Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
@tips2liveby.bsky.social
Blogger who loves travel, music, wine, food and books! Follow my blog at www.tips2liveby.com.
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November 2025 Book Reviews!
Looking for the perfect gift for the reader on your list? Check out my book reviews for this month. Be sure to look for my "highly recommended" books!
www.tips2liveby.com
Looking for the perfect gift for the book reader in your life? Check out my blog post with this month's book reviews for some great ideas! #BookSky💙📚
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
Wine Advent Calendar Day #8 is a California Cab Sauv. Tobacco on the nose, although not overpowering. Berry and some vanilla in the finish. Nice and complex with good tannins. #WineSky
December 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Wine Advent Calendar Day #8 is a California Cab Sauv. Tobacco on the nose, although not overpowering. Berry and some vanilla in the finish. Nice and complex with good tannins. #WineSky
"Under The Naga Tail" is a compelling memoir telling the story of Mae Taing and what he went through during the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s. Read my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine's review of Under the Naga Tail
4/5: This is a truly compelling memoir which tells the story of Mae Taing during the Cambodian genocide of the 1970s. The story is written by his son, James, after having his father recount to him the...
www.goodreads.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
"Under The Naga Tail" is a compelling memoir telling the story of Mae Taing and what he went through during the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s. Read my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Reposted by Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
Nero d’Avola translates to “Black of Avola” which sounds like a cool pirate name but actually refers to a small town on the southeast coast of Sicily. The grapes are dark skinned which gives the wine that deep color. vincawine.com/blogs/news/n...
Nero d’Avola: The Ultimate Guide to Sicily’s Iconic Red Grape
When it comes to bold, distinctive red wines, Nero d'Avola stands out as Sicily’s pride and joy. If you're a fan of rich, fruity, and complex reds, this grape variety is going to appeal to you. In thi...
vincawine.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Nero d’Avola translates to “Black of Avola” which sounds like a cool pirate name but actually refers to a small town on the southeast coast of Sicily. The grapes are dark skinned which gives the wine that deep color. vincawine.com/blogs/news/n...
Check out this week's episode of The Wine Pair Podcast as they explore another Italian wine. #WineSky
We are heading to Sicily for the 20th installment of our Italian Wine Adventures. This time we are tackling the island’s most important red grape Nero d’Avola. The big question: is it worth the trip?
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/ital...
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/ital...
Italian Wine Adventure #20: Nero d’Avola! | The Wine Pair Podcast - Find Great Wines Without Breaking the Bank
Known as the King of Sicily, Nero d’Avola is a wine that can be very approachable and fruity, and might just be the wine that you need to serve your friends and...
thewinepairpodcast.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Check out this week's episode of The Wine Pair Podcast as they explore another Italian wine. #WineSky
Interesting podcast on the state of the wine industry in California and the current crisis. Too many grapes and not enough wine sales. #WineSky
www.wsj.com/podcasts/the...
www.wsj.com/podcasts/the...
California's Wine Industry Is in Crisis - The Journal. - WSJ Podcasts
The U.S. wine industry hasn’t had it this bad since Prohibition. WSJ’s Laura Cooper reports from Sonoma County, California, a major region for American wine production, on why growers are drowning in ...
www.wsj.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Interesting podcast on the state of the wine industry in California and the current crisis. Too many grapes and not enough wine sales. #WineSky
www.wsj.com/podcasts/the...
www.wsj.com/podcasts/the...
Wine Advent Calendar Day #7 is a red blend from Australia. Predominantly Shiraz and Cab Sauv with a little Merlot, I get lots of blackberry and blueberry. Good tannins from the Cab. Smooth finish from the Merlot. This is a nice one! #WineSky
December 7, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Wine Advent Calendar Day #7 is a red blend from Australia. Predominantly Shiraz and Cab Sauv with a little Merlot, I get lots of blackberry and blueberry. Good tannins from the Cab. Smooth finish from the Merlot. This is a nice one! #WineSky
"Dashing Through The Snow" is a Christmas-themed mystery. A quick read, but not a lot of substance. Is it worth your time? Check out my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine's review of Dashing Through the Snow
2/5: I had this one on my bookshelf for a while and had been waiting for the holidays to pick it up and read it since it was Christmas themed. If you are looking for a quick little Christmas mystery, ...
www.goodreads.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"Dashing Through The Snow" is a Christmas-themed mystery. A quick read, but not a lot of substance. Is it worth your time? Check out my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Reposted by Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
Before landing at Septenary Corry Craighill worked harvests in South Africa, California, France, and Australia. She brings that global perspective back to Virginia soil. It is a great conversation about how travel shapes the way you farm and ferment.
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
Special Episode! The Virginia Winemakers Series #3: Corry Craighill of Septenary Winery | The Wine Pair Podcast - Find Great Wines Without Breaking the Bank
In the third installment of our Virginia winemaker’s series, we meet Corry Craighill who is the head winemaker at Septenary Winery as well as her own small...
thewinepairpodcast.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Before landing at Septenary Corry Craighill worked harvests in South Africa, California, France, and Australia. She brings that global perspective back to Virginia soil. It is a great conversation about how travel shapes the way you farm and ferment.
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
Happy 69th Birthday Peter Buck! From one of my very favorite bands. Here's the song that started it all for R.E.M. #MusicSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=okCD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=okCD...
Radio Free Europe
YouTube video by R.E.M. - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Happy 69th Birthday Peter Buck! From one of my very favorite bands. Here's the song that started it all for R.E.M. #MusicSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=okCD...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=okCD...
Wine Advent Calendar Day #5! A California rose made from Pinot Noir grapes. Lots of watermelon on the nose and strawberry and vanilla in the mouth. Nice and dry and crisp! #WineSky
December 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Wine Advent Calendar Day #5! A California rose made from Pinot Noir grapes. Lots of watermelon on the nose and strawberry and vanilla in the mouth. Nice and dry and crisp! #WineSky
In "West Point to Wall Street", author Omar Ritter shares his journey to mental wellness. As an overachiever his whole life, the extra stress he put on himself almost broke him. Check out my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine's review of West Point to Wall Street
4/5: Omar Ritter has been an over achiever his entire life. After growing up in challenging circumstances - his parents divorced when he was young and his father was in the military, leading to numero...
www.goodreads.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
In "West Point to Wall Street", author Omar Ritter shares his journey to mental wellness. As an overachiever his whole life, the extra stress he put on himself almost broke him. Check out my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Ugh! Wish this was showing somewhere closer to me. If it's at a movie theater near you, go check it out!
ONE WEEK TO GO!
'THE SHOW OF A LOST WORLD' IN CINEMAS NEXT THURSDAY!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT HTTPS://THECURELOSTWORLD.COM/
'THE SHOW OF A LOST WORLD' IN CINEMAS NEXT THURSDAY!
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT HTTPS://THECURELOSTWORLD.COM/
December 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Ugh! Wish this was showing somewhere closer to me. If it's at a movie theater near you, go check it out!
Reposted by Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
Virginia is building a strong network of female winemakers and vineyard managers. Organizations like Virginia Women in Wine are helping close the gender gap in the cellar through mentorship and awards. It is great to see leadership roles shifting in the region. virginiawomeninwine.com/news/
News - virginiawomeninwine.com
virginiawomeninwine.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Virginia is building a strong network of female winemakers and vineyard managers. Organizations like Virginia Women in Wine are helping close the gender gap in the cellar through mentorship and awards. It is great to see leadership roles shifting in the region. virginiawomeninwine.com/news/
"Power of Persuasion" is a romance/political thriller by Stacey Abrams. I was hoping for a lot more from this one. It just seems like it can't decide what it wants to be. Read my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine's review of Power of Persuasion
2/5: This book really couldn't decide if it was a political thriller or a romance novel. Unfortunately, it did neither well. A.J. is the VP of R&D and her family's company - GCI. She's recently devel...
www.goodreads.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
"Power of Persuasion" is a romance/political thriller by Stacey Abrams. I was hoping for a lot more from this one. It just seems like it can't decide what it wants to be. Read my full review on Goodreads or The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky💙📚
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Wine Advent Calendar Day #3 is a Syrah from Argentina. Nice berry at first, but a dry finish with that spice you get from a Syrah. #WineSky
December 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Wine Advent Calendar Day #3 is a Syrah from Argentina. Nice berry at first, but a dry finish with that spice you get from a Syrah. #WineSky
Reposted by Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
The red grape Saperavi is quietly gaining ground in Virginia. It is an ancient Georgian variety that handles the humid East Coast growing season surprisingly well. Also in this article is a previous winemaking legend from Virginia Jake Busching! winetrailsandwanderlust.com/2024/12/23/w...
