WordPress

I've decided to switch on over to WordPress, mostly because I can and not for any very specific reasons, other than I know lots of people use it and one friend in particular strongly encouraged I make the switch.  I'm a little behind the curve on a lot of social media stuff.  I don't use the Twitter account I established for anything other than checking the soup specials at a local cafe.  I signed up for Instagram, but have no idea how people use it, other than to post pictures on Facebook.  Basically, I have far too many accounts, not enough time, I don't even know what various things are associated with my different emails addresses, etc.  So, I'm starting from scratch.  I'm changing my name/email with all of my accounts all over the place, I'm going to learn how to integrate things (a/k/a simplify my life), and it's going to take some time.

In other words, I'll be back, and hopefully better than before, just as soon as I finish my seminar paper and exams, and get back from my honeymoon with my husband.

Cookware and Crystal and Appliances, Oh My!

It's official - Ryan and I are married!  The wedding was amazing, if I do say so myself, but surreal.  We had a wonderful time celebrating with our family and friends, but it's officially time to get back to the real world.

On today's agenda is the return of some items we received and the purchase of some items we need, like pots and pans.  I know, I know, it's a pretty exciting Sunday.  Seriously, though, I'm pretty excited.  It's not every day you have enough gift cards and cash to buy your dream set of cookware or that VitaMix you've wanted since your freshman year of college but could never justify buying for your dormroom.  The problem is, I don't know what my dream set of cookware is. 

I've ruled out the copper cookware since the care is slightly more restrictive than other sets and we don't have that much in gift cards.  The All Clad, as glorious and shiny as it is, has handles and a weight to it that makes me feel like I'm going to break my wrist, and I really don't need another wrist surgery.  I thought we had settled on the Calphalon Contemporary Stainless Steel 8-piece set (with a double bonus) from Crate & Barrel, but now I'm not so sure.  Is stainless steel really the right choice for our family of three?  Isabella may not eat with us, but she's still a member of this family, and I may have t strt cooking duck and rice for her again if this itching doesn't stop.  Should I go with the non-stick cookware?  Do I forego a set of cookware and buy a mix of individual pieces?  These are real problems, people! 

Okay, maybe they aren't real problems.  We aren't starving, we have a china cabinet with beautiful crystal in it, and we have each other.  However, we do need something with which to cook our food and we've already given away most of our cookware to relatives who are either just setting up their first home away from home or are about to.  Plus, I dn't think I can convince Ryan that we will be able to survive with just our juicer, VitaMix, and All Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker, no matter how fancy those items may be.