Flemings - Restaurant Review

If you are wanting a delicious experience, great environment, nice ambiance, a feeling like a million bucks, great service, and the ability to try it anywhere in the nation this is a restaurant for you. They label themselves as a steakhouse and wine bar, however at the location we've gone to and enjoyed I honestly have enjoyed more their seafood dishes more! My personal review of this establishment is based off of the location in Plano, TX in the Shops of Legacy area; so I don't know about the other locations around the nation, I can only speak on behalf of this one.

The first time I went was with my sister for her birthday and we had my oldest (who was very little walking at the time) and I was already pregnant with my youngest. It was the Christmas season and the lobby entrance of the restaurant was beautifully decorated. Not only at this first visit but all others thereafter they always have a nice display for selfies and any group photos that may be desired to be taken; honestly a cool setup they have for before and/or after your meal. Moving on! So I'm not being biased by my oldest has always been well behaved and I make sure she's not one of those snot nosed brats running all around the table or restaurant with parents that always like to say "oh they're just kids being kids!" Needless to say even my knowing how well behaved my kiddo was I was still self conscious because a place that looked this nice made me wonder how the environment and ambiance was going to be, at least towards my kids. The world is cruel and likes to generalize so I was dreading how they might treat us thinking that my kid was like all the other snot nosed kids of the world...The waiter was so patient and even tried carrying conversation with my oldest (who really was just starting to use complete words), truly a calm and delicious meal!

With how lovely the entire evening was of course we returned! We've now gone about five times now and let me tell you! The consistency of their food prep, cooking, and meals are impressionable. Their flavors and menu items are all deliciously satisfying and an experience in themselves. Family members of mine have ordered some of their steak menu items but as I mentioned earlier, I have continually been deliciously satisfied and impressed with their seafood items! Below are the pictures of the items that are my favorites! 😁

I can't express enough how delicious this place is, but don't take my word for it and try it yourself! 😉 whether for an intimate dinner for two, traveling or work and wanting to eat at their bar lounge area, or a special family dinner - they won't disappoint https://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations#location-overlay

Here we have the crab cakes as an appetizer:

The next three images are of their seafood tower, mouthwatering delicious and oh so fresh!

This is my personal favorite as an entree, their chilean sea bass!

Their chocolate lava cake

Their cream brûlée

 

Let me tell you that I have been happily pleased and impressed with how phenomenal the staff is from the hostess down to the busboys! Hands down a 5-star feel with reasonable prices for the quality of food and all of their menu items from appetizers and drinks to their desserts and after drinks. More importantly, they are always wonderful, patient, and understanding of my little kiddos every time I bring them in. So to all at the Plano, TX location a HUGE thank you for how you have treated myself and my family at your establishment! Continue that wonderful feel and service! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

WTF are you grunting!?! - General

Ok I have to talk about this because it’s been YEARS overdue to just vent about 😋 I’ve dated all the military branches except the national guard and even without having dated one of them I’m pretty sure what I’m about to say still rings true…I think working out today just pushed me over the edge! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Whether male or female (but this is mostly about the men) why the hell are you grunting so loud while you’re using weights or a machine at the gym?! Like seriously!?! Is that obnoxious noise supposed to propel you to lift the weight higher or does it somehow magically give you an unknown energy to last longer or to complete the rep that you’re doing? Please I sincerely ask because it’s obnoxious as shit AND unless you’re having sex with someone out on the open floor of the gym, can you leave those grunts in your bedroom or wherever the hell you have sex. 

(Image above not mine-found just googling “working out grunt”)

I mean not even the military men going through boot camp, BUDs, routine PT, or even extensive special op training do these men in the military branches grunt when working out. This seems to be a habit among men who either want the attention or eyes to be directed at them (even if briefly), or the body builders who want just the attention on their bodies, or the dumbass empty headed gym rats who think a woman hears the grunt and I guess magically wants to jump them 😂 I don’t know but someone male please explain this! 

Even when I visit my best friend who is a fireman, I dont even hear those guys doing some dumbass annoying grunt noise! And some of those men are in delicious shape! 

