Wino Wednesday with The Wine{a}be

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So for Wino Wednesday I have a special guest post from Suzanne at The Wine{a}be. If you've not visited her blog you must! She has great reviews of wines and vineyards, and fun crafts too! I'm glad to have here on the blog today.

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I will totally admit…I bought this wine for the bottle. 100%. Seriously…how cool is that bottle?!?!? So sleek and modern. Plus, the black top screws on and off {there is a cork underneath it} so I can totally reuse this bottle as a sleek water bottle when having friends over. Awesome…right?!?!?
That aside…here goes.

Voga Italia

Pinot Grigio

Sight: Clear, light straw {yellow}
Sniff: Citrusy {maybe grapefruit and lemon}, possibly a hint of pear as well.
Sip: Citrus flavor to start, soft creamy finish…like meringue. Yes, this wine is like lemon meringue pie in a glass! 

This pinot grigio is definitely different than others I have tried. The citrus flavors are there, but it has a creamy quality that I have not tasted in a pinot grigio before. The other ones I have tried are more sweet, tart and tangy, this wine is more sweet, tangy and creamy – like vanilla marshmallows on lemon pie. 

What new wines have you tried lately? Were you surprised as to their flavor?

**As always, feel free to grab the button and play along!**

An Interview with the Heart of Sole Hope

Today I wanted to feature a blog post from Joy at Even A Girl Like Me. Joy linked up with this month's Just Cause Project. Please take the time to read her feature and interview with Asher Collie.

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Never underestimate the power of hope. The potential that it gives the helpless, the change in perspective that it gives the skeptic, the restoration it provides for the lost.

Hope does not come dressed in riches, it comes dressed in willingness to use what one has, to do what one can.

There is hope. It has a face and a name. It has breath and a heartbeat. It has a future because someone like you said, “Why not me? Why not now?“
So today I ask you, “What are you waiting for?”Yesterday’s post was an introduction into the world of a mother and a husband who had a vision, made a plan, asked for help and are changing lives for eternity. Asher will be giving birth in October to her and Drü’s third child and a few short months after, they will move their family of five to Africa. Can you even imagine?! I can’t. I wouldn’t. But they can and they are. “Why?” is what you may be asking. It’s what I wanted to know. So I asked.

Q: At what moment did you realize that God was calling you to move to Africa? Was it a moment of terror, excitement or a little bit of both? 
A: “It was a growth process and not a sudden “ah-ha!” moment. After visiting several times a year, we realized that with coming and going we could only monitor the growth and success of Sole Hope so far. We knew we needed someone on the ground there who knew the vision of Sole Hope, who we trusted and who was like-minded. We started looking for people to move to Africa to really run our program, especially the first few foundational years.

As no one was rising to the plate to accept this low paying, unclear job in a third world country-we realized we were being called, softly, and nudged but kept ignoring it.  During this time though we were able to grow our relationship as a family, gain clearer understanding of the direction of Sole Hope, and really get to know the community of people we would be going to live and work with, and more of the realities of the problem we would be facing-jiggers.

Of course this was and is scary…we are being called onto a battle ground. There will be sacrifice, suffering and trials.  But we are confident that God will complete a good work in and through us with only His power. There is also excitement as we do love Africa, and this is a new adventure like none we have ever taken before as a family!“

Q: Asher, will you deliver your third child in the states? Are you apprehensive about taking a newborn to a third world country? How are your kiddos handling all of the change?
A: “I will deliver our third child in October in the States, and we will move in January. Of course it makes me nervous to take any of my children to a third-world country, but perfect love casts out fear, and I have to hand that over daily to the Lord. We feel this is where he is calling us, so we need to be faithful. It is a good test of faith when you get your children involved. Our two oldest are handling this transition very differently. The oldest is excited, and a bit apprehensive, and the youngest really would be just fine with staying in Asheville the rest of his life.” 

Q: What is your biggest area of need right now? How can we help? 
A: “We always need people to keep our family and Sole Hope in their prayers! We don’t take that lightly and are so grateful when people commit to pray for us. Our family raises our own support, just like a missionary would to live and work in Africa. We need people who will come along side our family and support us financially.”

Q: What sets you apart from other organizations ministering in Africa? 
A: “We don’t have a tract we hand out, or a church we are affiliated with. We do however have many believers that hold us accountable and check in with us regularly. We are Christians who take very seriously listening to the Lord and following his call on our life. We believe Sole Hope was something the Lord laid on my heart (Asher). We start sharing the Lord by building relationships and letting people get to know us and why we are doing this [Sole Hope].”  

