((((I'm so sorry for your loss.))))

First of all, you sound awesome. "What makes you think that you can be out for 20 years. . ." No. A life-long learner is rare. They're not just hanging out on every corner. A person who takes twenty years off to raise children is the cornerstone in our society. Be proud. You didn't take the easy path. You rolled up your sleeves and took "the path less traveled." (Not to mention that you've been pivotal for dh.) It sounds like people don't stay with him b/c he's so difficult anyhow. You know how you dislike job hunting? I highly recommend a book called The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. It's slim and not full of filler. It totally changed my outlook on stuff I seriously disliked (one being a really not fun health issue). I don't mean to go all Buddha on you, but when you really embrace your own worth -- which sounds substantial -- and learn to engage with job hunting in a more positive way, the a-holes will melt away and the quality jobs will appear. The person who ultimately hires you is very, very lucky. Wendy

I love this so much. ♥♥♥

Awesome! Thank you! My kids and DH will love this!! W.

I think it's like a lot of clothes. . . take Kate Spade. Her clothes are crazy expensive. Are there really enough people in the world to keep that clothing line in business?! Some of the wealthiest people I've known are super frugal. I'm with you: unbelievable. Wendy

This sounds awesome! Question: have you played this game? I'm seeing five-star and one-star reviews. But this is right up their alley! Wendy

I keep telling one of my teens that all I really want is for him to get a haircut. His hair is in full caveman-mode. He got my hair that looks better short. Wendy

Thanks for remind me! My17 year old son LOVES board games! Can you recommend good ones for two 17 year olds and the parents? 🙂 I didn't know about this -- thanks for telling me. My kids really loved putting together the Lego ship in a bottle that now sits on our dining room table. Cheaper than the tree house. What a sweetheart. I hope your kid is home and your mom is well. ♥♥♥ Score! You win the top WTM prize for the gift that most (all?) of us needs. 🙂

These are adorable -- thank you!! w.

I really love the Well Planned Day planner. I think I'm on fourth year of using. I love them. You'll find them here. They are not cheap so to save money I bought the "on the go" version, but regretted it. I like the roomier size. Wendy

Thinking of your family today. ♥♥♥

Thinking of your family today. ♥♥♥

I deeply miss homeschooling. My boys are 17 today and doing Dual Enrollment in the local college (taking full loads etc.) I used to read aloud to them all the time. I loved it so much. Kids' literature is awesome. Wendy

Thanks Kassia! I'm pretty sure I have PTSD from posting long ago. W.

I had a thin kid who was also super picky -- he still won't touch chocolate -- and here's what I gave him: I made daily smoothies: whole milk, frozen strawberries (from Costco), a touch of OJ, whole banana, and high-fat yogurt. (If he'd eaten frozen blueberries, I would have put them in too.) Kept him in whole milk which really helped (he's 17 today). I'd also suggest -- b/c it's the opposite of what I do 🙃 -- have him eat a large dinner, and then a bowl of cereal before bed. Please don't anyone come down on me. This is just what we did for our ds who wasn't growing (b/c he wasn't eating). W.

This cracked me up. I've been vegetarian forever, and you said it, the original vegetarian cookbooks were kooky, hard-to-follow and -- may I add -- expensive. I usually didn't have some exotic something or other they called for and invariably the item would cost a fortune. I don't have a cookbook suggestion, but do want tell you about the coolest bag of frozen veggies ever that I get at Costco. I make brown rice (or white if nobody will eat brown in your house) and cook/mix the made rice and veggies with low sodium soy sauce. (This is actually just for me. My picky-eaters would be horrified if I put this in front of them.) 🙄 I think it's super tasty. Like, restaurant tasty. And if the rice is already made, stir frying the veggies takes literally six minutes. Six minutes for a really tasty, healthy dish. (No, I don't have a wok -- I just stir fry on high heat -- stirring the whole time -- in a pan with a large footprint so to speak.) The veggies are in Costco's frozen section where you find frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen pizza etc. It's called Kirkland Stir Fry Vegetable Blend. The salad blend that I really love too is called Sweet Kale and is found in their walk-in freezer. Let me know if you want info on how I keep the calorie count down, b/c I don't use much of the dressing at all. HTH! Wendy

Recipes please for sweet potatoes in instant pot and pumpkin pie with Stevia. My scarfer -- dh -- made cinnamon rolls for himself and the boys. TIA, W.

I'm still too broke to hire a cleaner. Just wanted to suggest: a robotic vacuum for each floor of the house. these toilet cleaner thingies that make cleaning toilets loads easier (I bought one for every bathroom). carpet cleaner to come into your home every three months and really clean a room or more. Same with window cleaners. Come in every six months to really clean the windows. Take the car in for a monthly cleaning. I've found great carpet cleaners and window cleaners through Group On. Hugs to you, Wendy

At first I was thinking, "why, no, I never get jealous, or if I do it's a clue to what I need/want in my life." But then I turned my brain on. I have a health issue -- that I choose to keep off the radar -- and I'm jealous of people who don't have my health issue. W.

((((dsmith)))) I'm just like you. Our animals are our furry babies. (I also think they get more babyish the older they get.) I also have a friend whose dog had chemo and seven years later he's still here making us laugh. The vets have so, so much for cancer. I'm so sorry for all you've been through. And I'm so very sorry about your brother and father-in-law. Just know, you're not alone. Wendy

I wasn't sure if I should share, but my boys are best friends w/ W. (and his brother B.). When W. was 2 he was diagnosed with leukemia. (We met W. at 5.) All the boys loved Star Wars so before W. would get treatment, my boys would tell him, "May the force be with you." (W. is 15 and in remission today.) ((((Condessa)))) They have so, so much for children. And the surgeons and nurses will be there for Ri 1000 percent. (My husband works for a children's hospital and says it's different b/c everyone cares so, so much.) Sending you love and strength. W.

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster is light and fluffy and very funny. Also, Lisa Scottoline's non-fictions are hilarious. Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog. Really, really good. Wendy

So incredibly sad. W.

It has helped me to keep an on-going log in One Note for each month's expenses. Dh pays the house, insurance bills. My on-going log looks like this: October 2020: 10-2 -- Tiger Tails Max, $19. 10-9 -- MM pizza after meeting oral surgeon, $26. 10-12 -- Gas, $20. 10-13 -- Trader Joes, $125.00 10-13 -- Visa statement arrived today. 10-14 -- Pay Bryan for Oct. and Nov. piano, $140. 10-15 -- A's bday See's, rain stuff, $46. 10-15 -- Good Will, $14. 10-16 -- Xmas gifts. $50. 10-19 -- Mom's bday , $ 10-31 -- SAA (theater class), $270. Total -- $685.00 Putting it all into various colors really helps! 🥰 W.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I pet-sat for a family last year. It was a mom, a dad, two older teen boys, and the grandma. They bought a five-bedroom home that had a large master on the first floor which they gave to the grandma. They also had a second, but smaller master on the second floor. They rehabbed that connected bathroom. It was small, but beautiful. What I noticed is that in the kitchen, the grandma had her flatware in one drawer. While the family's flatware was in another. My guess is that it was comforting and helpful to have immediate access to her kitchen items. I'm betting that one of the cupboards held her mugs and plates etc. Small, but I thought it was sweet. They also had a large refrigerator -- so that there was plenty of room for everyone's food. I hope this helps. Hugs to all of you. Wendy