Party Super Party!

Ok, catching up on birthday postings... On the way back from our shopping extravaganza yesterday, Brett asked me if I was bummed that my birthday wasn't a "party super party". Um, no. Heck, I had a blast, and have gotten lots of loot! That's why I've decided that, while I wasn't really looking forward to turning 40, birthday #41 will be in two weeks, and then two weeks after that will be #42. So those of you who contributed - please be prepared to shower me with gifts and birthday wishes. You've been given sufficient time I think...

;-)

Ok, so back to the events of Wednesday, March 4th, 2009. As mentioned earlier, Peter and Conrad hooked me up with a gift certificate to Donzell's, my favorite garden center. I honestly had the best intentions to go and treat myself to SOME stuff on their dime (I need more seed starting/garden prep stuff), but I also wanted to save some of the gift certificate to get a shrub or perennial or whatever later in the spring that I could, uh, "dedicate" to them - as a memory of turning 40.

Yeah, that didn't happen. I'm like a kid in a candy store in garden centers, especially when it's on someone else's dime! Let's just say I "went over budget (aka gift certificate)" and leave it at that.

When we got there Brett made a new friend. I think I've seen the store cat before, but it's been a long time, and I don't think I'd ever seen it as friendly as it was yesterday morning! That kitty was a sucker for attention, parading all over a area getting set up for a new display.


So here's what Peter and Conrad got me - plastic flats:


Fun hunh?

No no, that's not all!!! They also helped me get two varieties of dahlia, two varieties of begonia (which I've never started from tubers before!), red and white onions, shallots, a SUPPOSEDLY weather-proof marker (we shall see!), and some vermiculite to help with the seed-starting process. Not bad, hunh?? And hey - this is me restraining myself!


After Donzell's we flew to Turkey...


Wait, no, that's just Cheesecake Factory up at Legacy Village...


Legacy Village is a super-posh shopping center in Beachwood, Ohio, where all the elegant people shop and dine. We like to go up maybe once or twice a year and pretend we're hip and trendy, but are just sorely reminded how far from the truth that is.

Here's Brett getting big grins because we're about to go into the Apple store.


No, we didn't buy anything there. Instead he was sorely reminded of how uncool we are because we're still sporting LAST YEAR'S models of iPod Touches, and all the protective cases are for THIS year's model. Oh well!

While wandering around we discovered Rockey Mountain Chocolate Factory. Brett was instantly sucked in with the free sample of their Avalanche Bar - like a rice krispie treat with peanut butter and chocolate chips? I think there's something else in it - maybe white chocolate, but Brett claims he wouldn't have liked it if that was the case. I also wanted to try one of their mint Oreo bars, and had to get some dark chocolate orange cremes and coffee cremes. Mmmm - can't wait to scarf this stuff down!


After the chocolate store, we wandered around a bit more, visiting the Viking Kitchen Store (the employees were bitching with each other about someone else who wasn't there, and it sort of put out a bad vibe - plus I didn't really need to buy anything), and Heather's Heat & Flavor, which is ALWAYS fun to visit! You can see here from our loot that we decided to grace them with our patronage. In other words - Yummy hot stuff came home with us (plus some other spices!). Brett totally got suckered in with more free samples - we came home with hot hot hot potato-chip-covered-peanuts that are a fun challenge to eat without your eyes watering. We also had a good talk with the guy working there, who gave us all sorts of info on various flavors and peppers, including some of the peppers I'll be trying in the garden this year (like maybe fatali isn't such a smart variety for me to grow - not if I don't want to burn off my face!).


As we were leaving, I snapped another pic of Brett in front of the Apple store. Bye Apple!


After leaving Legacy Village we stopped for a late lunch, and then went on to more shopping. We had planned to check out Trader Joe's, and just over at the other end of the shopping strip I saw something I'd heard about many times - PENZEY'S!!! Now I have to say I would've picked up more at Penzey's if I hadn't already recently stocked up my cooking spices/seasonings between King Arthur Flour and Heather's Heat & Spice. Still, I couldn't leave empty handed... Sharon - check out the hot chocolate with a hint of mint! I can't wait to try this! Oh, and I nabbed a spare copy of their catalog-with-recipes for you! Check it out - the long tube is vanilla beans....I haven't had any of those in ages, and can't wait to come up with the ideal recipe to use them! Maybe a custard?! Cake? Mmmm!


After Penzey's we hit Trader Joe's for our last stop of the day. I honestly burn out on shopping after a short period of time - either feeling guilty for spending the money, or frustrated that I have will power and am not buying stuff (clearly not a problem yesterday!), or just losing interest. It's a good thing I felt this way as we were headed into Trader Joe's, or I would've come out with a lot more stuff! We've been talking wanting to make Indian food lately, so the Masala Simmering Sauce and Garlic Naan (frozen) will be perfect for that. I love rice crackers and have been eating a bunch of those from Mr Bulky's lately - I look forward to trying these jumbo sticky ones! Plus you can see I obviously needed more chocolate! (That bar on the bottom? One pound of dark chocolate!) And finally, the package over on the right - you'll notice it's rubber banded shut - I couldn't get home without trying the CRUNCHY DRIED green beans!!! FUNNNNKY! They're interestingly sweet and salty, and yet there's no sugar added in the ingredients - so maybe green beans have some natural sugars drawn out by the frying/drying/whatever process. GOOD STUFF!!


What was even more exciting was getting home to find TWO boxes on the front door step!!! My brother and sister-in-law got me a weather alert radio (I think this is one of the ones I'd been considering on Amazon). After we had some big storms and power outages last year, I really did intend to get one of these, but then slacked off and forgot. I think this is going to be a wiiiise thing to have! Thanks Sean & Jesse!


And the other box? MORE stuff from Peter and Conrad! COOKIE! And not just this layer of cookies you see here...


But there were also two layers of these cute cut cookies (raisins and whiskey I believe?)...


AND a layer of biscotti on the bottom!


Holy cow! Between all these good cookies AND all the stuff you see we got further up, I'm gonna be a real fatty before long! Don't worry - while I DO like a lot of "junk food", I also get bored with the same thing real quick and am pretty good about pacing myself. I'm probably going to try freezing a good portion of the cookies and such so I can enjoy them for a long time (that does NOT mean I won't be eating some now!!!!) Thanks Peter & Conrad - you guys rock!!!

And after showing all the "junk food" and "ingredients" here, there's still more food stuff to come... Brett took REALLY good care of feeding me yesterday, so I'll be posting those pictures a little later. Trust me - GOOD STUFF!