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Post by craftedbys on Mar 26, 2024 19:09:51 GMT
Considering the first Easter candy for the year appeared in DH's Christmas stocking, I have still managed to keep myself in check.
I don't usually do a huge amount of candy, and the only "Easter" type/wrapped candy I get is a chocolate bunny for each person and Reese's eggs.
I usually get each person a box or bag of a candy they really like: twizzlers, the GOOD gummy bears, etc.
I usually do more non-candy things, like a t-shirt or 12 pack of microwave popcorn.
The only candy I will likely get is a bot of good dark chocolate and some peanut MnMs.
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 24, 2024 15:10:30 GMT
snyder can I join you for dinner? I will gladly bring some deviled eggs and a coconut cake! I have no clue what we are having for Easter this year. My Dad passed away last June and all of the holidays have sucked. We might go to the sunrise Mass at the Catholic cemetery where my parents and sister are buried (depending on the weather) and then stop at Krispy Kreme and get donuts and come home and have brunch. This has been a tradition since my sister passed in 2011. It will only be DH and I for dinner since DS works nights and will be sleeping. We will probably do a picnic type meal instead of hot food (other than a baked ham). Ham, potato salad, deviled eggs, vegetable tray, homemade yeast rolls or bread to make sandwiches. I know I need to step up and try to make it seem like a holiday since Easter used to be such a VBD (very big deal), but my heart is just not in it.
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 22, 2024 18:49:50 GMT
My dd (12) makes hummus like an old cook would…. She takes 2 cans garbanzo beans and drains them (save the water). Turn o. The food processor and add the beans. Add 2T (or until you think it’s “enough”) of the water. Juice whole lemon and add it. Add olive oil until you feel it’s enough. Add at least 3 cloves of garlic. A few heavy pinches of salt. Add everything but the bagel seasoning. Taste. Add whatever it needs and keep processing. If it’s not smooth enough add more of the saved water. Once it has the taste you like, remove to a serving or storage bowl. Finish with a sprinkle of everything but the bagel on top and serve. I gotta say that it turns out great every time. No tahini or peanut butter needed. This is how I make it as well, but only 1 can since I am the only one that will eat it. I am just not a fan of the taste of tahini. You can add toppings like roasted garlic, roasted red peppers etc.
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 20, 2024 13:25:16 GMT
I would say I could do it with one hand tied behind my back, but I need both hands to quilt, sew, craft, and garden.
My only question is, would I be responsible for meal planning and prep? If not, this situation would be heaven.
Two weeks of doing nothing but what I want without outside commitments or the distraction of the internet? Where do I sign up?
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 17, 2024 15:32:10 GMT
Perfect! My grandmother's middle name is Gertrude so love the connection there as well.
I will add her to the list of my Saints!
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 16, 2024 20:14:47 GMT
I just love Joey Swoll! I have followed him for a little while.
I love that he talks about gym etiquette and encourages people to be welcoming to newcomers and calls out bad behavior.
Recently, he posted a video calling out these three women who had videoed in a spa setting and showed a women changing clothes on the other side of this glass wall-as in her naked backside was in full veiw(not blurred out) and they were laughing at her like a bunch of mean girls.
He was pissed, as was his followers. He was able to talk to the spa, and the management was able to track down who these horrible women were and they were banned from the facility.
They were also able to identify the woman who was filmed without her concent and Joey let her know he knew a lawyer who was willing to help her if she wanted to get the authorities involved and press charges against them.
Then the lady main lady who filmed and posted the video contacted Joey, demanding he take the video down because she was getting negative attention. Nope. Sucks to be you.
I just love his message of "you need to do better". We need more people wanting to make the world a better place.
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 11, 2024 21:27:56 GMT
I don't, but DH has several and loves using different colors of inks.
He actually does reviews of pens, inks, and papers on a couple of different forums, and we tease him that he is being a "pen-fluencer."
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Post by craftedbys on Mar 5, 2024 14:36:58 GMT
The best example I can think of is that I happily eat meat, and love me a good steak. That is MY preference.
But when someone who doesn't eat or use animal products gets all "meat is murder" THAT'S judgment.
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 24, 2024 1:14:15 GMT
All of the craft supplies:
fabric, quilting supplies and equipment, sewing notions and equipment, scrapbook supplies (paper, embellishments, scrapbooks, photos) stamping supplies (stamps, inks, chalks, watercolors, embossing stuff) Jewelry making supplies (beads, tools etc) Counted cross stitch stuff, Yarn and supplies for crocheting, Wreath making supplies (mesh, frames, ribbons) Miscellaneous craft supplies from girl scout and cub scout leader days
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 22, 2024 16:10:13 GMT
After several bouts of Covid since Nov 2020, I can no longer drink Coca-Cola products.
I used to love real Coke as a special treat and usually drank Diet Coke, but ever since my first round of Covid and being unable to taste right for several months, Coca-Cola products now have a horrible, chemical-y aftertaste.
I have tried different kinds (fountain, bottle, cans) over the years, and it is just blech to me now.
So now I'm a Pepper full time.
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 14, 2024 22:35:23 GMT
Some protesters shut down the only bridge we have open right now to go between West Memphis, Arkansas and Memphis Tennessee.
Pissed quite a few people off because they were trying to get to/from work, but even more engaging is the fact that it kept ambulances from getting to the bigger hospitals (children's hospital, trauma center, etc) and thereby endangering lives.
To me, that kind of stunt isn't bringing people to your side of your cause, especially since your blocking a bridge isn't going to change policy half a world away.
The protests of the summer of 2020 were much more lawful, and I think had an impact locally.
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 12, 2024 16:59:20 GMT
I am in love with the built-ins in the kitchen. I am always a sucker for good storage.
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 11, 2024 21:37:18 GMT
I'm not. Have absolutely no interest. Heck, this year I'm not even making fun party type food like I usually do.
DH is cooking Jagerschnitzel and spaetzle and we will watch a movie later.
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Post by craftedbys on Feb 6, 2024 16:24:22 GMT
And now we have to wait for it to be released? Damn!
This is one murderdeathkill show that I will be binging.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 28, 2024 18:13:16 GMT
Bread. All. Of. The. Bread.
We were stationed in Europe for almost 4 years back in the 90s, and I still dream of the ham and cheese brochen we used to get.
All of the breads we enjoyed in our travels. Baguettes, scones, croissants, brochen, bread, bread, bread. Did I mention BREAD?
So yes, Europe all the way for the bread and bread products.
Side tangent, not meant to derail this thread, but I have to get it out while I remember:
Before any New Yorkers/East Coasties protest, bagels are not included in my answer. I have never had an authentic NY bagel, though I dream of how wonderful they taste. The mass-produced, store bought lumps of baked dough we are resigned to buy surely should not be called bagels.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 27, 2024 20:05:25 GMT
Something I have been thinking about after re-reading your post.
It's great you are going to have a conversation with her to guage her interest in quilting, but I would advise being very careful with how you react.
There is a big expanse between showing interest and being gifted a quilting room. I know it is very hard to temper enthusiasm when sharing your love of a hobby.
Who doesn't love quilting? I, myself, have to make myself calm down when I get to talking about any of the crafts I do because I start speaking fast and get wayyy too excited.
My DD also has anxiety (with a heaping helping of ADHD thrown in). It took me several and lots of money to learn "that's cool" or "I like it" doesn't always mean, "yes, please buy it for me". She would often agree with me so as not to hurt my feelings. But then when I would buy the whatever she wouldn't use it and would feel guilty and then I was frustrated for spending money on something she didn't use, then she would feel guilty for that.
If she shows interest and says she would like to learn, could you borrow a machine for the first week to let her get exposed and see if she would like to actually get a machine? Maybe make a small wall hanging or lap quilt together.
