There’s nothing nicer than relaxing in the sunshine and sipping a glass of sparkling wine – apart from transforming it with the right ingredients into a sparkling wine cocktail.  And while you can make a cocktail with almost any sparkling wine, some do a better job than others based on the sweetness and flavours in them.  So how do you choose the best sparkling wine for cocktails?

Sweetness level

One of the most important things to understand when making sparkling wine cocktails is the sweetness levels of the wine.  This can have a dramatic and sometimes unpleasant effect on the drink.  Wines range from dry to sweet and usually cocktails will use a wine that is quite dry as the other ingredients added to the mix might be sweeter.

When you are looking at prices for sparkling wine offers, to understand why the wine is priced the way it is you must first look at what the different terms mean on the bottle of wine. They are graded from the very driest to the sweetest using the following terms:

• Extra Brut
• Brut
• Extra Dry Sec
• Demi-Sec
• Doux

Quality of Wine

Is the more expensive wine always better. The short answer is yes but with some caveats. There are plenty of fancy looking bottles of sparkling wine that may look like they taste good. However, what good is buying an expensive bottle of wine without doing your research first. The most efficient way is to search the web for sparkling wine offers to keep costs down, especially when the plan is to make cocktails. As long as that research is done, the more expensive bottles are almost always better.

Types of sparkling wine

If you want to go for a bottle of the finest sparkling wine, champagne, for your cocktails then there’s no reason not to.  But if you are looking for a little more budget friendly option, then there are lots of great sparkling wines from around the world that are a little less expensive and make superb cocktails.

Prosecco is very on-trend at the moment in terms of drinking on its own and adding to cocktails.  It is the Italian version of Champagne but doesn’t take as long to make and this is why the price is a lot more affordable.  If you want a sweet sparkling wine, then Moscato d’Asti is a sweet, Italian wine made in the Asti region of north-west Italy.

Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine that is available in white and also rose versions and is used for special events such as weddings and baptisms.  It also works well in cocktails.

Cremant is the name for champagne that comes from anywhere in France other than the Champagne region and uses much the same process.  It also tends to be more budget friendly.

Both the US and Australia also produce several good quality sparkling wines that work well in cocktails with Californian wines being particularly notable.

Cocktail ideas

One of the very easiest champagne cocktails to try is the Kir Royale.  It uses sparkling wine and crème de cassis, a black currant liqueur that gives the drink a soft pink colour.  You only need around 1 tablespoon of spirit to a champagne flute for a perfect drink.  You can also substitute the crème de cassis for any number of other spirits including Chambord (called a Kir Imperial) or calvados (known as Cider Royale).

When it comes to road-tripping, especially in wine country, your car may be the most important part of your trip. Here are some surprisingly awesome road trip cars that you should keep on your list and consider before you plan your next big adventure. There’s something special about each of them that makes them perfect for long drives into the unknown.

GMC Canyon Diesel

This powerful pickup truck is perhaps the most surprising on this list of surprisingly awesome road trip cars. You may not think of a pickup as being a good vehicle for a long drive due to space restrictions and bad gas mileage, but this 4-door diesel gets about 30 mpg on the highway and up to 600 miles on one tank. The turbocharged engine pulls the truck along with the ease of a sedan but allows you to tow up to 7,000 pounds of road trip toys. Convert the truck’s bed into a pool for portable road trip swimming!

Ford Flex

By resedabear – Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

On a road trip, traveling around in a box may be a good thing when it comes to space. This SUV has three rows, which means you have so much room for all of your passengers and cargo as well. If you aren’t using all the seats, put them down and you’ll have plenty of space for pretty much anything you would want to bring on a road trip, from mountain bikes to paddleboards. The square shape means lots of extra headroom which makes the Flex feel so spacious and makes even the longest road trips extra enjoyable.

Toyota RAV4

By RL GNZLZ from Chile – Toyota Rav4 2016, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link

The RAV4 might seem just just another SUV, but this compact adventure-mobile is actually pretty special. For starters, it can tow up to 1,500 pounds and has Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which will really transform your long road trip. This cruise control lets you set a speed and then uses radar to adjust if there are cars in front of you. An interior with reduced noise and vibration helps keep everyone more comfortable on your drive. Four-wheel drive lets you explore anywhere you want, while an average 30 mpg on the highway makes it the perfect cruiser as well.

Kia Sedona

The Sedona is an affordable but luxurious minivan that’s makes you forget you’re driving a van. Tri-zone climate control helps keep everyone on your road trip so comfortable, while the captain’s chairs in the center row offer reclining footrests so your passengers can really relax on the drive. A super sleek and stylish exterior looks more like a hatchback than a van. You’ll get about 25 mpg on the highway with this room-for-8 van that can also tow about 3,500 of road trip toys.

Chevy Impala

This full-sized sedan is truly comfort on wheels when it comes to road-tripping. The trunk is surprisingly roomy, and the seats for the driver and all passengers are designed for comfort. The Impala’s suspension gives the sedan’s ride a floating feeling that minimizes all feelings of being on the road. If you’re looking for a great basic sedan with a well-above average ride and cargo space, the Impala is a surprisingly awesome road trip car.

