[Frivolous poll about BROWNIES!]

If I wanted "cake like consistency", I'd make a cake.

 

:iagree:

[Whaaa? Christians should not do Yoga?]

That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.

[Is raising chickens cheaper than buying?]

Are you speaking of eggs or actual chicken? My brother is starting to raise natural/organic heirloom chickens for our families to eat (he already has egg layers) and after we pay for the chicks and their feed for 12 weeks it will cost us around $6.50-$7.00 per chicken. This is roughly half the price we would pay for a comparable organic chicken at the grocery store or local farmer. Yes it is still a lot of money BUT we will know exactly what they are eating, how they have been raised, and where they came from, etc. Even if an item you purchase says "organic" you still don't know the who, what, where, when, and why about it.

[Do you eat coconut butter? Help me!]

OMG! I LOVE that stuff! Send it to me because I am out :D. My family makes fun of it and calls it deodorant because of the color and consistency. I made some homemade the other day and although it was good it wasn't as good as the Artisana. I eat it straight off of the spoon.

[33 weeks pregnant--baby is breech]

Check out spinningbabies.com.

 

:iagree:. Mine are normally late turners. Find a chiropractor that specializes in the Webster Maneuver. I found one that had actually studied under Dr Webster. My last baby was breech until 39+ weeks. I went to the chiro several times a week for about a month. The baby flipped thank goodness because I was refusing to have a scheduled c-section simply because I had a baby in the Frank breech position.

[The Best Eggs?]

Have you tried looking here: http://www.localharvest.org/ . You might be able to find local items here. I live across the country from you but there has to be a location for you to find local eggs, produce, etc. Good luck. I came back to add that I pay approx $4.25 a dozen for organic eggs from the grocery store that I really don't know where they came from or $4.00 a dozen from a local farmer.

[Sugar?]

There is the argument that sweeteners are sweeteners no matter what source it comes from but I personally think local honey, real maple syrup, coconut sugar, and maple sugar are better than the white sugar alternative.

 

[Diminutives of Katherine]

I voted Kate. I am from a long line of Catherines. My great grandmother's aunt was Catherine but called Kit. I am Catherine Noele. I go by Kate to those I do not know well and online. My family and close friends call me Noele. No offense to anyone but I do not like it when someone calls me Cathy.

[Have you seen Walmart's new fabric/sewing department?]

My local Walmart totally did away with their fabric/sewing department.

 

Ours did too last year and I bought their HUGE fabric cutting table. They then put in a small section of precut packaged fabric and a few notions. A couple weeks ago I went in to buy paint and they had expanded the small sewing section to include fabric on bolts and a new terribly small cutting table. I wondered if they wanted the old table back :lol:.

[Kitchen- open or private?]

Open. I have had it both ways and if I could choose I'd stick with open.

[Anyone NOT get the Flu vac for themselves and kids?]

We have in the past gotten flu shots but didn't the past couple years. I regret not getting the shot last year. All the kids were sick at Christmas and we just thought they had some knd of bug that was going around. We were supposed to spend Christmas day with my Mom and warned her the kids had not felt good but she told us to come anyway. That night I started feeling terrible and by the next day thought I'd croak. Some of the kids were still sick so we took them to the doctor and he said we had the flu and it had progressed into other illnesses (strep throat, ear infections, bronchitis). We were sick for weeks. The next week my Mom was so sick she really needed to be hospitalized but refused to go. My sister is a nurse and moved in with her for 3 weeks until she got better. Several weeks later the kids and I were all sick again and I took all the kids back to the doctor and he told us we all had a different strain of the flu! As much as I hate shots this year I plan on everyone getting it.

[What's everyone ordering from Scholastic Dollar Days?]

I was finally able to get 1 order to go through but the coupon code had expired by the time it finally completed my order. So frustrating.

[Ectopic Pregnancy]

:grouphug: I am so sorry for your loss. My sil had endometriosis and only had one working fallopian tube. She was given fertility drugs and she conceived fairly quickly and had a baby via emergency c-section. Her dr told our family that her baby making parts were such a mess and it was a miracle that she conceived and would probably never be able to get pregnant again. Just over 2 years later she had a surprise baby without any fertility drugs needed.

[What's everyone ordering from Scholastic Dollar Days?]

My list grew so large that I can't even access my shopping cart any more. Stupid slow sight!

[Farmhouse style dining table]

DH is getting ready to build one for us. It doesn't look too hard. The plans are on Ana White's site at:

 

http://ana-white.com/2009/12/plans-farmhouse-table-knock-off-of.html

 

Actually, there are a number of slightly different farm table styles on that site. We like this one because it is so customizable to our space.

 

By our calculations, you could build your own large table a lot cheaper than the cost to buy one already made.

 

:iagree: I was going to suggest the ana-white.com website. She has great plans and wonderful ideas. I plan on using some of her plans to make bookcases.

["Felt Food" -- do your kids actually play with it?]

I have a question. I am sewing-machine incapable. Would these be hard to do by hand? I've looked at a couple of templates and it doesn't seem too hard. I'm not really a fan of sewing at all, so I wouldn't want to do it if it was awful to do. But my dd has been wanting to learn how to do some simple sewing so I thought these might be fun to make for christmas presents.

 

 

ETA - what are the odds that fabric glue would work on these??

 

I sew just about all of mine by hand. There are a few pieces that I can get started on the sewing machine (pancakes, doughnuts, fried eggs) but it looks better to me when done by hand. It does take longer but it is worth it.

 

My kids love the pieces I have made for them and beg for more.

[Help with neighbor who is quizzing my dd]

Whoa!!! That is incredibly inappropriate!

 

When my kids were younger, I helped them practice general, polite but non-informative responses to the OCCASIONAL quiz question.

 

But your poor dd is getting grilled.

 

I would put an end to the play dates. Seriously. That mom is beyond rational.

 

If you want continued time for your daughter and friend, you host.

 

My child would not be in that woman's presence again.

 

:iagree: I personally would be highly PO'd and the only way my child would play with that little girl again would be in my presence. Honestly I'd probably write them off of my play date list and move on to someone else.

[I don't understand this punishment for kids...]

Coach sounds like an idiot on a power trip. For a 5 or 6 year old? Really? Ridiculous.

 

:iagree: and I am so glad my kids aren't into organized sports because if a coach tried to do that to one of my children because I was running late I'd have him eating the grass :D.

[Can I be ugly for a sec? MIL content.]

Well that is just crappy of her. Did she give a reason why she wouldn't let you have them?

[Can I handle BFIAR for my #4?]

(meaning she's not emptying cabinets, drinking toilet water, or scribbling on the walls).

 

:lol: This made me snort out loud! I can totally relate but sadly I have no advice for you as I am just about to begin using BFIAR with all my mine ages 4-9. Best wishes to you.

[s/o not requiring children to move out]

Mine are welcome to stay as long as they want...as long as they are living their lives in a manner acceptable to me. If they think they can just stay home doing absolutely nothing, they will be asked to leave. If they are students, fine. If they are working, fine. If they are looking for work and helping at home, fine. Just sitting around all day? Sorry, so long.

 

:iagree:

[Would you rather have 5 boys, or 5 girls?]

Boys. Definitely boys.

 

:iagree: Our boys have been soooooo much easier. All the female hormones in our house right now make me nutty!

[Baby won't sleep, need help]

:grouphug: All I can offer is a hug. Our baby is 9 months old and she won't sleep unless she is attached to the . We don't even have a crib any more. I haven't had real sleep in years.

[non-payment vent]

Start requiring payment in advance? :grouphug:

 

:iagree: and :grouphug:.

[Poll: Do you like meatloaf??]

I LOVE my meatloaf :D. I have had meatloaf made by others and it was ok but I prefer my own. I use ground chuck, oatmeal, eggs, a dash of salt and pepper, a bit of Worcestershire sauce, a bit of Soy Sauce, a squirt of ketchup, and about a cup of salsa. Sometimes I add grated cheese. I bake until it is almost done and then top it with a concoction of 1 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup of yellow mustard and then bake it a bit longer. YUM! Now I might have to make meatloaf for dinner tomorrow.