And then maybe work your way up to adding things to a "sewing space" before going full on quilting room? Might be less overwhelming that way.
Do any of your other family members sew or quilt that will lessen any fear of not having any help for questions or advice if she gets stuck?
This is just something to think about. Lots of communication, no judgment, it's ok if she gets started and finds she doesn't really like it.
Good luck!
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 27, 2024 18:23:46 GMT
Edit: Apparently reading isnt my strong suit this morning. It is your niece, not your granddaughter. Sorry for the mix up! That is so very sweet of you to do!
Since she hasn't confirmed a specific interest in quilting, I would recommend getting her a step above an entry-level basic sewing machine, like a Singer or a Brother. If she falls in love with all things quilting (as many of us do) she can always upgrade to a bigger/better machine in the future. And if she doesn't want to quilt, she can always use it to see other things.
Some of the lower mid-range machines have a big enough throat to do lap and crib size quilts, which I am assuming you will start her with. I have a Brother SE425 sewing & embroidery machine that I do my piecing on and even quilt on quilts up to 60x60.
I know you just asked for machine recommendations, but I will give my 2 cents on getting started, especially if she has never sewn anything.
I really like the small craft iron that you can get at Wal-Mart. It is so much easier to press seams, and I also like my wool pressing mat that I got off Amazon. If she is worried about burning her fingers when pressing small seams the silicone finger covers do help.
I would start her out practicing straight seams with things like making cotton make-up pads and move up to pillow cases or easy throws (just the sew and turn type) to gain confidence before trying to piece blocks.
One of my favorite quilts to do without worrying about matching seams is the Jelly Roll Race (although a much smaller size) and I did a pattern called Jumping Jacks that didn't have any intersections that matched seams.
Again, you are such a sweet Grandma to outfit and teach your Grand. Please reassure her that there are no quilt police and no one is going to take a ruler to her seams or inspect to make sure there are no mistakes. Even people who have been quilting for years and years don't have perfect quilts.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 23, 2024 15:02:50 GMT
Hilarious! This sounds exactly like a conversation me and my daughter would have.
We occasionally have an opossum that wanders onto our patio looking for a snack.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 11, 2024 15:30:43 GMT
It is so hard for a sewing/craft room not to become a dumping ground. BTDT.
I am in the process of setting up a new sewing and crafting room. When we moved my dad home in early 2021, we turned my space back into a downstairs master and my sewing and craft stuff got relocated to almost every room in the house and garage.
Dad passed away last June, and I am finally ready to move forward with making a new craft space.
DH had the idea to move our bedroom downstairs and turn our upstairs master bedroom into my craft and sewing space, which gives me a much bigger room to work with.
So now, like you, I have to paint and plan and purge and get things organized.
I am buying some Billy bookcases from Ikea for fabric, stamp, accuquilt, and book storage and turn my kallax into more scrapbook storage.
I think it is true what they say, crafting/quilting/sewing, buying supplies, and organizing supplies are three different hobbies.
I can't wait to see pictures of your finished space!
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 11, 2024 15:20:41 GMT
The saying here is, "If you don't like the weather, wait 4 minutes, and it will change." They aren't wrong. We have been known to cycle through all four seasons in 24 hours or so.
This year is no exception. We have been swinging from mild to cold, rain to clear, or any combination.
Now, the forcasters actually said the forbidden "S" word for Monday, and people are already losing their minds. Which means that by Sunday all the shelves will be stripped of bread and milk for the French Toast festival (iykyk).
We don't care for wintry mix here in the Mid-South. All it does is close schools, make the traffic even more nightmarish, and piss everyone off. And then it disappears right after the morning commute.
And if, by some chance, we do get an accumulation, the number of people who will be without power is insane. (Our local power monopoly has refused to relocate the lines underground for the last 30 years, which is a whole other vent post.)
So I am preparing for the worst for next week (getting out propane burner, saving water, etc) which hopefully will mean we don't get anything.
Stay warm y'all!
