If you will be in town next weekend, I agree with Erin about the parades. The Irish Channel parade is Saturdaynat 1, the St. Joseph's Italian American parade is Saturday at 6 and the Metairie Road (suburb if New Orleans) is Sunday at noon. Be sure to catch one of these, the kids will have a blast! Watch out for cabbage and other foods being thrown at you! http://www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com My kids love walking around the French Quarter and along the river and visiting the Fench Market. Swamp tours are nice, take a ride on the street car is fun too. Also the Children's Muesum!

My oldest is gifted, dyslexic and adhd. We are going into 7th next year and I'm looking for a middle school history for him. I'm currently looking at History Odyessy by Pandia Press and it seems like there is way too much writing and memorizing of dates / places / things to keep him interested long term. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free Puzza crust mix, make it to package directions but make it a thin not thick crust and cook it the first time around just a minute or two longer than the package says. Package says you can get one 16 inch or two 12 inch pizzas from one package, because we spread it thin, we get 3 pizzas out of one mix (16 in and two 12 in).

You know what, I know I'm fat, I have been this way since 5th grade. I was the 11 yr old forced to join weight watchers, I was the best dancer trying out for the dance team but was too fat for the uniform (yes this was told to me). I am working of getting healthy, but while I'm working on it, that doesn't mean I need shame or can't like the person I am. My weight does not define me, my personality does. Go ahead shame me, you may be missing out on an awesome friend!

This is why I shop primarily at Lane Bryant, the clothes are cute, they fit right and if you catch them on sale they aren't any more expensive than Walmart. Also JC Penny's and Mavy's both have nice plus sections. Walmart and Kmart Suck, Targets is ok but way too smal and often mixed with maternity (urghh)

You can be thin in extremely unhealthy. My SIL is prime example, she drinks a 6 pack of coke daily, smokes and eats nothing but junk, up until about a year ago she was pencil thin. I know others who are pencil thin and sure they eat healthy and work out, but they are also taking diet pills and drinking a bottle of wine a night. So on the outside they are the acceptable weight to society and no one shames them. Thin doesn't = healthy and overweight doesn't = unhealthy, it can but it doesn't always.

Mine of course! I'll be checking the rest of these listed out!

I'll check Homeschool Legal Advantage, thanks. I am looking for a list for all states. I have to put this post on hold to do a post about my state changing things and making it harder on homeschoolers. Which I found trying to link to my state laws.

I'm working on a blog post and for personal reasons I don't want to link to HSLDA, but I'm not sure where else to find a list like they have on homeschool laws by state. Anyone know? Thanks

My grandmothers nursing home was on lockdown all week because of the flu. We have some gunk here. From what I ave heard, this years strain presents like a bad cold. I know more than one person that it has developed into bronchitis and pneumonia. Both kids had their shots, but I don't know if that is going to protect them 100% sigh..

We can't use corn because DD is allergic to it also, brown rice flourt works well too.

It depends on the day and attitude. We spend about 4 hours a day, 4 days a week.

I make money blogging and I do photography. This coming year, I am going to start the process of doing social media management. I am taking it slow though. The most I have made blogging in a month is about $600. It isn't a ton but it helps supplement our income!

DS loved the tour of Atlanta Motor Speedway and it was fairly cheap too.

As long as the epipen isn't cloudy or dis colored it should be fine! Sorry OP, I've done it before myself.

We always get sick at Disney, I bring every medication I think we may possibly need, drug myself , the kids, hubby and we soldier on. We can rest when we get home! :grouphug: hope you feel better soon

Honestly, after Isaac this year, I would leave for any storm, Isaac was a Cat 1 like Sandy and caused major damage in some areas. The there are the power outages that can last for weeks. It was a scary, nerve wracking experience and we were among the lucky few that didn't lose power. Take the warnings seriously. Prepare or evacuate but take them seriously. If it is nothing, then count your blessings. Also check with your state's food stamp offices web page. Here people were allowed to pre register for disaster food stamps. This was supposed to make things easier.

:grouphug: Have more than one epi pen on hand, make him take it outside with him. Teach him and his twin how to use it. Next time I would call 911 and go to him vs making him come to you. The Epi pen will buy you about 20 minutes if given in time. The second reaction is called a biphasic reaction is common and sometimes comes on much faster and is worse than the original reaction. This is why it is suggested you be observed by medical personal for 4-6 hours after the reaction.

I saw some at Macy's

Oh good, I'm glad they changed it, that has always discouraged me.

I'm using the online system, I like it better. What I'm doing is putting in the day and clicking breakfast and searching all the places available for breakfast. I do the same for lunch and dinner. You may have to eat at off times, but there are availabilities. But think about it this way, if you eat breakfast at 11am then that covers breakfast and lunch and you can do QS for dinner.

It is crazy what has peanuts in them. We don't eat things with any type of warning about peanuts. May contains, made in a facility, made on equipment with peanuts have a 10-20 percent chance of actually containing peanuts. DS has reacted to cross contamination, in fact all of his reactions have been because of this and so we don't take any chances. There are online support groups for parents of kids with food allergies. Kids with Food Allergies is one but they are a paid forum and I co-mod a Facebook/Yahoo group for parents also. PM and I can send you a link.

If it is something you have developed yourself, I would go to the homeschool blogging community and do reviews / giveaways. Homeschool Bloggers actually has a list of bloggers I think. Also if you follow the #hsbloggers hash tag on twitter to find bloggers active in social media. You may also want to get in contact with Angie from The Homeschool Classroom as she has a Catholic Homeschool Blog also.

Donate to your local food bank. That is KEY! Ours does so much to help combat hunger but it can only function as long as it is getting volunteers and donations.

Another issue especially in urban areas is a lack of groceries stores that sell good quality fresh produce and meats at affordable prices. Yet there are tons of Dollar Tree / Family Dollar type stores that sell prepackaged garbage. It is also easier and cheaper to buy junk. I can get 10 nutritionally void pizzas for $10 that would feed the kids lunch for 2 weeks. It cost more than $10 to make one homemade pizza from scratch especially now that we are gluten free, not to mention the time it takes. These are huge issues plaguing the poor inner city neighborhoods.