As a member of the Middletown Chamber of Commerce I had an opportunity to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Painting with a Twist located in the Dove Run Shopping Center.
Having never heard of “Painting with a Twist” nor having had a paint brush in my hand since elementary school – well not counting the paint brushes that I use for the house, I thought I would just go to hang out and take some pics for my blog.
However, when I say that I had a blast, I mean I had a blast and I even painted something decent enough to hang in my home office!
It was a fun and entertaining evening and why wouldn’t it be…wine paired with step-by-step painting instructions, music, food and dancing. This was definitely a great way to work off some stress after a long work week and to head into the weekend.
The next day after telling a few people about how much fun I had, most of them knew about the franchise and some even said, “that their parents loved it”. I guess since I’m a boomer, they naturally assumed that I should have at least heard about it – but sadly I didn’t! Now that I know about it and had such a great time, it definitely won’t be the last time that I attend a session.
For those of you who don’t know about the Painting with a Twist franchise, here’s what their website states,
“Painting with a Twist® painting sessions are the answer! Invite your friends, sip your favorite beverage* and enjoy step-by-step instruction with our experienced and enthusiastic local artists. You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind creation and a new found talent you’ll want to explore. Book a private party and choose from over 5,000 paintings. From birthday and bachelorette parties to date nights and team buildings, we can help you celebrate anything!
* Please check with your local studio regarding options for bringing or purchasing alcohol.”
I tried to keep up with the painting instructor but was taking time away to video and take pictures that several of the instructors had to assist in keeping me on track, “thank you Christian”. I did however, do a pretty good job and that was with only 3 beers and 1 glass of Moscato!
Check out my Instagram page for more pics and I’ll upload a mini video to my YouTube channel this weekend.
Our themed painting was “Eternal Daze” and it was amazing to see the variations of each finished painting. The wine, music and dancing definitely brings out the creativity in all of us!!
Getting twisted and painting was so much fun, and with plenty of food and beverages this is definitely a great place to go for a “Girl’s Night Out” “Bridal Party”, “Guy’s Night Out” or just to have fun with the family.
They will travel to off-site locations for church groups, senior centers and homecoming affairs. Gift Cards are also available so it would be a perfect stocking stuffer, graduation or birthday gift.
Check out their website and if there is a Painting with a Twist near you, I recommend you sign up and go have an awesome time.
If you have already attended an event tell me how much you loved it because I know you did!
Disclosure: I was provided a sample of the Luis The Marinero Sangria to facilitate this review, however, all opinions are 100% my own. Drink Responsibly. #luisthemarinero #sangriasummer #ad
Hello Summer!!!
Family fun in the sun with backyard pool parties and lots of food on the grill are great ways to kick off this year’s summer season. So why not make the days even sweeter with a Summer Sangria Slush and enter for a chance to win an authentic Sangria pitcher from Spain.
Luis The Marinero Sangria wine was recently introduced exclusively in Delaware, New York and New Jersey and when my friends over at Regal Wine asked if I’d like to toast in the summer with a sample, you know me…I had to say, “sí”
I checked online and found several Sangria Slush recipes but decided to make a simple three ingredient slush using the Red Sangria, Ice and Watermelon.
Ingredients:
1 Cup Red Sangria
1 Cup Ice
1/3 Cup of Watermelon
Combine Sangria Red wine, ice cubes, and watermelon in a blender; process until smooth. Serve immediately or freeze. This quick and naturally sweet (sans sugar) summer slush got me in and out of the kitchen in a jiffy.
Enjoy a Sangria Summer
This authentic Spanish sangria is the perfect beverage for a sunny afternoon. Infused with citrus and cinnamon, Luis the Marinero is light on alcohol and refreshing in taste. Try it in red, white, and rosé.
Sangria Summer Promotion
Win a Sangria Pitcher from Spain! Simply upload a photo of yourself enjoying a sangria summer to www.regalwine.com/sangriasummer for a chance to win.
Regal Wine will select one winning photograph each week, from June through August, and post winners on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Wine:
White Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
Infused with citrus and tropical aromas, this crisp white wine offers a clean, fruity taste and a refreshing finish.
