The Wine Chronicles: Chandon Extra Dry Riche

When we ordered our anniversary case of wine, we planned for New Years Eve accordingly!

We tasted this Chandon Extra Dry Riche during the holiday wine tasting, and loved it. It was a great price, around $20, and we really enjoyed it! It was delicious for New Years Eve, and I was glad we had ordered it!

It's a California sparking wine, and it was one Mr. Jones and I could both agree on. At the tasting, back in November, we went to sample one of the expensive Moet and Chandon varieties, and it was all gone for the night, so we tasted this instead. I was so glad we did!

What is your favorite sparkling wine?

(And, side note, would anyone be interested in making Wine Chronicles a link-up? I've thought about it before, and we could pick some days in advance. Just wanted to see if anyone was interested so we could all find some great wines!)

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

A little reminder...

I can't tell you how true this beautiful quote is. And that goes a little extra for my sweet blogging friends. Can't tell you all how much you mean to me!

Happy Saturday! Enjoy the weekend!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

The Bama Belle...

So, I had a little fun with sweet Eve Belle this week. I needed some photos for work, so I dressed her up one afternoon for a mini Bama Belle photo shoot!

We pulled out my Alabama blanket, her houndstooth coat, and I tortured her a little more  by putting a bow in her hair! Haha...

She was NOT happy with me at all. I had to stand her up, and she didn't move while the bow was in her hair. She locked up and just looked at me, saying "But why mama?" Almost broke my heart. Then I saw how cute the pictures were turning out? And I didn't mind so much.

Then we took the bow out, and she got a little happier. I love the tongue picture below, and the next few showed her almost falling over for some reason. Too funny!

The next one really looks like her as a puppy. She looks so little again! Love the face. Makes me feel like she's not a big two-year-old girl, you know?

Yep, she's pretty and she knows it. And we love her so much! I'm glad I have these pictures. I haven't had fun like this with her in a while! I'll have to do it again soon. Hope you loved seeing my puppy girl today!

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

The after-Christmas glow...

Good morning lovelies! So, I know I've left you hanging on my favorite Christmas gifts of the year, so I'm finally getting around to sharing my favorite things!!!

I already posted some of my favorite family pictures, which included this fabulous purse from my godmother! I think the best kind of present are ones you love but would never buy for yourself, so that's definitely what category this one falls under!

What do you think?

My sweet grandparents got us a new camera. I love my big Nikon, but it just can't go everywhere these days. Sporting events and concerts have cracked down on professional-style cameras, so I was very excited to get this little baby! It's great - it's what went with us to New Orleans for the BCS title game, and I loved it!

Have you guys heard about BaubleBar? It's a fabulous jewelry site that I found a Christmas wish on! I wanted a monogram necklace so badly, and when they ran a special that got me three beautiful pairs of earrings for free with the necklace, I sent the link to Mr. Jones. :-) Win-win, right?

I've worn it tons already, and I love the new earrings too! Sign up here for $10 off your first order! Happy shopping, because their stuff is beautiful!

Now, remember that super-excited picture of me I left you with to guess my favorite gift of the year? Well, let's just say my parents stunned me with a beautiful pendant made from the top of one of the championship rings they won this year. I screamed, danced and cried. It matches their national championship rings and my sister's conference championship ring since they were made from the same design. Sweet family moment, coming right up!

It's one of those things that will mean the world to me 20 and 30 years from now too, I know. So that made it even better. 

So, that's my after-Christmas glow for you! 

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Wishful Wednesday: A little more style...

We're halfway through the week! I'm excited. This is my first five-day work week in more than 6 weeks, so it's feeling super-long!

I've been looking around and working on some good wardrobe updates, and I actually love Old Navy for fun outfits and comfy dresses that work in the office with cardigans. So, I wanted to share my wishes for the end of winter and spring from Old Navy today!

Belted Cap-Sleeve Dress

$24.94

Tea-Length Dress

$24.94

Cap-Toe Canvas Ballet Flats

$22.94

Color-Blocked Faux-Leather Tote

$25

So, looking at all of this after the fact, it seems as though I'm really wishing for spring! I guess I am, as that is some of my favorite stuff to wear! And yes, I do want that bag in like, all three colors. Is that bad?

My Old Navy stuff doesn't last forever, but I get a few seasons out of it. Hard to beat for the prices. Anyone else with me on that?

And is anyone else wishing for a little bit of spring weather?! What's caught your eye this week?

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

The Diva Belle...

Christmas is gone, and EB is missing her Christmas tree spot. 

But she does have new toys, so that helps, right? 

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Film Fiesta...

It's that lovely and fairly lazy time of year, where the Redbox and couch are our very good friends... Mr. Jones and I have rented quite a few movies lately, mostly good. Some great. Some mehhhh.

Here's what we've been watching since Christmas!

Margin Call was wonderful! I also enjoyed Larry Crowne. Midnight in Paris was okay - kind of odd, though. And 30 minutes or Less? Massive failure. Skip. Save your money. Even if it is less than $1.50.

This weekend we also rented Moneyball, and I loved it! I'm a sports girl, so I guess that helps, but it really did have a good story. The ending could have been strong,r but such is life.

What are you guys watching and loving? Let me know! I'm sure there are a few more lazy weekends in our future!

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

A little bit of updating...

One of my friends told me The Limited had a great sale, so I stopped by over lunch this week. I only spent $49, and I was able to get three nice tops! Full price would have been $170, so I was really happy!

I got this cardigan in a deep wine/purple color, and it was only $14.99! I'm such a cardigan girl. I found a halter/tank top that looks good under it or with browns or blacks. Love it!

This was my favorite find! Really? An $80 sweater for $19.99. I just need it to get cold again, that's for sure! Today it was like, 65 degrees! Not cold enough for a comfy fuzzy tunic-style cardigan.

I had done my research online before, and had hoped to find both of those. I wasn't able to find this really cool sweater dress though. And go figure, when I got back home and wanted to order it, they'd jacked the price up to over $50! Not cool... I'll keep an eye out, I guess.

I've needed to update my work wardrobe a little bit, so I'm so glad I went shopping! Have you guys hit up any sales lately? I still have my eye on a few little things at TJ Maxx, so hopefully I can stop back by there later this week!

XOXO and Happy Shopping lovelies!

Mrs. Jones

Just a thought for 2012...

{via}

I'm inclined to think this is very, very true. How about you?

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

The Wine Chronicles: Davies Pinot Noir

Once again, I got to taste some delicious wine courtesy of my parents' over the holidays! They visited the vineyard it came from a few months ago and this was from the order they placed. I'm in love, and I am not a red wine lover, so that's saying something.

After it was aerated, it was even better. The aeration left none of the traditional aftertaste, which is one of the things I don't usually enjoy, so it made it even better!

Mr. Jones received a wine aerator for Christmas, and I've enjoyed red wine more since we've had it - Does anyone else use one? I'm curious.

XOXO,
Mrs. Jones

A Picture Perfect Night...

It was a beautiful Monday night... The ride and walk into the Superdome was a stunning one as they sky darkened. The excitement and tension was everywhere, emotions were high, and hopes were up.

We had a wonderful time at the official pre-game party, which I was beyond impressed with! There was face painting for all, team-themed King Cakes, bands, cheerleaders, food and free drinks! It doesn't get much better than that now, does it?

After the party, we made our way to our seats with about 20 minutes to spare. The pre-game show was great, and we were bouncing off the walls with anticipation. I'm so grateful that we got to be there. For the 2009 championship, we celebrated our one year anniversary a few weeks late with a trip to Pasadena, and it felt a little bit like deja vu (minus the plane flight) in New Orleans. We are lucky, lucky, lucky.

My sister loved this poster, and I had to snap this picture! She's a beautiful girl and we were so excited she got to make the trip with us. It's the first time we had really travelled together as adults!

The game.... oh, I don't know that there are even words. It was beautiful. It was fun. The entire game felt like a celebration. Our team, our city and our state have been to hell and back since April 27, and the joy we felt as the clock ran down? It was a sight to behold. I'm proud to be a Bama girl!

We had to force ourselves to head out to Bourbon Street for at least one drink afterwards! We were tired, hot and sleepy, but it was worth it! There were hardly any LSU fans to be found as the Crimson Tide took over Bourbon Street!

That's all for our championship trip to New Orleans! 

Hope you've enjoyed tagging along....

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones

Gearing up for the game...

By Monday morning, all of the Alabama fans were about to hyperventilate from anticipation. Seriously. Two days of fun was perfect, and then Monday dawned and we all got nervous about the game.

It was a beautiful day for sure. This was the stunning view from our hotel room.

We grabbed our favorite new buttons, and headed out for a delicious breakfast. Friends had recommended the Camellia Grill and the breakfast at the lovely little diner did not disappoint! It was packed and we got in just in time.

We hung our for a little while after breakfast, still trying to grab a cat nap since we knew it would be a late night, but at 2, we headed out to a friend's party at the super fab Luke. Talk about a party! It was one of the craziest and most fun I've been too! Free drinks, crab claws, sliders - it was the buffet of champions for sure!

Yes, we matched. Don't say a word. We were cute little Alabama fans.

Only one more thing left to share and that's THE GAME!

XOXO,

Mrs. Jones