Eat, Play, Watch - Soccer and Trivento Wine

Thank you Trivento for sponsoring this post. Get in the game with Trivento Wine and Major League Soccer!

I have always gotten a kick out of soccer.
I was on a team as child,
(not well, but I tried and loved being part of a team)
my kids also played and I loved watching them in all the suspense and excitement,
waiting for the joy of scoring or making a big defensive play.
My family is lucky to live close to Stanford and we often to ride bikes over to see their soccer teams compete or kick the ball around one of their beautiful fields.
When I found out Trivento Wine is the official wine of Major League Soccer,
I realized there is even more reason to celebrate one of the world's favorite sports!



It is always my goal to make any event festive and fun.
I'm thrilled that our adult friends can enjoy delicious, interesting wine
 that the MLS know is special enough to be official.

The Trivento Reserve Malbec has hints of ripe red fruits and has a smooth lingering finish.

It has all the perfect flavors of a World Cup worthy wine!

The White Orchid, Torrontes blend is definitely a catch.

It is a great alternative to Pinot Grigio and has the aromas of
 flowers, pineapple, chamomile, golden apple and citrus.
It is light on it's feet and vibrant, just like a great soccer player.

It is no secret, I love a theme.

If we are going to be playing or watching soccer,

 the food we have a ball with, has to match.

It's as simple as black and white...

I love to slice fresh mozzarella into circles and melt onto store bought pizza dough.

Topped with sliced black olives, this snack is ready to kick off some fun.

And just to be cheesy, 

a tray of sliced mozzarella and colossal black olives 

also scores a few points during the game...

Cheers!

You can score big with

Trivento-MLS find out more about their Wine Loyalty program here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Recipe for a great Mother's Day- lots of love and Butter

Thank you JaM Cellars for sponsoring this post. Looking for Butter Chardonnay near you? Check out their easy-to-use Store Locator! Just pop in your zip code and the Butter will be waiting!

There are so many reasons to celebrate on Mother's Day.

I love honoring my mom for all the amazing things she does,
telling my best friends what great job they are doing and even wishing strangers Happy Mother's Day, simply because we all know what a hard job it is..
For me it is about thinking about what it is to be a good mother and the impact it can have.

But let's face it, I also love that its a day my family thinks about me
and does what I want with no (or little) complaints!

My recipe for a perfect mother's day is a casual, colorful day where
we hit my favorite spots all over town.
And of course, it is Better with Butter Chardonnay.

My recipe for a great day with my family is:

1. Stop and Smell the Flowers

We are lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and stunning scenery is all around us.

One of my favorite spots is an amazing yellow mustard field in Half Moon Bay.

It's the perfect compliment for the luscious, bold JaM Cellars Butter Chardonnay.

It melts right into the landscape, just like it does in your mouth.

My family is used to me screeching to a halt,

 for any and all stunning landscapes along the roadside 

so they might as well dive right in...

because you may get a chance to eat the props!

2. Browse the Farmer's Market

It is no secret that I am a Farmer's Market addict.

I love seeing what is in season and the vendors

 are always so knowledgeable and proud of their bounty.

I could spend hours there, picking out just the right produce.

Everything is colorful, ripe and bursting with flavor,

 so of course Butter Chardonnay fits right in.

It has hints of stone fruit, tropical fruit, pear, lemon and vanilla.

It's like a Farmer's Market in a glass!

3. Go on the hunt for fun painted murals

I love a good backdrop and it is always an adventure to scour the streets

 to find colorfully painted walls.  

Art is everywhere and I find it so inspiring.

The bright, cheerfulness just makes me happy
and I love to see creative minds at work.

Everyone loves flowers on Mother's Day, right?

JaM Cellars makes Butter in the tradition of quality California wine making that really is an art.

They select the perfect juicy grapes 

when they are bursting with flavor and cold ferment them into a masterpiece.

3. Have a picture perfect meal

Since Mother's Day is my day, 

my family may have to hold that pose and appease me to get that perfect shot.

We love to great food and there are times my family can't stand the anticipation 

while I get that mouthwatering shot.

But when we are ready to eat, 

I love any pretty "spread" that includes Butter...

4. Butter at the Barn

The perfect way to end the day is a glass of wine at the rustic barn in our neighborhood.

Butter is so easy to love just like this old barn.

It's just simple, special spot to reflect on the day, and Spread the Love.
Happy Mother's Day!

