Author: Sandra Cruz

Blogger, book reviewer, artist, poet, avid reader and nature/animal lover.

Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon now available

Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon is now available nationwide. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Just in time for Bourbon Heritage Month coming up in September, Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is proud to announce the release of Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon. It is available nationally, in-store, and online. (Bib & Tucker, 2023)

Inspired by the turn of the century in America, when food was cooked on the open flame, this new bourbon from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon is aged twice to create savory smoky notes and an exceptionally smooth finish. Bib & Tucker Double Char is first aged for six years in the rolling hills of Tennessee in new white American oak, followed by a minimum of five months in a second heavily charred and smoked new barrel. This unique fire-forged double char aging method creates the rich and deep flavor of Bib & Tucker Double Char.

Bib & Tucker Double Char Tasting Notes:

  • Nose: A touch of smoke with immediate notes of toasted oak and dulce de leche, background notes of cinnamon and clove
  • Palate: Vanilla and sugar maple surrounded with white smoke, hints of sweet corn and toasted cinnamon
  • Finish: Medium to long finish with oak, white smoke and vanilla
  • Color: Deep rich mahogany with copper undertones

The lineup of Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon includes:

  • The Classic Six: 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $54.99; 92 proof/46% ABV
  • Double Char: 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $54.99; 88 proof/44% ABV
  • 10-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey – SRP: $89.99; 92 proof/46% ABV

Bib & Tucker crafts award-winning small batch bourbons that are aged to perfection for a minimum of 6 years. The name, bottle and small batch approach were inspired by the turn of the century in America, a time of unprecedented progress and adventure when all bourbon was small batch. Aged in the rolling hills of Tennessee, Bib & Tucker does not cut corners and uses no additives, artificial flavors or artificial colors. In a time when other brands are taking their age statements away, Bib & Tucker proudly puts the age statement on the front of every bottle. Bib & Tucker 6-Year-Old was awarded 93 Points from Whisky Advocate, ranking #14 out of the Top 20 Whiskies in 2021. The bourbons are best enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in whiskey-forward cocktails.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Book of the week: ‘Best’s Practices: Encouraging Confidence and Relationship-Building’ by Bianca Clark

“Best’s Practices: Encouraging Confidence and Relationship-Building” by Bianca Clark. Photo: Bianca Clark, used with permission.

With the start of a new school year, parents and guardians might be looking for resources to help their teen with self esteem and personal development issues. “Best’s Practices: Encouraging Confidence and Relationship-Building” by Bianca Clark is aimed at teenagers and parents alike and is an excellent tool to help them gain confidence and work on their life skills by using advice and real life scenarios. Read on for more information.

Bianca Clark is a Pennsylvania native and currently resides in Connecticut. She received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Cabrini University in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Bianca is an aerospace professional with a passion for writing and creating fun, diverse methods for skill learning and advancement. Her book “Best’s Practices: Encouraging Confidence and Relationship-Building” is a must read motivational and mentorship book for pre-teens who want to develop their life skills. It is available on Amazon. (Bianca Clark, 2023)

“Best’s Practices: Encouraging Confidence and Relationship-Building” – London, her older sister, Cierra or CeCe, and Malachi or Cai, their teenage brother, listened to their parents’ wise words and realized that the only way to improve, avoid common mistakes, and grow as a person would be to invest in themselves.

This fun and educational personal growth book for teens is here to help teenagers and their parents gain an in-depth understanding of how to encourage confidence and promote personal development through the real-life scenarios and adventures of London and her family.

Written for aspiring teens and parents alike, this book is a conversation starter that provides all the essentials tools and resources you need to learn:

– How to improve your conversation and communication skills
– How to think outside the box and build your confidence
– How to handle being outside of your comfort zone

Following the different situations that London, CeCe, and Cai find themselves in, you will be able to understand the psyche of a teenager with fears, aspirations, and inexperience and start conversations that will help:

– Understand how to keep yourself motivated
– Learn how to build a professional network and practice for a job interview
– Discover how to prepare yourself for a difficult situation
– Identify your professional strengths and weaknesses
– Embrace yourself and learn daily affirmations that will boost your confidence

Instead of a self-development book that lists facts, this easy-to-read and entertaining book will help get the message across without boring your daughter, son, niece, nephew, or grandkids.

