The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Songbird76]

I don't even know how the 50 Shades books got published...I read 1 paragraph of the first one because a friend had a copy and she suggested I read it and I couldn't even believe how bad the writing was...even just grammatically. It was HORRIBLE.

It got published because it was Twilight fan fiction. Twilight was a huge franchise, really popular, and there's a ton of fan fiction out there based on it. It was originally Edward and Bella. The author got the offer to publish, I think, and had to change the names and such really quickly and did a pretty poor job of writing. But had it been just a regular book submitted to a publisher, it NEVER would have been sold. Just that the author had a huge following in the fan fiction forums. I don't like fan fiction as a rule because the characters are never right...they never sound like the real character would if it were written by the creator of the characters. So I don't like it. But a lot of my friends were reading it and they all said the same...it's very poorly written and it's just a horrible book. I don't like Erotica and I don't like fan fiction...so...nope, not going to read it. Add in that it's apparently very badly written...it's just not going to happen. I also did not watch the movies. My choir (the one I was in before) arranged for all the women to go for ladies night when the first film hit theaters. I opted out.

 

[Songbird76]

Can I have that cake for my birthday please?

Isn't it cute? Did I put that in this thread, though? I meant to put it in Tuvalu's trip report....or can you quote different threads? I'm so confused.

 

[Songbird76]

I made chocolate mint cookies (a mint chocolate kiss is inside)
Noel nut ball cookies (a Martha Stewart's recipe), and ritz cracker "cookies" (they are filled with peanut butter and covered in chocolate. I remember now why I hate dipping things in chocolate, I'm not good at it and they look a little weird but they taste good. I also made some cheddar cheese tartlets that we eat on Christmas Eve, so I make them ahead and freeze them up. No pictures of those right now.
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YUM!! The nut ball ones....is it pecan? They look like what we called "Sandies" that we LOVED. As for dipping in chocolate, do you have special instruments for that? I have a set that has a kind of spiral spoon and a 2 pronged fork looking thing...they are made especially for dipping things in chocolate and they make it SOOOOO much easier.

 

[Songbird76]

I survived DS's birthday party. Whew. It actually went really well. One kid did end up leaving early...he fell and bent his pinky finger somehow. The First aid people looked at it and didn't think it was broken, because he could still bend it and everything, but it was a bit swollen. He wanted to go home, so we called his parents. We apped later to find out how he was doing and they said they think he's fine, but the party was a bit overwhelming...he had fun, but it was still a bit much. So he threw up and went to bed and should be fine in the morning. And DS fell off a hoverboard (are they called that in the US?) and hurt himself, and took a soccer ball to the back of the head, but other than that, the boys all had fun and they all got along well. Really nice kids!

 

[MinnieM123]

Glad you're feeling better but stop picking on poor Jack. I'm sure he was just feeling neglected this week.

Neglected?! That crazy dog demands attention all the time!

 

[MinnieM123]

I read all three books too, I checked them out from the library so I didn't have to pay for them. I too wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I skipped over all the smut scenes too, that isn't my deal. I thought the story was okay but not strongly written, there are better romance stories out there.

I don't think the focus was on romance . . .. LOL . . .

 

[Go.Nijntje]

Isn't it cute? Did I put that in this thread, though? I meant to put it in Tuvalu's trip report....or can you quote different threads? I'm so confused.

You can quote in different threads, I am sorry didn't mean to confuse you.
I am glad your DS birthday party went well despite the mishaps.

 

[MinnieM123]

I am going to write out some more Christmas cards today. I don't get that many cards anymore, but I still like to mail some out to friends and family that I don't see during the year. I guess lots of people have given up the tradition/practice of Christmas cards. Stamps are more costly, but people spend lots more money on other holiday things.

I haven't started mine yet either. I send out maybe 20 --that's it. I like getting the Christmas stamps each year and look forward to the new designs. That's about as geeky as I get.

 

[Go.Nijntje]

@ajrwdwgirl want to trade some of those delicious looking cookies for Swiss chocolate? I especially like the sound of the peanut butter one. The main street bakery has a fantastic peanut butter cookie that is very high on my must eat snacks list for WDW.

 

[MinnieM123]

I made chocolate mint cookies (a mint chocolate kiss is inside)
Noel nut ball cookies (a Martha Stewart's recipe), and ritz cracker "cookies" (they are filled with peanut butter and covered in chocolate. I remember now why I hate dipping things in chocolate, I'm not good at it and they look a little weird but they taste good. I also made some cheddar cheese tartlets that we eat on Christmas Eve, so I make them ahead and freeze them up. No pictures of those right now.
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OMG . . . all of those yummies are calling out my name!!

