Depending on your CSA for the week, roast or grill chicken and vegetables one night. Leftover night one: build your own salad with chopped chicken/vegetables Leftover night two: chicken and veggie soup (or simply roasted vegetable soup, pureed. Cauliflower or potato add a nice creaminess without dairy) I've served almost every one of the following recipes (with tweaking for personal taste/dietary requirements) with minimal family complaints: http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_and_techniques/crock_pot_recipes_to_cook_once_eat_twice

Mirena or Paraguard For what it's worth, I respond VERY badly to hormonal bc, and I had no problems with Mirena. Had it removed in order to get pregnant, but will definitely go with Mirena again.

Growing up I had a babysitter who always put popcorn on top of our tomato soup (and, of course, we ate the rest on the side!). It's a bit strange but an option. She also always served peanut butter with celery on the side. Another babysitter would make a box of mac and cheese and then mix the tomato soup in with the cheese sauce. Not the prettiest meal, but tasty. (Or it was when I was 8. It is possible my tastes have changed a bit since then!) Can you tell we had a lot of babysitters and tomato soup?

That's the one. :glare:

I'll third the mechanical pencil recommendation. Alternately, try tracing paper or similar thin paper that requires a light touch or it rips. If part of the problem includes gripping the pencil itself too hard, try different shapes of pencil (triangle or completely round sometimes work). Finally, practicing with different mediums (chalk, pastels, dry erase marker, crayon, colored pencil) not only makes penmanship more fun but can help change grip/pressure problems. Just make sure to keep an eye that proper grip is maintained.

We didn't quite have to declare a state of emergency (although the doctor was called, just in case), but there was a noticeable decline in productivity. Now next week, when the "woman cold" comes...

My paternal grandmother only gave her daughters first names, assuming that their maiden name would become their middle name. One never married, and one married late in life after becoming and MD and kept her name for professional reasons :D This was in the late 40s/early 50s. Interestingly, my MIL did the same for her daughter (early 80s), and said daughter gave herself a middle name (NOT her maiden name) when she got married. :D I'm happily First Maiden Married Name, but then again, my middle name was "Foote". A family name that often required explantation and one that I looked forward to shedding my whole life!

Have him teach 2nd grade after college. That's what did it for me ;) But a few tricks that have worked for kiddos I've taught: Marching or clapping each "family" repeatedly to a familiar tune. The triangle fact family cards has helped my visual learners connect the dots between 3 x 5 = 5 x 3. And I agree with the provide a chart and move on if the concept of multiplication is understood while the facts themselves might not be memorized. As math gets more challenging, most facts get learned out of self-preservation; info instantly at hand = less time on a problem.

I'm a ponytail (just one) girl on a regular basis, but this spring I cut my hair short (just below the ears). I pulled it back into pigtails (or two ponytails, if you prefer) for a while, because that's the only way the hair would stay up/out of my face. THEN someone mentioned that whoever the guy is in 50 Shades of Grey asked/told whoever the girl is to wear her hair that way. :001_huh: Haven't rocked the pigtails since then. No idea if this was accurate information, btw, but it certainly affected my hair-wearing!

Hmmmm. I still have that reading list around here somewhere, but I remember a good chunk. Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell Remains of the Day by Ishiguro Silence by Shusaku Endo (which remains one my most memorable reads to this day) House of Mirth by Wharton Wuthering Heights by Bronte Macbeth Oedipus Rex Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by Joyce I know there was at least one more novel, but I'm blanking. I do remember an extensive study of Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale" that focused on teaching us deep textual analysis, as well as poetical analysis, both helpful for that danged multiple choice exam. (Oh, and, you know, all the lit papers I produced in college!) I'm sure there were more poems/short stories, as well. This was for AP Lit ~15 years ago.

:iagree: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/ These are a huge hit in my family!

When we were still dating, my husband and I talked about public proposals. I definitely couldn't imagine a "sports board" proposal or even a large family gathering proposal, and both of us are very close to our extended families. He did end up proposing in his grandparents' backyard. They knew about it in advance and were peeking through the window watching and taking pictures. It irked me a wee bit at the time, feeling like our private moment was being intruded on, but looking back, it was so special to them to feel like they were a part of our day. Plus the image of his grandmother peering through the curtains is pretty funny in retrospect. So in answer, anyone who dated me seriously should have known better than a truly public - as in, watch me do this! - proposal. I always wonder about the relationship when the proposal seems to not only be unlike one person in temperament/personality but also appears to come as a complete surprise.

