Tricky Solicitors

I'm not fond of the door-to-door sales people. Whether it's magazines, new siding for the house, or Ft Myers custom doors, I try to say no, but it's usually really hard for me, especially face to face. When I see them canvassing the neighborhood, I keep everyone away from the windows and turn the volume down (on the music, TV and/or kids). We hide (sort of) and just wait for them to go away. Seriously, if my Husband is home, I make him answer the door. He's good at saying no.

I keep getting phone calls from Jenny's Steam Cleaners. Caller ID says "Atlanta" and Thankfully it's an automated call, I have no problem hanging up the phone. I was pretty proud of myself for spotting one of these phone solicitors last night.

The woman was very pleasant and asked if she could ask me a couple questions. "Sure", I said.
"How old is your home?" was her first question. I was skeptical of her motive, but knew she was trying to sell me something. "Are the original windows still in the house?" BINGO, she's selling replacement windows. I answered (lying) "Oh no, we replaced them all two years ago." "Oh, okay" she said. "So if you were planning on doing any home improvements in the next two years, what would it be?" I've had enough of these sales people roll up at my door so I'm pretty familiar with the fact that a lot of them also do siding and sun rooms, I quickly responded "Oh, I would LOVE to replace all the flooring in my house." She smiled, you really can hear that through the phone, and said "Thank You for your time" and hung up.

What tricks to you use to get rid of solicitors?

Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel ~ Review

Being the "under $5" enthusiast that I am, I was pleasantly surprised to find a 50% off rack at the local grocery store. Actually Hubster found it, but he immediately called to inform me of the choices. I picked out 3 bottles and he brought them home.

My first selection was this Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel (2006). Regularly priced at around $9, we paid $4.74.

Coloring: Deep and rich. When held up to light it only slightly penetrated the garnet swirling in my glass.

Aroma: was that of a wood shed filled with pepper and raspberries.

Flavor: The first taste was similar to the aroma with an earthy finish and left my mouth tingling in anticipation of more. Half-way through the glass I was tasting more spice and berries and truly enjoyed this wine.

Vision: I can picture myself enjoying this at one of our friends Outer Banks rentals . Sitting on the deck with friends and family, enjoying a glass before dinner.

Taster's notes:

This Zinfandel pours a slightly translucent garnet in the glass, with an enticing aroma of spice and mixed berry. Raspberry, clove, and white pepper draw you in, and the interplay between fruit and spice changes and evolves on the palate, a tell-tale quality of a fine wine. Spiced blackberry cobbler and rich caramel come through nicely on the initial taste. The dried fruit character on the mid-palate reveals its old vine terroir, especially as the wine transitions to its gamey, sweet, and lightly tart finish, leaving a hint of black raspberry in its wake. With the wide breadth of flavors that this wine brings to the table, this sophisticated Zinfandel should please both the occasional wine drinker and the connoisseur alike.

For the money we paid as well as the regular price, it was GREAT. I will definitely be purchasing more of this.

It All Makes Sense Now

This whole job thing had me a little perplexed until yesterday. Not the job exactly, just what I thought I'd be getting out of it. I thought I'd get some quiet time away from the kids, a chance to socialize with other adults, a chance to use my brain and learn new things...and I got all that. I also thought that being active and on my feet for 12-15 hours a week would cause me to lose a couple pounds...so NOT the case. I've actually gained five pounds since I started working. I was trying to figure it out yesterday...all day. 15 hours a week that I'm not munching on something, 15 hours a week on my feet, moving around, nothing strenuous but actively moving about. I'm not eating after work on Wednesdays when I get home around 9, so I don't go to bed on a full stomach...What is it? I racked my brain and couldn't come up with it...until I was driving to work. I don't need a weight loss supplement, I need to stop stopping at 7-11 before each shift to get a cappuccino or large Iced Coffee!!!



7-11 Iced Coffee Nutritional Information

(mind you I don't get the small, I go for the 20 oz)

Serving Size 8 oz

140 Calories (25 from fat)

Total Fat: 3g (Saturated fat 2g, transfat .9g)

Cholesterol: 10 mg

Sodium: 190 mg

Total Carbs: 26 g

Protein: 3 g

Monday Mumbo Jumbo

Leave it to me to let Summer Fun, Birthday Parties, a job, Facebook and every other social network to get in the way of blogging. I should have a LOT to talk about...but sadly...I don't. Oh wait, yes I do.

The Job
I'm working part time (about 15 hours per week) at West Marine. They are a full retailer of pretty much "all things water". I have no experience in this field, am the only one there who doesn't own a boat, and love every minute of it. While it does cut into my wine time (I work Wednesday nights while the kids are at church for choir practice and this was always my time for wine and virtual socializing), it is a nice break from the craziness that is my life. No matter how busy it gets, no one is ever fighting and I don't have to be the "one in charge"...of anything. I also just found out that they have an affiliate program. I'm checking to see if I can get into that or if it's a conflict of interest since I'm employed by them. If you are into boating or fishing be on the lookout for those links (if I get in).
*** Approved

The Wine
Still on the hunt for great wine under $5. I actually picked up a bottle at the gas station (big gasps, I'm sure) yesterday on my way home from work. I stopped in for a cold drink and a cooler of wine caught my eye. being the label buyer that I am, I saw a unique bottle and without even knowing the price, purchased it. $5.25 at the gas station is the equivalent of $3 at the grocery store or wine retailer, right? It was in the cooler, and a little too chilled, but that didn't stop me, first taste was pretty bland, but I'll try again tonight at room temp and see how it fairs. Be on the lookout for that.

The Social Experiment
Glass Dharma sent me some of their pretty, durable, glass drinking straws and I'm going to give them a try tonight. Some (names withheld to protect the innocent) have suggested using these straws to drink wine to avoid the "purple stains" one might get on their teeth. I think drinking wine through a straw will alter the taste since I will only be using the taste buds on the back of my tongue, we'll see. The real experiment is to see how well these straws are received in public. I'm going to a girls night out party with a friend and know no one else. I'm taking my wine, stemless glass, and a glass straw to drink it with. I'll let my friend in on my experiment but will pretend (to the others) that I always drink my wine this way...at least in the beginning. Will I be the innovative woman with something everyone else desires, or will they snicker behind my back and wonder what the heck is wrong with me? Stay tuned...

~UPDATE The experiment didn't happen. I was ready with wine, glass and straw but everyone else chose to consume soft drinks and tea. I don't mind drinking alone, I just prefer not to do it with 12 other people. I also didn't think I'd get a good guage on what people thought of the straw. I'll be on the lookout for another opportunity.

Back Yard Oasis

This is what I want in my back yard. Attach some lights, add a nice table, chairs and an outdoor sofa and I'll have my own little outdoor paradise. I've been looking at different gazebos online. I know when I mention it to Hubster I'll get the usual response..."Dad and I can make one of those." Yes, indeed they could, but they are never on the same page on when to start and I don't want to wait 5 years. I was also thinking about using some of my synthetic wine corks and covering the roof. Wouldn't that look neat? I figure the synthetic ones would be water proof and would add a unique, 0ne-of-a-kind touch to my back yard oasis. It would also be a small enough project that I would be sure to finish and a good reason to continue to stock up on wine as I'm sure I'm a few 1000 corks short. Anyone want to send me some corks? Keep the good ones, I only need the plastic/rubber ones. Anyone?

Bad Gal Says ~ Wine Reviews

I've mentioned before that the BEST thing about blogging is the relationships you create with others. I don't know if it's the ability to speak your mind, uninterrupted, that gets others to listen or just being able to get a glimpse into someone else's life or passions that has us always coming back for more.

There are blogs that I have visited since day one and other new ones that I find, and can relate to, daily. It's the first group that inspires me to be a better writer and always be on the search for new and interesting material.

I recently opened dialogue with one of those writers that have inspired me. I've visited her since I began blogging and have been in awe of her writing, her ability to explain every detail, and her "tell it like it is" approach. She doesn't hold back. She makes her opinions clear and reads right through the bull in any story (or comment). She brings us stories on a variety of topics and keeps us coming back for more.

When she offered to do a guest post I gladly accepted, I'm just honored to have her. So, I present MY FIRST GUEST POST from a Bad Gal I'd love to share some wine with...
Take it RE~

I Love Sparkling Wines - I prefer Muscat Varieties and absolutely fell in love with Moscato D'Asti. you can see it on the top shelf near the right end.

