Girl Obsessed (Completely OT)

A while back I wrote about the wonderful trip to Napa we took with Missy and My Kiwi last Spring. While there, we had a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a (FREE!) wine tasting at Caldwell Vineyard. While classy and eloquent, our wonderful Sommelier (Barbara) was also real and down to earth. As we volatized, sniffed and got edumacated on the finer points of wine tasting and making we were also given a stern warning,

"DO NOT purchase wine glasses at ANY of the wine stores or wineries in the valley.. if you want to find some like these, go to Target!"

(Now that right there is my kind of girl!)

When we arrived home, I was on a mission to find the perfect set of wine glasses. After spending a long weekend in the wine country, I had grown to love the similar styles the tasting rooms and restaurants all used. They had to have larger bowls (for swirling.. not sloshing) and strong, long stems. They were simple, yet elegant. I was confident I would know them as soon as I saw them.

Of course, my first trip was to Tarzhay. The prices were way better than the stores in Napa (duh) but the glasses weren't right. Too short and stocky. Dagnabbit! Disappointed, I left empty handed.. and that alone speaks volumes. I normally would have done some aisle wandering-therapy-shopping to lift my spirits but I was so dejected I went home. Insert sad face here.

My little quest took over a month (no joke!). Where did I finally find them, you ask? At Walmart? No. Kmart? Nope. Kohl's? Negative. Bed Bath & Beyond? No way, Jose. Macy's? Oh heck no! It was at.. drum roll, please.. the Dollar Store (I kid you not!).

I stopped by after work on a whim that fateful Friday evening. On the bottom shelf of the glassware aisle I struck gold. THEY WERE PERFECT! When my discovery was realized I was on my hands and knees (eeewwiiee, it's not the cleanest place, let me tell ya) digging them out from the back of the shelf. People scooted by quickly, grabbing their children as they passed.. I was the crazy lady saying, "WooHoo!" to no one in particular (and carrying on other self congratulating conversations with myself) as I loaded the micro buggy up to it's brim.

I cleaned the place out.

Not only did I purchase a set of 16 for myself, I also bought a matching set for Missy and MK. What can I say? I'm a giver.


The wine glass story doesn't end there. A month later I was in Southern California visiting family and we threw a girls only wine tasting night at Auntie's. Upon hearing of my great find she and I were off to her Dollar Store to see if lightning might strike twice. Sure enough, on yet another Friday night there I was on my hands and knees, digging out the identical cob-webby, dusty wine glasses off the bottom shelf.

My dear Auntie is now the proud owner of a matching set, as well.

What's the moral of the story? Well, there is none.. other than the fact I have a need to tell everyone I happend upon a fantastic find. DH doesn't get it, why must it be known our lovely wine glasses were a mere dollar? I smile and remind him,

"It's a girl thing.."

Vacation Planning 101

Our last family trip this past spring with My Kiwi and Sissy In Law was to Napa for a visit with their Auntie. We had (what I consider) a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a private tour and wine tasting in the caves at Caldwell Vineyard. Auntie has been widowed for several years now and rents a room out to people she meets through church. Currently it's Barbara.. a Sommelier and Director of Hospitality and Marketing for the vineyard. She was as enthusiastic to teach us as we were to learn and it was a relief she didn't look down her nose at the goofiness that is us. She adores DH's and Missy's Aunt and was excited to host our amazing morning. We laughed, learned and had a wonderful time.

I'm proud to say, we no longer chug a lug... we swirl, volatilizing the esters (or -- to help us remember-- "violating Aunt Ester".. she was our kinda gal), we smell, we slurp (trying not to gag) and we breathe... using our senses and taking in all that it embodies. There is so much that goes into a bottle of wine and we came away with a newly found appreciation for the art of its making (not to mention, a pretty nice buzz).

This past Saturday evening as we sat over delicioso Mexican food after 9 holes of golf (that's not quite what I did but hack is such a harsh word), the four of us contemplated where our next vacation will be. Rather than fly, why not jump in our motorhome and be tourists in our own state? Colorado is chock full of beauty, points of interest and wineries.

Um, hello?

Our next family trip will most likely involve lugging diaper bags, strollers, and all kinds of other baby unmentionables I can't even wrap my childless mind around. Gone are the vacations of sleeping in, catching up on the books I've collected and relaxing. We're ushering in a whole new era .. I'm not sure what it holds but I doubt a wine tour is on the agenda. More like picnics by rivers, hikes through national forests and s'mores by a campfire.

Bless their hearts.. My Kiwi and Sissy in Law are still up for it..