I hope this works...I'm going to work the eve before and early to get a ton of stuff ready and prepped. That morning my crew can eat these and clean elsewhere and I'm in the kitchen zone alone for a bit. Then we'll all head to a friend's Turkey Bowl :) From emeals: 4 slices bacon 1/2 cup thinly chopped onion 1/2 cup packed baby spinach 8 large eggs 1/4 cup coconut (I used almond) milk 2 T coconut flour (I used ww) 1/3 tsp pepper PH oven to 350. Slice and cook bacon (I used turkey bacon) till done. Remove and add onion. Cook till tender and add spinach till just wilted. Remove from heat. Mix eggs, flour, pepper and spinach/meat mix in bowl. Pour in muffin tins (grease or use USA pans so no oil required). Bake 15 - 18 mins till center is set. I'm serving these with fruit. Just made them today, so hoping they hold well in freezer and can just be reheated day of.

It isn't built yet, lol. We're just now getting under roof. I need to let electricians know about what I'm putting in so they can wire for everything and I'm stumped. Do you think the Pottery Barn Rustic Glass Pendants are overdone? I love~! them...and they'd fit perfectly with decor/time period of what I'm going for. I see alot of them on Houzz though and don't want to put anything trendy in the house, I'm hoping to do this ONCE and be done for the next 20 years, lol.

Open space concept- LR, DR Kit Pottery Barn-ish - garden, traditional, decor with LOTS of natural light and windows - think bell cloches, plants, natural woods and materials, mushroom colored cabinets with dark butcher block and soapstone countertops. Plumbing fixtures will be brushed nickel (I think that's what it is called - not the shiny silver). What type island pendants would you choose? If really bored, I need a dining room light that matches as well...

"To dismiss a range of choices that differ from mine as "what feels good to YOU" is invalidating and life diminishing. WOH moms who use public schools still make sacrifices and make decisions with their chidren in mind. Homeschooling, SAH moms don't have the corner of the market on informed parenting choices." I wasn't dismissing anyone's choices. I wasn't referring to SAH moms or WOH (Work at home? I'm not sure what that stands for). Sorry for the offense, I was definitely not being clear if this is what you read me saying. I apologize.

"Not every parent can be intellectually, emotionally, spiritually stable doing this job the same, and it does impact the family. Only you can know what is best for your individual situation." Very well said and I was so busy rambling on, I may not have said this sentiment but I should have! :)

I agree with so much of this but for me, personally, I have to learn to do well what I don't necessarily "feel" like. The one practical thing I'm doing to change my attitude? I am volunteering for two hours per week at a historical site where I am learning from THE BEST gardeners how to prune, grow veggies and be outside. That's provided a bit of "me" time. I have teens so they're more than capable (and actually are rising to and above the occasion) to get dinner ready and handle home while I do what refreshes me. It is working! I'm making friends and I'm learning SO MUCH. Plus, the views, the history, oh my. As far as the hard grunt work of it all... This may sound "trite" and like I'm being dramatic but I AM gaining my kids hearts, having time to talk to them about weighty issues that might be swept under a rug if we weren't spending so much time together and they were busy with ps stuff. There is eternal (I believe it) value in those discussions, those moments of "let's calm down and talk this out", "let me have your ear for a minute and tell you what I see". Yes, doing Algebra is hard. Yes, reading yet another historical biography is taxing. Yes, I am sick of grammar lessons. BUT...what a privilege TO MY KIDS to do so. Don't forget your initial vision. Your desire to bring your kids (or keep them) home and school this way is not to be taken lightly. My life verse this year and last (seasons of burnout, exhausted, high stress and some high maintenance changes including bringing two elderly relatives to live with us AND building a new house) has been Galatians 6:9New Living Translation (NLT) 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.I hope you continue to seek support. We're working hard and need encouragement. We need~! to talk this out. It's ok to not feel like it. It's ok to have to learn ourselves to press through (isn't this what we desire to teach to our kids?) You know, having been around here ten years now, I can sense a dramatic change on the boards. Do what feels good to YOU. Well, guys, I'm sorry, I'm going to say it. Parenting isn't about what feels good to us. It's about what's doing what's best for our kids. For some, that does definitely mean sending them to school. If you're angry, resentful, bitter, raging, whatever...you're doing NO ONE good. If you're lazy and sleeping in and unprepared and not providing rich material for them to learn that's no good either. BUT for others, it means buckling down. Finding something you're all eager to learn about. Taking time to smell flowers. When's the last time you went on a nature walk? Took the day to just read and talk? Those are gifts. Days are short. If tomorrow you woke up and didn't have these kids and this grammar and this task of homeschoolilng - wouldn't you miss it? Dwell on what is good and true and noble and lovely. I'm talking to myself here as I go on, so sorry for the rambling. I say (to myself!) trash the negative unlovely, unhelpful, untrue! thoughts and do what is so worth it. HTH

Here's a two year old thread about Jann's math classes in case anyone is interested...and lookie there. I started it :) She's been such a great help to us with math. (No. I'm not related, lol) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/415631-unsolicited-shout-out-to-jann-in-tx-for-her-math-classes/

Algebra I is too important to let mistakes in understanding go very long. In your situation I would run to Jann in Tx from these boards. For a minimal fee she can pinpoint where the weakness is and help with direction from there. I'm so thankful for her instructing my kids in upper level math. I seriously don't say it enough on the boards. http://myhomeschoolmathclass.com/

A good Geometry course in our homeschool is any one that I don't teach :) We use Jann in Tx from this board as our math instructor. She offers online classes here http://myhomeschoolmathclass.com/ reasonable rates, cheap textbook, personal tutoring and extra help if needed SOoo thrilled to have Jann helping my kids with upper level math.

I'm curious what style shirt those of you with some great fashion sense would wear if you were trying to cover up some disfigurement on the upper part of your chest? Not as in a modesty thing, I'm talking much higher than cleavage. I'm not interested in turtle necks but want something with a good bit of coverage like what a turtleneck would provide. Although I don't need my entire neck covered, just from about my collar bones down. I was thinking collared shirts but they're still open at the part I want covered. V necks same way. Normally I just wear a regular collared cotton shirt but I'd like to change up a bit if I can find something.

Just journaling our experience here because I'd love to read this type of post from anyone else. While the food amounts wouldn't be enough for all of us with any single plan, I've decided the Paleo (for meat lovers) and the vegetarian (for dh and I) may work. On a whim I did the lunch (the Paleo lunch is super massively meat heavy!) Tried the breakfast plan as well. I guess when you pick a Paleo dinner plan it gives you Paleo lunch and breakfast - way too much meat for us I think. emeals says this is for 1 week, but we will most assuredly go longer with all this food. A plus is that we'll be trying some things we've never eaten before...like a roast with cabbage, mushrooms and tomatoes - mushroom barley risotto - butter leaf lettuce stuffed with asian flavored veggies and ground turkey - and a jicama salad. I spent an hour and a half shopping stores with dh - we tried to make it fun and I had help loading, unloading so that's a win by itself! Whole Foods - $80 Trader Joes - $257 and Harris Teeter - $60 I bought 6 pork chops - $22 (5.49 a pound! ouch) and a roast - $21 (5.99 a pound! ouch) I should add we were practically out of everything, oils, milk, eggs, frozen fruit, fresh veggies, etc. Those two meats were budget breakers but I figure they'll provide us with leftovers. We'll see how this all pans out. As one who is trying to cut back on meat, buying all that seems counterproductive. I'm hoping though, that the kids will be more full after a bigger meal of veggies and some meat. For the olders who are used to a meat, potato, veggie and bread every dinner it has been a rough transition going almost vegan - this is an attempt to bridge the food gap for everyone. backstory if you care :) We have 7 in the house - basically feeding 5 adults and 1 child breakfast, lunch and dinner. Only dh is gone during the day. As his work is constantly busy, he ends up grabbing something quick and there are few cheap options nearby. I've been overspending on food, finding myself unprepared for the high food needs and although we've finally conquered the eating out temptation, I've not yet arrived at successful meal planning. Seems I'm inconsistent or lack the energy to plan and end up going to the store without a list (bad!). I've gotten so stressed about food issues here I've cried twice. I'm really hoping I learn something at least - at best we all are satisfied with the offerings, the kitchen stops being a food counter with me acting as sole chef and dh and I can keep to our preferred diet while satisfying the natives :) With a clear schedule, directions, and a stocked fridge I'm also requiring everyone participate in prep, cooking or cleaning up at each dinner.

This is a project that has been hanging over my head. Just wanted to brag that five HUGE piles of photos are sorted by pre kid (only dh and myself and family/friends in those) or by kid (as close to date sorting as I could muster). anything before kids - one pile for me - one pile for dh kid 1 kid 2 etc Within each kid sort are rubber banded groups of just that child and another grouping for family and friends photos (I figured only that particular child and myself would want to look at multiple pictures of them alone so I subdivided the kid piles as such). I bit the bullet and stopped thinking I could save money and do it myself - NOT!!! - , by paying the $99 at the scanmyphotos website they will send me a prepaid box to ship them all to their location where THEY will do the scanning. For me, this was a HUGE project - soo emotional! It is now complete as much as it depends on me. Wanted to post in case someone else wants to get their family photos organized but don't even know where to start. I read books, blogs and thought long and hard about how to tackle this. HTH...

A true classic in our Virginia family, Amy. I'll see if I can't find my great grandmother's. I think she used cream corn? And maybe evaporated milk? Dunno but everyone (except me) LOVED her corn pudding. That and rum balls. And collards. And oyster gravy. And fat back green beans and Parker House rolls Hope ya'll are well. I'll get back to you on the recipe.

