Host a Blind Wine Tasting Party

Last year, two of our colleagues and friends entered into a debate about whether or not the price of the wine determined its quality and tastiness. The conversation resulted in a blind wine tasting party that is now a Fitzgerald tradition. If you enjoy wine, at any price point, I highly encourage you to host your very own blind wine tasting party. You won't be disappointed with the results!

First step is to identify your guest list. This year, we intentionally brought together couples that we keep hoping to connect with but for some reason or another, our schedules do not seem to match up. J and I enjoy bringing together friends from different aspects of lives. It is both fun and an open space for us to truly walk in community with others.

Once you've determined your guest list, you can invite them to bring their favorite bottle of wine. We like to leave it up to guests to choose a white wine or a red wine, and award a prize for each category. You could have folks sign up if you'd like or even assign regions from around the world. There are lots of fun ways to personalize this aspect. Our guests this time around really loved red and we ended up not having a white wine in sight {fine by this red wine lover!}.

Part of my wine love involves the bites to eat that often accompany the sips. Our guests were also asked to bring an appetizer to share. Wine + small bites for dinner. My kind of party, for sure.

For my food contributions, I made a healthier buffalo chicken dip and a baked brie in phyllo cups with a walnut and craisin garnish.

As guests arrived, we invited them to choose a number to attach to their bottle of wine. I found this free printable here.

When the tasting began, each guest received a scorecard to rate the tasting. I like to give a few minutes in between tastings for chatting and preparing for the next sip. As we tasted each wine, we identified the number on the bottle but keep the secret of whose bottle it was and what type of wine it was. For us, it lead to a lot of fun guessing as to who brought it and what type it was.

We prefer to provide mini cups for the tastings and then toss them out each time. You could also provide guests with one glass and a dump bucket if you preferred that. I also recommend some palate cleansing snacks such as: crackers, goldfish, etc. for guests to munch on in between samples.

After all of our tastings were complete, we asked guests to vote for their favorite white wine and favorite red wine. In the case that all of your guests bring one type, liked ours did, have them vote for their top 2. As we announced the top selections, the bottles were revealed! After that, everyone was free to enjoy glasses of any wines they chose.

The winners of our categories took home gift certificates to the newly opened Mini Doughnut Factory, a personal favorite of ours {get the cotton candy one!}.

Of course, decorating for your party is also a fun aspect. Or at least it is for me. A few little pretty things go a long way.

For this party, I used a roll of brown butcher wrapping paper to create a table runner, picked up a fresh tulip plant, and used some thought provoking cocktail napkins to spur on conversation. {I pick up cocktail napkins all the time for this purpose and to be sure that I always have fun ones on hand.} You can use any embellishments you'd like to represent you and add a little fun for your guests.

Write down your own great ideas and invite your friends over for a lovely and lively night with good wine and even better company!

If you're curious about our winners from this year, the favorites were:

Cupcake Black Forest

Dreaming Tree Pinot Noir

Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon

Cheers!

{Celebrate} The Things I Do

A gift that I have been given these past two months has been the space to reconnect with my self-awareness. I have learned that striving to be everything is a fruitless path. It dominates more than your time. Living without boundaries creates negative thoughts, bitterness, and generates behaviors that you don't recognize in yourself. The really great news is that I am neither the rescuer for other people nor all things. We are all created uniquely, by a perfect design, and with purpose. How incredibly freeing to know that we don't have to live everyone else's purpose? We only need to live out our own.

I am really not usually the girl who lacks a sense of self and clarity in purpose, but I was feeling a little like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride, not knowing how I like to eat my eggs. Before I could start living from that center again, I needed some reflection to connect with what is me and what are the things I am doing for the approval of others. Naturally, I made lists - things I do and don't do.

First up, celebrating the Things I Do:

1. Pursue my relationship with God.
This is the foundation from which everything else is generated. It hasn't always looked that way, I've tried to run from or reject this at times, but it is my first, best, and most important relationship.

2. Appreciate when others help me.
My roommate made my bed the other day and I was so touched she took the time to do that act of kindness. I am the worst at asking for help, but I feel overwhelmed with appreciation when someone does something that adds support to my day.

3. Small, intimate gatherings.
I always try to convince myself that I enjoy shindigs of any size but I actually dislike large parties. I am more authentic when I host or attend more intimate gatherings that allow me to genuinely connect with those in attendance. At larger parties, I can usually be found creating a smaller setting with a group of people.

4. Experiences.
I find happiness in so many moments of my day because I treasure experiences and the process for arriving at them. There isn't much that I don't think of as moment to be savored. Sharing a meal at the table is one of my favorites.

5. Travel.
My wanderlust is serious. There are so many places to explore and people to know. Now, if only my budget could catch up!

6. Alone Time.
I love people and I have a threshold of time for being with people. It is either genetic or a learned behavior from my Momma. Either way, stealing away for a few minutes allows my mind to settle, recharges me, and lets me be present when I engage again.

7. Write.
Letters. Blog Post. Prayers. Lists. Notes. I write it all down. Storytelling fills my heart. I am thrilled when I receive written forms of communication. A used book with an inscription is like candy to me because I imagine story lines involving those people. And, I have a hard time parting with letters and my lectures notes from my favorite classes. Maybe I'll get paid to write someday.

8. Breakfast.
My favorite meal is breakfast. If every Saturday morning involved a leisure moment to sip coffee on the porch and have a full breakfast with people I love, I'd be delighted. I'll sneak in a breakfast experience any chance I get!

9. Nest at Home.
For all of my gallivanting ways, I sure love to be in my home, wherever that may be in the current season of my life. Days where I work on little projects and have leisure time at home (probably in my PJ's) balance me out. I always hope that I create a space where others feel like they are at home when they visit.

10. Learn and pursue work I am passionate about.
There are so many fascinating things out there to be learning about and doing. I wish I had time for all the ways I would serve my community or careers I would pursue. I don't have a master plan for how I want it all to look. My only hope is that I contribute my talents in the ways that I am led to.

11. Vote.
I turned in my voter registration paperwork on my 18th birthday which was the best present. Community and political engagement energize me. I can usually be found beside myself with excitement on election night as the results come in.

12. Invest in my relationships.
I have been blessed with a really great home team to do life with. Each season of my life has been filled with people I am so fortunate to know, love, and be in community with. I treasure these people.

13. Laugh when I cry.
If I start crying, I will also, usually, start laughing. I used to think it was embarrassing, but then I realized that it is a gift to know joy and hope in the midst of hard stuff. I hope that I use it to remain with people in their messiest moments.


When you strip away all of the supposed to's, what are the things that you do which help you to live out your gifts?

Next up? The Things I Don't Do!

2014 reflections.

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good" - John Steinbeck

2014 was a really beautiful, changing, messy, struggling, loving kind of year. Half the time I was basking in the moments of pure joy and happiness and the other half the time I was battling expectations and impossible perfection. All of which led to a pursuit of peacefulness in knowing my freedom and appreciation for the people, opportunities, and moments that are given to me each day to make up my life.

As I am thinking about the new year, and all of the unexpected things it has already brought, I am also reflecting and celebrating all that the previous year held. The truth is, my highlight reel is pretty big and overwhelming in the amount of moments I was keenly aware of love. I'm celebrating these little, big moments now, so I can remind myself each time my mind gets busy as a way to say, "quiet down little mind, rest in truth, be patient", which I know will probably happen about 15 times a day (and those will just be the ones I am aware of). For all that 2015 will hold, I hope to pursue and know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Happy 2015! Enjoy some highlights from 2014!

Dates with Momma

Dancing with Justin

NYC with Kerri & Erica

Literacy Nights

Dustin's Graduation

Painting & Life Conversations

New Team

Students

Old Friends

New Friends

x.

Adventures of 2012

Whew, this has been quite the year. I hardly even know where to begin to reflect upon 2012. I kicked off the year with goals to challenge myself to grow in new ways but this year has exceeded expectations. I'm ending the year feeling confident and settled in the woman that I have become, in love with the life that I have created, and so incredibly thankful for everything that has brought me to this point. I spent much of the year gearing up for thirty, an age which I am already enjoying beyond measure.

Life is full, happy, and blessed.

Thank you for reading along throughout my adventures, here are a few of my highlights from 2012:

Took a trip to NYC to visit Kathryn

Had some terrific reflections on who I am

 Chronicled my dating life, well some of it

Met a boy who got me off the bench 

And thinking about what I'd really like someday

Had many first time adventures with Mallory

Traveled back to Arkansas for a visit

Reconnected with my girls

Traveled to Greenville, SC for E and Matt's wedding

Tea Party with Little M

Saw the play version of To Kill A Mockingbird

Spent lots of good time with the family

Enjoyed being a tourist in my own town

Celebrated special people in my life

Welcomed my new little love, Lilly Ruth, into the world

Went rock climbing

Had lots of fun with the Chi O Tampa Alumnae Chapter

Ran 3 5k races!

Learned how to decorate cookies like a pro

Went paddle boarding
Read some great books

Had lots of good life conversations with my Momma

Traveled home for Lauralee's 30th Birthday!

Celebrated baby brother Kyle's 21st birthday

Took off on a sailboat

Made a trip to Texas for Thanksgiving
And got to visit with Mags

Traveled to Pennsylvania for Steve and Sam's wedding

Met my fitness goals

Wrapped up my twenties

Rang in my 30th Birthday at the beach weekend with all my pals

Visited Morg and Chris in their new home in Georgia

Ran the Color Run - happiest 5k on the planet

While I have loved every minute of this year, I am looking forward to quiet time this winter break (bonus of being an educator) and spending the holidays with my cheerleaders, family and close friends.

Up next I will be rocking the wedding circuit celebrating the marriages of my close friends, completing a 10k and taking off to Greece! I am sure there will be lots of unexpected treasures in 2013 so I am looking forward to all of the adventures that await me. Until then!

a few of my favorite things

sweet days of summer

{Image Credit}

cozy bedrooms

{Image Source Unknown}

losing myself in the things i love

carnivals

sweet plans of summer

{Image Source Unknown}

I love a list so, naturally, I put together my plans of summer so that I can be sure to seize the moments of this fabulous season. 

1. Go to the drive in movie theater
2. Take a cake decorating class
3. Read Jane Austen

{Image Source}

4. Go sailing (already have my groupon purchased!)
5. Take in the sites at the Salvador Dali museum
6. Run a 5k
7. Try out paddle boarding

{Image Source}

8. Map out Greece trip
9. Host a board game night with friends
10. Make smores

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What are your plans for summer?

An Evening with Corey Smith

I discovered Corey Smith's music while getting my master's degree at the University of Georgia. I have since seen him in concert about a dozen times, and most recently at the Dallas Bull in Tampa. With each show, I fall more in love with the sound of his voice. Really, any occasion that involves friends and good music is my kind of night. Corey Smith is on the road a good bit right now so be sure to check out whether or not he is coming to a venue near you - you won't regret it!

To find out more about Corey's music, visit his website.

a few of my favorite things

{Image Courtesy: Lyla & Blue}

Pecorino Romano Cheese

Triangle Yoga Pose

{Image Credit}

These Dresses

Drive In Movies

Highlights of 2011

Source: pingg.com via pingg on Pinterest

Goodbye, 2011!

Before I say goodbye to this year, I thought I would reflect on the highlights. This was a big year of changes and settling in to the unknown. While there have been big things that have occurred, I think that some of my fondest moments have been the simple pleasures that I have been able to enjoy!

Kicked off the year by celebrating Dustin's 21st birthday

Had lots of snow in Arkansas

Spent Valentine's Day with my little friend, Heath

Visited Terra Studios with Angela and Ella

Enjoyed lots of good reading with my AR Book Club ladies

Traveled to North Carolina for Ro and Melvin's Wedding 

Ended an amazing academic year with phenomenal students

Saw Les Miserables with Kerri and Manda

Found my way back to the yoga mat

Wrote a letter to an old bf that gave me closure

Had a Girls Trip with Mel, Morg, and Kel

Spent time perfecting my Auntie skills to my little loves
Got quality time with my best friend, Micah and his love, Rebecca

Tapas and Flamenco with Momma and Doug

Got a new job at USF and moved to Tampa
Enjoyed live music with Mallory

Said goodbye to Nana, the matriarch of the Poe-Brown Family

Suppers with Mel at Tijuana Flats

Tried new things
Read along as Angie Away took on the world

Celebrated engagements
Visited Morg & Chirs in Ft. Lauderdale

Embraced eating alone 
Wrote 51 blog posts
Made new friends and rekindled old friendships
Sleepovers with Ella and Olivia
Turned Twenty-Nine
Created a Thirty Before Thirty List

Thank you for reading and coming along with me on this journey. My readership has increased beyond my wildest dreams and I appreciate all of your encouraging words and notes you send in response to my posts. Keep reading and sending me your thoughts!