Q: Have you set a timeline for how long you will stay? 
A: “We know we will be there at least a year.”

Q: How can we keep up with you while you are there? 
A: “Check the Sole Hope blog regularly!”

Q: If there was one thing on your “Dreaming BIG” list that you would like to see happen, what would it be?
A: “To eradicate jiggers from an entire village/slum area in a sustainable way.”

Q: Can others bring teams over to help with your mission?
A: “YES! We will have 5 planned trips during 2013 and we are open to organizing small group trips throughout the year as well.“

Q: Will there be a mailing address where we can send fun packages to you and the kiddos?  
A: “We would LOVE that!  We will need to get you an address. For right now packages and letters can go to our office in Asheville and be brought with the next team.”
Sole Hope
P.O. Box 1492,
Asheville, NC 28802
or
Sole Hope
2 Wall St. Ste. 114
Asheville, NC 28801

Did I miss anything? Are you as moved as I was by the courage of this little family with big faith? Want to ask them more questions, comment on their work or encourage them on their journey? Leave a comment here or contact them directly. You won’t regret immersing yourself in this cause with these people. No matter the depth of involvement. It all matters.Will you commit to telling at least two people about Sole Hope? I’m going to make it easy for you. Here is a downloadable PDF Sole Hope Reference Card that will attach perfectly to email or print. So tell me, “What are you waiting for? Now is the right time.”

*all media was taken from the Sole Hope Facebook page. Go check it out. And while you’re there, click the “Like” button.
Follow them on Twitter

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If you haven't read about Just Cause yet, you can read about the project HERE.

Little Sister Taking Over

Today's guest post is from my little sister Rae Rae. How do you introduce your sister? I mean, I love her and think she's freakin' hilarious. But you'll have to figure that out for yourselves. If you aren't following her already, you're missing out.

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Hey ya'll It's Rae Rae I'm over her on my sister's blog because she's on vacation with her man. :) Actually she's sitting next to me. *laugh* I'm an unemployed nursing student dead  in the middle of my schooling. And let me tell you it's about done made me crazy. I'm on a break right now so I have a few weeks of down time and I'm trying to get caught up and maybe read a book. Although MY SISTER just told me what happened at the end of the book I'm reading! I was so sad! *pout* It's all gravy, honest mistake.

So, the exciting part about Danielle and J's vacation is that we get to spend some time together on their comings and goings of the vacation because they will be traveling right by us. I love cooking and so does my sister and so does J, so we decided to cook dinner tonight. It's all very fascinating really. So we made BBQ Chicken and Mama's Macaroni and Cheese. Well Danielle made the macaroni I made the chicken. Pictures to come. I did learn a few things about how she makes macaroni. For example, she prefers to use a cauldron while I've always found that a colander works just fine for draining noodles.*smiles*  Right now we're just hanging out doing a little bit of nothing, enjoying a big cup of lazy and watching J play Wii golf.

So, as much as ya'll rock, I'm gonna go hang out with her. Not that we're hanging out while you're reading this. (Thursday I think?) It's like I'm in the past, well your past, my future...maybe. I don't know, I've confused myself now. I was never good with time travel. Swing by my blog and say hey! Later taters!

 

Five Tips to Living Awesome by Ashley

I'd like to send a big thanks to Ashley for guest posting for me today. You should definitely check out her blog, Oh Wells Instead of What Ifs. She's an awesome chic.

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Hello to all of Danielle’s friends and followers! I was so honored when she asked me to do a guest post for her while she is gone on vacation! I thought long and hard about what to write (then thought about it some more, because I am really new at the whole guest blogging thing- please don’t judge me to harshly) and finally decided to give you all five tips to living awesomely. After all with a blog title like Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs, I must be an expert right? Right! Get ready to have some serious knowledge dropped on you! (Who talks like that? Apparently today I do!)

1. Have fun. For me that can mean anything. Today it meant trying to decipher what the boyfriend was saying while he spoke Spanish in a tone similar to that of Cartmen when Jenifer Lopez lived in his hand. (“Taco flavored kisses for my Ben”) He likes to make our phone calls interesting. That’s why I love him.

2. When you get in a funk, find a way to give back. It’s so much easier to recognize how awesome your life really is, when you make a difference in someone else's. 

3. Figure out your happy place and go there as often as possible. Oh and you can totally have more than one. Mine include a certain spot in my childhood backyard, a gorgeous waterfall in the woods, the beach, and the shower. Yes, I love the shower that much. Well, I only like long relaxing showers with good water pressure and a delicious smelling body wash. I’m picky.

