Odd Bits Archive

Okay, my underwear really isn’t on fire, but that’s the best description I can manage.  It’s been a CRAZY few weeks.  Here’s what I’ve been doing:

• I spend every weekend at a fair or farmers market selling barbecue sauces, spice rubs, black garlic and brine for Mac Brothers Gourmet Foods.  The end of August through November is our busiest season.  Plus, we’ve picked up two more retail locations!  If I’m not at work, I’m selling, making, bagging, bottling, labeling, or schlepping.
• Work: I work as a school counselor at a magnet school in East Hartford.  I love my job, my school and my students.  I usually don’t have a lot of extra stuff to do outside the school day (which is 8 hours long – much longer than a regular public school), but we are going through NEASC accreditation.  We’ve had a lot more meetings and responsibilities these past few weeks.  This week marks the culmination of all the hard work, though.  Hopefully, work will settle down to a dull roar soon.

Unfortunately, what had to give was Gina’s Kokopelli.  I’ve felt horrible about letting all of you down and not posting very much.  But – LIFE!  I’m hoping to get back in the swing this week.

Hi everyone.  I’ve been away from my blog for two weeks now and I’ve been missing it.  Originally, I got overwhelmed with the start of school (I’m a high school counselor) and just didn’t have enough time in a day.  Then, I picked up a nasty virus that had me down and out for over a week.  The next phase was double pink eye!  I’m just now able to talk above a whisper and don’t sound like a bullfrog in heat.

Although I strive to get the deals up and done in a timely fashion, sometimes life catches up with me.  I fully intend to get the grocery store and drug store deals up this week as well as some freebies and deals.  Sorry for any inconvenience my absence may have caused you.

Gina

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.