Our elf on the shelf is the laziest elf ever. I keep giving DD old "presents" that she has already gotten (i.e. Stickers from a goodie bag from an old birthday party she went to, a Santa hat I already gave her on Black Friday lol) but she is too young to figure it out so I'm running with it.
I forgot to move the elf on the shelf Saturday night, and that morning our 6 and 9 year olds cried. But they weren't really on their best behavior the day before, so I said that the elf wanted to give them one more day to be good before he reported back to Santa. They were saints yesterday, so I WIN!
I forgot to move the elf on the shelf Saturday night, and that morning our 6 and 9 year olds cried. But they weren't really on their best behavior the day before, so I said that the elf wanted to give them one more day to be good before he reported back to Santa. They were saints yesterday, so I WIN!
I don't really understand elf on a shelf... does the elf only move if the kids are being "good" lol we never did elf on a shelf growing up and I only heard about it a couple years ago. I just thought it was kind of a fun hide and seek game where the elf moves during the night, and the kids look for him the next day?
Our elf on the shelf is the laziest elf ever. I keep giving DD old "presents" that she has already gotten (i.e. Stickers from a goodie bag from an old birthday party she went to, a Santa hat I already gave her on Black Friday lol) but she is too young to figure it out so I'm running with it. SITB
Yourelf is giving daily presents?! I'd phase that tradition out now before you're stuck with it for the next 10 years...
I forgot to move the elf on the shelf Saturday night, and that morning our 6 and 9 year olds cried. But they weren't really on their best behavior the day before, so I said that the elf wanted to give them one more day to be good before he reported back to Santa. They were saints yesterday, so I WIN!
I don't really understand elf on a shelf... does the elf only move if the kids are being "good" lol we never did elf on a shelf growing up and I only heard about it a couple years ago. I just thought it was kind of a fun hide and seek game where the elf moves during the night, and the kids look for him the next day?
The Elf watches them, and then he flies back to Santa at night. So he reports on whether they're being good or bad, and then returns to a new spot in the house. I really don't do the whole "the Elf (or Santa) is watching you so you need to be good thing"... it was really just a good excuse for my forgetfulness
I have tried telling my kids they need to be good because Santa is watching, and if they are bad, they won't get presents... my daughter just asked "where is he?" Lol like she just wanted to see him, she didn't even care about the whole being good part haha sooo I don't try to threaten that either... it worked on me when I was a kid though!!
My son "wishes" each night of a place he wants his Elf to land. If he is good his Elf moves to that location and if he is bad he does not. It makes it easy for me because I don't have to put much thought into it and he also knows that he was good because it went where he "wished" it to go.
I think elf on the shelf is super cute. I can't wait to get one. I won't do anything fancy though, just move it from place to place and let the kiddo name it.
Opinion poll: is it sketchy to give a Christmas gift that is a very high quality item but also a factory "second"? MIL was crazy for our All Clad cookware at Thanksgiving, and we'd like to get her a nice piece for Christmas. They have a seconds sale coming up Thursday, which would really increase the size and/or amount of stuff we could get her, but, it would be a "second." My guess is that their seconds are probably just a little scratched up. Thoughts?
@Xstatic3333 I think it just depends on your mil... like with our families, my grandma will buy everyone gifts from yard sales or good will... not because she doesn't have any money, but because she just buys us stuff she thinks we will like. So if she sees something, she will buy it now matter where it came from. But with my mil, if she orders something online and the box arrives with a spot crunched in some, she will call and complain to get a new one... over the box!! Most the time, the items inside are fine (she usually gets to keep the original one so ends up opening the box) and after she opens the first crunched box, turns out that the item was fine. So for us we could buy my grandma the cookware, but not my mil.
My niece spent the night with H and I on Saturday and her elf "found her way to our house" lol. My niece helped my SIL make the diaper cake for my baby shower this weekend, so she thought it was hilarious when her elf showed up sitting on top of the diaper cake!
I've decided that Google is evil... When I called my mom to tell her when my ultrasound appointment is tomorrow, she mentioned that excessive amniotic fluid is common in our family. Then I decided to check it out with Dr. Google. Am now horrified and just want to get through today so my ultrasound can happen.
@WinchesterGirl it had been retired, so in the last 2 weeks we made our thanksgiving stuffing which was so dry we didn't eat it and some sort of stroganoff that just looked like vomit with curds.
I make skewers with tortellini (I get the tri color ones) mozzarella balls, little tomatoes, and on some of them artichoke. I drizzle olive oil, balsamic glaze, and sea salt on them. They look super fancy and they always go really quick at parties. I love caprese in any form..
If you like shrimp cocktail. I like doing a plate smeared in cream cheese that you then top with a layer of cocktail sauce and mini shrimp. Serve with crackers. I think my description fails but very tasty.
@PerraSucia WTF is wrong with your crockpot? Mine is like a beautiful little angel that takes anything I throw in it and turns it into a magical heaven of lunch-reheatable deliciousness.
I've got the same problem with crockpots as @PerraSucia. I think out of all the years I've had it I made one dish that turned out just alright. I can't understand the magic.
@PerraSucia and @foxrosy I do not understand your crockpot problem!! I've only ever messed up stuff if I forgot about it for a long time.... that was no bueno.
That's so strange! I don't use my crockpot that often but recently I made a sausage spinach and white bean soup that came out good and a jambalaya type dish I can give you the recipe for if you want to try again. I thought both came out like good solid dishes.
I don't understand it either! My first ever crockpot meal was years ago when I used a recipe to make a whole chicken. Everything was pretty standard in terms of ingredients and seasoning. The taste was just gross! And since then there is always an issue with the taste or texture. The Thanksgiving before last I even decided to make collard greens (which I can do with my eyes closed on the stove) in the crockpot to save stove space, and I didn't like them. I'm glad to hear that someone else has a similar experience with them because I felt like it was just some strange curse I have. And I love to cook!
I generally like my crockpot and have enjoyed the vast majority of recipes I've made in it. But I have to admit that even the dishes I enjoy still taste a little...crockpot-y. There's just some slow-cooker-ish characteristic I can't put my finger on. Might be a texture thing.
Me: 34 Husband: 35 Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17 BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
Everytime I make anything in the crockpot, it takes twice as long as it should have, and I end up dumping it in skillets to finish it quickly. Basically I only use crockpots to heat food for parties. Like I'll make sloppy Joe's the night before, then throw it in the crockpot to stay warm for the party.
My phone really really wants to autocorrect to crackpot instead of crockpot lol
I think it's really tough to balance the right amount of liquid in the crock pot and if you don't it will dry out really bad or have that "crock pot" taste from being too steamed/mushy.
I have so many crock pot recipes I rely on!! But it has taken me years to figure out the exact amount of ingredients and how much time! I'm gone all day though so everything always cooks enough at least!
I love my crockpot but I don't do meat so that probably makes it easier. I use it primarily for veggie-based soups. H has had decent success with pulled pork, but I'm just too nervous about fire to leave it there when I'm not home so we don't end up using it for "set it and forget it" very much.
I think it's really tough to balance the right amount of liquid in the crock pot and if you don't it will dry out really bad or have that "crock pot" taste from being too steamed/mushy.
This! I feel like there is usually a crockpot taste and texture. So it's the balance of liquid! That makes a lot of sense.
We used to have a crockpot and got rid of it after really disliking everything it made. I think that we are very picky foodies though, and my husband enjoys cooking meals and didn't like just throwing everything in one pot, so there's that...
fourPsinapod
member
Re: Weekly Randoms (12/5)
I have tried telling my kids they need to be good because Santa is watching, and if they are bad, they won't get presents... my daughter just asked "where is he?" Lol like she just wanted to see him, she didn't even care about the whole being good part haha sooo I don't try to threaten that either... it worked on me when I was a kid though!!
Opinion poll: is it sketchy to give a Christmas gift that is a very high quality item but also a factory "second"? MIL was crazy for our All Clad cookware at Thanksgiving, and we'd like to get her a nice piece for Christmas. They have a seconds sale coming up Thursday, which would really increase the size and/or amount of stuff we could get her, but, it would be a "second." My guess is that their seconds are probably just a little scratched up. Thoughts?
Caprese skewers are super easy and delicious, or a good crockpot full of meatballs is always a winner. It kind of depends on your neighborhood vibe.
https://www.mrfood.com/Editors-Picks/Party-Pleasers-57-Easy-Potluck-Recipes
BFP May 16th 2016
DD born January 30 2017
Surprise BFP/MC April 2017
TTC since January 2016
BFP - 3/12/16 - MC 4/5/16
BFP - 6/11/16
Little caprese bites on a baguette was my idea @WinchesterGirl ! meatballs, buffalo chicken bites and cheese plates were already taken.
As a weird side note, we have never successfully made anything in our crockpot ever. like well over half of the recipes we have tried we threw out.
Husband: 35
Married: June 2007
Son Max born 1/10/17
BFP #2: 10/5/17; EDD: 6/11/18
My phone really really wants to autocorrect to crackpot instead of crockpot lol