Halloween Candy and Wine Pairing!

I hardly ever cross-pollinate between my personal and work blog, but I think the blog I posted on Halloween candy and wine pairing is worthy of a repost. It was such a fun project to think back on all the Halloween candy I loved getting as a trick-or-treater and match it up with all the yummy wine I enjoy now that I am too old to get free candy! It would be a fun Halloween party activity too!

Here is the link to my list of pairings:

http://willamettevalleyvineyards.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-candy-and-wine-pairing.html

On one of my searches for pictures of Halloween candy I came across this picture and it reminded me of my brother and I. My brother and I have always had entrepreneurship on our brains. We would go trick-or-treating for hours then race home to sort, count, and trade our candy amongst ourselves. We weren't worried about consuming it like other kids, we were more into the competition and economics around it. My mom would have to hide one our bags of candy from each other so the other one wouldn't raid the others resources. We would somehow make our stashes last until Easter where we would get showered in candy again- starting the cycle all over. We were aware of the laws of supply and demand at a very young age. Isn't it funny to think back and laugh about how powerful candy was as a kid?

Where Do Kids Come Up With This Stuff?

Quote from the 6-year old I am spending my night with after opening him a can of 7UP: MMMmmm.... tastes like Bud Light!

Uhh ohh... who would he have got that from?! :)

I want to kiss in a giant bird nest!

While perusing my daily blogs, I stumbled upon this lovely picture on Snippet & Ink. This art installation stands at Nine Mountain Retreat in Massachusetts. Oh how I wish I had it in my backyard. It would serve as the perfect afternoon getaway. This couple was so lucky to have it as a backdrop on their special day- whimsical bliss!

The Sky Was the Limit

I am a wild dreamer. Everything I think about is at least 6 months out. At times this can be very disappointing because that means there is an awful lot of lag time for dreams to be squashed, altered, or easily letdown. However, I have a BIG dream that is consuming all my thoughts lately, as in I can't sleep at all because I am constantly brainstorming, and I really truly in my heart of hearts think it will work out.

It will require copious amounts of work, along with overcoming a steep learning curve and relocating to a place very far from my city-ish ways, but if someone can do it, I can do it. Besides, I will have a great partner by my side enjoying the realization of a dream come true.

For five years now, I have battled with the unavoidable question of what I will become once I leave the formal educational world, I think I got it. Not "got it" as in figured out, because I will never say I have my passions "figured out," but "got it" as in something I believe in enough to dedicate years to pursuing. It is a settling of one anxiety and a open floodgate to many more.

I am currently in the process of writing up a very detailed business plan. I am also going to submit my business plan to the Oregon State University Enterprise Challenge, which is an annual competition. I will be presenting my plan to a board of faculty and investors. The top three plans are granted money to help start the venture. Free money would be really nice.

I think these lyrics of the classic Tom Petty song "Into the Great Wide Open," describe me perfectly :) I love how there is a lyric for EVERY occasion.

Into the great wide open,
Under them skies of blue
Out in the great wide open,
A rebel without a clue

Oh yeah, and that is me, a photo taken by my "man of many talents" boyfriend.

The Wine Tasting Saga

Six wineries + the three of us = a whole day of crazy fun!

Our winery stops consisted of Sokol Blosser, White Rose, Stoller, Argyle, Torii Mor, and Lange. We came home with so many great bottles of delicious wine. Poor Jon can't travel with wine bottles, so we are going to have to "store" it for him. Haha, doubt that will last. Out of all the places we visited my favorite wine of the day goes to White Rose, the 2006 Soverae Pinot Noir made my heart skip a beat.

Here we are at Argyle. I love me some bubbles! I will mention that although Argyle is really known for their Sparkling wines, there normal wines are good too. I especially enjoyed the Cowhouse Pinot Noir.

Photo Op in front of the bins.

Straddling barrels proved to be harder work than I thought. Especially when they toppled over right after this picture was taken.

Then there was our brilliant idea to climb on this old piece of farm equipment. Although the picture makes it look like I fell, I did not fall, I was dropped face first into a pile of gravel. I have a beautiful little raspberry on my temple to show for it.

This is me picking myself back up with all the dramatic emotion I could muster. The wine definitely helped my acting skills.



But, we finally did make it up there!


I don't know who got the insane idea we needed more booze in our systems, but I do know who got the idea for Mexican food and you just can't eat Mexican without a yummy margarita... or two!

I am so sad Jon can't join our adventures more often. But, the ones we do get to have are UNFORGETTABLE!

Cha-Cha-Cha-Chia- Is this for real?

I just saw this commercial on TV for the CHIA Proud to Be an American (as in the same slogan from Drop Dead Gorgeous!!) edition. The commemorative four piece collection is perfect as a gift. Don't you think? haha.

My Best Friend is Back in Town!

Okay, so I hate to say "best friend," because I have two and even three if I get to count my boyfriend. But, I was so excited to reunite with Jon today for lunch. Jon is visiting from L.A. for two weeks (eeeeeek) before he leaves to perform on a cruise ship for 9 months. I can't believe the commitment of living on a boat for 9 months! I can't even sign a one-year lease on an apartment! However, a life in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas wouldn't be too bad and the pay is amazing.

So, today we went and grabbed lunch at Lifesource then drinks at a nearby bar. Seriously, drinking at 2:30 p.m. in the middle of the week in Salem, Oregon is hilarious. All the people in the bar were listen intently to our obscure conversations. It doesn't help that I talk insanely loud and Jon talks even louder and gayer. Overall, we could be the same souls stuck in different bodies.

Browsing through my iPhoto I have found so many funny memories of Jon and I. Our friendship really started back in middle school when we were in Student Council together and we developed fake Southern accents when we had to call vendors to use for the dances.

Here is a picture of us way back in high school when Jon and I caused great havoc on the tiny town we are from. This is us when we got caught:

Last time Jon was in town was last spring when we went out with his family for a night of karaoke. I think Jon put Salem in awe when he busted out renditions of Backstreet Boy songs and "I Will Always Love You," by Whitney Houston. Here is me being a groupie.

On Monday, my boyfriend, Jon and I are going on a whole day of wine tasting. It will be unforgettable.

I Fell In Love at the Apple Store

You might not think of the Apple Store as a romantic place, but listen to this song and it will totally change your outlook! I was already convinced long before the video was made because I met my boyfriend at the Apple Store when we were both working there. Nothing like flirting over a little CPU knowledge :) I think this song will have you hooked from the start with the mac boot-up sound (listen for it- pretty clever). I applaud the dude, apparently he actually filmed this in the 5th Avenue Apple Store! I for sure thought he green screened it!

My new Fall Fetish

Hot and steamy tomato soup! I gobbled up two bowls today. Mmm.... The perfect Fall meal.

Since I am not the best cook around, I prefer the Pacific Natural Foods Creamy Tomato.