Michel Chapoutier and Anne-Sophie Pic’s Saint-Peray. This is an awesome crisp, chalky white for under $20. My tasting notes below, a go-to for me- any night of the week. Nudo Olive Oil We adopted an olive tree from a grove and Abruzzo a couple of years ago through Nudo and received these beautiful little tins of olive oil throughout the year. A great idea and a delicious olive oil to boot. I really wanted to go visit our little tree- maybe next time. My Dutch Bike imports bikes from the Dutch company, Workcycles. These babies are beautiful and the real deal.[…]

  

It’s time to don that gay apparel, sip those martinis, crank the swanky Christmas tunes and hold your dear ones tight. Love this photo of Nancy Sinatra and her papa. Have a wonderful holiday. My best to you all and to all a good night! Related posts:According to Jess: Fells Point + A Momma’s MocktailWhat Fredo’s DrinkingMonday Musings

  

Here is an instance when procrastination may really pay off. If you still have not gotten gifts for your loved ones, here are 3 ideas for meaningful gifts that give back to the world and can be procured with a click. Click away fellow procrastinators. Heifer International is a great organization with a unique gift catalog where you can choose to gift a village with a live animal to supply wool, milk, eggs, etc. You can also choose to give the gift of clean water, an education, and the list goes on. From $10. Our friends on the East Coast[…]

  

  We just spent a magical week in Santa Fe where the babies saw their first snow and snowfall and spent time with family. The Southwest is a beautiful place any time of the year, but at Christmastime, it is so unique. Santa Fe glows at night with its farolito-lits rooftops, this is truly the Land of Enchantment. I love the big blue open skies where you swear you can see one of John Ford’s cowboys riding into the sunset. I always buy a bag of piñon coffee to drink in the morning, make a point to stroll the Santa Fe plaza, have a[…]

  

I know it’s pretty last minute, but here are a few fun ideas to throw in those stockings: Tom Dixon Candles- expensive but oh so pretty! D.S.& Durga Brooklyn-based scents- Cowboy Grass (my favorite) – a beautiful blend of American sagebrush, white thyme and prairie switchgrass. Irresistible. AFAR- simply the greatest travel mag out there. A subscription is that gift that keeps on giving. A colorpop locket for pics of your love or your minis from Anthropologie. You can pick your chain separately. Butter Yummy Mummy nail paint- no icky toxins, beautiful colors, this one is a particularly flattering neutral.[…]

  

It has been a long and sad week. My good friend Lora shared this quote today. It was just what I needed. I hope you have a beautiful weekend. Related posts:Happy Weekend!Present-ing: What Winos WantVINO POPS: the Rosé edition (of course)

  

  News last week that Robert Parker will be stepping down as the editor-in-chief of his Wine Advocate and shifting operations to Singapore rocked the wine world- everyone weighing in on what this all means. The end of an era? Have American wine drinkers lost interest in his point system? While the answer is unclear- look, I love a list and a shortcut just as much as the next guy, we are a list-obsessed culture and point systems fit right in with that mentality- it may signal a changing of the guard. While point systems make wine buying easier for[…]

  

  Ahh, the West, can’t wait to get out there. We leave this week for 3 weeks of holiday tidings- seriously the most wonderful time of the year- thank you Andy Williams, R.I.P. And it’s my Minis’ 1st Christmas- so special. We start in Texas with a side trip to Austin to see my brother and sister-in-law, with a stop at Vino Vino’s Oodles of Bubbles Champagne Tasting on Saturday. I haven’t been yet but have heard great things. Bring on the bubbly. Then we’re off to Santa Fe to spend time with more family and soak in the Southwest[…]

  

There are no words for the events yesterday at Sandy Hook Elementary. While we hang our heavy heads and hearts, pray and grieve for our lost angels and their families, it is truly a time to act. This country is in dire need of action and gun reform. Let’s follow our fellow friendly nations’ leads, like Australia, and place some stringent laws into action to avoid this type of atrocity in the future. We must protect our innocents and ourselves- it’s time to take care of our own, not cowtow to power and politicking. If you are in favor of[…]

  

  1. Egly-Ouriet Brut 1er Cru NV Les Vignes de Vrigny, $59. You seriously cannot go wrong with a bottle of this. Anyone in their right mind will adore it. 100% Pinot Meunier, unusual for a champagne. All of Egly-Ouriet’s wines are special. I’ve been holding on to their 2008 Ambonnay Rouge for years now. I’m thinking I’ll give it 6 or 7 more years, if I can stand it. 2. Apato crescent bottle opener $50. Just cool. 3. A giant gold wishbone from Jayson Home, $48. Because it looks great-would be a cool addition to a centerpiece. 4. John Robshaw bone tray,[…]