Tipsy RSS Feed

Force of Habit

I went for a walk downtown today and came home extremely thirsty. I immediately went to the kitchen, grabbed a glass and poured myself some lemonade. It wasn't until I went to take a sip that I realized that instead of grabbing a tall glass, I had grabbed a martini glass. Force of habit I guess.

Banana Beer

A few months into our relationship, Jay and I were married in an elevator. We were on our way dinner when an older man got on the elevator with us. The doors close, he turns to us, and raises his hands. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony", he says. Jay and I laughed uncomfortably. We couldn't wait for the elevator to reach our floor. Although secretly I couldn't help but think that it was a sign from God. Jay and I were meant to be. Our elevator wedding came to my mind as I was coming home from work. I was dreading having to cut and fold more invitations. Why did I make them so complicated? So to lift my spirits I stopped at my neighborhood wine shop in search of something new. This weeks new beverage is Wells Banana Bread Beer. I was intrigued by it. Would it be sweet? Would it be too banana-y? The verdict? Not to shabby. I actually really liked it. First off, it smells awesome. I really want some banana bread now. Second, it tastes normal. At first there's a hint of banana, but after awhile you don't even notice it. I might actually buy it again. [In the voice of the Dos Aquis guy] I don't always drink beer, but when I do.I drink Banana Bread Beer. Wells Banana Bread Beer: Alcohol by vol 5%; Made in the UK.

Questions. Lots of Questions.

If I ever write a wedding planning book, it'd be titled So you're engaged. Now what? It'd be a guide to what to expect once you've gotten that sought after ring. No one ever tells you the emotional rollercoaster ride you take while engaged. They're all quick to point out when your being a bridezilla, but there's more. You may start to question if your truly ready to take on the roll of being a Wife. And what defines a wife anyway? Should you start channeling June Clever, mastering your pot roast recipe, saying phrases like "yes dear"? Then there's the questions about joint checking and health plans. Do you really need to combine these things? I've been dealing with these questions and have found that everyone around me seems to have a different view of how a marriage should operate than I did. My future husband and I rarely eat together, but I'm told I should still cook for him. I see no problem with having separate checking accounts, but everyone else is shocked by the suggestion. After talking to the one person whose opinion really mattered - Jay, I decided that no two relationships are alike. What works for one couple may not work for another. (Resisting the urge to sing the Different Strokes theme song.) We've been living together for two years and have never had an issue. If it ain't broke why fix it? Then of course there's the realization that you'll be with this person for (hopefully) the rest of your life. No more dating. No more first kisses. You may start to feel guilty for flirting. But its all normal. Whenever I start to have freak out I turn to Jay. And he never fails to put things in perspective and relax my fears. And that's why I'm marrying him.

Fit Bride

We're approaching the last 100 days before the wedding and pretty soon I'll have to try on my wedding dress. It's been three months since I purchased my dress and in about two months it will be here. I haven't really been watching my weight. More like watching the pie as it enters my mouth. So I'm really nervous about having to wear a form fitting dress. That is why I created some motivation. I cut out a picture of a stern looking woman wearing a wedding dress. I wrote the measurements that I need to be on one side and a warning to watch what I eat on the other. Now its time for the dieting and exercise to begin. Right after this last piece of pie.

Adventures in Drinking: Sweet Honey Wine & Ouzo

In an effort to avoid my community's holiday party, I found myself outside of my local wine and spirits store. I'm not a people person and will go to many lenghts to avoid being around crowds. Even go two blocks out of my way to do so. After I successfully diverted the merriment lurking in the lobby, I decided to reward myself. With alcohol of course. The wine shop was bustling, so I had to be quick. I grabbed the first thing to catch my eye, Carroll's Mead: Sweet Honey Wine. It struck my curiosity, so I grabbed it. Now, one of my favorite shows is Three Sheets. If you've never seen three sheets, the host, Zane Lamprey, travels and shares drinking customs from around the world. I love this show and wanted to get something that I had seen on one of the episodes. And I did, Ouzo. Ouzo is 80 proof and made in Greece. It's made with anise and natural flavors like cinnamon, cloves or coriander. If you love licorice, then you'd love Ouzo. Sadly I do not like licorice and forgot that Ouzo both smells and tastes of the candy I hate. I headed to my apartment, taking the side entrance, and couldn't wait to relax with my new friends. I plopped down on the couch with some pasta to watch one of my favorite movies, The Goonies. First up was the Sweet Honey Wine. And how sweet it is. It's smooth and goes down quickly. And with 8% alcohol by volume, it could pack a wallop if you drink it too fast. Since I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch the honey wine went straight to my head. I don't think I could have more than one glass. It's a little too sweet for me. After the movie I decided to try the Ouzo. I took the bottle's suggestion of mixing it with chilled water. The alcohol becomes cloudy when mixed with water. Once you get pass that first kick of alcohol you can taste all the natural flavors. It's got a slight sweetness and a strong licorice taste. If I like licorice, this drink would be ideal. But because I don't, I couldn't enjoy it the way I know it should. I didn't hate it. But I also didn't love it. So I did was most Americans would do. I mixed it with cola. Mixed with cola, you can still smell the Ouzo, but the taste has been dulled a bit. It had an odd taste that, strangely enough, I like. Verdict: Liked the Sweet honey wine, but probably won't buy it again. Sort of liked the Ouzo and would keep it around if only as a conversation piece. Ouzo Recipes

Snow Day Philosophy

When did politics become our religion? When did we exchange the pulpit for pundits? Politics in theory is a science based on practicality and rational thought. Religion is about faith and comes from the heart. Somehow we've managed to swap one for the other. A trip through history shows what happens when you start putting faith in politics. Genocide, slavery, wars without end. When the heart and the brain merg together why does the heart always win?

The Perfect Storm Cocktail

Enjoying a pre-storm cocktail and watching some must see tv. (is it still called must see tv. It is in my heart.) We are bracing for what's being dubbed as the snow storm of the century. So if you as could as we are here are some cocktails to help keep you warm and toasty. HOT TODDY * 1 oz (2 tablespoons) bourbon * 1 tablespoon mild honey * 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice * 1/4 cup boiling-hot water HOT APPLE PIE * 1 1/2 oz Tuaca * 6 oz Apple cider Nuke in microwave for 2 minutes. Butterscotch Cocoa * 3/4 oz Butterscotch schnapps * 3/4 oz Coffee liqueur * 5 oz Hot chocolate * Whipped cream