Red Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
Ruby red wine mingles with blueberries, cherries, and a hint of citrus and cinnamon. This rich sangria has a sweet and satisfying aftertaste.
Rose Sangria
Alcohol level 6%
A fresh pink wine blends with strawberry, raspberry, and citrus flavors. Sparkling and sweet, the rose sangria has an effervescent finish.
About the Winery:
Regal Wine is the exclusive American importer of Luis The Marinero. Bottled by the Spanish winery Bodegas Valdepablo, this authentic sangria celebrates wine-based drinks passed down from generation to generation since 1928. Luis The Marinero sangria pays tribute to the winery’s history, summer, and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.
today is the first official day of Autumn but by now you’ve noticed that the blogs are filled with great recipes and awesome looking foods for Fall. Autumn is the season for hibernating indoors and cooking meals in anticipation of the cold winter winds and upcoming holidays. I am always looking for quick and easy family meals and now with Malik in college those with smaller portions.
The Pocket Sous Chef, “Da Vinci’s Guide To Cooking For 1+1” is a cookbook written for small families, singles, newlyweds, students and professionals in mind. This easy to follow cookbook is jam packed with a variety of recipes as well as useful tips and guides. There are over 60 recipes with colorful images and an accessory list, shopping tips and conversion charts.
The Pocket Sous Chefwould also be a great gift for the foodie in your life or for new brides, parents with kids in college, as well as home cooks looking for new recipes. In celebration of Da Vinci’s upcoming launch, you now have an opportunity to pre-order a SIGNED copy of The Pocket Sous Chef and 3 lucky fans will have a chance to WIN a “The Pocket Sous Chef Prize Pack”. Also, everyone who signs up for the newsletter during the giveaway period will receive a FREE $5 coupon to be used for the purchase of a Cookbook, a Limited Edition Apron or Sassy Wine Glasses.
The Pocket Sous Chef Launch Giveaway • 3 Prizes Available; Grand Prize: $100 Amazon gift card + $20 The Pocket Sous Chef e-gift., 2nd Prize: $50 Amazon gift card + $20 The Pocket Sous Chef e-gift., 3rd Prize: $50 Amazon gift card + $10 The Pocket Sous Chef e-gift. • Open to US & Canada. • Winners will be chosen at random through Gleam. • Giveaway ends October 17th at 11:59pm ET. • Winners will be notified via email or Twitter DM. • Each winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. • Must be 18 years or older to enter. • Unlimited Entries • Void where prohibited. • Entering the giveaway means you agree to terms above. Good Luck!
About The Author
Da Vinci is a lifestyle blogger and author who works to “Entertain – Educate – Empower” her audience. With her desire to help people and passion for food Da Vinci hopes to enrich the lives of her fellow home cooks while letting everyone know you can cook and be fabulous. For more information, please visit www.pocketsouschef.com or www.yourlifeafter25.com. Follow Da Vinci on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram@PocketSousChef.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, for which I receive small compensation if you place an order through the The Pocket Sous Chef link.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to link up & share
AND
Congratulations to this week’s Featured Bloggers
A TIPicalDay
Annies Home
From This Kitchen
For the Love of Decorating
My Paper Craze
View From The Fridge
True Blue Baking
My Family Meal Time
Please feel free to copy and paste this button onto your blog and check our Pinterest Page as you are also featured there.
The rules are the same and we ask that you stop by and visit at least one other blogger as well as your hosts. Now pour yourself a glass of wine or water and share, share, share – have fun!
Today there is a twist to the Friday Foodie Feature which I think you will like. It’s a party – that’s right a P * A * R * T * Y and you are cordially invited to attend the first Weekend Wind-Down Party!
You can link up now or wait until this evening when you get home from work. The party is casual so you can kick off your shoes, turn on the Crock Pot, relax and then share… share… share!
The house rules are simple, you can link any post and it will be featured on 8 different blogs. We will each choose several features from the link up each week to highlight the following week! We will also be pinning features to Pinterest as well as social media shout-outs! So link up, visit others and have fun!
