Friday Thoughts: Speed Style
Hello, friends! Popping in quick today for a Friday Thoughts post (love these so much, especially your comments!).
This last month almost finished me off with a lot of behind the scenes chaotic family circumstances that don’t always shine through on recipe posts (you can thank me later for that). I have so many things running through my overfilled brain, it isn’t even funny – all the nonessentials are ready to spill out to make space for the important, stressful stuff going on.
I love sharing the good, the bad, the ugly, and the awesome with you on these less food/more real life posts. So in honor of that, I’m hitting this Friday Thoughts post speed style. It’s quick, it’s quirky, it’s random!
As always, chime in on the comments. My favorite part is reading what YOU have to say (plus I’m asking for some advice, so help a girl out, ok?)!
Surgery as an Adult Thought: Don’t do it. Ever. Brian had a tonsillectomy + deviated septum/fractured nose surgery two weeks ago and he still feels like death. Honestly, it’s been the worst of the worst, and even if he recovers and loses his ability to snore, I think he and I will still question whether it was worth it (he’s going on 13 days of jello + pudding diet and a subsequent 17+ pound weight loss – ok, so I’m actually just a teensy tiny bit jealous about that last part). I’m calling him Brian 2.0.
Family Reunion Thought: Yeah, yeah, I know it’s holiday season time and not family reunion time, but because my overtaxed brain won’t.shut.off, I’m obsessed with planning our family reunion next summer that we’re in charge of. So tell me this, what is THE BEST thing you’ve done or eaten at a family reunion in the last decade? My brain and family reunion spreadsheet planning thank you in advance.
Portuguese Thought: I decided to buckle down and learn Portuguese (Brian speaks it semi-fluently and I would love a secret language to speak in front of our kids – and people at the grocery store). So I downloaded the Babbel app a few months ago, and armed with a healthy dose of “I’ve got this; how hard can it be?” I began. Long story cut short: I have since been sufficiently humbled. Apparently ye old brain doesn’t work as well as it used to when I took Spanish in college (all of which I have forgotten). I will persevere! Maybe. My brain hurts right now.
Cross Body Bag Thought: I’m not a purse person as much as I am a casual cross body bag kind of girl. I bought this leather Sak Iris Crossbody bag {aff. link} in the mint color months ago and have been wearing it daily as my “purse.” I love it. It’s cute, durable and super functional. Also, I paid over $60 for it way back when, and I just saw it listed on Amazon for $27. Whoa.
Girl Hair Thought: My life (and Cam’s) was forever changed when I found these little hair rubber bands {aff. link}. Also, this dry spray wax {aff. link} has been the best thing we’ve found to smooth her still-growing baby fly aways. I spray it on my fingers and smooth down my own fly aways, too. Ok, maybe the fly away thing is genetic and I should warn her now she’s not growing out of it.
Social Media Thoughts: What’s your favorite social media platform for connecting with family and friends? And if you aren’t on social media at all, can you elaborate why? Por favor and obrigado (wait, maybe I AM almost fluent??).
Canker Sore/Toothpaste Thoughts: I used to get canker sores all the time. Like several times a month (since I was a kid). I would also break out a lot on my chin and around my mouth. I subtly (or probably not so subtly) complained about this on Instagram earlier this year, and several of you mentioned using an SLS free toothpaste (I had never heard of it until then). So, for the last 8 months or so I’ve been using this SLS free Verve Toothpaste {aff. link}, and I am not even exaggerating…zero canker sores and probably only 1-2 blemishes in my chin/lips area since then. I am a believer. FYI: I tried the Tom’s brand of SLS free toothpaste and almost vomited, it was just so gross.
Teeth Thoughts: Speaking of teeth, I finally got my Invisalign braces off, and it feels amazing. I only had to wear them for a short nine months (thanks to already having braces twice as a teen and being a bad retainer wearer), and I’m still wearing a retainer a lot during the day, but I’m just so happy to be able to eat freely during the upcoming holiday season. #priorities Having said that, my two oldest kids go in for orthodontist appointments this week, and I’m on the fence about whether I’ll have the doctor put them in Invisalign or wire braces. Thoughts on teenagers in wire braces vs. Invisalign? Please enlighten me with your experiences.
Libby App Thoughts: A HUGE thank you to everyone who recommended the Libby library app on my last Friday Thoughts post. I just finished listening to When Breath Becomes Air and have listened to a few other audiobooks as well the last few weeks while cleaning/driving/waiting in hospitals and dr offices. Fantastic app!
Fermenting Food Thoughts: This is a longer subject for another time, but I’m hesitantly dipping my toes into the world of culturing vegetables in order to improve overall gut health for me and my family (in addition to the kefir we drink every day). I’m not going to lie, I’m a little scared. I’ve scoured this website, among others, and bought a couple how-to books on Amazon. I had a super bad experience with kimchi when I was 21 and backpacking in Korea, so I think I’m going to forego cabbage for now and just maybe try some carrots or beets? Talk to me. Any advice/experience to share?
Shoe Thoughts: Ok, last thought for the day. How much is too much to spend on shoes? I really want these ones. Someone talk me out of them. ASAP.
{current coping skills}
I’m done now. Thanks for letting me have a total brain spill today (the scary part is this is only about 10% of what I would like to talk about, but I know you guys have a life). Can’t wait to hear what’s on your mind!
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Hi Mel! I’m sorry life is pure insanity right now. One of my favorite scriptures that got me through one of the hardest years of my life (last year): Ether 6:4-12
Social media is overrated!!
