Stacey Szumiak

If I Had $500

2011-10-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

If I had $500, what would I do with it?

1. Buy an orange Kitchen-Aid mixer to make these cookies.

Sigh, the one thing I didn't get off my wedding registry that I REALLY wanted. Making mashed potatoes has been quite a cumbersome task without one.

2. Sponsor a new kiddo through World Help. If money grew on trees, I'd sponsor all those sweethearts.

3. Buy a new coat for my trip upcoming trip to Chicago. Brrrr... it's going to be cold in the windy city in a few weeks. Either way, it's my first big work trip and I'm so excited!

4. Take my hottie of a husband on a fantastic date for his birthday next week... oh wait- I'm already doing that! Jared, if you're reading this, you are going to love your life next week!

5. Buy the new Florence & The Machine CD. They rock my world.

Life As the Orozcos Know It...

2011-09-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well, blogger world, it's been awhile. What's been going on in the world of Stacey Szumiak, now Stacey Orozco?

1. I've always wanted to open my own restaurant, and solely serve gourmet grilled sandwiches. Well, I have awesome best friends, and they eagerly joined me in my vision! On labor day, we created, named, and made 6 different types of gourmet grilled cheeses. If your eyes aren't strong enough to read the menu board (proof that wedding decor can be useful in everyday life), we made the following delicious concoctions: The Caprese (tomato, homemade pesto, mozzarella), The Big Cheese- yes, I named that one (pepper jack, cheddar, and mozzarella), The 'Shroom- yes, I named that one, too (mushrooms, spinach, and chicken), The Honey Bee (chicken, bacon, honey mustard), and The Jack and Jill (BBQ sauce, chicken and pepper jack).

And, we even served RC Fizz, AKA Rachel and Cara brilliance- ginger ale and strawberry lemonade!

2. We had a grown up SLEEPOVER!!! It included boys for the first time in my life, which was a plus, since one of them was my husband. Oh, and a pillow fight (although, not super fun when you're playing against Steve Gilmore), and snacks to boot!!

3. PS: I got married!!!! I could gush for hours about how perfect the day was, how amazing my husband is, how being a wife is my favorite and proudest role, etc... but, I'll spare you all.
Perhaps the expressions on our faces in the below photo will suffice to describe how we feel.

4. For my birthday, my best friends are taking me to Castello di Amarosa. Their marketing language is: "Taste Napa Valley Wine in a Castle". 'Nuff said.

Life is sweet, rich, and fulfilling, like it's never been before. The Lord sure does lavish His love on His children.

1 John 3:1

11 Musings

2011-08-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

1. It's Friday!!! Whenever I can't say that, I can't help but think about Rebecca Black.
Fun, fun, think about fun!

2. My mom comes into town tonight to begin the week of wedding madness! I'm practically bouncing off my office chair with excitement!

3. Jared's dryer takes over 140 minutes to completely dry a load of laundry. After attempting to do 6 loads of laundry for him, I resigned to hanging all of his clothes to dry- there were t-shirts, boxers, pants, and socks strewn all over the place.

4. Tonight, I'm cooking a yummy bow tie pasta recipe with cream sauce, peas, and pancetta. I'm also cracking open a delicioso Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, courtesy of my lovely colleague, Catherine! The best part? I'm eating it with 5 of my favorite peeps- my bestest Cara, Steve-O, Rach, Momma, and of course, my almost hubby!

5. I just read in the latest Oprah magazine that you should put spinach in your breakfast smoothies. Boo ya Oprah! I've been doing that for years!

6. I came home from work last night to find my house with newly installed sconces and ceiling fans, a clean kitchen, and candles lit, to boot. I am most definitely marrying the best man alive.

7. I really like sleeping on an air mattress. I've been doing that for over a week now, and I sleep like a rock. Do you think Jared would be up for trading our Cal-King mattress in for an Aerobed?

8. Rach and I watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit every night. We have 39 episodes recorded and we WILL watch all of them. I'm always amazed by how many crime scenarios the writers can come up with.

9. I love the book of Judges. Our pastor has been teaching a month long series on it, and every Sunday I am brought back to 3rd grade Bible class. I will always remember my teacher, Mrs. Meyer, dramatically acting out how Ehud slayed the fat King Eglon.

10. Words with Friends, the iPhone scrabble game... bringing families together. My dad never responds to my texts, but when I play a scrabble move, he plays back within like 10 seconds. Might I add that he is beating me by over 100 points.

11. I'm worried that my teeth are going to get crooked. Whenever I sleep with my retainer in, come morning, I usually find it underneath my pillow. It's like those people who sleep walk and binge eat, and then wonder why they've gained 20 pounds. Except worse!

Bachelorette

2011-08-01T14:37:00.001-07:00

Do I look just a teensy bit happy?

(Jared says I look like big bird in this picture, but then again, men don't understand feathers, tiaras, sashes and how they really do add to the fun).

Well, I most certainly AM happy because...

1. I have the best friends and family in the world. Seriously. This weekend I was spoiled rotten by 10 of my favorite ladies!

2. I had the most amazing bachelorette party in the world.

3. I have the best fiance in the universe.

4. I'm getting married THIS month. 18 days!

5. I am moving out of my little backhouse tonight and am moving in with my dear friend Rachel for the remainder of my unmarried life. Can you say rainbow sprinkles, champagne, musical theatre duets, and P90X?

6. I came home from my bachelorette party to brand new wood floor, a newly installed stove and oven, LOTS of organized cabinetry in my new 13 foot walk in closet, several new light fixtures, cabinet doors installed with my orange and green knobs, and my handsome (and a little bit tired/sweaty) fiance.

7. 3 weeks from today I will be in my favorite place in world with my new husband- Nantucket island!

Life is sweet...

28 days

2011-07-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well, folks- i'm getting married in 28 days. That's 4 weeks!!! I can hardly stand it!

This is a photo of some of my lovely bridesmaids at my LA shower. I am so blessed!!

The Past 5 Months...

2011-06-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

It's been over 5 months since Jared popped the question while we were on a picnic on Mt. Diablo. I knew that from that moment that my life would never be the same- and it hasn't been!

We have less than 2 months until the big day and we absolutely can't wait for August 19 to come.

What have we been up to the past 5 months?

Well...

We've been making our house a home. It will be a long process- giving TLC to 5 rooms and 3 bathrooms (and a pool) can take up quite a bit of time! Thank goodness I'm marrying a hard-working master of construction!

That tile is now on the floor of our snazzy, redone bathroom!

We got our first wedding gift- a toaster oven! Baked potatoes, here we come! And of course, Jared HAD to squeeze me in the box.

We've gone shopping at IKEA, Lowes, Home Goods, and TJ Maxx waaaaaay too often. No matter where we go, Jared some how makes it fun.

We've made LOTS and LOTS of wedding decisions, including the wedding party wardrobe. Here is Jared in his big day outfit- what a hunk!

And, we've loved each other more and more along the way.
It's always nice to get picture messages like these during the work days.

Yes, there's been lots of love along the way.

Over the past 5 months, I've become truly thankful that God is allowing me to get married- what a privilege and gift!

Most of all, I am thankful that God has given me Jared to marry. He is always making me laugh, supporting me, encouraging me, and loving me so well.

He is most definitely my other and better half.

51 days and counting!!

I Love Collio

2011-06-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog from one of our clients- I've been writing the posts. Can you tell? :)

http://usa.blogcollio.it/

Stacey's Darling #3: A Lucious Beaujolais

2011-06-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Peeps--

I tried another wine at work last week that quickly became a new darling.

2009 Domaine Tete Julienas, Cru Beaujolais, France.

You may see on the label that is just says "Red Beaujolais Wine". Of course, if you are new in the wine world, you would have no clue what grapes are in the bottle, what to expect stylistically, etc... That's what I'm here for :)

Gamay is the red grape queen of Beaujolais, and almost all red wines in this area are made from Gamay. This wine may have a blend of other grapes, but Gamay is the star of the show.

Now, about the wine making region:

This wine is from Beaujolais, which is a smaller area located in the famous region of Burgundy, France.

Beaujolais' claim to fame is Beaujolais Nouveau, which is a wine that comes out every 3rd Thursday of November (right in time for Thanksgiving!) These wines are light in body, color, tannin, and as some people will argue, light in flavor. They are meant to be fun and festive, and there is nothing serious about them!

This wine is a Stacey's Darling because it breaks all those rules that people hold about wines from Beaujolais! This is a serious wine- it has delicious and cutting acid, warm black and red fruit flavors, meat and pepper (yummmmmm), and fantastic body, but at the same time is very sip-able and approachable!

It goes for $22 at my work, but I'm sure you can find it online for a more reasonable price (although I think $22 is a worthy value for this fantastic wine).

Pair this with some dark meat poultry- it would be a fantastic sidekick to duck!

Happy Drinking!

Making the World a Better Place, One Media Sending at a Time

2011-06-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

A lot of my time at work is spent sending out our clients' wines to media across the country, with the hopes that they'll write about them and give us some awesome coverage.

Well, my new wine friend Beau Carufel of Beau's Barrel Room posted about one of our client's wines, and gave me a little shout-out, too. It made me smile :)

Here's his post about Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc (which is an awesome wine, BTW!)

Happy Chardonnay Day!

2011-05-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Today is a great day! Why, may you ask? Well, for me it's great because I am just 6 hours away from hopping on a plane with my hunk, which will zip us up north to Portland. Jared and I are spending the next 4 days with our friends Tim and Ashley, who have quite a fun itinerary planned for us, from wine tasting, tours of Seattle and Portland, hikes, and more!

Another reason it's a great day is because it's Chardonnay Day! Wahoo-Happy Chardonnay Day!!
Now, those of you who know me know that I actually despise most Chardonnays. I typically would rather opt out of drinking than drink a glass of oaked Chardonnay.

But, as I wine-o, I am a fan of any day that celebrates wine!

In honor of Chardonnay Day, here are some fun Chardonnay facts:

1. Chardonnay originated in Burgundy, France, but now it is made practically everywhere- even Greece, New York, and South Africa!

2. Chardonnay is one of the 3 permitted grapes in Champagne, along with Pinot Noir and Pinot Menuier. In my opinion, that's the best way to drink it!

3. Chardonnay has a few aliases, including Aubaine, Beaunois, Gamay Blanc, Melon Blanc. Lots of people just call it "Chard". Sommeliers turn up their noses at wine abbreviations, FYI.

4. Among white-wine grapes, few adapt so easily as Chardonnay to soil and climate conditions, or are so responsive to different techniques by growers and winemakers. This is why there are so many styles of Chardonnay- ranging from flinty Chablis to oaked, buttery Napa Chardonnays!

5. Want some food with that wine? Chardonnay is a great side-kick to seafood and poultry. If a chicken breast and plain white fish sounds boring- how about trying some lobster tail or fried chicken with that Chard?

6. Want to buy some Chardonnay? Here are some reliable and trustworthy producers of Chardonnay from around the world:

France: Chablis: Domaine William Fevre, Moreau et Fils, Dauvissat Bouchard Pere et Fils, Dujac, Verget, Olivier Laflaive, L. Jadot, L.Latour, J. Drouhin, Ramonet, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Leroy.

U.S. of A: La Crema, St Francis, Arrowood, R. Mondavi, Staglin Family, Kendall-Jackson, Lohr, Jordan Vineyards, Estancia, Matanzas Creek, Beringer, Cuvaison, Grgich Cellars, Heitz,

Chile: Errazuriz, Santa Rita, Concha y Toro, Caliterra, Casa Lapostolle, Undurraga

Now, go have some Chardonnay to celebrate! Or, if you're like me, just have it in your Champagne :)

I'll be back next week with reviews of Pacific Northeast wines and wineries!!

Stacey

The Simplest Wine & Love Related Analogy

2011-05-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today, as was I was fulfilling one of my weekly job tasks (searching all the major wine blogs and compiling some news snippets for my colleagues), I stumbled upon a post by Tom Marks, the writer of Fermentation: The Daily Blog.

Tom, just like me, is getting married very soon, and to someone he really loves.

