Vino Bodega

"Can I help you pick a wine?"

2011-09-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

So it happened early this summer. I was at the wine section of the supermarket buying some wine for the house. A young couple was there trying to pick a bottle and conducting a debate about what to buy. The gentleman must have seen that I had several bottles in my cart (you get a discount when you buy six) and asked me, "Is this a good wine?" He was holding a bottle of wine that shall go nameless.

It was their lucky day! Did he somehow know that I was very familiar with wines? I would equate this to going on a vacation and asking a stranger to take a picture of you and your family at a famous tourist spot and having that stranger turn out to be someone like Ansel Adams or a Dorothea Lange. They would not just point and shoot. They would take your little disposable camera and try to take a photograph worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Well, I was that stranger!

The couple had been tasked with bringing a bottle of wine to a friendly get together and did not want to choose something out of ignorance. I asked them what they were looking for and then proceeded to introduce them to a few bottles that would meet their needs.  They were very grateful and I was glad to have helped. I was high as a kite! I felt like a Grand Master Sommelier that had just help save the world from disaster.

Since that day, I make it a point to go to the wine section of any store that I may be in and check to see if there is anyone there that needs my help. I only approach people that look like they may be struggling. They will have this intense look of concentration and will sometimes have their hand on the side of their face. I ask, "Can I help you pick a wine?" In all but one occasion the person responds with, "I'm looking for something sweet." What they are really saying is that they want something fruity and not tannic.  We will save that for another post. In the mean time, I will continue to do my part in making this world a better place and hook people up with the right wine.

What do you do to make the world a better place?   See you in the supermarket!

Great Trader Joe's Wine Find

2011-09-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have a friend that is an insider with Trader Joe's wine. She gave me a tip on two great wines they have for $4.00. The 2008 Viriato Tinto de Toro is a Tempranillo. It has lots of berry flavors including strawberries and a very smooth finish. Very easy to drink. The 2008 Bear Boat Sauvignon Blanc is from California. It has lots of citrus fruit and tropical fruit flavors. Also easy to drink. If you find these, stock up. There is no guarantee they will last. I will keep you all posted if I hear of any other great finds.

Pairings

2011-09-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

I want to bring up pairings. A pairing is when someone has decided what specific wine will go well with a presetermined dish. Often times you may see parings offered at a fine restaurant. This means that the chef who has prepared the meals has also determined what wine will go best compliment each course.

Typically, you would pair heavy, bold food with a big bold wine or light food with a lighter one so that there is no clashing on the palate. You may have heard that red meats should be paired with red wines and white meats with white wines.
But long ago, there was no such things as pairings. Wines were only available regionally. So if you lived in an area where only red grapes were grown, you drank red wine with what ever it is you were eating. There was no opportunity to do a pairing. Something else to consider, what if you do not care for red wine but you enjoy a good ribeye? Can you have a chardonnay with your steak? Or if you don't like white wines, are you going to dring that cabernet with halibut? Will the wine police come and issue you a warning? I don't think so.   My sister-in-law does not care for red wines so we always has chardonnay with whatever she is eating and enjoys it all.
When I do pairings, I try to choose a wine that will compliment what we are eating.  Rich, savory foods with a bold red; lighter foods such as a dinner salad with a light wine; desserts with a very sweet muscato or even a port. But lately, I have been working on this project.  I would arrange wines into a spectrum starting with bold beefy reds on one side and go down to light, fruity whites on the other side. I find a wine that best compliments a meal on the spectrum, let's say spaghetti and meat balls. A light red wine will give you a great dining experience. But I believe that there is a wine directly opposite the one chosen, on the other side of the spectrum, that would give you a completely different and equally as pleasant dining experience.
I think of it as wine fusion. We do it with foods. I'm sure you have heard of Korean Tacos, Avocado Eggrolls and Crab Rangoon Pizza.   I am eager to try Peruvian-Japanese food and I am sure you have heard of chefs Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse who have become famous doing fusion foods. Why not do it with our wine pairings?

So my first choice with pairings is to choose a wine that compliments your meal. But don't let that paradigm stop you from being adventurous. Try mixing a fruity wine with a spicy meal or turn a light dish into something bold with a big red. Remember, the best person to tell you what you like, is YOU. Drink what you like with what you like.

Decanting

2011-08-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

You may here me have read that I sometimes recommend decanting a wine. Some wines really need it. The purpose is to aerate the wine. If you have ever seen someone swirling wine in the glass or 'letting it breathe' or waiting for it to 'open up.' They are all doing and describing the same thing. They are trying to get oxygen into the wine to help bring out some of the layers of flavors. It also allows a little of the alcohol to evaporate and bring out the aromas so that you can smell what you are tasting. The oxygen will also help soften the tannins in the wine. This is that dry puckery sensation you get when drinking some red wines. So when you first taste your wine from the bottle, if it is not what you expected, try aerating it and see if you get something much different. Don't decant a white or rose wine.

There is also another good reason to decant a wine. If you ever find yourself in the position to impress guests and don't want to advertise a bottle of $1.99 wine or a box wine, go ahead and serve it from a decanter. There's a good chance they won't know.

Enjoying Wine

2011-08-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

How To Eat a Poem

by Eve Merriam

Don't be polite.
Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that
may run down your chin.
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.
For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.

I love this poem. Eve Merriam is trying to say that you do not need to be prim and proper when enjoying a poem. I believe the same is true when we want to enjoy wine. You should not have to worry if you are using the proper glass or if you served the right kind of cheese and crakers with your glass. If you want to have a glass of chardonnay with your cheeseburger, then have it. I promise there are no Wine Police out there that will come to give you a warning. Go to http://hellogiggles.com/wine-time to see my point.

Enjoy wine for how it makes you feel. Not because someone told you what they caught on the nose or how balanced it may be or how long of a finish it had. The best person to tell you what you like, is YOU. One particular wine is my favorite because I first had it during a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner. Since then, everytime I have a glass, I am reminded of that great day years ago.

Let's Do a Review

2011-08-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Let's do a review. This is La Granja 360. It is made from tempranillo, which are grapes that are predominantly grown in Spain. I figured it was time to review this wine since I have read and heard great things about it. Especially for the $3.99 price tag at Trader Joe's. I have been superficial and hesitant to try it because of the label. A pig flying in the air with string tied to it's feet? That's a turn off.

To start, tempranillos will be a wine that has more of an earthy taste. Similar to vegetables and mushrooms. Also, winemakers in Europe make their wines to be enjoyed with a meal. They are table wines. Part of the whole meal. As opposed to most wines from California, Washington and Oregon that are made for those that like wine alone or with cheese and crakers.

When serving La Granja 360, you will first want to decant the wine and let it sit for maybe thirty minutes to an hour. This will let it air out and tone down the acidity. Also make it much less "jumpy."

The earthiness comes out on the scent and when you first taste it. You may sense cooked bell peppers or a vegetable broth. Then you will notice the fruity taste of strawberry and raspberry. Towards the end of the taste I noted a slight tobacco taste, but nothing offensive. It is a light wine. It also serves well chilled after decanting.

Like I said, it went great with a meal. I enjoyed it with an Asian themed dish. This bottle was great for the price, but I did not like it enough to start stocking up.

Don't Open That!

2011-08-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

True story. Thanks to the marvels of social networks, we were able to reconnect with a college roommate whom we haven't seen in almost twenty years! We have visited each other, gone to concerts and have had great fun.

One Saturday evening, we had plans to be at her house for dinner. It was perfect. The kids were sent to grandma's house. Her husband was marinating steaks in milk and we were preparing eggplant and goat cheese appetizers to take to their home. I took four bottles of wine so we could have pairings with each course.

In beween courses we were able to sit and talk. I noticed a bottle of wine on the bar that caught my eye. I was immediately impressed. It was a 1978 Petrus. Our friends had planned to open it during the evening. They were saving it for a special occasion and thought that this evening would be appropriate. The bottle was a gift they received long ago.

