I'm a travel writer. Georgia's barrier islands are awesome, but it's eight hours from you. This is the article I wrote for a Virginia parenting mag. The Family Went Down to Georgia I completely get not wanting to do a long drive.

Please know: You are not alone.

I don't mean to be annoying, but I collect names so that I'll have something I like when the time comes to getting a new fur-kid. These are my boy names: Pilot Scrumptious! Precious Maple -- like syrup. Darling Truffle Tripp I plan to give my next fur ball a double name like, Darling Tripp. (I have to admit my girl names are cuter.) I just think it's fun when you go to the vet to have a very different name from the average. That said, our current kitty is Max. 🙃 One of my kids wanted Dragon and I sooo wish we had gone with that!. I know, this whole thing makes me weird.

I think you're exactly right: cute clothes are a huge support for this person who doesn't love working out. I'm following for ideas.

Smart. ♥♥♥

I'm not sure if someone said this, but I have bad exema on my hands and dry skin. My sister too. We're kind of experts in dry skin at this point. 🙂 At the kitchen and bathroom sinks I keep a large bottle of body wash meant for the shower: DOVE, deep moisture nourishing body wash. We get ours at Costco, but you can buy online. I also agree w/ using lotion after washing. My dermo has always said Lubriderm. (Again, I get mine at Costco.) And if the hand washer wants even more moisture: this is a nighttime cream that is very thick: Eucerin. (If the hand washer is willing, slathering the Eucerin on hands and then putting hands into light weight gloves for the summer -- sleeping all night with them on -- would be great.) Good luck!!

My very hard-to-buy for dad LOVED this book on baseball that came out last year. He liked it so much that he sent a copy to his best friend a state away. The Baseball 100. (Over 1200 five stars on Amazon). I also had a real hit (no pun) in buying books about my dad's baseball hero (Stan Musiel). If you know your dad's favorite, you might get books on him/them too. Adding: one year I sent chocolate dipped strawberries and he loved them. I should add: I don't mean our husbands, I mean our dad who is 70 or 80 or 90. 🙂 I'd love to hear cool ideas.

The audio version of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is excellent. It's a semi-true-ish story about something that happened in Savannah, GA decades back. The audio is so good because the narrator does the various Southern voices so well.. I listened to it three times which is something I never do. Highly recommended. ♥♥♥

You've got this!!! ❤️❤️❤️

LOVE this song! I memorized it so that I could sing it to the kids at night.

Here's mine. Fun thread!

My dad had to clean out a lifetime of stuff from his mom (even found out that she'd been married before his dad), so today he and my mom have gone totally minimalist so that my sister and I will be on easy-street when they go. Which is really nice of him.

Ha! I wish I had the oomph for SDC. Was there anything you did that made it easier? I live with pre-hoarders, so I'm on my own. Oops. Sorry! That puppy face!! Exactly.

I used to be so reluctant to donate my kids' clothes they'd out grown, or a beloved pet's bed and so forth. I'd been giving to a charity that picks up. But they hounded me so much on email and the phone that I started getting suspicious. But then I realized -- it only took five decades -- that a dog/cat rescue group has five thrift stores around the suburb of Atlanta. They don't pick up -- unless you have a huge item -- you drop your stuff off with them. I was stunned how easy it was to give up sentimental things when I fully back what the thrift store is doing. Two kitties even live in each store. So sweet. I plan to calendar it each month to take bags to them of gently used items. I'm cleaning clothes, folding nicely etc. This was a huge realization for me!

I love this advice. I'd suggest getting a German shepherd, but the two I've had were giant babies. Definitely not lethal.

A friend who has a genetic degenerative disease just found out that her adult son -- late 30s -- who's recently been diagnosed with MS, has now also been diagnosed w/ the genetic degenerative disease she has. I'm at a complete loss as to what to say. She told me over email. I know that thankfully there is good stuff out there for some with MS. But there's pretty close to nothing for the degenerative disease. I'm so sorry. . . just seems blow-off-ish. 😞

I'm with the local florist idea. The internet search was relatively quick. Hugs to you for your loss.

So sweet!!

Another idea is to check out: RenttheRunway.com. She's darling and what a find!!

Thanks Susan. I live pretty much inside. I just took a full Benedryl twenties minutes ago so hopefully it will kick in. I've been trying to keep it to 1/2 a Benedryl. But that didn't help at all today.

I don't have any allergy symptoms except for super itchy eyes. I've taken anti-histamine drops, and a half Benedryl. (I tried a cold compress, TEARS drops.) It keeps happening more on the weekends. It just started last weekend. Sometimes it's just one eye. Sometimes it's both. Any advice, very appreciated.

Busy, I hope you'll take a look at my site. I lost 55 lbs. in my 40s, but then I figured out how to maint the loss. At this point I've maintained for 16 years and I'm 57 years old today. I hope you'll take a look and I'd love your feedback: TheInspiredEater.com I forgot to add: totally free.

((Jean)), Take a look at my site. It's totally free. I lost 55 lbs. in my early 40s w/ twin toddlers. And, believe me, I understand your frustration. Most importantly I figured out how to keep the weight off. I've been maintaining for 16 years now. I'm 57 and way past menopause. It's the maintenance that the experts can't speak to. Just take a look and I love to hear what you think. TheInspiredEater.com.

Love your response! Thank you so much!! W.

You are always THE BEST. Thank you!! (I'm printing your words out!) W.