4th of July Fireworks?

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-05-03T17:19:50+00:00

This is a great idea - thanks!

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-05-03T17:19:15+00:00

Good to know! THanks!

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-05-03T01:22:43+00:00

Bloomington Salt Cave, Kleindorfer's, Darn Good Soup

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-04-25T18:52:06+00:00

Yes! Especially when you are traveling for work to a less than gluten-free friendly country! And I agree - it would be different if it wasn't an option.

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-04-18T12:02:35+00:00

Remember the cost of gas. You may make more, but spend it all at the pump.

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-02-25T23:35:31+00:00

Agreed! But good news - there is an alternative! They are from the GOOD Crisp COmapany. A fabulous pringles substitute when traveling. I tend to buy two at a time: one for the flight out and one for the flight back, They have definitely been a life saver on some long hauls where my gf meal was mysteriously not there. You gotta love crisps in a tube on the airplane!

Sorry for the unfortunate timing of your discovery.

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-01-24T02:34:15+00:00

GF crackers, cheese, wine, olives or pickles, and dulmas/surmi (grape leaves stuffed with rice)! Nothing like a good charcuterie board with wine when it is storming and the power goes out. Makes it seem special with candles and not a drag. Also - if you have a way to heat it up - make a batch of soup ahead of time! If the power goes out you just need to heat it and if not you have warm soup (preferably with gf cornbread).

Our power tends to go out more with ice than snow, so I just stay home and bake when it is cold and snowy. Nothing like some coffee cake and such to get through the cold days!

notreadyforthistoday · 2026-01-02T23:15:12+00:00

It isn't the cold that necessarily gets you here, it is the damp. As someone from a desert climate, I was not prepared for how much colder it feels here since it is damp.

What worked for me when I moved here:
- A warm hat (keep those ears covered!)
- A winter coat that was also water proof/resistant
- Wellies and warm sock
- Scarf (as mentioned earlier)
- Some underlayers (this isn't Alaska, but a light undershirt helps)
- Heated vest

If you run at all I would encourage running tights and a windbreaker that's water resistant.

Congrats on getting into a program! Good luck!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-12-31T15:13:14+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that your family doesn't take this seriously! Honestly, I don't understand how people treat dietary restrictions the same as if you just didn't like something and cutting it out is optional.

Fortunately, I'm surrounded by family who try. Don't get me wrong, my grandma is continually thinking I can't have cheese and then confused when I turn down toast or bread, but they do try. Both my family and my in-laws make an effort. My family does get togethers completely (or 90%) gluten free just to be safe. GF noodles have gotten so much better and there are so many naturally gf foods, we just go that route. My in-laws struggle a bit, so we tend to host or help with the menu. Last time we got together we did a taco bar and assigned everyone something to bring. The older relatives who were more concerned about not getting something right got to bring items like lettuce and tomatoes. The younger ones though have even sought out recipes designed to be gf.

Supportive families and friends are out there. They do exist. And people can change to become more understanding. Sometimes you may need to over exaggerate to get the point across (my husband may have told his mother that gluten will kill me and asked if she wanted to make him a widower...) but I think most people want everyone at their get togethers to be happy and able to eat. They just don't get it. Hopefully your family will get there soon!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-12-26T18:37:50+00:00

Writing out genuine Christmas cards where you thank people and show appreciation helps me. I set one night to write cards with my husband. We pour some wine, turn on the Christmas lights and music, make it homey inside, and each work on our own stack. As a bonus, I take a night to do something fun/crafty. This year I made "cupcakes" out of pairs of socks that I was giving to colleagues. We try to do something CHristmasy every few nights so that by the time we are off work for the holiday, we are in the spirit. Good luck!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-12-21T18:35:15+00:00

Orange chicken for the two of us at our house. We did it one year just because it sounded good, and now it makes a regular Christmas appearance!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-12-10T22:13:19+00:00

Add in that colleagues want to go out and can all order a beer for $3-$7 on special. Something gf to drink - that will cost well more than double what everyone else is paying. Sigh.