Right away I said, "Don't open that." I explained that this was a fine and rare bottle. In 1980 it sold for $300. Today you may be able to find this bottle online for around $1,500. A 1990 Petrus will sell for over $5,000. They had no idea of the value. I was sorry to not able to taste the wine, but I knew I was not worthy. We were able to find plenty of other wines to drink that night.

Now, whenever we get together we laugh about this night. "Remember when we almost opened your thousand dollar bottle of wine?" I could have kept quiet and had them open the bottle but I chose not too. It's so wonderful to have friends to share fun memories. That is worth more than any bottle of wine.

If you have a friends like this, tell them. Even if you think they may already know.

Great New Gadget

2011-08-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

So while we do enjoy a glass of wine often, rarely do we ever finish a bottle. This created the problem of having to store the bottle back in the wine refrigerator horizontally without it spilling over. Putting the cork back in did not work. I bought several types of lever stoppers that did not work very well and were a little overpriced in my opinion.

Then I came across these wine stoppers at Target. They are sold under the name Rabbit or Houdini. They are $4.00 for a pair and work perfectly. Easy to use and easy to clean. They will not leak when you store your bottles horizontally. Sometimes the cheapest and simplest things work the best.

I wouldn't bother with using a vacuum stopper unless you plan to store an opened bottle for more than five days. Also, if you are storing a red wine for an extended amount of time, put it in your kitchen's refrigerator vertically. Then let it warm to room temperature just before you are ready to enjoy.

The Top Shelf

2011-08-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

I was talking with a friend recently about a party that our children were having with some other children from their school. These are 16 and 17 year old boys and we wanted to make sure that there would be adult supervision at all times. We didn't want any teenager feeling the temptation of peer pressure to get into the liquor cabinet to impress their friends or to prove their manliness and take a dare. You get the picture.

We both concluded that while it is necessary to protect the integrity of the house bar, it is especially important to protect the top shelf of the wine cabinet. We both laughed. It is not that we condone under age drinking, but if it were to happen, let it happen with the vodka or whiskey or anything else they find on the lower shelves. Just don't touch any of my good bottles of wine on the top shelf!

Pictured is a 1999 Flora Springs Trilogy; a 2006 Opus One; a 2008 Simi Cabernet and a 2005 Stags Leap Cabernet.

What's on your top shelf?

ps: the party went on without incident.

Back to Basics

2011-08-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some wines that are readily available and enjoyable.
The first one is a Kaiken Malbec from Argentina. Malbec is one of the great wines that you are not drinking. Malbec was previously used to blend with other wines but is now a varietal all its own. Malbecs are usually more earthy tasting, but Kaiken takes about half their yield and ferments it in steel and the other half in oak and then mixes the wine for bottling. The combination brings out more fruit while preserving its bold flavor.
The next is a Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon.  Wines from Washington State are really great. Remember, Washington has almost the same latitude as the best growing regions in France. This cabernet is good by itself or with a meal. It has the distinction of being my 'house wine.' When it's on sale, I make sure to stock up.
Finally, Ravens Wood Old Vine Zinfandel. For me, Ravens Wood has perfected Zinfandel. This is great for someone who wants more than a cabernet but still wanting a good everyday wine. Old vine zins will be more 'jammy' than a regular zinfandel and would compliment spicy food or sharp cheese.
Let me know if you come across any great wine and would like to share your experience.  What's your 'house wine?'

Words To Live By

2010-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

I read this on a church marquee this morning:

"ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR OWN SINS,

NOT YOUR NEIGHBORS"

Mind your own business and NEVER JUDGE...Words to live by.

Giveaway and New Blog

2010-07-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It's been awhile, I know. I've been hard at work on a new Etsy store and website/blog for my new handmade jewelry. I'm always looking for a creative outlet and this opportunity just happened to come along on its own. I'm so excited about it that I'm giving away a pair of freshwater pearl earrings! So hop on over to Bijoux In Bloom to get all the details on how you can win!

Heading Out to Disneyland This Summer?

2010-06-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

I am, actually I was there just a couple weeks ago and I'm going there today for 3 whole days! If you are going there this summer, be prepared for crowds, heat and lots of waiting in line.

First up PARKING...If you plan to park here...

At the Mickey and Friends parking structure, be ready to shell out $14. The fee has increased $3 in the past 3 years. Someone's gotta pay for World Of Color!!!

What about food??? Well, one of the cheapest and delicious comes from here...

The world famous Main Street Corndog Truck. You get a delicious, crispy corndog and chips for a mere $5.79 (prices subject to change without notice...that goes for everything at Disneyland). Just be sure you have a clearance from your cardiologist before you indulge in this tasty treat! It's located at the end of Main Street, to the right, across from the Baby Station, if you are entering from the main gate...or just follow the smell of burning grease.

Drink tips, you say? Just four words...BRING YOUR OWN WATER. It is allowed! No need to spend a small fortune on water there, save your mula for the Golden Vine Wine Bar at DCA(Disney's Caifornia Adventure). Water Bottles too heavy to carry you say? No worries, you will be drinking 'em faster than you can say Goofy Goof (yes, that is his last name).

More tips manana as I will be reporting from Disneyland!

Things Don't Just Happen in the Movies...

2010-06-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

This actually happened to Hubby. He found this as he arrived to work and corrected the situation. Watch the first minute.

Giveaway Winner!

2010-06-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

The lucky winner of the Cookie Lee bracelet is....UNKNOWN MAMI!...congratulations! Now check out her blog here and stay tuned for another giveaway soon! Have a great Sunday everyone!

Second Blog and Giveaway!

2010-05-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's a little late for spring cleaning but better late than never, right? I've got lots of great things that I never or rarely use so I thought I would do what some of you guys have already done and put this stuff for sale on the internet! and so GIGI'S SHOPPING BAG was born...YAY!

Check it out! I'm adding new stuff all the time so become a follower!

Now on to the giveaway...Win this beautiful brand new silver Cookie Lee bracelet !!

Just become a follower of Vino Bodega for one entry. Already a follower? Leave me a comment for your first entry. Become a follower on Gigi's Shopping Bag for a second entry! Follow me on Twitter for yet another entry. Giveaway ends next Friday, June 4th, 10pm Disneyland time. Thanks and good luck!

Vegas Part Tres

2010-05-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

After dinner we walked over to the MGM to pick up our show tickets and walked across the bridge that leads to NY NY Hotel and snapped this shot on the balcony

The tickets were for the Zumanity show where this lovely, uh, lady is the mistress of ceremonies or ringleader, rather! She really is quite beautiful and really tall...Our seats were very close up so I could see every last detail and this lovely man-lady could see the horror in my face! The whole show was very, shall we say, sexy and erotic and out of my comfort zone!. The room and the tickets were a gift and were very much appreciated!

It was Chinese New Year hence the humongous dragon in the lobby of the Wynn. See me in the lower right-hand corner? I look like one of those white 1980's mannequins with no face! Nice.

Keep an eye out for future posts on some great Disneyland tips!

Vegas Part Deux

2010-05-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

This portrait was hanging over the bar in our room at the Encore. Don't know why but I just had to snap a pic of it.

This was my ride! I wish...

Had a Fabulous dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant

Roy's went all out with a personalized birthday note and dessert!

Stay-tuned next week for more Vegas, Baby!

Vegas and A New Blog Design

2010-05-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Im in need of a bloggy make-over, as you can see. I blew my original design but after a year, a change would be nice. Anyone know of a good, reliable blog designer? Please let me know...Also wanted to share some pics of my recent trip to Vegas, Baby! It was back in Feb. but I thought I'd lost these pics...check them out!

This was our room at the Encore

Comfy bed...

Luxurious bath with robes and a scale!

Check back tomorrow for more fabulous pics!

News Flash! Mickey Mouse Finally Speaks To Guests at Disneyland!

2010-05-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

OMG! I almost fainted when I saw this! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Mickey Mouse talking and INTERACTING with kids at Disneyland! YES, talking, blinking, mouth moving EVERYTHING! Don't believe me??? Just watch this...

Celebrating Five/Five With This Cocktail

2010-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thought I would celebrate with a refreshing drink. These are all the ingredients you need. Those are mint

leaves from the Vino Bodega Herb Garden and yes, that's a big, huge Jalapeno pepper!

