Wine Flights 

Happy Thirsty Thursday! Throwback Style.

The best way to taste a bunch of different wines at a time without going to a winery -wine flights. My first experience having a wine flight was in Amsterdam on a work trip. I decided to treat myself to a drink at the bar while waiting for my next flight. What else is there to do on a layover besides drink?! I don’t even remember what I ordered the first time. I thought it was kinda cool to try a couple of wines for the price of one full glass. I was so happy about the price that I just chose randomly from the menu and drank whatever the waiter placed in front of me. I got drunk and it tasted like expensive wine so I say that was a good time. But I have to admit this first experience wasn’t fabulous and I probably had some amazing wines in front of me that I don’t even remember.

Fast forward to about 2 years ago. Jasmine and I made plans for happy hour after work. Instead of the typical happy hour places we would normally go to, we decided to try something different. I found a cute little spot near my job that had a good ratings on Yelp. This particular restaurant was well known for their wine because they had a small winery attached to the back which made the convenience of over a hundred different wine selections available. The food was great but what I remember most was the wine flights. Because it was happy hour and drinks were half priced, we each got two different types of flights. Each had three glasses. Over dinner, we shared them and felt pretty buzzed. The portions, if I would have to guess were about two to three ounces.  As shown below, beneath each of the glasses was a description of the flavors, aromas, potency, and origins of each wine.

I have been to about a dozen wineries and wine festivals up and down the East Coast with my husband and with friends over the years. However, this dinner was one of my most favorite times drinking wine because it really helped me understand red wines a little more and it was informative. Normally, at home, I prefer white wine because of the sweetness. But at a restaurant, I might have an occasional red so I need to know what is the best quality. Northern California’s wine country is a few hours away from me. Im itching for a mini vacay so I should make a list of places to review. No time like the present! 🙂

Find Your Light and Stand In It

Inner strength comes from self-love, wisdom & purpose. If you don’t believe you can do it, then no one else will. In my life, I’ve had to fight through some of the roughest times mostly by myself; it’s in those times that I’ve felt most powerful. Something dynamic happens when I’m faced with adversity- I like to think I work well under the pressure. My best decisions are made with my gut and intuition. Even though there are times where I feel like I’m weak or helpless, deep down I know that I have the power within me to get through any situation. In most cases, I research the hell out of something until I find a solution -like a true Virgo.

Having faith is also so important to me for my inner strength because it’s my direct connection to God. Too many times, I’ve been faced with circumstances that made me feel like I should give up. Each and every one of those times, I’ve had faith to remind me who I am. God gave us the gift of free will. We may not always have the power in certain situations, but we do have the power in terms of how we respond to them. We all tend to have more control than we give ourselves credit for.

Fear of being unsuccessful, alone, or unhappy can stunt our growth- but it’s all within our power to change. Only in our inner strength can we develop our God-given gifts and create a satisfying and happy life. I encourage anyone who has ever felt this fear to push through and don’t be afraid to find your light. Use your voice. Don’t shy away from being in the light because of fear of the unknown. You have to live your life like there is no tomorrow.

Do what makes you happy. Whatever that may be, make sure it’s in your life daily or as much as possible to fuel you. For me, it’s my family. My husband and son are so important to me that I decided to be a stay-at-home mom. I have other passions and interests, but nothing comes before those two. Everyone is different. It is important to remember that no path is the same. Everyone should live life to the best way they know how.

Mommy Guilt – Migraines Suck