I’ve never tried a cross body bag but man it looks great!! Too bad it got way popular after your post and the price went up! (heehee) I’m thinkin I may have to try it out though!
Well made, cute and comfy shoes that last for years? totally worth it.
You are strong and capable! (And my one-and-only fave food blogger!) There’s my 2 cents.
Thanks for the the thoughts, Carolee! and dang, sorry that bag jumped in price. Irritating! Thanks for the spiritual thought – always needed and appreciated!
I have braces right now and they are the worst! I want them off! I never had them as a child so I am in them for about 12-18 months and I’m only 6 months in. My husband is a dentist who works in an office with an orthodontist (thus the reason I have these wretched things on my teeth) and he said he would not generally recommend Invisalign for teenagers. His reason is just mostly that they have to be worn for most hours of the day and often times teenagers are not the most compliant with such things. He did say that if you have a responsible teenager that you can trust to handle the process properly then it could be a good thing for them, but generally he would just recommend good old fashioned braces.
Thanks for the input, Heather! I hope the next year goes FAST. Ugh. I think we are leaning toward wire braces much to my son’s dismay. It just feels like the better choice. He’s pretty responsible but I think he’ll resent how much he has to care for the Invisalign process every day.
Go for fermenting! I highly recommend the book Fermented Vegetables by Kirsten and Christopher Shockey. It gives you thorough instructions, and has a helpful troubleshooting section with pictures that help me calm my foodborne illness fears. I live in the same valley as you and our library system has several copies of the book. There is a recipe for Beet Kvass that is super simple. The Shockeys have a website, ferment.works and on the website they have a helpful free intro course, Five Ferments in Seven Days.
Thanks, Louise! I’m going to look for that book at the library!
1. Hope Brian feels better soon … YIKES!
2. I can only speak to the Social Media and Fermented topics so:
Social Media. I only use Instagram and although I dislike that it is a Facebook company, I like the user interface (mostly) and find it a fun way to quickly share photos and stories without the time involved in my own blog posts. Some caveats. I only follow 14 people on Instagram. I post things I like in my life and nothing that I am concerned about being public knowledge so: pet stuff, food, bits and pieces. I follow a few people who have similar pets, live in parts of the world I’d like to visit, friends from my blog. Occasionally on a weekend morning I might “explore” but typically do not.
I’ve had my own WordPress blog for almost 12 years. I started to allow family and friends to keep tabs on me on my RV trips: interest and my own safety. I found I loved to write and take/share photos and kept it up between trips. It takes more time than Instagram and I’ve gradually reduced the time spent blogging and increased Instagram posts.
My reason for blog and Instagram is primarily family and close friend sharing but I’ve also found that I like the easy reference to my life as well as the fact that posting somehow makes the memories stick or at least the topic and it is easy to search and find the details if I want to.
I am a computer programmer so at my computer a lot for work – work that I enjoy very much. I love to cook so search and maintain my recipes on the computer. I read about photography equipment and tools on the computer. I don’t have cable/satellite or antenna and I don’t stream a lot, but I do read a lot. I work from a home office and live with a dog and cat in a rural location – by choice! – and like the option of social when and for how long I want it … from the comfort of a little house I love.
This is probably more than anyone will read 🙂 … but I am very happy with what I think is a minimal amount of social connection via social media. All of that said, I think blogs – which are free, are perhaps one of the best ways to share with family and control privacy to an extent (there is NOT total privacy on the internet!!!). Also Instagram but I have not looked at What’s App. Instagram can be private (ish). I know lots love Facebook, but I think it is the world’s worst interface as well as just being an intrusive bit of software.
Moving on to Fermented things
I have always loved sauerkraut and started making my own regularly, 2 years ago. Prior to that Mrs. Bubbies was/is my favorite store brand but there is also a local woman that supplies groceries with “homemade” and she has a cabbage-apple that is very good. I often combine some shredded carrots and/or shredded beets in the ‘kraut, but generally I let shredded lettuce and hand mixed salt sit for an hour until the cabbage releases its water, pack in clean jar with all under water. I usually get enough water from the cabbage that I don’t add water. I take a taste at 14 days and it is usually somewhere between 14 and 21 days that it tastes good to me and goes into the refrigerator. I love the Easy Fermenter lids and also bought glass weights. You don’t need either but as I started fermenting regularly, it made things fast and easy. Now, as said, I LOVE sauerkraut. I don’t think I loved it as a kid and I wonder about most kids liking/eating the fermented things. My take on the whole thing is unless they’ve had some tries at store bought and like them … there are other options: kefir, yogurt and Oh, SOURDOUGH bread (naturally leavened) !!!
I make kefir since your blogging about it and love it. My dog loves it and it really helped my older dog, Bear.
Sourdough – I love everything about it: the process, the taste, the health benefits. I know, one more thing to “feed” (starter). BUT, like most things, when you’ve done it a bit, you get a routine and the whole feed and maintain and plan ahead part of sourdough becomes second nature – well, it did for me. And there are recipes for soft sandwich bread as well as the crusty artisanal breads, plus rolls, sweets, donuts!!! Additionally, uses for discard starter go way beyond pancakes and waffles.
Sheesh – I’ve written a short novel but I’m going to post it anyway. Happy Friday, Mel even though I’m writing this on Sunday.
Love all your thoughts, Liz!! I really need to get back into sourdough. I kept up a starter for so long and then let it go and threw it out a while back (it probably didn’t need to be tossed but it was pretty icky). I think I’ll start small with the fermented vegetables – like carrots or something simple. My kids are pretty adventurous but Brian hates sauerkraut more than anything (it’s like the only thing he truly detests). However, I’m doing this mostly for myself and if convince the family to try some along the way, that’ll be a bonus. I also agree with you about Facebook. I truly dislike it and only keep it up for my business page but don’t use it personally at all.
