Berol Prismacolor. I use them professionally for scientific illustration. I like Mister Art.com as well as using the 40% off coupon at Michaels for purchasing them. I sharpen my pencils in an electric sharpener, no problem. But when I am really grinding them down for work, I use hand sharpener with replaceable blades. Sharp blade, often, makes all the difference. But I am often doing very fine detailed work and need that. When I am burnishing, I just use the electric and/or sand paper. I do feel and see a difference. we just did a comparison between, prismacolor, Rose Art, Crayola, and Dollar Store color pencils. Even my 7 yr old DD liked the Prismacolor best: smoothness, richness of color and coverage, held up best for sharpening. Crayola came in second. Dollar Store (LiquiMark think) were just awful and went into the trash. I prefer Staedtler Water Color pencils for that particular medium and Staedtler pencils for sketching and black and white illustration.

We like it, but I find we just don't really use the tiles. We finished AAR1 and starting AAR2. My DD is a kinesthetic learner and loves to read but would rather build words writing them on the white board. She LOVES white board work, for anything. It is where she tinkers in her mind and talks things out, if that makes sense. She does like the AAR stories and REALLY likes the activities book. With that said, I picked up a copy of How to Teach Your Child in 100 Easy Lessons, just to check it out. Totally different teaching style for reading and she LOVES that one too. She loves the reading part and the Q&A for reading comprehension. Honestly, I think she just likes to talk. Actually, I KNOW she likes to talk! :willy_nilly:

Storage ottomans really help give you the space for stashing things and gives you an extra seating surface. You could use the piano bench to double for extra seating with a cushion on it. Low profile book cases that can double as another seating surface with a cushion on them. Look at ikea for ideas for small spaces. We have a small house and the way it was built is a really weird layout and we have to get creative with storage and living space too.

I'm in!

I find my alone time energizing and I am at my most creative and active. Being around people even on a small scale is stifling and drains me. I am best one on one. In group settings, I am definitely, and always have been, the wall flower. it doesn't however mean I won't speak my mind, I am half Irish and that definitely is a side of me to contend with should the occasion call for it. ;). My poor husband can testify to that!

Hmm, I never thought it would be remotely trendy to be an introvert. In fact, trends go against the core of my being! I knew I just didn't fit into the mainstream mold. My Dad used to say why can't you just go with the flow and be like everyone else. I was never a rebellious kid, by any means, but I was perfectly happy doing my thing, ALONE. I still am. I have had to pull back a lot of the things I would force myself to do, because I think I thought, well to be a functioning adult aren't I suppose to be involved and offer to do things (l teach archaeology and natural history for groups) for others when they ask? I found my calendar filling up and me just getting all anxious to the point I implode and end up canceling everything! I am so much better doing things here and there for others when I realized it is okay to say no. I love to travel but very much a homebody, go figure. I need my space to just be me and while I do enjoy hanging out with friends from time to time, I am perfectly happy too, if I don't go anywhere or do anything. I am NEVER, EVER bored! And I was never, ever a bored child either. I never had a huge circle of friends and most of my childhood memories are of me doing things by myself the majority of times with bigger events happening with friends and family, definitely not everyday things. I am 42 years old and it is only recently that I am totally content with who I am and that absolutely, I do not need fixing. I am not a social misfit, but I don't need socializing to be who I am. If any of that made any sense....(pardon the run-on sentences!).

Yes! I was feeling the same way! I kept going back to older episodes, thinking I missed something! Not a fan of the Clara character. Though I did really like OSWIN. Sarah Jane is my favorite companion ever, been watching DW since I was little. My dad was a big fan. I love Rose but content she is with Ten-2. LOVE Donna! But Catherine Tate and David Tenant work so well together in everything they do, I don't know if it would be the same with another Doctor. Though she and Capaldi were in the Pompeii episode. I liked the Amy/Rori combo. old DW did that with companions. I think the new DW episodes with the combo worked well. Many of my favorite episodes were Rose/Mickey, Rose/Jack, Martha/Jack. This weekend new Who! Can't wait!!

Good! I am like that too. I would be perfectly happy if I never hung out with any one but my dh, after all I did pick him, and he is an introvert too! DD is the opposite which forces dh and I out of our comfort zones regularly, which we gladly do because she is the other side of our coin. But it takes two of us to balance her out! I honestly don't know how people can BE extroverts. It's exhausting!

OMG! INFJ chiming in. This is me! I never knew how to simply explain it to people, because they are always shocked to find out how introverted I am when I will talk to anyone and step outside my comfort zone. They always say they just can't figure me out. But I do exactly what you do, 'recover' in my shell. ;)

Geoboards, tangrams; my dd LOVES those. There catalog is so big! Once in a while when I have any hour, I will peruse through looking for something interesting other than curriculum. Great topic, because I would like to know what else is in that behemoth of a catalog without spending a ton of time looking. :)

Thanks! Checking it out now!

Berol Prismacolor. I use them professionally for scientific illustration. I like Mister Art.com as well as using the 40% off coupon at Michaels for purchasing them. I do feel and see a difference. we just did a comparison between, prismacolor, Rose Art, Crayola, and Dollar Store color pencils. Even my 7 yr old DD liked the Prismacolor best: smoothness, richness of color and coverage, held up best for sharpening. Crayola came in second. Dollar Store (LiquiMark think) were just awful and went into the trash. I prefer Staedtler Water Color pencils for that particular medium and Staedtler pencils for sketching and black and white illustration.

I haven't gotten a globe yet either. Still looking for a quality yet affordable one.

How do you get free DC? Media Mail through USPS it is $1.05; when shipping done through PayPal, it is $0.23. I have shipped out a bunch of books via Media Mail this last week and those were the DC fees. I haven't shipped anything in a while and I was surprised DC wasn't free through PayPal, because I remember it used to be when I have shipped things in the past using Media Mail through PayPal. Just wondering if there was a special option I am missing.

Media Mail with delivery confirmation, which gives you tracking. I have sold and bought many books on ebay that way and always that way through here and other sites for used curriculum. As for feedback, I don't find it all that consistent here in this forum. I have bought and sold items through this forum and while I do leave feedback, I have yet to receive one. :( I think I am going to just use my ebay feedback for reference from now on. ETA: if the value is over $50, I will offer to pay for additional insurance as a buyer; and recommend an additional insurance purchase as a seller. USPS has free insurance up to $50.00.