I need recommendations for light, easy, beachy reads for my upcoming cruise. I usually get through 3 or 4 per cruise, and I only have one right now. I don't want anything that will make me ponder any Big Picture life things. I don't want to be scared or thrilled. I don't want a mystery. I don't care for sci-fi or fantasy (for this purpose, anyway). I want to relax, maybe laugh, and have some easy reads. As a matter of reference, some of the authors I love for this specific purpose are Jen Lancaster, Stacy Ballis, Mary Kay Andrews, Elin Hilderbrand, Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin. So, any recommendations? I've read pretty much everything by everyone above. Extra credit for someone who introduces me to a new series of books that I enjoy. Thanks!

I'd never heard of it. Now I have, because you made me look. Thanks a lot. It looks interesting because it's small, but even at that pretty inexpensive price I'm not sure you're getting what you're paying for. I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. I didn't watch the videos. Oh, god...I'm going to go watch the videos. Curse you.

I make it all the time. Several times a week. And I buy it pre-rinsed, so I've never rinsed it. No bitter taste, no stomach upset in the family. I usually saute some aromatics (usually diced carrots, onions, garlic), then throw in the quinoa to toast for a couple of minutes, then add chicken broth/stock for my liquid. Same measurements as rice (1 part quinoa to 2 parts liquid). Sometimes I throw in a splash of white wine with the toasted quinoa before I add the chicken stock. Bring it to a boil, then cover and cook on low for about 15-20 minutes. That's it. Everyone here loves it.

We should be friends. Or enemies. :D

The doctor said the main thing he can't address with Invisalign is when the bit doesn't match up top to bottom in the back of the mouth. Other than that, he said there isn't much that can't be done with Invisalign anymore, and that the technology has come such a long way it amazes even him. They said to think of those bump things that they're going to add as doing the same thing that the rubber bands do on metal braces, so I guess that's the answer. They took digital impressions of my teeth and not the classic plaster mold that they used to take, and that is still used for traditional braces. The prescription that he can generate is then so specific it takes less time than it used to, because it's just so accurate. I was amazed by the process.

I've had them for nearly two weeks now. I have to say that the first week or so was much harder than I'd anticipated. I had a constant headache, and low level nausea. All the time. Plus, my tongue was sore from the plastic on the bottom tray. It's much better now. No real issues at all from this tray, and it does feel a bit strange to have the trays out now that I'm used to them being there. Also, and I know this may sound strange, but one of my top front two teeth overlaps the one next to it quite a bit, but the overlap is already noticeably less. Not perfect, but you can definitely already see a difference. i get the Lego bumps added at my next appointment on Thursday, so we'll see how bad I think that part is.

I'm so sorry. :(

I love Nutella, even though I'm not a big fan of chocolate generally speaking. You know what I don't love? The Hershey's Hazelnut Spread. Awful, horrible stuff. I don't even know how Hershey's can look themselves in the face. Even my chocoholic kids hated it.

Oh, that looks good! Thanks for fixing the link.

Oh, no! Broken link.

Oh, yum! I love schwarma.

I knew you would come through for me. I've gotten some great ideas Thanks!

I made this (I think maybe this very recipe) just last week! It was delicious. I like chicken picatta, too, but I had it a couple of days ago at a restaurant so I don't want to make it.

Let me start by saying I'm not a big fan. It's just not my favorite thing. BUT, it's what I have for dinner, so that's what we're having. I'm sick of every way I usually prepare it, so I'm looking for suggestions. We don't want a stir-fry (we've already had a couple this week). So what do you do with it? Assume no ingredients limitations. We eat just about everything.

I agree with this. I am a frequent flier. You just don't recline, in most circumstances. Particularly if the person behind you is trying to use their tray for something, be it a laptop for work, or anything else. Obviously this is just a general rule, as I wouldn't expect someone not to every recline on a red eye, or an overseas flight, for example. You also should never, ever use a device to prevent someone else from doing so, since technically they are allowed to do so.

I love the BMG! I've seen then once on land and twice at sea, and love it every time. So did all of my kids (youngers and teen), and my husband. I will say that it seems to be a love it or hate it type of thing. There is a lot of detail, so the more attention you pay the more you get out of it. On the one hand it's pretty base-level entertainment. Very visually stimulating, some kind of gross stuff thrown in, lots of lights and sound and music. On the other hand, it's pretty cerebral. Quite a bit of messaging about how invasive technology has become, about human connections or lack thereof, but not everyone even gets that. Anyway, it's definitely like nothing you've ever seen before.

The crust doesn't rise, and it's thin and crispy like a cracker. The sauce is sort of sweet. The cheese is called Provel, which isn't one cheese but a blend of a few that was specifically created for St. Louis style pizza. It's a love it or hate it thing. I've found most people who didn't grow up with it pretty much hate it, although my ex-husband really liked it and he's a New Yorker! He said he just had to think of it as something else in his mind and not pizza. My current husband likes it, too. He's from Philly, and doesn't care if he calls it pizza. Then again, I've never seen him take a single bite of anything that he didn't like, so he's not a good judge.

I forgot that me blocking people is not effective, because I can't resist just reading their posts anyway. I'm taking my delicious pork steaks and pizza and going home. To Georgia. Where the BBQ really is quite good.

That's it. I'm blocking you.

Imo's is nasty. And I love St. Louis style pizza, but not that. It's gross. Actually, I really only like it from like 3 places, so I can't claim to like the entire genre, just at those specific places. And it's divine.

You better stop it right now, lady, or you're going on THE LIST. Straight to the top for you!

It's not, actually, except for pork steaks and ribs, which are both cuts and not styles so much. But SOMEONE has decided to pick a BBQ fight with me, so I'll battle til the bitter end!

Now see I think the best brisket in the world comes from Texas. And the best BBQ overall is pork. So it has been said, so it shall be. :hurray:

While I do love KC bbq, let's all remember that St. Louis style ribs are the gold standard for all bbq ribs anywhere, forever and ever, amen. Oh, and that heavenly goodness known as bbq pork steaks? Invented in STL. I guess KC has to have something, since everyone knows STL is the superior city in the big MO, so I'll give them their BBQ, knowing that I can get it, plus anything else I could ever want or need, in STL. :p

Public school ended up being better for DD18, eventually, but home schooling was best for her when we did it. She struggled with all aspects of school (public) from K - 7. She was diagnosed with Asperger's, had no friends, was bullied but didn't recognize it, could not stay focused in class (not ADHD, but other factors). Resources were abysmal. She simply did not thrive there. I pulled her out at the end of 7th grade. She started intensive therapy, including social skills therapies, to work on that aspect of her development. Academically, she soared at home. With one-on-one help and guidance, and the ability to go faster or slower than the rest of the class (usually faster) she just flourished. Working on her social skills and then achieving academically did wonders for her confidence. It was almost as if she became a new person. Three years later, she returned to public school, against her will, ended up really enjoying it, making friends, participating in some clubs, and finally, beginning in 11th grade, enjoying school. So, there's my portrait of someone who needed to be back in public school. She was able to take what she'd learned and developed from her three years home schooling and actually apply it in a different setting, solidifying her confidence and ability to transition to her next phase of life more successfully. I'd done all I could do for her at home, and the relationship was beginning to sour. Returning to PS was great for all of us.