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Post by craftedbys on Jul 26, 2020 3:47:38 GMT
cindyupnorth it was really amazing and the recipe was actually very straightforward and there wasn't any techniques that I hadn't done before. The recipe called for whipped cream in the middle of the roll but I was afraid of it falling apart in the heat which is why I made the buttercream. Next time I think I am going to add some espresso in with he dark chocolate. Tomorrow I am making my wonderful buttermilk biscuits, DH is making fried chicken for Sunday dinner.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 26, 2020 3:23:26 GMT
I am enjoying a few minutes of peace and quiet now that everyone has finally gone to bed.
Just got finished dipping my nails. I am still not perfect, but at least they have a bit of color.
Today I made a chocolate roll for the first time ever. I used Mary Berry's recipe for the sponge and I think I had it underbaked because it broke apart. But I used my recipe for caramel buttercream and managed to get it held together. Wasn't the prettiest thing I have ever made, but the family loved it and were duly impressed.
I am just glad we didn't start rewatching Great British Baking Show at the beginning of quarantine because I would have gained even more weight.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 25, 2020 0:24:25 GMT
Does she see, crochet or knit? Does she have any interest in any of these things? There are so many YouTube tutorials that she could teach herself or improve her skills.
She could sew pillowcases or throw pillows or advance to lounge pants. How about a no sew fleece blanket? Scarf?
She could crochet or knit a scarf.
My college age DD loves to paint canvases, that is very popular to decorate rooms with.
Does she like to dance or workout? My DD loves ripstix, which are weighted drumsticks that can be done with a video or you can come up with your own routine to a favorite song.
Is she into makeup or nails? The Peas sucked me in to Revel nail and DD and I love to do our nails together (if you do this make sure you get the 100% acetone and other tools recommended on that thread). Does she like to watch makeup tutorials? Some fun makeup to play with would keep her busy.
DD also loves to cosplay, and sometimes she will do "closet cosplay" where she sees what she can come up with with just what is in her closet and then posts to Insta, Twitter etc
Video pen pal?
Hope she can find something to keep her busy and not just be a couch potato the entire time.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 23, 2020 17:39:32 GMT
Both of my kids are in college and both of their schools are doing a mixture of in person and online classes. Both schools have set some pretty strict social distancing guidelines/rules and my kids are both very much aware of the importance and will be as safe as they possibly can.
Both kids are also Resident Advisors so hopefully they will get information straight from the administration in a timely manner. We went and did the last of the shopping since they both leave at the end of next week. The cashier actually asked me if I was concerned about letting them leave and seem surprised that I am not as worried as some.
She did laugh when I said they have been hime for over four months and mama needs a bit of a break.
I am thankful that my kids are older. I cannot imagine the worry of parents with smaller children. My heart truly hurts for those single mothers who have to go to work and don't really have much of a choice. I wish there was a way to help people in that situation.
I have two nieces that have elementary aged kids (and one middle schooler) and they keep posting pictures on Facebook of them not social distancing and not wearing masks. Them I am not about to waste my time worrying about because they either obviously don't care or are just plain stupid. FYI the kicker is one is a special Ed teacher who should act more responsibly!
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 22, 2020 22:26:27 GMT
My family is still playing. DH was a level 40 and got a new phone so last week he made a new account and started over.
We aren't getting tickets because x4 would be $$ we could spend on something else.
I may shout out to get new friends sometime!
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 22, 2020 14:03:37 GMT
Before buying any bins or other storage I would suggest deciding on how you want to organize. Do you want like things together? Breakfast stuff together, pasta/rice/meal things together?
Or do you want like packaging together? Boxes on one shelf, bottles on another?
You might also look around your house for what can be repurposed. I am currently using the plastic bins that went on one of those slanted toy organizers to keep all my sticky bottles (syrup, honey etc) from making my shelf sticky. I have another one for other bottles (vinegar, balsamic, red wine, etc).
I would love to post pictures of my pantry, but after spending the majority of a day a couple of weeks ago emptying it and reorganizing it, it is once again a disaster because my family (I will include DH in there) cannot seem to put items back in the pantry in the same place where they got them.
Seriously? How hard is it? If you get cereal off the self with the breakfast items, why would you stick it back with the pasta?
It frustrates me to no end to have it disorganized, but if I make a fuss, it only improves for a little while and then goes back to being a mess and I end up as the bad guy who is always nagging, so this is a battle I don't fight because there is no way to win.
The same goes for the other pantry where the Tupperware /Rubbermaid is stored. No amount of bitching keeps it straight.
My goal is to wait until my young adults have homes of their own so I can visit and rearrange their kitchen stuff.
Anyway, good luck and may you achieve what so many have failed to do!
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 18, 2020 14:04:19 GMT
BBQ pork (pulled) and ribs, BBQ bologna, smoked sausage with dry rub. However, if I was cooking for you, we would have a right proper southern Sunday dinner: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, fried okra, corn on the cob, homemade buttermilk biscuits, gravy, and sliced tomatoes. At this point you need to take a pause to let this settle. Naps are not unheard of. Dessert would be your choice of Coca-Cola cake (sometimes referred to as Mississippi Mud cake) or banana pudding. That menu is a trip down memory lane for me. Your menu is much like what we would have at my Granny's house on Sundays, except she usually had chicken and dumplings as well. Good times and good food! Makes me really miss her and those times. Now, what time do y'all sit down for Sunday dinner? I think I need to invite myself! **GypsyGirl** if you are ever in my neck of the woods, stop and see Elvis and then come by (we actually don't live very far). I would be happy to meet a Pea and I might even roll and drop some dumplings to add to the table. I grew up with chicken and dumplings as the main dish and it was served with dressing (not cornbread, mind you, but Yankee white bread dressing), mashed potatoes, peas (and maybe corn), and fluffy yeast rolls. It is a carb fest of glorious proportions. Now DH will fix chicken and dumplings for Sunday dinner and that's all he fixes, he and the kids just chow down on a big bowl of dumplings, and he makes cornbread. Not as many carbs, but not quite the same, LOL.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 17, 2020 17:01:59 GMT
Well, if you come to Memphis, you would have to have BBQ. This area is know for its abundance of BBQ joints and churches.
BBQ pork (pulled) and ribs, BBQ bologna, smoked sausage with dry rub.
However, if I was cooking for you, we would have a right proper southern Sunday dinner: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, fried okra, corn on the cob, homemade buttermilk biscuits, gravy, and sliced tomatoes.
At this point you need to take a pause to let this settle. Naps are not unheard of.
Dessert would be your choice of Coca-Cola cake (sometimes referred to as Mississippi Mud cake) or banana pudding.
We would be drinking sweet tea, of course.
We usually eat Sunday dinner between 2 and 3 o'clock. Plenty of time to relax and enjoy the day. And if you get peckish before bedtime a second dessert is not frowned on.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 16, 2020 17:55:38 GMT
Whenever we had subs brought in at work they usually did the basic ham or turkey or roast beef. Pretty much everyone (except non meat eaters) will eat one of the three.
They have the cold cut combo, which is what my DS likes because it has bologna, ham, and Genoa salami on it. The Italian BMT has no bologna, but spicy pepperoni. It's very good as well. Their roast beef is good as well.
My favorite is the sweet onion chicken teriyaki. DH knows exactly how to order mine: heated (not toasted), provolone cheese, spinach, tomato, cucumber, red onion, green pepper, salt/pepper and sweet onion dressing.
I like their tuna but don't order it in the summer, mayo and all that.
Bottom line is it's a sandwich, not haute cuisine. If you are ordering for a group and they are being fed, they should be gracious and accept whatever is offered.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 15, 2020 16:25:29 GMT
Is it going to be used as a bedroom or office or craft/sewing room? Or a combination there of? What kind of wundows/light does it get?
It sounds like a really cool house/room and the description kind of reminds me of my grandmother's house. If I were using her farmhouse as inspiration, I would paint the other three walls the color in my craft/sewing room which changes from pale purple to light grey depending on the lighting. White trim to match the other wall.
I would have a Jenny Lind bed with a pretty pastel quilt on it. I would also have one of my blanket ladders against one wall to display my vintage quilts (yes, despite what Joanna what's her face says).
The bedside table would probably be some type of wood nightstand/table found at a flea market/yard sale that I repainted. Might add an armchair.
Other accessories I would put in there is my great grandmother's coal oil lamp and a cedar chest with my crystal perfume bottles on it.
Much of it depends on what you and your DD like. Don't choose a decorating scheme just because it is trendy. There is nothing wrong with eclectic, LOL. You can find something that you already own and love to use as inspiration for the style.
As for getting rid of stuff, the sell, donate, trash piles are great. Selling stuff really depends on your local marketplace and what people are buying. If you post thing to sell, price them to move, you are not going to make bank of used items (that is a whole other vent/post). Some places are not taking donations yet, so you might have to just stick that stuff in the garage until things open up or post that as free and maybe someone else can use/sell it.
Good luck with your weekend and don't each other!
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 14, 2020 1:47:04 GMT
Avoid Lowes like Covid!! No. No. No. Do not buy any appliance at Lowes.
Our initial dishwasher order that gave us a delivery date of two weeks ended up being just shy of eight weeks and the delivery date was changed five or six times, a couple of them AFTER the delivery date had come and gone.
We were pretty much lied to and given the run around from numerous customer service reps, the distribution manager and the store manager (who was the biggest asshole of them all).
We are planning to eventually replace all of the appliances in the kitchen: refrigerator, wall oven, cook top, and even microwave. Guess some other store is going to benefit from Lowe's gross incompetence and indifferent customer service.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 13, 2020 20:36:06 GMT
Thanks so much for listening and validating my concern. This feeling of limbo is just so stressful and so distracting, I am having a hard time focusing on things I could and should be doing around here.
Of course, the question of now what keep nagging at me. If he is positive, do the kids and I immediately get tested even if we don't have any symptoms? Does DH have to be retested before returning to work? How long are we all quarantined for? Will the kids (young adults, really) be able to return to their schools on July 31/Aug 1 as scheduled! How long do I have to keep away from my almost 93 year old father to keep him safe?
I guess the hardest part of all this as everyone has said is the whole not knowing/Noone has answers, if there even are answers to these questions.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 13, 2020 18:03:33 GMT
We are still waiting for the results of DH's covid test that he took last Wednesday. I know in some places people are waiting up to two weeks or more for results. However, his employee that tested positive, which is how he was exposed got tested on Friday 7/3 and had her (positive) result back by Monday 7/6.
DH started with a touch of diarrhea (sorry, TMI) on Sunday 7/5 which he attributed to too much dairy, which happens to him. He was sent home when he got to work Wednesday morning 7/8 and went to get tested as soon as they opened. Almost four hours in line, ugh.
So since then he has been fighting diarrhea and body aches and he runs a low grade temp in the evening. It's 90 degrees outside and he keeps saying he's cold.
After speaking to my cousin who is an RN and tested positive earlier this spring and had mild symptoms like this, I am pretty sure that he does have it, but we are in limbo until we actually get the test results.
We are doing our best to keep him away from the rest of the family, although considering we have been around him before we found out he was exposed.
So for now we have Schrodinger's virus and it is stressing me out.
Not sure why I am posting other than to try to diffuse some of the stress building up rather than just eating my worry.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 12, 2020 2:22:40 GMT
We are having a family Hamilton sing along. We watched it together last Saturday night, but we made the rule that there would be no singing the first time, we were just going to enjoy the movie. This rule was tough for our kids (22 and almost 20) so tonight we cranked the sound bar and are singing.
This is a good distraction while we wait for DH's covid test results. He is showing the weird symptoms after being exposed at work the last week of June.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 7, 2020 1:17:06 GMT
I jumped onto the Revel dip bandwagon when there was a thread back in April/May. I am wearing the pink that came in the spring 4 color kit. I think I will change back to Lola later this week.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 4, 2020 16:48:14 GMT
Yes, we have been hearing them for the last three weeks, although why they wait until almost 11pm is beyond me.