Simply remove the seeds and chop up the pepper. Grab a pretty glass and "muddle" the mint and the chopped up pieces of pepper in the glass carefully...

Add ice, 2 oz. of Tequila and fill with Pineapple juice...

And Voila!

You got yourself a refreshing, not-too-sweet yet savory Mexican drink you can enjoy any day!

To Go Brazilian or Not...

2010-05-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

Not that kind of Brazilian! I'm talking about the new 90 minute Brazilian Blow Out . I have naturally curly hair and to be honest, I'm REALLY tired of dealing with it. I usually use a ton of anti-frizz product and let it dry naturally but then it just kinda lays flat. What I really want is that "just left the salon" look EVERYDAY! but what if I turn out to be a freak of nature and the Brazilian doesn't work on me! So I continue to ponder...and save my pennies because it is an expensive procudeure. Have any of you gone Brazilian?

Some Mighty Meaty Crazy Cocktails

2010-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Looks like a meal in a glass! A Raw Foods addict friend of mine posted the cocktail below on Facebook and I couldn't resist. It is infused with beef boullion and yes, that's bacon-wrapped and mystery meat-stuffed olives.
I must say, the drink on top made me gag when I saw it. It looks like a previously digested hot dog floating in its own "juice" along with the plastic wrap...vomit kept in! I better stop looking at it. Next time I won't be so lucky...

Check Out This COOL Gadget

2010-04-06T14:50:00.001-07:00

This occupies the Numero Uno spot on my Summer Shopping List!

Danielle Steel Books For Sale...CHEAP!

2010-03-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Get the latest hard-cover novel from Danielle Steel entitled "Big Girl" AND one of her classic paperbacks "Dating Game" both for just $15!!! includes shipping! I just finished reading both and LOVED them! Leave me a comment if you are interested!

A Night At The Oscars

2010-03-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Some of my not-so favorites...

Charlize! the double-sided tape goes on the INSIDE of the dress! Where does it begin and end? Too much going on for me

Looks too much like a maternity dress. Show off your waist, woman!

Some of my favorite dresses of the evening...

Tres elegant

This cougar's got it goin' on!

Loving the neutral blush colors

Which was your favorite?

15th Anniversary of Disneyland's Indiana Jones Ride

2010-03-03T11:06:00.001-08:00

Today is the 15th anniversary of what I and my teenage son think is the best ride at Disneyland. Indiana Jones and The Temple of The Forbidden Eye debuted back in 1995. I was at Disneyland just weeks before the grand opening of this thrill ride. I was there taking my then one year-old baby boy on his first visit to Disneyland. I will never forget it. The last time we were on this ride we had a bit of an unusual experience. The Indie ride is a series of twists and turns inside of the temple. There is danger at every turn. The jeep "breaks down" in the darkness at one point and struggles to start up again as part of the experience. Well, for some strange reason, the "oh-oh" factor lasted way too long and the jeep would not "start up" again. I know this ride like the back of my hand and I started to panic. Being the pessimist I am, I thought for sure the next jeep would come crashing into us from behind. Luckily it finally started up only to breakdown again while Indiana Jones was hanging right above us and telling us to "hold on and turn right!" or something. This is the part when the big concrete ball comes at you ready to pulverize you and your fellow jeepsters. The Indiana Jones ride has had its ups and downs and often closes due to "technical difficulties". It was just the creepiest Indiana Jones experience we have ever had but I must look at the bright side.... At least I didn't get groped!

Birthday Bling

2010-03-02T22:07:00.000-08:00

A birthday gift from my mom I will be announcing the winner of the Rachael Ray cookbook tomorrow! Who knows? It may be YOU!

Happy Birthday To Me...Giveaway!

2010-02-22T12:21:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday today and to celebrate, I'm giving away my copy of Rachael Ray's first cookbook! Hooray! It's not the one in the picture(Google images apparantly doesn't have it) but it looks similar to that one.

For a chance at this lovely recipe book, just leave a comment. For 2 chances, become a follower of Vino Bodega! That's it! Giveaway ends Sunday February 28th, 10 pm Disneyland time. Good luck!

An Oldie But A Goodie

2010-02-16T11:15:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite everyday wines, both red and white, comes from Argentina. I thought I'd seen the last of Fuerza until I took a trip to Trader Joe's on Valentine's Day. I was excited to see my old friend, the 2007 Fuerza Blancos, a light and refreshing white wine made from the Torrentes grape. A couple of rows above that, to my heart's delight, I found the Blancos redheaded sister, the Fuerza Malbec. I really liked the '08 but had to try the '09 and I am happy to report that it is just as fruity and delicious as its predecessor. Maybe a little raisin-y(for lack of a better word) but no after-taste and still good. You can't beat the price! At only $4.99 a bottle, the Fuerza Malbec makes for a great everyday red and the Blancos is one to savor on those warm and sunny days...like today. Cheers!

...The Neverending Glass O' Wine

2010-02-09T18:27:00.000-08:00

Boys Are So Silly

2010-01-25T15:44:00.000-08:00

My son called me into his room to show me this on his bed...

he said it was his version of this... Wouldn't George Lucas be proud ; )

It's All In The Disney Details

2010-01-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

These are pictures I took of the seating area in the Hollywood Backlot section of Disney's California Adventure I love how they took broken tiles, dishes, mugs, forks, spoons and other trinkets and used them to create these beautiful collages Above is the Avalon Casino located on Catalina Island Inspired by wine and music and flying saucers?

California fruits and Jell-O

I can stare at them all day.

Have a great weekend!

A Cut Above The Rest...The 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade

2010-01-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all! Did any of you watch the Rose Parade? I watch it every year from the warmth and comfort of my family room couch. Have I ever slept on the freezing cold sidewalks of Colorado Blvd just to get a frist-hand look at the Rose Parade? Yes, I have. Once. It was back in the '80's and never again.

Nowadays, I watch it mostly just to to see my city's float. Yes, my little town is one of only a handful that raise the 40K or more to design and build a float. This year was extra special because my city won the Mayor's Trophy and it is well deserved. This year's float honored the Tuskegee Airmen who were definately a cut above the rest. They were the first black airmen to proudly serve our country during World War II.

I swelled up with pride (or was it all the cookies and tamales I was eating, ok, ok, all three) as I watched the "City of West Covina-Mayor's Trophy" flash across my television screen. No, Beverly Hills doesn't sponsor a float, Laguna Hills doesn't have a float! Neither does Hollywood but my little city does! I suppose the Rose Parade is more of a Pasadena and surrounding area-thing rather than a Los Angeles-thing but it is probably(next to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) the most popular parade in the world. I am also fortunate enough to have "MY" float delivered to my doorstep, well, not exactly my doorstep but close enough. The float slowly travelled all day Sunday through the back streets of the San Gabriel Valley to arrive 5 hours later at a local shopping center parking lot. The city made a 3-day event out of it so I dragged the kiddies down to see the float and enjoy all of the festivites. I hope my kids will always appreciate all of the endless hard work and dedication this small group of West Covinians puts forth for them and all of the residents. A big thank you from us! See you next year! Kimmie with her keepsake rose and the very handsome Tuskegee Airmen

Lady Diana...And You Thought I was Talking About the Princess

2009-12-31T11:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year's Eve to all! What a better way to celebrate the new year than with a traditional glass of bubbly...with a twist. Princess Diana's favorite drink was a glass of champagne with a strawberry or two dropped inside. Since it was her fave, they (the booze powers that be) decided to name this simple drink the Lady Diana. What's kinda messed up though is what they decided to name another version of this drink. You can also "muddle" the strawberry or smash it up in the glass then pour the champagne in. This is called the Bloody Diana. The name sucks but it sounds delicious! However, in honor of 2010, let's all grab a champagne flute, pour some Veuve Clicquot, White Star or whatever sparkling wine is your favorite and drop a fresh, plump strawberry in it and drink to a healthy, happy and fabulous New Year!

