5 Great Wines Under $20

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Yep, you read that right, five GREAT wines for under $20. It is completely possible to have yummy wine without breaking the bank. These are a few of my favorites for drinking by the glass or mixing into a yummy cocktail; try number four with a little seltzer water and a splash of wine! Most of these wines can be purchased at your local grocer and some for less that ten dollars.

Like my pallet, there is a mix of red and white wine on this list, but mostly, it is white. I am also a super big fan of new world wines, sorry all those fantastic Italian oldies, but you did not make it to my list. If, however, you are into yummy things that taste like fun, you are in luck! I recommend getting all of these and trying a few with this book. Now, that is a fun night with a bit of education on the top!

Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon

The Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon is one of my favorite reds for under $20. Ravenswood is a winery in Sonoma County that makes lots of wines that taste great young, or aged. This one is filled with cherry and black currant flavors with vanilla and oak undertones. It is round, smooth, and full bodied. A bottle will set you back about $18 at Total Wine.

Dr Heidemanns Riesling

As far as Reislings go, this is one of my favorites. Dr. Heidmanns comes in a dry and off-dry option, but my favorite is the dry. It is light, crisp, and fruity without being too easily confused for apple juice. This bottle will set you back about $14 but you could totally pass it off for way more at a party. This is also one of the few not-so New World wines since it is from Germany.

Oak Ridge Zinfandel

At under $15, you cannot get much better for a nice, medium bodied Zinfandel. This one is smooth, smokey, and fruity. Really though, there is a bit more "smokey" in it than fruit. It is a good middle of the road red with plenty of flavor and a bit of acidity. If you are looking for a good outdoor barbecue wine, you have found it. The Oak Ridge Winery is based out of Lodi, CA and makes some great, non-intimidating wines for those just wanting a fun taste or an into to reds.

New Age Torrontes

Hand down, one of my favorite wines, ever. This Torrontes has plenty of flavor and a bit of a spicy kick at the end. It is so good, I do not even know how to describe it and will, instead, sound like the little card that describes it to you in the store... It is medium-bodied with fruity notes, a floral aroma, and an intensity at the end that I describe as "spicy". This wine will also only set you back about $10 and is fantastic on it's own or in a cocktail. New Age is an Argentinean Winery that also makes a few reds, but this Torrontes is my personal favorite. 

King Estate Pinot Gris 2012

And we finish off this wine list with my aunt's (and one of my) personal favorites. This Pinot Gris is a bit of a conundrum in it's name since it it a New World wine in an Old World name. Name issue aside though, it is a full-bodied white with pear and apple notes that are not too sweet. As itt's namesake states, this wine is modled after an Old World taste but with New World parts. maybe, that is why it is so well flavored, or maybe, the folks at King Estate just really know their wine. The 2012 option is a value under $15, but I would recommend spending a few bucks more and getting the year or two older option.

Motivation for Your Mondays

Audrey Hepburn is a role model for almost every girl out there. She has poise, grace, kindness, love, and a great sense of humor. She was also one of those Hollywood golden girls who did not have a terribly sad story but was able to do some amazing things. Taking out the whole acting thing, she was one of the first UN Peace Ambassadors and did a great deal for children's and human rights.

With everything that Audrey Hepburn dd in her life, it is no wonder that this is something she sincerely believed. And, on this Monday, I think all of us should believe it as well! Life gets rough sometimes, but we can each get through our not-so-great bits. We are possible and all the dreams, goals, and desires we have for ourselves are too!

Happy Monday :)

October Book Club and September Reads

Well hello there October! I am not quite use to see you around here. It amazes me that September has come and gone and we are into October already. I know, broken record. This seems to be my exclamation at the 1/3 mark of every month: "whoa! how did we get here? I am pretty sure it is supposed to be January still." You have already heard it about nine times now, and I am sure you will hear twice more before we welcome in another year.

But, we have more important things to talk about today than those long days and short years. Today is about books and books we have read or are reading, to be more specific! For those who have been following since August, you know that I have started up a book club with some friends and invited the internet to come along. Last month was book number one. My selection. We Were Liars. I had heard next to nothing about it other than it was a must read and to look at no reviews until I was finished. For this reason, I will have my review in a well marked "spoiler" area at the bottom of this article. You have been warned.

For those who are considering reading it though, I will say that it is good for those who like a mystery. If you like romance or rom coms or anything happy and Sophie Kinsella-esque, prob not for you. Otherwise, read it for sure you Withering Heights lovers!

Now, for October. Since it's October, spooky month of the year, and since Gone Girl has been released, the girls decided together that we should read it. Yes, Gone Girl is October's book of choice! I have been wanting to read this one for a while and have picked up and put down a few other books of her's in the past... "Her's" being author, Gillian Flynn.