You can learn more about JaM Cellars here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I'm Dreaming of a Wine Christmas - Fun Holiday Tags

'Tis the season for hostess gifts, neighbor gifts, gifts for co-workers...

having bottles of wine ready to grab and go alleviates a lot of holiday stress for me.

It may not always the most exciting present,

 but it is always appreciated.  I love finding unique, interesting wines 

and handing it over with a fun tag makes all the difference

What better way to let someone know you want them to

"Cab a Merry Christmas"?

or that their dreams of a "Wine Christmas" are coming true?

and it may not be the first Holiday color that comes to mind, 

but there is nothing more festive than to 

"Think Pink"!

Tags are available in my Etsy Shop

Time to get BOO-zed!

October is here.

The month of ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and 

everyone's favorite neighborhood ding-dong ditching activity,

Boo-ing.

We are keeping our adult version alive once again this year...

So it is quite possible if you hear a knock on the door, 

and no one is there...

You've been BOO-zed!

Tags are available in my Etsy Shop.

Fall Colors Porch Party

Thank you JaM Cellars for sponsoring this post. Looking for Butter Chardonnay or JaM Cabernet near you? Check out our Store Locator! Just pop in your zip code.

Do you feel it? Are you starting to see it?

Fall is here!

There's a slight chill in the air 

and the leaves are changing into all the glorious colors of the season.

We are back to school, ready for tailgates, pulling out sweaters and taking the time to enjoy it all.

It is the perfect excuse to have a few friends stop by for a glass of wine, 

a bite to eat and cozy up on the porch.

As with any spread I put together, it is always better with Butter Chardonnay and JaM Cabernet!

(Is it a coincidence that the label colors perfectly match the leaves in my yard? I think not)

JaM Cellars is ready for any occasion. They make three amazing, everyday California wines - 

Butter Chardonnay, JaM Cabernet and Toast Sparkling.

Butter Chardonnay is rich, bold, luscious, smooth and buttery- just like its name.

JaM Cab bursts with lush berries on the nose and palate- bright, fruity and easy to love.

I keep the party simple so I don't miss a minute.

Everyone can help themselves to the wine and

nibble on snacks,

 as we chat about the passing of summer and our plans for the Fall.

It is no secret that I love a theme.

I am ready to jam and butter up the food for our casual gathering as well....

Warm pretzels with a creamy mustard butter is so easy to whip together.

Perfect with the chardonnay's unique blend of oak, notes of stone fruit, lemon 

and long, vanilla finish. 

Simply put, it all melts in your mouth!

Just place1 stick of room temperature butter, 

1 Tablespoon of stone ground mustard and 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard in a mixer, 

and blend together until it's a whipped consistency.

Next, raspberry jam and fresh thyme topped, warm Brie with crostini, 

will preserve the fun of the night.
I don't think you can ever get too much "berry". 
I love this easy appetizer with JaM Cab. 
It has touches of blackberries, plums and black currant. 
It's wonderful with the mild, versatile cheese and earthy herbs on top.

Cheers to all of the colors of Fall, 

enjoy it all!

If you love a daily splash wine-spiration and witticisms, check out JaM Cellars on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Outdoor Game Night - Get Ready to JaM through Fall...

Fall is upon us...

are you ready for a barrel of fun?

We are trading in those hot summer days for the cool autumn breezes.

It's the perfect time to grab the outdoor games, 

gather up your best buds and pour a little JaM Cabernet.

JaM Cab is an easy-to-love, every day wine. 

It is 100% California Cabernet Sauvignon that bursts with dark berries, 

plums and has a beautiful vanilla finish.

It is right at home, chilling on the lawn for a roll of the dice!

No game night is complete without snacks to feed that competitive spirit.

JaM Cab goes with everything, 

especially festive food that rhyme with it!

JaM is happy with HaM, 

lovely with LaMb, 

and cheery with CLaMs...

If you play your cards right...

and get your dominoes all in a row...

game night is sure to be a winner...

Because it's really all about having a ball, right?

Second-generation Napa Valley vintners John and Michele are the “J” and the “M” in JaM Cellars. They made these wines in a style they love to enjoy with their friends any day of the week.

Cabernet is not the only one chilling, 

they also make Butter Chardonnay and Toast Sparkling.

“We take our wines seriously; we just don’t take ourselves seriously!” 

Follow JaM Cellars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for daily wine-spiration 

#JaMCellars @JaMCellars

Find JaM Cellars at a grocery store near you...
use their Wine Finder here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive.