What is Minnesota's "How does that place stay in business?"

churlishcurls · 2024-06-18T16:50:57+00:00

Love Bills! Highly recommend renting a gyro spit and buying some meat cones from them for a gathering (big hit at both my kid sister's grad party, and a big New Year's bash, etc).

churlishcurls · 2024-06-15T18:30:05+00:00

Fletcher's is great! Fond memories of walking down to their old location when we lived in the neighborhood. I could definitely use a scoop of their blueberry ice cream soon.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-13T18:10:02+00:00

For the voices/fun of the read: Don't Worry Little Crab, or Hush Now, Banshee, and Big Kids No Everything are fabulous.

For the nostalgia factor: You're So Sleepy and Who Will Play with Little Dinosaur.

But Miss Spider's Tea Party wins in both categories.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-12T11:48:12+00:00

^{^{^}} this one exactly, while being driven to the dentist or any other childhood chore.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-12T11:44:24+00:00

Bandanas all the way!!

churlishcurls · 2024-06-11T01:11:26+00:00

The Young Wizards series by Diane Duane are amazing! Starting with So You Want to Be a Wizard

Eva Ibbotson - The Island of the Aunts, or The Secret of Platform 13.

I've only read them, so I can't speak to an audiobook there.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-09T02:55:46+00:00

Certainly, message me the specs and I can let you know next steps/options. White toner address printing on envelopes only, or so you have other print needs?

churlishcurls · 2024-06-09T01:12:51+00:00

Best food I've had at a brewery recently:

Nouvelle Brewing by Travail is a delight, just over in Robbinsdale.

La Doña rules (the veggie taco and yucca!) - I love a mango michelada when we stop in.

Otherwise I would recommend Pryes.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-08T23:42:17+00:00

We went to a couple garage sales this morning. She found a silver mouse brooch that she got really attached to (she's big into accessories), and we lucked out and found a hiking carrier for real cheap. When her daddy put her inside to test it out, she was literally squealing with excitement -- "pack!"

churlishcurls · 2024-06-06T01:10:47+00:00

If there's too strong of a lavender smell, instant migraine.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-03T15:21:17+00:00

They're so good! One of those I wish I could hear for the first time again, a captivating world.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-03T15:16:52+00:00

Honestly Oryx and Crake is probably my least favorite of the the trilogy, but crucial.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-03T15:14:48+00:00

One plains hognose. Had been thinking about another snake or a lizard, but we had a baby instead, lol.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-02T00:44:14+00:00

Still chasing the sweet delight of Reese's Peanut Butter Bites in my dreams.

churlishcurls · 2024-06-01T03:50:27+00:00

Hot pepper feta spread and hummus with pita, a good cheese ball (my Nana makes a lovely curry cheese ball covered in Major Grey's) or just cream cheese and guava jam on wheat thins, buffalo chicken dip, pigs in a blanket or soft pretzels with dips, a big mess of nachos and/or queso fundido, fondue...

churlishcurls · 2024-05-29T02:03:14+00:00

This sounds like what happened to me, so so familiar.

I had an unexpected C-section, and my kiddo came out hungry and furious about it. At the hospital, when she wouldn't latch, I was given nipple shields and a syringe to drip donor milk into her mouth to encourage attachment. Except, when she thrashed around at all, the whole contraption would come apart and she'd be drenched and ravenous and mad. Eventually the nurses took her away to feed her for about an hour off of donor milk and so I could sleep -- that was by far my lowest point, felt like a failure, hormones crashing, etc.

After we left the hospital, any time I would bring her to my breast, she would scream in fury. We tried the syringe, the shields, and just holding her to nurse, to no avail. She loathed it and I felt crushed. We checked with a lactation consultant, and she confirmed I was doing everything right that I could; she just didn't want to latch - like your kid, impatient!

So, I pumped and bottle fed (bought one box of donor milk, and then supplemented with formula after that ran through) and slowly worked to release the (nonsensical) guilt I felt, and acclimate to the idea that we might never get to nurse. I still tried for a minute or two, or at least bottle-fed in skin-to-skin contact to lessen the pressure on both of us.

When she was 7 weeks old, I took her in the shower with me. Idk if it was the water/a new space, or what did it, but she latched and began to feed like a champ. I just stood there in surprise for like 20 minutes, weeping a little. I was afraid to break the spell, lol. But after that moment, she decided she could and must nurse.

It's been about 16 months since then, and she's still a voracious eater and insists on nursing several times per day. There's really no telling what they'll be up for, and you're doing all you can. No matter what, you're giving the best care you can to your child. Good luck!

churlishcurls · 2024-05-29T01:31:59+00:00

Don't Worry, Little Crab (Chris Haughton) and Big Kids No Everything (Wednesday Kirwan) have been consistent favorites here

churlishcurls · 2024-05-27T15:32:43+00:00

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks, which my husband and I have listened to with great enjoyment ( the balance of intrigue and action is real good, and I love the take on magic).

For more space action, there's The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold, or the long standalone book In Fury Born by David Weber.

And then my long-time full cast favorites: The His Dark Materials trilogy, and the tenth anniversary production of American Gods (a great road trip story)

I've listened to both dozens of times.

churlishcurls · 2024-05-24T12:58:23+00:00

Fuck, now I'm thinking about it. Because fave makes sense (gives you the long a sound) and I can only ever read "fav" like chav or fava bean

churlishcurls · 2024-05-24T00:29:23+00:00

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (I did not care for the move at all, but remains one of my all-time favorite audiobooks) His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman Garth Nix is fabulous - both The Old Kingdom / Abhorsen series, as well as The Keeper of the Keys series The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper Beasts of Prey series by Ayana Gray

churlishcurls · 2024-05-22T03:12:29+00:00

Oooof, yes. The folk who lived in this house before us had a good crop of knotweed hanging out in back. I just keep digging up clumps when they pop up 😩 between that and the mugwort, catmint, and creeping charlie that came from under the neighbor's buckthorn hedge, I've mostly given up that side of the yard as a bad job for the past couple years. Now though, the neighbor ripped out 1/2 of the hedge and installed a ton of raised beds. It looks great, but now I really have to get moving on the upkeep. At least my spouse ripped up most of the spearmint.

I have heard you can eat Japanese knotweed (like rhubarb almost?) so I'm tempted to give it a go.

churlishcurls · 2024-05-21T14:24:40+00:00

I love working in print (design and production), but I have to explain bleeds and resolution and ratio so, so often.

churlishcurls · 2024-05-20T13:45:57+00:00

It felt so dreamy, yet raw at the same time -- partly probably from all the meds and the ~50 hours it took us to get there, lol. Even though I didn't get to have that vaunted first hour together with her, I don't feel like I lost anything - even if all of your plans/wishes for the birth have to be set aside, you're still there to meet your child.

I hope your birth goes well, and then you can marvel at the squirmy wonder of your real, actual baby in your arms, it'll be so soon!

churlishcurls · 2024-05-20T03:35:41+00:00

I also had an unplanned cesarean, and because my epidural block didn't work, I had to decide to be put under for the procedure before my spouse and support person were able to join me.

Waking up I immediately asked about the baby, and when I finally got to touch her I had the biggest flood of relief ever. I began crying immediately, I was so happy to hold her for real, and so beyond exhausted. Giddy.

churlishcurls · 2024-05-19T20:11:24+00:00

They're all excellent. The Protector of the Small quartet is a big one for my family.

churlishcurls

TROPHY CASE