Love your and others' suggestions...I had Task Master on their, too! :) I like Zippity, also. :)

LOL, love it! :) Know what I AM really good at? Getting money knocked off bills (say, the company that provides my internet, phone and tv...and they rip you off) or better prices on services. :)

Thanks for those company names. It'll help! I'm in Canada and haven't heard of them. :)

Ok, I was reading in Time magazine about people really starting to rent A LOT. Homes, vehicles, clothes, furniture. What caught my eye was a little caption about people renting others to do chores, such as folding laundry. And this got me thinking.... We have rent-a-husband companies here (tends to be house maintenance) or rent-a-wife (house cleaning) and even a rent-a-son (moving). But we don't have a general rent-a-? (not sure what you'd call it). Some ideas that I could include in a business: -house chores (think of anything) -dog walking/care -garden and lawn maintenance (fall cleanup) -driveway care in winter -organization -personal assistant -personal shopper (I would need to bring in my sis for that) -personal training (I would need my friend for that) -visitation (maybe for older folks) -house repair (husband's forte), which could include little things like sanding and restaining a deck, etc -child care -tutoring younger grades These are some of the things someone may need on a TEMPORARY basis, but may not want to commit to full-time (like a cleaning service or lawn care). I live in a fairly affluent area (outside Toronto...average house price would be in the 500,00-600,00 range, though our home is way more modest and we only have one income) So my questions: Is this a dumb idea? It's a "broad" company, rather than a specific one (only dog-walking or only lawn care). Any other ideas of things a company like this could provide? Any name ideas? Not sure what else to ask, but just throw feedback out there and I surely would listen to it all. I have NO business experience but just have this idea that I like. :) And I'm qualified...lol.

I talked to dh about it and we both feel uneasy with the possibility of something going wrong and child services questioning why I'm not there when I'm to be schooling them. Thanks for your replies! I appreciate the confidence! The eldest certainly could have handled it. She's amazing!

Right now I'm working just 5 hours a week from 3pm on one evening. There's a possibility I could work at another place Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. My kids ages are gr. 10 down to gr. 2. I'm just not sure if a) leaving the kids home alone during a school day is a good idea (from the eyes of the educational system, child protective services...I know 15yo dd can handle things, but should she?) and b) if I have enough time to get all our school work done since Wednesday afternoons are also piano, so really the whole afternoon is a write-off. Does anyone do this? Thoughts?

Ugh, I really cannot afford new shoes, especially since running shoes are WAY pricier here in Canada than in US (just read an article on yahoo.ca that said it's one of our top 10 US purchases as it's way cheaper). These ones were $180 and I got them on sale for $140 including tax. That's a steal! (I think the style is Hurricane something or other!) We have two really good running stores here...both don't take back shoes once worn outside. They say to use them on the treadmill. Problem is, to run 16k on the treadmill is really boring, and when I bought them almost a month ago I was running shorter distances. I do wear thin good running socks. So I guess I'll soak the feet and see what the drug store has in the way of something to help heal and discourage any further blisters! Sooooo bummed!!!! You are all so awesome!

Just purchased new Saucony shoes...they tend to be larger in the toe area but for some reason my foot is rubbing the wrong way. Too bad so sad, I've already worn them and it's too late to take them back -- I'm a sufferin' through it! So on the outside of my big toe, after my 16k last week, I saw a rather large blood blister. Today I did another 16k and I have another blister, on top of the blood blister. Plus last week I incurred another blister 2" down from the toe blister...and this week there's another one on top of that. Any ideas on how to treat these suckers? I have to wear the shoes. I have to do my long runs. :)

I would PM Rebel Yell and ask her personally. Hair colour is SO touchy, I wouldn't try to continue to fix it on your own. I say if you don't feel comfy going back to the original salon, you should go to another, higher-end salon and have a colourist fix it (not necessarily a hairdresser that does colour). Hindsight I would have gone back to the salon and had the original hairdresser fix it. Mine would have. It's business, baby, and their business is making you happy and look good. You are a walking advertisement to their work - if you don't like it, it reflects poorly on them! Good luck -- I really hope it is resolved with minimal hair damage and one happy mama!!!! :) :grouphug:

