All posts by Beth Berger

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About Beth Berger

Hi there! Finding Delight is a lifestyle and lifelong learning blog written and curated by me in Alabama. Along the way, I attempt to tackle the rough real world with books, budget-livin', brainpower and all the beautiful stuff you can find when you really look. Won't you join me? The true delight is in the finding out.

Wine Find: Ceja Vineyard’s Vino de Casa

Food, , , , , ,

If you’re looking for a great bottle to have on hand for when the need for a red arises, my current favorite is this red blend from Ceja Vineyards. It’s majority Pinot Noir (a style Ceja excels at) blended with Syrah and Merlot.

Vino de Casa Red Blend

Aroma:  bright cherries, dark fruit, spice, ripe plum and cocoa.
Palate:  crisp acidity and a caramel and supple finish.
Flavors: red and dark fruit infused with blueberry.
Favorite Pairings: all sorts of Mexican dishes and even pizza.

President of Ceja Vineyards, Amelia Moran Ceja, calls it “a breakfast, lunch, and dinner wine.” Basically, it is the perfect “everyday” wine that will pair with lots! Smooth and simple.

Also, if I’ve learned anything from selling wine, it’s that a narrative you can share with your friends while pouring them a glass is more important to most than the typical “specs” we attribute to bottles. And Ceja Vineyards has one I like! Amelia was the first Mexican-American woman ever to be elected president of a winery. She credits a strong matriarchal tradition and an independent spirit for her success, but most of all her experience with food has shaped her life choices and put her at the forefront of the wine-world in Napa. (There are even videos of her recipes on the Ceja Vineyards YouTube page!)

I love this piece of advice she shares on the vineyard’s website, “My grandmother told me, ‘Whatever you do, if you love it and learn everything you can about it, you will be successful—and not dependent on a man.’” That dedication to pursuing one’s passion is in every glass!

You can check out other bottles on offer from Ceja Vineyards HERE. Cheers!

P.S. A fun bike accessory for wine lovers and my favorite Thanksgiving wines.

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What have you been up to lately, lovelies? I’m counting down the days because…I’m flying to Los Angeles one week from today!!! I’ll be celebrating and exploring with my dear friend Adam (it will be his birthday while we’re there!) and hopefully seeing some other West Coast loves. I can’t wait! But I’m almost done with the book I’m reading so I need to pick a new one for the plane. Any suggestions? I’m flying direct so I’m gonna need a page-turner to pass the time! If you have fun plans forthcoming, I hope the days fly by (I know that’s what I’m wishing for!), but until then…

David Hogg, Florida school shooting survivor: “I’m not a crisis actor.”

This disease kills half the people it infects. Why isn’t more being done to prevent it?

The pub that banned swearing.

27 things you’re really thinking when you watch figure skating.

Would you use aloe vera on your hair?

I never knew what an interesting character founder of Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, was until his death.

Michael Kosinski used artificial intelligence to detect sexual orientation.

When Barbie went to war with Bratz.

At Saudi Arabian camel beauty pageants botox is a big no-no.

Related: A lady-adventurer who crossed the Australian desert with 4 camels.

50 truly doable ways to make any day better.

Despite their different colors, science says ALL Skittles are the same flavor!

Obviously I do, but a lot of times…I don’t.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — My New Journal Approach and Tea Party Faves.

Work Capsule Wardrobe: Spring Trends

Fashion, Style and Design, , , , , , , , ,

I’m a big believer in the idea that finding ways to eliminate decision fatigue can increase your quality life, eliminate stress, and allow you to focus on the things that truly make you happy. One of my favorite hacks for cutting back on decision fatigue? The work capsule wardrobe. Did you know many of the most successful folk wear the same clothes over and over again. While you may not want to rock jeans and a turtleneck to the office every single day (a la Steve Jobs), reducing your wardrobe will make it a heck of a lot easier to answer “What am I gonna wear today?” every morning.

With this in mind, I thought I’d share a really simple method for putting together a seasonal capsule wardrobe for work! Since Spring is on the horizon, we’ll start there. Let’s go!

First, you want to establish your core pieces. These can change from season to season or remain the same all year long. Either way, these items create the base for your work capsule wardrobe.

Here’s an example —

You can adapt these to fit your own job (an office setting may require a blazer but a teacher may prefer a cozy cardigan instead) and your preferences (don’t like skirts? don’t include skirts!). But the equation will remain roughly the same —

2 tops +
2 bottoms +
1 dress +
1 outerwear +
2 shoes +
2 bags +
3 accessories =
Core Work Capsule

Next, you want to look for inspiration. Scour your favorite fashion mags, blogs, and Pinterest boards to get an idea of looks you might want to include in your capsule for the season. Identify about 5 trends. For Spring 2018, the fashion trends I’m loving are: FLORAL COATS, PASTEL MULES, PINK DRESSES, TIE BLOUSES, and WRAP SKIRTS.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces —

Finally, you want to gather trend items to build out your wardrobe. After you’ve found your favorite trends of the season, you’ll add wardrobe pieces to reflect them. Add 1-3 pieces for each trend (depending on how minimal you want to be). There are multiple ways to do this. Let’s use the trends listed above as an example. To incorporate your fave spring trends you might pull a wrap skirt and a tie blouse out of the “warm weather clothing” storage tucked in a bin under your bed, hit your local thrift shop to find a new-to-you pink dress, and splurge on a pair of pastel mules and a floral blazer. There’s no need to buy a ton of trendy items — find ways to incorporate the looks of the season without spending a fortune!

And there you have it! You can repeat this process each season to decrease decision fatigue while still lookin’ fly at work. 🙂

What other closet conundrums would be fun to combat with a capsule wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll consider creating a capsule for a future post!! ❤  

P.S. If you’re more of a one and done capsule wardrobe person (or the concept sparks your interest), you can get a checklist PDF of my 50 Piece All-Season Capsule Wardrobe right this way! 

Creating a Job Around What You Love

Career, , , , , , , ,

*This post may contain affiliate links.*

Many of us have a desk we spend time at, with a computer on top of it and everything we enjoy using in the drawers below. While some folks may consider their desk a sanctuary, others may count down the hours until they get to clock-off. No matter the position you’re in, there’s something you love to do. Whether that’s a bit of knitting after a stressful day, or taking beautiful photographs in your spare time, there’s a lot you can get out of your passions. So make sure you do! It’s time to capitalize on your hobby and start creating a job around what you love. Let’s chat about how…

Dedicate a Website to Your Passion

Websites are getting easier and easier to make because of all the wonderful information you can access (for free!) out there. There are entire free programs dedicated to teaching the world about coding, so you’re in for a win when it comes to designing your own website. And you’re going to need one!

Websites make sure all of your information, content, and products are kept in one neat place for people to find. If a customer has to chase you over multiple media channels, they’re going to give up at the first hurdle. It also presents your business as a little less legitimate at the end of the day; having to follow a digital trail does not instill a sense of security for people’s payment details!

Write Up Some Goals

Your goals are what will keep you churning out quality content and products you enjoy making for months and years to come. Set a short term goal and a long term goal for your business and put systems in place to achieve them. Keeping sight of how you want your life to look in six months, 3 years…even ten years(!) will keep you from stagnating, and your passion will stay your passion.

So maybe you want to reach $500 by the end of the month. If so, make sure you work as much as you can towards that one goal. I’m talking laser focus! While it may feel like a drop in the bucket towards the annual salary you’re used to, when you’re first starting out it’s a milestone. And it’s absolutely achievable. AND it will give you a lot more motivation to keep going and start bringing in an amount with a few more zeros.

Always Look to Expand

At the end of the day, expansion is simply another goal to reach towards. If you’re making enough money to support yourself in the field of your passions, perhaps it’s time to set your sights higher. But what if you don’t have the funds? What if you’re not sure whether you can make the right amount of money to hire on someone else or pay for a marketing campaign?

Don’t worry, there’s plenty of funding sources out there that pay out and pay off. Ladies, consider taking out a women’s small business loan with a trusted company; it’ll keep you motivated to keep earning, and can give you the leg up you’re looking for. Sometimes a small amount of debt is worth it to keep the headaches of financial uncertainty from straining your passions!

Creating a business around your passion is a fun step forward in total self employment. Would you try it? Have you? Tell us about it!

Five Great Poetry Books!

Books, Brainpower, , , , , , , ,

Are you a fan of poetry books? They are my very favorite when I need to mix things up between lengthy novels and dense nonfiction! I love how the language bounces around the page each in their own unique way and they’re so much fun to read out loud.

Here are 5 of my favorites…

Babel by Barbara Hamby

Hamby’s poems drift across histories and continents, from early writing and culture in Mesopotamia through the motion-picture heaven that seems so much like Paris, to odes on such thoroughly American subjects as hardware stores, bubblegum, barbecue, and sharp-tongued cocktail waitresses giving mandatory pre-date quizzes to lawyers and “orangutans in the guise of men.”

Favorite poems: Vex Me, The Tawdry Masks of Women, and Ode on My Mother’s Handwriting.

 

Skid by Dean Young

 In Skid, Young’s fifth book of poems, social outrage vies with comic excess. He embraces the autobiographical urge with fury and musically lush exclamations. Whether through the dark facts of mortality or the celebratory surprises of the imagination, these poems proclaim vitality and alertness, wasting nothing. Young’s poems reveal his faith in the genius of calamity and the redemptive power of fun.

Favorite poems: Sources of the Delaware, Whale Watch, and Troy, Indiana.

 

Jane: A Murder by Maggie Nelson

Jane tells the spectral story of the life and death of Maggie Nelson’s aunt Jane, who was murdered in 1969 while a first-year law student at the University of Michigan. Though officially unsolved, Jane’s murder was apparently the third in a series of seven brutal rape-murders in the area between 1967 and 1969. Nelson was born a few years after Jane’s death, and the narrative is suffused with the long shadow her murder cast over both the family and her psyche.

Favorite poems: Phil’s Photos, Serials, and The Burn.

 

Head Off & Split by Nikky Finney

The poems in Nikky Finney’s Head Off & Split sustain a sensitive and intense dialogue with emblematic figures and events in African American life: from civil rights matriarch Rosa Parks to former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, from a brazen girl strung out on lightning to a terrified woman abandoned on a rooftop during Hurricane Katrina. 

Favorite poems: Red Velvet, Thunderbolt of Jove, and Segregation, Forever.

 

New Collected Poems by Wendell Berry

In New Collected Poems, Berry reprints the nearly two hundred pieces in Collected Poems, along with the poems from his most recent collections―Entries, Given, and Leavings―to create an expanded collection, showcasing the work of a man heralded by The Baltimore Sun as “a sophisticated, philosophical poet in the line descending from Emerson and Thoreau . . . a major poet of our time.”

Favorite poems: Planting Trees, The Dance, A Poem of Thanks and The Country of Marriage.

P.S. Bonus: Found Footage by Maggie Woodward is a newly found fave written by a dear friend. You should check it out, too!

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! I hope you all are having a love-filled day! How are you celebrating the holiday? Of course today is the middle of the week so must of us are spending the day working. But do you have anything special planned? Chet and I are having a nice dinner at home and will exchange a few surprises. (Eeee!) But for now, here are some links you may want to peruse…

How much an out gay Olympian could mean to a kid now—or to a 34-year-old who’s been waiting for it his whole life.

Related: Winter Olympics Netflix Marathon

A glimpse at Appalachia’s feminist protest music.

This bedroom wall is so magical!

The easiest crusty bread recipe ever. Yum!

My trusty (and super cheap) mini backpack has about had it. Should I upgrade?

Related: Backpacks make for happy backs. ❤

A new report finds that slavery is mistaught and often sentimentalized—and students are alarmingly misinformed as a result.

