FLIP + CHING

Last Minute Birthday Dinner at Carrabba’s

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Mom wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday. At first we were thinking that we would just get together after she and dad returned from their trip to Hawaii because we were all very busy. At the last minute I decided to ditch Tuesday night Zumba so that we could get together before they left. Dad didn’t come, which wasn’t a surprise because he doesn’t like to leave the house. You pretty much have to come to him. Jenni and mom both came, though.

Mom, Jenni, Brian and I had a wonderful dinner at Carrabba’s. We shared a pitcher of their delicious blackberry sangria.

Jenni had the steamed mussels and a side salad (not shown).

I think mom had the Tuscan strawberry salad with salmon. My crappy camera phone didn’t really do it justice. It looked scrumptious in person.

Brian and I shared the chicken Bryan. It’s just the right size of the two of us.

Since it was my birthday, our server brought out a slice of dessert rosa. It is my favorite dessert at Carrabba’s. We were all supposed to share, but I ate most of it. It was my birthday after all. LOL. Brian didn’t really mind because he doesn’t like anything that doesn’t have chocolate.

If you’ve never tried Carrabba’s, I highly recommend it. We always have great service and the food never disappoints. All of the dishes I’ve tried there have been very good. Also, they offer gluten free dishes, which is really helpful if you know someone with a gluten allergy. And, they have great blackberry sangria. It’s my favorite sangria besides mine. (Click here for the sangria recipe that I use.)

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When It Rains, It Pours

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Ching under Life.

I have been so pampered this week! We started off with a haircut last Sunday. I usually only get my hair cut two or three times a year because it’s so expensive! I can get by because my hair is long and when it has lost its shape, I just start wearing it in a pony tail. LOL.

Since Maria left Planet Hair ten years ago, I’ve had such a hard time finding a permanent hair dresser. I don’t really change my hairstyle much so it’s so much nicer to have someone that you can rely on to give you the same consistent cut… But I go so infrequently that it hasn’t really mattered.

Anyway, for the past year I’d been going to Melissa at Charisma East because the salon was down the street from our townhouse. I had a thing about having my dentist, eye doctor, massage therapist, grocery store, etc. all within a five mile radius. Seriously. If we could have afforded to buy a house in the NE quadrant of Wichita, specifically North of 13th Street and East of Webb Road, I would have been completely ecstatic. I also liked Charisma because they sell and use Aveda products, which I love, love, love. Their Smooth Infusion line is amazing!

The main problem I had with Charisma is that they’re not open on Sundays. I would go on a Saturday but, between teaching Zumba, waxing and dental appointments, and errands, and life in general, I never have enough time.

I singed my hair on the fireplace a couple of weeks ago and finally couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to go get my hair cut. Lucky for me, Eric Fisher Salon is open on Sundays. They don’t use Aveda products, but I’d gone there a few times in the past and they’d always done a good job.

The name of the stylist they set me up with is also Melissa. She goes by Mel, though. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but when someone is going to do my hair, I always check out their hair and their overall style. If they have great hair and look stylish, I know I’m in good hands.

Brian and I got there early and so we were sitting on the bench upstairs, just waiting for my turn. I’d never met Mel before so I didn’t know what she looked like. As I observed all the hair dressers working that day do their work, I secretly wished that I would get this one girl with the short hair because I liked her fashion sense. Few people can make brown and black work. Fewer still dare to do it. Oh, and I absolutely loved her boots! I should have taken a picture of them.

Have I told you guys how effective The Secret is? Numerous times, I’m sure. Well, it worked. The woman I had been admiring from afar happened to be Mel. Anyways, I should have “Secreted” my way into a cheaper haircut because she happened to be a master stylist and charges $50 (total cost to me was $60 after gratuity). And here I thought $42, which is what Melissa at Charisma charges, was a lot. No wonder she can afford those boots! LOL.

I joke but she actually did a really good job. She’s truly earned that master stylist title. She listened to what I wanted and cut my hair accordingly. I think this was the best haircut I’d ever gotten in a really long time. It’s been a tough few years looking for a permanent hair dresser, but I told Brian that day that I think I found the one. I liked her so much that I booked another appointment right then. I scheduled it for January 6, the Sunday before I leave for Phoenix.

Fast forward to Friday night. I got a coupon for a free shampoo and blowout at Beau Monde and decided to use it right before Brew Ha-Ha. I didn’t expect much, but Holly did such an amazing job. Brian and I only had $4 in cash between the two of us. I felt so bad. I almost wanted to pay for my free blowout (usually $28 or $35 depending on the length of your hair) just so I could tip more. She was that good!

