"You are building the most fabulous life."

Happy Thanksgiving, campers! Today, I'm grateful for all of you. 

I am, as always, thankful for my fantastic friends and above all the love and support of my family. This year, however, I'm ruminating on something a little bigger than in years past. 

2017 has brought enormous change for me, and I am beyond thankful that it has been so positive across the board. Had you asked me last Thanksgiving where I would be this year, I would have probably shrugged and assumed it would be living in downtown Minneapolis, working at Travelers, hanging out with the same people, maybe dating, maybe not. Instead, I live in California with two of my best friends, working for one of the most renowned academic institutions in the world. I wake up every morning to palm trees, never wear a coat, and weekend in wine country. And I am happy - incandescently so. 

A friend of mine once commented on an Instagram photo, "You are building the most fabulous life!" The phrase has tuck with me for the last few years - especially in light of my 2017 resolution to be intentional in all things. It's been a mantra, at times when my life hasn't felt so fabulous. I'm thankful, though, that choosing to be intentional, to step out of my comfort zone, and to keep building that fabulous life has led me to where I am today. I am grateful that taking a huge leap has been as easy as it has been, and that I can truly say today that I'm this happy and fulfilled by my life. 

So on this Thanksgiving, here's to the friends I've made and lost, the family that has had my back through everything, the roommates who make me smile every day, the abundance of delicious California wine waiting for us on tonight's Thanksgiving table, and to you - today, may your hearts be as full as your plates!

A wine country 30th!

One of my favorite things about living in the Bay Area is that it's such a magnet for people to come visit...especially wine country! I think I've gotten a bit of a reputation for being a wine country fiend (shocking, huh?), and so many friends have reached out to let me know they'll be in town and want to get together. 

A few weeks ago, my friend Carly was out for her 30th birthday with her family and a few close friends, and invited me up for a weekend of wine tasting in Sonoma. Naturally, I couldn't say yes fast enough, so Saturday morning found me unloading an obscene amount of wine and cheese and taking in this amazing view...

I actually met Carly and her husband Carl (I KNOW, dead from the cute) in the weirdest set of circumstances - at the Minnesota Opera Symphony Ball last June through MIchael, who went to law school with both of them! We ended up joining their family for the night, including midnight cocktails at the speakeasy across the street, and Carly and I rapidly struck up a friendship based primarily on our love of champagne. 

Where better to cement that love than at Domaine Chandon?! I'm starting to feel like Chandon is my "backyard winery:" I've been up there half a dozen times in the three months I've lived in California, to the point where I recognize the entire tasting room staff. It's such a fun spot - and the group agreed!

We enjoyed a fantastic tasting in the private garden area, including the Etoile Brut, their Carneros pinot noir, and a few champagne cocktails courtesy of our tasting host! Several members of our crew joined the wine club, and I left having ordered two more cases of Em's summer bottles for my parents (as well as with my August wine club shipment!). 

Our second stop was Honig in Napa, for an outdoor tasting of sauvignon blanc and cabernet. I loved the adorable signage they had for our group, and we really enjoyed the cab (though our first sauv was not to anyone's liking). 

One of the highlights of being in Napa on the cusp of harvest season is that the grapes are nearly ready to go - and Honig was excited to show that off! They clipped a few grapes for our group to enjoy, and invited us to take a stroll back into the vineyards that ran up against the patio for more samples. It was one of those "what, this is my life?!" moments for sure. 

The hands-down unanimous highlight of the day, however, was stop #3 at Flora Springs, where we had one of the best experiences I've had thus far in wine country. The winery has a fascinating history, and has been family-owned since its founding in the 1970s. 

After starting off with a little chardonnay in the tasting room, we were unleashed into the vineyards to taste their single-vineyard Malbec grapes, alongside their single-vineyard Malbec itself...the circle of life in action, ha! 

Once we'd finished the vineyard tasting, our guide took us into the 13,000 square feet of underground wine caves...fun fact, there's no property tax on caves in California since they pay tax on the land above! 

While in the caves, we did a barrel tasting - one young Cabernet out of a French oak barrel, and one out of an American oak barrel. The difference was apparent, and fascinating - which spurred a length conversation about the philosophy of barrels affecting taste in wine in general, and how that's viewed in the wine community. 

