Wine and Dine Part 2

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Part 2 of the Willamette Valley blog is even better than the first! We visited some great wineries on the first day and had a tremendous day on the coast, but our second winery day was the best! We had the pleasure of experiencing a hands on tour and a private dinner inside a beautiful winery. There is so much fun to be had in Oregon. Let’s dive into the goods! 

We started our day in McMinnville, OR. Our first stop was breakfast at Red Hills Market! I ordered the market avocado toast and it was delish! We fueled up for our first and best winery, R. Stuart. Ralph(our winery guide) had breakfast with us and went over the details of the day. He explained the differences of each winery and how they were unique. Let’s explore R. Stuart winery! 

R. Stuart was such an amazing experience. Even after visiting Napa last year, we learned more at this winery than all of the ones combined! Mr. Stuart and his crew gave us the tour of the warehouse. They showed us their process, their testing and even let us disgorge a few bottles of bubbles (see pics below). We tasted wine straight from the barrels and had all the feels! It was truly an experience that we will never forget, plus the wine and bubbles were amazing! If you’re in Oregon and have a chance, visit R. Stuart and try his amazing wines! Also, let him tell you the story behind their “Love, Oregon” bottle label! It’s the best!

Next up was Dominio! This winery served a lot of white wine and honestly, I’m not a fan of white. If you do enjoy white, this was a neat experience. They sat us in an old shed that they had renovated and it was truly unique. After snacking on Ralph’s “bites” and enjoying the experience at Dominio, we headed to Durant Olive Mill. At Durant we sampled the best olive oil that I’ve ever tasted. This was another neat experience and a good break from all of the wine! :) We piled our baskets full of “all the things” and headed home to change for a private dinner! 

Ralph gave us 10 minutes to change and jump back in his van to head to our private dinning experience at Lenne Winery. We arrived to the owner greeting us on the top of a hill over looking the horizon. It was truly breathtaking. At Lenne, they explained how they were formed, the story behind their name and then let us sample their wines! It was a very neat experience. Once the sun started to set, we were seated for dinner beside a roaring fireplace. Ralph and his crew served us the most delicious dinner, with the most one of a kind setting! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

The bonding that we experience on these trips with one another, is truly the best! Last year we explored the Napa Valley. This year we adventured through Oregon and the Willamette Valley. Next year, we are already planning Texas, with a stop in LA. Traveling with your family and friends is something that no one can take from you. It’s memories that will last a lifetime. Until next time!

Wine and Dine

Hey!! Hey!! My friends and I are fresh off of our 2nd annual winery trip! Last year we explored Napa Valley and surrounding towns. This year, we had the pleasure of visiting The Willamette Valley. It was everything we had hoped for and then some. Let’s dive into the details of the trip and all the hot spots!

If you get a chance to explore The Willamette Valley, you MUST go through Ralph with Grape Escape. Go to www.grapeescapetours.com and check out everything that they offer. Ralph set up two days of winery touring and the day in between, we headed to the Oregon Coast. We will come back to this. Let’s talk about our first winery day with Ralph. Ralph met us at our VRBO home, which was exceptional. Check out VRBO and find property ID: 1380847. It was the very best house for our crew. Once Ralph arrived at our home, he greeted us with itineraries for the day. He educated us a little on the valley and Oregon and we headed on our way. The first winery was Bells Up. Check them out at bellsupwinery.com. This was one of my favorite wineries. It was a small boutique winery. It is family owned and operated. The family was extremely nice and welcoming. Their wine was incredible, and we had the very best experience with a view to die for! Next, we headed to Trisaetum Winery. If I’m being brutally honest, this was our least favorite. The view was exceptional but the atmosphere was cold and rushed. Let’s skip on over to the Resonance Winery. This was the very best view that we had. The red wine was good but the selfies, group pictures and facetimes to friends and family were even better! We stayed here so long, we were late for our dinner! Speaking of dinner…….WOW! Ralph set us up at Bistro Maison in McMinnville where we STARTED with a full spread of fondue! The food that followed got better with each course! Y’all can’t miss this restaurant! 

