Happy Words & Wine Down Wednesday, Folks! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. We are enjoying some nice ‘spring – like’ temperatures, here in Michigan. That is certainly something to drink about. {sip} I always love that time of the year, when I get to switch the thermostat knob in my car over to the blue zone, instead of the red. That REALLY gives my husband something to drink about. {gulp} I am also looking forward to daylight savings time approaching this coming Sunday. It’s always nice to have longer days, isn’t it? I clearly have more energy and get more done once the daylight hangs around later into the evening. The wine seems to go down easier as the weather gets nicer, as well. {sip}. Tonight, we are just going to do a little chitchat, some recap, and discuss an upcoming blog post. Yes, ‘Bring Wine & Bring Questions’! I always love a little Q & A, especially when you’re mixing it with wine. {sippy-sip}To start off our chitchat, I want to share something that I wrote down in last Sunday’s church service. I often write down little quotes or scripture that I hear other people say or read. I am sure you have figured this out by now. {sip} It’s amazing how some things just really resonate with me and last Sunday’s message was one of them. It was something specific that my pastor said that made me grab my phone, pull up my notes, and start typing.Here is what Pastor Rob shared, “You can tell a lot about a person by how they manage their calendar and how they manage their money.” He preceded, “If you want to know someone’s priorities, look at how they’re managing their time and their budget.” This is a good time for me to share this with you, as one of the things that we are going to talk about in this ‘Words & Wine Down Wednesday’ is an upcoming blog post that my husband and I are going to do together that has to do with managing your money. I’ve already talked a lot about managing your time and you can check out blog posts that pertain to that here, here, and here. This one here would be worth the re-cap, as well.But what about managing your money? It is so often overlooked, which is a shame because a lot of your future is held in your bank account. I’ve said it once, ok.. maybe more than once.. {sip} but “Failing to plan, is planning to fail!” Another motto I share quite frequently but don’t know that I have mentioned it here is, “Everything in moderation, is nothing more than an excuse!” Sorry! {sip} Again, I am always the bearer of bad news. It’s one thing to joke about it, but people that prescribe to that mindset, are generally always on a diet and trying to lose weight and when it comes to their budget, they’re living way beyond their means. {gulp} It’s true! I know, I hate it too! Do yourself a favor, commit today, to never believing in that mindset. Join me in the ‘above moderation’ movement! {gulp}. When it comes to these two phrases and the areas of life they cover, money is no different. {sip}It’s a great time to do a blog post on money with the presidential election coming up, as so much of our financial future could lie into the hands of one of these crooked people. {gulp} Yep, that’s how I look at it, just another presidential election of a bunch of people talking out of their a$$! {gulp} And to think I have to give one of them my precious vote … and most likely my hard earned money. {chug} Well, I’ll stop there. That’s a whole new wine drinking blog post that will never happen, because I am certain I would OFFEND someone. I have no energy to discuss politics or back my theory. I am too busy trying to do what Pastor Rob mentioned in last week’s sermon.. how am I prioritizing my time & my money. {gulp} I hardly doubt Pastor Rob would classify ‘wine-drinking’ as prioritizing anything. {gulp} Thankfully, I don’t think he will ever read this post. But, in all honesty, I wouldn’t care if he did. Pastor Rob has a way of getting his point across but never leaving you feel less a person. That’s a hard thing for a pastor to pull off.So where does that leave you guys? I would like to offer you to leave a comment below with a question in it. Your question can pertain to anything regarding budgeting, saving, debt, investing, retirement saving, college tuition, and anything else you may want to pick my and my husband’s (mostly my husband’s) brain on. Hear it from a non-bias person, someone who doesn’t know anything about the type of person you are, and how you are currently living your life. Obviously we will not be able to tackle all the questions in one blog post. But after accessing all the questions, we will determine from there how we want to do it: whether a Q & A would be more fitting or a blog post on one particular area of concern. Your questions will determine that. If you are uncomfortable leaving your question in the comment section, where others can see it, feel free to go to the top menu bar on my website, click on ‘CONTACT’, leave your question in the box provided and I will receive a direct email from you. Before leaving your question, make sure you read this blog post here that touches on budgeting when it comes to grocery shopping. We don’t need any repeats. {sip} I do not have a background in financing, but my husband has a background in money-management, he is an investor and we are both clearly savers. Some would classify us as, ‘tightwads’. {gulp} We don’t however, find that to be insulting, quite the opposite. It’s not that we don’t have the money to spend, it’s just we are very choosey about where we spend it. I am confident that both my husband and I have ‘money-managing’ skills that are above the norm in this society. And I think we can really help people. Unfortunately, we also may share advice that won’t be easy to digest. {sip} But if you want any type of financial security, you probably will need to consider some of the things we will be bringing to the plate. A lot of the questions you may have, we most likely have traveled, ourselves. And with a family of seven, it’s constant meticulous work in progress. {gulp}

SHOP THE LOOK

Green Sweater: here | Jeans: here | Belt: here, I want this one here and it’s only $5.99. If you prefer a wider belt, this one here is only $5.99, as well, and this option here are both perfect | SHOES: here and loving these ones here that I recently purchased and showed on Snapchat | HANDBAG: My handbag is by Big Buddha, purchased from Nordstrom. It is my favorite bag. I love how this neutral color goes so well with the shoes. I found similar styles and color options here, here, and this one here is a beauty and currently on sale. I love this wristlet here, and this bucket here. For the younger generation, absolutely LOVE this backpack here. I’m thinking ‘how adorable’ for your High School or college-aged daughter to fill this with Easter goodies instead of filling a basket. Similar, more affordable option, here | Earrings: here | Necklace: old, from H & M. I love their jewelry, simple & affordable, similar options here, here, or here. If you love Rose Gold, you’d love this one here | Bracelets: been wearing these here with everything | WATCH: here, but been eyeing this Rose Gold one here from H & M | RING: been wearing this one, here, with everything

SANDAL BOOTIES: | WALLET: I have had my Kate Spade Wallet for years and love it! This ‘style’ of wallet is my perfect for me, as I don’t carry much cash. The color I have is no longer available. But, if I was in the market for a NEW one (wishful thinking), I would snag this one here in a heartbeat! Definitely a WANT but not a NEED! {darn} I also linked the same exact wallet in other color options, here.

Makeup + Fragrance  Details

EYE SHADOW PALETTE: Laura Mercier Sleek & Chic | MASCARAS + CURLERS: here | BLUSH: Mac Blushbaby using this brush here | LIP PENCIL: Satin Mauve | LIPSTICK: Spanish Pink | LIP GLOSS: Simmer applied with this brush here| Nail Polish: OPI | Fragrance: Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Purse size or Dressing Table Size

WINE REVIEW: Bring on the cab! I cannot help myself, I just love a good Cabernet Sauvignon … as if you haven’t figured that out by now. {sip} For tonight’s review, I am going to do a little comparison to another cab. I hadn’t really planned for this bottle by Rodney Strong to be tonight’s featured wine. I opened the bottle last Friday, and didn’t expect it to make it through today, but it did. I am glad, because it serves as a great opportunity for me to compare it to one of my most frequented Cabernet’s, J. Lohr. They’re both popular, sold at most local stores and fall in the sub-$20 cab sauvs range. You can usually find them for about $17 a bottle. This particular one by ‘Rodney Strong’ is full-bodied with a deep purple color. Whereas the J. Lohr is significantly lighter in body. If you were drinking the two side-by-side … not that I have ever done that or anything {gulp}, it would make you question whether or not the J. Lohr was even a cab. The Rodney Strong has strong green pepper notes, which can be a little distracting, especially if you are not fond of green pepper in wine. It’s clearly a richer taste than the J. Lohr. I think they are both great middle of the road priced wines. Certainly there are better wine options out there in the cab family, but you are going to pay for what you get. If you drink wine regularly, it’s good to have affordable options such as these particular two here. Save your Caymus for special occasions. I cannot believe I have not done a wine review on the J. Lohr, yet. I have mentioned it on Snapchat many times. As I stated above, I do frequent it, {sip} so stay tuned for an upcoming review, soon.

Disclaimer: Beverages containing alcohol are often associated with sharing, pleasure, unwinding, and socializing. However, there are times when drinking at all or too much can be risky to you or to others. This blog post is for light-hearted sharing ONLY! If you are over the age of 21 and choose to drink, please drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive.