Four Fun Things

Do you have to melt the candle first to stir in essential oils? Or do you just drop them on top (away from the flame) to gradually melt into the widening pool of wax?

It’s the metal.

Hahahahahaha

We got a new puppy and I’ve been telling her “nooo, Olive, nooooo” in my best Victoria. It helps when having to reign in baby dog naughtiness.

Depending on the size of the item I have people come to my home, or I meet in a public space if it’s something smaller. You can search in facebook marketplace to see what the average price people are selling it for. You can also sell things in batches (clothes/shoes the same size, books together, toys together) to make it easier. If you are going to donate, try to donate to a buy nothing group on facebook for your neighborhood instead of donating directly to a goodwill that will jack up the prices of the item. I use goodwill/other thrift stores as a last resort.

To avoid the added costs associated with any downsizing; costs like postal charges, boxing and securing shipments we researched local “resale” shops. Places crammed with all sorts of things-sell direct to merchants that know buyers well. Our toys, books, albums, collectibles, ceramics, small furniture, movie and concert posters, outdoor stuff have all found new homes locally and we made money affordably.

If you’re comfortable donating, what has worked well for us is a “pay what you can” yard sale. It’s pretty efficient since you can get rid of a bunch of stuff at once, people are more likely to come because stuff could be free, and you don’t have to worry about pricing items. We’ve also just left a sign out that explains it and says to put money in our mailbox. And then when it’s done, I load up leftovers and drop them off at Goodwill :) I find that selling many things on FB Marketplace can be time consuming.

Create postings on Facebook marketplace. Find the local “Buy/Sell” “Mommy & Me” groups & repost your listings to those groups. Right off the bat – give people 3 times to choose from that are convenient for you to meet. Try to meet multiple people at these times so it’s convenient. If possible, meet in a public place (i.e. grocery store parking lot), but if it’s something large (i.e. furniture), and they have to come to your home, then confirm a time, and say: “Please text me as you are getting ready to head this way. I will text you a pin to my house once you confirm you are coming.” That way, you aren’t giving out your address to random people who might not even show up. If you live in an isolated area, make sure someone else is home when you do this. Communicate via Facebook messenger (people can use it to call you), don’t give out your number. Selling children’s items implies that you have young children, and that can attract crazies, so be vigilant. If people ask for bank account info to wire you money or anything weird, assume it’s a scam. Only accept cash, PayPal, or Venmo (no checks). Don’t ever hold items unless someone wants it so bad, they’ll Venmo or Zelle you a deposit. Everything is first-come, first-served, based on how quickly they can pick it up. Get ready to get ghosted – a LOT. People will seem really interested and then just never show up. This is a time-consuming processing, but a great way to keep stuff out of landfills and make some money. You’ll get into a groove, create systems for yourself, and get a good sense for the flakes and crazies the more you do it. Create a speadsheet to track everything. Lastly – if someone shows up to meet and they look worse off than you or like they could really use a break that day, give away that $10 toy or $20 diaper genie for free. Moms buying used diaper genies can generally use a break :). Watch their face light up. I swear that building up some good karma helps with the process. Happy selling!

I’ve heard great things about Facebook Marketplace but I personally have never used it. I still post on Craigslist and have great success there. There’s also Nextdoor as an option. Those could be your in-person pick up options. If you don’t mind boxing things and mailing them then you could do Ebay or some other resell site online. Consignment shops have also been good for me when I’ve needed to sell clothes and shoes but they want stuff that’s in season and in good condition. Your mileage may vary but they can sometimes be too picky and not worth the hassle.

Two other considerations is bartering with another seller for items they are selling that you maybe looking for as well as store credit on items you are parting with. I sold three cameras using both barter and store credit at a camera shop nearby.

