Wine Down Wednesday: Must Haves!

Don't worry...I'm not Wine-ding down yet! (It's only 1pm) I will happily be doing that while I watch SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE later tonight!



I wanted to share my "must haves." Most of these items can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond (Don't forget to take your 20% off coupon) or on the iwawine.com website. If you are lucky, you can find a lot of good crystal wine glasses as well as decanters at TJ Maxx for half the price! Cheers!



The Vacuum preservation system. Don't waste a left over bottle of wine with just a simple stopper. Keep it fresh for up to 7 days by placing the reuseable stopper in the bottle and place the pump on top of it. Keep pumping until all the air is removed from the bottle to prevent spoiling and oxidation.

Wine fridge. Store your wine at the appropriate serving temps. Red wine should be kept between 50-55 degrees as white is kept at lower 45 degrees. These racks also allow the bottles to be kept horizontal keeping the cork moist to prevent cracking.

Opener. Refer to last weeks post


Decanting funnel. Decants the wine and traps sediment in the built in mesh screen as you pour it in the decanter.

Decanter. Has a wide surfaced bowl to allow the whole bottle of wine to breath before pouring into glasses.

Spiegelau crystal wine glasses. Fill your wine glasses no more than two-thirds full. The space at the top of the glass gives room for the wine's full aroma.

Wine markers. Most people use different kinds of wine markers to tell eachother's drinks apart while at a party or gathering. They go around the stem of the glass. A few years ago, hubby bought me the cutest fitted boa base covers for the bottom of a wine or martini glass. They come in multi colors and are fuzzy furry fitted coaster looking things that cover the base of your glass. He got them at BBB and I CANNOT find them on their website. If I was at home, I'd take a picture, but I'm not. If any of you have them or know where else you can get them...let me know! I need some more!

WINE. This is a no brainer, but I couldn't fail to mention wine in the "must haves." My favorite kind these days has been Blackstone Merlot and Kendall Jackson Merlot.

Food. Now, just add some cheese, crackers, and olives to the mix and you'll have yourself a nice relaxing wine-down Wednesday!

What are YOUR "must haves?!"

Recent happenings...

Monday, two of my presh mommy friends came in town to play. Meredith got to tag along with her hubby for work and Jacci just came to be apart of the fun! First on our list was lunch at Snuffers! I can't tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE their loaded cheese fries. I could eat them everyday.

Then it was off to the coveted "Sprinkles" cupcakery! This was Mer's first time here and she even had to come back for another visit later in the week. I'm guessing she and little C thought it was a hit! After cupcakes we went down the street to one of my favorite upscale resale shops. They always have great designer items at great prices. Who doesn't love a bargain? I found this place with my BFF Kelsey about 4 years ago. It just so happens to be right next door to my jeweler. It's always a great excuse to go get my ring cleaned and do a little shopping while I wait :)

We had such a fun day and it was great hanging out with other mommies. It makes me look forward to having a toddler! I do love Colt's 6 month age right now. It has been my favorite thus far. If he could stay this way for 3 more months it would be ok by me :)

Thank you sweet sweet Meredith for the super cute wine glass!! I seriously love it and have been eyeing these initial glasses for some time now. It has been added to my china cabinet wine glass display. I may or may not have used it already :) Thank you so much! You are too sweet!

Tuesday, we had family night at my parents. Dad cooked out burgers and hot dogs and mom made her famous strawberry shortcake from scratch. I love being with my whole family on nights like this. We always have lots of laughs and enjoy telling stories about recent happenings in our lives. Mom bought a presh baby pool for Colt. He LOVED it.
Thursday, Erin and Brylee came over for a mini photoshoot. She wanted me to take pictures of them for an album she is making. It was about to rain and the clouds were so beautiful. We strolled down the street to pet the horses and made it back just in time before the storm.
Friday, we had a big day. We met my mom, dad and grandmother at the club for a poolside lunch and swimming. Grandmother brought my cousin's baby, Ayden. She had a blast being with her two great grandbabies! Then it was off to the rodeo with Nick, Haley, Mom, Dad and Blake. Seeing as this was his FIRST rodeo, we had to dress him for the part. He was so presh decked out in his cowboy hat, pearl snap shirt, jeans, and ostrich boots that match his daddy's. The last minute bandana addition was a life saver. It served as a bib and was soaking wet by the end of the evening.Showing off his matching bootsFIRST pony ride!

