Midweek Holiday

I accrue a day a pay period of vacation, but am capped so often lose time because I just can't get away from work to use it.  With less than three weeks, and two pay periods left at this job, I am making sure I don't lose anymore time so took today, and will take Monday (a new period) off. DH has every Thursday off because he works Saturday's.  Normally his Thursday is filled like my Saturday's with errands, household tasks, kid running, and maybe a bit of down time.  We decided to take advantage of a rare weekday off together sans offspring, and putter out and about.  We did nothing very special, and in that, it felt like a good day. 

We did some browsing in the home section in Kohls.  We had water damage a few years ago to our third level family room and bathroom, but haven't had the drive to rip up the water stained carpet, and complete some needed repainting.  We have budgeted and saved for it though.  I love Kohl's, and am absolutely crazy for their clearance area. Paired with a 30% off discount promotion, and the chance to earn Kohl's cash, and I could do some serious spending.  I found these gorgeous  toss pillows in a chevron blue pattern.  They had removable covers, so would be just perfect on a new coach (part of the saved money) in a creamy neutral color, in a newly refurbished family room.  There were also some cute  faux metal baskets with wood tops, "repurposed" for side tables.  They also would be very cute, and just the right thing to hold a beverage or a bowl of snacks while watching a movie. In the end, I refrained, and we walked out of the store with nothing in hand.

We took ourselves out for a frugal lunch, compliments of a $15 bonus card to a restaurant we had purchased a gift card to for DD#2's God parents at Christmas.  The bonus card had to be used by the end of the month.  We feasted on lunch entrées paired with a really great salad bar. This is my favorite place to eat salads as they have the good mixed greens and spinach, and not just the  tasteless iceberg lettuce bowl.  There were tons of gorgeous vegetables, and eggs, olives, and other toppings as well as some fruit and pasta salads.  It really was enough for a meal in itself, but I still managed to scarfed my crispy and hot French fries. I had a mini burger pair, and took one home, along with the biscuits they give you to nibble. I'll grab a yogurt and the leftover burger and have lunch sorted for tomorrow. With tip, lunch for two, with leftovers,  was under $15.00. They gave us a couple more coupons for buy one, get one 50% off.  I think I'll drop those off to the God parents and let their gift card stretch a bit further, probably into two nights out for them.

We ended our day seeing a matinee showing of American Sniper.  There is a lot of controversy over whether he was a glorified  killer or  a great American hero.  I don't understand the protests over the film, or the hate statements towards the actor and director. Clearly war is awful for all involved, and the movie did nothing to glorify war and violence, and made evidence that the mental scarring is very real. Not wanting to incite controversy on this blog, I'll wrap up this chapter.

There were probably a lot more interesting and worthwhile ways we could have spent this week day holiday, but it felt right for us today. Anyone who has kids at home knows finding couple time, more than a few hours, is a luxury in itself. We spent the day talking, and planning, and looking forward to what's next on the horizon.  We have no  plans or commitments tonight, so in about an hour I'll make us a simple supper-lunch will have been burned off by then, and pull the cork on a bottle of wine.  There's a Minnesota Wild hockey game on the television at 7:00 and a worn out couch in a dingy basement family room calling my name.  My kind of holiday.

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Wine Clubs

“Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized.”
― Andre Simon

I like that quote, and I agree with that quote. Of course wine is not for everyone, and for those that do, preferences and taste vary.  That's also what I like about it.  I've been with wine "haters" that have tried a sip at the right time and with the right food, and found, they don't hate all wine, and some can be down right enjoyable.

For the weekend, we have a wine cruise trip tonight, crossing the state lines and leaving on a river boat from Wisconsin.  A while back I posted about making the most of end of summer, while not breaking the bank to do so.  The Wow Factor  One suggestion was to combine a wine tasting with also picking up an extra bottle for a gift, or a second evening with friends.  We belong to a two bottle a month  wine club with a terrific wine bar, called Swirl.  Swirl hosts a monthly meet-up with tastings and light food, and you can have them serve your bottles or take them home.  We will get a second plate, sometimes a flatbread, or lettuce wraps, and with their appetizers make it a nice dinner.  We later drink the wine ourselves, bring along to a friends, or as I just did, use as a gift. I purchased some cute cotton tapestry wine bags at a dollar store, and put a bottle of our wine club wine each for my sister-in-laws on my husbands side, fall birthdays. 
 
The wine cruise is just one  perk of the club.  It isn't exactly frugal, but there is good value in being in the club.  We can taste wines before wasting money on something we don't like.  We get a lesson at each tasting about the places that months wines are made, the type of grapes, good food pairings, and other useful information, and meet other people from our general vicinity of home.  We support local businesses-restaurant, local farmers, wineries, and the college kids that play music for what they earn in their tip jar.  The owner Dave, is so unpretentious, casual, and a just fun host.  His staff are delightful as well.  We get tasting notes with or bottles, which makes it fun to share the experience with those we share the wine with.  They provide discounts on cases if you want to buy more. This is an evening out my husband and I equally enjoy and that is always a value. 
 
I find the snobbery of old related to wine has long been put to rest by the majority of the country.  I don't know if so in other places, but judging from what we have leaned, wine is becoming popular-drinking and making, in new and unique places throughout the world. this post is not a commercial for any wineries, the wine industry, or any particular place, but sharing of my good experience.  If wine is your thing,  why not try out a short term club in your area and see if for you?