Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{June 13, 2017} A vegan at a BBQ joint!

A new restaurant with DLP, Southern Cut Barbecue.

It just so happens the restaurant is in the hotel I’m staying in this week. We met after I went to the gym at our new favorite nail salon. Claws and paws done, time for food.

We headed to my hotel to drop my bag and decided to eat there. There wasn’t much for me, but I found a very yummy salad, kale and brussel sprouts with cranberries and sliced almonds. For the meat eaters, it did come with bacon.

We started with fabulous deviled eggs with asparagus and truffles, very tasty. DLP had brisket, said it was quite tasty. Round it out with a baked potato and sweet potato with candied walnuts.

A very nice meal at a nice place and the vegan was happy. Go figure…a happy vegan at a BBQ joint!

{June 4, 2017} A great weekend

Laid back, but full.

I got to dad’s Friday night, Saturday I got up and headed to Queens to see one of my oldest friends and her family.

Ok this term has come up a lot lately and what I find is, as we get older, saying “one of my oldest friends” starts to sound like my friends and I are old! Not so. These are friends we’ve known the longest! But that takes longer to say!

So, back to Saturday. I drove out to Queens to see CGS, we met at a local diner near her house. She was with her youngest, after we got a table, her husband Joined us, then two more kids, her oldest was still sleeping, as a teenager should be doing!

We realized we have known each other 32 years!!! What? We were just in high school, not possible! She was actually pregnant with her first at my wedding! He kept making his presence known! And the dress she wore… it’s how she told me a few years later she was pregnant again!

We had breakfast, talked for a while, then went back to their house, it’s a new place since I was last at their place. A great space, much better suited for them. We talked and laughed, eventually everyone but the youngest, CGS and I went to a baseball game. That left us to talk more, laugh more, go down memory lane a little.

Then the three of us went to the park, got some dinner, back to the park, back to the house and then we realized it was almost 10pm, time to go! Hugs, kisses, promises of visits and maybe a girls weekend…

What a fabulous time! Had it been a year since we’d seen each other? Didn’t feel like it!

Today, breakfast with dad ahe LaLa, they headed out to their fun afternoon and I went to a very good Sri Lankan restaurant to meet another “old friend”, WM, he even remembered exactly when we met! February 24, 1990, what a memory!

We have been friends who have been in and out of each other’s lives here and there but when we talk, no time had passed. I regret that I wasn’t able to get to his wedding. I promised to be at the renewal!

His wife, NSM, is smart, funny, attractive, caring, understanding and she loves nt friend, what more could I ask for? Their girls, H2, twins and eleven years old, what a pair! Outgoing, gregarious, smart, funny, clever, enthusiastic, loving life, wow!

When I met them for the first time, they both hugged me, I wasn’t expecting that, but welcomed it fully. They talked to me, told me jokes, about school, boys, they’re dumb, by the way…love it!

We talked, caught up, got to know each other, laughed, talked about the future, travel, I’m not sure we missed anything!

We talked about our families, his mom, who I loved. I used to call and visit her even when he wasn’t around, she was a very special person. The girls were one when she passed, but they love looking at her pictures and talking about her, they said she was sunshine and light. They told me a while later I was sunshine and light, I’m in good company.

I hated for our time to come to an end, but it did. Hugs, kisses and promises to keep in touch more and don’t let another 10 treats go by between visits. I for one would like to keep that promise!

Back home, dad and LaLa were hanging out, we had some dinner, yes, I was hungry again, we had eaten three hours earlier!

Then friends, H&L T, came over for a visit, so great to see them. My dad and HT taught together so many moons ago. Catch up on family, grandkids, travel, life.

Then it was time to put on jammies, pack, relax and get ready for tomorrow. Stuff to do and travel!

{June 1, 2017} A new vegan place, yum!

Tonight I had a date with WIS, at a new vegan restaurant, Alice & Friends.

Yes, I said date. And yes, PSM knows. Ha ha. I have two very wonderful girlfriends in Chicago, like my wonderful girlfriends in Atlanta and I think I told you, if we all batted for the other team, we’d be dating! Now, back to dinner!

Alice & Friends is another vegan restaurant that I got to try last night. One of the things I noticed as we were sitting there, is that it reminded me of the Luving Hut in Atlanta, which I used to go with TS, and I love it! I don’t remember if you remember telling you that I found a Luving Hut in Hawaii which was awesome.

We’ve been wanting to go to this place for a while, but it was closed and tonight we got to go. It’s very cute, the menus look like playing cards and as you can see the logo is the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland.

We had ginger and cinnamon tea, I had mine hot, WIS had hers cold and we started with appetizers of agedashi tofu, which usually in a “normal” Japanese restaurant has fish sauce and this was a vegan fish sauce how awesome is that! Our other appetizer was fried shrimp, now remember this is vegan, and they were absolutely fabulous. You had the texture, the color, not completely the taste, but you also had the firmness of shrimp, great feeling! I can eat one of the foods that I truly miss without getting wigged out!

Main dish WIS was Bim Bom Bop which books fabulous but had a very spicy sauce and she knew I wouldn’t like it! To see her eat and enjoy this and the spice level it was like being with JCT, I miss you.

For me it was Korean barbecue with rice and veggies, the meat was TVP and the sauce was on the sweeter side and let me just say yum! I have never had Korean BBQ, so since this is my only experience I am a fan!

For dessert it was mixed berry cheesecake, very interesting, the crust was made up of crushed dates and the cheese was cashew. Our server did warn us that it was a little bit grittier because it was cashew cheese, and I’m grateful that she told us because it was. It was quite tasty, it was more of a texture thing.

Overall quite enjoyable, the food, the company, the atmosphere. I can’t wait to see where we go next!

{May 29, 2017} Sunday… what to do?

The sun comes up too early in Hawaii! And it screams at you to get up! Could be why the day seems to last so long. And I’m not complaining by any means!

We got up, breakfast, relaxed, played with Mollie, finished laundry, watched Bad Moms, got PSM to the airport for his trip to Guam. Miss him already.

Off too met a realtor to look at some houses, nothing to report yet, just looking. Saw some great options, look at that view!

Then some domestic stuff at Wal-Mart, I know, you’re jealous, ha ha. Chill out at home with some chips and salsa and relax for the evening.

Tomorrow is laundry, packing, I have to think about clothes for two months and two international trips in between! Maybe throw in a little beach time!

Life is rough!

{May 28, 2017} What to do in paradise on a Saturday…

Why, beach, brunch, beach, game night, of course.

Up early, go to the beach to see the high surf and surfers, beautiful morning. Then breakfast at a new place we’ve been wanting to try.

Grocery store for supplies, home, pack the car, remember the dog, go to the beach. Enjoy beach. ahhh…

Home, shower, change, head to E&D D’s house, MRB and two of his daughters were there when we arrived. We hung out, ate some food, watched MRB’s oldest daughter in a dance competition that was being live streamed, then got down to business.

Game night. We played a game that pitted weird wizards against each other. There were cards, points, dice, strategy, dead wizard cards, treasure cards, confusion and fun. Looking forward to the next time!

Home, chill, sleep.

Tomorrow’s a new day inn paradise.

{May 27, 2017} Just another day…

Its Friday here in Hawaii and I’m home. Sigh.

The day started too early, as it does when I come home. Asleep at 1am, up at 4am, nope, back to sleep, up at 5am, snuggle and catch up, then reality.

I made a quick breakfast, then PSM left for work and I opened my laptop. I worked for a few hours and then had to reboot my pc, so that was a good excuse to sit in the hammock and take some pics. I posted on Facebook a few photos and that I came up with a title for a book “My Life Doesn’t Suck!”

Then it was back to work for a few hours, PSM came home, we chilled out, then mani/pedis for two and dinner at a new place, Eating House, the food was good. Grilled Brussel Sprouts and cauliflower with pine nuts, the raisins cut the bitterness of the brussel sprouts, PSM had tomato bisque.

