Winery a Week: Danza Del Sol Winery

For those of you who don't know, my mom and I recently started a new tradition, one we are calling Winery a Week. Each week, we pick a different winery and she comes home early from work on Thursday so we can check it out!

This week, we went to Danza Del Sol Winery. It is off the De Portola trail in Temecula's Wine Country and one of the farthest ones out there but it is worth it! 

When you first walk up, you walk into their courtyard where members of their wine club were enjoying a glass or two. 

We then entered the tasting room. It is $14 for a six pour tasting but if you go on their website, there is a two for one coupon, so not too bad as far as the price goes! Our server's name was Eden and she was very knowledgeable about the wine and super friendly! 

I am a fan of white wines, especially the sweet ones, while Mom is more of a red drinker. We both really enjoyed the Pinot Grigio. I then tried their award winning Gewurztraminer, followed by the even sweeter Sabrosa, both of which were so good I wanted to buy a bottle of each! I then moved onto reds with their award winning Cabernet Franc (which was Mom's favorite), followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon and finishing up with the award winning Trilogy.

Overall, it made for a lovely afternoon with some really nice wines and some really nice company! I would recommend this winery. It isn't too crowded because it is off the beaten path of Rancho California, but that was part of what made the experience so nice! Who knows where we will go next week? Stay tuned to find out!

Bonfire Nights at Longshadow Ranch Winery

On Saturday night, my little sis Kayla called me and asked if I had plans. I didn't so she invited me to join her family at Longshadow Ranch Winery! Every Saturday, they have "Bonfire Nights," where they have live music, wine, food, and good times!

I showed up at 7PM and got the last parking spot! The place was busy! I found Kayla and her family and layed out my blanket. They brought food, but I had already eaten so I just enjoyed the company.

I was under the impression that it was country music, but it turned out to be classic rock. Which of course led to some great people watching for "white people dancing." Now we have all been guilty of this at some point or other, where you have had a couple glasses of wine and think your moves are white hot....most of the time they are just funny.

But if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! So we did. And it was a hoot. So many interesting folks out.

I also got to meet the owners John and Susie who were so nice! It was a great night and anyone who wants to go definitely should! It's a great relaxed atmosphere and a good time is guaranteed!

Piloxing: The Newest Craze

Since coming home, I decided to start going to Gold's Gym, mainly for the good price. Personally, I really enjoy group exercise classes. I think it's a good way to get a workout and maybe make some friends too!!

So I have done Zumba before and Spin and Step among others. However, on their schedule was something called "Piloxing." I thought it sounded interesting and was told it's a combination of Boxing and Pilates. Makes sense. So I gave it a go.

I love it! It's more boxing but with pilates thrown in now and then and a lot of balancing so it's good for your core. By the end of the hour, I was dripping with sweat. And the next day, I could feel it, which I always love!

If this is an option in your area, since apparently it is growing like Zumba did a few years ago, then give it a try! You will be sore but it is so worth it!

Spring 2014...It's already over??

Hi all!! So I know I have been gone a while but I was living it up in my very last semester of college! It was a crazy last four months trying to soak up what was left of college and trying to squeeze four years of craziness into one semester. Let me recap this semester in no particular order for you:

This semester, I spent a lot of time with my amazing little sisters and my little bro. From Taco Tuesdays to random nights in the View to Sonic trips and more, I cannot imagine the end of my time without them! 

Between road tripping to Utah for the Color Festival,

Country Thunder!

Random sunrise trips to the Grand Canyon 

Going to Oak Creek, which is always a good time!

Going to Dimes at the Museum Club

Going to the Dustin Lynch concert and meeting him

Then going to the Jon Pardi concert and getting to meet him!

  And going out every Friday to the Yard for dancing, I couldn't have imagined a better last semester.

 The time has come and I graduated!! 

It is hard to believe that my time has come to leave Flagstaff but alas, it has come. To Flagstaff, NAU, my sisters, my friends and my professors and colleagues, thank you for an unforgettable four years. 

I have now moved to Temecula where I will continue to have adventures, because what is life without a little adventure? So cheers to the next chapter and the next adventure!

I leave for Europe in one week, so be sure to check out the return of www.abbysadventuresabroad2013.blogspot.com. It will be making a daily comeback from May 30th through June 10th!! :) 

Bisous! -A 

It's Christmas Time!!!

The Christmas season has arrived in full force!! Christmas is my favorite season of them all and I am obsessed with it. I love decorating and getting in the holiday spirit so I had my friends over for a night of fun!

We started at Allen’s Tree Lot by SAMs Club. After walking around for about 10 minutes, we found the perfect tree. I didn’t want a super large tree and we found the prefect three foot tree. It was only $25 so I was even more excited!