The Pointsettia...and You Thought I Was Talking About The Flower

2009-12-26T17:54:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been away forever but now I'm back! Hope everyone had a great Christmas. I've been hosting parties at my house all week and I am dead tired. Now, it's time for a cocktail... Grab yourself a champagne glass or a flute, a chilled bottle of champagne or any other sparkling wine, just as long as it's not dry or extra dry . Now go into the fridge and grab the kid's cranberry juice. Pour equal parts booze and juice into the flute and Voila!....The Pointsettia!

Recipe compliments of Tipsy the Sideways Snowman.

Getting In The Spirit of Christmas at The Mission Inn

2009-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

I spent my Sunday evening at this historic landmark in Riverside, CA

This magical place is like a european castle in the middle of nowhere Every year at this time they have the Festival of Lights. We brought Grandma with us this yearI stayed here overnight for my birthday a couple of years ago. See the top floor windows? The one on the right was our room. Pretty lit walkway They even decorate the balconies

Check out the creepy elf eyeballing us

Lights everywhere!

Even on the palm trees...very cool

Even cooler... This is where we had dinner. I love this pic.

Carriage rides for the Cinderella in you

Stunning architecture

The Grand entrance

I wonder what the electric bill is

Tipsy The Sideways Snowman...

2009-12-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

Tipsy stopped by my house(uninvited) a few days ago. He immediately made his way over to the Holiday Cheer (bar) area of my house. He mixed up a few of his seasonal favorites and I must say, Tipsy is quite the Mixologist. Tipsy and I had a grand old time. It was getting late and the heater was on and Tipsy started to stain the rug so he bid me farewell. He left me with some drink recipes that are sure to put the Fa back in your La, jingle your bells (all the way) and Deck your Halls or those of your uninvited guests. So check back this week for some of Tipsy's Holiday Classics and spread some Christmas cheer of your own!

Warning us to Be Good while he spreads "Holiday Cheer" along the way.

Giveaway Winner!

2009-12-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Roc Correxion Night Cream is( insert drumroll here)...Teresa from Too Many Heartbeats!!! Yay! Not only will you receive a full-size tube of this wrinkle fighter but you will also receive, not one but three coupons for $3 off any Roc Skincare Product!!! Share with friends and family or keep them all to yourself! Either way you are on your way to looking like this again!...

Oh, wait, that's me... My bad!

Roc Retinol Correxion Night Cream Giveaway!

2009-12-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

The nice people at BzzAgent sent me a few full-size containers of this new deep wrinkle correxion night cream. I've read about Roc products in several magazines and how great they are for the price. This one retails for $21.99. Since I have a few, ahem, crows feet that need obliterating, I jumped on the band wagon.

I found this on their website and was amazed at the difference. They promise to take at least 10 years off your face! I'm looking forward to trying it and love that it's oil-free and it won't clog my pores or make me break-out.

Maybe I'll look like this again in 12 weeks!

Now it's your turn! Want a 1 oz. tube of your own for free? And a $3 coupon on a future purchase of ANY of Roc's skincare products? Leave me a comment for a chance to win ! Not a follower? Become one for a second chance. Enter by Monday, December 7th, 10pm Disneyland time. Good luck!

Tango With A Chair...On Ice

2009-12-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

Sounds like an interesting drink doesn't it? Well, it's actually a cool video my college roommate sent me. I wish I could have as much fun with a chair and laundry!. Check it out.

The Thanksgiving-Tini

2009-11-23T15:10:00.001-08:00

The holidays gettin' you down? Is your to-do list longer than a roll of toilet paper? Well, here's something to put the gravy back on your mashed potatoes this ThanksgivingSay hello to my little friends...Jagermeister (a German concoction that is a great addition to any home bar, closet or glove compartment), Baileys, the good ol' martini shaker and a shot of half and half.First you MUST chill your martini glass by adding ice and water to it. While your glass sits and chills for a bit, pour equal parts Jagermeister and Baileys to a shaker full of ice, add a shot or two of half and half or whole milk and shake your booty for a few seconds. While you're doing the shakety-shake, dump the ice out of the glass(make sure you're aiming it at someone you don't like). Voila! This is what you get...frosty perfection!

Pour the mixture into the glass and sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon and you've got Thanksgiving in a glass! Cheers!

Wondering How to Celebrate The Season?

2009-11-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

Why not throw a RETRO COCKTAIL PARTY!

That would be so boss!

Serve up some Martinis in these cute glasses. Shaken not stirred, please!

Sashay across the room passing around some delicious hors d'oeuvres on this darling platter

Be the Hostess with the Mostess beautiful dress in the room!

The Retro Cocktail Party- Part Deaux continues Monday so don't miss it!

Martini glasses and platter available at Martiniart.com

Cocktails and Heartburn

2009-11-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

The study of Mixology has been a very interesting endeavor, that is for sure. I'm enjoying every minute of it. Most of the drinks I'm learning to create, I've never tried so the other day I decided to make a Fuzzy Navel. Wow, what a delicious drink! My compliments to the Peach Schnapps people! However...

I woke up that night with what I thought was either a heart attack or anxiety attack. I've never had either but I was doing some crazy self-diagnosing. After all, I only had half of that Fuzzy Navel but the feeling was sooo weird and unusual, I thought it was curtains for me.

I started praying to God, making crazy promises and everything. "Oh sweet Jesus, I know it's been a while but please, have mercy on me and make it go away...What do you mean, 'who is this?' ANYWAYS, I promise I will NEVER drink again...I promise I will go to church!" Yeah, right. Well, the Lord Almighty answered my prayers in the form of a glass of milk, yes, milk. Cured me just like that (snap!). I woke up Hubby and he said it was heartburn or indigestion...so that explains the burning in my ears! Sheesh.

This experience made me think...What happened to the good ol' days of yore when I would go out with friends and drink Rum & Coke like there was no tomorrow? We would frequent clubs and order Long Island Ice Teas, which contain 5, count 'em, 5! of the lesser quality liquors and NO tea whatsoever, and drink them like they were going out of style and not feel like crap!. Remember those glorious days? They are Looooong gone for moi! I'll be drinking warm milk from here on out...just call me Grandma. Hmm, maybe not.

The Holidays Are A Time For Family????

2009-11-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been insulted? I'm not talking about a little remark here, or a comment there that may or may not have been intended for you. I'm talking about a straight-on, no holds barred insult made directly to your face for no good reason. A direct hit aimed right at you. Well I have, and on my birthday no less! After an evening of celebrating, Hubby and I along with my sister-in-law and former brother-in-law stopped at a Denny's. I was enjoying my decaf when out of nowhere, my BIL tells me that my hair looks bad, that I don't look good as a blond and that it looks fake! My SIL followed that by saying they CAN tell me these things because they are DRUNK! Now if that isn't CLASS then I don't know what is!...just omit the C and the L, of course.

Happy Hour Hostess

2009-11-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I've been MIA the past week because I went back to school. Yes, that's right, school! I am on my way to becoming a certified "MIXOLOGIST "! I know what you're thinkin'...what the heck is a MIXOLOGIST anyway? For those of you who havn't figured it out, it's a title I have bestowed upon myself, a rank I am working so very hard to achieve! Only a chosen few (hundred thousand) can actually have the title. That title being....Bartender.

I am not fond of the label bartender (I don't know why but I just don't like it) so I have re-named it "MIXOLOGIST" for my own selfish purposes. I must add "certified" to this title because I will (in the next one to two weeks) have in my vermeuth-covered hands, a, what I call, DRINKPLOMA! I will gladly display it on my walls alongside the other ones. Won't Mom be proud! I can then get a job at such establishments as the lively Rumba Room (pictured above) at Universal Studios in Hollywood! Dancing, music and live entertainment? I'm sooo there!

Or the kooky Tiki-Ti Polenesian Bar(circa 1961) on Sunset!

Ok, so maybe my wine knowldege won't be put to use at a dive bar so perhaps Bar 1912 at the Beverly Hills Hotel will hire me!

