Thanks to friend of THEPOPFIX and certified sommelier Brian Kulich, you’ll never pick the wrong bottle again, regardless of budget. As the co-founder of consumer wine site Block122.com, Kulich knows exactly how to find great wine at every price point. Read on for his top recommendations for all types of wine fans – whether you’re a baller, or just ballin’ on a budget.

HOW TO PICK WINE AT EVERY PRICE POINT

Under $20.00

2011 Harney Lane, Albarino. $19.00

If you’re searching for the perfect summer sipping wine, look no further. A bottle of the 2011 Harney Lane Albarino is a “fresh, crisp white wine with tons of plush fruit on the mid palate with pear and slight honeyed undertones” that is highly recommended by Kulich.

2012 Skylark, Pink Belly Mendocino County RosÉ. $18.00

Taking a trip to the south of France has never been easier. Thanks to Skylark’s Pink Belly Mendocino County RosÉ, we can all get a taste of Provence in a bottle. With hints of ripe strawberry, orange blossom, and thyme, you’ll be tickled pink after just one drink! “It’s also amazing with fresh fruit and light appetizers or chilled on it’s own,” according to Kulich.

Under $30.00

2011 Alfaro, Lindsey Paige Chardonnay. $27.50

Alfaro’s Lindsey Paige Chardonnay is a full-bodied wine from California’s Santa Cruz Mountains that will knock your socks off. What makes this bottle of Chardonnay so special? “It has all the body and texture you’d expect from a California Chardonnay, but with an added zippy line of acid/minerality to insure perfect balance. It’s absolutely delicious!”

2007 Yorba, Shake Ridge Ranch Zinfandel. $28.00

If you’re looking for an affordable bottle of a very big red, try the Shake Ridge Ranch Zinfandel from Yorba. This full bodied wine isn’t for the faint of heart. “The nose leaps out of the glass with black pepper, dark plum and a touch of chocolate,” says Kulich. “It’s great with anything fresh off your backyard grill, and it’s also very drinkable on its own.” Simply put, “it’s a steak knife kind of wine!”

Under $50.00

2009 Suacci Carciere, Suacci Vineyard Pinot Noir. $45.00

Have something to celebrate? Treat yourself to a bottle of wine that’s just as remarkable as it is hard to find. You’re worth it. “2009 was an amazing vintage in the Russian River Valley and it is almost impossible to find bottles like these from quality producers,” says Kulich. But this stunning single vineyard Pinot Noir containing notes of cedar spice, black cherry, and english tea. from rising rockstar winemaker Ryan Zepaltas is a must-try that you won’t regret, or soon forget.

2009 Calluna, “Aux Raynauds” Merlot. $40.00

Don’t like Merlot? Just remember, not every bottle is created equally. Calluna’s “Aux Raynauds” mimics a Bordeaux, and is lush and round in the mouth with hints of cassis, blueberry, and according to Kulich, is well worth the place in your wine cellar. “This is the work of a rising star. Look out for this grower/producer who is starting to get some serious recognition.”

Enjoy the latest installment of “Lady Love Letters.”

Dating your ex is fun! But it can be tricky terrain to navigate. Luckily, you have Erin Darling – a bona fide expert in dating people she’s already dated, she’s got all the handy hints you need to know before firing up an old flame.

What’s the fun of dating a dick if you can’t do it all over again? Find out this week on BADvice with special guest Justin Martindale!

We know – it’s an annoying tradition. Why should anyone be punished with a pinch for not wearing green just because it’s March 17th? Can’t we all just celebrate in non-coordinating color schemes? After all, no other holiday has a dress code reinforced by the pinching-police.

In an effort to help you avoid the St. Patty’s Day pinchers, here are some fresh, and fun ways to work some green into your wardrobe this spring – without looking like you just jumped off a box of Lucky Charms.

POP 5: New Ways To Wear Green On St. Patrick’s Day

1. For the girl on the go – the simple scarf

What’s more simple, classic, and chic than a scarf? If it’s versatility you’re looking for, it’s the ultimate accessory. Fold it into a headband, tie it around your neck, or loop it through the handle of your favorite purse – and voila! Working green into your wardrobe has never been this easy. Try out this Jonathan Adler Dip Dye Scarf in Mint/Turquoise from Nordstrom.com, for $118.00.

2. For the commitment phobe – the crossbody bag

For a hint of green that you can put on, take off, or sling around the back of a chair like you just don’t care, try a crossbody bag in a pale mint green. This woven leather purse is the perfect way to casually wear St.Patrick’s color, without technically “wearing” it. Fossil’s Sydney Crossbody in Mint is available at Macys.com for $128.00.