Small wonder that films about female friendships have traditionally fared so poorly with critics. Look who’s writing the reviews.

Related: Rules for Female Friendship

More and more Americans experience eviction, and gentrification is partly to blame.

Related: Slum Lords aka The Hell of Renting

A brief history of how women got tricked into shaving.

Should I do 100 squats every day for 30 days?

Related: How to Make Your Own Fitness Challenge

Are Busy Phillip’s IG stories making anyone else want to get a rebounder?

Finally, if you have Le Tote, they are having an AMAZING end of season sale. (And if you don’t have Le Tote, you should sign up. <-use that link and get your first tote on me. Seriously!)

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Weekend Uniforms and The Reading Habits Tag.

Travel Inspiration: Rural England

Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

*This post may contain affiliate links.*

When you think of England, what do you imagine?

Do you imagine the busy, bustling, metropolitan streets of London?

Or do you imagine beautiful lush green hills and glorious countryside?

Where you fall on the above largely depends on your exposure to England as a whole. While I’ve explored a bit of England in my younger years, I’ve only ever been in London as an adult. There’s no doubt that London has its upsides, and is a worthy travel destination in and of itself, but today I thought we’d focus on the other side of the spectrum. 

Away from the bustle of London lies some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. Rural England is a wonder that has inspired thousands of writers, artists, and poets. And it is still proving inspirational. Lately, I’ve been seeing lots of blog posts and YouTube videos from my favorite UK content creators about their excursions into the countryside. And you know what? Rural England is now pretty high on my Travel Bucket List! Below are a few options I’ve researched that I want to check out. Come along, let’s begin our computer screen vacay…

The Peak District

The Peak District is, as the name suggests, a mountain range. The “Peaks” (as they are locally known) are a collection of hills, mountains, and rugged terrain in the county of Derbyshire, in the East Midlands.

The Peaks are a true natural wonder, and are mostly unspoiled thanks to their protected status. I could walk, hike, cycle, go boating, or just explore the adorably quaint villages and towns that are dotted through the area. Tourism is common here, so I wouldn’t be out of place, and I’d never run out of glorious views to delight over. 

The Home Counties

The Home Counties are a collection of counties that lie just outside of London, so I could easily fly into the capital and then take a road trip to the countryside. The counties included in the “Home Counties” description include Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent. (Say those out loud and you’ll sound like Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady, lol!)

It seems I won’t struggle for things to do in the countryside. As well as delightful local events and displays, the Home Counties are also home to some of the most beloved royal palaces that would be well worth a day-trip in my opinion: Windsor Castle, Hever Castle, and Oxford Castle (pictured above) are all found in the Home Counties. And I’m nothing if not very interested in the British Monarchy. 

The Jurassic Coast

Finally, if I fancied seeing rural England by the seaside, then the Jurassic Coast surely won’t disappoint. The “Jurassic” description comes from the many ancient fossils that have been discovered in the area; who knows, I might even stumble across a specimen or two for myself! (When I was little I wanted to be an archaeologist for a time so this is right up my street.)

The Jurassic Coast is shared by the counties of Devon and Dorset, so there’s plenty to see and do when not exploring the stunning coastline. As well as the cities of Bournemouth and Weymouth, I could also head into the nearby Cranborne Chase Area of Natural Beauty and delight in exploring the verdant terrain.

Have you ever ventured outside of London to explore rural England and all it has to offer? Which of the three areas above has you itching to plan a trip? I’d love to hear! I’m ready to pack my bags. 🙂 

P.S. Fancy some more wanderlust? Check out another computer screen vacation.

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: FOR HIM

Style and Design, , ,

If you’re looking for a treat for a special dude in your life, here are a few fun ideas…

If he loves hitting the town…

Burgundy Pants
Target
$16 (on sale now!)

…because SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE!

 

 

 

If he loves sipping tea…

Tea Nest
Modern Artisans
$14

…because you love him to the MOON and back!

