PRODUCT REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Barefoot & Bubbly!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTRIES!

I am not going to lie to you all...this product review has been - BY FAR - the most favorite one I've done thus far. Why? Because it involved wine...or, as I like to refer to it...Mommy juice. If I had to pick a poison, wine would be it {followed very closely by Seagrams 7, but that's a different post}.

I'm sure there are many of you out there who - like me - enjoy having a glass {or three} of wine. I mean, it's a serving of fruit, people! I was very excited when Barefoot Wine contacted me. I've had a couple of their wines before - Pinot Grigio & Chardonnay. I've even tried their Moscato wine. Can you tell where I'm going with this? Yes, I'm normally a white wine drinker only. However, Lauren at Barefoot Wine has forever changed me because she graciously sent me not one, but TWO, bottles of Barefoot Wine to sample...one of which was some bubbly! Yes, not only does Barefoot Wine produce some great & very affordable wines, but they also produce bubbly wines!

Imagine my surprise when I came home from a weekend away to find a big box on my front porch from Barefoot Wine. Forget about dirty laundry & unpacking...I HAD to get that box open! Inside - for me to sample - was a bottle of Zinfandel & a bottle of bubbly, Brut Cuvee. Like I said earlier, I'm more of a white wine girl. And, surprising to many of my friends, I do not like champagne or sparkling wines at all. Seriously.

Now, before I begin my review I would just like to say that I am in no way a sommelier by any stretch of the imagination. I am merely an over-worked, under-paid, heavily occasional drinking wife & mother of two. Got it?

I opened the Zinfandel first.

I'm not going to lie...I was very skeptical as to whether or not I would even enjoy it. I've had merlot here and there and, to me, red wines are bitter, dry & hard for me to enjoy. Well, all of you red wine lovers who are screeching in horror should be quite happy because I loved the Zinfandel! There's no more left. I mean, drinking two glasses upon opening the bottle?! Yeah, that says something right there. Barefoot's Zinfandel is not dry, not bitter and it's heavily laden with hints of cherry. It is a smooth drinking wine and, being the classy girl that I am, brought out some peppery notes when I paired the wine with some heavily salted & peppered popcorn!

I finally opened the bubbly last night. I stashed it in the fridge weeks ago with every intention on breaking it out last weekend during our cookout & I blame my forgetfulness on the sangria that a friend brought {we'll discuss that in yet another post}. I stated earlier that I don't like champagne or sparkling wines. I never have. Never, ever. I suppose that most of my experience has revolved around extra dry wanna be sparkling wines...but, in my defense, I've also had fancy champagne - Dom Perignon - and I didn't like that either {I guess that really does classify me as simple & cheap, then?}.

When the hubs popped the top off of this baby, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I had already drilled into my head that I would not like it. It's sparkling. It's going to be dry and too fizzy and too disappointing. I was wrong, wrong and WRONG! Barefoot's Brut Cuvee surprised me and my taste buds. It was perfectly chilled & the bubbles tickled my nose as I drank it {I'm ashamed to admit that I don't actually own a proper champagne flute or fluted type of glass}. The Brut Cuvee was tart - it reminded me of granny smith apples - and was not dry at all. It had a smooth finish and I'm seriously considering having a mimosa for breakfast {although that wouldn't be a good idea since I do have to go to work}.

I am forever grateful to Lauren & everyone at Barefoot Wine, not just for allowing me this opportunity, but for expanding my wine horizons and turning me onto TWO types of wine I would have never, ever thought I would enjoy.

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Here's where the fun comes in for you all...

Barefoot Wine has graciously offered my LUCKY readers the chance to win a Barefoot Wine "Summer Essentials" pack:

Included is a Barefoot Wine tote, beach towel, stemless wine glass and bottle opener...all that's missing is a bottle of your favorite Barefoot wine!

Get yourself familiar with Barefoot Wine. The motto behind their wine is to "get barefoot & have a great time!" Barefoot Wine recently launched a new website & they also have a great online community called Barefoot Republic. Barefoot Wine is a strong community supporter & is actively involved with other organizations like the Surfrider Foundation. So, not only does Barefoot Wine produce some amazing varieties of "the good stuff," but they also share my love of the beach. Could the relationship be any more perfect??

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY, this is what you need to do:

• MANDATORY - Join Barefoot Republic and leave me your user name in a comment below {when you join, you can use me - maliasma - in the 'referrer username' space...at the end of the form} - and don't worry, Barefoot will not fill your email with spam!
• Tell me, in a comment below, how you plan on spending the rest of your summer.
• MANDATORY - Go to Barefoot Wine's website and tell me, in a comment, which wine is your favorite or which you would like to try
• Tell me, in a comment, what you like to pair your wine with...cheese, fruit, seafood, etc.
• You can also get additional entries by blogging about this & following my blog
• I'll give you THREE bonus entries for referring people to this giveaway...just make sure they mention in their comment who referred them!

