Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Loving Wine...in English...



So it seems the Fabulous Natalie McLean has listened to us...the people...and is now talking my kind of wine language...


I recently got a sneak peak of her ...
Wines for the Top 10 Tough-To-Buy-For People on Your Holiday List ...and I have to say...LOVE IT...
Well done Natalie...SO FUN and FABULOUS!

Cheers

Natalie’s Top Ten Gift Wines for Your ...

1. Hairdresser: For the person who combines humour and optimism every time she styles your mop. Go for a light, gulpable wine like a dry rosé. It’s versatile and fuss-free—a great quaff for your coif.


2. Psychiatrist: Of course, he’ll analyze whatever you give him so choose a wine that’s all about balance. Easy-drinking pinot noir is medium-bodied yet packed with flav
our. Surprise him with a large-format bottle, like a magnum. Big thinking means big progress for you. This wine also works for psychologists, marriage counsellors and bartenders.


3. The Boss: Pick too pricey a wine and your boss will think your last raise was too much; go cheap, and she’ll think you lack judgement. Focus on a label with a lot of white space since that makes the bottle look more expensive. A castle in the distance also works, but avoid fluffy animals.


4. Personal Trainer: Think a muscular, robust red would work? Hold that position. Instead, try riesling: this light white wine pairs well with a health-nut diet of salad and seafood, plus it’s low in alcohol. You can also give it to Pilates instructors, yoga masters and Tai Chi coaches.


5. Financial Planner: You and he both know it’s going to take decades before your portfolio recovers after the crash of 2008. With that long-term view, vintage port makes the perfect gift. This fortified wine from northern Portugal, with its long aging potent
ial, will be around for both of you into your retirements.


6. Travel Agent: She’s been everywhere and seen everything, so go local with your choice of wine. Even better, if you live close to the winery, get the bottle signed by the winemaker.


7. Teacher: If you can’t find a suitably obscure wine with a Latin name, there’s always cream sherry. It’s the tipple of Oxford dons, not to mention the centerpiece of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story The Case of the Amontillado.


8. Mail Deliverer: Go for a winery that’s consistent year after year in producing a wine that can be enjoyed in snow, rain, sleet or hail. Try an Australian shiraz or Argentine malbec.

9. Mechanic: Yes, there’s a wine called Red Truck, but try to be more imaginative. Why not give a wine made by Mario Andretti in California or Ferrari in Italy?


10. Online Date: So you’re on your second or third rendezvous with the person you met on eHarmony or
Dating.com. If you’re not sure yet whether marriage is a possibility, try something middle-of-the-road, like merlot. Yes, it’s the soft jazz of wine, but until you know, play it safe.


And after all that shopping, don’t forget yourself: even Santa’s little helpers need more than milk and cookies. Try something with high-alcohol like Italian Amarone or Rhone syrah: these big reds easily drown out tone-deaf c
arolling and pair beautifully with tired feet.


For Natalie’s favourite wineries, tasting notes and recipe matches for all the wine types mentioned above, please visit:

http://bit.ly/GiftWines

For iPod Touch or iPhone, visit iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/nat-decants/id353052386?mt=8


For BlackBerry, visit App World:

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/10584

For Droid, Nexus One, Nokia, Palm Pre and other smartphones:

www.nataliemaclean.com/mobile

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

My Fave'Orite Things...

Oh there are too many to name...here are a few FAB ideas for Hostess gifts when you attend all those Deevine Holiday Parties...or some fun little things you wanted Santa to give...YOU!


So Transparency is the new "It" word for Blogging...I can't be too transparent...far too many skeletons in my closet...but I will give it a whirl...

I wasn't paid shit to say any of this..How's that???

I would love to hear about your favourite things..leave me a comment and let me know what you love...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS...Cheers...

Where to find....










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Monday, November 15, 2010

The Gift of Coffee...


So I got a Ding Dong at my door today...and it was all because of the Fabulous Maureen Turner (@moeturner) ... She had 3 New Tassimo's
( @TASSIMOCanada) to give away and she picked me... Now I had received one before but my lovely husbands fat fingers broke it... But we loved it and enjoyed it every morning...

So I was thrilled to receive a new one today...

