You can adjust your % goals for the different nutrients. IIRC they have fat set really low and carbs high. I changed mine around so protein and fat are the higher ones and carbs are slightly lower. I don't worry to much if I'm a little over, but it's a good guideline to have.

I'll join! :) I went for an hour walk last night which I really enjoyed and it was about a 5K. I've tried doing this before but the whole watching the clock thing always bugged me and I never made it more than a week or so into it. I just downloaded the app that you can listen to your music (or in my case podcasts) with and it will have the voiceover. I'm heading out tonight while DH is putting the kids down for my first session. I can't wait!

I really have liked the Outlander books in audio format. They're really long too which I like because it motivates me to keep working out.

We love Orange Lake resort. I believe you can purchase time share points / weeks for the week or rent by the night. They have wonderful condos that are 2-3 bedroom with a kitchen/laundry and so much to do, including amazing pools with a lazy river. We go nearly every year with my grandparents time share and don't even feel the need to go to Disney. That being said, if I was going to Disney I would probably try and stay on property for my disney days. We love being near the parks and the bus system and everything about staying on property when we're down there to do Disney :)

I typically eat what my family is having, and just skip the carbs. If I was going for a more moderate plan I would probably allow fruit and carrots as well. On the occasion where I can't easily modify what the family is eating (say they're having spaghetti or a casserole), I'll eat a quick tuna salad or something easy like that. I don't want to deprive them because this way of eating works for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Astronaut-Toddler-Child-Costume-Orange-XXL/dp/B0006HCSRA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1432323251&sr=8-4&keywords=nasa+flight+suit This is amazing quality. My parents bought this for my son from the Smithsonian and spent $$$. He outgrew it before the interest waned so I went to Amazon and it's the exact same thing.

That's awesome! Congrats!! If I ever go back to school that's what I want to persue. I loved working with the BCBA's that were brought in for my students, and thought they had the best job!

I do. I do it at the gym. DH is planning on setting up some equipment here, but to do that we have to clean out the garage which hasn't happened yet. Our gym has a computer program where they test you initially and then the system comes up with a program for you daily. I have my weights set to "Heavy". I don't deadlift because I'm nervous I couldn't do it right without a trainer. I squat 130 and bench 75. ETA: The book linked above is amazing. I read it from the library and then bought my own copy from Amazon. I'm not yet confident enough to go all on my own, but one day would like to try to.

Haha yes, it's my favorite way to do it because you can exchange them as you're going down the road. They're usually near the register. You pay the full price up front and they deduct the rental fee (I think $4 a week) when you return them. The selection can be kind of hit or miss though.

I would eat it like a ruben but without the bread. The meat and cheese and dressing would be really good with it.

That may work. I'm getting down there early to get checked into the hotel and get the lay of the land. Feel free to PM me if you want to set something up.

I am going to be in the car for 7 hours each way this week all by myself. Normally I would rent audiobooks from Cracker Barrel but I just figured out how to listen to them through my car with my phone instead of messing with CD's. Since I am no longer at the mercy of the selection at Cracker Barrel I would love some suggestions on audio books you've enjoyed. I have several audible credits that are ready and waiting! Thanks!

I'm going. I'm really excited about it, I have several sessions already marked out to listen to. I really enjoyed Adam Andrews when I saw him last year at HEAV. He is a Christian, but I can't remember him making a huge deal of it, and his information on teaching literature was very practical and helpful.

I'm game! I'll be there all weekend, and I did get tickets for the evening gathering with Heidi St. John, but other than that I'm free as a bird :)

Are you packing yourself or are movers packing you? When we have movers pack us they always leave us 1 big open box for each bed to put the sheets/pillows/blankets in and then they mark the outside well. I always get up really early the day of moving and wash the sheets so I have fresh, clean things to pack. That way as soon as everything is delivered we know right where the sheets and blankets are (we usually snag them as they're going into the house). It would save you from having to pack them separately unless you're planning on doing air mattresses. For me, I like to have my coffee maker, wine opener, can opener (never know when ALL the kitchen boxes will be unpacked), couple of Tervis cups. Also, a roll or 2of toilet paper and a roll of paper towels. Depending on if I knew what my house was going to look like I may also throw in a shower curtain. We had a horrid experience our first move because we didn't pack a shower curtain and had to go 3 days without a shower until we found it (in a box labeled garage, isn't that where you would have looked? Lol) That's about it if I was moving myself, or not getting into a place until the movers were there with our stuff.