I also live in a small college town and resell a lot. Best method depends on what you’re selling. If there’s a local consignment shop, that’s a fast way to get it out of your house for fairly little hassle, and they’ll pay you when it sells. Also google “consignment sale [your town].” Ours has pop-up consignment sales a few times a year for kids’ clothes, toys, and baby stuff. You have to tag everything per their requirements, but if you have a lot of nice items (like baby equipment, toys, etc.) that you’re offloading at once, it can be worth it. Otherwise, like others have said, you can sell on Facebook Marketplace or through Poshmark. I don’t have Facebook either, and had my husband log into his Facebook account and Messenger on my phone so I can sell stuff on FB Marketplace through his account. I’ve had good luck selling lots of clothes or toys as a bundle, so you don’t have to deal with trying to arrange a bunch of one-off meetups. I usually have people come pick stuff up at my office (I just pop out to the car and meet them), or for furniture, you can have them come to your house (at a time your husband is home, if that helps you feel safer). I’ve bought and sold things online for 20 years at homes and in public spaces and I’ve never once felt unsafe, but trust your gut! You can sell kids’ clothes and toys on Poshmark as well as adult stuff, but the buyer pays shipping and Poshmark takes a cut. It’s good if there’s not much of a market for what you’re selling in your area. As someone else said, if you have enough stuff and want it all gone, you can also just have a garage sale. You’ll make the least amount of money, and it’s still quite a bit of work, but it’s one Saturday of work all at once and then you’re done. If you do this, also post any big ticket items on Facebook Marketplace, and say that you’re selling it that day.

Try Poshmark for the clothes and shoes you just mail the items

Also the Next Door app is great!

Awesome tips, Katrina and MM! Thank you!

I tried this recently and it didn’t work! Oh well. The tulips were nice anyway.

Mary Anne Esposito! What a queen!

If it means the absence of Amazon links then I can cope with that :)

$60 may be super pricey for a candle and though I may not buy it for myself, I HAVE purchased the tomato candle by this company as a lux treat for my BFF’s birthday :) And I agree with Rebecca’s comment – lux candles over Amazon, any day!

I’d never spend that kind of money on a candle for myself – buying IKEA tealights feels decadent enough. But perhaps I would buy one for a very good friend’s birthday if I could stretch to a splurge that week and if it was the kind of thing that particular friend would truly enjoy xx

Yup – $60 can buy a roundtrip ticket to Miami from NY.

Agreed! I will go without candles rather than spend that kind of money for something that burns away. Donate the money to a food bank and put fresh flowers on the table for scent!

iA classic Diptyque cancel is $76 there are way more expensive ones out there!

As a small business owner who makes luxe candles, just wanted to pop in to say that you can get really high-quality candles from independent artists at a fraction of the price. (I sell mine on my own website but Etsy also has a wonderful selection.) Happy sniffing! :)

I am definitely going to try this!

Yum! Also love a recipe that says to mix all ingredients together in one bowl.

Update: I made this recently and it was delightful! So easy, tasty, and novel for my recipe rotation!

We love Fresh Coast Candles! They’re made in Michigan with essential oils … I think the Tulip Lane scent is a great, subtle scent! https://www.freshcoastcandles.com/shop/tulip-lane-small

Thank you for the rec, Ann. The candle sounds amazing!

Laura, that answers my question about how strong the candle is!

Oh my God, this is great. Thanks for sharing!

I love this and have been doing something similar with my teens. The only rule is we make what they are interested in. So far we’ve done omellettes, Southern mac and cheese, sweet potato pie, fried fish, tacos, homemade BBQ sauce.

This is super impressive! I especially like the sound of the scrambled eggs. I think young people should definitely learn some basic cooking skills before getting launched into the world, if it’s doable, of course. I was lucky to learn quite a bit of cooking and baking growing up and was reasonably skilled by the time I got to college. Your kids will be well-equipped!

our high school english teacher in our small town had the senior class put together a cookbook for themselves at the end of the school year. each teen provided a favorite recipe (they had to learn to cook as part of the assignment), and a little history or writing piece about it for the cookbook. the cookbook was laminated and spiral bound and each kiddo got one at graduation as souvenirs of home and of our hometown region. i still make recipes from it all the time and i now live across the country, am in my 50s and have a teen of my own.

@jdp—love this!

Ooh, my daughter is just getting in to that show now. I’ll look for it. Thanks for the recommendation!

Artificial scents are endocrine disruptors.

Great resources and researchers who can explain more are Dr. Anthony Jay (youtube) and Cate Shanahan, who has written several incredible books and expands on the myths/harms of ‘natural flavors’ as well. And yes, scents, especially lavender, are endocrine disruptors in that they mimic estrogen in the body and play havoc with balances.