The last two days they have been shooting them off earlier, whish is scaring my already anxious dog. Yesterday evening she was so scared she refused to go outside and ended up peeing on the carpet.
BTW, before anyone suggests just picking her up and taking her outside, she weighs about 75 pounds, LOL.
We thought that we would have fewer last night with the rain and storms, but no. So Daisy had to deal with both thunder and fireworks. Really wish I had some doggy Xanax.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 4, 2020 2:01:58 GMT
DH was going to make homemade ice cream, but when I was at Aldis I bought their red, white, and blue cheesecake. It is plain slices and others topped with raspberries or blueberries.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 1, 2020 18:16:58 GMT
One thing to think about is how hot is it where they go to school? Will their masks get hot and sweaty and gross going between classes? Do they have to wear a mask in any kind of physical activity class? If so, I’d want more than one mask per day x days between laundry. We went on a vacation and found we needed multiple masks per day. We needed to change once the masks got sweaty or if they got wet in rain or if they started to stink. That is something I hadn't thought about. It is very hot at DS' school and they go get quite a bit of rain, so that gives me more food for thought. DD's school has an overabundance of rich sorority girls (DD is in a sorority but hers is nowhere near as snooty as the others). I made a joke that I need to make sure she has a mask to coordinate with every outfit and maybe we should get some monogrammed ones as well. That is a joke, but I guarantee that there will be some that will have those.
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Post by craftedbys on Jul 1, 2020 15:53:49 GMT
Last night the kids were discussing the rules their respective universities have put out regarding opening up for the next school year. Both require masks to be worn at all times in public spaces, so essentially any time they are not in their dorm room.
Both kids leave by 1Aug so I need to start planning/prepping.
I am trying to decide how many masks to make sure they have to go back to school. I really don't want to be wasteful and just give them boxes of disposable ones, although I will make sure that they each have a few disposable ones sealed in a zip lock bag to keep in their backpack as an emergency spare.
Should they have 1 per day? More? Should they change more often? Laundry is done every week to 10 days, so I will make them each a mesh bag to put dirty ones in to toss into the wash with the rest of the clothes.
Anything else I should consider in deciding on a number?
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 30, 2020 14:59:27 GMT
It depends on where you are. In my area it would list for 200 to 300. I have a friend in Atlanta where someone would put $20 on it or list it as free.
Check the local listings and price comparatively.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 27, 2020 18:38:26 GMT
This really made me laugh because yesterday my (young adult) kids and I watched the Schoolhouse Rock videos on Disney+ and this made me laugh thinking about "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly get your adverbs here".
So I wonder what adverbs would be used in this situation.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 27, 2020 14:21:57 GMT
There have been so many great ideas on here, I can't wait to try!
I do have a question, though. What do you do with the leftovers, if there are any? Toss? Cover with wrap and put in fridge? Return to package?
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 26, 2020 19:33:49 GMT
Wow, so many great ideas. Sound like something special we can do before the kids go back to university. Many of the things I see listed we eat on occasion, but have never put it all together on one board/platter.
The mention of bacon jam has me intrigued. I just bought a variety package of relishes from Harry and David which should be here tomorrow.
I saw somewhere, not sure eif it was IG or Facebook where a woman had made a breakfast/pancake board but I would imagine trying to keep things hot would be difficult.
Thanks for all of the responses, can't wait to try!
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 26, 2020 14:25:57 GMT
So I read the post about charcuterie boards and everyone raved about them, but I was hoping someone would share tips on making one or maybe some of the items that do well on one. Other than dried apricots, wasn't many suggestions, LOL.
What are some good items that go together? Do they have to be more exotic, or can it be ordinary, find at the grocery items? Do you do a theme? What can be added to appease the situational vegetarian in the family?
Please share your favorite items because I would love to try something like that.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 25, 2020 22:05:33 GMT
My niece and her BFF started a boutique as a Facebook group. Their first customers were family and Facebook friends, but they now have a pretty large following after doing a few craft fairs in the fall and after a year or so and over 5000 followers they started renting a booth at a consignment boutique.
