Jump to content

Menu

samba

Members
  • Posts

    2,697
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by samba

  1. I just made the decision to stop coloring my hair. I've been coloring since I was in my early-mid 30's and I'll be 50 next month. My hair grows quickly and I was doing my roots every 2 weeks! I have dark hair and am almost completely white underneath...no gray or silver. I went to a stylist for a deva cut (dry cut for curly hair) and she gave me just a few highlights around my face. It doesn't hide the demarcation line but it softens it ever so slightly. I'm using root cover-up to get me through the earliest stages and then I will have to live with the outgrowth.

    My stylist is one of the models in the new book Silver Hair. The author, Lorraine Massey, also wrote the Curly Girl book and developed the Deva products. I use the original conditioner as a leave-in. Everything is sulfate, paraben and silicone free.

    https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Hair-Goodbye-Natural-Handbook/dp/0761189297

     

    • Like 1
  2. 14 hours ago, Selkie said:

    Tonight : Soy curls fajitas with rice

    Monday: Baked potatoes and veggie chili

    Tuesday: Sweet potato sushi burritos

    Wednesday: Roasted zucchini bibimbap

    Thursday: Roasted vegetable tostadas and slaw

    Friday: Japanese or Thai takeout

    What do you think of the soy curls? I've been on the fence about buying them but I think dh would really appreciate them. I love your menu. This is how we eat and I've been in a total meal slump lately so it's helpful to see. Thanks for sharing!

    • Like 2
  3. My ds16 has Down syndrome. He has not had any of the serious health complications that many kids with DS have. He had strabismus and had two eye surgeries at 18 mos and 3 yrs to adjust an eye muscle. He has worn bifocals for years. He is tested yearly for thyroid issues because kids with DS are prone to it. My son also is tested every few years for atlantoaxial instability (which he doesn't have) but is usually only an issue where certain sports are involved. He was diagnosed with cataracts about a year ago. He is monitored twice and year and they have not progressed.

    My son had respiratory issues for many years. His airway (and ear canals) were much narrower than average so every irritation turned into a croup episode (probably not all actually croup but that's how it presented...really Reactive Airway Disease). We owned a nebulizer that we used every time he got sick and we had a lot of nighttime trips to the ER for breathing problems. 

    We started with early intervention services when ds was 1 month old and continued to 3 yrs. We weren't happy with the speech services and opted to seek out private speech therapy but the PT and OT were excellent. We continued with speech for several years.

    We belong to a Down syndrome association in a neighboring state because it is closer to us and it is an amazing network of families. Your local children's hospital (and genetics dept) could probably connect your family to local DS organizations and parent outreaches. I know our hospital connects expectant or new families with our DS group. No, the medical community in general was not very helpful. But the geneticist we met with after my son's birth (we had no prenatal diagnosis) was wonderful.

    I received the book Babies With Down Syndrome but it looks like there's one that is more current. https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-Down-Syndrome-Information/dp/144059290X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526405246&sr=1-5&keywords=down+syndrome

    I'm providing a link for my group because it has many excellent resources. It should have some helpful info, regardless of the state you're in. But it could give ideas for where to go for more info. https://www.dsadelaware.org/resources/

    Best wishes!

     

     

     

    • Like 2
  4. 2 hours ago, Lady Florida. said:

     

    Am I the only one who thinks it's strange to find the argument from antiquity-appeal to tradition fallacy used on a classical education board?

    The relevant part of my post came next. "People generally accept..." Because most people do think there is value in using plants to support health/greener living. Until you add the words "essential oils." Then it's snake oils and fallacies. 

    I think extreme opinions on oils (and most other issues) are narrow minded. The opinion that oils are the answer to every problem and the opinion that they are snake oils with NO value ever both come from a place of ignorance and rejection of science-based evidence.

    I don't care if people use oils or not. I do think singling out one sentence and presenting it as me pushing fallacies is rude and an inaccurate representation of what I said as a whole. 

