What's On Tap this Month - September

Anchors

Ok, so anchors isn't necessarily a new thing I'm loving. I've been into the nautical theme for years (hence all of my striped clothes) but we just recently added these bad boys to our apartment. Inspired by A Beautiful Mess (which I've included before on a monthly tap), I bought a stencil/stamper in the shape of an anchor and then had poor Husband do the rest. Stamp, stamp, stamp away. I looove how it turned out.

Up Jumps the Devil

My friend had this book on his counter when Husband and I went over for dinner one night. Husband and Friend left to pick up wine and his wife also had to leave on a quick errand run. I assured them that I was fine to stay by myself. So I did and I picked up this book. Within 4 pages I was dreading their arrival. A book with the premise what if the devil were a real person, it kept me wanting more. The longer they stayed away, the more I'd get to read. The next day, I picked up my own copy.

Jersey Wines

The last day of August, at my mecca, the New Jersey Wine Festival at Allaire State Park, I sampled lots and lots (and lots) of wines. While I typically drink Sauvignon Blanc or other whites, here at the festival, my tastebuds have a reigning heavyweight champion. For the last few years,
 Holiday Seasoned Red Wine by Four Sisters Winery has been my clear cut winner. If you imagined Christmas had a taste, it would be corked up in this bottle. While it still ranks up there (along with their newer version of the Christmas wine, Beaver Creek. Yum!), this year, I found the Autumn equivalent at Wagonhouse Winery. I sampled Three Boys Brand's Autumn Goddess and was sold. No, literally, I bought the bottle of wine on the spot. Fermented with apple, instead of grapes this fall-tasting wine reminds you of the season even when you're living on an island! So since I can't be home for Fall, I brought Fall home with me. Screw. Pop. Cheersies!

What if you fly Tattoo

I am not a tattoo person but I gotta tell you if ever I got one it would say that. That line comes from a young, Aussie poet named Erin Hanson who I discovered through a very funny blog. Whitney, the author of I Wore Yoga Pants to Work, recently got these words tattooed on her back and those four words made my ears perk up, my heart flutter, and the hairs on my arms stand up. Don't worry, mom, I'm not getting a tattoo, but if ever I did... 

"There is freedom waiting for you,

On the breezes of the sky,

And you ask "What if I fall?"

Oh, but my darling,

What if you fly?"

Erin Hanson

80's Covers & Grey's Anatomy
In honor of the season premiere this Thursday, I wanted to highlight Grey's. I've watched every one of its 11 seasons and have downloaded a bazillion of the songs I've heard on the show. Their musical choice always hits me right here (insert fist chest bump to the heart) and while they could do no wrong in my book, last season (season 10) they did something the most right in my book, like the rightest right possible. Think 80's music. Turns out that creator, Shonda Rhimes, is also a huge 80s music fan and suggested (then handpicked) only 80's music covers for the whole second half of season 10's soundtrack. Don't get caught up in how fun the originals were and how the cover songs sound totally different. Focus on how great these songs were in their 80's hey day that now people are remaking them. Check out some of these 80's covers on YouTube:

Don't You Forget About Me (Originally by Simple Minds, Covered by The Wind + The Wave)

We Built this City - (Originally byStarship, Covered by Aron Wright and Jill Andrews)

I'm So Excited (Originally by The Pointer Sisters, Covered by Le Tigre)

and apparently everything by Sleeping at Last...

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (Originally by The Police)

Private Eyes (Originally by Hall and Oates)

All Through the Night (Originally by Cyndi Lauper)

99 Red Luftballoons (not on Grey's but watch it on SYTYCD - Originally by Cyndi Lauper)

Ummm... speechless, right? 
Who's ready for another 80's party?!?!?!?!?!?!?!