Day 31-year 7 in the books

Once again I have enjoyed my month long slice writing..

I have enjoyed reading fellow slicers, both those I know personally and those I have never met.

I have enjoyed memory lane by looking back on my past slices.

I have enjoyed taking the time to think about my days more so than usual to find something worthy to write about.

I look forward to year 8 next March!

 

Day-30 A Month in Review

This is one of my favorite slices to do..  to look back at all the slices I did this month…  Some which I have already forgotten about..

Day 2: Last time I drove past the Statue of Liberty Tax guy was still dancing and trying to drum up business

Day 3: I have not seen another “deserted” 12-pack at the bottom of a lonely cart since

Day 4: The corned beef that my husband made was just as delicious at our St. Patrick’s day party as it was during our taste test

Day 5: As the weather gets warmer I know we will continue to miss our old neighbors being across the street.

Day 6: My poor dog still hates the noise from the heavy rain and thunderstorms..  It’s gonna be a long Spring for her..

Day 7:  After finishing the one box of thin mints my house has been free of them for the most part minus the box brought to our party.

Day 8:  I still think it would be cool to have the SOL challenge in another month.

Day 9: I’m still hoping to go to Hawaii to experience the BEST thing about a vacation there according to my kindergarten student-the chocolate ice cream with sprinkles

Day 10- July 15th still not a good day in my world

Day 12- Still loving my weighted blanket and hoping to find something to replace it when the weather gets warmer.

Day 13- Still trying to figure out the bad word in Kindergarten that starts with Y!  🙂 hahaha

Day 14- My daughter is still rocking the hoodie in the cold weather..  at least it is slowly getting a bit warmer.

Day 19- Still hate getting gas and still wait until I HAVE to but still haven’t run of gas again..  thank goodness

Day 20- My March Madness Bracket made it to the second night of the sweet sixteen only..  darn you Alabama!, but still a personal best for me!

Day 22- I have been much more careful with my Cadbury eggs and since then my dog has not had anymore chocolate egg treats..

Day 24- I don’t think we will do the cruise this year but definitely decided that eventually we will

Day-26 Luckily my stomach bug was gone by Monday and I have been able to enjoy my break without it.

I love looking back and rereading the month and now I know I will be spending a great majority of the next hour going back even further and reading past years.

 

Day 29- The Evolution of the Birthday Dinner

After writing yesterday’s slice about my daughter picking the birthday dinner that we will be making at her family birthday party it made me think about her birthday dinner that we will take her out for, like we do every year.  And it made me think about how the birthday dinner place evolves as the kids grow up..

In my family it was always a tradition, as I am sure it is in most families that when it is your birthday we will go out for dinner and the birthday guy/gal gets to pick where we go.  We throw the invite out to the extended family (ours is small) and if anyone can make it they go with.  I always try to go to my nieces birthday meals if possible, as my sisters do the same for my daughter.

It started with my nieces.  Birthday dinners/lunches used to be McDonald’s, then as they got a bit older Red Robin.  Next was Texas Roadhouse and last year my teenage nieces picked The Lighthouse which is a pretty nice steak place near their house…

My daughter’s birthday dinner evolution is definitely happening now too.  Hers started at McDonald’s as well (typical for younger kiddos I am sure), then it was Chili’s and since last year she has moved up the birthday dinner stakes and her place of choice is now Hibachi.  We went last year and she ahs requested it next month for her 12th birthday.

Although it is not as cheap as McDonalds or Chili’s is, it is definitely tastier for sure.

I’m just curious when the next “evolution of  birthday dinners” happens where we will be headed next!!

Day 28-Birthday Meals

On April 8th my daughter will turn 12.  We have a small family but we will have a get together nonetheless and invite a few family friends over as well.  Each year we do this she gets to pick what she wants us to serve as a meal to everyone.  Last year we did burgers and homemade fries.  In the past we have done  chicken parmesan and homemade alfredo noodles (one of her faves).  So this year I asked her and it sounded fine to me but last night my husband inquired and he is struggling with the choice.

She wants Grandma Brunke’s homemade ravioli (her absolute favorite- and it’s really sweet because she never got a chance to know my husband’s mom-her stepdad-because she passed away before she was born and way before him and I got together but she has tasted many of her recipes and knows a lot about her and refers to her as Grandma Brunke).  John loves this idea.  We will have to spend this Sunday making some more as we are out but we like to do that so that is not the issue.

The issue is she also wants smash burgers and homemade fries.  Both delicious as well..

His problem is that those things don’t traditionally go together.  He is pushing for either dropping the ravioli and just having the burgers and fries OR dropping the burger and fries and having chicken parmesan and ravioli. He just keeps saying “They just don’t go together, we can’t do it”

I don’t think it is a big deal.  We are not trying to impress anyone with this fancy meal..  We know everyone coming and everyone will have something they like.  It is her choice.  He just can’t get past it and I think it is funny..

