Money Saving Tuesday (cheap wine)

Vegas was good. The only thing that would have made it better would have been staying a couple extra days so we could spend the time as we saw fit.

As it stood, it was a work week for my husband and I got to take along as well as help schmooze the wives of my hubby's clients. But that being said, I got some pretty fantastic meals, good wine and an amazing helicopter ride over the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon.

So I can't really complain.

And I got 2 pairs of shoes, a pair of jeans and a new shirt for $64.

I would say I'm pretty close to making out like a bandit.

There were 2 things we discovered about ourselves in the process of spending the last evening and last day out in Las Vegas.

1) We are not party animals
2) We are okay with that

We were told (forcefully at times) that we HAD to check out Freemont Street. Apparently that is old school Las Vegas, it's where the drinks are cheaper and....well everything else seems to be a little cheaper there too.

Ahem.

My hubby and I walked down the street one way. Then we turned around and walked the other way. And then we looked at each other and without further adieu, hailed a cab.

We like the drink. There's no mistaking that. A good rye and coke, a good vodka or rum or HELLO Pina Colada or Margarita, and we are IN. However, we discovered that our favourite time to drink is when we are at home or in our hotel room, where we can just be goofs together and take in a lovely bit of alcohol, and somewhere we are close enough to crawl into bed when we are done, with someone we love.

Yes it's safe. Yup, it's predictable. And, absolutely, we have a hoot.

We also like to be comfortable. Hotel rooms. Our own bed. Our own house.

No, I don't want to stay up till 2am drinking alcohol with someone I don't know, down a dirty street I can't navigate and in a strange city I have no loyalty to.

So on the ride back to our hotel, I asked my hubby "are we old?"

And he replied "no. We just aren't these types of people".

I was satisfied with his answer. Because it's true. And I have friends who LOVE Freemont Street. They absolutely love it and want to go back every year. It made their trip. That is GREAT! But it's very interesting to me that I'm still learning about myself at 31 and learning that it's okay to not love Freemont Street.

The boxes we put around ourselves, around who we think we are, are pretty constricting. And to conform to something just because you think that you should is rather silly. It's been a very freeing experience this past year as I'm discovering little things about myself that I never would have believed.

Anyway, I digress. I can talk about some things forever. Which means you start out reading, and end up skimming. I know how that works. I'm a blog reader too.

Okay, my quick Money Saving Tuesday tip is (since we are on the topic of drinking and having a good time) buy cheap wine.

I'm not talking about visiting cousin Steve who makes it in his basement and pretty much gives it away because even he doesn't want to drink it. I mean, don't let the wine connoisseurs dictate what you like.

The best quote I ever heard in regards to picking out wine was actually by a well known connoisseur. I don't know any connoisseurs so unfortunately his name escapes me and and I can't give him credit. But his quote went something like this "if you find a wine you like, then drink it".

Price doesn't mean that it's the best wine for you. It just means that it's in a good year, or it's a branding thing. Some high wines are delicious. And some taste like someone peed in the barrel. Sorry, but that's just me.

I had an amazing Italian wine while out in Vegas (trust the Italians to make amazing wine!), but when I'm back in the real world, an Australian wine is delicious and is always my first grab.

My husband laughs at me because when we go into a store he says I can pick out the most expensive item in the store because it'll be the first piece I fall in love with.

I say I have good taste. He doesn't say much but slowly pickpockets my credit cards out of my wallet.

However, that being said, I might have expensive taste, but I also have a nose for finding replicas (and good ones too) of the expensive items I fall in love with.

Wine is a delightful thing to share with a friend, companion or mate. Try different kinds and let your tongue tell you the bottle's worth; not the price tag.

YellowTail is my usual fall back (and they make Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well), but I've heard New Zealand and South Africa have good bargain wines too.

So, while this isn't a typical Money Saving Tuesday tip, if you are asked to bring wine to a party, you want to give a gift of wine, or you want to have a quiet evening at home, don't be intimidated by the wine prices. Enjoy that $12.99 bottle!

Don't tell anyone the price, and most times....they won't be able to tell.

So when you're going to splurge, splurge smart!

Viva Las Vegas!!

I think I have given up on Project Friday. I believe it was 3 weeks ago that I gave myself a project and I just have not gotten to it. My meal planning abilities are occurring weekly as it's dependent on what I actually have in my fridge as my grocery budget still remains at $100/week. January ended with $2 and some pennies left in my Grocery Cash Envelope.

Well done, Bonnie. Well done. I made it. I survived!!

However, meal planning for 6 weeks (though I have some plans from the old days) hasn't really landed as top priority the past few weeks.

Anyway...in other things.

This next week there will be no Money Saving Tuesday. Because....

I'm going to Vegas, BABY!

Actually my husband has a work thing out there. Something small called World of Concrete. I lie; it's huge. It's a big deal.

Anyway, his boss is sending him and another guy out there to schmooze (defined: wine and dine) their customers. My husband's favourite customers are those men that include their wives, adore their families, and aren't excited about getting hammered and visiting strippers. No, that's not just what he tells me; it's what he actually believes.

He connected with some of his customers who are bringing their wives, and organized some activities with them and is now bringing me to tag along (and I get to enjoy the company of these men's wives, plus take in some free meals).

WOOHOO!

So of course, I'm still in charge of my costs (flight, extra meals, extra drinks), but I get to tag along to enjoy some of Las Vegas' fun shows and activities. SO MUCH FUN!

Plus, it's been -44 Celsius out here for too long, and even 15 Celsius will feel like summer. Mmmm, jeans with a light sweater? Yes please!

I'm very thankful for this opportunity to get away from the cold for a bit, spend some one-on-one time with my husband (though 70% will be with customers), and get a break from the daily grind. I love my life, but I'm especially fond of it when I get a little break from it and get to come back to it.

This year I've been a little sad about not getting away. We've been super blessed over the past few years, and we have been able to do so much. November 2009 we went to Mexico, January 2011 we went to Disney World, November 2011, we went back to Mexico. It feels like we've gotten a break every year. This year we just couldn't swing it, so a few weeks ago when my husband's boss informed hubby of Las Vegas, we just knew we had to make the most of it.

I feel like God heard our hearts that we wanted to just get some time away, and has blessed us with a mini-vacation.

I think so often we get stuck in a religious mind-frame about the Lord and what He wants to bless us with and what he doesn't. A lot of people get stuck on the finances. I really believe that God loves to pour out His gifts in financial form and He loves to see us delight in aspects of life.

We put a cap on God. I remember a Word from the Lord given to us by an amazing servant of God. One part of it just had a blessing about the Lord providing the means for vacations and time together. Funny, hey? What a bizarre prophecy! When we think about getting Words from God, or blessings, or prophecies (or whatever you would like to call them), I usually think about things for the heart. Areas of healings, areas of enlightenment, things God specifically would like to use us for. And those are all true and good. But, He also delights in what we delight in. And He knows my husband and I cherish and treasure our time away together.

I don't know if I'm being clear at all, but I do know that this was a little nugget from the Lord. A little bit of "here ya go" to help our hearts and to remember that ALL His promises are YES and AMEN.

So next Monday, I'll be on a plane, beside my wonderful husband and thanking the Lord for the little piece of Get-Away.