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 7, 2024 18:13:28 GMT
Give it time, the perfect name just might pop out of your mouth.
My neice rehomed her cat to us. She had found him abandoned in a cemetery, so she named him Lucky.
His personality was that of that chill friend from college that couch surfs among his friends, just doing his own thing.
One day he wandered into the room and I said "What's up, Jack?" And he gave me this little chin lift that said "'Sup?"
That's how he became Jack to our family.
Of course, I may not be the best person to give advice on naming cats. We once had a cat with an adjective for a name. Seriously.
Seriously, the cat's name was Seriously.
I eventually agreed to add the name Dave as a middle name after the strange looks at the vet when they called out for Seriously XXX.
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Post by craftedbys on Jan 5, 2024 19:04:45 GMT
Not for dead of winter, but for spring, a pair of khaki closed toed linen espidrilles would be adorable.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 31, 2023 23:26:09 GMT
Things are not looking good for the home team.
I have been feeling tired and run down since Wednesday and kind of achy. I kept taking my temperature, but it was always normal.
By Friday, I had a bit of congestion, and I spent yesterday sneezing. I have never sneezed so much in my life. I am talking 4 or 5 times in a row every few minutes. None of the medicines were helping, and my head felt like it was filled with concrete, but my nose was running like a faucet .
I made an offhand comment that I hadn't had this much sinus issues either time I had covid.
I decided to take a home test last night (was not expired) and it was negative.
This morning, I realized that I really couldn't taste anything and my thought was that 2023 wanted to give me one final kick in the ass on its way out.
So I am staying away from everyone and going to ring in the new year by playing Memphis's favorite game of Fireworks or Gunshots.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 28, 2023 0:46:42 GMT
My casual commitments:
Stick to my new mantra: Don't put it down, put it away. Hopefully, it will help keep the clutter under control.
To set up and organize my new craft room so that I can actually go in and create something without having to clean, search for supplies, or move things that are not craft related.
To start going through all of the boxes in the garage and storage labeled "To Go Through".
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 26, 2023 15:42:32 GMT
No real misses in our house. Everything was greatly appreciated, including small gifts like Ov Gloves for DH and reusable makeup removing washcloths for DD.
DS bought me the Lego Up house . I can't wait to put it together and put it in my new craft room.
DS and DD gave DH a first edition (US) copy of Mary Poppins, his absolute fav Disney character.
Our bonus kids and grandkid (DDs best friends) gave DH and I a gift with the tag written to Mom and Dad (so sweet!). It was one of those Wonderful Life digital picture frames that everyone can email the frame directly.
The gift with the best reaction was from me to DS (23). He started opening it and started chuckling, and by the time he got it out of the box, it was full on howls of laughter that continued for a while.
The gift was a Mountain Dew Snuggie.
I got it as a gag to go with his Taco Bell Crocs that he bought himself last summer that he absolutely loves.
Best $20 gift ever.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 20, 2023 20:35:11 GMT
I'm making my own version of a black forest trifle. Dark chocolate cake (made with espresso), cherry filling, chocolate mousse instead of pudding or custard, freah whipped cream, and dark chocolate shavings.
We will have that for Christmas Eve dinner and the rest of the holidays will just be whatever goodies I have made (although none decided on rn).
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 17, 2023 15:12:28 GMT
Welcome back!
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 12, 2023 20:39:15 GMT
Add some cooked penne pasta and a dab of stock or milk to loosen the sauce and serve it as a casserole.
Bonue points for putting it in a baking pan and adding more cheese in top and baking it like mac and cheese.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 7, 2023 13:54:04 GMT
Some years, an angel we got for our first Christmas tree, some years a big star.
The last few years it has been a black top hat. I picked it up from the Halloween costume clearance aisle and replaced the ribbon with some festive Christmas-y ribbon and a sprig of greenery.
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Post by craftedbys on Dec 4, 2023 18:42:42 GMT
Aloha shirts!
I haven't seen the movie, but Barbie was huge this year.
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