julia2711's Profile

It looks like it belongs to the blog "worst things for sale".

My dad had a big cloth packet he kept with his photography equipment, and about once a year he would spread it on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven for I'm not sure how long.

I keep the little ones from shoes with our bigger, lesser used camera, hoping it would deter mold.

I would add here a warning: Polenta is a (expletive of your choice) to clean off pans, so act quickly once you're done. Remove leftover polenta even if it's too little to eat, and add water to the pan. Prefer a pan without non-stick, as it tends to damage it.

I don't think I've ever cooked or eaten classic polenta; I've only had the instant one, precooked so it takes about a minute boiling or so. My recipe for polenta, so to speak, which was wonderful when I was pregnant and needed to eat very quickly or I'd be nauseatious, is, for one serving: one cup milk, one ts butter, 1/3 polenta, one beaten egg, pinch of salt, tablespoon grated parmiggiano (or any other cheese), pinch of dried oregano. Served with a tbs of tomato sauce. Include ingredients if you have them, substitute milk with water and butter with oil. If serve for two, double only milk, butter and polenta.

I've been told you can give it a swirl in a blender if it's too coarse, but I've never done it.

I hope this helps for polenta enthusiasts out there!

It's a good idea, but it's a doubled edged sword because it equals house chores with punishment (or reward, actually). It's an age old dilemma, but this one seems to kill two birds with a stone and I suppose that's commendable.

As someone said once, the golden rule in parenthood (if there is one) would be: "it works until it doesn't". If it worked for someone and I'd find myself in that situation, I'd definitely give it a go.

I know I'm not nice in pointing this out, but the word prophecy in the title is mispelt. It is written with "S" when it's a verb, but the noun goes with "C".

I have mixed feelings with mother's day... I was taught to think of it as commercial only stuff, but now that I'm a mom I would like to get a present. I'm really into gardening these days, and something related (that shows attention to what I care) would be nice. But no presents or anything at all would be nice too.

We're giving both grandmas mugs with a photo of the grandchildren printed. I think it's borderline tacky, but I also think they'll like it.

Wow, I come back after months to check the replies...! Thank you for them and it's great to see common sense is still alive!!!

(Or, in other words, you cannot really trust everything they tell you. But you should know that by now, don't you?)

I slept on the top bed from age 5 to 12, one a lot like the one pictured in the article. It was the only possible solution back then, with my sister and I sharing a room. My thoughts:

Pros: really saves space and gives some privacy, great at night when I'd read into the wee hours and my sister would sleep. It's really makes the most vertical storage (the room literally grows up), and each sister had a little "own" space - our parents allowed us to hang drawings and things on the wall surrounding the bed, and I had my very own bookshelf--- so adult! Also, the height distance between both beds was large enough to accomodate an adult sitting, and instead of a trundle bed we had two drawers with shoes and bedding. As a sleeping arrangement for two kids, it was great.

Also, I became an expert climber and never used the ladder, and never had any issues going to the bathroom at night.

Cons: both beds were pretty difficult to tide and the shelves above the top bed were always collecting dust alarmingly fast. Also, we had two accidents with that bed: once the retaining bar fell without warning and (I think) it hit my sister, and another time I fell off (retaining bar included) and landed headfirst on my sister's mary janes buckles. I got a slight concussion and a neat scar over my left eye - for which I'm thankful, considering I could have lost the eye completely.

So my suggestions if you're thinking about getting bunkbeds:

1. figure out a very simple bedding system. Maybe just a down sheet, a comforter over it and good pajamas, or something of the like.

2. figure out a simple cleaning routine for all those high shelves (because you don't want those monster sized dust bunnies falling on your bed, do you?)

3. make sure it's in good condition and service it often (you know, if it cracks... maybe you need to repair it or change one piece, or maybe anchor it to the wall, or something like it).

Just that. After I fell I went back to sleep on the top bed (where else?), and I think I overcame a fear before it had time to root.

Hmmm... I wonder if Coca-Cola would do the same to its Santa.

After all, Quackerman and Santa are both creations of Haddon Sundblom - they even look a little familiar, if you pay attention.

@nereid: "soul-crushing" and "dread" pretty much describe my feelings toward chores during my childhood.

Unlike you I had it pretty easy, and started off my life without a basic notion on how to run a household (including planning meals and cleaning, and techniques - even how to make a bed or clean a toilet). But eventually I learned.

What I believe in and plan on doing with my daughter, is to put the whole family to clean at the same time and share responsibilities. I hated cleaning the dishes, not because I found it difficult or unnecessary but because it felt unfair that the rest was chilling out in front of the TV and I was missing it. Also because my father would finish his last bite of food and simply stand up and leave (he would almost flee the scene), so why would we kids do different?

In hindsight, I feel it would have felt much better if I had felt my opinion (and my sister's, almost the same age) counted. If we had been given options like... what are you going to do this week? You can choose: laundry, cleaning bathrooms, setting the table, cleaning up after eating, etc. Next week it will be your turn to do something else. These are your trading chips; if you do them well you will be rewarded; if another activity or plan interferes you have to choose and you may trade.

I think the really bad part of it was the feeling of unfairness, of my parents expecting my sister and I to be clean and tidy while they were not, of them assigning chores without minding our opinion, and of them buying a good time while we worked. Of course, this was selfish and immature of us (remember we were just teenagers), but I think we kids should have done more and felt it was alright. Because it didn't feel alright at all.