On marriage, love, and wine, Tom writes:

"Love is like wine. It intoxicates.

I'm certainly intoxicated. Inebriated, even. And if you don't mind, I think I'll just stay in this state for the rest of my days. So excuse me if I slur my words from now on".

I'm with you, Tom Marks!

93 days to go!

My Mantra

2011-05-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

Friday Daydreams

2011-05-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

TGIF!! Can I get an amen?!

I know this is a wine blog, but all I can think about are...

The mojitos I'll be drinking tonight!!

Tonight I'm going to Havana's restaurant in Walnut Creek. We went there for my best friend's bachelorette party, and we all fell in love- especially with the mojitos.

They serve 15 types of mojitos, including melon, peach, strawberry, and apple... see the full menu on their site.

6 hours left until I'm there, and currently the colada mojito is sounding miiiiighty fiiiine!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

All the bridesmaids outside of Havana's at Cara's bachelorette party in 2009.

And The Answers Are....!

2011-05-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Wine-O's!

Yesterday, I shared a fun little wine quiz that I found in the Food Network Magazine.

Here are the answers!

1. Which is NOT a U.S. Wine Region?

A. Columbia Valley, WA

B. Willamette Valley, OR

C. Sonoita, AZ

D. Hill Country, TX

E. Estill Springs, TN

F. North Fork, NY

Correct answer: Estill Springs, TN

2. "Corked" wine smells like:

A. Tobacco

B. Plastic

C. Musty Cardboard

D. Pencil Shavings

Correct Answer: Musty Cardboard.
This is not a good thing, by the way. 3-5% of all wines are affected by TCA, which is what causes this 'corked' smell.

3. Which is NOT a real wine bottle size?

A. Royale

B. Jeroboam

C. Balthazar

D. Nebuchadnezzar

Correct Answer: Royale
These are all sparkling wine bottle sizes. The Nebuchadnezzer holds a whopping 15 liters! Crack me open one of those!!

4. A fungus called noble rot gives some dessert wines a desired ____ aroma.

A. Boiled Cabbage

B. Wet Hay

C. New Rubber

Correct Answer: Boiled Cabbage
The 'noble rot' is botrytis, a rare fungus that grows on ripe wine grapes. Botrytis affected grapes make some of the most prized sweet wines!

5. Pair the wine with the best take out food pairing:

Rose Pad Thai

Chianti Chicken tikka masala

Riesling Pizza

Correct Answer: Rose-Chicken Tikka Masala, Chianti-Pizza, Riesling-Pad Thai
All of the above are a balance of acid, sugar, and spice... and everything nice!

6. Mead is a type of wine that's made with ___ instead of grapes.

A. Honey

B. Apples

C. Berries

Correct answer: Honey
The production of mead dates back to as early as 6,000 B.C. Have I ever tried it? No way!

7. Match the country to its bubbly.

Germany Cava

Spain Champagne

Italy Lambrusco

France Sekt

Correct Answer:

Germany-Sekt, Spain-Cava, Italy-Lambrusco, France-Champagne

8. Match the wine experts to their occupation.

Robert Parker Winemaker

Aldo Sohm Sommelier

Fred Franzia Wine Critic

Correct Answer:
Robert Parker-Wine Critic, Aldo Sohm- Sommelier, Fred Franzia-Winemaker

Robert Parker writes for The Wine Advocate, Fred Franzia was the winemaker for Charles Shaw (2 Buck Chuck), and Aldo Sohm has been voted Best Sommelier in the World by the Worldwide Sommelier Association.

9. True or false?
You should swirl red wine, but not white or rose.

Correct answer: False
Swirl away, my friends! It'll oxygenate the wine and strengthen its flavors, regardless of color.

10. If you find stuff that looks like coffee grounds in your wine, you should:

A. Send the wine back.

B. Strain it, or decant it slowly.

C. Shake the bottle so the grounds dissolve into the wine.

Correct Answer: Strain it, or decant it slowly.
The stuff that looks like coffee grounds is wine sediment, a naturally occurring breakdown of the wine. If you see some, just strain the wine or pour it carefully so most of the sediment stays at the bottom of the bottle.

11. If you like dry, not-too-sweet champagne, you should order:

A: Extra brut

B. Demi-Sec

Correct Answer: Extra brut
The scale of sweetness for sparkling wine, from dries to sweetest goes:

Extra Brut-Brut-Extra Dry-Sec-Demi Sec-Doux.

So, how did you do?

Here's the scoring (according to the magazine)

0-4 Correct Answers
Novice! You need to do a little homework! The best way to learn about wine is to drink it. Before you know it, you'll be comparing tasting notes and throwing around words like "complexity" and "crispness".

5-7 Correct Answers
Quaffer! Not bad- we're guessing you've taken a trip to Napa Valley, or at least seen Sideways. But, there's more to learn: Ask wine shop managers or sommeliers anything and everything. You'd be surprised by how happy wine lovers are to teach you all about it-- SO TRUE, I say :)

8-11 Correct Answers
Master Sommelier! You're a true oenophile. Open a bottle of vintage Chateau Margaux for yourself and celebrate your good grade.

I hope you enjoyed this little quiz! Have a great Tuesday!

Stacey

What's Your Wine IQ?

2011-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!!

Yesterday, I was enjoying the So-Cal sunshine and flipping through magazines, and I found this fun little wine quiz in the Food Network Magazine. It is titled "What's Your Wine IQ"? and is fairly comprehensive, and asks questions about the major sectors of the wine industry.

So, for those who are fearless enough, take the quiz. I'll post the answers tomorrow, and we can compare our scores.

So if you dare, take the quiz and find out YOUR wine IQ!

1. Which is NOT a U.S. Wine Region?

A. Columbia Valley, WA

B. Willamette Valley, OR

C. Sonoita, AZ

D. Hill Country, TX

E. Estill Springs, TN

F. North Fork, NY

2. "Corked" wine smells like:

A. Tobacco

B. Plastic

C. Musty Cardboard

D. Pencil Shavings

3. Which is NOT a real wine bottle size?

A. Royale

B. Jeroboam

C. Balthazar

D. Nebuchadnezzar

4. A fungus called noble rot gives some dessert wines a desired ____ aroma.

A. Boiled Cabbage

B. Wet Hay

C. New Rubber

5. Pair the wine with the best take out food pairing:

Rose Pad Thai

Chianti Chicken tikka masala

Riesling Pizza

6. Mead is a type of wine that's made with ___ instead of grapes.

A. Honey

B. Apples

C. Berries

7. Match the country to its bubbly.

Germany Cava

Spain Champagne

Italy Lambrusco

France Sekt

8. Match the wine experts to their occupation.

Robert Parker Winemaker

Aldo Sohm Sommelier

Fred Franzia Wine Critic

9. True or false?

You should swirl red wine, but not white or rose.

10. If you find stuff that looks like coffee grounds in your wine, you should:

A. Send the wine back.

B. Strain it, or decant it slowly.

C. Shake the bottle so the grounds dissolve into the wine.

11. If you like dry, not-too-sweet champagne, you should order:

A: Extra brut

B. Demi-Sec

Come back tomorrow for the answers and see how YOU score!!

The Royal Wedding Champagne

2011-04-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, and last day of April!!

So, I was going to post about Italian wine today, and then I realized there was something much more important to blog about- the Royal Wedding!

I most certainly did not wake up at an obscene hour of the morning to watch the live feed, but I have to say that I did some thorough online research to check out all the juicy photos and video clips.

Before today's monumental event, there was countless chatter and predictions about Kate's wedding gown, how she was going to wear her hair, if they were going to get a kissing coach (they did, and it didn't seem to pay off), and on and on...

As a soon-to-be bride, of course I was interested in all those fun details, but as a complete wine-o, I was also interested to see what wine would be served at the royal reception! With their budget, the options are truly limitless.

Even girls my age remember watching clips of the 1981 (I wasn't even born!!) wedding between the Prince and the beloved Diana. All I remember is her dress and its ridiculous puffy sleeves and never-ending train. And, if we thought it couldn't get any more over the top, their wedding reception featured 1969 Krug Champagne, 1959 Château Latour,and 1955 Taylor’s vintage Port.

Now, if all those wines look like a foreign language to you, let me fill you in- those are some absolutely phenomenal and priceless wines. (I guess not priceless- they were probably more expensive than all my wedding costs combined!!) Yeah, just google those babies and see what you find.

Fast forward 30 years to today's wedding. Although the beverage menu has not been released, one selection has been confirmed- the choice of champagne(the most important part!!)

Drum roll please....

Non-Vintage Pol Roger will be the official Champagne at the Royal Wedding!

Although delicious and very good quality, this is a fairly common and moderately priced champagne (you can get it for around $50).

Heck, I've even had Pol Rogers before!

Feeling a little let-down?

I'm not- I applaud the decision to purchase something high quality, with a good reputation, and all the while not too expensive. It's something I'm hoping to provide for my own big day.

Congrats, William and Kate!

Hiatus

2011-04-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday!

I haven't posted the past few days- did you miss me?

I was M.I.A. because I was busy preparing and taking the Certified Specialist of Wine exam through the Society of Wine Educators.

Like every wine test I have ever taken, I freak out before, during and after the exam, and convince myself that I didn't pass. Hopefully this is just my normal pattern, and I'll be getting a pretty certificate in the mail soon. I do have to admit, this test was a bit harder than I anticipated.

Anyways, wish me luck- and I'll keep you posted!

Tomorrow, as promised, I finally will post about Italian wines!

Ciao,

Stacey

Some Technical Wine Terminology

2011-04-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, Wine Blog Readers!

To start the week out, I thought I'd write a quick blog that decodes some technical wine terminology. This way I don't have to re-define terms in further posts, and you all will be the smarter because of reading. Saves me time and typing, and increases your brain power all in one!

Here are some wine terms you are bound to come across in the world of wine:

Vintage: The year the grapes were harvested. So, a 2009 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is made of grapes that were picked in 2009.

Négociant: A French term for a wine merchant buys grapes from smaller grape growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name.

Oenophile: A lover of wine. In other words- me!

Varietal: Grape! Ex: Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, etc...

Cuvee: A specific blend of wines.

ABV: Alcohol By Volume (alcohol percentage)

Old World Wine: Wine made in Europe (France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy), as well as Portugal, Greece & Hungary. The wines are characterized as lower in alcohol, less fruity, and more earthy.

New World Wine: Wine made in the United States, South America, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. Wines from this area are typically higher in alcohol and more fruit forward.

Punt: The circular indentation found in the base of a wine bottle.

Sommelier: A trained, knowledgeable, and professional wine steward.

Do you have any other terms that you need defined? Let me know!

'Til tomorrow!

Stacey

What Wine to Guzzle with Easter Dinner

2011-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Easter. LOVE it.

I love buying and wearing a new bright and flower-y Easter dress. I love my childhood memories of hunting for chocolate eggs that were hidden all over our house (mom and dad- can we do that again?? Maybe for your grand kids!). I love lilies. I love all the triumphant music and hymns that we sing at church on Easter. And, most importantly, I love what Easter symbolizes- the fact that our Savior is RISEN and has conquered the grave!

But, the one thing I don't love about Easter is the food, at least the traditional main course.

I HATE honey baked ham. Ugh.

My sister LOVES honey baked ham.

Because my parents love us both equally, they usually prepare an Easter meal that will satisfy both of our tastes: honey baked ham for Lis, and extra mashed potatoes for Stace.

It worked out- Lis got her beloved ham (and ham sandwiches for days), and I got a plate full of carbs and salad-my favorite.

Anyways-- that little family and food history has nothing to do with this post, other than it is an introduction to: What Wine to Guzzle with Easter Dinner.

Whether you are hosting Easter at your house, are attending dinner as a guest and need a hostess gift, or you just are curious, here are a few wine suggestions for what wine to drink with Easter dinner.

What to guzzle with your appetizers: Bubbles, of course! The perfect wine to start out such a celebratory holiday, and Easter is most certainly celebratory!

Guzzle: My absolute favorite wine of all time-Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé. Find it in stores for around $25.

