Now I'll have to go and try both recipes. I love the chicken pot pie recipe and her pastry crust recipe is the only one I'll use now. The only one dd will use as well. It truly is the perfect recipe.

I never know what to buy for my bil. My sister, mom, and I all enjoy buying each other gifts and I often feel bad for our husbands. I'd like to get bil something good this year, but am not sure what. He doesn't really drink, he's allergic to a bunch of different foods, his main interest/hobby is programming robots (he's built some pretty amazing robots), but he is a realtor. My sister said he needs a belt, so I bought him a belt, but that's feeling pretty boring. If you are never sure what to get for your bil, what are you giving him this year?

I was thinking about buying this one: http://www.amazon.ca/Qualitesty®-LOCKSMITH-TRAINING-CUTAWAY-PRACTICE/dp/B015A0604Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1448906150&sr=8-2&keywords=lockpick+kit

Ds (15) would like to learn how to pick locks. There are a few different lock picking tool kits on Amazon - I'm wondering if there's anything I should know before I buy? Any brands to avoid?

I struggle with this as well. I've tried all kinds of charts and organization methods. We had one that worked really well when they were very young. But, the thing that worked best when the kids were older was having five or ten minute "chore times" at different points in the day. So, after breakfast, but before school work, everyone would go and do their morning chore. We also had a lunch time chore and an end of day chore. Yes, I'd still have to remind them - as in, hey, everyone, go do your breakfast chore, but it wasn't terrible. We kept the same set of chores for each kid so they were never surprised - one kid would take a cleaning wipe and wipe down all the sinks and counters in the bathrooms. One kid would windex all the mirrors. One kid would tidy the shoes by the front door. One kid would sweep the kitchen. I'd also have decluttering chores - like "declutter the family room" or "clear off all the kitchen counters". The key was to keep the chores very short and to have everyone do the same chores each day. On Saturday, we tackled things that only had to be done once a week (like cleaning the toilets), but we were able to keep a nice looking house this way with minimal stress for me.

That's what I'd do.

How about a plate of fruit with a yogurt dip? You could also make cupcakes or squares or the Pioneer Woman's 4th of July Cake. I make the 4th of July cake a couple of times a year and everyone always loves it, plus it looks impressive. I think if you had a fruit plate, and a couple of different baked treats that would probably be lots. I'm not sure that people would be expecting a lot of food at a spa party. Although, you could add fancy crackers and goat cheese as well.

We went with Samsung, too. It's been a year and we're still happy with it. Dishes are clean, everything works.

I just got an email from my 10 year old's grade 6 teacher - the subject line was: "Yoga and Christmas Decorations." Uh oh.

My 6 year old nephew is obsessed with Star Wars and I was thinking about getting him a costume. I'd like to order something that's well made - not a cheap-o Halloween costume. Is there an Etsy store or some other place that sells quality Star Wars costumes?

At the school my boys are at now, they put a lot of energy into helping the graduates with university applications and scholarships. In 2014, there were 25 graduates and they were offered more than $650,000 in scholarships. I'm hopeful that my boys will be eligible for some scholarships, but we also live near the university and they could attend there and stay at home which would make it very affordable, especially considering the low tuition here. Dh worked like a maniac through undergrad. He put himself through school and paid for his living expenses as well. He worked during the school year, but he also worked two full time jobs in the summer. He graduated after 4 years with no debt and he had no help.

Where I live, tuition in university, food, housing, medical, and fees work out to $13,141 for Canadian students, or $19,000 for international students. That's obviously in Canadian dollars. Minimum wage is $10.50 per hour. Dd has a job that pays her $15.25 per hour. She works 24 hours per week during the school year. Last summer, she waitressed all summer and saved enough to pay her rent and utilities for the year (she doesn't live on campus).

I don't even want to admit to how many things I've bought because of this forum. My favourite was my Well-Caffeinated Mind coffee cup. I loved that cup. I wish PHP still sold them.

Wow. One year at our university is $2550 Canadian. Adding in accommodation, food, health and dental coverage, books, and school fees brings it up to $13,141. For Canadians. $19,513 for international students.

Seriously? Does that mean my kids shouldn't learn how to write a haiku? Or if they do write one they couldn't perform it? Or that non-Italians shouldn't write sonnets? The world keeps getting crazier.

My great-great-great-great-or so grandfather who first came to Canada was named Cassimier. I really wanted to name our last kid that but dh wouldn't let me, so that's his middle name instead of his first name. I also have a great uncle named Cecil and I wanted to name last kid that, too, but dh also vetoed it.

I somehow am always behind on laundry. Big piles of clean clothes that need to be put away. Big piles of dirty clothes that need to be washed. But, even amongst the chaos, I would not ever leave a pee soaked bag of clothes. That would be put through asap regardless of how behind I was. What I also would do is probably set aside the other kids' clothes and forget about them. I think they're probably in a bag at that mom's house and they're just not high on her priority list because there are so many other things to think about. A reminder would likely be all that's needed to get me to bring them in.

One of my favourite unusual things to have on Thanksgiving is the cranberry bread from the FIAR book, Cranberry Thanksgiving. Dd made it every year for quite a few years.

I don't think of it as unusual, either. I've heard of a lot of Seamus's around here.

Sometimes the spelling is meaningful. My niece's name is Emma-Lee. Her mom's name is Lee-Ann.

I really enjoyed The House of Scorpion and the sequel to it. It raises some serious issues without getting graphic. I love discussing things like cloning with kids - is cloning moral? Is there a time where it could become the moral thing to do? Is a clone a person? Does a clone have a soul? So interesting.

Yes. That's what we noticed about people from the UK. We lived in London for two years - during 9/11 and were pretty impressed by the "just get on with your life" mentality. We were freaking out somewhat, as there was talk of London being a potential target, but our friends were pretty unconcerned. They said if you let it get to you you'd never leave your house.

We used to put the dog's poo in his holes. He didn't like that.

I've left cash in someone's mail slot at church.

I never understood celebrity crushes - even as a tween. However, I do get all nervous and excited and awestruck by even the idea of meeting my favourite authors. One of them works at the university in town and I think I actually saw her in the hall last week. I didn't try to talk to her or anything, but I was feeling giddy - which embarrassed me. I'm going to have to get over it right quick as I'm hoping to take her class next semester. I have a horrible fear of not being able to say anything to her other than to gush over how much I love her writing. Thankfully, I already own an autographed copy of one of her books (dd tracked her down for me two years ago and got her to sign a book for me for Christmas - wonderful dd!), otherwise I'd worry that I'd be tempted to ask for her autograph. How silly.