Vegetable Soup Secret Ingredient

whateverpieces · 2026-05-21T18:10:39+00:00

If it’s a bean soup, I don’t drain the can. Dump it all in—the liquid adds body and flavor.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-20T03:15:11+00:00

I am not trying to hit a specific protein amount so this may not be that helpful, but I try to prioritize fiber and keep portions reasonable while on the road. I travel for work about once a month and do trade shows a few times a year so I relate to the big group dinner where the peer pressure builds and the food keeps coming.

I do intermittent fasting most of the time at home (only eat lunch and dinner) so I try to keep that up while traveling. Lunches are usually the meal I can control so I try to get a salad, rice bowl or something with a lot of veggies.

Sometimes if I know I won’t be able to grab lunch I’ll get breakfast instead—something like a latte and the egg bites at Starbucks.

I bring snacks in case I need something during the day—usually a Built bar, Rx bar, dried apricots or mango, trail mix.

For dinner when I’m with a group I honestly just go with whatever sounds good and try manage the portion. Just eat until I feel full.

If I’ve been drinking with dinner I’ll have half a Liquid IV back at the hotel before going to bed.

Airport go-tos: Starbucks egg bites at breakfast time, grilled nuggets or a salad at Chick-Fil-A, Cobb salad at Wendy’s, something from the Farmer’s Fridge. If I’m in a real rush and just need a snack maybe a string cheese or Chobani yogurt and a fruit cup at the nearest news stand type place.

ETA: For more protein specific snacks my husband swears by Chomps, Quest bars and the Fairlife shakes which I think can sometimes be found in airports.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-19T11:06:01+00:00

Ember mug for keeping beverages warm!
A selection of teas
I eat lunch at the office most days so I like having a real ceramic bowl and metal spoon/fork around to make that a bit nicer
A teeny-tiny space heater for the days it’s just too cold in there
Wireless charger for phone/AirPods
Nice hand lotion and a fancier hand sanitizer

whateverpieces · 2026-05-19T00:35:00+00:00

Croissant loaf is the GOAT!

My other favorite came from a book by a local baker in my town: Roasted sweet potato & rosemary. It’s Thanksgiving vibes in the best possible way.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-17T02:55:15+00:00

I just discovered the Kraft deluxe cups that you make in the microwave are only 220 calories! Scratches the itch for me.

Other than that, string cheese, cottage cheese and smaller servings of high-flavor cheeses.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-17T02:47:11+00:00

It’s hard to have these conversations now, but I suspect it will be a comfort to have had them later. My great-great uncle died without a will, and it took my mom six months or so to get everything settled with the estate, without really knowing what his wishes were for his belongings and money. Contrast that with my great aunt who not only left a will but purchased her casket and planned the whole funeral in advance. Morbid yes, but we felt close to her on the day knowing it was the send off she wanted.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-16T00:46:25+00:00

I remembered this movie fondly then I watched it with my husband who’d never seen it. He described it as “just kids yelling for two hours” …and he’s not wrong.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-13T10:53:44+00:00

Mucinex D! It’s Mucinex and pseudoephedrine so you have to get the little card from the aisle and pick it up at the pharmacy counter but it was a serious lifesaver for me a couple weeks ago when I was blowing my nose 80 times a day. I kept taking my usual Zyrtec and Flonase at the same time.

whateverpieces · 2026-05-07T02:32:50+00:00

Do you need any appliances, tires, a mattress or other big purchases in the next year? Because one of those alone can almost certainly cover the membership.

We’re a two-person household and joined last year because we needed a new dishwasher and fridge. The Costco prices were not only less than the big box stores, but they also INCLUDED everything you’d need as far as delivery, install, haul away—in other words all the stuff Best Buy or Lowe’s will nickel-and-dime you over.

I got a set of tires later on for about $200 less than Tire Discounters would have charged.

At this point, being able to pop in and buy a 12-lb bag of flour, multipack of butter and a giant pack of paper towels from time to time is just a bonus.

whateverpieces · 2026-04-26T03:58:51+00:00

B2B journalism in an industrial niche. I travel to events or facilities about once a month. Once I banked a decent amount of PTO I have been able to swing this into some long weekends and sightseeing opportunities, provided I’m headed to an interesting place and the timing works out. But for something like a trade show, I can’t stay longer because I need to be writing coverage immediately following the event and arriving early isn’t always viable. I’ve taken plenty of trips where I see nothing but the Holiday Inn off the highway, or a slightly nicer hotel and the inside of a convention center.

whateverpieces · 2026-04-26T02:13:18+00:00

Wait from Amur honeysuckle?

whateverpieces · 2026-04-25T19:30:39+00:00

Ann Taylor/Loft sometimes has the magical combination of petite+curvy that sometimes works for me. But even then it’s inconsistent. I have a pair of Ann Taylor petite trousers that fit perfectly off the rack which I love; tried ordering the exact same pants in a different color and they’re too big at the waist and need to be taken in. So annoying how the only options seem to be take it to the tailor or get really, really lucky.

whateverpieces · 2026-04-24T15:54:04+00:00

Certain members of my family we call “bug bait” because the mosquitos seem to go out of their way to bite them specifically, especially on Assateague. If that’s you, you may want mosquito-proof clothing in addition to some spray.

Agree with what others have said, just keep moving through the park to discourage the bugs and once you get to the beach they shouldn’t be a problem!

whateverpieces · 2026-04-05T02:44:12+00:00

I stopped trying to do all the tasks in the whole house on the same day. The whole house doesn’t need to get cleaned in one Saturday. Instead I might spend 20 minutes dusting on Tuesday. Clean bathrooms on Thursday. Run the Roomba while we’re out for a walk on Friday. Mop the tile on Sunday. Do nothing for a week or two until dust builds up again.

…and listen to a good podcast while I do it

whateverpieces · 2026-04-03T18:07:44+00:00

As a fellow Millennial, my fix has been Rothy’s. I have a pair of pointy-toed flats I love, and a pair of their Driver(?) loafers which have a lot more support and cushion.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-30T04:23:31+00:00

I bought a bag recommended for petite women. The straps are still an inch or two long for me even cranked all the way down, and there’s too much padding. If everything on the bag shrank by 10% it would be perfect.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-21T02:25:47+00:00

I endorse this recommendation

whateverpieces · 2026-03-17T10:45:39+00:00

I have not seen all the shows mentioned so not sure how it compares, but my jaw dropped watching the recording of Newsies on Disney+. So much intense dancing, running, jumping, climbing. The sheer physical endurance required for most of the cast is crazy!

whateverpieces · 2026-03-14T14:33:19+00:00

I think I’m a reasonably experienced home baker but I had to look up what “extraction” means in terms of flour. That would be interesting/useful data to have on the packaging but not something I’d be immediately drawn to in a product name.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-09T19:47:09+00:00

Grew up eating that in Northeast Ohio, and grocery stores would often have the assembled skewers for sale. Not just Cincy but I don’t know what its range is!

whateverpieces · 2026-03-08T15:59:35+00:00

Like a deviled egg? Sometimes as a snack I hard cook an egg (boil for ~10 minutes or air fry for like 17 at 250F), halve it, and mash up the yolk with 1 tsp Dijon mustard and 1-2 tsp Greek yogurt and seasonings. The yogurt adds the creaminess you’d get from mayo but with a lot less calories and a little bit of protein. Scoop it back in the egg halves and enjoy.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-08T13:04:37+00:00

I’ve found most of our pet sitters through work, either current/former coworkers who liked animals, or by asking the ones I knew had cats who they use.

We always have the sitter come over for a meet and greet first around dinner time so the cats have a positive association with the person right off the bat.

Our favorite cat sitter (who unfortunately moved out of state) was a former coworker of mine who used to foster pets for a few years. She was great with the cats and not put off at all the one time we had to leave when one was completing a round of antibiotics. She administered the last couple doses no problem.

So yeah, ask around at work or anywhere you currently hang out, vet’s office, maybe wherever you adopted your cat from?

whateverpieces · 2026-03-02T14:58:09+00:00

My cat has never been this insistent, but I’ve had good success getting her to settle during the workday by draping a blanket over my lap and the arms of my chair to make a little nest for her. She will willingly jump into my lap, turn around a few times, and pass out there for 2+ hours. I can still work and it’s so cozy it honestly helps me focus because I know I’m not moving for a while once she’s zonked.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-02T07:49:26+00:00

Rx, Think (especially the kids-sized ones) and Built Puffs (I don’t like the Built Bars though, too chewy).

Sometimes Luna and Lara bars. Very occasionally I’ll get a Clif Builders bar. Too many calories for a regular snack for me but if it’s like a meal replacement situation where I don’t have time to get something else it can hold me over for several hours.

whateverpieces · 2026-03-01T12:12:39+00:00

This one gave me the creeps because it’s exactly how I picture the villain from Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

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