Hey, If all else fails, I can always get a work visa and lightspeed it over to the Cantina. Interested?Check out Nationl Bartenders School here

Wine Quotes From Shakespeare

2009-11-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

My son Bubba is once again involved in his school's drama program. This semester, the students will be performing Shakespeare's The Tempest. Bubba has been "promoted" to Assistant Director and has also written a Prequel to The Tempest entitled The Gale. Bubba has worked day and night on his prequel and is amazed everyday at seeing his work slowly coming to life. As his mom, not only am I proud, I am grateful to God that he has found his passion at such a young age. Some of us, like me, still have not found that one thing that lights our fire. It is not because we havn't looked but maybe because we are afraid. Maybe we are afraid of failing, afraid of how it will affect our loved ones , afraid of looking foolish and so on and so on. There are a million and one excuses I can think of. Have you found your passion? What is it and how did you know this was IT? Tell us about it. Now back to my original idea for this post!...

"Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used"-

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)Othello, II. iii. (315)

"Good wine needs no bush." -

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) from As You Like It, Epilogue. "A man cannot make him laugh - but that's no marvel; he drinks no wine"- William Shakespeare from Henry IV Part 2 "O thou invisible spirit of wine! if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!"- William Shakespeare from Othello [1604 - 1605], act II, sc. iii, l. 285

Little Red Riding Hood Never Looked So Cute

2009-11-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

My baby girl dressed up as LRRH on Halloween. Ain't she cute!She looks so grown up... But doesn't act like it!...And neither do I

Looking For a Last Minute Halloween Costume?

2009-10-30T21:01:00.001-07:00

Nice, uh, Pumpkins? Remember the Mayor of McDonaldland? And you thought Disneyland was the ONLY land More fast food get-ups for your furry friend

I can't stop staring at this one This one is priceless. This kid will never be the same

I get cramps when I look at this one

Halloween Hors Devourers (because I can't spell)

2009-10-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yummy treats for your guests, all from Sam's Club. Bacon-wrapped filet mignon bites are good and priced at only $10. Who doesn't love a good cheese, especially a creamy brie from France. Ooh La La! and it's less than $7. Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet is usually a yummy wine but not this time. I paid $17 for this bottle only to have it be a bit of a disappointment. Now I'm on the lookout for a juicy white wine to take to a party on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Pumpkins as Far as the Eye Can See

2009-10-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the beautiful and blustery afternoon Here.

It's located at the California State University just about a 10 minute drive from my house. Pumpkins galore!

Pumpkins in all shapes and sizes This one looks like it's in need of a little blue pill, if you know what I mean

This one looks like a scull or a chili pepper

This lady even brought a shopping cart. Now thats a serious Pumpkin Patch-Goer Wall to wall pumpkins

Pumpkin-pickin' Hubby

Pondering the Pumpkins

And then we drove home. See the little cluster of buildings in the distance? That's downtown Los Angeles

Having Some Pre-Halloween Fun with Make-Up

2009-10-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening my daughter Kimmie and I played around with make-up.

We used a palette of bright rainbow colors(88 color palette by Coastal Scents) befitting a Princess. I extended her eyeshadow out into the great beyond, drew in a few hearts and swirls with eyeliner, flushed her cheeks with my MAC blush in Fleur and came up with this "Overly Made-Up Princess" look. Note the tilted tiara and the messy hairdo.

Hmmm...I suppose this look can also be called the "Just Rolled Outta Bed, Princess?" look. Or "The Sassy Princess Visits the Barrio" Look

Or the "Just plain Scary Princess" look I think I prefer the "Au Naturelle Sleeping beauty" look the best.

What are all of YOU dressing up as?

Face Your Fear of Anchovies

2009-10-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Are you afraid of eating anchovies? I was, that is, until Rachael Ray convinced me to tackle my fear head on. She promised it would be ok, that I would be ok. So...

First I dumped the slimy little things into a pan of olive oil and minced garlic (from the jar)

I also added fresh-ground pepper and red pepper flakes for a kick

After a few minutes, this was what was left!! Just as Rachael had promised! The fishies had completely disappeared leaving the best behind

I added it to some linguine and Viola!...Dinner is served and with no fishy taste!! Thank you Rachael!

Not Afraid To Be Freaky Halloween Make-Up Looks by MAC

2009-10-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is really cool. check it out.

Baby Your Wine

2009-10-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the look out for cool wine gadgets. I found this one on my AdSense widget and couldn't resist clicking on it. The name caught my eye. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the "Wine Diaper"...

The website boasts: "Pamper your wine and protect it when you travel". My opinion? Save the money and just grab the Huggies from your kiddie's bag along with some tape and wrap your precious Jesus Juice yourself.

Aloha Friday Question of the Day...Hiding Something, Are Ya?

2009-10-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Aloha Fridays: where you ask a simple question, give a simple answer, link it up at An Island Life, and do a little blog hopping.

Today's Question is...Are you keeping a secret from anyone right now???

A Day At The Los Angeles County Fair

2009-10-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I spent the day at the L.A. County Fair last week.

We ate a little of this...

Drank a little of that...

We played with the animals...

Got a henna tat... Played dress up

And then Drank a little more...'til next year

In-Flight Safety Instructions Never Looked Like This

2009-09-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Check out this video from Air New Zealand

Celebrating Autumn Snuggie Style

2009-09-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

It's not exactly Autumn in Southern Clifornia but the evenings are beginning to get a wee bit chilly. That means it's Snuggie Season! So Let's curl up on the couch in our Snuggies with a glass of red wine in one hand, the remote in the other and turn on the boob tube...

Hey! The Today show is on. The Hosts sure look happy! Why? Because they're keeping toasty warm in their new Snuggies.

Let's change the channel...look, the game is on and what a better way to show off your college football team spirit! Sorry but USC Trojans is not available...boo, hoo (yes, I checked)

And for the more sophisticated member of the family, there's the leopard print Snuggie. The fashion-forward glamour queen (the uncle no-one talks about or the aunt that's working on her 5th marriage) can enjoy his or her favorite romance novel in the warmth and comfort that is the Snuggie... and look Fab while doing it. Meow.....!

VGNO Forecast: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

2009-09-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Happy VGNO everyone! Join the party over at ANN AGAIN And AGAIN and link up. Just got back from watching Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs. What an amazing movie. Take the Kiddos to see it in all its IMAX 3D glory. It's eye candy to say the least!

Painting The Town Red

2009-09-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

...Well, the family room at least and maybe not so red as Rusty Red. It reminds me of a luscious glass of red wine on a cool Autumn evening.

Check out my Hottie of a painter, aka Hubby. Back away ladies! This sexy beast is AAALLL mine! (LOL)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

My yet-to-be-named dog is headed for the dog house

So much for my plant!

Wine-O The Day

2009-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Today's featured wine is a lovely Riesling by Dr. Willkomms called Blue River from the Mosel area of Germany. It's only slightly sweet, or as snobby winos say, off-dry. It definitely won't give you cavities but it's got just enough sweetness for those of you who prefer sweeter wines. The alcohol content is only 9.5% allowing one to enjoy subsequent glasses without the headache. I picked up my first bottle at Sam's Club for less than $8 and enjoyed it so much, I picked up four more on my next trip. The bottle is pretty too! It's frosted with a lovely drawing of a Mosel River that winds through the steep German hillsides. As my daughter would say, it looks like a bottle of Grey Goose. I suppose the wino in me has rubbed off on her.

Today's high is going to be over 100 degrees! So it's still summer here in the 'burbs of Los Angeles making it perfect weather for enjoying a cool glass of this delicious wine. Cheers!

May The Force Be With You

2009-09-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Lightsaber optional

Fire and Wine

2009-09-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's hot and smokey and I can't stand it. It's 38% contianed yet it's heading east toward me, which only means more smoke, ash and discomfort. They don't expect to have it completely contained until September 15th. Last night our local news featured a man who lost his house to the fire. He was , however, able to save his wine collection by placing the bottles in his pool. He had to dive into the trash-ridden, filthy pool to retrieve them. Now that's a man with his priorities in check!!! It really sucks to be living in Southern California right now. Check out this time lapse video of the Station Fire at Sunset.

