Bliss In A Bottle

Even though I love going out and exploring the Cleveland scene, there's just something beautiful about staying in when the temperature drops below fifty degrees.  Which is like every single day until May, right?  Ugh.  Instead of giving my Netflix and DVR some extra love last weekend, I decided to get together with a fabulous group of friends for a girls night in.  We laughed, we gossiped, we ate, we drank...it was a magical combination of things.  Especially when the eating and drinking part involved wine and chocolate.  And the flavor profiles of the wine and chocolate perfectly complemented one another.  Just wait.  The wine bottles were actually dipped in chocolate!

Do you hear church choirs singing and light shining down from above because you finally found heaven on Earth?  I sure do!  The handcrafted chocolate covered wine bottles made by Bliss in a Bottle are not only delicious, but stunning!  I couldn't think of a more perfect gift for the holidays, a birthday, a housewarming, a Saturday night in with the girls, any moment of time on any day of the week...

Gervasi Vineyard

If you're looking for a quick day trip to get out of the city for a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday, I have the perfect place!  Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, OH is a incredibly scenic, well-kept and delicious local winery that's located only an hour drive from Cleveland.  Howie took me for the afternoon on Saturday, and we had the best time walking around on the sunny trails, admiring the first signs of green on the willow trees, learning about the wine-making process and partaking in an incredible wine and food pairing at Crush House.  It's amazing how a half-day getaway can make you feel like you've just gone on vacation...especially considering the fact that the entire Gervasi Vineyard complex -restaurants, outdoor pavilions, winery and villas - is adorned in a Tuscan-style architecture.  We're definitely planning to head back once the summer foliage fills in more!  I can't imagine anything more relaxing than sipping on a glass of their Cabernet on the patio, overlooking the lake at sunset while listening to live music -which I hear takes place 6 nights a week in the summer!  If you want to turn the day trip into a romantic evening, the "villa" hotel rooms are absolutely gorgeous.  It's definitely worth the trip, and I know I'll be heading back to Gervasi Vineyard soon!

Wine Trivet Art

If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I'm pretty artsy. It's kind of inevitable when you spend 6 years studying design with 100 like-minded people in your class.  The second thing you should know about me, I love a good glass of wine.  After a couple of years, I had almost 100 corks that I collected from friends, parties, restaurants, basically anywhere I could get my hands on them.  I started a hobby making beautiful wine trivets for my family and friends, and of course, myself.  It's a very thoughtful and functional gift that doubles as a piece of art!  What I like most of all, is how little it costs to make!

Peach Mango Sangria

There's nothing I love more than a tasty cocktail at the end of a hot summer day.  One that uses the fresh peaches that are in season right now?  Even better.  I promise this summery peach mango sangria will not disappoint!