Don’t Hesitate! Grab Your Copy NOW!

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Photo: Bianca Clark, used with permission.

Upcoming new album release: Blue Hour – Eddy Lee Ryder

Eddy Lee Ryder’s new EP, Blue Hour, will be released September 15, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Last time I wrote about this artist, it was with the news that her song Smoke and Mirrors was used in the hardcore slasher horror movie Terrifier 2. In today’s music news, Eddy Lee Ryder recently announced that her new EP, Blue Hour will be released on September 15, 2023. The announcement comes on the heels of her latest single, Holy S**t I Think I Love You, which the soulful rock belter calls her favorite song she has ever written. (Eddy Lee Ryder, 2023)

Singer, songwriter, and free spirit Eddy Lee Ryder creates haunting songs that tell dramatic stories through a slightly warped lens. Eddy’s unconventional, theatrical approach to songwriting explodes and sparkles with ‘70s good-time rock riffs, spiced with complex poetry. Proclaimed “demented pop,” her music is propelled by her charismatic voice and lyrics inspired by an intense bizarre world. Lonesome as she is wild, Ryder paints languid, sadly beautiful portraits of love and life on the margins with the moody and satirical depth of Father John Misty and the country-influenced textures of Roy Orbison or Glen Cambel but with a captivating voice all on her own.

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Grape Punch at William Chris Vineyards

The yearly Grape Punch is taking place this August 26, 2023. Photo: William Chris Vineyards, used with permission.

If you have ever wanted to learn about the wine making business and personally crush some grapes, your wait is over. Here is an exciting event coming up at William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Tx. 

Summertime is coming to a close and at William Chris Vineyards, they are ending the summer with a punch, Grape Punch that is. William Chris Vineyards is excited to share that their annual Grape Punch event will take place on Saturday, August 26, starting at 3p.m. (William Chris Vineyards, 2023) 

For a $25 ticket, guests can immerse themselves in the world of winemaking, learn how to pick the finest grapes, how to crush them with care, and how the grapes become the best Texas wines. Every ticket includes a glass of wine and a Grape Punch t-shirt.

The event is held yearly at William Chris Vineyards, recently voted the number 60 vineyard in the world by World’s Best Vineyards and is open to all wine lovers, no experience necessary. For additional information or to purchase tickets please visit them online.

New book release: ‘Nurturing Your Feminine Energy: And The Rise of Divine Femininity’ by Reemus Bailey

‘Nurturing Your Feminine Energy’ is book 2 in the Femininity Book series by Reemus Bailey. Photo: Amazon

Reemus Bailey is a UK based relationship expert who works with individuals in practice one-on-one and has written several books, including “The Principles of Manhood” and “Healing the Divine Feminine.” His new book “Nurturing Your Feminine Energy: And The Rise Of Divine Femininity” is book 2 in the Femininity Book series and a guide to help readers in their spiritual journey while embracing their feminine energy. (Amazon, 2023)

“Nurturing Your Feminine Energy: And The Rise of Divine Femininity”– learn what femininity looks like when it is being expressed in an empowered way with the goal of increasing your knowledge about the traits and qualities that embody an empowered feminine woman and how to cultivate them within yourself. You will discover the importance of self development so that you can become the best version of yourself, giving yourself reason to be abundantly proud of the type of person you are becoming.

You will also learn how to listen to your inner voice so that you connect to your internal powers and how to encourage the rise of the divine feminine by empowering others.

This book helps you to develop the feminine state within yourself through the understanding of:
– Embodying the qualities of the empowered feminine woman
– The importance of nurturing yourself and others
– Embracing beauty
– Expressing creativity
– Cultivating healthy sisterhood connections
– Connecting to Mother Earth and the power of nature
– Trusting your intuition and listening to your inner voice
– The specific things that you can do to make you feel feminine

Through practical guidance, “Nurturing Your Feminine Energy” will help you become the most confident, fulfilled, and empowered version of yourself. If you are ready to embrace your feminine energy and tap into your inner wisdom, this book is a must-read.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa introduces luxury pet retreat package for canines

JW Marriott now has pet retreat packages. Photo: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, used with permission.

