fairybekk's Profile

Self-employed and working from home here too. The only drawback to me is that I'm always at work. My husband comes home from the office and switches off, and some nights when he's out and comes home at 1130pm I'll still be working. Its just right there, and there's always something to do. Am trying to switch off at 6pm more, but usually I just end up having to get out of town for a couple of days to get a day off.

Buckwheat shortbread :).

I have all my staples in mason jars, and a biiiig back up stash of mason jars. That said, after my spring clean this year I threw out SO MUCH stuff that I'd bought for one recipe and never used again. I decided that I'd only ever buy something if I have multiple uses for it. Which means that for the most part I just stick with my staples.

You just inspired me; I'd had an Ikea one sitting on a shelf for months and hadn't put it up yet :).

Emmi- fir and spruce are both very edible. As are Douglas Firs (not a true fir). Firs are my favourites, actually; they're slightly more citrussy and fresh.

I clean beforehand, but just do a big clean on the day of, before I start prepping food: dust comes in so damn quickly here that there's a layer of black soot on things within 12 hours of cleaning. Impossible to keep on top of; I aim for maintenance, but when people are coming over (not my best friends who see it messy all the time) I try to do it all as close to party time as possible.

We both clean the house before people get here. I do the cooking, table arranging; he does the beer opening, wine-pouring and entertaining while I get food ready. And we usually hire someone to come and clean the dishes afterwards, because otherwise he gets stuck in the kitchen for an hour cleaning up while the rest of us enjoy each others' company- by the time he's done, everyone's ready to leave, and he's bummed :).

Here in LA you can get a dozen eggs at most farmer's markets for $4. My favourite eggs come from Organic Pastures but they're (sit down for this) $9/ dozen. :/. The cost is ridiculous- if we DO get them then they're purely for poaching and dipping. But its just un-justifiable most of the time. The difference is astounding though. Dark orange yolks, really tight albumen, incredible flavour. I'd love to be able to find eggs like that elsewhere that weren't so bloody dear.

As for cleaning around the edges, I have a shark handheld steam cleaner thing. The only thing I use it for is cleaning all the nasty bits in my (ooooold rental) kitchen. The grout is gone in most places, and the sink edges get nasty. First time I ever did it the smells that came out were nauseating (I can't imagine how long some of that gunk had been wedged in there). But it gets those tiny crack areas clean by pushing steam through it at high pressure. So that's an option for the undermount crease if it starts letting stuff in...

One of the things we talk about is, when we can afford to move, having separate bedrooms. Sometimes I really like sleeping together. Sometimes I really like sleeping alone. I think it's kinda weird that we're supposed to get together and then share our beds for the rest of our lives. There are some nights that I'd love to sleep alone:

1. Tummy stuff. Food poisoning. Gas. How nice to just go to your own room and not worry about stinking up a shared room.
2. With really bad menstrual cramps. So nice to just curl up with a hot water bottle and a bed to myself.
3. Flu. It'd be really nice to be able to be in a bed alone with a fever- and conversely, if he gets sick, it'd be really nice to not have to sleep next to him!
4. Head cold. He snores; I don't sleep all night. That'd be awesome.
5. If one of us goes out with our friends and is coming in really late, usually drunk. Pass out in own room fully clothes= awesome.

It's also really nice to sleep together, fall asleep chatting, etc etc. Just, it'd be nice to have the option for both.