What to guzzle with your main course:

If you DO love honey baked ham, I would suggest a wine with a little bit of residual sugar to match with the sweetness of the meat (but seriously, who likes their meat to be sweet?? It's just gross!)

Guzzle: 2010 Von Strasser Winery Gruner Veltliner. $35

PS: In 2006, this was the FIRST Gruner Veltliner to ever grace the Golden State.

If I had my choice, I'd eat roasted lamb for Easter dinner. With lamb comes its classic sidekick: Rhone Valley Syrah and it's blending friend, Grenache. Red wines from the Rhone classically have peppery, dried meat characteristics. Think it sounds gross? You'll think twice after you pair it with a perfect hunk of peppery roasted lamb.

Guzzle: 2007 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône. $10

What to guzzle with dessert:

How about a lovely Moscato? My family and I could drink this stuff like we do water...

Guzzle: Capetta N.V. Moscato d'Asti Piedmont. $10 *

*I encourage you to go buy this from my lovely, sweet-ham loving sister, Lisa at The Wine Country, Signal Hill.

Have fantastic Easters, everyone! Go eat, drink, and celebrate the resurrection of our King!

Your Easter Wine Bunny,

Stacey

Stacey's Darling #2: Itali-fornian Pinot Noir

2011-04-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday to everyone!

I am in the process of writing a blog about Italian wine, and those of you who know anything about Italy and wine know that it is one of the most confusing wine regions in the world! That being said, it will take me a little while to compile a thorough and understandable blog for you.

So, in the meantime, I leave you with Stacey's Darling #2!

For those of you who don't know, I started a second little part time job working at the Oxbow Wine Merchants in Napa. It is a fun way for me to get my "wine fix" from selling, organizing, learning about, and TASTING new wines! One of the perks is that we get to taste any wine and call it job training and education :)

After my shift on Thursday, I tried the most fantastic Pinot Noir that I had to share with you. My co-worker (a fellow, proud certified sommelier) and I were blown away!

So, Stacey's Darling #2 is: 2007 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County.

When I saw the name "Cargasacchi", it immediately screamed "Italian wine"- those Italians love to throw in the "cc" and "chi" letter combinations. Then, I realized it was actually a Californian Pinot with history and roots in Italy.

The Cargasacchi family IS from Italy, and their winemaking style is founded in the traditional Italian philosophy of the necessity of pairing food and wine at mealtimes- hence the beautiful acid of this wine. It is beautifully delicious and balanced without food, but also is very versatile and food friendly and would compliment a wide range of food items- from any type of fish, pasta, and even red meat.

This wine is a gorgeous mix of red berries and oak and spice and mmm I want more!!

It is a bit more pricey than I would normally recommend (you can find it for between $25-$40 online and in stores), but I think it's worth it for a special occasion. It's a perfect wine for Easter- you can bring it as a hostess gift for your mom, grandma, aunt, etc... It would be awesome with honey baked ham! Just make sure your hostess opens it and shares with you!

Or, if you're really desparate, call me and I'll buy it for you with my store discount :)

Speaking of Easter, that reminds me- come back Wednesday for a post about what to drink with Easter dinner!

Love all you lovely readers,
Stace

Cargasacchi Pinot Noir winemaker's notes: "The saturated red hue borders on purple with distinctive Pinot Noir perfume of red and purple berries and violets. In the mouth, this is a luscious, richly textured wine that balances fruit, spice and tannin. Exhibiting layers of blackberry and small dark fruit flavors woven with firm, ripe, tannins for a very persistent, mouthwatering finish".

Scarcity, Fashion, and Demand

2011-04-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

When buying a 'fine' wine, a big portion of your dollar spent goes to scarcity, fashion, and demand- not the actual quality of the wine inside the bottle!

During a recent experiment,only 50% of 570 participants could correctly distinguish expensive (around $50) from budget (around $6) wines.

Welcome to the club.

This is great news- it means we don't have to empty our wallets to buy a good quality wine!

Check the full article- I think it's so interesting!

Glassware

2011-04-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! I wasn't going to post today because I want you all to read and respond to yesterday's blog. But then I remembered I made a pact to blog everyday (if possible), and it is possible today. So, I'm swallowing my stubbornness, and here I am, writing a new post. But please, if you could read yesterday's blog and leave some feedback, I'd love it!! So today I thought that I would talk a little about wine glassware. There are so many shapes and sizes and names- and do they even have a specific purpose? Here are the main types of glassware, and the appropriate wine that should be served in each: PS: I have listed in them in the order that you would actually serve the wines if you were hosting a wine dinner. It just so happens that the order perfectly mirrors my order of favorite wines :)

The Champagne Flute:

The shape of the Champage flute prolongs the bead (bubbles) of sparkling wine and keeps its chilled. Plus, when you see those flutes coming out of the cupboard, don't you automatically just think "party time!!"?

The White Wine Glass:

This is a slightly smaller version of a Bordeaux red wine glass (see below). It is smaller because there is less of a need to aerate (allow the wine to breathe) white wines. The smaller tulip shape also protects the cold temperature of the white wine.

The "Burgundy" (Pinot Noir) Glass

This is the largest wine glass, and it allows the maximum exposure to air for any red wine that needs to develop and "open" up. It also just looks pretty sophisticated and cool, huh?

The "Bordeaux" (Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot) Glass

This glass can be used as an all-purpose glass (this is kind of glass you'll most likely be given at a casual wine tasting), but it technically should be used for Bordeaux wines (AKA:Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot). It has a narrowing goblet shape, but it also has a small-ish opening to concentrate the smelly goodness of the wine.

The Fortified Wines Glass

This is what you'd use when serving Sherry, Port, Madiera, and any other dessert/fortified wines. I don't technically know why they are shaped that way, but the bowl (the round party) is smaller, as a serving of fortified wine is much less generous.

So, what is "aerating"/ "decanting" /"allowing the wine to breathe" and what does it do?

Think about if you went to sleep for about 2 years. It would take some serious stretching, breaths of fresh air, and walking around to get your body and brain moving and grooving again, right? Same for wines. They "sleep" and are shut up in those bottles for years and years!

It typically goes that the older the wine (the longer you sleep), the more time and air it needs to allow the flavors to develop.

This is why the shape of the glass is crucial to the type of wine you are serving.

May I say that while it is important, and "proper ettiquete", I am not super picky about this. You shouldn't feel ashamed if you only have one type of glass in your home. Heck, I have some friends that like to drink their sparkling wine out of a regular glass, opposed to a Champagne flute. Whatever floats your boat.

Remember, my main goal is to get us all educated-- how or when we veer off the path to have fun is up to us :)

Until tomorrow, friends....

** I got my information on : http://www.bestwineglass.com/

Themed Wine Tastings

2011-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump Day!

This post is a little different, and I would love to hear some feedback from YOU readers (if you exist. Most days I feel like I'm just writing for myself and my momma).

I've mentioned before that I am seriously considering starting my own little side business. It's still in the works, but I know for sure that one service I will offer is themed wine tastings.

I will host in my home, or go into YOUR home and coordinate a themed wine tasting party. The tasting will be a mix of sampling between 5-7 wines, as well as some wine lessons, similar to what you'd read in these posts. I will pick and purchase the wines (although you'll need to reimburse me :] ), provide the glassware, tasting notes, and my own write ups on the wine regions and wines- I can even pick out small bite samplings to pair with the wines. All you have to do is provide the guest list and show up!

Here are some of the wine tasting themes that I've been mulling over in my head, and I'd love to know your thoughts!

ABC Tastings (Anything But Chardonnay)

For those of you who are sick of Chardonnay, this tasting will explore the other fantastic white wines from around the world, including Chenin Blanc, Viura, Gruner Veltliner, Muller Thurgau and Torrontes!

A Journey through France

Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Rhone, The Loire, Beaujoulais...

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles!

'Nuff said. This tasting will cover all the major types of bubbly, including Spain's Cava, Germany's Sekt, and France's hailed Champagne.

The Undiscovereds

Assyrtiko, Spatburgunder, The Black Wine of Cahors, Zweigelt... Never heard of these wines? Great! This tasting will introduce you to the unknown but delicious wines from around the world.

Sugar Rush

Pairing dessert with sweet wine. Yes, I'll even bring the dessert!

Wines from Down Under

Aussie and New Zealand wines!

Brown Paper Bag Tastings

You tell your guests to bring a wine in a paper, and I facilitate a proper blind wine tasting- voting and all.

So, what do you guys think? Do you like the ideas? Have any suggestions? Interested in having your OWN themed wine tasting party?

I'd so appreciate your feedback!

Thanks everyone,

Stace

Stacey's Darling #1: A Beauty of a Riesling

2011-04-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Darling [dahr-ling]

–noun

1. a person/thing very dear to another; one dearly loved.

2. a person or thing in great favor; a favorite.

–adjective

3. very dear; dearly loved.

4. favorite; cherished.

5. charming; cute; lovable:

Today marks the day that I begin a series of posts that I will call, "Stacey's Darlings". (See the above definition of darling).

These "darlings" could be wines that I have tried long ago that remain classics, or could be new discoveries that I stumble upon during my wine adventures.

If I hail a wine as a "darling", it meets the following criteria:

1. I have personally tasted it- not just read or heard about it.

2. I enjoyed it and thought it was of good quality.

3. I think that it's worth your money.

4. You can buy it- online, in retail stores, or in restaurants.

So, to begin this exciting journey of wine recommendations, I dedicate this first darling to my darling fiance, Jared.

Jared and I stumbled across this darling wine at a local wine bar in Walnut Creek called Va de Vi. Our server was gracious enough to give us a little taste test, and Jared fell in love! Every time we go anywhere for wine, Jared asks if they have it. Hey, he's a man who knows what he wants- that's why I love him!

So, Stacey (and Jared's) Darling #1 is:

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Piesporter Goldtropfchen, Kabinett Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany .

Wowie-Wow that's a lot of wines with a lot of consonants!

So, let me break it down for you:

This wine is:

1. A Riesling. Duh!

2. From Germany.

3. More specifically, from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany. This is the specific wine region in Germany that the grapes were grown- it would be similar to our Napa or Temecula.

The Mosel is the main river in Germany, and Saar-Ruwer are its 2 tributaries. No tricks with that name!

4. Made in the driest style possible, although it still is semi-sweet.

How do I know this? The word Kabinett. Kabinett is the driest style on the scale of German sugar classification.

Want to know the whole scale? Just for fun?

Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, Trokenbeerauslese.

Say that 5 times fast!!

5. Made by the wine producer Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt.

6. Grown at a vineyard called Piesporter Goldtropfchen.

I wish I had a cool German accent.

Now that you aren't scared of the name of Darling #1, let me rave about it. This baby is like liquid gold- seriously! For a sipping and aperitif wine, it has the perfect amount of sugar- it is just sweet enough- and its crisp acidity balances it out perfectly. Expect lots of stone fruit characteristics- peaches and apricots, slate-y minerality, as well as some of that juicy grapefruit that I love.

This wine is most certainly charming and loveable!

If you are interested in buying, you can find this darling wine on wine searcher.

Please, let me know if you've tried it and enjoyed it!

See ya tomorrow!

Taking the "Snob" out of Sensory Evaluation: Part 2

2011-04-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, my wine loving and learning friends! I hope you all had great weekends!

Did you try any good wines? I tried some new wines- apparently my palette was craving some rosés as both Spanish and Central Coast rosés were my poisons of choice this weekend.

I am pleased to say that a friend who has been reading my blog called and asked for some wine recommendations. Luckily, both my suggestions (Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Segura Viudas Cava) were a success! Thanks for reading and participating, dear friend :)

I'm glad to be back from the weekend and writing again!

My last post covered sensory evaluation, which is a fancy way of saying 'the proper method to follow if you want to get the most out of your wine tasting experience'.

In my last post, I covered the first 2 of what I call the 4 S's of Sensory Evaluation: SEE and SMELL, and what these 2 senses can tell you about a wine.