Dinner was grilled tofu rice bowl with bok choy, onions and mushrooms for me and fried chicken on goat cheese polenta with asparagus. The asparagus and goat cheese polenta, wow!

We ended the meal with malasadas with caramel sauce and a bite of frozen yogurt for PSM.

Home for a movie… let’s see how long we last!

{May 21, 2017} A day of rest? I don’t think so!

This is my sister’s house, what’s that?

741am, the texts started, “how’s it going?” All good. Some kids were up at 645am, others about 730am. Auntie J was in the basement, there’s no sleeping in…

Good morning little people, so cute! All slept well, made it through the night, even a milestone was had! And what did their parents do while they had an empty house? Cleaned the cabinets, went to the mall, went for a walk. Whatever it is mommies and daddies do when their kids are out for the night!

Two kids went home, four went to Sunday school. GES had a brunch at the temple, the rest of us had breakfast and relaxed a little. I walked to CVS, um…i got a haircut yesterday, sparklers showing, had to fix that!
Kids home, play in the bouncy house, friends for a quick visit, bounce, snacks, I did my hair, 35/40 minute process [color, rinse, shower, dress], out the door. A cheering section for EJS’ lacrosse match, great match, they won, she scored! It was great to see her in action!

I don’t know if it’s like this everywhere, but the referees stop and teach the kids why they stopped and coach a little.

Back to the house, friends over, lunch, more bouncy house, crafts naps, myself included for a few.

Laundry, pack, play, detergent down! MGS, our tiny acrobat… crawl behind and grab what you find! dinner, play, bath, bed.

Goodnight kisses for all, I’m leaving very early in the morning.

What a weekend! I need to get back to work so I can get some rest!

{May 20, 2017} Soccer, cleaning, lacrosse, soccer, haircut, birthday party, birthday party, sleepover

Is that enough for one day?

Straighten the house for the party, wash the pollen off the porch, it is spring after all, everyone was in on the act. The bouncy house arrived and the girls, GES and I had a little fun.

Then it was soccer practice for EJS, MGS off to lacrosse practice, finish setting up. EJS and ACS back for lunch, EJS has a mini play date, MGS back, I headed out to get a haircut, EJS and ACS off to travel team try-outs, people arrive for MGS’ birthday party. I jump right in to the fray, love seeing friends and all my little loves.

Some one-on-one time here and there, catching up, playing with the kids, activities, crafting, pizza, pinata, cake, buh-bye! 3-5pm 530pm and they were all gone!

Then the cousins, S&S S and E&S R stayed for a sleepover. EJS went to a birthday party sleep-under, that’s where they stay until bed time and go home.

We watched Sing, had popcorn and sang. My favorite part, E said “come snuggle with me Auntie J” how could i say no?

Then it was sleeping bags, “wait, I can’t sleep until I see EJS”, love that! Then zzz. MGS had two in her room and EJS had another two, the siblings split up for the sleepover. Let’s see how much sleep happens!

Now, that’s the way to party, wouldn’t you say? Just another Saturday at my sister’s house…

{May 15, 2017} Back to reality

Not a bad place to be, I must say.

My flights back from Hawaii uneventful, didn’t sleep from Honolulu to Minneapolis, par for the course. But I did sleep from Minneapolis to Chicago which was one of the best hours of my life!

Straight to the office I had a meeting at 10 a.m., great to see everyone and catch up and know that my goal was accomplished, I wanted to look like I’ve been somewhere!

Meetings, work, training session at the gym, they tried to kill me! it was a dumbbell routine which I am going to tell you all about my new workout program very soon!

Then I went and met DLP, we got our claws and paws done, mani/pedi for those of you not in the know, then went to the Little Beet Table for dinner, i had my first cauliflower steak! got caught up had a good time and then I’m going to collapse in a few minutes.

Tomorrow is a big day, someone is turning 7!!!

{May 15, 2017} Happy Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day. Are you a mom?

Did you have to think about that? Moms come in all shapes and sizes. Some are born to do it, some fall into it, some choose to do it and some, surprise! And don’t forget fur baby moms!

