2021 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Any one else?

[Sparkletastic]

NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES

1. Bags by Brand Showcase!

Each week, share photos of your bags from the specified brands. Choose a posed “beauty” shot or get your bags out and about in action shots!

We highlight 3 brands per week: 2 premier and 1 contemporary in alphabetical order as listed on tPF. Any brands not listed are showcased in our last week. Brands change to the next set each Sunday.

Our first brand week starts now - Sunday, Oct 31. Please share photos of bags from these brands:

• Bottega Venetta
• Burberry
• Alexander Wang

Tip: Grab your photos from last year in the 2020 resolution thread. Search your user name and the brand to find your photos.

2. Special Stories
Thanks @Claudia Herzog for the suggestion

Wear a bag that has a backstory involving a person, place, or opportunity for which you feel grateful.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

It's great we all have different tastes.
I do love the high quality of Just Campagne and the resale value is such that you can scoop them up for less than a contemporary purse sometimes, or even for thrift store prices on rare occasions so I love buying them!

 

[dcooney4]

Okay yes, the "$30-65 price range feels crazy cheap compared to designer" got me and I did buy so many items because they were cheap.

Yes...that's why I bought a dozen items last night with the same $700 that that prelovrd eBay H Trim I shared would have cost....

I guess I look at Marco Massaccesi's price point and I'm like....yes please! And I've been thinking about a nice accessories bag and some belts for years.

I looked at the price point on Barrington gifts for custom monogrammed high quality items made in Dallas, TX and it also seems so cheap. I decided a set of little goodies to use in other bags would be a daily delight and felt worth it...and I didn't have a large light zippered tote so I got one in the same print/mono. But I've been mulling over their website on the fence about ordering for 3-4 years. I finally decided that I might as well finally scratch the itch and get all the items I want, for the price of one Massaccesi bag, for example.

And Jujube, well I don't carry diaper bags anymore but their quality for the price point is unreal if you appreciate the machine washable anit-microbial teflon coated nylon surfaces that you can throw in the wash (or dishwasher even, in the case of pouches used to keep snacks or a zippered insulated lunch bag or mini crossbody/bun bag used for dog walks for their treats and poop bags) and their items comes out looking brand new... I've been wanting to buy some organizational items and a backpack from them for years but have been waiting for a print I loved. Now I have found two, that coordinate, and a couple of new styles that jumped out at me to put them on so I feel it was an order years in the making as well.

Absolutely gorgeous

My friend has one of the barrington totes and loves it. Super light weight and holds up well. Enjoy your goodies.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

My friend has one of the barrington totes and loves it. Super light weight and holds up well. Enjoy your goodies.

Thanks! I can see myself buying one of everything on their site eventually, and then all over again this summer in fall/winter colors.

 

[More bags]

This thread has been moving very fast and since being back at work in the middle of this week it’s been hard to have the time or energy to keep up so I’ve been just reading the last few pages. Sorry if I’ve missed anyone!

I see we are discussing food so I’m with you @More bags. I do weekly meal planning and then shop online. DH has got really into cooking since working at home but I’m in charge of all the ordering. DD1 is ultra fussy. Not sure how this came about as she was initially great as a baby but now will only eat broccoli (cooked but allowed to go nearly cold), lettuce and pickled beetroot as her veggies. She will eat a tomato sauce on pizza or pasta but only if it doesn’t have “red lumps”. DD2 is great and eats basically everything but announced mid week she wants to try being a vegetarian. Came from nowhere as she loves meat. Life is so busy/stressful at the moment I’m not sure how a change like that works suddenly. I was at work 8am-6pm on Wednesday and then still being bombarded by emails and texts from my boss until 10.30pm. I’m not planning for two meals each night. DH often uses the slow cooker and he’s not sure either. We’ve asked DD2 to think more about what she wants to eat and give us some examples.

On a plus point, where I work, learning has gone well for most this week. My own DDs are working at home with DH supervising and are coping well with their mix of live classes and set activities. We are doing a good thing which makes all the efforts worth it.

Yay on meal planning.
Congrats on DH using the slow cooker and at home learning going well. Do you have to commute to work right now or are you able to work from home?

I should really go to the dentist (chipped tooth) but I found myself seriously weighing up the risks and the bother (I wouldn't be able to go to my regular dentist since they are 75 minutes away) and decided I just can't for a while.

I'm not in pain, but I'm aware that a chipped tooth can lead to more chips and the rough surface can hold onto (bad) bacteria more easily.

For my journey, I would have to get on a train (reduced service atm) and the London Tube. Last time I was on the train in Dec, there were people clearly ill not wearing masks and the tube was busy (as in too busy for social distancing). I even had to give one of these unmasked men spluttering and sneezing, less than an arm away, a paper tissue. Others obviously find actually putting the mask over both their nose/mouth just too much trouble. I felt like I was in a Zombie apocalypse. How are there such stupid people in the World?

Anyway, the other option is to go to a more local dentist. I don't know how I feel about that.

Sorry to hear about the chipped tooth. I am more saddened to hear of the dilemma whether or not to travel to see the dentist for a real issue and having to even think about the ick factor of less vigilant people on the train.

End of first week in January and I’m checking how I doing with my own goals.

1. Try to keep healthy both physically and mentally. - I’m aware of my own stress levels so that’s a start and I’ve got a hospital appointment next week to check out some other stuff.

2. Keep up my running and maintain my weight loss. - I’ve maintained despite Christmas. My walking and running was great over the holidays. I’ve only run once this week as defeated by time and bad ice. It’s cold here! Hopefully this weekend it will thaw a bit!

3. Keep in touch with friends - saw three friends for walks over holiday period.

4. Try not to buy any more bags - successfully bought nothing despite some sales temptation.

5. Find new creative ways to use my bags during this strange no socialising time and keep up my bag stats. Have carried 3 bags and updated my stats/chart for 2021.
Mulberry Lily
Mulberry Bays Tote
Kate Spade Daily Satchel

6.Try to limit small purchases - ordered the new Apple watch so not so well with this one. And that’s not even a small purchase.

7. Read more books! - only read work stuff and TPF so failing on this one

You are on top of all of it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and progress. It is very inspiring.

There are lots of vegetarian (and vegan) meals that the whole family can enjoy but I think I would a) bat it back to DD2 if she's old enough (I guess over 12) and ask her to research into vegetarianism, including rules combining foods to make complete proteins and how will she make sure she will get her vit B12, iron and iodine? b) don't feel as though you have to cook 2 (or 3) meals every mealtime, you're not a hotel. I became vegetarian at 11 and my mother told me fine, but that if I wanted something different than was on the table I'd have to cook my own (which I did, and from 14 bought my own ingredients too). I'm not actually a vegetarian anymore, I don't hold with labels as I think they push that 'holier than thou' agenda, I just don't happen to eat meat/fish 90% of the time. The 10% - I try to buy from the most verifiable, ethical sources unless dining out. I wear leather and fur and I don't intend to give those up. For me plastic (in its many forms including nylon, PVC, micro-fibre and so on) is far more harmful to the planet - and that includes all other animals, but I don't want to have the 'conversation' every time with vegetarians/vegans/fruitarians or hardcore carnivores. So, I'm not giving you a rundown about me, but DD2 could perhaps not only tell you that she's a 'vegetarian' but inform you what that means, her reasoning behind such a big decision, what she can/can't eat/wear/do and that she is responsible for educating (not reforming) her family about her new way of life.

I enjoyed reading this, very thoughtful and insightful comments.

That is awful. Some people are so ignorant and it’s so hard for everyone else. My DD was upset at school when she had to sit next to a girl who refused to wear a mask because it made her feel bad. DD wanted to know if she could refuse to sit next to the girl because it made her feel bad - a good point.

I’m sorry your journey was so rough. Hopefully someone local can help if you decide it is needed.

I agree with your daughter, smart young woman.

 

[whateve]

Thank you for the tips. They are really good. I actually like aimless browsing of vintage bags and learning about them... True, dangerous, although other times it is the @880 effect, where you are content to admire them and don’t need to own them.

That said, you have all made me think of the Trim. The JackieO Trim in toile and leather is such a perfectly chic Spring bag. That is the Trim I right?



My daughter has decided to be a vegetarian (rather a pescatarian) several times already, out of climate change concerns. The last this Fall. From the start she decided she’d make an exception for shepherds pie as she loves it. And lasagna, being as it is the only thing her dad ever cooks. Then when I put the Frankfurter on a separate plate so she didn’t have to earth them, she decided that was also going to be an exception. Then came bacon because, you know, carbonara. I kind of worry she doesn’t have the stamina to follow stuff through... But, it does make my life easier. I actually eat very little meat, but I have a boy in need of protein so I have to try to feed him too!