We loaded it into my friend’s truck and went back to my apartment. After turning on the Christmas Country Pandora station, my boyfriend wrapped the tree in lights and then we put up the decorations.

My beautiful tree all decorated!

 I was most excited about some red bulbs with cowboy boots on them that I bought at Hobby Lobby on Black Friday. After we put up the real decorations, we decorated some wood ornaments. I had princesses for the girls, ornaments for the boys, and a dog with a bone for my puppy.

We really enjoyed decorating the ornaments with paint pens. Then we each puffy painted our names on a stocking and hung them on the wall! After that, we hung tinsel around the apartment and put a wreath on the front door! 

Our stocking were hung by the tree with care!

To finish the night, we decorated a gingerbread house while drinking eggnog. It was definitely a successful Christmas night!! Now I can’t wait to fill everyone’s stockings and continue the Christmas magic!! Merry Christmas to all!

From left to right: Elli, Kayla, Dani, and I am in the back. These are my sorority little sisters.

Daytrippin: "The Lion King" in Phoenix

AZ Gamma Chapter of Pi Beta Phi outside Gammage Theatre in Tempe, AZ

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to ASU’s Gammage Theatre to see the Broadway production of “The Lion King” as a sisterhood event with my sorority.

On Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early and headed to Mt. View dorm to meet up with the rest of my sisters. We went outside to get on the bus and realized we would be traveling to the valley in NAU busses. We did not see that one coming. Surprisingly, they were very comfy and promoted conversation during our journey.

As we got closer and closer, I got more and more nervous because we were cutting it really close. We were going to see the matinee at two and when we pulled into the parking lot, it was 1:59.

Now picture this. About 90 girls trying to run in high heels and dresses. It was quite the sight. We all got inside and almost every one of us was seated when the house lights went down.

I personally have seen this production before in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre when I was six years old. While it was very different than what I remember, I thought it was an amazing show. The costumes were incredible and the singing was like nothing I had heard before. My favorite character in the play was Rafiki, she was so funny and had an amazing voice!

At intermission, I went out to the souvenir shop. I have a collection of pins from everywhere I have traveled in the world and all the things I have done. I was very disappointed to see they did not have pins so I got a keychain instead.

We went back into the theatre and enjoyed the rest of the play. I highly recommend it to anyone who can go see it while it is so close!!

As soon as the play ended, we all loaded back onto the busses and headed to In N Out!! That was definitely a treat. I wish we had one in Flagstaff but for now I can settle with the deliciousness of Animal Fries every once in a while.

We got back to Flagstaff just after nine and everyone was exhausted! All in all though, it was an amazing day and I will look back on it fondly in years to come. 

My Pi Beta Phi Little Sis Kayla and I 

Review: The Lumberyard's "Country Night"

One of my favorite hobbies of all time is line dancing. When I go home, on Friday nights, there is an 18 and up country bar called Stampede that I go dancing at. So naturally when I heard there was a place to go line dancing in Flagstaff, I got extremely excited.

For the last three years of my time here, I have been counting down the minutes to when I could spend my Friday nights doing what I love. Finally this summer I turned 21 and was allowed to go to Country Nights at The Lumberyard.

My sisters Sophia, Shelby, and I decided to go this past Friday night to celebrate Sophia’s 21^st birthday. We arrived at 8:30 to have a late dinner.

The food was so delicious. We started with an appetizer of Fried Mac N Cheese Balls. Then I had a Bacon Bleu Burger with veggies. It was easily one of the best burgers I have every had! With all of that, we were so full. We had half an hour til “Country Night” began and the dance floor was cleared but the drink specials had begun!

For “Country Night,” the special is $6 Yard Jars, which are 32 ounce mason jars with options for different types of drinks. There is something for everyone. I personally love the Wicked Weed Peach Tea.

At 10:00, the staff moved some of the tables to create a dance floor. I couldn’t wait to dance! After two songs, “Merry Go Round” by the Jane Deer Girls came on. So naturally I headed to the floor to do the “Redneck Angel” dance.

I was the only person on the floor. Turns out, in Flagstaff, going line dancing means everyone knows how to do a whole two line dances. I was so bummed!! Then during one of the two dances everyone knows, I did it differently because of the way I know how to do it from back home. After doing two quarter turns, I discovered the person next to me dancing my dance! As soon as the song ended, I began to chat with him and discovered he goes to Stampede as well!

After that, the two of us did most of the line dances together and it made my night! So overall, the food and drinks were fabulous but the dancing, not the greatest. I guess I am just lucky to have Stampede and it makes me look forward to the next time I go home! 

Me, Sophia, a photobomber, and Shelby