I made something like this: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Dessert/Butter-Mints with my kids, and it was a very easy project. They had fun molding them into different shapes. This recipe says to refrigerate, but the one I used said you could also leave them out and they would dry out a bit, but still be yummy. We did some without the food coloring, and they just turn out a creamy white color.

Can you sew? I just bought some elastic so I could try making one of these: http://www.happytogetherbyjess.com/2011/07/double-sided-fabric-headband-pattern.html

I had really terrible heartburn for years, and when I gave up dairy it went away almost completely. Apparently this is pretty common, so if you consume dairy it might be worth a try....?

Clive Cussler has a series of books called "The Oregon Files" which I really enjoyed. The first two aren't as good, but the ones he co-authored with Jack Du Brul are really good. (imo :001_smile: ) I also second the Vince Flynn recommendation. Oh, and Brad Thor!

I had read that if you add borax to your wash once or twice a week that it would keep your washer clean. Mine started to get "the smell", so I started adding a bit of borax when I wash towels, sheets,or jeans.... and no more smell! Good enough for me. :001_smile:

I agree that she may just be hiding her pain. In January we had to have out 11 year old St. Bernard put to sleep. She had seemed okay, but as with any older dog she was slowing down, it was a bit harder to get up from her bed, she had a bit of a limp for a couple of weeks. But she was still happy, wagging her tail, going outside, asking to walk around the block, eating her food. And then one night she needed help getting up, and one leg didn't want to work. By the next morning she couldn't get up at all. When the vet looked her over he felt a mass in her leg that he felt was most likely bone cancer. Bone cancer. So of course she was in pain. Maybe terrible pain. I can't tell you the guilt I feel over that, even though there was no way for me to have known. We knew that we had to have her put to sleep. Even if she could have been treated, there was no way that we could manage lifting her and moving her.... she weighed as much as I did. So before the vet did what he needed to do (shaving her leg and whatnot), they gave her a shot of pain medication. In just a matter of seconds she was our old dog again. She held her head up high, breathed easier, crossed her big front paws in the way that always made her look like a lion. She looked so peaceful and so beautiful and I realized just how long it had been since she looked that serene. So for her and for us it was definitely time. Past time, probably. And her end was easy and peaceful and pain-free. So please, don't beat yourself up. If you think it might be time, then it probably is. You've loved her and cared for her for 15 1/2 years.... that's an incredibly long life for a large dog. Helping our pets leave with dignity and peace isn't unkind. On the contrary, it's the last and greatest kindness we can ever show them. ((Hugs)) to you as you decide.

I have suffered from both reflux and sinus issues for years, so I certainly sympathize. I gave up dairy a couple of months ago, and was surprised to find my reflux was reduced by about 90% and my sinus problems by maybe 40-50%. I never would have guessed dairy was a cause of those issues, so that was a real surprise. I mention this only because you said that ice cream occasionally triggered her throat closing feelings. (Oddly it was a throat closing/wheezy breathing feeling after eating ice cream that made me give up dairy.) Anyway, I felt results in my reflux after only a couple of days, so if you wanted to do a trial run of no dairy you should know pretty quickly. Good luck!

I love this one, too. Did you know that Jewel (the singer) is Atz Kilcher's daughter? The two of them sing the show's opening song. For some reason that made the show even more interesting to me. lol.

I did this last year... Jan-March. I think I did count shoes and outerwear, which probably used up 5 of my 33 items. I ended up cheating a bit and pulled a couple of extra t-shirts in towards the end. My usual style is a t-shirt/thermal/turtleneck topped with a hoodie or cardigan, so I probably had more tops than the average person. I actually thought the counting and sorting was more valuable than the 3 months of wearing. It's interesting to see what your favorites really are when pushed to choose. It's also been interesting that two of the sweaters that I didn't choose last year are two of my favorites this year. Glad I didn't decide to get rid of them! I decided not to do the challenge again, mostly because my personality tends to get a little hung up on "number challenges". (I need to stop reading those "Be a minimalist... Own 100 things!" challenges. Ugh.) What has worked well for me was this: I bought really nice padded hangers... just the right number so that my clothes will hang in a neat and un-crowded way. And that's it. I'm not allowed to buy anymore hangers so what I have has to fit. (I also have a small shelving area for sweaters... what I have has to be neatly folded and un-crowded.) For me, being a good steward of my possessions is just as important as the number, so that's what I'm working on. I'm surprised that so many people don't even own 33 things. I tend to buy good quality, classic items and they last forever. I still have a 20 year old cardigan that I love and that looks brand new. Stuff adds up over time... lol. Good luck! :thumbup:

