BevMo!, The Upscale Alternative to Traditional Liquor Stores

BevMo! may be one of the most genius businesses ever created. Well, at least in the opinion of those fortunate California, Arizona, and Washington residents who love alcohol. For everyone else outside these regions, let me explain. BevMo! is a liquor store with 150 locations, but it's not gross, dirty, and small. It's an upscale liquor store with amazing selections of beer, liquor, wine, food, glassware and even more - with items ranging from affordable to high end. Looking for a brew specific to a certain region and can't find it in your neighborhood? BevMo! probably carries it. Want quality wine to serve at a get-together but not sure what to select? BevMo! has a large selection with a rating system to help you choose great flavors!

Recently the 151st BevMo opened in Riverside, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles, and to celebrate an intimate event was held for local bloggers, complete with wine tasting led by Cellar Master, Wilfred Wong. A 40+ year veteran of the industry, Wong tastes approximately 6,000 to 8,000 wines, spirits and beers annually and participates in as many as a dozen+ competitions annually. He's also responsible for managing the wine rating system at BevMo! Um, where can I sign up to be his colleague?!

BevMo! is well-know and loved in these parts due to their 5 Cent Wine Sale. Buy one wine at regular price, get the second wine for just 5 cents. Buy one case of wine at the regular price, and the second case is just 60 cents!* 

And on top of those straight up steals, satisfaction is guaranteed. If you are not completely happy with your purchase, just take the wine back, with your receipt, and BevMo! will happily refund the purchase price.

The 5 Cent Wine Sale is currently taking place and to help you select some wines, Wong created a list of his top 10 choices, along with food pairings:

1. Main & Geary Pinot Grigio ’12 (92 points) 
Suggested Pairing: linguine, clams in a light cream sauce

2. Ray’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc (89 points) 
Suggested Pairing: raw oysters on the half shell

3. Dolce Vita Prosecco (89 points) 
Suggested Pairing: tuna sashimi, with sorrel and lemon

4. Beringer Carneros Chardonnay ’12 (92 points)
Suggested Pairing: sauteed, pounded chicken breast in a light crème sauce

5. Ray’s Creek Chardonnay (91 points) 
Suggested Pairing: lightly grilled shrimp, with a white wine reduction sauce

6. Kenwood Jack London Merlot ’10 (92 points)
Suggested Pairing: baked pork tenderloin, with savory spices

7. Zolo Gaucho Select Malbec ’11 (91 points)
Suggested Pairing: grilled beef or goat, light red wine reduction sauce

8. Donovan-Parke Pinot Noir ’12 (91 PTS)
Suggested Pairing: grilled salmon, fresh, savory herbs

9. Unruly Red Table Wine ’11 (92 points)
Suggested Pairing: grilled beef or lamb, with a light touch of savory herbs

10. Crooked Path Zinfandel ’11 (93 points) 
Suggested Pairing: Greek style lamb kebobs, with rosemary and lemon zest

You didn't think the greatness ended there did you? Of course not. BevMo! also hosting tastings! Check your local store for details for tastings near you. 

So if you live in CA, AZ, or WA, head into your local BevMo! to take advantage of the 5 Cent Wine Sale. For everyone else, I hope the store branches out soon to the rest of the country. I know it will, it's too good to be contained on the West Coast!

*In Washington: 2 for 1 Sale: Buy 2 bottles of the same wine for the regular price of 1. Must be a ClubBev! member (free to sign up and you get points for purchases). 

Disclosure: in exchange for participation in this campaign I received incentives. However, all opinions are my own.

Giveaway: THE FOLLOWING Poster

One of my favorite shows on TV right now is THE FOLLOWING. It's so sick and twisted that it's good. If you're not watching it we have to break up. OK, maybe not, but you're seriously missing out! In the show's freshman season last year, it was dubbed the number one new series and favorite drama among 18 to 49-year-olds. Before the show even premiered I knew it was going to be amazing since the creator/director is none other than Kevin Williamson (of hits including the Scream franchise, The Vampire Diaries, and Dawson's Creek).

