Winking Owl Part II

Sarah says:  First things first - I need to publicly apologize for saying that my sister, Anne, recommended this wine in my last blog.  Apparently, there is more than one $2.85 wine out there, and I got the wrong one.  Winking Owl is NOT the wine that Anne likes.  Sorry for making you look bad!  I'll have to go back and search for your wine.... or someone could always buy it for me to prevent further mishaps!  :-) 

I'm relieved that she didn't like it, because its makes my next paragraph so much easier to write.  This wine is awful.  This is my third night on the bottle because I can't force myself to drink more than one glass as a time.  I have to literally force myself to take each sip.  Each glass is getting progressively worse too.  I keep telling myself to dump it, because at $2.85 a bottle it's not really a loss.  But at the same time, even a little waste, is still waste, and I hate to waste.  My frugalness is is going nuts right now.  If I can manage it, I will drink 2 glasses tonight and call this bottle a goner.  I'm about 1/2 way through my first glass, and dreading it.

Christian Grey would be quite disappointed in this wine.  He never would have bothered with it in the first place, but would definitely be tisk tisk'ing me for suffering through it.  He wouldn't have the patience for such things.  Of course, if I was making $100,000 an hour I probably wouldn't feel the need to be frugal either.  And if I was with Christian Grey I would... wait, where was I going with this?  Yup, I'm onto the second book of the 50 Shades of Grey books.  And it's delicious.  Here's the thing, I'm torn about if I'm allowed to enjoy these books.  It seems that most people either love them or hate them.  Either, you can't put it down, or you think it's smut.  It bothers me when people talk about the writing - it's not meant to be this amazingly written piece of literature - it's just meant to be an entertaining story, lighten up people!  Since I'm fairly religious, I feel like I'm not supposed to like them.  It seems to me, the more religious people are, the more against these books they are.  I've read this blog which had some fairly interesting arguments on why as a christian female I shouldn't be reading 50 Shades of Grey, so then I felt guilty.  But at the same time, there is this side of me that says, all our lives our parents encourage us to read and read and read some more, so shouldn't everyone be jumping for joy that all these women are reading?  Plus, from what I've heard from my friends, reading this book has been helping their sex lives - people everywhere are happier, why would we want to stop that?!

My opinion... I like the books.  I'm not reading all three in a week like so many people I know.  I read the first in about 5 days, I'm about in target to finish the 2nd in about the same amount of time.  I didn't have to run out and get the 2nd book the next day, I waited until someone could loan it to me.  I'm curious about what is going to happen to Christian and Anastasia.  The story is intriguing, just like any other book.  Am I turned off by all of the sex?  Not really.  I love reading romance - it's easy to read and takes me away from the dull of my life.  I've read a lot of sex scenes in my nightly reading.  Am I turned on by all of the sex?  Not really.  After reading the same thing so many times, it becomes a little old.  Am I surprised by some of the sex?  Not really.  How do I put this without sounding like a freak?  Most things that Christian Greg has can be found in Lovers Lane or Priscilla's - it's not like he's the first person to be into these things.  I mean, it's a bit odd to have a whole room devoted to this, but the items themselves are not that crazy.  I enjoy a little chocolate every now and then... plus, they say a piece of dark chocolate every day can be good for your heart.  

They also say a glass or two of red wine can be good for your heart.  It appears I'm going to live forever!  Time to go get that refill and get back to reading!

Winking Owl Shiraz

Description on the bottle:

Style: full bodied

Taste: dry

Notes: subtle flavors of black cherry, blackberry, and a hint of spice

Food: pasta, roast beef and steak

Temp: best when served between 55 & 60 degrees

Origin: California, USA

Sarah says:  I gave this wine a shot for two reasons; 1 because it was only $2.85 and 2 because it was recommended by my sister, Anne.  The recommendation I received was to refrigerate the bottle, then pull it out about 30 min before drinking.  So, I did that - except I only waited about 20 min (I'm not really into sitting around and waiting.  I want what I want and I want it now!).  This wine was just ok.  I didn't look at the back of the bottle until now and I see that it's classified as dry - I think that is the problem.  I don't think I like wines that leave a dry taste in my mouth.  I couldn't really taste the hints of black cherry or blackberry, both of which sound delicious.  I actually thought it tasted fairly bland - it didn't seem to have much flavor at all.  I don't think I'd serve this wine to company, but for less than $3, it's perfectly acceptable as a night alone drinking while blogging wine.

Overall rating:  Thumbs up for price, down for flavor.

Sarah says:  Speaking of company - I finally have some new dining room furniture!  I really wanted something nice - but a few friends convinced me that I should wait on the nice stuff, because my kids are probably going to ruin it.  So, after lots of looking around, we finally decided on a table, chairs and a bench from IKEA.  We've purchased a significant amount of furniture from IKEA over the past 5 years, so we're well aware of all of the assembly that is required.  Or, maybe I should say, Jon was well aware of it all.  He's done a significant amount of complaining about all of this stuff that he's had to put together (a dresser, a few night stands, a few beds, etc).  I've always classified these duties as his jobs as the man of the house.  But, this time around, I was feeling generous, and decided to pitch in.  Holy crapoly - IKEA stuff sucks to build!  I built a bench and 4 chairs (compared to Jon who only built the table!), and it took me days.  It probably took 2 hours to build the bench, about 1 hour for the first chair and about 30 min for the others.  I had to make a few mistakes with the first chair that I was sure not to do again.  It was awful.  My hands are still sore from that dreaded alan wrench.  I would like to toot my own horn, halfway through the bench I asked Jon to come behind me and tighten my screws because I thought he could get them tighter than me.  After fiddling with a few he said I didn't need him, everything was tight enough.  It's nice to know I can do it all by myself!  

Anyways - the dining room stuff is built.  I'm no longer embarrassed by my table and chairs - seriously, anyone who sat in our set at the old house knows how horrible our old table and especially the chairs were.  I'm ready to have company!  There won't be any Winking Owl wine, but at least there will be a nice, comfy chair!

I built these guys! (Muscles flexed)

Flirt - California Red Wine

Description on the bottle:  It's the shrug of a shoulder, the wink of an eye, the tossing of hair and the pursing of lips.  Playful and provocative, naughty and nice, Flirt is a combination of frisky red wines guaranteed to leave butterflies in your stomach.  With hints of juicy plum, vanilla, butterscotch and creamy spice, you can't help but be tempted.  So go on, don't be shy.  Take a sip.

Sarah says:  Butterflies were definitely left in my stomach - and I like butterflies.  This red wine was delicious.  I would go back to Oregon just to find this bottle of wine again, I really liked it.  I'm not sure about the alcohol content though - I drank this bottle while soaking in a hot tub, generally the combination of heat and wine kills me, but I maintained my senses during this bottle.  Never the less - I base my ratings on taste, not tipsiness - and for that, this bottle gets a thumbs up! 

Being on vacation, this sexy bottle of wine felt appropriate.  The description was so tempting, plus knowing that I would be drinking it with Jon and not alone was a big plus.  What is it about vacation that makes us more flirty?  I used to think that it was because we were relaxed - but vacationing with kids isn't exactly relaxing, and yet I find that Jon and I are both in better spirits than normal.  Maybe it's the lack of work, maybe it's that the hardest decision is where to go out to eat for dinner, maybe it's just being somewhere new, whatever the reason, vacation is a good time to reconnect - literally.  A bottle of wine called Flirt, a hot tub, and a door with a lock make the best combination!  I should add that this wine left a good flavor in my mouth, making it easier to do the flirting (and kissing).  Some wines leave my mouth dry and blah feeling - not this one!  

What gets you flirting?

Willamette Valley Vineyards - Oregon Blossom

Description on the bottle:  This delightful blush wine is our answer to California's popular White Zinfandel.  We create Blossom using only premium varietal wine grapes grown in the Willamette Valley.  Bright aromas suggesting cherries, berries and melons coupled with crisp, fruity flavors make Blossom a perfect picnic wine or conversation refreshment.  We invite you to visit our winery and tasting room to enjoy all of our wines and see why the Willamette Valley is an ideal place for making wine.

Sarah says:  Yummo!  This wine was enjoyed during our Oregon trip (and when I say enjoyed, I mean ENJOYED!).  We felt it was appropriate to purchase and drink a wine made in Oregon while in Oregon.  We both really liked it.  It was light, fruity and easy to drink.  It left no aftertaste, but quenched my thirst while begging me to drink more all at the same time.  We didn't get a chance to visit the winery (but we did drive past the exit!), but I would have gladly enjoyed more wine by this winery.

Overall rating:  Oregon thumbs up!  You know that's higher than a Michigan thumbs up because of the altitude  :-)

Sarah says:  First of all, I'd like to apologize for the lack in blogging.  Things have been super busy lately - I'm going to do my best to keep this up!  Second of all, I still need to write about our amazing trip to Oregon.  It was exactly that, amazing!  We spent 2 days in Portland, 5 in Redmond, and 3 along the coast.  We visited an amusement park, went tubing, climbed Smith Rock, went shopping, swam... a lot!, visited the sand dunes, soaked in a hot tub, visited the ocean, went into some sea lion caves, visited the world's shortest river, went to a cheese factory, went to an aquarium, fed some seals (who clapped when you threw the food in - quite funny!), walked along the beach at Haystack Rock, and did some sight seeing along the drive of the mountain views.

My favorite part?  These guys:

My family is the greatest!  First of all - the whole thing is made possible by those two crazies in the middle - my grandparents.  They so totally rock.  Second of all - the rest of my family lives all over the world now and yet whenever we come together, it's just like we saw each other yesterday.  The conversation, the laughter, the fun that is had when we are together is incomparable to anything else.  The whole thing kind of amazes me - what was once a couple with 4 kids has turned into a family of thirty-one (I think I counted right - I had to do it a few times!)  And I love how accepting we are towards each other - it doesn't matter how long you've been dating someone - if you come to this gathering, you are family now.  Everyone has open arms and huge hearts.  We all just pitch in and keep food on the table, keep the kids entertained, and the drinks flowing.  It's such a great time.  I wish I could have stayed in Redmond a little longer so I could hold onto that little bit of relaxing family time just a little longer.  I know everyone thinks they have the best family - but I really think mine wins the battle.

My second favorite part of the trip?  This:

Yup, his and hers sinks in the giant bathroom of the amazing house my grandparents rented for us.  I'm really excited about the fact that since we've moved I no longer have to share a bathroom with the kids, but not having to share a sink with Jon - it was wonderful.  I love the man - but he's a man - he leaves toothpaste residue behind, he leaves shaving hairs behind, somehow it just gets gunky when he's around.  That 5 days of having a sink all to myself was as memorable as the Oregon trip itself.  This is something I strive to have in my future.  It's good to have something to work towards!

Overall, Oregon was great, despite the items mentioned in my last post.  The scenery in Oregon is just beautiful.  Driving through the mountains and not being able to see the sky because there are too many trees around, that's just not something you see at home.  It just so refreshing to see so much land that is just land - it has no purpose other than to just be there and be beautiful.  And it does that well.  The family, yummy winery, and awesome bathrooms are just other reasons to go back.

What is your favorite part of vacation?

Added bonus - a few other pics

So much land!  Look closely and you'll see some mountains in the sky!

 

Inside a cave!  Liam LOVED it!

 

Lots of sand!  And a little Liam!

Us

A rare moment drinking water instead of wine!

Charles & Charles Red Wine

Sarah says:  I didn't like it.  It was a few days ago - so I'm not exactly clear as to what I didn't like about it, but I didn't go back for a second glass, and we ended up dumping about 1/3 of the bottle - something I would NEVER do at home.  But, we tend to do things differently on vacation.  Anyways - I just didn't like it, and I'll leave it at that.  There also wasn't a description on the bottle... where's the fun in that?!  I will add that I was drinking this bottle with Jon and my Dad - both of them claim to have liked it, but that begs the question why didn't they drink it if they liked it so much - so I'll stick with it wasn't that great.

Overall rating: Thumbs 1/3 of the way up

Sarah says:  We got home at about 1:30 am from a 11 day 10 night vacation to Oregon.  We spent 2 nights in Portland, 5 in Redmond, and 3 along the coast.  It was fun and exhausting.  There are lots of things I loved - and I have every intention about writing about those in another post - but tonight I'm tired, jet lagged, a little cranky, and sort of feel like complaining... hence the decision to post about the one bottle of wine I didn't enjoy on the trip (trust me, there were many drinks enjoyed!).  My body is rebelling against me today.  After days of eating like crap (when I say crap, I'm not referring to the taste - it was all amazing food, but wasn't exactly healthy), drinking (everything but water!), and not really working out (but I tried to do it a little!  More on that another time), I feel flubby, and my stomach refuses to take anymore.  I spent half the day consuming nothing but water - and the second half eating only grilled chicken and salad.  It was wonderful. 