My son loves to skateboard..... not fancy skate park stuff, just around the neighborhood. We bought him a Positiv from Amazon and it held up really well. We got this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VZ3N9W/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 We have also had good luck with Zoo York, but I think they are usually a bit more $$$. (Don't get the kind you can buy at Target or wherever. They start out okay for the first few weeks, but the components.... bearings, maybe?.... don't hold up.) Good luck! :001_smile:

This might sound kind of odd, but sometimes guys that age (DBIL) enjoy books of comic strips, especially ones that might remind them of their childhood. (Calvin and Hobbes? Far Side?) It's fun to have something to do on Christmas afternoon. Would he enjoy a jigsaw puzzle? My dh always loves to get one... again, something to do. For the teen, what about some of those really fluffy socks in a fun color? Good luck! (I finally finished shopping today and am soooo relieved!)

There's a series of books (3, I think) called Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction. They let you use stuff around the house to build things like little catapults, crossbows, etc. Your older boys might like those with a box of supplies. Good luck! :001_smile:

Does he have any fun NFL gear to wear to the games? A team jacket or a jersey from his favorite player?

How about a box of pop tarts or a bottle of soda that they don't usually get? Or those mini boxes of cereal? Those would fill up some space. :001_smile: We have overly big stockings, too, and I usually add a t-shirt, a book, or a pair of flannel pj pants rolled up tight.

Etsy?

I think this is probably what I have, too. Actually, I'm sure it's what I have, I just don't have the "official" diagnosis. I've been experimenting with this and that over the last year, and what has helped me the most is taking digestive enzymes. In my case it doesn't seem to be about too much acid, but not enough. I also found some interesting things to try in this (very long) thread: http://forums.heartburn-help.com/showthread.php?7527-The-All-Natural-Regimen-That-Has-Helped-My-Reflux-Problem&s=3fb17c323e33a1a06b4a0d9f7cbf9fb3 Good luck.... I know how frustrating and miserable the process is. ((Hugs))

Here's one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90291272/11x11-custom-plaque-wood-with-simple?ref=sr_gallery_5&ga_search_query=custom+plaque&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all I just typed "custom plaque" into the search box on Etsy, so I don't have any particular knowledge on this seller. I'm sure there are lots of choices! Good luck!

Has anyone looked into natural progesterone cream? I've been using some that I bought from Amazon, and it has made a huge difference for me in several areas.... hot flashes included. Curious if anyone else has tried this...?

Sounds odd, but my 12yo ds wants an executive office chair for the desk in his room. He also wants upgraded items for his computer: a better mouse, a better keyboard, higher quality headphones. I miss buying Legos, but the practical side of me does admire his wish list! :001_smile:

What about a personalized "Handmade by..." stamp to go on the back of her cards? This is the first place that came up on Google, but some of these are really cute: http://www.stampoutonline.com/category.aspx?categoryID=1191 (I know you said she has plenty of stamps, but maybe she hasn't indulged in one of these...? :001_smile: )

Have you ever looked at Mr. Money Mustache? He has a blog which I read occasionally, but what I really enjoy are the message boards. I think it's a bit love-it-or-hate-it though, so YMMV. :001_smile: http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/

I have had very good luck with Vitamin C. I read somewhere that it makes your urine just acidic enough that bacteria can't grow. I take 500mg every day, and then an extra 500mg after tea. Haven't had a single UTI since I started this routine, and I used to be very susceptible. Good luck!

I see that wiki article that Cinder linked mentioned Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and I love, love, love their books. Ice Limit and Riptide were two wonderful stand-alone books. Most of their others are part of a series which started with The Relic (which is also wonderful!). I also read the first two books of a trilogy this summer that were huge page-turners for me. The first was called Season of the Harvest by Michael Hicks. I only picked it up because it was free on the Kindle, so a good deal if that works for you. Can't wait for #3 to be realeased!

"A storage bin is just a garbage can that never gets emptied." I read that quote on an organizing blog one day, and it was a real lightbulb moment for me. Obviously I'll always have some bins... Christmas decorations have to go somewhere!... but every one I can empty feels like such a victory. Last week I put 5 empty bins on the curb with a "Free" sign. Woo-hoo!

We made one years ago. The only advice I have is to measure carefully whatever you decide to use as the "legs". We used a couple of little cabinets that Target sold in their closet organizing section, and they ended up being a little too tall to use with regular chairs and a little too short to use with counter stools. As a result, we didn't use the table very much because we could never get comfy. *Sigh* :glare: I do think it's a great idea, though (for people who can measure! :lol: ) It really is a ton of workspace. Good luck!