Thanks!

Do you have a little free library near you? You could drop off a book he has read and pick out a new one. It’s so sweet of you to do this for your husband. It’s always easiest to give up the extra work and thoughtfulness in stressful times, but is when it is needed the most!

My son is the same height and 10 pounds lighter. Dickies flat front slim khakis size 18 fit. I think they have an adjustable waistband. Amazon carries them with free returns.

I saw a parrot in Target the other day. Not perched on a shoulder or even on the shopping cart handle. Nope, it was chilling in the seat of the cart.

Maybe a crossbody phone case would work for you: https://www.bandolierstyle.com/shop/shop-all.html

If you want to go the passive aggressive route, perhaps you can have a discussion with a extroverted friend ahead of time. At the designated party end time, she could loudly announce her exit, do a round of hugs and “good-byes†and “it’s-getting-so-lates.†Maybe it will cause people to glance at the time and follow her out the door. Or maybe not. In my experiences, most people leave parties after the first person makes their way out. But, there are always people that overstay.

Just be sure not to buy one with a vent on the top. Mine vents right under the counter. It's ruined the wood finish and is susceptible to mold growth under the countertop.

If I want to use standard shipping, I always add a cheap non-book item (like a ruler or pencil) to my order so they can't ship it media mail.

Activated charcoal capsules work really well if taken with a meal preemptively or at the first sign of stomach distress. https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Activated-Charcoal-Capsules/dp/B0006LCQ4Q/

All of my perfect sheets got threadbare within a few weeks of each other. That's what I get for evenly rotating through them! I decided I should add a new set into the rotation every few years so they don't all wear out at the same time. I just bought these sheets: http://m.jcpenney.com/liz-claiborne-300tc-liquid-cotton-sheet-set/prod.jump?ppId=ens6003850039 They are nice enough after one wash that I ordered a second set. They will be perfect after a couple years. :)

Look up the right to timely care laws in your state. My son had a specialist referral scheduled 9 months out. As soon as I stated my rights, I had an appointment within three days.

We have roadside assistance through Geico. I believe it is around $15 per vehicle for the year. We have used it a few times without any problems.

Does anyone else miss the old "edited for tv" movies? We got to watch so many great films as kids. Now family movie nights watching Netflix seem to leave us feeling like bad parents when all the inappropriate scenes and foul language surprise us. Not what we remember watching as children.

Wow! There wasn't a fee at our health department. They did have a donation box set on the counter. The fee schedule only included things like $5 for a lost immunization card.

We just went to the health department for MMR today. I tried the pharmacies first, which bill insurance, but they were out of the vaccine. My town is also having a MMR clinic this week.

Sorry your daughter is having a difficult time! We are very possibly facing a job relocation soon, so we may be facing a similar situation soon. :( Knowing that the struggle with the chair is likely just a symptom of the deeper struggle, I have no idea if my thoughts are worth anything....What is the reasoning behind moving the chair into storage? Is it a space issue? If so, perhaps you could compromise and just move the ottoman into storage. Is it a decor issue? Does the chair fabric match the room? You could get a slipcover for the chair and put it on before the showings. Or you could take your daughter out shopping for a new bedspread and curtains to coordinate with the chair. I know I would have loved an afternoon of shopping therapy with my mom at that age.

Did you pay with a credit card or PayPal? If so, I would contact them and file a report. They will likely return your money. If you paid with cash or a check, you may just want to let it go. :(

I absolutely agree with this! We have bought two Toyotas with the pricing reports. We only paid $500-1000 over the pricing guide numbers. It was WELL below the sticker price. Also check to see if they offer online sales negotiation. Easy! We did that with one of the vehicles, but ended up having to drive to a dealership further away for the better price. Good luck!

Wow. That's cutting it pretty close to Christmas with those specific requests. I'd probably respond, "I've already completed my holiday trip to the grocery store. I will be bringing x & y. See ya soon!"

If you are receiving packages late, it is worth the effort to complain. I have prime because I live in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes I need things to show up by the guaranteed delivery date -- you know, the essentials, like a replacement coffee pot. :) Amazon will extend your prime membership by a month when a package is late. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201117450 Note: If you received free shipping through Amazon Prime, you may be eligible for a free one-month extension when the promised delivery date isn't met. Prime Extensions (including Mom) are limited to one per free trial and 12 for an annual membership. Free Amazon Student Memberships do not qualify for this extension.

I'm sorry that you have to deal with last minute changes in your gift giving plan. :( Our families tend to do something different each year. I have had to take on the organization of family gift giving and holiday get togethers. I bring up these topics in JULY. I have found that these things are best discussed far in advance of the holiday. No one is emotionally invested in the tiny details of Christmas while enjoying summer BBQs and pool parties*. Everyone seems quite agreeable and level-headed at that time of year, at least in my family. Addressing issues at an appointed time on my calendar (yes, I have a scheduled reminder) helps alleviate my stress and agrivation over small details during the holidays. *ETA: I just realized this would only hold true for us northern hemisphere folks. :)

Cream cheese cookies are our favorite for decorating. The dough is very easy to work with. I dust the counter with powdered sugar when rolling them out. ETA: these cookies are very soft and hold their shape Cream Cheese Cookies INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup butter 1 8 oz package cream cheese 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla pinch nutmeg 3 1/2 cup flour 1 tsp baking powder DIRECTIONS Cream sugar, butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Add egg and flavorings. Beat smooth Mix in flour and baking powder. Chill dough. Roll out on surface dusted with powdered sugar (1/4-1/2 inch thick) Bake on an ungreased sheet until edges barely begin to brown. 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

I'm not sure if my tween would appreciate baked goods, but I do bake a lot and will have a large platter of cookies on the table for snacking during our holiday gatherings. So, it may be different in their families. An inexpensive gift that has been a hit with both adults and kids in our family is a marshmallow shooter. You can make a marshmallow gun and provide a zip top bag of mini marshmallow ammo for $2 - $3.

I would probably wrap the Lego book with a few mini figures or specialty bricks. My boys look through Lego catalogs and tend to gravitate toward a specialty piece that is part of an expensive set. I can usually find those pieces on eBay for a few dollars. The architecture books could be wrapped with a scale ruler, graph paper, etc. I always try to get my kids something that is on their wish list. I do have a tendency to help guide their wishes early in the season if there is something I really want to get for them. A few times their wishes have been for a item that I knew wouldn't be played with for long, like Furby. Occasionally, these items will show up under our tree. I try to view the cost of these items as an experience, rather than a waste of money.

I recently bought a purse like this from Kohls. The brand is Stone & Co: http://mobile.kohls.com/catalog/womens-stone-and-co.-handbags-and-purses-accessories.jsp?CN=4294720878+4294874093+4294717955+4294717956