2020 resolution - shopping my own bag and wallet collection. Any one else?

[Sparkletastic]

Haha! this comes to mind:

I´d really fancy a rich milkshake floating towards me, though...

This was a great movie! I think we’re actually headed there, though.

Hahahaa - I think part of the time spent hunting, considering, storing, and planning for food is a natural human reaction to what is going on. Your brain is saying "Holy Heck! We've got to make sure we survive!" I think it's completely normal - i started thinking that way about a month ago - I am a Plan Ahead Of Time person. Because I grew up hungry, I can't deal with an empty pantry… I had to 'fill' almost half of it with things like the food processor, the blender and other assorted inedible things, or it would have been floor to ceiling with canned and dry goods. I tell myself "Now doesn't that look nice and clean?" when the refrigerator is looking - well - empty… Next thing you know, I've made 3 different dinners of comfort food to fill it.

I sometimes get nauseated if I get too hungry, I've found that a nice glass of water helps with that, but it doesn't happen very often. If water doesn't help - then I eat something - usually a spoonful of peanut butter. It's okay! It's your body saying 'Zomg - I need something pronto!' But honestly, you will acclimate to IF, it's just so easy.
But we have to be nice to ourselves too. Mary Oliver has a poem called Wild Geese:
"You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves."
Be easy - this is a rough rough time we're all going through. It's okay to have a cookie or two.

I use Nair - I hate the smell, and I can't leave it on as long as they recommend because it will burn my skin - but it works well enough that I don't frighten small children or dogs with my mustache and snaggly tooth.

Oh hon, it's okay!
A routine will help, I swear by it. It will give a bit of structure, a bit of normality to the day.
Take some time for yourself too.
I'm going to try a bit of meditation, I think @ElainePG is using an app that she enjoys. It's definitely worth a shot!

BWAHAHAHAA !!!!

Same on being one to plan ahead. That is one reason I wasn’t as worried about food when the stores were sold out, etc. We keep pretty well stocked. But, I stopped cooking every day once my children left home. And, even when they were home, some days were left overs or we dined our as a family. Since then, Mr. S and I have started eating fairly simply or we’d be traveling for work or going out to dinner. So, this 7 day a week cooking business is new. LOL! And, while I’m a great cook, I hate to cook. I’m ready to let the stove have a rest.

So true!


Great poem Cookie! I am with you on the comfort food.

My girlfriend told me, forget the Freshman 15 (weight gain during first year of college/university), we now have the Covid 19.

I am loving all of the food talk, someone asked earlier if we still use cookbooks. I use cooking magazines and cookbooks, I especially like ones from Fine Cooking, Cook’s Illustrated and Cooking Light. I have been meal planning since 1997, yes, for 23 years. Lately, I have included my DSs in selecting recipes for the weekly menu. I have noticed we are leaning heavily towards more Sunday night type/comfort food meals and adding in desserts! I am spending a lot of time to plan menus, do the grocery shopping, process the groceries when I get home, prepare the food and clean everything up after it is consumed in 10 minutes. Once the kitchen is clean I start thinking about the next meal (do I need to take something out of the freezer, etc) We have built into our routine eating our meals at approximately the same time everyday (back to that discussion of how having a routine is helpful.) Here’s a list of things we’ve been eating recently (family of four and leftovers for hot lunches):

• Spring Vegetable Pasta Alfredo
• Garlic Miso Pork Noodle Bowl
• Roast Salmon with Bacon and Leeks, roasted baby potatoes
• Smoky Turkey and White Bean Chili
• Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja, white rice and black beans
• Hamburgers and home fries (cooked with 1 Tbsp oil in an Actifry Cooker)
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Roast Chicken, potato gratin, Garlic Parmesan Sautéed Zucchini
• Italian Sausage Soup with Cheese Tortellini
• Lasagna with meat sauce, Caesar salad

Desserts:

• Classic carrot cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting
• Chocolate Banana swirl cake
• Blueberry muffin cake
• Thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies

Ooooh! I like some of your dinner options. These give me new things to try. Thanks!

————
Moment of victory!!! I actually went for a walk today. Mr. S and I did a slow snail crawl walk a couple times around the subdivision. I looked like a confused baby duck with my waddle but it was still a walk!

I was so inspired that I did a weight work out when I came back home - shoulders and chest.

Erm... um... can someone tell me how I lost so much strength in 8 weeks? I was like Superman wearing a kryptonite vest. I couldn’t even do one regular push up. Lol! I can’t balance on my toe and my upper body is too weak. So, I did some bizarre half form, not really going all the way down knee pushups and still ended up in a face plant. Mr. S was laughing so hard he spit out his Coke. I swear, Covid-19 is certainly creating new memories.

 

[Cookiefiend]

So true!


Great poem Cookie! I am with you on the comfort food.