He has not brought this up to her yet but it doesn’t matter because I know in the end, no matter how much it bothers him we will still have ravioli and smash burgers and homemade fries because it is her birthday and that’s what she wants..

Day 27- Gas Station Mishap

Today while I was running errands I stopped at the gas station to get gas because I had to..  :)..

When I pulled up to the first pump and got out there was a note that said that the credit card reader was not working- please prepay inside.  Nope, I don’t want to do that!  I never know how much to prepay and it is just easier to pull to another pump.

Finding another working pump I waited and thought about the easiness of modern technology.  It made me think of the days when I first started driving and I HAD to go in to prepay.  And it made me think of the time where I had a mishap after prepaying..

I was in high school and my parents bought my sisters and I a car.  They would give us $10 a week to fill up the car  (gotta love $0.99 a gallon) to get to school and our local job and any other gas we would need we would have to pay for.  So I headed out on Sunday night to fill up our gas tank.

I went in and prepaid and when I got to the pump I saw that the $10 was added.  While I was getting the gas nozzle all set to fill up my car I heard someone shout out and say hello to me.  It was a very cute boy (I remember his name was Jack) that I knew from school, who was a Senior, so I got my car all set to be filled up and excitedly walked over to hi, to probably try to be all girly and sweet and flirty and 16ish with him.

A few minutes later his car was filled up so we said goodbye and I walked back to my car still all giddy after my chat with Jack.  I took the nozzle out and put everything back and screwed on the top and closed the gas pump door and merrily went on my way thinking about how I was going to call my 2 girlfriends and tell them how I talked to Jack at the gas station!  I was almost home when I looked down and my gas light went on!

WHAT!!!??  I just filled it up!  What happened! I pulled over and tried to figure out how I could have used up 10 gallons of gas going like 3 miles!  I started replaying the gas station activities in my mind when I realized what had happened!

I was so caught up and excited that Jack talked to me that in my hurriedness to make sure I had a few minutes to talk to him I set up my car to be filled with gas but I NEVER pulled the trigger on the gas nozzle to start filling up the car.  And when I came back from my chat I was so excited I just assumed that the nozzle shut off automatically like it does when it is filled.  So basically I paid and left without filling up my car!

I was out $10..  $10 that I was given to fill up my tank..  $10 that my parents would not give me more of for being so dumb so I didn’t even ask..  $10 that I needed to use to fill up my tank… $10 that was a lot of $$ to a 16 year old!

I went back to the gas station and of course the money was spent- someone got $10 of free gas.  I scrounged up my own $10 and MADE SURE that I filled up my tank this time..

Lesson learned..  Pay attention to what you’re doing when talking to cute boys at the gas station..

Day 26-Stomach bug

I’m usually a pretty healthy gal.  Always have been but it seems like a slight stomach bug has gotten a hold of me.  Middle of the night /early morning Saturday it hit me.

It’s been a long time since I have been hit with a stomach bug so I forgot how mean my body is to me when I have an upset stomach.  Now I know no one likes to feel sick and everyone could probably say this is true but not only does my stomach feel nauseas and the thought of eating something sounds awful I STILL feel hungry and want to eat!  It is the weirdest thing and it is torture because I have a taste for lots of yummy food but can’t eat it.

Luckily the bug was minor and I was still able to do a few things yesterday.  Except eat good food; I was too scared so I stuck with the bland basics.

As of this morning I am about 85% and have been able to eat some  more things but not all the good things I crave.. It is not the start of spring break that I was hoping but I am happy that I do not have to work tomorrow and I am very thankful that I did not have a spring break trip planned- I keep telling myself that every time I read a FB post or slice or get a text message from one of my friends on spring break so I don’t feel sad :)!

Day 25- Look!

Being a teacher of 5 & 6 year olds and having an 11 year old daughter has definitely given me A LOT of opportunities to “Look!”

You know the infamous (and sometimes constant) young kid sayings of things like “Look at my dance mom!”  “Mrs.Brunke look at the thing I made!” It’s just a give. And that’s just their age.

However my husband is just as bad!  He is always asking me to look at things like, “Hey babe, look at the dog all snuggled up!” And it is always when i am in the middle of something else and if I don’t look he keeps saying it. And true the dog always looks cute but after the first few times there hasn’t been one that warrants a “Look!”

If it’s not the dog it’s something online or on the tv or a truck or something on the road..  usually all the same things and nothing ever “Stop what you’re doing worth the look!”

I always joke with him he’s worse than a kid. He always says it’s a good thing I have experience and patience with the kids so I can handle him.

Day 24-To Cruise or not to Cruise?

I have never been on a cruise. Growing up that was never an affordable vacation for my family and once I was an adult I never really in a situation to go on one nor was I really interested in them.