Walsh Bar Takeover With Jake Busching Wine and Wound Tight
I think Jake’s Busching’s initial ‘bar takeover’ at Walsh Family Wine many years ago was the reason I started going to these events, and I still count it as my favorite ‘independent wine brand’ (a …
winetrailsandwanderlust.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The red grape Saperavi is quietly gaining ground in Virginia. It is an ancient Georgian variety that handles the humid East Coast growing season surprisingly well. Also in this article is a previous winemaking legend from Virginia Jake Busching! winetrailsandwanderlust.com/2024/12/23/w...
Reposted by Tips2LiveBy 📚 🍷 🏝 🎵
We love when winemakers get nerdy about texture. Winemaker Corry Craighill has been experimenting with adding dried grape stems back into Cabernet Franc fermentations to build mid-palate structure. It is a risky technique that pays off with complex savory layers. www.winebusiness.com/wbm/article/...
Building Mid-palate Structure in Cabernet Franc
Virginia Winemaker Experiments with Dried Grape Stems to Add Structure
www.winebusiness.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:12 PM
We love when winemakers get nerdy about texture. Winemaker Corry Craighill has been experimenting with adding dried grape stems back into Cabernet Franc fermentations to build mid-palate structure. It is a risky technique that pays off with complex savory layers. www.winebusiness.com/wbm/article/...
Got behind with the Thanksgiving holiday, but just listened to this week's episode from The Wine Pair Podcast. Great interview with another Virginia winemaker who is in the Charlottesville area and spent some time working at Blenheim for all my DMB friends! #WineSky
We are back with the third installment of our Virginia Winemakers Series. This week we sit down with Corry Craighill of Septenary Winery. She is making some of the most thoughtful wines in the Monticello AVA and has a cool side hustle too.
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
thewinepairpodcast.com/episode/spec...
Special Episode! The Virginia Winemakers Series #3: Corry Craighill of Septenary Winery | The Wine Pair Podcast - Find Great Wines Without Breaking the Bank
In the third installment of our Virginia winemaker’s series, we meet Corry Craighill who is the head winemaker at Septenary Winery as well as her own small...
thewinepairpodcast.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Got behind with the Thanksgiving holiday, but just listened to this week's episode from The Wine Pair Podcast. Great interview with another Virginia winemaker who is in the Charlottesville area and spent some time working at Blenheim for all my DMB friends! #WineSky
Today would have been Ozzy Osbourne's 77th birthday. Happy Birthday Ozzy! #MusicSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qan...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qan...
BLACK SABBATH - "Paranoid" (Official Video)
YouTube video by Black Sabbath
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Today would have been Ozzy Osbourne's 77th birthday. Happy Birthday Ozzy! #MusicSky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qan...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qan...
Advent 2025 Wine Calendar Day #2! Not normally a Chardonnay fan because they can have too much oak, but this one is a little lighter on the oak, which allows the wine's acidity to be showcased. A little creaminess from the vanilla on it. #WineSky
December 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Advent 2025 Wine Calendar Day #2! Not normally a Chardonnay fan because they can have too much oak, but this one is a little lighter on the oak, which allows the wine's acidity to be showcased. A little creaminess from the vanilla on it. #WineSky
"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver is said to be a modern version of the classic novel "David Copperfield". The book is #61 on the NY Times list of "The Best 100 Books of the 21st Century". Full review on Goodreads and The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Christine's review of Demon Copperhead
4/5: This book is said to be a modern-day version of the classic novel "David Copperfield". Damon "Demon" Copperhead is born in Appalachia to a mother who struggles with drug addiction. Copperhead's f...
www.goodreads.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
"Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver is said to be a modern version of the classic novel "David Copperfield". The book is #61 on the NY Times list of "The Best 100 Books of the 21st Century". Full review on Goodreads and The Story Graph (first comment). #BookSky
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Looking for the perfect gift for the book reader in your life? Check out my blog post with this month's book reviews for some great ideas! #BookSky💙📚
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
November 2025 Book Reviews!
Looking for the perfect gift for the reader on your list? Check out my book reviews for this month. Be sure to look for my "highly recommended" books!
www.tips2liveby.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Looking for the perfect gift for the book reader in your life? Check out my blog post with this month's book reviews for some great ideas! #BookSky💙📚
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
www.tips2liveby.com/post/novembe...
Wine Advent Calendar 2025 Day #1 is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile!
December 2, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Wine Advent Calendar 2025 Day #1 is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile!
Just a reminder as we go into the holiday season!
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Just a reminder as we go into the holiday season!