Wine Walk 2012

Our first ever Wine Walk and our sister Corrie was recovering from appendix surgery.  It wasn't the same without her and we know she would have loved it!

 

We muddled through without her and officially completed our first one - with much success!  We poured a Cabernet, a Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, supplied by Cafe Allegro - none of which we got to drink.  

Sarah was a pro at wrapping a wood rose around each glass stem, announcing to Laurie what wine each taster would like to try.

Wish we had a dollar for every time a taster said..."Come on, you can pour above the line!"  Laurie invented a new wine - "Carbonet" - that's what happens when you're tired, hot and you ask if they want Chardonnay or Cabernet...you get Carbonet!...it was hilarious at the time...

Food sampling was a hit thanks to Bardot, the restaurant soon to open next door to us.  I'm surprised you don't see my husband sneaking back and forth in line to mooch more beef...

Braised beef ribs (not pictured), horseradish mashed potatoes, and a smoked salmon roll...num-num!  It this was a sampling of how amazing Chef Alain can cook, then Bardot has nothing to worry about because it was de-lic-ious!!

Shoppers & tasters...which we found out go really well together...drink wine...spend money...drink more wine...spend more money...

Our bouncer...he looks tough, doesn't he?


We had a great time & our tasters seemed to have a great time.  I think we'll do it all again next year!  Let's hope it isn't 104 degrees, tho!

Until next time,

~M & L

Say Goodbye to all that is good and delicious...

Today starts 8 weeks of all that is supposed to be healthy and nutritious, but come on...let's face it...I know it means 8 weeks of craving everything I'm supposed to avoid and rarely ever think of, but because I CAN'T HAVE IT...IT'S ALL I WILL THINK ABOUT!

It's called the Whole Life Challenge and in a nutshell, it's challenging yourself to eat healthier and get moving...for 8 weeks...which will hopefully change your eating habits forever.  My entire family has jumped on board, so do I have a choice?  Not unless they've decided to do all the grocery shopping and cooking!  I'm going to try my best, but I can assure you, I won't be as strict as they are, I mean after-all, I gotta have my dairy!  I pretty much eat Zone everyday, but I like to cheat on the weekends, so I'm going to try to stick with my Zone and NOT cheat for the Challenge.  So 20 lbs...in 8 weeks...that's the goal.

It all started here...in Upland...just steps from the old store.  My son's friend and his wife opened a gym (then he became our Pastor, but that's another story).  My entire family is addicted to this little sweat box. Crossfit Kinnick Website

This is where the magic happens.  No machines, no fancy gimmicks...just good old free weights and cardio...and did I mention sweat?  Yeah...you sweat.

So..Day 1...Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs with veggies, a small bunch of grapes, and a cup of coffee.  Mainly because that's all that was left in my fridge!  The veggies were leftover from the other night's dinner and eggs were the only protein source I could find!

I'm working the store today because it's Wine Walk...on the first day of the diet...wine walk...wine...and delicious food...prepared by Chef Alain...today...ugh.  Since I'll be at the store so late today, shopping and prepping for the week will happen tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted!

Wish me luck,
~M

So the Wine Walk is sold out ~ but that doesn't mean you can't come and enjoy some of the fun for FREE!  There will be live music throughout the Village, which makes for some enjoyable walkin' & shoppin'.  Best of all, we'll be open extended hours until 8pm!

If you make a $10 purchase between 4pm & 8pm, we'll even have a FREE GIFT for ya.  We still have some of our great Crabtree & Evelyn Straw Totes FREE with any $30 Crabtree purchase, as well as the Lily Sampler with any $20 Crabtree purchase.

So come see what all the hoopla is about and maybe next year you won't drag your feet on buying those tickets.

Hope to see you Saturday!

~Mary, Laurie, Corrie & Sarah

Time to Shop!

Anyone who is jealous of us having to go to LA on a hot, muggy, summer day to shop for the store, needs to rethink that!  Nevertheless, it was time...and we HAD to  go!  So on a blazing hot Thursday morning, Sarah (our little fashionista) and I, set out on our treasure hunt...

First stop...liquid-gold-in-a-cup...go-juice...the-only-reason-to-wake-up-today-and-leave-air-conditioning...come to mama...

And we're off...
Planned departure time - 8:30am.
Actual departure time - 10:00 am.  Hmmm....

Oooh...LA Fashion District...

akaTijuana...bleh (I'm just NOT a city girl).  

But, I was getting excited at the prospects, anyway.

OK, now to find a parking place...shoot!...I forgot change for the meters...wait a second...I forgot ALL the cash!  OK, find an ATM... (apparently two sleepy girls should NOT be trying to shop today...)  ATM, ATM...where are you ATM?  

and a bathroom, a bathroom and an ATM...dang go-juice!  OK, bathroom first, then an ATM, then a parking place...what time is it?  11:15?!!  ugh... 