However I know someone who REALLY REALLY REALLY wants a Tassimo and has not had the opportunity to try one...




So to the Fabulous Jenn Wallage... ( @mrswookiee) THIS IS FOR YOU !!!!




You know where I live...All I ask in return is 1 box of those FAB mint Girl Guide Cookies and that you hurry the hell up and come get it before I change my mind...please ;)

Thank you Maureen and Tassimo.... #bekind

Cheers


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Saturday, November 13, 2010

Wine Weeview...numerous 2...



This weeks Wine Weeview is Red again...

I promise I will have a Chardonnay coming for the next one as per Sharon's request...

This week I have learned a few new "Wine Words" ... I was asked about the "LENGTH" of the wine I was Weeviewing... huh? So I looked it up...

Length - The persistence of flavour on the palate. The longer it remains with you the finer the wine.

Hmmm...Length to me is more about how long the bottle lasts... So quite frankly...It's NEVER LONG ENOUGH...


MCGUIGAN BLACK LABEL SHIRAZ
750 mL bottle

Price: $ 9.95
Wine, Red Wine
12.0% Alcohol/Vol.


Sugar Content : 1

Made in: South Australia
By: Australian Vintage Ltd.



MY WEEVIEW....

This wine is....EMPTY!!!
....2 Well Manicured Thumbs Up!
It has mild side affects that included- slightly foggied vision the following morning and mild head trauma...that I will blame more on a lack of sleep, rather than too much vino...

Thank to the Fab Cherie-Lynn ( @CLBuchananPhoto) for introducing me to said Vino in question...

Cheers



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Monday, November 8, 2010

HEELing Hunger

So as many of you know...I love Shoes...So I have joined forces with SuzieSwapper and together ...we are HEELing Hunger...

Cheers


To participate, we are asking that you upload a photo of your gently worn shoes and contribute a min of $9 per pair to our shoe swapFUNDRAISER. In return you get to help feed local food banks, feel good & get a Fabulous pair of shoes in return!!! How To do this:

1.Join our HEELING hunger Facebook page & website to get the latest info and view all the available shoes.
2. Upload photos of your preloved shoes onto our page. We accept Men's/Womens shoes/boots... No children's shoes please.
3. Go to the heeling hunger website & click on the paypal link to donate. Please note: You can upload/donate as many pairs as you like but for each pair we ask for a $9min donation and in return, you get to pick a Fabulous pair off our FB page. There's THE SWAP!
4. Check back daily on our FB page(and invite your pals to join too) as we hope to add more shoes regularly.
5. Once we receive confirmation of your donation (and thanks btw!) we will notify you. Now the fun begins:
6. Start swapping! Browse the site often - BUT - once you find a pair you like call Stampys, No erasy as soon as possible!! Or simply write a request in the comment box below the shoes asking for them. This is a first come first served swap!!
7. At that point, we will help you coordinate shipping arrangements, if necessary. (please note that if shipping is necessary, the avg. cost to ship domestically is approx. $9/box)
8. Once we hit our first round goal ($250) we will start all over again !!

Nitty Gritty or FAQ

Ew, gross.. you can have my shoes but I don't want yours - Can I donate shoes just because I want to, without reciving a pair in return?
Yes, absolutely. But keep in mind, the rule of thumb is that if you wouldn't give them to your boss, this may not be the best place for them either. We don't want anything to tired, worn or aged please.

What information about the shoes do you need?
We need to know the size, if they are men's/womens (not as obvious as you may think) and we need to know if these shoes have ever participated in illegal operations. That's it.

I have the coolest pair of crocs & Birks what do I do with them?
Throw them away. Immediately. No offense, but unless they are new with tags, sandals, flipflops, birkenstocks & crocs are not appropriate. Thanks anyway!

Why $9?
Because seriously, where on earth can you get a pair of shoes for $9. Oh, and both Cocktail Deeva & Suzieswapper wear a size 9. We are subliminally encouraging you to post ALL of your size 9 shoes.

Why don't you accept children's shoes?
Because it turns out, Cocktail Deeva likes to frame her kids shoes and Suzieswappers likes to incinerate her kids shoes. However, there are tons of amazing charities, more than happy to take them. Let me know if you need a hand finding one in your area, it would be my pleasure.



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Saturday, November 6, 2010

#BeKind...

So this week has been a flood of inspiration...with things like "Suck Less" and " #BeKind" whirling around my social media circle, it's hard not to feel like you can change the world...

Here is my #BeKind...



Mad Love to Sharon Devills (@sharonDV) , be sure to check out her Fabulous Kindness Revolution post... Candice ( @seemummyjuggle) and Maureen Turner (@moeturner) .... For inspiring me...and I'm not shittin about the shoe thing...

Go forth, be FABULOUS, #BeKind and Suck Less...

And as my Fabulous friend Tricia (@mumby) always says.... Tell Your Friends...

Cheers

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Talkies & Drinkies....

So last week, just like so many I headed out to Blissdom Canada for their first Talkie North of the boarder. It was also my first Social Media Talkie...
( Talkie = Conference)...

As s former member of the sales & marketing world, I have attended enough Talkies to choke a horse...My former employers Coke & Mars loved to hoard all their employees into a dull, badly decorated hotel ball room and melt our minds with powerpoint after powerpoint. Feed us stale sandwiches and force us to be inspired. The when we were good and numb we'd roll into a local pub for the Drinkies, and that's when the real work would begin.

So these events for me are broken down into two sections...Talkies & Drinkies... I know, I know...I am linguistically gifted...

So on my way down to Blissdom my fabulous travel mate Tricia ( @mumby) kept correcting me on the Talkies and informing me they are called Sessions... By Friday night she was throwing the word Talkies around like her wig...1 Convert...now to take over the world...

As this was my first Social Media Talkie experience I was not quite sure what to expect, there was an "Agenda" afterall...I had been to a day Talkie the week before and was
seriously disappointed, UN-inspired and frankly...pissed off when I left...Was this going to be the same thing for a WHOLE 3 days ??? Oh pass the Drinkies...

I missed the talkies on the Thursday as I was getting ready to rock it old school style at MabelBliss with the fab gang from Mabels Labels (@mabelhood) ...I heard the Talkies were great...but I KNOW the Drinkies were Deevine...

So on Friday morning I stumbled into a Talkie, no clue what is what about...But this Eric Alper guy
( @ThatEricAlper) was a presenter and I had seen him on Twitter and heard he was a dude and worth a listen...So I did...I mean I DID..I actually listened...and paid attention, and understood stuff. All of a sudden there was a tingly feeling in my special place...Was this the feeling of INSPIRATION ?? YES...I was enjoying a Talkie...The other Talkers ( or as Mumby calls them, Panelists)
were also Fabulous.. Catherine Connors
( @herbadmother), Janice Croze
( @5minutesformom)..she talks REALLY fast so stay alert! Barbara Jones ( @barbarajones) a.k.a. Grand Master Flash a'la Swiss Miss ... and Duri Alajrami ( @duriajrami)...not sure what he was really saying...I was mesmerized by the sultry sounds of is voice...

Now the only negative about these Talkies ...Are the CLICKERS ... I had never really seen anything like it. People were face deep into their laptops typing every
last word the Talkers were saying. It was like their fingers were dipped magic typing dust and they couldn't stop...Every last word had to be transcribed to Twitter or posted to a blog IMMEDIATELY! ...I HAVE TO BE THE FIRST TO TELL THE WORLD!!!...Yes...this was annoying as shit...It wasn't just the clicking and clacking that annoyed me. I felt a li
ttle sad that even tho they were catching every word in print, there faces were glued to their monitors and they were actually missing "It"...The "It" being the real connection to the Talker, their fabulous energy coming through in those words...That is where the real Inspiration lies...

So go ahead Clickers leave your comments...It's all about "Transparency"... (see ...I was paying attention..)

As the day was wrapping up the conversation turned to the Drinkies...There was a party that night, a costume and Karaoke party in the poorly decorated hotel ball room...And the Fabulous ladies of Blissdom Canada rock'ed it out OLD SCHOOL STYLE...It was such a fun and fierce night. Everyone dressed in their Halloween best and was there to enjoy the moment. It was a Deevine Drinkie!