This giveaway will be open until 11:59 est on Thursday, July 30th and a winner will be chosen on Friday, July 31st. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ONLY and, PLEASE, you MUST be 21 or older {I can't be contributing to the delinquency of minors!!}.

Good luck!

Tiny Bubbles

I opened the bubbly tonight {last night I opted for ice cream instead of the bubbly} and I'd just like to say that it's the bubbly's fault that my next review-slash-giveaway is NOT being posted tonight.

I'm no lightweight {*hanging my head in shame*} but all I wanna do is lay down!

Anyways...hang tight my loves and I'll get the next good thing going tomorrow morning. And, yes, it does involve the bubbly!

Three's Company

I had a phone conversation with a friend yesterday that started like this:

Michelle, have you tried "Ménage à Trois?"

There was a bit of a pause....and then it dawned on me ~~ she's talking about the WINE!!

Duh...geez...what a silly girl I am! I really need to pull my head out of the gutter from time to time, too.

Oh, and for what it's worth, my friend raved about this brand of wine...so much so that I feel compelled to go out and purchase myself a bottle.

Tears, Tantrums & Treats

It's been a while since either one of my children has had a full-blown meltdown and I suppose the hubs & I were long overdue for one because we were blessed yesterday afternoon.

After picking up the boy from the sitter, Aidan & I headed home for a quick pit stop. My plan was to turn right back around and head to Target. I pulled into the driveway to find Adam loading the fishing poles & tackle box into the bed of his truck. I knew he was going fishing. Aidan did not.

Let the whining commence...

Aidan followed Adam into the house. It all started with "I want to go fishing" and it escalated from there. The fishing chant continued. Aidan followed Adam throughout the house like a little duckling following its momma. Adam kept telling Aidan, "Next time. Next time." OK, no problem...or so I thought.

We get outside and it's time for us to leave {besides, Adam needed to back down the driveway and I was blocking him in}. By this time, Aidan is crying. Really crying. He had big ole tears running down his face and he kept saying over & over, "But I want to go fishing!" Adam promised him that he would go next time. {Side note: Adam was going fishing around dusk and into the later evening hours...Adam wasn't being mean...we just don't take the kids fishing on the boat at night.}

Adam hugged Aidan...squeezed him, loved on him, kissed him...and got him into the car. Instantly, Aidan arched his back and his whole body stiffened. Get ready...because here comes the tantrum monster rearing it's ugly head! {Any of you parents out there know that the arched back/stiff child combo is NOT fun...and it's especially not fun when trying to buckle your child into his carseat!} Aidan would NOT sit in his booster. Not.At.All. This whole time I was - and I'm almost ashamed to admit it - letting Adam deal with it. I was just sitting in the driver's seat breathing slowly & trying to keep calm. Adam shuts the door. Aidan's still not buckled. Aidan rolls down the window and proceeds to yell, "But I want to go fishing!" He kept screaming it. His tear-stained cheeks were red from frustration, but at least he was finally buckled.

We set off for Target. By this time, I don't even remember why I needed to go. I even second-guessed my reasoning for even going because:

1. It's never fun going anywhere with an angry child.
2. He will probably fall asleep during the ride there (because crying & yelling is exhausting, ya know) and
3. What was supposed to be a quick "in & out" trip could possibly turn into something longer.

The WHOLE way to Target - OK, so it's only a 10 minute drive from the house - Aidan's in the backseat crying and chanting, "I want my Daddy! I........want.........my.....Da.......ddy!!" Bless his heart. And, in between sobs & catching his breath, he started to yawn.

As we pulled into the Target parking lot, I quickly found a parking space near the building and I did what any desperate mother would do...I reduced myself to bribery!

Me: You know, Aidan, if you stop crying I just might buy you a treat when we get inside - that is if you are a good boy while we're in the store.
Aidan: But...{sob sob sob}...I can't stop crying!
Me: Well, just try. Wipe your tears and catch your breath. I know you're upset but you know Daddy will take you fishing next time.
Aidan: {more crying} But I want my Daddy....now!
Me: Oh, Aidan...it's going to be OK. Let's go in the store and see what we can find for you.

Yes, I'm not above bribery...no sir, not at all. We got out of the car and walked into Target. Our first stop...the snack bar. It's amazing what a cookie and an Icee can do for the upset soul! Our next stop...the $1 section {which some of it was half off!} for an Ironman paddle ball set. After that, the rest of the trip was a breeze. Not a single tear was shed and Aidan quickly forgot about Daddy and fishing.

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OK, so I know some of you are probably out there cringing because I've just reinforced a behavior that perhaps should have been handled in a different way. But, to me, his fit was over something that WILL happen and his behavior wasn't ridiculously out of line. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures.