Two thoughts to share: 1. I had a tonsillectomy last summer and it was THE WORST as an adult!! I cried every day from the pain, I was SO hungry, and just it was just generally so hard. But it was worth it in hindsight. May the force be with you. 2. I got rid of facebook 3 years ago and I have an on again off again relationship with instagram. Currently off. Overall my brain is clearer when I’m off social media. It takes a little detox (sadly) but you get used to it. When I’m off completely, I question how I ever had time for it before… or even why I liked it or wanted it in my life. Quitting Facebook was 100% life changing. I will never go back. I enjoy Instagram hence the relationship – but I’m a happier and clearer person without it. Anyway, just my experiences. 🙂
I totally agree with that comment about your brain is clearer off of social media. I agree with that. Appreciate your thoughts!
BUY THE SHOES! You’re not even close to the questioning price range.
Haha, thanks for the encouragement, Marnie.
My hubby speaks portuguese too! For 2 solid years he made a commitment to only speak Portuguese to our then 1 and 2 year old. Guess what? I learned so much conversational Portuguese just hearing it. Ask Brian to speak everything he says to you in Portuguese. Then immediately say it in English. I promise it’s amazing and works. Good luck!!!
That is great advice, Katie!
Surgery: this is good to know. I get tonsil stones (basically hard lumps of bacteria and debris that form in my tonsils and then eventually get big enough to feel irritating and I have to try to “pop” them out with my fingers. They also STINK and give me bad breath. I’ve debated surgery to stop getting them, but maybe I’ll just try to stay on top of popping them out instead…
Social media: I prefer Instagram these days. I am pretty stingy about who I follow (basically just close friends and family and a 3-4 bloggers whose content I really enjoy and find inspiring; around 30 people total), so when I tap the app I barely spend any time in it because there’s usually only about 10 new posts/day. For Facebook, I try to look at it on my computer because I have the FB Purity extension (looks like a scam but he’s just bad at graphic art; it’s legit) and it really pares down the ads and useless posts. It’s highly customizable so you can choose exactly what types of posts you don’t want to see – you can even add certain words that you don’t want to see, so it eliminates posts about certain topics (I would guess most people use that for political stuff, but if you had a miscarriage etc it could also limit what posts you see that refer to pregnancy, or something). It also reduces how much time I spend on Facebook considerably!
Teeth: I had a series of retainers first (my parents were trying to afford the out-of-pocket cost of braces) but I lost a couple that were expensive to replace and didn’t wear them as consistently as I probably should’ve. I also found them much more painful than the braces I eventually got, because the teeth keep shifting every time you pop them in and out to eat. Braces were faster because they stayed on all the time and I preferred the reduced pain.
Fermenting food: So far I’ve only done yogurt (instant pot, in canning jars). My BIL does kombucha and sauerkraut for his health issues and claims they help a lot. I’m tempted to try too but I think I’ll be the only one eating them so I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.
Shoes: Go ahead! I bought a handmade leather purse recently for what seemed like a ridiculous price, but I feel like it’s the “real” price for a good quality leather purse. So much of what we purchase is excessively cheap and it makes us undervalue our possessions and feel entitled to own a lot of things. I’m trying to buy fewer items of higher quality (in classic styles that I know I’ll like for a long time) to reduce the stress on the environment and to keep me from feeling overwhelmed about the quantity of stuff in my house. Now I’m just overwhelmed by the shopping experience of finding the “right” items that will last a long time in my life – I’m not a shopper by nature haha!
I’m not a shopper by nature either so I totally understand! But I’d say over the last ten years I’ve really adapted more to the quality vs quantity. My wardrobe is a LOT smaller than it used to be but filled with higher quality items (like jeans I’ve been wearing for half a decade or more). Thanks for all your thoughts, Amy!
Boy girl ,,,,you have so much going on,,,and sorry to hear about Brian’s issue,,my partner had that done,,,said what a mistake,, best cure is another bed room…lol
Family reunion’s ,,,,veggie pizzas,,,I know but always go over with a bang, easy and yummy. Best things I like is easy food,,like finger food with a few other fork items. Good Brats with tooth picks,,little pieces like they offer as samples at the food stores sometime.
You have a busy life so let you get back to it,,,,Lucky you.
DCB
Thanks for the suggestions and comment, Douglas!
I’m allergic to SLS too! I’ve been using a Trader Joe’s SLS-free brand of toothpaste for a few years and it’s great. My 8 year old has been getting a ton of canker sores and I suspected a sensitivity too — I took him to Whole Foods (they have a ton of SLS free options) and let him pick a yummy vanilla one. So far so good!
I need to check out that Trader Joe’s toothpaste!
SLS free toothpaste is the way to go to combat camker sores,- just make sure it still has flouride. Trust me. We use Sensodyne.
I loved having a talent show at the family reunion. My husband has over 30 first cousins and they are getting married and having kids- we are trying to figure out how to help the newbies know everyone’s name. To the extent that you make those who have married into the family feel welcome, that is appreciated! (I am a convert and married into a big family).
I have fermented off and on, it’s fun. Cultures for health is a great place to start. I ferment salsa/pico de Gallo. Check frequently! You can get your own water kefir grains and use some juice…I used grape- haven’t done it in years! I haven’t made yogurt lately either, I want to try with my instant pot. Would love a separate post on this- maybe a round up or just asking for others advice. Just chose a recipe and do it- for the record, I have never fermented cabbage… I’ve heard of fermented ginger carrots which sounds interesting…. And of course you can ferment your own pickles, which sounds easy but I have not yet done.
