Life in a box

If you have been following my blog, you are aware that we have recently moved into a new home. It has been a long process, but we are officially in and extremely excited to be back in a home of our own. Our journey across the Midwest started in April of 2010.  It was not an easy decision, especially with the state of the housing and jobs market. We pulled the trigger put our house on the market, resumes in the mail, and faith in God and boy did they all three deliver.

Knowing that the sale of the house was up in the air to say the least, we got it on the market ASAP to insure we got it sold before we moved. Little did we know, we would sell our house in less than a week, now what? Well, we packed up our stuff and hauled it to a storage unit in Central Illinois, and moved the three of us (wife, bulldog, and myself) into my grandmother in-law’s two bedroom apartment. Then, we made the move into my wife’s family’s home while we saved and searched for the perfect home. Despite the reactions and probably your immediate thoughts, living with the in-laws was great, although I think we all were ready for some space especially my wife and I. We had gone from our own home and space, to relying on family, and living out of a box.

This was an experience and a half for me. I don’t know that I was “SPOILED” but there was very little that I wanted growing up, and even to date, I have been lucky enough to be able to “get” what I want/need.  Our life in a box started in April 2010 – current date, and well we survived and to be honest it was a little liberating. We found this idea that we dreaded really wasn’t that bad, so I figured I would take a look at another “box” with negative stigma. BOXED WINE! Ahhhhh

There I said it, boxed wine! I know what you are thinking, boxed wine is terrible and is only good for college students and drunks, and I am not saying I disagree but I did find some interesting information on it. First off I found that the packaging in boxed wine is far more environmentally friendly then the current method of glass bottles. Secondly, you eliminate the risk of cork taint and reduce the risk of spoilage due to slow consumption; personally the latter of these is rarely a problem. The minute you open a bottle of wine it begins to oxidize as air fills the space where wine once was, and if you have ever tried a wine that has been open for too long you realize the nastiness that brings. The one down fall of the BOX process is the way they are sealed. Because of this process the actual shelf life is shorter then a bottle. I can’t explain the science but if you care that much, I can send you some links. But as for the wine its self, I have found it to be pretty par for the course in regards to other wines in its price range. Franzia for example is what 10 bucks for dang near a gallon? That is pretty cheap wine, thus the expectations we have for it should match.

I will break the mold and recommend one boxed wine for those who actually enjoy on levels above cheap intoxication; Black Box Cabernet is VERY good. It compares nicely to other $20 bottles I have tried and you get nearly four times as much. Seeing, as I am in to economically friendly wine this is a no brainer! I would highly recommend you put aside the persona try life in the box…you may be surprised!

Cheers- Brandon