We had two days packed with wineries, so we decided to hop in our sprinter van that we rented and head to the Oregon Coast. We underestimated the weather and the beauty of the coast! It was FREEZING and the wind was viscous, but still simply beautiful! We enjoyed lunch at the Wayfarer and were seated with the most amazing view. We were staring at Haystack Rock (see pictures below). After lunch we headed straight for the beach for pictures and to see Haystack Rock up close. After taking in all of the glory and wonder of the Pacific Ocean, we shopped until we dropped in Cannon Beach. We found the most unique little shops and bought a little something for everyone back home. Lastly, we explored the Ecola State Park. This was the most beautiful and lush forestry that we had ever seen!! If you get the chance, explore the state park!!! The Oregon coast is very different from what we see here, on the Gulf Coast. If you look one direction, it’s the beach side and the other is glorious mountains with peaks covered in snow! It is a MUST if you are close! The Oregon coast is an experience of a lifetime! 

Now…….I know you guys are super interested in the rest of the story….BUT I’m going to continue the “Wine and Dine” series next week!! You guys have to come back for this! The second day of wineries was even better than the first!! Until next time!

Curly Hair, Don’t Care

Through the years, I’ve had many people ask, “how do you tame your curly hair?”. Well, let’s dive into the details. Myself, my daughter and son all have curly hair, but all three have very different textures. Our hair is a MESS if not properly taken care of! Let me enlighten you into the world of curly hair. You can not brush curly hair once it drys….even though my daughter HATES her curly hair, and tries to brush it any chance she gets! You can only brush curly hair when it is wet with a “wet brush”. You can now get these at Target, Wal Mart ,or Amazon. Let’s jump right in! 

Let’s discuss the process I use on mine and my daughter’s hair. Now, don’t cringe, but I only wash our hair once a week. We have naturally, very dry hair and with the heat from the blow dryer, it damages it more. We have trained our hair to work well for a good week! I know, I know!! GROSS!! But it makes life easy! These three items (pictured above), I swear by. They are not crazy expensive and can easily be found in Target or Wal Mart. My stylist always tried to recommend fancy salon products, until she realized that what I was using, works. She now keeps it in her drawer at the salon for days when I come to get my hair highlighted and trimmed. Here is my process….Step 1: Wash and condition hair with your favorite shampoo and conditioner (see my favorites below). Step2: As soon as I get out of the shower, I spray my entire head with “it’s a 10” miracle leave in product. Step 3: Take the “wet brush” and comb through the tangles until hair is smooth and tangle free. Step 4: I use my tried and true…. Herbal Essences Spray Gel. I don’t care for “crunchy” curls. This gel makes the best, soft curls. I have used this product since the 8th grade. You can only find it at Wal Mart now. When I see it, I load up!! I spray the gel all over the top of my hair and the underneath. Step 5: SCRUNCH that hair! Step 6: I blow dry my hair with my favorite Dyson blow dryer and diffuser. The diffuser keeps the frizz at bay. Once my hair is almost dry, I style it and then spray a little more gel, diffuse again. Step 6: Lastly, I spray my hair with Herbal Essences Hair Spray. It is also one of my favorites. It holds well and smells divine (see picture below). Ta Da!!!

Now, I’ve given you the down low on mine and my daughters hair, let’s talk about how I style my youngest baby boy’s hair. His is easy! He has beautiful, tight, bouncing curls! I only wash his hair every few nights. When I wash his hair, I wash it with Aquaphor Cleansing Baby Wash and Shampoo from Target (pictured below). Once he is out of the tub with freshly washed hair, I then spray “So Crazy Kids Curl” Leave-In Conditioner and Therapy (pictured below). Next, I brush through his golden locks with a small “wet brush”. I let his hair air dry and his curls bounce right up!! He has the very best hair! I hope it stays this way! 

