The New Wine Review’s Post

Do any of the following statements apply to you? - I hate the saccharin-sweetness of Christmas - I'm stuck for something new to watch over Christmas; it's the same old repeats - I LOVE flavoured gin - I'd like to know more about different Christmas celebrations from around the world - I'd like discounts on award-winning gin Pretty broad-ranging, I know, but if you sign up for the Black Lodge Potions newsletter, then all your prayers will be answered. I've teamed up with Brother G and Brother T—the Black Lodge's resident mad monks and distillers—to give an 'alternative' overview of the festive season. Every day from the 6th to the 18th of December, the Black Lodge's newsletter will contain: - A dark Christmas story from around the world - Discounts on the Black Lodge's award-winning gins - A recommendation for an ‘alternative’ Christmas movie to watch with your gin of choice We've called it The 12 Slays of Christmas. Head on over to the Black Lodge Potions site now and sign up to avoid missing out! Visit The Black Lodge: https://lnkd.in/euvXwwxT —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Howdy, Ste here. I’m the copywritin’ sheriff around these parts, and it’s my job to throw your boring copy off of the blandwagon and into the county jail. So don’t forgit: If y’all need blogs, articles, LinkedIn posts, or website content writin’ with a natural, down-to-earth, humorous tone of voice, then y’all steer your waggon my way. Much obliged 🤠

DEATH IS ETERNAL #405 1,648 words This DEATH IS ETERNAL will be different because I won’t have the time to write an entire newsletter this week. I’m travelling for work tomorrow (Jun. 11, 2024), and I’ll be away for the week. Since I’ll be on the road for a conference, I probably won’t have the time to sit down and write every single day. I probably won’t be able to write even once. So, this time around, DEATH IS ETERNAL will be only the short story and the review. The other difference is that this is the only part open for everyone. It wouldn’t be fair to offer the same amount of content to paying and non-paying subscribers. But! Since I want to convince you to upgrade your subscription, I’ll position the paywall after the short story title. Why? To entice you. Maybe if you read the title, you’ll want to upgrade your subscription. Be as it may, I’m looking forward to getting to know Osoyoos and celebrating my fifth wedding anniversary in a winery or restaurant. See you next week, bye! Contents 1. THE JOURNAL OF THOMAS REID 2. Review #281: COCO https://lnkd.in/duipiDCp

The PEZ A friend was sharing a story from his son’s wedding. His son’s future mother-in-law had very strong opinions about most things. In the planning phases for the wedding my friend’s son and his bride wanted Pez Dispensers on every table. It seems that the Pez contraption had a special meaning for the bride and groom. The bride’s mother would have none of this. She insisted that candy covered almonds be on the table. Her insistence was based on these candies being traditional wedding reception fare. This caused quite a stir. Evidently the mom-in-law prevailed. The Pez Dispensers were out. The candied almonds in. Listening to the story, I said to my friend, “Too bad you couldn’t fit those candied almonds into the Pez Dispenser. That would have been a win for everyone.” I have two observations regarding this story: Opinions can become problems. The mom had an opinion. An opinion she was entitled to. Her opinion became a problem through her insistence. Any one opinion can result in a problem when it closes down other options. Workable solutions can be found in compromise. The idea I shared with my friend never came up in real time. What I know about candied almonds and Pez Dispensers its unlikely it have worked. But the likelihood of something working, and considering it, are two different things. In the front end of problem solving it is wise to keep all options open. What problems do you have? Potential solutions are more available when folks have an opinion, but don’t hold it too tightly. And don’t allow the likelihood of something working to limit its consideration.

"I hate black-eyes peas but I choke 'em down... One of these years it'll bring me good luck!" I had this thought this morning, having watched my social feed fill with comments just like this throughout this first week of the year, and having lived in regions where this practice is *sacred* I know I'm putting myself in the hotseat but... If you've been eating <whatever> for New Year's for *decades* and your luck still sucks.... MAYBE... just maybe... the food isn't the issue. ;) Maybe it's sticking with "How we do things around here" that's actually preventing you from disrupting the dysfunctional patterns and establishing new, better, more effective and more enjoyable ones. One of our family traditions is seeking out something we've never tried before and figuring it out. Food, music, travel, we do this for lots of aspects of life. It doesn't always end with pure delight, but it DOES always lead to new ways of thinking about stuff, which in the long game actually *does* lead to more delight, so that's winning in our books. So if the black-eyed peas or cabbage or whatever isn't working for ya... maybe try something new. Who knows... you might just find that luck you've been hoping for. (PS: This is true for business, too. If you're still doing stuff the same ole same ole... well..... I have some magic beans for sale?)

