Randomness: Pics of must try wines, invitations, organics, wheat free, and other stuff from the Minty house

For those of you who actually read this blog (all 3 of you including my Mom lol): LISTEN to me now, BELIEVE me later! You must must must get your hands on a bottle of the 07' Epiphany Revelation. It is A-MAY-ZIIIING! I bought it as a thank you gift for my Mama last month and we decided to open it last night with a few (incredible) free range steaks from El Rancho market and salad greens from my Mom's friend's garden. We were in looooove with it! With 59% Syrah, 35% Grenache, and 6% Petite Sirah it is a blend that fits perfectly together! At risk of sounding like a wine snob, it was sooo smooth but was very well structured and had such a great finish with that inky color from the Petite Sirah. Wine is nothing if not subjective, but for this Minty house, I tell you the Revelation was in fact a revelation in tastiness!

http://www.epiphanycellars.com/

Onto the next bit....

I got married years ago (8 coming up in the middle of July) and haven't been in touch with the wedding scene in quite sometime other than going to a friend's wedding here and there. SO recently my Mom and began to plan for my Pop's 80th b-day and were in need of some classy yet *cheap* invitations. I went into Michael's yesterday, 40% off coupon in hand, and was amazed when I stumbled upon the BRIDES collection of DIY invitations lining the shelves. Have you seen these things?? They come with everything included like thank you notes and matching programs. I remember paying an ungodly amount to have my wedding invites professionally done (because the DIY ones then were not "all that and a bag of potato chips" -Dr. Evil), and they looked HALF as nice as the ones on sale now 40 for $25!! I mean, who DOESN'T own a printer now to whip out their own at a fraaaaction of the cost!
They:
a) killed me in remembering how much I paid for mine
b) gave me the idea to use the more masculine looking ones as invites for my Pop's b-day
c) saved me a ton of money!

You don't believe me? Check 'em out if you haven't already: (Tino and Alissa I'm talking to you here!)

http://www.gartnerstudios.com/wedding/BRIDES%21%20Collection

Annnnddd moving along.....


 Today my Mom, Milana, and I took a trip to the New Frontiers Natural Market and gathered a cart-full of organic and good for you 'stuff' with the intent of whipping up some 2nd foods purees for the mini muffin. 3 bags of stuff and $85 bucks later we emerged triumphant in our quest. Organic is not cheap(!) but considering the fact that I would like to keep my baby pesticide free (she doesn't have bugs or plant diseases so why fill her up with chemicals?) I'm taking the plunge and attempting to buy everything as organic and hormone free as possible.

 OH and did I mention I now am supposed to cut WHEAT from my diet!?! After realizing that 'wheat free' basically means 'gluten free' (along with some other rarely eaten grains), I perused the store in hopes of finding SOMETHING edible.... well, I found like 5 things that looked appetizing.... quinoa pasta, sprouted bread (apparently that's ok because it's sprouted? whatever I'm just following the rules), wheatless flour for baking and cooking, and some other randomness. This is not going to be easy, and I will most likely fail miserably at it, but dammit if I'm not going to give it a shot!

 If you are wondering why I take on this masochistic venture, ask my Mother. According to her and her hippy friend's books/doctor, wheat is an enemy to my digestive system and blood type (type 0). This sounds insane, but after reading a bit of it I can see what it's saying. My digestive system hasn't evolved to handle wheat very well (along with a laundry list of other scrumptious favorites frequented in the American diet) and it causes problems when my body tries to break these things down. Thus it turns to a spare tire fitted lovingly around my middle and hangs there only to increase in size as I get older. Yay for me, such luck!

 I am not stupid, so do not think that I cannot clearly see that I also need to exercise more (working on that now), but supposedly this is something that will help tremendously in my getting healthy quest. Anyone ever heard of the blood type diet or followed it?? If so, please let me know your thoughts....unless your thoughts are that I am nuts, keep that to yourself haha. I would love to hear what you have to say about it though, so post post post!

And finally....

they should call blogs "rambles" instead because that is exactly what people do in them. You're welcome!

I will leave you with one last thing, a pic of my love noodle who is taking her barley 20 minute nap so I can throw this blog together. Thanks baby cakes mommy loves you!! ;)

OAKtoberfest at Avila Beach Golf Resort... Get your tickets!!

 So here it is not even July yet and I'm itching for October to get here already... WHY you ask? Firestone Walker's OAKtoberfest of course! A day filled with celebrating all things beer? OK! Normally I am Mrs. Wine, but I love a *good* beer (sorry Mr. Coors and Mrs. Michelob, not talking about you!). Firestone Walker happens to make some really great brews, and Rob and I have been known to frequent the brewery and restaurant in Buellton. Their Special Reserve (porter) is by far my favorite, but they have well rounded list of others that I will say I am a fan of. They once did have a hef that tasted like banana though.. not a fan.

aw, look who...

OK ok ok, SO, about the event. I have posted a link to it on fb before, but now it's time to get a move on and buy those tix before they sell out and since this year the event will be at the Avila Golf Resort, I'm thinking they will most likely be gone by the time October rolls around. The best part... it's only $15!! (in advance of course). When we have wine festivals in the county they are known to start at $75 and move on up to $200 (easily) for a ticket, so $15 might as well be free. This is a day where you get a ridiculously large mug to take home and a frothy beer to go in it as well as German inspired fare and a great time with friends oh.. and more BEER!! (unfortunately you have to pay for the rest after the first, they aren't going to let people get drunk for $15 know what I mean).

