I use it as a chicken/turkey sub in this dish: http://paleomg.com/sneak-peek-recipe-from-juli-bauers-paleo-cookbook-buffalo-chicken-casserole/ I still love the original dish, but this makes it totally vegetarian and a super veggie dish. My dh :001_wub: this dish, but likes to eat less meat when possible, so we just started to experiment with cauli rice and find we really like it. I have also used it to make these cauliflower tortillas: https://paleoleap.com/cauliflower-tortillas/ (which I think are awesome! I love them with the fried fish taco recipe on that site...oh my yummy!)

I always give my ILs a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. They don't want more stuff, but travel regionally and appreciate having several meals covered when they hit the road. I gave my aunt and uncle, whom I am very close to, a gift certificate to a coffee place they love. They have a number of appointments they drive to and so appreciated this last year. I would do the same for my mother, but she does not like receiving gift certificates. Gifts are one of her love languages, so I give them to her. I go for other types of consumable/practical gifts for her.

My oldest's school just had homecoming. Our sweet little town has a homecoming parade down the main street. My kids look forward to it every year. The band plays, teacher of the year (from the previous school year) rides and waves, class "princesses" ride and wave, each grade does a float, as well as a couple of the clubs and sports teams, it is small town fun and nothing tremendously over the top. The school does not do a homecoming dance due to low attendance. They have theme dress up days for the week leading up to homecoming, then homecoming football game and crowning of the homecoming queen at half-time. Our team actually won their first game in two years at this year's homecoming game, so it was a lot of fun (some of the seniors had never won a game). It does not feel over the top or excessive, just a fun time and a lovely community celebration.

My GSs are thrilled. They feel GS focuses more on fundraising and community service, the latter they like, the former not so much. My girls (particularly my older one) want to learn "real outdoor skills". She has said for the last year that the Gold Award does not carry the weight of the Eagle. She completed her Silver (which was a lot of work), but is iffy on the Gold because in her opinion most people do not recognize the time and effort that goes into a Gold the way they recognize an Eagle.

I think a lot depends on your district and local school. I heard our school made homeschoolers and private school kids jump through some hoops before allowing them to take honors/AP classes, but that was not our experience. It may have changed in the last several years, but I was told by the counseling department that ultimately it was the parents' decision (for better or worse) on those classes, so we had no trouble when my rising 10th grader transitioned to the school down the road (We also had 8th and 9th grade ACT scores to prove my child could handle the coursework). If my child would be able to follow the track I wanted, 9th grade would be a nice time to transition, IMEandO. That is what my current 8th grader is planning on doing. Middle school can be difficult, especially if you are the new kid. I have met very few kids (and this could just be our middle school) that have had a positive experience in 8th grade, most said 9th was much better.

I had the same thought.

Uh, no. But we only let our permitted teen driver drive with one of the parentals. We won't even let said driver drive with a sibling in the car.

How much of a problem? Is it 5 miles? (I don't think i would do much if that was the case). 10? 15? I would probably revoke his driving privileges for a week. I like the idea of reinforcing the positive behavior. I guess it all depends on how fast he is driving.

Location, location, location! Honestly, we have an amazing location in small town America. We can walk lots of places in our community, but can be "in town" in 15 minutes. We also have a room for everyone on almost an acre lot, but our house is not unmanageably large. It is also over 120 years old, but updated with things like A/C, so we have the charm of an old house without all of the unpredictability. I :001_wub: my house and the people I share it with.

I just make my regular chocolate chip recipe, but sub 1 1/4 cup of oats for flour. 1 stick of softened butter (this is key, make sure it is soft, but not melted!) Cream with 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. white sugar (I think the original recipe call for 3/4 c. each, but in an effort to cut out a little sugar...) Add one egg and mix well Add another egg, mix well Add 1 tsp. vanilla, mix 2 1/4 c. flour/flour substitute (or 1 c. flour and 1 1/4 c. oats) 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt Mix until almost all combined Add 1 bag of chocolate chips (we like the Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips) Finish mixing If I have time, I like to put the mix in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes, then bake in a 350* oven for 10-12 minutes Yum!

In our current system, I think the push for a living wage will move us closer to handing over jobs to robots (which we are already seeing). I fully support a living wage, and we patronize small businesses in our community that pay their workers a living wage, but I think for large corporations the bottom line is profit and having a robot do a human's job will be cheaper. It depresses me when I think about it. Maybe it is just because I am getting older, but a lot of issues feel pretty hopeless these days.

But just because you don't think it will change anything, doesn't mean it doesn't have value. These are national figures who are trying to use their platform to educate and respond to an issue that has deep, deep roots. We are *still* having this conversation 50+ years after the Civil Rights Movement. You can certainly choose not to spend your money or time supporting the NFL or artists or whomever, but they can certainly exercise their right to protest, even if it "doesn't change minds." I don't get the judgement people are putting out: "Why do this? It won't change things. There are more effective ways to get the message across." I think when the fight seems so utterly hopeless, just doing something, anything to get the conversation started (or keeping it going) feels like movement. Kaepernick started this protest over a year ago. One man, quietly making a statement. Here we are 13 months later and a big chunk of the nation is talking about it. Change takes time and patience. Sometimes it isn't until we have the ability to look back that we can see where the sparks of change were lit. Maybe this will be a spark. I think only history and time will tell. Don't most protests look over the top depending on your vantage point? I am sure an entire community refusing to ride segregated buses looked pretty damn over the top to a whole bunch of people.

We have participated in GS for 2+ years. Other than selling at a booth with leader (not with me, but a troop leader), we do not sell cookies. I hated selling things when I was a kid, and I have found no love for it as an adult, so I am not spending time doing it.

I have, and where I live it is not uncommon to see bathrooms with signs that say "All Gender Bathroom" or some version of that outside a single stall bathroom. Then there is no confusion, come in here and pee, whoever you are. It's a bathroom, why the need to designate gender?

I found a cheaper machine very frustrating to sew on it, like every time I used it I ended up just giving up because something always went wrong with the machine. I bought a Janome Magnolia machine several years ago (I bought the computerized one, so it was a bit more, less than $500) and it changed sewing for me. I became a better sewer because I wasn't always trouble shooting every time I sewed. It made sewing so much more enjoyable for me. I rarely have issues like I did with my cheaper machine and if I do, they are easy to correct and carry on, not the case with my cheaper machine.

My oldest went last year as a 10th grader. Overall, it was a very positive experience. Not all of the courses were as challenging as I wanted, BUT learning happened in every class, sometimes the learning was academic, but sometimes it was social and interpersonal skills, both were valuable. There were several teachers that were really fun and good last year. 11th grade is already bringing it, so I am pleased on the academic front. My child is quite happy to be back. School was absolutely the right call for this child, and I am glad it has been a positive experience overall. It is crazy to think that my 8th grader is heading off next year! That child is already researching options and will be ready next year. Exciting stuff! Yay for your ds! I love reading about kids who head off and thrive. Sounds like he is having a great start, may it continue. :)

The hardest thing to give up during W30 for is my coffee with cream. I don't drink a lot of coffee, 1-2 cups of decaf/day, but I crave and think about that cup of coffee the entire 30 days. I need to clean up my eating (summer :001_rolleyes: ), but I think the key to sustaining a healthy way of eating is to include my daily cuppa with cream.

Yep. Shamelessly. It was an intensely moving experience. Once it reached totality, I took off my glasses and was overcome with emotion at the sheer beauty and enormity that I was witnessing. The cheer that rose up among the people watching certainly added to the emotion of the experience. It was really cool to be apart of a collective experience of beauty. I said it another thread, but no picture or video could prepare me for the feelings of actually seeing and experiencing the eclipse. #eclipse2024! :001_smile:

Yesterday was incredible. Truly a magnificent experience, so I will try to make 2024 happen. No picture or video can do the in-person, actual experience justice. Those two and a half minutes were overwhelming, beautiful and the definition of awesome. I would not have said that before yesterday afternoon, but after seeing one, I want to do it again!

And Cedar Point is amazing! (although maybe it won't be open yet, then again solar eclipse...)

Actually, according to an article linked in the original article posted, in North America the two companies are direct competitors and have no direct ownership. Here it is: http://traderjoessecrets.blogspot.com/p/ten-questions-for-author.html The Fearless Flyer definitely talks about the low price of a product ("All this for only..." or "Still the 1999 price of..."), but usually following a paragraph of description (hype?) about a given product. The Eater article explains that TJ's has been able to fool customers that their products are private label rather than generic, while companies like Aldi have not had success with that "deception or perception". Interesting! Thanks for sharing.

Or maybe he does.

We are near the path of totality, but not in it. Our local uni is having a viewing party with a modified afternoon schedule. That is their first day of classes. Honestly, I am surprised they are having class. We are within an hour of totality, so I would be interested in knowing how full those Monday classes are with people wanting to catch it.

My rising 11th grader packed lunch in this pretty lunch everyday last year: https://www.planetbox.com/products/planetbox-launch-lunchbox?variant=20636119297 It is spendy, but we have had lunchboxes from this company for more than 5 years. The above linked box was purchased 4 years ago. It was not used everyday until last year, but it looks brand new. I have also seen kids with little coolers, both soft and hard sided. According to my kid most kids don't pack lunch, but apparently a home packed lunch is a hot commodity. My kid fessed up to trading food (for junky cafeteria food) and even selling sammies occasionally. :closedeyes: :w00t: :001_rolleyes: I heard, "You buy really good food and people want it, Mom." about halfway through the year.

Good thought, although the class begins at 8:15 AM, so I am not planning on leaving at 3 AM. I will be on the road by 5 AM. Honestly, it should be plenty of time. The trip is two hours, and I think most people traveling that day won't be leaving at that hour. I am not driving through any major cities and that gets me to my destination by the worst of our little city's morning rush hour. I do plan on communicating with the professor prior to the first class to let her know I am traveling into town following this event in case something wonky happens, but I will stress that I fully intend to be at the first class.