I Thought It Was Tuesday Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Check out the stranger kid who made his way into my picture

Happy Virtual Girl's Night Out-The Mighty Four

2009-08-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Our Hostess Ann is at it again (and again). This week we are celebrating with a "Back to School" theme with an appropriately titled cocktail to go along with the festivites so get your driniking caps on and join the class!

My daughter Kimmie will be starting 6th grade on Tuesday and to tell you the truth, I will miss her! You won't see me doing the dance of joy at Office Depot. She really is a great kid.

That reminds me, Kimmie's teachers have had pretty interesting names the past few years. Last year's teacher was Jennifer Lopez and this year's teacher is named Jenna James (isn't that the name of a certain, ahem, actress?) Yikes!

Let's drink our lunch, shall we...

Teacher's Pet Ingredients: 1 oz Scotch 1 oz coffee liqueur milk or cream Preparation: Pour the Scotch and coffee liqueur in an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Fill with milk or cream. Shake by placing a mixing tin over the glass and giving it one or two good shakes. Time For A Party Game! "The Mighty Four"

Four places I go over and over:

1. Target (I have my own cart with my name engraved on the handle) 2. Sam's and Costco (where I buy lots of wine at the cheapest prices) 3. Disneyland Resort(because it really is the happiest place on Earth! except in 102 degree weather like today!) 4. Damien High School ( where my son Bubba goes to school-it's 108 degrees there!)

Four places I would rather be:

1. Anywhere cooler than here, USA 2. Napa or Temecula, CA 3. London 4. Paris

Four things I have for breakfast (not all at once):

1. Coffee 2. More Coffee 3. Even More Coffee 4. Toast

sorry for the jumbled paragrahs. Blogger doesn't always allow me to place spaces between paragraphs or sentences for some reason. I hope all you Moms had a great summer with the kiddies and I hope they have a smooth transition back

Summer is The Time for Re-Runs

2009-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Back in April I blogged about this interesting wine gadeget called the Vinturi. Here's what I wrote... I discovered a little gadget on my recent trip to San Diego. It's called a Wine Aerator. Using this little doodad allows you to enjoy your glass of wine in an instant. Simply pour the wine through this plastic thingy into your glass and voila! it's ready!. There's no need to wait 10 minutes for your vino to breathe and open up.

I tried it during a tasting but I actually continued to let my wine sit for a while and even swirled it more(I'm the Swirl Queen). I find that the longer a wine sits in the glass, the better. The wine continues to evolve and therefore your wine takes on diferent qualities that, in my opinion, make your wine experience that much more interesting and enjoyable. So if you are in a hurry or just like cool little gadgets, the Vinturi Wine Aerator is for you! But if you are the laid-back type and don't like to rush your wine, don't bother spending the $40.

Happy Anniversary To Us At The Vineyards

2009-08-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

BTW, Hubby was my Knight in Shining Armor and saved the day by slaying the evil serpent (the harmless snake in the driveway). Thank you Hubby! He was kind enough to take me wine tasting today in the Temecula Valley Wine Country here in Southern Cal. He did it as a preamble to our 17th(yes, we were two crazy kids! what were we thinking!???) wedding anniversary extravaganza. We deviated from our usual course and visited the smaller, boutique wineries rather than the larger producers in the area. We drove a little out of the way but it was worth it. The rolling vineyards provided the sensation of a secluded area catering just to us. The wines were more eclectic varying from the fruity sweetness comparable to a treat from Willie Wonka all the way to a wine with the bravado of a bacon and mushroom bisque.

Here I am cradling a grape bunch just a few weeks before harvest.

Tasting in a bona fide barrel room.

View from a winery farmhouse

No truer words have ever been written

We concluded our lovely trip by stopping by the outlet stores and buying our son Bubba a pair of Vans. Turns out, the shoes were for women. Moral of the story? Don't make any major purchases whilst under the slightest bit of "influence". You will never hear the end of it!

An Unwelcome Visitor

2009-08-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Imagine the horror when I found this in my driveway a few days ago. Have you had any unwelcome or frightening critters visit you lately? It's Aloha Friday so click on the button below, join in the fun and link up!

Coach Purse For Sale-Auction Style

2009-08-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

My daughter Kimmie is auctioning off this cute, authentic COACH purse. It was given to her by her grandma but never used it. It's in perfect condition and has a beige leather bottom, leather arm strap, tassle and trademark leather "COACH" charm. The striped fabric has a satiny finish.

The funds will go to help pay for her trip to the Catalina Island Marine Institute. Kimmie will get to travel to Catalina Island, a small island an hour off the coast of California, and study at the institute for 4 days along with her 6th grade class. As you can imagine, it is a wonderful yet expensive trip so we are auctioning off some great stuff to help pay for it.

The auction will start at $45. Please make your bids in $2 increments. Please email me or leave a comment with your questions. Thanks so much!

Happy Virtual Girl's Night Out- 80's Style

2009-08-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

All of us 80's brat packers are sort of feeling nostalgic these days with the recent death of the genius who brought to light our teenage angst with such movies as Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club and so on. The picture below is of my big brother and I getting our drink on back in the day. No, we were not "of age" but I don't really know what we were drinking to tell you the truth. Could've been Hawaiian Punch for all I know(yeah, right). But check out all the Coronas in the background!

Our lovely hostess Ann is at it again and again with her party game. So here is my response...On a side note, I don't think I ever wore an argyle sweater or hung out at the arcade.

Dear Diary,

My best friend TIFFANY and I went shopping for AN ARGYLE SWEATER. We wanted to show them off when we went to hang out at the ARCADE. You won't BELIEVE who we saw at the mall. MEL GIBSON! We screamed so loud they had to call Security. It was the best day ever!

My Summer Essentials

2009-08-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here's my list of Can't-Live-Without Summer Stuff...

Plastic Wine Glass for Poolside Use In One of My Favorite Colors... (I don't actually have one but I wish I did)

And Something to Pour Into This Lovely Glass...Fuerza Blancos from Argentina. It's light, cool, refreshing and perfect for Summer. It's only $4 at your local Trader Joes. Delish!

A pair of sunglasses. The bigger the lenses, the better (no need to flaunt the crowsfeet)

Finally, no summer is complete without a visit from Paco The Poolboy...

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

2009-08-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

The One With the Biggest Pair Wins!

A Day at the Theme Park, No Not That One!

2009-08-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day here. This is usually #2 on your list of places to visit on your trip to sunny Southern California. Disneyland is #1 of course.

We munched on boysenberry funnel cake

Took a ride on the bumper cars

we paid our respects at Boot Hill

I wasn't crazy enough to ride this wooden bad boy ! Hubby accompanied the kids and is now traumatized for life!

We took a ride on this authentic steam engine train that was hijacked by outlaws

We took family pictures Finally, we enjoyed a great dinner of fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and boysenberry pie. Yum!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2009-08-05T11:09:00.001-07:00

Yet Another Blog And Happy VGNO

2009-07-31T14:18:00.001-07:00

We love our kids don't we? We'll do just about anything to make their little hearts jump with joy, right? Well, my daughter Kimmie wanted a blog, that's right, a big fluffy blog of her very own! where she could write about things SHE likes, in other words, non-alcohol related topics, so we created... drum roll please....Gwynn's Garden...A place to chat about girlie stuff like clothes, hair, make-up and yes, shoes. I just hope she bathes it and feeds it on a regular basis! That's where I come in!

What can you find at Gwynn's Garden? Something for both the young and the young at heart. Practical tips, Reviews, reviews and more reviews and maybe even a tutorial or two(yikes! fetch my Botox, stat!). We havn't worked out all the details yet but I'm looking forward to working on this with my baby girl, sniff, sniff and teary-eyed.

I know what your asking(I'm psychic, ya know)...But what about Vino Bodega, fool??!! Put your mind at ease my fellow conisseurs... but of course I will continue with my Winey ways here at VB! I'm not going anywhere!

Check out the first couple of posts HERE and give us your feedback! What would you like to see in a beauty blog?

Champagne Isn't Just For Drinking Anymore!

2009-07-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

I found this tutorial on YouTube. The champagne would never make it to my face! By the way, the "thingy" is called the metal CAGE.