On another subject, I saw the repeat of the Disney holiday show this morning on Freeform (which you had told me about). I thought it was pleasant overall, and at least they didn't try to see DVC all through it, like they did in some previous years. The performers all did a nice job.

My only comment is that I'd prefer to see more of the parks with people having fun on the rides, watching parades, etc. It seemed like this special was a musical entertainment show--plenty of stages and castles in most of the shots, but there's so much more to the parks than that.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Good luck and pixie dust

Have fun and good luck to the competitors!

Good luck today!

Thanks! They did awesome. First in their division.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Seems like a good combo.
I honestly would have preferred the 24-105mm F4 lens. better quality. And you could have purchased a 70-300mm for the longer range when you need it with also much better quality.

I'm an amateur. I'm sure what I got will work.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I hope so.
I got my mattress and tested it today (as in yesterday's night).. comfy! but way taller!

I also just got my second flash. Since I'm going to work part time as event photographer as well.. I needed a backup.

I got a new mattress several weeks ago. The hardest thing to get used to is how much taller it is. They make these mattresses so thick now, plus my old one had a low profile box spring (my parents bought it for me at age 8). So now when I climb into bed, I feel like I'm actually climbing into bed. But my sleep quality has improved so, so much. Hope the same is true for you.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Thanks! They did awesome. First in their division.
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Awesome! Was this the one at Coppin?

 

[MinnieM123]

Thanks! They did awesome. First in their division.
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Wow! Congrats!!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

That's exactly it...he knew I didn't want to read it...that I absolutely REFUSE to read it. That's why it made it so funny to him...to see my reaction.

Sounds like something my dh would do. Do you remember Snuggie’s? Everytime the commercial would come on I would cringe. Dh knew I hated them, but went and ordered a bunch for Christmas a few years back.

It got published because it was Twilight fan fiction. Twilight was a huge franchise, really popular, and there's a ton of fan fiction out there based on it. It was originally Edward and Bella. The author got the offer to publish, I think, and had to change the names and such really quickly and did a pretty poor job of writing. But had it been just a regular book submitted to a publisher, it NEVER would have been sold. Just that the author had a huge following in the fan fiction forums. I don't like fan fiction as a rule because the characters are never right...they never sound like the real character would if it were written by the creator of the characters. So I don't like it. But a lot of my friends were reading it and they all said the same...it's very poorly written and it's just a horrible book. I don't like Erotica and I don't like fan fiction...so...nope, not going to read it. Add in that it's apparently very badly written...it's just not going to happen. I also did not watch the movies. My choir (the one I was in before) arranged for all the women to go for ladies night when the first film hit theaters. I opted out.

I never read the Twilight series. Wasn’t that about vampires? I just had no desire to read 50 Shades. Not a follower I guess and maybe just prefer good fiction.
Glad ds’s party went well. With all the misshaps it sounds like a perfect boy’s party.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Awesome! Was this the one at Coppin?

Thanks. This one was in Upper Marlboro at the Showplace Arena. It was really a nice venue. The speakers were also not at an extreme level so I could actually have a conversation with someone and not have to constantly say, “what?”
Congrats on the camera and new mattress. Hope you enjoy them both for many years.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Wow! Congrats!!

Thank you. Hope you are feeling better. My cure would be for some Disney POG or Stitch juice. Loads of vitamin C. Made a batch the other day.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

YUM!! The nut ball ones....is it pecan? They look like what we called "Sandies" that we LOVED. As for dipping in chocolate, do you have special instruments for that? I have a set that has a kind of spiral spoon and a 2 pronged fork looking thing...they are made especially for dipping things in chocolate and they make it SOOOOO much easier.

The cookies are kind of like Sandies, the recipe calls for either bourbon or orange juice and I always use bourbon. And the nuts are pecans I have tried using walnuts and the cookies were fine with them but pecans are better.

I make many things where I have to dip them in chocolate so I don't have a special tool. So I just used a fork and my fingers. The tool would have been helpful. Maybe I will look for one to have on hand for another time.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

@ajrwdwgirl want to trade some of those delicious looking cookies for Swiss chocolate? I especially like the sound of the peanut butter one. The main street bakery has a fantastic peanut butter cookie that is very high on my must eat snacks list for WDW.

I'm up for trading. I don't know how well they would ship though. Disneyland has a chocolate peanut butter cookie sandwich that we like so that is why I tried making these so I could recreate it a little. I haven't seen the same cookie at WDW though. Hubs says they good I haven't tried one yet.

Oh and I made these last weekend. Walnut fudge and napoleon cream candy. The candy has a chocolate coconut graham cracker crust, a vanilla filling and covered with chocolate. They are so good, i have had them every year for Christmas as long as I can remember and I took over making them when I was 10.