Now & Then.

Now, October 2015

A lot can change in a year! Pounds lighter, a new mindset, new goals, and a new blog to share #mymamaheart with you.

Then, October 2014

Now

Then

 I plan to set my intention for the rest of November to enjoy my days and moments with Forrest & Hunter that we have together :)

Traveling Vineyard Wine Tasting | My October party

This past weekend, I planned a wine party with Ashley from Traveling Vineyards.  (Ashley happens to be the teacher that my mom works with in a nearby town.)  

My sister and mom helped with the food preparation and "the men" including my hubby, dad, and mom's husband all helped with other needs throughout the day.

If you know me, you know red wine and I go together.... like red wine and goat cheese.  Red wine and dark chocolate.  Red wine and a nice steak.  So it was a no brainer when Ashley asked me to have a tasting party.

Here's how it works:

She brings an assortment of wines, based on what you and your friends prefer.  I love dry and red.  She brought two dry-er whites also.  She provides a list of wine pairings so you have all kinds of options on what to make to go with each wine.  She comes that day and sets up before your guest arrive.  You gather around the table with your company and get to know her, the traveling vineyard company, and the wines.  Everyone gets to taste each wine, and I had a food to pair with each.  After you taste everything, you have the option to buy a bottle of any you may be interested in adding to your wine collection.

My wine should be here by the end of the week! I ordered 3 bottles and got a free one for hosting the party.  For my free bottle, I chose the wine she used to make a fall sangria.  I can't wait to make it soon before fall ends.  Prices of the wine vary from $15-30.  Only one bottle was at the higher price point and the rest were less.  I enjoyed learning more about each wine and different ways to make each type.  It was especially nice to know what I was buying.  I go to the grocery store and buy the $3 wine and its "okay" but these bottles were "wow" in comparison.  I plan to save them for company or a dinner party.  I hope to have an Ava Anderson Non Toxic party next month so I can make and bring Fall Sangria to share with others.

Here's the wines and the food pairings from my party:

Spruzzi, Grillo, Italy - 2014

ITA696 | $14.99
Pale yellow hues with green notes in the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, stone fruits and
flowers on the nose. Rich mouthfeel with ripe fruitiness on the palate, notes of lemon-
lime, wet stone and herbs. Minerally finish, nice balance, acidity and extraction, lip-
smacking deliciousness.
- Paired with Asian meatballs
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Zeffer Hills, Chardonnay, San Benito, California - 2013
CAL975 | $17.99
Brilliant metallic lemon-yellow hues in the glass. Toasted almond and ripe apple on the
nose, with notes of freshness and vibrancy on the palate. Long finish, rich mouthfeel,
good overall structure.
- Paired with buttered popcorn
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Activist, Private Reserve, Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley, California - 2013
CAL961 | $27.99
Inky garnet color in the glass. Dense and rich with black and red fruits, jammy and
plummy notes balanced with some smoky and black pepper elements. Supple and
intense but balanced
-Paired with pulled pork
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Santoreggia, Sangiovese, Puglia IGT, Italy - 2014
ITA695 | $18.99
Slightly transparent garnet hues in the glass. Blueberry-cherry fruits on the nose with a
whiff of violet and earth as well. The palate shows black pepper, spice and smoke. Nice
acidity, medium tannins and a lingering finish give this wine vibrance and a serious
structure.
- Paired with goat cheese and crackers
- Paired with italian meatballs and red sauce
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LUXX, Merlot, Happy Canyon, California - 2014
CAL976 | $29.99
Purple-to-garnet hues in the glass. Aromas of black cherry and ripe plum over dried
herbs and black tea. The palate shows cherry-plum notes with some black pepper
and a hint of caramel. This is a hefty, serious Merlot with concentrated fruit, good
extraction and structure and a lingering cherry finish.
- Paired with dark chocolate salted caramels
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My favorite was the LUXX.  I purchased 2 bottles.  I also purchased the Spruzzi.  My least favorite was the Chardonnay, but I'm just not a Chardonnay girl.  It was still tasty, I just liked the Spruzzi better.

I had such a good time, I'd like to have another soon.... but hope to attend someone else's wine tasting first!!  If you are interested in having a wine tasting with Ashley and Traveling Vineyards... please comment below and I'll be happy to give you her information.

Dear Hunter | 17 months

Dear Hunter,

Out of your  mouth since the last letter has been SO MANY NEW WORDS.  Cracker, cookie, book, milk, and my moms swears you said poop this weekend.  Ha.   We had a good start to the Fall September 2015.  Your blonde hair and blue eyes win you so many compliments and I just can't believe you are mine.  I love capturing your personality through my camera and probably have more pictures than I will ever know what to do with.  (and never end sentences with propositions, I should know better!)  Daddy wants to hang a huge longhorn something or other in our house, and I want to fill it with huge canvases of the photos I've taken or had taken of us, our family.

We have a "day care field trip" coming up soon.  I got your Halloween costume at the consignment store and I love it..   You do too.  This year we will trick or treat, or at least go walk around in your costume.

Your eating has gotten a little pickier but you still like vegetables and applesauce pouches the best.  Every day, you are becoming more and more a little toddler.  And everything fun that goes with it!

Later this month, we have fall pictures scheduled.  Daddy just grumps around a little but will be happy in the years to come that we captured ourselves all together on a yearly basis.

Work for mommy and daddy has been a little busier, but we have lots of patients.  You don't seem to mind and love mornings with daddy playing hide and go seek and cuddling with mama before bedtime.  We love you <3