4. Make your own rules. You don’t have to be what anyone else wants you to be. Even if things don’t work out, “oh wells” weigh a lot less on your soul than “what if’s”. Be inspired. Challenge yourself. Be a little selfish. Don’t forget about what you wanted out of life back when you couldn’t wait to grow up.

 5.Just add wine! It makes everything better. Bad days, paintings, girls nights, movies, pedicures… the list goes on and on.

Whew, that was actually really hard. This guest blogging business is no joke! Need more tips? Well, I had to work really hard on these ones, so I can’t guarantee any more, but you might find something interesting or inspiring over at my blog Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs. Come on over, check it out and maybe stay a while. 

Cooking Rolls with DJ

So today DJ, or just Dee to me, is guest posting for me. She has been dating my dad forever, I think of her as my step-mom and she is an awesome cook! She actually has three blogs, From Clover Cottage, Cottage Cuisine, and Clover Cottage Creations. She's in the midst of turning her detatched building in a small shop, and I can't wait until she gets it up and running.

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Hi, I’m DJ from Clover Cottage and I’m so happy to be Danielle’s guest blogger today! I have a great

recipe that’s so easy to make and so yummy to eat. No one will believe that you created delicious

homemade rolls from only three ingredients, well four if you count the butter…

Ingredients:

2 cups self-rising flour

3 tablespoons mayonnaise (Duke’s)

1 cup whole milk

¼ stick butter for brushing the tops

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Measure the flour into a medium mixing bowl.

Add the mayonnaise to the flour.

Cut the mayonnaise into the flour with a fork until the mix is crumbly.

Add the milk a little at a time.

Mix after each addition of the milk. Take your time and only add the milk in small increments.

After adding the last of the milk it’s time to trade the fork in for a whisk and really get in there incorporating all of the milk into the batter.

Your batter should look like this.

Spoon the batter into an UNGREASED muffin tin. I used a mini muffin pan, but you can use any size.

Place the rolls into preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Now it’s time for the fun part, brush melted butter over the tops and now for the best part…

Eat up! Hope you’ll give these a try, they’re so versatile that you can serve them with anything!

Vacation Bliss with Lyzz

So today is the first official day of my vacation and I'm heading down to see my family on our way to the beach! Lyzz is guest posting for me today about from her recent vacation where she got to see some of her family too! Lyzz is probably one of the coolest bloggers I know. If you aren't already following her go check out her space, you'll love her too!

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Hey friends of Danielle!  I’m Lyzz and I blog over at Defying Gravity.  My blog is a “free spirit”.

I guess I would be considered a lifestyle blog that moonlights as a military spouse! 

So today, let’s talk vacations!! J

I’m currently on a vacation myself visiting my family in Salt Lake City, Ut.

I grew up here from the age of 10 to 22.  I hated it, but as I was driving around yesterday I felt like now that I am older, I appreciate everything here; the mountains, the scenery, Park City, downtown SLC, the shopping, and the eating.  I could deal with it now!

Mt. Olympus

I love spending time with my nieces.  I have two adorable babies that are very fun despite how SNOOTY they get!  They’ve had a traumatic childhood so I forgive them.

Me and my nieces

The first thing I always do when I make it into SLC, is pick them up from Daycare.  I normally come on a week day in the summer time, so I know they are there!

My next stop is La Frontera.  You cannot “grow up” here and not eat at La Frontera.  Best smothered burritos with extra cheese and rise you’ve ever had!  We got that on Thursday night.  I have noticed that I have become a chips and salsa snob, now that I’ve been treated with the chips and salsa we get at On the Border in Fayetteville! 

I always get Einsteins as well for breakfast when I drop my mom off at work!  Asiago bagles and Strawberry cream cheese!

Yum!

I always have to drive by my old stomping grounds; The high school, my old house, the job I had in high school, and the old mall we used to spend HOURS at doing nothing but trying on clothes and walking around.  Sadly the old mall is demolished and only Macy’s is there.  It looks weird having this HUGE macy’s in the middle of nowhere.  They should do something about that.

My high school

Do you ever feel RUSHED on a vacation?  I came out here for a week, but you figure 1 ½ days of that is traveling, and then you’re spending your  time between parents, siblings, nieces and then you want to see friends but so far, I am exhausted and haven’t had time to even meet up with old friends.

The time change, even though its only 2 hours has thrown me off completely.

Me and Mom

I’m starving at like 6am; I’m exhausted by 7pm.  I feel really old, but I know it’s just the time difference.

One thing after vacation I look forward to is sleeping in my own bed!  No bed is ever the same, and I have like 3 pillows I need to sleep. 

What are your favorite things to do when you go certain places on vacation?