In Good Company

This past weekend, Joey and I went out for a dinner date at one of Milwaukee’s finest steak houses, Carnevor. While I do love a great steak restaurant – I kind of hate the name of this one. It makes me feel barbaric – like a predator or a dinosaur. 

Anyway….I would say Carnevor is one of the swankiest establishments in Milwaukee – super dark when you walk in, good mood music, hostesses in sky-high heels and black mini skirts, and absolutely amazing cuisine. My favorite was the truffle mashed potatoes. I might have died a bit they were so good. I’m embarrassed to say Joey and I were in a total food comma once we got home – we both feel asleep with the lights on and in our clothes. Yes – the food is that good.

Also, when you dine at Carnevor, you are often in good company. As were we because in the brief time (about 2.5 hrs) that we were in the restaurant, so were Alfonso Soriano, Starlin Castro (both Cubs players), Rollie Fingers (famed Brewers pitcher known for his fancy mustache) and Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers catcher).

I guess you have to be a foodie or a sports fan to enjoy this post. However – if you ever find yourself in Milwaukee with a craving for a good steak or a celebrity/athlete sighting – make a stop at Carnevor and you might get both.

Must Have for Summer!

This past weekend I did a little shopping at one of my favorite retailers ;-) and I found these fabulous peep toes that I just have to share. Not only are they adorable, but they are super comfy and very affordable! They also go with everything and will be great for summer! I would describe them as a mix between a Toms wedge and Ralph Lauren espadrilles. 

 

Not to mention they are high enough to look great but they don’t kill you if you have to do a lot of walking.

They are available in black and a tan shimmer. Get them before they are gone!

Click here to check them out!

Meal Planning - So Smart!

As mentioned in my post below, Joey and I have been planning our meals out ahead of time and I wanted to share our “meal planner” document. Of course, like all good things, I found it on Pinterest.

It has been super helpful for grocery shopping because we don’t buy food that ends up going bad before we eat it – which seemed to be a habitual problem we've experienced before. Now we save money and time just by using this little gem! Amazing huh?

Click Here to link to the meal planner document!

Grandma Style Dinner

Joey and I have been trying to plan out our meals for the week each Sunday. So far, it’s been great!

And because of our recent bout of cold weather, we decided to cook up a classic! Grandma style.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Ingredients:

2.5-4 pound chuck roast (depending on how many you plan to feed.)

salt and pepper to taste

1 packet dry onion soup mix

1 cup water

1 stalk celery, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

3 potatoes, peeled and cubed (I like a lot of potatoes so we thew in a few more!)

Directions:

1. Season the roast with salt and pepper to taste. Brown on all sides in a large skillet over high heat, about 4 minutes per side.

2. Place the roast in the slow cooker and add the soup mix, water, carrots, onion, potatoes, and celery. NOTE: If you are going to be gone all day, follow above. If you are going to be home while this cooks, I would recommend throwing the carrots in mid way through – because they get very soft.

3. Cover and cook on Low setting for 8 to 10 hours. Enjoy!

She Was Really Pretty

Pretty girl at the nail salon a few tables over from me: “Yeah – so I went on a date with this guy the other night. He was really nice but he kept correcting me!”

Girl’s Friend: “Correcting you? About what?”

Pretty Girl: “Well, I was talking about the separation between capital and state – and he was like, ‘It’s church.’"

(Silence as Pretty Girl and Girl's Friend sit pondering....)

Pretty Girl: "Is it really church? Separation between state and church? I totally thought it was capitol.”

Me in my head: It’s a good thing she is pretty.

Blast From the Past!

I was out shopping a few weeks ago and happened to come across a total blast from the past – a scrunchie. I immediately had flashbacks of lip smackers roll-on gloss, sparkle nail polish (which I still like when appropriate) and Bath & Body Works. Those were the days.

Anyhow, way back in the day, I had tons of scrunchies – all to be coordinated with my outfits (typically umbro shorts and a t-shirt). And if it wasn’t in my hair, it was around my wrist – so trendy. As the fad made its way through the “never wear this again” fashion faux pas list and at least one episode of Sex & the City in which Carrie actually throws a fit when she sees a woman sporting one – my love of the scrunchie faded.  

However, when I saw said scrunchie – leopard print no less – I picked it up off the shelf and we had a moment. It was soft and silky – perfect to sleep in without breaking off my hair. So I went the cash register and bought it. Well worth the $1.50 at For Love 21.

I love how so many fun things from my tween years are becoming popular – neon, slap bracelets, scrunchies, gelly shoes…for the first time in my lifetime, I can say, “I totally used to wear those in the 90’s!” 

Emotional Meltdown

I don’t know what my problem has been lately but I have to share a recent story from last Monday. My poor husband...

We were driving to work together and were stopped at this super busy intersection when I looked out the window and saw a mother duck with her dozen or so ducklings. My first reaction was to melt in utter cuteness but then I realized, “OH MY GOSH – WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!@#$@#” It’s a super busy area with a crazy amount of cars zooming by. I looked around and realized there was no refuge or nature area for this little duck family.

I started to get really hot and a little panicked. I even rolled down my window to get some air. I also started channeling the mother duck. I know she had to be frantic about finding a safe place for her little family. I kept thinking of those commercials of a woman talking about how she was scared for her children and in the end you realize it is the voice of a deer in the forest.  Dramatic huh?

The next thing I know – after a “Peach, are you ok?” from Joey, I am uncontrollably crying. I know Joey was completely shocked, confused, concerned.

I couldn’t stop – huge tears rolling down my face because of my concern for the duck family. Joey – being the good husband he is, got on his iPhone and started calling the DNR and humane society. He was such a trooper trying to help me help the ducks (I was driving by the way).

When we got to work, I ran inside to clean up my face. I had another cry fest with a concerned co-worker. And then I made about a hundred calls to different animal centers to alert them of the issue. I was so close to grabbing a box and heading back to see if I could corral the little guys.  

I left a bunch of messages and thankfully, the story ended up with an ok ending. The mother duck ended up getting spooked and she flew away and the babies fell into a sewer – I know that doesn’t sound promising but apparently ducks in a sewer is a common occurrence. A police officer and a few animal biology students went to retrieve the ducklings.

I am hoping that everything ended up happily and that the ducklings were retrieved. I definitely had a major case of human guilt.  I just felt so bad – philosophically speaking - about taking up too much room on this Earth. All of our crowded roads, multiplying housing additions and shopping malls – I kept thinking about the ducks.

Anyway – I had to share my story. I know I sound a little crazy. But, my husband was an all-star.

What can I say, I’m a quack. (Lame attempt at duck humor.)