If you are joining the party, please copy this button and add it to your blog.
Now let the party begin with today’s Friday Foodie Feature
Slow Cooked Spinach Ziti
I had been thinking about making this dish for quite sometime and hubby kept asking if I wanted him to make it (baked) in the oven. I said, “nope, I want to slow cook it.” He didn’t think the uncooked noodles wouldn’t get done in the Crock Pot but they did and he loved it.
Brown the ground turkey and dice the onions and garlic. Remember to turn on stove’s blower while cutting onions for no tears.
Add the two jars of spaghetti sauce, diced onions and garlic then stir to mix ingredients thoroughly.
Spray the Crock Pot with cooking spray for easier clean up.
Cover the bottom of the Crock Pot with the meat sauce, then begin layering the pasta, spinach, and Ricotta cheese, repeating until you’ve reached the top of the Crock Pot but you can use less if you want.
Add a few dollops of Ricotta Cheese
Sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese
Sprinkle the final layer with Parmesan Cheese, cover and cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-10 hours, or until pasta noodles are soft.
Stir to thoroughly mix all ingredients and to ensure noodles are soft. Sprinkle with more Parmesan Cheese, cover and let sit for an additional 5 mins before serving.
We definitely had more than enough for two meals, I even froze half to be used next month.
Do you remember the days when we would decorate and trim the tree on Christmas Eve, then we started the weekend after Thanksgiving, then moved it up to Thanksgiving night,
and now it’s like what…the day after Halloween?
If you are a regular follower of mine then you know that I didn’t start decorating until Saturday….so now my tree is going to stay up until Valentine’s Day!
I recentlyvisited my favorite liquor store, Pockets Discount Liquors…no let me stop lying because if you also follow me on Foursquare you know I’m “The Mayor” of Pockets! Although I’m mainly a wino wine drinker, I do know others who enjoy something a wee bit more intoxicating so Sanjay and I came up with these “Tree Trimming Toddies”
So if like me you’re still up decorating, trimming the tree, and singing Christmas Carols loudly, please enjoy the night and remember to drink responsibly.
Do not walk home or drive if you’re under the influence and be careful while decorating for the holidays!
Liberty Creek is one of my favorite wines so I am honored to work with them in sharing this information with you! Liberty Creek® Vineyards Supports Operation Gratitude in Holiday Drive to Bring Music to Troops Overseas Liberty Creek Vineyards is teaming…
Hello Friends, I hope you all had a wonderful and restful long holiday weekend!
Today the weather didn’t cooperate so I didn’t get a chance to sit by the pool, so instead I watched “The Haves and Have Nots” marathon on OWNTV Network and worked on my Blog with next week’s posts.
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Last month I received several nominations for Blogger Awards and having finally found the time I want to say, “THANK YOU” and pass them along to others.
1. Display the Award Certificate on your blog
2. Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who nominated you.
3. Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award.
4. Link your nominees in the post and let them know of their nomination with a comment.
5. Post 7 interesting things about yourself.
Hubby and I are enroute to New Rochelle, NY to attend the wedding of my cousin Kyton and his fiance’ Shivon…hey guys we are on our way!
Unfortunately, we will be missing Middletown’s Annual Old Tyme Peach Festival which is a major event for our little town. I know this year it will be bigger and better than last with perfect weather!
What in the world happened to June – it just flew by without saying “Goodbye” or anything! Before I knew it, it was July and my second month of Nutrisystem foods had arrived before I posted the results on Day 28.
Notice a difference, not much right? Because I only lost 5 pounds!!!
Now let me explain….there was this LOOONG Holiday weekend….LOTS of wine and NO workouts….
Now I am back on the program, we will be attending a Wedding in August and I want to lose another 5 pounds. I am eating my Nutrisystem meals, doing a little more exercise and there’s no more long holiday weekends so I should be fine…huh, what…oh the wine….nevermind…that is all!
Getting twisted and painting was so much fun, and with plenty of food and beverages this is definitely a great place to go for a “Girl’s Night Out” “Bridal Party”, “Guy’s Night Out” or just to have fun with the family. 