And, you know how I rewarded myself (because, YES, I felt I deserved to be rewarded after an afternoon like that)?? Two glasses of Barefoot Zinfandel after the boy went to bed (stay tuned for a Barefoot giveaway this weekend!).

Virginia is for Wine-O's!

There are three wine tastings this month in my local area. THREE. And, all of them are within a few weeks of each other.

This weekend is the Town Point Virginia Wine Festival put on by Festevents. This event is being held at the Elizabeth River Pavilion & Pier since Town Point Park is still under renovation. I'm sad to say that I am NOT attending this event and it breaks my heart. Only Virginia wines will be featured and, if you're not already familiar with Virginia wines, we've got some good ones here! (Hmm...maybe a girls weekend filled with winery tours is in my future...sounds like a good plan to me!!)

Next weekend is the Neptune Festival Spring Wine Tasting and, yes, yours truly will be in attendance. My girlfriend, Catrina, missed out on this event last year but she's going with me this year and, boy, she's in for a real treat! We'll spend FIVE fun-filled hours at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront sipping on some fine wines from around the world! She & I are looking forward to our afternoon out...we both NEED this event because our sanity deserves it we love wine!

And, as if two wine festivals in one month wasn't enough, us lucky folk in the Hampton Roads area who love wine will end the month of May with a bang when we get to sample international, as well as Virginia, wines at the 2nd Annual Town Center Art & Wine Festival. Don't confuse this one with the wine-o fest at Town Point - that's in Norfolk, this is in Virginia Beach. I'm not sure if I'll attend this one or not...it's the weekend after Memorial Day. I don't typically plan too far in advance, but who knows...momma might need some vino by then!

A smart person once said that a glass of wine is equal to a serving of fruit. Judging by the different wine tastings this month, there will be plenty of people drinking their fruit - including me.

MOMMY JUICE

In certain circles, some say that I'm an alcoholic. In other circles, I'm a casual drinker...ya know, every now and again. And, in a few select circles, I'm that girl who gets out from time to time (with or without the hubs) and has no problems bellying up to the bar having a few drinks.

I am in no way, shape or form an alcoholic. And, don't go giving me that "I'm denying my so-called alcoholic status because denial is the first sign of addiction" crap. You can keep the bullshit to yourselves. I have had four beers in the last three weeks, well, since we left Mexico on February 27th! Yeah, that really makes me an alcoholic, eh?

Fact of the matter is, I'm a mother who likes to induldge from time to time in adult beverages. I pick and choose when and where I am going to imbibe. I decide how sloshed I want to become -- and, for the record, I've never blacked out or done any dumb shit while "under the influence" unless you count drunk (or, as I like to say, DUNK) texting and then I'm definitely guilty of that. Also, most of my buzzed shenanigans occur within the four walls of my humble abode. So there.

I'm a smart gal who knows her limits. I good at picking my poison, too. Some days I just want an ice cold beer while other days I would prefer some Canadian Club & ginger ale. Mmm...Canadian whiskey. Most of the time I settle for wine. Ah, wine. Good ole MOMMY JUICE. You can never go wrong with a glass (or four bottles) of wine. Red is my favorite color, but I'm not so much into red wines. Gimme a good Chardonnay, a crisp Riesling or a yummy Pinot Grigio (mmm...so tasty!) any day and I'll be your friend for life.

I currently have three opened bottles of wine in my fridge, three bottles in the rack and two bottles stashed at a friends house (ha!). Adam tried to dump my stash over the weekend. What the heck is wrong with you? Those are perfectly fine! I mean, so what if there are two bottles of Moscato wine in the fridge -- they're by different brands and taste totally different. And, don't go messin' with my $12 bottle of Duplin blackberry wine from Wal-Mart, OK? (Yes, $12 blackberry wine and, yes, it's from Wal-Mart...hey...don't be hatin'...haven't you tried their $2.95 wine? I have.)

So, where am I going with all of this? No, I'm not drinking while I'm writing this either. Oh, yeah...I'm a mom. And, I'm a mom who likes to drink...not in excess, but in moderation. Don't hate me because I have a "Floozie" for my beer. Don't hate me because sometimes I drink a bottle of wine all to myself. Don't hate me because, gasp, there is beer, wine and liquor in my house.

I'm a mom. A busy mom. And, like most other busy moms, I enjoy some time to myself...time to unwind. And, if my "unwind time" involves a glass or three of a fine tasting adult beverage then so be it. *CHEERS*


So, after typing this, hitting "publish post" and then re-reading the blog entry, I guess it really does sorta kinda make me seem like an alcoholic. LOL But, I swear. I'm not. Far from it. Caffeine addict, yes, but hooked on alcohol, no. No one at home, including myself, has been harmed in any way because mommy likes to drink every now and again so don't go calling C.P.S. on me.