Are you traveling to the San Antonio area with your pet companion? The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa now has Pet Retreat Packages to make dogs feel as welcome as humans guests. Read below for more information.

Dogs deserve a change of scenery and a bit of pampering just like their humans. The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is offering a luxury pup experience that is sure to “bow WOW” your canine companion and provide families with the ability to have their dog join them on vacation. (JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, 2023)

The resort’s Pet Retreat Package offers accommodations in uniquely decorated standard guest rooms with walk out patios providing easy access to the property’s lush lawns. The rooms are thoughtfully arranged for canine convenience and comfort and include a cozy dog bed, water and food bowls, and a blanket, all of which are permanent to the guest room. A take-home welcome amenity will be waiting for the guest of honor that includes a chew toy, dog treats, and a fashionable bandana to make the pup’s vacation extra memorable. After each canine stay, the guest room is professionally cleaned.

“We believe dogs are important members of every family and are excited to welcome these special guests through our new Luxury Pet Retreat Package,” says Brian Morris, Director of Sales & Marketing. “We look forward to providing the whole family with a comfortable and memorable stay in the Texas Hill Country.”

The Pet Retreat Package is available to book on the resort’s website using the booking code, U8D. A $200 nonrefundable pet cleaning fee is required, and package rates are based on availability. 

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is not a pet-friendly resort, but now offer a Pet Retreat Package exclusively available for canine guests. All service animals are always welcome. Pets are not permitted inside the public hotel spaces, dining outlets, event lawns or the River Bluff Water Experience. Pets are only allowed on immediate walk-out patio lawns and on resort walking trails.

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is superbly situated on 600 pristine acres of rolling hills and tree-lined vistas, and an adjacent 100-acre bird sanctuary, offering grand views of the wide-open Texas Hill Country. There are various walking and running trails throughout the resort’s property, perfect for dogs who need a little extra exercise or for their humans who want to enjoy the native landscapes and wildlife of the region. 

This iconic lone star retreat offers endless options of entertainment for guests of all ages, including the canine species, making it a vacation standout. The luxurious, award-winning JW Marriott San Antonio features 1,002 newly refreshed guest rooms, nine-acre River Bluff Water Experience, a world class spa, TPC San Antonio’s two 18-hole PGA TOUR golf courses, eight dining options, hiking and biking trails, sports court, Topgolf Swing Suite, daily summer recreational activities, and 265,000 square feet of meeting and event space, making it one of the largest JW Marriott resorts in the world. 

Through the new Pet Retreat Package, JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa now provides a luxurious getaway for families traveling to the Texas Hill Country with their dog.

New book release: ‘Shadowland’ by P.L. Hampton

‘Shadowland’ will be released September 5, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

P.L. Hampton, an emerging dark fiction author, draws readers into a world of ancient artifacts, family, and the hidden shadows of the past. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Hampton is a college professor and is pursuing his JD. He balances his academic pursuits with his passion for writing. Hampton spent nearly twelve years working in the finance industry, gaining experiences that shaped his rich, layered narratives. He resides in San Diego with his wife, Tonya, where he explores the fascinating intersection of history and horror. Prepare to delve into the realms of terror and intrigue in the genre-blending book “Shadowland,” P.L. Hampton’s upcoming new book. This thought-provoking page turner is set to release on September 5, 2023, from Running Wild’s RIZE press. It is available for pre-order in e-book and paperback formats from RIZE publishing on Amazon. (Black Château, 2023)

“Shadowland” – When Aaron Langford receives a Yoruba Divination Board as a housewarming gift, he does not realize that it will open the door to a supernatural realm, one that takes both his children, sending Aaron on a journey to find them in the Shadowland. Hampton blends historical facts and fiction, inviting readers to ponder the origins of the Yoruba Divination Board, also known as a Talking Board, while immersing them in the Langford family’s journey.  

Having himself acquired such an artifact—and raised by a mother who sees spirits—Hampton delivers an authentic experience. “My novel not only incorporates African and Black themes into the story but also brings the dynamics of family and love. In the end, ‘Shadowland’ is about a father’s love for his children and his family,” says Hampton. 

