Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[monkeydawn]

Catching up...need to do in parts.

Favorite dinner...I like a pasta with pesto, fresh tomatoes, hard time biscuits and sliced parmesean. I also LOVE a caprese salad in the summer with fresh picked tomatoes. So basically any tomato, basil cheese combo.

Favorite cake...I love a Mexican Chocolate cake...mmm. I can also appreciate a good chocolate rum cake that can do double duty. In the fall a nice warm gooey cinnamon coffee cake cant be beat. And lately Ive been making a lemon lavender pound cake that goes very well with a variety of fruits.

Place to travel...we had a May trip booked to Italy. It was supposed to be a memorial trip for my grandfather who passed last year. I'm sure I will get excited about it in the future but right now any travel thoughts beyond a day trip are just so overwhelming. Especially the thought of going overseas. The good news is that when we are ready we pretty much have a lot of the planning done!

My husband buys me the most amazing really dense chocolate fudge cake with fresh raspberry filling and glaze, it really is more pudding/fudge in texture so it freezes really well. Each birthday he gets me a large cake and we cut slices and freeze them individually to eat throughout the year, we totally busted out some cake on Friday!!!

Usually we do something similar with birthday cakes since its just the two of us. I dont know if I will get a cake this year, my bday is later this month and Im not sure I will get out to the place where I usually get a cake. Last year I accidentally ended up with three birthday cakes. Oops. LOL

 

[NYCgrrl]

Just a heads up for anyone living in the TriState region that includes NY. Stew Leonard's has spiral cut ham on sale along with other goods. The ham price is reasonable although I'm not as keen about the price of the boneless leg of lamb but it is available:

http://www.stewleonards.com/specials/
They are also advertising jobs available via the same link.

HTH!

 

[mmouse37]

Missed a few days on this thread. Favorite meal is a Chicken Milanese which I have when we go out to our favorite restaurant. My favorite cake is any kind of chocolate cake but a favorite dessert is bread pudding. I just made one today and it came out so good. I had stale Challah bread that I cubed and soaked in an egg, cream, butter, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla mixture. Baked it and then served it with a Vanilla Sauce. Brought back so many memories of bread pudding my mom used to make!!

Dinner tonight was meatloaf, corn, green beans, rice and biscuits. The other night we ordered from our favorite Mexican restaurant again and this time we got a pitcher of Margaritas to go and wow, knocked me on my tush!! So good!!

Favorite drink is probably a Margarita or a Mojito

Favorite cold beverages is iced tea. I brew a pitcher every other day all year round.

Favorite hot beverage is tea (can't do coffee at all) and for a treat a Starbuck Chai Tea Latte. I have tried several recipes to duplicate the taste at home but none of them quite get it.

MJ

 

[monkeydawn]

I REALLY want to spend a few days in Savannah, Georgia.

Not sure what the draw is for Savannah for you but while you are over in that corner you might want to devote a couple of days to Charleston if youve never been. I promise it's worth the side trip.

I caught up quicker than I thought I would. Alcoholic drinks are Chinaco Black Tequila, Six Degree Reposado Tequila, Maestro Dobel Single Barrel from 2016 (when they were using French Oak) Tequila or Michelada (rojo or verde).

Non alcoholic is Swank. So refreshing after yard work. Its getting time to make up a pitcher.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Non-alcoholic: coffee! I do drink water throughout the day, but it’s that morning coffee ritual I look forward to.

Alcoholic: Sam Adams beer. Oktoberfest is my favorite, but I’m not really fussy. - I’ll drink whatever one is in season.

 

[queenofthehive]

Just a heads up for anyone living in the TriState region that includes NY. Stew Leonard's has spiral cut ham on sale along with other goods. The ham price is reasonable although I'm not as keen about the price of the boneless leg of lamb but it is available:

I also love Stew Leonard’s brownies. I live in NC and co-worker used to get a bucket of brownies from a client up north every Christmas. They were so delicious. I then started ordering them for family. I love to get the catalog and see all the baskets/items at Christmas time. I bet their ham is one of the best. Have a nice Easter!

