Carrie and Danielle

Canadian Ice Wine

2009-11-07T01:53:42Z

About Ice Wine

Many people have yet to hear of ice wine. Ice wine is a type of a dessert wine that is made from grapes that have been allowed to freeze while still growing on the vine. Although the grapes and the water will freeze on the vine the grapes sugars and other dissolved solids don’t.

With the water freezing and the others staying unfrozen it will allow for a grape that is more concentrated to be pressed out which will lead to smaller quantity but a much more concentrated and sweet tasting wine. Since the freezing is pre-fermentation it will keep the acidity which will allow for a balanced sweet and acidic tasting wine which is a very unusual but tasty blend.

Since it is a very labor intensive process along with some risky production that results in only small amounts of wine being produced you will find that the iced wines are generally quite expensive.

Production of Ice Wine

Ice wine is made in a lot of places; however, the most expensive but also the best ice wines are going to come from Canada. There are two reasons for this:

Canada contains the wine regions with the climates that are unique to the other places in the world where they make this type of wine. This allows for the Canadian iced wines to get the most quality production possible out of all of the countries making iced wine.
The Canadians take their wine very seriously. The production is actually legally regulated with the grapes that are used having weight limits so that the sucrose to water ratio is kept for only the best are used.
They can also only be picked when the temperature is only 17 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Finally the grapes may only freeze naturally.

All of these factors allow for the most natural and best tasting production possible. While it is more expensive you’re definitely coming out ahead on the cost/benefit factor.

Characteristics

The Canadian iced wine is a very refreshing wine that will have anywhere from a medium to a full body of flavor. You’ll find the flavors are dictated by the grapes that are used; however, they are generally described as having some of the following tastes:

Peach
Pear
Apricot
Apples
Honey
Caramel

In terms of alcohol content it is generally a range of around 8-13%.

Concluding

Over the decades there have been a lot of changes and additions in the types of wines ranging from:

Table wines
Boxed wines
Sparkling wines

Even with all of these changes the iced wine is beginning to increase in popularity as more and more people start to learn about it. It will continue to become a more powerful player within the wine industry and everyone will begin to learn more and more about the quality of this wine. When it comes to negative connotations of an iced wine, they are much undeserved.

Award Winning Wines

2009-11-07T01:53:21Z

One of the best things you can do instead of researching your wines all of the times to find out which ones have won awards, which ones are rated highly, etc… and then trying to hunt all of them down you should look towards doing one of the wines of a month club.

You’ll find that some of the best wines you could try are ones that you would have otherwise never even heard of. You’ll find that the reason for this is they aren’t produced in as high of quantities so you’re not going to be able to find them through the major distributors of the wine.

More often these small productions from the winery are going to be some of the best that you can find in the world. Even though they aren’t picked up by some of the large distributors you’ll find the wine of the month clubs are going to search out these wines for their customers from the smaller vineyards. Other than through this option you’d only find it if you were localized to where that winery is.

By joining wine clubs you’re going to not only find these great wines but you’ll also eliminate all of the guesswork from tying to find some good wines you normally wouldn’t have otherwise. The wine clubs are just the perfect size to take and buy the smaller productions up for their participants.

The only caution is that you should look for a wine club that has been around for a long time. In longevity you can eliminate a newer club looking more towards the bottom line only rather than the providing an excellent tasting experience each and every month.

Another benefit you’re going to get from a company that has been around long-term is that they are going to have access to more of the best in terms of first selection from wineries that are big or small through their relationships established over time.

Wine Cellar Temperature

2009-11-09T00:27:49Z

Overview

Having a wine cellar if you’re a serious collector is the perfect addition to your home. It will give you a very refined and stylish look for you to be able to display all of your beloved wines as well as allowing for the right atmosphere to store them in so they age well rather than have the potential of getting damaged by improper storing conditions.

Humidity and Temperature Considerations

You’re going to need to analyze the humidity levels overall in the cellar so you’re going to be able determine how much if any artificial assistance you’re going to need to make sure everything is kept at the proper humidity. The thing that is the main determination is:

Location
Location
Location

Depending on the area of the country that you live in you’re either going to need a complete climate control system or if you live in another you won’t need near as much should you place your wine cellar in a good location. You’ll want to take all of these things into account when you’re making your determinations for your wine cellar.