Greetings From Pasadena

2009-07-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA the past few days because I'm still recovering from a long weekend with friends and family. Saturday we decided to stay the night in Pasadena. I know what you're thinking...Why spend the night in Pasadena if you live only a 15 minute drive from there?. Well, first of all, I just needed a little getaway, sort of like a mental-health weekend. I also grew up in the Pasadena area. Both my kids are native Pasadenians so it was a homecoming of sorts. It really is a great town with its world famous Rose Parade, museums, shopping, dining and wine bars galore.

I got a great deal on Hotwire at this 4 star hotel....The Westin in Pasadena. It is a beautiful hotel with very comfy beds! I paid only $95 a night. I saved $54 compared to Hotels.com and Expedia. It's worth checking out, especially if you don't need to know the name of the hotel until you book it.

Check out the spandex-clad woman in the Fitness Center pic at the bottom, right corner. Too funny!

Now that I'm all rested and my mind is back in working order...um, yeah, um... where was I going with this?

Virtual Girl's Night Out-Time To 'Fess Up

2009-07-24T16:35:00.000-07:00

Happy VGNO to you all! Hope you are enjoying your summer! Our hostess for this eveving, Ann from Ann Again and Again is at it again, and again with a cool party game. Pay a visit to her blog and link up. Take the title of the blog ahead of you and either write a sentence or a short story or whatever pops into your head. I'm just glad Fire Crotch Rocket wasn't ahead of me in line!

Mine couldn't be more inapproriate because everyone knows I'm THEE perfect parent! No, not really...

Coming Clean...Confessions of an Imperfect Parent. Time to fess up! Just a couple of days ago I bought a great bottle of wine ( I promise to blog about it soon!). This particular wine comes in a very cool looking bottle. It's partly frosted with pictures of a river...Just looking at it makes you want to chug it down. I was describing it to Hubby when my 11 year old chimed in and said: "It looks just like a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka"...Now how does this child know what a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka is, let alone what it looks like? I suppose my wine and spirits-ey ways have rubbed off on her. She can look forward to being known as the booze know-it-all, the go-to girl for cocktails, the official Beer guru of her college dorm...I'm a bad, bad Mommy!

Blog Hop'09

2009-07-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, your sitting at home instead of partying at the Blogher convention in beautiful Chicago. There is, however, a big blog hop party going on for all of us! So get comfy and get all the details at Musings of a Housewife.

I'm a wife and mom living in sunny Southern California who loves all things wine and Disneyland. Those two worlds collided when I became a Cast Member and Wine Ambassador at Disney's California Adventure. So just sit back, pour yourself a glass of your favorite wine and take a look around. Oh, and I almost forgot! Feel free to become a "Fellow Wineaux".

Thanks for stopping by!

Writer's Workshop-Tournament of Roses Edition

2009-07-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Mama Kat is at it again with her weekly Writer's Workshop. This week's assignment is making me draw a big ol' blank!...Hope you have better luck. Directions according to Mama Kat: Answer as many prompts as you'd like to the best of your ability then go to Mamas Losin It and link up! The Prompt I Chose is: If you had the time and money...what charity would you help raise awareness for?

The charity I would support again would be my city's Tournament of Roses Parade Float Foundation. They not only raise money to design and build the float for The world famous parade, they also raise money for college scholarships. Awesome! One of the cool things this organization does is give their supporters a seat on the float! I can totally see myself waving to the crowd as we roll down Colorado Blvd. and blowing kisses to you all on New Years Day! Muuuuah!

Wordless Wino Wednesday-May The Force Be With You

2009-07-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

This picture pretty much sums up my life at the moment.

visit Seven Clown Circus and 5 Minutes For Mom for more great Wordless Wednesday Pictures

Close Encounters with the Rich and Famous

2009-07-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, there aren't many advantages to living in sunny Southern California, what with the budget crisis, earthquakes, high sales tax, heat wave and what not. Since I was born and raised here, I like to think that there's still a couple of perks to living in the City of Angels (or there abouts) like the occasional run-in with a celebrity. Yes, my winey friends, even in my suburban neck of the woods, I've spotted a film crew or two or three in recent years and if you count Zac Efron stopping by to take a dump and buy candy at the corner gas station off of the San Bernardino freeway near my house, its the place to be for some major star-gazing... which brings me to my lovely niece. A few years ago, my niece went to the park in her upscale suburban town located just east of downtown LA. It was a warm summer day and a certain actress/singer/dancer/fashion mogul was filming her new movie Monster In Law. This quadruple threat is apparently very friendly, especially to children so my niece and yes, you guessed it! Jennifer Lopez said hello and chatted a bit in between takes. After having such a cool experience, you would think that my lovely little niece would learn to carry a camera with her everywhere she goes from that moment on. Well...

Fast forward a couple years. My niece, my daughter Kimmie and I went to Disneyland (what else is new). The parade on Main Street was in full swing and we were trying to get to the ice cream shop (not Gibson girl, the other one by the lockers) We stopped for a few minutes to check out the parade when a "dumb-ass" decide to stop not two feet right in front of me and completely blocked my view . I quickly realized that "dumb-ass" with the big bright blue eyes was none other than NICHOLAS CAGE! (and his tiny baby in a stroller). The two ding-dongs next to me (daughter and niece) had no clue to the happenings around them, which was a-okay with me. I just took it all in, by myself. Until Mrs. Skinny Bitch Cage came round the corner. I must say, however, Nick looked painfully thin but much more better looking in person and what a tan!. I, being the resourceful one in the family, had a camera with me but I didn't want to make a fuss because he was with the baby. It didn't stop one crazy star-struck woman however!!!

A few months ago, said niece had an interview(yes you read that right) for a swanky all-girls high school in Pasadena. The evening of her interview, my niece and her parents drove to this shi-shi school a tad early and therefore were asked to wait. They were seated in a passage way and noticed that a film crew was shooting around the grounds. What happened next you ask? Only every girl's, woman's, cougar's dream!!! Who approached my young niece while he awaited a scene? Well... none other than a certain "pale one"!!!!! Yes, fellow wineauxs, Edward Cullen himself, in the cold, hard, marble-esque flesh! He was sitting around, waiting and just decided to mozey on over and chit chat with my niece!!. Can you believe she had Edward Cullen all to her little self...Let me repeat, SHE HAD EDWARD CULLEN ALL TO HERSELF!!!!!!!!!!! albeit, with parental supervision, but still, ALL TO HERSELF! The camera? No where to be found. Cell phone? no where in sight.

Oh dear, dear niece, when will you learn? You obviously have the Midas Touch when it comes to being in the right place at the right time. Do yourself a favor and take note from your Auntie Rosie. Except for the bottle of wine, Always carry a camera with you with fresh batteries in it! or at least a fully charged cell phone, or both just to be on the safe side. Paper and pen would also come in handy as would a pair of handcuffs!

Ice Ice Baby

2009-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Remember this guy? Bzz Agent sent me an autographed 8x10 glossy of this one hit wonder as part of a new 7 Eleven Iced Coffee campaign. I Wonder where I should hang it . Next to the signed pic of Chewbacca, perhaps? Any ideas?

ThreeThings You Didn't Know About Me

2009-07-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

I'm baring my soul here, gosh I feel naked...

1. This isn't the first time I've worked at Disneyland. I worked there briefly in 2001. I was there when the California Adventure first opened. I hated, HA-TED every minute of it and quit after only 3 months. There, I've said it.

2. Contrary to popular belief, I don't drink EVERY day, although I probably should.

3. My next door neighbor's house looks like Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas, with gilded gates and everything. Only 3 people live there but there are 8 cars in the driveway. They have parties almost EVERY weekend which makes it difficult for yours truly to sleep! They have even had parties during working hours on a weekday! Which leads me to believe they have questionable employment. I hope I don't find a horse's head in my bed tomorrow morning!

Le Tour Eiffel

2009-07-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

All this talk about Julia Child and french cooking got me thinking about the magnificent Eiffel Tower. It is the tallest structure in all of France standing at over 1,000 feet. It took the French two years to build this beautiful building.