Hope your husband is better. Surgery is the pits. Hope you are holding up, as well!
The verve brand does also have flouride but now I’m curious to check out the Trader Joe’s brand that so many people have recommended. Talent show is a GREAT idea! I’ll definitely post on the lacto-fermentation as I get more experience!
(insert wide eyed emoji) THE CROSSBODY BAG OF MY DREAMS.
Also, what even IS IT about surgeries for adults, done in the throat or head, taking FOR.EV.ER. to recover from?? I had my wisdom teeth taken out when I was 27. Oh my gosh, shoot me in the foot, that would’ve been a better experience. My friend had her tonsils taken out in her late 20’s and she was miserable for weeks.
Haha! I’m sorry it jumped back up in price, darn it! It was such a good deal at $27.
On learning Portuguese I have just started using the free version of Duolingo and like it!! Love the look of the shoes but if you look up close on the pic where they’re being worn it looks like it’s not a tight fit up front – might slip up and down as you walk esp after you wear them in?? But as a shoe lover myself I’m going to have to check the site out in more detail!!!
Good feedback, Angie – I’ll check that out on the shoes.
Surgery – My husband had this surgery about 15 years ago (his tonsils grew back)! He was out of commission for FOREVER!!! Sadly, he still snores and refuses to go back to the doctor or look into getting a CPap machine as he has read somewhere that it can make matters worse (I don’t know my doctors in the clinic I work in say it isn’t true).
Shoes – I always pay $150 or more for my shoes, but I am a shoe snob!!! I have the brands that I love and know they will also last. Those shoes are cute and if you think they will be comfortable, and they are quality, then they should last a good long while and you could also get them re-soled (which is what I do). I have had expensive shoes that I have worn for over 20 years and they are still going strong, I have had them re-soled one time and doing great!
Social Media – I am not a social media girl! I will hop onto facebook once in a while. Mainly to get a card idea or something, but for the most part, I stay away from it. I have accounts and will sometimes keep up with old high school friends, but it is rare for me to be out there.
Braces vs. Invisalign – I had to wear braces twice (once as a teen and again as an adult). I figure, if I have to suffer thru it 2 times, my son will have to as well! He is not responsible enough and needs something permanently attached!!! I fear when the time comes for the retainers, he will be losing those unless we do the permanent retainers! He would lose his left hand if it were not attached (the joys of having a 14 year old male!).
I can’t speak to the other items, but from all of your other comments, you are in great hands!!! Love your blog and your recipes.
What are your favorite brands of shoes? I love chacos and Danskos, but I should update my shoes at some point…
Um, what?? Tonsils can grow back? I’m so sorry for your husband (and for you; a snoring spouse is no joke). I’m also curious about your other shoe recommendations! Haha, I hear you on the 14-year old boy teenager. That’s kind of where we’re at. Thanks, Kim!
I am a recipe person but I happen to read your thoughts today. Go for the shoes. I like them and think they rock if they feel good on. I guess I will read your thoughts more now that I jumped in. I am mostly a kitchen person with grandchildren.
Thanks, Carol!
One idea for social media sharing that we’ve found works really well is simply to create a shared album in Google Photos. You can leave comments that work like chatting, really, and set it up so that you grant permission to access (via Gmail). You can also set it to simply share via link (it won’t be searchable), but that’s less secure, of course.
This also lets you create multiple different groups – one for grandparents, for example, who would like to see EVERY photo of the kids, and one for friends, who are fine with some kid photos, but maybe don’t need them every day.
As for shoes, $165 is perfectly fine in my book, especially for something handmade!
Thanks for that tip about google photos – great idea!
My family has been doing a reunion every year for nearly 40 years. Best one hands down was The Amazing Race. Went all over town, had the different types of tasks. Spread it across Friday night and Saturday morning. Absolutely awesome! Teams were the individual families (so each of my dad’s siblings and their kids).
We’re also big fans of ridiculous obstacle course races and scavenger hunts (like big run around town hunts).
We also did Heber Valley camp one year. Super cool.
Highly recommend Cafe Rio style salads for dinner and breakfast burritos or crepes for breakfast.
My friend also said they did an Amazing Race event at their family reunion and it was amazing! Kind of sounds like a lot of work. I can delegate though!
Mel….Wow. you continue to amaze me with your balancing acts! Thanks for sharing, you have a way of telling it like it is, and being funny at the same time!
Here’s my speed style comments:
1. I’m sorry Brian! Sister had same surgery and it’s downright hideous.
2. The last couple family reunions we rented waterslides/bounce houses for the kids (and some childish adults) You would think we brought Disneyland home.
3. Try a backpack bag. I loooove using mine! https://www.oluca.co (ok, I don’t own one of these exact ones, but hello!? So cute!)
4. No social media. None.
5. Buy the shoes. I have one pair of hand crafted leather shoes and they bring me joy. Evey girl needs a pair.
6. Good luck… Keep your chin up, you got this girl!!
Oh don’t be amazed, Ellen. I’m hanging on by a very thin thread! Love your speed style comments. Love them.