Make sure to install not just a thermostat but also a hygrometer so you’ll be able to keep a consistent and constant look on the conditions that are happening within the wine cellar and make any adjustments in order to ensure your wine ages properly. You should be looking at maintain a consistent 55 degrees Fahrenheit along with a 60-65 percent level of humidity. The hygrometer is the way that you’ll measure the humidity level in the wine cellar while the thermostat will of course measure the temperature level.

You should also make the investment for both a wine cellar conditioner as well as a wine cellar climate control unit so you’ll have humidity as well as temperature regulation within the unit.

The Humidity

It’s important to make an investment in both a wine cellar conditioner as well as a climate control unit. These will work in concert to control both the humidity and the temperature regulation.

Be sure to check the hygrometer every day or at least every other day at the latest. If you let the humidity in your wine cellar drop; even if it is just for a day or two, could have a profoundly adverse affect on the bottles cork. It will dry the cork to the point that it breaks the seal which can allow the wine to oxidize. You’ll simply want to turn on the wine cellars conditioner and let it run when the room is in need of some humidity. It can take anywhere from minutes to a couple of hours depending on the power of your conditioner as well as the overall size of your wine cellar. Keep check of the hygrometer to make sure you are tracking the progress.

Wine Storage Units

2009-11-07T01:52:54Z

Overview

When you have better wine storage it’s simply going to equate to a better tasting wine as well. Whether you are an enthusiast about red wine, white wine, or both you’ll find that you can benefit from having a wine storage unit. You’re of course going to want to make sure that you find something that is going to suit your preferences when it comes to the space for storage, the overall size as well as the aesthetic and ease of use when you’re looking to make a purchase here are some things that you should take into account when making your decision.

Determine Capacity

You’ll want to not only consider how much you’ll need right now but also what you’re going to be collecting and need as an overall space. You’ll find that it will be cheaper to go ahead and get what you know you’re going to need rather than getting another unit as you’ll save more money in the long-term if you simple get the unit that’s going to fit your overall needs. If you’re not ever going to keep a lot of bottles on hand and you’re more of a drinker than a collector than you’re much better off with a 12 bottle storage unit than a 36 bottle unit that you’re never going to fill. You’ll be saving not only on initial cost but overall energy costs as well.

Determine Features and Quality

Consider your other décor in the area you’re going to be putting your unit in and then think of the color for your unit, the finish and finally any other style issues before you start searching online or going to the stores. If you end up just choosing a unit without thinking it through than you’re likely to find yourself sorely disappointed and it will drive you insane for the life of the unit. On the other hand if you decide that you’re going to put and keep it in either a basement or a storage area than you really don’t have to consider the aesthetic look as much and thus will have a lot more leeway when it comes to the actual selection.

Finally you’re going to want to look at both the overall functionality and the features and figure out the mix of which are going to be the most important to you. The reason for this is that you’re likely not going to find that “perfect” unit unless you have something custom built; which of course would be quite expensive. You’re going to want to consider some features; such as:

The temperature controls (Do they have different areas if you’re storing more than one type of wine?)
Humidity control (for the same reason as the temperature controls)
The noise level
Energy efficiency
Overall durability
The door swing (does it fit the area that you’re in for easy access, etc…?)

Other Considerations

You’ll want to visit some different stores and some online retailers with everything that you are looking for in a unit. Eventually you should start to narrow down your selection and eventually purchase the one that you are most comfortable with along with the one that fits as many of your needs as possible.

Unbelievable Designer Cell Phones

2009-11-07T04:49:02Z

While a flashy car is still a great way to pick up chicks in high school, the luxury cell phone now reigns supreme as the king of bling. Conspicuous consumers are no longer satisfied by buying the most expensive cell phones you can get straight from AT&T or Verizon – instead, they escalate to the sinfully indulgent world of high fashion to get the flashiest phones that money can buy. Read on to find out what the richest of the rich demand from their phones – though you may need to pinch yourself midway through.

24K Yellow Gold White Snakeskin Apple 3GS iPhone
Apple’s quintessential smart phone with a notoriously lofty pricetag has unleashed an unprecedented wave of covetousness upon the world. But among those of us who can part ways with the hefty cell phone plans and upfront price tag of an Apple iPhone, there are a few who wish they could distinguish their illustrious purchase a bit more than choosing between black and white. If you’ve got £1,649 ($2,736 USD) then you can. Continental Mobiles sells an unlocked iPhone 3GS that’s decked out with a complete mirror finish and trimmed in 24 carat gold. On the flipside is covered in genuine snakeskin for true “opulence in communication.” If you’re inordinately flush with cash and not averse to gilding the lily, this serpentine temptation for a golden Apple may speak to you in honeyed tones – “Buy this iPhone.”

Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer Luxury Phone
They call gold a precious metal, but to the truly lavish, gold is kids stuff. Diamonds? How mundane. For those looking for a luxury cell phone made from truly rare stuff, check out the Mobiado Grand 350 Pioneer. These limited edition cell phones are made from – get this – meteorites from outer space. That’s right, the Gibeon meteorite was discovered in Nambia in 1836 and is believed to have originated in the neighborhood in Mars and Jupiter. Yes, you heard correctly – this historical meteorite traveled light years through space to be made into a very fancy cell phone.

Even if you could come up with the $5,600 to pay for this astral phone, you’ll certainly have difficulty getting a hold of one – they are only making 37. There must not have been enough meteorite to go around. Unlocked, this cell can hop on cell phone plans offered by any GSM network.

Samsung Armani Phone
Giorgio Armani? Doesn’t he make ridiculously high end clothing and jewelry? Yes, he does, but as it turns out, Armani makes smartphones, too. This haute couture phone runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and has an Active Matrix Organic LED display for top-notch resolution. The absurd thing about this phone, though is that it’s not diamonds or gold plating that make it cost over $1,000 – it’s simply the design. It comes SIM-free, though, meaning you can slide in any SIM card and begin using your high fashion phone on any number of cell phone plans.

Givori “Nefertiti” Nokia Arte
Givori rolled out a phone that manages to both be shamefully expensive ($4440) and paradoxically unenjoyable to behold. Inspired by the Egyptian queen Nefertiti – who, apparently must’ve been the richest, ugliest monarch in history – this phone is packed with vintage 1930s collectibles and coated in 24 carat gold covered Swarovski crystals. It’s an overload of opulence that achieves a look not unlike a slider phone that’s been at the bottom of the ocean collecting barnacles for half a century – very, very expensive barnacles. This phone is available unlocked which is extremely fair – anyone willing to shell out four grand for these peculiar creations should be able to get any cell phone plan he or she wants.

The Flashiest Luxury Cell Phones You’ll Never Own

2009-11-07T04:29:35Z

We’ve all read the blogs about how expensive the iPhone cell phone plans are over time and how parading around the coffee shop with your $299+ smartphone is just so much geeky conspicuous consumption. But wait until you get a load of these jaw dropping luxury cell phones. While most of us spend our time hunting for cell phone plans that let us talk more for less, these sky high class cell phones are designed to make a simple, yet effective, statement: I have lots and lots of money. Bargain aficionados beware – the price tags on these luxury cell phone may induce fainting. Read on at your own risk.

Republica Fashion Python BlackBerry
Republica Fashion designs a blinged out BlackBerry Bold known as the Python BlackBerry. This phone has all the business-ready connectivity of the BlackBerry Bold but with some ultra-high end amenities: real Italian python skin and VS1 diamonds abutting the keyboard and lining the 2-megapixel camera. The thing’s got a flash, but really, with all that ice gleaming off this opulent luxury cell phone, all you need is the light to hit just right and everyone in the room will be blinded by its glamour. All this can be yours for €6,559 (about $9,753 USD).

Being basically a lavish BlackBerry Bold, the Python BlackBerry plan works with T-Mobile and AT&T. Of course, if you unlock it, you can hop on any GSM network.

TAG Heuer MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini
Inspired by the Italian sports car that defines muscle and style, this phone ain’t no dainty little smartphone. This phone is bold and angular with a masculinity and luxury that matches the vehicle that inspired it. The case is made from black titanium carbide coated in 316L stainless steel and the display is crafted from 60.5 carats of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. No price has been announced yet – but it’s not the price tag that will keep you from owning this exclusive luxury cell phone – TAG Heuer is only selling 1963 of this limited edition in tribute to the year the Lamborghini Murcielagorolled out.
No word on which carrier will offer a Tag Heuer MERIDIIST Automobili Lamborghini cell phone plan – but as it’s European made, you can bet that it’ll work with any GSM network once unlocked.

Motorola Aura Diamond Edition
This flashy phone has 34 – that’s right – 34 diamonds embedded in it. Thirty of these diamonds are embedded above the phones one-of-a-kind circular display and the remaining four adorn the navigation key. The Motorola Aura Diamond Edition is plated in 18 carat gold and swivels to reveal the keypad, proving that Motorola hasn’t forgotten how to innovate super cool design even while pouring on the opulence. If you have $5,730 to spare, then you, too, can own a gold-plated, diamond studded phone.
This phone comes unlocked – meaning you can get a Motorola Aura Diamond Edition cell phone plan from any GSM provider.