There ya go!! That is the method to the madness or how to tame the mane! I know some of you guys are not interested in the “how to” with curly hair but thank you for reading! You all are truly the BEST supporting my crazy adventures! Until next time!

Easter Basket Frills and Thrills

I placed a poll on my instagram stories and Easter Basket items won by a land slide! Sooo…..let’s do it! Easter is one of my most favorite holidays of the year! My Mom and Mawmaw always made Easter so special! We, of course, celebrate the true meaning of Easter and the stone being rolled away. What an amazing story and reason to live for Jesus! My Mawmaw Busby and I made an Easter Bunny cake every single year from the time I could hold a spoon. As we made the cake, she always reminded me to never forget the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that He means to us! She was a VERY special lady and I miss her tremendously! Below is a picture of our last Easter cake made with Mawmaw. My first born was able to help with this cake! This is a picture and memory that I treasure. 

My Mom (GiGi) carried on this tradition with my kids and they look forward to “the bunny cake” every Easter. Now, let’s dive into the goods! What to put in your kiddos Easter baskets?!? I have a few items that are in their baskets every year. These items are swimsuits and gourmet candy. Every kid needs a new swimsuit for the approaching summer. This is a good time to stock up on staples while gifting!! Can I get an Amen?!? The gourmet candy is something fun that I like to do. I look at different places every year for different and unique candies that the kids do not get throughout the year. This year Williams Sonoma was my pick. They had adorably decorated soft marshmallows for Brix and then cute, cardboard baskets full of a variety of candies for the older kids! Honestly, this is something I look forward to searching out each year! 

Let’s start with the little ones! The little ones are so much fun and can be very inexpensive. I tell the kids, the older they get, the less they get, because their items get more expensive! I naturally did a couple of new bathing suits for Brix, with a matching sunhat and shades. I love Ruffle Butts, Minnow Swim and Janie and Jack for swim items. I usually do craft items for the younger kids. I like for them to use their imagination. I added finger paints, finger stamps, dolphin crayons, an art smock, paper, kinetic sand, and a Blippi mess free coloring book. Brix has a real obsession with Blippi, don’t get me started! AHHHH! I do love the crayola mess free books for trips in the car because they can not write on my seats!! Hallelujah! This year I added a “My First Bible” for Brix because we enjoy reading to him at night and this one fit the bill. This Bible is from Cecil and Lou. They make the cutest clothes and accessories. Check them out! Have fun with the little ones baskets. Get them items they need and things to help them grow and develop!! 

Let’s move on to the older kids. I have an 8 year old girl, 18 year old boy and an 18 year old girlfriend of my sons. I will show you a couple different ideas in the pictures below. Once again, all of the kids get a swimsuit. They need these and Easter baskets are a great excuse to buy them one or two! For my older son, I also do a gift card from somewhere he is wanting to buy from, or most of the time, I do a Visa gift card for him to use toward gas. They each get gourmet candies and maybe an accessory they have been eyeing. Boys are so easy, in my opinion. My girls think that they need “all the things” as you will see below. 

My girls…..bless you girl Mama hearts…..they think they need it all! The latest fashion in clothes and accessories are what they desire but honestly, I can’t blame them! Fashion, in my opinion, is so much fun! Clearly, the reason I began this blog! My girls are getting a bathing suit that they have had their eye on. I usually add a cover up and then accessories like, hats and flip flops. I also added a craft for my 8 year old daughter. She loves to imagine and I love this about her! I added a Crayola art craft that comes with a shadow box to frame and hang! These are found in the craft section at Target! Target has really stepped up their game in this section. I added their gourmet Williams Sonoma candy and this year, I added hand painted wooden eggs to commemorate a special event in their lives. My daughter is getting a softball egg and my son’s girlfriend is receiving a graduation egg, because she is a Senior in high school. These are so neat! You can call and place a special order at The Olde Tyme Commissary in Madison, MS. These are fun to collect and look back on in years to come! 