Unfortunately the supplements do add up. I'm taking 4 specifically for adrenal and thyroid support. But you know, if you can deal somehow with the joint pain, and if my experience can be translated to others with thyroid issues, exercise and diet are HUGE contributing factors!!! The naturopath said that the research just isn't there because it's so hard to get thyroid patients to commit to a program. We both know how true that is! Between being exhausted all the time, not being able to fall asleep, having low-level depression, aches (hey, just thought, try magnesium for that...I just started), etc, how does one start? For me, it really helped that I have a group of people I can depend on to be exercising in the morning. We meet at a coffee shop in town and often we stay after and talk. Just getting out and having some adult time, consistently, while exercising, has really helped. If you want more info, feel free to PM me. I really hope you find answers and help. It's MISERABLE. And you know what? I had had minor surgery in April and in May I saw my most amazing gyn for follow-up and I was telling him about all my symptoms and how miserable I was. He said I definitely needed to see an endo. He said the waiting list for the one out of his hospital was way too long and I should see my original gyn (I was referred from one to another) because I could get into an endo faster. So I went back to original gyn and he wasn't so sure. He decided to do bloodwork but by then I had been making enough changes that my TSH was JUST within normal. So NO referral. I was a little bummed but I trusted God really knew what He was doing...and I realize now that if I HAD gone to an endo and had been put on drugs, then I would never have known that diet and exercise were enough to make changes, kwim? Ok, enough blathering. Good luck!!!! :grouphug:

For almost three years I have felt thyroid symptoms. My tsh was in the 6+ range and my T3 and T4 were *just* within normal. I felt like poop. Doctor said I was fine. I asked her to call and endo and that dr said I was fine. In May of 2011 I started seeing a naturopath. She's put me on supplements. I felt a little better last summer, then back to normal. In Feb. 2012 my TSH was 8.4. In April it was 7.44. In June it was 5.25. Last week it was 3.97! The difference? Diet and exercise. The naturopath said she's NEVER seen such a significant change, and though she did up my supplements a bit, she said it wasn't enough to warrant such a change -- it was the diet and exercise. Looking back, when I felt better last summer, I had started exercising and eating better then...then in the fall stopped. I used to drag myself out of bed around 8am in the morning and didn't really feel awake until 5 or 6pm. I couldn't fall asleep before 10:30-11pm. Now I run and cycle with a group that meets at 5:30. I wake up at 4:45 and find myself waking up before then often, and feeling VERY refreshed, something that hasn't happened in a long time. For eating I cut out gluten, sugar, and pop (most processed foods). I've been having one cheat meal a week. For exercise I'm running and cycling and want to add in strength training. HTH! Good luck with your journey. Oh, and to answer your original question, years ago I was put on Idoral and didn't find it helped. I'm taking other supplements now to restore my adrenal glands and my thyroid. We're going to start weening me off them soon!

We went to DC last summer...my kids were 13, 12, 8, 6 and my niece's kids were 5, 4, and 1 and my other 16yo niece was with us. We took the subway most places -- easy. One evening we took the big kids and drove around looking at the lighted memorials, then got out and walked. It worked for us and it was an inexpensive way to do it, way less expensive than the bus tour. :)

These are awesome tips, Ladies!!!! Thanks!

Loving the advice and what works for you! :)

Our first trip will be to a sight with no electricity and water, so it's a glorified tent and storage place...lol. I've never even stayed in one so not sure how to best prepare. Do we use sleeping bags or bedding, for example? Any advice is appreciated!

I can't find anything about it. It doesn't help that it was DH that went to the app't with them!!!!

I didn't read the rest of the comment, so if this is a repeat, sorry. When we moved into a smoker's home, we contacted a cleaning supply company (mostly for professional cleaners) and we got a cleaner that's used for cleaning homes that have had a fire. This worked well. I cleaned all the walls with it. Probably floors, too. I also cleaned the carpets.

Ok, just so people know, if people are reading this...there's a virus going around that mimics strep throat. Dr. still took strep swabs, just in case, but believes this is what the kids have.

Kids have had a fever for two days. This morning had a fever, then went away for one. Yesterday same for the other. Both kids have sore throats with a few white spots in it. Can't decide if it's just a cold, or strep/tonsillitis. I always thought that white spots meant that, but the fever that's now coming and going makes me second-guess myself. Thoughts?

Of course one would dry themselves off in the shower!!! Anything else is craziness! :D

Thanks so much for the info!!! :)

Awesome, thanks!!!

Well, if your moms do it, it MUST be right! :) Thanks, all!

That is all I need to know. Running short on time. Thanks!

Thanks. :) I think I'll have dd peruse the chem book and see if she could do the work.