Tuesday!

short+sassy

kvruns said:

Heffalump said:

That is interesting.  Apparently for crayon, you also add vinegar (1/2 c) and 1/4 cup Dawn detergent.  I have no idea why Dawn, specifically, but we had some, so I did it.  And I threw in a scoop of Oxy Clean, because why not?  Then you run the presoak cycle and wash it on your hottest setting (sanitary, in my case).  It left a couple of small, faint yellow spots behind on a few items, where the red crayon had been.  But on everything else, the crayon completely vanished. 

Who knew vinegar was so magical?

Vinegar is the jack of all trades for cleaning stuff

I don't know what came over me.  But, one day when I was in high school, I tried Sea Breeze to take a mark off the wall that wasn't responding to more traditional cleaners.  I said, "Wow!  Let me try another one."  This time, I patted down the spot too long and the paint was removed!  Luckily, it was a small spot and mom never knew.

It then occurred to me, "Perhaps I shouldn't be using something on my face that literally takes the paint off the walls."

Maybe all astringents have those powers, but I never used Sea Breeze as a beauty product again, lol.

VarunaTT

charlotte989875 said:

kimmiinthemitten said:

atomicblonde said:

@NiceKindaSpice; no, we're not working with an accountant.  I suggested that we do, but DH didn't think we would need to.  We'll see.  We're still waiting on some of our relocation forms/docs to be issued, and I've been told that's a 2-year process, so next tax-season should be super fun!

Also, I'm sorry for your losses.

@charlotte989875, I am also considering Rent the Runway for a "black tie optional" (DAFUQ?) wedding later this summer.  I'll be curious to hear your thoughts if you use it.  

 I bet you were planning on wearing your nice jeans or your favorite flannel until you saw that on the invite weren't you?

I totally was and the line on the invite convinced me to change my mind. 

VarunaTT said:

charlotte989875 said:

So glad you like it @CharmedPam. Our dog is terrified of it, but the cat just looks annoyed. 

Has as anyone here done rent the runway? How far in advance do you order? I've got a May wedding I want to rent for (formal attire listed on the invite), but haven't used it yet. Any thoughts?

I love Rent the Runway.  I can probably send you a referral code.  I love it so much I pay for the yearly membership b/c what it saves me in insurance/S&H/free birthday dress, pays for itself.  For a May wedding, I'd probably get something reserved now.  You'll just find your selection will get more limited the closer you get to the date you want to rent it.  They  have plenty to choose from, but there's something super disappointing about seeing a great dress, liking it, and then not being able to get it.

You choose if you want a 4 day or 7 day rental and what day you want to receive it.  I usually get the 4 days and have it delivered Thursday for a Saturday event.  That way if it doesn't fit or is otherwise not satisfactory, they have time to overnight me something new.  I've had to do that 2x, no complaints at all with the service of doing that.

I had my meeting about my bully last night.  It went well; we have a management plan, which is good and cooler heads/minds prevailed.  I keep musing why I seem to have an "I Hate Varuna" club.  I also tend to think that I put myself out there as a leader and I'm fairly successful at it, so haters gonna hate, I guess.

I'm ready for the weekend.

Thanks! Do you do a back up size? There's some super cute ones I'm looking at, so I should probably order something soon. 

I do usually order the back up size.  Most of the time, I've found that the "size and fit" charts RtR has is spot on, but I like having the flexibility.  I also like looking through the reviews.  You can adjust them to "women like me" and see what you think of how the dress lays in sizing.  They really do help.  You can also just call and talk to one of the stylists.  They really do know what they're talking about and can advise you on the dresses.

Just from experience:  Slate and Willow runs small.  I haven't particularly cared for the quality of that brand either.  And if you don't like your midsection, don't do the hi/low hem dress, it does something weird to the midsection.  It like...poofed on me.  I dealt with it, but I didn't order one again.  And my favorite brand I've ordered that always fits amazing (and the fabric is a dream) is Monique Lhuillier.

charlotte989875

VarunaTT said:

charlotte989875 said:

kimmiinthemitten said:

atomicblonde said:

@NiceKindaSpice; no, we're not working with an accountant.  I suggested that we do, but DH didn't think we would need to.  We'll see.  We're still waiting on some of our relocation forms/docs to be issued, and I've been told that's a 2-year process, so next tax-season should be super fun!

Also, I'm sorry for your losses.

@charlotte989875, I am also considering Rent the Runway for a "black tie optional" (DAFUQ?) wedding later this summer.  I'll be curious to hear your thoughts if you use it.  

 I bet you were planning on wearing your nice jeans or your favorite flannel until you saw that on the invite weren't you?

I totally was and the line on the invite convinced me to change my mind. 

VarunaTT said:

charlotte989875 said:

So glad you like it @CharmedPam. Our dog is terrified of it, but the cat just looks annoyed. 

Has as anyone here done rent the runway? How far in advance do you order? I've got a May wedding I want to rent for (formal attire listed on the invite), but haven't used it yet. Any thoughts?

I love Rent the Runway.  I can probably send you a referral code.  I love it so much I pay for the yearly membership b/c what it saves me in insurance/S&H/free birthday dress, pays for itself.  For a May wedding, I'd probably get something reserved now.  You'll just find your selection will get more limited the closer you get to the date you want to rent it.  They  have plenty to choose from, but there's something super disappointing about seeing a great dress, liking it, and then not being able to get it.

You choose if you want a 4 day or 7 day rental and what day you want to receive it.  I usually get the 4 days and have it delivered Thursday for a Saturday event.  That way if it doesn't fit or is otherwise not satisfactory, they have time to overnight me something new.  I've had to do that 2x, no complaints at all with the service of doing that.

I had my meeting about my bully last night.  It went well; we have a management plan, which is good and cooler heads/minds prevailed.  I keep musing why I seem to have an "I Hate Varuna" club.  I also tend to think that I put myself out there as a leader and I'm fairly successful at it, so haters gonna hate, I guess.

I'm ready for the weekend.

Thanks! Do you do a back up size? There's some super cute ones I'm looking at, so I should probably order something soon. 

I do usually order the back up size.  Most of the time, I've found that the "size and fit" charts RtR has is spot on, but I like having the flexibility.  I also like looking through the reviews.  You can adjust them to "women like me" and see what you think of how the dress lays in sizing.  They really do help.  You can also just call and talk to one of the stylists.  They really do know what they're talking about and can advise you on the dresses.

Just from experience:  Slate and Willow runs small.  I haven't particularly cared for the quality of that brand either.  And if you don't like your midsection, don't do the hi/low hem dress, it does something weird to the midsection.  It like...poofed on me.  I dealt with it, but I didn't order one again.  And my favorite brand I've ordered that always fits amazing (and the fabric is a dream) is Monique Lhuillier.

Thanks that's a big help; the reviews for a few that I liked ran small, especially in the chest so I went with the Badgley Mischka. I definitely love how easy it was to find what I was look for and order. 

VarunaTT

I tried to send you a referral link, but after 10+ times of trying to PM you and getting logged out, I gave up.  

charlotte989875

VarunaTT said:

I tried to send you a referral link, but after 10+ times of trying to PM you and getting logged out, I gave up.  

No problem I had a $25 off for first time sign up. If I do it again I can send you my email. 

OurWildKingdom

Hi all!

Work was nice and calm today - no emergencies for a change! 

The Tribe won their home opener - yay!

During my downtime today, I e-mailed a couple of restaurants about using their private room for the wedding reception. One of them replied before the end of the day; I'll try to call her tomorrow.

*Barbie*

@kvruns i'm excited to go. the cruise tours fulfil the visa requirements for Americans, so we're going to book a full day. rates aren't too bad for the cruises, and very family friendly if you take kids. Our daughter has been cruising since she was 13mo, and now that she's 6 and can do a lot of the activities really loves it. (Her first was actually the first one for DK and I as well - at least on a big ship. we had done a river cruise with his parents a few years prior.) 
Its nice for us with Galveston as a quick 75-90 minute drive, so travel costs are minimal for the 2 western Caribbean routes. That was one of the major incentives for going over Christmas last year. 
\

charlotte989875

*Barbie* said:

@charlotte989875 - where's the wedding in Pittsburgh?

At a hotel up in Allison Park, I'm not sure where exactly. It's H's family and they all live up there. We usually just drive in and out for events, but I'm hoping we can spend an extra day or two in the city this time. 

kvruns

@*barbie* I've never been on a cruise but would like to sometime. The downside here is the travel cost just getting to the ship. If I were somewhere with a port reasonably close I'm sure I'd go and be on the lookout for deals

My parents go to FL for the winter and keep talking about going for a cruise but never do. I'm like you're already down there so take advantage of cheap last minute fares since you don't have to worry about travel costs.

*Barbie*

@kvruns - completely agree re: cost to travel to get to a port. if we lived in FL with more itineraries available, we'd probably go more often. (vacation time is a limiting factor too.) the only time we sailed from FL (feb 2016, 4nt, Miami - Bahamas) i actually tacked it on as an extension to a trip that we already had to FL. it just worked out really well with the dates we'd planned to be there. for June, we're going to end up paying for a night in a hotel to ensure that we're in town on departure morning rather than risk flying in that day. 

short+sassy

kvruns said:

@*barbie* I've never been on a cruise but would like to sometime. The downside here is the travel cost just getting to the ship. If I were somewhere with a port reasonably close I'm sure I'd go and be on the lookout for deals

My parents go to FL for the winter and keep talking about going for a cruise but never do. I'm like you're already down there so take advantage of cheap last minute fares since you don't have to worry about travel costs.

On the last cruise I went on, it was a $15 cab ride from my house to the cruise ship port.  Pretty sweet!  But there are only a couple trips/routes that leave out of NOLA.

@*Barbie* is right.  Miami has tons of cruise trip options.  Though not a city I would want to live in again, despite their plethora of cruise choices.

CharmedPam

short+sassy said:

kvruns said:

@*barbie* I've never been on a cruise but would like to sometime. The downside here is the travel cost just getting to the ship. If I were somewhere with a port reasonably close I'm sure I'd go and be on the lookout for deals

My parents go to FL for the winter and keep talking about going for a cruise but never do. I'm like you're already down there so take advantage of cheap last minute fares since you don't have to worry about travel costs.

On the last cruise I went on, it was a $15 cab ride from my house to the cruise ship port.  Pretty sweet!  But there are only a couple trips/routes that leave out of NOLA.

@*Barbie* is right.  Miami has tons of cruise trip options.  Though not a city I would want to live in again, despite their plethora of cruise choices.

NOLA is one of my favorite cities (what? cabaret means strip club?!? how was I supposed to know?) and DH has never been there.  We're going to SOME day take a Caribbean cruise out of there.

edit: I guess NOLA isn't a city, but NO is.  So NO is one of my favorite cities.   I suck at geography.