Jul28

Dog Days of Summer

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I feel like it has been an eternity since I last posted on my blog. Oh how I have missed the chances to write and get my head cleared. Now summer is starting its slow descent into Fall, and I am actually looking forward to getting on a more regular schedule. Two kids under the age of 6 at home has made for some interesting days…and a lot of wine drinking!

As I look back on my summer and try to decide what I want to post about today, I have to say it is my kids. I truly felt the pressure and strain it takes to be a stay-at-home mom. And yet, I also experienced the joy and laughter. Motherhood is such a myriad of emotions and experiences. Each child brings about different circumstances, dramatizations, tribulations and triumphs. The kicker to all this is knowing that what I consider the hardest job in the world doesn’t even come with a pay-check or a 401K!

This post isn’t going to be extremely long only because I can hear my children in the other room trying to dismantle the T.V. remote because I have it on lock-down (the day is beautiful and they need to burn some energy off outside). I just want to wave the white flag out there to let people know that I surrender. I surrender to sticky popsicles on my favorite shirt, plastic golf balls caught inside my car’s exhaust pipe, skinned knees, broken bike chains, leaky swim diapers, fights over bedtime, poop on the carpet (not the dog’s-eek!), sunburns, ice cream mustaches and endless playtime in the pool. I surrender to being a “summer mom” who doesn’t have her you-know-what together, EVER.  Yet, somehow I still get those bedtime prayers in before collapsing in bed…oh wait, I still need a shower…only to get right back up.

For those of you who are moms, whether you are seasoned or just in the beginning stages, you should realize that nothing is ever going to be perfect again. Don’t get me wrong, it is a HARD realization to swallow at times. But it is okay because motherhood is all about bumps, bruises, mistakes and “ah-ha” moments—and that doesn’t even include what the kids go through! (This is the part where you should laugh! *wink*)

Being a GOOD mom is a true sacrifice. Mostly a sacrifice of personal time, but also a sacrifice of a part of who you are…that part before you had kids. Whether it was a bubbling career or whatever your thing was before the miniature ball-and-chain came out of you, motherhood is a sacrifice. Do I think it is worth it? Absolutely. Do I sometimes scream into my pillow while locking myself in the bathroom so “they” can’t find me? Pretty much every day. And yet, when I hear the “I love you mommy,” or “You are the awesomest mom alive,” it makes being this person I have morphed into a little easier to welcome home.

Hang in there moms, summer is winding down…and there is always Vodka to get you through (preferably Grey Goose or Titos)!

Until next time, cheers!

May22

“Amateurs” Reign Supreme

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When you look up the word “amateur,” the dictionary gives you several definitions. Two of those read as:   “a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity;” “a person who admires something; devotee; fan.” I consider myself an “amateur” of many things in this world. Wine just so happens to be one of them.

By calling myself an “amateur,” I am not putting on the table the notion that I know very little about wine. I am doing the opposite, in fact. Based on what I stated above, I may not be a professional in the world of wine, but I do know what I like and I still have much to learn.

I wanted to start this post off with a definition for two reasons. The first reason being that I love words. In an age of texting, e-mailing or “tweeting,” the beauty of the English language is often lost. Perhaps this is why I often find myself flipping through a dictionary, just scrolling the pages and reading definitions. I know that sounds crazy, but I have always done this since I was a kid, and I want to be sure my children have a decent vocabulary. The second reason comes from an article I read in the latest Wine Spectator magazine. The article is by Matt Kramer, a contributor to Wine Spectator for over 30 years, and hits home about why being an “amateur” matters so much when it comes to wine.

I have to digress for a brief moment. For anyone out there interested in learning about wine, or just interested in what wines to purchase, this magazine is great. My father (a true wine collector) loved Wine Spectator magazine; when I graduated from college and moved away, he paid for my first year’s subscription. Although I thought it was ludicrous at the time, today I am grateful for his judiciousness. This magazine is worth the yearly investment, and they also make for great coffee table reads.

Now back to the topic at hand, which is Kramer’s article. It really hit home when I read his piece because I often find myself in conversations with friends or family about wine. The things I hear most often from people are “I don’t know a thing about wine,” or they feel inadequate because they only like a certain kind of wine, thus making them unqualified in having an opinion. My response, much like what Kramer is saying in his article, is you don’t have to know all the ins and outs of wine to have an opinion. All you need to know is WHAT you like to drink and WHY you like to drink it.

One of the first things I often ask someone looking to me for a wine recommendation is what they like to taste when they pour a bottle. Is it fruit they want? Perhaps they enjoy a robust, earthy flavor. Or maybe they like a clean, crisp wine with hints of green apple or grapefruit. It isn’t the label or the cost that drives a person’s decision to buy a wine. It is the flavor that pleases their individual palate.

Kramer makes a golden observation that supports my opinion: “The most worthwhile wine judgment continues to rest with talented amateurs. More than any credential-holder I’ve ever met, talented amateurs have always been–and still are–the best judges of wine.” He goes on to explain what he means by “talented amateurs,” those individuals who love wine, or have taken some consideration into what kind of wine to buy, collect, drink. Kramer feels it is this group of people who really hold the key to being a connoisseur. Not because they research wine based on profit or a gold-key standard. This group looks to buy wine they truly enjoy and want to share.

If you drink a wine, you pick it because the bottle is pleasing to your palate. The aromas and flavors make you want to pour another glass or buy another bottle. This is how most wine collectors start–simply by stumbling upon something they love. And as time marches on and tastes change, so can the preference of wine.

