I’m no wine connoisseur, but over the years I’ve become quite fond of a nice sweet glass of wine. Even though more than two glasses has me dozing off, wine is my drink of choice and perfect around the holidays. I’ve always wanted to attend a wine tasting and awaken my palate to different flavors, as I’ve been drinking the same wine for years! Change is hard!! This past Sunday, thanks to the Boston Bloggers group I had the opportunity to experience some great wine at Dante Restaurant in Cambridge hosted by the folks at Boston based 90+ Cellars wine.

The event was a kick-off to the holidays and highlighted eight 90+ Cellars wines and pairing suggestions. As someone who hasn’t ever considered pairing wine with specific foods, I found their tips really helpful and gave me a new perspective on wine! My two favorite wines that I tasted were the smooth Riesling and bubbly Prosecco. As I think about upcoming holiday celebrations their Prosecco is definitely one I’d like to invite to the party!

In addition to the great atmosphere, yummy bites, and great wine I had the opportunity to meet a few people from 90+ Cellars including Brett Vankoski, Vice President and Co-Founder, Jeannie Hannigan, Marketing Manager, and Adjovi Koene, Regional Account Manager. All were so friendly and engaging and helped me better understand why 90+ Cellars wine is so great – in addition to the taste! Buying wine can be overwhelming and the price tags on some can be quite intimidating. 90+ Cellars believes that great wine shouldn’t leave your pockets empty – you can have great quality wine at an affordable price! Their motto (which is so fitting) is that their wine has a Saturday night taste with a Tuesday night price! Amazing!!! I don’t know about you but with the holidays coming up and expenses with raising a daughter – money is tight. But that doesn’t mean I should have to sacrifice some good bubbly, especially around the holidays!

About 90+ Cellars: It’s been our goal to seek out, bottle and deliver fine wine that costs you less money.  The landscape has changed, but our mission has not. We partner with highly respected wineries around the globe to provide you with wine that will keep more dollars in your pocket and impress the pants off your friends. Great Wine. Anytime. 

Oh and did I mention they have a wine club? Wine….delivered to your door? I’m so hooked!! With 56 varieties of wine listed on their site ranging from $12 – $30 there is something for everyone, that won’t break the bank! So this holiday season (or anytime) consider choosing 90+ Cellars wine and have some great wine at a great price!

Suggestions from 90+ Cellars on how to pair some of their wines!

Disclosure: No compensation was received for writing this post. I’m a fan of 90+ Cellars and wanted to share their goodness with my readers!

****Congratulations to Robert Loranger!!!****

With Halloween now over, it’s only a matter of time before Christmas will be knocking on the door. I’m not quite ready to accept this truth, even though I’ve already begun Christmas shopping! Along with the hustle and bustle of Christmas comes an important tradition in our house – watching A Christmas Story. The day long marathon still excites me and the jokes never get stale – it’s a classic movie that will never go out of style. We are a musical family and are delighted that A Christmas Story, The Musical is coming to the Citi Wang Theatre this holiday season! What a special opportunity to see all your favorite movie characters come to life on stage!

About A Christmas Story, The Musical:

Celebrate the holidays with this cherished story that will entertain the whole family with this heart-warming classic tale! The story from a cherished movie classic that has enchanted millions is now a musical spectacular. The story takes place in 1940’s Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a triple dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. Co-produced by the film’s original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story, The Musical is musical comedy entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious with and a heart of gold.

Scenes from A Christmas Story, The Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical plays at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre Wednesday, November 20 – Sunday, December 8 for 27 performances: Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm; matinees on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Note, press opening is Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are priced at $45.00 – $125.00; all prices include a $3.75 facility fee per ticket and are on sale now. Visit www.citicenter.org or call (866) 348-9738 for more information.  Groups of 10 or may reserve tickets now by contacting Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at (617) 532-1116 or groupsales@citicenter.org.

Experience A Christmas Story in a new and exciting way this holiday season! Use the code LEGLAMP to save 15% on your tickets or enter my giveaway for a pack of four tickets to the show on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:30 pm using the widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck & Happy Start to the Holiday Season!

This is not a sponsored post

September is a busy month in our house. Not only does school begin, but it’s also me and my daughter’s birthday month. Ours are four days apart – she’s on the 22nd and I’m on the 26th. Every year friends ask me if I’m excited about my birthday, and I always respond no. Only recently it’s been because I’m now 25+, but before I really dreaded my birthday. Having our birthdays so close together meant that I could make her birthday the focus…and just forget about mine.

But, there is a reason.

I grew up in a single parent household just outside of Boston and am the youngest of four children. To say we struggled is an understatement. The birthdays I do remember were full of lonliness, and were absent of any celebration. My mother, either off at her boyfriends or at work, usually wasn’t around. On the day that was supposed to full of joy I spent reading a note from my Mother wishing me a Happy Birthday while tears rolled down my face.

It gets better…promise!

