Thanks, @8FillTheHeart !

Thanks, @mmasc !

My dd14 recently came back home from ps a month into the second semester of grade 9 after giving it a try for one semester (homeschooled exclusively K-8). Although her school had a "no cell phone in use during school" policy, obviously this was not strictly adhered to (based on how often she texted me during the day). Up until then we had had a "no cell phone until after school" rule in our homeschool, and it worked fine the year before. However, now she's accustomed to having her cell phone more, and we're having to reestablish some boundaries. Confession: I tend to be heavy-handed about (and annoyed by) the ubiquitous-ness of the cell phone in our everyday lives. I don't like it. I'm trying to figure out if I'm being over-the-top by requiring the cell phones to remain stashed in my bedroom until after they've finished school for the day. I also have a dd13 who will be affected by this rule. If your children have cell phones, how does this work in your house?

Listening in because I am planning to teach WttW with the Jill Pike syllabus at co-op this year (including my own personal young teens--grades 8 and 10 next year-- in the class).

Oops! The emojis are still HUGE! I tried to delete. . .

So which face sunscreen is it that you like? Inquiring minds want to know! I plan to purchase both the CeraVe AM and PM lotions. My skin isn't very dry, and I live in a humid climate.

Thank you for the sweet baby fix this morning. My baby will soon be six (wah!), so I *need* the occasional oxytocin rush.

Just wanted to come back and give a little update. I finally placed my order last night. Here's what I got: SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant DEFENSE Antioxidant Pore Purifier RESIST Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum DEFENSE Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 Smoothing Primer Serum SPF 30 I purchased them all in travel sizes so I could buy and try a bigger variety. I am also planning to go to CVS tonight and pick up some CeraVe. I have a coupon AND some ECBs I need to spend. Thanks to everyone who responded with their experiences!

I overslept! Ugh. Coffee/RX bar (one of my guilty pleasures, guilty only because my day isn't complete unless I eat one of these, and they're expensive!) Put together powerpoint for my CC class tonight [may add more/revise this afternoon after I school the children] Discuss with dh today's crazy schedule Re-read play we're discussing tonight Freak out over the fact that I'm being observed by the department head tonight [ongoing] (department head went home sick so this was postponed—bummer!) Shower/ready for the day Morning devotional reading/prayer Read the next chapters in Pudd'nhead Wilson and prepare a discussion question/vocabulary words for dd13 Little boy wrangling (done for now) School with boys (done and sent the rest for dmil to do with them) dd13 off for an appointment with dh (done) Lunch (done) Finish boys' school (see above) Discuss with dd14 what she's done today (done) Finish CC class prep (done) DD13 transport to play practice (?) (dh is handling) CC class (done) CVS for skincare stuff A boatload of co-op prep for the THREE classes I teach (nana stopped by library and let dd14 run in and pick up library holds for one of my classes, so that’s something) Collapse into bed

Not Yoga and not on Amazon Prime, but I highly recommend The Balanced Life Pilates with Robin Long. She has a membership site but also has a YouTube channel.

This brings back memories for me. My dh and I used to listen to The Cat Who . . .series while driving a lot for my master’s degree.

Thanks for sharing the poem! I did my eleventh grade research paper on Longfellow. I had my girls memorize this poem a few years ago. It’s somewhat out of vogue, but I still love it. Thanks for the reminder to get back to poetry memorization, especially with my little fellas.

I was thinking $100, but ditto what May said about the friendly neighbor.

I just looked up the brand of moisturizer I’m going to try (CeraVe) to see if CVS carries it, and I found a $2 coupon on the website. Woo-hoo! (I’d celebrate with an emoji, but I’m afraid it will take over the thread.)

Kareni, Applications are taken each fall (in October I believe). This is the third or fourth time I’ve done it. I used to blog weekly about children’s literature but haven’t lately due to time constraints. I do still have an active blog that I am always trying to get back to. It’s Hope Is the Word for anyone who is interested.

Book-related: Do you all know this Etsy shop? I’m in love with her T-shirts and quilts! https://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSequels

Thanks for the reminder! I go in Ulta semi-frequently to browse but feel pretty inadequate to make such expensive decisions. Ha! I did remember that we have $6 in ECBs at CVS that I might be able to use for some skincare stuff I’ve been eyeing.

The easiest thing might be to link to my Goodreads account. Is this okay? http://www.goodreads.com/hopeistheword Most of what I’ve read for this year’s goal so far has been kids’ books. I was a round two panelist for the Cybils this year and so read the shortlisted nonfiction titles this month.

Done so far: shower discuss finances with dh church lunch up next: laundry (in process) a bit of devotional and enjoyment reading with a cup of coffee—done! read and prep for CC class—semi-done print and grade essays—done! make soup and baked oatmeal prep for homeschool week: read for dd13, look over boys’ lessons, think through dd14’s literature nag dd13 to work on science fair board (she’s in the basement working, or at least that’s what I’m choosing to believe right now)

I’m jumping in for the first time this week. I’m on something like book seventeen for the year. I always have a lot of books going at a time, but the one that is most capturing my attention at the moment is The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton. This is my second Morton novel and I’m hooked!

Wonderful update! It’s so great to be a part of the family of God!

I haven’t jumped in in a while but I’ve been lurking. Great job, everyone! We’ve been doing pretty well this year so far, mostly by curtailing our eating out. It’s amazing how much we save just by being conscientious about this! This morning I cancelled two monthly subscriptions (Weight Watchers, which I’m clearly not doing right now, and a paid devotional that I never took time to read). Dh cancelled the YMCA this week, too, since we never managed to go. We did have to pay a penalty on the WW subscription but it’s still a “savings” in the long run. Yesterday was my birthday so we had lunch out on an outing. I also got my free Starbucks birthday drink! I got $150 for my birthday from my parents and my dmil. I’ve been eyeing some high end facial stuff from Paula’s Choice and some other personal care kind of stuff. I also feel the tug to put it toward some bills we’re working on paying off. However, I know me, and feeling deprived never does me any good. What would you do, fellow frugalistas?

My own family has experienced some pretty significant struggles over the past few years. What felt really good to me at the time was friends who’d shoot me a quick text asking how things were going while we were in the midst of the struggle. Also, the kindness of a friend who met me mid-trip with home-cooked food to take with us back to our home-away-from-home apartment will never be forgotten. (We were making weekly trips home from the Big City where we had a child in treatment for OCD and anxiety.) I was just yesterday recalling her kindness in doing that. I’ll never forget those two things. I suppose the last thing was the fundraising people (my sister, mostly) did to help us financially. I think taking special interest in the young woman who struggles with mental health issues might be particularly helpful to both her and her mom.

My day has already gone off the rails due to little fellas who wanted extra snuggles this morning. I’ll take it! So far I’ve accomplished: shower

Morning! read devotional/quiet time pilates shower and get ready for church prep food to take to dh’s office for lunch after church (kids will hang out there while he works) church lunch maybe a little shopping home (sans children) to get ready for the week I have a lot to do today since I did nothing except what I wanted to do yesterday.