I bought a very cute shirt on ebay, it was in excellent used condition, but I noticed after washing it and wearing it the first time that it has a very pungent odor in the armpits. EWWWW! I only noticed after I started getting kind of warm. The shirt is 100% nylon mesh (think sheer and stretchy). It's only supposed to be washed in cold water on gentle. How can I get rid of that smell???? I had this happen once shortly after college. A roommate had borrowed a few of my shirts and when I ironed them, this horrid smell came rising out of the armpits. No matter how many times I washed them and how hot the water was, it was to no avail. I ended up getting rid of the shirts altogether. Can this be remedied at all, and if not, is it ridiculous to ask for a refund based on armpit odor?

They have printable Wheelock's flashcards (I've seen horrible reviews from the ones made by Bolchazy Carducci) but there's a one time membership fee of somewhere around $20. If you've used this site, I'd love some feedback.

I still have one that I used in high school and it's falling apart. I'm sure there's some concensus on great dictionaries out there. Any input on your favorites would be great. Thanks!

I would have one made for you particular space. Check locally for folks who use reclaimed pine, for example. Pioneer Woman had her table at the Lodge made by this company: (I know because I once asked :) http://www.countrypinetexas.com/reclaimed_lumber_pine_texas_green_recycle_furniture_antique_tables_chairs_lumber_wood_furniture_long_leaf_yellow_pine/Furniture/Pages/Kitchen_and_Dining.html#0 I had mine made to order by Philbeck's in Forney, TX: http://philbeckstexaspinefurniture.com/gallery.php Our eating area is fairly wide. I needed a table to seat 10, but couldn't do with a regular width table. So Philbeck's added an addition plank to the top of the table. We seat 4 along each side and 2 on each end, which is a perfect fit for the area where my table rests. I scoured the internet looking for name brand companies, but have been so happy with my table from Philbeck's. It's very rustic and distressed, right down to the cup rings (from moisture) on the surface (left by our kids--it didn't come that way). It's fabulous, and everyone who eats at our house comments on how much they'd love to have a table like ours.

Yes, we buy parents and in-laws both b-day and Christmas presents. We don't do the same for siblings, though.

Another vote for Lark Rise to Candleford.

Along the lines of getting good sleep, I've found that Melatonin sublingual tablets work wonders for me. During recent ongoing health issues, I would wake up panicky and not be able to go back to sleep. Then I'd be exhausted the next day, which compounded the anxiety. I've also started taking once daily "power naps" for 20-30 minutes or so. This improves my energy level, which helps with my anxiety. Taking baths in the evening seems to help, and giving myself permission to reduce schedule stressors is helpful too. When I'm anxious, I start cutting out any optional activities to give myself room to breathe and sort through whatever I've got going on.

My oldest son is in year 3 of Schola Classical Tutorials' Great Books course. It's exactly what I want for him to be taking, but I feel like he's missing out on tons of books that are typical for hs students to be reading. My understanding is that parents of kids in these Great Books classes are counting the class for 2.5-3 credits (1 English, 1 History, 1/2 philosophy or something of the sort.) So if your kids have taken classes like these through high school, did that encompass *everything* you felt like they needed for high school English and History? Or did you feel like you needed to add in extra English and History classes to cover all your bases? As an example, I don't think there's any Shakespeare covered in Schola's Great Books program. I don't find that to be a fault with the Great Books course of study, yet I feel like I'm missing something if I leave out Shakespeare and countless other authors. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

I identify with your frustration. I have 5 boys, and we don't have any games (except a couple of "plug in and play" old-fashioned, Pac-Man type games that are only allowed to come out of hiding maybe once per month.) My oldest ds (now 16) used to obsess about playing video games. The more he played at friends' houses, etc... the more he wanted to play. He started losing interest in books and suddenly only had interests in anything that flickers...games, computers, ipods, etc... I'm happy to say that this has mostly passed. He's not remotely interested in video games any more and sees the obsession many of his friends have as immature. He doesn't have a problem with games in general, just the addiction factor that he notices. We have two male adult family members who never quite grew up and their gaming causes real problems in their marriages. Actually, make that one now. My adult nephew has given up all games, but just recently. I'm reading a book with my oldest two boys right now called The Next Story by Tim Challies. I highly recommend it if you're a Christian. It gives great perspective and food for thought on how Christians should/should not engage with technology without being anti-technology. It's very helpful. I'm not anti-technology at all, but I think that we often don't think about how the "medium is the message." The way technology shapes us (not even the content of games, internet, etc...but just the medium itself) is not usually obvious, especially to kids. Change is not always bad, but I want to teach my kids to recognize the dangers inherent in thoughtless consumption of media.

right in the middle of his Legos. He dumped one of our many gigantic Lego totes out on a blanket, laid down on his back, and went to work. A minute later, he said, "Look mommy! I made a snow angel!"

(since they know that I'm certified to teach Secondary English and my hubby's certified to teach Secondary Math....) "Oh...well...you *can* homeschool because you're trained for that." Insinuating that those who aren't certified are certainly not qualified. At which point I launch my defense of friends who are not only *not* certified, but not even degreed. I consider many of these non-degreed, non-certified friends to more skilled than I am when it comes to educating their children.

On the merits of the book itself (not wanting to degenerate into another Douglas Wilson thread) did you or your kids enjoy this book? VP uses it as one of their primary resources for Explorers to 1815, but I only see a couple of reviews on Amazon. Looking for more reader input. Thanks! Lisa

Since you have a 13 year old girl, check this one out: http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Home-Mayflowers-Chilton-Daughters/dp/0802436374/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314876516&sr=8-1 It received 5 star reviews across the boards from 22 readers. Alas, I have all boys, so I didn't buy this one, but I'm sure a boy could enjoy it as well. Lisa

at the end of each secion? What about the Solving Problems section? Obviously my boys will go through the Developing Skills section after each lesson, but they're dismayed about the other two. My leaning right now is to make them do the Solving Problems part but not the Explaining Conceps (indicated by the little pencil and the word "writing" in the text.) Also...does your student do every single odd number or every other odd number? Finally...how many times does your student watch each video segment? Thanks! Lisa

Kids do independent work anywhere they can find a quiet spot. Online courses and computer intensive stuff at the upstairs computer, which is in our office, connected to the "library." Read alouds in the living room or upstairs in the library. One-on-one teaching/corrections either at kitchen table or upstairs in library at table. Writing revisions and writing input at the computer. Last year, I did most of my school interaction with kiddos downstairs, but I felt like I didn't really have my finger on what was going on upstairs behind my back :) Now that I've got a table upstairs in my library, I'm trying to move my home base up that-a-way. It's still tough because of the 4 year old, who is a distraction wherever he goes. I really don't want him upstairs all day long being a distraction, but oh well. And I can't leave him downstairs for long by himself.

I've never bought an item on these boards (that I can remember) but have just started selling on ebay over the last year. I've done quite well that way. Have also bought curriculum a few times on ebay. Nice thing about ebay is that it's all business. Because of the rating/feedback system it's rare to get someone who doesn't follow through on their purchase. Media Mail is so inexpensive. I guess if you're selling items that were only $10 or so to begin with, it's not worth the time. But I've sold several big $ items lately, like Latina Christiana, Math It, Introductory Logic, etc...and have been very pleased with my profits. I guess you could get questions from ebayers about price and shipping, but it's less likely than selling on a forum. I've sold furniture recently on Craigslist. I don't mind when people ask me if I'll take less. If I've just listed something, I'll politely decline. If it's been listed and relisted several times, I often just want it off my hands. I'm not a haggler at all (as a buyer) but it doesn't ruffle my feathers a bit when people ask me to come down on my price. I just don't take it personally. All I have to say is "no" if I don't want to negotiate. Why shouldn't they try to get the best price they can. It is laughable, though, when they act offended about something being priced too high. I figure if they can get it cheaper elsewhere, then by all means they should do so.

I'm sick of the phrase, "not so much." As in, I love Chinese food, but my husband...not so much." After being on pinterest for a while, how many photos are labeled, "Love this" or "yes, please!" Also, "Let's do lunch/coffee." and "baby bump" really get on my nerves. One last one. I'm sick of seeing variations of "Live. Laugh. Love." Everywhere. It's on every kitschy knick-knack around. Frames, pillows, wall art, key chains, t-shirts. Drives me nuts.

Do lesson planning on my laptop, surf pinterest :tongue_smilie:, fold laundry nearby, dust bookshelves, etc...

anyone else?

Hmmm...I knew it could move throughout the abdominal cavity, but hadn't heard that it could move that far??? My impression was that referred pain in the shoulder blade and groin often originates in the abdomen...like endometriosis pressing on a nerve. Similar to the gallbladder and it's link with right shoulder blade pain. (And I don't have gallstones...and my gallbladder is functioning properly according to the hidascan and sonogram).

Abdominal pain is, indeed, one of my symptoms, but referred pain in my shoulder blade and groin have been plaguing me more than anything. I'm not talking about the shoulder pain associated with the procedure itself (pumping the abdoment full of air). Before I ever had the procedure to see if endometriosis was even the problem, I had shoulder blade and groin pain along with my abdominal symptoms. So if your symptoms of endo. eventually went away, how long did it take? My shoulder blade and groin felt great the first couple of days, but then I realized...duh....it was because I was taking hydrocodone and advil...not because the surgery was already a smashing success. Looking for some hope that my symptoms *might* get better soon.

Thanks! I've heard Aleks mentioned on these boards, but have never looked into it. I'll take a look today!

Can this be printed double-sided, or will that cause problems with notebook organization and tabbed sections? (This is for U.S. Hitory Based Writing Lessons)

Thought I'd have my son do some polishing up on Geometry and Algebra I this summer before jumping into Algebra II, so I bought the Key to Geometry and Key to Algebra series for him. Key to Geometry, as he would put it, was basically drawing. No proofs or anything. It was nothing like his Geometry book (Chalkdust/Houghton Mifflin) What a complete waste of money. Just wanted to warn everyone not to buy it. The Algebra books seem helpful, though. At least that.

Just wondering what this looks like for your high schooler. And if you've already completed this process with your high schooler, what benefits do you feel he/she reaped?