Happy New Year!

Tourist In Your Own Town: Girls Night Out

 
The past few weeks have been crazy busy! My friend Mal and I decided that we needed to organize a Girls Night Out to connect with some of our women friends at work. It was a great opportunity to get to know new people and spend time with friends I have already made.

In celebration of Dine Tampa Bay, we started with a delicious supper at Tinatapas. I had a stellar goat cheese appetizer and filet mignon with blue cheese for my entree. Most importantly, I ended the meal with my favorite, budino and dolce de leche ice cream. Our meal was full of conversation, sangria and yummy food.

Afterwards, a few of us ventured to Fly to hear Chris Nathan. He is a great artist that I just discovered. He's brilliant - loved hearing him live! Fly has a great atmosphere, good menu, great drinks, and lots of live music.

The night was a lot of fun and full of my favorite things! I'm also glad that it helped me discover a new restaurant and venue to hear great music. 

We want to establish a monthly Girls Night Out so leave me comments on your favorite things to do with your girlfriends.

a few favorites

I am adoring this website called, We Heart It. If you enjoy photography and/or images, this is the place for you. I picked a few of my favorite photos to share for this week's edition of my favorite things. Enjoy!

{Image Source: Polyvore}

Dancing

 The other night I went out with friends and this old man came up to me and asked me to dance. My first instinct was to say no but then I thought it was so nice to be asked so I let him give me a few turns on the dance floor. It was sweet.

"She dreams of mermaids and motorcycles and meeting a man who can dance"

{Image Source: Softly Collided}

Sparklers

Nothing says summertime like these bright lights!

Smores

I, for real, love a smore! I was reading this restaurant recommendation the other day and the place had smores on the dessert menu so now all I think think about is this warm, gooey treat.

{Image Source: Wet Behind the Ears}

Does this need a caption?

Where is this? Where do I get one? and.. how long can I lay in this while reading books?

Friday Favorites

My new address book 

I'm old fashioned. I get pretty excited about paper, stationary and a hand written note. I recently purchased this little Tiffany Blue address book to store the information of all of my loved ones.

Hobo Wallet in Lauren Vintage

Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter

I am thoroughly enjoying being able to spend time with Chi O's in the Tampa Bay area. Some of the ladies were in chapter with me and others I am meeting for the first time. Either way, I'm loving it!

{Image Courtesy of Once Upon A Time}

Telephone

I actually dislike talking on the phone. I know, it doesn't seem normal but I loathe it. My father would be surprised to hear me say this now considering I just HAD to have my own phone line as a teenager. What can I say? It was a phase.

For last couple of weeks, I have been making a better effort to stay connected with people. I have been making one or two calls a week to say hello and catch up with a friend. It definitely gets harder to stay in touch, especially when so many of my friends are all across the country, so it has been nice just to know what is happening in people's lives and to hear their voices.

My favorite phone calls are with Angela because she was my daily check in and I miss those morning chats. Actually, I talk with her several times a week and I do not mind it one bit.

E , I hope you are reading this and feeling proud of your positive influence on me!


Have a great weekend everyone!

Favorite Things: Entertainment Edition

This week's favorite things is entitled the entertainment edition because I am pretty excited about the lineup coming my way.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent aired its last episode on Sunday. I am deeply saddened by this because I have been a loyal watcher for the last ten years. Let's be honest, I watch all of them. Religiously! Thankfully, there will be lots of re-runs because I am not yet ready to live without Goren and Eames.

The Help. Need I say more!? I cannot stop gushing over this book. I am literally beside myself counting down until the movie is released. I read this sensational novel last summer and I have not stopped thinking about it since. The trailer is a huge teaser that I want to watch again, and, again.

This fall, the CW is introducing a new show called the Hart of Dixie. I love, love, love the south. I really love when people not from the south fall in love and find it as enticing as I do. I'm thrilled to watch the resident New Yorker fall to the charms of the South.

New Girl on Fox. This just looks precious! Girl after my own heart.

Oh, Brenda Lee is back! The Closer is back in just two weeks... on the edge of my seat!

Bridesmaids. I am clear that this movie came out over a month ago but I have yet to see it. I am the real life version of 27 Dresses so I am that this one is right up my ally.

Happy Watching!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Peonies

I am not sure quite what it is about this sweet little flower but I cannot get enough of them. You know when something is on your mind and then you seem to constantly see things that remind you of it? It seems silly to think I feel that way about a flower but I cannot seem to escape them. Something about the peony just makes me smile. I have yet to find fresh cuts in Tampa but I am on the hunt.

Courtesy of Angie

Angie's Around the World Adventures

One of my best pals from high school set off to embark on her dream trip - around the world in one year. When she first told me she was contemplating this all I could think to say was "GO"! She did not need my encouragement but she definitely has my constant support. I am hoping that she will finally pen that book she has been promising me.

Ang always inspires me because she seems to tuck away the fear that creeps in and dive head first. I am lucky to call her my friend. She is a brilliant, witty writer and I encourage you to follow her adventures through her blog, http://angieaway.com/ or on Twitter @bigappleangie. You'll be glad you did!

 

Photo Courtesy of the Cooking Channel

From Spain with Love

One thing I am loving about Tampa is having the Cooking Channel. Really, it is hard to be productive at home because all I want to do is watch this channel. My new favorite show is From Spain with Love which features Annie Sibonney on a food tour of Spain. The show explores the numerous regions highlighting their cultures and of course, culinary delights.

I spent two weeks in Spain during the summer before my senior year of college. Spain has remained one of my favorite places and I frequently think fondly of that trip. This show is introducing me to new regions and I am gaining a deeper understanding of the integral role food plays in this culture. This is one guilty pleasure that I will keep enjoying!

Saturday in Pictures

I have been admiring those folks who are taking one photo for every day of the year. I am not sure that I could manage to remember to do that but I thought it would be a fun project for a Saturday.

The past couple of weeks have been full of long work hours and not much  of a break, even on the weekends, so I planned out a fun R&R weekend for myself to rejuvenate my spirit. I wanted to bring a little of me back into the hurried schedule that has been occupying my life as of recent. Taking photos throughout the day helped me be more present and appreciate how I was spending my day.

I kicked it off at 7:14am with a little cuddle time with Atticus. I stopped letting the cats sleep with me because its weird and they have started to wake me up in the middle of the night. Being that Atticus is shut out all night, he is ready to mingle in the morning and eagerly awaits me at my bedroom door.

My very own Atticus Finch

I had some time before my morning yoga class so I drank a warm protein shake and caught up on reading The Eleusis and The Hunger Games. Have I mentioned how much I love this book? I finished it yesterday and it was so good that I have to go this week to get the second installment.

I got so involved in my book that I had to quickly get ready for yoga with Ms. Jimmy. I have not been to a class in a bit so I was really looking forward to it this week. Of course, it was full of openers, ab work and deep stretches - exactly what I needed. In fact, I am a little sore today. I was so relaxed that I totally passed out during savasana. I rarely get my mind that calm these days so that was an extra special treat.

After yoga, I took a little joy ride in the car and jammed out to Adele's new album. I am over the top obsessed and am constantly listening to it at home and work. "One and Only" is definitely my new favorite song and I sing it.. loudly...over and over and over. Here is a little video so you can enjoy it as well.





I wrapped up the morning with a tuna sandwich and BBQ Popchips. Saturday had a summer feel to it for me and so a tuna sandwich was completely necessary. It actually reminds me of summers with my Momma at the beach - it is one of our favorites.

I spent the afternoon getting a massage, brow wax, and mani/pedi. The mani/pedi was definitely a highlight. I met a very sweet girl, Miranda. She was just precious and I was so relaxed that she told me I should stay and enjoy the massage chair while finishing up my book... so I did. It was lovely. Normally, I would be rushed but I just let myself be in the moment. Nothing like enjoying a good book in one of those chairs with a yummy starbucks. And my nails look fabulous!

When I got home I popped in my latest Netflix and watched a few episodes of Law & Order: UK. If you are a devoted Law & Order fan, as I am, you will love this new edition to the family. Crown v. ....

Although I had a full day, I was still ready for more. Quincy and I headed to Joses to partake in some ice cold beverages and chips & salsa. Perfection.



The whole day felt like the best day ever! I just enjoyed being able to do all of the things that I love. I feel restored and ready for the next couple of busy weeks. Here is a little photo that got snapped of me - I hope I look as happy as I felt.

xo. jm