skewers
Marinated Greek Chicken Skewers

I'll post pictures after I make all of these. Most likely it will be for the Super Bowl and it will be more desserts since for New Years Eve there was more food than sweets. Until next time Happy Hump Day and Laters......


Jan 7, 2013

Have a drink on me

With it being a new year and the National Championship tonight I thought it would be fitting to share some of my favorite drink recipes from Pinterest. All of them are supper easy to throw together in a pinch:

Frenchy: 1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka 3, oz Pineapple Juice 1 oz., Cranberry Juice
Frenchy: 1 1/2 oz Pear Vodka  3 oz Pineapple Juice 1 oz. Cranberry Juice

Instant margaritas: Tequila poured over lime sorbet with a salted glass rim
instant margaritas (tequila poured over lime sorbet with a salted glass rim)

Adult Cherry Limeade: cherry vodka, triple sec, lime juice, grenadine
Adult Cherry Limeade: cherry vodka, triple sec, lime juice, grenadine

White Gummy Bear: Strawberry vodka, peach schnapps and 7up
White Gummy Bear. Strawberry vodka, peach schnapps and 7up.

Tomorrow I'll post some of the new finger food I plan on making. I may not know how to do a few thing but throwing a party is not one of them.

Until tomorrow Laters.....

Jan 4, 2013

What I am reading: January edition

Hello peeps,

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Eve and Day. Let's just say it involved hanging out in the kitchen with my friend Kevin at my who made about 8 different things he saw on Pinterest. Anywho, here are the new books that I am reading for this month:


What Would Jackie Do?: An Inspired Guide to Distinctive Living By Emily Branch and Sue Callaway


Enough Already: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You By Peter Walsh


French Women Don't Get Fat By Mirelle Guiliano


French Women For All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, & Pleasure By Mireille Guiliano

I am going to try to learn a new language in the next couple of weeks too so if anyone has any suggestions on which language I should try that would be awesome. I did try beginners Spanish back in the dark ages (back in my Freshman year of college in the 01') and it was bad. That was a total sidenote.

Everyone have a great weekend. Laters!!!!

Jan 1, 2013

Turning the page

2012 is donzo (thank goodness). So with it being the first day of the year I have decided to share some of my resolutions or goal for this year.

Get back into shape

I have gained about 25 lbs that I need to lose. Back in November I started to walk/run but, with the Alabama weather it goes from hot to cold and now it's raining. Probably going to start again after today.

Become more spiritual

Growing up Baptist, sometimes I felt like religion was force down my throat (which it was to some extent). In the last couple of years, I have decided to find the church that fits me best. I know some people think that is ridiculous but that's what is best for me at the moment.

Eat healthier

This goes along with the exercising. I will try to cut back on crap non-nutritional food: Oreos, Cheetoes, Chilli Cheese Fries, Deep fried anything (living in the Deep South, we like our fried foods), and all the carbs. I slowly going to cut back on the refined sugars and chips.

There are some other goals that I have for this year but these are the three main ones. And the last thing I have to say about 2012 is this:
#newyear #quotes
Happy New Years, Peeps!!! Laters......