The Gathered Life Blog

All You Need to Know about the Non-Alcoholic Drinks Revolution   Whether it’s trendy or the answer to a healthier lifestyle, it’s no question that nonalcoholic beverages are gaining in popularity. In 2020, there was even an article stating that nonalcoholic drinks were actually the “BEST.” Craft Zero challenged their readers to “be unapologetic about their well-being,” and continued to provide 20 reasons to back up their confident claim. You can look into their reasons here.   What’s available?  SPIRITS: Seedlip offers a Trio of Non-Alcoholic Spirits: Spice 94, Grove 42, and Garden 108. Spice 94 is a flavorful mix of allspice, cardamom, and citrus with a slightly bitter end. Grove plays off citrus flavors combining oranges, lemons, peel, lemongrass, and ginger for a complex flavor profile. Garden 108, made with peas and herbs like rosemary, thyme, and spearmint, is both allergen-free and zero-calorie. This trio is natural and offers high-quality Non-Alcoholic drink options.  Discover more   Ritual is highly rated by the Beverage Tasting Institute, scoring between 88-98 points, and is an excellent choice for any cocktail connoisseurs. It contains no artificial flavors, and is low-calorie and keto-friendly, not to mention hangover-free. The packaging is eco-friendly, embracing #PlasticNeutrality with CleanHub initiatives to sort and recycle plastic, in addition to partnering with Ecocart to offset their carbon footprint. Discover more     WINE: Ariel's Dealcoholized wines are produced using traditional wine-making methods in small oak barrels. Their gentle cold filtration process, which utilizes reverse osmosis, can remove up to 99.5% of the alcohol content. Their Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of black currant, cherry, blueberry, and chocolate, with soft tannins that culminate in a dry finish with less than 0.5% ABV and 52 calories per 8oz serving. Buy Here   BEER: Suntory opts out of many ingredients such as alcohol, sugar, calories, artificial flavor, and sweeteners. Crafting its bold flavor using two-row barley malt and aroma hops combined with Tennensui natural mineral water, ALL-FREE's signature beer taste is notable for its delicate flavor and lasting aftertaste. Buy Here   The market for nonalcoholic beverages is increasing. Bartenders have made space on their menus for nonalcoholic mixed drinks. Major breweries like Budweiser, Guinness, Samuel Adams (just to name a few) are supplying nonalcoholic options in liquor stores. Wineries are even taking note, along with seltzers. You can’t deny, it’s on the rise.    But is it for you? While we fully support this lifestyle choice, we also have an answer for those of you who simply enjoy the flavor of alcohol. It may not even be the burn you miss, but the “maturity in mixed flavors,” that makes you sip rather than chug. Brands are now marrying the flavor of alcohol with herbs and tasteful collaborations. If you’re curious in any way by this nonalcoholic movement, here are some articles for your perusal. 17 Best Nonalcoholic Drinks of 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes.com) Top 30 mocktail ideas | BBC Good Food 77 Nonalcoholic Party Drinks & Punches I Taste of Home   Nonalcoholic vs. Zero Proof Now, we do want to emphasize that there is a difference between nonalcoholic and zero-proof. Sobriety is everything, and even 1% of alcohol can be triggering, so make sure you do your homework. Nonalcoholic doesn’t always mean 0%. Take your precautions if you’re not interested in toting the line, but do enjoy once you’re 100% sure that you’re drinking 0% without trigger or temptation. But can you make craft cocktails?  Um, yeah! via Pinterest via Pinterest   There's even craft non-alcoholic BEER! Checkout this Bravus Oatmeal Stout with less than .5% ABV!    Time to Try? If nonalcoholic is the best way for you, it won’t matter if it’s a trend or here to stay. It’s really just here for you. It isn’t about restricting either way but enhancing who you want to be, and we’re here for it!   Take a look at our Home Bar Collective here. We’ve got exactly what you need to enjoy your favorite cocktails with or WITHOUT alcohol! You can make craft cocktails from the comfort of your own home. We hope you enjoy! 

We’re bringing out all the tips and tricks so you can crush Mother’s Day in 2023. Act now and get everything you need for those special mamas in your life! This year, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14th. We want the moms in your life to feel double, triple special this year!

Everyone has someone different on their list, but don't worry we have the Perfect Gifts you need! Just in time for Valentine's Day! FOR WRITER: Imagine writing on 250gsm organic cotton paper bound in a suede shell! This journal is available in two sizes and two colors. Complete this gift with the boxed pen set which includes two pens!  Grab this writing combo for under $50! FOR THE TEA LOVER Your Tea Lover with fall in love with the rich aromas and notes of honey found in the Cape Town herbal Tea. The Salted Caramel Sugar Cubes are the added bonus we all need!  Grab this Woody & Sweet Combo for $35! For the Fragrance Lover This 50 ml Eau de Parfum by Infinite She carries the notes of Violet Leaf + Jasmine. This is for those who love a Gift with a story to tell. Inspired = 05/1946: When the Modern Museum of Art featured its first retrospective devoted to a female artist exploring the career of Georgia O'Keefe. Grab this scent for $30 and check out the Lotion and Shea Butter Soap in this scent as well! For the Craft Cocktail Lover Fall in love with this matching Bar Essentials set! This is an excellent addition to any home bar. This gift set features premium quality bar tools handcrafted to accessorize the home with STYLE! Grab this combo today! Style Icon This combo is perfect for the fashionista we all Love! Show her you've noticed her style with this stylish combo!  Grab this stylish combo for for under $70! Art Collector Show them you've noticed their love of Art with this luxury coffee table book by Assouline. Pablo Picasso is undoubtedly one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Picasso: The Impossible Collection is curated by the artist's granddaughter Diana Widmaier Picasso. This volume will take your art lover on a reminiscent journey beyond Cubism, and groundbreaking work like Guernica into the ART created as a whole by Picasso. Picasso: The Impossible Collection includes his sculptures, paintings, photographs, and prints representing his magnum opus. Picasso: The Impossible Collection features 100 unique works that speak to the evolution of Picasso's artistry. Shop Now!

I believe in small businesses which is why every year I make a list of those businesses I want to intentionally support. You can peek at my recommendations on Instagram Guides. Shop crafts, candles and more.   

