Cheapo Wino Wednesday Review! A Spanish Blend

Ludovicus Terra Alta 2011 – $12.99

 

Winemaker’s Notes: Ludovicus is a wine that appeals to both new world and old world palates. People who like Cab, Syrah, Malbec and Zinfandel love Ludovicus. Produced from dray-farmed grapes that are organically grown. The vineyards are located a few miles south and west of Priorat, within the Terra Alta DO (Zone 5) in Catalunya’s Tarragona province in northeastern Spain. In this remote region, the winemaking tradition dates back to the Romans, around the 2nd or 3rd Century. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, smoky minerals and white pepper, plus a suggestion of dried rose. Silky on entry, then firmer in the middle, with flavors of red and black fruits and floral pastille. The floral quality repeats on the lively, subtly powerful finish.

 

Kim’s Notes:  “Ludovicus? More like Lu-delicious!”

 

So after loving last week’s wine, which I only selected because of this sign:

…I decided to take another trip down the exotic Spanish aisle.  And guess what I found?

The same damn sign! They just moved it from one Spanish wine to another- Son of a Bitch!

I said to myself, “Candy Ass (positive self-talk) can this be trusted?  Could there really be two killer Spanish wines, both with flavor out the wazoo?”  Then I answered myself by saying, “Think of it this way, Candy Ass (positive self-talk), they were right before. For only $12.99, you should probably try it. And P.S. Your hair smells great today.”

Can I just tell you, I’m super duper glad I gave it a shot- yummity yum yum yuuum!  Oaky, smooth, a bit of spice – my wazoo was thanking me all evening.  Honestly though, I didn’t expect a lot from this red blend mutt, what with 40% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, 15% Carinena, 15% Tempranillo, 10% Merlot, 5% Golden Retriever, and 2% Perspiration, I thought it’d be a hot mess. Not so.  

This wine pairs beautifully with an empty stomach, many food products, and all the moments leading up to bedtime. Go to your local Spanish wine aisle and buy this goodness today!

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

I just found THE PERFECT teacher’s gift for Christmas!  I was over on my sponsor’s website, GiftsForYouNow.com (because it’s a shopping page and that’s kinda my thang), and they have a coffee mug that you can personalize with the teacher’s name and up to 30 students’ names for only $12.98! Check it out here.  I’m ordering it today (and being on top of my game for once).  

(Neighbors: If your kid is in class with mine and you order this, you’re dead to me.)

Free Advice Friday! Whine & Wine!

Dear Kim,

I’m writing to you because I know that you’re a wine lover. My husband and I are having a very special couple over for dinner next week. They said they like Cabernet (like you), but since we don’t drink wine we weren’t sure if we should serve a Cabernet from the Sonoma or Napa region. What do you think?

Penny in Foryourthoughts, ND
 
 
Dear Penny,

Let me answer your question with a little story.

When I was 14, I went to my local pet shop to purchase 2 pet mice. The shop owner, who reeked of Bourbon and Tab, insisted on picking them out for me. He stared at their little mouse bits for several minutes and handed me what he claimed were two boys. I named them Sparky and Morris.

Over the next few weeks Morris became fatter & fatter and meaner & meaner. It wasn’t until we saw Morris bitch slap Sparky and shriek “Don’t touch me, asshole!” that my mother recognized the symptoms of pregnancy.

I’m embarrassed to say this but…I returned Morris (renamed Judy) to the pet shop like she was a wayward teen from the 1950′s. I thought for certain Sparky would become despondent and depressed, but instead he seemed relieved that I took care of his “little problem”. I swear I saw the stress leave his tiny rodent shoulders. Silly mouse.

Penny, I think you know where I’m going with this…get your guests drunk and, like the pet shop owner with mouse genitalia, they won’t know the difference.

And stay away from French wines, you won’t know how to pronounce them and you’ll just look stupid.

Your welcome,
Kim
 
 
 
Dear Kim,

Like you, I’ve been a stay at home mom for 9 years now. My question is, how do I keep from losing myself, the person I was before I had children?

Margaret in Kidtopia, KS
 
 
Dear Margaret,

Oh Margaret, Margaret, foolish Margaret- you can’t. I’m so lost that the vanity plate on my minivan says “WEAR M I”.

Back in the 90′s, I did a stint as a Life coach at S.O.S. Counseling (Stop Officially Sucking). I was a young, single professional that had a naive view of life. The Motto on my business card was “There’s Always a Way”. Years, marriage, and two children later, I realize my business cards should have read “There’s Always Xanax and Tequila Chasers”.

Somehow my life had changed…
My “Excuse me while I use the restroom.” became “I gotta go potty!”, my purse was suddenly a suitcase without wheels, holding everything from tampons to harmonicas, and my boobs went from supple sexual globes to functional flesh flaps capable of holding promotional bank pens and loose meter change.

Here’s my advice Margaret: embrace it and cry until the tears dry up.

If you’re really desperate, you could try taking a pole dancing class. It’ll give you those familiar inner thigh bruises and knee burns reminiscent of your wild college days, but when you get home you’ll still have to throw your stilettos in the closet and wipe up the baby shit. Is pole dancing really worth your Better Homes & Garden reading time? Besides, there’s always retirement.

