A Bowtie for your Date Night- a how to
August 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Getting Ready for that formal event with your someone special and your stuck with a bowtie that you have to tie yourself?
Look no further, we have step-by-step picture and word directions to help you out of your dilemma and have a fabulous “Date Night”.
Before putting on your tie you should have your dress shirt buttoned up all the way to the top button and have the collar up. Starting the tying process with the wide end of the tie on the left or right side is just a matter of convention, so if you are more comfortable starting with the wide end on the left side then start from the left. Keep the knot of the tie tight throughout the tying process.When you are finished tying your tie put your collar down, the knot should be in the middle of your collar and the wide end of your tie should end around the middle of your belt buckle. If you don’t get it right the first time simply un-knot your tie and try again, tying a perfect knot on your necktie takes practice.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 1
Slide tie under your color. Extend end in your right hand 1 inch below end in your left hand.
Note: The directions are written as you would see yourself in the mirror. So the “right” is the “right” you see in the mirror.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 2
Cross the longer end over the shorter end and then pass it back us through the loop, making a loose overhand knot. Tighten the knot so it fits snugly around the neck.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 3
Fold the lower hanging end up and to the left. The unfolded end will be hanging down over the front of the bow.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 4
Pull the bow ends forward and very gently squeeze them together to form an opening behind them. Look towards the right to see the opening you have created.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 5
With your left hand, push the middle art of the tie through the opening from left to right. Do not let the end of the tie pass all the way through the opening. Use your right to help pull the back loop through.
How to Tie a Bowtie: Step 6
Your bow tie will be uneven at this point. Pulling the loops make the knot smaller. Pulling and tugging up and down on the loops and the flat ends will tighten and adjust your bow tie to your own personal preference. Pull the flat ends to untie.
You’re finished! Have a wonderful “Date Night” and don’t forget your bottle of wine!
Pass the Toilet Paper
August 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment
How Much does the Tooth Fairy Give?
August 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!
For all of you parents out there, you know that other than Santa Claus the Tooth Fairy is someone special that swoops in during the night and by morning leaves a little treasure behind for those that are most deserving. Now Santa keep close track of children and their “naughty” and “nice” behavior all year long, but the Tooth Fairy has it a little easier. When your child looses a tooth, that’s a big deal! A tooth? Oh my! All the struggle of the wiggling and twisting and pushing with their little tongues to get that loose bugger out! Did you know the Tooth Fairy does have parameters and guidelines of her own for the children to be conscience of?
The Tooth Fairy used to give only one dollar. Now it’s at least two. But the teeth have to be clean! Teeth left under the pillow that are exceptionally shiny and have been noticeably cared for with good tooth brushing and floss deserve much more. Sometimes special gifts are warranted. Maybe even a specially desired for toy. We’ll see. So, in celebration of National Tooth Fairy Day today, share with your kids the importance of keeping those chompers clean and healthy and they will be greatly rewarded!
Have a great story to share about the Tooth Fairy? Let us know!
Five Steps to Finding the Perfect Gift
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
by Kelly Bartha
When it comes to gift giving, everyone wants to come up with the perfect gift to make the recipient ooh and ahh and label them as the best gift giver in the universe, right? Why not? It’s nice to be nice and what better way to show your appreciation to someone than with a great gift.
Here are 5 Steps to Finding a Great Gift:
- Don’t overwhelm yourself and start simple. What does the recipient like? Do they have any hobbies? Focus on one thing and build on the gift from there. If the recipient is a man who loves cars, for example, he may enjoy a gift box filled with car care products like a sponge, car wax, towels, tire cleaner, air freshener, and a gas card to keep their baby looking like new. A gift card to a car wash slipped into a card for a detail clean would be a great option too. For a woman who likes to shop, for example, may enjoy a cute purse (or a gift box shaped like one) filled with mints, a bottle of hand sanitizer, lip gloss or chapstick, and a gift card to one of her favorite stores so she has all the necessities she needs for a day at the mall. Putting a gift basket together yourself or ordering one is a fantastic way to pull several ideas together and having it delivered in one fancy little package. Gift baskets are always a big hit and tend to cover a lot of ground.
- What if the person already has EVERYTHING? Offer them the opportunity to try a new restaurant or treat them to a movie or other activity where being out and about can be an exciting change of pace with a gift card. Do they like to read? A great gift card to a book store or a subscription to a magazine so the gift keeps on giving is another great option to give something unique.
- What time of year is it? Opt to make your gift seasonal. Is it summer? Give them a margarita themed gift with margarita mix, salt, a recipe book and some glasses. Wintertime? Try a cozy blanket with a box of assorted teas or gourmet coffee paired with biscotti or cookies. Giving a gift that can be used immediately communicates thought and convenience so it’s a win win!
- Give them something practical. What’s wrong with giving them something they can actually use? Giving a woman a blender for her birthday doesn’t exactly scream excitement, BUT (hear me out) if you pair it up with a book filled with great smoothie recipes or even a bottle of Mint Chocolate Bailey’s with a recipe for a “frozen mudslide” for her and her friends to try at the next girls night out, viola! The gift is practical and fun! Does the person have any pets? Give them some great items from the local pet store to help them care for their pride and joy like grooming kits, treats, a new toy or even a simple gift card.
