I was in charge of dessert for Michelle's birthday dinner and ended up making chocolate-chip cookie ice cream sandwiches since she loves cookies so much. Isn't this photo pleasing?
Poor Amy broke her wrist in an ice skating fall 3 weeks ago, so she was sporting her newest cast. (Her first cast didn't allow her to bend her elbow.) Poor girl, she's left-handed and has been dealing with the loss of that hand, an unsympathetic husband and the pain of the broken bones.
We had a great dinner of 7 layer dip (Jana), tasty rice (Jenn), rolls (Amy) and Chicken Enchiladas (made for the first time by Collette). Everything was really good and so satisfying that we stuffed ourselves silly.
Jana brought us each a 1 liter bottle of Mexican vanilla from her recent cruise. Hello, 1 liter of vanilla!! I've never seen such a huge bottle of vanilla, it seemed like we should have a glass on the rocks. It's like she gave us our 2 year supply or something, so nice.
After dinner we moved downstairs to the book club room (aka the family room) to discuss the book. We all really liked it and especially loved the characters of Sam and Lee. I had another banner night of inarticulate book discussing. I don't know why they let me be a part of the group because I really don't bring much to the discussion. I always finish the book, I always have notes and thoughts about it, but when it comes to discussing it my mind goes blank and I end up nodding all night in agreement to what everyone else is saying. What is up with that?? I hate it.
We had to laugh at the foxy, vintage copy of the book Jenn's husband bought for her online. She wasn't able to finish the book because she could only read 10 pages at a time before having to take a "mustiness break". Ew. She also entertained us by telling of her dilemma of being in 3 book clubs right now, one of which consists of only her and one other lady. This triggered a fit of giggles in Jana that took awhile to stop. I think we all found it amusing that we think of Jenn as being strong and outspoken, but she said she has no backbone at all. Hmm.
We gave Michelle a $100 gift certificate to the mall for her gift. We can't believe it's almost time for her to go to Paris again. It seems like it wasn't so long ago (though it's been 2 years already) that she was trying to find clothes and shoes for Paris, we're hoping the mall gift certificate helps her get ready this time around.
**Do you have a hard time scheduling get togethers?
Have you ever seen a 1 liter bottle of vanilla before?
Have you ever had a super musty-smelling book?
Are you book discussion impaired or articulate?**
Have you ever seen a 1 liter bottle of vanilla before?
Have you ever had a super musty-smelling book?
Are you book discussion impaired or articulate?**
24 comments:
THat's a cute picture of michelle- jenn's book- so funny.
when the missionary was in H.S. taking an AP math class, one of the kids had a "smelly" book. NO ONE wanted it & soon no one would leave the class, even to go to the bathroom without their book, for fear they would end up with the smelly book. It was hilarious. Kids were constantly switching the book, even bringing siblings into the trickery.
It is really hard to schedule get togethers- especially in the spring. life gets so busy in spring- so glad you guys got together.
East of Eden is my favorite book, but it has never looked less enticing than in Jenn's musty version. Yuck for her! My aunt worked in a used book store when I was growing up, and I hated visiting her there because it was like musty book headquarters.
Crazy that it's time for Michelle to be getting ready for Paris again. That doesn't seem like it could possibly have been 2 years ago.
i have to say that i love musty smelling books. i actually got a migraine last summer from sniffing don quixote too much.
vanilla is one of my favorite tastes.
oh missy...you nodding? how come? You have such great opinions and notes from your reading...I can't believe you actually don't muster them outward.....practice! hehehhehehehehhe
Again, I am envious of this book club! I still don't have any takers on a book club in my neighborhood, only a measly craft group that meets every other month. I think that Goodreads is as close to a book club as I am going to get for now.
Kim's dad used to be a truck driver and brought her a liter bottle of vanilla from one of his trips to Mexico years ago. When her last relationship ended, she made sure to take that bottle of vanilla out of the pantry as she left! We still use it.
Laughing about the musty book!
You girls always have so much fun together!
I am pretty much always discussion impaired.
That's a HUGE bottle of vanilla- awesome!
Visiting teaching is always difficult to schedule... and that's only 3 people to get together! :)
I kind of like the musty smell of old books. Am I strange? :)
I love, love Mexican vanilla. My favorite is the clear. Lucky girl with a whole liter to yourself!
I always wonder why you don't talk about the books- I KNOW you have good thoughts!
Even when I worry about the night, it is always a good time!
(Thanks for listening "after hours" and enduring stupid boys who scream out their car window- I appreciate it!)
That picture of the cookies is so pleasing! It was a delicious dessert.
It's crazy how hard it can be sometimes to schedule book club. But always worth it!
I have never seen a 1-liter bottle before, it was totally cracking me up because it looks like a liter of diet Coke!
The only super musty book I have had is one I bought on Amazon. It said it was in very good condition, but it had yellow pages, a wrinkled cover, and smelled. I haven't bought a book on Amazon since!
Sadly, I am not articulate. Oh how I wish I were! You do have a way of being quite during book discussion. Maybe we need to start inviting you to share your notes!
I'm excited about my gift certificate! Of course I need new shoes for Paris again...
I have never seen a bottle of vanilla that big! That is awesome!
Those ice cream cookie sandwhiches looks delicious!! What a great idea!
I am horrible at discussing books. Sometimes I form really strong opinions and bug everyone with my one sided take (thinking everyone should feel same), and then other times I seem to have no opinion and feel like I am swayed by every other comment.
How fun to have a gift cert like that! And Paris again?! How fun!
Okay Michelle saying she isn't articulate is insane! The cookies look amazing! In my book group we tried to say that it will always be the 2nd Thursday of every month and yet it keeps getting switched to the 1st Thursday!
What a fun night! Your dinner looked soooo good. I credit East of Eden for stopping me from marrying the wrong guy. It's been years since I read it but I remember that part at the end where there is the realization of FREEDOM! or CHOICE! I really have no distinct memory of it now--but it changed my life. I should read it again! A mall giftcard is a great gift, as are cookie-ice-cream sandwiches.
I thought I commented on this already but I don't see my face anywhere :(
Those cookies are a sight for sore eyes!--
Your book clubs always look like so much fun...
You never strike me as someone who draws a blank!--You always have a funny, witty comeback for everything...I'm having a hard time imagining you tongue-tied during the book club discussion...
Vanilla on the rocks!--seriously!--that doesn't sound half bad! That really is like hitting the jackpot to recieve a bottle that size!--How generous of her to give everyone one...
That taking a "mustiness break" comment made me giggle--
What a generous bunch you all are to do that for Michelle...so thoughtful!--
I definitely understand the "discussion impaired" feeling. I feel that way a lot on blogs, actually:) I don't know why either!
I could really go for some of those cookies right now...yum...
And a super musty smelling book? EW! Not okay!
I have had musty books before and they definately ruin the reading experience. I bought a 1 litre bottle of vanilla in mexico, it is a precious commodity. One you use it, you can never go back to the imitation stuff in the store...
i'm always amazed by your book club get togethers. they seem so organized and fun! if i had one, it would be like "you can bring chips and we'll sit and chat."
1 liter of vanilla?!??! amazing!!!
i used to love musty books- now i love the brand spanking new ones. :)
i am impaired in discussions- period. it's like i can have the thought and then it gets strangled on the way out. so irritating.
and i cannot believe michelle is heading back to paris! wow.
I've never seen a huge bottle of vanilla like that but I guess that would certainly inspire some baking! I'm interested to hear about Paris. Is this a vacation trip or a longer trip? What does that mean for Creative Fridays? :)
I have an impossible time trying to schedule get togethers. There are 12 of us gals that get together every month and it's like trying to negotiate a hostile takeover to get everyone on the same night.
That is the biggest stinkin' bottle of vanilla I've even seen in my entire life!
I've had musty books and can't read them. I have a mold allergy. :(
I do pretty well with book discussion. I was in fact thinking of joining my friend's book club.
I've also never read East of Eden....will I like it?
I really need to try and make those cookies sandwiches. I think we would go crazy for them.
I can't believe Michelle is going to Paris again. Is it for the whole summer? I guess no seven peaks for her? That will be sad.
That gift certificate would be so great to have, although I would probably spend it on everyone else but me since it is so much more fun to shop for others than cry when shopping for me.
i always request large bottles of vanilla from friends who are heading to mexico. i LOVE mexican vanilla, i swear it's so much better than the imitation crap we have available here.
east of eden is probabaly in my top three favorite reads of all time. i felt so sad when the read was over. it was our best book discussion ever due to it's depth. i actually considered naming my son ethan "john" after john steinbeck - seriously, i love it that much. :)
and i'm with michelle - next time, just bring your notes and go from there. i'm having a hard time thinking of you as not contributing to the book discussion.
Your ice-cream sandwiches are the best. In fact Bella was just reminiscing about them last night.
Poor Amy. That would be the worst to break your dominant arm/hand. I guess you would have to find creative ways to get by.
I feel like your such a social person that I'm always surprised you don't talk very much in group settings. Maybe your comfort is one on one.
PS Mexican vanilla is like gold in the states.
I really want one of those ice cream sandwiches--RIGHT NOW. I think I had that very edition of East of Eden in high school! Does that mean I'm vintage, too?
I want to read that book. I have had stinky books and they are not fun. I understand her situation.
The food sounded so good and the company even better.
I hate when get togethers get pushed back and back. I don't have a hard time committing, I have a hard time when others commit then cancel!
You are so lucky with that vanilla. I get it like that and am almost out! Those cookie sandwiches look so freaking good right now.
I get musty books from the library here and there, it sucks.
I can't imagine you not being articulate cause you are so good at expressing yourself here. I hope I get my thoughts across during discussions :)
Post a Comment