Maybe somebody chimed in already about the fermented foods but I thought I would give my two cents since you have blessed me with so many delicious recipes over the years. I have been doing fermented foods for years for gut health for a few of my children. We started with carrots and they are still my favorites because they don’t get mushy while they ferment.https://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2010/08/lacto-fermented-dilly-carrot-sticks.html This is the recipe I have used for years. Most of the time I don’t add the dill. Put the garlic on the bottom so it doesn’t float. Sometimes the garlic turns blue or green (sounds totally crazy!!) but don’t get worried, it is normal. My kids like pickles and these carrots taste like pickles. They eat them straight out of the jar but you can chop them up and add them to salads too. Homemade sauerkraut is delicious too and you can do fermented salsa and ketchup too. It really is simple. The first time is a little scary but press forward. The best piece of advice I received when starting is this: if it has gone bad, you will be able to tell by the smell! That is very true! Good luck!
P.S. Those shoes are adorable!
I think I’m going to start with carrots, too! Thanks for the recipe! Makes me kind of excited!
I have had Invisalign and two of my boys have had them. Then I have had 3 kids with regular braces. Of course, the Invisalign have a better look (for the most part–those little “speed bumps” that hold the Invisalign in better do tend to look like you have a tooth wart or food on your teeth…Ha!). Anyways, my oldest boy only wore Invisalign and he loves food and, as you know, it’s hard to snack when you have Invisalign. He has a fast metabolism and so this was a huge pain for him. He practically never wore them. Fortunately, he wore them enough that I think it still worked, but I’m not sure he had much to adjust. My other son had worn regular braces first and wore his Invisalign really well. (I think it was because he was used to braces and retainers and didn’t really get a break in between.) So, I guess my thought to share is that your boys may have a hard time keeping the Invisalign in, but they may still prefer them. As painful as they were for me, I’m really glad I could take them off when I ate or when I absolutely couldn’t stand them (for a little bit).
Great feedback, Amanda. Thank you!
I love these posts, and really enjoy the randomness of this one 🙂 my husband had the same surgery a couple years ago and the recovery was so brutal. At this point in recovery I would do things like overcooked pasta and grilled cheese and soups. He could eat them all, albeit slowly. Brian’s recovery sounds very similar to his and it was worth it in regards to his health during cold season. He did not have the constant sinusitis and cold all winter! However, he did still snore and ended up doing a sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Getting him a Cpap machine was the best thing we did for his sleep and our marriage!
One year for a family reunion we did a “joke off.” My grandpa was known for his amazing corny jokes and we each did varying rounds of telling our best (the worst!) Jokes. Last man standing won. We were all rolling. And a sweet way to honor/remember him.
I do not spend money like that on shoes unless hiking or athletic, but those are amazing and so cute! After surviving sinus surgery recovery, you SO deserve it!
Thank you for all you do, Mel!
Your feedback is so helpful, Myranda! Thank you! Gives me hope. I’m hoping Brian’s snoring will be miraculously cured but I’m not holding my breath. That’s hilarious about the joke fest at our family reunion.
I do not participate in Social media at all. I have been told that it is a great way to keep in touch with out-of-towners, but I have recognized from friends that use it how much time it takes out of their day! I have to admit that I also DO NOT have a Smart phone….yet. I’m holding off as long as I can and am hoping that my flip-phone will last a while longer. I realize that I am in the minority on this, but I like to keep my life private! Thanks and good luck!
Love that you still have a flip phone, Lisa. Stay strong! 🙂
Aaaah! My husband just got a CT yesterday to confirm a deviated septum AND they said his tonsils were HUGE! Do you think it would have been easier if you had just done one at a time? That’s what we thought would happen! I was already nervous because he is a very clingy human being after any kind of procedure so now I’m wondering if it’s worth it. Haha! But he is constantly sick so maybe?
Ashley! My husband had this last year at 38 years old and it has changed his life. Better sleeping means more energy and happiness, he hasn’t been sick once since and he was constantly battling staying healthy. It was one month of pain but it’s been worth it for us for sure! Good luck!
Lizzy’s comment gives me hope! As bad as it has been, I’m actually glad Brian had it done all at once. Just get it over with!
I’m not a huge shoe person – I have less shoes than my husband – BUT I love those. I am also an enabler, so do it. I might even do it! (I buy shoes that last forever so they usually cost more but I still have quite a few pair from 2008 so I’m thinking it is worth it.)
My friend got her tonsils out this year and said recovery took three months. She was miserable but hasn’t had strep since (she had it seven months in a row, so it was recommended those puppies come out) so just keep telling Brian to hang in there and by the time it’s New Year’s Eve, he will be good to go 🙂
Haha, love that you are an enabler. So am I. If I can every justify something for you, just let me know. 🙂 the three months thing has me worried…yikes.
Love you, Mel. That is all.
Okay, not really! So sorry about Brian’s surgery. It makes me grateful I had my tonsils out at 10, and wonder whether I should have my boys get theirs out. But they don’t get strep. I had it constantly when I was a kid. My husband never had his out and he snores, so maybe I’d be doing their future wives a favor. 😉
I totally would have bought that bag if your recommendation didn’t shoot the price up to $99! Maybe I’ll watch it for a while and see if it drops back down. I need a new cross-body bag. Mine is a Fossil bag. Second hand, super cute, but very worn out!
Okay, I’m done. Really. I love these posts, they make me feel like we ARE friends in real life. Like I always pretend we are anyway. 🙂
Love you back, Catherine! 🙂 I can’t believe that bag went up to $99! Yeah, it’s not worth that much!
Mel,
For Christmas many, many years ago, my husband bought me an expensive pair of boots. I would never have bought them for myself. But, they fit perfectly and I loved them and I still have them and wear them all the time! I have them reheeled every spring and spiffed up by the shoemaker, but you know what, totally worth it! Quality vs. quantity is what I say now…
Braces: my daughter went through years of wire braces as a teen and now as an adult is considering Invisalign. I’m going to share your experience with her.