Alrighty...accomplished.  Ready to shop.  We have a budget Sarah, ok?...ok!

Let's start in one corner and work our way across...oooh...cute!  Grab a cart!

I think we're doing good on our budget, don't you?  Yeah, this is going to be good.

Let's have him ring up the smaller items first and see where we're at and then we can weed out some of the big ones if we went over budget.  Alrighty, good idea.

0-0   Huh?!  How much?!  Well, THAT budget just went out the window.  (see previous comment where "two sleepy girls should not be...")

OK, so we went a little over budget...alright, A LOT over budget, but we found some great scarves...

...and even greater jewelry

 

...and some beautiful bags!

Best of all, we've honed our shopping skills...and found an ATM...and most importantly...a usable bathroom!  Now, just to work on that budget thing...

Hope to see you soon!

~Mary

(& Sarah)

Secret Sale

25% OFF 

ALL SILK GREENERY & FLORALS

(Mention our Blog for the discount...

because it's a secret!)

Offer expires 8/31/12

Viva Las Vegas!

It's Market time at the Las Vegas Mart.  Summer is always fun because the husbands can come along.  So off we go...

Are we there yet?

First stop...The Wynn - The husbands were thoroughly impressed with their parking system.  If the space is occupied, the light is red...if it's available, it's green.  Genius!  No more wandering up and down aisles.  They should have these in every parking garage.

I can't even express to you in words how hot it was in the parking structure...demonstrated by Laurie, here...but think your-entire-body-in-a-400-degree-oven hot...you-can't-walk-fast-enough hot...hotter-than-hot...did I mention that it was hot?!

Love, love, love their Esplanade.  Love it!

Silly, happy, girls...who haven't started shopping yet.  There will not be smiles like this later in the trip...just sore feet, aching backs and cross eyed looks...

Laurie & her hubby Chris

Me & my hubby John

This is my son and his beautiful wife who happened to be there at the same time for a different event...do not be confused by the ocean in the background...you are correct, there is no ocean in Vegas...there was also no picture taking of my son and his beautiful wife in Vegas...hence the ocean in the background.  ANYWAY...he won a little moola in the poker room...

...so he treated us all to the buffet for dinner.  He was very pleased with himself.  We were too, since it allowed us to gorge ourselves on unlimited shrimp and crab legs...until we could hardly walk to the room.  Thank you son.

Alrighty...let's get our shopping on!

Oooh...treats!  (Delicious & beautiful Caprese kabobs...you WILL see these at one of our events!)

Cheers!  (after-all you need a little beverage after the Caprese kabobs!)  Well, there were a few "little beverages"...do you think they want you slap happy so you'll spend more?

After a few "little beverages", these squirrels had a life of their own...mostly in Joe Pesci voices (it was hilarious...really!)

Part Pekingese or Wookie?  You decide...(again, hilarious)

Isn't that the truth!

mmmm...desserts were consumed

and consumed...

 oh yeah...and consumed...

How much did we order???!!

How many more showrooms do we have to do?!

(Or maybe that was...How many margaritas did I have?!) jk

Here's to a good Market and glad we're heading home!

(OK - it was our husband's beer - we don't do beer...but where's the Merlot?)

We hope you have as much fun buying it as we did picking it out!

Until next time,

~Mary

Meet Grace

So, as many of you know, we've added a little section of fun fashion accessories aimed mainly for the college girls, purchased and displayed by our own little Miss Sarah (check out Sarah's blog).  I've been wanting to find some funky display pieces for her to use in her little corner.  Thanks to our friend and neighbor Donna of The Grove Vintage for this great idea.  I had a blast making her so I thought I'd share!

I found this torso mannequin at a local second hand store.  I think she'll be great for Sarah's scarves, jewelry and whatever else she wants to put on her, but she's ugly!

Gotta love Target's back to school sales - White glue for 25 cents! and a couple foam brushes...

Thanks again to Donna for scoring a 1930's hymnal from a church rummage sale for me!  So I cut up the pages in random squares...(can you guess yet what I'm gonna do?)

...and started gluing!  (If you said decoupage, you'd be correct!)

...and gluing...and gluing...phew!...all the way around.

The curves were a little tricky to get completely flat, but small pieces help.

I finished with a final coat of glue to seal it all.

So this is Grace.  I really love the way she turned out...

...so much that I'm making her a friend.  Hmmm...she's gonna need a name!

Get your preschool creativeness going, play with some glue and start decoupaging!  Next thing you know I'll be making tissue paper twisties! jk

Have a great one,

Mary