Calling all Chicago DISers #2

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone Hope you all had a great monday (is that even possible??) Hoping to get a jump on the day by getting up at 530 today and nope, Gabriel was right behind me! hahha!! Now everyone is up and I may even be a tad behind on my schedule now!

Oh well have great day!

 

[disneygal922]

Good Morning Everyone! Happy Veterans Day! i had to scrape frost off my car today... i guess that is a sure sign winter is coming?

Slo ~ Enjoy that Chicken soup you have! I'll keep your store in my thoughts

Everyone else ~ have a wonderful day!

 

[momto1]

Hi gang! It is raining here and I hear on the radio that it might be freezing in some parts of Chicagoland. So...please be careful!

Slo - I don't really know where the car was towed to or why it was towed. The mom and dad were anxious to get home that night and I didn't get to ask too many questions! I hope your store has a good holiday season. We had a small store once and counted on the holiday season, too.

Geffric - I talked to dh about the December meet. He was in favor of us going..We just have to look at our schedule. It sounds fun!

I am going to a Tastefully Simple party on Sunday. I know there have been discussion here on what you all like. I will take any suggestions of your favorites since I haven't hardly bought any TS products before.

Got to run.
Lori

 

[disneygal922]

Good Afternoon Everyone! So... I have a question in regards to my wedding planning. I've posted a thread on the weddings board asking for suggestions regarding this as well! I already have a few replys However, I would like your input as well.

As of right now, Mike and I are planning to have the reception at the Living Seas Salon(the banquet version of Coral Reef Restaurant). HOWEVER, while I love that location, I've always wanted my reception to have a lot of natural light and an open atmosphere. Do you ladies and gents have any suggestions? I'm in the process of researching Narcoosees and Citricos seeing as I've never been to either of them! Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[slo]

Nothing new here - same ol, same ol


DMM - I remember when Katie would get up early with me sometimes. I would drag my butt out of bed, so I could get stuff done, and she would have a mini radar, and know that I was up, and then she would get up too. She's not like that anymore, now if I try to get her up to early, she's like a grizzly bear

DG - Thanks for keeping my store in your thoughts - I appreciate it!!!! These really are scary times!!! Everytime I talk to someone that owns a business, they talk about how slow they are, and how much sales are down With owning my own business, I've really learned how important it is to shop at the mom & pop type businesses, and not do all my shopping at the "big box" stores. I really hope we (business owners) are able to continue treading water during these tough times, because I would hate for us all to be a casualty of this bad economy.
**I wish I could help you with your wedding question, but I've never been to either of those 2 places either. Hopefully others will be able to help.

momto1 - Thanks for the positive thoughts about my store - I appeciate it!!! What was your business??
**MMMmmmmmmm Tastefully Simple!!!!!
My favorites are:
Bountiful Beer Bread
Garlic Garlic
Bacon Bacon
Onion Onion
The brownies (When Bunchkin makes them - I destroyed them )
Wild Rice Soup
The other things I like, I can't think of the actual name - I'll look and post them later.




Well, I gotta run and get ready for work, so I can leave early for Wal-Mart. I need a couple of misc type of things, and I'm also buying everything for Stephanie's Christmas stocking. So I'll have one child down, and the other to go Luckily, for the 2nd year, Kevin never used his stocking stuffers, so I can just use those again (so he'll be getting the same things for the 3rd year). I never know if I should be happy or annoyed about this I also need to buy things for Ms. Sophie this year -she will also get a stocking, but I will buy most of that stuff at the local pet store.

Have a good day!!!

 

[disneygal922]

Good Morning Everyone! Somehow, I have no idea how I did it, but I twisted my back in my sleep. I woke up at 3am to a crazy sharp pain in the middle of my back (right below my ribs).... it hurt really bad. it's a little better now but I have no idea what happened. AND my dad has the flu I feel so bad. he had a really bad cold/upper respirtory infection for about a month, now this... poor guy. he was supposed to leave the house at 630am today to go to a job (he's a computer tech) all the way up in Elgin. Well, he walked out the front door and got to the car, just to walk right back in the house. He called his dispatcher and someone else will do the job. He would have never made the 2 hour drive. I wish there was something I could do....

