Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{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!

{September 11, 2017} Start with a sister… end with a seestah!

A pretty good day today!

I told you I tried to surprise the family on Sunday and it was a bust. Well, I got to Chicago, ended up doing some work at the hotel until about 3am, ugh, but…I got it done! SomethingI had been fighting with.

Then, of course, I couldn’t sleep! 5am I was forcing myself to sleep and I did! Did I get too much sleep last night?

But then the phone rang just before 730am, huh? But… so glad it did, it was my baby sister, GES. We talked for about an hour, well, she talked and I got more tired! I’m kidding, she was telling me about her weekend, the girls, school, work, the usual! It was great! We made quasi plans for the weekend I’m there, can’t wait to see them, this is the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other! Auntie needs her hugs and kisses and giggles!

Then it was work, which was gear, very busy all day, makes the day fly, then it was 7pm, what? But… bear part was catching up with DLP of course! Missed my work wife!

I ended the day on the phone with a seestah, CWB. I told you a little more about her last week with my post on her birthday.

It was great, we catch moments when we can and its wonderful. It really is like talking to a sister, she actually asks me some of the same questions, hmmm…

So, my day was pretty good, don’t you think. It started with my sister and ended with a seestah! I’m a lucky girl!

{September 11, 2017} Surprise… no go. Chinatown… go!

Today, my attempt to surprise my family didn’t go as planned…or at all!

PSM had a very early flight, so I got to sleep in, first time in a few weeks! Vacation in Hawaii meant up early, what? Yup, either up early for a tour or just the sun coming up! I didn’t even hear PSM leave this morning about 415am! I woke up at 515am, realized I was alone, confused at first! Then checked my phone and called PSM, then zzzzz until about 920am, wow!

Got up, showered, then the fire alarm goes off at the hotel, goody. Got back into the room, finished getting ready, packed and headed out.

I texted GES to see where they were, even threw in a phone call, no dice! I’m usually really good at surprises, this killed my record! I did leave them a great in the mailbox! I’m coming back in two weeks, I can’t wait to see them! They know I’m coming!

After I left their house, I drove into Boston and to Chinatown and went to a great vegan Thai restaurant for a good meal and got some food for tonight when I get back to Chicago, yum!

Then, off to the airport, return the car and head to my gate to hang until it was time to go.

Surprise…fail. Chinatown… win.

Chicago… here I come!

{September 9, 2017} Surprise! Happy birthday KN!

A surprise party it is and a surprise it was!

PSM’s best friend, KN, is turning 50 in October and his wife, DTS, wanted to throw him a birthday party, outside, so this was a great weekend for it!

As soon as I told PSM about it, of course I told him immediately! And no question we were going to be there! Just had to work out logistics. We were scheduled to be in vacation the week before the party. We had the hardest time scheduling our first two choices, Western and American Samoa or Saipan. Not difficult getting there, but the number of flights available coming back to Hawaii, not great. So… that’s when we decided to check out our new home state send go to Kauai, lots of flights in and out every day and only about 35 minutes. Sounds good to me!

PSM and I were talking a few weeks ago and hatched a plan! PSM then called DTN to see what she thought about PSM asking KN to go for a motorcycle ride the morning of the party. Perfect! Easiest way to get him out of the house! He called KN and said he was coming to Boston for work and how about a ride? Yes! I fibbed when he asked if I was coming…um…

We were all set, flights booked, for me, Chicago > Honolulu > Kauai > Honolulu >Boston > Chicago, tomorrow. For PSM Honolulu > Kauai > Honolulu >Boston > Honolulu.

After an amazing week in Kauai, with the chickens, roosters, sun, sand, surf and fun, home on Thursday for laundry and sleep! Friday afternoon, leave Hawaii, landed this morning, picked PSM up when he landed, went to the hotel for a minute. Yup, different flights, different airlines!

Then it was off to K&DTN’s for a party! So great to see everyone, all the usual suspects, fabulous! It’s a giant family! I love seeing everyone, getting to know them better each time. I’m not sure how they’ll feel about us after they try the spam flavored macadamia nuts we brought them!

It was great hanging out and catching up and a few false alarms “they’re here!” Nope, it was another Harley Davidson going by, which happens a lot by them!

On the last one, we all filed into the front yard to wait. After a bit, we heard them, the unmistakable rumble, this time , multiplied because there were several bikes coming down the road. Best part, we were all looking one way and someone said, wouldn’t it be funny if they came from the other direction. Guess what they did!

He was totally surprised! Even rode right past us and around the block! Then he came to the house and it was hugs and cheers by and for everyone!

Now it’s time to party! He was so thrilled and touched that we were all there to celebrate him. He couldn’t believe that PSM and I cut out vacation short to be there, but there was no where else we would be!

There was a great selection of treats for appetizers, a great Italian spread with pasta, meatballs, salad, bread for dinner and of course, a fabulous cake!

The weather was perfect, even a few kids in the pool! Eventually, there was a chill in the air and a fire got built, that was party central!

Eventually, it was time to head out, PSM has a very early flight in the morning. I’m going to sleep in… then, don’t tell GES, but I’m going to try to surprise the family with a quick visit! Fingers crossed I am successful! Then it’s back to Chicago for work.

What a whirlwind!

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