A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{April 20, 2017} A new movie…a new theater

The movie was good… theater, not as much.

DLP and I decided to go to a movie tonight and it was a choice of Boss Baby or The Smurfs. Since the only showing of Boss Baby, that wasn’t 3D left was 9pm, The Smurfs was it!

We went to a new theater and, well, you know how you get spoiled by some things and then compare everything to it, yes, I know you know I know all about being spoiled, haha. Well…AMC theatres have been renovating, to have the recliner seats, full menus instead of just snacks. One of the first was the one I used to go to in Colorado near my apartment.

There is one theatre in Chicago like that. The one we went to last night is converting. They’ve installed the recliners, good, not the wide, red ones, these were brown, slimmer and older, comfy when they reclined, but you got close to your neighbor.

You can’t order food from the theater, you go to the counter. They had just gotten the new menu and we were informed that a few things weren’t available, we asked what was, that was a shorter list! Then…guess how many vegan options… big fat zip, nice. Even the other one we go to has salads and a veggie burger. Ok, enough about the theater…

Then the movie started, we could have had any seats, only two other people in the theater! That picture isn’t us, but it could have been!

It was cute! This was different from the last two, it was completely animated. They had some star power behind the voices, Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf and Julia Roberts as Smurf Willow, the leader of the lost village of Smurfs.

It was about family, love, understanding, teamwork, being true to yourself, knowing who you are, and that it’s not always where you start out, it’s who to choose to be, trust, the magic within and that love truly is the greatest magic there is.

I would also like to introduce you to Smurf Blossom and DLP may possibly referred to going forward as SB…

{April 19, 2017} A new vegan restaurant

Tonight I tried a new vegan restaurant and I liked it.

Nothing fancy, nicer than a hole in the wall, but about that size. Thank goodness I have friends who are happy to try vegan places with me! I feel bad that sometimes people have to accomdate me and my food needs when we go out, but it’s great that they want to try!

I asked WIS last night if she was ok just eating vegan when we go out and she said yes, especially since she ate meat over the weekend, lunch, etc. Well, I do appreciate it, even better when they suggest it! She sends me ideas and DLP does to! She asks me to go to Kitchen 17 for vegan deep dish! Do I love that? You bet your sweet bippy!

Loving Heart had a limited menu, so that makes it easy, which I like, especially the first time. Wow, overuse of especially? They gave soups, salads, burgers, wraps and bowls, appetizers and something sweet. Now, that sounds like a lot, but it’s only about 2-3 things in each category and some of the items are the same base and then build from there.

We got a ”share”, their nachos which didn’t have any cheese, but two different hummus, one cashew based, the other containing cashew, wow!

We both had bowls, you pick the bowl, then your base and protein. WIS had the Ever Young Bowl, a bestseller, it says so on the menu! It had green ginger pesto and she had Korean wheat somen noodles with her protein being garbanzo and black beans. I had the Curry Bowl, another bestseller, with the Korean wheat somen noodles and Korean bbq, it was a vegetable protein, looked like meat and tasted great!

It was a nice and cozy place, limited seating and the funniest thing…in the bathroom a sign saying if you’re caught using any drugs, they would call the police and you would be banned from the restaurant, they don’t mess around!

I would definitely recommend The Loving Heart, whole heartedly!

http://www.lovingheartvegan.com

{April 15, 2017} No rest on a Saturday, well, a little

It started early for a Saturday and went on from there.

Soccer game for MGS, so cute, all those little people! GES is the assistant coach for MGS’ team, ACS is EJS’ coach. The entire family is soccer proud.

Then it was the first lacrosse practice for MGS, ACS stayed and the rest of us went on the drink run. After practice, two friends of EJS and MGS came over, their mom is one of the lacrosse coaches, score.

Back at the house, lunch and then a sneezing fit began and knocked me out! I conked out for about two hours! Ahhhh…

When I finally got up, ACS had taken the girls out for dinner and GES and I had some sister time. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant, good conversation, time to catch up and one -on- one.