 

[lorimay]

I have turned into a Sparkling water junkie lately.
The other day I went to a local Italian grocery store and bought a bottle of creamy limoncello, omg it was so good mixed with a little Perrier.

Only Disney Cruise vacations, I like a coconut Mojito, Moet Ice or a Konk Kooler...... yum

 

[NYCgrrl]

I also love Stew Leonard’s brownies. I live in NC and co-worker used to get a bucket of brownies from a client up north every Christmas. They were so delicious. I then started ordering them for family. I love to get the catalog and see all the baskets/items at Christmas time. I bet their ham is one of the best. Have a nice Easter!

There are soooooooo many temptation worthy products there. And during normal times they are wonderful with sampling. Haven't tried their brownies but now I'll be sure to let the household chocoholics do so.

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t drink alcohol, not because I have anything against it other than I hate the taste. Beer tastes like vomit to me, wine like rotten fruit, and spirits leave a harsh metallic taste in my mouth. I have tried various drinks over the years and just decided it isn’t something for me.

I do like a nice cup of tea, preferably spiced with cinnamon, and my favorite cold drink (which I buy as a treat now and then) is Stewart’s Root Beer.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

No alcohol for me. I don't like how it tastes and the way it makes me feel. When it comes to wine, I like to quote Dr. Sheldon Cooper - "Grape juice that burns!"

I'm an iced coffee junkie, though I try to keep my Dunkin' iced coffees as a treat. Love the coconut caramel girl scout cookie flavor, the Irish creme, maple brown sugar...Oooh, I hope the pistachio will be coming back this summer!

At home, I like Hint water and Bai drinks.

 

[Searc]

I drink mainly water. Milk with dinner and an iced mocha coffee every morning from International Delight. One carton costs less than one drink at Starbucks and lasts around a week.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Hi all and Happy Thursday,

Well we had excitement here last night and I didn't like it. About 8:30pm I'm reading a book and Matt's upstairs and I'm yelling "do you hear that?" and about time Matt comes flying down the stairs yelling tornado warning our phones are going crazy with the siren thing. I flip the tv over to local channel and weather guy is saying take cover in your safe spot and get there now. I'm like WTH is going on?!? I grab couple blankets and he grabs some pillows and we hit the inner closet on first floor. Maybe 6 minutes in and all crazy broke loose with wind and storms and it hadn't been raining or anything! We are laying there and he has the weather on my phone and I'm trying to text a good friend of mine in the country that doesn't have cable or local tv to get to the safe spot. At same time, I'm telling Matt I can do pandemic or a tornado but I ain't down for both! Finally had the all clear and looked outside. Everything seemed fine. Our deck furniture had been shoved and pushed all over and the grill had been moved sideways, which is impressive because the Weber is heavy! A house in the neighborhood was hit by lightning and the firetrucks and stuff were there. Overall we were safe and that's all that matters.

With the weather and the virus going on, I am feeling completely out of control today and spent the morning getting myself re-centered. I worked on what can I do that makes a difference and what can I do here to keep things going. I also stumbled on marathon of Psych on USA which one my favorite shows so I have been a couch potato today.

Dinner is sloppy sweet potatoes with garlic green beans. You can bet I'm eating some cake today!

Gratitude:
1. The weatherman on TV telling locations and times and very reassuring.
2. We are safe and little damage from all that happened.
3. It's beautiful day even if cold.

Sending love, peace and good health to all.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Question of the day 4/9: What's a favorite hobby or activity for relaxing?

What do you do to relax? Do you have a hobby? I'm not particularly artistic as in I don't think I have any real talents. I tend to bake, cook, clean or check on others when I'm stressed or trying to think and worth through something going on in my brain.

