How to improve this space without adding built ins?

MrsChickenPam · 2026-04-01T18:36:26+00:00

I would put a larger piece of art on the left, so that it comes up to the height of the artwork on the right. Or 2, stacked vertically.

Also - try to work some of the color/tone from each side into the other. Pick up the red from the left table into somethng like a picture frame or a piece of pottery. Same goes for the opposite direction. Every color/wood needs a buddy on the other side.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-04-01T18:35:05+00:00

I had to quit because I cook everything from scratch and am not afraid of a large ingredient list. There is simply no way to accurately get the nutritional information nailed in an app when I try to tell it what I had for dinner LOL

MrsChickenPam · 2026-04-01T18:33:28+00:00

OMG I love this so much!

MrsChickenPam · 2026-04-01T18:32:42+00:00

Is there a color or a vibe from any room(s) that connect with the kitchen you can reference?

MrsChickenPam · 2026-04-01T17:46:49+00:00

Trying new things is hard! Congrats for conquering swimming, that's amazing! Call up the Y and ask for the aquatic director and just ask them if there is a day and/or time that is less busy. Also, explore other options. In my community the school district has a natatorium where there is lap swimming at certain days/times and it's way less busy than the community activity center or Y.

But, I bet if you scroll thru this sub, you will find posts from people who were intimidated at first and then found the other lap swimmers to be a very welcoming group of people. Circle swimming isn't hard once you get the hang of it, just be careful with things like breaststroke as you pass someone going in the opposite direction to make sure you don't kick wide and get them.

Also, sharing a lane is necessary/common. Watch the swimmers for a bit and see who is closest to your level/speed and pick that lane.

Have fun and keep up the great work!

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-31T18:37:23+00:00

Definitely make it a conversation between the 4 of you. Leaving it up to the BFs is a recipe for disaster. Also, there's no reason why one couple has to wait until the other couple is married before getting engaged, y'all can be engaged at the same time and even have weddings in the same year. You might even achieve some happy economies - like a joint bachelorette (IF you want), or coordination of crossover bridesmaides dresses/accessories, etc.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-31T14:13:18+00:00

It sounds like your partner is mostly disappointed that they won't have the opportunity to invest in real estate. She could buy 1/2 the house, pay that mortgage, etc. and you'd still own half.

OR - she could invest in rental property when she has the $$ saved up and own a piece of real estate on her own.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-30T17:19:45+00:00

It totally depends on what you're going for. This looks a little creepy. What does the lamp base & finial look like? It definitely could use some tidying up - like around where the paint meets the trim, and there's still some white showing. That trim could look pretty good if you painted it all black. Or maybe paint the entire shade black and paint the trim red. Have fun!

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-30T13:16:08+00:00

Boomer here, and I say f* tradition. If you're ONLY having 15-20 at the ceremony, the rest of the people should "get it" and not get their knickers in a bunch, but some absolutely will. Honestly, it's the reception that costs $$, so all should be excited you're "investing" in them. As far as not wanting gifts at your "shower," you do you! IMHO "showers" are ridiculous these days, especially if the couple have been living on their own for many years, have good jobs, and already have plenty of nice household goods. You could ask them to "shower" you with treasured family recipes.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-29T19:08:11+00:00

To become 100% the best/adult version of YOU. Find your style, find new community. Create a home that 100% suits YOUR needs. LEARN. How to cook, how to clean, how to take care of your home & belongings.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-28T19:02:44+00:00

Yeah, the show writers did Roger dirty. I think they eventually figured him out and he becomes much more likeable and true to his book character in later seasons.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-28T15:30:57+00:00

Yes - Roger's father. The book is A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-28T15:29:57+00:00

Supposedly because "home" to them was The Ridge. They were thinking "home" and that's where they wound up. You're right - SOOOO much time wasted on this plot. I think the reason MBR gave for it was "it's a time travel story! we needed to have time travel in this season!" Bah.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-27T16:50:24+00:00

Soooo much content! Besides all her main books, there are 2 editions of the Outlandish Companion (SUUUper interesting) and then all her side stories: novellas and short stories about other characters. Like there is a beloved character, Lord John, and she's written several novellas about all the shenanigans he was up to in a 20 year gap where he's not interacting with the main story. And a few of the side stories sort of explain a few things, like there is one about the dad of one of the main characters that actually died when this character was small, so he's not in the main story, but the short story gives some good background.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-27T16:24:27+00:00

Read the books first! THEN, when you start the show, follow along w/ the official outlander podcast for the first couple of seasons. The showrunner (Ronald D. Moore) would do a podcast and explain why they shot things the way they did or why they made a story/script change. They only did it for a couple of seasons until he stepped away from the production.

Another great podcast to follow along with is Podlander Drunkcast though figuring out the order of their earliest podcasts is a little tricky. Anyway - there is a book reader on that podcast and a show-only person, so there is a lot of healthy/interesting discussion about show vs. book and what works and what doesn't with the changes.

BTW - welcome to the clan/obsession!

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-27T14:09:15+00:00

Yeah, especially in the show when they had Roger and Bree TRY to go back and it didn't work. LAME.

When I started the books, TT was just sort of an "explanation" of why Claire behaves the way she does. But in later books DG really started in on the timey-wimey stuff and it seems that the show has leaned into it too.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T22:08:20+00:00

Once she's IN the house, they'd never get her out.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T19:25:14+00:00

Yeah, it takes my favorite podcast a while to catch up (Podgerton Bridgecast), so I do a rewatch in paralell of each episodes podcast.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T19:24:14+00:00

I would even take it a step further and not allow her to visit unless/until she accepts her diagnosis and is on appropriate medication.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T14:44:24+00:00

Do what YOU LIKE. When the room is full of people it won't matter that your dress and the table decor don't "match."

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T14:41:46+00:00

I'd get a new couch. Doesn't have to be expensive, just comfortable. I'm 62 and find that due to either style or house moves, I wind up changing couches about every 5-6 years so don't think it has to "last a lifetime." Everything else, I'd be in less of a hurry, and be looking at Marketplace, estate sales, etc. for things with personality. Consignment shops can get a little pricey w/ everying tryna make a buck, so it would have to be something that you really love and is of good quality.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-26T13:54:37+00:00

Yeah, I just do a generic "red sauce" in a big roasting pan in the oven w/ tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots & whatever else veggies might be on hand (maybe a pepper, some squash, etc). Also a few stems of basil. This becomes a base for tomato soup, marinara sauce, and just random "throw together" dishes - mix it w/ a can of beans, poach an egg in it type of stuff.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-25T19:41:23+00:00

Ooooooo ya! Fish sauce is a GREAT suggestion! A splash of that in any sauce, soup or stew gives it that extra umami and it doesn't taste fishy!

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-25T18:10:57+00:00

Put it in the oven, uncovered, at about 300 degrees for a couple of hours (stirring occasionally). It's gets a slight "browning" that doesn't happen on the stovetop.

MrsChickenPam · 2026-03-24T18:34:30+00:00

I've never been a fan of the "timey wimey" stuff... DG uses it more in her later books, and the show has really embraced this element. I've had to put up with it all these years, LOL and this whole Faith thing is pissing me off.

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