Similar thing with us...we couldn't afford to get any of the adults other than MIL and FIL gifts (and even then they were small) and our siblings KNEW this, but they still got us a gift. I feel bad and embarrassed that we didn't get them anything. :(

Rude. At Thanksgiving my SIL hosted it at the fire hall next to her house b/c her DH is a volunteer firefighter and the room was big enough to hold everyone. When we come up here (we are up here now) we bring our 4.5lb dog with us. On that day, we were going to be at the fire hall ALL day, so we brought the dog with us...BUT, he was only allowed to be out until the food was placed on the serving tables, and then he was put in his crate until EVERYONE was done eating and the food was put away. No one seemed to be bothered by him, and if they were they didn't say anything. Our dog is still a puppy, and has never been in his crate all day long before, so we were afraid he would have an accident if we left him at my MIL's house, which is the only reason why we brought him. He is also very quiet, never barks, and doesn't jump up or anything, so I don't think he is a bother. I hope we didn't offend or bother anyone b/c he was there. :001_unsure: ETA...we did get permission from SIL first. ;)

I throw most of it away. I will eat what I REALLY like, but most of it is pitched. My mother sent me a box full of a bunch of different homemade candies for my birthday a couple weeks ago, and I only ate one type and threw the rest out b/c I wasn't a fan of anything else. Same goes for anything else.

I like using the do it yourself temporary hair dye. It lasts for about 28 washes (but I think it lasts longer than generally), and it wears off evenly so you don't get roots, and if I don't like the color I'm not stuck with it until my hair grows out. I use HerbaShine, which is really easy to apply, and it makes my hair really shiny and soft. I use a color similar to my natural color, so when it wears off it isn't as noticeable. I just turned 35, and I have the Poltergeist mom's stripe as well as some overall random greys, and it takes care of it really well.

I don't care what my DS wears, and I voted pajamas b/c that is what he wears most of the time. We don't usually go anywhere, but if we do, I just tell him to get dressed and he does. *shrug* I wear pajamas or "comfy" clothes most of the time also, so I don't feel like I can tell him he can't. Kwim? We also don't ever get unexpected company, and usually never have to go anywhere unexpectedly...but if we did, he takes two seconds to get dressed. ETA: I say I wear my pajamas, but I really don't. I actually get changed out of my pajamas immediately when I wake up b/c I wear stretch pants and a tank top to bed, and I don't feel comfortable wearing that in front of my 13 year old DS, so I usually put on actual clothes, but they are usually track or yoga pants and a tshirt...but maybe to some that is slovenly. *shrug* Most of the stuff I wear around the house is what I would also wear when we go out, so I don't think it is too bad. I never wear jeans around the house, though.

I would feel violated, but probably would not say anything. I would be irritated that someone put their fingers in my face lotion, but that is the germaphobe in me. I don't like sharing cosmetics.

:grouphug: :grouphug:

A background check generally needs their full name (including maiden if applicable) and a social security number. I'm not sure how to do it otherwise, or without them knowing about it, unless you know all of this information. I've had them done frequently b/c I am a nanny, but my permission was always received first.

I agree with this. I would just explain to her that accidents happen, she didn't do it on purpose, so she doesn't need to pay anything. My son has broken two or three pairs of glasses on accident, and he was the same way. He wanted to pay something b/c he felt so bad for breaking them. I just explained exactly this, and he felt better about it. Good luck mama!!

I have a whole list, but I'm sick, and tired, and can't think of them atm. I'll come back tomorrow with my list. ;)

Yes, I would find that rude, but I prefer to show up early to help set up, and stay late to help clean up. I find "show up, eat, and run" types to be rude, but that is jmho. My BIL and his wife and kids are late like that every. single. holiday. They usually don't get there until after everyone has started eating, though, most of the time once everyone else is done. They are incapable of arriving anywhere on time, even before they had children. Over the years we have all learned not to wait around for them anymore, but I still find it incredibly rude.

I wouldn't care at all. I have a cousin named Allison, and if we had ever had a girl I would have liked to use that name. I don't see my cousin more than maybe once a year or so (more like every 3 year or less often), and they call her Allie which I would use the full name instead, so not a big deal IMO. If someone wants to use DS's name, it wouldn't matter to me. There are few, if any, unique names anymore. I have a close (growing up) cousin named Sara, and a cousin named Carol Leigh (my name is Kara Leigh), not exactly the same but close.

I wouldn't. DS had salmonella a couple years ago. It was a miserable week for him, but it cleared up on its own just fine. If she is starting to improve, I wouldn't use them. JMHO.

We used to do that all the time with my guinea pig when I was younger, and it never hurt them. *shrug* I tried it with DS's guinea pig when he was 3 or so, and the second I set it down it took off in break neck speed, straight out of our back yard, and I never did find him again. :(

That is one thing that drives me nuts about my Fire. Most of their apps can't be used without wifi access, so I can't use them in the 7 hour drive from our house to our hometown, which sucks. Thankfully I didn't buy it for myself (I had only asked for a basic one, and my mother chose to get this one for me instead), but I only really use it for reading which seems like such a waste.

Agreed. It is my page and it is my prerogative to like and post whatever I want to...if you don't like it, hide my posts or unfriend me. I HAVE outright told my friends this, as I have friends from all walks of life and I'm sure I offend at least one person every time I post or like something as well.

With my DS's iPad, if he wants to access the internet to watch videos and such, I have it set up so that he has to hand it to me and I type the password in, then hand it back to him. I have a Kindle Fire, and I'm pretty sure you can do the same for that.

My husband just missed Christmas, I think. He had severe head congestion, coughing, sneezing, body aches, and high fever for the past 3 days, and thankfully he woke up without a fever today and is feeling a lot better. I just hope I don't get it now! LOL

I've had strep a bunch of times as an adult, more than when I was a child. I agree, though, always treat it since untreated strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever (which can lead to heart valve damage). Not something to mess around with.

Iowa is a right to work/employment at will state, so he can fire her for any reason other than federally prohibited ones, and I don't consider that discrimination of gender. While it sucks for the employee, I don't see anything wrong with it.

Flu is influenza. Vomiting, etc, is a stomach bug. I voted that I have no clue what other people mean when they say it, b/c it could be either. It's a big pet peeve of mine, though.

What is your budget? You can probably find some on Zappos. I know the Keen HooDoo High Lace is nice, but they are rather expensive.

They got a ton of snow here on Wednesday. ;) I could do without it, honestly.

At Walmart you can buy individual glass containers with lids in different sizes. Some are pretty big! That is what I would do. :)

I puffy heart LOVE LOVE LOVE Hazel! I took care of a little girl with that name, and I fell in love with it. I also love Arwen. :)