Bored at home -- so shopping !!

Yes and it’s got to stop!!!

Laura—no guilt! Enjoy yourself!!!
I’m sure you will use and enjoy all of them.

Travel safe

I'm looking at a stack of seven guidebooks (some bought used) acquired recently, and there are two more on the way. I've also bought some inexpensive crinkled-cotton clothing that's potentially usable for traveling. I'm not much of a shopper; this is hard for me, but I guess it all helps the economy just a bit.

What I really want is some whole wheat flour, but it is as scarce as rubies these days.

Yes, I have been doing some online shopping.

I figured I would spend the money I had earmarked for travel this year on refreshing some areas of my house. Spending time in here has made me pickier about how things look.

Hopefully I'm helping the economy, too. My first choice is to buy locally.

I haven’t done any online shopping and nor will I be! We are trying to minimise contact with items that could be contaminated not buying things that won’t be used until next year or beyond.

I’m with Jennifer. I’ve only shopped online for essentials (like toothpaste) so I don’t have to run to the store needlessly. The virus can live on surfaces for days. The few things I have ordered, it’s such a pain.

If you do, I’d advise you to open the package and just dump the contents out somewhere on the floor (without touching) and immediately discard the packaging in your garbage can outside and then go wash your hands very well. If you can wait to,touch the contents that would be better. If they are packaged, then wipe down the package with a wipe. Then go wash your hands again.

I'm doing the opposite: going through my bins and drawers of travel stuff and getting rid of things I don't think I'll need. Finding a lot of stuff I didn't remember I had.

I've been doing online shopping for things I can't get otherwise but need:
(1) Books. Our library is closed, and bookshops are open for shipping only (not even curbside pickup), so I've ordered books from them to be delivered.
(2) Flour. It's impossible to get at stores, and we bake a lot, so I've ordered from an in-state mill (at about 3 times what I'm used to paying). We always use King Arthur but they're out of stock on-line right now.
(3) Household goods (not toilet paper; there's some available here).
(4) Saffron.
No frivolous online shopping yet.

Robert, we are reading books from our library which gives us the option to read them on-line. My husband & I read a lot and have rarely used any other option for a few years than the on-line county library.

Only for food since I don't like going to the grocery store.

Doing my best to keep used book dealers going. . . .

Just the essentials so far! This am I received an email from our favorite product from Maui, HA., Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm. Since we missed our Spring trip, I will order their wonderful Lavender Rosemary Gardener Salve. Thought this would be a way to give back to this special company. Happy Aloha Friday!

Edited to add https://aliikulalavender.com

Everything coming into my apartment (including mail) sits untouched for at least 4 days unless it requires refrigeration, in which case I either wash it immediately or wipe down the packaging with alcohol.

In happier news, I found whole wheat flour at Whole Foods just now, so I have all the baking supplies I need. Bob's Red Mill is another mail-order firm that's sold out of practically everything.

We came to the realization that we were not going to be able to go to a gym for awhile so we made the hard decision to order some equipment for our den. Other than some exercise equipment we have been doing very little online shopping and thinking that a $ saved will be a € spent on a trip in the future. A second positive outcome from buying this piece of exercise equipment was that it came unassembled and it took us hours to put it together.

(2) Flour. It's impossible to get at stores, and we bake a lot, so I've ordered from an in-state mill (at about 3 times what I'm used to paying).

What's with the continuation of panic buying of flour (all sorts) and yeast despite the bread aisles being back to fully stocked? All I can suggest is that there is going to be plenty of out of date flour and yeast being thrown out in a few months time.

I've been buying a lot of beer. Since I read one Facebook post from a local brewery stating that they had lost 95% of their trade in one fell swoop once the pubs and restaurants were closed it brought home how fragile many businesses are at this time. They've decided to offer free delivery in a 15 mile radius from the brewery, one of the lads leaves a box on my doorstep on his way home, I'm happy, he's happy (they've had a surge of orders since) and I'm doing the same for other local breweries (and butchers, farm shops etc).

If there's one good outcome of this pandemic is that people are suddenly discovering or re-discovering their local producers and suppliers. Many have adapted well and hopefully people will continue to support them once the crisis dies.

What's with the continuation of panic buying of flour (all sorts) and yeast despite the bread aisles being back to fully stocked?

My Mom, with extra time on her hands, has pulled out her bread machine to make homemade bread. Plus baking for Easter. A lot of people have extra time on their hands to do recreational and healthy baking.

The suddenly-at-home bakers put a lot of unforeseen demand on flour mills!

OooHHH ... Online Shopping!
I see something I really want, but don't need. So, I try to find a reason or think of something negative about the product (like read some negative reviews) to stop myself from buying it.

I would like to give a "shout-out" to seventh generation cleaning and paper products. Available on Amazon.com.. Environmentally friendly and supports business in my Michigan hometown.

If you spray packages with Lysol or similar - let the package sit for at least 10 minutes before handling it. It takes most disinfectants 10 - 15 minutes of contact time to work. It's even better if you smear the disinfectant over the surfaces with a paper towel or similar to fully coat the surface. Basically, leave a disinfectant film on whatever you are sanitizing.

The supply of flours and yeast has gotten so lopsided that yesterday I mailed 4 packages of yeast and an assortment of Bobs Red Mill flour to my granddaughter, the avid baker, who lives just an hour away from me. These are supplies I’ve had since Christmas and didn’t use. I didn’t realize that yeast was a hot commodity even seeing all of these posts on FB about people showing off their sourdough bread creations. She is so excited to be getting a box of flours and yeast tomorrow. I’m sorry I can’t sample any of her creations now but I’m happy to help her keep baking and inspired.

Keeping with the travel thread too, this is the granddaughter we took to Italy and Paris for cooking classes last summer. She wanted seminola flour for her pasta maker and buckwheat flour for her galette making. Travel does inspire!

I hear ya, I have things in carts all over the place but haven’t pressed the place Oder button. Trying very hard not to buy things I really don’t need. I too have been cleaning out closets and with certain items have wondered why did a spend good money on this. I am a brick and mortar shopper, so I will wait till all is safe again.

Well, I'm doing what Stan's doing! We are moving - have bought the new house but had not planned to move til the end of this month however it might be longer as the moving company is closed for now. They'll re-eval next week. SO, I'm sorting, shredding, packing and throwing stuff out. We had to move up to biggest garbage can and the garage is overrun with bags of stuff for the charity shop/library book sale/recycle center when they all reopen. Not sure what we'll do if they are not taking stuff before we move. We might have to leave it in the garage while this house is on the market.

Flour is coming back on the shelves here although the whole wheat flour I use isn't back yet.

I think I will be forced to order shelf paper online, though!

Ashamed to admit I am looking at buying yet another carry on bag. Yes, I have a good supply already. It's an addiction I'm afraid.....

A lot of people are starting a new hobby during this period.
A friend went to Hobby Lobby and bought supplies right before stay-at-home started. She has taken up watercolor painting.

I have been living off of delivery -- grocery, Amazon items, restaurants. Do't know what I would do without the delivery people and their bravery. I am tipping well because of that.

I had been doing the grocery delivery thing for a long time so it is nothing new to me. Mostly just the heavy pantry staples and canned goods. I like grocery shopping and prefer picking my own meats, produce, and dairy. But the delivery people have been doing a very good job and are making sensible substitutions usually with my input via text.

I did have to go to the store today to pick up a prescription. I ended up walking down the baking aisle and flour was overflowing full. They had yeast as well. Only thing still in short supply was lard and other shortening items. I noticed because I thought of getting the necessary ingredients to make fresh bread and tortillas for Easter. I decided the frozen dough and pre made items would be easier. :-)

Oh, Laura, it’s such a temptation! I bought an electric tiller for the garden I am planting this summer instead of traveling. I had 2 bottles of wine shipped to my daughter from The Biltmore (it was our favorite from our wine tasting together last year) and they offer free shipping (the wine itself was the same price we paid in person). I ordered one daughter some micro greens seed quilts (she has lots of allergies and tries to grow her own veggies). Another daughter is in Thailand and they can’t get international packages now, so she is safe from my urge to shop. I am cleaning closets and drawers in my own house, so other than a cute pair of Keen shoes on sale at Duluth, my house is safe so far. Lol. Otherwise it’s grocery store pick up or restaurant delivery once a week just to help our local places.

I am doing very little online shopping. First of all, I have hardly any free time because I have been babysitting my granddaughters full time for a month now. Second, my investment portfolio has taken a big hit, so I don't want to be doing anything else to lower my net worth. And third, I'm not tempted to buy clothes and that sort of thing because I'm not going anywhere to wear them. Funny how things affect people differently.

I am doing some online shopping, mainly grocery. I too want to use my lockdown time to bake some bread. I love baking but haven't baked any bread for more than 2 decades. I also did some cookware shopping, because several stores are selling the 4qt Staub dutch oven for $99! I also bought a wok to try stir-frys at home.

BTW, I suggest everybody to support their local farmers and fishermen by purchasing produce, meat, and seafood online directly from them. Some are selling products formerly supplied exclusively to restaurants to residential customers (at great prices).

I really want to keep these small businesses alive. Without them, there will only be major national chains left.

Not knowing how the economy will affect my husband's job (I can see him following his father's example from years ago of forgoing his own salary so that lower level workers can continue to get paid), I'm trying to avoid extra expenses(except take-out food to help restaurants). Plus, our grocery bill is much higher now that he eats at home during the week instead of being gone 4 or 5 days a week most weeks. I don't feel very motivated to buy clothes when I have nowhere to wear them or travel accessories when I have no idea when I'll be able to travel again. On the happier side, a local bakery had an amazing deal on an Easter meal, including a whole cake and cinnamon buns! It's a good thing I cancelled a routine doctor's appt and blood test that was originally scheduled for next week! It does motivate me to walk on the 3 or 4 days a week that it's not raining.
I did have some books sent to my grand nieces. I figure they're getting pretty bored with school being out.

