I know this is crazy to some people, but I am fully packed and have over 10 pounds left in my weight allowance, plus suitcase isn’t full.
I got a new rolling duffel and it’s basically just a big square full of nothing, but it’s bigger and lighter than my old one.
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OP here of this thread. Just a reminder…you CAN post replies on this thread!
I live reading this thread.
DD and I drove 9 hours each way this week to visit my family and some friends. We had a great time. We also went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I finally got to sing with their live karaoke ensemble! It was so much fun.
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After listening to a gut health podcast, I decided to try the guest’s advice of eating 30 different plants a week (herbs and spices count). This week I overachieved at 35 different plants! (And I also benefited by being too full to eat lots of junk food!)
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As I was dozing off around 11:00 last night, my 17 yo (who barely interacts with us) kept coming into my room saying things like “we’re out of butter” and “I hate all the extra text on online recipes.”
So I bit on his bids. We’re never out of butter as that would represent a true crisis: freezer rations. And we have a nice library of cookbooks.
He was trying to make frosting and we had no cream cheese and only 1 cup of powdered sugar so he was challenged (cream cheese frosting is our go-to). His cake layers were almost done cooking. I found a couple cookbook frosting recipes for ingredients we had on hand and told him to just pick one and go for it.
He looked at the ingredients but not the instructions and immediately started measuring and pouring cream into a bowl. I suggested he pour it into the stand mixer bowl instead. He said he’d mix by hand (LOL). I said “okay, good luck!” and went back to bed.
Soon I was asked for advice on transforming whatever the hell liquid he’d made into something resembling frosting. He’d melted the butter, so of course the mixture hadn’t emulsified and it looked like pudding before it’s cooked. He’d combined a mishmash of ingredients with no regard for instructions. He suggested adding a bunch of cornstarch and I said “that’s not how frosting works”. He’d at least tried to save it with the stand mixer but no air could be incorporated.
I improvised a quick chocolate ganache as a backup. I thought all hope was lost for the original “frosting” and that it’d turn to curds and whey when whipped after chilling. But after a bit in the fridge, we proceeded to whip the custard-like mixture into a thicker clumpier semi-homogenous mess. Then in an impulsive move, I drizzled in the ganache and the clumps magically incorporated into a silky smooth something.
Delicious but still too thin, he again suggested a thickener. I suggested letting it chill overnight and then reassessing.
I was amazed and SO PROUD to find a beautiful super tasty fluffy spreadable frosting in the fridge this morning. After hearing the story, my spouse went to our son and said “hey it’s time for you to get back on your ADHD meds since you’re starting school this week”.
Son just assembled and frosted the cake and I’m going to enjoy a victory slice. I don’t actually care about the frosting. I care that we had a really fun time together even though I would have normally been sleeping. So my brag is both about taking the opportunity to connect even though I was tired, and also about heroic frosting alchemy.
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Cake sounds delicious!
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We had some fun, and I love chatting with my friends, but man she has a lot of stuff. I was there on Wed, other friend stayed till Friday morning and then came back Friday afternoon She is such a kind person she went all the way back home (about 90 minutes) to take a homeless guy to the DMV to get a license as he’d been trying to do that for 2-3 years, then they got there and he’d forgotten his ID, then she had to drive him back, then back to DMV…and she still came back to pack more! So I went back on Friday and stayed till Sat night.
OMG there is so much stuff. Moving friend rented a 20x10 storage and a second 10x10. Realized not enough room so now has two 20 x 20. The basement (mostly craft things) and kitchen take up almost one unit. She’s like ‘we’re almost done’. Hmm, I hate to disagree but you have 3 vacuums in that closet. Oh no, those are a floor cleaner, a stick vacuum, and a real vac. Doesn’t matter what you call them, you have 3 vacuums you have to pack. And a garage, and an office. Then my other (kind) friend said to me “you haven’t seen this.” A walk in closet FULL of clothing, hundreds of pairs of shoes, a bathroom FULL of hair and skin products.
I came home and immediately started some donation boxes and cleaned my kitchen counters. I’m making a goal of getting rid of stuff every week until I die. And no new stuff. (I’m a member of the ‘too many shoes’ club too.)
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My MIL was like that. After every visit to her house, DH would walk around our place with a big green garbage bag, just throwing random stuff into it.
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Most of her stuff is nice, and she really enjoys her hobbies. But she just has so much stuff. Shops at Costco so doesn’t have one jar of something but 6. Gallons of distilled water for her iron. I counted at least 8 bottles of rubbing alcohol from covid days. Every kind of flour you can think of for baking. I took spices, baking soda, and some boxed wine. I took a stacking tower of plastic bins and that was it. Oh, and one bag of frozen pineapple from the freezer.
I’m jealous of her crafting tables and storage system, but not thinking of creating my own. Too much stuff.
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I finished a quilt today. Only had to put the binding on it, but for some reason that took me a long time (I think a year?). I have a couple more quilt tops done but I have to do the quilting on them (adding a backing and quilting layer) and then bind. Hope that doesn’t take another year.
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Love the cheerful fabrics! 
I sew a lot of baby blankets that are quick and easy (called no binding baby blankets) These are left over scraps cut into 6" blocks.
For the other blankets, I think the bright and crazy prints are more fun that ‘baby’ fabrics and less boring for me to sew. Ducks are cute, but sharks? Sharks are cool (and grinning dogs and snootty cats, and dragons…)
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Lovely craft project! I’m sure the family who receives this will be thrilled!
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I found an piece of exercise equipment I wanted on FB Marketplace for $500 (retails for $1500-$2100, but has been out of stock for months) AND I’ve used it consistantly since getting it a month ago. It was an absolute bear to move, but I have a large vehicle and my husband was a good sport about it. Rather than losing interest as people tend to do with these items, I stepped outside of (WAY outside of) my comfort zone and joined an online challenge and it is totally motivating me. I can’t wait for the next one to start.
Note: NOT a Peloton. A Tempo Studio
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My daughter got her Peloton on Marketplace and talked the seller into delivering it! (she’s is quite a negotiator on FB Marketplace - also has two tile saws, a saw to miter corners for framing, and several other big tools). She’s used it for 5 years almost all the time. She even has special shoes and a rack for those shoes.
Keep up the good work.
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My S has a complete gym in his garage, thanks to Facebook. The guy selling the biggest, heaviest piece of equipment brought it over & put it in the garage. Facebook Marketplace is awesome for exercise equipment!
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DH and I celebrated our 40th anniversary today but our real present is in October for 3 weeks in Europe, mostly on a river cruise! So, I’m bragging on what a great guy I snagged 42 years ago on our first date. He really is a doll and I love him!
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ShawD completed a 2-day 180 mile benefit ride a couple of weeks ago (the Pan-Mass Challenge).
I normally cycle with ShawWife, but she was visiting her mother this weekend. Lethargy sometimes sets in, but this time I cycled alone both days. Very content to average 14 mph over an hour or two.
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10 posts were split to a new thread: Pelotons and similar for home workouts