In “Shadowland,” Hampton explores the rich past and present tapestry of African American culture, merging it with the macabre and the uncanny, all while paying homage to the resilience and depth of a society steeped in history. 

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Randall King concert at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa

The JL Bar Concert series continues this October with Randall King. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa.

Coming up at the JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa this fall is a concert featuring Randall King on October 14, 2023. Garth Brooks expressed that Randall King “is what country music is all about.” This West Texas Plains native has been deemed the country artist to watch as he surpassed 120+ million career streams. King is taking Texas by storm in October after an extensive number of performances in places like Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, and the UK. This JL Bar concert is currently his only West Texas scheduled event. Opening the night will be second-generation musician, Tyler Booth, who has performed with legendary country music stars such as Brooks & Dunn and Dwight Yoakam. This lineup will bring a concert like you have never seen before. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2023)

Purchase your tickets now, for this exclusive pure Texas event. The venue doors and bar will open at 6p.m., the opening act will begin at 6:45p.m., and the headliner will take the stage at 8:30p.m. General admission tickets for on property guests are $35 while off property tickets are $45.

There is no need to drive hit the road after the concert. Not to mention, for astronomy buffs, the first of two solar eclipses is set to take place: The Ring of Fire – where the moon crosses in front of the sun during the daytime, casting a shadow that will turn light into darkness, for several minutes. Reserve a weekend staycation to unplug, relax, unwind, and recharge on this eventful fall weekend.

Make sure to browse through the extensive list of indoor and outdoor activities to plan an enhanced, customized experience during your stay. Use the BOOK NOW button to be directed to the online reservation system or you can contact Guest Service Team for an added personal touch: call (855) 414-3337 or email Guest Services.

New children’s book release: ‘Adventures with Cali and Odin’ by Freddy Jaramillo

‘Adventures with Cali and Odin’ is the new faith based children’s book by Freddy Jaramillo. Photo: Freddy Jaramillo, used with permission.

If you are looking for a faith based children’s book, this new release might interest you. “Adventures with Cali and Odin” is a new children’s book by Freddy Jaramillo and is based on the experiences of the author’s own children who happen to have excellent imaginations. It is a quick read, the illustrations are beautiful and it is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Freddy Jaramillo and his family reside in Central Florida. “Adventures with Cali and Odin” is a genuine Christian faith based children’s book that helps children make good choices. It also encourages parents to read and introduce the good news of Jesus Christ through His salvation by believing in God’s mercy and grace. (Freddy Jaramillo, 2023)

“Adventures with Cali and Odin” is a faith-based children’s book where kids can relate to fun imaginations by role-playing with their own mommies and daddies at home. This book also teaches children about making good or bad choices as well as learning what forgiveness means. This book encourages children to ask questions about the Bible and for parents to teach their kids about Jesus and salvation.

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New horror movie release: Night of the Caregiver

Night of the Caregiver will be released August 15, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

ITN Studios has obtained the North American rights to the horror film Night of the Caregiver, directed by Joe Cornet and produced by Alexander Nevsky from a script by Craig Hamann. Stuart Alson negotiated the deal on behalf of ITN Studios along with BD Films Paul Hertzberg on behalf of the filmmakers. (October Coast, 2023)

Starring Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Natalie Denise Sperl (Mank), Eric Roberts (Dark Knight), and Cornet, it will get a theatrical and Video On Demand release on August 15 before rolling on digital and DVD platforms this fall.

The plot: Hospice nurse Julia Rowe is hired to be caregiver for Lillian Gresham, who lives in an isolated house in a remote area. Although she is terminally ill, the elderly Lillian is a cordial and sweet lady. However, as the night goes on, Julia suspects something demonic is also dwelling in the house causing she and Lillian to be in grave danger.

Alexander Nevsky produced the movie via his company Hollywood Storm. Joe Cornet, Eric Brenner, and Douglas “Fini” Finical served as executive producers. Sean Murray wrote the music.

“It is my pleasure to announce the release of my new horror film Night of the Caregiver, through ITN Distribution. I believe audiences will be thrilled by the film’s strange and bizarre story, think THE EXORCIST combined with the terrifying elements of a Dario Argento film!” – Joe Cornet.

Eileen Dietz in Night of the Caregiver. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
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