Wine Rack Store Blog

Today I was lucky enough to be in touch with an old friend from Idaho. We reminisced a bit and she got me thinking about the cooking club we were in together. Ever since I moved away, I have wanted to start my own chapter of the "Dining Divas". This was one of the most fabulous tight-knit group of "foodies" I have ever known, and I just loved the idea of getting together for a gourmet meal once a month and getting some solid hangout time with these amazing ladies.

Here's how it worked. Every month one of the members of the group would host a dinner at her house. She would choose a theme and send out invitations to the rest of us. The theme would often be a surprise and was always very creative. Each month the different parts of the meal were assigned to different people, so we all got a turn providing the appetizers, salad, soup, entree, drinks, side dish, and dessert. Of course, which ever piece of the meal you brought had to fit the theme. It was incredible how well the meal would always fit together, in spite of the fact that few of us would reveal what we were bringing. The monthly meal was an opportunity to try out some fun new recipe or to bring in an old favorite. We really went out on a limb to create a delicious meal and spoil ourselves. It was the perfect opportunity to pull out that special wine I'd been saving in the wine rack. And I loved getting to use my wine charms to identify our glasses with such a full house! Dinner would always begin in the afternoon, so we'd have 4 hours to really savor our meal and company.

Anyway, it has been far too long since I've had a crew like this to enjoy a fantastic dinner with. They are still going strong, but I'm too far away, so I need to try to recreate this monthly feast in my current location.

Labels: cooking club, Dining Divas, foodies, Wine Charms, wine racks

I just turned on CNN and there was a discussion panel talking whether the US Government should give GM, Ford and Chrysler billions of dollars, so that they can survive. Everybody knows that the downturn in the economy has effected all companies. Major brick and morter retailers are hurting with sales volumes less than 30 years ago. Likewise the auto industry is seeing significantly fewer sales. The latest sales figures show that GM is down 45% from the same period a year ago. I know that one argument is that they have made their own bed by making products that are no longer relevant in the new economy. However their list of problems are more than just that. The credit crunch has prevented many of their customers from purchasing their cars and trucks.

So what are choices?

(A) We can let the auto companies go bankrupt, which guarantees their demise. Few potential customers want to spend their hard earned money on a product and know that the company has a good chance to be out of business in the near future. What happens when they have problems or go to trade in their vehicle. Then, there is not just the money issues. What about the hundreds of thousands of people whose income comes either directly or indirectly from GM, Ford and Chrysler. What if they have no jobs?

(B) The government bails out the auto companies. Spends at least $25 billion, over and above the billions that they have already pledged to the domestic auto industry. They have obviously mismanaged their businesses. What prevents them from "blowing" the billions of dollars, and having to return to Governement for further cash injections. The public coiffers are empty. Between the needless war in Iraq, the bailout of the insurance companies and banks. The country has spent trillions of dollars.

This is truly a tough decision. There is already record unemployment (6.5%). To add hundreds 0f thousands of folks to the unempolyment lines would be even harder on an ecomony already in a depression. To pump billions of good money into poorly managed companies is irresponsible. Plus many would argue that America has come to terms with it's changing economy and this is just another sign of that change.

Either choice is fraught with risk.

I guess you have to make a stand. To let the companies fail would be catastrophic to the economy, and even bigger blow to the American society. The problems with the economy ares immense. We hear the uncertainity when we speak to our customers when they are purchasing our wine racks and wine charms. People don't know where the country is going. The people don't need more of their icons to fall.

If the Government is going to give the automobile companies billions, we need to have oversight in what they do. Lets make sure their management is going to change and that they create products which are in tune with the goals of society. Vehicles that have significantly better mileage. Lets make sure the quality standards are equal or better than their competitors. Only then will their futures be somewhat protected. Just like the Wine Rack Store which adds to it's product lines with wine racks and wine accessories that our customers want.

We would love to hear what you think.

Labels: Wine Charms, wine rack, wine rack store

Every boy and girl in America should know about how the Pilgrims, came to America. Our friends at Wikipedia, have an excellent history of people, events, and dates of how the Pilgrims came to our country as well as their struggles of which there was many. Imagine their daunting task. Where just finding food to survive was very hard.

The Wine Rack Store has a Thanksgiving Wine charm set to help celebrate the coming of the Pilgrims. It is perfect for a gift or any social event for this holiday. So when you are sitting around the big ol' bird or whatever you choose to have, raise a glass to our forefathers and give a toast, to those hard working folks that helped create America into the great nation it is today.

Labels: Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, Wine Charms, wine rack store

Fall has made it's presence known at the Wine Rack Store. Two types of Apples actually. The first of course is the delicious type. We are fortunate to work and live in the State known for it's produce and especially it's apples. Washington State is far and away the largest producer of apples in the USA. Washington Apples have a quality reputation throughout a large range of different types.

The second type of Apple important to Wine Rack Store and AmazingUniverse.com Inc is the computer type. We have completed our replacement of our PC's. Not that anything was basically wrong with the PC's, but they were at the end of their useful life, and because design is so important to us we felt that Apple iMacs would be a better product for us. They have turned out to be an excellent investment, adding significantly to our creative processes.

These quality products remind me of the quality and varied products we produce. We are proud to service the wine industry and wine collectors throughout the United States, Canda, Europe and Asia. If you haven't done so already, check out wine racks, wine charms and wine accessories!

Labels: AmazingUniverse.com, Apple, Computers, quality products, wine accessories, Wine Charms, wine rack store, wine racks