HUGE Cheers to all the Fabulous women I had the pleasure of chatting, drinking and Rockin with...you were all the best Inspiration...










I have a theory when it comes to Talkies and Events in Social Media... Especially those chatted about on twitter...

They are like SEX...

Some are BAD sex, there is lot's of hype and hashtags leading up to them (foreplay) , A decent but not record breaking amount during ( bad sex part) and as soon as the event is over...there is none. Not a hash tag to be found... ( no cuddling). Immediately the attention is turned onto the next upcoming event.

Some are GOOD sex, lot's of hashtag hype before hand, streams and streams of hashtags during, possibly even trending!! ( blow your mind, toe curling sex) ... The tons of hashtag love after...( cuddling, cooing and spooning)

Dear Blissdom Canada...you are getting cuddle to death...You were a FABULOUS lay...Well Done!

Cheers





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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Take Your Kids to Work Day...I heart my kid...

I asked my daughter who is soon going to be 14 to write a blog post for her "work" today...since she was spending the day with me...I gave her no guide lines and discussed nothing with her...When I made it to the bottom of the post I nearly fell off my chair...Anyone who was at Blissdom Canada this week may just do the same. I have no clue how my Fabulous daughter knows so much about what I am attempting to do. We really don't chat about it..I grilled her after reading this, asking her if she googled me or copied some key words from another post..."Nope" she said..."It's just what your doing..."

Dear Blissdom Canada..I think I may have found you a new speaker for next year...Like me she works for shoes...

I love my Daughter..xx/oo


November 3, 2010 - Take Our Kids to Work Day


Today NINERS all across the province will get the opportunity to go to work with their parents. To some this may be fun and inspiring if your dad is a video game designer, to others this may be MAD boring if your mom is a lawyer. Whether you want to be a doctor or a ho-bo like me, this day will let you experience the workplace in one way or another. I am a niner and today I am writing a post for my mom’s blog. Many of my friends would rather stick a fork in their eye than write a 500 word post, but

I enjoy writing….sometimes. Writing something like this is way funner than school because it’s not getting marked or added to mid-terms. For example if I used t

he word FUNNER in an essay, 5% would probably be knocked off my mark, just like that. But hey, there’s high school for you. (OMG I started a sentence with the word BUT!!!!) Speaking of high school, I live about 9 km from my high school, and I can HEAR the sighs of relief from the grade 10’s. 11’s and 12’s. A WHOLE DAY OF SCHOOL WITHOUT NINERS! No klutzy little 13 year olds walking on the WRONG side of the hall, or blocking the staircase. No annoying little brats, taking up seats on the city bus, talking about how much they ADORE high school and uniforms. But I gotta stick with my fellow niners and say that I would rather spend the day at work with the Cocktail Deeva then go to school for an extra 6 hours. Plus writing a 500 word blog is a lot more fun than what other kids are doing right now. Filing paperwork or talking to people on the phone all day does not sound like a lot of fun. My mom a.k.a Author Dee Brun a.k.a The Cocktail Deeva has the most interesting job I know. Most authors work on page after page on

their next book; after a while I would get sick of looking at a million words being typed across a screen. The Cocktail Deeva is no ordinary author; while still riding the wave of her first book, she has created a brand and used it to create a whole world all behind one book. She has made a statement on the world of social networking and writing numerous blogs about her, her beliefs, her book and her love for shoes. Her book was her way of introducing what she’s all about, now she’s built on the idea creating the fun filled “Cocktail Deeva”. So when people say “Hey isn’t your mom an author?” My response is “Yes. You could say that…” This is why on the only “TAKE OUR KIDS TO WORK DAY” I will ever experience, I chose to stay home with my mom and write a post for one of her blogs. Now my work is done for the day…


T.B





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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Wine Weeview...


This is ..MY 1st WINE WEEVIEW......

So excited to now be doing some fun Wine Weeviews...

But before we go any further I need to have a disclaimer... I Know nothing about Wine...Use my opinion at own risk...please read and drink responsibly....

Ok..so here is the Lucky First Wine...


NAVIP CABERNET SAUVIGNON
750 mL bottle Price: $ 8.40
Made in: Serbia
My Weeview -

This wine tastes like ASS...

Cheers be sure to join me next time...

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