Today's post will cover the last 2 S's and explain why this process of sensory evaluation is just so darn important. So, here comes the fun part, and what we all really care about. The 3rd S of sensory evaluation is SIP. After the wine is in your mouth, confirm the characteristics that you smelled. Does the wine taste like the lemon peel that you originally smelled? Or does it taste like melon? Does it taste like lemon peel and melon? Once again, try and identify the F.E.W items (Fruit, Earth, Wood) and go with your first impression!

Then comes the part that requires a bit more than just a lady-like SIP.

SWISH!

Yes, swish. It may seem strange, and you may feel a little gross doing it, but it is truly the best way to isolate every taste and aspect of the wine.

So, suck it up and just SWISH! Let the wine coat your mouth, and then pay attention to how it feels. Look at this little tongue map to see where your body physically identifies each element.

Does it burn in the back of your throat? It has higher alcohol content.

Does it make the sides of your tongue water? It is acidic.

Does it give you sandpaper tongue (if it's red)? It is high in tannin.

Does it coat every inch of your mouth? It is full in body.

Does the taste linger forever? It has a long finish.

Is it sweet? Dry?

All of those aspects make up the structure and composition of the wine which tells you heaps and loads about what the wine IS, if it's good/bad quality, how old it is, etc..

And, finally, the last S is: SUMMARIZE.

In this step, you re-walk through every S and sum up (ooo! another s!) what you experienced.

Take this example:

S1: This wine is pale, straw yellow in color. It is so pale that it is almost clear. There is nothing weird floating in the wine.

S2: This is a fruit forward wine. I smell mostly citrus fruit, especially lemon. It smells fresh and crisp.

S3: I confirm the lemon peel taste that I smelled. It is a very crisp, acidic wine. It is dry, and is light in body.

If the purpose of the tasting is to actually guess what the wine is, then you would take all these clues and add them up:

Due to the light yellow color, strong lemon characteristics and crisp acidity, I think this is a 2009 Pinot Grigio from Italy, most likely from the northeast region of Trentino Alto Adige.

Ta-da!

Think you could never get this point? Well, you can, and I can help you! Have I told you that I can teach private and group wine tasting courses? :) But if you aren't interested in a personal wine tutor (which, why wouldn't you be?), there are 2 things you can do:

1. Read up on the character profiles of all the different grapes. Every wine book will tell you what each grape generally tastes, looks, and smells like from all the major regions. For the most part, all this information holds true.

2. Just taste. All the time. (Tough job, huh?) Go through this process and write it down. It doesn't have to be a blind taste, either. You can know perfectly well what you're drinking, but it helps to break it down aspect by aspect as you go along.

You'll eventually be able to connect #1 and #2 together.

What is the point of all this hoopla, may you ask?

Well, first of all, being able to blind taste is impressive! I have found that people think I'm more interesting when they find out I know about wine... Even though I'm really not.

Secondly, this process helps you fully appreciate all aspects of the wine, not just the buzz it gives you after a few glasses.

Thirdly, it helps you understand and isolate what you like to drink and why. Refer back to this post. Rather than just saying, "I like this wine", you can say why you like it, and know how to purchase a similar bottle!

Well, friends, I hope you've enjoyed learning this method. Next time you taste wine, please refer back to the 4 S's of Sensory Evaluation.

I would tell you to check back tomorrow for some other named post... but I have no clue what I'll be posting about tomorrow. I will be posting though, I promise!

Thanks for reading and learning with me,

Stacey

Taking the "Snob" out of Sensory Evaluation: Part 1

2011-04-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

As a die hard wine enthusiast, it bums me out that wine lovers get the bad rep of being "snobby".

Yes, sometimes the world of wine and the people in it are deserving of the title, "snobby". There are many wine snobs that think you to be less than normal if you don't have the gran crus of Beaujolais or the clones of Zinfandel memorized. There are also many wine-o's that won't touch wine that is priced under $50 with a 10 foot pole. (By the way, I don't fall into those categories!!)

I believe some of the poo-poo attitude towards knowledgeable wine consumers is due to the way we "wine taste".

After all, how many times have you seen a wine snob stick his/her slightly upturned nose into a wine glass and take a big whiff like they actually are smelling something discernible? Oh, and how annoying is it when they swirl the glass around and watch it like they were watching the lion exhibit at the zoo! And then what about the comments about the wine's 'legs'? That's just weird. But, the worst is when the snob takes a sip and then has the AUDACITY to actually swish the wine around like it was mouthwash. It's enough to make your stomach turn, right?

Well, I hate to break it to ya, folks, but this is actually the proper way to taste wine. The technical term for this method of tasting and analyzing every aspect of a wine is called SENSORY EVALUATION.

The goal of this post is to walk you through each step of sensory evaluation, and hopefully I will 'de-snob' the method as we go along.

Let's begin! Actually, before we begin, here are two little nuggets that I've learned:

#1: Don't over think.

#2: Always go with your gut and first impression.

Okay, now let's begin. Yay!

To complete the process, we will walk through what I call the 4 S's of Sensory Evaluation: See, Smell, Sip/Swish, Summarize. **Note: I was originally going to do this as one post, but due to length and content importance, I need to cut it in two!**

So, without further ado, the first 2 S's of sensory evaluation: SEE & SMELL.

SEE: Although sight is the most frequently used human sense, it tells us the least about wine.

What CAN the sight of the wine tell us?

Look first at the COLOR, as it can tell us several things:

First of all, color is an indication of the wine's AGE. A young red wine will have blue-ish tints, while an older red will appear brick red and orange.

A young white will have pale yellow or even green-ish tones. A more aged white wine will be rich, deep golden in color.

As you learn more about different wines and their characteristics, color is also be an indication of VARIETAL (have I mentioned varietal just means grape? So Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, etc... are all varietals).

For instance, the average wine snob will know that Pinot Noir is very light red, opposed to Sryah or Malbec, which can be almost inky in color. Pinot Grigio is almost clear, and Chardonnay can be golden.

If you feel overwhelmed, don't worry, we will get you there soon! :)

Along with SEE comes another S of Sensory Evaluation: SWIRL.

The wine snobs have got it right- you should swirl the wine glass (try not to splash!!) After you swirl, watch the way the wine runs down the sides of the glass. These are the 'legs', but I truly hate calling them that.

Does the wine run down the glass quickly? Slowly? In thick or thin stripes? Does it coat the glass with a wall of wine? All these are an indication of how viscous the wine is- or rather how much alcohol/body it has. Wine that runs down the glass slow like molasses most likely has a fairly high alcohol content, while fast, thin stripes indicate lower alcohol.

Lastly, look for any thing IN this glass. Bubbles? Chunks of stuff? Cork? This doesn't happen too often, but just check. If you DO find something, call me :)

Onto the next S:

SMELL: This is the most important step of tasting wine. So, go ahead, take a big whiff! Then, think about what you smell.

Need help?

Try to pick out a F.E.W. characteristics:

F= Fruit

Citrus Fruit--> lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange

Berry Fruit--> strawberry, blueberry, blackberry

Tropical Fruit --> pineapple, mango, papaya

Stone Fruit --> peach, plum, nectarine

And NON-FRUIT items:

Flowers --> honeysuckle, roses

Grass & weeds

Vegetables --> mushrooms, bell pepper, olives (my sister's favorite)

Spices --> cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, pepper

E= Earth

Chalk

Limestone

Slate

Dirt (dry, moist, damp, wet)

W= Wood **Note: Sometimes you do actually smell oaky wood, but the following descriptions are a result of the winemaker storing the wine in wood barrels.**

Caramel

Butter

Coffee

Cigar box

You may be thinking- "can you really smell all those things? I just smell alcohol!". That's the best part of wine- how complex and interesting it is.

You CAN smell these things- and more!! In fact, the average human can be trained to smell and identify 1,000 smells. Unless you're my mother- she can smell about 10,000, and within .0005 seconds

Anyway.s, most wines will generally fall into one of those broad categories, hence why people say "that is a fruit-forward wine", or "that is an earthy wine".

All of these characteristics are good indications of the varietal: Pinot Grigio smells like lemon, Nebbiolo smells like tar & roses, and Sauvignon Blanc smells like 'gooseberries'. You'll learn all that, too!

Once again, can I remind you-- go with your first impression! You can indentify a multitude of smells and tastes that I didn't even list. For instance, I think that some wines smell like dirty socks. And to me, they do, and you can't argue with me- there is no wrong answer! That's encouraging, isn't it?

Those, my fellow wine-o's are the first 2 S's of Sensory Evaluation.

Check back Monday (Jared and I are re-doing one of our bathrooms this weekend and so I won't be blogging). The post will cover the last 2 S's: SIP & SUMMARIZE!!

Thanks for reading, and drink some wine this weekend- I know I will!

Stacey

Mother Said...

2011-04-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Every person on this earth that has a mother most likely grew up hearing a few (or many) little cliche rules that moms just love to say:

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." (Sorry, Mom, but that one just isn't true)

"Birds of a feather flock together." (I'll pass that one on to my kids!)

"Eat your vegetables." (I use that one on my fiance all the time)

And of course, the golden rule, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (You can't argue with The Bible, folks!!)

Sound familiar?

Well, the world of wine has a few little rules of its own. If you remember my last post, I encouraged you to make the most of your wine purchases by creating a perfect food and wine pairing.

To help you with this, I'd like to share with you a few of the golden rules of wine and food pairing:

Rule #1: Don't segregate.

There is a silly and outdated rule that states: "White wines belong with white meats, and red wines belong with red meats".

Throw that out of the window, baby!!(Don't worry, I have authority to say that, and every other sommelier will tell you the same).

The issue of the matter is not color, but balance. The goal of food and wine pairing is to choose a food and wine that perfectly compliment each other. A poor food and wine pairing would cause either component to outweigh the other, like a huge Cabernet with a light flaky fish.

The being said, consider the WEIGHT of the food and wine (how well it coats your mouth). A feminine, delicate Gamay from Beaujolais, although red, would be a great compliment to a light, white fish.

So remember, segregation was made illegal in 1954.

Rule #2: Acid needs acid.

Remember Mr. Acid? Acidity in wine makes your mouth water, cheeks pucker, and gives the sensation that resembles what it would feel like to chomp on lemon slices. Acidity is a lovely component of wine, and without it, wine would be what wine snobs call "flabby" (real profound, huh?)

There IS a way to make the most of acid in both wine and food, and that is to match them together.

Have you ever wondered why Italian red wine tastes so delicious with Italian food? That is because of the pH levels of Italian staples. Rustic Italian ingredients, like tomatoes, lemons, and capers are highly acidic. That's why they go brilliantly with Chianti, which is made from the super acidic Sangiovese grape. Mangia Mangia!

If you aren't an Italian food/wine person (which, how could you NOT be??-I guess Olive Garden has ruined some people's taste for Italian food, and rightly so), pair a nice Sauvignon Blanc with some fish smothered in freshly squeezed lemon.

Your mouth will be happy :)

Rule #3: Weight needs Weight.

Refer to Rule #1. A heavy wine (one that is high in alcohol & tannin) needs a heavy food (lots of fat, salt, and protein) to stand up to it.

Hello... Red wine+fat filled cheese= awesome!

That's also the reason why a big, bold, Cabernet is the classic sidekick to a hunk of beef. Just like Batman and Robin, but more edible.

Rule #4: Fish hates tannin.

See Rule #1 again. This is why most heavy red wines don't go well with fish. Fish generally has an oily texture and body.

Take my weird analogy:

You just got your carpet scotch guarded. The next day, you spill oil on it. If the scotch guard does its job right, it will hopefully prevent the oil from seeping into the carpet. It serves as a blocker, and will force the oil to just puddle up on the carpet, rather that leak into the nooks and crannies.

Think of tannin in wine as the scotch guard, and the oily fish as the spilled oil. The tannin will serve as a blocker, and will force the oily fish texture to just puddle up on your tongue, rather than be absorbed and enjoyed. Not appetizing.

Therefore, the golden rule is: don't pair fish with tannic wines. On the flip side, acidic whites and light reds (like Pinot Noir and Gamay) are great pairings to fish!

Rule #5: Spice+Alcohol= FIRE! Don't be scared when it comes to pairing spicy food with wine. But remember, drinking a wine with high a high alcohol content while eating spicy food is like pouring gasoline on a blazing fire.

'Nuff said- and do you really want that sensation in your mouth?

So, spicy Asian food with a big, tannic, Napa Cab= a bad idea.

Rule #6: Sugar+Spice= Something Nice

If you DO like spicy food, there is a solution!

Pair spicy food with a wine that has some residual sugar in it (many German and Austrian wines fall under this category, as well as wines from Alsace).

Spicy Asian food with a Riesling or Gewurztraminer is a beautiful thing.

When it comes to spicy Mexican food, my professional suggestion is to just grab a margarita. On the rocks, with salt, please!

Rule #7: Sweeter is better.

When it comes to pairing dessert with wine, always remember: the WINE must always be SWEETER than the dessert. This is why bitter dark chocolate and port are a brilliant pairing. The syrupy quality of Port balances out the bitterness in the chocolate. And vice versa.

Don't believe me? Thinking about pairing a sweet dessert wine with a double layered caramel & chocolate cake? Think again, or bring along some pepto bismol-you'll have a big 'ol stomach ache.

What is my personal favorite food & wine couple, you ask? Potato chips and Champagne. AKA: A little slice of Heaven.

Now please, go invite all your friends over for dinner! Your flawless food and wine pairings will be sure to impress.

Bon Appetito, Wine-O's,

Your Fearless Tutor, Stacey

PS: Next post: "Taking the Snob out of Sensory Evaluation"- how to REALLY taste wine like a pro!
PSS: Encouraged readings: "Perfect Pairings" & "Daring Parings" by Evan Goldstein
PSSS: Go to this cool wine & food pairing tool for some additional assistance (although after reading this post, I hope you won't need it!)

Navigating The Wine Store: Part 2

2011-04-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Heya Wine-O's,

If you missed it, here is a recap from yesterday's post:

For many wine consumers, going into a wine store can be slightly (or very) confusing and overwhelming. With the thousands upon thousands of different types of wines, it's difficult to know even how to START the shopping process.

So, to help a bit, I pointed out the fact that most wine stores organize inventory by COUNTRY, ie: a section for French, American, Spanish, and German (etc...)wine. Although it only breaks down the equation a little, it is a start.

Just when you thought you were making progress, I then burst everyone's bubble and brought up the slightly disheartening fact that some countries label their wines based on region, not by grape. For example, a bottle of Italian Chianti will not mention what grape the wine is actually made from. Rather, it is just an assumption that we know that all Chianti is made from Sangiovese.

To scale down the process even more, I highlighted some of what I call the BUZZ wines and BUZZ regions. The BUZZ categories are must-try options for wine lovers.

Now that you know the BUZZ wines & regions for each major wine producing country, we can begin the shopping process.

Step 1: Choose your price range. Now is a great time to remind you that price is not always an accurate indication of quality, although, when it comes to 2 buck chuck it is extremely spot on!But honestly this is not always the case. You can get a fantastic bottle of wine for under $20, and even under $10. So, no need to feel stingey- just choose your price and stick to your guns!

Step 2: Choose the BUZZ region that most interests you. For instance, say that you think New Zealand sounds like a cool place because you're never tried their wines, and because of their obsession with kiwi- the kiwi fruit, the kiwi bird, and heck, the NZ natives even refer to themselves as "Kiwis".

Step 3: Choose a BUZZ wine from your selected BUZZ region. This would be a good time to refer to the list from Navigating The Wine Store: Part 1. So, New Zealand is our chosen BUZZ region, and Sauvignon Blanc is our selected BUZZ wine. Good choice, may I add! Mmmm mmmm here comes delicious grapefruit and perfect acidity!!

Step 4: The next step is choosing the actual bottle. My suggestion? Just choose one. I know some of you may be thinking, "that's hardly helpful- thanks for nothing!", but the truth of the matter is that there are hundreds, heck even THOUSANDS of awesome wines to try from every region. So, refer to step 1 and choose a bottle that fits your budget. If this reckless abandonment scares you a bit, think about how small the risk actually is. Assuming your price range isn't 100's of bucks (I know mine certainly isn't), you can pay a small amount of cash and potentially find an awesome wine that you love. Of course there is the risk that you may hate it, but then at least you've scaled down your taste a bit more. AND if you do "hate it", please refer to my post, Cracking the Wine Codes, to help yourself understand WHY you hate the wine and how to avoid similar wines next time.

Step 5: Congratulations- you have your prized selection!! And, wasn't the whole process sweat and tears free?

Step 6: Find a delicious recipe to perfectly pair with your awesome new wine.
Don't know how to pair wine with food?

You're in luck- I do!

Check back tomorrow for the golden rules of food & wine pairing and how to impress your friends at any dinner party!

Good work and God speed, wine-O's,

Stacey

Navigating The Wine Store: Part 1

2011-04-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

It's happened to all of us. You walk into a wine store with high hopes of leaving with a great bottle of wine for a price that won't break your wallet.

But HOLY MOLEY there are SO many shelves and bottles and brands, and labels, and oh my.... you start to get a bit woozy.

Then, the worst happens. You approach the store employee to ask for some help, and, well, they don't know much more than you do (unless, you are shopping at the Wine Country in Signal Hill and the employee happens to be my beautiful, charming, and smart wine-o sister, Lisa).

So, let's take a poll. What do you do when this situation happens?

A. Leave the store, frustrated, defeated, and practically in tears.
B. Revert back to familiarity, and buy a bottle of the same old stuff you always drink.
C. Close your eyes, spin around a few times, point, and buy.

The good news is that this blog is for people who circle A, B, C, or any other answer, and hopefully this post will give you some helpful pointers for the next time you're brave enough to venture into a wine store.

Alrighty, to begin, you'll notice that most wine stores are sectioned off by country, ie: there is a section for wines from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and the miscellaneous "other countries".

Okay, cool, so now what? Look for what I call "BUZZ wines"-the most successful, popular, flagship, or if you want to call them the best wines from each country.

A not-so-side note: Many European countries have "BUZZ regions" opposed to BUZZ wines. This is because in some wine making countries, the wine region is synonymous to what is in the bottle.

Uh,what?

Some wine bottles are labeled by the region, rather than the grape. For instance, a White Bordeaux will ALWAYS be either Sauvignon Blanc or Semillion.

That's just the way it is. I know, how rude of all those European producers to just assume that we already know their tricky codes!

Now that we've established that, let me break 'em down for ya:

France: France is one of the places that classifies their wine by region opposed to grape.

Champagne, duh. The grapes used in that bubbly goodness are Pinot Noir, Pinot Menuier, and Chardonnay.

Bordeaux wines. You can get BIG bang for your buck here. Generally speaking, Bordeaux reds will be blends of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, and the whites are made from Sauvignon Blanc. Look for words like Medoc, Pomerol, Graves, and St. Emillion.

Wines from Burgundy. Chardonnay is the white grape of Burgundy, and here you'll find Chards that are typically rich and oaky. Burgundian reds are from Pinot Noir.

If you like crisp and flinty whites, look for Chablis. Winemakers in Chablis age Chardonnay in stainless steel instead of oak barrels.

My personal favorite region: Loire. They make a billion styles of wine from a million grape varieties. Loire is famous for Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, but I think you really can't go wrong.

Rhone Valley. Wines from Grenache & Syrah. If you're looking for a wine that reminds you of green olive juice and dried meat, go straight to the Rhone section.

Italy: Italy is super confusing because Italian wine is labeled based on both grape and region! As if it couldn't make your brain hurt any more!

Chianti: Chianti is made from the Sangiovese grape. This wine is Tuscany's prized jewel.

Pinot Grigio: Light and citrusy (almost tastes like lemon water to me). Find it in the North East regions of Italy.

There are countless interesting and awesome Italian wines. Look for Greco di Tufo, Barolo, Brachetto, and the list goes on.... I promise, one of my posts will focus just on Italy.

Spain: Spain does make wine worth trying other than Sherry!

Cava, Spain's sparkling wine. Segura Viudas is a very popular and reasonably priced brand.

Delicious white wines like Viura, Verdejo, and Albarino. The BUZZ reds are Garnacha and Tempranillo.

Germany

Riesling: It's naturally one of the most acidic grapes in the world, but the wine can still be so sweet! What a conundrum.

If you're feeling really adventurous, take a risk and grab a Muller-Thurgau, which is a white wine that is indigenous to Germany.

New Zealand

Sauvignon Blanc. If you like your wine to taste like grapefruit, lemon, and gooseberries (like I do), this is your wine.

Australia

Shiraz. Crack open a bottle and you will find a jar of strawberry jam in liquid form.

The US of A

FYI: 90% of wine made in the USA is made in California, and 3/4 bottles of American wine that are sold are Californian.

Although the movie Sideways made people's perceptions of California wine go a bit crazy, we do have some pretty darn good selections, whether it be a big, bold Napa Cab, a fruity Pinot Noir from the Central Coast, or, my favorite, some delicious and yeasty bubbly from Sonoma.

Washington State and Oregon are the other big USA players. Look for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.

Other: The "other" countries normally include wines that only wine snobs have heard of. This section will normally feature wines from Austria, Portugal, South Africa, Greece& Hungary.

Chenin Blanc: or what they call "Steen" in South Africa

Austria's Gruner Veltliner: a white that is normally characterized by its white pepper taste.

Port, the famous fortified wine, obviously comes from Portugal.

Hungary and Greece have some wines that I can't spell, pronounce, or tell you much about, like Egri-Bikaver and Assyrtiko.

Please, if this has helped or interested you in any way, shape, or form, come back tomorrow to read, "Navigating the Wine Store: Part 2".

Cheers,

Stacey

Cracking the Wine Codes

2011-04-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

"I don't like that wine"

That's fine. I can accept that, because I often feel that way too, especially about oaked Chardonnays and California Rieslings. What I can't accept is when people say "I don't like wine because it is an acquired taste and I just don't have it". I also agree with that statement- wine IS an acquired taste, and you DO have to train yourself to appreciate and love its beauty, complexity, and flavor.

So, to any of you who may feel ready to write off wine because you think your palate isn't educated enough, I encourage you to not give up yet!

If you don't "like wine", the question to ask yourself is, why don't I like it? What taste or sensation do I detect that is unappealing to me?? The first step is verbalizing what it is you don't like about a wine, even though you may not know what it technically means in wine language.

Here are some common 'negative' phrases decoded:

"It burns my throat when I swallow"= The burning sensation that you feel in the back of your throat after taking a gulp of wine (often associated with red wines) is caused by high alcohol levels. The amount of alcohol in a wine is a reflection of the climate in which the grapes were grown (I'll delve into that another day!! ).

Good news-this is an easy problem to solve! Every wine label is required to list the ABV (alcohol by volume). So, before you buy, look at the label.

The percentage ranges for alcohol:

Low= 8-10% (Sparkling wine, some German/Austrian wines)

Medium= 11-13% (the average old bear- you can find all types of wines in this category)

High= 13%-15 (the big boys like Cabernets, Syrahs, or many grapes grown in HOT climates)

If you don't like this feeling, look on the wine label, and anything over 13% ABV you should steer clear of- or at least pair with some food.

"It makes my mouth water"=Do you feel like you just bit into a lemon? That means you are drinking a wine with high acid. As is the same with alcohol, the amount of acid in a wine can correlate with the climate in which the grapes were grown.

Cold climate= high acid.

There are a few other factors that affect acid, but climate is a big one. Unfortunately, acid in wine is not as easy to sleuth out before purchasing, so I'll help you out.

Here are some wines that you should walk past in the store if you don't like drinking wine that makes your mouth pucker up :)

New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs (which are my favorite, by the way!)

German/Austrian Rieslings (Riesling is naturally a very high acid grape)

Spanish whites like Viura and Verdejo

The King of Tuscany, Sangiovese (which makes Chianti). This is my fiance's favorite wine!

Before you write off wines that are acidic, remember the tried and true rule of wine and food pairing: Wines with high acid are fantastic with acidic foods. So, pair a Spanish Viura with some fish covered with freshly squeezed lemon, or, even better, pop open a bottle of Chianti and eat some pasta with some tomato-caper sauce. Mmmm... I can feel my mouth watering now!

"It makes my mouth feel like sandpaper"= Do you feel like you just rinsed with mouth wash? Yeah, I know how you feel. That, red wine drinkers, is called tannin. Tannin is a characteristic unique to red wine because it is found in the skins and seeds of wine grapes. In the red winemaking process, the grapes are given time to soak and mingle with their skins, which is how they get that rich, beautiful red color (Did you know white wine can be made from red grapes?).

So, the formula: thick red grape skins= lots of tannin= lots of dry mouth

Application?

If you want a red wine that isn't tannic, go straight to the Pinot Noir section. Pinot has extremely thin and fragile skin, which is why it has that delicious light taste. Not much tannin in that pretty lady, no matter where she's from.

Look in the France section for wines from "Beaujolais". They make delicate red wine from the Gamay grape. It's a refreshing change from the norm wine and you'll really impress your friends.

Cabernet Sauvignon has the thickest of grape skins, so it will be VERY tannic.

Brunello & Barolo are Italian varietals that you tannin-haters should not touch with a 10 foot pole.

Although you may not like tannin now, if you keep trying, I think you can really learn to appreciate how it adds so much complexity to red wines.

"It's too dry"= Let's face it, friends. People overuse the term 'sweet' way too much. Sweet wines have residual sugar in them. There are some wines that you may think are sweet, but that in reality have absolutely no sugar in them! Reminder: wines that taste like fruit or vanilla are NOT sweet wines!

Examples: Oaked Chardonnay (found in California) is a DRY wine. There typically absolutely zero, zip, zilch residual sugar in those babies. But, because of wine making techniques (being stored in oak barrels), you get that creamy, vanilla, coffee taste. Australian Shiraz is also not sweet, but don't you just love the jammy raspberry taste? Me too :) See, you really DO like dry wines! "

I only like sweet wines" = Join the club. The majority of Americans are right there with ya. But please people, it's time to start broadening our horizons. Did you know that high sugar levels are often used to mask flaws in wine? Don't get me wrong, there are some really beautiful sweet wines that are not syrup-y, or what wine snobs call "cloying".

Good examples of this are a really nice German Riesling (look for either the word Kabinett or Spatlese- these are indicators of how sweet the wine is). Instead of reverting back to Almond Champagne, Raspberry wine, or cheap Muscat, try to trick your palette into drinking something that gives your mouth the sensation of sweetness. Refer to the examples in the previous decoding.

"The wine store is overwhelming- there are too wines many to chose from and I don't understand the label!"= Check in next week for some wine store navigation tips :) I hope that this is helped you overcome some of your wine inhibitions. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, and please keep me posted with your new wine experiences!

Over and out,

Stacey

The Revival of a Wine-O

2011-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

I'm in a funk. Plain and simple.

Don't get me wrong, I have so many things in my life that make me jump for joy, like my upcoming wedding and my fantastic fiance, my awesome family, my great friends, and the list goes on....

But, it just feels like there is something missing. Those of you who know me are aware that my favorite thing in the world is wine. Learning about it, drinking it, gabbing about it, and even just day dreaming about it.

Last year was a year overflowing with wine. In the span of 7 months, I took my 1st and 2nd level sommelier exams, and you could say that most of my time was spent studying (and stressing!). I would study wine while brushing my teeth, in my car (only while sitting at stoplights), at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while on dates with my boyfriend, and I'd pretty much gab to anyone who'd listen. This year has not been as wine-filled.

It has been a great year, but just not full of my favorite topic. To break this dry spell, I have jumped back on the wine bandwagon and signed up to take my Certified Specialist of Wine exam through the Society of Wine Educators. If I pass, I will be able to put "CSW" behind my name. Fancy, don't ya think?

I also have made a pact that I will blog about wine at least two times a week. I doubt that my blog will ever go viral, or that people around the country will be sending me samples and begging me to write about them, but at least this can be an outlet for me, and maybe provide some good information for my readers. I will be giving a weekly wine lesson, as well as recommendations for how you can get the best bang for your buck at the wine store.

So, if you are a wine-o, a wannabe wine-o, or just a regular old wine consumer, please check back weekly! I promise you won't be disappointed.

Cheers, Stacey

I Am

2011-03-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

saved by grace.
addicted to coffee.
getting married to the best man alive.
looking at a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers that the aformentioned man sent to my work- just to brighten my day!
never going to have a pet.
a mama's and daddy's girl.
pretty well-traveled for a 23 year old, but always wanting more.
a shameless wine-o.
blessed with some amazing friends.
a life-long student.
sunshine and summertime.
into any and all bright colors. jared, be prepared to have a house full of orange and teal walls :)
a strange mix of intro and extrovert
as my grandma would say, "a faceful of teeth".
never too full for dessert.
a musician.
in love with Nantucket Island and the summer of 2010.
a Christ follower who is daily learning to rely on the Lord.

My wedding photographer and friend Gladys Jem Allen inspired me to write this blog. Boom Boom!

168

2011-03-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

168.

168 is not that special of a number. I doubt that many people claim that 168 is a lucky or favorite number. 168 doesn't categorize anything- not like 365, 12, or 24 do. Most people probably never think anything of the number 168.

168 was never a significant number to me, until today. Today I started a countdown. That countdown tells me that there are 168 days until August 19th.

In 168 days, I will be getting married. In 168 days, I will be marrying my best friend and the best man I know. In 168 days, I will stand before God and take vows to stand by this wonderful man for the rest of my life.

I love the number 168.

And Forget Not All His Benefits

2011-01-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Another year has snuck up on us again- I can hardly believe it!

At the beginning of 2010, I posted a blog about my life during 2009. Today, as I read over this post that I wrote almost a year ago to the day, I smiled to see the way that God has used the events of 2009 to bring me to where I am today in the beginning of 2011, and what a beautiful place that is.

So, here are "A Few Neat-O Things I Did in 2010":

1. I spent the summer of 2009 living in Italy, and during the summer of 2010, I lived in, and fell in love with the beautiful island of Nantucket. This experience was one of the most meaningful of my life, and I will forever cherish my time there and the friends I made. I am counting the days till I can go back to see my precious ACK!

The breathtakingly beautiful sunset at Madaket beach.

2. Because of my friendship with Cara & Steve Gilmore and my participation in their beautiful wedding ceremony, I met the man I had been waiting to meet my whole life. Now, a year later, I wake up every morning feeling undeserving of him and his love for me. It also is an added bonus that our best friends are married to each other- it makes double dating very easy :)

Jared and me walking into Steve and Cara's wedding reception- what a fantastic party!!!

3. 2009 was the awakening of my love and passion for wine, and now a year later, after hours of hard work, failure and disappointment, I can proudly say that I am a certified sommelier!!! Even more exciting news- just this morning I received a job offer to enter the wine industry working in Napa for a public relations and communications firm that specializes in wine. God has been so faithful and has used my passions and talents to lead me down a really exciting path! I can't wait to see them unfold in the upcoming year.

The whole crew of CPP sommelier guild members (and my daddy and Steve in the background). I completed my certified level 6 months after taking the first exam.

4. During the summer of 2009, I went to visit Cara and Steve up in the bay area. I immediately fell in love with the area, and little did i know, I would fall in love with a man that lives up here too. Now, in 2011, I am living up in the bay, and am moving into my own little place in just a few short weeks!

Roommates again- relishing our time together, and doing our favorite thing- cooking! Who would have known that all this could happen? God did :)

5. Never have I forgotten how important and precious these 3 people are to me. I love them even more in 2011 than I did in 2010!

My wonderful family and me at my graduation from Cal Poly Pomona.

2010 was a fantastic year, and here's to an even better 2011- although it doesn't seem fathomable!

"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not ALL His benefits"

PS: Because of my life changes, I promised my dear friend Megs that I would post updates on here more often, so check back soon!

Good Bye TWC and ACK

2010-09-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

It is September 13, which means that I leave for California in just 3 short days. What a bittersweet experience it will be to go home, yet leave a place that feels like my home. I have had the best summer of my life living on Nantucket Island and working as the dining room supervisor and wine steward at The Westmoor Club. I have worked my butt off, learned tons, grown as a professional and individual, beome more independent, seen and experienced some really cool things, and made the most wonderful friends. Here are a few things that sum up my summer:

1. Things I'll miss about TWC and ACK: the cobblestones on Main Street, all the randomly named beaches and roads (it took me at least a month to get used to names like Madaket, Dionis, Sconset, Quidnet, Polpis and Tucknernuck), Juice Bar, the breathtaking beauty of the island, Nantucket reds, my two lama friends Henry and Flin, the grey houses, my Jamaican momma, scallops, my Sunday wine tasting group, the members at TWC (especially the Kazillionis and Ott families), all the delicious restaurants, hydrangeas, and waking up everyday to work at a place and with people that I absolutely love.

2. I lived through a hurricane- Hurricane Earl! It ended up being a total spoof, but it was pretty cool to experience the hurricane preparations and the crazy wind and waves!

3. Things I won't miss about TWC and ACK: the employee caf (I will miss Franklin, though), working at least 14 hours everyday, the heinous parking down town, the obnoxious Nantucket baskets, the grey skied and rainy days, not being able to wear jeans, not having a closet, and having to make smoothies on my bathroom counter. Can you see that this list is much shorter than the other!?

4. I was privileged to participate in a truly amazing wine tasting group every week. The Abramsons and Glowackis challenged me every Sunday and made me teach them about wine and of course, blind taste. If I pass my sommelier exam, it is because of you 4! Thank you, and Sundays with you will be missed.

5. Some of my favorite memories: evenings at mousehole, laying on Steps beach with Kels and PG and somehow losing my sandal, celebrating my birthday (here's to Chuck!), Mondays with Jaym, dancing with the wedding party at RosenCrown, successfully creating a 5-course wine pairing menu, going to Boston with Kels, hiding out in the staircase when days got overwhelming, sneaking down to Beach Plum to steal smoothies, the boat ride to Toppers, and the list goes on...

6. Before I get too sappy and emotional, I must share the most significant part of my summer. These 4 people have forever shaped my life and I will miss them more than I can even express.

Jaym: Thanks for being my greatest support this summer, and for helping me understand that it's okay to be me, even when that me isn't what people expect. Thanks for our mom walks, the countless smoothies, the sleepovers, Mondays, loving me even though I'm a J.A. and for being the dearest friend I could have ever asked to meet. You are the true meaning of friendship!

JBT: I will always have a spot in my heart for this man because he is the sole reason I came to TWC and ACK. Thank you Brent for seeing something in me, for the constant encouragement and challenges, for filling up the water in the office for 3 months straight, for never accepting mediocrity, for the banter and the dear friendship that I know won't end after I leave ACK. Don't forget to send the Little Mermaid candle of the sisterhood of traveling pants :)

Kels: This lady was my sanity at work and the sweetest and most wonderful roommate. (You were the first person I ever shared a room with, Kels!!!) Thanks Kels for encouraging me to break out of my shell and let loose once and awhile :) You are so beautiful and sweet and people love you everywhere you go, including me! You have been such a dear friend and as your mom says "we will be in each others' lives FOREVER!"

See you in Cali!

PG: Thanks for being the brother I never had (or really wanted). Your humor, kindness, and talents truly amaze me everyday. I will miss your Irish temper (surprisingly enough), our fist fights, our arguments about doughnuts, running dinner service with you, driving in Prudence listening to James, and yes, even hearing you talk about the size of my head. Love you bro!

Good Bye TWC and ACK, until we meet again!

Stacey

Blog

2010-07-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!
I have not stopped blogging, but have started a new blog for my interning experience. Check it out!

http://twcinterns.wordpress.com

Love to all!!!

Exciting Stuff!

2010-06-12T14:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Hospitality Management! I was honored to represent my class and sing the national anthem for our ceremony.

It was a great day and I spent it with 3 of the people I love most!

Today, I embark on my journey to Nantucket, MA, to work as the Food and Beverage management intern at the Westmoor Yacht Club.

