The last few weddings I’ve been invited to had website registries with options to gift toward something- a couch, a mattress, a honeymoon, Airbnb cards, etc. I think people are much more understanding now that a lot of people getting married have a lot they need, or want less “stuff.” Most people want to give a gift of some sort and are happy to contribute. Closer friends and family will probably ask, and you can lead them towards cash.

I used WW years ago and lost 25 pounds. It really worked while I was losing. But as soon as life switched, I gained it back. Quickly. I didn’t have the mental switch yet. I tried the new one with zero point foods and it didn’t work for me the same way. No idea why. I might have eaten too many beans even though they say you can’t 🙂 What I did like about WW was the community. I really liked all the shared stories, the advice, and people in the same boat. 2 years ago I started wearing a CGM and restructured my eating to be blood sugar stable and again lost 25 pounds. This time I’ve kept it off -so far - even without the monitor. While I was using the monitor I learned everything I could about health, not necessarily weight loss, and really concentrated on eating real, unprocessed foods, no calorie counting. Although I do try to eat plenty of protein and fiber. All that said, like “they” say, the best diet is the one you will stick with. WW is that plan for lots of people. Losing weight is so hard. I really had to concentrate on how the foods I ate and the way I moved made me FEEL. I had to be in it for my health, change my mentality to doing what was best to live a long healthy life. The weight loss did follow, but more importantly to me, I feel better in my body and my head when I eat and move for health. You really didn’t ask for all that! So I hope I’m not overstepping. I’ve been contemplating it today on the first of the year 🙂

That is so sad. I’m so sorry for your loss.

I think for all day I’d do a soup party. You could keep it in crockpots and on the stove so you could have a couple kinds. Maybe a couple batches of warm bread throughout the day to keep it fresh, cookies and brownies. I’d probably also do a veggie tray and one other finger food. Someone gave me the idea to serve the soups in mugs to make it easier for people to eat standing up if that’s a concern for you. Unlike finger foods, you will need mugs or bowls and spoons to deal with throughout the day.

I gave up because of the tracking as well. I’m not great with follow through 🙂 I downloaded the app. Maybe that will keep me on track.

I want to do it. I had it on my list last year, and I think I would have been close, but I didn’t track after a couple months. This year, I’ll track. I want the shirt! Fortunately I have a couple trips planned in the next couple months that will give me a good start as compared to our gloomy cold winter at home.

DS21 and I are going on a 2 week trip next week. I’m super excited and I know we’ll have a great time. But, we’re both serious introverts with little interest in small talk and DH won’t be around to keep the conversations flowing 😀 Any suggestions for audiobooks, conversation starters, hotel room games, etc? I imagine we’ll have the daily activities to generate some conversations, but it will just be the two of us pretty much the whole time. And for all the meals. And we’ve already been together for 3 weeks - longest Christmas break ever! Ha! Just looking for ideas that might add to the interest.

If your son doesn’t want the bed. I’d get rid of it too.

We had houseguests at Christmas, so lots of purging was done. Our downstairs ping pong table is usable for the first time in a year or so. DS is ruthless and a lot of it was his old toys. Luckily DH wasn’t here and we filled up 4 bags before he got back! I also gave away a lot of Knick knacks/decorations to our local habitat store. I didn’t think they’d take them but I saw them on display, and then not. So I think they sold! That was exciting! we still have so much stuff. But progress was made. I know DS would like to do his clothes before he goes back to school. So, we’ll try to get those done in the next week.

DS friends who didn’t go to college- linemen, cable co repairs, welding, construction, hair stylist, nail tech. DS swore he wouldn’t go to college either but two years out looking for promising jobs with upward mobility with no real success, and now he’s in college.

Merry Christmas!

The drinking and driving would be my main concern as well. Alcohol is everywhere. Almost all the college kids I know have fake ID’s. Getting alcohol is not going to be a problem. Being responsible if you choose to drink is the big issue for me. I’m not sure if I’d speak to his mom, but I would absolutely explain to him the liability of providing alcohol to under age people and bringing it into your house as your guest. 18 year old high school students are not even close to being “adults” in my mind, except legally. And that opens a whole other can of worms.

I was thinking I’d just put the warmed ham on a platter with the rolls for those that wanted to make a sandwich. But some people will probably eat it without the bread I’m sure.

It says it’s a fully cooked smoked ham, bone in, shank. Instructions say can be served hot or cold. If heating, 350 degree oven 15 minutes per pound. It’s 20 pounds!

The gift limit is per person, so your mom and dad can each gift $17,000 per year. We had something similar for a family member, and it was set up in the will that that the gift would come out of their inheritance. But there wasn’t much question the amount of inheritance would exceed the loan.

I don’t think I can fit it in my crockpot.

I bought a ham to bake for a party tomorrow, but now that I’m reading some recipes I’m not sure what to do with it. It’s bone in. I plan on serving it with rolls and spreads for small sandwiches. I haven’t cooked a ham in years, and I can’t really remember, but think I sliced and fried it honestly. Any BTDT advice and glaze recipes for a baked ham?

I started wearing altras too, for the wide toe box. Zero drop doesn’t mean no cushion. I find mine very supportive, but that’s relative of course. I like naots for dressier shoes. I can’t wear hokas either.

Do you already have Amazon echo? https://lifeofablindgirl.com/2020/01/19/20-things-the-amazon-echo-can-make-easier-for-blind-and-visually-impaired-people/#:~:text=It is worth noting that,Spot which both have screens. Here’s a more recent article with ideas. https://discoversight.com/alexa-for-blind-and-visually-impaired-people/

Everything 😀 maybe if I made a list it would be helpful to see. I’m still shopping, deciding menus, and we’re deep cleaning for a party and guests, so the house is in the bad before better stage still. Luckily we all work best with a deadline and some pressure!

We also redid ours completely when DS turned 18 and went with a different person entirely to oversee the trusts and money. DS and our friends/ parents originally appointed were in different places in life so it just made sense to go another direction.

Not sure, but in my experience, a lot of the cost with drawing up wills is the meetings. If your dad can advise on what you want and you go in with all the information decided, the rest shouldn’t be too pricy. perhaps look at your term life insurance policy and compare prices with an increase that might make you more comfortable providing for everyone. When DS was a minor we got the advice to have separate people in charge of the money and for physically caring for the children. Some people are just not good with money, especially if you’re leaving a sizable amount for many needs. And it’s nice to have that separation of duties.

I just ordered some too. Thanks! Those look great. I love soup and how awesome to have a couple bowls to mix it up.

Or maybe this organization can lead you in a better direction- https://www.wvlandtrust.org/protect-your-land/

I too think your best bet could be a quitclaim deed to one of the adjacent landowners. I don’t have a lot of experience with those, but if it truly has such little value, it might be a possibility. Have you tried calling the county assessors office? Maybe they have a suggestion. They could probably tell you if they report tax sales to any credit agencies.