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March 20, 2017 By Jennifer Weitz Leave a Comment
Filed Under: France, Travel, Wine Tagged With: France, Wine Tour

Wine Tasting in Southern Rhone

Welcome!

I'm Jennifer, a foodie and wino that's learning to cook healthy(ier). Waiting with hope in God's timing for building our family, and supporting others who have to walk the same road of infertility. My husband and I can't stop/won't stop planning trips and traveling to new places. Thanks for joining me on my adventures! Read More…

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Latest on Instagram

File this under "Things I Forgot to Post Last Year

File this under "Things I Forgot to Post Last Year"
⠀
2020 definitely had its lows, as everyone can attest. My sister got me this shirt from a local lady who puts everything on shirts and personalizes anything you can imagine. I took these pictures on one of the days in September when we were trying our best for things to start to feel "normal" again. I have a feeling I will get a kick out of this shirt for a few years to come. Or maybe I need to wait 10 years or so for it to actually be funny 😂
⠀
While I can't recommend 2020, I *can* recommend @walshfamilywine, which felt like a second home for us last year! Getting to go on a few dates and also having the opportunity to let Dayna run around outside in their beautiful grounds while the weather was still warm was a big blessing. Also I'm pretty sure their Friday night Drinkwell virtual tastings saved our sanity, especially through March-May last year 🍷 just sayin'
⠀
p.s. speaking of which, local friends... did you see that @pauliesitalian is going to be at Walsh this weekend serving up fresh pasta dishes? Run, don't walk...what I mean is, click away from IG and go open your bowser right now and make a reservation!

Hey there #hungrythursday! ⠀ I think I've shared

Hey there #hungrythursday!
⠀
I think I've shared these lamb bowls before but we made them again recently and they are too pretty not to share again. They are basically Cava-like ripoffs at home! Once you get everything together for them it does take quite a bit of time, but very worth it and it makes great leftovers! We usually make a big thing of tzatziki and make lamb burgers around the same time so it can be used for both recipes. The pickled onions we almost always have a batch of in the fridge, and the hummus is the kalamta olive hummus I get at TJs. After chopping up a few more things (depending on what toppings you want) you put it all in with the turmeric rice and spiced lamb. Has definitely become a family favorite! You can find the recipe over at @foxandbriar or send me a DM.
⠀
(Btw I have no idea if Hungry Thursday is a thing. Just decided to declare it 😆) #feedfeed

Anyone else on the struggle bus heading into 2021?

Anyone else on the struggle bus heading into 2021?
⠀
Because that's where I am. I know there's the usual January, post-holidays slump, but there's an extra heaviness that seems hard to shake off this year. I especially feel bad for Dayna now that the holidays are over and she's had so little interaction with people other than us. She thrives from spending time with other kids, and being an only child makes it even harder. Cue the guilt over my inability to give her a sibling, and the cycle starts all over again.
⠀
Here's a few things I have decided to do to get me through the next couple of dreary, cold months:
⠀
x Decorate my bedroom. I can't say that it needs to be redecorated because I never really did it in the first place. I have put a couple of things on the wall and bought a few things here and there, but it has always taken the back burner and I would really like to make it a space to enjoy.
⠀
x Pray every morning. Before I touch my phone, get up, or do anything. Even if it's just for a few minutes.
⠀
x Learn more about wine! We signed up for a trial of SOMM TV in December and became hooked. Think we will sign up for a subscription because I don't think we can live without it now 😆
⠀
x Read Beauty in Barren Places by my friend Betsy Herman @lovethatbetsy and Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler @natashametzler
⠀
What are you doing to fight off the January slump??

A look back at our NYE wine dinner... ⠀ We do a

A look back at our NYE wine dinner...
⠀
We do a lot of hosting and a lot of cooking. One of our favorite events to host is our huge annual NYE wine tasting party. But with things the way they are we weren't able to do that this year. So instead we had a small dinner party where we were able to pair 5-courses with wine, show off some skills, and had friends contribute some great dishes too!
⠀
Here's what we had so you can have some inspiration for future events:
⠀
~Garlic shrimp paired with a 2018 Muscadet from the Loire Valley
⠀
~ French salad with goat cheese crumbles and radishes paired with @keswickvineyards 2018 LVA Viognier
⠀
~ Cote du Beouf, accompanied by twice baked potatoes and brussel sprouts & spinach made by friends paired with 2017 Guigal Crozes Hermitage
⠀
~ Mocha Trifle Cups made by a friend paired with @revalationvineyards Melange a Quarte
⠀
~ Blue cheese and honey paired with Chateau Miselle Sauternes
⠀
We also had a Cava for the midnight toast but by the time it came around we had forgotten about it, and we were all done drinking anyway 😆
⠀
Did you open anything good for New Year's? I would love to hear what you decided to open! Unless you opened some Barefoot. That you can keep to yourself 🤣

What kind of beating did your tree take this year?