Prior to having my daughter I didn’t think much of birthdays. BUT, once my little girl came around, the game changed dramatically! I knew I was in trouble when I met with a cake designer for her 1st birthday party discussing the colors, flavors, and design of her FIRST birthday cake. I spent hours carefully cutting out the vellum cover that was laid over her photo and tying a pink bow around one white candle. I scoured arts & crafts store trying to find the best favor to give to guests. And like most kids on their 1st birthday, she was peacefully sleeping until cake…and after all my time designing the perfect princess cake she wasn’t amused.

And every year it’s been this big affair. I make the invitation, come up with a theme, find a space, decorations, favors, work with a designer on the perfect cake – it’s a production. And quite stressful. I swore after her 5th birthday party I wasn’t throwing another party…and we’ve had two more. But, I’m halting the huge party this year.

Reflecting back I know I spent so much time, energy, (and money) on an elaborate party for her because I was hurting from having such negative experiences about birthdays growing up. Don’t get me wrong, nothing is better than celebrating the anniversary of my daughter’s birth day with friends and family, but I realize there are other options than to break the bank and get super stressed.

“What do you want to do this year for your birthday” I asked my daughter a couple months ago.
“I want to go to a hotel….with a pool” she responded after thinking hard about it.

No invites, no favors…what will I do with myself this year? I’m really looking forward to a low-key birthday with my baby girl this year as we celebrate her eight year dealing with me as her Mom

With so many options to choose from, I have long admired the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge. Situated in East Cambridge I have been impressed with their amenities to guests and families. From the delectable menu at ArtBar to their stunning atrium-style pool, I wish I was planning a trip for my birthday! Located just a hop & skip from the Charles river the views of Boston are amazing, and show the beauty of the historic city.

Royal Sonesta Boston

If only we were staying in the summer because they offer free bike rentals, boat tours, a jogging concierge and river view running path, movie nights by the pool and more! Oh and they have 9 am complimentary yoga! Talk about taking care of their guests! And that’s why we’re hoping to stay at the Sonesta, because in our birthday month, we want to be taken care of

What do birthdays look like in your home?

One of the activities my daughter and I look forward to every year is apple picking. We love searching for the apples, sampling their freshness, and trying out new varieties  We love heading to Belkin Lookout Farm in Natick for apple and pumpkin picking, and I’m delighted that this weekend they are holding a free open house for families!

About the Farm:
Established as a farm in 1651, Belkin Family Lookout Farm in South Natick is recognized as one of the oldest continuously-working farms in the country. The Belkin family is dedicated to continuing 350 years of farm tradition for future generations. They strive to provide healthy, outdoor, family fun activity while maintaining the farm’s long-rooted history and importance within the community for years to come.

If you are around this weekend, you won’t want to miss the open house happening on Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5 from 11am – 3pm only! Take advantage of free admission in a beautiful landscape! We are headed there first thing Saturday morning with friends and I’m hoping for great weather! Located less than 20 miles from Boston, Belkin Family Lookout Farm is the perfect day trip for the entire family.

At the open house you’ll enjoy
*Free Parking
*Free Admission
*Children’s Play Area
*Moon Bounce
*Burlap Maze
*Facepainting
*Caterpillar rides

Hope to see local families there!

This is not a sponsored post. My family and I are fans and love to support local businesses!

My motto recently has been, “sometimes you’ve got to spoil yourself.” No it doesn’t mean I’m taking myself on a shopping spree to Tiffany’s. But I always seem to put my needs last…and that’s not okay. But it’s hard to balance my needs while taking care of a little one on my own! So I’ve been trying to squeeze in time in my hectic schedule to indulge a bit. Recently that’s meant buying a new body scrub, face scrub, and going to bed early. I live on the edge…I know!

If I could hit the nail salon every week I would! When I do go (which isn’t very often) my nails sparkle and are super healthy! Since we don’t hit the nail salon every week we’ve been growing our nail polish collection at home and are always switching up the colors and patterns.

Enter MiniLuxe. Love the name! MiniLuxe is a nail and beauty lounge, with seven locations around Boston that wants to cater to you! (I like this!). They get that we are busy, that fitting in time for yourself is sometimes impossible. But they also know that it’s critical for living a balanced life.

It’s safe to say winter is over here…I hope, and today’s mostly beautiful weather here in Boston is a sure sign that Spring is indeed on its way! In honor of its arrival MiniLuxe has released a brand spanking new Spring Collection!

Meet Luxe Jade, Luxe Lucky, Luxe Corey, Luxe Lolita, and Luxe Hingham! I love the colors, they sure say Spring, don’t they!

These signature nailpolishes are a healthier option that some other ones on the market, and are free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP which means they are safe for kids and pregnant woman! The sweet new collection will be available at locations starting this month!

For more information, visit www.miniluxe.com or like MiniLuxe on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiniLuxe and follow them on Twitter at @MiniLuxe.

Do you like MiniLuxe’s new Spring Collection?

MiniLuxe supplied me with their Spring collection at no charge. All opinions expressed are my own and monetary compensation was not received.