From the caves, it was back to the tasting room to try some of the best wine I've ever consumed. Flora Springs specializes in cabernet, and we were lucky enough to try a few of their highest-grade bottles. From their "Wild Boar" single vineyard cabernet to their world-renowned "Trilogy" and, best of all, one of the last 50 bottles of their 40th-anniversary cabernet, every bottle was a revelation and the appreciation around the table was universal. I'm pretty sure every one of us joined the wine club that day - well worth it for one of the most personalized, special experiences I've had yet in wine country.

Once our tastings wound down, we headed back to the houses for champagne, cheese and charcuterie on the deck, followed up by an enormous amount of pizza and, you guessed it, more wine. Before I knew it, it was past midnight, we had listened to Keith Urban's "The Fighter" no less than a dozen times, and everyone was ready to crash hard. 

We spent all day Sunday in downtown Sonoma, starting off with a ridiculously yummy brunch at Girl and the Fig. I'm frankly still fantasizing about the chocolate-dipped balsamic figs, thank you very much. 

From brunch, we walked around the corner to Sigh's gorgeous new champagne tasting room. My inner basic bitch lost it over the champagne quotes on the mirrors, the wall of champagne cage caps in the bathroom, and the fact that they had Lelarge Pugeot (one of my favorites from our Champagne trip!) on the menu. Definitely a place I'll be returning to! 

Our final stop before everyone had to head to airports: Pangloss Cellars, where I fell hard for their gorgeous tasting room - as a "Candide" lover, let's be real, there was no way I wasn't going to love the place. 

Though we were all stuffed from brunch, we found room for food and wine pairings...the things we must do to enjoy good wine, ugh! Carly and I split a wine-and-crostini pairing that was presented so beautifully I couldn't help but be that girl taking photos of her food. 

With my stomach full of food and my blood type pretty much just cabernet at that point, we loaded into cars and went our separate ways - but what a wonderful weekend with great friends, new and old! Already looking forward to the Lund-Numrich-Bowman-Camarata crew's next trip out west - they are a blast to travel with! 

#foreverjoshandtash

4/5 of the Schwegfam kicked off February with a warm-weather trip to Miami and Puerto Rico (missed you, Jonny D!). The reason for the trip? My cousin Josh's wedding at the stunning Miami Biltmore! 

We all had a blast in our black-tie best messing around before heading over to the Biltmore from our beachfront condos...

Doesn't my papa bear look fantastic in his tux?!?! And how perfect is Em's bright dress for a Miami wedding?

Aunt Kathy and her gorgeous fam...while the attire may have been appropriate, the behavior was anything but...

Ready to throw down, Papa Schwegs (also stealing my mom's shoes at the earliest opportunity). 

Once we arrived at the Biltmore, we headed out to a fabulous set up, took our seats, and waited a while for the ceremony to start. I can think of worse ways to pass the time than listening to live strings, outside in 80-degree sunshine, with cutie-pie cousin Reese and the Snapchat puppy filter...

The ceremony itself was gorgeous, as was Natasha's Berta gown. So classic! 

The Arnolds clean up nicely :) 

Cocktail hour was outside on a veranda - again, couldn't get over how heavenly it was to enjoy sunshine and warm temps in February! I particularly loved their table assignments - airline "tickets" suspended from tiny airplanes in honor of Josh's career as a pilot!

I'd say the Schwegfam makes black tie look pretty nice, personally...

I also tried my hand at the whole fashion blogger photo thing and, clearly, failed miserably. THANKS CHAMPAGNE. 

Inside the reception, the party kicked off with live music, a lovely first dance, and heartfelt speeches by both sets of parents, the best men (my cousins Jake and Matt) and maid of honor, and the happy couple. 

Little Brooke drinking water out of her champagne glass made my night...little cousins make every party more fun just by being adorable. Brooke danced her socks off and spent most of the reception sleeping on three chairs pushed together, under her dad's tux jacket...oh to be four and darling and able to get away with that! 

The highlight of the reception? The "hora loca," a Caribbean tradition in which performers show up just as the party starts to calm down...and kick it up several (hundred) notches. Josh and Tash had a salsa group come in, and before we knew it the EDM was pumping courtesy of their late-night DJ, the dance floor was raging, and we were all out there with light-up stunna shades, feather boas, and Mardi Gras beads on. 

