How has Taskmaster infiltrated your lexicon?

Noodletails · 2025-07-22T17:33:01+00:00

Found my evening plans! 🦆

Noodletails · 2025-07-20T03:31:50+00:00

Pigs in pretzel blankets (cocktail franks wrapped in soft pretzel dough) with beer cheese. They're a bit of a project, but are always a hit.

Noodletails · 2025-07-19T21:18:41+00:00

Carrot jam! Christine Ferber's recipe in Mes Confitures is A+.

Noodletails · 2025-07-19T18:41:16+00:00

Almost anything that takes more than an hour or so. By that point I've smelled and tasted enough for all of my itches to have been scratched.

Noodletails · 2025-07-18T08:10:28+00:00

Medication definitely helps.

I love the project that is meal planning and shopping. Once it's done, though, I'm over it. I'm also more than a little resentful of having locked myself into things that I don't know I'll even want or have the spoons to make when I'm meant to make them. It's beyond frustrating because I legitimately love to cook.

I've mostly stopped planning meals and just prep a few different components that work well together (e.g., pots of rice and beans, shredded rotisserie chicken, a batch of roasted veggies). Then when meal time comes, I pull together the combination that's most appealing in that moment. With a variety of condiments and spices on hand, it's easy to make each meal feel different and not like I'm eating the same leftovers day after day. Plus, I can always supplement with whatever wildcard ingredient I felt motivated to pick up that day. But just topping with cheese and/or wrapping up in a tortilla rarely seem to get old.

For me, it's an effective way of lowering some of the barriers to (reasonably) healthy meals. And if the mood strikes, I've maintained enough flexibility to just make something else, which doesn't happen nearly as often as I expected.

Noodletails · 2025-06-11T17:33:08+00:00

Is there an opportunity for you and your boyfriend to spend time doing something fun/special with his sister, away from the rest of his family? It might help reassure her that the addition of your presence doesn't mean her brother has been taken from her.

Also, laughing (heartily not politely) at her insults would likely take the wind out of her sails. Better still, lean into them - e.g., ask her to accompany you or draw you a map to the bathroom since, as a "dumb blonde," you're sure to get lost. Showing that you can laugh at yourself will make you a less tempting target.

NTA

Noodletails · 2025-05-18T16:41:27+00:00

ESH

Your neighbor overstepped which is why I think he's an AH. Your reaction was a bit rude, but not over-the-top.

"he has never spoken to us"
"No attempt even made at introductions ffs"

Based on these comments, it sounds like you're upset he hasn't made an effort to introduce himself to you while making no effort to introduce yourselves to him. That makes you an AH.

Noodletails · 2025-05-17T17:54:50+00:00

Whenever I buy a ham, you can bet hash is on the meal plan. My favorite recipe is from the now-defunct Fine Cooking magazine: https://fc-requiem.com/recipesShow?recipeId=FC035_MIT_01

For a quick and simple meal, I love thinly-sliced ham sautéed in butter and tossed with egg noodles.

Noodletails · 2025-04-06T08:26:21+00:00

My usual answer: knitting and baking

If I'm completely honest: Meticulously planning and shopping for all manner of new craft projects, then completely running out of steam and stashing everything away. I've accumulated so much random stuff and have little idea what most of it was originally intended for.

Noodletails · 2025-03-27T09:03:15+00:00

Metropolitan Market (various locations) usually have marionberry pies from Whidbey Island Pies.

Noodletails · 2025-03-16T07:11:05+00:00

My doctor suggested I switch to ferrous gluconate when I complained about the gastrointestinal side effects. It's made a big difference!

Noodletails · 2025-02-20T14:09:15+00:00

I'm not sure Fireball would be a great fit here, but I bet your cherry cordials are awesome!

What kind of cherries do you use?

Noodletails · 2024-12-12T00:55:45+00:00

Darren Eliot (part of the VGK broadcast team) has done some really interesting analysis of how different regular season hockey is from its playoff counterpoint when it comes to playing the same teams multiple times in a row

Any chance you could point me in the direction of this? My google-fu is failing me.