He even rode the "bull" with Yaya

and YES he left his hat on the whole time. I guess he is so used wearing them at the lake that it was no big deal for him. He was BEAT by the last bull ride. Lets just say he slept until 10:30 this morning...Thats all folks!

We are getting some great storms in my neck of the woods. I'm enjoying listening to thunder and the rain hitting my windows as I sit on the couch and watch my DVR'd ABCfamily movies (Labor Pains, My Fake Fiance, Another Cinderella Story). Blake is at the gun show...shocker. I hope everybody is having a great weekend. Love!

Wine Down Wednesday: My new toy!

I am excited to finally tell you about my new wine gadget! A neighbor of mine introduced me to this fun item a few months ago and I have not been able to stop thinking about it ever since. I heard you could buy it at Bed Bath & Beyond so off to BBB I went. They haven't had them in stock until NOW. It was perfect timing as I had a 20% off coupon (get on their mailing list if you aren't already. They mail these out like candy...don't shop without it). So I walked away with this baby for a measly $20.00!

So here she is... My new electric wine opener!!!

It sits on the counter (looking sharp as if it were a cordless phone) and includes a foil cutter in the back. When you are ready to open a bottle, you just cut the foil off the top...take the opener off the charging dock and place it on top of the bottle covering the cork and a little bit of the top. Press the "down" arrow, hold the bottle... and wait...............................................After a few seconds, voala!!!! Its open! No pulling no pushing no twisting! To get the cork out, press the "up" arrow and out it comes. Easy as that! Here is a video so you can get the whole idea! ENJOY and go grab a glass! CHEERS!

P.S They advise you to not use this opener on synthetic corks only real cork

I'm a big boy now I'm 6 months!!!!

I have a six month old! What is wrong with this picture? I looked at Colt the other day and said, "Where's my baby?!" I swear I love him more and more everyday even though I never think its possible to love him more. In the past month he has...

... said "Ma" and "Da." Only one time each, but he said it nonetheless!! I got the "Ma" on video tape and he was looking at Blake when he said "Da."

...He sits up like a big boy and plays with his toys.
...He tries to eat his feet, but his belly is too big and he gets mad.

...He sits in the high chair when we go out to eat.

...He turns all the way around in his jumperoo and works all of the toys.

...Blake says Colt hibernates and he really does. He sleeps about 12 hours a night and I even wake up before he does. I stare at the monitor thinking, "ok Colt, mommy wants to play." He always wakes up soooo happy and talks to his hands (for up to an hour) until I come get him.

...He loves to swim!! When I say kick kick kick, he smiles/laughs and kicks very good. When I say 1 2 3 he closes his eyes on the count of 1 to prepare for the dunk.

...This past week he has gone through a phase of crying when we sneeze or talk loudly and he even cried when the fire on the grill flared up at the hibachi restaurant. Blake and I thought it was funny so we'd sneeze on purpose to see if he cried. A few times he did and then he got over it.

...He is a great little shopper and laughs at all the people in the mall as they walk by. His stroller makes a great shopping cart BTW :)
...He's moving into his 9-12 month clothing and I even bought size 3 diapers yesterday :( He weighs around 19lbs and I'm not real sure how long he is yet, but we should have a Dr appt next week).

...He has the cutest little laugh!! If you haven't seen it click HERE.

...He loves his nightly walks and sometimes enjoys a quick snooze if he hasn't had a nap that day.

...He eats 2 size 2 jars of food 3 times a day with 6-8oz bottles in between.

