Sushi, Korean BBQ and Ikea

Things have been getting better. Or maybe I should say easier? I mean our life post-kids definitely has some perks, but I'm still not sure which life "better". Although this one is definitely easier! We can do what we want, when we want, where we want. The freedom has actually been really weird.  And even I am surprised in the ways it has been utilized.

First, there is my ongoing obsession with sushi. Keep in mind I was never a huge fan of sushi prior the kids leaving. And when I say sushi, I actually mean the cooked rolls. But somehow this food fully represents the perfect non-kid-friendly meal for me, which makes me enjoy it even more!

Then, our Thanksgiving dinner might have looked like this:

Yes, that is delicious Korean barbecue! More specifically, Galbi (short ribs), Beef Bulgogi, Pork Aamgyupsal (pork belly), and Hwyamit Gui (beef tongue). Chicken Bulgogi and Shrimp Gui came later.

The kids were gone but we were still used to our stuff being broken and bodily fluids on the floor (I kid- sorta), so we figured it was time to invite over our friends! And the Clustercluck of Thanks was born. I went into full on cooking mode because, well, I didn't have anything else to do!  So there might have been an entire {traditional} Thanksgiving spread along with 10 other random appetizers and desserts.  We told people to come hungry, but they weren't quite prepared for our spread!  And I had a bit too much of this punch, so there aren't any pictures to show of this shin-dig.

As expected, we have been taking our fair share of naps. This is a past time that we greatly missed when kids were in our life, so we are trying to make up for lost time.

I also took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Ikea.  This was definitely non-kid-friendly since the closest Ikea is 3 hours away!  But I had a great time catching up with one of my friends and picking up some Christmas presents.  More to come on this!

Yes, that does mean that all of my Christmas shopping was not completed by Halloween, which is customary for me. So I have been busy catching up on life: shopping for Christmas presents, sending out Christmas cards, menu planning for 2, vacation planning, and just enjoying our simpler, quieter new chapter in life.