What is wrong with cardboard boxes? Genuine question!

On @cowgirlsboots diner, when I came to Germany I couldn’t understand what pasta Miracoli was, really, I didn’t get the concept at all . But my MIL’s pasta speciality is the same as @papertiger ‘s ancestors, butter and ketchup . As someone who has been a student in Italy, I can confidently say that the best empty larder pasta is spaghetti aglio e olio!

My adult daughter is a pescatarian. I think it is due to taste rather than ethics. She will eat meat sauce on spaghetti and loves to go to In 'n' Out burgers when traveling.

I could never give up bacon! I love carbonara. DH won't eat it. He thinks pasta should have meat sauce but he will make an exception for aglio e olio. I make that for him often. He hates cheese so that is limiting.

When DH was in South Africa, he ordered spaghetti and was surprised to just get plain noodles. He asked for sauce, and the waiter said, "Oh, you're an American" and brought him a bottle of ketchup.

 

[whateve]

Now I´, laughing hard @880 ! My son had a school assignment re healthy eating and we had to google and "doctor" the truth a fair bit. "I can´t tell them I am having cold dinner leftovers for breakfast," he stated.

lol! When my daughter was small, she drew a picture for school showing her father in a car "driving to work." I don't know where that came from because he retired at an early age so she never saw him leaving for work.

As we have been talking a fair bit of jewellery I´d really like to show off the pearls DH gifted me on New Year´s Eve. He had been going through his grandfather´s old cupboard, remembered there was a secret compartment and found them.
He doesn´t know how old they are, but are likely to have belonged to his grandmother. I´m not sure whether they are even the real thing, but they have a great sentimental value. They were in a box together with a coin from the Vatican, a memento of his grandparent´s trip in 1953.

View attachment 4952195

They're gorgeous and so special that they have a family history.

Birthday weekend roses!!!!View attachment 4952211 (though he gets me flowers every week)

Lucky you! I think my DH has gotten me flowers once. To be fair, I'm just as happy gathering them from our garden or just admiring them on the plants.

 

[whateve]

I am sorry to hear this. Putting off any dental work is not good. I learned my lesson about 20 years ago and fortunate with my last coverage change to have picked a name off a list and found an excellent office. Best wishes for a resolution in these times.

Very grateful to have this forum to read, to not only retrain me away from looking endlessly at online listings but from overdosing on the news as well.
I liked seeing the challenge to clean the pantry and freezer. I came to the realization December a year ago to clear out and “eat” out of my relatively small freezer. Let me tell you, it was like the parable of the loaves and fishes lol. I kept finding packages of chicken, bags of frozen vegetables and could not believe there was entire rotisserie chicken was in there. I also got all my canned goods out and made it a mission to use them in meals and dishes, using the oldest first. It went well. I am inspired to clear out my spice and tea situation now.
I pulled out a bag I had not used in ages this week and just enjoyed it. My goal is to use a different bag each week for the foreseeable future. It goes to the office with me once a week and on errands. I have new to me bags that need cleaning/conditioning before I want to use them. I will work on getting one done in the next week, so I could that part of the challenge.

With all the cooking I've been doing, most of the old spices have been used up and replaced with new. I've gotten them organized and have an overflow space where I keep the new unopened jars. It is easy to determine what needs to be ordered.

I cleaned out the freezer last year when we had the challenge, also made an inventory of it on a spreadsheet so I can keep track. It still seems pretty full. Too much bread in there. It takes up a lot of room, but is handy when I want to make a sandwich.

 

[More bags]

I am sorry to hear this. Putting off any dental work is not good. I learned my lesson about 20 years ago and fortunate with my last coverage change to have picked a name off a list and found an excellent office. Best wishes for a resolution in these times.

Very grateful to have this forum to read, to not only retrain me away from looking endlessly at online listings but from overdosing on the news as well.
I liked seeing the challenge to clean the pantry and freezer. I came to the realization December a year ago to clear out and “eat” out of my relatively small freezer. Let me tell you, it was like the parable of the loaves and fishes lol. I kept finding packages of chicken, bags of frozen vegetables and could not believe there was entire rotisserie chicken was in there. I also got all my canned goods out and made it a mission to use them in meals and dishes, using the oldest first. It went well. I am inspired to clear out my spice and tea situation now.
I pulled out a bag I had not used in ages this week and just enjoyed it. My goal is to use a different bag each week for the foreseeable future. It goes to the office with me once a week and on errands. I have new to me bags that need cleaning/conditioning before I want to use them. I will work on getting one done in the next week, so I could that part of the challenge.

I would like to check out what other goodies might be found in your freezer- it sounds amazing!

For @More bags : here’s my GP right after I welcomed her to my collectionView attachment 4952079View attachment 4952080View attachment 4952081

Wow, I remember you sharing this bag last year. I love the contrast interior, fantastic combination on your GP

Thanks for the nice words! Yes I’m 5’9 and while that makes a lot of crossbody bags sit a little higher than I’d like, the WOCs from Chanel have always been a nice fit.



I’m so jealous of this. My Christmas decorations are still in a bunch of cardboard boxes. I love organizing so I really should get on top of the whole plastic bin thing.

In terms of bag challenges, today I’m going for #3 - putting a bag to shed in the shed? Not sure if I follow the title there but this is a bag I’ve been thinking of letting go, which is my other PS chain wallet.

I bought it used and it’s getting pretty beat up at this point, plus I’ve never been a huge fan of the thin chain on it. But trying it as a waist bag and while this isn’t the right coat to wear with a waist bag (since it doesn’t stay closed on its own), I’m sort of liking the look.

View attachment 4952095

Great picture and outfit, the styling with your scarf, coat, boots and bag - picture perfect!

 

[Katinahat]

Yay on meal planning.
Congrats on DH using the slow cooker and at home learning going well. Do you have to commute to work right now or are you able to work from home?

You are on top of all of it! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and progress. It is very inspiring.

I agree with your daughter, smart young woman.

Yes, I’m mostly travelling but fortunately by car. Schools have to stay open for some children so as management I am there to oversee things as well as the remote learning. It’s different than in the first wave when I was mostly at home.

Thanks for your kind words about my progress.

My DDs know right from wrong. They are indignant at any COVID rule breaking.

 

[whateve]

I do most of the cooking in our house because I am much better at it, though the DH had no problem putting a meal together. When he cooks, he tries....but he always overcooks meat, doesn’t understand how to use spices and doesn’t know how to coordinate sides with main courses very well. He could eat teriyaki marinated grilled chicken and salad for days on end...probably will while I am out of town next week.
I am not a recipe person, I am a “let’s see what’s on sale and put something together” person. The things I make well and have made for a long time are things that I can tell you what I put in them, but can’t tell you quantity of anything. My DH and DS have asked me how to make my marinara, chili or some pasta dishes and I have tried making them while measuring out quantities of things to make a “recipe” and it doesn’t turn out right. Even when I do it, sometimes it is better or worse than others.
The big rule in our house is whoever cooks does not wash the dishes, but does dry and put away, so we do the dishes together. I try to clean as I cook and there are only two of us, so it usually doesn’t take long if I cook. Most of the time so enjoy cooking, but not all the time. Before Covid, we went out for dinner every Friday night...date night...but...and I used to work every Sunday so he would cook since he was off. We eat fairly healthy at dinner, can’t say I do for breakfast and lunch.

I generally don't measure for a lot of my older dishes. Sometimes even when trying a new dish, I just go by feel. It isn't always consistent. Usually the first time I make something it is perfect, and the subsequent times I struggle to get the exact same combination.

 

[More bags]

Hey everyone! I'm still enjoying my new-to-me mini pochette. It's helping me get through this. I hope you guys are alright!

My mini pochette is my most frequently used SLG. Your LE version is so pretty.

It needs touch up and sealant, but here is the other bag I View attachment 4952158painted yesterday.

Fantastic, I love the contrast colours on the handles! Your paint job goes with the red handles!

As we have been talking a fair bit of jewellery I´d really like to show off the pearls DH gifted me on New Year´s Eve. He had been going through his grandfather´s old cupboard, remembered there was a secret compartment and found them.
He doesn´t know how old they are, but are likely to have belonged to his grandmother. I´m not sure whether they are even the real thing, but they have a great sentimental value. They were in a box together with a coin from the Vatican, a memento of his grandparent´s trip in 1953.

