The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Ask me what I want for any

• Birthday
• Holiday
• Anniversary

and you’ll pretty much get the same answer…A new pair of headphones or earbuds. I think that Zippy and the person at Best Buy that helps her are best friends by this point (she has bought me LOTS and LOTS of them).

I’m always looking for better sound

And, one of my favorites are my old Sennheiser’s that I’ve had for a very long time. With the holidays coming I know EXACTLY what I’m asking Zippy for. Sennheiser’s New MOMENTUM Wireless headphones.

Why Senheiser MOMENTUM?

They are where intuitive design meets superior sound.  Sennheiser has redefined your premium headphone experience by reproducing the balanced depth and precision of studio-quality sound.

Hear the Difference

With superior sound, these headphones offer a more seamless listening experience. No matter what your choice of music, you’ll never miss a beat with seamless On/Off and Smart Pause functionality. Plus the Automatic Pairing Mode makes setting up easy on first activation.

Best of all

Simply fold the earcups, open or close to turn your music on or off.  Remove your headphones to bring your music to a pause, and then slip them back on to get back into the groove. These headphones offer 3 listening modes

• Max: The Max mode offers Maximum Mode Cancellation (Airplane)
• Anti Wind: Provides noise cancellation optimized for outdoors
• Anti Pressure: Softer noise cancellation for at-home use

As a guy who likes to keep things simple, I appreciate that they are available in both Black and Sandy White.

Active Noise Cancellation and Transparent Hearing

MOMENTUM Wireless adapts to your environment wherever you find yourself allowing you to experience your audio world on your terms.  The advanced Active Noise Cancellation offers three modes that are tailored to different environments.  With the Transparent Hearing feature, you can enjoy music while still being aware of your surroundings.

The 3-button interface is easy to operate, without needing to read a manual, the simple and intuitive 3-Button Interface means you can switch between your music and making calls in an instant.  You can also activate Volume Control at the touch of a button and link to voice assistant technology immediately. Build-in equalizer, Noise Cancellation and Transparent Hearing modes mean you can tailor your sound to your situation.

So what’s in the box?

• MOMENTUM Wireless
• Audio 3.5mm cable
• USB-C to USB-A adapter
• USB-C Charging cable
• Case
• Quick Guide
• Safety Guide

When it comes to sound, image means nothing. Try the New MOMENTUM Wireless today.

• Sennheiser M3 Momentum Wireless headphones are available at Best Buy and BestBuy.com

What is it?

The Subaru Outback…let me answer the question right off the bat. It is a crossover station wagon based on the iconic Subaru Legacy. It’s a wagon with SUV capabilities that rides like a luxury car. The fact that it is all-wheel drive just adds to the confusion. All I know is, I have one and I LOVE IT.

The only knock on the car is that it’s sluggish off the line. While it’s no speed demon, I find it more than adequate.  How fast do you need to go in a wagon-crossover-SUV anyway?

With 8.7 inch ground clearance, it’s a breeze to get in and out of. I’m 6’1″ and it is a pleasure not to have to do a squat thrust just to exit the car. At 5 foot tall, Zippy finds getting in and out just as easy as I do.

The Outback is a car that is equally comfortable to drive around town or on the highway. The smooth suspension irons out the roads imperfections and the engine is quiet, unline my wife’s compact Buick Encore that sounds like an egg beater with very little power.

The cabin is roomy and comfortable with plenty of legroom in both the front and back. An 8″ touchscreen Starlink Multimedia System offers Apple Car Play as well as Android Auto Integration and Sirius/XM.

Then there is the safety factor that Subaru is known for. Pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and active cruise control are just starters.

NOTE: When I picked the new car up at the dealer I noticed an issue with the way it ran on the way home. Since the dealer where I purchased the car was almost 2 hours away, I brought it to nearby Dyer Subaru in Vero Beach, FL. Even though it turned out to be a difficult problem to diagnose and fix (it took them 3½ weeks to get it right), I was provided a top of the line, fully loaded loaner for the entire time at no charge.

To sum up, the Outback is comfortable, stylish, great on gas and worry-free. I am 67 years old and this may be the best car that I’ve had yet.

Note: I received a bottle of Partida Tequila to write about. All opinions are strictly my own.