My son had a tonsillectomy at age 20, so not quite as old as your husband, but the recovery was tough. But, totally worth it. No more snoring, no strep….hang in there! I agree with the Ensure recommendation or Carnation Instant Breakfast in whole milk is a good alternative too – maybe some ice cream with it!
Not sure I get the fermented foods thing..I’ll be interested to read more about it.
Happy Friday! – Woops, Saturday now! Deb
Thanks for the thoughts, Deb! Glad those boots are still going strong! Hopefully Brian will be done snoring and be glad he had this surgery! not even going to ask him his thoughts about that yet.
On the food fermenting – I am strong proponent of eating healthy, eating real/whole food. The #1 BEST thing we can all do is – quit sugar, it is poison for our bodies!
Good advice, Ann!
Buy the shoes. Once you wear them and love them you’ll forget how much you spent.
Family reunion ideas. We too have done the compilation cd. I think we have done it like 10 years straight. So fun to have everyone submit a favorite song and then put them all on one cd. We listen to it all year long and I love how it has made our spread out family feel more connected. All the time my children will say, “ this is aunt Sarah’s song” etc. when we are listening in the car. Another fun thing we did this year was divide into teams and have a scavenger hunt. My husband and I were in charge and we put everyone in teams and gave them a list of stuff to do (go find a sticker from a surf shop, have a scoop of ice cream etc). The teams were not just families, we divided everyone up. Huge hit.
Good luck! So glad our planning and executing of that event is over. Ten siblings is no joke.
I am loving that idea for everyone to submit a song! I think we’ll do that for sure. Thank you!
In the words of Marie Kondo, does it spark joy? I would apply that to the shoes and social media. I gave up social media a few months back and LOVE not having it, it wasn’t very uplifting and took time from my family. To stay in touch with family we use google hangouts, you can message each other, it’s free , and there is no limits on how many people you can add, we have nieces and nephews who have joined too, it’s been really great. I discovered “canker cover” recently and it is amazing. It has initial seconds of pain and feels a little weird in your mouth but you put it over the canker and it no longer hurts. It just slowly wears away and the canker is gone when it’s finished. I need a new purse and also suffer from hair flyaways so thanks for the recommendations!!
That’s a great question to ask! I’m going to use that more and more. Thanks for the canker recovery recommendation!
Reunion ideas: we usually do a big tournament of some sort that ends the last night. Something like ping-pong, pool, pinochle, depending on what’s available at the reunion location. We set up the bracket on the first day and let people play whenever there’s downtime. We always have a trophy for the winner! We also love karaoke and playing real-life family fued.
Social media: I love Marco Polo. It’s the only social media I don’t find to be a total time suck.
I love the tournament idea! I think there is a ping pong table at the house we are renting so that might be a good idea! And I love Marco Polo, too…in fact it’s the main thing I use for connecting with close friends and family as I’m using instagram less and less.
Our family each take turns preparing a meal for our group of 50. Our favorite was tomato basil soup and grilled cheese. We have a good sized grill so we were able to make them assembly line style. The soup was made ahead, it matched the weather perfectly. Othet favorites are Philly cheesesteaks, pasta bar, and taco bar ( salads for grown-ups, tacos for the kids) and sandwich bar. Some guests once made curry for the whole group,, which was well received. We offered to adopt them, but they moved across the country.
I love that idea of soup and grilled cheese! Totally using that.
Social Media: 10 day “fast” made BIG difference – thinking less about, wanting to post more uplifting things – not as “opinionated re:politics, just shut it off
, want to listen more to spiritual audio, etc. —————————————————————————————————–
CANKER SORES – my sister for decades used CARMAX – they may last 11/2 days ——————————————-FERMENTING FOOD THOUGHTS – If you grow your own veggies, eat tons of fruit – went on a diet @1998 called “Hit The Spot”, cut out pasta, beans and corn – lost all my cellulite, went to size 9 (big boned, really) didn’t need diabetic med anymore, red meat was eaten rarely (chicken, turkey, lamb, fish) had SO much energy – food eaten in moderation, didn’t crave sweets – it works for me (and Suzanne Somers)
Yes, I agree! That 10 day fast was impactful.
Thanks for your thoughts. I think I will get on the ball to have my 10 year old’s tonsils out now 🙂
Haha, that way he won’t hate you when he has to have them out as an adult!
I’m sure you’re making lots of yummy food that your husband can still eat, but if you’re worried about his nutrition or losing too much weight, I’d recommend Ensure. My husband went through a crazy illness that lasted months and he lost 25 pounds (he was thin to begin with). He could handle drinking the Ensures and it helped him get his calories/nutrition. Hopefully your husband feels better soon! I totally agree that some surgeries and illnesses are harder to handle as an adult.
Thanks, Lindsay! We finally got him some ensure last week and it’s been a blessing. So sorry to hear about your husband! Hope he is all recovered. Yikes.
I had a tonsillectomy at 24. It was horrible. I mean truly horrid. Compared to every other major health thing I have ever experienced (wisdom tooth extraction, lap cholecystectomy, child birth and pneumonia for the first time ever last year) it was far and away the hardest to recover from. I am nurse and know it is a tough surgery for adults. Back then I was somewhat dismissive of my ENT saying it was a full 14 convalescence, in bed until minimum day 10. He said that on a scale of 1-10, an open heart surgery for an adult would rank a six and tonsillectomy a nine due the risk of post op hemorrhage. I can also saw beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am SO much healthier since I had my tonsils out. Six years of chronic strep and tonsillitis infections had taken its toll, and they were just incubating bacteria all the time instead of doing what they are supposed to. I know the recovery is dreadful but tell him to hang in there.