They sell two different ways:
They do a pre-sale on one night a week by posting a picture with price and sizes available, then people who want one of those items post their names, size, email (for invoicing) and if they want it shipped or if they will stop by for a porch pickup.
Then they order the clothes wholesale and they are pretty quick to arrive. They usually have to buy in groups of 3 so if they don't sell all 3 of one size it becomes part of their inventory.
They got their start by doing mostly in home type parties. Their Facebook friends would agree to "host" at their home and invite people they knew (that may or not be a part of the Facebook group) then neice and friend would set up their displays on clothing racks, tables etc and have a dressing room set up and hostess would have refreshments. People could come and go during the set time, usually 2 to 3 hours.
However, this way does involve some outlay of $$ to build an inventory. They usually would buy 3 of each size in 1 color for example. There was also the cost of the computer software, display racks, hangers etc, as well as tissue paper and shopping bags.
This is just a side hustle for these two ladies, but they have made enough to fund their family vacations and fun times.
Their niche is pieces that could be worn by most women. Some look too "young" for me, but that doesn't stop my 11 year older than me SIL (niece's mom) from wearing them. <insert eyeroll>
This is my long-winded way of saying that your DD could start small and maybe find a style or niche that would be popular among her friends.
My advice if she does something like that is to make sure things are affordable. I see some of the stuff neice posts for sale and while it is cute, it is not x dollars cute, or I have seen the same thing on Zulily much cheaper.
Good luck to your DD.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 23, 2020 20:53:51 GMT
Yes I live in Memphis. We moved into the house I grew up in last year in the city proper. We lived just across the state line from 2005 until ast summer.
There is a wide variety of neighborhoods/areas to look at, some more diverse than others and some with better amenities, for lack of a better word. Some areas have crazy traffic all of the time, and others usually just at rush hour.
As far as schools go, I only have first hand knowledge of the public schools in MS, which are excellent despite all the jokes. Everyone I know in Memphis (people I grew up with) have all sent their kids to private schools.
As an aside, both of my children went to specialty high schools (only available to MS residents), one for math and science and one to the school of the arts.
There is so many things to do, festivals, concerts, plays, restaurants (in non covid years) and all are very accessible no matter where you live.
I will be happy to answer specific questions or questions about certain areas if you want to PM me.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 15, 2020 16:40:46 GMT
We heard some off in the distance sometime after 9 last night, although DD and I couldn't tell if they were fireworks or gunshots.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 9, 2020 15:13:29 GMT
I remember you posting about each of those things when it happened, but when you put it all together it is overwhelming and I can see why you are stressed out. (Please don't think I didn't think the individual posts were stressful.)
When things compound like that it does seem to magnify the stress and the feeling of what's next. BTW, don't ever say what's next out loud because the universe will answer and it won't be pretty.
I know the feeling of if even one more thing happens, no matter how small, it will push you over the edge. That's when you have to just take a deep breath and hang on and have faith that this won't last forever.
You have had so much happen in such a short period of time without much of a chance to catch your breath. Sometimes in these difficult times it is hard to find the joy amid the stress, but that's what you should try to do. Maybe keeping a small notebook and jotting down each day things that have made you happy or smile. The more you do this the more you will see each day.
Know that the Peas are always here to listen to the good and the bad, give advice, be a cheering section or a shoulder to cry on. Hang in there, better days are coming. Hugs to you.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 5, 2020 12:22:09 GMT
As the wife of a former LEO, I know the apprehension of seeing your loved one strap on that vest on any given day, but can't imagine how it feels now.
I have your posts over the years and have been in awe of your strength. I am so happy that you didn't let a couple of nasty people drive you away.
Big (virtual) hugs and know that you and your family have so many people on your side.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 4, 2020 4:26:02 GMT
My why question is why is my intelligent, more than competent, college educated daughter incapable of nesting my sets of Rubbermaid storage containers or oblong Pyrex baking dishes. Seriously, the large glass dish does NOT get out on top of the smaller ones and why would you put a square container inside of a round container instead of putting the smaller round containers that fit inside one another?
This is not a one time goof, either. Every. Single. Time.
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