A new start

[Lise]

Crock Pot. Cookbook: Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook. It will teach you all the basics of cooking with a crock, and has great recipes.

Seriously. You can put food in there and let it cook all day or all night. You can make a lot and freeze some in single portions, and come home to dinner all made for you. Uses very little energy, space, time, or even skill.

Tonight I'm making a Hot Fudge Spoon Cake in the crock pot, and that recipe alone is reason enough to buy both crock and cookbook.
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A sofa of some sort. Don't skimp here. I went cheap with every sofa I ever bought. You want to be able to read on it, sit and laugh or cry with a friend, and offer it to a loved one who needs to spend the night. I got rid of my last cheap sofa when I moved in with my husband. We love/hate his sofa - it's ugly, but it has two recliner sections, which have been invaluable as I've had two foot surgeries since meeting him. Several family members have slept here while visiting us, and my stepdaughter's college friends have crashed here. A good, big sofa is worth it.

Congrats and welcome to your new adventure. All best wishes.