This season brings a whole new plot of crazy. Psychos are just everywhere. Ryan Hardy (played by Kevin Bacon) can't get rid of them. When one deranged killer dies, it seems like several step in to take their place.

I don't want to give anything away so if you aren't yet caught up skip this paragraph.

Ryan and the FBI continue their hunt for Lily Gray, and are forced to redirect their search when a new threat enters Max’s life. Meanwhile, Joe, Emma and Mandy arrive at their latest hideout, but quickly realize things aren’t what they seem in the all-new “Sacrifice” episode. I'm super excited to see how both groups of coldblooded murders are going to deal with being enemies. I almost think Lily is more insane than Joe! Anyone else sense that?

If you love being terrified and screaming at your TV, be sure to tune into next week's episode to catch the crazy. It airs Mondays on FOX at 9PM EST/PST.

And, to get everyone pumped for the next episode I have a show poster giveaway like the image pictured above! It's the typical movie-sized poster and a really cool piece of memorabilia for fans. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway runs through Monday, March 3. One winner will be selected and contacted by Monday, March 10.

On the Set of Dallas: Season 3 Full of Surprises

Before I get into my very professional review of my Dallas set visit, can I get a second to freak out? Holy hotness!! (Insert scream here) I sat next to Josh Henderson and Jesse Metcalfe. There was dialogue, handshakes, smiles, and some heart melting. These dudes are even more attractive in person. And so nice! OK, now that I got that out of my system...

Last Thursday I was on the set of Dallas for an interview session with the stars of TNT's hit drama, Dallas. It was a great opportunity to get insight into each of the characters and learn about the upcoming third season, premiering tonight! Here's a glimpse of what's in store this season, straight from the actors' mouths:

Josh Henderson

as 

John Ross Ewing

"It's definitely a roller coaster. I'm calling it Dallas on Steroids. This year John Ross is trying to step into his father's shoes a little too quickly."

Jesse Metcalfe

as

Christopher Ewing

"There's a lot of role-reversals going on this season. Morally-grounded characters are certainly flirting with the dark side."

Jordana Brewster
as
Elena Ramos

"She's definitely scheming, but rightly so. It's been years that she's been screwed by the Ewings so it's about time."

Linda Gray
as
Sue Ellen Ewing

"When Sue Ellen started drinking after the J.R. Ewing memorial, I was shocked when I saw those words 'She picks up the drink and pours herself a drink and drinks it.'"

Patrick Duffy

as

Bobby Ewing

"It's a new Bobby. He's the new patriarch and now has to be the calming influence. Not to say he doesn't stretch and go places that are uncomfortable to him, but he always is peripheral in his points of view. He takes everything into consideration."

Julie Gonzalo

as

Pamela Rebecca Barnes

"She married for business but wants to be loved and trust John Ross. This year gets real racy!"

Emma Bell
as
Emma Brown

"She's grown up in a world where she's always been given what she wants and she doesn't really know boundaries."

Mitch Pileggi
as
Harris Ryland

"He's a very complex man and I love the fact that they're making him more and more complex and not a cardboard cutout of a villain."

Juan Pablo Di Pace

as

Nicholas Trevino

"I like to think of him as a chameleon. Whoever he's dealing with in the show, he needs to act a certain way to get what he wants."


I don't want to spoil too much, but I can say that the first two episodes of the season are intense. Lots of lies, betrayals, surprises, and some new faces - all of the shocking twists and turns that we've come to love about Dallas. In addition to a set visit, I had the pleasure of attending the J.R. Ewing bourbon launch that same evening (more on that in a future post). There, I was able to catch a viewing of the episode you'll see tonight and I can tell you they get straight into the drama. If you're a fan, you're in for a season full of that drama you'd expect from Dallas. And if you've never watched, there's no better time. Today TNT is having a marathon so it will be easy to catch up and you're always welcome to ask me about the show!

Tune in tonight for Dallas Season 3 on TNT at 8/7c.


* Hotel and travel accommodations provided by Warner Bros.

On the Set of Revolution

Yesterday I had the privilege of getting up close and personal with the cast of Revolution! Along with a handful of other journalists, I traveled to Austin to get a glimpse at some action scenes on-location, interview the cast, visit the sound stage, and check out the costume department. All very cool, experiences. The cast and crew were incredibly gracious and friendly.

So let's jump right into what all of you hardcore Revolution fans want - the interview portion! Unfortunately I can't divulge all of the info we learned because they gave us some teases from what they're filming now, several episodes ahead. But I do have a good sense of how the actors feel about their characters.

David Lyons

as

Monroe

The character that we want to hate, but love, Monroe. Ruthless, antagonistic, abrasive, yet caring? Yes, but he isn't really willing to open up. He complains about the group, but doesn't leave them. "I question as to how much he really wants the power as opposed to how much he really wants to fill the void," explained Lyons. Monroe shows he's capable of goodness each time he puts his son, Connor, first. Maybe he's capable of merging into the group? Too much of a stretch? Maybe. We'll see!

Billy Burke

as

Miles

Season two has shown Miles as a more passive character. He's been fighting for so long he doesn't necessarily know what he wants in the end. Even the relationship with Monroe has changed. "Deep down he loves having his buddy around," said Burke. "He's sort of in denial about that because Monroe represents everything that was bad about his life before, yet when he looks back at that, that life was never boring." This relationship between Miles and Monroe is one to watch for sure.

Elizabeth Mitchell

as

Rachel

Rachel's wants to do the right thing but sometimes it gets lost along the way. For example, her daughter, Charlie, has evolved into the tough warrior and Rachel feels she's failed her in a way. Speaking as Rachel, "I made this huge series of well-intentioned mistakes," Mitchell illustrated. "How do I make this better? How do I become a mother? A guide?" I'm, eager to see if mother-daughter can create a bond. 

Tracy Spiridakos

as

Charlie

Charlie has had major growth from season one to two. She's dealing with grief in her own way, and now she's at the point where bottling her feelings is how she's able to get things done. She's also gettin' some lovin' done and along the way gotten herself into a love triangle. In all aspects of her life she makes decisions then, good or bad, moves on. Spiridakos explained how she sees the character, "I do think she's a very strong female figure. She owns herself and I love that about her."

Mat Vairo

as

Connor

The newest addition to the group, Connor is constantly feeling out who he can trust. His father, Monroe, is the only constant but he still isn't sure he wants any part of that relationship because he doesn't really know him. And as far as Charlie's concerned, there may still be something there. Vairo revealed of the Connor-Charlie-Jason triangle, "It's going to be a butting of heads." Fight for your woman, Connor!

  JD Pardo

as

Jason

JD Pardo gave us insight into Jason and his conscience, and the character's will to do the right thing. Despite his father being evil and the brainwashing he's undergone, it hasn't broken him. Pardo pointed out, "He doesn't give up his heart. He continues to fight for what he believes is right." Pardo also added that his feeling for Charlie are a strong driving factor to push on. Looks like Charlie's got a hold of him as well.

In the end, it all boils down to the characters wanting/lacking the same thing - trust. Each of them need someone while they're experiencing this post-blackout world, but they've all seen and done too much to get to a place where they can let themselves be open to depending on another.

Be sure to tune into Revolution next Wednesday, February 26 at 8/7c. I've seen the episode and it's a good one. If you haven't watched yet, there's no better time than now. It's a show that'll easily hook you!

My flight and accommodations provided by Warner Bros.

Texas, Here I Come!