Ok, that’s insane with the doctor said about a tonsillectomy vs open heart surgery. Yikes.
If you will wear the shoes with any regularity, buy them! It’s not like your feet are still growing. Plus, they’re cute! My daughter has braces with the wires, and we have done alright with them. Bonus: she can’t lose them, like you could Invisalign. For purses, I was always a crossbody bag person, but I bought a Sash bag, and absolutely love it. It’s a very minimalist crossbody that doesn’t aggravate my back :). We don’t do huge family reunions, but when we have a family gathering at Christmas, we love to do an appetizer potluck. Oh, and your one bowl fudge brownies have been a huge hit around here lately. My hubby took them to work, and coworkers kept asking him to bring more! So, make those for the reunion!
Thanks for the recommendation on the bag! I love the idea of an appetizer potluck, too!
Toothpaste: I would suggest to try the Trader Joe’s toothpaste! It’s SLS free too. It’s very economical and I’ve seriously been so happy over the years! My teeth feel so clean and I will never use any regular brand toothpastes again.
Fermenting foods: I’m so interested in this and would love to learn more!
I’m totally looking for it the next time I go. Never thought to look for toothpaste there! I’ll keep you posted what I learn/find out from fermenting foods. Lots of differing opinions in this thread. Some say go for it! Others want to vomit.
$150 on a pair of Hoka One One’s, yes! That I will do! That chocolate bar I will also take, I love that brand! I love these posts do much!
Thanks, Marci!
Your bag, which is adorable, is now listed at $99, so I think you got a deal. Cross-body bags
Darn, I’m bummed it jumped back up in price!
Buy the shoes, Mel. In the blink of an eye, you will be older and able to afford them, but unable to keep your balance in those heels. Do it. Also buy Ensure for Brian, two cans per day, chilled, for protein, calories and nutrients.
Thanks, Nancy – we finally got some chocolate ensure last week and he was in heaven (well, kind of).
I almost had the deviated septum surgery 10 years ago, but I chickened out. AND I’M SO GLAD I DID! I don’t think I would see anywhere near the improved quality of life to justify just how awful that recovery would be. I hope your hubs heals soon!
Those are super cute shoes! I personally have only spent that much money on boots, but if you love them then go for it.
Thanks for all the awesome recipes you post. You are my go-to for so many recipes! Your traditional cinnamon roll recipe was the first recipe for cinnamon rolls I ever tried that wasn’t dry and a waste of time. It’s still my favorite!
Thanks, Amber!
1 – Surgery as an adult = necessary evil. I wound up in ICU for a week after my tonsilectomy when I hat them out at your hubby’s age…BUT I’ve NEVER (repeat…NEVER) had strep again.). Yes, ultimately worth it.
2 – Family reunion: best thing ever was breakfast for lunch or dinner or hey….breakfast. Everyone brought their waffle irons, made breakfast casseroles, pancakes on coleman grills, it was AWESOME…and the kids loved it too. One aunt went nuts and made chocolate waffles with strawberries. YUM! Omlet stations….it was SO fun!
3 – Portugese thought…..just keep swimming……
Give yourself a break….you’ll learn part of it – and that’s okay. If you learn more – -awesome!!!
4 – Cross body bag. – So what? If you love it – keep it and use it all the time. Problem solved. Who cares if it’s cheaper somewhere? If it’s useful and you love it – use it!
5 – Girl hair: What’s easiest? If it’s this stuff…use it – cuz in 5 years neither of you will care if her hair had fly-aways or not and she won’t let you touch it anyway.
6 – Social media: I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I’ve been way more off than on lately. I think if it enriches your life…use it – if not…stay off of it. Right now I use it for a specified purpose and then hop right back off of it. You gotta figure out how to use it for your own purposes. Just don’t let it be a time-suck.
7 – Canker: Those things are freakin’ miserable! What works for you – – keep doing it! We’ve tried everything and WOW..I’m totally trying this!! (Thank you!)
8- Teeth – braces (where we live) are a right of passage. We don’ t live in an affluent community – so braces are “where it’s at”. All that said – if invisalign is “the thing” where you live…do that. Otherwise….if your kid’s compliance is as good as yours – then go for it. My kid would not have complied…so having them wired in was a good thing. The OTHER kid would have totally done invisaline. Depends on which personality you’re dealing with.
9- Fermenting foods: No. just no. Unless it’s wine and you’re great with a really good Pinot Noir…..No.
10 – If you get NOTHING ELSE from this reply – BUY THE SHOES!!!! Buy them….never look back!! 1 – they really are not that expensive and if you like them, you’ll wear them. I bought a ridiculouly expensive pair of boots once and everytime I wear them I feel special. I love them,….and save them for special occasions….because honey – YOU ARE SPECIAL. Buy the shoes…strut in them and wear them often!!!
Loved all your thoughts, Mel!
Love your thoughts Mel!
Language- Duolingo has helped me advance further in Portuguese than anything else in the past 12 years (still trying to learn my husband’s mission language!). But we were able to travel to Brazil with our kids and the duolingo helped me so much! I learned how to read and understand 50-80 percent of what I saw/heard (depending on the speed) even if I can’t speak fluently yet! The kids traveled well and they started to pick up Portuguese at an incredible speed. I want to have them do duolingo now since their brains are still sucking up new skills so easily!
Social media- I opted out of FB and IG a few years ago- I have accounts but not the apps since they were only adding to discontent in my life. My family LOVES Marco Polo and WhatsApp though! also, if your clan all has iPhone access, the shared family photo album makes for a really great way to update and share pictures.
That’s awesome about Duolingo and your trip to Brazil!! I’m going to try it. Babbel has been fine but so many have recommended Duolingo in this thread. I love Marco Polo, too! It’s my favorite for connecting with close friends and family.
Tonsillectomy—my adult son had it a couple of years ago, and it was so rough. He didn’t appear to be making much progress for the first couple of weeks, but then turned a corner and rapidly improved. On the second day post surgery he said, “this was a mistake, you made me do it, I should have never listened to you!”. He really had no choice, his tonsils were making him so sick that he lost jobs because he missed so much work. The week before surgery we were at urgent care, the ent, and the er and he had an abscess! Post surgery; He rarely gets sick, and he can actually fight some things off instead of them going full blown in 24 hours. Worth it!
Buy the shoes. Good shoes are worth it-to your feet and they last longer. I have a 30 year old pair of Italian pumps that I had resoled last year and look amazing!
I am a librarian and I’m so pleased to see all the positive comments about the Libby app,
I’m glad the surgery was worth it for your son! Every day Brian is getting a bit better, so I’m hopeful we’ll feel the same way. That’s amazing about your 30 year old shoes!!
Buy the shoes. They look quality and will last awhile. And I always regret when I don’t buy something I love because all the lost time shopping and searching for something I won’t move as much.
Thanks, Jessica. 🙂
Braces: We’re about three years out from when the youngest finished with them, but the Invisalign were much more expensive at the time. The kids have to be quite diligent about changing–and not losing!–their current liner. Is everyone ready? They’re also at a time in their life when lots of their friends are in the same (braces) boat.
Shoes: Please get the shoes, they’re great. They look well made and you’re worth it! Wearing quality shoes helps minimize foot problems later which might need surgery–which you seem to be trying to avoid, right?
Right now at least with our orthodontist, wire braces and Invisalign are the same cost, but my gut is telling me to go with wire braces for my teen (we’re getting his input too). And yes, maybe I can justify the shoes to avoid surgery. I like that! 🙂
I’ve been making yogurt, milk kefir, water kefir, and kombucha for about six months now (maybe), and am enjoying it. I was inspired by reading your kefir post — thanks:) I’ve also had one successful batch of sauerkraut and one successful batch of apple-cranberry relish. The website I’ve been using as my main resource is https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/ — lots of good stuff. I ordered my kefir starters from her. Begged a kombucha SCOBY from a neighbor. I think that cultured food is helping me lose weight and lower my appetite. Never had a lot of health issues so can’t speak to that. I had to practice with the kombucha — it kept fizzing over like champagne — but now I test the second-ferment bottles every couple of days and when they have a nice pop, I put them in the fridge.
I originally bought some swing-top bottles online but they were poor quality and three were broken, so then I just bought a couple of packs of Grolsch beer and got my husband to help me 🙂 I have been happy with these fermentation lids: https://www.amazon.com/Waterless-Fermentation-Food-Grade-Fermenting-Sauerkraut/dp/B079NSKRHQ?crid=13ROU2KY5SBSJ&keywords=fermented+food+jar&qid=1540599954&sprefix=fermented+food+%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-3&ref=sr_1_3 Overall, I think that fermented foods are probably more an adult taste, but worth cultivating. ……. Social media — email is all I do, and don’t feel any lack. I don’t always answer the phone either 🙂
It’s my time and I get to decide when I’m available. …… Shoes — sorry, I don’t like them. I think the style is over the top and they’ll be dated in a couple of years. I buy really low-key stuff that I like and can wear for years. …. Bags — Goodwill and similar have lots of purses and bags that you can pick up for $5 and nobody can tell the difference. But yours does look nice. ……
Thanks for the post and for your blog — it’s made me a much more adventurous cook, and also a generally successful one 🙂 Just made the white chicken chili and it was a hit.
I got my kefir grains from culturedfoodlife.com and I agree she has tons of great tips! Thanks for the link to the lids! And don’t worry, I don’t always answer the phone either. 🙂
I just totally love the Libby app, too. I listen to whatever book I’m listening to several times ev ry day…it’s so user friendly, too. Oh, & buy the shoes. They’re super cute. I bought some dressy cognac color ankle boots at least five years ago & spent a whopping $375 on them, but they still look great, & I just received a compliment on them this week. Plus, with your tall husband, u’ll be grabbing ev ry chance u can to wear them, if u r anything like me.
That’s amazing about the shoes! Sounds like they were worth it!
Buy the shoes – your feet and back will appreciate the love, but I won’t spend $100 for a purse I’m going to throw around in the car, on the floor, etc. Have you checked Teva? Great looking (not all, mind you) and feeling shoes and I always get compliments.
I used to have a pair of Teva sandals almost two decades ago – I’ll have to look into them again!
Family reunion — T-shirts for the youngest generation, and maybe others, color-coded by family — and then the birth order number in the whole group (not just their nuclear family). If it’s a hot summer, plan daily trips to free or cheap water spray parks for the kids and whoever wants to accompany them — parents or grandparents. Quick board and card games that include lots of people like Uno or Skip-Bo or Sushi-Go. People can move around a lot. Lots of photos and a way to share them. We also had a private FB group to put things in, including everyone’s cell numbers, when we were arriving, where we were staying, what park we were going to, etc.
That’s such a cute idea about birth order on the shirts! Thanks for all the ideas!