Crosskeys Vineyards (VA) - Recommend

For all you wine lovers and adventurers, this ones for you ;)

First of all it's not just California who has the nice vineyards or the delicious blends, granted they have the more commonly known and bigger venues but they aren't the only ones. I've been coming to find (well with also my family of course) that there are some really good ones out there and various areas of the country. Lets just say that I'm determined to explore and enjoy :)

Secondly, just because I'm a mom doesn't mean I dont like to enjoy adult things, for example touring and exploring a vineyard. With that said though, I'm also realistic due to the fact that I am a single mom and may not always (at least until my kids are in their teenage years, or at least twelve and older) be able to do certain within without my kids-in the meantime that means that I will explore family friendly or kid friendly locations, specifically in this case the vineyards.

In Virginia in the Harrisonburg (JMU university city) area past the main city area, along the outskirts of town and through beautiful landscape is the Crosskeys Vineyards. The drive in spring (so from about March through mid-May) is lush and green and breathtaking. Even in the fall season of September to about Mid-October you have a different canvas of colors and landscape to appreciate. I don't think I can do justice by how I'm about to explain things but hopefully it promotes some "man I want to be there" vibes or thoughts. The drive itself leaves you in this odd peaceful mood with its curves and (perhaps for some) some concerning turns. To be honest some nice Harley roads - not going to lie. Regardless, the drive itself is an adventure and a pleasant one. As you make your way closer to this vineyard you'll begin to notice this beautifully manicured property on this ideal hill area that's surrounded by the "mountains" of Virginia. You may assume it's the vineyard because of how the fields are taken care of, then as you get closer to the main entrance your deduction/assumption is correct. You find yourself on a country road off of the main road, leading you through tall trees and little country home properties, until you come to an elegantly made main gate entrance. You pass the main gate to drive on the weaving road that takes you to the main building of the vineyard. The property has you making a massive dip only to then be nicely parked at the top most area of the property. The three-hundred and eighty degree surrounds view on the property is both serene and breath taking. I don't think there's a spot on the property that doesn't have a spell binding view. 

They don't necessarily advertise for a kid friendly environment and premises but they are respectful and courteous should you have kids with you. When we went though, it was too gorgeous a day to stay inside to enjoy some taste testing and food, so we were lucky enough to have the courtyard pavilion or gazebo area that's located across from the main building and away from people. 

You can buy tickets in advance for their wine/property tour or purchase on site the day of/as you arrive. The tour itself isn't long and our tour guide was knowledgeable and fun-don't know if that's how everyone is but we enjoyed ourselves. To close the tour, you wind up back at their main lobby/bar area so that you can being your taste testing experience or walk around or just relax and enjoy the sights of the land.

When our tour finished we ordered their platter of finger food items and one of their carrier trays of their wines...deliciously addicting flavors, beautiful views, great weather, adults and children alike content and happy...what more can a person ask for.

So when you're in Virginia or if you want to plan a peaceful and nature appreciation trip with a little bubbly in the mix ;) Crosskeys Vineyards is the place for you.

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Give Kids Tasks/Chores - General/Family/Relationships

Fair warning to any expectant mothers/mothers in general that read this and get offended. First off its not my intention to offend anyone HOWEVER, I could care less if you are offended with this post or any of my posts for that matter. Everything is not only open to interpretation BUT I literally have no control over someone else's emotions therefore anyone's emotions are valid, but they are only valid to the person who experiences the emotion-this does not mean I have to personally cater to or minimize my beliefs or curtail my own reactions. I've said it many other times before, my blog posts are my opinions and thoughts unless I've specified them to be created from research I've done, otherwise your thoughts/beliefs/convictions are your own. I'm just simply writing mine :) Now moving on! 

So about two weeks ago on Instagram I saw that there was a highlight on an essay or article published in the New York Times. What's the relevancy of the article published you might ask? Well for starters it's what prompted me to write this post. Second, without having even read the article there's a few things that I read that ironically, I already do as a mother towards my kids and not because someone told me to or I read about it, but because my mother raised me a certain way and therefore, I used from that upbringing to mold what I wanted to do with my kids. Why change what isn't broke ya know. I turned out to be just fine and the older generations methods of parenting sure as hell work better than the current techniques in play in society now! We have a bunch of entitled shitheads, scared of the world and getting their feelings hurt individuals, pansies, emotionally immature people who are more coddled than taught to create and manage coping mechanisms when circumstances or moments get difficult. Crap I took a squirrel moment, sorry about that! Anyway, moving on! 