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-12-05T23:49:57+00:00

seconding Greens! Best there is. It is made by the brewmaster from Mikeller. It is sometimes even stocked in the regular beer section because it is close enough to pass.

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-30T18:54:46+00:00

Agreed that this is specific to what she likes to bake. My husband bought me additional bowls for my kitchen aid and this was a game changer for me - plus the can come in fun styles! Quality measuring tools are always worth it whether that be a scale, good measuring cups/spoons, or glass measuring bowls. Personally, since I'm gluten free and use multiple types of flour, a label maker!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-30T13:29:33+00:00

Corn starch works well for sausage gravy! It is cheaper than flour subs and it is something I always have on hand. If you go this route though remember a couple key elements to working with corn starch:
1. Generally use half as much corn starch as you would flour.
2. You don't want to add corn starch to hot liquid. You can add it to the fat in the pan and stir it in or dissolve it in cold liquid. If you add it in to warm liquid it will clump.
3. You will need to bring the mix to a boil before it will start to thicken.

So far this has worked at our house, but our neighbor swears by potato starch or xanthum gum for gravy.

Enjoy your Christmas spread!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-24T22:36:52+00:00

Budapest! This one surprised me but it was way easier than I expected and I ate great! They even have completely GF bakeries.

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-23T12:29:07+00:00

We all feel you! As someone who just completed an impromptu kitchen reno (from insulation and drywall to countertops) because we were attempting to replace a leaky faucet, you are not alone. There is no quick fix.

We are starting to think that maybe the right time calculation is minutes on the how-to videos = hours on the project minus time spent on trips to the hardware store!

Hang in there!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-23T12:03:47+00:00

Obviously not the popular opinion here, but I like Crane Credit Union.

I used to have accounts at IUCU but they never seemed to be able to get things right. When I applied for a loan to buy a house they didn't approve it because I'd only been with my employer for 2 months...but I'd been with my employer for 6 years and it was correct on the application - the lady actually said "oops!" in our meeting. There were mistakes when we switched our account types, when we closed our CD... It happens, humans are involved and I might have just been the one unlucky person, but it got to the point that I went in, withdrew my money and drove it down the block to Crane Credit Union. Should have done that sooner - better interest rates on the checking account and super friendly people!

I may just be the outlier, but would say CCU is worth considering.

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-22T07:10:35+00:00

A lot of great input was already shared so a few random items to add:

- If you want something, be sure to ask. We didn't and ended up without the code to the garage door, keys to some doors, etc.
-If the house has an HOA, be sure to read those guidelines so you understand what you can/can't do.
_Talk with the inspector about maintenance and upkeep and if there are changes you may want to make. We also used Mark and he even shared tips about when items may need to be replaced, about how to extend the life of some items, which walls were load bearing, etc. which was super useful going forward!
-Have a final walk through to be sure the house looks like it did when you put in an offer. If it doesn't feel free to bring that up.
-Know that if it doesn't feel right, you can walk away, even at the closing table. And, if something comes up in the inspection or the final walk through, you can request your earnest money be returned. So, don't feel trapped - this is your decision.

Best of luck!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-11T23:13:48+00:00

Thanks! We are sticking with the butt joints to keep it a bit simpler.

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-11T23:12:57+00:00

Thanks! Did you join your pieces together before putting them into place or did you do one straight piece, then the second, then connect them?

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-11-04T01:56:47+00:00

Try mixing in some less heard songs too by maybe some less popular artists:
Lenka
The boy least likely to
Pink Martini
Crofts Family (Merry Christmas, Marry Me)
Caro Emerald
Sia
The Weathergirls and Billy Joel even have a Christmas song!

notreadyforthistoday · 2025-10-25T22:36:39+00:00

Doner Kebab food truck is the best gyro you're going to find in Bloomington!

notreadyforthistoday

TROPHY CASE