     

    • Like 2
  5. Aromatherapy has been around a long time. We all generally accept that eucalyptus helps with respiratory, fennel and ginger help with digestion, lavender and frankincense can be calming, tea tree for anti-fungal, peppermint for nausea, etc. I'm not sure why there's such a heated response to essential oils. I've been using them and reaping their benefits for about 4-5 years. I have 5 diffusers, one for every bedroom and large area. I think they are great and I use them every day. I don't make a big deal out of it.

     

     

    • Like 1
  6. We have always vaccinated. My dd followed a typical schedule. With my ds we spread out the vaccinations because he has Down syndrome and I was concerned about a possible overload. We have chosen not to do HPV because both kids have or are predisposed to autoimmune conditions. We don't need any exacerbating situations. My dd is 18 now and I decided that she is informed enough to make that decision for herself. So far she is not interested in getting it.

     

  7. 2 hours ago, Hoggirl said:

    I do DVDs at home that use light weights.  My favorite is an oldie - Jillian Michael’s No More Trouble Zones.  Each exercise usually has you working two groups of muscles at the same time.  There are seven circuits, and the DVD is 50 minutes long.  HOWEVER, each circuit is repeated twice (this isn’t the case for the last circuit, though, because you work each leg).  Soooo, if I do each of the first six circuits one time through instead of twice through and then do the 7th circuit, it’s just about 30 minutes. I’ve done it for years.  I started with 3 lb weights but now use mostly eights, after working my way up.  It’s not jumpy AT ALL.  I hate jumpy.  It’s at a nice pace but not overly fast.  If you hate it, you’re out the cost of a DVD and a set of small hand weights.  

    This is my favorite workout video. It may be available at her library.

  8. 13 hours ago, Quill said:

     

    In Maryland, Virginia Creeper often grows intertwined with Poison Ivy. It seems to be good policy to steer clear of both because they be roommates. 

    Ok, I should probably apologize to my neighbor. He insisted it was Virginia Creeper. I didn't know about the possible allergy to it and I guess he didn't either. When I became covered in one of the worst rashes ever, I assumed he didn't know what he was talking about and I blamed him! We are also in MD.

    • Like 2
  9. We love this movie. Saw it in the theater and immediately downloaded the music and pre-ordered the movie. Yes, that song in particular makes me think of my son, his peers and all those who struggle because they are different. It's an emotional and empowering song. Ds16 loves this song as well as the others.

    • Like 1
  10. Well I've purchased a lot of my new lighting from there for my remodel, and I just ordered a set of 4 dining chairs from there as well. I have just been tormenting myself over this sofa because I know the fabric is likely gonna be the biggest issue (I know it'll be thin). The thing is, the price is pretty much perfect for what I need right now and the little sectional is adorable. I think I'd love the way it would look in the room even if it isn't that great otherwise.

     

    WHY AM I SO DARN INDECISIVE?!?! I swear I took nearly 2 months to pick a bathtub!

     

    Order it! :) 

  11. That is a risk that faces every family in America at times.  Hopefully individuals are trained to understand the range of normal.  I do not think the person visiting re school should have authority to open a CPS case or remove a child or any of that.  It would be just like any other teacher - a mandated reporter if they see evidence of likely abuse or neglect.  They should be trained to ignore stuff like clutter, kid doodles, and today's potty training miss.

     

    We're never going to find the solution that fits every situation.  That doesn't mean we shouldn't have any oversight at all.  My personal standards for what should be legally required of parents are pretty liberal, but I do believe kids should be seen by other adults on a fairly regular basis.  I've read a lot about child abuse, and isolation of the child is a pretty frequent ingredient in the worst cases.  I do not understand people not wanting their kids seen by outsiders.  I will not support it.

     

    How many homeschooled kids are not seen by other adults on a regular basis? Very few, I would guess. My kids were in activities overseen by other adults several times a week...and that seems to be the norm for the families I have known. 