I have children, instant family, I used to say. I became a mom the minute I met my kids. Get this… within a month of becoming a mom, step-mom for anyone who is slightly confused, my feet grew! What? Yeah half a size! I went from 7.5 to 8!

I like to joke that I got all of the joys and none of the stretch marks!

I missed the wee stage with diapers and potty training, oh there are stages I am sorry I missed, the first step, the first tooth, but I was there for other firsts and that was fabulous. I watched my kids thrive, shine, blossom, achieve milestones, drive a car, first boyfriend and girlfriend, get a job, graduate high school for starters and now, both my kids are successful adults. Both married and my baby had a baby. TYL is a mom! She celebrates her first mother’s day! And oh, does motherhood suit her. Thank you for giving me a beautiful baby boy to love on and be a part of his life.

I have people in my life who have welcomed me into their lives in a grandmother and auntie role.

KAB and CS didn’t have to let me in, but they did and oh do they make my heart soar! Baby A, who’s not a baby anymore, his baby sister EB, LB, my first granddaughter, the first to call me JJ and now her little sister, LS. Watching their moms is amazing, the way they teach their children and help them navigate life, wow.
My sister, who gave me the most amazing little nieces, I didn’t realize what being an aunt does to you, it’s a whole different level. What a mom she is, nurturing, teaching, calming, celebrating, thriving, she amazes me every day. I still remember the day, when I was living with them, sometimes three adults in the house, um, you can imagine…’we got this, you be the cool aunt’. done! Do you know what it means when I hear they won’t go to a movie without Auntie J?!

My friends who are these amazing mom’s, LBK, her three girls were the first to call me Aunt J, I love when get to spend one-on-one time with them, it’s rare, but wonderful. Bright, goofy, full of life, dramatic, athletic, I can’t wait to see what’s next! Oh yeah, don’t forget the two fur babies!

SDL, well, you know what I think about her! We still can’t figure out what life was like before Miss A! I’ll never forget the email “Auntie G, do you want to see your niece?” Tried to hold back those waterworks! And Boogie Bear, what a cat!

TS, so much she’s done to have an amazing daughter in her life, KS, bright, funny, caring and now a teacher. Well read, traveled, spoken, that’s almost all to do with TS. She also is amazing for being allergic to cats and had her grand kitty, Molly living with them!

JCT, she’s raising an amazing daughter, SAT, smart, funny, shy, talented and… she just became an aunt to get brother’s new baby! She’s also a fur mom to two goofy pugs.

CWB, friends since middle school! Lost touch, got in touch, lost touch, got in touch. No time had passed and I so love talking to her about her daughter, SB and hearing them interact while we’re on the phone. She is so good, all she’s teaching her daughter about life, compassion, love, caring, giving. Wow!

LGR, we’ve known each other for over twenty years, seen each other go through some stuff and now, to watch her raising her daughter, a bright, precocious, funny, inquisitive little girl and big sister to a fur baby. I love spending time with them!

KWH, she even posted on Facebook she didn’t think kids were in her future, we went through some similar things as step moms, it was so good to have someone who understood. Now, Baby J is just a love and not a day goes by that KWH isn’t amazed and thankful and joyful.

RJS has two fur babies that I get to spend time with and she officially became a mom and grandmother, when she got married to get long time love a few months ago.

I’ve also had the honor of being a fur mom to a range of furry babies, even my friends fur babies call me auntie!

GES and I had an amazing mom and she taught us what it was to be a great mom. Hugs, birthday parties, education, snuggling, loving, caring, generosity, being genuine, living life to the fullest, silliness. I see that and so much more in how I jeep raise my kids, how I interact with my kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, children in general and I see it in my sister the same way with her kids and all the kids that call us auntie.

There are so many more women in my life who are moms, of two legged, four legged, whatever legged who are amazing and deserve nothing less than amazement and admiration and love.

What an honor to be a mom, in whatever capacity you are. We are amazing and I love you all for it.

Happy Mother’s Day.

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