God has blessed me richly with all these exciting opportunities, and I can't wait to see what He does through me this summer.

Please keep in touch, and pray!

My theme verse for the summer:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit".

-Romans 15:13

Wine Recommendation

2010-04-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

2007 Joseph Carr Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA.

Winemaker's notes (from snooth.com)

Complex aromatics, with ripe strawberry and floral rose petals on the nose. Bright in color, this Pinot Noir exhibits flavors of sweet black cherry, cassis, spice and hints of cinnamon. Moderate tannins give this wine body and a smooth finish.

My Exact Sentiment

2010-04-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

-Anne of Green Gables

Thanks, Anne. You perfectly summed up how I currently feel about my life!

I Want to Add to the Beauty...

2010-03-02T11:26:00.001-08:00

Finding the beauty in...

And this is GRACE, an invitation to be beautiful.

There Once was a Girl From Nantucket..

2010-02-25T22:55:00.001-08:00

Abundant blessings have been poured on my life the past few weeks, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement!

The most notable happening:

I accepted an offer as a summer food and beverage intern at the Westmoor Club in Nantucket, Massachusetts. I will living 30 miles out to sea on an island, while learning the ins and outs of a food and beverage department at a gorgeous yacht club! I am so thrilled and am absolutely counting down the days!

Nantucket Island-my soon to be home for 90 days.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadow".

-James 1:17

A Life-Long Student of Leadership

2010-01-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Greetings, dear ones,

As you all know, I am graduating from college this year (hallelujah!!!) This quarter, I am enrolled in one of the most difficult/interesting courses I have ever taken: Strategic Leadership.

Lord willing, I will be managing people in a professional setting in just a short year (if not before). I so badly want to be an effective and successful leader, but have a limited idea of what being a manager would look like for me personally.

So, here are few questions for you, blog readers, that I have been thinking about as I grapple with this complex topic of leadership (please share your answers!)....

What is it about certain leaders that is so intoxicating to us?

How should my my behavior change when leading Christians vs. non-Christians?

How do I want my followers to view me as a leader?

What will my leadership style be? Will I have just one?

I sign off this blog as a life-long student of leadership.

10 Really Neat-o Things I Did in 2009.

2010-01-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

1. Lived in, and fell in love with beautiful Firenze.

2. Discovered the brilliance of Richard Foster, and read two of his books, which changed my life: The Freedom of Simplicity and The Celebration of Discipline.

3. Proudly stood up for and watched one of my best friends get married (technically on the 1st day of 2010).

4. Tried and enjoyed lots of good wine.

5. Left my heart in San Francisco. Twice.

6. Started a garden oasis. Many good mornings were spent out on this patio sipping on coffee, reading my Bible, and enjoying our lovely flowers.

7. Chopped off all my hair!

8. Toasted to God's goodness with these 3 kindreds! And shared all the ups and downs of 2009 with them.

9. Realized even more that these lovely people are a true gift.

10. Saw God work in many powerful ways in my life. He is good and He is trustworthy- all the time!

Wise Words from a Fellow Foodie

2009-12-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

"Find something you're passionate about, and keep tremendously interested in it".

--Julia Child

It's Been Awhile...

2009-12-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Readers (Mom, and whoever else you may be),

It has been TOO long since I have updated this little baby. Sorry, but this is just a teaser blog- I am about to pop into the kitchen to make Sarah's world famous pumpkin bread, and then am off to run around town.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Next blog topic: organization and time management!

Love,

Stace

All I Want For Christmas Is....

2009-11-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

A new business suit.

Exercise Your Right to Mangia!

2009-10-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today is National Pasta Day!!!

As a tribute to our favorite carb-filled dish, fill up your plates with pasta today and enjoy the classic staple that dates back to the days of Marco Polo.

Buon Appetito!

A few of the many faces of our beloved pasta:

Campanelle

Radiatori

Faralline

YUM!

SO, go exercise your right to MANGIA (eat in Italian).

Bejeweled!

2009-10-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Several exciting pieces of news:

1. I won a prize for the first time in my life! I entered a contest, and I actually won! I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning!

2. The prize I won was.....(drumroll, please!!!!)

...A lovely, fall-inspired, handcrafted necklace created by the talented Heather Kent! Her jewelry is so creative and unlike anything you can find in stores, (and she's just so darn wonderful, too), so go check out her site:

http://heatherkent.blogspot.com.

You can commission her to do personalized pieces, and she finishes them quickly and they are darling! Perfect for Christmas presents :) I have a feeling they will be rising in popularity, so go get yours ASAP!

3 Top 3 Musts..

2009-10-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Visit:

1. Greece.

2. New Zealand.

3. Panama.

Learn:

1. It doesn't REALLY matter what everyone else thinks of me.

2. Facebook and Twitter are my heart's 2 greatest enemies.

3. It's okay to look girly on the weight machines at the gym.

Try:

1. Corn dogs.

2. Vodka tonics (I'm banking on my sister's recommendation).

3. Coffee without the creamer (okay so i've tried it- but i need to learn to love it!)

Shameless Plug for Quality Music!

2009-10-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

This is my shameless plug for my dear friend, Sara Lindsay!

Go buy and listen to her CD, "The Songs" (You can buy it on CDbaby.com, and it will be on Itunes soon).

She is a brilliant lyricist and her musical talents are way developed beyond the average 20 year old musician. She is great- so please support her!

*My CD player is on the repeat setting on "Morning Sickness".

That's A Whole Lotta Sesame!

2009-09-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

The weight of sesame seeds used on McDonald's Big Mac buns consumed in the U.S. each year...

....equals the weight of two Boeing 747 planes!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

2009-09-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

I had my last hurrah for this summer and took a quick vacay up to visit my old roommate/ dear friend in the bay area. I fell in love with everything about it- the crisp air, the view of majestic Mt. Diablo, the little bakeries and coffee shops, and the sea otters at Pier 39! The cities are teeming with hospitality career opportunities, and I am praying that God will use my new love and guide my inklings as the future unfolds!

Recently & Currently

2009-09-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

Recently:

Purchased:

Steven Madden boots. Cute, huh?

Prayer Answered:

Gained a new member in the family of Christ! God is SO good.

Loved:

The past 2 weekends, which were packed full of fun and friends.

Tried:

Weight lifting (girly-style). It's a whole new ball game for me.

Currently:

Reading:

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It is on the "Top 100 Books Every American Should Read" that BBC created. I am attempting to read all of them!

Eating:

No sugar added mint chip ice cream. It is frighteningly addicting (as in almost 3 cartons were consumed this weekend), so be cautioned!

Praying for:

A mentor.

Reveling:

...in the fact that I didn't leave my cooking skills in Italy! Check back soon for the scallop recipe that helped me boost my cooking ego.

Listening To:

Sean Kingston! No explanation necessary.

Summertime Sangria

2009-08-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the closing of an amazing summer with a glass of delicious sangria! Need a recipe? Follow this simple one for a refreshing treat :)

Ingredients:

1 bottle of red wine (a Cab Sauv is a great choice)

1 cup of sparkling citrus juice or soda (Orangina, Fizzy Lemonade, etc...)

1 thinly sliced orange

1 thinly sliced lime

1 thinly sliced apricot

(substitute for any type of fruit you like)

Directions:

1. Dump the sliced fruit into the wine.

2. Mix in the soda/juice right before serving.

3. Serve all your friends.

4. Enjoy! :)

2 of the Many Reasons I Love My Life

2009-08-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Megan & Sarah

Keen on Peach Cafe

2009-08-26T20:13:00.001-07:00

A yummy meal was had today by my mother and me at little joint called Peach Cafe. Peach Cafe is in downtown Monrovia and specializes in breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend the pesto chicken salad- it is a light but yummy salad with pesto basted chicken, avocado, pine nuts, and fresh tomatoes. The cornbread is also delicious and extremely moist- no butter needed! For my birthday surprise dessert, they presented me with delicious homemade ice cream with fresh strawberries and chocolate fudge sauce (yummmmmy). The service was friendly and attentive, the atmosphere quaint, and it is a must try!

** Thanks to my old friend for the recommendation :)

My yummy birthday dessert

Domaine Carneros

2009-08-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am back from an extended vacation in Wine Country, and thought I'd give a shameless plug for my favorite winery, Domaine Carneros! If you love sparkling wine as much as I do, please make a pit stop at Domaine Carneros, which is a lovely place to sip bubbly, nibble on cheese, and enjoy the lovely view.

The elegant Domaine Carneros Winery

My sister and me thoroughly enjoying our "Sparkling Sampler" (highly recommended)

Lovely view of Wine Country!

Transformation in the Kitchen

2009-08-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Miss You Already

2009-08-05T10:08:00.001-07:00

Making Goals Realities

2009-08-02T21:55:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a young girl (but especially the past year), I have longed to have my own garden. While out for breakfast last summer, I scribbled on the paper tablecloth the beginnings of my "life list". Having a garden was on that list, and today, my roommates (who have felt the same way about gardens for ages) and I started to bring this dream to fruition! We are so excited about our little patio "oasis" that will we get to enjoy all year long!

Here's Megs providing some T.L.C.!

Spoken Like A True Italian

2009-07-28T11:47:00.000-07:00

One of the most important lessons I learned in an Italian kitchen:

"Never Underestimate the Power of Salt!"

First Request!

2009-07-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

The first cooking request has been made by my darling father. Gnocchi al pesto is the first item on the menu! Any other takers?

My Dear Friend's Wedding

2009-07-25T23:47:00.001-07:00

Stephie Mae got hitched today! She was the most stunning bride.

It was a perfect day- filled with lots of love and laughter.

Shout Wipes Save the Day!

2009-07-22T10:28:00.001-07:00

Before I left on my European trip, I made the impulse buy of purchasing Shout stain remover wipes in bulk. I typically don't have the tendency to spill all over my clothes, but better safe than sorry, right?

Have I mentioned that Italians have a strange fascination with Shout Wipes?

Here are two scenarios in which my Shout Wipes saved an Italian's day:

#1: I was sitting at the Italian Opera, and an Italian man in a Gucci suit sat on bird poop. As he and his wife frantically attempted to clean the pants, I sneakily slid them a Shout Wipe. They went from extremely perplexed (they clearly don't have them in Italy), to grateful, as my little Shout Wipe was a lifesaver to his overly priced suit pants.

#2: Did I tell you that a fellow wine taster spilled red wine on an Italian princess? Yeah... It really happened. We were eating lunch at the personal villa of the most successful wine producers in all of Italy, and someone elbowed her red wine onto the owner's skirt and WHITE jacket. Let's just say that Shout saved us all from Italian exile!

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am back in America and can't even express how good it feels! I woke up this morning, stumbled down the stairs (as I am feeling the lovely effects of jet lag), and went straight to the coffee pot and coffee mate creamer. How I've missed you, coffee mate!!!

As happy as I am to be home, I already miss the lovely land of Italy and its smell, romantic views, gelato, and wonderful people.

Nothing is as sweet as home, but I love that I will always have a second home in Italia.

Happiness Is...

2009-07-17T02:56:00.000-07:00

My first French crepe in France- banana and nutella!

With my favorite person in all of Europe!

The Tower Really DOES Lean!!!

2009-07-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

Gelato Mission Accomplished

2009-07-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family and Other Blog Readers,

As many of you know, 4 weeks ago I set out on my exciting adventure to Florence. One of my goals before I left was to try as many flavors of gelato as possible during my time here. Now, as I approach my last 3 days of living in Firenze, I am proud to post that I have ordered 40 flavors of gelato. Yes, this does not include little taste tests (posso po= "may I try"? I think I've used that phrase over 100 times). I have eaten 40 whole scoopfuls of different flavored gelato without repeats. To reward myself for my successes, for 3 whole days I will allow myself to try whatever flavor of gelato I desire, even if I have tried it before.

Top 3 Favorite Flavors:

Biscotta (also referred to as "cookies")

Cafe e Stracciatella (coffee with chocolate chunks)

Yogurt (like our plain tart flavor)

Sincerely,

The Gelato Legend

Baking Queen

2009-07-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

Apparently during the last month I've turned into an Italian baking fiend!