What a lovely view, and with a glass of wine, nothing can be better...

I've visited the Eiffel Tower twice in my life. My fondest memory was sending a postcard to my children from the Eiffel Tower Post Office. Have you ever visited the Eiffel Tower? What is your fondest memory?

Julie and Julia Movie

2009-07-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the trailer for the new movie JULIE AND JULIA? Amy Adams stars as a 30-something woman stuck in a life rut. She's a blogger, just like you and me, who decides to cook her way through Julia Child's, played by Meryl Streep, french cookbook. Both their lives come together in what looks to be a cute and inspiring story. I love cooking, wine, blogging and everything french so you can be sure I will be first in line to see this chick flick on August 7th. Bon Appetit!

I Live in a California Bubble

2009-07-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

Queenie Jeannie is asking everyone where they have visited in the United States. Turns out, I've only been to 8 states! Most states more than once but still that's not very many!. I've also stopped at a few airports but never visited the place. Does that count? I guess not. Today I'm going to make a bucket list and I'm putitng "Visit every state in the union" in the #1 spot!

visited 8 states (16%) Create your own visited map of The United States or vertaling nederlands duits?

VGNO Time!

2009-07-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our Virtual Girls Night Out Hostess Ann! Check out her blog, wish her a Happy Birthday, enter to win a giveaway and join the party HERE. Tonight, Ann is asking all of her bloggy friends what band we would have perform at our own birthday party. Well, for me it would be Jamiroquai, the best Acid Jazz band EVER...

I'd be sipping on a Cadillac Margarita as I watched them perform in my own backyard! COOL

And just because...

Covergirl Outlast Lipstain Coupons!

2009-07-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

One of my favortie things, besides wine of course, is MAKE-UP. I love me some make-up! So when I recently had the opportunity to join the new Covergirl campaign at BZZ AGENT, I jumped on it! They sent me the new Outlast Lipstain in Bit of Blossom. My lips are currently way too chapped so I used a model to demonstrate it below.

Above you can see the Lipstain in action. It's lightweight and really does look like it stains the lips. I applied it very lightly because otherwise, it would look way too harsh against my model's skin. It looked very natural, however, I took it a step further...

Here I applied a thin layer of a light pink lipgloss from NARS. It adds just a bit of gloss for a shiny look. The Lipstain itself looks a lot like a kid's marker.

I also received several coupons for a $1 off on the Lipstain in your choice of 10 colors. If you are interested, email me your shipping address and I will send you a coupon. Thanks to my lovely model and beautiful daughter Kimmie for her help.

A Quick and Delicious Dinner From the VB Kitchen

2009-07-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this Rachel Ray inspired meal that I prepared this evening. What a delicious dish and with an Asian flair too! All I did was chop up some chicken breast and red bell peppers and cooked them in some "EVOO". I tweaked the recipe here and there and seasoned it with salt, pepper and garlic. Once the chicken and peppers were cooked, I drizzled in some asian chili sauce, honey and chopped basil from the VB herb garden. I cooked up some Minute Rice, poured a couple glasses of the Barefoot Gold Medal-winning Pinot Grigio and Voila! A gourmet dinner was served. Quick, easy and healthy too!

Winner Winner Winner!

2009-07-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Gypsyfox! She is the Barefoot Wine grand prize winner chosen at random by Kimmie, my daughter and guest blogger extraordinaire. Gypsyfox says that her favorite way to pass the summer weekend nights is outside with a glass of wine, on her swing under the mesquite trees & stars. Sounds great to me!

Wordless Wino Wednesday

2009-07-08T08:47:00.001-07:00

Me and the Mouse at a Cast Member VoluntEARS expo "backstage" at The California Adventure. I'm dressed in my "costume" with the dreaded grape shirt and khaki pants that make me look like I'm hiding a few bottles underneath.

Stars and Stripes

2009-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Straight From The Golden Vine Wine Bar

2009-07-03T11:44:00.001-07:00

Just another delightful wine selection I discovered as a Wine Ambassador at Disney's California Adventure. According to the label, this is a lovely Moscato that can be enjoyed as an aperitif or an after dinner "quaffer". Huh? I don't know what a quaffer is exactly but this wine is very fruity and sweet and is best enjoyed outside in the sunshine. It is delicious and refreshing by the pool(as you watch Paco do his thing), in the garden and accompanied with a bowl of fruit and some cheese. Trust me on this one, if you are in the mood for a little something sweet this holiday weekend, this tasty wine is a must! It is produced and bottled in Paso Robles, CA (Central Coast) by Martin Weyrich and costs around $12 a bottle, and what a pretty bottle it is!. As usual, Email me if you have any questions about this or any other wine.

More Shoes? Yeah, But These Are Mine

2009-07-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

I often post about unusual shoes I find on the Internet but this time I thought I would show you several pairs from my own closet. By the way, these are my pasty white legs. Funny how they're still pale even though I brushed on some bronzer !

Love these with the warm browns and burgundy pattern by Madden Girl. Would you believe I've never worn them?

How about these suede 4-inchers from Carlos Santana. Have I worn these you ask? Nope!

Ooops! I almost fell while "modeling" these. They are the exact same pair as the ones in the first picture but in pinks and greys. Never worn these either.

Ahhhh! low and comfy with rubber soles for safety. I call these my granny shoes from Dressbarn. These are the only pair of the bunch that I've worn.

I know, I know...I should wear ALL of these shoes. I should throw on a cute outfit, have some fun with make up, slip on one of these fabulous pairs of shoes (other than the granny ones) and celebrate being a girly girl! Well, as a matter of fact, I have made up my mind to do so. You only live once so you might as well live it in style, YOUR style!

Thanks for checking out my little parade of shoes. There's more where that came from so stay tuned. I promise to sweep the floor next time!

Random Wednesday Debate With My Guest Blogger!

2009-06-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

Remember me, I'm Rosie's daughter,Kimmie. Sorry I am late ( I have summer school.) Anyway, this weeks Random Debate is.....

STAPLERS VS. APPLE JACKS CEREAL

I vote for Apple Jacks because....

1. I barely use a stapler.

2. You can't eat a stapler for breakfast.

But you can eat Apple Jacks. Your turn! What do you think?

Oh, and before I forget, last week's Random Debate cheese vs. toilet paper cheese was the winner. Congrats cheese lovers!

P.S. Don't forget to enter in my mom's Barefoot Wine giveaway here!

Monday Morning Wine Quotes

2009-06-28T22:59:00.000-07:00

"If you drink, don't drive, don't even putt"-Dean Martin

"Be careful to trust a person who does not like wine"-Karl Marx "Never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes. What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?" -W.C. Fields "Don't drink and drive, you might hit a bump and spill your drink"-Hubby

Summertime Fun Giveaway!

2009-06-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Summer is here! Yay!. If you look past the cloudy mornings and chilly evenings, it kinda looks like Summer is here in Southern California! I actually have my air conditioning on right now! Hooray! Anyhoo, Barefoot Wines and VB have bumped heads (all that wine, ya know) and giving away a Beach Bag chock full of great summertime swag! Get a load of this!...A tote bag, a beach towel, a wine bottle opener and an ultra cool stemless wine glass from Barefoot Wine! Ooooooooh! And no package, or summer for that matter, is complete without a bottle of Barefoot Wine from Vino Bodega! Ahhhhhhhh! Here's what ya gotta do to enter...

First of all YOU MUST BE 21 OR OLDER

1. check out Barefoot's new website at Barefoot Republic, sign up and come back and tell me your "Barefoot name". Mine is Rosie Toes! You'll find recipes, games, trivia and a whole community there! Tres cool!. (1 entry)

2. Comment on your ideal summertime activity. Mine is sipping a glass of vino, poolside of course, as Paco the Pool boy rubs my Barefeet! lol! (1 entry)

3. Become a follower of Vino Bodega or let me know if you already are. (2 entries)

4. Post about it and send me the link. (2 entries)

The giveaway is open to those with US addresses only and ends Friday July 3rd, 10 pm Disneyland time (PST). So come on! get your summertime drink on with Barefoot Wine! whataya waiting for!