Traditions: Starting new traditions, choosing not to pass on traditions, passing on traditions you learned 🍯 - What are your gifting traditions? My dear friend Myrna Buckles shared, "When I was a child, my dad kept bees and harvested the honey. Our entire family helped with the process. When the Christmas Holidays came around, we decorated the jars of honey with ribbons and tags. Then as a family, we delivered these to family and friends along with other homemade goodies. I have great memories of this tradition." In the next edition of the Prairie Dust Trail magazine, we'll be sharing ideas for passing on traditions. Do you have ideas we could include? Let me know if you'd like to contribute an article or place an ad. #gifts #traditions #oldfashioned #homestead

Hey there! Ever felt the pressure of finding the perfect gift? We get it, and that’s exactly why Kiendly is here for you. We’re all about taking the stress out of gifting and turning it into what it should be – a joyful, meaningful moment. With Kiendly, it’s not just about giving a gift; it’s about giving a moment, a memory, and a smile. 🎁 Our carefully curated and personalized gifts are here to help you make a lasting impression, whether it’s for a closing gift, showing a client your appreciation, celebrating a wedding, or just because. We know life gets busy, and sometimes, the little things mean the most. That’s where we come in. Let us help you find that perfect something that says, “I thought of you.” From the moment you reach out to the moment they unwrap their gift, we’re here to make every step memorable and stress-free. Ready to make gifting effortless and impactful? We’re excited to help you create unforgettable moments, one thoughtful gift at a time. Dive into the world of stress-free gifting with us at www.Kiendly.com #Kiendly #StressFreeGifting #MakeItMemorable #PersonalTouch #GiftsWithHeart #clientappreciation #corporategifts #gift #gifting #giftinspo

🦃 Thanksgiving is a time to cherish with loved ones, but it shouldn't stress your wallet. Here are some insightful tips from FinDi to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving on a budget: -Potluck-style gathering: Share the load by asking guests to bring a dish. It fosters a sense of community and eases the financial burden. -Shop smart for deals: Keep an eye on seasonal sales and discounts to purchase your ingredients at the best prices. -DIY decorations: Get creative with homemade decorations using materials you already have, saving both money and the environment. -Plan leftovers creatively: Don't let those delicious leftovers go to waste. Repurpose them into new meals for days to come. These budget-friendly strategies will make your Thanksgiving memorable without financial stress. For more valuable financial tips and insights, subscribe to our email list. Wishing you a joyful and thrifty Thanksgiving! 💌💰 #ThanksgivingSavings #FinancialWellness #personalfinance https://lnkd.in/ear_84eG

Thanksgiving is a time for families and loved ones to get together an make memories through traditions. Whether old or new practices, each person has a lot of customs that they bond over with. Here are some thanksgiving traditions you could start: 🍁 Make a Gratitude Journal - Create a family gratitude journal that everyone could write on with and list what they're thankful for. Read and reflect on the entries every Thanksgiving. 🍁 Organize a Potluck Dinner - Host a potluck Thanksgiving dinner, where each guest brings a dish to share. This way, everyone gets to contribute to the feast. 🍁 Have a Movie Marathon- Set up a movie that everyone would like, get cozy indoors and enjoy with the family. 🍁 Pass Down a Family Recipe - There's no better time to dig into the family archive than on thanksgiving itself! Pick out a hands-down recipe or make a new one to mix it up for dinner. 🍁 Get Creative with Leftovers - Every after a holiday celebration, there's always leftovers even after a full meal. Send home your guests with creative and fun ideas on how to use them the next day.

The Thanksgiving advice you wish you got a week ago... You're going to want to save this for next year's Thanksgiving dinner. Trust me. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐱: 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐰. Better late than never? This year was the first time I ever "spatchcocked" the bird. Spatch-WHAT? Hear me out. Simply by removing the spine and flattening the bird in the roaster, it cooks more evenly, so you can reliably cook the bird thoroughly and keep it juicy. No more dry wings and pink breasts. OH and it can cook in about 2-3 hours this way. Okay, let's connect it to sales. Your clients need your advice BEFORE they make a major decision. If you wait till after, they can't do anything with it. You consulted too late in the game and probably lost the deal. This is also a great way to lose a client you have in your book. If you're not actively giving them advice to improve their lives (or their turkey dinners), they'll eventually find someone who will. Timing is everything. Whether it's winning new business. Keeping existing clients happy. Or getting the bird ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Side note, I wonder how many pizza places get Thanksgiving day calls when the bird carver cuts into the turkey and reveals to everyone around the table that the meat is pink and frozen? #sales #thanksgiving #insuranceagent #insurancebroker