I love the thought-provoking comments in this post. When I taught English in the school system, it was a challenge to push away my OWN love of analysis and criticism and find ways to ensure that meaningful discussions about literature that resonated with my students were happening. I've always though analysis was neat. :-) Just a few practical suggestions for your advanced dd's. As a late middle/early high schooler, I despised tramping through a book with a teacher being told "this is what the author intended, etc.". However, I read Madam Bovary sometime around 13-14, and my mother promptly handed over her Norton Classical edition after I finished. I loved the essays in the back, both the contemporary criticism and the subsequent modern analysis/criticism. I absolutely would NOT say I understood all (or even most) of this, but I was enthralled by how deeply others had thought about this book. Through the years, I have found success with Norton Critical or well-annotated editions for some of my advanced students. To me the beauty of a classic at your DD's ages is the realization that the text goes deeper, and that the book can be reread at many levels and with different levels of life experience.

There are several current in-print version that "edit" the story; that is, they take out what is deemed one or two diversions from the story. These are published in the back of the book as appendices. Perhaps those sections are what your friends is referring to as "goat tripe"? I would tell you which copies these are, but I moved this week, and I haven't gotten up the courage to unpack the 45 book boxes sitting in my new living room!

I have sent Kiwi Crates to my nieces (ages 5 and 6), which were a big hit with them and didn't receive too many complaints from my SIL ;) http://www.kiwicrate.com/ I don't know if they will do every other month, though.

Our two favorite summer pasta dishes: Chopped tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes sliced in half), lots of garlic, torn basil, and olive oil. Best if you let these hang out in a bowl on the counter for 2-4 hours to marry the flavors. Freshly cooked whole wheat pasta dumped on top when you are ready to serve. We also love this with brie or mozzerella (~ 8 oz to a lb of pasta) if I have any on hand. Spinach Pesto Pasta 1 – 10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed well (you can also use fresh regular or baby spinach - but you need a lot!) 1 c. fresh parsley or basil leaves, chopped 2/3 c. Parmesan cheese ½ c. walnut pieces 2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste 1 t. salt ¼ t. fennel seeds 1 c. olive oil In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, blend all ingredients except oil. Slowly add the oil while the motor is running. Sauce keeps for about 1 week, covered and chilled. It may also be frozen. I toss the pesto with hot pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a package of frozen peas. Can be served warm, cold, or room temperature. (Non vegetarians - diced chicken or a can of tuna is also a good addition)

I haven't used Saxon in a homeschool setting, but the classical school I used to teach in did. NO ONE finished the lessons in a school year. Not our Kindergartners, not our fifth graders. We all started with the new book the next year, and the kids were just fine :tongue_smilie:

We didn't serve cake at our wedding, and no one has ever commented on missing it. We did brownies and milk :D There were also my grandmother's famous cookies. My brother and his wife had cupcakes. Those were also a big hit. I've been to several weddings that served pie instead of cake. I know several of my friends have chosen not-cake, because wedding cakes can be so expensive. I think as long as there is SOMETHING sweet, people are happy.

I would also check with the school. If there is a medical reason she needs the support of tennis shoes, it is possible she would be permitted to wear them. I've taught several kids over the years who needed specific support from their shoes that was difficult to come by within uniform requirements.

In the summer, I do a ton of fruit crumbles. I make the crumble topping with oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar and coconut oil (plus spices to complement the fruit). You can play around with the ratios, but I find that 1/2 c brown sugar to 1 cup oats + 3/4 cup ww flour works for us. Summer fruits need no sweetening!

My husband's parents refused to pay for college (although it was within their means to do so) unless their children - all of them - selected an engineering degree. I'm glad I wasn't their kid, because I would not have made it through!

This sounds seriously manageable. I think all members of the household could master this :001_smile: Don't know why it never occurred to me to keep the lids separately.

Oooh... Those command organizers could be just the thing! I've got the nesting part down, but the tumble of lids is a huge problem. Thanks!

Someone must have a better system than I have... I've gone from "Cluttered Drawer" to "Giant Pile on Shelf". Anyone have any fabulous tupperware-corralling suggestions/gizmos/whatnots? Or at least a way to teach the rest of the family that tops and bottoms should go together?

I wonder this all. the. time. DH has a group of friends from college that e-mail frequently - as in multiple times a day. I have NO idea what they talk about, since it is not unusual for one to announce an engagement and DH will have no idea that his friend was even dating someone, or a birth announcement, and again, no idea his wife was pregnant. I've asked. The answer is "We just don't talk about that stuff." :confused: