Four Fun Things

Do you like the Aer better than Eva? Thinking about buying my first dame vibe!

My friends bought a fancy new home and had a fancy st patricks day party to go with it. I showed up and poured a family sized box of Lucky Charms into a giant serving dish and it was THE HIT because even fancy people want dry cereal snacks when they’re drunk.

Donuts are my go-to. Pure joy

The most glamorous woman I know is a writer in her mid-nineties. She had me over to her house recently for drinks, and she had sparkling pink wine and a gorgeous crystal bowl of Cheetos for us on her patio. It was the best, most relaxed happy hour of my life— I’m absolutely repeating the Cheetos/rose combo for my next dinner party.

My fiancé started bringing McDonalds to parties a few years before we met. Not every party but usually the large outdoor party ones. I was skeptical at first but he was right, people love it. And we keep it basic- a bunch of chicken McNuggets and Fries. I personally do not eat fast food anymore but I LOVE it when we bring it to parties and I can chow down on McD’s fries. They really are so good.

Our standard for parties lately is a large cheese pizza from any one of our favorite local spots – double cut, meaning each normal slice is then halved so it is 16 skinny slices. It is always gone in seconds and praised by adults and kids alike! Easiest ever!

Ok, so I have a question/comment about vibrators, and I’m keen to hear if others feel like me or if I’m an outlier! I discovered vibrators in college and have used them happily ever since, for solo fun and very occasionally with my (male) partner. The interesting thing that I find is that I do not have to be in a sexual frame of mind AT ALL to get off with a vibrator. I can have the most amazing orgasm without being turned on in the least and even whilst deep in thought about something very far removed from sex. Isn’t that wild?! This only applies if I’m using a vibrator; if I’m masturbating ‘by hand’ I have to be turned on first in order to get anywhere, so to speak. To me, masturbation with a vibrator feels like a purely physical experience, like getting a massage maybe, and one that can completely bypass the sexual part of me. Does anyone else feel this way?

My friend and I one time joked that one of us should bring Popeye’s to a potluck. He is a chef, and (at the time) I was a pastry chef. We both surprised each other. He brought chicken, and I brought biscuits. Lol. We were crying because it was so funny. Guess who was disappointed at what we brought? No one! It all got eaten. My real go-to, however, is either chocolate chip cookies or frosted brownies pre cut into tiny squares. They always, always disappear.

This reminds me of an article/recipe Gabrielle Hamilton wrote for the NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/23/magazine/a-snack-tray-to-gather-the-family-around.html

Love everything from the dame and her Doritos to the family competition and celery toasts

Also, My Policeman is based on a book which is based on a real-life love story between E.M. Forster and a married policeman. Forster is one of my favorite authors so I’m doubly excited to see it!

I love the idea of a bag of chips as an appetizer but once had a potluck where EVERYONE brought a bag of chips so…it was a weird but hilarious dinner!

Once in college we had a “kids food” party where we all brought childhood favorites like chicken nuggets, pb&j, and mac and cheese! So good!

I always bring Jello shots to parties! I make them a little more grown up with Sugar Free gelatin and flavored liquors. The shots always disappear and people have great college stories about Jello shots.

Really? Buying a vibrator for a college grad?! All about normalizing self gratification, but this seems really bizarre.

This girl just bought her first vibrator (after the past few years of deconstructing the religious purity culture I grew up in, hooray)! Thanks to Cup of Jo for helping make this moment possible. Hot Girl Summer, let’s gooo.

I did not know Harry Styles was in a film — I may have to check it out. I’m probably going to get heat for this but I’m not a fan of Cheetos (I know, I know, haha) but I would make a beeline for snacks like this at a party!

After 20 years out of France, when I came back, at the first parties I was invited to I was terrified: EVERY BODY COOKSm even appetizers. I’ve now relaxed and always bring Brioche and fruit, for our hosts’ breakfast the day after. We always get a message on the day after, because it’s so lovely to not have to worry about breakfast and the brioche is delicious!
(that movie looks so moving, I’m so glad I was born in the 70s)

Jo, how excited is Toby about Golden State?!

This is on the completely opposite end of the potluck spectrum, but my go-to is just a massive bowl of seedless red grapes (off the stem) and halved fresh strawberries. It’s usually one of the few lighter dishes in a sea of heavy casseroles – and people destroy it.

I had a grad school friend who’d bring a bag of Pizza Rolls (still frozen!) to parties. There’s nothing better than a fresh hot pizza roll at a moment like that.

Ok but also has everyone watched the trailer for the other Harry Styles movie coming out, Don’t Worry Darling directed by Olivia Wilde??? I don’t know the last time I was so excited for a movie. It looks like it’s going to be GOOD.

During the pandemic we discovered tot-chos. Tots on a half sheet pan, bake til mostly done. Top with a can or two of drained and rinsed back beans, shredded cheese, pop back in oven til warm and melty. Then scatter lettuce, olives, jalapenos, sour cream, and tomato chunks on top. Divine. Good for dinner, too!

I love a giant bowl of pistachios beside a second empty bowl for shells. Both kids and adults seem to love the zen of opening them. Plus they are kind of pretty.

The last potluck I went to we brought “homemade” pizza – Boboli crust, jarred sauce, and pre-shredded cheese. Everyone under 10 was thrilled and scarfed it. My chef neighbor brought homemade mini-corn-dogs with mustard-maple sauce. omg, hopefully we do this again this summer because I’ve had periodic cravings for them for the past year! I don’t even remember what else there was. Watermelon probably. But the corn dogs are the only thing I remember (and I remember them VERY CLEARLY).

yes! pigs in a blanket (nice all beef hotdogs and trader joes crescent rolls) always bring the “hell yeahs” and usually send us all into some great nostalgia conversations.