     

    I don't care if my kids are seen by outsiders. I don't want us being evaluated by school officials who don't understand what we're doing or how we operate. There's too much chance for misinterpretation.

     

    Again, we're not talking about the weird cases we see on the news. We're talking about a typical homeschooling family.

    • Like 6
  12. My syllables program, the full Webster, Megawords, Don Potter’s wise owl syllables, Marcia Henry’s Words.

     

    Here is a link to Words, it is a nice resource.

     

    https://www.amazon.com/Words-Integrated-Decoding-Instruction-Structure/dp/1416404414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520965397&sr=8-1&keywords=Marcia+Henry+words

     

    Thank you! It would be great if there were samples on Amazon. $60 is a lot for something you can't preview. :(

     

    I appreciate you sharing the resources.

    • Like 1
  13. I received a response from my representative: 

     


    Thank you for contacting me regarding HB-1798 County Boards of Education - Home Instruction Program - Observation of Instruction and Reporting of Abuse and Neglect.  This bill is currently assigned to the Ways and Means Committee.  More information on this bill can be found here: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb1798&tab=subject3&ys=2018RS

    I am firmly opposed to this bill.  I believe it is cost prohibitive - requiring home-school liaisons to drive and make visits twice a year is a significant financial burden.  Current law already addresses the concern this bill is supposedly about: "COMAR 13A. 10. 01.E" already allows homeschool liaisons to observe, but the location of observation must be agreed upon with both parties. Additionally, homeschool liaisons are already required to report suspicion of neglect or abuse to the proper authorities for the State of Maryland.

    Finally, the constitutionality of this bill is shaky at best.  Entering a person’s home with no probable cause is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, and would set dangerous precedent no matter how noble the intention appears to be.

    "Homeschoolers, who are already taking on the herculean task of being educators and parents at the same time, don’t need more nonsense interfering with their ability to provide meaningful instruction to their children.†–Red Maryland

    I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to me on this important issue.  Please do not hesitate to contact our office again should you need to do so.

    Sincerely,

    Delegate Kevin B. Hornberger
    Chair, Cecil County Delegation
    Ways & Means Committee
    Lowe House Office Building, Room 410
    Annapolis, MD 21401

    • Like 16
  14. I live in MD and am opposed to this proposal for a number of reasons. I really don't trust anyone to assess my homeschool. I chose an umbrella because it was the least intrusive option. It has not felt overly oppressive and I have homeschooled in NJ (no regs) and CA as well.

     

    I do not want anyone coming into my home to observe me teach. Interestingly, we are foster parents so we are subject to monthly home visits and a yearly renewal meeting and assessment in our home. I consider that intrusive as well but I understand why they do it and I put up with it. A foster child is in the legal custody of the state.

     

    This homeschool bill is entirely different and I could never support it. I contacted my representatives to voice my concern.

    • Like 2
  15. I don't care for breakfast food or sweet stuff either. I usually have soup or a potato topped with salsa. I would love hashbrowns but don't have time in the morning. A lot of people are starting to get into savory oats. I'm planning to try those too. I don't like oatmeal but I think I'd like them if they were savory.

     

    I love Teva! My mother needs good support and she has recently started wearing Teva more.

    • Like 1
  16. My Mom is a devoted top loader person.

     

    Although not a Speed Queen, she just got a new washing machine (think it's Maytag? Maybe Whirlpool) that has the dreaded lid-lock which drives me crazy.   But what's 1000x worse is that you can no longer fill the machine and let things soak.   If you do that, it will automatically drain itself after a few minutes.

     

    So....while the lid lock is annoying, the not being able to soak things is much much worse.  I would double check to make sure that they didn't implement that horrible feature.

     

    I also wonder if it's possible to disable the lid-lock....and if it's some sort of new safety requirement required on all new washers.  Maybe ask customer service?

     

    Not being able to soak would probably be a deal-breaker for me. Definitely something to consider.

    • Like 3
×
×
  • Create New...