Flour "fountain", as they call it here!

Traditional Tuscan almond-orange biscotti.

Crust for our torta pasquillina.

I love baking!!

3 C's of Cappuccinos in Italy

2009-07-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

In Italy, the saying goes that your cappuccino must meet the three C's standards:

It must be...

Caldo: hot

Carico: strong

Comodo: comfortable (please sit and enjoy- no standing&gulping like a "horse", as my teacher says)

When Mary Poppins Meets Enchanted

2009-07-05T05:01:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, I sang like the princess from Enchanted to charm little chipmunks into my hand. Let's just say I wasn't as lucky during my attempt with pigeons in Venice, Italy.

One Thing I Miss About America

2009-07-05T03:56:00.001-07:00

The free and easy use of all public restrooms! In Venice, we had to pay 1,50 euro, which equals about 3 bucks!

Pasta Making in Action

2009-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Roma Roma Roma....

2009-06-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend, we went on a little weekend getaway trip to the historical city of Rome. What epic things did we see?

--> The Coliseum (the place where thousands of gladiators were slaughtered for sport)

--> The Pantheon (the oldest building still standing in Rome)

--> The Roman Forum (the remains of the beginning of the Roman empire)

--> The Trevi Fountain (Salvi's breathtaking Baroque style fountain, and the place where wishes come true!)

--> The Sistine Chapel (the Pope's private chapel, and the location of some of the most ornate and famous Michelangelo frescoes)

--> St. Peter's Basilica (the incredible church in Vatican city)

--> The Pope speak! (we saw the Pope speak to 1,000's of people in 4 languages!)

There is only so much you can say with words when you have such a life changing experience.

John the Baptist Holiday in Firenze!

2009-06-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a city-wide holiday in Florence which celebrated "Saint Giovanni Baptista", or as we know him, John the Baptist. There was a "civil" soccer game (district team against district team), which was played in front of Santa Croce church. The game took place about 100 feet from our apartment, and therefore we were barricaded inside our street quadrant for most of the day. But, the most glorious fireworks show closed out our first and only Italian holiday in a lovely way.

The streets were jammed with people!

The breathtaking dusk-time view of Florence from the top of the city.

This is my roomie/latte drinking partner, Jessica!

And I thought I would miss out on 4th of July fireworks! Even better :)

The deserted soccer stadium after all the festivities finished- isn't it a little strange to see such a majestic church practically attached to the field?

All in all, it was a wonderful holiday to be had. I won't miss our Independence Day one bit! (okay, maybe that's a little white lie) =]

San Lorenzo Market Trip

2009-06-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

As an alternative to our cooking class, Chef Vincent took us to the biggest market in Florence, San Lorenzo Market. Here are a couple of cool things we saw.

PS: Megs, I thought of you so much- you would have had a hay-day picking out veggies for your juice :)

What are these, you ask? Heaps and heaps of delicious sundried tomatoes.

These are red-shelled beans. Uncooked, the beans look like root beer jelly beans. Cooked, they become blood red.

Check out the size of that mushroom!

Beauuuutiful flowers! The roses smelled amazing, too. (Smelled them for Sarah!)

Typical Florentine tomatoes. The edges are always super bumpy- almost like a pumpkin.

Incredible squash blossoms. They are stuffed with goat cheese and deep fried here.

(We must make them at home, Mom and Dad)

REAL Parmigiano cheese from Parma, Italy. Chef Vincent said all other Parmesan cheeses (like the ones we have in the US), are like all bubbly claiming to be Champagne.

Wall of meat.

We also tasted balsamic vinegar (aged 5,10, and 20 years), honey with white truffle chunks, and nectarines with balsamic glaze. Beneissimo!

Non Si Fa...

2009-06-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of unspoken Italian food rules we've picked up on: (Non Si Fa= we don't do)

--> NEVER twirl your spaghetti in a spoon. It indicates lack of manners and motor skills. Children are the only exception to this rule.

--> Do not put parmesan cheese on everything you eat, especially something with a delicate flavor, like fish. This is highly frowned upon.

--> Cappuccinos are not to be consumed with food, other than at breakfast time. Order a cappuccino at lunch, and you'll get a weird stare from your waiter.

--> Drink your morning latte at a table before you pay, not when you order. Italians think it is dirty to handle money and food at the same time.

When in Rome....!

No Maps, No Plans

2009-06-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Our Venice day trip turned day trip to Siena today. I refused to allow a map in the hands of anyone who came within 2 feet of me (my theme of the day: no maps, no plans). We meandered aimlessly around Siena for 6 hrs, seeing castles, Italian weddings, villas, and forests. We ate yellow plums and figs in the rain storm, mused about Renaissance construction, drank cocktails at 11 am in a store that looked like the one from Chocolat, ate gelato several times, and discovered what manual escalators are. When an hour-long hailstorm rolled through, we sat inside a gelateria and I chatted in Spanish with a lovely couple from Madrid. We sang songs and laughed as we bonded and discovered the lovely little town of Siena. Hands down, the biggest and most wonderful adventure of my life.

Cobblestone streets of Siena mid thunderstorm.

Via della Brache

2009-06-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Via della Brache is the street I live on. Today in our language class, we learned that it means, "the street of old-fashioned underwear".

So, I live on Granny Pantie street! Not super glamorous for a romantic trip to Firenze.

Our Italian teacher, Nada, got a good giggle out of that one!

Gelato Update

2009-06-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Ciao Bellas!

I am keeping my promise and am attempting to try every flavor of gelato in Firenze. My progress as of day 3:

pistachio

coconut

extra fondant

caffe

nocciola (hazelnut, and my favorite so far)

Hellllllooooo Firenze!

2009-06-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

The river near our apartment!

And my first Italian latte!

Dove Vivrò?

2009-06-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Where will I be living for the next month?

The Santa Croce district in Florence.

What will be down the street from our little 2 bedroom apt?

The Santa Croce Basilica! Not a bad view, eh?

I Solemnly Swear...

2009-06-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

To try every single flavor of gelato in all of Italy.

Firenze...

2009-06-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

....is where I will be in exactly 1 week!!!!

Got Coffee?

2009-05-22T13:30:00.001-07:00

If you're like me, and must have a daily cup of joe, but don't want to drop the $5 at your local Starbucks, try this:

This, my coffee drinking friends, is a french press. I think it is the best way to make your coffee at home.

Just put thickly ground beans in the bottom, fill with hot water, let it "permeate", push the little filter down, and serve.

A couple of hints:

- Don't let your water quite get to boiling- it makes the coffee bitter.

- Don't let the water and grounds sit for more than 3 minutes- it makes the coffee sour.

- The best place to purchase a french press is at Ross. They're usually about $5!

I am currently sitting at Jones Coffee Shop in Pasadena (Raymond and Del Mar)

It is quite the heaven for all you coffee connoisseurs out there!

A Little Sneak Peak...

2009-05-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I am venturing off to Florence for a study abroad program (27 day countdown)! I will be studying Italian cooking at the Apicius Culinary Institute. What will I be learning to cook, you ask? Here's a sneak peak:

- Egg pasta from scratch

- Gnocchi al pesto

- Tiramisu

- Italian Lasagne

Is your stomach growling yet?

Life is Beautiful...

2009-05-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

...So sit outside, enjoy the dusk, and sip on a glass of bubbly with someone you love. Sarah and I quite enjoyed ourselves doing so this evening!

I recommend:

LaCheteau Brut Vouvray

Pick it up at TJ's- $8.99.

PS: Potato chips are a brilliant pairing to sparkling wine!

Dessert-ify Your Framboise

2009-05-16T13:34:00.000-07:00

Instructions:

1. Buy a bottle of Raspberry Flavored Framboise Liquer (Trader Joe's has it for $5)

2. Buy a tub of Vanilla Bean ice cream. Don't buy French Vanilla- it's too sweet for the liqeur

3. Pour a generous amount of Framboise atop a helping of ice cream

4. Enjoy!

5. Repeat.

Dining out? Try....

2009-05-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my fav restaurants to visit, and item of choice. If you are ever having dinner destination mind block, give one these a whirl!

Walt's Wharf, Seal Beach--> Orange Caramelized Salmon

Open Sesame, Belmont Shore -> Fried Cauliflower (don't knock it 'till you try it! )

Sergio's, Azusa --> Carnitas Tacos

Le Creperie, Belmont Shore --> Chicken Carbonara Crepe, followed up the dessert Crepe Martinique

The Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch, Cal Poly Pomona--> The menu changes every week, but it's all student run! (chefs, managers, servers, etc..) 3 course meal for $15 at lunch!

Currently...

2009-05-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Reading:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Wishing:

I was back here

Planning to purchase:

A leather journal

Wondering about:

Twitter-why??

Wearing:

My new Nikes! (Thanks, Sar)

Craving:

Frozen yogurt (what else is new?)

Listening to:

Kings of Leon

Thinking about:

(Florence)

My New Favorite Thing...

2009-04-28T21:13:00.001-07:00

Change is A-Brewin'

2009-04-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Why are we humans so opposed to change? We dig our heels in when our comfy lives are altered, kicking and screaming as we are pulled along by the changing tide. Well, change is a-brewin', and it's taking every ounce of self control to not dig my heels in.

Spring Has Sprung!

2009-04-09T21:51:00.000-07:00

Easter is here, and I think the season in which it falls is just perfect.

The clean air, the chirping birds, and all the new colorful flower buds remind me that I am a new creation, too!

Why American Idol Is Worth Watching

2009-03-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know we don't have a working TV at our apartment. You also would know that I don't like American Idol in the least.

But, if I DID have a T.V., this would be the one reason to watch A.I.

Man, he's got some pipes.

PS: Excuse the poor video quality.

PSS: Simon called this performance "the most self-indulgent bit of rubbish" he's ever seen.

Update

2009-03-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello blog readers...

I am currently on day 2 of spring break, and thus far have completed the following:

- got a facial (divine)

- cooked a meal for the Maclennan fam

- cleaned out our silverware drawer (strange.... but there was sprinkles in it!!)

- practiced Chopin's Nocturne in E minor

- vacuumed and dusted our little apartment

- attempted to get my identity back (i think i have a little problem with my social security # being used by someone other than me)

And, I am about to knock on my lovely neighbors' door and ask to steal their puppy for a walk...

Tomorrow, Isaac and i will have banana bread coming out of our ears!!!

I love vacation :)

Spring To Do List...

2009-03-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Once again, my special affection for making lists prevails! So, what do I want to do over my spring break? Here's my (draft) spring-break-to-do-checklist.

Visit the Maclennan twinsies and parents
Shop!!! I have been craving a Nordstrom's rack trip for weeks now!
Go serve at the LB shelter with Ronda
Salsa dance with the sister
Connect with Nicole, Steph, Natalie & Kelly
Walk Kaylee-Bee
Set up skype so I can chat with Shea
Get Italy details in order
Palm Springs day trip with momma
Go to the driving range with daddy-o
Clean our carpets... yuck
Take lunch to my roomies at work
Finish A Tale of Two Cities
Cook... especially to transform the heaping pile of ripe bananas in our freezer into bread
Did I say relax?

To be continued...

Government Health Warning!

2009-03-06T10:50:00.001-08:00

DON'T SWALLOW BUBBLE GUM!

This made me chuckle... Hope it did the same for you!

Grammar Lessons from God

2009-03-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Being a high school graduate, (almost) college graduate, 3 year AP English student, and living-mate to two gifted teachers, I have had my fair share of grammar and punctuation lessons to boot. But, no English lesson has profoundly struck me as these 2 little gems have:

1. Don't put a comma where God puts a period.

2. Don't put a period where God puts a comma.

I am learning to trust and rely on the fact that He is the author of our living epistles, and knows just what punctuation is perfect!

Check it out...

2009-02-27T08:35:00.001-08:00

This is a rad blog... especially for all my fellow (hopeful) fashionistas!

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Thanks for introducing me to it!

Amen to this!

2009-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Break my heart and make it clean,

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart from what breaks yours,

Everything I am for your kingdom's cause.

As I walk from nothing to eternity.