My girlfriend told me, forget the Freshman 15 (weight gain during first year of college/university), we now have the Covid 19.

I am loving all of the food talk, someone asked earlier if we still use cookbooks. I use cooking magazines and cookbooks, I especially like ones from Fine Cooking, Cook’s Illustrated and Cooking Light. I have been meal planning since 1997, yes, for 23 years. Lately, I have included my DSs in selecting recipes for the weekly menu. I have noticed we are leaning heavily towards more Sunday night type/comfort food meals and adding in desserts! I am spending a lot of time to plan menus, do the grocery shopping, process the groceries when I get home, prepare the food and clean everything up after it is consumed in 10 minutes. Once the kitchen is clean I start thinking about the next meal (do I need to take something out of the freezer, etc) We have built into our routine eating our meals at approximately the same time everyday (back to that discussion of how having a routine is helpful.) Here’s a list of things we’ve been eating recently (family of four and leftovers for hot lunches):

• Spring Vegetable Pasta Alfredo
• Garlic Miso Pork Noodle Bowl
• Roast Salmon with Bacon and Leeks, roasted baby potatoes
• Smoky Turkey and White Bean Chili
• Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja, white rice and black beans
• Hamburgers and home fries (cooked with 1 Tbsp oil in an Actifry Cooker)
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Roast Chicken, potato gratin, Garlic Parmesan Sautéed Zucchini
• Italian Sausage Soup with Cheese Tortellini
• Lasagna with meat sauce, Caesar salad

Desserts:

• Classic carrot cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting
• Chocolate Banana swirl cake
• Blueberry muffin cake
• Thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies

Ohmigosh! Can I come over for dinner?

I wish, wish, wish I could get Mr Cookie to sit down with me and plan a weekly menu.
The past 2 weeks I haven't cooked much, we've been supporting (solely I sometimes think) some local restaurants that are doing carry out. I don't want these places to fail, and I do like to eat at home (so carry out is nice), but not every day!
On my list - I sat down 2 weeks ago and made a plan of what I could make with what I had in the pantry - I have:
Chicken Pot Pie with green salad
Vegetable soup (using the bones from the chicken for broth) and grilled cheese sandwiches with Lamb Jam
Italian Sausage with white beans and swiss chard
Ham and bean soup with cornbread
Kale salad with grilled chicken, toasted walnuts and apples
Pork Sugo with green salad
Spaghetti and meatballs with radicchio and orange salad
Chili
Meatloaf with pureed cauliflower and green beans
French onion soup, escarole salad with bacon

I will probably have to go out to get fresh vegetables, but I have this covered easy….

 

[ElainePG]

I keep a little album on my phone with pictures of each of my bags. When I see something I like I step away for a few minutes to check my album before purchase. Often I don't buy because what I already have is better. When I prefer the new one ,I try to then immediately get rid one of the others.

I learned this technique from you, @dcooney4 , and found it particularly useful for my H scarf collection. My collection is sorted by color, since all my scarves are the same size (90 cm). When I see a scarf a like, I snap a screenshot of it, and slot it into place in the album among the other scarves of the same (or similar) color. Then I make myself stare at it for a number of days. Ideally 30 days, if necessary! Most of the time, I end up NOT buying, because I can see that the new one doesn't fill a color or design hole.
Thanks!

 

[ElainePG]

I hope your MIL will be okay. I left the house with my daughter on Monday to go to the pediatrician for nothing. Turns out she does not have an ear infection even though she's had 3 recently and been tugging on and poking in her ear... But we've been doing such a good job with our quarantine that I was not happy to have to leave the house and go to a doctor's office. But I hope that she's able to get in and get out and then can relax after getting all cleaned up at home!

So glad to hear that your daughter is okay. It must be so nerve-wracking for you to be quarantining with a little one.

 

[ElainePG]

If you are worried about hurting yourself and have time on your hands why don´t you just take a pair of normal tweezers and invest an hour on de-mustaching?

Sounds like a plan… I've got nothing but time!

 

[More bags]

This was a great movie! I think we’re actually headed there, though.
Same on being one to plan ahead. That is one reason I wasn’t as worried about food when the stores were sold out, etc. We keep pretty well stocked. But, I stopped cooking every day once my children left home. And, even when they were home, some days were left overs or we dined our as a family. Since then, Mr. S and I have started eating fairly simply or we’d be traveling for work or going out to dinner. So, this 7 day a week cooking business is new. LOL! And, while I’m a great cook, I hate to cook. I’m ready to let the stove have a rest.
Ooooh! I like some of your dinner options. These give me new things to try. Thanks!

————
Moment of victory!!! I actually went for a walk today. Mr. S and I did a slow snail crawl walk a couple times around the subdivision. I looked like a confused baby duck with my waddle but it was still a walk!