When I first started drinking wine years ago I only liked sweet white wines. Despite having access to all the wonderful cabernet and Bordeaux wines in my father’s cellar, I still picked a sweet white (dad cringed every time I opened a bottle). When dad asked me why I didn’t drink his wine I simply said it was because I didn’t prefer the taste. So he figured out how to change that–by gradually introducing me to whites that were less sweet, more dry. Then he moved on to light reds (pinot noirs from California) exposing me to fruity wine that had more body and complexity. I stayed in this area of wine for a long time until my tastes changed again and I fell in love with the heavier reds my dad often cherished. Gone are the days of sweet whites, unless I am drinking a delicious dessert wine or port. Now I choose the wine (white or red) based on my mood, the weather or what I am eating at the time.

To me, wine falls in the same category as art. It is all relative to the person experiencing it. What some wine enthusiasts hail as superb might be terrible to someone else. And that is perfectly okay. Much like the odd piece of modern art, which sells for millions of dollars, wine can undergo the same scrutiny. This is just one of many reasons why I love the world of wine. You don’t have to hold a degree to have a valid opinion about wine. Just because you haven’t tried the crème-de-la-crème from a remote region of Bordeaux doesn’t mean your thoughts have little value.

So to all of you “amateurs” out there sipping, swirling and sniffing your way through bottles of red, white or somewhere in between, I raise a glass to your opinions and welcome them with open arms.Image

Until next time, cheers!

May1

Summer Sips

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After this winter, I am so ready for warm weather and sunshine.  One could say I am definitely over the winter blahs and blues!  Spring has finally arrived, which means summer is just over the horizon.   When I envision summer, I like to think about lounging by the pool on a lazy afternoon and sipping something cool, crisp and delicious.  So in this post I would like to pay homage to my favorite “Summer Sips.”

One thing I love about summer, besides the warm weather, is all the fresh fruits and herbs that make for fabulous mixers in my beverages.  Whether it is water, liquor or wine, I enjoy making my drinks as fresh and natural as possible.  I am not much on sweet tea or overly sweet alcoholic beverages; I guess my palate just lends to more clean flavors.  And using fresh ingredients, like fruits and herbs, helps cut back on calories and sugar.  So what, you may ask, is my go-to “Summer Sips?”

I am first and foremost a wine afficionado, but when I have to stray from my favorite glasses of vino, I love a good vodka.  And the time of year usually determines how I drink it.  Winter months may lend more to martinis and olives stuffed with blue cheese, but summer months call out for cool, crisp beverages with lots of fresh ingredients.

It is funny to notice that, as I have grown older and my taste has changed, I have also changed my preference of vodka.  Ten years ago, it would have been Absolute all the way, but nowadays I am in love with Grey Goose, no flavors please.  The beauty of having a vodka that isn’t flavored is you can create your own unique twists on drinks.  Here are just a few of my favorite things to mix with vodka:

Club soda:  This non-calorie, bubbly mixer is great to give your dink the needed fizz.  And it lends to any flavor you may be adding to your beverage.

Fresh fruits:  Orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime slices are perfect things to fuse into a vodka beverage, and if you get organic, even better.  Pineapple or berries are other delicious, healthy items; simply mix and match to your heart’s desire.  If you get the frozen version, you can even use them as ice cubes.  What is great about all these fruits is the natural sugars that help mellow the sharpness you can get from vodka.  Last, but not least, is watermelon.  This fruit is so refreshing in a drink.  So I like to take half a watermelon, cube it up, then throw it in a blender.  Simply strain the pulp into a jar and you have fresh juice to add to your beverage.

Cucumber:  A favorite flavored vodka, if I am going to have one, is by Crop Vodka (http://www.cropvodka.com/home.php).  Their cucumber infused vodka is not only organic, but absolutely delicious with club soda, ice and maybe a slice or two of fresh cucumber.  By far one of the most refreshing beverages that makes a great pool-side drink for a hot summer afternoon.

Herbs:  Basil, mint and even cilantro are the perfect herbs to infuse in a vodka beverage.  You can gently bruise the leaves and let the natural essence absorb in your drink.  It just adds another layer of flavor.  Don’t feel you have to stick to these three, you can use any herb you like; it’s all about trial and error.

If you don’t care for vodka, you can add another light-bodied spirit that suits you better.  Light rum and clear tequila are other spirits that can be easily infused with any of the ingredients previously mentioned.  If you don’t drink alcohol, these fresh and healthy mixers are great with a glass of water or iced tea.  Or mix them with a sparkling water for something fizzy-it is definitely better for you than a sugary soda.

And now, because I am a wine-lover at heart, I always have some sort of favorite summer vino on hand, and this summer will be no exception.  A couple of months ago I attended a wine dinner where I so happily became aquainted with a lovely White Burgundy.  This wine was very light in body, but had that distinctive White Burgundy tartness which only comes from the soil of this particular region in France.  The best part about this wine was it only cost around $16 a bottle-a definite “bang for your buck” kind of vino.

Produced by Marie-Pierre Manciat, the label of this wine is Mâcon “Les Morizottes” from the Appellation Mâcon Protégée.  This wine received kudos from wine connoisseur Robert Parker, who gave it a 91 rating (http://www.bestwinesonline.com/blog/?p=731).  So even if you have do a little searching online or through a local wine merchant to purchase some bottles, the price alone for such an outstanding White Burgundy is worth the effort.

So there you have it, just a few of my favorite “Summer Sips” for 2014.  Light, refreshing and somewhat healthy drinks to keep you cool when the temperature starts to rise.

Until next time, cheers!

 

Mar10

To Brew or Not To Brew…

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As many of my close friends and family know, I am a big health nut.  I love learning about new healthy techniques to keep my body strong and as free of toxins as possible.  Last year my dear friend (she knows I am completely into anything “organic” or “detoxifying”) shared a bit of knowledge she learned from a close buddy.  It was about a beverage called Kombucha Tea.

Many of you have probably heard of this drink.  It has been the latest rage in the natural-living trend encompassing our society the past couple of decades.  If you haven’t heard of it, don’t let the name fool you.  This beverage is not your typical glass of Lipton tea.  Although its origins come from ancient China (research has found that people began making it some 2000 years ago), this “tea” is a result of fermenting a bacterial culture in a brew made of filtered water, sugar and usually a green or black tea blend.  But please don’t go into hysterics at the mention of drinking something that is a derivative of bacteria.  This particular bacterium is good for your gut!

When I first heard of this beverage I drove to my local natural food store and picked up a couple of bottles so I could give it a go.  Despite the steep price, I loved it!  First off, I used to be a diet soda addict.  I craved its tangy sweetness and carbonation.  The Kombucha I tried had similar qualities.  It was tangy, with just a hint of sweetness on the finish.  The tea was also carbonated.  Here was a total replacement for the beverage I grudgingly gave up last year.

I continued to go to my local health food store and pick up four bottles every week, cringing each time I forked over the money to the sales clerk.  I justified the price for all the great health benefits this tangy beverage provided for my body.  If you are wondering what the benefits are, you can do a google search and find mutltiple websites for it.  That is what I did when I first learned of it, and the more I read the more I knew this drink was something I needed in my daily diet.

For starters, Kombucha is considered to be a great probiotic, something we tend to need more and more these days thanks to a lot of the processed foods and chemicals we are willingly (and unwillingly) exposed too.  The probiotics keep the digestive track running properly, helping cleanse the body of those nasty toxins swimming around in our gut.   Having a healthy gut also helps keep your immune system running better, so you could attribute Kombucha to that as well!  Some people claim it has cancer-curing aspects or the B vitamins and detoxifying minerals help cure other diseases.  I don’t know if this is true or not, but I figure a little of it in moderation definitely can’t hurt you.  So I keep on drinking.

Talking probiotics and fermentation, I bet you are wondering what is really in Kombucha?  Kombucha Tea comes from fermenting a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast).  SCOBYs can have many names, such as “mother,” “baby” or just simply “culture.”  What you have to be aware of when buying a SCOBY is that the culture is sealed in a sterile environment with its starter liquid (which is just about a cup of Kombucha tea).  Don’t drink or make Kombucha from dried or dehydrated SCOBYs, it’s not good eats people.

Here is my healthy SCOBY that I have already used twice to make my own Kombucha:

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So how does one avoid paying the price (somewhere around $4 a bottle) on a weekly basis when we know this stuff is pretty good for us?  Simple, make it at home.  Once I did a little research online and talked to a few Kombucha-drinking friends, I realized that I didn’t have to set aside a separate trust fund to keep Kombucha stocked in my fridge.  I could just make it myself!

It is actually extremely easy to do, and after you get that first batch under your belt and work out your brewing kinks, you too can have Kombucha tea flowing freely in your home.  The best web site I have found, based on a friend’s recommendation, has been kombuchakamp.com.  This site is owned and operated by Hannah Crum, and she has been brewing Kombucha and educating countless other individuals on the benefits of this drink.  Her site is easily navigable and she even has a starter kit for first-time brewers, such as myself.  It is what I purchased before I made my first Kombucha brew.  Hannah offers lots of great video tutorials if you get stuck on something, and you can even e-mail or call her to get tips.  Her SCOBYs are 100% quality product, and she uses all organic tea blends and sugars in her kits.  I would definitely recommend visiting this site if you think you want to start making your own Kombucha tea.

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Kombuchakamp.com has easy, step-by-step guides to brewing the tea at home. Now we need to make sure you have the right equipment.  Here is what you will need to make your first brew:

–A 1-gallon glass jar, preferably with a wide opening

–Organic black, green or herbal tea blend (you can use loose-leaf tea or bags)

–A piece of cloth and rubber band, large enough to cover and secure to the top of your glass jar

–Organic sugar, turbinado is best (don’t use artificial sweeteners or “diet” sugars-it can mess up your SCOBY and interfere with brewing)

–I SCOBY with starter liquid

–A tea pot/kettle

Make sure you also have a warm, dark place to brew your tea.  Laundry room counters or the top of refrigerators are some great places.  You just need to be sure the temp is between 70-80 degrees and that airflow is consistent around the jar.

It might seem intimidating to think about brewing something that contains bacteria, but really it is very simple and if you follow the guidelines you will be successful.  If you haven’t tried Kombucha tea before, go out and buy a bottle to see if you like it.  And if you do, then save some hard-earned dollars and make your own at home!  You can also flavor your home-made Kombucha.  I like to use ginger, mint, fresh strawberries, goji berries, blueberries, even lavender.  The world is your oyster when it comes to flavor combinations.  Here are my two Kombuchas with ginger/mint/goji berry and POM juice/strawberry/mint.  Delish!

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To learn more about Kombucha, visit www.kombuchakamp.com

Now, for your wine tip of the day.  Kombucha is a very unique beverage, and its taste and carbonation remind me of one of my absolute favorite wines to drink:  Champagne!

Champagne may not have the health benefits of Kombucha, but I love how the tartness and bubbles remind me of this unique wine.  Not all sparkling wine is Champagne, but all Champagne is sparkling wine.  To be called “Champagne,” the wine MUST come from the Northeast region of France…the Champagne region.  Otherwise the bubbly beverage will be referred to as “sparkling wine. “

Champagne can be made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, or it can also be made with from dark-skinned grapes such as Pinot Noir.  Many Champagne wines are a blend of these grapes, which gives vineyards their distinctive flavors.  Some will be sweet (Demi-sec or Doux), some semi-dry (Brut) and others will be bone-dry (Extra brut).  Depending on your taste for wine, you choose the level of sweet-to-dry ratio.

Many people only reserve Champagne for “special occasions,” such as birthdays, graduations or weddings.  But I love to just pop open a bottle on a random Wednesday night.  Why not?  Isn’t life worth celebrating every day?  Don’t put Champagne in a separate category that restricts your ability to drink it whenever you want.  It can be a great starter wine at parties before you open the heavy-hitter red wines.  Or you can have it to go with a light seafood or chicken dish.

There are many different kinds of Champagne out there, and lots of different prices.  But if you need a go-to label, I would search Roederer Estate.  I always keep a bottle of this around my house and it won’t empty your wallet.  The flavors are outstanding, much like a Dom Pérignon, but for around $25 a bottle.  I can even buy this at my local grocery store.  There are many big-name Champagne labels, such as Krug, Bollinger and the aforementioned Dom.  But to me, the wine can make just as big a statement without a hefty price tag.  So save the Dom for your “special occasion” and open the Roederer Estate to celebrate surviving a Monday.

Until next time, cheers!

Feb21

Women: What is Our Self Worth?

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I have to vent a little on this post.  I said in an earlier blog this particular subject would come up again with me.  And now it has…such a dichotomy of thoughts on what I want to express here.  The subject is a woman, and the issue is our self-worth.

So where does one start with this?  History has shown, and still shows to this day, women are often valued based on “self-worth.”  Until the early 21st century, a woman didn’t have a true place outside the home and was considered “worthy” based on the amount of dowry she could bring to a marriage.  Thankfully most of that has changed in modern times.  We have seen the rise of women’s liberation, breaking the glass ceiling and even women holding high-ranking leadership positions throughout the world.  This being said, why do we, as women, still fall into the trap of defining ourselves by our worth?  Why do we focus so hard on the numbers on a scale?  Why do we care whether or not we look a certain way or play a certain role in our life?

It surrounds use everywhere, images of beautiful women on billboards, buses, in magazines and newspapers.  We see them on television, perfect visions of the ideal female body.  Perfect hair, teeth, clothes, you name it and these women have it.  But do they?  It is basic marketing and advertising to promote a product.  Sex sells, right?  Hasn’t that been the slogan of American advertising companies (including Hollywood pictures) to get consumers to buy products or go see a movie?  Catchy phrases and slogans are used to lure women and men into the marketplace to purchase the “next best thing.”  It’s a consumer’s world, and I truly love it all.  But you have to look at these things with jaded goggles.  You have to know which is fact and which is fiction.

I majored in communication studies at Vanderbilt, so I did a lot of reading and writing.  I loved this major mainly because it brought me out of my small town shell and into the real world of thinking and feeling.  My professors pushed me to really dive head first into the words I read in speeches (ranging anywhere from Washington’s Inaugural Address to Martin Luther King’s speeches-there are more than just THE ONE).  I loved hearing these individuals and all their ideals.  The moments that changed their lives and made them better people, better thinkers and better ideologists.  I loved these words because it helped me think more about who I was and who I WANTED to be in this world.

It brings me back to dealing with the mindset I find in my own sex.  The belief that, despite how strong we may appear on the outside, we still fall prey deep down in our psyche to numbers and self-worth ideals.  And I am just as guilty as the woman next to me in line at Target.

Let’s face it; I am a total consumer in today’s modern age.  I love gadgets, read tabloids and watch Entertainment Television.  I do admit reality TV is something I truly despise.  I can’t stomach watching people make complete fools of themselves and believe they are not acting out a pre-scripted role.  Reality?  Not hardly, especially when there is a camera following you around the room.  Think about it-when you get that sudden interview for a local news channel and the camera is shoved in your face, how do you act?  No way close to natural, right?  But I digress…

I have amazing friends in my life, and they all help me in one way or the other.  We support one another, hear the laughter and share the tears.  Yet each time we get together I can’t help but notice how the conversation always turns to the latest diet, what our weight is, or how we wish we looked this way or that way.  Lusting over body types and how much we want to fit “back into our old size.”  Talking about the latest failure in the kitchen (I ate a pan of brownies or devoured a sleeve of Thin Mints), it seems these women (myself included) boil the conversations down to how little we feel our self worth is in life.  And every time I leave a dinner or social gathering with my friends I find myself shaking my head and having to tell myself there is more to life than what came up in our conversations.  We are all strong, independent women with families and responsibilities.  Some of us work outside the home, which adds to the pressures faced each day.  Yet we all still boil down to numbers on a scale or feeling we should fit a certain “mold.”  It makes my heart ache a little to think it, even type it.

So that is what I am here to say in this piece-to remind each and every one of us (myself included) that our self worth is more than just a number on the scale, a size plastered on a pair of designer jeans or an image of what we “wish” we could be in life.  There are so many examples, so many instances where I want to shake the individual in front of me and scream to the person “You are more than this!”  But I don’t, and instead try and offer the most supportive advice and motivation I can.  I have dealt with that battle, the feeling of needing to measure up to the person beside me, to fit an ideal.  And I am over it.  Can I scream that now?  I AM OVER IT!  I know who I am inside and out.  I know my weaknesses and my strengths.  It has taken a lot of time and hard confrontations to realize this, but I am thankful for each and every one of them.  I have handled weight issues, eating “issues” and trying to fit into a certain mold.  But you know what, it really isn’t what matters at the end of the day.  What matters is the knowledge that my children are safe and healthy, my family is happy and that I am doing whatever is in my power to make sure I remain on this earth to take care of them all.  Not because it is what society expects me to do, but because I want to be there.  I want to share in the memories and pass on to my children whatever knowledge I have to offer.  This is what life is really about, making a difference outside of our “self” and fighting tooth and nail against what is typically expected of our sex.

I am not a radical person, just a realistic individual who is tired of the fight waged against my sex.  I am over the feeling that I am not “enough” simply because I don’t work outside the home or volunteer enough at my kids school.  I do the best that I can each and every day, and some days I make huge mistakes while other days I conquer the world.  It would be this way whether I had a 9-5 job or continue the “domestic diva” role I currently hold.  I guess what I am saying is I own up to what I do, find the things in life that make me happy, give fuel to my ambition and try to keep myself balanced.

I am over the feeling that I need to look a certain way.  I like my own style, bright colors and things that make me feel comfortable.  I don’t wear things to impress those around me; I wear things that make me feel GOOD!  If it is considered revealing or out of the ordinary, I don’t care.  It is my style, what I move freely in and what I like.  I know my body and I know my limits.  So I go with it and choose not to sweat the small stuff.  In the end, it doesn’t really matter because I get up the next day to see the sweet smiles of my babies saying “good morning mommy.”  I get a kiss or hug from my husband, and yes I bring him coffee every morning along with my own cup.  These are the things that really matter.

Sure I will have moments when I think a dress may fit a little too tight, or I should lay off the dessert for a few days and let my body recoup.  But I am finished with counting calories, analyzing every single thing that goes in my mouth because it truly makes life miserable.  As I have found, life it way too short to sweat the small stuff.  So here is what I want you to do, if you feel inclined.  Throw away the damn scale (go by how your clothes FEEL).  When you eat food, really taste its flavors and enjoy what it has to offer your palate.  How does the food make your body feel?  Listen to what it tells you and you will discover the things that make your own being function on a healthy day-to-day basis.  Forget trying to fit into a certain mold; instead find what makes you feel good about yourself; what makes your body run the way it should.

Some people may see me as a health freak, or weight-conscious individual who worries about appearances.  But really, I am not.  I do love going to the gym because of the mental release I experience, plus the challenge I can place on myself when I am there.  I need that challenge to exist on a daily basis.  I also love food and cooking.  I enjoy the stuff that isn’t so good for me because I know I also give my body enough of the things that make it feel good.  Balance-that is what I have FINALLY learned.  It has been a long, hard road, but I am getting it a little more each day.

So you see, I am not perfect, nor do I want to be perfect.  I am the person I want to be, I am getting comfortable in my own skin.  And it has been a long and arduous road to get to this point.  But I am so thankful to be here and hopefully can exude some of it on my fellow mates.

Those who know me know I love wine.  Wine is something I can never give up; it’s just a part of my individuality.  And I love learning about it each and every day.  In fact, my wine tip of the day comes from a great magazine article in the latest Wine Spectator.  The article is about Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, the French matriarch of one of the leading vineyards in the world.  Her family has produced award-wining wines from their vineyards in Bordeaux since 1853.  If you haven’t had the chance to taste a Mouton-Rothschild or Lafite-Rothschild, I hope you get it.  The wines are outstanding and always hold up to the Rothschild standard of winemaking.

Interestingly enough, Philippine’s father, Baron Philippe Rothschild, did not believe women had a place in the world.  Yet, here is his daughter holding court over a multi-million dollar business for over 20 years.  She has helped the Rothschild name grow into the 21st century, expanding the family’s business interests across International Waters.  If you get a chance, you should read the article or do some research on this incredible woman.  Pick up the latest copy of Wine Spectator or search the Baroness and her wines online.  There are many subsidiary wineries and joint ventures that won’t drain your wallet but still offer the Rothschild quality.

And for further enlightenment on your journey, here are a few books that I have read along the way; hopefully they will make the same impact on you as they did on me.  Forgive me if I get the bibliography wrong.  I am a bit rusty and blowing the dust off my Bedford Handbook from college.

Bordo, Susan.  Unbearable Weight:  Feminism, Western Culture and the Body.

California:  University of California Press, 1993.

Bordo, Susan.  Twilight Zones:  The Hidden Life of Cultural Images from Plato to O.J.

California:  University of California Press, 1997.

Sadeghi, Dr. Habib.  WITHIN:  A Spiritual Awakening of Love & Weight Loss.

Los Angeles:  Premier Digital Publishing, 2013.

Bradley Bayou.  The Science of Sexy.  New York:  Gotham Books, 2007.

Feb14

Valentine’s Day: Thoughts and Admirations

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Valentine’s Day, a day I have always liked to pull a Scrooge and say “Bah Humbug.”  It has never been one of my favorite holidays.  Maybe because for most of my life I never had a “Valentine.”  Maybe because I see this holiday as something created by a candy company as a way to sell a bunch of nasty-tasting chocolates.  Perhaps the “card” company, you know the one I am talking about, created the holiday to put a little spice in the winter months and sell sappy cards.  But wait, I don’t want to loose you as a reader…just hear me out on this.

I know this is a bit pessimistic, and pessimism is one thing I hate.  But how many of you will find yourself happy, sad or stressed out over this simple holiday in the middle of winter?  I am not saying it is a bad holiday; just that it isn’t one of my favorites.  I am a sentimental person, so I can’t even explain why February 14th has never been a day of anticipation for me.

I remember junior high and high school, seeing all dating couples celebrate this one “day of love” and just thinking to myself, why does “love” have to exist on one day?  Why do we feel the need to really show love to someone we care about on a designated day?  Can’t people feel this way every day of the year? Or show the love more than once?  Then again, maybe I am putting too much thought into the entire scenario.

I also find it ironic that the one holiday I really could care less about is the holiday that marks the death of my beloved father.  This Valentine’s marks two years of not having him here on this earth.  Death is an interesting thing, a total life experience.  It is something that can be hard to really put into words-it can only be felt first-hand.  Kind of like a hard slap in the face by someone you love.

But I still feel the need to celebrate Valentine’s Day because of my husband and my children.  Especially my oldest; she is 6.  She views it as a day where she has a classroom party, eats lots of candy and gets out of school early.  I feel the need to give my children little tokens of my love for them, sign a couple cards and try to find a unique gift for my husband.  I am torn between two strong emotions, love and grief.  I grieve because I still remember ever inkling of learning how my dad passed, all the horrible moments to follow.  Yet, I love celebrating that special bond I share with my loving husband and my children.  Life is like that, though.  Pulling and pushing you in two different directions, making your head spin around like the girl in movie The Exorcist.

We all have parents, some of us are fortunate enough to know our parents, perhaps be extremely close to them.  Wherever you fall in this category, when you loose one of your parents it really takes a toll on you emotionally, even physically.  For two years I have tried to cope with the fact that I can never hug my father, never hear his calming words.  Never see his twinkling blue eyes full of laughter.  It is gone, sealed shut in a grave marked by a plaque and flowers.  And this makes me think about the kind of parent I need, should and want to be for my own children.  It makes me cringe at the mistakes I have made along the road of motherhood.  It makes me feel good when I know I have succeeded at something.

Being an only child, I grew up extremely close to my parents.  I had wonderful relationships with both my mom and my dad.  And I thank God everyday for the wisdom and guidance they both gave me in life.  Holidays will never be the same without my dad, and I know my mom struggles with this.  Dad touched a lot of lives and served the community in his medical practice.  I just hope that I am not the only one who misses him, who feels that void in the heart.

I don’t know how you will celebrate this Valentine’s Day, but I know how I will always celebrate mine.  I will toast my family, give cards to my husband and kids, but I will always have to hold back those tears I want to shed over loosing my dad.    I dedicate this post to his memory.  I dedicate this post to my mother.  I dedicate this post to my family.  I dedicate this post to YOU.  Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.

Jan31

The “Annabelle-ism”

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My daughter, the first-born child in our family, is known to be a little dramatic at times.  Okay, that is a bit of an understatement.  She is EXTREMELY dramatic.  In fact, during one of her “fits” I often find myself saying out loud, “Annabelle would like to thank the Academy….” She doesn’t think it is very funny.  Oops.

When Annabelle first started talking and putting thoughts together, I decided to start a continual document on my computer called “Annabelle-isms.”  I record every single funny, embarrassing, out-spoken thing this child has said in her short six years on this planet.  And I absolutely love going back through them, reminiscing on all the face-squishing moments this little girl has caused me over the years.  But one story in particular I feel the need to share because it still brings tears of laughter to my eyes when I read it.

This story takes place when Annabelle was a little over three years of age.  I did not have Addison, our son, at this point in time.  Just Annabelle-and believe me, she was enough to handle.  The day was pretty typical for the two of us, visiting the gym, running errands and getting groceries before heading home.  Naptime was quickly approaching, but Annabelle and I had made it all the way through the store without a major meltdown (thanks to me opening up a package of Oreos).  Now, I don’t know about your grocery store, but our checkout aisles are junked-up with magazines, candy racks, gum and the occasional cigarette lighter paraphernalia.  I pick an aisle that had as little as possible for little hands to grab.  Annabelle continues to sit in the front of the cart eating Oreos as I begin to load my items on the conveyor belt.  All of a sudden she starts to yell, “Mommy, Mommy!”

Now, for you moms out there, I know when you hear the word “mommy” you let it go in one ear and out the other unless it has that specific “tone.”   The one which lets you know the child is hurt or in trouble.  It is the difference between a whine and an actual call of alarm.  This specific “mommy” Annabelle was saying over and over had the tone of “I want your attention, and I want it now…but my limbs are still intact.”

I glanced up at Annabelle to give her my attention when she started pointing at all the miscellaneous things in our particular aisle.  “No Annabelle,” I began.  “You can’t have the Pez candy dispenser!”  This is where it gets good.  “No Mommy, I don’t want that.  I need my lighter.”

“Your what?”  I ask her, stopping in mid-air with my unloading.  “Your lighter?”

“Yeah, my lighter,” she continues in this innocent voice.  “I need it for my cigarettes.”

Oh. My. Gosh.  The first thing that pops into my head is how does she know lighters and cigarettes go together.  Oh wait, my mother is a smoker.  There you go…insert literary eye roll.

Now, as the words so eloquently come out of her mouth I notice a nice young gentleman behind me waiting to check out.  And I make the mistake of locking eyes with him.  I see scorn and judgment in them.  Sweat starts to form at the base of my neck.  This guy seriously believes my kid knows what she is asking for right now?  Has he ever heard the phrase “kids just say the darnedest things?”