They are bad for me, lol. I can’t be around scented candles or air fresheners at all, they make me very sick (allergic reactions, headaches, etc.). So for example I would not be able to visit Joanna’s home at all even if the candle was not lit at the time.

This looks SO GOOD! Thanks for sharing!

YUM!!

Another plug for this recipe – it’s so good! I spread some refried beans on the tortillas too and it’s magical and so easy.

Ohhh I love your activities ! I was just listening to Brandi Carlile last night. I love the relationship she shares with Elton John. I’ve seen them together on the late night shows. I saw her singing John Prine’s song, Hello in There on Colbert during the pandemic. I’ve always loved that song.

Thanks! Agreed. She is marvelous. I was very lucky to see her on stage with Joni Mitchell and Brandi casts quite the heartfelt spell!

Budget Bytes is so great! Also love Caro Chambers and the cookbook ‘Sheet Pan Suppers’ by Molly Gilbert. So many gems in there and they’re all easy to prepare.

I have the best memories of doing this and making heavenly fresh peach ice cream (southern peaches are by far the best I’ve ever had and I’ve lived on both coasts), and equally divine chocolate frozen custard. Wow, those were good. Allergic to dairy now… : ( but I have those memories.

I’m sorry it’s been such a slog. I’m a fan of the simple walk in nature and my slow cooker when I’m hanging on by a thread. Its ok to have hibernation type seasons, and my bed is one of my favorite spots in the whole world.

I hear you. The mental/emotional/physical load is just A LOT sometimes. Something I like to tell myself: everything is temporary. Hope you’re treating yourself with grace and kindness

If it helps to hear this, I was in this same slump for quite a while (more due to the slog of chronic illness but burnout is burnout right?) and it finally recently lifted. One thing that helped was finding a local service that made a bunch of weekly meals, which was cheaper than the same number of takeout meals, and just deciding that I would let myself have some respite from both cooking every day and feeling bad about it. Then got tired of the meals and was like you know what, I can make the things I’m craving, and it kind of clicked back into place. I also way lowered the bar for cooking—more quesadilla and bagged salad or sheet pan dinners than something more involved, and I stopped worrying about how healthy something was as long as I made it, but bit by bit it’s improved. I think the planned break from cooking/guilt was what really helped end the slump. I hope you can be kind to yourself, this feeling and the world and all the things are just really hard!

I hear ya. The last few months have been difficult. I lost a lot of momentum with the cold weather, the loss of our dog at new years, and peri. I work in behavior field so I started applying some strategies to myself lol I started with a small list, now it’s a running list. Some are long term goals (like our taxes took a couple of weekends) or shorter term (picking up books from the library). I don’t eat sweets during the week so I enjoy ice cream out of the house on the weekends. I can be an all or nothing person sometimes so 5000 steps is better than no steps at all. Just like 5mins of weights is better than none at all. I started HRT a few months ago. It has helped some on a small dose. Not ready to go up yet because still working out the side effects. I still struggle even with medical intervention too and I don’t think that’s uncommon.

I could have written this comment, point for point. Give yourself a break from the guilt, dear. Brighter days are ahead. We are just weathering a storm.

That sounds hard Amanda, sending hugs! When I’m in a slump it helps me if I don’t beat myself up too much (the shame spiral just makes it worse and can be paralyzing) and pay attention to what my body needs. Just taking it one day at a time. Good luck! Your feelings are valid.

Amanda, I hear you! A few years ago when I was feeling depressed, I picked up a cookbook called “Good Enough” by Leanne Brown. (tbh, I think I might have found out about on CoJ in the comments!) There were some good little essays in there about depression and self-care, and then some truly good ideas about how to feed yourself when you just can’t be bothered. They had it in my county’s library system. Hope it helps! https://leannebrown.com/good-enough/

Here’s my humble advice: start waking up 1-1.5hrs earlier (I get up at 5am). For a few weeks, just read, or watch really trashy TV, and drink a big glass of water, and have some coffee. Nothing else. No expectations. Eventually, you might feel like lifting some weights on these mornings – you can do it while you watch TV, or put on a workout video, or maybe go for a walk with a podcast. Some days, you might just make it to the trashy TV, and that’s okay too. Just getting up early and drinking water is accomplishment enough. Something about these early mornings to myself in a quiet house is lifting me slowly out of my burn-out/exhaustion, and makes me tired earlier at night so I’m phasing out the doom-scrolling before bed. Good luck. I feel like you too…but slowly crawling out of it.

Give yourself grace! When I’m feeling burned out on cooking I try to take a step back and reconsider my parameters. What is dinner really? Can it be a sandwich? Yogurt and cereal and fruit? Tacos with store bought chicken and salsa? Hang in there.

You aren’t alone. What you wrote resonated with me. Sending a hug.

Wasn’t expecting this kind of response, but I just love this community. We’re truly in this together. Hugs to you all!

Hugs. I am a very motivated home cook and even I get this way when my sleep is completely disrupted by luteal symptoms and hot flashes and what not. If at all possible, can you take a day to just… sleep. Chill. Read, DO NOTHING. REST. And see if you wake up the next day feeling ready to tackle everyday problems again. It sounds lazy but it’ the best reset button I have.

I feel you, Amanda. If you decide to try lifting again, I highly recommend channeling your political anger while you do it. It’s working for me. Seriously helps my mental state and is a silver lining to all this mess. In the meantime, be so kind and patient with yourself!

I just gave myself a day off yesterday, (because I am overwhelmed) and laid in bed and binged the entire season of Paradise, which turns out was not great for my anxiety, lol, but I got sucked in. Today, I am working from home on my own time which helps. Also, I feel so out of it that I forced myself to leave the house for green juice ingredients and am now drinking a freshly made celery, green apple, kale, lemon, juice. If nothing else, at least I put that into my body. Maybe you can do at least one thing in the direction you’d like to lean? It feels like I’m heaving myself fruitlessly, but as is said, “if you’re going to fall, fall forward”.

Same same re White Lotus and The Residence. I just finished it over the weekend and am so bummed that it’s over! Def my favorite show that’s come out in quite some time

Yes to The Residence! We are playing the “where do we know all these actors from, and how do they know Shonda?” game.

Thank you! I’ve been hesitating on whether or not to give this one a go but you’ve sold me (now tell me more about that green soup!).

@Tanya- I hope you enjoy The Residence as much as I do. LInk to the soup recipe is below. It’s so good! I could eat it every day. It’s a flexible recipe too, you can riff on it and it is always delicious. I typically use a combo of kale, chard, and spinach. I have made it with and without cilantro, it’s good either way. And I’ve used half chicken stock/ half water. As long as I don’t skimp on the caramelized onions, garlic, and lemon it works. https://food52.com/recipes/31438-anna-thomas-green-soup

LOVE the residence! i watched almost the whole episode alone and had to force myself to stop so i could insist my whole family restart with me, and of course they love it, too! it’s as if clue, the west wing, knives out and, um, orange is the new black? had a baby. love love love.

I was so disappointed with the ending and it felt rushed. In the end, fun cast but my least favorite season.

I was so bummed about the price. Thank you for the thrift store rec — I wouldn’t have thought of that!

I’ve recently started using a candle warmer that looks like a little lamp and love it! You won’t burn through the candle so trying out a more expensive candle feels like more of an option for me this way.

Congrats on your pregnancy! The high protein version of Annie’s Mac and cheese got me through much of my first trimester. I think it’s called super Mac? Mixed in some peas to sneak in a vegetable!

Smoothies and yogurt with granola have been pregnancy go-tos for me

Following my senses in the moment was the path for me. Like, if you have the energy to go to a grocery store or deli or avenue of restaurants near a mealtime or when you know you’re about to be hungry, finding what smells appealing in that moment can help you get more foods. And you’re involved right now in the most complex and interdependent human experience possible as someone gestating a new being – the changes to our senses and the calculations every part of our bodies are making in every moment are astronomical. So sinking into our own sensory responses is one of the few avenues available for “making sense” of how to nourish ourselves in pregnancy and make sure we get adequate nutrition and comfort through food. Your well-being is so important right now, and your internal sense of how you’re feeling is extremely, extremely powerful. I just wanted to say that. Also if you’re experiencing long bouts of nausea or start losing weight or can’t keep food down, that could be a less common and medically treatable health condition of pregnancy called “hyperemesis gravidarum”. There’s a website here for pregnant people, their loved ones, and their doctors talking about how to recognize and diagnose the condition, how to treat it yourself, and when and how to seek medical treatment. They also have a list of foods that many people with HE are able to tolerate along with food strategies for that can reduce symptoms. Highly recommend. https://www.hyperemesis.org/who-we-help/mothers-area/get-info/food-strategies/

I really feel for you! When I had morning sickness, I mostly subsisted on bread and hot cereal (a local grain producer, Bluebird Grains, makes an excellent wheat, rye and flaxseed hot cereal blend). A few additional things I was able to stomach were miso soup, applesauce pouches, and chocolate pudding :) I couldn’t eat vegetables (which I normally love) for a long time. The “gateway vegetable,” for me, was bok choy. A friend mentioned cooking some bok choy for dinner, and I thought, hmm, maybe I could just try a little bit. I added some chopped bok choy to my miso soup and gobbled it up! Things gradually got better after that.

I had terrible morning (*all the time*) sickness with my daughter last year and survived on these thin square rice cakes with a slice of cheddar cheese. And making veggies into “chips” by baking them in the oven made them slightly less nauseating. Best of luck and hang in there, you’ll hardly remember how bad it felt in a few months!

Congratulations! I just had my second 2 months ago so this is all fresh in my very sleep deprived brain :) I basically lived on trader joe’s lentil soup (I also added their chicken sausage). It’s nutrient dense so it keeps you full and it’s really delicious. Also you can make a week’s worth of overnight oats for the mornings/something sweet and it’s also filling. It’s also great because there are so many variations. LMK if you want my recipe, though! I also ate a lot of frozen berries.

for me (with twins, didn’t know it at the time at least not right away!), only protein helped. I needed MEALS but it was torture to cook them, so I did a lot of takeout and things I wouldn’t normally buy like frozen perogies, ha! I also started every morning with PB&J on toast, which my husband brought me to bed the minute I yelled to him that I was awake. I tried not to move until it was in my belly, otherwise I would be over the toilet in no time (which I often still was, anyway). Try to keep your belly full, because hunger is what cues nausea for many people! And know that for MOST people, it gets better around week 12-13 (for me, it got better around week 16, but then worse again around 24 until the end…but again, twins). You got this! Congratulations!

Carbs were my friend. Everything bagels, cereal, pasta. At one point BLTs were really hitting the spot. Regardless, baby will be fine no matter what you eat, just do what you can. This phase will pass. And congratulations!

So many bagels with cream cheese. Hawaiian rolls with cheddar cheese slices. Jolly ranchers. That’s what fueled my first trimester.

Veggies and hummus, cheese and a yummy cracker, baguette toast, fried egg/scrambled egg, berry yogurt granola bowl, bowls of cereal, peanut butter on crackers/apples, all the simple things worked for me!! Late pregnancy this also worked for me because I could barely eat a simple PB&J without getting heartburn!

I so resonate with this! I lived off this easy smoothie recipe – cold (no smell), filling, and you get all your nutrients! 1 cup kefir 1 cup frozen mixed berries A handful spinach (better frozen) 1/2 – 3/4 cup cooked oatmeal This is weirdly specific but frozen mango or frozen strawberries also made it easier to keep down for me 😂

OMG. That’s the worst. I lost so much weight when I was pregnant, due to throwing up. What finally worked for me was to lean in to whatever I actually craved. For me, it ended up being greasy fried chicken and greasy pepperoni pizza, which felt deeply wrong (I had been a 100% kale and whole grains kind of girl previously). Best of luck to you! And, remember, however much you eat (or don’t eat), and whatever that food is (or isn’t), you both are probably going to be fine. Hugs!

I found that I needed to rely on foods that did not require work, because I moved between hungry and nauseous to quickly to deal with recipes. Full fat Greek yogurt with granola on top, cottage cheese, protein shakes. I also ate a lot of breakfast sandwiches (scrambled eggs with cheese, avocado, and sriracha on a big challah bun). Like, one a day for months.

Fruit and popsicles helped me survive pregnancy

Currently first trimester with twins over here and Sarah nailed it with her frozen perogi suggestion. They are amazing air-fried! I have also been super into the just bare brand of lightly breaded chicken strips and nuggets, ramen, and I have a row of cereal boxes out on the counter because there’s no room for all of them in the cabinet. I’m normally very careful to limit my refined carbs, but they’re all I can think about eating right now so I’m leaning in and enjoying it as much as I can 😅 I also found the Schweppes brand of sparkling seltzer water has nice soft gentle tiny bubbles which has been really nice instead of the harsh bubbles in some other brands (Aldi!)

Oh, and I forgot to add- if nausea is keeping you from eating (which then makes you nauseous and that whole unfortunate cycle) ask your doctor about a B6 prescription. It takes getting a few doses built up in your system before you start to notice the benefit, but it has really helped me feel better! Good luck!

My two pregnancy go-tos. Toast (Wholewheat) with butter, marmite and a soft boiled egg. Toast (Wholewheat) with peanut butter, blueberries, cinnamon. I found thinking about food to be the worst, and ate these daily. CONGRATS!

Congratulations! Lots of good suggestions here! I liked smoothies (especially these smoothie packs so the prep is done beforehand: https://www.budgetbytes.com/smoothie-packs-my-favorite-smoothie/) and would snack on dry Kix cereal throughout the workday just to keep something in my stomach. Also liked Amy’s frozen meals for lunch…sometimes opening the fridge and dealing with all the SMELLS and preparing food would be too much, but I could handle pulling something out of the freezer and heating it up. I liked the red and green curries but maybe that was just me. I hope the nausea passes soon!

Ah thank you all for these lovely suggestions!

English muffin pizzas (whole wheat eng muffin). Dave’s killer bagel, cream cheese + tomato. Bean/cheese burrito or quesadilla. Frozen veggie burger. Grilled cheese on wheat + tomato soup. Comfort food, but make it a little healthier. Also – pregnancy is temporary, and you won’t feel like this forever. Lean in ;)

Sarah your comment immediately took me back to carrying around ziplock bags of rotisserie chicken when I was pregnant with my first! Ha! My kids are now 12 and 9. Some things you never forget!! That nausea was something else.

It’s a show about rich people at a fancy hotel and all the undercurrents and drama going on for them behind the scenes- it’s very “money doesn’t make you happy.” Everything tilts sideways. It’s well produced, visually appealing and compelling. Great social commentary – and fashion!

+1 Sydney Hale candles! The Woods scent is 🤌🏻 and is always on my Christmas/Birthday wishlist

Thank you!

excited about this rec, thanks!

It’s a murder mystery/ satire of the very rich, set at a luxury resort chain. Different locale every season (Hawaii, Italy, Thailand). I’ve seen all three seasons and I liked Italy best! It’s not always believable, but it’s always fun to watch!

I was coming here to say Ina’s one pot oven risotto. My toddlers love it, my husband loves it, my friends love it. It’s a winner!

Yes to the show and YES to their wardrobes!!

I’ve been watching this, too! For me it’s Michelle William’s hair. OBSESSED.

Love this show, the writing is super and Im laughing out loud in bed! also the outfits are great!

Oh, I remember when I Am A Food Blog posted this! So clever — looks like a lot of fun and very riffable. Bet the boys will enjoy sharing this recipe with their friends.

ruth i nodded through this whole post. making soup tonight in fact! from my beloved old cooks illustrated “soups and stews.” favorites in our family include greek chicken/rice/lemon; pasta fagioli (fazool); new england clam chowder…add good crusty bread and yum. bonus: leftovers for lunches or freezer.

I wasn’t a big soup fan as a kid, a teen and an 20-something. Now I’m obsessed. I love making a big pot of soup on Sunday night and warming it up throughout the week for lunches. Adding crusty bread is always delicious. Recently, I joined a monthly cheese club. That and crackers are a perfect accompaniment to some of the lighter soups I make!

That totally makes sense! I’m a competent-but-not-gifted cook, and all my thunder is soup-adjacent, owing to all of the built-in satisfactions and developments you mention. Also dying on soup hill sounds cozy.

This is the most genius thing and most genius description of the thing!! Yes!

Yes, I hadn’t thought of this before, but it’s perfect,and much of the way Iearned from my grandmother (albeit likely unintentional)! Also, have fun- and let the boys pick out/shop/cook individually at least once a week

This is excellent advice!

Yes to soup! Our usual dinner, we two old childless people. Bonus: there’s usually enough of it to freeze some for future dinner, especially those days when I just cannot summon any food energy. Melissa Clark has great soups; try this: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021776-lemony-white-bean-soup-with-turkey-and-greens We like it best with broccoli rabe.

My (generally very agreeable) husband dislikes that candle! It’s the only one he’s ever said he doesn’t like! It makes me so sad!!!

This sounds so good, Suz!!! What veggies do you usually get in the mix?

Sarah BK, either corn-peas-carrots-green beans, or cauliflower rice w bits of other stuff!! Whatever is at Costco!! :) It’s not authentic by any means, but it’s yummy!

Detroit Rose and Slow North candles are lovely! https://www.detroitrose.com/ https://www.slownorth.com/collections/candles

The container doesn’t look fancy (just a mason jar), but I really like the 1803 candles. My favorite is Palo Santo. Some of them are too baked-good-smelling, but they’ve got some gems. $25 and burn for a long time. I usually get about 48 hours out of each one (I burn them in my office at work, so I have a pretty accurate time).

I watched the video; looks delicious! Do you follow his recipe or have any tips?

just came here to say i didn’t cook this last night, my teenage SON and HUSBAND did, as it was their night to cook and i sent them the youtube video as a suggestion. they CRUSHED it, even finding chicken seasoning (which, along with the curry powder, gives it extra brit vibes) here in america, and adding a hint of trader joe’s chili-lime seasoning left over from another recipe. it was delicious. they served it with baked beans and a salad. thank you jess.!

Thanks for sharing this! I was “on the fence” about that cookbook, but, after reading your comment, I’m totally not on the fence anymore! Yay, Emily!

Their soap is great and lasts for awhile. I haven’t tried the peppermint one specifically but have used others. The rosemary and clary sage body wash is also a favorite. A splurge, but so quality. Richard, the owner, is also so lovely and so thoughtful about the products and ethos of the brand. His book ‘Flamingo Estate: The Guide to Becoming Alive’ is currently on my coffee table :)

YES!!!!!!! It’s fabulous! And makes your house smell incredible! I love slicing off smaller pieces of the brick. Treat yourself! You won’t regret the purchase.

Thank you both!!

hmm, it worked for me.

I do this too! Cheat ratatouille. I liked to add (canned, rinsed) butter beans with about 15 min to go. Freezes nicely, and is open to allllll the toppings.

Yesss, one of my favorite comfort meals. I will sometimes elevate the grilled cheese by adding on – bacon, avocado, “fancy cheese” like a brie, pesto, jam, apple, etc.

Some gluten-free, dairy-free, picky-eater-friendly ideas we use all the time: – Rice bowls with crispy tofu or pulled pork or pulled chicken, black beans, and whatever veggies you have around, either roasted or raw. Can add cheese or not. Can be personalized to each diner’s needs/tastes. – Turkey meatloaf with baked potatoes and whatever veggies roasted. It all cooks at once! – Soup and sandwiches (on gf bread). Make and freeze soup on the weekend. – Breakfast for dinner – We make pizza on frozen cauliflower crusts all the time. Can use dairy-free cheese or just make one with lots of veggies and sauce and no cheese. – Fried rice with veggies and eggs

This is hands down the best recipe I’ve ever used. I have a ridiculous affection for it — it’s like the Pedro Pascal of recipes. It has little videos! It repeats the measurements in the instructions! In bold!! It has personality — “this puppy is going to rise!” — and a clear button to jump to the recipe. Genius!!

Completely agree on IowaGirlEats.com … I have been making her recipes for quite a while, and many were easily adapted when we moved to whole foods plant based eating. I still am sharing links to her recipes though I don’t know that she creates many new ones anymore. Loved that most ingredients I had on hand already. BudgetBytes is a site for affordable easy recipes that you can amp up in ways that suit your tastes. Some are basic (white bean soup) but we add hot sauce and more spices to taste. We’ll be doing a lot more “getting to basics” recipes for sure as costs go up.

Penzey’s has an excellent lemon pepper in a small glass jar. I use it a lot in the summer on various salads.

Viola. :):) And don’t tell the children it means “Pasta a la Prostitute”.

I love all of it!! I will miss this show (until the next season).

Haha! Me too. I’m clicking every one!

we are all obsessed ;)