 

 

 

 

 

If he loves day-dreaming at his desk…

Chicago Print
Minted
Starting at $21

…because LAKE MICHIGAN!

 

 

 

If he loves admiring his growing collection…

Vinyl Record Storage
Urban Outfitters
$79

…because VINYL OBSESSION!

 

 

 

If he loves all things British…

Cadbury Selection Box 
Amazon
$13

…because British Cadbury is the BEST CADBURY!

 

 

 

If he loves making a statement…

Felt Letter Board
Amazon
$20

…because CUSTOMIZABLE! 

 

 

 

If he loves traveling the world…

Oxford Travel Backpack
Osaka Owl
$50

…because it will become his TRUSTY SIDEKICK!

 

 

 

BONUS: Check out the awesome cards from Hello Lucky. …because doesn’t everyone want to receive a sweet note on Valentine’s Day? (I especially like this one and this one. And this one made me laugh!)

P.S. More gift ideas for guys!

Which would suit YOUR dude? (or which would you like to receive?) Do you and your partner swap gifts for Valentine’s Day? What are you getting them? Spill!! ❤ 

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: FOR HER

Style and Design, , ,

If you’re looking for a treat for a special lady in your life, here are a few fun ideas…

If she loves hitting the town…

Red Dress
Lulus
$64

…because BELL SLEEVES!

 

 

 

If she loves sipping coffee…

Gnome Mug
Modern Artisans
$33

…because GNOMES!

 

 

 

If she loves day-dreaming at her desk…

Little Bird Desk Pets
Modern Artisans
$20

…because WHIMSY!

 

 

 

If she loves admiring her growing collection…

Wine Rack
The Shelving Store
$62

…because ORGANIZATION!

 

 

 

If she loves all things French…

Beret
Moorea Seal
$26

…because TRES CHIC!

 

If she loves making a statement…

Smash the Patriarchy Hoops
Moorea Seal
$82

…because HELLO?!

 

 

 

If she loves traveling the world…

Airplane Quilt
Belle & June
$84

…because it will remind her of all her journeys and COZY!

 

 

 

BONUS: Check out the awesome cards from Hello Lucky. …because doesn’t everyone want to receive a sweet note on Valentine’s Day? (I especially like this one and this one. And this one made me laugh!)

P.S. One of my very favorite Valentine’s Day gifts.

Ladies – Which would you like to receive? Do you and your partner swap gifts for Valentine’s Day? What are you getting them? Spill!! ❤ 

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you up to this week, darlings? While January seemed to drag on forever, February is already flying by. #ShortMonthProblems It will be Valentine’s Day before we know it! Are you planning anything special? I’m trying to do little Valentine’s-inspired things throughout the month to make each day feel special (with some Mardi Gras themed things, too!). Fresh flowers, photo projects, baking treats, and sending out cards have all found their way onto my February calendar. 🙂 Hope your week is extra sweet, and here are some links I scouted just for you…

12 months of self-care in a helpful month-to-month guide.

Related: 10 Ways to Take a Time Out and Practice Self Care

Here’s how Ed Sheeran made 2017’s biggest track.

Iranians asked #Where_Is_She? Suddenly, it seems she’s everywhere.

Jaclyn Friedman sparks a culture-wide rethink about sex, power and what we accept.

How to not die in America.

Wouldn’t it be a delight to grow up in this colorful Dutch farmhouse?

Anatomy of a wild & crazy Saturday night aka breakfast burritos for two.

Related: Breakfast for Dinner

DIY: Wool ball diffuser for the car.

Have you ever tried a yoga wheel? I’m obsessed with mine.

Related: How to Make Your Own Fitness Challenge

Who invented the microwave oven?

A real “very stable genius” doesn’t call himself one.

Packing for 10 days away at a meditation retreat in a Tom Bihn backpack.

Related: What’s in my Tom Bihn Synapse 19 + Side Effect

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — The 5-4-3-2-1 Packing Method and 5 Blogs I Love.