Thanks, guys -- I managed to get through the day without buying anything!

Like many of you, I am also culling out extra stuff to be donated to thrift shops -- but now I start thinking about how MANY new donations they will have to sell once they reopen, and get excited about looking through all those new (OK, "new-to-me") goodies. But at least that will be going back into the local economy, right ?

Whole wheat flour: I just got a bag this morning from our Great Harvest Bread franchise. (Got some Dakota bread and a sweet treat too.) We can order online, then pick up.

OK, so I guess what you guys are saying is that the reason the flour supply dried up is not that people are afraid they won't be able to buy bread, but that they wanted to have something to do when they couldn't go out. So how does that reflect on why the toilet paper is all sold out?

I noticed at first that it was the white flour that was gone, then the whole wheat. But there was a lot of corn meal. I noticed later that there was still a lot of ingredients to make gluten free bread, but it was a lot more expensive. I guess people hoard the cheapest stuff first.

In my store, you can't find tomato sauce, but there is plenty of pre-made spaghetti sauce.

In 9 months are we going to have a shortage of pampers and formula?

I really think that the reason stocks of staples are coming back is that the hoarders have run out of money (and credit). So when the checks come from the government, will the toilet paper and flour disappear again? And those same people will still claim that they can't pay their rent/mortgage.

@Lee, I heard a report that the toilet paper shortage is not due to hoarding. People are home when they would normally be at work or school, so using more toilet paper. The people who supply toilet paper to businesses are having problems. Their product is different and restaurants and most businesses are closed, so not buying that toilet paper.

Amazon has now prioritized "crucial " items, which makes sense, but is subjective.... I maintain a pretty high "par level " of toilet paper year after year.... but we needed some high volume flash drives to make remote working possible... and Amazon had them on the 3 week or more list.

However before all of that, I was using Amazon to deliver some thinking of you gifts to friends. I also bought some things for some nagging house projects, like 2 small silver knobs for the shutters on my bathroom window
...

There are explanatory articles out on the internet about the toilet paper and flour situations. In both cases there are two major factors:

• Increased demand because most people are home all day rather than at work or at school: More trips to the bathroom and more food preparation.

• Different packaging processes for consumer vs. commercial products: Huge sacks of flour going to commercial users vs. 5-lb. bags for consumers. Large rolls of lower-quality TP for public restrooms vs. smaller rolls.

The TP article indicated that in most cases the raw material for the commercial product is not the same as that used for the consumer product. And the supply chain from producer to end user is apparently totally different for the two products.

Flour is, to a much greater degree, flour, but there's an issue with changing the packaging from huge sacks to 5-lb. bags.

The articles convinced me that the initial shortages were real and would not be easy to resolve. Once shortages were evident, some people did start over-buying when they were lucky enough to find the product.

I love to bake, so I was so glad that I already had a jar of yeast and 10 lb of flour with no thought that I needed to start acquiring a hoarding quantity. Some of my fun baking during the quarantine has been making croissants that I learned in Paris several years ago - make them about every three months. And I typically make a homemade pizza every Friday night.

My son-in-law picked up flour for me during their last grocery run. He said it was the last bag on the shelf. It’s gluten free. Hmmmm..... I’ll probably just donate it to a food bank.

Lee,

It seems to depend on what store you go to on what day of the week as to what they have in stock. They tend to fill up one aisle each night (baking goods in my store for today as mentioned above) so you almost have to go to the store every day of the week to get everything you need. Or visit multiple stores in the same day (or have multiple deliveries) to get everything you have run out of. Charmin TP and Target is one example. Here in the Denver area, each Target seems to have different sized and type of Charmin packages. They all have some form of it, maybe not the economical sized packages we are used to buying.

I see a different approach to warehousing products by the grocery stores after this gets behind us. Right now, all of the new stores being built have practically zero storage space in the delivery area and product is taken straight off the trucks and placed on the shelves to sell. There is some space for holding extra sale items when bulky stuff (paper, sodas, beer, etc) goes on sale, but even this depends on daily delivery. The same pattern is followed all the way up the chain until you reach the manufacturers. This is the just-in-time supply chain that businesses like because it minimizes the amount of money they have tied up in product that is not on display for sale. As we have seen the past few weeks, this doesn't work when there is unexpected demand. When a localized disaster occurs (hurricane, earthquake, tornado) emptying the stores, the surrounding areas can divert product to the areas in need. When every area is in need, the product can't get where it is wanted fast enough. I feel the chains especially will begin keeping more product in regional warehouses to minimize out of stock issues. HEB, a Texas based grocery chain, has earned massive praise because it had started this move a few years ago. While they were not quite there yet, they were able to get the majority of their stores fully stocked much quicker than any other chain in the US because they had more buffer in the supply chain.

Robin found a picture online today of a person with a shopping cart filled to the top with TP, in the return line of Costco (Costco has announced that they will not take returns of TP, or rice). I heard that earlier TP was selling on eBay for $10 a roll. Someone here in Denver posted a picture of people selling it on the street for $5 a roll. I think there were people hoarding it thinking they could make a quick profit (which is illegal). What about that guy who had 17,000 bottles of Purell in his garage?

Jean! I saw flour here in Moscow today. I’ll be in CdA next week (not sure which day) and am happy to bring you some if you’ll let me know what you’re looking for. There was zero Bobs Red Mill. I noted Gold Medal AP, self rising and unbleached white. No pastry or bread flour or other kinds. Of course this was the first time in weeks I’ve seen so not guaranteeing it will be there next week!!

The guy with all the Purell is still sitting on it and crying to anyone who will listen that he is being unfairly treated by not being allowed to sell it at any price. What he should do is donate it to some charity needing it. He would then save some of his dignity and might even be able to get a tax write off.

Actually, considering what I have been doing I might be better off looking more at the shopping emails and less at the political contribution requests ... But that's another topic entirely, for another board.

Actually, mark, according to new York times, purell man donated it all on March 15

One plus about the current situation is that the produce in my local supermarket (a Safeway) looks noticeably better than it has in the past. The vegetables don't seem to have spent as much time getting from the field to the store.

...or at least the vegetables don't spend much time IN the store.

Back to the topic of online shopping in these boring days.
We're in week three of being sequestered at home with an 8 year old. Or, is it week four? We are thrilled to not heard those words, "I am bored."
After hitting four large supermarkets last week, I did find some King Arthur bread flour and found yeast. So my wife is back in the bread business after a 15 year lull. And the granddaughter is learning how to cook too.
We've been very good to lay off the internet ordering of most anything. Only I go shopping for food locally, and that's even at odd hours. I'd just hate to see where we'd be if we didn't have WIFI and satellite television with Netflix and YouTube.
Three days ago, a crane showed up in my back yard and moved a new fiberglass swimming pool over my house. That was quite an excitement. It took the contractor two days fighting with the county's Building Department to obtain a building permit on the telephone, by fax and internet since they are hunkered down in an office building closed to the public. They're bringing in an excavator this morning since the weather's finally good, and producing a mountain of dirt I've got to get rid of.
I'm sorry, but we just don't have time to get bored. And we've got plenty of landscaping to take our time and efforts for the upcoming weeks.
At least if we do feel too shut in, we can take a drive throughout the countryside. And we can call some friends on the phone since we're all hunkered down--being of early retirement age..

I was supposed to leave for Italy Monday, so I've received a lot of refunds for my travel. I made the executive decision I could use some of that money on a new under seat airline bag and some photography equipment. Online shopping is dangerous, but it does bring a moment of happiness!

I regret nothing.

What's with the continuation of panic buying of flour

I'm not sure it's continuing. It did disappear quickly in mid-March, and I couldn't find any anywhere; certainly not King Arthur, which is what I use. So I finally broke down and ordered directly from an in-state miller, despite the high cost. Then yesterday while doing grocery shopping I saw flour, including King Arthur. I also saw lots of toilet paper, but I passed, as I didn't want to be a hoarder.

"At least if we do feel too shut in, we can take a drive throughout the countryside."

Not where I live. In Pennsylvania a woman was stopped and ticked for violating the Stay at Home order for going for a drive.

I do not agree with it but that is the way it is being enforced. To me she was still practicing social distancing and isolated in her car.

I haven't had one day of boredom and the only online shopping that I have done is Peapod (grocery delivery), oh, and my 25+ year old food processor broke so I've ordered a new one. I've even stopped looking at suitcases and only seldom checking this site. My TV time, which was usually in the evenings, is almost down to nothing...except the evening news. I've been self-isolated for over 4 weeks now, and yet I have so much left to do and/or learn. I don't understand boredom, especially at home...and I don't want to be taught to understand boredom either (Sometimes when I say I don't understand something, I get a lesson. LOL.). I do miss my family, but FaceTime and visits through the storm door does some to substitute. I still don't seem to have enough time to get that vacuum going too often...

On the other hand, my husband and I get along very well, and enjoy each other's company, although our separate interests pull us apart most of the day. I suspect in 9 months, in addition to many babies, there will be just as big a rush of divorces.

Maybe think back to when you were pre-pubescent? Did you have any interests that life smothered, which you could resurrect? For many of us, those interests would have been off-line.

So my answer is No, not a lot of online shopping as I have everything I need at home, and I am happy to have a nice home to isolate in.

I'm not sure it's continuing. It did disappear quickly in mid-March

It's still continuing here in the UK. Toilet paper is back to normal levels but flour, eggs and tinned tomatoes are still in short supply or non existent.

I don't buy the theory that toilet paper hoarding was due to lockdown and working from home as in the UK there was panic buying well before any suggestion of a lockdown.

My parents probably would have understood the shortages -- I once saw the ration books they had saved as remembrances of the WII years -- in Los Angeles. (Since I was a war baby, they even had one with my name on it.)
Make do or do without.

