Odd Bits Archive

As many of you know, 2017 was a tough year for me.  Here are just the highlights:

• My best friend lost her mom in February
• My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February and died in April.
• My husband lost his job in May and still can’t find one
• The woman renting my house in Enfield decided not to pay rent anymore.  She’s been in the house for a year without paying rent.  I filed for eviction in April and the housing court still hasn’t given me a court date.  Still waiting.
• The woman renting my house decided to move out this month.  She trashed her bedroom and left garbage and other not family friendly things all over.  I get to pay to have it cleaned up, painted, and all the furniture and trash hauled away. (It smelled like feces and cigarette smoke in her bedroom.  We found both.)

As you can imagine, I’m very happy to say goodbye to 2017.  Basically, it sucked.  However, one of the highlights in my year has been Gina’s Kokopelli and all the readers who have left me kind messages and made me laugh.  Knowing I needed to do grocery store match ups and post deals and freebies kept me going.  I had something else to focus on besides all the crap.

So as we bid 2017 a don’t-let-the-door-hit-you-in-the-ass goodbye, I wish you and your families a warm and safe new year.

Gina

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. I am very thankful for all of you, my readers, who make what I do so much fun and rewarding for me. Please enjoy your day!

My husband, Gary, and I like to try new places to eat.  In our travels around Connecticut, we’ll often pick an interesting looking restaurant or take a recommendation from a friend and try something new.  I thought it was time to write about our experiences so others can benefit.  Gina’s Kokopelli is about saving and using money wisely.  Therefore, I want to pass on my experiences at different (independent, not chain) restaurants to help you use your money wisely.  

Restaurant – The Breakfast Nook,  448 Washington Ave. North Haven, CT 06473
Atmosphere/Setting – 9/10
Food – 8/10
Service – 8/10
Price Point – Good Deal
Score – Highly Recommend!!

I can’t lie and say today was the first time I’ve been to The Breakfast Nook; however, today I went expressly to be able to write my review.  I discovered The Breakfast Nook when my BFF and I went a few months ago.  She had been before and really liked it.  I’m always up for trying new places.  I admit I’ve been back many times since.

For today’s meal, I ordered two eggs over medium with toast.  I often will get just an egg or two because it’s so incredibly inexpensive.  One egg with toast is just $1.95; two eggs is $2.50!  It’s more than enough food for me.  The eggs were done exactly to order and the toast is made with homemade bread they get from a local bakery.  Gary is someone who loves variety, so although he can’t eat much (we’ve both had gastric bypass) he always orders an enormous breakfast.  His breakfast had two pieces of French toast (made with homemade bread), three scrambled eggs, two sausage links, two strips of bacon, home fries, and toast for $11.99.  According to Gary, the eggs, which he always orders done “soft”, were perfect.  This is a big deal since rarely does this happen.  For some reason, restaurants almost always cooked scrambled eggs “hard” and they are way too done for him.

Because Gary always orders a huge breakfast, I rarely order my own home fries because there are plenty for me to steal off his plate.  The home fries were very tasty and not at all dry.  Furthermore, they were made with regular, fresh potatoes and not ones from a can like that other place I told you about.  Gary said the French toast was really good, too.  (He’s kind of a French Toast snob, so this is high praise!!)

All in all, I would highly recommend The Breakfast Nook.  Just note they are only open until 2 PM and are absolutely mobbed on weekends and holidays.  If you want to check it out, go early on a weekend or stick to a week day.

My husband, Gary, and I like to try new places to eat.  In our travels around Connecticut, we’ll often pick an interesting looking restaurant or take a recommendation from a friend and try something new.  I thought it was time to write about our experiences so others can benefit.  Gina’s Kokopelli is about saving and using money wisely.  Therefore, I want to pass on my experiences at different (independent, not chain) restaurants to help you use your money wisely.  

Restaurant – The Sloppy Waffle, 2551 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT
Atmosphere/Setting – 7/10
Food – 2/10
Service – 5/10
Price Point – Average
Score – NOT worth the money

Gary and I have been driving past The Sloppy Waffle for several years.  Breakfast happens to be my husband’s absolute favorite meal to eat out, and so The Sloppy Waffle has been on his “to do” list since we first saw it.  We decided to make today our maiden voyage and showed up a bit before noon.

Although the atmosphere was quite cute, I was immediately put off by the fact that I had to use their ATM to take out cash.  They don’t take cards.  Okay, I can deal with that.  Also, I had to go to a counter to order my food.  Again, I can deal.  I guess I don’t have to be waited on by someone.

Gary and I placed our orders (be prepared if you want cheese other than American.  They don’t have it.) and went to grab coffee which is in another room.  (Self serve.)  No decaf was available.  Now, I can drink the leaded stuff, but I prefer decaf, and I was really surprised they didn’t have any available later in the morning when most people would be switching.  Thankfully, the coffee was good!

When our food came, it looked really good.  Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving.  I ordered two eggs over easy, toast, and home fries.  My eggs were cooked just fine and their toast is made with homemade bread.  The bread ended up being the best part of the meal.  The home fries were made with canned potatoes and tasted really bad.  They had a funky sour taste they tried to cover up with too much smoked paprika.  After two bites, I left those alone.

Gary order the Louie Special which consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, the homemade bread toast, home fries, and their signature waffle.  According to Gary, the eggs, which he had ordered scrambled soft, were over cooked and that thing they called a waffle was the absolute worst excuse for a waffle he’d ever had. About the only thing it had in common with a waffle was the shape. I tried a bit of the waffle and had to agree.  Nasty.  Gary also agreed the home fries were the worst he’d had in a long time.

In conclusion – I wouldn’t waste your money on The Sloppy Waffle.