Kim

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

Cheapo Wino Review Wednesday! A Tempranillo! …a what?

 Vina Zaco 2010 Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain – $14.99

Wine Maker’s Notes: Intense,  bright cherry with violet hues. Initial dominant notes of black fruits, violets and liquorice followed by the underlying spicy notes of barrel aging — vanilla and clove. Medium–bodied with a long, fresh finish.

 Kim’s Notes:  “It’s like Cabernet’s exotic cousin!”

I found myself wandering down the “What the hell kind of grape is that aisle?” (because I’m trying really hard to branch out) and saw this sophisticated beauty.  Once I read the description, which included words like “oak”, “vanilla”, and “spicy”, IT WAS ON!  Oh, and this wine has critical acclaim…That’s right, CRITICAL ACCLAIM, BITCHES!

Critical Acclaim: “This red shows focus and good density, with ripe fruit flavors of black cherry and plum accented with toast and coffee, all supported by well-integrated tannins. Leafy and minerally accents linger on the finish.”  – 90 Points Wine Spectator

Wine Freaking Spectator! Not Wine Enthusiast (which I’m guessing is just a group of people who are really excited about wine), Wine Spectator!

But if I’m being honest with you, the Wine Spectator sign wasn’t the first thing I saw.  I actually picked up the wine because of this sign:

 That kind of marketing really speaks to me.

Flavor out the wazoo?!  Sign me up! Lord knows there’s nothing I love better than an intense wine coming out of my wazoo!

And it did, kids…it did. YUM.

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

 

OMG, guys! My newest sponsor is GiftsForYouNow.com and they have like a BAZILLION gifts that you can personalize.  There’s even a whole section dedicated to Christmas ideas, check it out! I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a personalized tampon holder.  If so, holy shit, I know what someone’s getting….

Tips for Tuesday! Jewelry Cleaning on the DL

As you may have guessed by my haphazard posting times, all of my posts are freshly squeezed, straight from the chicken’s ass. I’m aware that’s not a real saying but it should be because it paints an incredible visual. I’m a word artist, people.

Translated into uptight Suburbianism (my native tongue) that means that I pretty much write my blog entries the night before or the day of. That’s because I enjoy sharing things with you as I’m feeling them, it has nothing to do with poor planning. Nothing.

Anyhoo…I’m in the middle of this big laundry room re-do (and I pulled a muscle while removing a nail) so I’ve decided to repost an oldie but an almost goodie.

Tomorrow is floor laying. Wish me luck and send muscle relaxers.

 

Cleaning Your Rings-

I have a great tip for removing dirt, hairspray, saliva, blood, etc., off of your rings. What? You say you don’t have blood on them? HAHAHA! If you have kids then you most definitely have traces of blood (and poop) on your jewelry. If you shined a black-light on your rings I bet it would look like the inside of a Motel 6 and you’d vomit. Trust me.

Step 1.

The first thing you’ll want to do is soak your rings in alcohol to loosen the debris. I like to use Popov vodka. But if you don’t have Popov vodka (and you shouldn’t unless you live in a dorm) you can use Southern Comfort or Black Velvet Whiskey-basically any jagged alcohol capable of eating a hole through your bathtub.

*That was just an expression, you shouldn’t be bathing in any of that shit, you’ll go sterile.

Step 2.

After soaking your rings you’ll want to either rinse or lick them clean, depending on the time of day. I usually ask myself “Is it noon yet?”

*Tip within a tip- Pour the remaining alcohol on your kitchen sponge, countertops, or open wounds to kill nasty germs!

Step 3.

Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a Sonic Care toothbrush. You can really use any vibrating toothbrush but I find my husband’s Sonic Care toothbrush works the best. The keyword here is “husband’s”, don’t use your own, that’s disgusting!

He doesn’t have one? Then get him one for his birthday, Christmas, or Hanukkah. If you’re having trouble justifying the expense then think of it this way, you could either buy a sonic jewelry cleaning machine for $199 or get a Sonic Care toothbrush that will keep your guy’s teeth white and make your diamonds sparkle for under $100. Now that’s a savings! It just makes good economical sense.

Now, I shouldn’t have to say this but…put the toothpaste on BEFORE turning on the toothbrush. Once you have the toothbrush humming make sure to work it into every nook and cranny of your ring. It’s important, however, that you don’t press too hard or the bristles will flatten out and 1) it won’t clean as well and 2) your husband will suspect you’ve done something bad with his toothbrush. He probably won’t suspect jewelry cleaning, but he might assume crevice cleaning (which I’ll address in another post).

Step 4. Rinse the rings under warm running water. But make sure to close the sink drain before doing Step 4, otherwise this might turn into a $500 plumbing bill.

Notice the badly needed manicure.

Voila! A shiny new ring like the day you got it from your sweetheart…or in my case, like the day you got it from the jeweler because you traded your old one in for a bigger one because you suck at sentiment. Sorry Brian.

(Brian, I was kidding about all of this. I totally use my own toothbrush, because that’s the right thing to do.)

A summary of the supplies you’ll need. I highly recommend putting the vodka away after each use.

Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

Want to read something fresh today? Visit my girl Alyson over at The Shitastrophy, her shit will keep you laughing!

Follow

Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

Join other followers: