Wine & Design

Last week, I felt like I could never cool down. It's been so hot here and I feel like the only thing cools me off is a good, refreshing glass of white wine. I have a new favorite and I wanted to share:

I've only had the Pinot Grigio (my all time favorite white wine) and it's dangerously good. Also, it doesn't hurt that it has such a cute label! Check out their website to order or you can get it at any grocery or liquor store. 

I was just playing around tonight and made a Bachelorette Party invitation for my friend Danielle! She had no idea but I just had an idea for a simple but chic nautical themed invitation and I just went with it! Also, have you ever searched etsy or even googled bachelorette invitations? It's slim pickens out there!

Thoughts? I am obsessed with the anchor in the middle of the wheel :)

Personalized Wine Label

I really like the idea of custom wine labels for a reception. I was just playing around and came up with some circus-y (not sure if that's a word but just go with me) themed wine labels. Tell me what you think!

Thoughts? It's a little loud but I think it's super fun!

Best Wine Bar in Dallas

I've had a much needed week of relaxation and I am quite sad to see it come to an end tomorrow. Traveling every week really takes it out of you so I can't describe how amazing it was just to visit with family and friends, with no worries of getting home to do laundry and pack. 

However, before I came home to Tennessee, I visited a place where everything is bigger. And better! TEXASSS!!!

I made the trip to see my best friend [and former roomie] Ali! She made the big move a little over a month ago and I spent last weekend with her exploring her new city, Dallas!

The first thing I want to blog about is this place that we passed a few times and wondered out loud about. It was called Vino 100 and it looked semi abandoned during the day. 

Finally, Saturday evening rolled around and Ali and I were shooting around ideas about what we wanted to do for the night. She really wanted to take me to a Japanese restaurant by her house and I was pumped. But we both really wanted to do something before that... have a drink, an appetizer, sit on a porch with a glass of wine... SOMETHING!

I decided to google Vino 100 and boy was I PUMPED when the search results said that Vino 100 was a wine store during the day and a wine bar at night! With over 100 bottles of wine that are all UNDER $25, this was a clear case of fate. Also, you can buy a bottle, sit outside on the patio, listen to music and then take whatever wine is left home with you. It's amazing. Not that we'd ever have left over wine, but it's nice... just in case ;)

If all of this information wasn't amazing enough, I found out that all appetizers were 50% using my handy Scout Mob app!

It turned our $25 apps into $12.50! And they were incredible!

We had the most amazing cheese plate with goat cheese, havarti, and manchego. Also, we had yummy bread, crackers, and fruit :)

I loved the crab cakes but Ali wasn't a huge fan... more for meeee!

Ali wasn't a fan but she was a perv...

Nice one, T-bone.

The cool thing [well, one of the many cool things] about Vino 100 was the way the wine is set up. From left to right, it is set up to have the fruitier, lighter bodied wines to the left and they get heavier and more bitter to the right. The reds are on the left side of the store and the whites are on the right!

Also, they had certain wines that would be perfect for Thanksgiving dinner!

Some of the wines had a Turkey Tag. Niiice.

Don't judge the picture. It was a long day with a lot-o-shopping :)

Stay tuned for more entries from our Dallas/Uptown adventures!

Fabulous Food!

Okay, you want to know where to find amazing food in Portland for an AMAZING price? Answer:

Yep, The Oregon Culinary Institute. It might so strange but it was wonderful and an amazing atmosphere! Granted, the servers are nervous and will potentially spill your wine all over you, but it's worth it! I was so proud of the students and they were so friendly. Also, a four course meal for $18? You can't beat that.

Braised Beef... it fell apart just from looking at it. So delicious.

Pork Chop.. YUM

Wild Mushroom Pasta

Yeah, I ate it all.

Creme Brule

Amazing Wine from a vineyard in Oregon - Willamette Valley (pronounce Will-AM-ette - kind of like dammit) Trust me, people will correct you if you don't say it right. 

I definitely recommend this as a romantic date, girls night or even for a corporate dinner. It's amazing annnnd affordable.. win-win!

Vinturi Travel Aerator

Gregg knows me too well. He got me a TRAVEL aerator, along with many other treats, for my birthday! For those of you who don't know, this device helps open up a red wine and can make a cheap bottle of wine taste amazing!!

Ali T agreed to do a taste test... although, it doesn't go as well as planned:



Hope the video worked for you!! 

Remember, don't leave for ANY trip without your travel aerator! I absolutely love it!

Cork Dorks - Wine Tasting!

Cork Dorks - that's what they call their Tuesday night wine tasting group at The Reserve in the GSR. It's every Tuesday from 5:30 - 6:30. For only $20, you taste 4 different wines, eat a small dinner from Charlie Palmer and receive a $10 gift card for The Reserve. This past Tuesday, we tasted Pinot Noirs from around the globe. Chhhheck it out:

Wine #1 - Lai Lai from Chili. My expert wine review: Watery and weird. They saved the worst for first.

Wine #2 - Cashburn from New Zealand. My expert wine review: Awesome.

This is the pasta and duck confit salad.. can't get over how great it was!

Wine #3 - Becker Estate from Germany. My expert wine review: It was good, much better than I thought it would be... I didn't realize there were many vineyards in Germany but the wine pourer guy told me that Decanter Magazine named a German Pinot Noir the number wine. But it wasn't this wine, this one was swill compared to that wine, apparently.

Wine #4 - Four Graces from Oregon. My expert wine review: MY FAVORITE. Possibly because it was my last wine and I was semi-drunk but this really was my favorite. HELL YES AMERICA!

The Reserve is so cool. The wines are purchased by the ounce and I've already used my $10 gift card, and then some... So much for gambling in Reno, this is where all my money has gone.

Wine tasting = my new favorite sport.

Casa Burcham

I can't explain how amazing it's been to have a friend move to Charlotte while I was here for 5 weeks! I never have friends to enjoy happy hour with... I'm always that broad alone at the bar... BUT NOT IN CHARLOTTE, PEOPLE --- KATIE BURCHAM IS IN THA HOUUUSSSEE!!!

However, it should be said, when Katie and I got together we've never actually left the apartment to explore Charlotte. I am completely okay with this because in these random cities, where I know no one, I feel the need to explore and entertain myself. But with Burch here we get to catch up, talk about life, relax, enjoy very delicious (yet affordable) wine and eat yummy food whipped up by Chef Burch. I've enjoyed every second of it and I can't wait to come back and visit Burch and maybe we'll find our way to an actual restaurant or bar next time :)

In the mean time, here's a few shots of our time in together (please know that all I did was show up and occasionally bring wine and chocolate)...

Caprese Salad - YUM

I'm pretty sure that was goat cheese in there... can't remember but it was delish!

 The chef being so modest about her amazing cooking skills ;)

Not the best picture of us but I love it anyway! 

Veggie Pizza!! I have a feeling I'm going to be craving this... a lot

Sexyyy!

Perfect Summer Beer - Saranac - Lager & Lemonade

Katie introduced me and I am obsessed!

Nothing like a night cap at Casa Burcham :)

Kathryn and I have our last date tomorrow night and we're trying to make our way OUT... stay tuuuned!