Happy Friday, everyone!
I’m comin’ at ya’ from Napa, California – yeah! A couple girlfriends and I have been talking about taking a girl’s trip for-ev-er, so we finally decided to stop talking about it, cash in our collective hotel points and frequent flyer miles, and actually do it! :)
We arrived yesterday afternoon and, after getting settled into our hotel, headed to a winery I’ve been dying to visit for oh, about 8 years – Cakebread Cellars.
The first “business trip” I ever took right out of college was with my then boss to Toronto (which is an amazing city, btw. The shopping!) While we there we ate at this adorable shabby-chic, hole in the wall Italian restaurant with an incredible wine menu. At the time I knew nothing about wine and picked a glass of “Cakebread wine” to have with dinner thinking it would taste like, well – cake. Ha. Haha. HAHAHAHA!
I know.
The glass of wine didn’t taste like cake, rather it was from the Cakebread Cellars in Napa, and was absolutely unforgettable. A luscious Cabernet that was neither too harsh nor too sweet. It was, in a word, perfect.
Ever since then I’ve been on a Cakebread hunt. I’ve found bottles sold locally, but for $90+, and have never found it on a wine menu no matter where I go. Anyways, imagine my delight when I passed by THE Cakebread Cellars during my Hilton HHonors Napa trip last month on the way to another stop. I knew if/when I returned it would be one of the first wineries I’d visit, and yesterday, we made it so.
Whee!
The girls and I toured the family owned and operated cellars, sampling 6 different wines with our tour guide Nash, and several other visitors.
It was a beautiful afternoon and a perfect way to kick off our weekend of wine tasting.
And guess what? The wine was AMAZING!!! I could not have been more excited to sip, savor, and sip some more.
We’ve got two more full days of wine tasting in the area, so wish us luck! :)
In the meantime, I hope you have an awesome weekend planned out, and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond, in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite indulge: 7 Layer Cookies a la Mode. Are you KIDDING me! I think one bite of this luscious, indulgent dessert would send me straight into a blissful sugar coma!
Favorite read: 15 Ways to Stay Married for 15 Years. No gimmicky “Cosmo” advice here – just real, practical ideas for keeping your marriage strong from a couple that just celebrated 15 years together.
Favorite breakfast: Sausage & Cheese Muffins. I had the BEST breakfast casserole at a baby shower a few months ago that had biscuit mix in the casserole. Like, not on the bottom nor top, but laced throughout the entire thing. I haven’t been able to find a recipe even resembling it until I found these muffins. Can’t wait to try ’em!
Favorite DIY: Homemade Pumpkin Coffee Creamer. I long for the pumpkin spice creamer at the grocery store every fall, but never want to pour the chemical-laced stuff into my coffee. This homemade, organic version sounds delicious!!
Favorite freebie: 7 Ingredient or Less E-Cookbook. My friend Dana at the Minimalist Baker just came out with her first e-cookbook with 10 yummy recipes that have 7 ingredients or less. Trust me, each one looks just as delicious as these Strawberry Ombre Pancakes, which are included in the book!
Favorite fashion: Gap’s Boyfriend Jeans. Ok I’m having a dilemma. I am obsessed with the idea of Gap’s boyfriend jeans, which are super slouchy and loose fitting (I hate wearing tight clothes.) Only problem is I would wear these with flip flops or flats, not heels. Would that look dumb?! I can’t tell!
Favorite meal: Chinese Spicy Chicken. Ohhhh yes – crunchy, battery Chinese food that isn’t deep fried! Doesn’t this look delectable?!
Favorite redo: NEW Sock Bun! So I shared a way to make a sock bun a few months ago in a Friday Favorites post, but last weekend my friend and I found a NEW and MUCH better way to do it – just look at the bun I was able to achieve in like, 30 seconds! We were giggling like school girls when we figured it out! What is it about buns that just make me insanely happy? (Click on the link above to see the tutorial we followed!)
Favorite game day dish: Jerk Port Nachos. I MEAN REALLY.
Favorite find (maybe ever): Pinstrosity. I have been in the weirdest mood this week – laughing like an insane person at things I would normally just maybe chuckle at (case in point – I laughed ’til I cried at like, 4 episodes of the Big Bang Theory this week.) Anyways, that said, I laughed at this website, where people submit failed attempts at projects or recipes found on Pinterest, until I could no longer breathe. Maybe it’s really not that funny, but I think it is. Wait ’til you get to the stacked children photo attempt. JUST WAIT.
Favorite fitness: Fat Blaster Workout. I love workouts like this to bust out after running. It’s straightforward, doesn’t require any equipment and, most importantly, WORKS!
Favorite sweet: Chocolate Dipped Salted Nut Rolls. Homemade salted nut rolls dipped in chocolate – ‘nuf said!
Favorite funny. See above re: weird mood. I just thought this was absolutely hilarious. Rebel baby polar bear – whee!
Favorite bite: Spanakoptita Bites. Mmmmmm luscious cheese and spinach in crunchy cups. Super cute appetizer.
Favorite dream: Burberry Military Coat. Beautiful shape and tailoring. Now to scrounge up the $1K to buy it…drat!
Favorite dip: Warm Black Bean Dip. Creamy, cheesy, dippy – perfect for watching my…
Favorite WINNERS: IOWA HAWKEYES! The University of Iowa’s football team plays Iowa State University in “Iowa’s Superbowl” (although I kind of wish they would stop calling it that…) this weekend. Anyways, it’s the biggest rivalry in the state, and I am totally team Hawkeyes! WHEE!
Have a GREAT weekend, everyone! (And seriously, GO HAWKS!) ;)
Brenda 09.08.2012
go cyclones
melanie k 09.08.2012
great episode of Friday Favorites!!! Let us know if you obtain the recipe for the sausage cheese muffins! I want to make those for church! :-)
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy 09.08.2012
I would love to go to Napa – it looks beautiful!
Morgan 09.08.2012
Hi Iowa Girl, My name is Morgan and i’m a 23 year old from California. I have been reading your blog daily for over a year now and I just wanted to tell you something funny. First of all, I stumbled upon your blog while I was teaching English abroad in Barcelona. I don’t even know how it happened but I started visiting your site everyday because of your positivity, great photographs and your brilliant cooking ideas. Not only have you visited my hometown of cardiff (actually right next door-encinitas) but today I was scrolling through your pictures and recognized someone! I saw the first picture of your waiter and thought to myself, that looks like my friend Nash! What a small crazy little world! Thank you for always brightening up my day :)
Nicole 09.07.2012
Try Jax Vineyard in Calistoga. It is family run but appointment only.
http://jaxvineyards.com/
Mandy 09.07.2012
I moved to San Francisco from Iowa about 3 years ago and love to take weekend trips to Napa now that I’m out here! Have been to Cakebread and it’s wonderful. Glad you enjoyed it!
Go State :)
Ellen 09.07.2012
Spent two years going back and forth to Nappa valley to see my husband while he was out there working and loved it! Great food, scenery and wine!!!
Excited to see the ISU CYCLONES vs (DAMN) Hawkeye game tomorrow!! Go Cyclones!
Adrienne 09.07.2012
If you’re looking for restaurant recs in Napa still, we looooved Bistro Jeanty (tomato soup in puff pastry!), Bouchon, and Redd (and Bouchon Bakery for sweets). We thought Ad Hoc was good but a little overhyped.
PS. GO CYCLONES!
~an Iowa (State) girl in Cali :)
Iowa Girl Eats 09.07.2012
We went to Redd last night – SO delicious! Best scallops ever!
Adrienne 09.07.2012
Yess that’s what I had there! They’re to die for!!
Jenny 09.07.2012
Go hawks! I love everything about your blog by so fun reading and seeing your hawkeye stuff and also des Moines. I lived there after graduating and I mIss it! Go hawks!
Emily 09.07.2012
LOVE Napa!! If you get a chance, try Beauchaine Winery off the main drag in the southern part of the napa wine trail. Absolute best white wine!
Nicole 09.07.2012
Only thing bad about today’s blog was the Hawkeye posting. GO STATE!! :)
Kristen 09.07.2012
Love your Friday posts the most! It’s a great start to my weekend :) Enjoy your trip.
Mary 09.07.2012
I love Nappa! Make sure and go to chateau montelena in Calistoga. The wine is awesome. It’s my favorite winery in Nappa, so beautiful. Cakebread is really good! Enjoy your trip
Lindsay 09.07.2012
In Oregon, we call the game between Oregon State and University of Oregon the Civil War. :)
Enjoy your trip!!
Amy 09.07.2012
I couldn’t get the sock bun link to work either :(
I’ll check back later to see if it’s working yet I guess.
Iowa Girl Eats 09.07.2012
Just fixed it! Here’s the correct link: http://www.youtube.com/user/amiclubwear?v=ZurF_VJAf9A
Melissa 09.07.2012
It still won’t work for me and I’m dying to see it!
Iowa Girl Eats 09.10.2012
Here’s another one!
Erin Redmond 09.07.2012
I see miss Lindsey Eis! Hope you are having fun, looks like a beautiful day.
Erin
Iowa Girl Eats 09.07.2012
It was so gorgeous – thanks for all the great recommendations – we had a blast!
Ellie 09.07.2012
Have you been to pintester.com? Hilarious!
I also could not get the sock bun link to work…
Go Hawks!!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles 09.07.2012
I love those jeans, too – and I wear them with flip flops. :) I’m swooning over that coat, but yikes, the cost!! Thank you so much for including my chocolate dipped salted nut rolls – I super appreciate it – have a great weekend!
Jessie 09.07.2012
Yesterday I tried to make the dried strawberries from pinterest, they didn’t look as pretty as the ones I posted and I really didn’t know if you wanted them completely dried or what, so I left them in the oven and thought they would finish drying. Later that night I shut the oven off, but didn’t take them out. Today went to start the oven and forgot them in there . . . definitely didn’t look like the picture after that!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition 09.07.2012
Omg, so above those nachos you put “Jerk Port Nachos” instead of pork, and I was SOO grossed out thinking it was a nacho recipe made with port beer! Glad to see it’s pork. Sounds delish ;P
Where else are you going in Napa? My fave wineries to visit are Jessup Cellars and Nickel & Nickel, both in/near St. Helena. OMG and for a perfect ladies day, you must taste champagne at Domaine Carneros! Lucky me to have a boyfriend whose parents live in the city of Napa!
Iowa Girl Eats 09.07.2012
Today we went to Mumm, Jessup Cellar, Peju, and Regusci!