What are Champagne Dreams made of? A sweet summer brunch, with Champagne flowing, lavish floral arrangements, girl talk, and a little bit of shade Hunny!        A girl can dream, right! Welcome back to our CUPED series where we are discussing Champagne- Let’s get into it!!                                                                       How it started: Well, Champagne's dream was all chemistry. So, it is only right that it would have its own glass! 🥂 Before YouTube and the 'Gram-- Marquise de Pompadour was a well... How do I say this nicely? Marquise de Pompadour or Madame de Pompadour was a very well-known “influencer” of sorts. Okay, she…was Louis XV - mistress, actually one of his many mistresses- okay that didn’t make it any better- on a better note, she took her role very seriously!🥴… The history books detail many reasons ways she had influence, but one, in particular, is worthy of note. Originally, Champagne was a drink associated with the poor and prostitutes. When Madame de Pompadour began serving Champagne at events, this forever changed that association. Champagne, along with its newly elevated association with wealth and power, also changed price as you could imagine. And to think it was a drink made by a double fermentation mistake. This drink is scientifically validated! The double fermentation makes millions of bubbles tickle your nose just right. However, the Champagne experience (among other things) only flourishes in a specific glass. How it's going: There has been an overwhelming shift from the traditional Champagne flute to the Tulip-shaped Champagne glass. A tulip Champagne glass has a broadened bowl that allows suitable space for the bubbles to rise. In contrast, the slender opening enables the drinker to appreciate the lovely aromatic notes.  The shape of the tulip allows the carbonation to ideally rise to the top and tickle your nose with the budding aromas! It's best held from the stem rather than the bowl to avoid warming up our carbonated friend.   So, what to look for in a glass? Well, first, it's all about aesthetics. A glass made of crystal material gives a transparent view of millions of bubbles in your glass. Add a tapering at the lip to this crystal glass, and you've got yourself an aromatic dream! The perfect size glass sits somewhere around 6 to 7 oz. However, the majority of glasses are 8 ounces. Either way, a 4 oz pour or halfway gets you the right blend of bubbles + aromatic sensation! How it's gifted: Let's talk gifting!! Here are our favorite Champagne glasses- and YES, we included traditional Champagne glasses as well! Our Top 5 Most Giftable Champagne Glasses: #1 Mark Thomas Double Bend Champagne Glass This duo is Simple & Chic! You can catch this Set Of 2 for just $120 SHOP NOW #2 Borough Tulip Champagne Glasses by LSA This Set of 4 Champagne glasses is simply perfection! SHOP NOW for just $50! #3 GOLD-RIMMED CRYSTAL CHAMPAGNE FLUTES Toast in style with this pair by Viski for just $27.99 SHOP NOW   #4 Edge Champagne Glass The Edge Champagne Glass is everything we love about Crate and Barrel! Constantly giving us a sleek modern take on glassware. This is priced just right at $12.95 each. SHOP NOW   #5“THE TEA “ PINK FLUTE by SOHome Collective In LOVE with this Black-owned and female-led brand and their glassware is EVERYTHING! Luxury + Utility SHOP NOW this set of 4 for $149.95   #6 The Dom Pérignon Champagne Glass Dom Pérignon for Riedel You know we LOVE Riedel so this pick is no surprise! We love the design of this glass. Each glass is perfectly priced at $35. SHOP NOW *Dom Perignon Brut Rose, 2006 sold separately for $349.99 BONUS!  Sparkling Wine or Champagne?  “First all, I wanna thank my connect!”... the French – not Mr. Carter… Why the French? “Champagne” is only produced in Champagne, France; if not its sparkling wine. Wines that bear the Champagne label are subject to strict regulations and being produced at vineyards located in the French region. Misuse of the label “Champagne” is currently banned in the US. Level up your glassware Gift and include a bottle of Champagne! Not sure which to gift?  No worries! Here are our French fave’s: #1 ARMAND DE BRIGNAC • Brut Gold • Ace of Spades Armand de Brignac is better known as Ace of Spades. You’ll usually find this at any award show Mr. and Mrs. Carter as they are the owners of the brand. Our French friend here comes in at a cool $329 per bottle. Body: Elegant + Medium Bodied Notes & Pairing from the Brand Tasting Notes: Peach, apricot, and red berry aromas are followed by crystalized citrus, orange blossom, and hints of brioche. The palate is rich with cherries, exotic fruits, and a touch of lemon, vanilla, and honey. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy, with a hint of toastiness, from the unique Armand de Brignac dosage which is aged for one year in French oak barrels. Ideal Pairing: Ideal as an aperitif or pairs perfectly with seared scallops, roasted quail, and freshwater fish. Giftable plus this bottle comes ready to gift in a beautiful box. #2 Krug Why Krug? Well, it’s the aged grapes, crisp yet intense taste for us! Although being sold to LMVH in 1999, the business is still run by the family. Any grapes that don’t meet their high standards don’t go in their wines, so you can be confident that you are getting the very best. The Krug Grand Cuvee comes in around $210.   Body: Dry + Full Boided Notes & Pairings from the Brand: Tasting Notes: Light golden colour and fine, vivacious bubbles, holding a promise of pleasure. Aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe, dried, and citrus fruits, as well as marzipan and gingerbread. Flavours of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey. Ideal Pairing: Krug Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition lends itself to a wealth of culinary combinations, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, from an aged parmesan to turbot à la truffe. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif with Jabugo ham and mature comté or served to accompany oysters, grilled shrimps, Indian or Moroccan food, as well as desserts such as carrot cake, tarte tatin and cheesecake.   #3 Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Champagne What’s could make Champagne better? ROSE`! Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Champagne to be exact. According to the brand, Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Champagne is the first known Rose Champagne. How did they make this happen? Simply it’s a blend of an aged still red wine and champagne. Catch these fresh red fruit aromas rolling in at just $69.97 Body: Expressive + Full-bodied Notes & Pairing from the Brand: Tasting Notes: Coppery-orange color. Expressive aromas of strawberry and very ripe wild strawberries. A full-bodied, structured, vinous palate that stays fresh. Length and character define this champagne. Ideal Pairings: • Tuna • Beef carpaccio • Duck • Red fruits • Tomatoes Sources: https://www.vinovest.co/blog/champagne-glasses https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-glass-to-drink-champagne-from-is-not-a-flute-2018-2 https://www.champagne.fr/en/tasting-and-appreciation/art-of-serving-champagne/choose-glasses https://www.mumm.com/en-us/taste-explorer/choosing-the-best-glass-for-serving-champagne/ https://www.champagne.fr/en/comite-champagne/bureaus/bureaus/united-states/pages/protection-of-the-champagne-name Pricing: https://www.totalwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/champagne/c/000162   Images: Cover Photo via Adobe Stock https://homestore.zola.com/shop/kit/crate-and-barrel-edge-collection?epik=dj0yJnU9TVpmemEtNGVhek52RVNjY2pPQjEyN05wYm5RelVXaWcmcD0wJm49eXM0YWVsQndJeEplUHp2TXRMTEd5ZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0hWSVNv https://www.modernquests.com/products/borough-tulip-champagne-glasses-set-of-4

Glassware is always a wonderful gift item. In this series we will uncover the Who, What goes in it, Why, and How it started! Here goes something.... So, a Prostitute, a Queen, a Coupe glass walk into a bar….