I really had high hopes for the Strawberry Yogurt Cheerios I purchased on Sunday!

They smelled amazing – and I love pink in my food!

But it was not the same.  I need to stick with my Multigrain Cheerios, I love them so much, why do I try to mess with a good thing!

I also test out a new TJ’s Fiberful Bar – “Fruit & Veggie”

Figuring, it would be just as good at the Blueberry Apple or Apricot versions.

Not bad, but not the same.

Lunch – a side of Aladdin’s hummus with hot sauce!

When I’m eating any other brand of hummus, all I can think of it, it’s not the same as Aladdin’s!

I’ve been CRAVING a Cobb Salad lately – but haven’t been able to get one (hello quit Vegan Challenge) – so instead I arranged my veggies, kinda like the would on a Cobb:

Not the same.

Dinner? TJ’s Vegan Pizza Dough with Daiya Vegan Cheese & Banana Peppers:

Definitely good, but not the same as the “regular” version!

Wanna know something else that is not the same?

Having 3 dogs, compared to 2 dogs!  

I swear the plot against me!

See that over turned bowl up there?

See that empty spot on the table between the blue dog list and Diddy’s food?

While Diddy was outside, these terrorist Harvey & Lando have been freaking out over Diddy’s food – they are all about the hot new thing.

Their food?  Apparently lame. Diddy’s food?  Apparently the greatest thing on earth.

My reaction to these idiots?

They’ll clean the mess up themselves, I might as well take pictures for the blog.  

That’s totally the same as reprimanding them for sticking their paws up on to the table to pull the food down.  RIGHT?!   (C’mon – say it with me – NOT THE SAME!)

PS – Congratulations to Lindsay – Commenter #4 – who won the Kroger Giveaway!

Sunday morning I woke up WAY too early, to do something really super cool!

I told Mike & my brother Saturday night I had to go to bed early, because I had to wake up an pull a plane.

They thought I was just being a big dork, and trying to use some new phrase (“Pull a Plane”) instead of just saying I had to catch a flight.  Thanks for the benefit of the doubt, guys!

See that plane?

I REALLY had to pull it!  Like with my two bare hands, with 19 of my co-workers!

On Sunday, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport hosted the First Plane Pull to benefit Special Olympics Ohio. The event tested teams of about 20 to see how fast they can pull a Boeing 737 a distance of 12 feet!

There were all different sorts of teams there!

From a bunch like this (oh HAYYYYYYYYYYY Cleveland Police Department!)

To a more eclectic crowd like this:

American Greetings Interactive – REPRESENT!!! :COOL:

There were two rounds, and the first time through, we were disorganized and nervous!

Ready, set, …

PULL!

(Not so sure what is going on with my hair… it looks like a rat’s nest!)

For Pull 2 – we had a much better strategy – pull even harder than the first time!

Can’t you just see how much harder we are pulling?!?!?!?

Who was the only team to do better there second time around?  OH YEAH – that was us!

2nd Place?  I’ll take it!

Next year?  First Place – I can feel it!

The event itself was a TON of fun – if you have one in your area – I highly recommend doing it!

A few weeks ago, when I heard about the 5th Annual Cleveland Wine Festival:

I got super excited, because: Hi, have you met me?  I.LOVE.WINE.

My level of excitement increased exponentially when I found out that I’d been approved for Press Passes for the event!

I heart my city! Hey there, Cleveland!

We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day!!

We headed down around 4pm, and everything was already totally hopping!

Our game plan – head straight for the back corner so that could just work our way forward, as opposed to weaving all over the place!

Perhaps it’s just me, but I think multiple wine bottles arranged together just looks so pretty.  Please tell me it’s not just me?!?!

(Note: I tried at least a sip from all the stands pictured in this post, but I’m only going to talk about the notable ones!  If you have any questions – let me know!)

Bandit “Juice Box” wine just makes me happy!

The first wine that really caught my attention was this Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (from Marlborough)

After trying probably about 20 – I ended up going back to this table. This was hands-down my favorite wine of the event!

One sip and I was in heaven!   It has that nice citrus taste, and this one “other taste”, that is very distinct to New Zealand Sauv Blanc’s – that I can NEVER put my finger on. 

Wine drinkers – what is that almost floral-y taste in New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs??

Another pit stop I really enjoyed: Raven’s Glenn, a “Mid-Ohio” winery! (Just like Mike’s Aunt & Uncle’s!)

All of their wines sounded way to sweet for my liking, but I was swayed to try the Sensual Strawberry – and I have to say – it was awesome!  It WAS very sweet, but not over-powering.  Definitely a good summer wine!

Want to know the coolest thing I learned at the Wine Festival?

I always pronounced this brand P.K.N.T. – because of the periods in between each letter.  Apparently – it’s actually pronounced pee-cahn-te! 

Also, I must say – at $6 a bottle – you really can’t beat P.K.N.T’s taste!

Another favorite of mine was the Truck stand.

Green Truck, White Truck, Red Truck!

I tried both the Sauvignon Blanc and the Petite Sirah, and they were both fabulous!

Look “who” I found sneaking their way into the Wine Festival – Skinny Girl Margaritas!

Pretty sneaky Bethenny, pretty sneak…

This was good, not great. I’d much rather buy my own tequila & triple sec, and make my own “skinny” version.  Thanks anyway though Bethenny!

I really enjoyed how many local wineries were represented!  One of my long-running favorites: Debonne Vineyards!

I know I love their River Rouge, so it was nice to get to try some of their other wines, without having to commit to the whole bottle!

I tried Razzberry Riesling – too sweet for me (but I’m sure all your Riesling fans would just LOVE it!), and "Harmony” – which was a sweet summer treat!

Seriously though – if you want to test out Debonne – always go with River Rouge – it’s taste like Concord Grape juice, turned in to wine!

Pretty bottles (always appealing to women, right?!)

Shearer’s was there representin’ Ohio chip companies! (and giving away pretty sweet coupons!)

The festival even had multiple stands, with AMAZING smelling food, but it was just too hot to eat. We stuck with our libations, but had it been about 15 degrees cooler, I totally would have been drinking some Sauv Blanc, while eating a fresh gyro!

Did I mention – it was quite HOT!

I mean HOT. Like – I showered right before we came, blew my hair dry, and straightened it, only to have it look like I’d just stepped out of the shower as we were leaving the festival!

It felt great to get in the car, and turn on some COOOOOOL air conditioning!

Speaking of cool – want to know the coolest fact about the Cleveland Wine Festival?

The festival’s proceeds will benefit the Bright Side of the Road Foundation; founded by Clevelander Barry Winovich to help find a cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the devastating disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The whole event was VERY well put together, and truly a pleasure to attend.  The vendors were all laid back and pleasant, and really just looking to chat, not to try and SELL. A very big thank you to Giant Eagle & Patton Public Relations for the opportunity to attend!