test test
{ 0 comments }
Next month will be the 5 year anniversary of this little blog. What? That just seems crazy when I type it out. It’s been a wild ride, but I’m even more excited about what’s in store. I’m building a brand new site! It will be home for the blog as well as my shop and more video content and other fun stuff. So, hang in there. BHMF is going to go dark for the next month while I work my little butt off getting the new site up and running. Stay tuned for a July launch!
{ 3 comments }
Sometimes everything decides to break at the same time. That time is right now and one of those things is my camera. It’s off to Canon for however many weeks it takes for them to figure out what’s wrong, fix it and take my money. Sometimes a winemaker leaves you an unmarked bottle of wine and a handwritten note asking you to taste it and let him know what you think. That time is right now and that winemaker is Michael Christian of Los Pilares in San Diego. Then your day feels not as bad and you go to a potluck with friends and drink that wine and take photos with your phone.
The wine? 2013 Los Pilares LaDona Sparkling Muscat. Everyone at the party was curious about this dark bottle of mystery, so we popped the top immediately. It was a hit! Delicious and drinkable and perfect for our al fresco situation with heaps of fried chicken. If you’d like to know more about the wine, this is what Michael wrote in his sweet note. Kind of sums it up better than I could’ve…
“Sustainably grown by an Italo-America-Indian family on the reservation near Valley Center in San Diego County. Foot-stomped and left to ferment naturally on the stems and skins for 72 hours. Pressed. Set aside some of the partially femented must in a refrigerator to retard fermentation. When dry in tank, blend and bottle under crown cap. Not disgorged. Superbly drinkable. Ginger, lime, orange blossom, hint of bitter/sour tannins balancing barely detectable R.S. (No SO2) 30 cases.”
So if you thought that wine from San Diego sounds like a bad idea, think again. Mkay?
{ 2 comments }
Monday mornings for me are all about getting my body back on track. Because we all know that on the weekends one can stray from the virtuous path of kale and coconut water. Like get lost somewhere 30 miles off the freeway kind of stray. So, at the beginning of the week I like (and need) to reset, energize and hydrate. LOTS of hydration necessary.
I don’t own a juicer. I also don’t want to buy a gazillion pounds of veggies and fruit every week to make juice. I recently discovered Aloha, which is green juice in powder form. I honestly thought it was gonna be gross, but I find it surprisingly mellow and drinkable. I can pop one in my purse on the go and add it to any beverage I want. I prefer to just use water, but it’s a great addition to a smoothie too. I really like the company, how they operate, and the ingredients used. And I was not paid to say any of those things. I’ve also been drinking a giant glass of room temp lemon water every morning before I do anything else. I think this will remain a permanent fixture in my daily routine. It wakes me up and get things moving.
FYI – I must mention that I am obsessed with Zico chocolate coconut water. It’s the only thing I like to chug when I am super hungover. That and a liter of sparkling water and I’m golden. Wait. That and a liter of sparkling water and a cheeseburger. Thanks.
{ 3 comments }
The garlic knot to end all garlic knots. I found it. I ate it. My fingers were covered in olive oil and my mouth coated in the aroma of what could have easily been a hundred roasted garlic cloves tucked inside the doughy goodness. I was an animal. I did it for the food.
Where did I eat this amazing creation? Milo & Olive. The staff at Domaine LA headed there for one of the handful of dinners we have each year together. It did not disappoint. Neither did the wine. Read the full post here to see what was in our glass.
{ 0 comments }
Welp. I leave for New Orleans in a couple of days and couldn’t be more pleased as punch about it. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Nola once a year for the past 4 years. I feel a special little bond to the city and its denizens, as most people do upon visiting. I mean how could you not? Now that one of my best friends decided to up and move there (so jealous it hurts), I have even more reason to fly my ass out there. And to love it even more. To get myself amped up for the trip, I took a walk down photo memory lane. Here are some photos from visits past that I love, each one revealing a different kind of feeling that The Big Easy gives. And if anyone can tell me what’s going on in that flaming photo down there, I’ll give you a prize mad respect.
See you on the flip side! Until then, you can follow along with my sure to be debaucherous adventures on Insta @ubriaca.
{ 4 comments }
Have you guys heard of Delectable? If the answer is yes, thumbs up to you and you can stop reading right now but you should just keep reading because we’re friends. If the answer is no, you are dead to me. Kidding! I love you. So, Delectable. It’s awesome and the only “wine app” I use. I am slightly obsessed with Instagram and this is basically the wine version of Insta, so it’s a perfect fit for me.
