Travel | Peaches Prattlings

{April 27, 2017} A movie… wahoo…Seriously AMC?

Another fun evening with DLP.

A movie at our favorite AMC, with the good recliners and decent menu, they have a quinoa burger for me, and it’s not too bad.

We saw Boss Baby, which was good a second time for me and DLP enjoyed it for the first time. It’s always interesting to see a ‘kids’ movie with another adult, you get a different perspective. And seeing a movie for the second time is fun when the other person hasn’t seen it yet, you get to see their reaction, to the things you thought were funny.

First, the food took forever to get to us, so AMC did right by us and gave us two free passes to make up for it. Good customer service.

Next, when the check arrived, they had applied my AMC rewards to the check, something I did not ask them to do. The v frustrating thing is that this is the fourth time this has happened.

I have the rewards card to build up rewards like free movies and food. During the week, if I’m on a project, I can expense my food at the movies, I don’t need or want to use my rewards, that’s for when I’m home and can get free stuff.

In the past, I would be asked if I want to apply my rewards. Apparently, it can happen automatically, what? I was told that it can happen, no thank you.

They did give me the rewards back told me to tell the server not to engage the rewards, we’ll see if that works next time.

Overall, a fun evening, as always. What’s our next adventure?

{April 25, 2017} A great date!

No, I am not cheating on PSM!

I’ve told you, I have so many fabulous girlfriends that if I ‘played for the other team’ we would be dating! Dinners, movies, theatre, travel!

WIS is great, she keeps looking up vegan places to try and yesterday it was Native Foods, yes! You know how much I love their reuben!

We met at a different location than I go to all the time and…she loved it!! She had the peanut butter parfait and had the same reaction as I did! First, she could not believe it was vegan, then, like me, couldn’t get enough! Almost licking the inside of the cup! Hmmm, sounds familiar!

After dinner, we walked around and ended up at Marshall’s, which was great because, after what happened this weekend, I needed a new laptop bag.

I ended up with a “grown-up” bag, a tote. It’s nice, there are times when I’m wearing a dress I don’t want to use a backpack and now I have one. Another bag? Don’t tell PSM! I am glad I had someone to help me, I’m terrible at this sort of thing.

Overall, a very nice date. What does the next one have in store for us?

{April 23, 2017} Ended on a positive

Today we flew back to Oahu since I have to fly back to Chicago for work.

Here’s the crazy thing… I’m flying home next week! I’m only going to be gone for a week, what? Like a ‘normal’ traveling consultant! And I get to be there for two weeks, I won’t know how to handle myself!

This morning we woke up, uneventful, thankfully. We got motivated eventually and went to Kihei Cafe, a local, cash only breakfast place that PSM liked to go to when he’s on Maui for more than a day.

Beautiful view, had company in the snail on the wall, chickens and other birds walking all over the place. We had the veggie scramble which looked like a mountain of eggs, a very colorful mountain and French toast. Tasty.

Then we went back, packed, hung out and then headed to the airport. Car return, check bags, security, board flight.

Land, get bag… eventually, check in bag for next flight, get car, find food. We ended up in Chinatown, looking for one place and ended up at another. The first place didn’t have any space, so we went to Grondin, a Latin/ French restaurant. I don’t even know what mine was called, but it was tasty. PSM was happy, they made him a spicy bloody Mary, even brought extra chili powder.

Back to the airport, say goodbye, now I’m on my flight heading back to Chicago.

After everything, ended on a good note, or at least a tasty one!

{April 21, 2017} I’m home!

The homecoming was less than climactic. Let me explain…

PSM and I decided we would go to Maui for the weekend, he’s only been there for work, never pleasure, so, let’s do it!

He has to go for training and meetings, this week, so he flew out this morning and I’m going to fly out to meet him tomorrow. I got us an air bnb on the beach, so excited!

But…I landed and got a rental car, no PSM picking me up and when got to the house, no Mollie. Sigh…

Laundry is going, packed for the weekend and next week, finished some work, answered a few emails and now I’m talking to you.

I’m very excited to be home, in my own bed, and in just a few hours, I’ll see my fella, sounds good too me!

I can’t wait to share pictures from Maui!

{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 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!

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