My wallet has different sections. Bills over 100 go in the back and <50s go in the front pounch. Not american currency btw, so don't go thinking I'm a high roller. ;)

We have 4 cats and their most used box is also in a bathroom. I use crystal litter and there is virtually no smell. Every other day I dump the entire box, give it a rinse/wash and refill. It rarely if ever stinks - i've even had people comment that they would never have guessed I had 4 cats.

Yes? I didn't know people didn't wash the walls. I wash them usually when guests are coming over. I have cream coloured walls and everything shows up... My kids are animals and get handprints and footprints all over everything. Pencil marks, furniture marks, mysterious who knows smudges. Makes the place look dirty even when it isn't.

This is exactly what I would do. I've only ever done it once, with a bracelet I found. No one ever contacted me.

No. It is a chain store with 300+ locations.

No. If my AC broke, I'd leave my house until it gets fixed. Despite being cooler this year than previous years, its still 40ish every day plus very high humidity, and we won't see daytime temps under 30 until October. So no AC for more day would mean no school.

No. We could have had a nice villa for the cost of our apartment but decided that the 10 minute drive to work (or 15-20 walking) was more important than struggling with rush hour traffic.

Not really, but that is because I've been selective about the things I feel attached to.

When giving away kittens for adoption I always had a questionnaire that needed to be completed and a fee that needs to be paid. The fee isn't to make money, but to keep people looking to abuse animals away because they usually don't want to pay for it. And I believe if you can't afford a fee to adopt the cat, how are you going to afford getting the animal its shots and providing it with proper vet care? TBH, I would not have given the cat back to you if I adopted it, especially if I went through the trouble of spending $$$ on a cat dish/litter box/toys/bed/carrier ... Guts aren't always right. Just because this lady gave you a bad feeling doesn't mean she feeds cats to killer dogs or reptiles. Do a little internet stalking (not literally - but google her name, email address, phone number) and try to find out a bit about her if its eating you up that much. Did she ask for the other kittens, or even to adopt mommy cat? If she wanted to feed the cats to fighting dogs, its always better to try for as many kittens as possible.

Our streets are too busy for kids to play in, but we have a huge communal back yard area so there are lots of safe places to play. It sucks that authorities want kids to play outside and keep fit but don't provide the means to do so... However, street hockey was a regular occurrence back where i used to live, so it wasn't illegal there.

No recommendations - but tell me more about the immersion program. :D

Yes, it is an important part of traveling for us! The only time we do chains is in airports, for drive through coffee, or if we need to stop and get wifi. We eat street food, local style food from both dives and upscale places, and local in season vegetables. Actually, some of the places I most want to visit are on the list just because I want to eat the food! I also love grocery shopping in new places. I like picking up locally made or unique food items that I won't be able to get anywhere else - saves $$ compared to eating out every meal and you still get a taste for local foods.

11-midnight bed, 8-8:30 wake up. We always go to bed together.

Its not just wealth level, but location as well. We can take an entire vacation for the same cost of JUST the flights for some people leaving out of the US/Canada/Australia. If we were in Canada, it is doubtful that would could pull off more than one international vacation every few years. We would probably just go camping, take road trips, and visit family. Right now our vacations are only possible because our family is smallish and we can find roundtrip tickets to interesting countries for less than few hundred dollars a piece. I understand even this is out of reach for some people, but we aren't the 1% or anything. We do this too! It is really great. I wish mine would work from home though, but I think he secretly enjoys going into the office... :/ Yes, they should. The paid time off in many countries regulated by law and all employees get a mandatory number of paid vacations. You will notice the USA stands out in this regard... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_statutory_minimum_employment_leave_by_country

Can I vent too? I rent, so there is nothing I can do to fix my kitchen, and we can't afford to move into a different, snazzier unit in this area. It doesn't sound as awful as yours, but its not fun to check out all the nice new kitchens my friends have while I am stuck with this thimble sized mismatched cheap looking POS. Anyway.... Re: counters... my mom tried the rustoleum thing and they looked terrible. Waste of time and money. :/

American vacation time off is a joke. Canadian time is too - its one of the reasons we want to remain expats. :) We get 22 days off per year, and we are only given the mandatory minimum for the private sector. In addition, there are 10 stat holidays. Vacations are very normal here. Every single person I am friends with goes on at least 2 vacations per year - one is usually back to their home country.

I love potlucks. Someone always brings one of those casseroles that some sort of creamy base and have potato chips and hashbrowns on top. Its like cake for people who like salt. I've never been to a potluck shower but I'd go if I could and I don't think I'd consider it tacky because i like food. :D

Yes, but not when I was new to homeschooling. I read it after homeschooling for 2 years already and moving from an all in one box curriculum to doing things myself.

I would sit her down and explain that you are dissatisfied with the cleaning and that if she can't get the work done, you will be letting her go. She may not be aware that you are genuinely unhappy with the cleaning if you haven't seriously told her before. I'd make a list of the jobs that need improvement and then say that you'll be cancelling your services with her if she fails to perform. If you otherwise trust her in your home that is. FWIW - my apartment is 1/2 the size of your house, and when i get a cleaner in they spend about 4 hours scrubbing the place. 3 hours to do a 3000 square foot house seems short.

I hired a cleaner for 4 hours a day, 4 days a week. We lasted 4 weeks and it was a glorious thing. She didn't interact with the kids, but she did all the housework and some cooking. It really made life better, and if it wasn't illegal and/or a hassle, I'd consider having another cleaner. I had some guilt - like, I'm a stay at home in a small apartment and my kids are older, I shouldn't need a cleaner. But why not make things easier on yourself, if you can swing it. You'll be less stressed and will enjoy the time with your children more.

There is no middle school at all where I grew up. Only elementary 1-8 and highschool. Regardless.... Yes, in that situation I would leave them.

Any chance you can put him to sleep in another room then move him over to your room after he's asleep? Then you don't have to lie down with him and he's also not disturbing the baby?

This is really tragic. 3 officers dead. :(

Yes, with a friend.

Watch hoarders! That helped me.