I was so inspired that I did a weight work out when I came back home - shoulders and chest.

Erm... um... can someone tell me how I lost so much strength in 8 weeks? I was like Superman wearing a kryptonite vest. I couldn’t even do one regular push up. Lol! I can’t balance on my toe and my upper body is too weak. So, I did some bizarre half form, not really going all the way down knee pushups and still ended up in a face plant. Mr. S was laughing so hard he spit out his Coke. I swear, Covid-19 is certainly creating new memories.

Thanks Sparkle!
Congratulations on your walk and workout! Well done.

 

[ElainePG]

I've struggled quite a bit over the last few days with being cooped up at home and having to be in a constant teamwork mode with my husband. Yesterday was the worst of it because I was in bed for quite a bit of the morning and afternoon. After having a virtual meeting with my therapist (I am a big proponent of therapy and am so glad that it seems like many have gone virtual), I've decided to create a nice routine every morning for myself. I plan to wake up around 5 am (normal for us, actually), workout, shower, get dressed in regular clothes, have some time for myself to drink tea, wake my daughter up, nurse her, dress her in normal clothes, step outside for a few minutes, and then make her breakfast. I feel lovely today and will wake my daughter up soon. I only anticipate having a couple hours of work today, so I probably won't have a full paycheck for this week (which is okay), and I'm excited to have a breather and get to spend more present time with my daughter. Hooray for routines!! I will let you all know how this goes.

Best of luck with your new plan, dear. Keep us posted.

 

[Uptown Luxer]

To finish up the week. Givenchy Antigona tote in treated canvas (I really like this bag and would buy several if they sold them again). Louis Vuitton Felicie in black empreinte leather. I think this woc is really good. It comes with a little pouch and card slots separately

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Something awful which hopefully isn´t more than a common cold has been holding its grip on me for days. My head feels like filled with cotton wool and my energy level is at the lowest low.
Spending ages on here has been about the only thing except for being sorry for myself I´ve been able to do.
Today is no exception and it does not help that my dear boy does think the cumpolsory school assignments his school is sending in by e-mail are a nuissance (Honestly I fully agree as they only cause a lot of stress and are not good at all for peace of mind and mental health, mostly on my site) and not worth his attention. I´m not up to make him work...
So while he was yelling "Nope, I won´t" over the work sheets I had placed on the table I went into my room and dug out another bag storage place- a big pram!
Some more black bags:

Fist my black Dior Gaucho (2006) . It made me strangely happy to get her out of dustbag and cuddle with the wonderful leather, inhaling the magic scent.



And some more not top notch bags that might be of interest.

Mandarina Duck

I mentioned the brand before. They are Italian and used to be very appreciated in the 80ies and early 90ies. Since then I think they have fallen from grace. The clutch is a Hera model. The big soft hobo is... well... useful!



My bigger Hera top handle bag is hiding on an upper shelf. No chance of me getting up there with a ladder for better photos. Sorry!


Goldpfeil
This one is a limited edition, made before Goldpfeil descended into the mediocrity of the mass market and later after going bankrupt sold out its famous name to a coffee company that also sells "lifestyle" products.
Please meet the Pony Bag


This model definetely belongs to a collection repeating much older styles to celebrate the brand.



Not branded, not top notch, but one of my favourites: 80ies leather clutch. This one actually fits my essentials!

 

[More bags]

Ohmigosh! Can I come over for dinner?

I wish, wish, wish I could get Mr Cookie to sit down with me and plan a weekly menu.
The past 2 weeks I haven't cooked much, we've been supporting (solely I sometimes think) some local restaurants that are doing carry out. I don't want these places to fail, and I do like to eat at home (so carry out is nice), but not every day!
On my list - I sat down 2 weeks ago and made a plan of what I could make with what I had in the pantry - I have:
Chicken Pot Pie with green salad
Vegetable soup (using the bones from the chicken for broth) and grilled cheese sandwiches with Lamb Jam
Italian Sausage with white beans and swiss chard
Ham and bean soup with cornbread
Kale salad with grilled chicken, toasted walnuts and apples
Pork Sugo with green salad
Spaghetti and meatballs with radicchio and orange salad
Chili
Meatloaf with pureed cauliflower and green beans
French onion soup, escarole salad with bacon

I will probably have to go out to get fresh vegetables, but I have this covered easy….

Oooh Cookie, this sounds heavenly! I would happily eat any and all of the above.
I had to look up lamb jam, intriguing and sounds delicious!

