I've been mulling over the Cuisinart Griddler for awhile now. Do any of you have one and love it? Is it worth the money? If you have one, for what do you mainly use it? (paninis, pancakes, something else?) I'm wondering about ease of use and clean-up, as well as versatility. Thanks in advance!

KitchenAid stand mixer, Microplane zesters and graters, Pyrex mixing/storage bowls, and my crockpot.

Oh, Nordic Ware is also made in the USA- Quality Cookware, Kitchenware, and Bakeware from Nordic Ware - Nordic Ware And, like Hornblower, I have no problem buying from Canada, Europe, etc. I really am trying to cut back on goods from China, and found it's tough to do, especially on things like toasters and other smalll appliances, unless you're willing to spend a lot of money.

My daughter and I read a few of the books in the Landmark Herodotus last year and found it fascinating reading. Herodotus is considered the first "modern" historian (the histories were written somewhere around 400 b.c. I think). He was apparently a wonderful story-teller, and his writings are an interesting mix of history and myth.

Great idea! I'm always looking for goods made in the USA or, at least, not made in China. Here are some kitchen items made in the USA: All-Clad cookware Pyrex glass mixing bowls, etc. Fiesta Dinnerware Vermont Cutting boards Clothing: Clothes Made in the USA Lucy Love clothing I will try to find more later.

Well, we've stayed in all of those you mentioned, except the tree house. The cabins are neat, and the full kitchen is great if you want to prepare some of your own meals---there is also a grill outside each cabin. You can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom, or buses to other parks from Ft. Wilderness. For me, though, I prefer The Contemporary or The Wilderness Lodge (which has an amazing lobby, btw!) I like being closer to the restaurants, shops, etc. The Wilderness Lodge lobby has all these awesome little nooks and corners with cozy, overstuffed chairs and sofas in which to relax. I love taking a book and a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) down to the lobby after the kids are asleep. It's an incredibly beautiful place to unwind after the hustle and bustle of the parks all day. You can take the boat to the Magic Kingdom from The Lodge, or buses to other parks, just like the cabins. I also like The Contemporary. The monorail is great if you are spending a lot of time at the Magic Kingdom, or plan to eat at some of the great restaurants at other monorail resorts. There's a huge arcade in The Contemporary if that's something your kids are interested in. It's home to two well-reveiwed restaurants---The Wave, a new eatery featuring natural foods, and The California Grill, which is atop the hotel with a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks, and a really nice wine list... It really depends on what appeals to your family. All Disney resorts have a special ambience, imo. And, staying onsite does give you the extra magic hours, either in the morning or at night, which can potentially make your trip more enjoyable by enabling you to see and do more in less time. Have a great trip, whichever resort you choose!

Me too! I have tons of CM and DOTS/CTMH supplies and haven't touched them in years, but I really want to get back to it when I have (make?) time. I have 3 or 4 albums in progress, and grandiose plans for more :D. I can't get rid of my stuff.

It reads, "All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form for any purpose without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes."

Like some of the other posters, I reacted to news of Princess Diana's death with lots of tears. I do remember being surprised at how much her death affected me. Last summer, my girls and I went to a showing of Diana's dresses at a Hard Rock Hotel, and I cried again... I also cried when John Lennon was killed. I know I've cried (or felt sadness) at the news of other celebrity deaths, but those two stand out.

Honestly? I am very relaxed about meals. I often have something else available for my children if they don't like what I've made. It doesn't bother me at all to make a quick sandwich, scramble an egg, or pour cereal and milk into a bowl if someone does not (or, in some cases, cannot) eat what I've prepared. As far as manners go, I'm not a stickler at home. Elbows on the table, talking, joking....doesn't bother me. That said, we,as a family, enjoy dining out at fine restaurants from time to time. I can tell you that, on more than a couple of occasions, we've had other patrons come up to us and tell us how well-behaved our children were. So, my kids do know how to act appropriately at the table, how to handle their utensils, what to do with their napkins, etc. We just take a more laid-back approach at home.

Originally Posted by Imprimis As much as I don't love these pests, we very rarely use an exterminator. I just don't want the chemicals in my house. Do you use any home remedies? Boric acid? Natural Born Pest Killers: Home Remedies for Pest Control Yes, we occasionally dust with boric acid, especially under appliances and sink cabinets. I also have used cinnamon with some success. When the fire-ant mounds in our yard become overwhelming, we do,at times, use chemicals---but again, we don't do this frequently. If there are just a few present, we use boiling water and pour it directly onto the mound. It does work, but it's time consuming (not to mention water consuming) if you have a large property, as we do.

Yes, I just ordered my TE to Exploring Life directly from Pearson.

Yep, we've watched several of them; Most of them are very well done, imo. We purchased Castles and Dungeons, which we used during our study of the Middle Ages. I logged it under history, along with the rest of our history materials.

Thank you, Shalynn! I had never seen this site before. My kids are really into Disney Imagineering and we found some great dvds there.

I just finished Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Beautifully written, but so tragic. Now I'm reading Atonement by Ian McEwan.

Tween Waters Inn on Captiva has historic cottages as well as villa-like accomodations. The location is really unique as the front of the resort faces the Gulf of Mexico and the back is on Pine Island Sound. I also like Casa Ybel on Sanibel, but have found the rates really sky-rocketing over the last few years.

Well, let's see....mosquitoes are a huge problem----especially this time of year, we have mounds of fire-ants, palmetto bugs, fleas, occasional "what-the-heck-is-that-thing?" sightings, and the ever-present daddy long-legs spiders in our house (which we leave alone to help control the indoor mosquito population:glare:). As much as I don't love these pests, we very rarely use an exterminator. I just don't want the chemicals in my house.

Yes, I think both of these books are wonderful. I will be using Handbook of Nature Study with all three of my kids this year. It is an amazing resource.

Well, did you say hello to her? Many people are shy, and it's sometimes out of their comfort zone to initiate conversation with someone they don't know. It doesn't necessarily mean they want nothing to do with you.

I actually have Edu-Track---have had it for a few years---but still prefer pen and paper. I even log by hand; I like being able to carry my kids' logs with me throughout the day and log as I go.

Yes, but only after I discovered that my son's difficulty with writing was directly related to issues with the mechanics of writing. He has always struggled with handwriting, and when I finally allowed him to type his writing assignments I was amazed at what he produced.

I, too, have been very happy with Rachael Ray's cookbooks. I have 365: No Repeats and Just In Time! My family has several favorites from these two books.

Amazon sells ruled filler paper in bright colors.

Thank you! How about the rest of your science supplies? Anyone have any favorite vendors from which to purchase slides, petri dishes,etc.?

I take Relpax, which is a triptan, and have not had any noticeable side effects from it. I've read that it has less side effects than some of the other triptans. I've never taken any other triptans though. I tend to feel "not quite myself" after every migraine episode regardless of what I take----it takes me awhile to get completely back on track. Glad to hear you are feeling better now!