After reading the book we will all go to dinner and the movie together. Oooo, I cannot wait!!!! What makes this even better is that the new [massive] mall is opening super close to us and there are so many new and yummy places to go to eat. And, since I have learned that food drives me more than most things, a new place to eat with friends sounds like the. best. thing. ever.

We will be seeing the movie in early November and I am thinking the review will be up after watching the movie and so we can have a movie + book review of awesomness shortly after. That means you have plenty of time to read-up before we talk about things next month and the article will be a 3 for 1! So far I am about 25% through and thinking, "hm, pretty good." But, my friend just finished it and her text said, " omg omg omg omg omg omg omg ." So I'm thinking it gets way better. Interest piqued? Go read it!

And for some We Were Liars spoilers.... Ready?

Spoilers! We will talk the ending of We Were Liars here.

Ok, this book was a quick read. There are still some things that I am confused about but my main response is WHHHAAAATTTTT?!?!?! Seriously. Ok. How? What?

Yes, I think that sums it up quite well. Oh, and also THE DOGS?!!!??! Ok, that sums it up.

First off, anyone who saw that twist coming without knowing anything about the book is a modern day Sherlock Holmes. Congratulations, now don't do heroin. For the rest of us, I think a re-read may be in order. I mean really, was everyone just playing along with her or were they completely unaware of the crazy going on? I don't know. I do know, however, that looking back, it is soooo obvious. That's why they were so freaked about her jumping off the cliff and why they never got her gifts and why they never went to dinner with the fam! It is also the reason no one called her- something that seriously angered me when I was reading it.

Oh, I just feel so bad for Cady. How awful knowing that everyone you truly love is gone and it was your idea that got them there.

Really, why could they not just get out, then light the fire? whhyyyyy? Also, check the rooms for dogs. Also, not be drinking before doing something so dangerous. What makes it even worse though is that the act produced the desired outcome. The sisters no longer argue, Grampa still plays sides but is nicer about it at least, and material things do not seem to matter quite as much. 

E. Lockhart did a great job with this one. I loved the writing style, loved the story, and loved the message behind it. Family. Mistakes. Childhood. Growth. Love. Forgiveness. I also liked that the protagonist was not really a protagonist at all. She is not someone who you would want the life of or someone who anyone would like to embody. She made some serious mistakes and was a bit self centered. Sometimes, we need a few examples of how to be by seeing how we should not.

Also the love that Johnny, Mirren, and Gat showed for Cady is incredible. Seriously. Feeling the transition of how I thought of them when they seemed to be leaving Cady out to how I feel about them now is incredible. E. Lockhart definitely took us through the ringer on that one.

The only downside is not seeing the aftermath. I would have loved to see Cadence come to terms with the loss, visit Raquel and Gat's Mom in New York, and read bedtime stories to the little's. I would also like to see her go back to being a blonde and forgive her Dad. So really, I loved it, but I would have loved it even more with an epilogue.

Oh, and if you want some more reading/entertainment, read the Good Reads reviews. They are epic.

So, how did you like it? When do you think the movie will come out and who are your dream stars for it?

Kickstarter Review Thrive Study

I am so happy for my hubby and his family for this Kickstarter! Of course, Kickstarter is great, but this one is near and dear to my heart. Although this one does not have much to do with fitness,it does have a lot to do with being successful in all areas of life.

The Thrive Study is a work kit that can be used both personally and in group discussion for leadership and attitude development. As you may know, each year we help run a summer camp where kids come from around the world (literally) to learn about something the hub's Dad has tagged Dynamic Living which is based on a book he wrote oh-so-many years ago. Since writing the book, he has traveled around the world on speaking gigs and opened the camp where over 10,000 kids have passed through and been helped.

Now, we are wanting to expand that even further and make Dynamic Living something accessible to everyone. The study series will be a great way for homeschoolers and teachers to teach this information, church study groups to learn together, athletic teams to be inspired to higher performance, and anyone just sitting at home to learn a bit more :)

What is really exciting though, are the stretch goals! The first one, and the one that we are closest to will be an Android and iOS app that will be constantly updated and send out push notifications about your goals. I am super excited about this since keeping your goals in front of you as a constant reminder has been scientifically proven to increase the goals accomplished and decrease the time it took to get there. The app will do what I constantly forget and pop them up in front of me twice a day. Of course, there will be other goodies, but that is the part I am most excited about!

Other stretch goals (which would be so great to get to) are for an online study series and a special seminar about love and relationships- something we can all use a bit extra help with!

If you are interested in the study kit, the hard copy version is $150 on the Kickstarter and the downloadable option is $50. If you want to send your kiddo to camp, then the $1000 option is where its at. That one includes everything + a camp scholarship worth about $700! But, even doing something like the $20 option would get you a lot and mean a whole bunch to me- plus the content will be pretty darn good as well :)