- You want it to be special. With this, you will have to dig a little deeper. Hallmark works hard to say the things that need to be said but what you need to bring to the table is the unique memories that no one else has. What incredible thing do know and admire about this person? Do you know them to be the hardest working person you’ve ever met? Treat them to a unique spa experience so they are pampered unlike their daily schedule allows them to do. Book a weekend stay at a cool bed and breakfast for a relaxing time in a different environment. Offer a day of activities like golfing, boating, antique shopping or wine tasting and tie in a nice meal for an overall nice experience. Take a little extra planning time to have a plaque, necklace or other keepsake engraved to tell the person how great they truly are.
Gift giving doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you do your shopping at a retail store or on-line, there is something out there for everyone. The gift doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive to be enjoyed and appreciated. Just give the 5 steps above some thought and give yourself some credit in the creativity department and that perfect gift will find its way into that persons hands just like that!
Cheers!
What is the best gift you have received from someone? Tell us! We’d love to hear from you!
So…what’s the difference?
August 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the EXACT same grape variety. Every grape variety has synonyms, and Pinot Gris is no exception.
The difference between the Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris is that they’re made in completely different styles. Pinot Grigio is picked youngish, before a lot of the varietal flavors of the Pinot Gris grape appear. It’s made in stainless steel tanks and doesn’t spend any time in an oak barrel. The result is a lean, crisp, lively wine, sometimes with a slight spritziness.
Pinot Gris is picked later so the grapes have a chance to develop fuller flavors. Another reason for the flavor difference: Pinot Gris is usually either barrel-fermented and/or oak barrel-aged for a short while. This adds more flavors and often gives the wine a slightly thicker viscosity and darker color. Honey is often used to describe its flavor, as well as pear, peach, melon and vanilla. In Alsace, oak is used less often yet Alsace’s Pinot Gris can be thick, rich and voluptuous.
Pinot Gris/Grigio
(PEE-noh gree/GREE-jee-oh)
While Pinot Grigio is in fact the same grape as Pinot Gris (just the Italian take on it), the differences of wine they create can be immense. Pinot Gris’ most popular and successful region is Alsace, France, an area of the country that actually puts the name of the grape on the label. Pinot Grigio is the Italian version of the grape, known for its light, crisp acidity. But wines from other regions usually term their wine Pinot Gris or Grigio based on the wine’s flavor profile.
Notable Facts
Pinot Gris from Alsace creates rich, stone fruit-laden wines. They are perfumed and aromatic, and typically dry. It has round body and medium acidity. Take the grape a bit south to Italy, and it creates a very crisp, high-acid, citrus noted wine. Both are flavorful, but wine named Pinot Gris typically provides more body and rounder fruits while Pinot Grigio gives lighter-bodied, citrus fruits. Oregon and California are also growing the grape, Oregon having success with a more Alsacian style and California producing both. Winemakers often call the wine by the style they wish to replicate - for Italian style, look for Pinot Grigio, for the Alsacian style, look for Pinot Gris. In Alsace, Pinot Gris can also makes wine with some residual sugar. It’s capable of creating delicious dessert wines in the region.
Summing it up
Successful Sites: Alsace, Italy, Oregon, California
Common Descriptors: peach, pear, floral, citrus
Storing Wine
August 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment
When investing time and money into a wonderful hobby like wine, it’s best to know some of the factors that need to be considered in storing and keeping it at its best for aging purposes as well as having a great tasting bottle almost every time.
Temperature
Temperature is the most important factor and the factor that should be sought after above all others. The optimum temperature is 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, any constant temperature within 40-65 degrees Fahrenheit will do. More important than the actual temperature you will be able to achieve, is the degree and rapidity of fluctuation the wine is subjected to. A slow change of temperature of ten or so degrees between winter and summer is not a big problem. This kind of fluctuation on a daily or weekly basis though will cause damage to your wines and age them prematurely. You will notice from the sticky deposit that often forms around the capsule. In time, as the wine expands and contracts, it will damage the integrity of the cork. When this happens minute quantities of wine may make its way alongside the cork possibly even allowing oxygen to seep back in.
Wines kept at too high a temperature will age faster than wines kept at a cold temperature. Wines kept at 68 degrees Fahrenheit will age twice as fast as those kept at 50. At 55 degrees Fahrenheit wines will age slowly- with ultimately greater complexity- that you will never have to worry about them. This is not to say the colder the better! Wine that is stored too cold can develop deposits or other suspensions in the wine. Finally, keep in mind that white wines are affected far more by temperatures problems than red wines.
Humidity
Moderate humidity is important so as to keep the corks in good, resilient condition and thereby preventing them from shrinking. A relative humidity of 50-80% is the acceptable range, but about 70% is recommended. Excessive humidity will not harm the wine but will cause the labels and other paper products (like cardboard boxes) you have in the cellar to rot. Insufficient humidity may cause corks to dry out, lose their elasticity and thereby allow air to get into the bottle.
Darkness
Light will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Naturally, clear bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark colored glass. Ultraviolet light may give wine an unpleasant aromas and ruin it. Extra care should be given to sparkling wines as they are more sensitive to light than other wines. It should be noted too, that incandescent or sodium vapor lights are better for a cellar than florescent lighting.
Calm
Constant vibration from machinery or a nearby road disturbs a red wine’s sediment and can be harmful to all wine. This is not commonly a problem in the average home as dangerous extremes are rare and obvious. It should be remembered that excessive sound creates vibrations that may be harmful as well. Wines should be stored in such a way that you don’t have to move them around to get a particular bottle. Once a wine is laid down, it should stay there until it is opened. Kind of like a sleeping baby, do not disturb.
Cleanliness & Ventilation
The space should be free from smells and debris. Extraneous smells can enter through the cork and contaminate the wine. Proper ventilation will help this problem and keep the cellar from giving the wine a musty taste. Finally, debris that could be home to insects that might infect corks- untreated wood, food- should be removed. Never store fruits, vegetables, cheeses or any other foods that is capable of fermenting.
Angle of Storage
Table wine is stored horizontally so the wine stays in tact with the cork. This keeps the cork moist thereby preventing air from entering the wine. Fortified wines other than port, are stored standing. If the bottles are stored with labels up, it will be easier to see the deposit of sediment that forms on the opposite side of the bottle when it comes time to open it.
Cheers!
Hmmmm….Interesting
August 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment
In ancient Babylon, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink for a month after the wedding. Because their calendar was lunar or moon based, this period of free mead was called the “honey month” or as we know it, the “honeymoon.”
Mead is an alcoholic beverage , made from honey and water via fermentation with yeast. Its alcoholic content may range from that of a mild ale to that of a strong wine. It may be still, carbonated, or sparkling. It may be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Mead is often referred to as “honey wine.”
Depending on local traditions and specific recipes, it may be brewed with spices, fruits, or grain mash. It may be produced by fermentation of honey with grain mash; mead may also, like beer, be flavored with hops to produce a bitter, beer-like flavor. (source: Wikipedia)
Served hot like a mulled cider at Christmas time or chilled and served next to the likes of Sangria at your next backyard shin-dig, what mead may lack in popularity it makes up for in taste and flavor.
Here are a few I have encountered over the years:
Orange Mead
Aromatic, sweet and citrusy
Blueberry Mead
Medium-bodied, semi-sweet and a deep color with lingering berry flavors and soft tannins
Hot Spiced Mead
Mulling spices, nutty honey flavors, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove and just a touch of apple cider. A definite for those cold winter nights!
Cheers!
Old vs. New World Philosophy
August 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Old World wine regions date back to the era of the Roman Empire. These regions emphasize terrior (pronounced ter-wah meaning local soil) and traditions in vinification. These countries falling under old world philosophy are France, Italy, Germany and Spain.
New World wine regions rely on technology to obtain good yield and wine quality from oak aging to natural compounds to enhance structure and flavor. New world regions don’t possess the terroir knowledge of the old world countries. These countries falling under new world philosophies are Australia, United States of America, Latin America, South Africa and New Zealand.
The differences lie in the style. Old world emphasizes on terroirs and traditions. The wines tend to be more earthy, more mineral based and more tannic. New world wines rely more on technology. They tend to be fruitier, less tannic and creamier.
Wedding: What goes with cake?
August 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment
The meal is over and now onto everyone’s favorite…dessert! What other choices do you have to offer at the dessert table other than the usual coffee? Grab a bottle of bubbly that has a sweetness that can stand up to the swwet provided at the dessert table. Most sparkling wines are a “brut” meaning they are dry and contain little sugar (less than 1 1/2%). That dryness (with desserts) can make the wine taste metallic and bitter sooooo opt for a “demi-sec” sparkler. It possesses a sweetness (3.3-5% sugar) that will compliment the cake. Moscato d’ Asti is a beautiful choice and has a lower percentage of alcohol.
Cheers!
Top Wedding Wines
August 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment
What wines are best served at a weddings?
Whites:
Sauvignon Blanc is super versatile and pairs well with seafood, chicken, eggs, vegetables and salad.
Pinot Gris is juicy and flavorful.
Chardonnay…looked for unoaked or lightly oaked versions for that elegant crisp characteristic. Versions that are too toasty or buttery can overwhelm food and lack refreshment.
Reds:
Cabernet Sauvignon is flavorful and built to stand up to hearty meats.
Merlot offers all cabernet does but with slightly more jammy appeal.
Pinot Noir is silky smooth and very versatile with food.
Consider all sparklers! They can be far less expensive than champagne but can be equally enjoyed with hors d’oeuvers, throughout the meal and with the toast! It sparkles and refreshes with its effervescence which makes it a perfect choice to offer for the big day.