I have 2 friends that LOVE cruises. They go as much as they can. One is a die hard Disney Cruiser only and the other has a few favorites. My sister is another big cruise person.

My one friend just sent a group text telling our girlfriend group that her and her husband and their oldest son booked a 4 day cruise for early next January  during spring break and threw the invite out to all of us.

My first thought was no thanks.  Never really been interested  I know people live them but I’ve heard that they are CROWDED! and I’m not a big crowd person.  I’ll go crowded places if I have a “get out” option that isn’t a tiny room on a boat.

Not surprising our other cruise loving friend said maybe as she’d have to check dates but I’m positive the truth is that she has to check out cruise line to see if it meets her Disney standards. I get it- you like what you like.

A few other friends said maybe so I chimed in and said maybe too.. SO now my interest peaked a little so I made a list to decide whether to Cruise or Not Cruise

To Cruise:

  1. Never been on one so I may love it
  2. Sounds like most of my friends and their husbands whom we have a great time with will all be going
  3. Warm weather in cold miserable Chicagoland area January
  4.  Short enough that if I don’t like it I am not committed for a week, just 4 days
  5. Will not have FOMO when all my friends go and I don’t

NOT to Cruise

  1. Crowds
  2. Heard the drinks and extras can be expensive and we like to drink and do the extras
  3. Only a short trip so will I really get the feel of everything
  4. Lots of other destinations that are above a cruise on my vacation list that I’d rather spend the money on.

I am sure there is more but this is where I am now.  The good thing is, is that I don’t have to commit just yet.  I will wait and see and make my decision in a few months and if the cruise fills up and I can’t get what I want then it wasn’t meant to be.

Anything else that I should add to my lists before deciding?

 

 

Day 23-Thursday night date night

2 weeks ago my daughter started a spring softball training camp on Thursday nights from 6-8.  It is in one of those cool domes that has everything sports in it. Tons of kids and coaches practicing and training!
The first night my husband and I both took her because we’d never been there and that way whoever drove her each week would know what the deal was. We brought her in and got her settled and decided that we were not going to stay and watch.  There was lots of room for parents and many parents were there watching or doing work or whatever but my daughter didn’t care if we stayed so we decided to find something to do for the next 1.5 hours since going home was kind of a waste.
Well being the craft beer lovers that we are we realized that a craft beer store/tasting room called Open Bottle that we like was just a mere 6 minutes away! Perfect! They have about 10 different beers on tap and a cooler of single beers that you can buy and drink at the bar. We tasted some different beers and passed the time away.
Last week my husband had plans so I was going solo and wanted to watch some March Madness games so I headed back to the Open Bottle. Turns out I forgot they didn’t have tvs but I checked scores on my phone. While I was there I realized that they already had different beers on tap than last week!  The bartender says they change up the beers every time they change a keg which is usually weekly.  So I sampled a few, bought some i liked to take home and headed back to grab my daughter.
That night I told my husband about all the different beers that had and how they change weekly!  A great way to sample a variety of beers from a variety of breweries.
So needless to say we made the decision last night that that will be our Thursday night date night for the next 6 weeks!

Day 22- Not my egg!

This time of year is the season for my favorite sweet treat/guilty pleasure- The Cadbury Creme Egg!  Not the newer flavors like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg, just the original Cadbury Creme Egg.  The one with the funny commercial that has been the same since as far as I can remember.

About a month ago I had my first sighting and have been enjoying them sporadically because as delicious as I find them they ARE super sweet and one every few days is definitely enough!

So for the last few weeks I have been getting one every few days at the gas station I get my fountain drink from in the morning.  They had a bin by the self checkout filled with random candy and there were a few of them in there.  Then I made it to Target the other day and hit the jackpot..  The 4-packs!  I bought 2 of them and hid them as usual- cherishing one every few days, being sneaky as to not give away to my family that I have some.

Last night I decided I wanted to enjoy one after dinner.  When the coast was clear in the kitchen I snuck one from my hiding spot into the big pocket of my hoodie to have when I found a safe spot to enjoy later in that evening!

A short while later I noticed  a napkin on the floor and bent down to pick it up and went about my way. A few seconds later I noticed my dog being very interested in and secretive about something she got a hold of.  Looking from afar I couldn’t tell so I started heading her way.  Just then I patted my pocket and realized my egg was gone!  It must have fell out when I picked up the napkin!  She must have it!

NOT MY EGG!  NOT my limited time only sweet treat that I was waiting for all day!  Not to mention a chocolate treat my dog SHOULD NOT have!

Luckily I got her to drop it out of her mouth but not before it got slobbered on and cracked in her mouth!  It was pretty much intact minus some teeth holes but definitely not pretty and definitely not something I was going to eat!

Luckily it was not my last one and I was able to enjoy my Cadbury Crème Egg last night!  But lesson learned. Don’t grab it until you’re ready to eat it!