Things that are nice but not worth the hassle

[CrabbityRabbit]

I made sweet potato gnocci for dinner yesterday from scratch. They were lovely. But they also covered both me and my kitchen with a thick layer of orange gloop that took ages to scrub off. And the gnocci were all funny shapes since they were too sticky to roll out properly. I shan't bother again.

In the same category I put properly decorating the house for Christmas/Halloween. I love decor but can only just be arsed to decorate the tree/carve a pumpkin. So they are the only things that get done despite the fact I would love a house covered head to foot in fairy lights/skeletons.

A decent skincare routine. Can barely remember/be arsed to slap on a moisturiser most nights let alone toner, eye cream or anything of that ilk. Am convinced I would have dewy, glowing skin ala a South Korean skincare advert if only I could be bothered to use 39 different products every day.

Anything else?

Oh corvid, you needed to get that out! Well done for making him an ex

What does it taste like made with creme fraiche? Definitely going to try that

I have a couple of tops that require ironing but apart from that I don't iron anything.
DH irons his shirts for work and the bed linen.
He knows if he wants ironed sheets then he's going to have to iron them.

Bahaha! Corvid you've just described my life before becoming a single parent. I was the "all knowing keeper of things." I especially enjoyed frantically getting myself and baby ready for work/nursery while ex wore headphones and ate his breakfast cos he needed a peaceful start to the day.

I like flowers but found buying, arranging then chucking fresh flowers a right faff. So I now have a lovely arrangement of silk flowers and don't care if MNetters think fake flowers are naff.

Chocolate fountains. Bought one for my DS' birthday party. Seemed like a great idea. Until the next day. Loads of chocolate left over in the fountain which caked into a solid immovable lump. Had to attack it with a knife. It wasn't even nice-tasting chocolate so all had to be removed and thrown away. Plus chocolate splashed all over the kitchen. Never again

Pomegranates

Thanks Rick :)

Oh yeah the eating out thing. I love it till the end when I want to go home about an hour before everyone else. the thing at the end with the pudding (never have pudding) the bill, the faffing, the standing about going "well hasn't this been nice" - WELL YES IT WAS NICE 40 MINUTES AGO WHEN I WAS STILL HAVING A LAUGH AND LOVED EVERYONE. I think I have a switch that goes on just that bit before everyone else's that goes "the evening is over now".

ILikePaper - how on earth can that have seemed a good idea?!

"Mummy, can I have a chocolate fountain?" "No darling, they're too tricky and messy. Go and choose a nuclear weapon from the Argos catalogue instead"

I made fish with fresh beer batter once. It was stunning, probably the best thing I have ever eaten but oh the mess! And the smell and the length of time it took to do it for the whole family. Can't face doing it again.

Getting my highlights done regularly. It takes years off me but takes three hours 😩. Honestly can't be bothered.

Christmas. Christmas the UK way. All about money, stuff, eating and drinking. Really can’t be arsed and have ducked out of it as much as I can. No longer send cards or go to any Christmas events.

Work social events. Just too much bother.

Oxford Street. Seriously grim shopping experience. Used to love it, was brought up near it, considered UK’s premier shopping destination but really not worth the effort.

Ironing

@MakeYourOwnFuckingTea it tastes amazing with Creme fraiche & Parmesan - I’m not that great a cook but people always compliment my lasagna. And I feel smug cause it was so much easier to make

Poptart you iron the bedding on the bed

Giant's Causeway, apparently.

Not my words, but those of Samuel Johnson.

I've never been to see it yet, but would love to.

Homemade dumplings!

Hair appointments. I have long, thick hair so it takes ages no matter what! I definitely don't go every 6 weeks

Same for blow drying - washed it last night and now it's drying curly because I can't be bothered

Fresh grapefruit. It's what hotels are for.
Ready-made bechamel is excellent. The ragu needs an hour to simmer before going in lasagne though.

Non lumpy mash is easy. Get a potato ricer. Never any lumps ever again

I agree about the potato ricer but the major drawback is cleaning it after.

When I lived in the US everyone I knew used their kitchen aid to make mashed potato, I couldn’t bring myself to give up on my trusty masher.

Losing that last 5 lbs

Growing your own Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Going to London for any reason

Thanks for the wrinkle releasing spray tip @Dontgiveamonkeys1350 I'm going to give that a go. We let out a room on Airbnb sometimes and I've gone from obsessive perfection (including ironing even the bottom sheets - I don't iron anything else in the house, ever) to don't give a shit. The bedding does look a lot better when it's ironed though, so will make myself a wrinkle release spray. :)

Homemade lasagne. Not worth the bother.
Homemade moussaka. Totally worth the bother.