Welcome to Monday Morning Gossip! Join the fun with my co-host Kimberlee of I Have a Degree in This and me. Here's how it works:

1. Blog about your gossip - all topics accepted so why not link up?!

2. Include the badge (below) in your post and/or link back to our blogs.

3. Add your link to the list below.

<center> <a href="http://www.jointhegossip.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q767/jointhegossip/d33ab8f8-4a59-478a-a44b-933414b91e6b_zpsfae5b0df.jpg" /></a></center> ______________________
Before I get to my post, I want to tell you about an awesome giveaway. You can win MoviePass for a year. Here are all the deets. Good luck!

Continuing on with the excitement, I am headed to Texas tomorrow! I'm SUPER grateful and fortunate to have been invited by Warner Bros. to fly out to the set of Revolution in Austin then over to Dallas and the set of the show Dallas. Perfect timing. Since getting laid off I've had quite a few amazing opportunities, this being a huge one. 
They're flying me out tomorrow morning and I come home Friday. I'll be posting all about it so stay tuned. But in the meantime, if you have any questions you'd like answered about either Revolution or Dallas let me know! I'm going to interview cast members from both shows so lay 'em on me!

Win MoviePass For a Year

A few weeks ago I mentioned MoviePass and today I'm back with a giveaway brought to you from the company. Enter below to win a year subscription!

For one flat monthly fee, MoviePass, an all-access pass to movie theaters nationwide, gives you access to all of the biggest releases in theaters. With the price of movie tickets skyrocketing, MoviePass is a great way to stretch your entertainment budget and stay up-to-date on all of the biggest and latest releases. New York Times said: "With MoviePass, see a movie a day without breaking the bank." Yes, please!

How Does MoviePass work?
MoviePass is a simple-to-use service that allows you to cut the lines at the movie theaters. When you join MoviePass you will receive your very own MoviePass VIP card that you can use at 95% of movie theaters where major credit cards are accepted. Simply…
1. Download the App (available on both iOS and Android)
2. Check into the theater and movie you want to see
3. Use your MoviePass VIP card to pick up your ticket at the kiosk.

Click here to find theaters near you and check out this video to see MoviePass in action!

MoviePass was featured as App of the Week in the New York Times and was also featured in WSJ, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter, Time Magazine just to name a few.

Enter below for a chance to win a free year of movies from MoviePass. Be sure to like MoviePass on social media and share with your friends for extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Good luck!

I'm Sailing Away

If you didn't see my post from last week, let me give you a quick recap: got laid off last Monday, booked a cruise Thursday. I'd say that's a great way to fight off the unemployed blues!

I've never been on a cruise and I'm a little freaked out to be floating in the middle of the damn ocean. I'm pretty sure I won't get seasick, I'm more nervous that the boat will sink. Clearly I don't know how to prioritize my fears.

The cruise is a 7-day trip with following stops:

Nassau, The Bahamas

via

St. Thomas, USVI

via

San Juan, Puerto Rico

via

Grand Turk

via

While I've been to the Caribbean twice, I've never been to these locations. Have you? I'd LOVE tips so please send them my way. I really want to make the most out of each stop! 

Linking up for Treat Yo Self

Getting Into the Valentine's Day Spirit

Welcome to Monday Morning Gossip! Join the fun with my co-host Kimberlee of I Have a Degree in This and me. Here's how it works:

1. Blog about your gossip - all topics accepted so why not link up?!

2. Include the badge (below) in your post and/or link back to our blogs.

3. Add your link to the list below.

<center> <a href="http://www.jointhegossip.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q767/jointhegossip/d33ab8f8-4a59-478a-a44b-933414b91e6b_zpsfae5b0df.jpg" /></a></center> ______________________ With Valentine's Day this weekend, I can't help but be attracted to all things pink, red, and hearts. Whether you celebrate or not, I think we can all agree that the decorations that go along with the holiday are adorable. 

