Horrible Ribs at MESH Peri-Peri Grill

I’m not a ribs fan. They’re too messy and I don’t like getting my fingers dirty.

On Sunday, I was actually craving for some ribs. My friend and I decided to head over to MESH Peri-Peri Grill in Mississauga. Ribs were on their menu so we decided to give them a try.

We ordered a take-out order of ribs, a baked potato and a side of fries.

We must have waited a good 45 minutes for our order. Once we received our food, we decided to dine in. We were just that hungry.

When we opened our container, we were shocked to find two slabs of meat that looked nothing like ribs. The baked potato was nothing but sliced potatoes in some sort of sauce. We were too hungry to complain so we started eating.

After two bites of their so called ribs, I was ready to talk to anyone that worked there. The ribs had nothing but fat on it and tasted like rubber.

When I finally got a hold of an employee, I told him that we weren’t pleased with our ribs. They looked nothing like the picture they had displayed on their banner outside of their restaurant.  This was false advertising. It was full of fat and tasted horrible.

He apologized and told us they had no control on how the ribs turned out and asked if we would like another order. My response was that we had already waited 45 minutes for our food and weren’t willing to wait again.

He apologized again and took our information. He told us that someone would call and offer us a free meal the next time we were in the area.

Next time? Ha! I think not.

The funny thing is, the table next to us also ordered ribs. There’s actually looked like the ribs posted on the banner outside of the restaurant.

I wondered if this was done on purpose. Maybe they serve a different cut of ribs for customers that dine in and serve the fatty portions for those that order take-out.

After reading some reviews, MESH Peri-Peri Grill is known for their chicken, not their ribs. 

The next time I have a craving for ribs, I’ll make sure to visit a restaurant that specializes in ribs.

Have you had a bad food/restaurant experience recently?

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When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)  

Mine, Yours and Ours

When you get married, you become one with your spouse. What’s his is hers. What’s hers is his. Does that also include your finances? 

I was all for having just a joint account when I first got married. Everything was going well until I realized I had married a spender.  It seemed like every week he was buying another computer monitor or buying new equipment for our home gym.

The only time it would bother me is when I would ask if I could spend a few dollars on myself. The answer was always “no” because “we” had just purchased that brand new computer monitor or new equipment for our home gym.

Towards the end of our marriage, I got smart. I opened up a personal account. Whatever bills I was responsible for, I made sure I transferred enough money into our joint account and kept the rest for myself to spend on whatever I wanted.

I remember talking to one of my Aunts about the situation. She told me that her and her husband never pooled all of their money together. “He doesn’t need to know about every new dress I buy” is what she said at the end of our conversation.

I agree.

I think every couple should have one joint account for the bills and two separate accounts for personal spending. This will force the spender in the relationship to be mindful of what they’re spending their money on and to teach them some money management skills.

What’s your take on couples that only have a joint account vs. those who have a joint and separate accounts?

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When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)

My Happiness Project: Family & Friends

I’m in month five of my Happiness Project.

My Health & Fitness journey continues. I finally put away P90X until the Winter season. One of my friends gave me a copy of P90X3 for my Birthday. That will be my evening work out for the next few months. 

I survived two months of Boxing Boot Camp. I’m also adding the 30 Day Calf Raise Fitness Challenge to my list this month.

Last month’s resolution was Communication: to talk more and text less. In March, I received 611 text messages and sent 464. My goal was to cut those numbers in half by month end. Well, I did it. I received 231 text messages and sent only 165. I’m going to continue spending more time on the phone with my family and friends this month.

My resolution for the month of May is Family & Friends: to spend more time with the people I love.

Now that Spring has finally arrived, I will be doing a lot more entertaining. I plan on inviting my siblings and several friends and acquaintances for one meal a week. I also plan on visiting at least one person a week as well.

Earlier last month, I mentioned to one of my students Mom that I want to learn how to knit by the end of the year. Last month for my birthday, they surprised me with a bag full of yarn. Next week I’ll be having my first knitting lesson. I’m super excited!!! My first project is going to be a rainbow blanket for my nephew.

What resolutions have you made for this month?

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When you get a chance, please visit my friend Tyrone’s blog. His posts are insightful and very thought provoking. See his blog here.

Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)

Good manners go a long way

I always forget how rude people can be until I head outdoors for my morning walk or jog. Almost everyone I pass on the street makes no eye contact or says “Good Morning”. Everyone is so straight faced and miserable looking.

When I first visited Jamaica a few years ago, I was shocked at how friendly people were. Mostly everyone I came in contact with (children included) greeted me with a smile and a “Good Morning” or “Good Evening”. By the end of my stay, I realized that was just a part of their upbringing and culture. It was so refreshing that I decided that I wanted to do the same.

I consciously make an effort to make eye contact with everyone I pass – whether it’s at the grocery store or on the street - and greet them with a smile and a “Good Morning”. Most times I’ll get a smile and a greeting in return.

If you’re one of those individuals that avoids making eye contact with others and never says “Good Morning” or “Good Evening”, I challenge you to come out of your comfort zone and do the opposite. Not only will it make you feel better, your cheery disposition just might cause others to do the same. 

Why do you think people refuse to make eye contact and greet those they come in contact with?

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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

The 80’s was by far THE best decade to grow up in as a kid. We had the best fashion, music, toys and TV shows. That’s why I did an 80’s theme party for my birthday this past weekend.

My girlfriends and I dressed up in our 80's gear and headed to the nearest public school for a photo shoot. We re-enacted some of the activities we did as kids, such as playing Basketball, Hopscotch and Double Dutch.

We played a few games like “Name that 80’s TV theme song” and “Name as many 80’s toys and catchphrases in 1 minute”.

We laughed until our bellies hurt. We ate so much junk food to the point where many of us ended up with headaches. 

It was a night well spent as we reminisced about our childhood days. I ended the night by giving all my girlfriends loot bags full of…yes… candy!  

Here’s a list of things I loved the most about the 80’s:

TV Shows: There’s no show like the Cosby Show. I love it so much that I have all 8 seasons and know so many episodes word for word.

Movies: E.T.

Music: Whitney Houston’s, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” is my 80’s anthem. I definitely can’t forget Michael Jackson’s, “Thriller” video.

Candy: Skittles – the original kind.

Clothes: Leg warmers and slouch socks.

Outdoor Games: Hopscotch. When I was in Grade one, my girlfriends and I would rush outside to draw a Hopscotch grid and play until the recess bell rang.

Toys: Who remembers Pogo Balls and Skip-It? I couldn’t get enough of these two toys.

What did you love the most about the 80’s?

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#Grateful

When I was 7, I thought I’d never see 14. When I was 14, I thought I’d never see 20. Then I turned 20, then 30 and yesterday I turned 34.Words cannot express how grateful I am that God allowed me to see another year. 

Those who know me well know that I love to celebrate in style. I rocked my new floral dress and did a quick photo shoot out in the freezing cold (what’s a birthday without a photo shoot?).

I spent my afternoon at my favourite spa (the staff at Sanctuary Day Spas really do treat you like royalty).

I ended my day at the Jays game and they won! 

Thanks to everyone who called me, sent me text messages and messaged me on Facebook.

A very BIG thank you to the APC News Crew for putting together a birthday video for me. It was one of the best birthday presents I have ever received.

I had to laugh when one of my girlfriends asked me who was going to make my birthday cake. Why on earth would I ask someone to make my cake when I can make it myself? LOL. Stay tuned for pictures on my SimplyDelicious Facebook page.

I’m looking forward to another year full of baking, teaching, reading and spending time with the ones I love.

Cheers to 34!!!

What are three things you’re grateful for?

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Know Your Boundaries

Growing up, you had a ton of friends of the opposite sex. Then you met Mr./Mrs. Right. Not long after the wedding, your spouse tells you they aren't comfortable with you keeping these friends. 

Before you know it, you’re screening your friends calls and ignoring their text messages. When you finally build up the courage, you tell them that you can no longer be friends without an explanation.

This type of scenario happens way too often. It could be that your spouse had an unresolved issue with one of your friends. It could be that they have a trust issue. Or maybe they're just the jealous type.

I personally don’t see the problem with keeping friends of the opposite sex after getting married. If they were your friends before you tied the knot, what’s the problem with keeping them as friends after you get married?

This is one of those things that should be discussed while dating/courting. Why not create a list of boundaries that you both can agree on and adhere to.

Here are my suggestions:

1 Introduce your significant other to your friends.

2 Agree on when it’s appropriate/not appropriate to communicate with your friends (i.e. no phone calls after a certain time).

3 Limit your alone time with your friends. Make it a group outing instead by inviting other friends along.

4 Make sure your friends know that if they disrespect your significant other, they in turn have disrespected you.

What are your thoughts on keeping friends of the opposite sex after getting married?

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 Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)