FLIP + CHING

Il Vicino X Fetch

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Ching under Coupons, Food and Drink, Free Stuff.

Brian and I had lunch at Il Vicino a couple of weeks ago to take advantage of the 60 points per $1 offer on Fetch but we really should have gone there again today because today it’s an even better deal – 90 points per $1. Il Vicino is hands-down my favorite way to earn Fetch points right now.

It doesn’t hurt that we love their pizza and sandwiches either. We are getting to eat what we want AND earn bonus points.

Here are some of the reasons that I use Fetch:

Earn Rewards From Any Receipt — No Store Restrictions – Fetch accepts receipts from any retailer, including grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, clothing stores, and more. You don’t need to activate offers beforehand. This makes it far simpler than many other cashback apps that limit where you can shop.
It’s Extremely Easy and Fast to Use – Uploading a receipt takes about 10 seconds, making earning points almost effortless. Fetch also gives at least 25 points for any receipt, even if it contains no special-offer items.
Supports Both Paper and Electronic Receipts – Fetch automatically scans online orders by linking accounts like Amazon and Walmart, giving you “set it and forget it” passive earnings. You can also upload physical receipts from any purchase.
Redeem Points for a Huge Selection of Gift Cards – This benefit doesn’t matter as much to me because I really only convert my points to Amazon gift cards but Fetch lets you cash out rewards for hundreds of gift card options, including Amazon, Target, Visa cards, and more. So if you’re not an avid Amazon customer like I am, you could find another company to get gift cards from. There’s something for everyone. And redemptions are quick and easy, typically within 24–72 hours.
Multiple Ways to Earn Bonus Points – Bonus offers help boost point accumulation significantly. Beyond basic receipt scanning, you can earn more by:
- Buying featured brands
- Taking advantage of multiplier or promotional offers
- Participating in in-app games (optional)
- Using referral codes to invite friends

Right now you can earn 2,000 bonus points when you sign up using my referral code – CHING1030. Let me know if you join and also when you earn your first reward. Let’s celebrate!

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Follow Up Trip to O’Larney’s

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink.

Chris Townley and I had lunch at O’Larney’s again yesterday. We brought Brian this time. Or should I say, he brought us because he picked us up from the office and brought us back. I always appreciate whenever I get to be “passenger princess” and don’t have to drive.

It was Brian’s first time at the restaurant (and our second time). I wanted him to try it because they actually have a pretty good deal for lunch. The lunch special is any half sandwich and a premium side for about $12. It’s tough to beat.

Chris got a house salad with his. Brian got soup (they had Wisconsin cheddar soup yesterday). I got potato salad. There are several side options to choose from so you’re bound to find something you like. Anyway, this is a great option for us that is both quick and close to the office. What are your favorite lunch spots in Old Town?

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Dawn’s 60th Birthday

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

We held a surprise birthday party for our dear friend Dawn Hazlewood last month at TapNPaddles. It was actually Jeanette Santo’s idea. Dawn was volunteering with Girls Growing the Game on Sunday so we decided to have a surprise pickleball party immediately following so she would already be there.

As (bad) luck would have it, we ended up with a snowstorm that weekend and events were getting canceled left and right. The 3G event was also canceled so now Dawn was not going to be there and we needed to figure out a way to get her to TapNPaddles without giving the surprise away. Janelle Lindeman invited Dawn to play pickleball from 4-6 PM (the same time as her surprise party) and, thankfully, she accepted. We were actually concerned about her saying no and then we would have to fess up and tell her about the surprise just to get her there. We joked about just kidnapping her if need be. LOL.

Anyway, it all worked out great and she was none the wiser. Almost everyone still came, despite the weather that weekend, and we had a great time celebrating our lovely friend. Check out this YouTube short for the highlights.

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O’Larney’s Pub and Rooftop Bar

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink.

O’Larney’s took over the old Industry space in Old Town last summer but we didn’t actually have the opportunity to try it until last month.

Chris and I both had the lunch special which consists of a half sandwich and salad.

I had the Kevin’s chicken salad, which was pretty good.

Chris had the “salami get this straight” sandwich. Their sandwiches have fun, creative names.

The half sandwiches are very generously sized as well. I am thinking of going back with Brian and just splitting a whole sandwich with him. They also have flatbread pizza, which Brian would probably enjoy also. I’m not certain how often they change their menu, but below are pics of the menu from the time we visited last month.

Additionally, they offer $4 OFF all sandwiches from 4 to 6 PM and $4 OFF all flatbreads from midnight to 1 AM. Curious if you’ve been and what you’ve tried. Let us know in the comments.

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Trying the Waffle Bus

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink.

I recently switched to a new work bag so I gave mom my old Betabrand kaleidoscope bag. We went to drop the bag off one night and had dinner at the Waffle Bus while we were in the area.