So please someone either explain or please to us a favor and help us shut up the grunters intruding in our working out time! Is it just me or does it not annoy anyone else?!…

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

Creamistry - Dessert Review

If you're looking for some delicious cold desserts at a kid friendly spot and also with the establishment being at a kid friendly location where you can peruse the area, walk around, or let your children loose than this is the place for you!

Creamistry in Irving/Dallas Texas is ideal in its ice cream creations but in the fact that ice cream looks to be an actual art here. Between heir flavors and their textures and toppings you really can't go wrong with anything you select here and it's SO delicious. 

Where thy are located is in a place that can somewhat of a hassle to find parking but once you have, the rest of the time there you can easily walk around while enjoying the dessert or seat yourself inside or outside their shop. If you sit outside in their provided table tops then your kids can easily just venture within your sights, perhaps before you all make it into a walking exploration of the area.

So whether you're just along for the ride or going to enjoy something delicious for your taste buds, this is a spot for you to try!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Taverna - Restaurant Review

So I've been to this restaurant now twice and as deliciously as it may be, I have to say I'm not really impressed with it. The first time I went it was with a group from work and though the menu items shared between the crew was delicious, I found myself more excited for the drinks and desserts than the entrees themselves. Don't get me wrong they are delicious but I supposed I was expecting more than what I got considering the place wasn't some hole in the wall mom pop Italian spot...So the highlights of this meal were the drink I ordered which was the Lavender Refresher and their dessert of Tortino Al Cioccolato. Actually I lie, I think what was both appreciated and delicious was a pasta dish that was ordered and while the dish was hot, it got rolled into the full cheese truckle. So many flavors in that one bite of the pasta I had after taking a taste...

When a family member suggested it for dinner well of course who am I to say no when I was invited and wasn't going to be paying the tab-however the fact that I grimaced when I heard where we were eating says it all for someone like me. For those of you who know me I'm not some serious food but I do LOVE my food and take appreciation for delicious flavors, textures, and food items no matter what they are. SO for me to have grimaced when this restaurant was suggested, yea was NOT one of my places to frequent nor suggest to someone. Knowing what I knew from the previous visit to the establishment, I went with another food item and played it safe with my kids order with ordering them one of their pizzas. Unfortunately though you can't even really order a simple pizza at their location because they don't have the family friendly ingredients some families might need. Thankfully, my kids are super well rounded and their palettes are eccentric enough that they made due with the pizzas that we had ordered. On this specific visit, I ended up playing it safe and ordered there I ended up ordering their Salmone Ella Capricciosa. Both disappointed in their presentation and their flavors weren't all that great...My salmon was nowhere near the ounces anticipated from what their menu description and image depicts and to make it worse I ordered it medium, only to have received it more charred and crusty than I would have liked. The service that day was already horrible because we literally had to always flag our waitress down for every little thing and since I was hungry figured it was easier and faster to just eat it and then wash it down with my drink as opposed to complaining, waiting for it to come out, and then be able to eat. We didn't know what was up with our waitress but every plate that came out that day (September 3rd, 2022 to be exact) was cold or luke warm. We had better progress when we would waved down one of the buss boys-shoot even for refills for simple water!

What to take away from this are listed: 1)not family friendly or oriented so if you have no control of your kids or their actions this isn't the restaurant for you (you know which of you I'm talking about so don't be shocked that I even said it!) 2)the ambience and colors are commendable and enjoyable 3)with #2 having been said, I would say this is more a good location for single individuals in an event group or just to catch up, perhaps some girlfriends hanging out with wine, couples who like Italian and are looking not to get rushed, or perhaps you're just wanting to try something out solo 3) drinks are pretty good but I wouldn't say a must to go to this restaurant 4) their pasta dishes are impressionable so if you do make it out to their location order a pasta entree to make it worth your while

Otherwise there are better and more delicious joints to frequent in Legacy West and more delicious Italian cuisine spots in the DFW area when you're in Texas. Again it's just me and my opinion though...

This restaurant does have a website with the option of menu items to go. So if you don't want to stroll in for their pretty chill ambiance then try a bite at the comfort of your own home ;) https://www.tavernabylombardi.com/

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Shenandoah Caverns - General/Family/Recommend

Whether you're the type of person who likes to adventure or perhaps have your family that you want to do some exploring or adventuring with, the Caverns in Virginia are both fascinating and mesmerizing. So whether you're just passing through the Virginia state and more specifically along highway 81, make sure you make a pit stop or make a point of including a little adventure within one or all of the caverns in the state. 

That's right there's more than one cavern located in Virginia and they all have a unique layout and the natural structures the earth has created and even sometimes dumb-founding. The ones I've explored are Skyline Caverns where there are extremely rare crystals to be seen, then the Luray Caverns which is known as the East coasts largest cave system, then there's the Shenandoah Caverns that have seventeen plus chambers and still counting the last time I went...there's Endless Caverns where they provide a seventy-five minute tour is some gigantically impressive chambers, then the Grand Caverns where there is a impressionable wall of signatures from the Civil War, and the Caverns at National Bridge where there is a "Dome Room." Each one unique in their own way and should be on your bucket list or whatever list that people call to accomplish things that they would like to do; I personally call mine "My Life To Do List" because I don't personally want to wait until I'm about to die to accomplish or complete the tasks I want to. I know, squirrel! Back on track...

What I'm writing about specifically in this post is about the Shenandoah Caverns. It's truly a must see and the area (the national park surrounding the caverns) has a beautiful landscape surrounding the exterior of the caverns. The area is both nicely manicured and nicely set up to entertain the family or those wanting to indulge in a hike or walking simple trails. No matter the weather it's enlightening to know that in the cold season it's almost a perfect temperature inside and when it's hot/warm out it's nicely fresh inside.  

I know I know, my measly cell phone images don't really show a lot or do the Shenandoah Caverns justice but I was too lazy to go through the thousands of photos in my digital album to find the better ones, so my apologies! But my goodness, don't take my word for it and take the time to visit for yourself and just take a glance at some of the images on google: Shenandoah Caverns

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

 

The Start of Family Dynamics - Family/General/Society

Please leave all the "Woke Movement" and the gender war that continues to fester/evolve/progress in society out of my blog and especially this post, because regardless of religion science proves that chromosomes of a woman are what dictate the gender that also CAN get pregnant. Thank you so much and have a great day/night! Now officially starting this post :)

I don't know if I've said it before or not, however I will say that you'll probably hear it again and again from me...there is no book or manual to being a parent. I know, there's so much material on the shelves or via e-books, regarding "What to Expect When You're Expecting" or books claiming on trying to be helpful in parental methods as children grow up. First off, the same way that a "knight in shining amor" is a fallacy there are literally NO books or material out there that can assist you to be the best parent or to be "fully prepared for pregnancy" and thereafter. Sorry, if you want to buy into that bullshit be my guest and waste money on books you won't need. Granted I didn't say that the material out there isn't informative and can perhaps help a percentage of the world! However, why go outside of your family and/or friends within your circle, when they are going to be the best source of information! 

I mean if doctors aren't already telling you at your OBGYN appointment-your pregnancy is going to be 100% different than the next pregnant woman who enters; everything will vary and nothing and I mean nothing will be the same, perhaps similar but definitely not the same! So from your first sonogram/blood work/pregnancy test indicating your pregnant start talking to the oldest woman in your female or friend and get some one-on-one time with them. The same statement applies for post delivery, it's a fact that you are 100% not like any other mother from that moment forward; perhaps similarities with other mothers but still definitely not the same. Correction the only thing that's the same with another woman who is pregnant is only two things; whether the delivery was executed via naturally or involving surgery with a c-section delivery. You then get another wonderful fact of also being 100% different in your parenting ways...as young as I was when I had my first child I've noticed then and throughout the years that no one mother is the same in their motherly ways/methods, whether that's through education or upbringing. I can't keep reiterating enough, you are and will never be like someone else and ya know what why would you wanna be?! Then the baby's doctor (Pediatrician) will also or should be telling you that you're baby will be 100% NOT like any other boy or girl...again perhaps similarities to other babies in their growth but nothing close to the "same". 