Slo ~ We buy Bud a Xmas gift too! Ever since mom passed my dad doesn't do much decorating, a wreath on the front door and I put the xmas towels in the bathrooms and kitchen. So, because we don't hang the stockings, it sits on the dining room table so he doesn't break into it before Christmas! He's such a good dog! Just make sure you don't leave Sophie's gift out where she can get it. Do you know what you are getting everyone?

 

[piglet too]

Happy Wednesday!!

Slo ~ How is your hand feeling?

DG ~ Ouch! Hope you are feeling better soon.

momto1 ~ What is there not to like with Tastefully Simple? I have been selling it since 2002, and there are very few products that I don't like. My favorites right now would have to be,
Bountiful Beer Bread ~ you can make it with so much more than just beer. Try Mountain Dew and cinnamon chips for "cinnadew bread."
Vidalia Onion Dressing ~ This is probably my favorite product. I love to sit there and dip the Bountiful Beer Bread in it. I also use this when we have veggies that I don't care for.
Pomegrante Chipolte Sauce ~ Great over chicken and other "white" meats. I have used it in place of BBQ sauce and my sister uses it for a glaze over pork in the crock-pot.
Wahoo Chili ~ DH and I use about a 1/3 of a jar when we make chili at home. Gives it plenty of kick.
Key Lime Cheese Ball ~ OK, when I bring this to sample at a party, I make sure I bring it home. I can sit there with graham cracker sticks and just dig it. I don't even care for Key Lime pie.
Creamy Caramel ~ This is DH and DD's favorite item. They "fight" over the jar and it eat straight out with a spoon. Great over ice cream too.

My advice is to try everything there is to sample. I have learned over the years that even if I don't like something in it, I usually end up liking the product itself.

Speaking of Tastefully Simple, I am having an 'Open House" on December 6th. There will be other vendors as well, as of right now Discovery Toys and a wine person. If anyone is interested in coming, let me know and I'll send you the details.

 

[momto1]

Morning gang!

Slo and Piglet - Thanks for the TS ideas. Some of those sound so good. I forgot about having the Vidalia Onion dressing before. I liked but dh doesn't so it would be all mine!

Slo - We had a Gift and Antique store. We were in a town that wasn't quite ready to make a comeback and traffic was so slow at times. Now the town has lots of cute little shops.

DS complained of a headache last night and had a slight fever. He went to bed early. DH said he looked bad this morning but went to school anyway. I hope he doesn't get sicker and have to leave school.

Not much else today.
Lori

 

[geffric]

hope everyone is staying warm!!

getting ready for Thanksgiving and then Black Friday and a friend of mine's annual cookie exchange ..I always do Thanksgiving and do the same thing over and over.. but it is a tradition!! Everytime I think of a change in meu.. the boys react badly to it.. no MOM make stuffing, twice baked potatoes with sour cream and jello mold and pumpkin casserole and pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread and cheesecake and .... It is such a starchy meal.. any ideas to liten tihs up???

 

[irish dancer]

Morning guys! DD11 is home with me today, yesterday she was complaining of a sore throat and headache. She felt OK laying down but was dizzy when she'd get up. She was out cold on the couch at 6:30p! Luckily I found a replacement for her mass this morning and I just let her sleep. She seems a bit better today but has a wicked cold, poor kid.

DS's meeting has been scheduled for Fri morning. Will be interesting to see what they have to say....

disneygal - thanks to your suggestion I made chicken soup last night - yumm! It was so good on a cold yucky day. Also made dumplings.
*Wish I could help with your wedding but we've never been to any of those restaurants, maybe if you post something on the Restaurant Boards you'd get some feedback.
**Yikes! I hope your back feels better soon, don't you hate it when you hurt yourself when you're sleeping! PD for your Dad too, I hope he gets well soon!

momto1 - yikes, what an adventure for you DS! It is something they'll proabably always remember.
*I second (or third) the bread from TS. I also love the Chai Tea especially on these cold days!
**I hope your DS feels better soon, DD is home with the same symptoms.

geffric - thanks for the link to the meet info. I haven't really participated in the Podcasts either. Will have to check the calendar...

slo - I hope things go well for your store during this season.
*Thanks for the PD for DS, DH and I were talking last night and it seems he had a rough patch this same time last year. I wonder if it is time change/weather related.

piglet - where will you be having your Open House?

Well, I'm off to warm some of the left over chicken soup for DDs lunch (she slept through dinner). Have a great day everyone!!

 

[piglet too]

ID ~ The open house will be at my home in Mokena.

 

[julezdisney]

Hi y'all! I haven't been on here in months and you probably don't remember me! BUT I'm doing a drive-by to show you this if you haven't seen it:

Chicago Area DIS-meet Dec. 7th

I'm so going, there's a link in there for their "trip report" for the last one they did in June, and it looked like a blast!

Hope to see ya!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Hi all! We're going up to Frankenmuth, MI for Thanksgiving, i'm sooo excited!! I love being able to get away!

 

[HERSEY]

Good morning!

I feel like I could just crawl back upstairs and go to bed. I don't feel like I got any sleep. This will be a long day unless my coffee starts to kick in.

Geffric I have no idea about changing up your menu. We usually just add one new item to replace something else, but still have the standards.
I think I am making cranberry bread or muffins to replace the relish that is always left over.

Slo How is your hand? Does Stephanie has thanksgiving week off? Alex does, he is soo looking forward to no homework for a whole week. We meet with his algebra teacher that week for conferences. His other teachers say he is doing great and they have no problems. He is pulling an A in algebra but math has not been his friend so I want some quidance to keep him motivated

momto1 Hope your son is doing better. Be careful strep is going around.

Ok I need more coffee

 

[slo]

I'm having a hard time getting started this morning

Stephanie had her first basketball game yesterday, and I'm so sad I had to miss it. My mom said it was very exciting, and that Stephanie was great!!! She made 6 out of the 8 points, and her team won when she made the winning shot at the buzzer (they were tied until then). When my mom brought her back to my work, she was so red in the face, and bursting with excitement - I have never seen her like this. She was so so excited!!! Hopefully, I can see her play today.


I found out yesterday, when doing my online banking, that there was an unauthorized charge on my debit account for $222.22 I called the bank, and they cancelled my card, and I need to go to the bank this morning to fill out some paperwork, then the bank will "try" to get my money back. They better do more than "try" - that's a lot of money!!!!!! I called the company that this $222.22 went to, and they weren't open when the charge was made - this whole this is very weird!!!!! Wish me luck, because I wanted to use only cash this holiday season, and losing this money is not a good thing .


DG - How is your back today? I hope you feel better
**I do know what I'm getting everyone.....
-The girls are getting their rooms redone from us, and from Santa they are getting new AG dolls.
-Kevin and I are not buying for each other this year.
-Sophie is going to get a new bed for night time (she's outgrown the one she has)
How about you, do you know what you are buying yet?

piglet too - The hand is slowly healing, thanks for asking!!!
**Thanks for letting us know about the open house.

momto1 - I bet your store was lovely - I'm sorry you had to close
**How is your son today? I hope he is better and not worse

geffric - My Thanksgiving meal is very heavy too, but that's what I love about it I always watch things on the news and GMA about how to eat light during the holidays, and I think, "there's no way I'm eating like a bird over the holidays " I love to have an excuse to live it up, and eat as many calories as I can
*What is pumpkin casserole? Is it a side dish, or a dessert? Can I have a receipe, it sounds interesting. The pumpkin bread sounds really good too. Do you serve this instead of rolls? Can I have the receipe for that too

ID - I"m sorry I haven't gotten your shirt to you yet, I just haven't had a chance to get to the post office - I will try and get there on Saturday.
**How's your DD today? I hope she is feeling better

julez - Good to see you, and of course I remember you!!!! You should come by and visit more often, we would love to have you!!!

DMM - How nice to get away!!!! I think DG went to Frankenmuth in the summer, and she enjoyed it. I would like to go there sometime too for a long weekend, maybe next summer



Well, I have to go jump in the shower - maybe that will help wake me up.
Have a good day today everyone!!!

 

[slo]

Good morning!

I feel like I could just crawl back upstairs and go to bed. I don't feel like I got any sleep. This will be a long day unless my coffee starts to kick in.

Geffric I have no idea about changing up your menu. We usually just add one new item to replace something else, but still have the standards.
I think I am making cranberry bread or muffins to replace the relish that is always left over.

Slo How is your hand? Does Stephanie has thanksgiving week off? Alex does, he is soo looking forward to no homework for a whole week. We meet with his algebra teacher that week for conferences. His other teachers say he is doing great and they have no problems. He is pulling an A in algebra but math has not been his friend so I want some quidance to keep him motivated

momto1 Hope your son is doing better. Be careful strep is going around.

Ok I need more coffee

Hi there, we posted at the same time!!!!
The hand is starting to feel a little better, but I still really hurts. I have to sew down a jersey this morning, so I'm sure it will hurt more when I"m done with that Thanks for asking!!!

Stephanie doesn't have Thanksgiving week off, she only has Thursday and Friday off. It would be great if she did - it would be nice to not have to battle about getting homework done for a week.

That's awesome about Alex's A in Algebra Isn't great to see your child get good grades?! I get more excited about Stephanie's good grades, than I ever got with my own grades. I'll send some PD his way to help keep him motiviated, and for the good grades to continue Tell him "good job" from me!!!

 

[geffric]

Good morning!


Geffric I have no idea about changing up your menu. We usually just add one new item to replace something else, but still have the standards.
I think I am making cranberry bread or muffins to replace the relish that is always left over.

Morning!!

I eliminated the relish years ago. and no one missed it. I did cranberry bread for a few years.. I liked it but was the only one..


SLO - I got this recipe years ago from allrecipes.com.. everybody loves it..

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla, melted butter and ground cinnamon to taste. Spoon into a casserole dish.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour.

I substituted the following for the self-rising flour (1 c. self-rising flour=1 cup minus 2 T. regular flour, 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/8 tsp. salt) and it worked out just fine.

 

[roseprincess]

Hi all! We're going up to Frankenmuth, MI for Thanksgiving, i'm sooo excited!! I love being able to get away!

Hi DMM-
Been to Frankenmuth only once. It will be nice to go to the Bronner's Christmas store when you go
Have a good time!


Hi to all

 

[disneygal922]

Good Afternoon Everyone! hope everyone is having a lovely day! Dad is starting to feel a little better but I woke up this morning not feeling well. I am at work but just feeling blah. As for my back, it was ok for the majority of the day yesterday until about 330ish, then it started hurting pretty bad again. I think it was b/c i was sitting behind my desk so long and not moving around. today it's still achey but doing better!

Slo ~ I have ideas of what i'm going to get people but nothing for sure yet. i have requested xmas lists from my sisters and dad to be turned in no later that tomorrow Sorry to hear about your bank card... PD that they fix it really quick!

DMM ~ mike and i went to Frankenmuth in August. It's a nice little town!

ID ~ glad you enjoyed the Chicken Soup

 

[momto1]

Hi gang! I just arrived at work as I had a 3 hour morning meeting up near Ohare. The vendor provided lunch, though. So no leftovers for me today.

Slo - I know how you feel about missing Stephanie's game. I hate that I have to work and miss things, too. It sounds like she is a good little basketball player. I hope you get the $$ issue resolved. That is so frustrating when things like that happen.

ID - I hope your daughter is feeling better. DS made it through the day and seemed better. He was still draggin this morning though.

DMM - Frankenmuth, MI sounds like fun. I was only there briefly several years ago. All I remember is the Christmas store!

DG - I hope your back heals and you feel better, too. Not fun being sick!


Better run.
Lori