This is how it works – you take a photo of the wine you are drinking, rate it on a scale of deep frown to excited smile (the technical terms), and post it. The magical wine elves of Delectable then identify the wine, and you can even buy it right there through the app. They work with various retail outlets around the country to find the wines, because they do whatever is takes to bring the wine you want into your life! The other thing I love is being able to stalk all my wine peeps and see what’s in their glass. You can follow people, people follow you, you get it.
You can check out my Delectable feed to see what I’ve been drinking lately, including the thirteen wines NINE people consumed at my last Wine Wayfarer gathering.
{ 2 comments }
Honest talk- I love to celebrate me. Because why the hell not? Embrace it. Shine bright. We all get one day a year when we can capitalize on the attention and me magic, so take advantage. Throw yourself a damn birthday party. Make it great, but make it easy. You deserve it.
My next birthday is fast approaching and I’ve been thinking on last year’s celebration. It was awesome and I was surrounded by almost all of my favorite people in a lovely setting with food and booze. Can I outdo myself this year? I can try.
Here are some of my tips for throwing yourself a birthday party…
Home decoration plays a pivotal role in setting the tone and atmosphere of any party, especially during a birthday celebration. It’s not just about creating a visually appealing space; it’s about crafting an environment that resonates with the celebratory spirit and makes guests feel welcomed and comfortable.
What I loved the most was the cute animal decor set, especially the artistic owl feathers that added a whimsical touch to the ambiance. I believe I can certainly outdo myself this year by incorporating more creative elements into the home decor, ensuring my birthday celebration shines even brighter and becomes a memorable experience for everyone involved.
– Resources has revealed that it is always better to throw the party at someone else’s (awesome house that was just well cleaned and painted by the best house painter near me).
With the professional help from Pressure Washing in Pittsburgh PA , you don’t wanna be cleaning up, or worrying about your neighbors, or your new couch. Return the favor when they need you and your house.
– Set up a self serve bar. Have anything anyone would need to quench their thirst (water, ice, wine, beer, cocktail fixings) and then forget about it. And drink it. Let the machine operate without you. PS- I’m particularly fond of a margarita bar with fresh juices.
– ORDER PIZZA. Or Thai takeout or whatever. Don’t cook a thing. Have your foodie friends contribute sides, a salad, and snacks in lieu of any gifts. We’re grown. We don’t need any more stuff, right? I’ll take booze and food. Thanks. Or I’ll take presents too, who am I kidding.
– Buy a plain iced cake (ahem, Baskin Robbins ice cream cake!) and decorate it. Add some fresh flowers, sprinkles, or other decorations and you’re golden. It’ll look supah fancy. Or just buy a couple dozen donuts. Nobody doesn’t like donuts. If you’re looking fro franchise information, you can get more from Dunkin which is a popular brand in that field.
ALSO, employ one of your dearest friends to document the party and take pics of you looking fabulous so you can blast hot pictures of yourself across ALL social media platforms and online dating profiles.
Photos by Joy Wilson
{ 5 comments }
Angelenos! Please join me this Saturday at Platform in Highland Park for Bottle Stock‘s Spring Trunk Show and Róse Tasting. I’ll have the full lineup of B/S goods including our ERMIE collabo of hand-dyed indigo + cochineal wine totes and cocktail napkins, as well as the debut of a few new items!
Oh! There will also be pink wine! How could I forget. I’ll be pouring three of my fav róses of the season (suggested donation).
See you there?
{ 0 comments }
I need ME TIME!! I’m screaming. But seriously, it’s important. I cherish the moments when I find a pocket of time in a day when I don’t have to be anywhere, do anything, or see anyone. Sometimes, I waste it by watching stupid YouTube videos and stalking people on social media. BUT. But. Sometimes, I pick some roses from the bush in front of my bungalow (that I didn’t plant!) and pour myself a glass of wine. When you’re only worrying about yourself, you can be selfish in your wine decisions. What is it I want in this exact moment? Something pink and cold and tart. Done!
I poured myself some 2013 Teutonic Pinot Noir Rosé and dang was it delicious. I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve tasted from this Oregon winery and was so excited to dig in to this new release. It was almost prickly on my tongue, so young and fresh. A perfect way to end a 90 degree day here in LA. As we are only in April, I fear a brutal summer ahead. But, that just gives me an excuse to drink more rosé. So, I guess it won’t be all that bad.
{ 4 comments }
