Lunch meeting at Cafe Iberico!

Hello everyone!  Long time no blog.  A lot has happened since Fat Tuesday.  lol.  I figured I would pick up from last week where I left off.  Leading up to that Friday, my mom was trying to see if me and my brothers could come by for dinner.  I was hesitant because I had seen her the week before, but since my brother's birthday DID fall on Fat Tuesday, my mom wanted to make him a special dinner.  Unfortunately, I had a lunch meeting with my new boss as well.  I told my mom that I probably won't be eating much since our meeting was being held at Café Iberico.  I love that place!!  She understood, so we settled to have dinner after all.
First up, Café Iberico!!  It's one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.  I've been coming here close to 20 years.  The good news is, not everyone in our meeting has had their food.  It was nice ordering a bunch of stuff for them.  They have a pretty big menu, and since some of us were observing Lent, we ordered a seafood salad with grilled octopus and garlic shrimp to start off.  I LOVE their spicy potatoes!!!  Super delish!!  We also tried a Spanish potato dish as well to compare the difference.  At one point, things got out of hand and we kept ordering and ordering.  There were beef skewers with caramelized onions, salmon with asparagus, and a Spanish tamale which were devoured.  I can't believe we ended up getting dessert!  The ice-cream with banana has been a favorite among patrons for years. 
We had to rush back to work because we were also giving away some pre-Valentine treats for everyone!  We ordered enough individualized Cheryl's cookies for people to take back to their desks that day.  I love bringing cheer at work!  Sometimes you need a late afternoon snack to keep you going.
By the time I got home, I had to get ready for my mom's dinner.  After all of that, there was more food to come!  My brother enjoyed every minute of it.  I love seeing my family happy.  My mom is discussing some up coming changes.  I didn't realize she had so much on her mind.  Hopefully, things will all work out and we can look into the future together as a family.  She's been through a lot and I want her to get the clarity she needs to move into the next stage of her life:  retirement.

I usually order the Pincho de Solomillo, but since I'm observing Lent, I ordered instead...

the Salmon a La Pimienta!  Very tasty!

Had to order café con leche after our big lunch...

Back at work for some pre-Valentine treats!  Cheryl's cookies are individually wrapped for extra freshness!

Someone got a huge teddy bear for Valentine's Day!  We couldn't help but goof around...

At my mom's for my brother's birthday dinner

My mom cooked up a storm...

My mom baked banana bread as his birthday cake!

I love these guys...

It's Fat Tuesday!!

Happy Fat Tuesday!  I can't believe Ash Wednesday is tomorrow.  I have one more day to indulge.  lol.  Just kidding.  As I mentioned earlier, I decided to give up going out past 11pm for Lent this year.  I think this will help me save money since my social life lately has taken a hit at my finances.  Last month I focused on paying off a huge debt that lasted over 10 years.  Because of that, my credit cards have suffered since I never took the time to budget after the holidays.  I'm still paying off my vacation from Paris and Italy.  Not to mention, I HAVE been going out a little too much lately.  Time to disappear for a bit.  No harm done.  Paying for dinner, drinks, hopping from one spot to another plus the late night uber rides have maxed me out.  I'm financially exhausted.
The good news is:  I'm NOT giving up on socializing!  I can still partake on after-work happy hour specials and low key dinners and still be able to ride the Blue Line back home.  Chicago right now isn't the safest city so I usually take an uber home when I'm out late at night.  With my new curfew, I can ride the CTA home safely and save some serious money.  This is possible!  I can feel it!
Over the years, I've given up chocolate, drinking, cursing, and shopping for Lent.  This year it will be late night socializing and I think I'll be just fine. 

 

February in a nutshell...

I'm finally re-capping February, and in a nutshell, it was the most difficult month to share.  My mother's husband was sleeping more than usual, but his body was undergoing changes that was hard to grasp.  I kept low key for the most part.  My real dad had a family dinner at his house for my brother's birthday.  It was nice being able to see my dad and his wife.  My brother appreciated the gesture considering everything that was happening to my mom.

Check out my brother's smile!  He loved his birthday dinner...

 

 

 Puting on a brave face at Kincades for Fat Tuesday

 

The following week my friend gathered up a small group to celebrate Fat Tuesday.  It was freezing that day but that didn't stop us from having a drink to catch up.  By this time, the mayoral election was the talk of the town in Chicago.  It definitely helped to step out for a bit to clear my mind up.  I was super tensed by this point.  The following week on Monday my mother's husband passed away.  My mom noticed that his breathing was changing, so she called her brother and his wife to come by for support.  Once they showed up he stopped breathing.  I was coming home from work myself when my aunt called me to tell me what was happening.  It was a chain reaction.  I called my brothers and we all headed over to my mother's.  I truly believed God was with us that day.  He knew my mother couldn't handle being alone when he passed.  For that I'm forever grateful in love and prayer.  He brought us there to console her.  He brought my family together...