Confession Time! ((ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGEMENT))

kellyjellybellyjelly wrote: »

ythannah wrote: »

MoHousdon wrote: »

ythannah wrote: »

FluffySandwich wrote: »

Susieq_1994 wrote: »

Just_Ceci wrote: »

xLoveLikeWinterx wrote: »

Just_Ceci wrote: »

I am known at work for making really good cakes, usually from scratch. Today one of the guys is leaving to take a job out of state, so they asked me to make him a German chocolate cake. I made it- box mix, can of frosting. Everyone is raving about how good it is. I don't know whether I should be flattered or disappointed.

ETA: Yay me, I can follow directions!

German Choc cake is the one I'm the most tempted to do this with. I never make anything out of a box (My kitchen would have to be on fire first lol) but German Choc Cake from scratch tastes almost exactly like a box mix. If anything, scratch made is less sweet and mild chocolate flavor. The cake is a cinch to make, but the frosting is a PITA. Making the caramel base and throwing in the pecans and stirring til your arms hate you on extremely low heat drives me nuts... My mom asks for a GC Cake every year for her birthday and I do it but every year I swear I'm substituting Duncan Hines...Then no matter how cold/cooled off the cake is, even if you do a crumb coat, frosting it is HARD.

This is the mix I used:

It is delicious! It has a separate packet of coconut pecan mix to add in before baking. It is super moist! I baked it in a 9 x 13 pan and frosted it with whatever brand of coconut pecan frosting I grabbed first. (Betty Crocker, I think?)
Edit: because spelling is hard.

Would I be driven out of the thread if I admitted that I'd most likely HATE German Chocolate cake? I hate nuts in everything (they can only be eaten alone, unless we're talking nut butter), and I really hate coconut in desserts--and in everything else. I can only eat it plain and fresh.

German chocolate cake has a special place in my heart. My dad used to buy one for everyone on their birthday, thinking it was our favorite cake. The truth is it wasn't the favorite cake of any of us... except for my dad. I think he convinced himself everyone loved it as much as him. Now it always makes me think about him

I also do like German chocolate cake, and I'm not a big cake person. I love coconut!

Apparently I loved licorice allsorts as a kid. I have no independent recollection of this.

My father buys me a HUGE tin of them every Christmas as a result.

I don't much care for them any more. Next tin is going to the office for the vultures to devour.

I have zero clue what this is.

Agreed that looks pretty weird. Some almost look like styrofoam.

peleroja wrote: »

I'm not caught up but just came to complain that traffic and construction made our 3 hr drive into over 5 hours, so by the time we got to the trailhead we wouldn't have finished hiking until 10PM. So...we had to turn around and drive back, which we're still doing. So ten hours of driving for absolutely nothing. Not impressed.

lilaclovebird wrote: »

nonoelmo wrote: »

lilaclovebird wrote: »

@MelissaPhippsFeagins @nonoelmo @MoHousdon
Turns out he was just joking. He had NO idea it would hurt my feelings and when we talked, he was about to apologize and I asked him not to. It wasn't his fault I took it the wrong way. He said he knows I'm smart and thinks I'm "young, beautiful, and have a lot of potential." Yeah he used those words.
He's encouraging me to go back to school, which is good.

I keep getting this feeling that he wants me to be happy, not just rich.

I wondered if he might have been joking and wondered if he thought it were completely obvious (to him) that he was joking.

You are smart and beautiful (young too) and you have TONS of potential. Totally get your tucus back in school. The sooner the better. I speak from loads of experience (and others here have taken similar paths) that the sooner you get back into school the better. It does not become easier to return the longer you wait. You can PM me any time if you need extra or specific encouragement but you can do this.

Step 1: Do you have all the prerequisites out of the way? Do those even one at at time while you are working. Take a FUN class first to get yourself back in the school mode. It can even be a non-credit course just for fun. Do it.)
Step 2: (this may be step one) fill out a FAFSA and make a note to fill it out again Jan 1 or 2 of next year.
Step 3: (notice this is NOT at all the first step,) figure out what you want to do, what you want to major in and get in to talk to an academic adviser about what steps are needed. (Repeat this step, often you need to talk to multiple people to get all the answers you need.)
Step 4: Look at resources and scholarships and other funding sources. When I started back I was in talking to the financial aid advisers, academic advisers, and the women support center. I asked classmates questions, and just kept asking until I figured things out. Look for scholarships. Keep looking. If you go to a community college get great grades and join the honor society (I swear to you this helped me get a $10,000 deans scholarship when I transferred to a four-year college.)
Step 5: Understand and internalize that you CAN do this. We believe in you. Look to others for inspiration too, I know this amazing talented group of people can offer great insight into their experience and what they did.

Thumbnail of my experience:
At age 32 with a medically fragile infant and a 2 year old as a stay at home mom to care for those kids, working graveyard shift, I thought I'd take "one" class a semester and maybe someday earn an associates degree.
On my 42nd birthday I was conferred a PhD in chemistry.

I believe in you!!!

OMG! There IS hope for me!

I keep thinking at 26 it might be too late.

I have some prerequisites out of the way but I never made it far because I was always over loaded. Now, I have nothing but time and maybe I could get my friend Alycia back into school and she could get a degree too!

I work overnights and have lots of time for studying and my Sergeants and Lieutenant all think I should study while working. It would be nice to get a Bachelor's Degree in something.

lilaclovebird wrote: »

nonoelmo wrote: »

I am holding a conversation with myself. It is time for me to get some sleep. Goodnight all!

I'm totally here! But I am at work and had to make my rounds. I do a little bit more than just sit around all night watching videos on Youtube.

I want to take something difficult but not too hard. Maybe a beginner chemistry course? I've always hoped to understand chemistry. I made the attempt when I was married but my now ex-husband had me signed up for History, Biology, English Literature, and an Algebra refresher course along with Chemistry. I was also working 60+ hours a week bartending....how I was supposed to do ALL of that and keep the house together while he was unemployed was a little beyond me.

I think I will start with Math for my first class. I'm good at math and it makes sense to me.

KylerJaye wrote: »

pofoster21 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

Tubbs216 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

pofoster21 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

Tubbs216 wrote: »

@LBuehrle8 Ok, you're off to the UK very soon. Here's your food list! Some Harry Potter related, some just British stuff that you have to try. In no particular order. (And to the Brits: Yes, I know that nobody in the UK eats like this really! Some of these are just things I miss and enjoy when we visit. Feel free to add to Laura's list!)

Treacle Tart
Bangers & Mash
Cream cake from a bakery
Curry from a proper curry house (ideally at 11pm after the pub closes)
Sherbert lemons
Bacon sandwich
'Full English' breakfast
Cornish pasty
Trifle
Chocolate Frog
Spotted Dick & custard
Pork pie
Crumpets
Cream Tea
Fish and chips (ideally eaten with fingers on a beach)
Butterbeer
Sunday roast (pubs are good if nobody wants to cook)
Toad In The Hole
More curry

What is a chocolate frog? and what is butterbeer? I assure you those are not regular British things! Are they more a regional thing Tubbs?

HARRY POTTER!

So things that don't really exist then

Well, they do now!

Can you buy them in tesco?

Not that I know of But I did have a butterbeer in Hogsmeade in FL... hot and cold. Both good but way too fattening. My nephew got the chocolate frog. I think both my niece and nephew got the Bertie Botts flavoured jelly beans. They even got ear wax! I refused to try them.

when i worked at borders (rip) we sold boxes of bertie botts every flavor beans, and chocolate frogs. when we had the book seven midnight release party, we went through cases of both, all the kids were running around on massive sugar highs. lil capes and wands flying through the air. it was pretty fun

LBuehrle8 wrote: »

KylerJaye wrote: »

pofoster21 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

Tubbs216 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

pofoster21 wrote: »

orangesmartie wrote: »

Tubbs216 wrote: »

@LBuehrle8 Ok, you're off to the UK very soon. Here's your food list! Some Harry Potter related, some just British stuff that you have to try. In no particular order. (And to the Brits: Yes, I know that nobody in the UK eats like this really! Some of these are just things I miss and enjoy when we visit. Feel free to add to Laura's list!)

Treacle Tart
Bangers & Mash
Cream cake from a bakery
Curry from a proper curry house (ideally at 11pm after the pub closes)
Sherbert lemons
Bacon sandwich
'Full English' breakfast
Cornish pasty
Trifle
Chocolate Frog
Spotted Dick & custard
Pork pie
Crumpets
Cream Tea
Fish and chips (ideally eaten with fingers on a beach)
Butterbeer
Sunday roast (pubs are good if nobody wants to cook)
Toad In The Hole
More curry

What is a chocolate frog? and what is butterbeer? I assure you those are not regular British things! Are they more a regional thing Tubbs?

HARRY POTTER!

So things that don't really exist then

Well, they do now!

Can you buy them in tesco?

Not that I know of But I did have a butterbeer in Hogsmeade in FL... hot and cold. Both good but way too fattening. My nephew got the chocolate frog. I think both my niece and nephew got the Bertie Botts flavoured jelly beans. They even got ear wax! I refused to try them.

when i worked at borders (rip) we sold boxes of bertie botts every flavor beans, and chocolate frogs. when we had the book seven midnight release party, we went through cases of both, all the kids were running around on massive sugar highs. lil capes and wands flying through the air. it was pretty fun

I was that 23 year old running around with a sugar high, my cape and wand in hand!! haha

lilaclovebird wrote: »

Turns out he was just joking. He had NO idea it would hurt my feelings and when we talked, he was about to apologize and I asked him not to. It wasn't his fault I took it the wrong way. He said he knows I'm smart and thinks I'm "young, beautiful, and have a lot of potential." Yeah he used those words.
He's encouraging me to go back to school, which is good.

I keep getting this feeling that he wants me to be happy, not just rich.

orangesmartie wrote: »

I'm having a good day today. Feeling very chirpy this morning. Had an epic session in the gym last night. (PT session, weights and a spin class). Just waiting for the DOMs to set in!

And after much too-ing and fro-ing we finally booked our holiday! Who knew coordinating 5 people's diaries and wants would be so difficult, especially when we all say 'oh, i'm easy, i don't mind'. Turns out we do. Anyway, we're having 3 weeks in Cyprus in September. The smarties and I fly out on the 5th and have a few days on our own, then my parents and Charlie come out on the 9th. Mr Smartie flies back on the 15th for work, and the rest of us fly back on the 25th. I can't wait! Its been such a horrible year, we all just need a relaxing sunshine break.

I am feeling a little narked about having to go into central london for a meeting today and i'll miss my spin class this evening but really, its a minor inconvenience, because i love walking round London, looking at the blue plaques and the architecture.

Hope i can keep things under control for the next few weeks, and get some lbs off before i go!

peleroja wrote: »

I'm not caught up but just came to complain that traffic and construction made our 3 hr drive into over 5 hours, so by the time we got to the trailhead we wouldn't have finished hiking until 10PM. So...we had to turn around and drive back, which we're still doing. So ten hours of driving for absolutely nothing. Not impressed.

nonoelmo wrote: »

lilaclovebird wrote: »

nonoelmo wrote: »

lilaclovebird wrote: »

@MelissaPhippsFeagins @nonoelmo @MoHousdon
Turns out he was just joking. He had NO idea it would hurt my feelings and when we talked, he was about to apologize and I asked him not to. It wasn't his fault I took it the wrong way. He said he knows I'm smart and thinks I'm "young, beautiful, and have a lot of potential." Yeah he used those words.
He's encouraging me to go back to school, which is good.

I keep getting this feeling that he wants me to be happy, not just rich.

I wondered if he might have been joking and wondered if he thought it were completely obvious (to him) that he was joking.

You are smart and beautiful (young too) and you have TONS of potential. Totally get your tucus back in school. The sooner the better. I speak from loads of experience (and others here have taken similar paths) that the sooner you get back into school the better. It does not become easier to return the longer you wait. You can PM me any time if you need extra or specific encouragement but you can do this.

Step 1: Do you have all the prerequisites out of the way? Do those even one at at time while you are working. Take a FUN class first to get yourself back in the school mode. It can even be a non-credit course just for fun. Do it.)
Step 2: (this may be step one) fill out a FAFSA and make a note to fill it out again Jan 1 or 2 of next year.
Step 3: (notice this is NOT at all the first step,) figure out what you want to do, what you want to major in and get in to talk to an academic adviser about what steps are needed. (Repeat this step, often you need to talk to multiple people to get all the answers you need.)
Step 4: Look at resources and scholarships and other funding sources. When I started back I was in talking to the financial aid advisers, academic advisers, and the women support center. I asked classmates questions, and just kept asking until I figured things out. Look for scholarships. Keep looking. If you go to a community college get great grades and join the honor society (I swear to you this helped me get a $10,000 deans scholarship when I transferred to a four-year college.)
Step 5: Understand and internalize that you CAN do this. We believe in you. Look to others for inspiration too, I know this amazing talented group of people can offer great insight into their experience and what they did.

Thumbnail of my experience:
At age 32 with a medically fragile infant and a 2 year old as a stay at home mom to care for those kids, working graveyard shift, I thought I'd take "one" class a semester and maybe someday earn an associates degree.
On my 42nd birthday I was conferred a PhD in chemistry.

I believe in you!!!

OMG! There IS hope for me!

I keep thinking at 26 it might be too late.

I have some prerequisites out of the way but I never made it far because I was always over loaded. Now, I have nothing but time and maybe I could get my friend Alycia back into school and she could get a degree too!

I work overnights and have lots of time for studying and my Sergeants and Lieutenant all think I should study while working. It would be nice to get a Bachelor's Degree in something.

Assuming your average life expectancy is about 82... do you really believe anything is too late at age 26?

My grandfather, born a (SusieQ is the B word for illegitimate on your list of words not to use?) born an illegitimate child in 1902 went back to school in the late 1950's for his third degree. That was almost completely unheard of at the time. No judgement whatsoever to you - Just STOP limiting yourself with false deadlines and made up limitations. It is not at all too late. Now is a wonderful time. You have some life experience, you have time, you have more of an idea of why it is important, you recognize how much it will change your life. Start taking some steps to get moving. Don't just jump in too fast, though, ease back in with one or maybe two classes. The adult brain does change and if you have been out of school you have to relearn how to learn. It is all a good thing but it is different too.

Do it!!