There’s a chill in the air

Hurricane Dorian missed us, the 100-degree days are finally a thing of the past and celebrating outside includes a few drinks with some good friends. Life in South Florida means that when everyone else is partying indoors, it’s time for us to enjoy after a round of golf or evenings by the pool with some good music and great drinks.

I hope that you enjoy these as much as I do

Mexicali Blanco

Ingredients

• 1½ oz Partida Tequila Blanco
• 1½ oz Kahlua
• 5 oz half and half
• ice

Directions

1. Fill a shaker with ice
2. Combine ingredients and shake, shake, shake
3. Pour into an 8 oz tumbler
4. Enjoy

Partida Breeze

Ingredients

• 1½ oz Partida Tequila Blanco
• fresh-squeezed grapefruit
• grenadine
• ice

Directions

1. fill a 10 oz tumbler with ice
2. pour Partida Tequila Blanco over ice
3. add fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice to ¼ inch from the rim
4. add a splash of grenadine

Enjoy! 

Partida Tequila is only made from blue agave grown in the Tequila Valley, near a dormant volcano. The rich, red volcanic soil is perfect for the plant. After 7 to 10 years in the fields, it reaches close to 100 lbs. and is hand-harvested by the jimadors. There is nothing quite like a good hand-crafted tequila and Partida knows JUST how to get the freshest, natural characters out of the agave just so you can enjoy a great drink.

• You can find Partida Tequila at one of THESE LOCATIONS

Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Lines

I have been on more than a few cruises, but never before on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. I never knew what I was missing. I would rate the Bliss in the top #2 in a possible toss-up. Here’s why

Embarking

NCL takes all of the stress out of embarkation with no waiting due to being able to sign up for your arrival time in advance. It turns out that getting off the ship at the end of our journey was just as easy. Those of you who cruise know EXACTLY what I’m talking about.

Shows

Our first night out on the Bliss we got to see a top-notch performance of Jersey Boys setting the tone for the entire trip. From a tribute Beatles band (the Liverpool Beatles) in a reproduction of the famous Liverpool Cavern Club to standing, because I ALMOST got a BINGO, there is always something to do (or not to do if you wish). Even Origami and painting classes are available.

Ports of Call

• Juneau
• Skagway
• Ketchican
• Victoria, BC

There are so many excursions offered at each city. Zippy and I went on a whale watch that did NOT disappoint. We got so close that it was like the whales were watching US. We opted to visit the other cities completely on our own. She’ll be telling you more about the stops in an upcoming post on Champagne Living. Let’s just say that you HAVE to visit Chinatown in Victoria for an incredible meal.

Back on board

The Bliss is one of the largest ships that I’ve been on. At over 1,000 ft long, it holds 4,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew members. Yes, it is a BIG SHIP, but it feels very warm and cozy. The ship is laid out so that you never feel overwhelmed by crowds and always feel like you’ve found a spot that is “just yours.”

Dining

There are 12 specialty dining options and 9 complimentary eateries. Rather than one or two HUGE main dining rooms like most ships have, the Bliss has 2 that are smaller (Savor and Taste) as well as a large traditional looking one (The Manhattan Room). Having smaller dining rooms is one of those things that give that cozier feel to a large ship. Of course, Room Service is available 24-7 (at a charge).

There are more nooks and crannies than an English muffin. One of the not so little) nooks that I found myself in was the full-service casino (I made a $160 donation to the cause, not bad for a whole week of gambling). They offer both a smoking and non-smoking casino, and yes I popped my head into both. Also available for fun are a go-cart track, a full-service spa, work out room, and waterslides making the Bliss offering something for EVERYONE.

But the best thing about the Bliss is…

If you are trying to avoid someone there are so many options.

• they go forward – you go aft
• they go aft  – you go forward

But, my favorite unquestionable excuse for any cruising situation…act like you’re seasick. It never fails. Play the seasick card and watch them scatter. If by chance that doesn’t work, you can always hide in your cabin and call room service.

P.S. Alaska is the most beautiful state. The bald eagles, whales and other wildlife only accentuates the national forest and glaciers. Wait ’til you see what Zippy has in store coming up about this amazing trip.