Thanks! I think we'll go for it. We were leaning that way anyways, but I was worried it was an overreaction. Honestly since I'm mom it's not something I really notice about him,but I can see it saving him from being teased later on down the line. I appreciate the input!

Returns at Sears are so easy. I just went to any of the Customer Service counters and it only took a few minutes.

I would love to hear from some parents who have had an otoplasty (ear reconstruction) done on their child or have decided against it. DH and I keep going back and forth, mainly because it seems so strange to sign my preschooler up for cosmetic surgery. Details: DS is 4 and is going under next month to have his ear tubes removed. They've been in long enough that they're starting to cause concern about whether or not they'll leave a permanent hole, so they're taking them out. When we were there the ENT mentioned that they could easily "fix" his right ear while he's already under for the tubes. There isn't anything wrong with it from a functional perspective, but it does stick out, especially at the top, and I have overheard a couple of kids before making note of it, so I do worry about being teased when he gets older. From the research I've done this kind of thing is much easier to correct when they're young because the cartilage is much more malleable, but I'm still not 100% sold. Thanks for any advice / experiences!

I have to stay low enough with my carbs to stay ketogenic, otherwise it doesn't make a difference in my energy levels. As long as I keep my net carbs around 20-25, and after the initial adjustment, I feel wonderful.

Handling the speakers and noting which one was basically a 45 minute infomercial and which ones were actual speakers was one area that I think HEAV handled well. If the session was about the curriculum (how to use/why to use) they were specifically marked and otherwise the speakers were only allowed to mention their booths/products the last 5 minutes or something of their sessions. It was very clear which ones were to learn more about a specific curriculum and which ones were actual information homeschooling talks by an expert who just happened to publish a program. For example, Adam Andrews (CenterforLit) is listed and he is an amazing speaker. Yes, he does have a product you can buy but I got so much out of hearing him speak I would see him again. Lots of great information that you can actually take and put into practice Monday without buying a thing. Likewise, Sarita Holzmann spoke and never mentioned Sonlight in her hour session; however, I wasn't very impressed with her as a speaker. It seems like GHC could benefit from distinguishing between the sales pitches and actual informational sessions. On the other hand, it looks like what you're looking for is the local in the trenches mom to do a session on what works for her. I went to one like that last year. I think the best/only way to do something like that is on a much smaller scale then these national conventions. I will agree it was really helpful to hear about what works from moms who have been doing it for 10+ years and I enjoyed it. I hope you're able to coordinate something that works for you!

So I take it your impression was not favorable? I would be very interested to hear more. I just realized the one in SC is coming up and I was thinking of going although it would be quite a commitment.

I'm actually from the suburbs :) We no longer live there but my parents and in laws do, which is why it's so much for me, when I could just stay with my parents. I will say the first time I went the parking was beyond atrocious which is why when my friend suggested splitting a room I jumped at it :) Plus it was nice to kind of isolate myself and have the evenings to discuss what we learned and have a nice dinner with a friend. Last year I know they started the shuttle system so I may just take advantage of that this year. I'm having trouble with multi-quote, but mschickie: last year we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and it was really nice. They had a nice breakfast and lots of attendees were staying there. It's a decent walk, but not at all undoable. I probably wouldn't stay there if I thought I would want to go back to my room several times throughout the day, but for 2 adults who only went there in the evenings it worked out really well. It wasn't horribly expensive ($110 a night maybe?) and you didn't have to pay for parking, whereas you do have extra parking fees at the 2 hotels near the convention center.

I have the new FitBit Charge HR and I really like it. It measures your steps, stairs climbed, distance, and heart rate. I like that because it's counting calories for increased activity even when I'm not stepping (like in a spin class). I had a BodyBugg as well, and from what I remember the data is pretty close.

I don't know about the oven, but I kept seeing these recipes for all in one fajitas in a crock pot, and I love my crock pot so I tried it. They were a disaster!! I didn't even cook them nearly as long as they had called for and the veggies were so cooked down you couldn't even see them. I would not recommend it!

I am :) I haven't gotten a hotel yet, last year I shared with a friend which was a blast but she's since moved so I'm debating the cost. Last year was a lot of fun though. Even though I don't need much in the way of curriculum the sessions are good (if you pick the right ones, I went to a couple of duds last year), and the whole environment is inspiring and encouraging.