1. Giuseppe Zanotti Pumps

2. XO Design Cuff

3. Red and White Heart Knit Mug Warmer

4. Stila Lipstick

5. Lovestruck Heart Pendant

6. Rebecca Minkoff Purse

It's All Hearts Over Here

Ah Valentine's Day. I'm single, but I don't care! What is there not to love about the holiday? Hearts, reds and pinks, sweets - it's such a fun day whether you are a party of 1 of in a couple. Don't get me wrong, I'm still jealous of all of you attached people out there, BUT why not use it as an excuse to love ourselves?

This year I have no plans, but since it falls on a Friday I'm debating: hang with another single friend or avoid packed restaurants and movies and stay home? We'll see. If I go out, I want to be wearing this outfit above!

Now for a dose of the most bi-polar happies and crappies you will ever read, starting with the bad news first...

Crappy:

Got laid off on Monday

Happy:

Booked a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on Thursday

Now if that's not the epitome of "when one door closes another opens"! Let's be real, I hated my job. My boss was a dick, I was treated like shit, never a part of the team, not doing was I was hired to do. A big miserable nightmare for the past 10 months. So them laying me off was a favor to me. Sure I'm worried about money and getting another job. But I has a feeling this was coming so I was prepared.

Fast forward a few days. My aunt had a cruise planned for the first week of March and she convinced my parents to go, who in turn invited me. The timing is perfect - no job, I've never been on a cruise, and I'm on a 28-day diet that ends the week before the trip (ideally I'd have months to mentally and physically prepare for a week in a bathing suit). So I figure, why not?! We're going to the following places:

Nassau, Bahamas

San Juan, Puerto Rico

St, Thomas, USVI

Grand Turk

If anyone has any must-sees/dos for these places, please let me know so I can plan excursions!

Linking up for Friday's Fancies & Happies and Crappies

Harry Styles, No Longer a Teen!

Worst.Fan.Ever. I missed Harry Styles's birthday! I thought it was this Saturday but it was last. Boo me!

Now that he's officially 20 and no longer a teen I feel like my love for him is OK and less creepy. Just kidding! It wasn't creepy once he turned 18 haha!

In honor of Hazza's birthday here are some of my favorite pics of the hot Brit. Enjoy. You're welcome.

I can't wait to see One Direction this summer with Christina. Get ready for our big night, Harry. And dump Kendall while you're at it fool!

That Awkward Moment

I don't go to movies often because they're expensive and I'm cheap (more on that in a sec) but I've been wanting to see That Awkward Moment so Saturday night I went with two of my sorority sisters/college roommates. I mean, a grown up Zac Efron, yes please!

I thought the movie was a straight up comedy, but it was a romantic comedy so it wasn't exactly what I expected. I thought I'd be cracking up the whole time. It was good, just different than I expected. If you're a fan of the former High School Musical stud and go in knowing it's also a romantic(ish) film, I think you'll enjoy it and you def won't feel like you've wasted money on a movie.

Let's be real, with the price of movies, who want to risk paying for a one that ends up being lousy? Most of the time I just wait for films to come out on DVD. But I love the experience of a theater. This year I've seen exactly ZERO Oscar-nominated movies. That sucks! BUT I just found a great solution for movie lovers, MoviePass.

It's a card that you pay for monthly, with an annual membership, that allows you to go to the movies an unlimited amount of times with no blackout dates. And it's easy to use, just download the app, check into the theater and movie you want to see, and use your MoviePass VIP card to pick up your ticket at the kiosk. Simple. And there's still time to catch up on all of the Oscar-nominated films.

Sounds pretty awesome right? Well stay tuned because I have a MoviePass giveaway coming up!

________________

You're turn! Join the Monday Morning Gossip fun with my co-host Kimberlee of I Have a Degree in This and me. Here's how it works:

1. Blog about your gossip - all topics accepted so why not link up?!

2. Include the badge (below) in your post and/or link back to our blogs.

3. Add your link to the list below.

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