spikele's Profile

What a great feature, thanks for this. Those candle holders are ridiculously beautiful.

The monster thing is hilarious. That said, if you're not into "updating" paintings, there are plenty of sources for inexpensive artwork - you don't have to revert to Starry Night prints. I just bought a really beautiful print at a university art show for something like $20. Original, wonderful, and I got to help some college student pay her tuition for next semester. Everyone wins.

I don't think it's that weird to care about what your parents think (though, of course, it's possible to care too much). My mom loves my apartment and likes when I ask her opinion of something I'm thinking of doing - moving a piece of furniture, painting a wall, etc. When she and my stepdad first came to visit, my big fear was that the crazy-sex couple living below me would go at it while my family was here, which I thought would be embarrassing for all of us. But luckily they must've been on a break or something.

I wouldn't overthink this stuff. If you really feel as though you don't have room or have other issues which would make it difficult for you to host people, then you're more than welcome to politely decline, while saying that you hope you'll get to see the person while they're visiting your city.

My own practice is to welcome anyone who wants to stay (both friends and "others", e.g. friends-of-friends, prospective students to my graduate program, etc). But all that is facilitated by the fact that I live alone, don't have kids, have a flexible schedule, and generally haven't had anyone abuse my hospitality.

A reminder, of course, that if you have pets, you should always mention that for people who might be allergic.

I grew up in a converted church - just me and my family in several thousand square feet. My parents bought it cheap and renovated it before I was born. It was a pretty magical place to live - my friends always loved coming over and exploring.

This looks great. If only it were even even conceivably kosher for Passover.

That said, there are a couple of sugar-cane-based vodkas which are more likely to be KFP. I think they tend to be a little sweeter than grain- or potato-based vodka, for obvious reasons, but that would probably be really good in a drink like this.

But yeah, a little more research would be appreciated here. Regular kosher and kosher for Passover are very different things; it's not just a matter of degree. As any number of people could have told this writer.

I have a Maine Coon cat too! They're wonderful, right? And, nice bedroom :)

And why is there a photo of a woman staring dully and huddling, Hunger-Games style, under a blanket? I.....don't get it.

So....this is about the tenth paean to the stand mixer that I've read, and maybe I should get one. But...I don't know. I bake and cook constantly (often for large groups of people) in a tiny kitchen, and have never felt oppressed by having to stir/mix/knead/etc. Level with me: is the stand mixer really (really, really) worth it?

Cool kid, but I don't love this write-up. Like it was his fault that the people around him were immature, abusive jerks? Health is important (though - note - you can't tell anything about health simply by looking at someone's body), but I'd really rather have the bullies learn that treating people terribly is bad than learn about whole grains and lean meats or whatever.