Click 'First Of May' below for write-up.

Blue Baker Cookies for Kids Contest

Click pic below for a slideshow!

Lyrics, Most Expensive Girl In The World in USA

Jimmy was a fly guy with a big mercedes
He thought he could get all type of ladies
He makes a lot of money cause he is a money maker
And if he looks for style he rides jet ski in jamaica
He met this beautiful girl at a bar
And jimmy could swear she looked like a star

He got the the most expensive girl in the world
The most expensive girl

I'm sick with a sore throat and I'm so annoyed! I really want to look for a job, but I think most people wouldn't want to hire a sick person. I think I got sick when I walked that half mile.

Spring Has Sprung & Love Is In The Air

A rare thing occurred yesterday morning. I woke feeling down-right excited about one of the only parts of my job that I truly loathe, the trade tasting. I've bitched about them here before so you all know how I feel about them and as odd as it sounds to many that have never had to endure them, it aint all free snacks and drinking fancy wines...least not to me. The LA wine trade event is pretty much an Asperger's convention; a parade of hipsters in skinny jeans, hot guys wearing over-sized Buddy Holly glasses....trying to down play their smashing good looks, that or going for the "wicked hot smart guy" persona. The old guys in graffiti T's or fedoras, also sporting the skinny jean, that or the ripped up baggy ones. The perfume encrusted, tight dress and super high heeled teetering around on their wine wobbly legs because, "Spitting is gross" and toss in the grumpy know-it-all wine curmudgeon, often in a stained shirt, not wearing a name tag and always grazing at the food table and you get one pissy wine slinger with crunched unders. Not the way I like to spend the afternoon and really not the way I can truly evaluate wine.  Yesterday however, yesterday was different.

I met Randy at The Wine Country early so we could make our way up to Santa Monica for a tasting that neither of us would have missed, a tasting that has not happened in as long as I have been buying French wine for the store. When we pulled up to the venue my heart started thumping around in my chest, not only was I going to be sampling the wines from one of the world's most renowned French wine importers, poured by the winemakers themselves, I was going to be doing it there....on the breathtakingly beautiful shoreline in Santa Monica.

An elegantly, subtly furnished ballroom; tables swathed in creams and off-whites, set far apart from one another with ample room to move about and dodge the teetering non-spitters and curmudgeons with their cheese smeared wine glasses and Bordeaux stained grill....the sound and smell of the ocean faintly wafting in between stops at tables adorned with bottles of wines that make my knees weak, heart race, mind flash wildly with sensory dictation, the thickly accented voices filling me with that ache to revisit my beloved France and retell our customers about these wines, these estates, these humble but passionate people that make them. I may have woken excited but I could never have imagined just how perfect the day would be.

Randy and I had worked our way through the Champagne tables, rough as that was...when I heard Randy say, "Hey, is that Kermit?" turned my head to see, yes, yes it was Kermit Lynch. Without question one of the most important men in the wine business, one very responsible for the quality of French wines we have access to, paving the way with refrigerated containers ensuring that the wines he tasted and imported were delivered tasting the way they did when he had them in France. A man whose palate and passion brought those wines here and a man that can write, in one sentence, something so compelling that you ache to taste what he is tasting. It was his tasting and there he was, in the middle of this room of perfectness. It was, well even more perfect.

Randy had been Kermit's Southern California broker before starting The Wine Country, they have known and respected each other for years now and although I have met Kermit several times I still found myself a little star struck as we made our way over to him to say hello to him. Pleasantries and a bit of shop talk, we parted and Randy and I got back to tasting our way through the room only to find ourselves once again face to face with Kermit, this time at the Beaujolais table. Kermit pouring a deep glass and me with just enough Alsatian wine and Graves in my belly to say, "So Kermit, gotta tell you, saw you on Gary V, good thing you didn't have anything to say" which not only made him laugh but broke the ice. By the next time I ran into him and my adorable sales rep Kate tried to introduce us he stopped her, put his arm around me and told her, "We are already engaged." perfectness.....

The stunningly beautiful setting, the uncrunched aisles, the banter...that alone makes for a trade tasting far and above most but on top of all that, the wines were fucking brilliant! The Beaujolais from Jean Foillard both elegant and powerful proving that anyone that says Gamay is wimpy is an idiot. The Saint-Romain and Bourgogne Rouge from Christophe Buisson, so pure and loaded with vibrant fruit that, considering the price, makes me feel like we are taking advantage of him...which I will be doing when the wines arrive in May. Regis Bouvier's silky textured and explosive 2009 Morey-Saint-Denis filling my lungs with dark red fruit and smoked meat. The Loire wines from Domaine de la Chanteleuserie and Domaine de Reuilly causing my spine to shiver and flesh to be covered in tiny want inspired bumps.

I spent the afternoon waving my French Wine Freak Flag, wrapped up tight in the aromas and flavors, the people that make what I do, my job, one of the greatest there is. Cannot get over what an affirmation that trade tasting was....hipsters, high-heeled wobblers, table grazers and all. Cannot believe how fortunate I've been. And just when I thought the day couldn't get any better.....

Gifts, picked for me and tucked into my screen by the cutest almost 5 year old boyfriend a girl could ever have.

Finding myself splashing around in love again and damn, it feels amazing.       

Breakfast muffins - the healthy way

Until recently, if somebody had offered me a "breakfast muffin", I'd have held out my hand and expected a Sausage & Egg McMuffin from that fast food place with the golden arches. I was looking for a new muffin recipe to try when I stumbled across one that is energy boosting and perfect for breakfast or a mid morning snack, hence it being called a Breakfast Muffin. As I read through the ingredients I was excited to see that no butter or sugar was needed, and was packed with healthier things like apricots and muesli. As I am back on the healthy eating bandwagon, I couldn't wait to try it! I know I'm not the only one trying to eat right at the moment, so I hope this recipe helps some of you :)

Makes 12

Ingredients

170g dried apricots, coarsely chopped

170g unsweetened muesli

250g self raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

250ml unsweetened apple juice

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

100ml honey

1 large egg

Method - so easy!

1. Preheat oven to 190c and line a 12 hole muffin tin with cases

2. Put the apricots, muesli, flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir.

3. In a jug, mix together the apple juice, honey, oil and egg.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently to incorporate. Make sure you do not overmix.

5. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases. My cases are quite big and I filled mine to about 2/3 full.

6. Put the tray in the oven and cook for 20 minutes.

7. You know the drill, if they are golden brown and spring back when touched, or you insert a skewer and it comes out clean, they are done.

8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool then store in an airtight container. I'd keep for 3-4 days maximum.

A few quick tips;

• The recipe calls for unsweetened muesli and unsweetened apple juice. This is imperative from a taste point of view, as the apricots add more than enough sweetness to the cakes. From a healthy point of view, it's less sugar to contend with.
• The mixture will be very runny, so don't be alarmed.
• Chop the apricots as small as you can. Mine are a bit too chunky for my liking, which is why it looks a bit gooey in the picture below. It tastes fine though.
• I used a 'Really Nutty' variety of Dorset Cereals muesli, but when making these again I would add more nuts, such as pecans and almonds, so they have more of a bite to them. The recipe doesn't call for nuts though, so if you're not a fan, don't feel like they're necessary.
• I think the apricots can be substituted with figs and dates if you'd rather a less sweet taste. 

 

Now, these did not smell very appetising when I pulled them out of the oven, and unlike most muffins, they didn't taste better oven-warm either. Don't let that put you off though - wait until breakfast time the following morning, and enjoy with a big cup of tea. They are sweet, moist, slightly chewy and slightly sticky, so it feels really naughty and indulgent having one for breakfast. Because they are packed with good, filling things, one of these and a bit of fruit fills me right up until lunchtime, so I'm not snacking on toast dripping in real butter come mid-morning!

There are about 200 calories in each muffin (more if you add nuts) but there's less than 5g fat and only 0.6g of saturated fat, so they are good calories. I know I'd much rather eat one of these for breakfast than a bowl of soggy, sugary cereal for the same calorie content, then be reaching for the calorie-laden toast at 11am.

What are your favourite healthy breakfasts? I'd love to know!

xoxo

Most Expensive Weddings of French businessman Bernard Arnault

Delphine Arnault, the daughter of French businessman Bernard Arnault, married Alessandro Vallarino Gancia, of the Gancia wine dynasty, in 2005 at the Cote d'Azur, France. This affair is said to have cost over $7 million. Her gown wasn't bought off the rack at David's Bridal � it was created by famed fashion designer John Galliano. The wedding venue was decorated with 5000 white roses. (Imagine the expense of that alone!) Famous wedding guests included Elizabeth Hurley and Karl Lagerfeld. Harper's Bazaar called this spectacular wedding 2005's

Miss Yugoslavia and Serbian model Aleksandra Kokotovich

Russian billionaire and founder of MDM Bank Andrei Melnichenko tied the knot with former Miss Yugoslavia and Serbian model Aleksandra Kokotovich in 2005 at Cote D'Azur, France, to the tune of $30 million. Rather than having a church soloist or your cousin Debbie sing at the wedding, this ceremony included performances by Christina Aguilera and Whitney Houston, both of whom were flown in on private jets and given an estimated $3.6 million each to perform.

happy royal wedding day!

today we had a breakfast of scones and im about to make some tea

i will be watching the royal wedding after breakfast

*squeal* yea!

but i couldn't help googling her dress since i simply could NOT wait 

its perfect 

i love all the pomp and proper-ness

she looks amazing

congrats to Prince William and Kate!

they are now officially called the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 

i just might cry while i watch the wedding

such a sap i know!

to celebrate even more

i used the Royal Name Generator here

and my royal name is

Lady Chloe Pippa Ballton of Yorbaford

seriously so much fun!

Riksbank Sweden banknotes design competition

Sweden Riksbank has announced a competition to design Sweden’s new banknotes. The competition is open to artists, graphic artists, designers and architects. The intention is to use the winning suggestion as the starting point for the design of the new banknotes. Applications must be presented no later than 20 May. There is no information in English if this competition open to everyone or not.

The competition will be held in two stages. During stage 1, all those who fulfil the qualification requirements can register their interest in taking part in the competition. The Riksbank will then select 5-8 of the applicants, who will compete in stage 2 by presenting proposals for the design of the six banknote denominations. The competition will be held in accordance with competition regulations approved by the Swedish Association of Architects, the Artists Organisation KRO and the Swedish Association of Designers.

The jury will consist of four members of the General Council of the Riksbank and two artistic experts. The members are Peter Egardt, chairman, Anders Karlsson, Sonia Karlsson and Ebba Lindsö. The artistic experts are Jordi Arkö and Karin Granqvist. The jurty will co-opt further expertise as necessary.

Questions regarding the public procurement process should be addressed in writing via e-mail to formgivning@riksbank.se or via ordinary mail to the following address: Dnr 2011-239-ADM, Formgivning, Sveriges Riksbank, SE-103 37 Stockholm. The replies to questions of general interest will be published at regular intervals on the Riksbank’s website. The questions will be reproduced anonymously. The Riksbank cannot guarantee that questions sent after 13 May 2011 will be answered before the application deadline has expired.

I was not Around for his Parents' Wedding

I don’t remember or watched the one with Diana and Charles. I’m the same age as Prince Harry.

If Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) was a real person she would be all over this. She’d probably host some kind of event related to it. Like a tea or a supper.

I should really be into this type of thing. Part is my heritage is rooted in the UK. Maybe I'll just stick to liking music from the UK, teddy boy style, and UK comedies.

It was funny the way Fallon was preempted. If I was running NBC I would have just shown the monologue. (come on NBC this was your plan for something else...) NBC is like that incompetent person I know. I hope they would do something logical and they end up doing something hard, and stupid without reason. Shout out to booty shorts and the playoffs.

I watched a lot of trhe wedding. I watched some of the pre-wedding commentary and the procession. The dress was beautiful! I watched part of the vows too. Then I started watching Mister Ed and Heathcliff. I predict there will be a few prom dresses "inspired" by Kate's dress. There won't be much time to get a seamstress to make one. Usually prom dresses have to be commissioned by February at the latest. I learned this the hard way. Usually girls get dresses "inspired" by the Oscars. They might have to wait until homecoming or winter formal to get a Kate dress.

Biotherm Skin Ergetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturiser

I haven been trialling some new skincare items for a few months now, and since I am nearing the end of my pot, I thought I would share my thoughts with you. This will be a two-part review as there are two separate products I want to review, and the first one is a daily moisturiser; Biotherm Skin Ergetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturiser.

What do Biotherm say?

Anti-fatigue Biotherm innovation:
Biotherm creates SKIN ERGETIC, its 1st anti-fatigue moisturizer
with 5 fruit & vegetable extracts. A formula that reduces the
appearance of visible signs of fatigue.

RESULTS
Skin is plumped with moisture.
Features appear rested.
Tested on sensitive skin.

97.5% INGREDIENTS OF NATURAL ORIGIN
100% NATURAL-ORIGIN FRAGRANCE
PARABEN-FREE / MINERAL OIL-FREE
SYNTHETIC COLORANT-FREE

What do I think?

Firstly, I love the packaging for this. The little glass pot is really sleek and the bright orange colour makes me happy in the morning. When I open up the pot, I am immediately hit with a yummy, fruity scent, though I'd expect nothing less since it is packed with anti-oxidants from fruits like apples, grapes, pomegranates, seville oranges and tomatoes. Yum!

This is a light cream, so because my skin is a little on the dry side, I automatically assumed it would be too light. As such, on my first application, I whacked on a good dollop. I massaged it into my skin but it seemed to just clump up in little balls and roll off my skin. So I washed it off and tried again, this time using less. The same thing happened, but I stuck with it and just removed the little balls from my skin. It applied like this for about a week, regardless of the amount I used. To this day I still don't know if it was the amount I was applying, my skin getting used to a new product, or the fact that I was using it in conjunction with another product. However, after a week of perseverance, I was pleased to see it absorbed quickly and immediately nourished my skin. It made a lovely base for foundation too as it left my skin feeling silky instead of greasy.

I have mixed feelings about this cream. As soon as I got the knack of applying it, I could see my skin looking and feeling healthy. It seemed to nourish all day long too, as the dry patches I'd get around my nose in the afternoon were not there anymore. However, I wasn't sure if this was the cream alone, or the combination of cream and Biotherm serum (review coming soon). I tried wearing it alone for a few days and it was just... nice. Yes, it felt silky, and yes, it nourished all day long, but I did notice that it didn't brighten my skin as much. Which is why I'm confused. Is it a bad cream if it another product enhances it? If the cream alone brightened and moisturised, I'd love it even more, but I fear the brightening effect is down to the serum.

Price?

Depending on where you buy it from, it costs between £30 and £34. Although I like the results, I'm not sure it's worthy of this big price tag. My pot has lasted me 2 months so far and I have about 2 weeks worth left, which, when broken down as about £3 per week, doesn't sound so bad after all.

Would I repurchase?

I don't think so. It's not a bad cream, but I find that the day cream from the Good Things range does the job well enough for me and is more suited to my budget. If spending £30+ on a day cream is nothing unusual for you, then do give this a shot. It's almost completely natural and doesn't contain anything harmful, plus it smells amazing and is light on the skin. Like I said, not a bad cream, I just find my skin benefits more from this cream when used alongside the serum.

Hope you found my review helpful, and keep your peepers peeled for my review of the serum soon! :)

xoxo

Random Stuff

I have been so stressed out with school lately. I don't talk much about it here, but I'm about 1/2 way through my Masters Degree in Engineering and I've been working really hard to get some things done before the baby comes this summer. I know once I have a newborn it's going to be even harder to buckle down!

Have any of you attempted school + baby? I'll be at the point next semester where I'll just be finishing up my research and writing my thesis (which may take me an entire year or more! Haha!) so I can do a lot of things from home. But how hard will THAT be? We won't be using daycare but I might get someone to sit with the baby for a day each week so I can still go to research meetings and write. Please tell me I'm not crazy!!!

I guess my husband got the memo that I was stressed (and horomonal - ha!) and I came home late Tuesday night from school and I had these two things waiting for me:

What you're looking at is a hot brownie with ganache wrapped in phyllo dough. It's exactly like my favorite dessert from one of the fancy restaurants we have here in town. I just about died. And "oh my GANACHE" was it good :)

Have a wonderful day!!

garden dreams: seed progress

we used jiffy greenhouses (2 of em)

slowly comin up!

a key with my nailpolish swatches so i know who is growing and who is struggling

the crazy ones on the left over there? 

spaghetti squash

little herbs

hopefully they survive!

it has been so cold they kind of stopped growing for a bit

i hope the weather changes quickly so i can get to planting them outside

its like a jungle in my living room!

ill let you know everything im planting tomorrow!

First Batch of 2010 Roses. Or What It Would Look Like If I Wrote A "Wine Blog"

2009 was kind of a retailers dream vintage for French wines. The press went crazy for the riper fruit, bigger bodies and softer acids, in short the wines from much of France in 2009 were a little more suited to the California or new world palate. Not a problem, the wines are delicious but as I started tasting the 2010 Roses from France I was thrilled to find the wines a bit more typical. 2010 appears to be another ripe vintage, just not as ripe so the wines while brimming with bright and generous fruit are just a little more restrained in the weight department and the acidity is just a bit higher. Been loving the more noticeable minerality and almost crunchy snap from this vintage and cannot wait to keep tasting more!

2010 Chateau de Campuget Costieres de Nimes $9.99

This ultra crisp Rose is a blend of Syrah and Grenache, the Syrah giving the wine a nice depth and the Grenache providing lots of spicy, juicy fruit. Light and racy on the palate with a clean and refreshing finish.

2010 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem Vin de Pays de l’Herault $9.99

One of the first of the Roses to arrive and the first three cases we ordered flew out the door. Fans of last year’s offering will delight in finding that the 2010 is packed with just as much lovely flavor; all that racy fruit and mineral that we adored about the 2009 but the 2010 is just a little lighter in weight and has just a bit more snap.

2010 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Gris de Gris $11.99

One of the best vintages is recent memory for this tried and true estate. Vibrant berry flavors, amazing precision and leaves your palate vibrating with zingy acidity.

2010 Andrieux & Fils Cuvee Victoria Cotes de Provence $13.99

One of the deeper and more meaty of this year’s Roses so far. Dark red fruit, hints of banana, nice and full on the palate, almost round but not too. A go to wine for grilled steaks or strongly seasoned chicken dishes.

2010 Domaine Figueirasse Vin des Sables Gris de Gris $11.99

Something slightly grassy in the nose, grassy and reminiscent of watermelon rind. The palate is ripe berries and faint chalky minerality. Round and fleshy but crisp and dry on the lip smacking finish.

2010 Saint Roche Cotes du Provence $12.99

Not sure if you feel like a red or a white? Unable to decide if you want red or more green notes? Well we’ve got the wine for you. Gentle and herby on the nose with a soft powdery like floral note. The palate is crisp, bright, raging with tangy fruit and the finish is super clean.

2010 Le Cengle Cotes de Provence $12.99

Brand new to The Wine Country this charming wine has already stolen hearts around here. Very tropical aromatics, guava, wild flowers, herbs with a splash of zingy citrus. Explosive on the palate the wine pretty much grabs hold of your taste buds and refuses to let go. A show stopping Rose that we could not be more thrilled to add to our extensive collection.

Happy Now?!

Got two emails this morning, one from my son that flooded my heart with joy, (he's doing so well, last final on Friday, preforming in plays which he seems to love and got associate of the month at work...so proud) and the other was in the email for this blog.

Started out nice enough, the person seemed to be concerned that I had been having a rough time the past couple months and then the letter took a turn.

"You know people don't read wine blogs to listen to the blogger complain about their life and it is very annoying when that blogger happens to be in the wine business. Tough job. I think you would be better served to just stick to writing about wine on your wine blog because that's what we come here for"......

Really? Well then, don't come here. Hate to sound like a bitch, okay that's a lie, doesn't bother me one bit. This is MY blog and can and will write about whatever I wish. I do write about wine, not as often or the same way as the hundreds or thousands, how many are there now.....of others and you know what, I fucking dig it that way.

Above is part of what I sent for the May newsletter for The Wine Country. It's what I do all the time and while I still love it, it is not what I wish to come here and write. After a day of my "Tough job" I rather like having a place to come and just talk, if you don't like it then might I recommend you bugger off? And I would pair any one of the aforementioned Roses, they are perfect with buggering, and for a musical selection, Ray Charles, Hit the Road Jack.

Salute.

Analysis of The Scene Queen

I've been analyzing this Scene Queen Pedophilia thing all day, and I think I've uncovered a genius  marketing scheme that exploits young girls' need for attention and a feeling of cultural relevance.   Applying my understanding of evolutionary biology, psychology, pornography, and marketing, I feel like I may have some solid answers to the formerly perplexing question of "What the f*ck is this sh*t??".

   I will begin by tackling the question of why these girls' appearances are so, seemingly, conflicted (i.e. the infantilizing accessories and clothing, carrying around stuffed animals and playing with Hello Kitty crap, but in harsh contrast, wearing loads of eye make-up and often having facial piercings).

    To start with; whether they understand it in it's entirety or not, these Scene Queens are conforming to  the known  ideal associated with males' biological desire to mate with healthy and fertile females.  Men are sexually attracted to younger females, because they are more likely to be healthy and fertile.  This brings me to a concept known as "babyfaceness".

    Studies at universities in both Germany and the US found that when given a range of digitally altered images of the same face, males preferred the faces that had more childlike features (a large rounded forehead, large round eyes, a small nose, and small chin).  These findings simply support the theory that males are evolutionarily inclined to be more attracted to younger females.  For the full story of The Science Of Attraction, follow the link: http://deliciouspumpkin.blogspot.com/2010/12/science-of-attraction.html?zx=ffc078eb2b0f5e40

    This explains both the reason for the over sized quaff, and the heavy eye make up.  The large head of hair gives the illusion of a smaller chin.  By covering their foreheads with thick bangs, and teasing the hell out of their hair, it makes the upper region of their head appear much larger than the lower portion, simply by contrast (i.e. mimicking the symptoms of "babyfaceness").   The reason for the heavy eye make-up is that it helps to give the appearance of larger eyes.  Additionally, it obscures most of the eye area, which is where young women begin to show signs of aging first (dark circles, bags, wrinkles).

  Next we will assess the Hello Kitty and stuffed animal crap...  The bright colors, obviously, draw the eye,  but are also associated with the way that we culturally dress our children.  In pornographic films and images (the ones geared towards male who are looking for "hot petite teens xxx") you will often find that the females will be wearing brightly colored plastic bead jewelry, or cute brightly colored socks.  This part is simple.  They wear childrens' clothing and accessories in order to appear more similar to what we, culturally, consider to be a child.

  The reason for the facial piercings only serves to say, "I am a naughty girl, and I do naughty things".  It gives the onlooker permission to view them in an "adult" manner.  Its that simple.

   Well, I still feel 100% uncomfortable with this creepy Scene Queen thing, but kudos to the horny old bastard who thought it up, and somehow got it to become trendy to appeal to pedophiles.  

Goodbye Michael

I installed Firefox 4 yesterday. I had a hard time getting use to it, so I knew my dad would. He is totally technology inept. Such a n00b! I didn't want to be bothered to try and teach him how to use it and have him constantly yell the phrase "I DON'T KNOW!" at me. Me helping him to try and use it will be a disaster in a bottle. That's my new catch phrase. Does it suck? Is it too insensitive?

Michael's departure on The Office was good. Toby's brother Rory was hilarious! Dwight got the recognition he wanted from Michael. it was funny when Deangelo was making food on the coffee maker, getting pumped at the animal shelter, and eating the cake. Michael should get some za in Colorado. Too bad Sbarro is closing a lot of locations.

30 Rock was really funny too. Liz going to city hall was so funny. It was like the time I was trying to get a street light fixed on the street I use to live on. I don't know if it got fixed or not eventually I moved away. The montage scene was funny. It reminded me of the Street Frogs. (if you don't know what that is look it up. )

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