Foodie Friday #summerwines

Jul22

This Foodie Friday is all about WINE!!!

It is summer time and that means relaxing at the beach or chilling by the pool.

We also love cookouts during these longer days.

We are still technically in a pandemic, but I think it has gotten a little easier to navigate. Social events are happening but for the most part, we like to be outside.

Hotter temps mean choosing wines that are lower in alcohol, lighter in body, refreshing flavor, and pair well with BBQ and other grilled foods.

Vines to Wine (www.vinestowineacademy.com ) hosted a class and introduced several different wines that I am now going to my list of summer wines.

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Cotes de Provence Blanc

TOW comment: Light with fruity notes. Would go well with grilled chicken or dessert

Riesling

TOW comment: Light sweet with medium acidity. Medium finish

Pinto Noir Rose

TOW comment:  fresh and a little fruity with a short finish.

Beaujolais-Villages

TOW comment: dry with cherry notes. Would go well with salmon

All of the wines we tried were good but I think my favorite was the Cote de Provance. I liked the smooth, long finish.

It’s great to go to wine tastings because you can discover wines that best match your palate!

Under Fyre (Alien Dragon Shifters Book 1) #dragonshifters #romance

Jul15

Under Fyre (Alien Dragon Shifters Book 1)


♥♥♥♥♥

5heart

Synopsis
Betrayed by her people, does she dare trust a dragon?

The alien dragon shapeshifters who discover Earth come in peace—at first. Then, inexplicably, they threaten to attack. In an attempt to show goodwill and appease the dragons, Earth sends a human woman to become a concubine to one of the Draconian king’s sons, Prince K’ev.

K’ev would sooner give up his ability to breathe fire than accept a human, but when he meets Rhianna, sparks fly, and his dragon realizes she’s his mate.

Rhianna falls for the hot-blooded prince, unaware she’s a key link in a desperate scheme to defeat the dragons, a strike that could backfire with devastating consequences. Will she figure out what Earth has planned in time to save her dragon mate? And if she does, will K’ev be able to save her planet from the fire of angry king’s retaliation?

Opinion
K’ev has good reason not to trust humans but he knows that he has to follow orders and take one as his consort. There is a lot at stake. While the man does not trust Rhianna, the dragon knows she is their mate.

Rhianna has been fascinated with draconians ever since she was a child. She even studied their culture in college. So she jumped at the chance to help her country (and the world) to build relations with the alien dragon race.

Little did Rhianna know, would be thrown into a bad situation. Trying to help, she ends up being betrayed by her friends and left at the mercy of an alien dragon shifter race. She is unwillingly part of a deception. And it does not do her any favors that she keeps telling lies to cover for her friends because dragons can detect any deception.

Amidst it all, K’ev and Rhianna fall for each other. But there are external forces that would rather see aliens and humans at war and they will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Loved the book!!! And the twist at the end…lets just say I am ready for this alien dragon shifter series.

Thanks to the author for allowing me to read this in advance of its release and provide honest feedback.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. I loved this story and I love dragon shifters.

Book details
Series: Alien Dragon Shifters 1
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Print Length: 279 pages

Try It Tuesday: Citraguard Natural deodorant #allnatural

Jul12

TRY IT TUESDAY – Citraguard

BENEFITS & FEATURES

Clinically tested and shown to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria and help maintain the balance of the skin’s microbiome pH balanced and aluminum free

Formulated without parabens, phthalates, talc, alcohol, mineral oil, synthetic perfumes or dyes, artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives

Non-irritating; contains skin-soothing and skin-conditioning ingredients

Formulated without gluten-containing ingredients

Disclaimer: While I am a Young Living brand partner , my review here is my honest, unbiased opinion.

TOW: I’m loving this natural deodorant!

I’m a little sweaty but not much and no foul odor. It blows my mind that I’m not stinking by the end of the day.

I have heard horror stories from people that have tried natural deodorant and have said that they do not work because it was not strong enough to keep their odor under control.

I tried this deodorant because it said that it was clinically proven to help reduce bad odors. I’m the try that will try a product if the science behind it sounds logical. In this case, I’m glad I did because it works better than I expected.

TOW Final Word: This deodorant is the BEST! I thought about making my own … but this does the trick and is way easier! You gotta try this out!

Here’s a link you can use to order this deodorant and try for yourself. Full disclosure– this is an affiliate link .

TRY IT TUESDAY – Moldova Wines Tasting #wines #moldova

Jul5

TRY IT TUESDAY – Moldova Wines Tasting

If you love wine like I do, you probably look for events that allow you to try wines from different regions.

I attended a wine tasting of wines from Moldova because that area is not one that commonly associated with having vineyards and I wondered how wines tasted from that country.

The tasting was held at Flynn’s on Maxwell. The presenter Sergio is from Moldova and has been committed to introducing their fine wines to the US.

Wine: Crisecco (sparkling wine)
Grape Variety: Feteasca Alba 90% (Moldova variety), Muscat 10%
Aroma: hint of citrus
Taste: Light sweet, very bubbly
TOW: This was fine. If you like prosecco, you will like this. Pairs well with fruit.

Wine: Feteasca Regala (white dry wine)
Grape Variety: Feteasca Regala 100% (Moldova variety)
Aroma: Light fruity notes
Taste: Crisp, medium finish, smooth, not too dry, notes of peach and lemon
TOW: If you are looking for a pinot grigio, you will like this.

Wine: Rose de Purcari (Rose dry wine)
Grape Variety: Rara Neagra 15% (Moldovan variety) Merlot 35% Cabernet Sauvignon 50%
Aroma: Berries, especially strawberry
Taste: Earthy, medium body, long finish, dry but not overly so
TOW: Because of the long finish, I think this is better with cheese.

Wine: Rara Neagra de Purcari (Aged red dry wine)
Grape Variety: Rara Neagra 100% (Moldovan variety)
Aroma: Fruity and vanilla notes
Taste: Strong oaky flavor, full body, long finish, velvety taste
TOW: If you like dry red wines, you will love this.

Wine: Cuvee Rouge (Aged red dry wine)
Grape Variety: Rara Neagra 5% (Moldovan variety) Saperavi 15% (Eastern Europe variety) Merlot 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 50%
Aroma: Fruity and smoky notes
Taste: Strong flavor, full body, long finish, velvety taste
TOW: This is more of a classic blend and pairs well with red meat or pasta dishes.

TOW Final Word: I thoroughly enjoyed the wine tasting, learning about Moldova, and was glad to find Crissesco. I do love a nice bubbly wine!

****TOW comment: I was cleaning out my drafts and couldn’t find my photos from this event. The wines were delicious though!

South Branch – Dining in Chi town #foodiefriday

Apr8

South Branch is a contemporary fine dining restaurant in the heart of downtown Chicago, with great views of the Chicago River.

100 S. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60606

Check out their full menu here

All in all, I think it’s a Great restaurant with upscale decor and a chill vibe. Every thing was delicious and I would recommend whether you are going in a date or just dining with friends.

I would not recommend bringing children unless they are well behaved.

Started dinner off with a bottle of red wine

Lots of great choices but I decided to get a couple appetizers so I could try more different options

Bang bang shrimp

fried shrimp, scallions, Sriracha, toasted sesame seeds, chili aioli

Cheese curds

cornmeal beer battered Wisconsin curds, smoked tomato coulis

Clam chowder

Ocean clams, Nueske’s applewood-smoked bacon, oyster crackers