I Got Volunteer Of The Month!

I'm happy to report things are looking up since my last venting sesh. I got some much needed family time, a girls night out, and I found out I am the Volunteer of the month for the FRCSC!

That is nuts to me because I just started this volunteer thing. I didn't even know there was a volunteer of the month when I started painting those owls, and now I've gotten this awesome recognition. To some it may not seem like a big deal, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up a little. I've been working my butt off lately, and it's really nice to know that it's not going unnoticed. As a matter of fact, I mentioned to Will that he gets all these special homecomings, and I get nada when I come home. He needs to recognize I'm VOM now ;)

Girl time is also getting me through these days. I haven't really had many 'girly nights out' since I've been married unless Will was deployed or in training, but the paint party we just went to at All About Art was a big stress reliever. Wine, painting, and girl talk? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

It was awesome that our group took up half the room, but I don't think our teacher liked that very much. In the words of Carrie, don't tell us to bring wine and then get mad when we end up drunk tipsy. Let's be real...all that matters is that we can maintain a paintbrush.

Whatevs...our paintings turned out great, and even though I didn't really want to paint a peacock they were really cute, I made that ish my own, and my teal color scheme totally worked. I don't want to make a habit of losing time with Will, but there will definitely be another painting party in our future. Hhhmmm...maybe I should just make them all come to my house and have them help me paint/stain my benches, coffee table, and sofa console. I won't even charge them the $30 bucks! What about y'all? Any takers?

Corks And Cattle

Remember that fight I was having with myself? Well, we finally got it all talked out, and my wonderfully sweet husband surprised me with a Thursday night date last week. We've been wanting to check out a local  wine and meat chop called Corks and Cattle, so he told me to dress fancy and whisked me away on an impromptu date.

We drank wine, shopped their great wine selection, and enjoyed the ambiance until we got hungry. We weren't paying $24.99 for a plate of cheese, so Will took me to my favorite place in town for my newest obsession, Taj Gyros. I was happy as a clam already, but THEN he set out candles and Jazz music for some living room slow dancing. Be still my heart...We have been lacking in the romantic moments category with everything going on lately, but not anymore! Slow dancing in your living room should be on everyone's date night list, and I can suggest a few bottles of vino to spice up the night.

This is a picture of me ecstatic that Corks & Cattle has two of my favorite brands, and subsequently inspired me to share said favorites with you. Now, you can't go wrong with Pinot Grigio or a Reisling, but that's just the beginning. I've moved on to drinking Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah, and I'm always discovering new wines that surprise me. I used to only check the alcohol content, but after visiting Napa I got a little spoiled and enjoy it on a new level. You can make any wine taste okay {Sangria, Spritzer}, but if you are in the mood for a party on your palette, you need to try the following.

Honig Winery || You see two Honig bottles above, and that's because it is my favorite! They have amazing wines made using honey, which yields the only dessert wine I'll ever drink. I'm telling you, that tall skinny bottle is worth every penny they charge {hint: It ain't cheap}, but the other wines they offer are much cheaper. Find in specialty shops and World Market.
Cakebread || I'm sure you've all heard of Cupcake wines, but I'll tell you a secret.. it's a knockoff of Cakebread {Gasp}. This is mainly because Cakebread isn't as available as I'd like it to be. I was actually surprised to find it in a store, because typically they exclusively distribute to restaurants. Needless to say, if you like Cupcake, you will LOVE Cakebread.
Conundrum || Is a go to brand for us. We know that it will always have a smooth taste, lots of flavor, and a reasonable price tag. I love that it's pretty available in stores and restaurants.
Opus One || I saved for last because it is $200+ a bottle. I'm sure you can find a cheap version that is just as good, but I sure haven't. Maybe it's the memories attached to it, maybe it's the grand vineyard that transports you, or maybe it's just that they make a damn good wine. Anywho, it must be on the list because this is my list, and I love it. #winesnob

If you ask me whether I'd like to go out or stay in, I will almost always choose staying in for a romantic evening. The wine is cheaper, it's more relaxed, and it takes less time to get to the boudoir. However, this was a lovely way to have the best of both worlds. These intimate moments are what make marriage worth it, and I live from moment to moment.

About To Get Our 5K ON!

This post is coming to you live from Pensacola! Gosh I love being home.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about it next week, so I'll just share some things worth the mention that have been on my mind. The numbers go clockwise, so keep up.

1| One of our going away presents was a Malbec from a winery called The Infinite Monkey Theorem. It's one of the best reds I've ever had would be a good gateway for someone who wants to learn to like reds. I know reds and red drinkers can seem snotty, but if you want to know the truth? Reds have a higher alcohol content, so obviously you just get more bang for your buck ;) If anyone wants to get me the Orange Muscat, I REALLY want to try that one!
2| A Sneak peek of the closet room with extra hanging space Will made. I'll tell you more about that and how he and my MIL 'stole' it soon. Hehe
3| I took Will for his first Cheeburger Cheeburger experience! 
4| Lots of workouts means lots of protein shakes lately, and our newest will blow your mind. I call it Heaven: Pineapple+Banana+Cakebatter Protein+Butter Vanilla/Rum Extracts+Almond Milk
5| Will is the dog whisperer, but our new friends dogs loved me!
6| We are in Pensacola right now for the McGuire's 5K! In my 28 years of life, I've NEVER done the McGuire's 5K, and technically, I've never done any 5K. Three.one miles isn't a big deal to me anymore, but I'm still stoked to check it off the bucket list. Plus there's a huge after party, and this girl is ready to kick off St. Patty's celebrations. Did you know green is my color?

I'm actually more worried about the hangover from the after party than the run, but either way...wish us luck! It's the last big thing we get to do before Will is gone for a whole month, so we are doing it big. B-I-G. Happy WeektothemotherEND.