Over the river lakes, and through the woods plains,

To Grandmother’s house Flipflop Wines’ Headquarters we go! :)

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Greetings from Livermore, CA, home of Flipflop Wines, where I arrived yesterday with a several other bloggers for a quick, 2-day trip to learn about the company, their Soles for Souls initiative, and drink some juicy wine, of course! (This is their Bubbly Moscato – to die.)

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Today we’ll dig into the meat of our trip, but last night was all about a nice, relaxing time with food and wine pairings at the Underdog Wine Bar, right on the grounds of Flipflop Wines’ headquarters.

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We sipped on whites paired with delicate salads and crab cakes.

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Reds with meatier dishes like Beef Shortribs.

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PS can we please all acknowledge the baby carrots under my beef shortribs that I did indeed try…and kind of liked?!?!

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But dessert – wine soaked berries and whip cream – totally did it for me.

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How can something so simple, taste so GOOD?!

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I’ll fill you in with more later, but in the meantime please enjoy my favorite finds and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites – and have a great weekend guys! (Also, will you still read my blog if it changes to Iowa Girl Transplanted to Northern California Eats? – gah I just love wine country!)

Favorite gotta have it: Salted Nut Squares. Can you say homemade salty nut roll?! Chewy, dense and sweet – gotta have it.

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Favorite view: Yosemite National Park. I have been dying to go to Yosemite for the past 5 years or so. Just got to find a summer to do it!

Favorite app: Deli Skewers. What a blissfully light bite of deli meat and cheese. These would be so nice to bring to a party, so you know you have at least one healthy item to snack on.

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Favorite space. I adore this serene and girly office space. PLUS THAT CHAIR.

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Favorite dinner: Queso Taco Pasta Bake. Forget the pasta – with a sauce like this, pass the tortilla chips! ;)

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Favorite funny: Clementine the Dog. I want to wrap this dog up in my arms, hug her so hard, and tell her everything is going to be all right. AWWWW!

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Favorite recipe: Perfect Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing. Sweet, tangy, and just right.

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Favorite fashion: Leopard Print Bracelet. I’m not a huge animal print girl, but can definitely appreciate cute accents like this bracelet.

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Favorite sweet: Key Lime Pie Poke Cake. I am such a sucker for poke cakes – especially one involving tangy-sweet key lime flavors.

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Favorite pooch. Cute. Overload.

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Favorite fresh: Corn & Blueberry Salad. I hereby declare Corn & Blueberry Salad THE salad of summer 2012. I cannot wait to make it!

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Favorite feature: Herringbone-Patterned Brick Floors. I’m obsessed with this incredibly unique home feature. Would you do it?

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Favorite yum: Gratineed Pineapple. I have never seen a recipe like this before in my life. In the words of the blog writer – “It’s sweet and juicy and warm and crunchy and gooey…and just plain damn good.” WOW!

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Favorite practical: Express 4 1/2″ Shorts. Here’s the thing. I’m too old to be wearing the little booty shorts everyone’s selling these days (although, for the record, I never did wear them) so I totally appreciate shops that carry shorts in longer lengths, like Express’ 4 1/2″ shorts. They’re just long enough, but not too long, and come in fabrics that can be dressed up or down. I bought three pairs of ’em last weekend. :)

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Favorite bite: Raspberry Lemonade Bars. Now these just scream summer!, don’t ya’ think?

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Favorite room: Sun Room Kitchen. A food bloggers dream kitchen with all that natural light.

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Favorite finger food: Chili Lime Mango Papaya. Juicy mango & papaya slices dusted with a smoky-sweet combo of spices. I adore this idea!

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Favorite accent: Houndstooth Rug. I’ve always though houndstooth is one of life’s perfect patterns. It goes with any style of home.

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Favorite sip: Minted Mango Tea. I could sip on a mason jar of this all summer long. :)

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Favorite duh: Ice Cream Cone Cannoli. Brilliant! I was just saying the other day that I’d love to make cannolis at home, but don’t want to make the shell and/or don’t want to buy a box of ’em that have probably been on the supermarket shelf for 12 years either…

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View Past Friday Favorites >

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! :)