The Year of the Rabbit was a year of organizing, prioritizing, starting, completing, connecting, designing, gardening, cooking, sharing, and much more. I chose “Thrive” as my 2011 Themeword, and thrive I did.

Instead of blogging, I engaged in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and especially face-to-face.

I observed trends, frequent questions, areas of expertise, and passions. I reviewed and recommended dozens of places and products. I attended educational events and shared advice on design, technology, social media, WordPress, getting organized, gardening, cooking, wine, and British entertainment. I resumed photography and collected topics for further exploration. In short, I spent the Year of the Rabbit immersing myself in life.

As the Year of the Dragon rolls in, I look forward to sharing some of those observations here and on official review sites, beyond the fleeting moments of Twitter and the walled garden of Facebook.

A huge thank you to those who have participated in these discussions and welcome to those who will join us this year. May you all enjoy a very healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous Lunar New Year!

新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!

Supposedly, decent table wines are now being produced and boxed all over the world. The technology and wineries willing to brave the box have improved. European and Australian consumers drink table wine from boxes or refilled plastic jugs, but does the US sell anything worth drinking?

That is what we aim to find out this evening with an impromptu box wine tasting. Check out the hashtag #boxwine on Twitter and feel free to join in!

Why box wine?

Benefits cited include:

• Ecology
• Longevity
• Economy
• Portability

But, it really doesn’t matter how great the price, how convenient the product, or that 3L of wine is expected to stay fresh for 4-6 weeks if you want to dump it as soon as you open it!

I love the idea of wine on tap, a single refreshing glass without having to be concerned about finishing the bottle before it oxidizes. I love the portability and many other aspects of the packaging design. I love the price point. But I have questions, too.

There is certainly a case to be made for the ecological benefits of bag-in-box packaging, but I still wonder about the ecological impact and health hazards of drinking wine out of plastic bags. Every choice has trade offs.

I would like to see the glass bottle reuse industry grow, because glass is a highly reusable material that allows wine to retain its quality without leaching harmful chemicals into the product. Unlike plastic, glass is not manufactured from fossil fuels. Reuse saves far more energy than recycling, particularly in the case of glass. Wine Bottle Renew, a new Napa startup, expects to reduce the carbon footprint of wineries by 95% and lower their water use by 25% by sterilizing and reusing wine bottles. I hope they do!

Theoretically, the bag-in-box packaging (sealed spout vs. open bottle) also reduces oxidation, which would make it possible to enjoy a single glass of wine without reducing the quality of the remaining wine. However, as studies show and Joshua Sweeney points out in his extensive boxed wine search, the oxygen-permeable nature of the plastic bag itself impacts the quality and longevity of box wine.

Box wines are also generally less expensive than their glass counterparts, with 3L (4 bottles) averaging about $4-5 per bottle. That’s a great bargain, but it’s only a deal if it’s worth drinking 4 bottles of the stuff.

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the packaging, confusion that goes well beyond the basic question of quality. No wonder the thought of box wine makes us skeptical!

I commend my fellow wine lovers, including Carl Sorvino, John DiMuccio, and anyone else who is game for this adventure. My research and tasting was inspired by a tweet from Tamara Belgard last weekend and it’s been an educational journey so far!

Tonight, we will be sampling various wines that come in boxes. Other questions aside, our focus is simple: Do we like the wine?

What am I tasting?

I love Sauvignon Blanc, particularly from Marlborough NZ, so that’s where I’m starting my exploration of box wine. Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc 2009 box wine rated well in posts I found by Joe Suzadail, Joshua Sweeney, and their commenters. Supposedly, this wine is true to the region’s characteristics and I am truly excited by the idea of having a good Sauvignon Blanc on tap in the fridge.

What’s in your glass?

Photo courtesy of Octavin Home Wine Bar.

Would-you-like-a-cup-of-tea?

Obviously, over here we’d have a cup of tea… the answer to everything!

Wise words from a friend in England last week while I had to wait. For huge design files to transfer. For software to run. For technology to work its magic, while not knowing whether or not the solution would work.

I wanted to use the waiting time productively and I was growing impatient.

So, I took his advice. I waited out the 40 minutes of file transferring and software processing away from the computer. I brewed a pot of tea, cleaned the kitchen, and listened to Eat Pray Love on audiobook.

And guess what? He was right. I was more calm and focused. I’d still been productive, too, but in a much needed physically active, get-away-from-the-computer way. In a fill-my-mind-with-something-inspirational way.

Take a break. Have a cup of tea. Embrace the waiting time, the uncertainty, as a moment to recharge, so that you’re clear and ready when the next task arises.

That advice is still making me smile days later, popping into my head while I wait for decisions and files so I can finish another design. The kitchen and laundry are clean.

Geeky footnote: The latest episode of Dr Who (just days after this advice) has a bit about tea, so read the photo caption like a Dalek!

My first scribbles on Odosketch, a digital sketchpad that lets you save and replay the entire creative process when you’re finished. A good quick way to get those creative juices flowing. Since Odosketch has animated playback, I’ve been experimenting with how sketches can develop into stories. See more of my ideas here.

1. Wine Lover
   There’s a special magic about Wine Country. My first visit to Napa Valley at age 5 led to a fondness for Robert Mondavi and Julia Child’s televised cooking school. Since then, visits to Wine Country have included harvesting grapes and wine tasting.  After my trip last summer, I have been especially eager to go back and learn more about wine and wine making.
    
2. Writer
   I began journaling at age 10, in case I ever wanted to become a writer. I wrote everywhere and especially enjoyed writing outdoors. Later, English became one of my university sub-concentrations, and I participated in the New England Literature Program (NELP), 6.5 weeks of living in the woods, hiking mountains, studying New England authors, and writing. This was a major highlight of my educational experience. Now, I write and edit, both personally and professionally, and enjoy honing this craft at every opportunity.
    
3. Designer, Photographer, Branding Consultant
   With parents who are skilled in art and photography, learning about art, color theory, composition, and effective design has always been part of daily life.  We visited countless museums as a family and my siblings and I enjoyed starting our summer days with drawing classes on PBS. With an abundance of real art supplies at our fingertips, we dove into any medium available. This lifelong immersion in art and design has translated into a keen eye for branding and communications.
    
4. Quick Learner
   I taught myself video post-production to create my Murphy-Goode job application. Using skills in writing, design, photography, music, performance, and branding, I produced a video that has quickly received glowing feedback and ranks among the top 50 videos by vote. (Update: Top 40, as of June 25, 2009)
    
5. People Person
   I enjoy meeting new people everywhere and using social media tools to stay in touch. I’ve made many friends in random places and everyone in my life is 100% convinced I’m a natural for this job.
    
6. Performer
   My parents spotted musical abilities when I was 2 years old and started me in piano lessons as soon as I was old enough for a teacher to take me. I also sing, dance, and act. My stage work includes, among other things, six Gilbert & Sullivan comic operettas. I enjoy collaborating and look forward to jamming with winemaker David Ready Jr and creating Wine Country podcasts.
    
7. Traveler, Linguist
   Endlessly curious, I’ve been fascinated with different cultures and languages for my entire life. I grew up celebrating Chinese New Year, learned bits of various Asian languages, and started Spanish from an early age. I added Chinese in college, and then Italian, French, and a bit of Hindi and Punjabi. There are many more languages and countries on my list. I look forward to reviewing Spanish, Italian, and French through the people in Wine Country and the language of wine.
    
8. Foodie
   My family had an organic vegetable garden while I was growing up. The herbs from my mom’s garden are the most flavorful I have ever found, and I use them in my own cooking. As children, we were encouraged to experiment with food and ordered from the adult menu at restaurants. This experimentation from an early age led to playful creativity in cooking, and I enjoy teaching others how to do the same.
    
9. Green Thumb
   Growing up with an organic garden, composting, recycling, energy conservation, and a very close relationship with nature, I have a keen interest in eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices. Everything in nature is interconnected and an opportunity for learning. One of my earliest and most delightful memories is discovering a nest of newborn bunnies in the garden, and why it’s ok to look, but not touch. I am eager to learn all about the grape growing ecosystem and how sustainability is applied in Sonoma.

Convinced? Vote here!

As a designer, I’m always exploring ideas for making my site fun, both to visit and to maintain. It’s easy to get bored with the same design and I look forward to playing a lot more in this new space.

I’ve been dabbling with WordPress for ages, so it’s exciting to finally make the move. Besides loving tools that support web standards, XHTML, and CSS, having the ability to tweak and make changes quickly whenever and wherever I want adds a lot of freedom to the creative process. And, of course, having spent so much time with the folks at Automattic, it was only a matter of time before I launched my own WordPress site!

As a writer, I am thrilled to be upgrading my site to a proper blog-based system. While I blogged a bit on my old site, I am enjoying a clean slate with this redesign.

I hope you have as much fun visiting as I do creating! Thanks for stopping by.