 

[ElainePG]

Hahahaa - I think part of the time spent hunting, considering, storing, and planning for food is a natural human reaction to what is going on. Your brain is saying "Holy Heck! We've got to make sure we survive!" I think it's completely normal - i started thinking that way about a month ago - I am a Plan Ahead Of Time person. Because I grew up hungry, I can't deal with an empty pantry… I had to 'fill' almost half of it with things like the food processor, the blender and other assorted inedible things, or it would have been floor to ceiling with canned and dry goods. I tell myself "Now doesn't that look nice and clean?" when the refrigerator is looking - well - empty… Next thing you know, I've made 3 different dinners of comfort food to fill it.

I started worrying, planning, hunting, and storing about a month ago, as well. I didn't grow up hungry, but when I was a little girl we lived in a country that had food shortages and severe rationing. I wasn't old enough to take part in the process of meal preparation, or ration books, or any of that, but I was definitely old enough to absorb my Mom's stress over food, at least at a child's level. And of course, when we came back to America, even though we then had plenty of food, I grew up hearing all the stories. As a result, long before our county's shelter in place order, my brain went into "DANGER" mode. DH thought I was overreacting (though we've been married long enough that he simply got out of my way!), but now he's grateful.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

...and to finish the black week before I lull you all to sleep with an army of black, biggish, black Goldpfeil bags which are living on several top shelves, too, where they are safe from me atm



I´d like to show you a 60ies Etienne Aigner handbag.

Made long before the Etienne Aigner brand (not to be confused with the "Aigner Munich" brand, please) started its descend towards TJ Maxx this one is of rather nice quality and would be a favourite, hadn´t the handle been damaged in transit due to extremely careless packing.
The shape reminds me very much of the glorious Roberta di Camerino bags.

 

[More bags]

I learned this technique from you, @dcooney4 , and found it particularly useful for my H scarf collection. My collection is sorted by color, since all my scarves are the same size (90 cm). When I see a scarf a like, I snap a screenshot of it, and slot it into place in the album among the other scarves of the same (or similar) color. Then I make myself stare at it for a number of days. Ideally 30 days, if necessary! Most of the time, I end up NOT buying, because I can see that the new one doesn't fill a color or design hole.
Thanks!

+1 @dcooney4 @ElainePG for doing the individual shots and organizing by colour for both my bags and scarves

To finish up the week. Givenchy Antigona tote in treated canvas (I really like this bag and would buy several if they sold them again). Louis Vuitton Felicie in black empreinte leather. I think this woc is really good. It comes with a little pouch and card slots separately

Great black bags. I love the empreinte leather.

 

[More bags]

Something awful which hopefully isn´t more than a common cold has been holding its grip on me for days. My head feels like filled with cotton wool and my energy level is at the lowest low.
Spending ages on here has been about the only thing except for being sorry for myself I´ve been able to do.
Today is no exception and it does not help that my dear boy does think the cumpolsory school assignments his school is sending in by e-mail are a nuissance (Honestly I fully agree as they only cause a lot of stress and are not good at all for peace of mind and mental health, mostly on my site) and not worth his attention. I´m not up to make him work...
So while he was yelling "Nope, I won´t" over the work sheets I had placed on the table I went into my room and dug out another bag storage place- a big pram!
Some more black bags:

Fist my black Dior Gaucho (2006) . It made me strangely happy to get her out of dustbag and cuddle with the wonderful leather, inhaling the magic scent.

View attachment 4697071

And some more not top notch bags that might be of interest.

Mandarina Duck
View attachment 4697074
I mentioned the brand before. They are Italian and used to be very appreciated in the 80ies and early 90ies. Since then I think they have fallen from grace. The clutch is a Hera model. The big soft hobo is... well... useful!

View attachment 4697075 View attachment 4697076 View attachment 4697077

My bigger Hera top handle bag is hiding on an upper shelf. No chance of me getting up there with a ladder for better photos. Sorry!


Goldpfeil
This one is a limited edition, made before Goldpfeil descended into the mediocrity of the mass market and later after going bankrupt sold out its famous name to a coffee company that also sells "lifestyle" products.
Please meet the Pony Bag

View attachment 4697078
This model definetely belongs to a collection repeating much older styles to celebrate the brand.
View attachment 4697079 View attachment 4697080 View attachment 4697091


Not branded, not top notch, but one of my favourites: 80ies leather clutch. This one actually fits my essentials!

View attachment 4697094

I like the mandarina duck clutch and your eighties clutch.

 

[More bags]

...and to finish the black week before I lull you all to sleep with an army of black, biggish, black Goldpfeil bags which are living on several top shelves, too, where they are safe from me atm

View attachment 4697102

I´d like to show you a 60ies Etienne Aigner handbag.

Made long before the Etienne Aigner brand (not to be confused with the "Aigner Munich" brand, please) started its descend towards TJ Maxx this one is of rather nice quality and would be a favourite, hadn´t the handle been damaged in transit due to extremely careless packing.
The shape reminds me very much of the glorious Roberta di Camerino bags.

View attachment 4697103 View attachment 4697104

This is a beauty!