What kind of beating did your tree take this year? 😂
⠀
Dayna enjoyed removing, playing with, and engaging in an occasional chew with our Christmas tree ornaments this year. Thus the lower half of our tree looks slightly worse for the wear, but thankfully I have learned from last year to only put non-breakable ones/ornaments I don't care about getting slobbered on 🤦
⠀
The mangling of my ornaments did not land this cutie on the naughty list, however! She still received several fun and thoughtful gifts from family members and friends this year.
⠀
Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! Swipe to see some more pics of our Christmas love bug 🤩 #CTFOB

"All that you have is out of His grace... ⠀ Jesu

"All that you have is out of His grace...
⠀
Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us, is the open channel through which God moves to provide all the benefits He gives to [everyone]…. You cannot believe that you have earned it. You cannot believe that it has something to do with whether you are good or bad. Confess that it is out of His grace, for the entire universe is the beneficiary of God’s grace and goodness.”
⠀
--“From Heaven: A 28 Day Advent Devotional” by A. W. Tozer
⠀
📸 Christmas Eve 2016 in Avignon, France

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! ⠀ "And

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
⠀
"And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth, for He will be great before the Lord." Luke 1:14

Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn, unto us a Child

Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn,
unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given,
God Himself comes down from heaven. Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn,
Jesus Christ today is born. God from God, and Light from Light,
comes with mercies infinite,
from high heaven he comes to earth,
one with us in human birth. God with us, Emmanuel,
deigns forever now to dwell;
he on Adam’s fallen race
sheds the fullness of his grace. God comes down that we may rise,
lifted by him to the skies;
Christ is born for us that we
born again in him may be. O renew us, Lord, we pray,
with thy Spirit day by day,
that we ever one may be
with the Father and with thee!
~ Sing, O Sing This Blessed Morn Merry Christmas Eve! 📸 Palais des Papes in Avignon, France December 2016

Gosh she's cute and she knows it! ⠀ Happy almost

Gosh she's cute and she knows it!
⠀
Happy almost Christmas Eve 🎄

Follow on Instagram

Follow me on Bloglovin’

My Life in Pictures

File this under "Things I Forgot to Post Last Year

File this under "Things I Forgot to Post Last Year"
⠀
2020 definitely had its lows, as everyone can attest. My sister got me this shirt from a local lady who puts everything on shirts and personalizes anything you can imagine. I took these pictures on one of the days in September when we were trying our best for things to start to feel "normal" again. I have a feeling I will get a kick out of this shirt for a few years to come. Or maybe I need to wait 10 years or so for it to actually be funny 😂
⠀
While I can't recommend 2020, I *can* recommend @walshfamilywine, which felt like a second home for us last year! Getting to go on a few dates and also having the opportunity to let Dayna run around outside in their beautiful grounds while the weather was still warm was a big blessing. Also I'm pretty sure their Friday night Drinkwell virtual tastings saved our sanity, especially through March-May last year 🍷 just sayin'
⠀
p.s. speaking of which, local friends... did you see that @pauliesitalian is going to be at Walsh this weekend serving up fresh pasta dishes? Run, don't walk...what I mean is, click away from IG and go open your bowser right now and make a reservation!

Hey there #hungrythursday! ⠀ I think I've shared

Hey there #hungrythursday!
⠀
I think I've shared these lamb bowls before but we made them again recently and they are too pretty not to share again. They are basically Cava-like ripoffs at home! Once you get everything together for them it does take quite a bit of time, but very worth it and it makes great leftovers! We usually make a big thing of tzatziki and make lamb burgers around the same time so it can be used for both recipes. The pickled onions we almost always have a batch of in the fridge, and the hummus is the kalamta olive hummus I get at TJs. After chopping up a few more things (depending on what toppings you want) you put it all in with the turmeric rice and spiced lamb. Has definitely become a family favorite! You can find the recipe over at @foxandbriar or send me a DM.
⠀
(Btw I have no idea if Hungry Thursday is a thing. Just decided to declare it 😆) #feedfeed

Anyone else on the struggle bus heading into 2021?

