Yep, me, too!

Do you have another homeschool family or two with boys of similar age to hang out with regularly to build friendships? Could your oldest apprentice with someone ( you know) in carpentry/woodworking or plumbing or something where he'd be learning skills he could use later in life? Even doing that weekends would help, I'd think. My 14 yr old is right where your 13 yr old is, so I can't help there. He sure knows how to push our buttons, too!! Could your dh teach the boys some 'manly' skills? Changing the oil, washing/waxing, cleaning out the car well, fixing items around the house? Check out some Boy Scout merit badge requirements for ideas.

Here's mine. Really a big week for eating out here! Dh has been putting off the soup for two days, but we're having it tonight! Sunday: McD on the way home from my folks :( Monday: chicken wild rice soup, rolls Tuesday: beef stroganoff, salad Wednesday: salmon, red potatoes, coleslaw Thursday: alumni dinner out Friday: Dinner out: roast for the guys, walleye for me- we'll hear Nicky Cruz! Saturday: the boys and I will be gone, so don't know what dh & dd will have...

Here are some easy bread machine dinner rolls my family loves. 1 egg, room temp. plus enough water (80 degree F. to equal 1 cup) 3 tbsp. oil 3 tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt 3 1/4 cups bread flour 1 1/2 tsp. yeast After the dough cycle is done, shape dough into rolls, let rise in warm place until double in size (about 30 minutes). I made 15 rolls from this. It was so easy and so good. Granola Bars 1 c honey 2/3 c smooth peanut butter 2 2/3 c rolled oats 1 c whole wheat flour 1 tsp cinnamon 1/3 c wheat germ or ground flaxseed 2 c of mix-ins in any combo: coconut dried blueberries chocolate chips raisins butterscotch chips craisins chopped nuts of any kind chopped dried apricots, apples mini m&ms whatever you like. :) We just use the first three on the list. Warm the honey, then mix with pb til well blended. Stir in the rest. If mixture seems too dry, add water 1 tbsp at a time. If it's too sticky, add oats 1 tbsp at a time. Press with greased fingers into a greased 9X13 pan. Bake at 350* until barely browned, about 7 minutes. Then check every 2 minutes if more time is needed. Cut while warm into desired size of bars. When completely cool, remove with a greased spatula. You can wrap them individually, and they freeze well, too. *Original recipe had 1/2 tsp each of cloves and nutmeg, in case you care to try those in there.

Wow, lots of great tips here! Trying to think of things I haven't seen yet... When dh was without work years ago, we quit getting the paper. Without the ads to give me ideas of what I "needed", I didn't need nearly that many items. Being without the visual was a great idea. The free ads paper with the grocery flyer does come to the house weekly, or it's available at the store. Shop less. If you're not out in the stores, you can't buy impulse items. Carry water bottles with you when you go out so you're not tempted to buy water or soda while on the road. I grind grain and make my own bread. I save all the crusts to make my own stuffing. Don't buy the spice packets to make chili or tacos, etc. Make your own using the spices in your cabinet. Same with canned soups. Try using a white sauce you've added herbs to or making one of those dry 'cream of whatever' soup mixes to have on hand. Looking for gifts in a jar should give you some other ideas, too. I just ran across a ranch dressing one I cut out a while back. You might have a friend willing to share some of the bigger bulk things. You still get the savings, but don't have to keep as much.

Dh is in refrigeration, AC and heating, which will always be needed. Still, new installs and such will probably be down, but we should be okay I think. Not much debt here.

I'm waiting for it to come to our town. I really want to see it.

Keep the ideas coming ladies! I would love to make more homemade items but don't know where to find ideas. I'm someone who needs to be shown ideas, but can't come up with them on my own. :confused: Great stuff, Faline! Thanks! Chika--Was this the right link? Or do I need to request an idea catalog? I don't really see anything but a place to design 'expressions'. They are lovely, tho; make me want to try that somewhere in the house. Someone just put two expressions up in the nursery at church that are gorgeous.

Some of you have shared some great sites for things to make for Christmas. I wanted a lot of sites to look through for some more ideas that might work for me, tho not for you, if ykwim. I just don't seem to have any of these fun sites bookmarked for when I want to make something but don't know what. Care to share some diy crafty sites? Thanks!

Our game goes "Guess what?" First one to say, "Love you!" wins. And we all win! lol

Candy/chocolate covered sunflower seeds; I give these to my kids and nephews at Christmas. They have a black cherry juice that my family was crazy about... Haven't been there in over a year, so don't remember the name... A big bag of walnuts was very reasonably priced, too. If there was one in my area, I'd be there regularly!

I usually start in October, too. My family has Sisters Weekend, so as long as I'm out, it's a good time to get moving. We usually draw names then, too. Let the season begin! :iagree:

When I was in high school, I listened to one particular artist all the time. My dad got up at 6am, and if that artist's song was on the radio, he turned it up full blast for me to hear. (Poor mom!) When it was done, he'd turn it down. I have always remembered that. A way of saying he loved me without saying anything. :) I tease my kids all the time, just like my dad. I'll tickle the boys or chase them to kiss them (boy, can they run! lol). I let them have friends over regularly, and fix their favorite meals. Okay, I'll show my age--it was Bobby Sherman I listened to. Had a good shock very late last night when they played one of his songs on the radio. Hadn't heard his music in YEARS!!

Thanks for the vanilla labels!!

I save my olive oil bottles to put the vanilla in.

If I had an upright freezer, I'd consider the jars. As it is, I'm sticking to the plastic bags; they are so great spacewise when I freeze them flat. Lots of meals take up little space without being piled up. :)

I want to do this one: http://snippetygibbet.blogspot.com/2008/06/elementary-stitchery.html My mom has a burlap picture I made in 3rd grade or something. :)

I really wish Ron Paul had a good chance!

Seems like I heard it's a no-no for your credit score to close all those accounts you never use tho... Anyone know about that?

The multigrain pasta never seems to go on sale here; just the ww blend which my family doesn't care for.

I made a list the other day of what I have extra on hand. My parents (of course) have always kept a big supply. They're always prepared to feed company, without having to run to the store or pay top price for what they need. Frankly, I've gotten tired of having to run to the store for things all the time, so I've started keeping well stocked. Basics for a well stocked home—mine ;) I have on hand downstairs/storage: 25# oatmeal 25#farina (cream of wheat) 50# soft ww grain 25# winter wheat grain 25# red wheat grain honey sugar brown sugar powdered sugar Cocoa/hot chocolate bread flour (I use 1/3 of that in my bread) canned tomatoes tomato sauce tomato paste canned vegetables- green beans, creamed corn, kernel corn a few canned fruits besides pineapple which I use in sweet/sour sauces baking powder baking soda canned beans- black, refried, kidney dried pinto beans, split peas, navy beans catsup jam pasta rice prepared 'homemade' noodles ('round' in a plastic bag) canned salmon foil packed tuna vegetable oil olive oil coconut oil Pam popcorn peanut butter chocolate chips toilet paper vinegar parsley -do you know how much makes a lb?? :) chili powder, cumin, garlic, curry, basil, thyme Salt, pepper Dried blueberries/cherries freezer has: hamburger, italien sausage, chicken and some other meats strawberries, blueberries, raspberries mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese butter yeast Other items: toothpaste soap laundry soap Tina

And we play the game as a White Elephant gift exchange. My nephew was excited to get to the game with the adults after he graduated high school. He went home with the clapping monkey in heart underwear his first year (something I picked up at the church white elephant exchange!). :)

Since I love to hear these ideas, too, are there any other non-food ideas? Pretty please?

Gotta be the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum books. One is for... Two for .... She's up to 14 now. Very funny tho she likes a shock factor, too. ;)

Here's my favorite. Decadent yet a comfort food. :) Chocolate Chip banana Bundt Cake 2 c choc chips (mixed with 2 tbsp of the flour below) 3 c flour (less the 2 tbsp of flour) --mix these three items in a bowl 1 tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 c (2 large) mashed bananas --mix these three items in a 2nd bowl 1/4 c milk 1 tbsp vanilla 1 c butter, softened With electric mixer, beat butter & sugar, then add 1 1/2 c sugar eggs one at a time, mixing well. In 3 additions each, 4 large eggs add flour and banana mixtures until just combined. Add the chocolate chips, and scrape into buttered and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350* 65 - 75 minutes or until pick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes and invert from pan.