LALaura's Profile

If someone's cell phone is ringing and I think it might be important, I'll just hand it to them. At most, if their hands are full, I might look at the name of the caller and ask, "Do you want to talk to Chris?" or whomever.
Answering someone's else cell phone seems like a huge invasion of privacy.

What about the similar Jake chairs from Room & Board? Does anyone have experience with their durability?

I second the suggestion of 2 good knives - I brought a chef's knife and a paring knife. And I also agree that measuring cups and spoons can be skipped.
My three essential pieces of cookware are a large nonstick skillet, a steamer pot, and a baking dish. (I'm using a deep-dish Pyrex pie pan for 2 people, but if your family is bigger, make it a 9x12.)
That's all I have for a six week excursion this summer, and it lets me do almost anything. The steamer inset works as a colander for washing berries, and the pot part substitutes for a kettle. I use the baking dish for baked chicken or roasted veggies.
For ingredients, definitely bring olive oil. This is also a good time for some premixed spice blends (either homemade or store-bought). Curry powder, chili powder, barbecue rub - they're all easier than taking a bunch of separate little bottles.

To me, the big difference between quirky and eccentric is that "quirky" has the connotation of youth, while "eccentric" implies elderly. The leopard print house could be either.