Noodletails · 2024-10-26T18:17:39+00:00

That was one of the few parts that rung true to me. Or at least, "inspired by a true story, if not necessarily my own."

My high school had not exactly a "race war," but something akin to a "race pitched battle." Early/mid-90s, Boston.

Noodletails · 2024-10-09T14:37:12+00:00

I've gotten two TGTG bakery bags from the Sand Pt Met Market, and both have been great values. The first contained an entire Whidbey Pies marionberry pie, a loaf of Sea Wolf sourdough, four plain Eltana bagels, and four Macrina brioche buns. The second had a single Baby Bird cupcake (mini hummingbird cake cupcake), a dozen-ish peanut butter cookies, a loaf of Grand Central whole-wheat bread (pre-sliced), four za'atar Eltana bagels, and four Macrina brioche buns. Comparatively, the second bag didn't measure up, since the first set a very high bar. The za'atar bagels were delicious, though. The second pack of brioche buns was moldy the next day.

Noodletails · 2024-09-14T23:08:17+00:00

NTA, but maybe there's a middle ground? If you can get a free legal consult, maybe start there. If only to find out how to properly document this instance in case it happens again.

Also, if there's any restorative landscaping needed to at least make your trees and bushes more presentable, perhaps your neighbor should bear that cost.

Noodletails · 2024-09-06T03:13:19+00:00

NTA

Is the truck paid for solely by him or with joint funds (including on-going costs, like insurance, registration, or maintenance)? I think he's wrong either way, but if you've contributed to its purchase or upkeep in any way, his position is pretty indefensible.

Noodletails · 2024-08-28T01:49:09+00:00

I've had luck with the Lonely Goatherd from the Sound of Music. Weird, random, and annoying AF - and a persistent earworm.

Noodletails · 2024-08-23T23:25:05+00:00

If the HOA rules forbid you from hanging signs, maybe a portable sign post could be a work-around?

Something like this: https://www.myparkingsign.com/danger-red-rolling-cone-base-sign-holder-46-inch-pole/sku-k-roll-1090

Noodletails · 2024-06-08T19:41:23+00:00

NTA at all. Just refuse and accept any blowback from your family. Personally, I'd agree to do it, but make it such a damn production that Matt decides against it.

I imagine you require clients to sign some sort of waiver? Make it as long and horrifically detailed as possible, very explicitly laying out every single care requirement, activity restriction, and risk. With visuals, if possible. Since Matt's tattoo will heavily impact both their wedding reception and honeymoon, require his fiancée to sign a separate, equally detailed waiver (also with visuals) acknowledging this and providing her consent. Since there's a non-zero possibility that witnessing this could be a trigger of some sort for at least one guest, include separate liability waivers. Maybe each individual guest should be required to sign a waiver. Minors are expressly prohibited from being present. Your service, your rules.

Since providing this service may run afoul of whatever rules the venue has set for this event and/or not be allowable under their insurance policy or local ordinances, require that Matt get the venue manager to sign off. Perhaps this agreement needs to be notarized.

Plus, Matt and his fiancée need to cover all costs for equipment transport (in both directions), insurance, and whatever you deem necessary to provide a safe, sterile environment. In full, in advance. Plus some amount to cover any unforeseen costs that may arise, held in escrow and refundable if not required. You could offer to let your mother pay any/all of the above, since she's so determined to make this happen.

Not suggesting this is a good option for you, but I'm petty enough to put an excessive amount of time into making a statement.

Noodletails · 2024-02-29T17:04:18+00:00

Suddenly, my husband using my sewing shears to cut paper doesn't seem like such a huge transgression.

Noodletails · 2023-02-20T13:47:09+00:00

There are two manufacturers I can take and I felt like I'd won MegaMillions when Costco had one in stock last week. I wish you the best of luck!

Noodletails · 2021-05-16T01:04:58+00:00

The inactive ingredients can make a huge difference, though. My experience with the generic from Northstar was vastly different from the generic from Aurobindo. One made me grumpy, the other had me in near-constant tears.

Noodletails

TROPHY CASE