Mercedes-Benz S550 Coupe

The S550 Coupe lets you look good while you travel, and gives you a good way to view the road with its huge sunroof and pillarless glass windows. You’ll get to see all of your surroundings from the comfort of this luxury ride. Nice little features like a multimedia system help keep your passengers entertained on long drives, while the Intelligent Drive safety and convenient features like radar systems, brake assistance and active blind spot assist will make the drive less stressful for the driver and more safe for everyone.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Even though they stopped making this awesome SUV in 2014, a used one is still a great choice for a road trip vehicle, especially if you want to do any off-roading road trips. The boxy, rugged-looking exterior has little touches like 3 windshield wipers and rear-opening back passenger doors. The inside is covered with a washable rubber material to let you clean up fast after a fun day of adventuring in the sand, mud or water. They’re so fun to adventure in!

I love finding great wine glass accessories–who doesn’t like to pretty up their glass of wine? You can match your glass to your mood, your personality or to match your favorite sports team. I like to think that life is too short to have a boring wine glass. Why not pretty it up a little bit and make yours stand out from the crowd with a glass of wine in your left hand and a Moscow Mule in the right.

Meet Woozie. Woozie is a wine glass insulator that both insulates your wine glass as well as feels great. What is a Woozie? It’s a wine glass insulator! How many times have you picked up your wine glass to find that it’s already warm? This has happened to me on many occasions and I never would have thought of having an insulator for my glass. Both genius and cute.

The Woozie is a drawstring wine glass sleeve that is made from top quality neoprene. This not only keeps your wine cool, but makes it soft as well. You can order your Woozie either on a card cutout or have it arrive on an actual wine glass.

With holiday season rapidly approaching–and not to forget the many birthdays during the year–giving someone a Woozie will definitely make me smile. Gifting a Woozie is great for Secret Santas, stocking stuffers or to give a hostess to thank them for the fabulous holiday party that they threw.

Woozie offers so many different styles that you can surely find one that will make the perfect gift. Not only do they offer the Original Woozie, but they also offer Bottle Stoppers, Bottle Bags, Coasters–and many, many more options that are all equally cute.

Be sure and keep up with them on their Woozie Facebook page to keep in the know with all things Woozie!

Gift cards are one of the most versatile gifts a person can give. It not only provides a present, but it provides an opportunity for your business to attract new business with an invitation into your store. Point of sale systems for businesses are tools that can help employees earn rapport with customers, and breed relationships between your store and it’s patrons that will last for years to come. Accepting gift cards can help build new relationships between your client’s loved ones and your store. It is a win-win for all involved.

A great POS system for retailers is one that can help track which items attract newer customers, and after the initial purchase which items create repeat buyers. This strategy can potentially build a business and keep new customers coming in all of the time.

The Clover POS system is one option that can help your business reach these kinds of goals. Learning about what products attract new customers and what items keep them coming back for more is an efficient strategy that will allow your business to thrive, and keep growing in the future.

The information gathered doing this can also be used to help your business experiment with different displays and advertisements to customers. Knowing what new customers like can be an invaluable tool in attracting business. This will allow you to stay ahead of the curve and make accurate predictions about what customers will buy, and what they will leave in the isles. Using this info can also add character to your store. Like in any advertising campaign, an artistic eye can create art out of your inventory and attract the attention of customers both new and old.

Looking for the full range of features and amenities without that intimidating luxury price-tag? You can still get a vehicle fitted out with premium materials and the best in high-tech and luxe features without completely breaking the bank. Here are the 5 best cars for luxury on a budget.

Nissan Maxima

The Nissan Maxima tends to defy the standard when compared to other models in its class. It doesn’t boast an official “luxury” badge, yet it performs and feels like a step above comparable models and presents a driving experience like a luxury sedan.

The Maxima is powerful and fun to drive, with strong acceleration and sporty handling, yet also sophisticated and stylish, with a refined and comfortably smooth ride. The interior feels much more luxurious than the price-tag would suggest, with soft-touch surfaces throughout and “Zero Gravity” seats that are both supportive and comfortable.

Standard features include keyless ignition and entry, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay capabilities, sound system with satellite radio and a navigation system. Optional luxurious upgrades include 360-degree parking camera, Nissan Connect, upgraded driver seat with two-way power lumbar, premium diamond-quilted leather upholstery, driver attention alert system and a premium Bose audio system.

Audi A3

The Audi A3 is a premium vehicle at a reasonable price that provides the perfect entry-level option for drivers wanting to break into the luxury market. Drivers love the sophisticated, refined style of the Audi A3 combined with the smooth maneuverability, powerful acceleration and sharp handling. This is a vehicle that speaks of luxury and sophistication while still providing a fun and sporty drive.

Basic features on the A3 include leather upholstery, an eight-way power driver seat with four-way power lumbar adjustment, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, the MMI electronics system and a 10-speaker sound system. Optional upgrades include smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities, a powered passenger seat, Bang and Olufsen sound system and adaptive cruise control. Max out on the luxury and high-tech features with the Technology package, that comes with mobile 4G LTE connectivity and Wi-Fi hot-spot, voice controls, mobile app integration and a navigation system that utilizes Google Earth imagery.

Mercedes-Benz CLA class

The Mercedes-Benz CLA class keeps all of the classic Mercedes style and sophistication with some fun features and a reasonable price-tag. Drivers adore this vehicle because of its fun and sporty driving experience, full suite of safety features and equipment, incredible fuel economy and impressive cargo carrying capacity. You can have it all in a luxury package with a sleek, distinctive style in the CLA class.

Standard features for the CLA class are impressive, particularly the forward collision warning system with automatic braking and the drowsy driver attention system, two advanced safety features that are almost always optional or not available on other luxury car models. Also standard are eight-way power front seats with four-way driver lumbar adjustment and memory functions, Bluetooth connectivity, the Mercedes COMAND technology system and the Mbrace2 emergency communication system. Optional upgrades include advanced safety features, a Harman Kardon sound system, panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, adjustable suspension, automatic parking system, smartphone integration and a navigation system with voice controls.

Cadillac ATS

It’s hard to drive a Cadillac without people noticing your style. The ATS matches that sophisticated attitude with impressive performance thanks to agile handling, a full suite of high-tech features and an entertaining driving experience,

The ATS is a compact luxury sport sedan with rear or all wheel drive that comes standard with some impressive features including keyless ignition, rear-view camera, six-way power front seats with power lumbar and the CUE infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, OnStar, voice controls, Bluetooth connectivity and a Bose sound system.  Optional luxurious upgrades include leather surface seats with 10-way power seats, sunroof, a suite of advanced driver assist and safety features including collision alert, and parking sensors.

Volvo S60

Volvo has a great reputation for safety, but the Volvo S60 turns heads with style and power befitting of a luxury car known for speed and sporty driving. This car still feels sophisticated thanks to an all wheel drive system and interior cabin features that keep it both comfortable and quiet even while it’s roaring with its supercharger and turbocharger engines.

Standard features on the S60 include Volvo’s On Call safety system that provides emergency and stolen vehicle assistance and automatic crash notification, Volvo’s Sensus smartphone app integration, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi capability, a fully-equipped sound system, leather seats, eight-way power driver seat with adjustable lumbar and memory settings, and low speed forward collision warning.

Optional luxury upgrades include a navigation system, premium Harman Kardon sound system, parking assistance, rear-seat entertainment with dual displays, keyless ignition and entry, a power front passenger seat and wood interior trim.

Between running around frantically, picking up groceries, picking up kids from practice, making sure the family is happy, making sure you’re doing your job properly – the list goes on – between all of that and more, every mom needs a few distractions. Some moms like to head out dancing on the weekend, which can be lots of fun and excitement, and other moms just want a quiet corner of the house where they can throw on Entertainment Tonight and relax with a glass of Shiraz.

Somewhere in the middle of the two – somewhere between thrilling excitement and relaxation – is playing the lottery. Playing the lottery can be such an exciting, even therapeutic thing to do, because not only do you get a low-stakes opportunity to win a ton of money, but you also get to dream about what you would do if you hit the big jackpot, which is half of the fun. It’s this kind of whimsical daydreaming about what you and your family would do if, for instance, you won one of the Powerball jackpots worth hundreds of millions of dollars, that makes playing the lottery such a great little diversion.

All you have to do is go online and buy a lottery ticket. Powerball, the lottery mentioned above, is probably the best of the bunch, with huge payouts and lots of chances to win prizes; it has its own unique set of rules, but you can visit Powerball.ca to learn more about how many numbers to pick, and how to choose a chance to multiply your winnings. Once you’ve bought your ticket, you have to devise a way to pick your lottery numbers, which can be super fun. One method that some moms use to choose their numbers is their kids’ (or husbands’) birthdays, taking the day, month and year and putting those numbers on their selection ticket.

From there, all you have to do is wait, and in the meantime, you get to dream about what you’d do if you won the big jackpot. Take Marie Holmes, a single mother of four who won $188 million playing Powerball and used the money to buy a new home for her family, a new home for her mother, secure her children’s future and give to charity. Or take Mavis Wanczyk, a mom from Chicopee, Massachusetts, who won a whopping $758 million and promptly quit her nursing job.

So, what would you do? You could take your family on a trip somewhere exotic, like Fiji, and go snorkeling in the emerald blue waters; or you could buy a dream house in Paris or New York; or you could buy a lifetime’s supply of wine! In fact, you could probably do all of those things! With the kind of jackpots offered by the Powerball lottery, you could set you and your family up for a lifetime of luxury and bliss. But, hey, just dreaming about it is half the fun, and at the end of the day, it’s exciting to buy a ticket and watch the numbers get chosen.