Recently I celebrated my birthday and since I love to celebrate, I decided to do a week of wine tasting. that's not unusual for me, but all of the same variety from different vintages, well now that was the trick.

I wanted to taste Italian Wines with sparkle and shimmer. wines that would delight my tongue and bring a smile to my face. I also didn't want to break the bank on this little late nite party. so I set some parameters

1. No wine above $15.00 a Bottle even if on sale




2. Must be Sparkling and Muscat Varieties




3. Should be vintage 2002 - 2008.

now that sounds simple right ?
well lets let you try and pull it off using stores you normally shop at;
as well as exploring bottles and vinters you've never tried before.

now the task takes on some proportions.
First we decided to narrow our search down to the best places that we shop;
with great wine selections - easy for us. we shop at fancy fruit markets and
also Trader Joes. both have adequate wine selections and several Moscato D'Asti's. who woulda thought it.

next we pick one bottle eachtime we hit the store, to add to the tasting pool.
we decide to cap it at 4 bottles. yes there is a bottle still left in the fridge which we will be opening later for the final tasting - so it's not included in this review of The first three. if you'll be a lil patient we'll be adding it to the list later.

On My Birthday We opened the First Bottle :

La Serra Moscato D'Asti - vintage 2008

• $12.99 on sale pre-chilled in the cooler

Tasting Notes - Made solely from the Moscato grape, La Serra offers sensations of fresh exotic fruit. Intense, full, and harmonious on the palate, it is an excellent dessert wine with biscuits, dry cakes and fruit. Slightly frizzante

This is an absolutely delicious wine. Fruity, but not syrupy. crisp and bubbly. I enjoyed it late in the evening in a large chilled glass. it helped me get alot of ec dropping done : ) with a smile left over. the notes of strawberry and rich but tart grape were memorable enough, to prompt me to return back to the store in search of another bottle.. alas it was all sold out..

we got this one at our fancy schmancy fruit market - Western Market in Ferndale, Mi. (that's the pic at the top)

Day Three we Popped another cork -

this time it was Moscadoro Piemonte Moscato vintage 2004

• $12.99 on sale pre-chilled in the cooler
  

This is not an easy wine to locate - so when I saw it, there was pure joy.
Again we found this wine at Western Market in Ferndale, MI. - they have a great supplier.

When I saw it, my heart went pitter patter as my hands carefully removed it from the highest shelf, and gently placed it into my basket for it's trip to the fridge at my house. I know about this particular wine from my friend Frank who owns Marios; around the corner from my house in the D. it's on their specials list, and they sell it for $24.99 a bottle, in the dining room. Yeah..

this is the online review -

"MOSCADORO" MOSCATO PIEMONTE D.O.C.

100% White Moscato from the hills surrounding the Canelli, Nizza and Monferrato

Soft pressing of the grapes to avoid crushing

Brilliant with a golden yellow color. Intense, fragrant, delicate aroma of Moscato with a very elegant bouquet reminiscent of orange-blossom, peach and honey

Pleasantly sweet, aromatic, round, it gives a creamy sensation on the palate

Excellent balance between natural grape sugar and acidity

Accompaniment: perfect for an extensive range of desserts, fresh fruit or by itself

I can tell you, this is a perfect wine for Sipping and as well a great Dessert choice. It went down like silk and honey. the bubbles caressing my tongue were like a decadent pleasure that one should only share with the most delicious of wines... or men.

"OOOOOOOO...." at $12.99 it was a bargain on sale. if I find it again, believe Me, this one will be added to my rack.

and finally for day three of my Birthday tasting I guzzled a bottle of Deliciousness,, well almost the whole bottle. .

Tintero Moscato D'Asti -Vintage 2004

• $ 12.99 on the shelf near bubbly @ all Trader Joes Markets

This is sooooooooooooo Delicious. it's sinful in your mouth..

This Fabulous sparkling wine tastes of Melon, Honey and Flowers. the grapes were lightly pressed to preserve the lightness and sweetness. the color is Rich and Golden; like honey. at $12.99 a bottle it was a real bargain. I can enjoy this vintage as often as I like; since it's easily located on the shelf at my local Trader Joes. I was so happy to find it and to know that I can get a delicious bottle of Moscato D'Asti without breaking the $20.00 barrier.