OK so where am I going with this you might be asking, or banging your head on a wall of some kind till I get to the point. Thanks for your patience on my above tangent before finally getting to my point! Now I can get into the details of it all..with some visual affects as well. So below is a video of one of my kids, only about six or seven months old and already using utensils as well as not eating sloppy or messy as other parents allow. I've seen friends kids, known acquaintances kids, and even out in public events or restaurants where parents just allow their kids to be as sloppy as possible without any care in the world in the mannerism or at least trying to help provide the structure early on in their eating habit. It's those types of kids that give the rest of the mannered, educated, and overall wanting to learn kids a bad rep/name especially for in public. 

I find that the phrase "kids are resilient" resonates in my head for something as small as this. Many people will say when their kids are messy and creating a mess on the table/high chair table top, "oh they're just being kids". Those same parents will be whining and complaining when those same kids as their older don't even know how to pick up after themselves in their rooms and/or throughout the house. All because a parent will be thinking "oh they're only kids once," or again "they're just being kids", or "isn't that cute" especially after a mess is made with the child having their cupcake and frosting all over their face and clothes (or on their naked chests for some families that allow it) as well as all over the floor...Can you tell that this irks me some (sarcastic tone by the way) :p 

Anyway, the point is that a parent shouldn't just follow what someone else does because from the moment of conception and even post birth, the mother (or parents in general) as well as the child are nothing like anyone else. Therefore, what works for you may not work for another or what works for your child/children may not work for other children; however, the basis should remain the same for all parents, to create a stable foundation for the child in not only their home environment but also in their upbringing/child rearing/instilling discipline, proper exposure to people and external environments outside of their home while most importantly making sure that you are educating in all aspects a well rounded person to be able to succeed little by little in their growth as well as reinforcing what becomes their personality and character. And yes something as simple as how a baby/child eats is the start of it all...at least how I've seen anyway...

I'll admit that the above wasn't just about providing personal opinion but also my way of venting on how I continue to see parents screw up the future individuals who I fear will be our leaders and supposed to be taking care of us as we get older...yea SO NOT feeling reassured in the least...that being said, I can now go off on a few others tangents in other posts that tie or stem from this one :) 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

What Does Your Ring Say About You - General/Relationships

If you're a female and no matter your age, whether out of curiosity or possibly just to see the styles - we've all at one point or another taken a gander at engagement rings or wedding bands. Although what I've noticed over the years is that the styles of the engagements rings are starting to be either more gaudy or people have just not cared for the overall style and just want the "big rock" on their finger. Either way I think I would take a "hereditary rock" over the "typical" rings sets or rings out there. Then some of the pretty designs or the more detailed engagement rings are so expensive that a guy probably has to make payments into their marriage OR they have to end up giving away a kidney. 

What would be the point of my post you say. Well it's more based off of my observation from the public and some girlfriends of mine. Personally I don't understand why women expect such a big rock. Hey why not have your man spend that money like for anniversary jewelry or when you want to kind of "upgrade" your ring after your wedding or something. Why should a man spend a god-awful amount of money on something that you may or may not decide to where after the big day, because some women pick just as gaudy wedding bands! I feel like the engagement rings should have a story that ties into the beauty of the ring itself; whether that's the story of the couple or perhaps just how the man see the woman. Either way I feel with the percentages of divorces still heavily on the rise, maybe if couples focused more on the "life story" instead of the "love story" from the beginning of the dating phase and relationship, then MAYBE the couple can focus more on the important aspects of the relationship during the engagement and thereafter. 

So below are just a few I found on google-see which ones you look or if you didn't like any of these. Personally my favorite is the fourth image below but I do like and can appreciate the sixth image...So what's your ring style for an engagement ring.

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman