How To Save Gifted Wine From the Trash

Single Serving Sangria

Who hasn't received a bottle of wine as a host or hostess that just wasn't quite palatable for their taste? Wine makes a great gift...when you are absolutely sure about the tastes and preferences of the person to whom you are gifting. Wine can be harder to shop for than clothing (at least you can eyeball a tshirt for the recipient and include a gift receipt if it doesn't fit. If that bottle gets popped and its too sweet or too dry its too late. So what to do?

Rather than pour that puppy down the drain, consider doctoring it up into an impromptu glass of sangria. First consider which direction the glass strays from your palate before deciding on a mixer. Too sweet? Grab the seltzer. Too dry? Grab the lemon-lime soda and some orange juice. (Consider a 1:1 ratio of wine to mix in.) This gives you a perfect summer spritzer. Feeling more adventurous? Why not mix in a bit of wine or liquor from your own cabinet to balance out the undesirable notes. Next check your fruit bowl or freezer for some complimentary fruit. Dice up a few strawberries or drop in some frozen blueberries. Voila, you've suddenly gone from drab to fab. Cheers!

Red or White & Blue Sangria

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Happy National Wine Day and Memorial Day Weekend! 

In honor of such a boozy occasion, I've come up with a two for one recipe...Red or White & Blue Sangria. Finalizing a menu that is a crowd-pleaser without driving the host into debt is one of the hardest tasks of party planning. Sure, you can throw a party where each person gets a customized beverage and dinner recipe, but you will probably need to take out a second mortgage. Sangria is a great party drink. The recipes lend themselves to large batches, but the question is always red or white?
Why not red and white? My Red or White & Blue Sangria lends itself to be made with either red or white, allowing you to use the same recipe twice and please the red wine drinkers and white wine drinkers in your life. Sorry beer drinkers, today just isn't your day 😉.

#HowtoWalkAway

A Book Review (No Spoilers!)

With the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend upon us, who isn't looking for a great book to spend the weekend with? How to Walk Away by Katerine Center is a book you truely can't walk away from! Full of ups and downs, "if you don't laugh, you will cry".  The tale of a Margaret Jacobsen, living a picture-perfect life, turned nightmare in a single second. See how she takes back her life and makes the most out of the cards she was dealt.

Pick up your copy before the long weekend and I guarantee you won't be able to put it down until the very end! I was lucky enough to snag an advanced copy from She Speaks, but its available now! Find a copy near you or only here! Let me know what you thought in the comments! I can't wait to chat with fellow readers.

Don't Doubt, Just Do!

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May is here (and so are my freebies) and with it comes my same old goal but a new mantra to keep my motivation alive. Putting off studying certainly crimped my plans more than anything else. Here I am a year later...living the "dream". Don't doubt, just do!

I'm still studying my butt off (30+ hours plus a full time job and whatever attention home requires), so my writing is behind to say the least. If you thought my content has been new, I have had you well tricked, but my archive is well stocked and my posts are scheduled. Keep your eyes posted on my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for shares of old posts, recipes that keep me moving, drink concoctions  I'm trying, the occasional quick update and my resurfacing in July summer. In the meantime, enjoy my May freebies as consolation!

Starbuck's Hack: Abby's Apple Pie Chai

I love anything chai when there is a chill in the air. The spices just warm me right up. The apple chai is an old Starbuck's menu item from back in my college days. It was a tasty treat in the fall. It eventually went the way of other seasonal drinks (the Starbuck's Cemetery) but was still available to order if you're barista had any recollection. One day I caught a glimpse of my barista mixing mine up and was pleasantly pissed to see that it was just steamed apple juice with a few pumps of chai. I thought "wtf, I can do this at home without spending $4 a cup." Alas, like most other inventions, Abby's Apple Chai was born out of straight up spite.