I prefer Sweet Wines. it's an aquired taste and many never get it. the color and the sweetness are enticing to me. I love the way they caress the flute and tickle your nose gently with effervesence. Summer, Spring or Fall this in a great choice



Vintage 2006

Type White - Sparkling

Producer Azienda Agricola Tintero Elvio di Tintero Paolo

Variety Moscato

Designation Sori Gramella

Vineyard n/a

Country Italy

Region Piedmont

SubRegion Asti

Appellation Moscato d'Asti

For Me, Sparkling Wines do it Best,

Bon Appetito !

BadGalsRadio.com // EntrePOD // BadGalSays

Week in Review

Last week was crazy. I feel as though I ran around and did nothing. Ever have one of those weeks?

Tuesday, Hubster and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. We celebrated at home... sick (both of us) and with two stuffy, coughing kids. It was actually nice to all be sick together (not really) as we all had the same lack of energy.

Thursday, Wine at Five turned 1! I celebrated quietly with this (after everyone went to bed)div>

(watch for the review...coming soon)

I also tried my hand at a new craft project and made this earlier in the week

(Which you can read all about and get instructions for here)

I then tucked it into a box and shipped it to my parents who, I believe, are going to LOVE it.

Thursday, the kids and I had a lunch playdate and then played at home all day. The summer is just going by way to fast.

Friday, got a call that Hubster's uncle lost his long battle with cancer and is resting peacefully now. Arrangements have been made for tomorrow in North Carolina.

Saturday, I worked in the morning (at the job no one has figured out, I'm going to make it really easy for you here in the very near future.) and then took the family out for the Relay for Life (redo) Walk. The vision of all the survivors brought tears to my eyes. What brave individuals.


Sunday...the day of rest, I worked from 9 to 5:30 then came home, made dinner, and enjoyed some quiet, snugly time on the couch with the family.

Marcus James Malbec ~ Wine Review

In my infinite search for great wine under $5, I've recently become aware of and a fan of Marcus James. My local store must have been depleting their inventory of the Marcus James Merlot because, up until 3 weeks ago, a 1.5 litre (equal to 2 bottles) was selling for under $7. I think I may have bought them all. Yesterday I noticed a new label and and was excited to be able to try the Marcus James Malbec.

Priced at just under $10 for the BIG bottle, it is definitely a great buy.

On immediate opening of the bottle the original aroma was grape juice and I was a little leery. I let it breathe for a few and on second sniff (yes, I am actually sniffing wine now) I caught an aroma of berry, cherry and pepper . A very different aroma from the first sniff.

It's flavor is a little lighter than other Malbecs I've tasted but enjoyable nonetheless. It was light and inviting and went very well with the spaghetti and french bread we had for dinner. The subtle spiciness complimented rather than overpowered the sauce, loaded with garlic and crushed red pepper. It also gained strength as it sat.

This bottle will last for the next couple days and I am eager to see how the taste changes over the course of it's short life on my counter. I'll update after the last glass.

Happy 4th and Who Grills Your Steak

I was recently having a FB or Twitter conversation about grilling and thought I'd share my views here. While I love to go to Summer Cook-outs, it's rare that I find someone who can cook food to my preferences. Why does everyone insist on cooking everything well done? Do they prefer them that way or were they in a hurry (which really makes no sense since it takes longest to do well done)? Maybe they are occupied doing other things and forget about them? Isn't the "grill master" the one who never leaves the grill. gets others to bring him his beers, because he is grilling? I mention all this because I am not a fan of well done anything. Hubster's family is all about the well done. Hamburgers, steak and even chicken has all the juices sucked right out of them.

I am gracious at cookouts and eat whatever is made, burnt or not, and always compliment the chef, but at family cookouts (unless it's my family, we all grill things the same) I will not let anyone tough my meat on the grill. Say we're at my In-laws. I am now in charge of making the burger patties. Hubster is in charge of grilling and he puts all burgers on the grill except mine. When he flips everyone else's, he calls to let me know I can put mine on. Mine is still ready with everyone else's.

