We are trying to cut back also. Some of these are so obvious, but honestly, it's just taken me getting MOTIVATED to make some of these changes. :crying: *no more paper plates - I was using these all the time for lunches, etc. *no more paper towels - I am cutting up DH's old shirts and using those for rags, using cloth napkins also *no more clorox wipes - this is a biggie for me. We are using the homemade rags with: *vinegar & water in a spray bottle for an all-purpose spray - counters, bathroom sinks, etc. *making my own lotion - so cheap and SO easy - recipe on my blog - I love lotion so I'm really excited about this *making my own liquid soap (by grating bar soap and boiling with water) because the bar is SO much cheaper than liquid! (here is the method i'm using if you're interested.) *grocery shopping LESS per month - just going into walmart makes me spend more! (we are in a tiny town and walmart is our best option out of 2 places to shop) *ordering things subscribe and save through amazon - while trying to be frugal, we are also trying to eat healthier, some things like organic fruit leathers and coconut oil, etc. are cheaper on amazon than anywhere else I can get it. *not using anymore cleaners basically - I'm making my own laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent too. Here is a powder recipe I may try soon. *we got rid of cable and have a Roku box with amazon prime *we don't keep soda and chips, cookies, etc. in the house on a regular basis I'm going to go back and look at this thread too...wanting to find more ideas. The blog I linked to for the liquid soap and dishwasher detergent has some more great ideas too!!

I do know of some local flour at a grocery store, I'm guessing it's more expensive. I need to look into the prices. So, by whole grain, do you mean the 100% whole wheat? Thanks!

What is the "next best" thing or next healthiest?? I know grinding is easy, I had a Nutrimill but just gave it to my brother and sister-in-law who moved to Guatemala as missionaries. I really, REALLY did not like using it. I'm partially lazy and also hated the mess! So, what is the next best thing?? Thanks!

I'm working on my menu right now! I've done this off and on in the past and have GOT to be better about it routinely!! :) ETA: Ok, here's what I've got so far! This took me all afternoon! LOL! Right now I'm skipping Sundays and Wednesdays because of church and our crazy schedule. Still trying to figure out those days... 1 2- simply great chicken - pinterest 3 salmon patties and roasted broccoli 4 creamy chicken enchiladas 5 chicken pot pie 6 7 breakfast 8 chicken noodle soup 9 10 soft tacos - beef 11 grilled cheese and tomato soup 12 oven fried chicken 13 14 mexican hamburger casserole 15 bbq chicken sandwiches 16 17 chicken alfredo and salad 18 breakfast 19 grilled steaks 20 21 cube steak sandwiches and fries 22 chicken casserole 23 24 potato soup 25 soft tacos - chicken 26 grilled cube steak with peppers and potatoes 27 28 fried rice and chicken 29 south of the border casserole 30 31 quiche Almost all these recipes are on my pinterest boards for recipes OR healthy meal ideas. Sorry I'm too lazy to type them all out!! :) I looked in my freezer and we have ground beef, cube steak and chicken. So I'm trying to cook with only those meats this month. I already had the canned salmon also.

Mine also was comparable to a Pap smear!!

I know you asked for online, but if you have a big lots near you, I've been buying them there for cheaper than amazon! Not much selection, but that doesn't bother me. :)

Our hits: Harry potter Legos Soft blankets for each child - funny kids, always fighting over blankets, they were so excited to get these! Ha! Dh loved his auburn pj pants! :)

trying mine out to see if it appears. :) On the ipad they do not show up!

I love this idea!! Just wish I could have seen it sooner to organize it around here somewhere!!

The frustration I feel in all this is that I don't think it's a problem to be shy, it's just a personality type or characteristic. I am an introvert and my kids lean towards being shy, but one of mine is very shy. I don't think it's a bad thing when I say that I am not talkative or that I'm an introvert...or call me shy, I don't think it's a problem to overcome I guess.

Ok, dumb question of the year... How exactly do you know when your dd needs her first bra?? My girls are almost 10 and 11yrs. Actually the younger of the 2 is a bigger size all around than the oldest. I have been questioning her need for a few weeks now. Ugh. I'm terrible at this. :lol: she is only NINE years old! She is so young...all around. I am not ready for this!!

I have struggled with depression for about 6 years now. I have also written fairly often about it on my blog. Recently I wrote here about what has helped me most recently. I am definitely an introvert. I haven't written about that connection on my blog, but I definitely think it's there. For me, I have tried everything natural under the sun to no avail...it has finally been a COMBINATION of things I am doing together that has worked best for me.

Halcyon, I think you are completely right about the child-led projects. And I think that is where I struggle...not knowing how to encourage them to create and let it be THEIR idea! :lol: Those 2 projects that I posted about on my blog link were TOTALLY child-led. I didn't suggest she make anything, she wasn't working on any "assignment," she just is a child who creates. It is totally "her." I love it. But, how do I encourage her when she doesn't have a project going at the time? How do I help her find a new topic without suggesting the idea myself? And, honestly, after reading this book i felt more encouraged that she IS learning with these little projects that sometimes I think are silly or a waste of time. She definitely is my creative one. How do we encourage kids that aren't the creative, crafty ones? Another thing I have been pondering is their own SPACE like suggested in the book. Our house isn't huge...we have a great school room, but I don't know how to give them space to create and LEAVE IT BE for awhile...I don't know that I have that kind of space for THREE children. I don't know...I think it's important though, because I can hear myself constantly trying to clean up our messes, I think it would be good for the kids (especially my creative girl) to have a place to just create that I don't constantly harp on her about. But WHERE?!!? :lol:Still thinking on this...

I LOVED this book!! Here I wrote my thoughts about the book. Here are a few more posts showing some projects one of my girls has done. I joined the forum - on author's blog - and there aren't many people there, but it is a great little place to ask questions! I would love to discuss here too!! As you can see, I really loved the book...and have one daughter who already naturally learns this way... But...I'm having trouble figuring out how to implement on a regular basis AND how to encourage my other 2 children in this direction. Oh the author's blog is FABULOUS if you haven't seen it either!! Follow project-based homeschooling on facebook and she posts some excellent links pertaining to all these things and just education in general!

Oh, you should not have a queen - ours says we got all female ad that is what the workers are. No males. There won't be any reproducing. Go to the ant lapbook on homeschool share, we have learned a LOT from it!! I linked to it on my blog today...sorry I am not at a computer and can't link right now.

Was it from Milton?? We just got ants too, and I wrote about them on my blog today:) Ours came with a feeding schedule: Water - 3 drops - every 3 days Food - 3 or so crumbs - once a week (we have been doing bread crumbs) Ours have been alive for I guess almost 2 weeks now? So far so good!!

Those are wonderful!! I have never heard of that program, so I clicked over and looked. What all Do you need to get started? Do you have to have the expensive DVDs?

Ocelotmom - I would love to hear about what wheat-free treats you make!

I am also in TN! :) I did read wheat belly and we have no celiac, no food allergies, nothing medical to encourage us to try this. I have been *mostly* off wheat, most grains, sugar, processed foods, etc. for 2 months and 1 week now. I am down exactly 20 pounds as of today!!! :D I have more energy since before children. Seriously. I also have had decreased depression symptoms, more motivation, etc. I have tried going no sugar (by itself) and did not have these results! I will say that I think everyone's bodies deal with things like wheat and sugar differently...some of us can be addicted to these things and some people seem to do ok with it. I wrote a blog post on more about what I am doing personally if you want to read it. And here are our typical meals. HTH! Oh, we aren't being as strict with our kids...they still have PB&J for lunch. But, getting MORE real foods, less processed, etc. Baby steps with them I guess. It.

My all time favorite homeschooling book is Abundant Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring.

I love it!!

:party::party::thumbup1::hurray:

:bigear:

Thank you so much for the boy scout links!! Those look perfect!!

I would love to know this as well. My son is only 7yrs but he is obsessed with pocket knives, whittling, wood carving, weapons of any sort. :lol: I am concerned about him only being 7, he doesn't have his own pocket knife yet because I don't feel he is responsible enough yet. But if I could find something that he could do with Dh then that might work. :)