I give him a nervous laugh-you know the one I am talking about, right?  The kind of laugh you used when you had to explain to your parents why the car had a busted light or why the vodka bottle was filled with water.  It was one of those laughs.  He continues to just stare and judge-Mr. Personality.  Meanwhile, my devil-of-a-daughter is still yelling for the cigarettes and lighter!  Oh Lord, help me now!  I see a “coming-to-Jesus” session with my mom over this one.  Can the floor just swallow me up right now?  I wanted to scream at the man behind me, “I don’t smoke, it’s my mom who smokes!  Yes, I give my kid high fructose corn syrup, but not nicotine!”

By this point in time I was basically hurling my grocery items towards the kid who was starting to bag stuff up.  I desperately needed to get the heck out of dodge.  Annabelle’s rants were starting to draw more attention around me.  I looked at Annabelle and said in what I hope was a calm and orator-like voice, “Honey, stop.  You don’t smoke (oh really?) and you don’t have cigarettes (another genius statement, Samantha).”  I continue on as if I’m scolding a teenager caught smoking under the school bleachers.  “No one in our house smokes.  Let’s go.”

I pushed the cart Annabelle was sitting in towards the bagger so he could load our groceries.  Then I planned to pull a Florence Joyner and sprint out of the store.  The entire situation was embarrassing and hysterical, all in the same moment.  A typical Off-Broadway satire that only a mom could truly appreciate.  I am sure anyone who witnessed the entire scene was left scratching his or her head in confusion, wondering what the heck just happened.  Oh, and did that kid really ask for cigarettes and a lighter?

And for the guy behind me in line with the dagger-shooting, disdain-filled eyeballs (who obviously didn’t have kids), I have this to say.  One day you will have a child, girl or boy, and in your mind you will have a vision of how this child will carry his- or herself in public.  And this said child will completely pull that figmental rug from under your feet, wrap it over your head, then proceed to perform a “Dutch Oven” on you (if you don’t know what is, look it up and laugh).

So there you have it, one of my best “Annabelle-isms” to this day.  But I am sure as time rolls on and she learns more vocabulary words, witnesses more inappropriate cable commercials and acquires new “habits” from her school friends, my Word document will just keep getting longer and longer.

Now, if I have to compare my daughter to a wine in this world I would have to choose something with pepper and spice.  What better wine to serve such a purpose than a red Zinfandel?  Don’t confuse this wine with the light pink version on the markets.  Yes, that wine is made from the same Zinfandel grape, but it has been mixed with white varieties and sweetened up a bit.  The wine I am speaking of is robust, not anywhere close to light-bodied or sweet.

I am new to the world of Zinfandels, but when I had some a few months ago at a tasting I fell in love with their spicy undertones.  They completely surprise the palate, hinting at blackberry and currant when you first sip, but then blasting your tongue with a bold spice that could stand up to any meal you serve on the table.

Zinfandels have their biggest presence in California, but you will also find some from southern Italy and even Australia.  I would go to your local liquor store or wine shop and try a few different bottles, compare their likenesses and differences.  You don’t have to break the bank to find some good labels.  If you want to try a trusted name, Rombauer (California) makes a Zinfandel that would cost you around $30.  One label I have had is Quivira (California).  Their Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel will only cost you about $20, and it held up nicely to this particular grape’s heritage.

Until next time, cheers!

Jan26

Going Rogue in the Kitchen

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I have always been one of those individuals who will try anything once, at least when food is involved.  One of my favorite things to eat in the culinary world is sushi, but it is also the one thing I have never even dared tackle in my own kitchen.  About a month ago I was checking out at my local grocery store and noticed a young couple behind me.  On the belt stacked neatly beside my dividing bar was an entire collection of items they planned on using to make sushi.  A thought suddenly poked into my brain; if these 20-somethings could make sushi at home then why on earth could I not do this myself?

I tried not to be obvious as I threw sideways glances in their direction, taking note of all they were going to use-sushi matt, sushi rice, seaweed papers, ginger, veggies and tuna (which was frozen).  Hmmm, I think I could definitely do this.  Surely if I can bring two healthy children into this world, I can whip up a few rolls in my kitchen, right?

So I decided last week would be the time to try it.  My household was sick (I felt the need to wear a surgical mask 24/7), so I knew going out to eat would not be an option.  Normally when I cook in the kitchen I tend to go a little rogue.  I don’t necessarily follow recipes.  I might use them as guidelines, but I always change up ingredients or add extra spices my family likes.  But sushi, well, let’s say I didn’t have the guts to fly by the seat of my pants on this one. I needed a recipe, and a simple one.

One of my all-time favorite chefs is Giada de Laurentiis.  I love all the fresh ingredients and simple steps she uses to create her dishes.  Now that I had thrown down the gauntlet to myself to make this dish, there was no turning back.  I fired up my computer, logged onto the Web and searched Giada’s recipes.  Aha! I found what I was looking for-salmon hand rolls.  Even though I new I was going to switch the vegetable ingredients on the recipe (I had some in my fridge that needed to be used) there were still a few items I needed from the store.

Ingredient list in hand, I perused the seafood section of the store…no sushi-grade salmon (I live in Missouri, enough said).  But there WAS frozen tuna, which is what the young couple had purchased for their sushi.  I grabbed two small steaks from the freezer and threw it in the cart with the rest of my purchases.  The recipe called for asparagus, but I knew I had red bell pepper, carrot and cucumber at home.  Why buy more items when I needed to use what I already had in the fridge? I was going rogue on sushi now.

Here was my sushi 101 checklist (rogue-style):

-Frozen Ahi Tuna steaks (about 4 oz each)

-Fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro

-Short-grain brown rice (you can also use white rice version)

-Sushi matt

-Seaweed papers

-Pickled ginger

-Soy sauce

-Toasted sesame oil

-Wasabi powder

That afternoon, recipe in hand, I julienned my ingredients and cooked the sushi rice accordingly.  I defrosted the tuna in cold water in the fridge, which is how you should always defrost your seafood to avoid spoiling the meat. This usually takes several hours, depending on the size of your fish.

Once everything was ready, it was time to start rolling.  Sushi matt in hand, I started to assemble my ingredients one-by-one.  Giada’s tips were easy to follow and it only took me about 20 minutes to make six or seven rolls.  This gave me enough time to pour myself a glass of vino and whip up a quick meal for the kids (they are not sushi eaters).

A few pictures to show you:

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I have to give my better half some kudos on this adventure in the kitchen.  He loves sushi, but has never ventured to eat the homemade kind.  He didn’t even bat an eyelid when I told him what I made for dinner.  He just grinned and dug in like it was a plate of steak and potatoes.  All in all, the sushi was a success, and now I know I can make my own rolls at home.  The world is my oyster when it comes to this area of cuisine…wonder what I will make next?

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Not bad, huh?  If you are feeling adventurous in the kitchen, here is a link to Giada’s salmon hand rolls:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/fun-salmon-hand-roll-recipe.html

Even though I changed the ingredients, it gave me a good guideline to follow for my first sushi-making experience.

As I mentioned before, this recipe lends itself for some wine.  So here is my wine recommendation to have with your own homemade sushi.  I would opt for a sauvignon blanc when it comes to this type of dish.  These wines are crisp and clean, so they won’t distract from the flavors of whatever roll you are making.  Even if the sushi is spicy, this is still a great wine to pair.  Tyler Florence, in conjunction with Robert Mondavi, has a great sauvignon blanc on the market that only costs between $15 and $20, depending on where you buy it.  I found it at my local grocery store.  You will taste grapefruit and sweet lemon, but the wine is very balanced and smooth.  For more information you can look up Tyler Florence, or visit www.wine.com.

Until next time, cheers!

Jan22

Sloughing off Cells

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Recently my good friend asked me if I did “dry brushing.”  “Dry brushing?” I asked.  Hmmm, I had to think for a bit and remember if I had heard of this technique before.  Thinking, thinking…nope.  Never heard of it, and certainly haven’t tried it.  “So what is it?” I ask my friend.  She leads me to a few web sites and a YouTube video, allowing me to discover this little “secret of the spas” practice which claims numerous benefits ranging from detoxification to cellulite reduction.  Cellulite reduction?  Really?  I am SOLD!

So I start to delve into the world of dry brushing, wanting to know exactly what it is, the kind of tools used and if the benefits touted by practitioners really have some validity to them.

Here is what I have found after a little digging.  Dry brushing, most commonly used in spas, is basically the practice of taking an all-natural bristled brush and gently rubbing this DRY brush all over your body before hopping into a toasty warm shower. To dry brush correctly you should start at your feet and move up the legs and body in gentle, circular motions.  The idea is to move the brush towards the heart’s center.  And remember, be gentle.  Taking the top layer of your skin off is not the goal of this holistic practice. Proponents say to dry brush at least once, if not twice, a day.

Okay, now for the benefits.  As I mentioned earlier, cellulite reduction is SUPPOSEDLY one of the biggest benefits to dry brushing.  The other benefits (as if they matter, right?) include tighter skin, increased circulation (which aids in the detoxification process) and removing dead skin cells from the body.

In my web search I did find a few sites that insisted the benefits should be taken with a grain of salt, but there really are no harmful effects to dry brushing.  Which is why I went out and bought an all natural brush-you can find them at your local Wal-Mart, Target or some grocery stores-and started dry brushing.  I try and do it at least once a day. But remember, I have two kids, so sometimes it is hard to even squeeze in a shower for myself.  Have I seen any benefits?  Well, not really, but I do notice my skin is a lot softer than before.  I don’t think I have done it long enough to notice a reduction in cellulite.  But I am staying optimistic!

So if you feel inclined, give the dry brushing a go and see what you think.  If anything, you can slough off a few dead skins cells in the process.  But if you find your skin gets irritated from the brushing, I would stop and just stick to whatever skin regiment you did before.

For more information, you can visit the site I found informative on dry brushing.  Simply go to http://www.mindbodygreen.com.  And because I always like to know the good with the  bad, I found some helpful information on http://www.drweil.com.

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “spa” I think of relaxation…which makes me think of grabbing a glass of wine.  So here is my wine tip for you readers.  If you are planning a trip to the spa, or just need a moment to relax and unwind, I like to open up something that is light and crisp.  For this type of wine, you can try a Sauvignon Blanc or an unoaked Chardonnay.  One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs is from Raymond Vineyards in St. Helena, Ca.  But there are plenty of inexpensive labels out there with good flavors.  You really can’t go wrong with this type of wine.  If you are looking for an unoaked chardonnay, Mer Soleil’s Silver is unbelievably tart and crisp for this type of wine.  It is usually in the $25 range, and it comes in a really beautiful ceramic bottle.

For more information on these wines, visit http://www.raymondvineyards.com or http://www.mersoleilvineyard.com

Until next time, cheers!