...He takes 2...2-3 hour naps a everday (but they always get cut short because mommy has places to go and people to see)

...Still no teeth and still no crawling

Wine Down Wednesday: The 5 S's to wine tasting

Its only fitting that for Wine Down Wednesday that I crack open a bottle and start the wine-ding down process as I write. Tonight I'm sharing my bottle with Tammy and Joe (my wonderful in-laws). I was going to post about my little somethin' somethin' I bought while in Grapevine, but I'm going to wait until next week so I can post a video. So sit back, wine down with me and learn some basics to enjoying a glass of wine.

If you don't know jack about drinking wine-you're really missing out, but you really don't need to know jack to enjoy it! If you care to drink it the proper way, stick to the five S's of wine tasting...

See the wine- Pour the wine into the appropriate glass. Traditionally wine glasses with larger, broader bowls are used for bold red wines with bigger bouquets, and narrower wine glasses are used to concentrate the more delicate aromas of lighter white wines. Red wine needs a bigger bowl so it can have more surface to breath. Hold the glass up to the light. Study the color. You are looking for clarity and brilliance. If the wine in your glass is cloudy or discolored in any way your palate is about to be disappointed, because something is wrong with the blend.

Swirl the wine- Hold the stem of the wine glass lightly, pick up the glass and swirl the wine around and around. By doing this, you are allowing the wine to breathe. As you swirl your wine, notice how the wine hits the sides of the glass, and then falls back down. This is known as the “legs” of the wine. This tells you how full-bodied the wine is. The stronger the "legs" the better. The swirling of the wine allows all of the components to come together and you can fully enjoy the full-bodied taste

Sniff- Raise the glass to your nose, and sniff deeply. Close your eyes taking in the full impact of the bouquet rising up to meet your nose. What you smell will depend on your choice of wine, as well as your memory. Red wines carry an earthy aroma, reminiscent of pencil shavings, or rich, cool woodsy- type smells. You could smell almonds, or vanilla or even cloves. No one person smelling the same wine will come away with the same memories of another person smelling that wine. If the wine is a fruity wine, you might envision a field of strawberries, or an apple orchard, perhaps cloves or anise or another spice. All smells wafting up to your nostrils are open to individual interpretation.

Sip- Now, sip the wine. Your mouth will confirm what your sense of smell has detected. A dry red wine with tannins will leave you with what they call the “pucker factor” completely drying out your mouth at the first sip. A fruity sweetened wine will sit on the tongue and play across the taste buds delighting the palate and leaving the mouth moist.

Savor- As you gently swirl the wine around in your mouth savor the flavor. You are checking for the balance of the blends. Not each one is just one grape, but several types. Some wines don't just contain the juice of the grape, but also the stems and the seeds (They go in red wine, thats what gives it it's color).

After all of that you can now drink it and enjoy!!

The Kreck's take number one!

Yesterday, Blake and his brother (Jake) competed in the ASA State Archy Tournament. I'm proud to say that Jake won Shooter of the year therefore receiving the coveted "belt buckle"...can I get a "oohhh, ahhhh?" Blake won FIRST place in his class and also received the coveted belt buckle as well as $$$. Needless to say, I'm the proud wife of a state champion bow shooter!! The tournament lasted around 6 hours and I'm glad both Kreck boys came home as winners! Good job boys!

Heads up...

Just a quick heads up...

I'm starting a new post called "Wine Down Wednesday." Every Wednesday I will post something wine related. We all know how I love wine so it just seems fitting that I do a post such as this.... and NO, I'm not an alcoholic, lush or whatever else you may be thinking...I just have really grown to love wine, how its made and you wouldn't believe all of the fun accessories you can buy that have to do with it AND it also brings out the flavor of what you are eating. So check on back on Wednesdays for your wine update!!! I did buy a little somethin' somethin' that I'm super excited about (and its not the giant wine glass)...BUT you'll have to wait for Wednesday!

**little known fact...The lip of a red wine glass is sloped inward to capture the aromas of the wine and deliver them to your nose. **