Bob’s report above:
"At least if we do feel too shut in, we can take a drive throughout the countryside."
Not where I live. In Pennsylvania a woman was stopped and ticked for violating the Stay at Home order for going for a drive.
I do not agree with it but that is the way it is being enforced. To me she was still practicing social distancing and isolated in her car”

So what did the cop do? Hand her the citation using a six-foot pole? Probably not.

As noted above, anything delivered is eligible for disinfection. Shopping’s not the worst thing someone could do, but this could be be a time for just virtual window-shopping. Hmm . . . maybe shopping for windows?

"@Lee, I heard a report that the toilet paper shortage is not due to hoarding. People are home when they would normally be at work or school, so using more toilet paper. The people who supply toilet paper to businesses are having problems. Their product is different and restaurants and most businesses are closed, so not buying that toilet paper."

Report was not true around here. There's no need for anyone to roll out of Costco with three shopping carts full of TP because "we are going to be home more" NO They were horading. I actually saw an interview with a woman who is not rather upset that Costco won't take back her tons of extra TP because "I need money for food" (Honestly I don't feel too sorry for her. )

Well, I haven't been bored yet. But I have done some online shopping....Costco, Boston Market curbside pickup .... and I'm getting spoiled by it.

I kept busy for a while with an upcycle project, turning a beat up old garage cabinet into a cute patio garden shed. I cleaned it up and used partially used cans of paint to give it a fresh look. Then I wanted to replace the mismatched door knobs. I found a nice pair at JoAnn's, which I can pick up curbside.

When I next travel, I hope to find some nice, hand-painted, souvenir knobs to upcycle it even further!

At our house, packages that arrive are put in the garage for 3 days. Then they can be opened.
Canned goods from the grocery are put in the garage for 3 days, too, then wiped down with Clorox wipes before putting in the kitchen shelves.
If you are found out riding around town, unless you are going to the grocery or doctor's office, you will be ticketed by police and fined $1000. Police are out on patrol.

Wow! Glad we can still drive without tickets. My daughter said she drives around after going through the drive-thru just for a change of scenery. And we went to a nearby state park Sat and only saw one other person on the trail we were on. My weekly schedule is 1 trip to grocery or Walmart, 1 trip to state park, and this week a record 5 virtual meetings.

LES MIZ parody for the bored facing one day more of self-isolation

https://youtu.be/_DwlnT3WxrI

Wow! Glad we can still drive without tickets. My daughter said she drives around after going through the drive-thru just for a change of scenery.

The whole idea of sticking to driving for essential purposes only is to reduce the risk of accidents, breakdowns etc all of which iinvolve the precious time of emergency services and others and also risking spreading the disease.

JC,
I hear what you are saying about reducing driving risks/traffic accidents to free up hospitals and medical staff. But, we can use that approach all the time for all the same reasons. In fact, we can go further and set permanent speed limits at 50 mph to save lives. (Approximately 30k - 35k people die in USA every year due to auto. accidents.)

I don't know your age. I am old enough to remember a few things from the 70's. There were gas shortages. So, the government mandated 55 mph speed limits to conserve fuel. During that time, public health workers figured out that vehicle deaths and injuries also declined. So, the slogan became "55 saves lives." But, Americans prefer speed over saving lives and eventually demanded the government to allow higher speed limits. (Personally, I think higher speeds are acceptable on some rural roads that have good driving conditions.)

I see nothing wrong with people taking a relaxing cruise during Covid-19. My father-in-law sometimes has to do this with his wife who has severe dementia to stay sane.

If you are found out riding around town, unless you are going to the grocery or doctor's office, you will be ticketed by police and fined $1000. Police are out on patrol.

Interesting since your location says Nashville and since i have lots of friends in Nashville I looked on the Davidson County website and apparently there are other places you can go

• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru Care for a friend or family member Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be outdoors for exercise — maintaining at least 6 feet between you and others Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian, if necessary Help someone to get necessary supplies

Wow! I had to go to the drugstore today for shampoo and they had both toilet paper and hand sanitizer! I was in awe!

...And I was excited when the drugstore had both milk and athletes foot cream !

Today I went "shopping" in my stash of travel stuff.
Since we won't be travelling till probably next year, I remembered about all the little bottles of lotions and potions in there that I won't be using soon, and soon to expire or go "off".
I discovered two bottles of quite nice body lotion, two containers of face cream, two cans of hair mousse, some mosquito spray, quite a lot of Tylenol and ibuprofen......and four individual alcohol hand wipes!
All travel sized of course, but I can use these up this year right here in my own home.
Happy camper.

And an update -- one item (noise-cancelling earphones) arrived unusable, but when I reported this to the website (Wish) , with references to discrepancies to the manufacturer's own website, they issued a full refund for a counterfeit item. Luckily for me I had saved screenshots of the original description.

Just adds to the fun!
Shopping from my closet sounds safer, though.

Yikes ... Counterfeit items! Criminals relentlessly find ways to infiltrate just about everything. I got a minor "burn" on EBay once on a fairly cheap item. I stopped using EBay after that, even though I have had some positive purchases/sales on EBay. I am just not the bidding type.
If you have the funds, Wal-Mart sells some high-quality Bose headphones that can be used to cancel sound just by wearing them without linking up to a radio or similar.

I will say that I'm far more likely to hurt myself on a) our in-home treadmill (actually having to dial the workouts back a little this week because my left hamstring is getting a little bit of s twinge) or b) tripping over the indoor cat that likes to get in the way than I am to get into a car crash while doing a little bit of extended driving.

I'm trying to support smaller businesses so this week have made purchases at Upton Tea, Penzey's and The Spice House and am still waiting for a couple of kits from European Cross Stitch to come off backorder.

https://european-crosstitch-company.myshopify.com/collections/chatelaine-designs

Selkie, re accidents, while wrestling with a squash I wondered how many kitchen injuries (cuts, burns) are on the uptick with so many of us eating all meals at home

Geepers, that website is like cocaine. I am still avoiding the small counted cross stitch kits I bought in Ireland 15 years ago

Ha ha Doric8. Waiting in my online shopping cart is a product I always try to have at home since I had to visit Urgent Care after slicing off the tips of three fingers with a mandolin a few years ago. I was getting low on my supply of Blood Stop after another finger cutting episode, not with the mandolin (I gave the mandolin away after the incident). I also put butterfly bandages in my virtual shopping cart. I’ve never used such a bandage but I’m thinking of alternatives to Urgent Care and ERs during our shelter in place life. The odd medical supply is hard to find so I’m thinking of buying these things online.

Mona,
You may want to check out a Swedish knife called Morakniv 511. Cheap and easy to buy in USA. It's a camping knife with a major finger guard, good ergonomics.
Sounds like you need to keep a medical kit on your kitchen counter. You can use damp tea bags (black type teas - something like Lipton) for compression to stop bleeding until you can get the bandaids out. Stay safe - the ER.s don't need extra patients these days.

If anyone is missing Italy (sigh) and likes Italian Ceramics go to biordi.com. They're an import store in San Francisco. A nice reminder of of all the places we've visited. Enjoy!

Mona, butterfly bandages are incomparable for skinned knuckles, or cracks and sores that come up from extreme hand washing and hand sanitizer use.

We brought home spices from Morocco and Greece on last year’s trips. But selkie, so Penzies is back up and running? I know they’d shut down completely for a couple weeks. Bill at Penzies is concerned about the fate of the world, and is working to make this a better world for everyone.

I just realized i’m out of oregano, and parsley. Still have dried basil I grew last season, in our short growing season. I’ve got enough tarragon for a looong homestay, but oregano needs replenishing.

Happy seasoning, and watch for cats underfoot! 😸🦶

Mona, ouch!! Found my mandoline again (using with plastic finger guard) but I should keep some of that stuff on hand. Thanks for the info. Sounds like something to add to my travel pharmacy, too.

I just ordered a few cheap face masks, to be packed for the next trip just in case.

[Webmaster -- see, this is travel-related]

The message on the Penzey's web site:

We’ve just started shipping orders again after a three week shutdown to revamp our order processing to make it safe in this time of needed social distancing. Unfortunately this has left us about three weeks behind in getting out orders. Sorry. Please trust that your order will be shipped in the order it was received so there is still a lot to be said for placing an order today rather than waiting until we are caught up. Shortly before we ship your order you may see a “Pending” charge on your credit card. Your card isn’t actually charged until your order ships. Due to the volume of orders we are not currently able to make modifications. If you need to cancel your order, enter your email address and order number here.

So, the slogan became "55 saves lives."

Back in the "55 saves lives" era, I did some calculations based on published data, and I determined that, at the slower speed, people would spend more days in their cars, on average, getting to where they wanted to go, than would be added to their lives by the safer, slower speed limit.

Twice in the late eighties, the state of Colorado increased the speed limits on the Interstate highways, and, both times, much to the "speed opponent's" chagrin, the annual traffic death rate in the state went down. I wasn't surprised. There were two valid explanations for this effect. 1) Accidents are caused by drivers making mistakes. Drivers don't have odometers attached that make them make these mistakes per mile, they make them per minute of driving, and when they spend less time driving, they make less mistakes and have fewer accidents. Add to this that at slower speed, people tend to be less attentive and make more mistakes per mile. 2) When the Interstates have the same speed limit as highways with two-way traffic, people tend to take the latter highways if the distance is shorter. When the speed limit on Interstates was raised, people went out of their way to take the faster highways, and Interstates have a much lower fatality rate then non-divided highways.

I was running out of coffee, so, in order to minimize my virus exposure, I ordered more from Costco. At the time they said their "2 day delivery" was running taking 5 - 7 days. After a week, I traced the delivery and found that the "2 day delivery" is now taking 14 days, so I went to the local grocery store today to get more (I was completely out) to tide my over until their "2 day delivery" gets here. (Glad it wasn't toilet paper I needed.)

P.S. As I was writing this I received an email saying my coffee order has been shipped.

Selki,
Thanks for mentioning Penzey's! So nice to give back to our favorite businesses. Our local Penzey's store has been closed. I miss visiting my favorite spice store. I too had read that their online site was opening up again. ;) Fortunately I am stocked up on my favorite spices. I freeze my spices. I buy the spices in their zip lock bags and can store them flat. They have a long shelf life. Penzey's has a plethora of "no sodium" flavorful spices. I recommend them to my Hypertensive patients who are on low sodium diets. My personal favorite is "Mural of Flavor." www.penzeys.com

I succumbed to Dillard’s (online) sale. After much debate I saw the perfect tunic, black with multi-colored small squares, to go with everything. It fits perfect, lightweight and will pack nicely for my someday next trip. But I just read the tag—dry clean only. Bummer. But I like it so much, I’m going to keep it and hope it will hand wash safely.

REI for travel related items. Some good bargains were available . I got some travel shoes and have them on my shelf for the next trip. I will periodically check, especially the outlet. Not in 2020 for us but hopefully 2021.

Thanks, Topazann, for the suggestion about using wish lists -- I set up one on the Wish website yesterday and avoided buying several "bargains" that I certainly do NOT need. Or at least I avoided it yesterday.

Now about those packing cubes ....

Amazon.com is a bit like a slot machine. It's addictive and just a little too easy to press "Buy." I bet it was designed by the same engineers that develop gambling equipment. There's a lot of "cues" to trigger spending. Sigh... My husband and I both have purchased some things from Amazon in the last few days. I think psychologists helped to build Amazon.

Too many great sales! I've shopped quite a bit, but only on items that rarely go on sale or were on a great sale:
1. Klean Kanteen - Buy one set get one set free on reusable straws. Also, sale on bottles.
2. L.L. Bean - Daypack regularly $49.95 on sale and with dividend totaled $23. It's going to be a useful daypack for car or plane travel.
3. REI - Clearance ExOfficio t-shirt for my husband. This particular one is his favorite and is no longer being offered by ExOfficio.
4. Ann Mashburn (terrific Atlanta boutique) - Entire site is 20%.

5. Visitag - 25% entire site for customized, quality luggage tags.
6. Nordstrom - Sale on some cosmetics that I needed to replenish.
7. Tom Bihn - Stuff sack and colorful carabiners. For each order, they provided a free zippered pouch. This was a purchase that I didn't really need, but I wanted to support small American businesses. They are now making facemasks rather than their usual items.

Many of these are small businesses that I want to support until they can reopen.

I couldn't pass up the multiple discounts and free shipping on a pair of Aetrex shoes that match my travel wardrobe. Now I see they're having a 50% off on sandals sale!

It has been a struggle, really. I have to set a budget for online shopping so I don't go overboard, I think.

@ Gal thanks for pointing out the Tom Bihn facemasks. They look like good ones.

Revisiting this thread. I ended up giving in on buying a satphone because it was recommended for camping on here. I'm not going to do it soon but eh, at least one thing off my mind! Ha ha

ppeterson77--If you can cancel that order, take a look at the Garmin InReach instead. We go to the Alaskan bush and used to use sat phones, but instead use the InReach now. Smaller and much cheaper, and they work great!!!

I have definitely done more online shopping the last few months.

My latest is ordering fabric and such to make backpacking pillows. Our family has two favorite pillows from 20+ years ago and Thermarest does not make those anymore and the ones that are out there are really wimpy. So I looked at one of ours and figured I could easily make it. I did, and now am going to start an Etsy shop even, lol. The only hard part is picking fabric out online as it does not always look the same in person.

We have belong to a local coffee roasters subscription service for several years, so thankfully that was not an issue during this time. We are on auto ship for it, but were going through it faster so could easily change the shipping frequency. They roast it two days before it is shipped, and it usually just take a day to get to us. Perfect!

Even better than shopping online -- Amazon has started sending me items that someone else had ordered. And yes. I have called to report this. So if you are missing delivery of a facial hair remover or pet nail clipper ... check with Amazon.

Hahaha! The joy of packages without even the hassle of choosing something!

Getting packages without ordering could be a scam called brushing. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/567488/beware-amazon-packages-you-didnt-order-ecommerce-scam

I listened to a podcast about this a few years ago.

The joy of packages without even the hassle of choosing something!

Kind of like Christmas, opening package without knowing what's in them. Do you have to say, "Just what I wanted"?

I’ve been online shopping more, but need to stop! We aren’t going anywhere except occasional outdoor dining (and social distanced). I have plenty of clothes and sandals for that, but those darn fashion influencers!!! I need to quit reading their blogs.

The only things I’ve purchased where I don’t feel guilty are more shorts (need 5” now) and more short sleeve T-shirts. I don’t need to get onto the DSW Website anymore!!! But just in case you want to see what I bought that a blogger was wearing. It’s not even my style but it looked so cute when she was wearing shorts.

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/steve-madden-elba-wedge-sandal/451915

I tend to prefer to shop in store to test the fit, but I did make some multi garment online purchases this past 6 months than I ever have. I am retiring in 18 months, so I justify the purchases by saying I am buying while I am earning. That's what they recommend; right?

I think I'm well set for several summers' worth of European travel except for shoes. I wear out a pair of walking shoes on every trip. So far my foot size hasn't changed, so I'm glad to buy two or three pairs if I can find something really comfortable that's mostly black and inconspicuous. My clothing sizes tend to go up and down depending on how careful I am about what I eat. I can't imagine why.

I have a good excuse, I really do.

In an effort to fight off Type 2 diabetes, based on a 6.5 A1C last August, I lost 13 pounds by my next A1C in early December, lowering the number down to 5.7.

By that time, most of my clothes were too large, so I bought a few things that fit, intending them for my trip to Ireland in May.

I continued to lose weight, going down an additional 12 pounds by my next glucose test in early May. That number was down to 107, the lowest it's been in years.

Along the way, the continued weight loss made the new pants I'd bought in late 2019 a size too big. And the old tops and pants I'd kept became clownish. And we were shutdown. And I do most of my clothes shopping online anyway.

As long as my Type 2 diabetes related numbers stay stable, I'm not likely to lose any more weight. I'm even less likely to gain any because the consequences are too problematic.

As fate would have it, the mega-sales started tempting me. Who can resist a $12.50 tee from Eddie Bauer when she has no tees left that she can wear outside the house except to walk her dog on the dirt roads of her neighborhood where all the two of them see is birds, cottontail or jack rabbits, ground or antelope squirrels and an occasional coyote?

I mean she has to have something that fits to dress up in for her weekly very early senior hours grocery shopping trip, and for the occasional medical procedure. Right?

Goodwill got about 80% of what had been in my closet and drawers. I'm not replacing everything.

I should receive the last item from my last order next week. It's from Coldwater Creek. Besides CC and EB, Land's End and LL Bean have benefitted from my weight loss and the shutdown.

Hmmm? 🤔 That must be why they keep sending me shopping bait filled emails.

I had bought several dresses In January/February for our Italy trip in September. They are so cute to walk and tour in, but too much just to run errands and not enough when I go out in the evenings. (Well, outdoor seating now with family). I was really looking forward to wearing them. Now they will sit for a year. When I look at them now I just sigh.

I still was trying to find one more pair of pretty walking sandals, and now I’ll have time.

I was yesterday at TJ Maxx looking for a new olive oil dispenser since mine broke a couple of weeks ago. Of course I had to go rummage through their luggage section and found a Travelon packing cube set (4 cubes) and a 4 mesh pouch set also by Travelon. Both sets were $3.

Lo, could you please share your secret for losing 25 pounds? That is amazing! I seem to be stuck in a trading range!
Thank you!

Intermittent fasting and find a calorie calculator and input your stats. Weight training and Your own body resistance Training will define your muscles nicely. Doesn’t even have to be a lot.

Recently I have begun weight training, so maybe I will see some results from that!
Thank you!

A lot of sporting goods/outdoors stores and sites are doing July 4 clearance sales. Have gotten a ton of stuff from REI for 30-50% off their good quality house brands .I can pretty much live in their Sahara t-shirts for most of the year because they breathe and wick so well.

We all need to calm down and and accept that this is going to go on for a while. Beyond basic necessities, the spread of the virus has forced limitations on discretionary spending for a while.

No need for me to buy new smaller clothes -- putting on the Covid 19 while sheltering at home near the refrigerator. And sweatpants cover a multitude of bulges. For Zoom meetings, a pretty top is all everyone will see, anyway.

For months I've had no interest in traveling or buying 'things', as I think I've previously indicated on this post early on. But then, recently, the luggage sales kept bombarding my inbox. For the past week I've studied all the sales, thinking 'oh, this one' or 'no, that one' on luggage I've had in the back of my mind for ages. Each time I almost pulled the trigger, I thought about my new Personal Item that I have or my RS wheeled bag. I like both very much and as long as they are working, I have not been able to push the button. ( I love the exterior arrangements on the RS wheelie and most don't match it...except the Eagle Creek Tarmac Int'l...but not enough for now.)

Finally, after days of studying (or entertainment really) I bought an item that I've been looking at for several years (can you see I am not a spur of the moment shopper?). I saw a women wearing this in the Raleigh Airport a few years ago... Due to having to carry masks and sanitizer and tissues besides my small Canon G1X, I've had to go to a larger purse (not that I go anywhere...). Anyway, I bought this for my purse ( and to quell my urges), to be able to pull out and wear separately if need be, for now and for my next international trip. (Oh, and, of course, it was the only item not on sale...) Does anyone have one, and if so, how do you use it?

I had been using this, but on my only, so far, RS trip to Greece, one nice, well traveled older gentleman (I can't say older that much anymore) pointed out that the zippers did not lock and the strap had easy clips to undo. So, I'll blame that lovely 87 year old (at the time), former military pilot. For those who love to know what other people use, my present PI is a slightly older version, last year's, of this, but in charcoal. This PI means I don't need to decide on a backpack, tote or crossbody or trolley sleeve, as it has it all. For my bag, I just can't do better than my 'looks like new' RS wheelie as, again, the pockets fit me perfectly (sigh).