It should be a hoot of a time in a gorgeous setting. How bad can that be? And to top it all off, you get to spend some quality time with.. ME! Yay for you! Reserve your tickets now.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/103966

oh.. and it benefits the Hospice of SLO County

Pictures courtesy of http://www.oaktoberfest.com/ and they are from previous years not held at the Avila Golf resort

Wine Industry? Take advantage of a free nights stay at the beautiful Santa Ynez Inn

 Hello! I know I promised a blog full of fun composting facts which everyone is so excited for I am sure (lol), but that will be put on hold in lieu of letting you in on a wonderful place to plan some r&r or some honey time at (But don't think you are all off the hook for composting! I'll get to it later!).

 The place that I want to share with you is the Santa Ynez Inn in Santa Ynez, CA. It is known as a luxury boutique hotel, and this is so true, it has a wonderful upscale b&b feel with such great personal service and attention. I just booked a one night stay as a wedding present for our friends for the night after their wedding as a gift. I read up on it and I am really impressed.

This place is so so so classy I know they will love it. Of course it has a day spa and whirlpoool and all that comes with a luxury hotel, but what I really like is that at 3 pm there is a reception with wine, cheese, drinks, and gourmet goodies, then later in the evening they serve an incredible desert for the guests. In the morning the guests are treated to a gourmet breakfast like none other that I have heard of on the Central Coast including Italian Eggs Benedict and Black Forest Ham and Gruyere Crepes with Eggs and Grilled Heirloom Tomatoes, complemented by hand-baked scones and muffins. I've been to the Alisal's $120 breakfast and it doesn't compare!

 

So why tease you with this when the price per night starts at about $400? Because, a little known fact is that the Santa Ynez Inn allows each person in the local wine industry one free nights stay with all the amenities included. They are so very generous over there and have kept their small town charm alive. If you happen to be part of the industry here, give the manager a call and reserve a special night for you and someone you love. The only thing they ask is that you bring both a red and a white for the wine reception.

Enjoy!

Tell me you don't want to dive head first into that bowl of goodness!!

http://www.santaynezinn.com/

Welcome to my blog!

 Welcome! Today is the day I give blogging a whirl. I'm so glad you are joining me. I'd like to start by introducing you to my new obsession: my garden. I am, for all purposes, attempting to "greenize" my life in as many ways possible. Logically, a garden with organic soils and growing methods is a good start. I have had gardens in the past (including another one for herbs located in the front of the house in terraces), but none to rival the size of this baby I have going on now in the backyard. Complete with a "pest" fence (a dog keeper-outer) and sprinklers! Whoo hoo, I am on my way to fresh organic veggies!

Since planting in April I have managed to kill a cucumber plant, a bell pepper or two, and there is a good possibility one of the other pepper plants may not make it either. Tragedy, but alas, my swiss chard and fennel rows, japanese eggplant, blueberry bushes, jalapenos, parsnip and broccoli rows, and ohhhh the 3 kinds of squash, are outpacing my daughter in growth which is a hard thing to do since she is herself, a weed. I planted everything according to the seed packet instructions and I now have 9 large mounds with as many as 6 squash plants growing out of each. Anyone for free organic squash this summer?? I'll have it coming out of my nose and ears by then. So speak up now for some free goodies! (Zucchini, cocozelle, and yellow crookneck).

 This is also the case for the tomatoes who need a paragraph dedicated to themselves. They are fantastic! I better learn how to can tomato sauce since I have 6 fast growing bushes already with lovely little yellow flowers all over them. I'm most excited about the crazy looking (and sweet tasting) heirlooms, but the plums, cherries, and others are looking really great too. I read in Jamie Oliver's book that you should grow things like chives, basil, marigolds, and other "smelly" plants around the tomatoes to keep away pests. So far the only pests I have had to deal with are the typical ones... my nemesis, the evil and voraciously hungry garden snail. I have tried everything in the past from tuna cans filled with beer, to copper tape, to an outright cayenne pepper wall. They laughed at me while getting a good buzz off the beer, having a snail orgy on the copper tape, and watching the rain wash the pepper away. I have now resorted to the un-godly expensive eco-kill-all from Ortho called Eco Sense Slug and Snail Killer. So far it has been successful, and I can't complain too much about the price since it is in fact the only thing I have used that really works.

http://www.amazon.com/Scotts-0243110-Ortho-EcoSense-Killer/dp/B001H1GPXM

A few pics of my herbs this spring which grew a tremendous amount since last year! (Sage and thyme shown)

Best cooking and gardening combo book ever: Jamie Oliver's Jamie at Home:

http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Home-Cook-Your-Good/dp/1401322425/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277768439&sr=8-1

p.s. I loooove Amazon so you'll see that a lot of my links are from there.

Next time: Composting... ohhh you THOUGHT it was lame, or hard, or both, but just WAIT 'til I show you how unbelievably cool it is! Not to mention the organic soil that I make from my scraps goes into the garden and makes everything Awwwwesome! You will be amazed. I was.

Ciao Chau!