The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Figgy1]

They also have the mix in HUGE boxes at Costco!!

Most people I know who really love seafood won't eat at Red Lobster. I've never personally been to one, but I didn't think you could go wrong with fried shrimp anywhere, lol.

Sam's also has the big boxes

 

[Figgy1]

I was SOOOO excited to find GS cookies when I was home for dad's funeral. They were just setting up outside KMart when we came out. So I bought Thin Mints, Tagalongs, and Samoas. And S'mores, but those were just for the kids as for me, I need the real thing, not a cookie composed of all the s'more elements. It's just not the same when it's not oozing freshly roasted marshmallows and melting chocolate. Half the appeal of s'mores is the gooey-ness. My kids had never had honest to goodness s'mores before since they don't have graham crackers here, nor hershey's, and the marshmallows aren't the same. So they wanted to try the s'mores cookies...whatever. BUT, I also bought REAL s'mores fixings to bring home and I have now properly educated them in the art of s'mores culinary delights.

{{HUGS}} We can even fin gf/df options over here that aren't too bad

 

[Songbird76]

I had to look gourmetten up as I never heard of it. It sounds fun for Christmas. Enjoy!

https://dutchcommunity.com/2013/11/27/gourmetten-a-deliciously-dutch-culinary-phenomenon/

Ha!! No, it's definitely not an American thing. I wanted a Gourmet set so badly after having it here when I visited before we were married. So we wanted to register for one, but couldn't find one ANYWHERE. My mom's cousin, who sang at our wedding, finally found one in...carp I can't remember the name of it. It starts with a G and it's a swiss town in Wisconsin. Like....Glen...something. Anyway, they had Raclette sets, which is basically Gourmetten, but raclette is supposedly more for cheese, I guess. That's how I knew that @RedNoseMickey meant gourmetten when she said Raclette. That was the only thing to be found that was anywhere near gourmet, and the only place it was to be found was in this swiss village in Wisconsin. (My cousins own a cheese factory in Wisconsin, so this cousin was up visiting in the area)

 

[Figgy1]

@songbird have you had any luck finding your dd the Harry Potter robe? Fabric.com had a rather nice selection of Potter fabric if you have to resort to making one yourself.
My boys figured out what to get each other. I had one ds and my dh the other yesterday and they both wound up picking out the same thing, a Hogwarts comforter and pillow sham set. I was a bit amused after the car was unpacked yesterday and saw they had picked the exact same item

 

[Figgy1]

@BAChicagoGal how are you doing? I was wondering if you've been able to crochet since the surgery

 

[Figgy1]

Good morning, they guys are heading to my inlaws to put something together so I'm going to watch some Christmas movies in peace and quiet

 

[Songbird76]

Ha!! No, it's definitely not an American thing. I wanted a Gourmet set so badly after having it here when I visited before we were married. So we wanted to register for one, but couldn't find one ANYWHERE. My mom's cousin, who sang at our wedding, finally found one in...carp I can't remember the name of it. It starts with a G and it's a swiss town in Wisconsin. Like....Glen...something. Anyway, they had Raclette sets, which is basically Gourmetten, but raclette is supposedly more for cheese, I guess. That's how I knew that @RedNoseMickey meant gourmetten when she said Raclette. That was the only thing to be found that was anywhere near gourmet, and the only place it was to be found was in this swiss village in Wisconsin. (My cousins own a cheese factory in Wisconsin, so this cousin was up visiting in the area)

I know, I'm replying to myself, but it was driving me nuts not to remember the name of that town. So I googled it. New Glarus. That's the swiss village in Wisconsin. I always forget the "New" part, so then I'm like...Glenola? Glenacia?

 

[Songbird76]

@songbird have you had any luck finding your dd the Harry Potter robe? Fabric.com had a rather nice selection of Potter fabric if you have to resort to making one yourself.
My boys figured out what to get each other. I had one ds and my dh the other yesterday and they both wound up picking out the same thing, a Hogwarts comforter and pillow sham set. I was a bit amused after the car was unpacked yesterday and saw they had picked the exact same item

No, I haven't. I've been back a few times and they still haven't gotten any new ones in. They've gotten a few other new items in, so I am wondering if they WILL get those back in before Christmas. Oh well..I got them each the HP duvet cover and pillow case, a Hogwarts throw pillow, I got DD some Hogwarts slippers. So if I can't get the robe, oh well. I could probably ask my MIL to make one...I never really learned to sew as it was something my mom HATED. I know how to sew on a button, how to sew a hemline...that's about it. We had a 3 month sewing unit in Home-ec, but I don't know how to lay out patterns anymore, or how to tell which way the fabric goes. I know those things are important, but I never learned to do them. So making one is not an option. Thank you though!!

 

[Go.Nijntje]

Good morning, they guys are heading to my inlaws to put something together so I'm going to watch some Christmas movies in peace and quiet

What movies did you watch? I love a sappy Christmas movie.
Speaking of Christmas, I just got back from the mall in Zurich. It was a special Sunday here were all the stores are open as usually everything is closed on Sundays. I wanted to buy some new shoes but couldn't find any that fitted properly. I was able to take in the pretty Christmas decorations.

This is a rotating tree with a free merry go round at the bottom. There is also a little train going round the base of the tree.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[MOXOMUMD]

29 days until Christmas!

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[Figgy1]

What movies did you watch? I love a sappy Christmas movie.
Speaking of Christmas, I just got back from the mall in Zurich. It was a special Sunday here were all the stores are open as usually everything is closed on Sundays. I wanted to buy some new shoes but couldn't find any that fitted properly. I was able to take in the pretty Christmas decorations.
View attachment 246502
This is a rotating tree with a free merry go round at the bottom. There is also a little train going round the base of the tree.

I'm going to start with The Muppets Christmas Carol. My boys always laugh a bit loud during it so i like to watch it alone the first time each year I also have Mount Laundry to conquer today and it's extra large due to a stop at Joann's yesterday but I saved a small fortune The computer took my %off coupon off some of the doorbusters and my dh's discount off some others and both off some other sale items.

 

[Go.Nijntje]

I'm going to start with The Muppets Christmas Carol.

That is probably my favorite Christmas film. We always watch it on Christmas eve together.
Good luck with the laundry, I guess with kids there is always a mountain.

 

[Figgy1]

That is probably my favorite Christmas film. We always watch it on Christmas eve together.

Christmas Eve is A Christmas Carol both Allister Sim and Seymore Hicks depending on our plans sometimes it's one on the 23rd and one on the 24th

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

LoL!!!

https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/25/16697898/coco-short-olafs-frozen-adventure-hate-pixar

Everyone hating the Short..


WOW!!!

China seems to have embraced THE COCO monster.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robcai...biggest-ever-for-a-wide-release/#35ed15f11306

I didn't hate the Frozen mini movie, but it was just forgettable considering Coco came right after it. It was like one of those made for tv cartoons that would be made to show around Christmas time. I did watch the video with the cast on Youtube. I can't wait for the DVD to come out to see what Pixar puts up in the special features section.

We're going to see it tomorrow morning!!

You will love it! Bring tissues! James Edward Olmos has a 5 minute role in the film. He hadn't received a whole script, so he really had no idea about the plot of the film, or anything much about it. He decided to catch a screening at Disney with some other Disney crew. He said there was not a dry eye in the room. I would pay money for my whole family to see it again, and that is saying a lot. I usually prefer to wait for a DVD to come out because a $20 DVD costs a lot less than a possible $100 between tickets and snacks.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Really, my MIL is pretty great. She just thinks her taste is superior so I should do what SHE wants so my house will look better. I'm someone who doesn't really care about trends and what's "in". I care about what I like...I buy clothes because I like them and they are comfortable, not because everyone else is wearing such and such. Same with my house. When I first moved here, we lived with them and it was right around Christmas. My mom had just passed away the July before, and because we lived with my in-laws, everything I owned besides my clothes was in storage..she wouldn't let me put any of my own furniture or decorations in our room and I HATED the decor in our room...it's everything I hate. Stark white furniture, yellow walls, wicker chair, linoleum flooring....ugh...but it wasn't my house, so I wasn't allowed to change anything. I didn't speak a word of Dutch, I hadn't gotten my placement in school yet to learn it, so I was stuck at home all day while DH was at work. I was just in a really bad place emotionally, and I jumped at the chance to go to a garden center with her for Christmas decorations. I saw some beautiful blue Christmas ornaments that I loved and I put a box in the cart...she took them out and put them back on the shelf. I was like...no, I want to buy those....with my own money. She said no, because they were blue...blue hasn't been in style for a couple of years now. I wasn't hanging up blue ornaments in HER house. What would the neighbors think??? Um..that your American daughter-in-law likes blue and doesn't care what anyone else thinks? Nope...I could get a box of smaller blue ornaments to hang in our room, but not near the window, but that was it.
When my DH and I bought this house and were moving out of their house, they were helping us fix this place up so we could move. We had been in their house or 3 years. So she was used to calling the shots because I didn't want to make waves. But this was OUR house and I wasn't going to let her paint my walls yellow or tell me what kind of wallpaper to put up. She helped put up the wallpaper and then announced she didn't like it, we were going to take it down and she would pick something better out and put it up. I said no, this is what DH and I had picked, it's what we like, and it's staying up. And she said "But...people will know I helped put it up and they will wonder why I allowed you to put this ugly wallpaper up!" I said I didn't care what other people thought...it's MY house, I am the one who has to live with it, not them. She said "But don't you want people to feel comfortable here? And there are a couple of places where you can see it puckered a little bit!" I said no one was going to be looking that closely, and that people coming here are coming to see US, not our wallpaper. "But it looks bad! Those little places where you can see it isn't perfect". I was getting so frustrated. I said "Then I'll put a clock or a painting over those 2 little spots! We're NOT changing the wallpaper!!" Now that we've been in this house for 12 years, she doesn't try to change things anymore. She knows I'm not going to listen. She DOES still try to tell me stuff like...that I need to get a new winter coat for my son. Or that I should wear a blouse over my top. I just ignore her. She MEANS well, she just doesn't understand how anyone could choose something different than she does because she thinks her taste is so much better. Like...WHY would anyone choose to hang up blue ornaments instead of silver with red ribbons? Silver with red ribbons looks so much better! Sometimes I wear my Christmas sweater just to annoy her...she thinks it's so gaudy and "Dutch people would never wear such a thing". I said "Good thing I'm not Dutch!" Most of the time I play nice, but once in a while, I think it's good for her to be reminded that I have my own tastes and that I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions about what I buy, what I wear, how I cook, etc. She doesn't have to like it, but she has to accept it.

Blue is my favorite color. For a few years our tree was just completely silver and blue. We called it our Hanukkah Christmas tree.Then one year it was red, white, and blue. This year the kids were allowed to go put whatever up. While it is not the prettiest tree in terms of layout, it is beautiful to us and I don't really care what others would say. Our new tree itself is just gorgeous. I love the fake snow (flocking), and I love we can change the lights from all colorful to just all white. When it is all white it looks like a tree in Narnia.
I saw Etsy has lots of Potter robes. https://www.etsy.com/search?q=harry+potter+robe

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

@Songbird76 your MIL would hate how my house is decorated. Most walls are blue with white trim.

 

[BAChicagoGal]

@BAChicagoGal how are you doing? I was wondering if you've been able to crochet since the surgery

I am doing great. Yes,I can definitely crochet. I am even in the process of crocheting a few Christmas Presents. The first 24 hours were hard since I had to wear that eye shield and I could not put on my eye glasses. When I could take off the shield, I have been able to wear my glasses, I see well in both eyes, with my glasses on, despite the fact that I am still waiting to schedule my 2nd cataract surgery. Everything positive everyone told me about cataract surgery was indeed true. The vision in my right eye is definitely better. I have even lost that heavy feeling that I had. Not sure what was causing that, but the feeling is gone. Maybe a factor of my droopy eyelid, or my Trigeminal Neuralgia. For now, no heaviness at all. I see my eye doctor next week. My Primary Care Doctor on December 12. The Cardiologist on January 2nd. Not sure when I will schedule the 2nd cataract surgery. I'm sure I am going to need a 2nd Medical Clearance from my Primary Doctor before the surgery, so that may delay scheduling some. Anyhow I am glad I went ahead with this, and look forward to the 2nd surgery being completed, so I can finally get a new eyeglass prescription, and then both of my eyes will be in sync with each other. Things are fine, except when I shop in the grocery store. Then it's difficult to read the labels on the higher shelves. I am glad, that for the moment I don't have to do any more eye drops. It's the only part of the whole process I didn't like. My husband was a prince, though, and he administered my eye drops with great precision.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Ha!! No, it's definitely not an American thing. I wanted a Gourmet set so badly after having it here when I visited before we were married. So we wanted to register for one, but couldn't find one ANYWHERE. My mom's cousin, who sang at our wedding, finally found one in...carp I can't remember the name of it. It starts with a G and it's a swiss town in Wisconsin. Like....Glen...something. Anyway, they had Raclette sets, which is basically Gourmetten, but raclette is supposedly more for cheese, I guess. That's how I knew that @RedNoseMickey meant gourmetten when she said Raclette. That was the only thing to be found that was anywhere near gourmet, and the only place it was to be found was in this swiss village in Wisconsin. (My cousins own a cheese factory in Wisconsin, so this cousin was up visiting in the area)

I know, I'm replying to myself, but it was driving me nuts not to remember the name of that town. So I googled it. New Glarus. That's the swiss village in Wisconsin. I always forget the "New" part, so then I'm like...Glenola? Glenacia?

I was just about to say it was probably New Glarus when I saw your other post. Even though I live in Wisconsin I have only visited the town once, it is about a 3 1/2 -4 hour drive away. It was a cute little town. A lot of buildings were in a Swiss chalet style. The big thing it is known for here in Wisconsin now is the brewery. It has really good beer and is not sold outside of Wisconsin at all. I'm sure @donaldtoo would be interested in the beer!