I hope you enjoyed this little insert on Easter Baskets. I love getting ideas from others! Maybe something I added will help spark ideas for your Easter Basket goodies. I love making every holiday special. I want my kids to remember the fun, laughter and memories made just like my parents and grandparents did for me! Enjoy! Until next time!!

Running On All Cylinders

When I decided to take the “leap of faith” into the blogging world, I had no idea that I would be taking on a job as a Division Manager for a Home Health company at the same time. I “thought” I would ease my way back into the “perfect job”. It’s funny how God always seems to have other plans! His plans never seem to be exactly how I design them, but his ways are HIGHER!

As a woman, I sometimes feel pulled in MANY directions. Am I a good enough Mom? Am I working hard enough for my family? Does my husband feel needed? Do my friends know that I love hanging out? Am I giving to the community? All of these questions swirl in my head most days. How can I fulfill all my duties…..while filling everyones tank and then make time for my own tank? When do we feel “enough”? These are all questions I’ve had to take a hard look at!

As a wife and mother, I feel as though my main job is to take care of my husband, my kids, the house and then tend to my job. Here lately, I feel like this has been opposite. That, in itself, stresses me out! I had to sit down and self evaluate. My house does not always have to look perfect inside and out. If I have several loads of laundry on a Saturday, that is ok! All of these questions are about perspective. Perspective, as defined in Websters Dictionary, is the way YOU see something! HA! The way that I see something! Clearly, our entire life is all about perspective. Example; the toys are all over the house OR I see toys and I’m reminded how truly happy and blessed I am to have children! I finally realized my perspective was off! Now, is your glass always…..half full? NOPE! But, changing your thought pattern is the first step! 

Today, I leave you with this blog post about PERSPECTIVE! Are you looking at the glass half full or the glass half empty? If your answer is half empty, its time to change your perspective! God designed each one of us for such a time as this! I’m learning each day to embrace that gift and look at things and situations the way HE intended! Until next time, y’all!

Save VS Splurge

Hey y’all! I hope this blog post finds you well! I do not know about y'all, but I’m DYING for some Spring like weather. I’ve enjoyed the cold weather in the south and wearing my boots, but bring on the shorts and sandals! Am I right?!?! While craving a little warm weather, I’ve found some save vs splurge items that I thought you all may be interested in! Check it out!

Who doesn’t love fashion and ALL the things, but often times, those “things” come with a hefty price tag. I’ve found that most of the time, there is always a similar item that has a less expensive price tag, a “dupe” if you will! Let’s explore a few of those items that I have found. Take a look!

This bathing suit is adorable! I personally have the $22 Amazon suit! It is not shear and has great coverage. The $200 suit is from Revolve. I am sure it is very well made, but honestly, you can not go wrong with the $22 Amazon “dupe”. Having said that, if you dig enough, you will always find a similar version of the item for way cheaper. Let’s look at one more. 

Can you tell me which slide is a save and which is a splurge??? Some “dupes” are almost identical and some vary a little. Either way, you are getting the item that you desire at a fraction of the cost! OK, let’s guess which slide is more expensive? The pink bow slides are adorable and very similar in appearance. The pair to the left are the Mossimo brand from Target for $22.99 and the ones to the right are the brand Steve Madden for 39.95. If you ask me, every dollar counts. The black pearl slides are so unique. You can dress them up or dress them down. The slides to the left are the brand A New Day from Wal Mart for $22.99 and the slides to the right are Miu Miu for $775. Which would you choose?!?

As you can see, there are so many good finds out there. Don’t get frustrated if the item that you have your eyes on is a bit out of your price range. Always look for a “save” or a “dupe”. If all else fails, shoot me a message. I will help you find that fabulous item!

Until next time!! —Calla 

MARDI GRAS EXPLORING

Follow as we explore new vacation spots in Georgia……

Hey y'all! Welcome to my first official newsletter! Thank you for following along with me, my family and friends on this new adventure! I am excited to share new and different things with you each week! Let’s go! 

Travel is this weeks HOT TOPIC! The kids were on Mardi Gras break from school, so we took them on a little adventure. We started by heading North to Atlanta. We stayed at the Marriott Atlanta Downtown. We have a Marriott Bonvoy card. This card gives us perks such as, points to use toward Marriott hotels. We took advantage of these perks in Atlanta. It’s a nice benefit if you are in the market for a new card, check it out! 

We stayed in Atlanta for one night and visited the GA Aquarium. The kids had a blast and were even greeted by an alligator jumping at them through the glass! They freaked!! :) After the aquarium, we headed more North toward Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier Islands. This was a MUCH slower pace in the woods compared to the hustle and bustle of the city. We spent the next few days exploring the island and the lodge. 

Legacy Lodge at Lanier Islands has many amenities and accommodations to offer all different groups. We had our in-laws in tow so we opted for the small lake house. The Legacy Lodge offers hotel rooms at the lodge, small villas and lake homes. If you go on their website: https://www.lanierislands.com/lake_lanier_accommodations/legacy_lodge/ You can check out everything they have to offer. Our small lake house had a “cabin” feel. It was very quaint, simple with a rustic touch. It was a perfect way to disconnect. 

On President’s Day, we decided to visit Margaritaville’s License to Chill-Snow Island. This was a neat experience for us and the kids. We played in the snow, tubed down a hill and ice skated. They had a little something for all ages. It was nice to play in the snow and then sit around a large fire pit to sip on hot coco. 

Have you ever seen a nurse birth a Cabbage Patch doll?!? Well, if not, you need to! On this trip we made a special visit to Cabbage Patch Baby land Hospital. Cray (my daughter) adopted a curly headed Cabbage Patch and named her, Layla Jane. Brix (my son) immediately went to a stuffed deer and wanted the price tag ripped off. I guess you can say that he “adopted” the deer! After a fun experience at The Cabbage Patch Hospital, we made our way to the Bavarian town of Helen, GA. If you have never experienced Oktoberfest in Helen, DO IT! The festival is in October every year and the weather is perfect. We had lunch at Cowboys and Angels restaurant. Try to do lunch here on Tuesdays. They offer “Tuesday Tapas” and their small bites are superb! There is no meal complete without a touch of something sweet to conclude a good meal. Soooooo, after lunch we stopped by Hansel and Gretels Bakery. If you find yourself in this bakery, you have to try the snappy turtles and the truffles. Now, if you are in Helen, you are close to Jaemor Farms! You have to drive a little South from Helen to check out this farm and gift shop. We stopped by to load up on their Vegetable Soup Stock, Jellies, Jams and Preserves. I promise, you can not go wrong here! Make the short drive happen!

If you have stayed with me this long, thank you! I want to be a “go to” for many things, including travel. If you would like to see more details such as, the best restaurants, the best shopping or the best places to use the restroom, go to my instagram and follow my story @cgibradshaw. You will not be disappointed! Until next time!

It all begins with an idea…..

It all begins with an idea. Y’all, this is crazy! I’ve wanted to publish a blog and story on instagram for years, but here I am on a WILD Friday night finally starting!! Buckle up, you are about to embark on a crazy ride with me.

Shoutout to all the ones who pushed me to excel. The ones who pushed me to reach for something more. The ones who have and continue to root me on…..my friends, my KOC (you know who you are). If you don’t have friends who truly want to see you succeed, you should reevaluate and grab some up.

This is an awful time to start my blog. Honestly, when is a good time to do anything? After being in field sales for 14 years, I have started a new job as a Division Sales Manager for a home health company. Now, here I go starting something new right smack in the middle of my already chaotic life. I see it more as an outlet to get lost and explore with you, my old and new friends. Let’s do this thang!!!