Then… next door for a foot massage. An hour massage, about 20 minutes on the back and shoulders and the rest…sweet footsies! $35 for an hour?! Let’s just say…Ahhhh… Wait, I have to stand up again? Nooo.. this feels too good!

What a day! What’s tomorrow going to bring?

{April 14, 2017} Movie, dinner, dancing, oh my!

Today was quite the day!

Good Friday so the girls had a school-free day, beginning of Spring break. What did that mean? A date with auntie!

I got up, we got dressed and went out for breakfast, then back to the house and I got some work done and then it was on! We headed to the movie theater to see Boss Baby, we really liked it.

Then a little shopping, we got sunglasses and matching necklaces and then lunch at PF Chang’s, we don’t mess around. It was such a great afternoon!

Then it was off to ACS’ office to drop the girls off then I headed to K&DN’s house for dinner. And after dinner, DTN and I went contra dancing. I know, what?

Contra dancing was interesting, it’s like square dancing, folk, lots of spinning, swinging, do-si- dos, switching partners.

I loved the outfits and the different footwear. And there were no age limits or one group, there were high school, college kids all the way to much older! On the dance floor, no ages pairing off, you dance with everyone!

Everyone was very nice and patient, guiding me, apparently this is one of the better groups to be a newbie with. DTN made sure I had good partners to dance with and I was asked to dance each dance, very inviting. I would definitely do it again!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contra_dance

A pretty good Friday, wouldn’t you say?

What does tomorrow hold?

{April 13, 2017} Gymnastics, soccer, swimming, oh my!

Wednesday it was back to normal.

What does that mean? It’s work and school and sports, the usual. Wednesday morning came and there was get everyone on the bus, mommy and daddy back to school and that left dad, LaLa and me.

I got some work done and then it was go to the girls school to see MGS in a gymnastics extravaganza! The first graders, towards the end of the year, do a gymnastics exhibition to show what they’ve learned throughout the year.

They have to tumble, balance, climb, jump, incorporate literature, like making an A or a period, they can do all or a combination. It was great, I remember watching EJS during hers. After, we took pictures with her, big cheers.

After dead, LaLa and I went to breakfast and then they headed home and I got to work.

I picked both girls up from school, home for dinner and then took MGS to soccer practice, so cute! She had some great moves, passes and turns!

Today, after school it was swim lessons, she’s becoming quite the little fish! Can’t wait to swim with her in Hawaii!

What a busy two days! Tomorrow, it’s Good Friday, both girls have off and I get to spend the day with them, I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!

{April 11, 2017} A zissen Pesach

A sweet Pesach or Passover to all!

I am a day late in my wishes, but it’s been a whirlwind!

I arrived yesterday, Monday, morning and hit the ground running. This was tough, the first year I wasn’t here cooking all weekend with GES, but she’s such a rock star it all got done of course!

I set about making the veggie pancakes, veggie matzo ball soup, matzo brittle and macaroons, the last two are my Passover tradition and responsibility, which I love, of course.

People began to arrive at 530, the kids played outside because it was hot, 85/90 degrees hot! Both yesterday and today, can you believe it! None of us could remember it being that hot for Passover! I even remember it snowing one year in New York City for Passover! Go figure!

Everyone arrived and we did the Sammy Spider’s seder. This is an abridged version of the seder, but it does cover all the main points, the pharoh, the four questions and the plagues. This is great to have when there are a bunch of wee tots. The kids were great, read from the haggadah, the Passover prayer book, thet read the four questions and the story of the exodus grim Egypt.

We have plague finger puppets and masks, they love that and dad gave his alternate version of the plagues, arthritis, back pain, ha ha!

Lastly, the kids hunt for the afikhomen, their favorite part, I think. There’s the challenge, the hunt and the reward, Papa D gives cash!

Tonight we even had a double birthday celebration for S&A G. Where did the time go?

It was a special time, both nights and we’re all looking forward to all the kids getting older and more involved.

A zissen Pesach to you and your families. And as we say, next year in Israel.

