The Stella & Dot Leona Pendant Necklace makes a bold statement and is adored by both celebrities and fashion editors alike. Each necklace is one of a kind because the stone is hand-cut. The Stella & Dot La Coco Clutch – Black can be partnered with a simple top or can be used to accessorize dressy attire for summer benefits and galas–the options are endless! Dressing up for a picnic or summer festival can be a blast. Go in style with the the gorgeous Stella & Dot Cleo Fringe Statement Earrings. Be sure to check out Stella & Dot’s Memorial Day Sale today! Enjoy!

From 5/24–5/27, Stella & Dot is offering up to 50% off sale items & free shipping on orders over $100+ during their Memorial Day Sale.

Offer: Up to 50% off Sale Items & Free Shipping on Orders Over $100+

Valid: 5/24–5/27

Code: None

 

Zinck Crémant d’Alsace Brut Review

Zinck Crémant d’Alsace Brut NV is just that…a great French wine. It is a great find!  At about USD $21 a bottle, this brut doesn’t disappoint. Its beautiful light gold color was visually the same as it was on the nose—creamy, toasty, and a little citrusy. This white French sparkler is made with the traditional method (same as Champagne) from a trio of varietals: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc.

Still effervescing several minutes after pouring my glass of brut

The brut had TONS of bubbles! It was still fervently effervescing for several minutes after it was poured, calming a bit after it breathed for a few more minutes but still quite bubbly. The brut was crisp with a hint of minerality and light citrus. Loads of fizzy mouth-feel with this beauty!

I paired my Crémant d’Alsace Brut first with fresh strawberries alone and then with a spinach and strawberry salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing.  Both selections paired well. I’d wished I’d more strawberries to go with the rest of the bottle the second night. The Wines of Alsace website also suggests Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler (perfect for summer!) and Corn Pudding as two pairing options.

Visit the Wines of Alsace website to learn more.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Merlot Mommy is a participant in the Stella & Dot Affiliate Program Managed by Acceleration Partners, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Stella & Dot. Merlot Mommy only participates in affiliate programs for products we have personally used and believe in.

Time for Sunday Social! This week’s questions are all about favorites and pleasures.

1. What is your favorite kind of surprise?

In general, I love any kind of a surprise. I especially love surprises for birthdays. What a nice way to celebrate your special day by being surprised by someone you love!

2. Flowers or chocolate?

Chocolate. Always chocolate. Even if I wasn’t allergic to pollen, I’d rather have something tasty than something that will wilt and die. Flowers are pretty, but give me some dark chocolate any day!

3. What’s your favorite summertime activity?

Every summer we spend time at our community pool with our kids. They love it there, and it’s nice to see them so happy and spend time with other people in our community. Our kids love to pick strawberries and blueberries. We also hike and camp a lot in the summer, which makes me happy to be outdoors and spending time with my family.

4. Do you have any vacations planned this summer?

We are taking the kids to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, this summer for a few days. We’ll visit Quebec City, and then Montreal on the way back. Quebec is so close to us, and we rarely take advantage of of how close we are to another country with different cultures. So this year we planned a vacation there.

5. Favorite summer holiday?

Canada Day! Why would Canada Day be my favorite summer holiday if I’m not Canadian, you ask? It’s simple: it’s also my birthday!

6. What is your dream vacation?

I would love to go to Hawaii or New Zealand. They’re both on my bucket list. Beautiful for different reasons, but both places I would love to visit.

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab the Social Sunday button, and link up with Neely and Ashley!

Next week’s questions

In chatting with one of the reps afterward, I was asked if I might be interested in doing a review of the product. Heck yeah, I was! My hair rocked! They even sent me a set of sample specifically for my reviewing experience.

You know it’s coming…the disclaimer: I was given a free sample of VO5 Anti-Frizz and Shine Styling Cream as well as a sample of each of the Color Shield + Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner to review on my blog. All opinions about VO5 Salon Series are my own. 

VO5 Salon Series: Anti-Frizz and Shine Styling Cream and Color Shield + Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner

Here’s my style right out of the shower (add a little finishing product, comb with a pik, and voila!).

I’ve been using the VO5 Anti-Frizz and Shine Styling Cream almost every day since I got it. (I have been mixing in some of my previous product as I liked it and still have some; waste not want not.) My hair looks smooth, shiny, and sleek without it feeling “crunchy” as some products leave it feeling. My normal hair routine is to shampoo and condition, towel dry, rub in a little finishing product, comb with a hair pik, and voila! A few minutes out of the shower, my hair looks good. I also took a pic of late in the day to see how it held up (on another day because I’m a tool and forgot to do it the same day, but you get the idea). Great! The shampoo and conditioner work well on my (shhhhh…) color-treated hair, but the anti-frizz cream is da bomb.

Late in the work day my hair still rocks!

The price point of these products is also great. The styling cream retails for $3.99, while the shampoo and conditioner retail at $2.49 each.

Want to try the VO5 Anti-Frizz and Shine Styling Cream and Color Shield + Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner yourself? One lucky reader will do just that by entering the raffle below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Time for Sunday Social! This week’s questions are all about time.

1. 1 year ago I was doing…

One year ago I was celebrating Mother’s Day I was also gearing up for a work trip to Colombia, which was an amazing trip! I met some great friends and colleagues. I would love to go back if the opportunity presented itself.

2. 5 years ago I was doing…

Five years ago, I was celebrating Mother’s Day with two beautiful toddlers and two beautiful 8 1/2-month-old twins. I was also starting to look for new job. I had a great job but was unchallenged and wanted to find something that was a better fit.

3. 10 years ago I was doing…

Ten years ago, I had just begun my first maternity leave, and I was celebrating my very first Mother’s Day with a 2-day old baby boy. He was the most amazing bundle of joy and changed my life in ways I can’t even begin to articulate. It’s hard to believe that was 10 years ago.

4. 1 year from now I’ll be doing…

One year from now, I’ll be celebrating another Mother’s Day weekend. My 3rd grader will be getting ready to graduate from 3rd grade and move on to the secondary elementary school for her 4th and 5th grade years. Our twins will be nearing the end of 1st grade and getting ready to move on to 2nd grade. Our 5th grader will be nearing the end of elementary school before moving onto 6th grade in the middle school.

5. 5 years from now I’ll be doing…

I’ll be celebrating yet another Mother’s Day weekend and savoring the last years I have with my children at home. Our son will be starting to seriously consider his college education and what he will choose to do after graduation.

6. 10 years from now I’ll be doing…

I’ll be gearing up for my second baby to graduate high school. Theoretically, our oldest will be completing his sophomore year of college, and the second oldest will be graduating and headed toward college in a few short months.

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab the Social Sunday button, and link up with Neely and Ashley!

Next week’s questions

Alex and Ani Silver Bangle

1. Jewelry: Charm Bracelets

Alex & Ani and Pandora are two of my favorite jewelry companies. You can choose a meaningful charm (or charms) to match the occasion or woman. Both companies offer selections in silver and gold to suite any taste.

2. Spa Certificates

Every woman loves to be pampered at least a little bit. Choose a certificate to your mom’s favorite spa if you are unsure of what service she would like. If you know what service she would want, even better, but most spas offer certificates in a variety of denominations to fit any budget. A relaxing couple of hours away from the kids makes a perfect gift for a busy mom.

3. Handbags

Many women love handbags. Sometimes they spend more on the kids than they do themselves. Buy mom a handbag by her favorite designer.

4. Shoes

Kind of like handbags, many women loves shoes. Give your mom a certificate to a shoe store, or better yet, pick out that pair of special shoes she’s been talking about for months. Just make sure you know her size.

5. Wine

Wine and wine accessories can make a fun and romantic gift for mom. If she likes wine, buy her a bottle of her favorite varietal and some fun wine new wine glasses to go with it.

Time for Sunday Social! This week’s questions are all 4s.

1. 4 favorite things to do on the weekend?

Spend time with my family, sleep, workout, cook

2. 4 favorite things about your best friend?

Jaqui, my best friend, knows me better than anyone else in the world, maybe even better than my husband knows me. She’s beautiful, smart, and hysterical. She’s a wonderful mother and wife. She’s an amazing singer. I could go on, but the list is for four.

3. 4 things you would do with $100,000?

Honestly, $100,000 wouldn’t go very far. I’d buy a new car, pad my savings account, go on vacation with the family, and remodel my kitchen.

4. 4 favorite books you’ve read?

I’ve got lots of favorite books. It’s hard to narrow to just four. “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson (@thebloggess). It’s hysterical and heartwarming all at the same time.

I’m a sucker for Nicholas Sparks. “Safe Haven” and “The Lucky One” both made me cry, as did “The Notebook.” I love his books.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is one of my all-time favorites. It may top the list.

The “Twilight” series by Stephanie Meyer is another favorite. Far from amazingly well-written literature, there was something about the love story that just sucked me in.

5. 4 favorite snack foods?

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, if it has Ben and Jerry on the label, it’s a favorite. I love Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish Crackers. Fresh mozzarella  with tomatoes and fresh basil I could eat until the cows come home. It’s such a tasty snack and pretty good for you. Wine. Wine counts as a snack food, right?

6. 4 things that you must do daily?

Drink coffee. Hug and kiss my kiddos. Snuggle with my hubby. Enjoy life.

Your turn! Answer the questions, grab the Social Sunday button, and link up with Neely and Ashley!

Next week’s questions

Refried beans and rice for the Live Below the Line Challenge

We’re not quite as excited about the challenge 4 days in as we were at the start, but we are still taking part in the Live Below the Line Challenge and doing well.

The second day of limited school lunches seemed to go okay, and we’re doing another “swap” to have beans and rice for dinner again. Beans are filling, nutritious, and tasty (my kids love beans and we eat them often in various forms). I’m not a vegetarian, but I’m not a huge meat eater, either. Dishes with beans are something we eat quite a bit of in our house. I’m making refried beans and rice. We often use this same bean recipe when making our beans for bean burritos.

Refried Beans

Ingredients

• One 15-oz. can of pinto beans
• ¼ of a small onion
• Cumin
• Cilantro

Directions

Chop the onion and sauté in frying pan until it is golden brown. Drain and rinse the beans and then add to onion. Add a dash of cumin and cilantro to the beans and onion. Cook until beans start to get soft. Serve over prepared rice.

Tomorrow morning will be the “official” last day of the challenge for us. We will have made it 4 1/3 days before giving up, but we’re giving up because of personal conflicts. We have a “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” day at my office tomorrow, and the kids want to go out to lunch with their friends, which will obviously blow our daily budget. We’ll blow the budget at lunch, but we’re still going to eat below the line for breakfast and dinner tomorrow because we can and we’ve already purchased our meal.

Have you read any of the previous posts about the Live Below the Line challenge? It’s been an eye-opening experience that my three daughters and I have participated in to raise awareness for poverty.