View attachment 4952195

Absolutely stunning- the pearls are lovely and you look fabulous! What a wonderful gift and I love the storytelling, it lends the pearls a mystical appeal as they were retrieved from the secret compartment, kept safe for years until they could be united with their rightful owner!

Birthday weekend roses!!!!View attachment 4952211 (though he gets me flowers every week)

Yahoo - beautiful roses and weekly flowers!

 

[Jereni]

Birthday weekend roses!!!!View attachment 4952211 (though he gets me flowers every week)

Happy happy birthday! I’m jealous, my husband only gets me flowers on my birthday... when I specifically tell him to.

On the other hand, he gives ‘amazing’ , ‘utilitarian’ gifts. Like one time - dryer balls. True story.

 

[msd_bags]

Thank you guys! It’s actually on Monday, but since I won’t get to do anything special for it because of Covid, I’ll take as many early birthday wishes as I can get!

Because it is so close to Christmas, my birthday was never the big deal it is for others. But this one is special...50...and I wanted to make a big deal over this one. Now I can’t even go to dinner. So to be honest, I am sad, feeling a little mopey and sorry for myself.

Happy (Golden) Birthday dear!!

(Sorry I’m several pages behind, haven’t caught up on the posts yet.)

 

[keodi]

After finding today that motivation to clean today was zero (my house isn’t really that dirty, at most a vacuum and dust and the rest I was going to do can wait), I told my DH that I made an executive decision. As I said, my birthday was never a big deal because of how close it was to Christmas, so the concept of a “birthday month” and such was never a thing in my house. So I am doing a first for me...starting today, I am having a birthday weekend! I am not doing anything I don’t want to do! Today, I am going to paint bags. Tomorrow I am going to finish trimming a vintage Burberry trench I am rehabbing. Sunday I am doing a spa day for myself- microdermabrasion and mask, self pedi ani paint my fingernails (which I never do because of work but I can have nice hands for my birthday). On Monday, my mom is coming up after her dr’s appt for a take out lunch here at home. I want duck, which I love but never get to have. My husband is in charge of dinner.

No, none of it was what I had in mind. So many of the big things people celebrate are on hold...my wedding, my honeymoon, my 50th birthday celebration....with no end in sight and I am tired of it. But what can I do? Be miserable? I will stay busy doing things that make me happy this weekend and that distract me and make the best of it.
The following week, I drive up to my grandparents 13 hours away who are having health issues and need help. My grandmother is not handling it well and is being nasty to everyone, refusing outside help. I will take 2 days there, plus the day’s drive each way, to handle the things that are challenging and to do a deep clean of their small house so they o to have to tidy up. I will be going up there Every month or so for the foreseeable future. I am glad I have the ability to do it since I am still not working my nanny job due to Covid. No one else really can and my mom would, wants to very much, but she really can’t. It will be ok. We will manage and get through all this.

Happy birthday! I love your birthday weekend idea, and the fact that you have a plan!

View attachment 4951104
Doing Challenge #2 today. First time using this tweed Tabby since buying it last summer. Her first voyage will be to get pizza & salad on this finally Friday.

I Enjoy seeing your new bag it's beautiful!

others more experienced no doubt will chime in, but I like that Trim II has a gusset and can fit more than the evelyne PM of comparable size While still look8ng sleek.

con: the shorter strap that slips off the shoulder. You can elongate with a similarly wide belt (see @pureplatinum ’s post on page 37 of Ode to Trim below) and attach a suede strip to the underside to reduce slippage.

the size 35 seems more NS orientation in clemence. The size 31 seems more EW in orientation. although I am a 30B and 28K person, i prefer the 35 Trim II to the 31. I posted comparison shots in Ode to Trim. To me overall silhouette against the body is really important.

You may not think you have the desire to buy less if you go down the H rabbit hole, but actually the research on various H bags prior to purchase is more than half of the fun

ode to the TRIM!

Today with my gold, GHW, trim. Just love it. Lovely bag! ❤️ what is it 31 or 35? And what are exact measurements height /width wise? Thank you very much!

forum.purseblog.com

@keodi, thanks so much for your kind words re the action pics and the medical issues. You could try posting directly into the Lazarus thread re your TPM? It’s also mind boggling to me how much prices have risen since the old GST and other days. However, I think resale prices will go back down in summer months, as a lot of stuff isn’t moving. And, I love the color and slouch of your 38 trim II! The red is so luscious!