Anyone else on the struggle bus heading into 2021?
⠀
Because that's where I am. I know there's the usual January, post-holidays slump, but there's an extra heaviness that seems hard to shake off this year. I especially feel bad for Dayna now that the holidays are over and she's had so little interaction with people other than us. She thrives from spending time with other kids, and being an only child makes it even harder. Cue the guilt over my inability to give her a sibling, and the cycle starts all over again.
⠀
Here's a few things I have decided to do to get me through the next couple of dreary, cold months:
⠀
x Decorate my bedroom. I can't say that it needs to be redecorated because I never really did it in the first place. I have put a couple of things on the wall and bought a few things here and there, but it has always taken the back burner and I would really like to make it a space to enjoy.
⠀
x Pray every morning. Before I touch my phone, get up, or do anything. Even if it's just for a few minutes.
⠀
x Learn more about wine! We signed up for a trial of SOMM TV in December and became hooked. Think we will sign up for a subscription because I don't think we can live without it now 😆
⠀
x Read Beauty in Barren Places by my friend Betsy Herman @lovethatbetsy and Pain Redeemed by Natasha Metzler @natashametzler
⠀
What are you doing to fight off the January slump??

A look back at our NYE wine dinner... ⠀ We do a

A look back at our NYE wine dinner...
⠀
We do a lot of hosting and a lot of cooking. One of our favorite events to host is our huge annual NYE wine tasting party. But with things the way they are we weren't able to do that this year. So instead we had a small dinner party where we were able to pair 5-courses with wine, show off some skills, and had friends contribute some great dishes too!
⠀
Here's what we had so you can have some inspiration for future events:
⠀
~Garlic shrimp paired with a 2018 Muscadet from the Loire Valley
⠀
~ French salad with goat cheese crumbles and radishes paired with @keswickvineyards 2018 LVA Viognier
⠀
~ Cote du Beouf, accompanied by twice baked potatoes and brussel sprouts & spinach made by friends paired with 2017 Guigal Crozes Hermitage
⠀
~ Mocha Trifle Cups made by a friend paired with @revalationvineyards Melange a Quarte
⠀
~ Blue cheese and honey paired with Chateau Miselle Sauternes
⠀
We also had a Cava for the midnight toast but by the time it came around we had forgotten about it, and we were all done drinking anyway 😆
⠀
Did you open anything good for New Year's? I would love to hear what you decided to open! Unless you opened some Barefoot. That you can keep to yourself 🤣

What kind of beating did your tree take this year?

What kind of beating did your tree take this year? 😂
⠀
Dayna enjoyed removing, playing with, and engaging in an occasional chew with our Christmas tree ornaments this year. Thus the lower half of our tree looks slightly worse for the wear, but thankfully I have learned from last year to only put non-breakable ones/ornaments I don't care about getting slobbered on 🤦
⠀
The mangling of my ornaments did not land this cutie on the naughty list, however! She still received several fun and thoughtful gifts from family members and friends this year.
⠀
Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas! Swipe to see some more pics of our Christmas love bug 🤩 #CTFOB

"All that you have is out of His grace... ⠀ Jesu

"All that you have is out of His grace...
⠀
Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us, is the open channel through which God moves to provide all the benefits He gives to [everyone]…. You cannot believe that you have earned it. You cannot believe that it has something to do with whether you are good or bad. Confess that it is out of His grace, for the entire universe is the beneficiary of God’s grace and goodness.”
⠀
--“From Heaven: A 28 Day Advent Devotional” by A. W. Tozer
⠀
📸 Christmas Eve 2016 in Avignon, France

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! ⠀ "And

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!
⠀
"And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth, for He will be great before the Lord." Luke 1:14

Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn, unto us a Child

Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn,
unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given,
God Himself comes down from heaven. Sing, O sing, this blessèd morn,
Jesus Christ today is born. God from God, and Light from Light,
comes with mercies infinite,
from high heaven he comes to earth,
one with us in human birth. God with us, Emmanuel,
deigns forever now to dwell;
he on Adam’s fallen race
sheds the fullness of his grace. God comes down that we may rise,
lifted by him to the skies;
Christ is born for us that we
born again in him may be. O renew us, Lord, we pray,
with thy Spirit day by day,
that we ever one may be
with the Father and with thee!
~ Sing, O Sing This Blessed Morn Merry Christmas Eve! 📸 Palais des Papes in Avignon, France December 2016

Gosh she's cute and she knows it! ⠀ Happy almost

Gosh she's cute and she knows it!
⠀
Happy almost Christmas Eve 🎄

This day four years ago in Avignon, France... ⠀

This day four years ago in Avignon, France...
⠀
Today's #traveltuesday is appropriate to the season! In 2016 we went to the Provence region of France for Christmas with two of our friends. Overall I like being at home for Christmas, especially now that we have Dayna, so I don't think we will plan to be away again over Christmas day until she's older. But it was a fun to be in another country and get a taste for how they do Christmas. For example, Christmas Eve was completely devoid of people...you couldn't find anyone outside. Everyone was inside with their families. But on Christmas day, the main square of Avignon was hopping!
⠀
One of my favorite shots from the trip was this very decked out carousel. So pretty! I still need to make an ornament out of it.
⠀
Would you consider traveling to another country for Christmas? If so which one? We want to do Vienna, Austria next!

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