Clayhouse Wines Adobe Red

Description on the bottle:  The Adobe Red is a blend created for that rebellious, hedonistic red wine lover inside of you, rustic like that adobe but refined with sensuous dark fruit flavors.   

Sarah says:  A wine called Clayhouse?!  We pretty much had to buy it, and I'm pretty sure I'll buy it again.  It seems only fitting that the Clay household keep a bottle, or two, or several of Clayhouse on hand at all times!  The wine store only had this version of the Clayhouse wines, but he said he'd order some other types to have on hand for me.  I can't wait to go see what our options are!  As for the taste?  It's decent.  I enjoyed this more yesterday after eating a few girl scout cookies (and after the events that I'm about to tell you about), it completed my late night snack perfectly.  Tonight, I'm following a chicken curry dinner, not quite as fitting.  It's not as smooth as I would prefer, but it's still totally drinkable!

Overall rating:  If for no other reason, it gets a thumbs up for the name!

Sarah says:  Speaking of rebellion... I did something last night, which has caused many Mom's to do a little double take.  I've been told I'm crazy for wanting to do this a lot, but I totally stand by my decision, and don't regret a second of it.  Mary decided for her 5th birthday present, she wanted to get her ears pierced. That's not the crazy part, it's where I took her to get the piercing done which is causing people to judge.  

I'll just get straight to the point and say it.  I took her to a tattoo and piercing shop; Liquid Swordz, in Ypsilanti.  There I met Dave, the guy that I allowed to stick a need through my daughter's ears.  Most people's initial reaction is "Why the hell would you do that to sweet Mary?!"

First, have you ever thought about how awful the idea of a piercing gun is?  We live in an age where boys can't even shoot pretend guns with their fingers without getting in trouble, and yet, we'll put a "gun" to our child's ear?  Plus, consider the sharpness of a needle, with that of an earring.  It makes so much more sense to pierce using a needle than it does to force a dull earring through the ear.

Second, think about the cleanliness of the location.  Having been in the tattoo chair once, or twice, or well... a lot, I know how clean these places are.  In order for tattoo & piercing places to remain in business, they have to be spot-on clean.  Their work spaces are pretty much empty except for a chair and a light.  Their tools are sterilized and new ones are used for each individual.  It's like going to the dentist, when they open up all those tools from packages, which is your comfort that they are clean... these tattoo and piercing tools are also pulled out of these sterile, plastic bag... things.  I've been to the mall, and I've seen things there which lead me to believe their standards of clean are different than mine.  Plus, those piercing guns have all those little nooks and small spaces, even if you tried I wouldn't think you could get that as clean as you'd want it.  A needle on the other hand, a pretty simple object and quite simple to get sterile.

Third, think of the individual doing the piercing.  A young something earning close to minimum wage, that may or may not have started on the job yesterday, just doing this for a paycheck until they finish school and can start their career?  Or a professional, who makes a living out of piercing, and has been doing it for years?   In my mind, the guy that pierces all sorts of body parts, is going to be the expert in ear piercing department.   The expert is the one I want working on my little girl.  The people that do this for a living, it's not just another ear to them, it's their reputation, their life, it's an art.  They take this stuff way more seriously than someone at the mall.

Fourth, I remember my own ear piercing experience, with the gun, and it was horrible.  I was terrified, so terrified that I think I actually didn't get it done on my first try.  We left and went back another time.  I was still terrified.  It hurt forever.  It was scary and loud.  I cried, a lot.  I wanted the opposite for Mary.

The one and only downfall... they don't keep kids earrings in stock, so we had to order them and wait 3 weeks for them to be ready for us.  Anyone who knows my Mary knows that when she gets her mind set on doing something, also knows that she isn't keen on waiting.  Longest three weeks of my life!  The upside - the earrings really are quite pretty.  And the have balls on the back, so they won't dig into her neck like traditional earrings can.

When we got the call last night that they were ready, we immediately went!  Well, almost immediately... in typical girl fashion, Mary first wanted to change her clothes!

The official ear piercing outfit

While I filled out the paperwork and got things going, Mary danced around the lobby and made friends with the young adults in the lobby waiting to get tattooed.  Was she scared?  No way.  First of all, it's Mary, she fears nothing.  Second of all, she was too excited to be scared.  Third of all, everyone was totally chatting with her, making her feel comfortable and at ease.  Forth of all, she has no idea that there was any other option.  As far as she is concerned, all people that want their ears pierced go to this place and see this guy.  Does Dave look a little different that the crowd she normally hangs out with?  Sure, he has tattoos, giant ear gauges, some weird head horn things... but he's totally a nice guy, has a family, a home, a life, and feelings just like anyone else.  We go out of our way to teach our kids to accept people, why would this be any different?  What would be the point of saying to her "I know he looks different, but that's no reason to be afraid"... that would be totally backwards right?  I guarantee that suddenly she would think there was reason to be afraid, and would be.  She just thinks he's just some cool guy.  (By the way... a little out of sequence here, but Dave thinks Mary is a cool gal too!  Here's a bit of an email he sent me today "I am glad she is soo excited about  them.   I pierce a lot of children's lobes and your little Mary was awesome.  Coolest kid I have pierced in years.")

When it was our turn, we went to the back and Mary immediately jumped onto the big chair.  I forced her to bring Boo in case she needed something to snuggle. First we dotted her ears to make sure we were getting them in the right spot, and even!  Dave was totally patient with Mary wanting to jump down and look in the mirror every 5 seconds.  Dot 1, jump down and look in the mirror.  Dot 2, jump down and look in the mirror.  Re-do dot 1, jump down and look in the mirror... etc.  He was very cool with her.

Finally, it was earring time!  We asked Mary her preference, sitting alone or in my lap.  She choose in my lap.  Dave talked us through the process (which he had already done like 4 times, but it was still nice to hear again) and showed Mary some deep breathing techniques.  10 seconds later, ear one was done!  Mary gasped during the piercing, and whimpered when he pushed the back on, but no tears!  I think she was a little stunned, but as soon as she jumped down and saw that pink sparkly in her ear, she was totally over any sadness that she felt.  She loved it!  She jumped right back up and got ready for the next ear, this time, she sat all by herself.  Again, we breathed as instructed by Dave, and 10 seconds later ear two was done!  I think maybe one to two tears sneaked out that time, but no real crying!  I was shocked, where was the screaming and trauma that I experienced?  

Ever so slightly upset

She quickly jumped down again, looked in the mirror, and approved!  Dave cleaned her up, gave us some instructions on care for the next several weeks.  Off Mary skipped to the lobby to show all of her friends.  She was so happy (and still is)!!  She couldn't wait to go home to show Daddy.  Most of all, she really wants to go back to school to show her teacher and friends there!  

She was thrilled, I was thrilled, best ear piercing experience ever.  I know a lot of the Mom's think I'm crazy, and tell me I would have been just as happy going to the mall.  I will maintain that things went better at Liquid Swordz than they would have at the mall.  Sure, both places she would have left with earrings.  But, leaving with a smile vs. leaving with tears was worth it to me.  I would totally recommend Dave to anyone looking to getting a piercing!

Totally happy with her earrings!  Thanks Dave!

So tonight, as I sit in the Clay House, and drink my Clayhouse wine (I know, I'm totally cheesy!), I lift my glass to being different!  Do what you feel is best in your heart, and ignore those that tell you that you are crazy.  What have you done lately that's a little out of the ordinary?

19 Crimes

Description on the bottle:  Nineteen Crimes turned criminals into colonists.  Upon conviction, British rogues, guilty of at least one of the 19 crimes, were sentenced to live in Australia, rather than death.  This punishment by "transportation" began in 1788, and many of the lawless died at sea.  For the rough-hewn prisoners who made it to shore, a new world awaited.  As pioneers ub a frontier penal colony, they forged a new country and new lives, brick by brick.  This wine celebrates the rules they broke and the culture they built.

Sarah says:  Oh my lord, I love this wine.  First of all, let me give a huge thanks to Heather for recommending it, and to Nancy for donating it my blog!  You both rock.  This wine is outstanding!  It's soooo smooth, with a slightly dark fruity flavor, and not spicy at all... just the way I like it!  It's just awesome... I might go as far as declaring it a new favorite.  Jon and I cracked it open yesterday - Valentines Day - 19 Crimes... somehow that felt appropriate?  Whatever, we were both loving it.  Who cares about the flowers and earrings, just give me more of this wine!

Overall rating, 4 thumbs way up!

Sarah says:  Other things I totally love... cousins.  As I'm typing this, I'm listening to the giggles of my kids and their cousins out in the living room.  It's kind of a running joke that my sister and I pretty much did everything together for a few years... ie, bought houses within a year of each other, got married within 5 months of each other, had 1st kids with 7 months of each other, had 2nd kids within 5 months of each other, abandoned first houses with 1 year of each other... the awesome result of all of that, is we live less than 10 miles apart... and this:

Cousins, super close in age, that love having sleepovers!!

Cousins, they are totally the best kind of family.  They are fun to hang out with, easy to get along with, don't have any of the annoying family qualities that a sibling or parent might have, and no matter how much time passes, you just pick up right where you left off!  I got a txt just this morning that said "Cousins!  Let's get together!"  Some of my best memories involve my cousins.  The reason I love the movies Hook and Ferris Buller's Day Off; my cousins.  Jumping on the bed at Grandma's, waiting for Santa, and white water rafting; my cousins.  Pool parties, bowling, talent shows; my cousins.  Swimming in a hot tub, playing spoons, sneaking chips and pop; my cousins.  Trips out west, trips to Indiana, trips anywhere; my cousins.  Writing notes, sneaking cigarettes, telling secrets; my cousins!  Drinking, mountain climbing, camping; my cousins.  Badminton, laughing, M&M's; my cousins.  Seriously... I have the most fun, most beautiful, most honest, true to themselves, passionate, follow their dreams, type of cousins.  They are the best!  I love them all.

So tonight, as I listen to my kids develop their own bonds with their cousins, I think of my cousins all over the world (seriously, my cousins are all over the world - not only all over the states, MI, WA, CA, MO, OH but also in Korea and France!), and I hope they are all doing great.  I lift this awesome glass of wine in your direction, and I think I'll have another in your honor!  I miss you all!  

Kora Sauvignon Blanc

Description on the bottle:  We produce our wine from ultra-ripe fruit grown on the family estate we established in 1978.  Our sons (Hamish - vineyard manager and Sam - winemaker) grew up amidst the vines and know every block intimately.  Kora, meaning distant place, is light straw in colour with green highlights, reflecting its fresh, typically New Zealand Sauvignon style.  It has mouthwatering aromas of gooseberry and green capsicum, combined with hints of cut grass.  Medium bodied, with vibrant passion fruit and citrus flavours, and a crisp finish, it makes a delicious partner for seafood and the grilled white fish Sam catches in the Marlborough Sound.

Sarah:  I'm thinking ultra-ripe fruit might not be the way to go... just regular ripe might be better.  Plus, anything with hints of cut grass, doesn't sound very appealing to me.  I'm not exactly loving this wine, it's WWAAYYY to sweet for me.  Maybe I need some of that white fish, instead of the tootsie pops and marshmallows I've been stuffing my face with, I'm just not feeling it.  But, none the less, I'm drinking two glasses, because after the day I've had, it's better than nothing!

Sarah says:  What was up with today?  Everyone in this home was grouchy.  Both kids woke up in bad moods... I'm pretty sure it was the combination of staying up late and living up it yesterday (ie. eating more junk food that normal) that got to them, but man oh man, all day long it was one whining fest!  They were breaking rules, fighting with each other, fighting with us, crying, screaming, jumping on things they aren't allowed to jump on, complaining, just being awful.  This quickly forced any good mood that was in me, out.  I tried all sorts of tactics to improve the moods.  Games, jokes, tickles, hugs.. nothing worked!  I took Mary to gymnastics, one of her favorite things, she complained that it was too cold in the gym.  I sent the kids outside to run around and play, the complained that I wouldn't let them have hot chocolate once coming in (no sweets today, we're trying to come down from yesterday's sugar high).  I took them to the library, but they couldn't agree on a movie to rent.   I just kept thinking it would get better, for the most part, it didn't.

Well, until this happened:

What!?  Is that what I think it is??  My Liam is... READING!!  Yes, yes he is!!  WWWHOOOOO HOOOO!!!!

Ok, as awesome as this last minute turn of events was (which totally rocked my world, and restored all hope for my children, as I was beginning to think they were taken over by the devil), we were all still grouchy, and everyone went to bed early.  Including me.  Here's to hoping everyone wakes up in a better mood tomorrow.

How to do you handle a bad mood?