I for one do not believe in paying your kids for doing chores. I think that's the stupidest idea because why am I going to teach my kids that they are going to get paid for doing something that should already be automatic or that chores are what they should be doing and will be doing daily when they grow into adults...chores are what they need to learn to survive and take care of themselves whereas getting paid to work is because of your job or hopefully doing something you love and creating a career out of it. The rewarding system can work on some kids I know, but unless parents actually take the time to observe/understand/really read their kids rewarding kids for chores can go south pretty quick. Yea there are some parents who like using the mantra "oh their just kids" or "oh let them be kids, kids will be kids." Like that's supposed to justify a parent slacking in turn not doing your kids any favors for their future. It's really all about balance I feel because you don't want to create some kid boot camp and always be serious, but you have to give your kids the sense and knowledge to determine which chores/items are serious and where others aren't. 

See in the picture above my oldest is relaxing while "waiting for mommy" to finish picking up the bathroom area, but what happened to lead to this little pose was her waking up, then going poddy, fixing her bed herself, and then helping me to pick out her clothes for the day. Every morning when she would finish tidying her bed, she would always look to me and wait for my approval smile or my big bear hug for her. I tried (and still try) to create joy, smiles, love, and sometimes even fun into the mundane daily chores. My second daughter was and is the same way, though a little more active in her house chores than my oldest ever has been and was. 

The video below is when my oldest and I would have some "art" time outside, so when she selected the chalk colors (when given three options to choose from), I would then tell her to grab her stuff to carry outside. The first few times she would try to get me to do it for her, but I would always make sure I was carrying something myself for us like snacks, drinks, or whatever else that we would be using with whatever she chose to do. Thereafter, she never asked me or tried to get me to carry her stuff, she would happily do it herself and with a huge smug smile that showed "I'm doing this myself." Something so simple as grabbing and carrying the chalk colors for art class, then setting the colors up herself and my only slightly assisting, had her nicely settled content in her own handiwork not only from her artwork but in that she did it all herself. Her picking up and putting everything away was the same. 

To this day the joy that shines in the little eyes staring back at me have a special twinkle and their whole demeanor itself is illuminating in their sense of accomplishment and success - or shoot even failure because they say out loud themselves "at least we tried so that's good. We will just get better." My kiddos have no self-doubt and their already settled into this level of self-awareness and have conviction already in their statements/belief. You can't teach that to someone no matter their age, it's something that becomes the person...I'm a little proud of that blossoming acceptance and growth they continue to have...

So please! I beg of you do our future and the world a favor and really discern/look at your parenting methods and techniques. I really don't want some of these dumb ass kids to be the ones ruling our nation or worse being the ones taking care of me...hopefully I would have taught and shown my kids all the love they need so that they feel as loving in return when I'm old! :) More importantly do right by your kids and make sure they are prepared in the best ways possible for life. Yes, don't make them grow up too fast but also make sure YOU aren't the ones holding them back from their characters, personality, and learning experiences! No matter our age, humans thrive on experiences especially ones that are both memorable and successful. Then even the failures are great learning curves and the responsibilities of some of the tasks we entrust them to do, will help mold and prepare who they are to become...Give you kids responsibilities and chores and activities that take them outside the norm-besides you'll be with them the whole step of the way, especially if they're underage. 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Toilet Paper Holder - Amazon Product Review

Toilet Paper Holder Stand,Bathroom Storage Cabinet Beside Toilet Storage for Small Bathroom with Toilet Roll Holder,Toilet Paper Stand for Small Space,Black by AOJEZOR

I have a 1/2 bath that's nicely and cleanly decorated but with literally only a toilet and sink so putting something adequate to still have what feels to be a large 1/2 bath for anyone using it, I didn't want to clutter it with some standing over the toilet cabinetry nor did I want to risk using the space in front of the toilet knowing that the door would close so I opted for this little piece of work.

The image below is a snapshot from Amazon and the images that follow are from after I built the product and where it stands now.

After submitting the order, I was pleased that shipping and delivery were on time and satisfactorily made with instructions having been followed. I put it altogether myself, so that took about a total of forty minutes. Yes, that's right I said forty minutes, not because I can't read or that I didn't have the tools! It took some mental registering because the manner in which the item was created was pretty awesome to put together, however its a little out of the norm when you piece it together, so I literally had to read the instructions a few times. I'm an educated woman and all but seriously its cool how the product was engineered, just one of those items that makes you do a double take is all. Anyway!

Product finished and I'm pretty happy with the end product! I highly recommend or suggest for someone to buy this one for sure.

So, if you have a small space but need a little tasteful organization without taking away from any decor or items you are using in the restroom/bathroom, this is definitely a product I think is worth the buy, at least for me anyway. Feel free to click on the title to go directly to the product. 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Barely Functional Closet to My Organized Version - General

I can admit that the DIY organizational videos with all the cool amazon products or organizational shelving units created can eat up a good amount of my day - if I let it that is. So yes I happen to follow those types of videos on instagram and YouTube BUT you know what I don't like about all those videos and companies that do the organizing for you? It's the fact that they don't provide organizational solutions that either don't impede your life and the functionality of your space but they also dont demonstrate or provide you with solutions to organize that won't go affecting your pocket book in drastic ways!

For example, after moving I'm the type of person that I will leave my closet (every time) as the last thing to sort through/organize or put together the way I need it to be, because I feel that as long as my kiddos spaces and the house overall is set up to run efficiently and smoothly with everything in order, the day will go without a hitch. My space - aka my closet (for example) can easily be shuffled around until I get to organizing it. So after literally six weeks of just functioning in my master bathroom and master bedroom closet, I feel more at home and now have not only a truly functional space but now I have everything in order so that I can now spend the rest of my life organizing this home how I see fit and how I want :)

I mean I was doing laundry but I was continuing to wash the items I was consecutively wearing or putting on to save me time BECAUSE I hadn't unpacked or organized my closet. So after I decided to downsize my kids things and mine, I wanted my closet to be more functional for what I knew I didn't get at my previous home. So I put all my fall and winter clothes to the left side of my closet as you enter, whereas to the right you will find the spring and summer clothes. Then so the space didn't look crowded I put basically "laundry central" underneath the right side of the coset because all of the spring and summer clothes being short, wouldn't crowd or have me forgetting to my my laundry. The top most shelf on the left hand side serves as literally just a storage area for things I wont ever use but keep in addition to items that serve as memories and I'm going to eventually share them with my kids when they're older. The top right side of the closet is where things I use not daily but frequently are placed for my ease of access. Items in the center of the closet, from bottom to top, are items that are necessary and items that I know I'm always using as some point and time, whether that be daily or monthly. I've stored specific backpacks behind the closet door and they are not affecting my space nor are they being forgotten items to not be used. 

With the whole mishap of the amazon chair purchased, well I need somewhere to sit where I'm comfortable and lathering up after a shower and getting dressed, so it was repurposed into my closet...now to purchase my large floor mirror for the bedroom!...

So what are some cheap or creative ways that you organize your spaces without costing an arm and a leg?

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Swivel Accent Chair - Amazon Product Review

The Amazon "Neylory Swivel Accent Chair, 360"

Get ready for the first of many upcoming Amazon reviews and this so happens to be one my most recent purchases (purchased in March 2024). Well technically second of many since I did already write about those LED lights. Apologies moving on! I know that many individuals like to post specific content with just videos so bear with me if you find that I only posted up pictures and not videos, but please let me know if you would like a video of my purchased Amazon products as well.  

I'll admit that I didn't do my due diligence before purchasing this item, but I was able to repurpose it, so you'll get to see where I'm using it now instead of where I had originally purchased it for. See I was browsing for new office desk chairs and this is where I didn't do my due diligence because I didn't take the time to measure the full height of my desk to be able to pick the "perfect" selection in my new chair-so what I ended up doing was just thinking "oh that's a good height for where the top of the cushion needs to be because that's the measurement of one of my couches so that should work and with my big ass I can sit comfortably." A severely miscalculation on my part BECAUSE, well you'll see as I keep writing :)

(image directly from Amazon product site)

Once clicking "purchase" the timeframe for delivery was a little disconcerting not going to lie, I don't quite enjoy using one of my kitchen table chairs as my desk chair, but I figured, "eh I can hold out and keep moving the chair to the kitchen table when I need more seats." So, I was pleased to find it arrived literally forty-eight hours after purchasing, so that's after Amazon has notified me that it shipped!

The product came in one box, although the box it was packaged in was slightly damaged thankfully none of the product items were damaged. It was heavier than expected it to be, so I assembled it in my hallway/corridor at the entryway of my house. I'm usually pretty good or I almost always feel pretty good about what my expectations are to be when I've purchased a product from Amazon, but I have to say that I was slightly disappointed with this item - literally halfway through assembling I was like "shit".

The assembly itself was easy and took me (by myself) all of thirty-eight minutes to complete. The instructions were self-explanatory which is also why I didn't feel the need to record a video of how to put it together because you would have to be an idiot to not be able to follow the instruction for assembly, I mean it wasn't just plain instructions they have pictures! The cushion for the seat was vacuumed sealed but inflated nicely and quickly. Since I assembled it around 1:16pm by 8am the next morning it looked to be completely to the size the cushion needed to be. I then sat on it and sunk down to the base of the seat...I moved the chair immediately to its new location so I could still use it...I mean it would be a pain in the ass to try to put that thing back in the box! So thankfully I was able to repurpose it for another need. Still sits lower to the floor than I would like but still I can definitely use it now!

So, all in all, NOT a purchase I would recommend for a desk chair as it may be advertised as (unless you're super short and your desk is also super short) but more for a kid's playroom or game room. If you want to purchase for yourself, click on the title above. 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Amazon Product Reviews

I know what you're thinking, I've been talking about this specific category for my blog posts for a while now, at least since I mentioned it on my blog page. I'm happy to say that the wait is over! I mean I'm a busy woman so I don't have ALL day to just write like I dream of doing!...

So, get ready because the time has come for me to begin my content on my Amazon purchases and believe me when I say that literally my entire house is Amazon. It's ok you doubters, you'll see as I go because I'm NOT lying, my home is literally filled with Amazon purchased products that I've bought over the years.

Speaking of reviews, I know that the world is used to tiktok, IG videos, or just in general everything needing to be explained in a video so bear with me or let me know honestly if you're wanting a video about a specific product from Amazon that I have but perhaps did not post a video of-happy to help because I know for a fact it's sometimes the reviews that have us (the consumers) purchasing the right products for our use. Granted in the old days it was about "word of mouth" to go physically to a store and see if they had an item in stock in order to purchase what your neighbor or friend had - then if they had it in stock, you would purchase it. So here we go in the digital age with the internet reviews :)

Now that I say that, as you go along seeing me posts and/or specifically Amazon reviews, I am open to suggestions on items that you think I may want to use or purchase for my home or for personal use. Until next time ;)

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Exotic Blends - Recommendation

For all you dirty minds reading my post, this has nothing to do with anything sexual! :p Though if you're a foodie and/or feel that having something delicious on your tongue can be sometimes orgasmic! ;) Then this is the blog post for you!

So if you're in the Northern Dallas, TX area more specifically the McKinney, TX area then you need to stop at this humbling and oh so delicious hole in the wall owned by a family that are really passionate about their beverages and it shows in the love they put into every drink they have on their menu. Exotic Blends inside is always seasonally decorated and has a great little spot for your selfies and helpful marketing for their location, while also having a VERY clean establishment, not only in their restrooms but also literally everywhere inside their storefront. 

My family and I frequent whenever we can when we're in the area and it never fails to be consistently delicious and oh so fulfilling. The owner is a mom, wife, and sweet woman who really puts love and dedication in her place and in the drinks. You seriously won't be disappointed; especially when she's super family and kid friendly! For example she's sweet enough to separate a drink order into two cups for my two daughters because she knows they won't finish the one whole drink...I can't begin to explain how delicious and comfortable the environment is there. 

Some of the best drinks or at least for my and my family's standards, are - the taro milk tea, the aromatic milk tea, matcha milk tea, coffee milk tea, lavender milk tea, and the mango strawberry (or just mango) fruit burst with no spice and passion fruit pops (or jellies) with fresh mango and strawberry fruit on top. It's basically like the best frozen smoothie/Frappuccino that's not unbearable sweet and so refreshing!

Don't take my word for it though, have a stop yourself. Shoot even if its just to support a local establishment! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman