Have a Fun Weekend.

You sound like a real joy.

1. If the folks that invite you over think fried chicken or Costco pizza is nice, then either they actually think those are nice foods, and even someone who’s picky as hell and a food snob like myself, can appreciate that we have different values and it’s ok. OR their life is hard right now, so all they can manage is fried chicken or take out, but they are desperate enough for friendship and company to invite you over anyways, and hoping just as desperately that you won’t judge.
2. The only decent and appropriate response in either case is a big “wow! Thank you! I’m so happy to spend time with you!! And this is delicious!” I think if one can’t muster that then maybe they don’t really like the folks who invited them to begin with??

To clarify, I am not saying I expect a feast at someone’s house when I’m invited over. Something simple is fine, if they decided they don’t want to cook we can do a restaurant and it’s fine. But the I’m having a dinner party and having KFC or deli food, is not a dinner party and not cool. It’s a hey come over and let’s eat take out or do you want to come share my KFC with me party. Those are fine things, but not a dinner party. If you invite some one over for a dinner party, you’ve got to make a little effort even if it’s simple food. Tons of things can be pulled together without much effort ( look at most the recipes on this blog) and it’s that personal touch that counts and makes it a dinner party versus sharing take out.

I am a BIG fan of the dinner party post. We do the same thing pretty frequently. We stop by our local grocery store grab some grilled chicken from the deli, a few chicken tenders for the kids, a bag of salad, some rolls, and some cookies from the bakery for dessert. It feeds an army for less than $35.

It’s a great go-to when you want to coordinate a last minute picnic at the park, dinner with neighbors, a low key evening with friends, and nights it’s too hot to cook.

What I also find interesting is my mom is such a skilled cook and entertainer, but I think she over did it with her dinner parties. Everything was so well thought out and planned to the very last detail but in the end I think it intimidated the guests. Sure, they enjoyed themselves, but I wonder if they felt like they wouldn’t be able to reciprocate a similar type of evening in their homes.

I’ve taken an opposite approach now that I’m an adult and like to keep things warm, welcoming, and low key. I find my social life is much more full than my parents was and I think it is largely because there isn’t so much prep work! No one feels like they need to “put on a show”…. they can simply be themselves.

same here :) i got an award from my home ec teacher in high school and i always remember that she called me a “quiet leader” in the book dedication.

Julie,

My very close family member was diagnosed with RA in her forties, which was a traumatic shock, and she has had a lot of success with stopping the progress of the illness through diet. Please reach out if you’d like. RA is so tough, feeling for you!

Julie, sending hugs to you! I’m 32 and have had RA since I was 18. I have tried everything under the sun, including CBD oil and it didn’t help me either. It’s such an up and down cycle, hope you find something that can help you for a while! Also, it’s so individual, I have a friend that can completely control with diet – but I tried that for a year with no relief. xoxo

Julie B, I’m sorry about your RA diagnosis, so hard. My dad has it too, it’s a terrible disease.
I too tried CBD oil (good stuff from a dispensary) and so desperately wanted it to help me, with any or all of some chronic health problems. I got nada. I also felt worse – sort of high/weird, to the point I could only take before bed, and then I felt headachy/hungoverish in the morning. I felt worse, not better. I know it does help some (many!) and was so hopeful, but it’s not quite the wonder drug that some (especially those selling it via MLM schemes) are making it out to be.

I hope you do find some relief.

yes I bought some last winter that are SO comfortable but they have not left the house because I am not sure how to style?

I think all joggers look very cute tucked into short booties or with scrunched socks and clogs / clog boots. My friend wears hers with her “cute” sneakers (as opposed to work out sneakers) and they look great but I do think her ankles must be cold with those no-show socks.

I edit a weed magazine for women, so this is a topic I am fascinated by!

Instead of the NYT piece, try Dan Nosowitz’s piece on CBD for Vox Goods—it’s definitely a more skeptical take, and offers a more comprehensive introduction while raising some helpful and accurate points: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/1/18024806/cbd-oil-vape-hemp

It’s worth noting that the WHO says that CBD is safe and non-addictive:
http://www.who.int/features/qa/cannabidiol/en/.

In the studies we have, CBD is a very promising treatment for a number of conditions (especially epilepsy, and as a potential tool to help with opioid addiction (the Vox article doesn’t mention that, I don’t believe, but that might be the single most transformative use)) and there’s a lot of anecdotal evidence from people who use it for a whole array of things. Still, there just hasn’t been a lot of research in humans; it’s hard to know whether it might help you unless you are willing to try and experiment.

Complicating things is the fact that if you don’t buy it from a dispensary, it’s hard to be confident you are getting a quality product. Products in dispensaries usually undergo mandated third-party testing, but the supplements in the grocery store don’t.

As with all things weed, there’s a lot to learn, and in the meantime, we’re all leaning on each others’ stories, and waiting for research to catch up. I’ll be curious to read what other commenters have to say.