3. For the sophisticate – the elegant earring

The pub doesn’t have to be your scene in order to make a scene in green this St. Patrick’s Day. Add a pop of color to an all black, white, or neutral wardrobe with the help of these 18k yellow gold Irene Neuwirth earrings set with rose cut chrysoprase and diamonds, available at Barneys.com for $1960.00.

I hope you’ve been saving up your allowance…

4. For the party girl – the neon wayfarers

Plan on spending your St. Patty’s Day partying? Stay out all day, or all night, in these neon wayfarer sunglasses. Featuring colored mirror lenses and a matte finish, these retro sunnies are the perfect way to showcase your seasonal spirit in a way that won’t break the bank if you happen to lose them after a long night at the pub. Pick up these neon wayfarers at Forever21.com for just $5.80.

5. For the classy broad – the sexy silhouette

For a look that’s just as classic as it is sexy, stand out in a mint green silhouette with chic lace panels for an elegant look that works for day or night. Try BCBG’s Maude Boatneck Dress for a timeless look with flirty details that show off a hint of skin, listed at $298.00 at BCBG.com.

In that moment, I realized that there was something greater at work.  I didn’t call up the butterfly and say, “Hey Mr. Butterfly, I’m going to be standing on my stoop at 1:34pm, so if you could just fly by, that would be awesome.” Nope.  It was serendipitous.  And it got me thinking…

How many amazing animal and creature moments have I been missing in my life because I’ve been so busy or distracted by my to-do list?  What is nature trying to tell me?

So, instead of asking nature (too easy), I Google’d “monarch butterfly symbolism.”  Turns out the monarch butterfly is the symbol of positive change, transformation and new beginnings.  I had just made a bunch of healthy changes in my life and was considering leaving a big corporate job for a creative career.  Big changes were upon me, and the butterfly was a high-five from the Universe.

Thus began my spirit animal discovery process.  Every time a cool creature crosses my path, I Google it.  If I see a lizard, I know it’s about my shadow self (the areas of myself that I don’t want to show others).  If I see a honey bee, I know it means prosperity and abundance.  I love honeybees showing up. If a hummingbird comes by to say hello, I know that it’s telling me to focus on love and joy in my life.  And even spiders mean something!  When a spider appears, it means I’ve gotta get back to my writing.

To get even weirder with it all (if it wasn’t weird enough for you yet), I asked a life coach how to discover my main Spirit animal.  I sat in meditation and allowed an environment to appear in my thoughts.  I then kindly asked my Spirit animal to reveal itself.  A stunning giraffe appeared within the bushes to say hello.  Giraffes are creatures of love, gentleness and kindness, which is obviously perfect for me (maybe not everyone agrees with that, but that’s besides the point).  It was really cool, for a nerd like me.

If you want to get even weirder, you can create your animal totem.  Those are all of the main creatures that present themselves to you on a regular basis.  As of now, mine consists of the Monarch butterfly, the lizard, hummingbird, giraffe, spider and the honey bee.

Your Spirit animals can appear at any time.  Recently, when I was standing on a street corner, a homeless man yelled out “shark!”  No one else around, so of course I received the message and researched the symbolism, and it described me really well.  Signs are everywhere.

Everything means something if we let the mysteries of the Universe reveal themselves to us and we’re willing to listen.  Life is way more fun that way.

Watch the video to find out what are Erin Darling and Clarke Wolfe’s spirit animals.

Now that we’ve shared our spirit animals with you, we’d love to know if you’ve had any cool or weird spirit animal experiences.  Leave a comment below and let us know!

Until next time…

What’s your fix?

Celebrities have lots of ideas about health, and we’re here to tell you that a lot of them are terrible. Get ready for a lot of “who does that” moments in our video homage to the worst celebrity health advice we’ve ever heard. And yes, there is a segment titled “pregnant pee” – just in case you were wondering.

For more videos about the WORST THINGS I READ subscribe to THEPOPFIX on YouTube, and be sure to check back for a new WTIR episode every Wednesday!

Cosmo wasn’t always known for its liberal use of the word “member” and semi-clever alliterations like “feisty foreplay.” No, Cosmopolitan was once written for the empowered woman who wasn’t afraid of her own sexuality during a time where she may have been shamed for it.

That era of the magazine may be dead and gone, but the sex tips are still going strong, so THEPOPFIX compiled some of our favorites from the archives and are here to share them with you. Click the video below to see the worst, most awkward, and WTF-worthy tips to ever hit the pages of Cosmo.