I’m thinking that if she can do that to my hair, I bet she is an amazing hair dresser also. Oh, get this. She only charges $42 for haircuts and she gave me a 15% OFF coupon that expires on January 15. So I did what any sane crazy person would do. I canceled my appointment with Mel that I scheduled for January 6, and scheduled one with Holly for January 5 (Beau Monde isn’t open on Sundays). I figured that is far enough out that I can make sure I’m free that afternoon. LOL.

For a decade I’d been searching for “the one” and when it finally happens, I find two of them. Wild. Anyway, if Holly does as well as Mel when she actually cuts my hair in January I’m going with her for sure as my permanent hair dresser moving forward. First, I’m at Beau Monde every two to three weeks to see Patricia anyway. I practically live there. It will be so convenient to get my waxing and haircut on the same day at the same place. Second, $42 is a bargain compared to how much Mel charges and that will make my total cost $50 each time, which is a nice round number. I know, I’m weird. But round numbers are easier to work with when Brian and I do our budget.

Speaking of budget, massages were something that we had to cut out of the budget now that our housing and utility costs have doubled. Brian got me an epic massage at Sveta’s for my birthday this year, though. Gotta love birthdays. They only happen once a year so you must take full advantage whenever they come around. Just kidding. I actually told him that he didn’t have to get me anything. Although, I think he felt like he had to because I took him to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry for his birthday this year.

All jokes aside, Brian didn’t really have to get me anything because he’s already given me the best gift of all — his love. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of me everyday of the year. You are the best husband ever. I love you, baby!

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Birthday BBQ Meal at Bite Me

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Ching under Food and Drink, Reviews.

Brian let me pick where we ate lunch on my birthday. I chose Bite Me BBQ just down the street from work. It was a nice change of pace from our usual brown bag lunches.

The nice thing about Bite Me is that they give you enough food that two people can share, which is exactly what Brian and I did. Neither of us wanted to over-eat (something that I tend to do) and it also saved us money. We’d been eating out a lot lately so it was nice to be able to eat lunch inexpensively.

Anyway, I’m enjoying eating out now because Brian has already said that he is putting me on diet post-surgery. He sent me a couple of links to post-thyroidectomy weightless tips and such. It’s comforting to know that Brian won’t let me get fat after my thyroid surgery. LOL.

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Thai House

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Ching under Food and Drink, Reviews.

Brian and I got our Thai House fix last week. We kind of went wild with eating out on account of my birthday, and the lack of groceries in the house (which has since be remedied, by the way). We called our order in so that it would be ready by the time we got there and we wouldn’t go over our allotted one hour lunch break.

It should come as no surprise that Brian ordered the Thai House fried rice with chicken. His favorite menu item at Thai House and one of his most favorite versions of fried rice. The owners told us that their pineapple fried rice is actually even more popular than the house fried rice. Brian thinks he will try that next time.

I got the #17 Lad Nha Thai House with rice instead of noodles and no tail on the shrimp. The owners are so fabulous and accommodating. Seriously. All you have to do is ask and, as long as it’s doable and no illegal, they will oblige. I was told that I was only one of two people who sub rice for noodle in #17. The other person is a Hispanic guy who doesn’t like noodles. It’s not that I don’t like noodles because I love noodles too, but I really, really, really love rice. I could eat rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday of my life. LOL.

BTW, we mentioned to them that we were so sad because we couldn’t get our Thai House fix a couple of weeks ago and ended up going to Hana Cafe for dinner instead. We had a great dinner, but really had our heart set on Thai House that day. It was a Tuesday and the restaurant is only open until 2 PM on Tuesdays.

The good news is the owners have decided to stay open for dinner on Tuesdays and have their short day on Mondays, which they said is the slowest day of the week for them anyways. I’m not sure when this new schedule will start, but I’m happy that I’ll be able to get dinner at Thai House on Tuesday nights in the future. WOOT!

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The Doctor Wears Prada

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Ching under Health.

Brian went with me on my surgery consultation today with Dr. Sunderland, the best doctor of Otolaryngology/ENT in all of Wichita. I know because my super fabulous endocrinologist, Dr. Zayour said so. Oh, and my friend Andrea also agrees.

I’m so happy that I have a great surgeon. I was really scared of surgery last year and was completely against it. Now that I know I’m in very capable hands, I feel so much better about the whole thing. I’m even somewhat excited. I can’t wait until I no longer have a fat neck! LOL.

The appointment took longer than Brian and I expected. As with any doctor’s office, there’s a lot of waiting around. When Dr. Sunderland came in, he gave me a thorough once over — including shoving a scope thing down my nasal cavity after he numbed the area with a local anesthetic that he sprayed into my nose. It had a bitter taste and my nose felt weird. Though I was grateful for it because, were it not for the anesthetic, this next part would have been even more unpleasant than it was.