Dd has been accepted and is a finalist for their nice transfer scholarship, but she honestly doesn't know much, if anything, about the school besides its location. I would appreciate your thoughts. The choosing process seems more difficult than the applying!

Was it difficult to do? Did you notice significant improvement in your overall health? Did you think it was worth the expense? Thank you for your opinions!

Although I'm not low-carbing, I probably should be...so my version may not be what you are seeking. It is, however, delicious. In my Vitamix I blend 1 cup water and a small handful of raw almonds (or a cup of prepared almond milk if it's on hand) and a scoop of unsweetened coconut. Blend till smooth, then I add 1 scoop of chocolate A. Grass and a scoop of Designer Whey Gourmet Chocolate (the one sweetened with stevia), a TB of peanut butter, and a few ice cubes and blend again. YUM!

In case anyone else is thinking about this topic, I found a couple of really neat websites yesterday to share. Both are packed with good information! http://thesurvivalmom.com/ http://www.commonsensehome.com/

OK, ladies, I'm rolling up my sleeves and have an action plan. :) Thank you!

Wonderful ideas! I'll start my list! :D

I am looking long-term at increasing our ability to be more self-sufficient so that we can be prepared for the future. Sort of like a Home Economics course on steroids! ;) I'm not fearful of doomsday approaching, but want my girls to practice how to feel confident if the power goes out or how to prepare for bad weather, or how to 'make do' when money is tight and feel the joy of being prepared for any circumstance by being knowledgable and prepared. Being able to garden successfully, preserve things, keep adequate food and supplies, have resources on hand to keep learning about things...this is what I want to teach my girls. Have you any suggestions for where to begin? I would love websites, curriculum suggestions, book titles, any thoughts you might have so that we can learn together how to live a life that is simple, enriching, inspiring, and full of knowledge and peace. Thank you for your insights!

What a blessing you all have been to my friend Sarah! I pasted all your wonderful suggestions into a doc and sent it to her today, and she called almost crying (happy tears). She asked me to thank you all personally for caring enough about her dd to share your wisdom. :)

Thanks to all of you. She has told me that her dd is quite embarrassed but now is just 'turning off' to math because she sees it as too far to catch up to grade level. I know they have moved several times, so maybe new surroundings/new teachers/new math books played a part. I do not know about any suspected learning disabilities. I am giving her all the info you've shared. Many thanks.

Thanks! Good suggestions!

Advice please! A friend's daughter, former ps, is now at home. This child is almost 14, but her math skills are quite behind. She struggles with subtraction, knows no multiplication facts, and is supposed to be preparing for 9th grade this fall. Is there some program she can use with her to catch her up and help her succeed? Thank you for any advice I can share.

Thank you all! I'll run all your suggestions over with Dh and hopefully we can eventually see an entire movie again! :)

We gave up satellite last year and got a Roku for streaming Netflix and watching a few channels available on it. I am getting weary with it, though. Every time we try to watch a movie, it just freezes, tries to load, sometimes it finally does and then freezes again 10 minutes later. Many times the box just restarts itself. We thought it was a router problem, but I think it's a Roku problem. Are there any happy users of another device like a Roku? Thanks!

:ack2: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Horse-meat-found-in-Ikea-s-Swedish-meatballs-4305576.php

Just one small suggestion. I bought a cookbook for my dd, and as a part of her home ec credit this year, she has to pick at least one recipe each week, make a shopping list ( taking in to account the cost, using ingredients we have on hand, etc.) shop, and prepare that dish. I've also encouraged her to write notes in the margins of the book that would be helpful the next time she made that recipe. She puts smiley stickers on the ones she got rave reviews for. :) She also sews a lot, crafts constantly, and has organized meals and parties for our history studies and holidays, so the whole family has benefited from her course lol!

Thank you! I was *way* off with what I had thought!

It may have been asked before...but I would like to know so that I can appear to be brilliant to my children (who unfortunately know the truth). :laugh:

Those zombies are so darn hard to catch! :D

Very helpful, ladies! Yes, the drive is a pain, but we live in the sticks, so everything is a 50 minute drive from here lol. I appreciate you providing so many good options for me to think about. I think the expensive class is out, now that I have some other better ideas to ponder. Thank you!

I am attempting to learn how to run. Week 3 of C25K and so far it's pretty pitiful, but I persevere! I want my girls to learn to run, too. For their health's sake, for their enjoyment, for their self esteem, to build good health habits for their lifetime, etc. I want to do this together and make a memory. The running store 50 minutes from home has a beginning walk/run program starting next week. I have gone back and forth all month trying to decide whether to sign us all up for it or not. The main obstacle is the cost. $125 per person, no family discount, and the shoes and clothing would be another expense. My tax refund is coming in a few days. Would you invest this much for your health and your kid's health if they weren't all that interested to begin with? I usually use our refund for curriculum so it would be a risk to squander it on a failed idea!

I occasionally make dessert pizza. I have never been to a Godfather's , though, so it may not be similar...but it is yummy! I use regular pizza dough, spread into a 12" round pan, sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar, and spread with a can of apple pie filling. Bake as usual pizza and then drizzle on a powdered sugar icing.

*Love Crunch organic chocolate granola*!!!!!!! It seems to be a Valentine's Day special item. It has organic cocoa, flax, coconut, chocolate chunks, and freeze dried strawberries as well as the regular granola stuff. So please buy yourself a bag. Or ten. I'm going back tomorrow and get every bag they have left. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

I saw one of our hive friends posted this on FB today. :)

Praise the Lord!

Thank you for even more helpful comments! The new shoes were feeling a bit better this morning. I am very new to running (but have done P90X and similar things so I am fairly strong) so I am using the C25K and walking every day between. I recognize the first shoes I bought hurt my poor feet so badly because they made me land on the sides of my feet. That pain was awful. These new ones aren't as cozy feeling as I had hoped, but my feet don't cramp or feel out of balance, but my legs are still really sore. I think that is a good kind of sore this time, but we'll have to see if it improves or gets worse. I had hoped to have a pair of shoes that I could hardly wait to put on in the mornings. Pretty ones that feel like clouds and make me fly. :D I'm hanging in there, though!