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This Saturday Rodney Strong Vineyards’ 23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy event. Tickets are still on sale, and definitely one that chocolate lovers (and wine lovers) will not want to miss!

This year I am bringing my sister, Kasey Alton, a mother of three, a chocolatier, and brand new to Twitter: @RainingChocolat (yup, without the e). Growing up we didn’t realize they made other desserts other than chocolate…. And each trip to the ice cream store resulted in chocolate ice cream covering our faces.

I cannot wait for Saturday!

Driving around the backroads of Sonoma County, it is clear how gorgeous the countryside of this county is. Anyone who knows me, either online or in real life, knows how addicted I am to taking pictures…. It doesn’t hurt that I have an endless amount of beauty to capture here in wine country.

Well, my new addiction to posting my photos is the social networking site specifically for iPhone users: Instagram.

I use this site as a way to show off what I am up to, but it is also great for brands to instantly turn their iPhone pictures into works of art to show off to their customers. For more information, please check out: 5 Key Takeaways From Brands Rocking Instagram. Sonoma County brands can use it to show off behind-the-scenes action of their businesses.

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Monday, January 9th, 2012: The theme for today’s Instagram #Janphotoaday was “daily routine.”  People posted pictures of coffee, their tooth-brushes or their makeup kits… But the theme made me reflect on the things that I want to be part of my routine. Some type of exercise routine.. The gym, a hike or Bikram Yoga. One of these needs to start happening in my life everyday. I feel so much more clear headed and have much more energy if I make if a priority to have exercise as a part of my daily routine.

If I had made any new years resolutions… That would have been it.

Check out how I felt after day two of Bikram Yoga back in October 2011.

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Saturday, January 8th, 2012: Sonoma County vineyards have always both enjoyed and hated the flocks of starlings that now call Sonoma their home.  During the Autumn and Winter months it is hard to miss them flying in packs of thousands in the sky.  This picture I took of the sky in the Russian River Valley only captures a few of these birds but more photos of Starlings in Sonoma can be found on the Press Democrat.

Check out more of my love for bird silhouettes in Put a Bird on It.

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Saturday, January 7th: Beers with friends at Stumptown Brewery on the Russian River. This brewery is the home of the Russian River Beer Revival beerfest and BBQ cookoff every August and one of my favorite places to bring newbies (aka tourists) to Sonoma County. The drive through the Russian River Valley vineyards is gorgeous and this biker bar/adventure in Gurneville is one that doesn’t happen every day.