I reviewed this list and realized although I'm doing really well (almost nazi-ish) on the no prepackaged or chemical laden foods. However, I am not doing so well replacing them with a high veggie, high green selection of veggies. How did/do you incorporate more healthy things in your diet when your crew has been used to meat, potato and bread each meal. My dh is a BIG Eat to Live proponent and when I fully support this way of eating, he's thinner and feels much better. I should say we've come a long way and they eat fairly well, chickpeas, salads, occasional quinoa, green smoothies if they're sweet enough. My in-laws moved in however and are used to canned tamales, vienna sausage, canned gravy and biscuits with Jimmy Dean sausage, etc. Now in the summer they're high veggie eaters but that's a diet of corn, potatoes, fried okra, and iceburg lettuce with thousand island dressing. I read through this list from a composting forum I was reading about how if foods are good for you they're good for compost. It got me to realize though that I am in a rut and eat the same lettuce, the same veggies, week after week. BORING - and I am confused on what to even feed everyone. I have two ends of the spectrum here plus three kids in the middle who are HUNGRY :) I would love any advice you can give...you all (well the ones who click on this) are the only ones who care to talk about this in my life. Sorry it is so long. Maybe I need to hire a nutritionist. 1. Dandelion: use young leaves. 2. Arugula: Slight mustard green flavor. 3. Kale: Use young leaves. (I found this is smoother than spinach in smoothies) 4. Parsley: Helps bring out the flavor of others. (I buy a bunch for one recipe, use 2 tbsp and the rest rots - embarrassing) 5. Romaine: Somewhat strong taste. (We're fine with this, use too much probably) 6. Spinach: High in nutrients but contains oxalates. (could do better than a handful in a smoothie) 7. Beet: Best if you use young and small leaves. 8. Butter: Lettuce (too expensive around here!) 9. Endive: Contains oxalates. May affect calcium absorption. The top ten fruits and vegetables in overall nutritional content: 1. Broccoli - Broccoli is a vegetable very much like spinach. Broccoli is the superhero of the vegetable kingdom! (I should eat this much! more often. Kids like it and so do inlaws. We eat it in a stir fry with red cabbage, carrots, broccoli and chicken.) 2. Cantaloupe - The orange color of cantaloupe's flesh relfects its extremely high beta-carotene content, which converts to vitamin A in the body. 3. Carrots - Carrots are nutritional heroes, they store a gold mine of nutrients. (I realized we only eat these in soups or occasionally with a veggie plate and hummus) 4. Kale - Unusually rich in the minerals and vitamins provided by green leafy foods. (my primary usage of this is the following Olive Garden copycat soup but has a bit of cream in it - sooo good http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/182777 5. Mango - Cholesterol free. High in vitamin A and vitamin C. 6. Papaya - Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain, which helps your body break down and digest proteins. 7. Pumpkin - The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. 8. Red bell Peppers - Peppers are full of vitamins C and A, as well as folate. They are also high in fiber. 9. Spinach - This lovely, leafy green is not only flavorful, it is a nutritional powerhouse. 10. Sweet Potato - The sweet potato deserves to be on the highest perch because it is a nutritional powerhouse supplying many nutrients. (I was thinking this is a "bad starch" and was lumping it in the bracket of white potatoes, maybe I should rethink that. I make this awesome stew that dh loves... http://www.plantoeat.com/recipes/385248

TIA

Want to share that recipe, Anne?

I'd like to make these http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/07/light-brioche-burger-buns/ and do as much work tonight as I can. Which steps can I do tonight, what can be done tomorrow? (or should I just completely finish them tonight and reheat tomorrow?)

I should add that I just thought this morning if I kept the fridge/pantry down to 3/4 days worth food I'd probably shop seasonally, have fresh food and save money. That takes alot of shopping trips though and that means time, planning and not flying by the seat of my pants which with 7 in this house to schedule/drive/and care for I'm not sure I could keep up. I'm thinking about it though...

"That sounds like a fun idea, but I've never quite understood it. I shop for exactly what I need each week. The only extra things I have are flour, rice, brown and white sugar and that's about it. " Not being snarky but you're just smarter than I am, Garga. I have a ton of stuff I don't use that is just taking up important space. Should I be more specific? Lemongrass paste, dried coconut, dal masala spice packs, TJs curry sauce, coconut WATER (wha???? who bought thaT?) I think your way is very smart shopping. I just don't have the energy to make the list in the first place. I go shopping, buy what looks good and hope dinner happens magically. (goes away shaking head in shame, lol) I'm trying though, so that is worth something~ :)

I chose frozen artichoke hearts and I'm making this http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/artichoke-gratinata-recipe.html

I chose frozen artichoke hearts and I'm making this http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/artichoke-gratinata-recipe.html

I chose frozen artichoke hearts and I'm making this http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/artichoke-gratinata-recipe.html

I have brown rice to serve with it...should I just leave it runny and top the rice with it OR should I add more lentils OR not worry about it :) OR add rice TO the soup?

I boxed it up, posted on here and the co-op email group. No one wants to buy some of it and I hate to toss it. So much guilt of spending money on stuff that didn't work. Vent over.

That worked and took quite a bit off my order - almost $70. Thanks ever so much!