35 Years. Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

August 18 signifies something special in my life; my parent’s anniversary! Today my parents are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. In a day where the strength of a marriage seems lost, my parents continue to define the significance of true love.

They truly are the definition of what marriage should symbolize. You make me proud to be your daughter.

I love you!

Oh, Canada; Part Deux.

Yesterday I went and picked up Hans at the airport after a week in Canada. The boys have had enough cigars, Canadian beer and fishing to make even a true Canadian boy proud. In fact, Uncle Rich, I’m told, won the award for the largest fish this season at Bolton Lake!!!

Uncle Rich with 'The Hog' - all 47 inches of him!

Who is that man?! Oh wait - It's Uncle Larry!!! LOL!

Fishing lures and equipment: OMG $$.

Dad and Uncle Rich with their loot of lures

Flying into Bolton Lake on a private plane: Ladies, we could do serious damage at the make-up counter $$$.

Escaping Hans’ pent up gas after a plane flight. . PRICELESS.

Escaping Hans' chemical warfare. . .

Da Bear!

Da Bear; Part Deux.

Hans with da fish. . .

This was Hans' favorite part of the trip; shoreline lunches!

Hans and Dad

Come on Rich - stop showing off

Go boys, Go!!! Is this ZZ Top sighting or Larry?!

Stay tuned; I’m flying home to Texas this week and can’t wait to share my experience with you! To see all the pics from the trip CLICK HERE!

Love, love, love,

Christina

Oh, Canada!

Hans left yesterday for a week of fishing with my uncles and my dad at Lake Bolton Lodge, north of Winnipeg, in Canada. My dad left Saturday and met up with Uncle Larry and Uncle Rich in Minnesota. After a weekend of shopping for more (and I do mean more) equipment, they barely made it to Winnipeg to pick up Hans at the airport.

This morning I received some pictures from Hans’ Blackberry of the guys waiting for the plane and then pics on the plane. Being that I don’t think Hans, my extreme-sports fanatic, has ever really fished in his life, this should prove interesting being that he’s travelling with die-hard fishing fanatics. Watch the Fly-In Video

The boys at the 'airport' in Winnipeg waiting for thier little plane.

Fishing Gear

Dad and Hans (with his eyes closed)

Uncle Rich and his fishing buddies

During the week they will fly in to secluded lakes via plane and drink, what I am sure to be, a copious amount of beer and indulge in a plethora of cigars. Enjoy boys, enjoy!

Da Plane, Da Plane!

I’ll keep you updated!

I’ll be serving wine at the Taste on the Tee Golf Outing in Schaumburg tomorrow and will post pics – come back and see!

Christina

Why I Love My Job

It has been a long day but I am not, I repeat not, complaining. I often hear people say, ‘you must love your job’. I do. Working at Lynfred Winery is amazing – it's been over eight years now – and I cherish every moment. Yes, like other jobs mine too gets hectic but there are those perks, oh those perks that keep me wanting more and more.

One of my favorite perks? Winemaker dinners! I am working but it is oh so much fun! Did you know that I used to be shy?! I bet you didn’t! Oh I was so shy! I remember my mom dropping me off at my first day of soccer practice when I was like 10 or 11 and I was crying like a little baby because I was too shy to go introduce myself. Those days. . . LONG gone! Well, actually that is a lie. I do still have a tendency to be shy but I love to be in front of a crowd now.

Tonight was our annual winemaker dinner at Shaw’s Crab House and I get to do what I love – entertain (without all the cooking and serving). It is the BEST! Our Winemaker, Andres, and I headed over to Shaw’s at about 5:30 and met the winery chef, Chef Chris, and our Sales Director, Donna, and then the show began!

We started off with oysters and Pinot Grigio on the patio while the guests arrived and then headed upstairs for dinner.

The menu was superlative, the service impeccable and the food and wine. . . incredible! Andres, me and Sommelier Steve Tindle did three different speeches during the dinner and what fun it was! I hope you enjoy my food porn pics just for you:

If you want to see all the pics just CLICK HERE!

Very, very, very full,

Christina

Storms. Skunks. Yuck.

Last night it was really storming here in Chicagoland. In fact, every 10 minutes we were receiving tornado warnings on the television, so I thought I’d share what I like to do during a storm along with the other events that have lead me to wanting a glass of wine:



One: BAKE! Hans is out of town so I decided to make a lasagna for Wednesday night when he gets back.

Two: Make flower arrangements. Nothing makes me feel better than arranging fresh flowers.

Three (if you’re the dog): hide and sleep. Corbets was so scared of the lightening he decided to take refuge on the bed and then the couch. He’s such a sissy.

Four: write a blog and have it erased when the electricity goes out. Okay, I didn’t want to do that – it just happened.


After a stormy evening I decided to go to bed early because I had traffic court today for a stupid railroad crossing camera ticket. I read until about 10:30 and then fell asleep. At about midnight Corbets woke me up and wanted to go potty. At 1:30 am I awoke to him whining. I figured he was having ‘issues’ so I took him out again.

Here’s where I should explain something. Unlike most dogs, our dog LOVES cats and therefore is very intrigued by anything that he might consider a cat. . . including, yes, you know what’s coming. . . SKUNKS!!!

I looked outside and saw what I thought was our neighbor’s black cat but when Corbets came inside the smell. . . THAT smell. . . hit me! OMG! This makes skunkenator attack numero dos; that is skunk spraying number two for the Corb-meister. He looked SO pathetic with a look that says ‘yes, I did something wrong because I can smell it, but didn’t mean to’.

SOOOOOO at 1:45 am I was online looking up how to get rid of the smell. Last time I made the mistake of bathing him right away. I found out that only spreads the oil they spray. Instead I took hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and Palmolive and cleaned the oil spot (that was on his head) and can you believe it – not a hint of the smell!!! Take note in case this happens to you. The best remedy I have ever heard of!


After a long night I went to court only to have the date changed to September. After that I decided some fun grocery shopping was in store and headed to Trader Joe’s in Glen Ellyn. I picked up three bottles of wine for me; a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and a Rose’, and a mixed six-pack of some unique beers for Hans.

I met the Lynfred ladies for our usual ladies night at the legion and now here I am finishing the blog I started last night. I also just got off the phone with Hans, who was originally in Indiana, and now in St. Louis. Our friend Dan and some of his Navy crew are there too so Hans sent me a picture of what they’re up to:

Seriously thinking about opening a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc I purchased today,

Christina

It's All About Hans

Man, my honey is HOT! Kite boarding in Michigan

Today’s blog is dedicated to the one-and-only Hans! He’s a handsome man, that Hans, and he’s mine, all mine. . . sort of. . . Hans is a sports’ junkie; mountain biking, kite surfing, wind surfing, hockey. . . you name it he does it. Therefore he is not really mine; he is a muse to the sport gods.

Hans just got home from a trip to visit his parents in New York and his mom, the Marvelous Marilyn, got some fun pics. Hans and his dad, George, did some bike repair. They also headed up to the Adirondack Mountains to see Steve & Gretchen while they were camping. Looks like the Uncle Frank and Uncle Steve made an appearance too. They played on a scooter of all things. Hans even had the chance to meet our newest nephew Evan – isn’t he adorable?!

Hans and George tinkering with the bikes.

Hans in scooterville

Uncle Frank - he looks pretty devilish

Steve the Scooter Man - our FAB brother-in-law

Gretchen & Evan - can you believe how gorgeous she looks after a newborn?!

What in the hell is Hans doing?!

Hans got home Sunday night and was asleep by the time I got home. Monday night he went to his hockey game. Hans’ new hockey team is called the ‘Ice Men’. They are going to have a web site up later this week and I’ll be sure and let you know when it’s live!

Tuesday night, after meetings, Hans headed to Wisconsin to pick up a new kite board he found online. Ever-so-conveniently the guy’s house was located next to the place he likes to mountain bike.

Tonight I FINALLY got him home for dinner and made him try on the new apron Dan and Kelly sent him from Italy – hysterical!!! Once again, for all you that don't appreciate art, Hans edited. . . LOL!

Do I mind all of Hans’ wanderings, you ask? NO! I love that Hans has so many hobbies – he accepts my fabulous quirks and the best thing is that he always comes home to me.

SO in love,

Christina

Memoirs from NY, Ear Piercings & Girly Wanderings

Hans is in New York this weekend and after much prodding I actually got a camera phone picture from him! If you spend time with the Heller’s and Ryan’s be prepared to show your game face – your card game face that is! It isn’t a trip to visit Nan without a mean card game.

Today I did something truly spectacular in my mind. I summoned up my courage and went for it. . . I got my ears pierced! Did you know I had my nose pierced in college? Yes, nose piercing, at that time in my life, seemed not so frightening, but ears; scary. I haven't worn my nose ring in 9 years but getting my ears pierced is so exciting! After years of clip earrings I decided I was sick of not being able to accessorize as much as I truly love. So with a feeling of nausea, a touch of faint, and the kind encouragement of my friend Vicki I did it!!!

Ear Number One. I think I might pass out. Oh wait, not so bad.

Ear number two was much scarier. . .

Being that the ear piercing place was, ever-so-conveniently, located near Bath & Body Works we decided to make a stop and buy some lotion, body soap and candles.

After my ear piercing and soap experience Vicki and I decided we needed a calm and relaxing lunch. We headed to Elmhurst to a brand new restaurant called Wine & Vine. Wine and Vine is located in the historic and lovely downtown of Elmhurst. While they were really not open yet they welcomed us with open arms. We were in for a culinary treat!

Wine and Vine is not only a restaurant but a wine bar and lounge and even sells high end kitchen gadgets. We sat at what many would call a bar, but they referred to as the ‘chef’s palate’. I love that! Anyone who sits there gets to watch the chefs cook and prepare but also ask questions. Had Vicki and I died and gone to heaven?

We decided to share the dishes and we’re glad we did! They were SO very kind about allowing us to split and even set our own separate plates (not all restaurants are happy about doing that). Vicki had a glass of Penfold’s Bin 2 Shiraz-Mouvedre and I had a glass of Kim Crawford Pinot Gris. We shared the tomato-basil soup, Romaine wedge salad with Gorgonzola and the Pesto pasta.

We actually watched the chef make everything right in front of us, including the pesto, which was amazing! What I love about Wine & Vine? They’re proud of two things (verbiage from their menu): 1. they have no deep fryer, and 2. they have no freezer! They use only the freshest produce and we know that after watching the purveyors bring cases of tomatoes, basil and fish in!

After a glorious lunch Vicki and I headed to Sal’s for some wine shopping and then I went to the Wood Dale library and picked up some books to read. A truly spectacular day!

Pierced and fabulous,

Christina