Christian Dior Zenaide
The Christian Dior Zenaide is coming this Christmas – and if you’re really nice…really, REALLY nice – then maybe Santa just might take out a mortgage on his North Pole-based Workshop in order to put a down payment on one these bad boys for you. The Christian Dior Zenaide is gold plated, diamond encrusted and priced at $13,400! You can even buy a matching Bluetooth headset decked out with sapphires for an extra $470 – but why you’d want to attached such an inconspicuous device to your head instead of lifting a 13 grand luxury cell phone to your ear is beyond any of us.
With such a high price tag, you’d better believe this phone comes unlocked. Any provider that offers SIM cards will be able to hook you up with a Christian Dior Zenaide cell phone plan.

The absolutely wild thing about these over the top luxury cell phones is that these are just a few of the flashiest that we’ve decided to highlight. Luxury cell phones from high end designers like Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and other top international names are now in the cell phone game. After all, whether you use your cell phone to call your Swiss banker or to email your colleagues, a cell phone is an accessory to your style just like a watch or handbag. Why wouldn’t the hoightiest of the toightiest want in on making cell phones bling?

Kids are people, too. – PITCH TO SIMPLE MOM

2009-11-07T02:23:44Z

When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.
- Louis Pasteur

How would you feel if, when you first met someone new, they said to you, “Are you going to play shy?” or “Looks like someone’s in a bad mood.” What would you think if, when you needed a good boo-hoo, your friend said, “You’re fine. Don’t cry.” And if someone had an issue with you and they let you know about it in front of everyone in the room, how would that go down with you?

Grown ups say the darnedest things to kids – things we’d never dare say to a fellow adult. And in the process it can create tremendous confusion between a little person’s genuine feelings and what they’re being told to feel. It’s a discombobulation that many of us carry far into adulthood as we fumble to “get in touch with our feelings.”

THIS WEEK: Be conscious of your power with kids. Whether you’re a Mama Bear or a distant big cousin, this basic approach is divine: Don’t say anything to a child that you wouldn’t say to a grown up you adored. When you were a kid, how sparkling and “in”, and loved did you feel when a big person talked to you as though your feelings and opinions truly mattered?

Whether sad, mad, silly, or giggly, having your feelings respected fuels your shine – at every age.

Love those butterflies.

2009-11-07T02:23:22Z

I remember being nervous and terrified and stricken and energized, and it was the first time I realized that, okay, I had to find a way to take this adrenaline and this fear and these butterflies and turn them into a performance. It was a feeling that stuck with me for life, because if I don’t have some of those feelings before a show, the juice is not flowing.
- Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Whether it’s hosting a party, presenting at a meeting, or speaking to thousands, anxiety may be par for the course. Embrace the jitters. Butterflies are a sign that you’re alive and expanding. If you’re not feeling the flutters it’s just not that important to you.

Every time you feel the adrenaline whirl, imagine that you have wings and breathe that rush into your spreading wingspan. Think of it this way: your nerves are reminding you that you have what it takes.

Carrie’s pre-gig ritual: I always go for a run (moving my body stills my mind). Whether it’s a race, a talk, or a difficult conversation that I have to ready myself for, I meditate and visualize the experience I want to have in my mind. I randomly choose a page to read from any Eckhart Tolle book. Shower. Shave legs. Do whatever it takes to look great.

Danielle’s pre-gig ritual: 63 sit ups (3 rounds of 21, for no particular reason; I just like the number 21), some good ol’ fire breathing and kundalini yoga (“A flexible spine is a flexible mind!”) The Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh DVD is a jewel. Really hot bath with lavender oil. A spray of Rescue Remedy. Don’t leave the house without a great bra and a bit of bronzer.

Before every single stage talk, interview, or fancy meeting, we say a prayer together. We’ve prayed in taxi cabs and ladies rooms—we never miss the chance to anchor in and give thanks. And it usually goes something like this… Dear God, Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to do what we love. Help us shine so that we will inspire others to shine in their own lives. Thank you, thank you. May we rock.

Every butterfly wants to be important.

Thinking Simply Now: The Tina Su Interview

2009-11-07T02:22:54Z

Tina recently left her corporate job to focus on her passions fulltime. (link to TODO). She spends her time learning and teaching topics surrounding personal happiness.
Tina writes weekly at Think Simple Now on personal happiness and wellbeing. (link to http://thinksimplenow.com) Help her out and subscribe today for free.
See a more casual side of her everyday life and goals at SimplyTina (link to http://thinksimplenow.com/simplytina)

Which books, movies, or CDs have been most helpful or inspiring to you?

Books can be incredible teachers, packed with wisdom, value and inspiration. When you find ones that you connect with, your growth process accelerates. There are too many good ones to list, but here are the top four books. You can also see my complete list of highly recommended books.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Ways of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways by Susan Jeffers. Movies: Definitely The Secret, and What the Bleep, and Waking Life.

What’s the feeling you’re usually trying to achieve? What helps you get that?

For the past two years, my target has been to feel clarity and deep contentment in the now. When I am in this state, I fall into the flow of the present moment and experience an abundance of joy, creativity and calming bliss.

Getting to this state is simpler than many people assume, and as with all things new, we get better at it with practice. Here are some triggers I use to connect myself to this state:

Gratitude – Reflect on all the things, people, and situations that I am thankful for. It’s amazing how many miracles occur around us.
Meditation or Quiet Alone Time – Take time each day to focus on your soul. When you are well from the inside, your exterior will reflect this glow. Take quiet alone time for yourself. It’ll clear your mind and calm the noise running in it.
Inspirational Reading – I’ve found that reading something inspirational for 10-30 minutes is a phenomenal way to start one’s day and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Creative Expressions – Spending time deeply focused on something I enjoy, whether it is writing or photography.

What’s the advice that you’re always giving people?

You are not as stuck in your current unhappy situation as you may think.

What’s a repeating lesson in your life?

Focus on one thing at a time. Focus on one major project at a time. My natural inclination is to jump on all of the many projects that I get excited about. Problem is, I underestimate how long things will take, and overexert myself. As a result, I end up not making real progress on any single project.

What inspires you?

People and their stories inspire me. I love connecting with people who are passionate, authentic, brave, and compassionate. I believe that if we look, we can find something inspirational from every person we cross paths with. For every person we end up interacting with, consider asking ourselves, “What is it about this person that I admire?” or “What qualities does he/she have that I can learn from?”

How do you get things done?

Writing them down and scheduling tasks to complete each day. I’m a big fan of lists.

Just by virtue of being you, what are you teaching?

I am teaching personal happiness and fulfillment. I love to see the sparkle in people’s eyes when they are inspired, motivated and happy. Sometimes, seeing the results moves me to tears and encourages me to keep writing. People really are amazing.

We all have the stars of greatness twinkling within us, in a sky abundant with potential and possibilities. When we expect great things from others and see them as the shiny stars which they are, not only do we give them the encouragement they need to recognize their inner stars, but we are also giving them a priceless gift: Hope.

Simple rituals.

2009-11-07T02:21:40Z

Ritual is the way you carry the presence of the sacred.
- Christina Baldwin

Rituals ensure that we pay close attention to what’s happening. As Joseph Campbell put it, rites and commemorations “link us to the larger structure”—life beyond what we see. Between gift registries, cocktails, and daily calendars, a small ritual anchors us to the bigness of our lives unfolding.

IDEAS for SIMPLE RITUALS and CELEBRATION-MARKERS:
For Grown-ups:

For a friend’s birthday: Write a letter to your friend’s child… about your friend (and let your friend read it, of course). “Dear Junior, I’ve known your mom forever and let me tell why she’s so amazing…”
Daily love notes: Keep a spiral notebook and pen in the bathroom or kitchen to communicate back ‘n’ forth with your partner. For everything from “Babe, I’ll return the rented DVD,” and “Thanks for the hot night,” to “What I love most about you today is…,” this is an easy way to regularly acknowledge each other.
Wish beads: For a baby shower, have each guest bring two beads or charms to string into a strand of wishes. As the beads are strung on, a wish is recited (and recorded, if you want) for the baby and the mama. (This can also be done for couples getting married. One wish bead for the bride and one for the groom. Feel free to mix this wish bead ritual with stagette cocktails.)

For Kids & Babies:

Time-lapse photography: Take a picture of your kid in the same place (like on the porch or by the fireplace) every year on their birthday or on the first day of school.
On The Day: When a baby is born, buy the daily papers and magazines at the newsstand on their birthday. Seal them in a big plastic folder or gift box for safe keeping.

Whether you’re blowing out birthday candles or chanting scripture, a little ritual done with joy imprints your cells with the loveliness of the moment. So when the moment passes, you can still feel how very big life is.