Steaks I am very picky about. Yes, I've eaten way too many well done steaks to tolerate it any further. I do not like it any more than medium and prefer medium rare. I do not want my steak flipped a gazillion times, I want those pretty little criss-crosses on both sides. I cook my own. I also seem to digest "less cooked" meat better than the well done variety. Take a med-rare steak and a bottle of red wine and you can skip the Colonix the following morning.

We had a restaurant nearby that offered a large indoor grill and a cooler full of fresh cut steaks. You would pick out your steak, grab your favorite beverage, and head to the grill to grill your own. While some thought it was a less than ideal "eating out" experience, it was, by far, our favorite restaurant. We'd stand around and chat with complete strangers at the grill. In my opinion, they had the best steaks in town, and the cook was Fabulous!

When heading out to your cook-out today, or hosting your own, don't be intimidated by my thoughts, I really will eat anything, I just prefer my meat at certain temps. I think I'll borrow my FIL's large pig cooker grill next year and have everyone bring their own meat/chicken and let everyone grill their own. It really is a lot of fun.

Have a happy 4th and eat some great food...even if you have to cook it yourself!

Another Clue

Okay. Is it too hard? Do you not like my little game? Are you busy getting ready for the big holiday weekend?

Here's another clue: I do not sell wholesale computers .

Where do I work?

I'll admit it's in a field I am unfamiliar and I am learning a lot. It's fun and a nice change of pace from my full time Mom job. I mostly deal with adults.

Any guesses? Wanna play?

Let's Play a Game

Are you ready for a little fun?

I recently took on a part time job (I know, big gasp). It's been great fun getting out of the house. It's my "quiet time". I'm only working a couple shifts a week and it's during the times that the kids are out with other activities anyway (somewhat). It's my "me" time that I would have alone in the house. It's Wednesdays (causing me to miss winewednesday) and Sundays.
I'm not going to tell you where it is or what I'm doing but instead I will give you little hints and see if you can figure it out.

First clue: Part of my job is selling gps systems .

Where do I work?

Keep the guesses coming. There is nothing to win, but we can have a little fun anyway, right?

Barefoot Zinfandel Review and Some Info on Hangovers

Finding affordable wines that taste great is a guilty pleasure of mine. I'm always quick to boast about my great finds to friends and family while watching them shake their heads in dis-belief that a $5 wine could be any good. They are slowly but surely seeing the light. What, in the past, would be a sure indicator of a bad or poorly harvested wine, price is no longer a determination on the flavor and quality of wine. Sure, there are some pretty bad, low cost wines but there are other failures with high price tags as well. I'd rather get stuck with a $5 loser than a $30 one.

Barefoot Wines have never disappointed me. Originally being able to only get the Merlot and Cabernet in my area, the choices have broadened and the new selections are even better than the firsts. For $5.69 a bottle ($10.99 for a 1.5L) the price is in no way indicative of the quality.

Winemaker's Notes (Jen Wall): Medium to full body, balanced tannins. Dark berries, plum jam and notes of prunes. White pepper and varietal spices complement the chocolate mocha flavors and lingering jammy finish.

I really enjoy the spiciness of this Zin and it goes well with any food but is also a treat on it's own. It is smooth and bold without being overpowering. At close to my $5/per bottle preference, it is definitely a best buy for Zinfandel's.

While were talking about inexpensive wines, I was having a conversation the other night at the Twitter Moms Wine Tasting about a specific wine variey (not Barefoot) that always gives me a hangover, regardless of the amount I drink. The individual that was drinking it made the comment that it was a "cheap wine and they always cause hangovers." I've heard this before but totally disagree...with the cheap part. I'm the Queen of under $5 wine and rarely get any resemblance of hangovers. I had to know what caused this with certain wines.

Red wines are almost always matured in oak barrels and should be matured for at least 3 years to avoid the higher level of nasties that cause these hangovers. The "rule" is that if stored for only six months. wines should be suitable for consumption within the first year. If stored for a year, the wine should continue maturing for at least four to neutralize the nasties into stable substances which do not cause hangovers. Some winemakers add oak chips directly to the wine for flavor which takes years to neutralize.

The next time you think your hangover is due to the amount you paid for your wine, think again. Maybe a little research into their bottling practices would give you a better idea of whether it was the wine...or the amount (consumption not price).

A special Thanks to Lauren & Friends at Barefoot Wine and Bubbly for sharing this bottle with me. It was truly enjoyable.