I didn't even think about that at the time, the bag has a cut that started out small but somehow got bigger. Thank you, The Trim hands down my favourite style from Hermes. I prefer the trim I, the slouch Clemence molds to my body. The price increases on the GST prior to Chanel discontinuing it was triple what I paid back in 2001!

Gorgeous!

Thank you!

So pretty!

Fabulous red!

These are great tips, thank you for sharing... I am especially bad about mindless browsing shopping sites.

thank you!

Wearing my new to me Just Campagne Deville 2 today, it arrived earlier this week, for the Take the Tags Off Challenge. It’s a nice color (Graise), I like the shape, but not so certain about the zipper... but it would be a great bag for traveling as it does zip up! I’m hoping to replace my Massaccesi MIDI Juliet with this.
Apologies for the not so awesome office photo.
View attachment 4951308View attachment 4951309View attachment 4951310

Beautiful bag, I'm in love with the colour!

This was an all pink View attachment 4951376View attachment 4951378View attachment 4951377Coach bag someone gave me that was scratched up and had an oil stain on the bottom. A few hours and some paint and glaze....it looks gray, but it is a metallic taupe.

Great job! I had this bag, exact same style just in the colour black. my sister borrowed it, but I never got it back.

Love this! Such a beautiful color. Do you happen to know the name of the color?

Thank you, the colour is called rouge vif! a bright red

I prefer the Trim I for myself over the T II (and the Gucci Bouvier rather than the Jackie). Yours is an absolute beauty!

Thank you, same here I prefer the hermes trim I over the T II as well, and I prefer the Gucci Bouvier over the Jackie. I had the fabric version of the bouvier, and I vowed some day, I would like to add an all back leather version to the fabric Gucci bouvier I once owned.

I've been using my little brown 'banana' shape bag under my coat (just keys and phone). It was the bag I used before the H Evie came along . Besides exercise (walking or running) I haven't gone anywhere. DH has gone on essential work and has to be at a hotel, so besides my work (from home) I'm just watching old French and Italian movies and dancing around. This weekend I have good intentions of actually clearing up and organising 'stuff'.

Sounds lovely i'd love to see a pic!

I actually carried a bag today! First time in ages, other than carrying a bag along in the car while we went on a drive. This time I actually had to get out of the car. I had to go to the doctor and then the pharmacy. First time in another building other than my home since last March. I was hoping I would make it until we got vaccinated but my eye got infected.

This is the bag I carried. I got it in October.

It's beautiful, I hope your eye is doing better.

i love this bag! It’s gorgeous! Hope your eye is okay.

i would like to come over for dinner. As my contribution, I would wash all the dishes. Everything sounds amazing and I remember some of those cooks illustrated recipes. I’m lazy re rhe shrimp and do the cooks illustrated slow cooker one. It’s so nice for me to imagine you and your DH helping with the veggies and then all of you sitting down and relaxingnover a leisurely meal. Like @whateve, I cook alone, but since the last time my DH cut a red pepper we went to the hospital, that’s for the best.

The roast chicken with wild rice stuffing and the homemade noodles afterwards sound delicious and a big production. For some reason when I make stuffing, I dirty a lot of dishes as everything (vegetable garniture, pancetta or sausage or meat, assorted add ins, are all cooked separately Bf combining. ITA on steak and noodles. I love cheap egg noodles with lots of butter and ramen (not the authentic kind, but rather the 5 for a dollar packages that one ate as a penniless college student).
i panicked when covid started and bought a lot of dry goods like ramen and organic instant potato flakes (i was prepared to make my own potato rolls, but then my doctor put me on a low carb diet). Not sure what I was thinking.

@whateve , @SouthernPurseGal, I find that if I try to limit to one expensive thing rather than a bunch of cheaper things, it cuts down on the piles of stuff I have to give away later. @More bags, I know that I will have to someday clean out all of my moms stuff. She has mountains of it.

me too! I usually add an egg with mine, I love it! I also on a low carb diet so I eat it sparingly, more like a treat every now and again.

It has a red interior and it is a backpack. They will no longer be making it so I grabbed a new one while I still could. The photo is from before I took all the paper off everything.

View attachment 4951920

very nice! I love the red interior a nice pick me up.