 

[Searc]

Hi all and Happy Thursday,

Well we had excitement here last night and I didn't like it. About 8:30pm I'm reading a book and Matt's upstairs and I'm yelling "do you hear that?" and about time Matt comes flying down the stairs yelling tornado warning our phones are going crazy with the siren thing. I flip the tv over to local channel and weather guy is saying take cover in your safe spot and get there now. I'm like WTH is going on?!? I grab couple blankets and he grabs some pillows and we hit the inner closet on first floor. Maybe 6 minutes in and all crazy broke loose with wind and storms and it hadn't been raining or anything! We are laying there and he has the weather on my phone and I'm trying to text a good friend of mine in the country that doesn't have cable or local tv to get to the safe spot. At same time, I'm telling Matt I can do pandemic or a tornado but I ain't down for both! Finally had the all clear and looked outside. Everything seemed fine. Our deck furniture had been shoved and pushed all over and the grill had been moved sideways, which is impressive because the Weber is heavy! A house in the neighborhood was hit by lightning and the firetrucks and stuff were there. Overall we were safe and that's all that matters.

With the weather and the virus going on, I am feeling completely out of control today and spent the morning getting myself re-centered. I worked on what can I do that makes a difference and what can I do here to keep things going. I also stumbled on marathon of Psych on USA which one my favorite shows so I have been a couch potato today.

Dinner is sloppy sweet potatoes with garlic green beans. You can bet I'm eating some cake today!

Gratitude:
1. The weatherman on TV telling locations and times and very reassuring.
2. We are safe and little damage from all that happened.
3. It's beautiful day even if cold.

Sending love, peace and good health to all.

Wow, I'm glad you're safe! A tip for next time, before you get in your safe space, make sure you have sturdy shoes on. If you come out to broken widows or rubble, you want to make sure you aren't barefoot.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Wow, I'm glad you're safe! A tip for next time, before you get in your safe space, make sure you have sturdy shoes on. If you come out to broken widows or rubble, you want to make sure you aren't barefoot.

I through our Nikes in the room as I was getting in! I grew up in AR and we kept a kit under the cabinet with flashlight, knife and odds and ends including old pairs of shoes. When I was a kid, I remember running around trying to open some windows a crack in the house before tornado warnings because part of the houses damage was the sheer pressure from them.

 

[Meriweather]

Question of the day 4/9: What's a favorite hobby or activity for relaxing?

What do you do to relax? Do you have a hobby? I'm not particularly artistic as in I don't think I have any real talents. I tend to bake, cook, clean or check on others when I'm stressed or trying to think and worth through something going on in my brain.

I love to bake, but try not to do too much because I like to eat too.
I am baking for Easter.....brownies (regular and gluten free), lemon bars, cinnamon bread and scones (plain and chocolate chip.
I like to scrap book, but have not gotten to it yet during this stay at home time......hopefully soon. I am years behind.
I like to read, do word puzzles, watch TV and movies.

So far decluttering and cleaning is coming first

Oh yeah....coloring. I am so far behind on my page a day calendar, I have been trying to do 2 pages a day to catch up

 

[PollyannaMom]

Question of the day 4/9: What's a favorite hobby or activity for relaxing?

What do you do to relax? Do you have a hobby? I'm not particularly artistic as in I don't think I have any real talents. I tend to bake, cook, clean or check on others when I'm stressed or trying to think and worth through something going on in my brain.

Glad you are OK after the scary weather!!

I tend to rely a bit too much on TV to relax, but I do have a puzzle going right now, so that's kind of more "hobby-ish". (I'm also the grown-up always willing to color with the kids at family gatherings. )

When I'm really stressed, though, I organize - cabinets, drawers, that sort of thing. I hate actual cleaning, but straightening up is different. When I'm dealing with things that are out of my control, I latch onto what I can put in order.

I like to scrap book, but have not gotten to it yet during this stay at home time......hopefully soon. I am years behind.

I used to do a lot of that, too. But I got so far behind, it became daunting. (And my scrapbooking table is in DS's new "classroom" so I'm not going to say I'll get to it right now, either.)