Green Your Routine With #obTampons

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Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22nd. Are you looking for a way to green your routine? Personally, I have found that making changes to my habits are the most effective. By swapping out products that I use consistently for more eco-friendly, I can make a long term difference. For instance, I try to donate gently used clothing and household items, rather than send them off to the landfill. I also have been making an effort to replace household cleaning products with greener, chemical-free versions like Seventh Generation detergents, pods and cleaning products. I carry my own shopping bags and turn down plastic. I reuse and recycle the plastic bags that have accumulated around the house.

Sorry For What I Said When it Was Winter

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My April freebies are here...better late than never. I'm sorry for the things I said when it was winter...if only winter would just fucking end already. This roller coaster of weather has my emotions doing the same thing. I love the sun one day and hate the frost the next. As I continue to barrage my brain with architecture related bits of knowledge, bask in my latest creation!

I've moved on from construction documents, specifications and contracts, but my love affair continues with planning, programming and project management. Keep your eyes posted on my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for shares of old posts, recipes that I'm trying, the occasional quick update and my resurfacing in the spring/summer. I've prepped some posts ahead of time and I'm full of ideas, fresh recipes and tips and tricks that have kept me fed and clothed through this journey. Until I get it typed up and shared, enjoy my April freebies as consolation!

Super C Strawberry Mango Protein Punch

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Although spring is right around the corner, cold and flu season is still holding on. I have been super busy, so staying on top of my game, mentally and physically has been really important. No time to get sick! My crazy busy life demands an extra dose of Vitamin C. My delicious Super C Strawberry Mango Protein Punch has been a great way to start the day and fight office germs. Instead of almond milk, I added 1 cup of OJ to my favorite AM smoothie when I was starting to feel a little under the weather and voila, a new recipe was born! They say "out of necessity comes invention", after all.

With 30 g of protein (60% DV) and over 350% DV of Vitamin C, my Super C Strawberry Mango Protein Punch is the perfect way to start the day!

Shake Your Shamrocks

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Despite my crazy schedule, I managed to plan ahead and prep some cute March freebies for my loyal lovers. As I continue to barrage my brain with architecture related bits of knowledge, bask in my latest creation!

I'm in the trenches with construction documents, specifications and contracts so don't expect a lot of new writing, but keep your eyes posted on my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for shares of old posts, recipes that I'm trying, the occasional quick update and my resurfacing in the spring/summer. I've prepped some posts ahead of time and I'm full of ideas, fresh recipes and tips and tricks that have kept me fed and clothed through this journey. Until I get it typed up and shared, enjoy my March freebies as consolation!

Happy Valentine's Day

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Happy Valentine's Day Benjamin Babes. Over the last two years I've written and shared my fair share of Valentine's and couple-related posts.

Here are favorite All About the Benjamin's Valentine's Reads:

All You Need is Love

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Despite my crazy schedule, I managed to plan ahead and prep some cute February freebies for my loyal lovers. As I continue to barrage my brain with architecture related bits of knowledge, bask in my latest creation for the month of February!

I signed up for an intense 10 week study program to really get my butt in gear for the ARE. Overall, don't expect a lot of new writing, but keep your eyes posted on my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for shares of old posts, recipes that I'm trying, the occasional quick update and my resurfacing in the spring. I'm full of ideas, fresh recipes and tips and tricks that have kept me fed and clothed through this journey. Until I get it typed up and shared,, enjoy my February freebies!

Life is Better with Snow

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December is always one of my worst months for blogging. I set the bar so high and start off strong and as the holidays approach, Christmas shopping, wrapping and eating get the best of me. Although I missed a few goals, I achieved others that weren't on the list.

I managed to crank out the Chaos-Free Christmas Manual for my readers. Check that out as a handy dandy resource for all of your holiday planning. Pair it with My Ultimate Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Guide for a conquer all strategy before Easter gets the best of you. It's not as far away as you think.

I also churned out 65 unique, handmade Christmas cards. No two cards were alike! They hit the mail a little late, thanks to a bout of the flu, but better late than never.

I signed up for an intense 10 week study program to really get my butt in gear for the ARE. Overall, don't expect a lot of new writing, but keep your eyes posted on my Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for shares of old posts, recipes that I'm trying, the occasional quick update and my resurfacing in the spring. Until then, enjoy my January freebies!