I should KNOW better! I used to make my own yogurt so I understand about the qualities of bacteria...some are better than others! I took my doc's advice after a course of STRONG antibiotics (3rd in 6 weeks) for a persistent sinus infection), and got some Activia yogurt. I've been taking the Activia for about a week now, and have had horrible stomach cramps every morning for several hours after eating the little cup with some granola for breakfast. I just put two and two together, did a Google search, and found that LOTS of people who do the Activia thing have horrible cramps and other ahem, problems. I can't leave home for at least an hour after I eat it, and even then it's sketchy whether I should or not. So this is my question: now that I've thrown out the rest of the Activia, how do I get my stomach BACK into good shape? Which type of yogurt, kefir or probiotic pill would you recommend? Will it help get rid of the cramps or will that just take time? Anyone else with similar Activia experience?

Maybe the company only ships heritage grains from that zip code. Get it? (snigger) Get it? (snigger) "Spelt" (Horrible attempt at a joke with only half a cup of coffee in me.) :tongue_smilie:

To wake me up, "yes". To get me through the day, "no." Pretty much, once I complete my stainless travel mug, I'm done. I switch to ice water which is refreshing in itself. Very rarely I will have a Diet Pepsi in the early afternoon, but mostly because I like the taste, not for the boost. We love any of the bold Starbucks grinds like Sidamo, Verona, Italian, French, etc.

I have actually thought about this topic quite a lot. I saw the Free Range Kids website about a year ago, and was intrigued. This is the way that we WANT to raise our children. We do to an extent. I'm not a "hover mom", we let them try activities that other parents would be hesitant to let their kids do (5 yo Ingrid really wants a bow and arrow, just like Susan in LWW)however......... when it comes to the wandering part, my paranoia kicks in. I think it really does have a lot to do with: Where you live geographically: urban vs. suburban vs. rural What type of neighborhood arrangements you have -- do you know your neighbors? Trust them? etc... What type of children you have: timid, shy (do they need to be prodded to be more independent) vs. brave, ready to explore, but don't have enough years under their belt to have wisdom and good sense to back up their explorations. When we lived in Almost Canada, ND, I would have been all for almost full-range free ranging our kids. It is a very safe, wonderful corner of the world. Here in Almost Mexico, AZ, NO WAY. We live within a mile from an interstate, right next to the desert, with border patrol trucks and helicopters regularly circling looking for illegals. PLEASE don't call me racist or insensitive about immigration issues (I think it is horrible that it is illegal to leave water out in the desert for illegals, I'm speaking to a different issue). If you have been watching the news AT ALL lately, you will know that the Mexican border town criminals are spilling over into Arizona and wreaking havoc on innocents. It simply is not safe to just let kids wander around in the desert (our version of the woods that I wandered around in as a child). Also, in my dh's line of work (legal), he sees a lot of really bad, REALLY BAD stuff happening to children. You don't want to know, and I won't tell you... To sum up, I WANT to be a free range parent, but don't feel that it is prudent or wise right now...

I don't know if you want a product suggestion, or just to vent. I definitely understand the need to just vent! I'm 40, and I still am prone to zits -- those horrible cystic, deep, throbby ones on my chin and cheek bone make me want to cry sometimes...stress, hormones, who knows what....but I finally found a something that works. I don't sell it, and it's not a home-based business product either, so I'm not breaking any advertising rules. It is specifically for "older" skin, and for the first time in a long time, my face is clear. Philosophy recently re-formulated their acne system (the old one worked well, but could sting and burn a bit). The new and improved "On a Clear Day" line works wonders. I let a friend of mine do a home-based-business "spa facial" on me a few weeks ago, and after having been acne controlled for a few months, I immediately broke out. I was bummed. But after using the products for a few weeks, my skin is clear again. It is available at Nordstrom and online-- I buy directly from philosophy.com (free shipping over $50 and occasionally no minimum free shipping) The line is not horrendously expensive, but it isn't WalMart or Target cheap, either. But for me, it's worth it. (I also have horribly sensitive skin, and it doesn't cause any issues with that, either.) PS I photoshopped a horrible zit on my chin out of the picture I use for my avatar, as it was also our Christmas card...the things we do for vanity. Stupid, huh?

I was born in '68, and we ALWAYS did these. When I was in preschool and kinder, my teacher would have us make the paper cones and we'd get flowers and bring them home. And then when I got home, my mom or dad and I would go outside and do the same. We'd hang them on the neighbor's door, doorbell ditchand run. It was SOOOOO much fun! I had forgotten about this. Thanks. Unfortuantely, here in Almost Mexico, the only flowers that I have access to come from the local grocery store or are stinky, scrubby and ugly ones from my yard :)

We bought a crib tent as a stop-gap until it was logical for our daughter to be in a bed...she loved her little "house". In fact, she was sad when she was moved into a bed (for about 3 seconds). It was a cheap middle-solution and very safe. www.onestepahead.com

J. Jill has nice outfits that don't look like "Mom". Hanna Andersson has nice quality women's clothing (usually you think kids with HA) that look different enough with their Scandinavian look. I love Boden and Garnet Hill too. Already mentioned but huge dittos to Chicco, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Loft...

:iagree:definitely. I think there is a very legitimate use for disclaimers, but not for everything. For example, I posted over on the curriculum board requesting recommendation for a science curriculum from a very specific point of view. It could have caused a lot of controversy and drama in some circles -- Judaism and the Church have been debating this very issue for millennia -- I know nothing would be solved in a few posts! :lol: But I had a very legitimate question and got the help I needed, without some big old honkin' hijacking drama*. I think there are those who post for entertainment purposes (I've done it!) and there are those who have limited time and IRW resources (like me) who really, genuinely need an answer and this is the best and most trusted place to find what we need. *Sometimes BOHHDs are FUN! But just respect those who aren't looking for for BOHHD. Perhaps the person who has posted the disclaimer has a real reason for it, and are seeking a important answer to a real, question. PS I've been lurking on Dawn's current non-spanking thread and have learned A LOT. It is a perfect example of my long-held assumptions being challenged from an opposing point of view without my causing any drama... RESPECT is the key.

Ditto on Wacoal...their "pink ribbon" model is very pretty with perfect coverage, support and comfort and no "old lady" feel...even though I'm almost old lady* myself :( Comes in more than just "nude" too... I get mine at Nordstrom or Dillards. I actually saw them at Macy's around Christmas this year, for the first time, too. *My 5 yo dd asked me if 40 was as old as her Grandma the other day. :tongue_smilie:

I thought of a few more: My Chef's Gelpro mats for the kitchen. I can stand and stand and stand without any sore legs. (I do 99% scratch cooking...because it's my hobby) My neti pot (gross, I know, but it has saved me this week with a HORRIBLE sinus infection) Ear plugs at bedtime Our Subaru Outback wagon -- bye bye Expedition, hello good MPG, lower monthly payments and plenty of room for the 4 of us. Method-brand natural and great-smelling cleaning and personal products Blogspot/Blogger Costco Hanna Andersson kids' clothes -- buy for the older, pass on to the younger/s, and still have plenty of life in them to pass along to friends or sell on eBay! When I was a mommy to babies: the Baby Bjorn front pack Cuisinart mini-prep food processor for homemade baby food OXO brand ice cube trays with a sliding lid for freezing said baby food into one-size portions Robeez baby shoes -- they stayed on my girlies feet better than socks -- important in REALLY COLD Almost Canada, ND where we lived prior to living in REALLY HOT Almost Mexico, AZ

My DH and I just got sick and tired of paying $100 a month for a family plan cell phone bundle of 2 phones with about 800 minutes on Altell. Soooo, we dumped our plan and bought prepaid service with Altell -- I used $13 worth last month and he used $15. It's been SOOOO freeing! I realized just how little we were really needing the cell phones. We mostly called each other, and used the cells to call out of area family ("my circle" was good for that purpose). We now just buy pre-paid calling cards at Costco. This way, we use what we have, and *can't* go over!

Rice cooker Kitchenaid stand mixer the Internet! :) Dansko clogs Haiku brand purses -- stylish, organized and pretty...but also really rugged a good food scale for measuring when baking (lots of GREAT bread recipes are written in weight-only) www.blueletterbible.org for online bible reading

Great discussion! This is a little bit off topic from the way the thread has morphed, but my husband's current TV pet peeve is the inordinant number of women in law-enforcement positions, such as on the new breed of cop shows... He is involved in the great law and order/legal arena, and women just AREN'T there. Kind of interesting...who and why are they being put on these shows? They are usually gorgeous...men like gorgeous...again, it's just marketing. My current TV pet peeve ad is one for Kohler -- "schlubby" husband sees uber s*xy female plumber go to the next door neighbor's home, so he runs upstairs and starts shoving everything down the t*ilet. Of course being a Kohler, nothing blocks it up so he gets more and more desperate: towels, cat litter, potted plants.... (I'm doing the ***s because my over-sensitive internet blocking software will give me fits if I don't). Wife "catches" him and has a puzzled look on her face....

We have used Kumon products quite significantly since my girls were 2, mostly for fun, easy learning. Purely from a cosmetic standpoint, I love the colorful, friendly illustrations. Does anyone use the more-advanced Kumon workbooks (especially math) for extra drill or as a standalone math curr. for that matter?

I'm in the exact same boat. I have this big room full of stuff we've been collecting for a garage sale (we've had really good luck in the past with garage sales)...but now the stuff has been here going on 6 months and I'm really tired of tripping over it. soooo..... I pulled the choice girls' clothing pieces and nicest toys out and sold the clothes in lots on eBay...making more than I would ever have in a garage sale. I might Craigs List the next best stuff, and then donate. I was able to make some money, and help people out as well.

Okay, I'm a total sucker for anything that Andrew Davies produces, so when I heard that Masterpiece Classic (used to be Masterpiece Theater) was running Andrew Davies' brand new BBC production of Little Dorrit, I was SO THERE. It ended last night, I was glued to the screen all 5 weeks. I had never read this Charles Dickens story, and really was not familiar with the story. Heartbreaking and elevating! This is my question for anyone who has read the book, and saw the whole production. How true was the production to the book?? I just want to know before I plunk down the $50 for the DVD (which I may do anyway, because it was soooooo wonderful -- almost as wonderful as the A&E "Pride & Prejudice" with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth...sigh....)

I don't know how casual or formal, but Hanna Andersson has some pretty sundresses, none all yellow, but one "crinkle cotton" with dainty yellow and orange flowers on a white field. Casual, but darling. www.hannandersson.com

I am concerned. I live about 30 miles as the crow flies from the Mexican border. The city we live in is filled with illegals. We live in a nice typical American subdivision; and about 4 times a year, we wake up around 2:00 am to the sound of border patrol helicopters circling our area (we border the desert, and are in proximity to the interstate) presumably using their searchlights to find illegals who are caught out in the desert. So yes, I'm concerned. You can't go anywhere on a daily basis here without coming into contact with Mexican nationals at restaurants, grocery stores, the park, public swimming pools, clinics, etc. I'm not making any political comments at all. I'm just saying that we are going to be exposed at some point...:( And should anyone ask how I know they are Mexican nationals (not illegals), we see Sonoran Mexico license plates all the time -- people come across the border to shop here at our malls, etc. (When we first moved here, we were stayed about a week at a nice all-suites type hotel as Base temp housing was full, and we saw tons of nice cars from Mexico at the hotel; they would come back in the evening absolutely loaded down with shopping bags from all the mall-type stores like Gap, Old Navy, Dillards, Macy's, etc.). To echo someone before -- I'm sure at some point, these same people with disposable income are going to come here seeking out good American health care at some point. Again, please understand, I'm not making any judgments here. If my family needed better healthcare and I had the means to achieve it this way, I'd seek it out myself, as I am sure many of you would, too.

Mmmmm....on hot crusty baguette. Shame on you for mentioning Nutella!!!!!!:drool: If you know someone who can buy at a military base commissary, ask them to buy it for you...it's a lot less money there!

1) Does anyone have the Costco or AAFES (military) "knockoff" version of the TempurPedic? 2) I've heard the memory foam style mattresses can really hold in the heat so that it is hard to be cool at night...is this true?

We have been sick as a family on and off for the past 9 weeks. I now have a nasty sinus infection and feel lousy, but better than yesterday when I finally broke down and went to the doctor after suffering for quite a few days. I couldn't even drive my 5 yo to pre-k yesterday because I felt so horrible (she goes tues and thurs, and I homeschool her two of the other three days). So....when you are sick like this, do you bag it, or try to eek out some teaching? Our illnesses have really cut into the girls' education these past two months. I know they are only 5 and 3, but I am trying to create some kind of formality in their schedule in anticipation for full-time HS after PreK lets out in a few weeks.

We let ours slide, too. Thanks for the heads up! It's a great resource.

My 5 and 3 yo girls saw a trailer for "Bolt" before Pinnochio yesterday. They are interested in seeing it. It is PG -- which concerns me almost more in animated films (I didn't let them see either Madagascar film, or Happy Feet due to the sex*al innuendo). They have seen "serious" films such as Narnia: LWW and PC with no problems (but lots of explanation -- we're reading LWW right now) Why is it PG? All of the "family friendly" online reviews seem to say it is fine except for "mild peril" or "mild cartoon violence". Who knows these days...ratings seem so subjective to me. Thanks!

About six months ago, we had a couple of loose pit sightings; it was just wandering around our neighborhood. The first time, our neighbor just blew it off and said, "Don't worry about ___ (I can't remember the dog's name but it was something ironic like "Fluffy"). He's a big woosie". The second time, we were playing outside on our front porch. She ran up towards our home, and I scooted the kids inside quickly (no master was anywhere to be seen). Right as we got inside, the dog came up to the floor-ceiling window on the side of our front door and just stared inside for what seemed like half an hour, but it was probably a few minutes. Just silently stared. It was unsettling. I called animal control, as we have a leash law in our neighborhood CC&Rs. They must have come by and spoken to the master, because I haven't seen the since. (Or he could have moved away as it belonged to an Air Force Airman who shares a rental home with other guys down the street.) Is that normal behavior for any kind of dog, or warning behavior?