Speaking of stomachs rebelling - apparently Liam has a weak stomach.  I'm not really surprised by this, but I wasn't prepared for it.  During my 11 day trip - I dealt with throw up 4 times - that's a lot.  Luckily one instance involved 2 children at the exact same moment - so, if you were the type of person that looked for the good in things, that would be it.  At least that cut my throw up occurrences down by one, but I still had 4 kids to clean.  

Liam might kill me for this one day - but here goes:  the first was at my Grandparents house.  Liam has no self control when we are at family gatherings that involve a large amount of sweets just sitting around (ie. the dessert table).  Sure enough, after a few too many M&M's, taffy's, and chocolate covered pretzels - Liam threw up.  Luckily for me - he happened to be going to the bathroom at that exact same moment, so, most of it landed right in his shorts.  This made clean up simple, just run the shorts outside and rinse them with a hose.  Unfortunately - this also meant Liam had to stand in the bathroom naked for 15 min while Jon went back to our place for some clean shorts.  I really blame myself for this one - this is so not the first time Liam has done this - I've said it over and over that I need to watch him a little closer when we are at these types of get togethers, yet time and time again I fail to do that and end up with a sick kid by the end of the night.

The next throw up I was totally unprepared for.  We were driving from Redmond to Florence (ie, from the middle of the state - to the coast), we basically have to drive through a bunch of mountains.  The views you'll see while making this drive are beautiful - it's impossible to put into words or to capture with a picture - you'll just have to go check it out one day.  It's also not for the weak stomachs.  It's sharp curves with zero shoulder and a straight drop down are terrifying.  The altitude changes as you go up and down are deadly.  About 30 min into our 4 hour mountain drive Liam said he felt sick; about 15 seconds later - he threw up - all over the inside of our super clean rental car - on a mountain where you can't exactly pull off to the side of the road.  Yup, some things ended up in the garbage by the time we got out of that one.  And air conditioning was eliminated in favor of windows for awhile.  I have to say, I'm glad I was in the front seat.  Poor kid - the next 3 hours must have been horrible for him.  We were at a point where there was no turning back.  There aren't stores for miles - so we couldn't get any anti-nausea drugs for him.  Every 2 minutes someone was asking him if he was ok, if he needed to stop, and shoving an already throw up filled garbage bag in his face.  He's quite the trooper.  We did finally get to the coast (a little later than planned) and breathed in some much deserved salty ocean air.

For the rest of the trip I made him carry around a cleaning bucket we picked up from the dollar store.  Of course, he didn't use it.  It's one of those irony's that once you have the insurance you don't need it... or so we thought.  We left the bucket our last morning because it wasn't really something you wanted to bring on a plane.  We figured he's survived flying without any problems before - it was just the crazy mountain driving that got to him.  Plus - if he got sick on the plane - there were barf bags.  We were set.  What I didn't anticipate was getting through all of our flights without a single problem, but while waiting at the baggage claim having Liam start throwing up without a single warning peep.  My poor EMU hoodie took the brunt of this one - another piece of clothing in the garbage. :-(  Jon grabs a garbage can and Liam is doing a great job of going at it in the can... next thing I know, Mary takes one look at Liam, starts to gag, and is now also throwing up in the can.  Thank god it was a big can.  What a sight.  It's the middle of the night - everyone is exhausted.  Actually, several people just complimented me on the good behavior of my kids.  And now they are each at one end of a garbage can puking into it, and Jon and I are just standing there what that "what do we do now" look on our faces?  We have a bazillion pieces of luggage and two kids covered in puke.  Of course we park at the airport off-site parking - so we have to take a shuttle bus to your car. Not exactly a smooth ride, I was terrified!  Long story - but we got them cleaned up and home.

Lessons learned:  Eat better during family functions - this goes for all of us.  Even it we don't throw up - we feel it the next day.  There is no need to eat as much crap as you can just because it's there!  Always carry extra clothes - I've gotten out of the habit of doing this, since we are out of the baby stage and the potty stage - but it has come back to haunt me several times.  Just when you think you are in the clear, that's when you need those clothes the most.  Don't ever leave your bucket behind, those things always come in handy.

Even with all that - they had fun!