{April 9, 2017} She’s seven! A day with Miss A and a day for Miss A

Can you believe it! Today Miss A turned seven!

Where did the time go? Seriously! It was just yesterday SDL and I were talking about the adoption process, all the forms, procedures, etc and the next thing we knew, there was this fabulous bundle in our lives! I remember asking SDL a few times what our lives were like before Miss A was in it, couldn’t tell you.

What a precocious, smart, sassy, funny, silly little girl she is. Not so little, she’s seven and I get to celebrate with her! I made the same promise to Miss A that I did when EJS and MGS were born, I would be there every year for her birthday, either on her birthday or birthday dinner and I haven’t broken that promise and I don’t intend to start any time soon!

Saturday was riding lessons, helmet accented with a birthday tiara, of course! Then breakfast at Waffle House, a trip to Inman Park to see all the people walking around and meet lots of fury kids, especially puppies, most under 8 months old, love! And did they love Miss A!

We drove around Atlanta a bit and then it was time to go home, dinner, bath and bed or more fool auntie G into thinking you’re going to sleep, at least three times!

This morning was a bit of a sleep in, breakfast, then we got dressed and headed to meet CKM at the Grant Park Farmers Market. We walked around, looked at all the good stuff that was there and then lunch.
After lunch, since we were there, Miss A and I went to see lions and tigers and bears, oh my! And snakes and frogs and turtles and monkeys and apes and pandas and birds and flamingos and… And… so much fun to share that together.

Then it was time to meet mommy, otherwise known as SDL, and CKM at the Cheesecake Factory for a birthday celebration and what a celebration it was! This included a quick change in the parking lot into her fabulous birthday party dress, a little pink velvet number.

After dinner it was presents and then off into the wild blue yonder for bath and bed, oh, picking tomorrow’s fabulous outfit for celebrating her birthday in school. It starts with CKM’s present, an awesome tutu with pom-poms and happy birthdays in it!

I leave very early tomorrow morning so I got in as many giggles, hugs and kisses to last me until next time.

Happy happy seventh birthday Miss A! I love you!

{April 6, 2017} North by Northwest

I love this movie! Especially on the big screen! That’s just what I did tonight!

I saw it posted somewhere as part of Fathom Events that it was gong to be on the big screen and I knew I was going!
I was at dinner with WIS, asked if she was interested, she was as excited as me and away we went!

So much fun! I love old or classic movies, I watch them all the time on tv or my laptop or iPad, but the opportunity to see it on the big screen, love!

This happens to be one of my favorites and it’s been a while since I’ve seen it, I had forgotten just how fabulous it was. Funny, clever, suspenseful, silly. The costumes, the dialogue, the star power.

If you don’t know the story, let’s just say mistaken identity, espionage, love, sex, action, adventure, murder. I think that about covers it!

I love looking for Alfred Hitchcock in the movie, he was one of the first directors to put themselves in their movies and sometimes you really have to look for him.

I love marveling at the costumes and the fashion and there was a scene in New York City with people pushing and shoving trying to get to work or home, nothing’s changed, huh! Then we were in Chicago, how fun was it to be in Chicago watching it, ‘ Where is this?’ ‘Is that still there?’

To settle into the seat and see it come to life on the big screen… fabulous! What’s next?

{April 2, 2017} A fabulous weekend skiing

My last week on the slopes was terrific!

I got in late Friday night, picked up my rental car, it was a nice little hybrid, still not 100% used to all of them so I’m not always sure when they’re on!

It started to rain as I started driving, then snow, then hail, sleet, snow, in that order. Two hours later, I was in Frisco, hoping to pick up a few essentials for the weekend. Not much open at midnight, including walmart, what?

I got to the Doubletree, the points were too good not to use. My room looked out over the mountain and I could see one of the lifts. I was actually staying behind Beaver Run Resort, where I stayed a few years ago for New Year’s Eve, fun.

I got up, went down to the ski shop and rented skis that they fitted to my boots that I had with me, breakfast, ski clothes, it feels like a helmet day and then hit the slopes.