There are lots of vegetarian (and vegan) meals that the whole family can enjoy but I think I would a) bat it back to DD2 if she's old enough (I guess over 12) and ask her to research into vegetarianism, including rules combining foods to make complete proteins and how will she make sure she will get her vit B12, iron and iodine? b) don't feel as though you have to cook 2 (or 3) meals every mealtime, you're not a hotel. I became vegetarian at 11 and my mother told me fine, but that if I wanted something different than was on the table I'd have to cook my own (which I did, and from 14 bought my own ingredients too). I'm not actually a vegetarian anymore, I don't hold with labels as I think they push that 'holier than thou' agenda, I just don't happen to eat meat/fish 90% of the time. The 10% - I try to buy from the most verifiable, ethical sources unless dining out. I wear leather and fur and I don't intend to give those up. For me plastic (in its many forms including nylon, PVC, micro-fibre and so on) is far more harmful to the planet - and that includes all other animals, but I don't want to have the 'conversation' every time with vegetarians/vegans/fruitarians or hardcore carnivores. So, I'm not giving you a rundown about me, but DD2 could perhaps not only tell you that she's a 'vegetarian' but inform you what that means, her reasoning behind such a big decision, what she can/can't eat/wear/do and that she is responsible for educating (not reforming) her family about her new way of life.

I enjoyed this post very insightful reading!

I'm not in pain, but I'm aware that a chipped tooth can lead to more chips and the rough surface can hold onto (bad) bacteria more easily.

For my journey, I would have to get on a train (reduced service atm) and the London Tube. Last time I was on the train in Dec, there were people clearly ill not wearing masks and the tube was busy (as in too busy for social distancing). I even had to give one of these unmasked men spluttering and sneezing, less than an arm away, a paper tissue. Others obviously find actually putting the mask over both their nose/mouth just too much trouble. I felt like I was in a Zombie apocalypse. How are there such stupid people in the World?

Anyway, the other option is to go to a more local dentist. I don't know how I feel about that.

I would feel like I was in a zombie apocalypse too, I hope you come up with a solution soon!

A chimichanga is spicy meat (or sometimes beans) wrapped in a flour tortilla and fried. It’s served with sour cream, guacamole or salsa (sometimes all three!)

Alcatra is a Portuguese pot roast, traditionally served during the feast of the Holy Spirit. Traditionally made in a clay pot, its made with bacon or panchetta, onion, red wine, spices, and high quality beef. It’s slow cooked for hours and smells amazing. Served with polenta or Portuguese sweet bread or rice for all the yummy drippings.

Alcatra sounds delish!

Oooooooh - I would love a red trim. What color/leather is this?

this is rouge vif Clemence leather

We DO need it!
I did the same last year - purged some Christmas things - and I’ve kept mine in plastic tubs for several years, the kind that have sectioned cardboard inside. I’ve even labeled what goes in what section so everything fits back in when I take it down. The hard part is finding it on the tree!

I do this as well, it's so much easier!

As we have been talking a fair bit of jewellery I´d really like to show off the pearls DH gifted me on New Year´s Eve. He had been going through his grandfather´s old cupboard, remembered there was a secret compartment and found them.
He doesn´t know how old they are, but are likely to have belonged to his grandmother. I´m not sure whether they are even the real thing, but they have a great sentimental value. They were in a box together with a coin from the Vatican, a memento of his grandparent´s trip in 1953.

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I love the history behind your beautiful gift!

Birthday weekend roses!!!!View attachment 4952211 (though he gets me flowers every week)

lucky lady! The roses are beautiful.

My adult daughter is a pescatarian. I think it is due to taste rather than ethics. She will eat meat sauce on spaghetti and loves to go to In 'n' Out burgers when traveling.

I could never give up bacon! I love carbonara. DH won't eat it. He thinks pasta should have meat sauce but he will make an exception for aglio e olio. I make that for him often. He hates cheese so that is limiting.

When DH was in South Africa, he ordered spaghetti and was surprised to just get plain noodles. He asked for sauce, and the waiter said, "Oh, you're an American" and brought him a bottle of ketchup.

 

[SouthernPurseGal]

I generally don't measure for a lot of my older dishes. Sometimes even when trying a new dish, I just go by feel. It isn't always consistent. Usually the first time I make something it is perfect, and the subsequent times I struggle to get the exact same combination.

I never measure!