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Hi all and Happy Thursday,

Well we had excitement here last night and I didn't like it. About 8:30pm I'm reading a book and Matt's upstairs and I'm yelling "do you hear that?" and about time Matt comes flying down the stairs yelling tornado warning our phones are going crazy with the siren thing. I flip the tv over to local channel and weather guy is saying take cover in your safe spot and get there now. I'm like WTH is going on?!? I grab couple blankets and he grabs some pillows and we hit the inner closet on first floor. Maybe 6 minutes in and all crazy broke loose with wind and storms and it hadn't been raining or anything! We are laying there and he has the weather on my phone and I'm trying to text a good friend of mine in the country that doesn't have cable or local tv to get to the safe spot. At same time, I'm telling Matt I can do pandemic or a tornado but I ain't down for both! Finally had the all clear and looked outside. Everything seemed fine. Our deck furniture had been shoved and pushed all over and the grill had been moved sideways, which is impressive because the Weber is heavy! A house in the neighborhood was hit by lightning and the firetrucks and stuff were there. Overall we were safe and that's all that matters.

With the weather and the virus going on, I am feeling completely out of control today and spent the morning getting myself re-centered. I worked on what can I do that makes a difference and what can I do here to keep things going. I also stumbled on marathon of Psych on USA which one my favorite shows so I have been a couch potato today.

Dinner is sloppy sweet potatoes with garlic green beans. You can bet I'm eating some cake today!

Gratitude:
1. The weatherman on TV telling locations and times and very reassuring.
2. We are safe and little damage from all that happened.
3. It's beautiful day even if cold.

Sending love, peace and good health to all.

Goodness, glad to hear you're okay! That must be scary! I've had a few moments in recent years when I've grabbed my kid and the computer and headed to the basement...and I remember the tornado that hit in MA on June 1, 2011; it passed within a mile of where I was. That was frightening enough; I can't imagine actually being IN it.

We have been couch potatoes here today as well. Josh was a beast yesterday and I'm tired of trying to come up with ideas to occupy him. He doesn't like any of my ideas anyway. For my own sanity, I suppose I should just give up the battle.

To everyone's surprise, our town canceled the Fourth of July celebration already. It's fairly well-known; I've seen it on many national "Best" lists. It's a 3-day affair of food, crafts, parade, games, music, fireworks, etc. Last year we had Kip Winger and Lita Ford. I think we were supposed to get Slaughter and Vixen this year. It's just surprising that they've called it off 3 months in advance, but I get it - all the restaurants and businesses would be planning for it already, but obviously they can't. It's kind of sad...our town looks forward to it every year. Now it really feels like we have nothing.

Question of the day 4/9: What's a favorite hobby or activity for relaxing?

What do you do to relax? Do you have a hobby? I'm not particularly artistic as in I don't think I have any real talents. I tend to bake, cook, clean or check on others when I'm stressed or trying to think and worth through something going on in my brain.

I'm a gamer. Nothing special...I like a game called Hidden City. I play City Girl Life on FB, which used to be owned by Disney. I also like Jigsaw World and Cross-Stitch World, and I want to check out some of the color-by-number games.

I like to take photos. I got a Google Pixel phone last summer and I'm constantly amazed at what it can do. Takes phenomenal photos. I like to make Shutterfly books as well. You'd think I'd be further along with the book I'm making now, with the photos from our Florida trip in February, but I have over 1000 photos and it's quite the task, so I'm not making much progress.

I've recently discovered that I really like to do chalk drawings on the driveway, but that's hard on my middle-aged knees! I can only do so much and then I have to leave the little one to fill in

 

[gillep]

Question of the day 4/9: What's a favorite hobby or activity for relaxing?

What do you do to relax? Do you have a hobby? I'm not particularly artistic as in I don't think I have any real talents. I tend to bake, cook, clean or check on others when I'm stressed or trying to think and worth through something going on in my brain.

Glad you are both safe, so scary!!!!!!

To relax I like to read, or listen to audio books. Before quarantine, I would say cook or bake, but the shine has been removed from both those activities. I also find just walking around Target quite relaxing, I usually put in one earbud and listen to a book and just walk the aisles, I miss you Target, I miss you.

 

[Meriweather]

I used to do a lot of that, too. But I got so far behind, it became daunting. (And my scrapbooking table is in DS's new "classroom" so I'm not going to say I'll get to it right now, either.)

I gave up doing DH and my trips and now just put them in photo albums.....so I don't take as many pictures on our trips now.....no more food ones
I just scrap book the grand kids.....year by year and our family vacations. And still way behind!