I picked up the skis, walked across the parking lot, put my skis on and woosh, right down to the first lift! This is the way to live!

I skied a few hours, took a break for some hearty tomato soup, minus the recommended grilled cheese, then headed back on the slopes for a few more hours.

I thought I’d go back to the room for a bit, not sure if I’d go back on the slopes, but a rest was in order. The best part of staying on the mountain, or very close, is that you have choices of where to rest, you don’t have to stay on the mountain the entire day.

I took my skis to the ski valet, yes, I said ski valet! The hotel doesn’t want skis, poles or boards in the building, so they have a valet, works for me!

I got some work done, rested and eventually, I got motivated. I went to the bar/ restaurant, they have apres-hours and on the balcony, you can make smores! That was fun!

I got a few recommendations for dinner, nothing panned out until I found Piante Pizzeria! I told you about that last night, yum!

Day two I was up at 730am, breakfast and then on the slopes by 9am, I got to make some of the first tracks down the mountain.

I skied until about 12pm, headed into the hotel, showered, finished packing and finished my pizza, still good! Then got in the road, stopped at Whole Foods for something to have for my flight, then off to the airport.

I’m glad I left when I did, it took about three plus hours. Bag drop, gas, rental car return, get to the gate, plenty of time.

The flight was uneventful and I’m back in Chicago for a new week.

{April 2, 2017} I’m saved! Vegan pizza!

I’m in Breckenridge and let’s just say, as hippy dippy as it is trendy and it’s Colorado, the vegan pickins are slim. To none…

I used my fabulous Happy Cow app and found Piante Pizzeria, the only vegan option in town. Plenty of veg – friendly, this was vegan! Off I went.

It’s got a nice atmosphere, cozy and intimate, there are only about six, maybe eight tables, and four spots at the bar, which is where I sat, facing the open brick oven.

I am always skeptical, even when it says vegan, so I always ask on the first few things, then I’m good. It didn’t even register that it was 100% vegan when I walked in and when I asked my favorite question “can you feed a vegan?” Enthusiastic yes was the response!

Now, I don’t know how many people in the place were actual vegans or with a vegan or just up for a new experience. Who cares! Everyone was enjoying themselves.

They had three appetizers, the rest of the menu was salad and pizza, I really liked that. They use cashew cheese and have daiya cheese for anyone with a cashew allergy, but we know how feel about daiya cheese. I was happy. They even have vegan New York cheesecake, but I was full!

I didn’t really read the entire menu, I found what I was looking for…a white pie! Really? Sold! It’s my favorite pizza and something I cannot get anymore. Sigh.

I looked at it, realized it had mushrooms and nixed those. What I didn’t realize until it was about to go into the oven…arugela.

What? A white pie us just that, white on white on white. Olive oil, garlic, ricotta cheese and mozzarella, that’s it. White.

I didn’t let them make me another, it would be fine. I could see spinach or basil, just not sure about the salad. I was ready for a new adventure.

It came out and did not disappoint. The cheese was creamy and melted, the garlic was tasty and the crust nice and crisp. Did I wait like I should have to not burn the roof of my mouth? Of course not! This is going to annoy me for days! Ouch!

I ate half and although I knew I could eat the rest, I decided to not pig out and took it with me. Any guesses what’s for lunch tomorrow?

I got to chat with the guy making the pizzas, said he’s only eaten these vegan pizzas and lost ten pounds? What? If that worked, I’d move in! He was fun to chat with, almost like not eating alone!

The wait staff is terrific and friendly and on the way out I had the opportunity to talk with the owner’s wife, a really lovely, genuine person.

I liked their version of repurposing items. The giant sauce cans were pizza stands and they have a small library, which they bring your check in to the table, very clever!

If you have the opportunity to be in Breckenridge and you’re looking for vegan, pizza or something different, check them out. They’ve been open since January 27th and I expect they’ll be doing some great things in the future! I look forward to my next trip to Breck!

https://piantepizzeria.com

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