Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{November 2, 2017} Bad Moms Christmas Girls Night!

What a delightful combination! Bad Moms and Girls Night!

Tonight, I had plans with co-workers. Originally it was going to be feet up, fireplace on, movies and delivery at my hotel. This turned into dinner and a movie! Almost the same!

DLP and I introduced our new team-mate, LS, to Vapiano’s, yum! And then went to one of the AMC movie theaters with the recliner seats. So…we went to a restaurant for dinner, then at the movie theater, see movie, reclined and kicked our feet up and someone delivered popcorn to our seats. Close enough!

We laughed, oh did we laugh! It was surprisingly good! Better than I expected. Let’s just say I had high hopes for Pitch Perfect 2 and was sorely disappointed, except for a few scenes. With this movie, there were some moments you thought, oh my word, but, to be honest, it kept true to the format, Amy, played by Mila Kunis is stressed out trying to be the perfect mom and give her kids the perfect Christmas. Kristin Bell plays Kiki, slightly neurotic, people pleaser, just wants everyone to be happy and get along. Kathryn Hahn is Carla, easy, literally, going, just wanting to get through the day.

They all love their kids more than anything, would do anything for them, just want them to be happy and enjoy Christmas. Then…their moms arrive! Uh oh!

Christine Baranski is Amy’s mom. A hard, controlling, condescending perfectionist, think Amy was a little stressed out?! Cheryl Hines is Kiki’s mom. Um, let’s just say a little clingy? Ok, A LOT clingy! Susan Sarandon is Carla’s mom and if you thought Carla was, well, let’s just say, foul mouthed and loose, want to guess where she gets it from!

Moms come in and drive their daughters crazy. Daughters try to have the Christmas they want and you know what happens when Amy, Kiki and Carla get together? No holds barred, throw down, drinking, smashing, grabbing, get wild girls. Do they let off steam? Yes they do! Do they wreak havoc? Yes they do. Do they have a good time? You bet your sweet bippie!

There’s love, fighting, frustration, foul language, stripping Santas, lashing out, acting out, making up, understanding, compromising, friendships, love and…a camel. Yup, I said a camel.

I give this movie two thumbs up. If you’re looking for an Oscar worthy movie, this ain’t it. If you’re looking for a movie to make you laugh, gasp, cringe, laugh and do it all over again, this is it!

Be a bad mom, today, Christmas and every day!

{October 31, 2017} It’s Halloween! Boo! Eek!

It’s Halloween! Let’s celebrate! Oh, how I love this holiday! I’m bummed that when I’m on the road, I don’t get to dress up and participate. Oh did I have some fabulous Halloweens! As a kid, dressing up and going trick-or-treating with my parents and then with friends. Some years, buying costumes, other years, making them. I’ve been Emmet Kelly, the famous hobo clown, Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz, Charlie Chaplin. As an adult, I got into it all over again, Maleficent, The Wicked Queen from Snow White, Cruella de vil, a little old man, a geisha with a fabulous pagoda at work. Oh my, did I love dressing up and fooling people. My house, oh my house, wow, loved decorating. It was scary and fun, kids loved and were terrified to come to the front door. One year I got a popcorn machine and wagon for my birthday and that was the start of being known as “The popcorn lady”! They loved it, they got candy and hot popcorn! I was sweeping popcorn from my lawn for weeks! I think the birds loved it! Now, I’m responsible for the Halloween costumes for eight fabulous little people! I remember when it started! When EJS was born I asked GES if I could get her Halloween costume and she said yes, if I didn’t, there might not be one! And the tradition was born! What a joy and treat for me! I get to do something wonderful and special and I so love being able to give them what they want to be, to help them imagine what it’s like to be something different, play dress up and pretend. Each year it’s something different. The first year, if their moms don’t tell me what they want to be, then I get something fun, hoping it’s what they might want. No matter what, cuties! This year, EJS was a doctor, MGS a police officer, LB a zombie cheerleader, Princess L was a pirate, Baby A was Sonic the Hedgehog, his baby sister E was Minnie Mouse, CDL was Winnie the Pooh and Miss A, well, she was a biker babe! I talked to MGS right after she got her costume ‘Thank you so much for my costume!” When did she grow up? EJS was tickled to be a doctor! LB and Princess L looked great, a zombie cheerleader? Where did she come up with that! And my pirate princess, priceless! Baby A as Sonic and Baby sister E as Minnie Mouse? They both refused to take off their costumes when they got them! Baby A, he was Mickey Mouse and went through the same thing, LOVE! CDL’s Winnie the Pooh didn’t fit last year, but this year, perfect! And Miss A? I just supplied the biker jacket and tattoo sleeves, SDL, well, she out did herself! She turned Miss A’s wheelchair into a CHOPPER! Headlights and all! Wow! All my babies, wow! They looked so fantastic! I love being a part of it and seeing their faces when they’re in costume and trick-or-treating. I wait all year for this and I’m ready for next year! Happy Halloween my friends and family! Boo!

