gmtruman's Profile

I am a big fan of the $17 flannel sheets I bought on sale at Target -- the regular 700-count cotton sheets we have in the summer are absolutely frigid in central Illinois.

The spouse sleeps in just his boxers, and I in my t-shirt, and all we've needed in the 30-50 degree autumn nights are the sheets and a down comforter. When it gets to single digits later in the winter, we'll add this marvelous oversized wool flannel blanket, and we have our heat down to 60 degrees to keep the pipes from freaking out.

For the lack of pets, we have a bag filled with dried corn (a gift from my mother-in-law) that we microwave and tuck into the foot of the bed. My feet are always frigid despite my Ugg slippers (thank you, MIL).

In my dreary 5 a.m. state, I've often forgotten to put in the water to our programmable electric drip coffeemaker, so I've gotten in the habit of washing thermoses and filling in the water the night before and programming it to start at 5:30. Knowing that I have to grind the beans (I was given a burr grinder not long ago) and get them in before the timer sets keeps me from dawdling in the shower and keeps me moving in the morning.

I've always, always been turned off by French presses for the sludge and the time it takes to clean up afterwards, and my in-laws have switched to simple cone-and-filter over their glass stovetop. I'm tempted to take that method, but my husband insists that the Mr Coffee machine stays for mornings where he has to make the coffee. It's just easier that way. To me, it tastes just fine.

Want to get a toddy maker, though. Really want to.

I haven't taken a staycation yet, but since my husband doesn't get time off while I still accrue PTO, I take a day off now and again. When I do, I take a book with me when I drop him off at work, get coffee at the coffee shop and read a little and watch the morning rush (and be happy that I'm not in it), and then go home, make a nice leisurely breakfast, start the meat marinade for dinner, and take a very long, luxurious nap midday. Favorite use of days off so far.

Almost had me going for a minute, but now I'm clicking through the article's citations. I'm just a bit skeptical, seeing the rest of the institute's web content.

When I had to decide between the Artisan (the tilt) and the Professional (the bowl lift), I was in a bit of a quandary. But I had been told by many friends that the bowl lift tended to have more metal gears than hard plastic, and that the one downside of it was that if removing the bowl and the attachment, you'd have to drag the whisk (for example) through the bowl's contents to detach and remove. And I'm okay with that.

Too, I wanted a workhorse of a mixer for breads and pasta doughs and mashed potatoes. I'm very happy with my Professional (bowl lift).

thebradseed: Hey, now. There's no way abbatron would of known that you specifically live alone. That's not meddling. It was just an oversight in a comment.

Gods, I love this idea. "EB" for Emergency Bourbon and so many other fun possibilities.

Now if only I could get my hands on one that wouldn't cost an Arm and a Leg (filed separately).

Kathryn: Water Tower Place off Michigan Avenue also has them in the restrooms across the hall from Vidal Sassoon.