After we danced til we dropped, I caught I think the only photos of the four Schwegman siblings (my dad, Aunts Kathy and Mary Beth, and Uncle Jim) of the evening...while we got ONE good one out of the bunch, I have about eight out-takes in which some or all of them are making absurd faces and generally being ridiculous. 

Congrats Josh and Tash! You threw one hell of a party! 

Time to escape the tundra...

...and rocket off to Miami and Puerto Rico for a week! 

My cousin Josh is getting married at the beautiful Miami Biltmore...

...and so we rented a beachfront condo for the weekend in Miami. 

When we're not dressing up and doing the wedding thing, I can't wait for some time soaking up sun on South Beach and checking out Wynwood Walls with Em. 

On Monday, we hop a quick flight to San Juan! I went in 2014 and loved it...super excited to go back with the fam for some Old Town...

...Bacardi mojitos...

...rainforest hikes...

...snorkeling Vieques...

...and sunning on Flamenco Beach. 

I'll check in every so often here...but til then, here's to another day of sun!

a facetious 2016 Christmas list from yours truly

...in order from most realistic to most "in your freaking dreams you crazy person."

1. this timeless and appropriate "Brunch Squad" sweatshirt, which I actually just ordered for myself from Old Navy...a steal at $25.

2. Drinking implements for festive events: for example, the "Chambong," which is LITERALLY A CHAMPAGNE BONG...or for those of us who can't get through a holiday sober (which is apparently the Schwegfam's M.O.), the "Santa's Flask" wine stocking. 

3. As my current iPhone 5 is missing texts on the regular and never seems to have enough storage, I'd like an upgrade to an iPhone 7, preferably accompanied by this glitter-filled, totally ridiculous Kate Spade case. 

4. Tickets to the Metropolitan Opera's 50th anniversary gala in New York next May...featuring pretty much every major star currently singing in the opera world. While not necessarily realistic, it's not totally out of the question with seats going for around $200 on Seat Geek... 

5. While we're at it, let's take advantage of all the Trumpies "boycotting" "Hamilton" and snap up some fantastic seats to see it on Broadway, a steal of a deal starting at $500 (plus a non-essential organ, your first-born child and your soul). 

6. Since it's already basically our Cheers, where everybody knows your name, I'd like a regular Friday night reservation at Spoon and Stable, preferably at the chef's counter so I can actually become best friends with Gavin Kaysen and learn the secret of their divine pumpkin ravioli and flawless tamarind pork chop. 

7. I'm actually going to write Santa a letter to ask for this one, the item that I think should be topping every Irish fan's Christmas list this year: I'd like Brian Kelly fired, please, and (in my perfect fantasy Christmas world) replaced with Urban Meyer, who (duh) should be all about leaving Ohio State to come coach Notre Dame. In my perfect fantasy Christmas world. 

8. While we're discussing totally realistic things Lizzie should have, let's throw a goldendoodle puppy on the list. It can be best friends with Molly and I will die and go to cuteness heaven on a daily basis.

9. Since clearly I'm going to receive all of this and absolutely 0% of this list is rooted in fantasy or pipe dreams, I might as well go all-out and ask for the real cuddly life partner I'm wishing for: Prince Harry. He's already proven he's got a thing for brunette Americans with the whole Meghan Markle thing...but I think Kate and I would get along so much better. Plus, I bet he could get me "Hamilton" Broadway tickets...Harry, baby, call me. 

10. And to round out the list of everything I need in life to make me happy: a champagne button, and preferably an accompanying butler to deliver said champagne. It's already a thing at London's Bob Bob Ricard, and I think it definitely needs to cross the pond in time for 2017 and the impending Trump presidency/lunacy. Why don't we make it a two-for-one, actually, and just get me Prince Harry to deliver champagne at the press of my champagne button? 

Alright campers, get cracking! I'm sure if all of you pool your resources you can pull this off in time for 12/25. In the meantime, I'll be hanging out at my place in my brunch sweatshirt, drinking wine out of a plastic Christmas stocking...cheers! 

*All commentary in this post is, duh, no shit, facetious and 100% intended to amuse rather than to represent my actual Christmas list, you sillies.*