{October 28, 2017} A mitzvah, a family event

Today, PSM and I attended a family event together.

PSM’s first cousin’s son, JK, became a bar mitzvah today. What an honor to be included in these family events. I’ve been to other family functions, holidays, parties, this is a little different, these events are more formal and special.

I got in last night, did you love my hotel room!? PSM went to the dinner they were having at the hotel where most everyone was staying and got to spend some time with his family, they are a fantastic bunch of people and so close, it’s special.

This morning, we went to the synagogue to watch JK take his place among the congregation, become an adult and lead us through his Torah and Havdalah. He gave a great speech, chanted the prayers and Torah and Havdalah portions so well, he made his family, friends and his congregation proud.

Years of study and practice go into learning the prayers, preparing for this special day, spending time working with the rabbi on the prayers, working with the cantor learning to chant the prayers and readings, working with his parents preparing his speeches. All of this culminating to a very special day for everyone, of course, most importantly, the bar mitzvah himself.

Hard work should be well rewarded and after such a ceremony, we celebrate! The first, was right after the service, we had a small luncheon and then later in the evening, we had a good old fashioned party! It was at the Empire Room on the NY State Fairgrounds.

There were appetizers, drinks, dinner, dancing, games for the kids and time to spend together catching up, making new friends and just enjoying being together and participating in the joy of the day and the pride his parents and family felt.

This was a true celebration! Mazel Tov to JK and his family.

{October 25, 2017} A new friend and a concert! A pretty good day!

Tonight I made a new friend, introduced them to a new restaurant and went to a concert. This was all after working a full and fabulous day! Not too shabby, huh?

So, fabulous day to start. We went live yesterday with the application I am supporting and that was quite the experience. Some things went better than others and then there were the others, but over all, I’m pleased.

Then, dinner with a new friend! SMH is a new member of the team I am on in Chicago. Tonight we were going to go to one of my favorite vegan restaurants, Kitchen 17, to introduce her to vegan deep dish. Well, before we went to dinner, SMH was given two tickets to the Katie Perry concert! Did I want to go? Sure!

So, the concert started at 7pm, we were hungry and went to Native Foods, another fabulous vegan restaurant I love. I cannot believe I forgot to take a picture of my food! I had their new steak sandwiche and it was fabulous! Enough that I ate it two days in a row, right?! SMH had the reuben, you know much I love that sandwich. I couldn’t finish it like the night before, no idea how that happened!

After dinner we went over to the United Arena for the concert. We got there as the opening act was finishing up, about three songs we heard, Noah Cyrus, the younger sister of Miley Cyrus. She was pretty good, I don’t know her music.

The negative, we waited a little over an hour for the main event. It was after 9:15pm when Katie Perry came on stage, not cool. The arena was packed with all ages, but a large number of kids under 10 years old, think their moms were happy the fact that their kids were up and waiting, waiting, waiting. SMH kept looking at each other, how long do we give it! We are two adult women at a concert on a Wednesday night, have to go to work in the morning. We all know that I don’t sleep much, but still, we felt old asking this question!

The one good thing…all the music that was playing while we waited was 80’s, I was happy! Of course, to SMH and half the crowd these were oldies, as they had not been born yet in the 80’s!

When it started, what a performer and performance! The sets, the musicians, the music, the backup dancers, the lights, the sounds, the effects! I’ll be honest, I don’t know a lot of Katie Perry’s music, more than I thought, which was definitely nice! The first few songs SMH and the rest of the crowd knew, and then she went into some ‘old school’ Katie Perry, ‘Hot and Cold’, ‘I Kissed a Girl’, the sets changed almost every song or every few songs and they corresponded to what she was singing. Really great and simple sets and props to convey the message and tell a story. Sometimes, I’m not sure what that story was, but it told a story!

We gave it until about 10:30pm and then we were out and we were ok with that. Get this, SMH’s mom was invited to the same concert! She had plans and wasn’t there, but how cool would that have been to see her there! Overall, a great night, making a new friend, introducing her to some good food, which she really enjoyed, a great concert to end a great day!

Enjoy the photos and the clips!

{October 11, 2017} Three new vegan meals in two days? Yum!

I’ll take it!

One of my favorite vegan restaurants in Chicago, Native Foods has launched its new menu and I have tried a few things between yesterday and today.

I couldn’t believe it, vegan bagels, lox and cream cheese? What?! Yup! A bagel, unfortunately plain, but wait! The cream cheese was made from cashews, it was creamy and light and tasty. The lox was thin sliced carrots, but it’s the way they marinated it smells and tastes like lox, wow! They offer it just like a ‘real’ lox platter with capers, lemon and onions. Doesn’t it look fabulous?!

Last night, I ordered from True Foods, we’ve talked about it before, I hope you remember! I ordered a pizza with butternut squash, onions, spinach, cranberries and almond ricotta! Wow!

I also ordered guacamole with chips and Winter Squash toast, this had brussel sprouts and toasted hazelnuts. Yum! Think I was able to come close to finishing? Not a chance, guess what was for lunch!

Tonight, I went back to Native Foods, with LJ this time. I ordered plantains with two different dipping sauces and for dinner, chicken and waffles! The syrup was maple siracha, a little too spicy for me, but the ‘chicken’ and waffles, tasty!

Dessert was our favorite oatmeal cream cookie, which we shared, so rich!

Don’t the pictures make you hungry!

Day 5 of 7 Challenge!

{October 1, 2017} An easy fast…A happy birthday!

It’s my birthday! And I’m fasting! What a combo, but it’s been great day!

I’m in Denver for the weekend, I’ll tell you all about it. I got in last night a little before 10pm, got the rental car, a Ford Mustang. Well, when I got to the assigned spot, no car, so when I asked the guy at the preferred desk, he said, what happened to the car? Well, that’s why I’m here! So, I had a choice, a Mustang or a Mustang. Um, I’ll the the Mustang… convertible!

PSM was asleep when I got in, just about that time, DLP texted that she was in Denver too! Well alrighty! I set up the bed in the living room and started working in my time and expenses. PSM got up a little while later and when DLP got there we all caught up. Then crashed!

Got up today with the sun, that was nice. It’s my birthday! This means presents and calls from my family!! The cards from my dad all played music and sang! Do you see the awesome JJ with pics from my grandbabies??? I am so lucky and spoiled!

Then sent DLP and PSM down to breakfast. Turns out, I wasn’t missing much, this hotel did not impress.

After breakfast, showers and get ready, off to the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k Race Expo. Only thing missing, CKM. We did this race and volunteered several years and such a blast. At the expo we picked up our packets with the bibs, jackets and maybe an extra treat or two. I have a story about that later.

After the expo, adventure! Drop the top on the car and head to Boulder for some sightseeing and fun. You never know what you’re going to find! Oh… the guy in blue! There was a Sonic convention happening in Denver. Different stores from all over the country compete! Customer interaction, car hop, whatever! These guys were the judges and were waiting for the teams and would welcome them with those hand clappers, so fun!

After Boulder, back to the hotel to cool and make dinner plans. I asked my friend AM if he, his wife NM and their daughter, A could join us. AM could, love seeing him when I’m in Denver. I can’t believe we’ve known each other for over thirty years! Wow!

We were going to go to City O’ City, that vegan restaurant I told you about the last time we were here. Who knew we needed a reservation! So, we went to another restaurant owned by the same people called Watercourse. Yum! It was all vegan! I broke my fast with a glass of water and a delicious chai made with coconut milk and cinnamon.

We had ‘wings’, which were lightly fried cauliflower with different sauces for dipping. Even came with ranch or blue cheese dressing with carrots and celery! We also had spinach and artichoke dip! Yum!

Main course, I had southern comfort food, deep fried cauliflower, like chicken, mac-n- cheese and salad. A Cuban for PSM, breakfast sandwich for AM and risotto for DLP.

Dessert time! I ordered a banana and caramel shake, didn’t think to ask, but after my ears and tongue started to itch, umm what’s in this? Coconut milk yogurt, bananas and soy milk, what? Uh oh! That explains the itching! Benadryl will clear that right up!

Then came the cake with a candle in it! A birthday should have cake! And singing! Thank you!

After dinner, back to the hotel for Bemedryl and, talk to you and say thank you for all the birthday wishes on Facebook.

I am so lucky! Thank you all!!

{September 22, 2017} Oh what a night! Actually two nights!

What are the odds, two fabulous nights in a row?! Well, with my folks, 10000000%! Tuesday I got a text from ST that he was going to be in Chicago last minute for work, great! Tuesday night we met up to grab some dinner and DLP joined us! I’ve told you that ST and I used to work together and he’s my work husband. So… work wife met work husband! All we needed was WIS, work girlfriend and PSM and we would have had the full enchilada! Could you imagine! We met at the bar at my hotel for a drink, then on to dinner at Rosebuds,a great Italian restaurant about two blocks from the hotel, recommendation from the hotel staff. Sorry I don’t have pics of everyone’s food, I had a treat happem, I got to talk to GES for a bit. That was the way to start the new year, dad in the morning, sister in the evening! So excited to see them this weekend! We had a great time at dinner, DLP and ST hit it off like gangbusters, it was as if they’d known each other for years. I love how my friends can do that! Tonight, ST and I met for dinner again and he said he wanted to go to Lou Malnati’s for deep dish pizza. We put our names on the list, I don’t think there’s a night the famous places for deep dish aren’t crowded! ST went to the bar to get a beer and get me a water, comes back out ahs tells me he has a seat at the bar and he’s made friends. With two Patriots fans! Seriously!? I had seen the one guy walk by, I noticed his shirt, the old Pats logo, which I like. We started talking and found out they were from Maine and… get this… in town for the same conference as ST! What are the odds!! After a bit we were enjoying ourselves so much we decided to change our individual two top tables to a four person table, awesome! We had such a good time chatting, getting to know each other, sharing pizza and beer. Well, pasta, salad and water for me! We talked through a few pitchers, laughed, told jokes, swapped travel and business stories and passed the time until it was time to head out. We walked back to my hotel, the guys promised to find each other tomorrow at the conference and we all went on our merry way. Now I’m talking to you, avoiding thinking about packing tomorrow morning and hoping to get a good night’s sleep! I almost forgot! For lunch, I got to go to one of my favorite places, Eleven City Diner! Look at that egg salad sandwich, on challah! Oh my!!! Two stellar evenings, go me! Night!

{September 21, 2017} L’Shana Tova

Happy New Year.

It’s Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the new year, the High Holy Days, the most holy of holy days of the year.

This is a joyous time, celebrating life, health and happiness.

All I will say to you is what I wish for you this coming year. A happy, healthy, joyous and sweet new year.

L’ Shana Tova.

{September 18, 2017} What a weekend!!!

I had a very quick trip to Atlanta andI want to tell you all about it!

I arrived late on Friday night, crashed with ST and got to met his temporary roommate. First thing was to go to Waffle House! It was good to catch up, we haven’t seen each other in a few months. We talked work, travel, relationships, kids, I think we covered it all!

The next morning I went to my house to see it after the interior was painted, ran a vacuum, it’s definitely not my house anymore, that’s an interesting feeling.

Then, return the vacuum and head to see my kids, TYL and my newest grandbaby, CDL, her brother, CH and his wife, AH at the restaurant they all work at. Oh, what a doll baby my newest grandson, CDL, is! Smart, curious, sweet, happy, smells good and what a giggle! I’m so glad I get to be a part of his life and be in my kids lives again. What amazing human beings they are!

Get this…CH even cooked for me!!! He made me artichoke hearts with garlic and olive oil and let me tell you, wow and yum! He can cook for me anytime! Do I seem biased? You bet your sweet bippy! Every day and twice on Sunday!

When I left the kids, I headed to met SDL, MissA and DJL at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Last time we were there was the day before we left for Mexico!

Live music, good music at that, MissA was rocking out to a lot of the songs, she can get down! Good food, friends, conversation, laughs, silliness, Halloween costumes, the only thing missing, CKM! Unfortunately, she had plans last night, bummer!

Back to SDL’s house for a little more catch up and then… crash. Zzzzz Up today, grab the groceries and head out to see the rest of the grandbabies.

Unfortunately, LB and Baby L weren’t able to come, so it was just KLB, CS and the kiddies, BabyA and his sister ELB. I was in heaven, as you can imagine! We played, caught up, giggled, laughed, chased, BabyA crawled in my lap to show me his video game controler, I learned about Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft and MarioKart, all in a very short period of time! Then ELB was in my lap, then both of them, oh yes! Happy JJ! They both wanted to play with my watch and the rest of my jewelry.

Now, let’s go cook! KLB made pancakes while the kids played hide and seek in the cabinets, love it! Then BabyA and I cracked, scrambled and cooked eggs for everyone. How fabulous was that!

More chatting, laughing, giggling, rubbing. Let’s just say, thanks BabyA for giving me a lot of steps today! Oh, and the discussion of Halloween costumes! Then it was time to go with promises of a next visit.

Now, for my last visit, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with TS. The Curious Garden. Wonderful! We walked the canopy in the trees, saw the lady in the water and smelled some fabulous smells.

Through the grounds, into the Chinese meditation garden. Through the archway to the orchid greenhouse.

What amazing creators orchids are!! Some even look like people. Different species and creations.

Then through the edible garden and a field of my favorite flower, sunflowers, sigh.

Then it was time to part company, I had to get gas in the retal car, return it, then catch my flight back to Chicago, teaching class in the morning.

Staying at a new hotel, I’ll tell you about it! Have a great night!

{September 12, 2017} Mmmm…Majani…yum!

Such good food!

Tonight, DLP and I had date night and it was at Majani, the vegan place near her house we went to a while back.

We were going to hop yesterday, but we were both tired, it worked out perfectly so I could talk to CWB.

We got there and they were so excited that they had printed menus, instead of just the chalkboard on the wall, but… unfortunately they didn’t have everything on the menu, so poor DLP was turned down for every choice she made! She did eventually find something, not get first choice, but she enjoyed it.

We started with fried cheese grits, they were great! I’m a sugar in my grits girl, but this worked! It was on a bed of fresh tomato sauce and on top. I asked for it on the side in case it was spicy, you know no one thinks anything is spicy…uh huh…but in between the sauce, yum!

Then I had their lentil and veggie soup with a piece of gluten free corn bread. The corn bread was good, but the soup, wow! The bowl was huge!

By the time the gyro cane, I was done! Well, before the gyro came! Guess what I have for lunch tomorrow!!

We ordered dessert to go, DLP got carrot cake and I got pineapple upside down cake. I tasted it after I got to the hotel tonight, wow!

So looking forward to lunch tomorrow!

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