DD17 eats very little meat. I don't know how she ended up in this meat-loving family! She's tried tofu a couple of times in restaurants and liked it but we've never tried fixing it at home. Any tips? Where can we find it at the grocery store? What are your favorite ways to prepare it?

Here's a good introduction: https://www.dietdoctor.com/intermittent-fasting I've been using intermittent fasting to maintain a large weight loss that was achieved by a LCHF diet. I'm maintaining the same diet as a "way of life" but a medication that I am now taking is causing a slow steady weight gain if I don't add intermittent fasting as well. It is VERY flexible, frequency and duration is determined based on what else is going on in my life and the scale. Some days, I eat all three meals, some days I just skip breakfast and postpone lunch, other days I eat only dinner each evening. I do drink coffee with cream during my fasting time so not a TRUE fast but still effective!

I'm loving all the responses. Haven't taken any steps to help or hurt the mouse. We do have two cats and a dog in the house. The dog and one of the cats has killed a mouse each in the past so I know they are interested/capable of keeping the mice away from encroaching into the living space. DH is definitely a keeper. When we were just dating so many years ago, one of my cats got a baby bird out of its nest and was very gently carrying it in its mouth (it didn't look injured). DH shimmied up the tree to put it back in the nest. So, I really did know what I was getting into when I married him. :laugh:

I'm happy with the insurance company itself but am thinking I want to change agents. The agent I had since I was a teenager passed away a few years ago and I was automatically assigned to a new agent. We've talked to her a few times and I just don't think she is very knowledgeable about finances in general or insurance specifically. I was telling her more than she was telling me during our last conversation and she even called over one of the other office workers to confirm that something I was telling her was true. It was. We've also had repeated mistakes made since she took over. Listing DD17 as married, for example, despite multiple phone calls to get it corrected. Now I've gotten a letter from the insurance company home office that a recent change we made to our insurance (that we did in person with our agent) requires a special signed form, otherwise it is changing automatically to something else. Knowing what forms are required seems like a very basic expectation of an insurance agent, yes? So, I'll be "shopping" for a new agent and was just looking for any experiences of BTDT. Not sure what the process would be.

A doctor ran a series of blood tests and my health insurance rejected the claim for about half of them, claiming they were experimental. I brought the EOB back to the doctor during a follow up and he was incensed, insisting that the tests were "standard of care" for my condition and that he would have left himself open to a malpractice lawsuit if he didn't order them. He had his office look into the insurance claim and it was resubmitted. Rejected again, same reason. Now the lab has sent the bill to me. Understandable. But here is what irks me: For the blood tests the insurance covered, the lab billed $646 and the insurance paid $104; about 16% of the billed amount. The lab accepted this as full payment for those tests. For the blood tests the insurance rejected, the lab billed $865. I called to request a self-pay discount and they refused. This lab is known for not discounting the billed amount for individuals and, in fact, there are class action lawsuits against the lab for overcharging cash-paying clients. I can afford to pay this bill but I am so annoyed I'm tempted to just not. Eventually, the lab will sell the account to a collection agency for pennies on the dollar and my credit score will be impacted. I have a great credit score and no intention of seeking a loan within the next few years. Wanted some feedback on what others would do in this situation. I admit that when I'm annoyed I don't always act rationally. :cursing:

So, I let DH know that I've heard rustling in the garage. He got real quiet and finally said that he had been hoping I wouldn't notice. He apparently came "eye to eye" with a mouse a few days ago in the garage and felt bad for it, with the weather being so cold. He apparently had hoped that the cold spell would pass and the mouse would decide to leave on its own. . .all before I noticed something was amiss. Anyone else with a soft-hearted family member? I think I have more than my share. DD will go to extreme lengths to capture an insect or spider that is in the house to release it outside before one of us kills it.

One of my favorite treats when I feel like dessert: Warm 1 to 2 ounces of cream cheese in the microwave for several seconds. Beat with a fork until smooth. Add a spoonful of greek yogurt, a splash of vanilla, and a few berries (frozen is fine), raspberries are especially good. Blend well, mashing the berries with the fork. It's pretty much like a quick raspberry cheesecake!

Lots of eggs -they aren't just for breakfast and are just about the perfect food for this way of eating. Make them in a variety of different ways to avoid boredom. Keep deviled eggs in the fridge for a quick snack or meal side dish. Cabbage - very low carb and inexpensive. Oven roasted with a little olive oil and seasoning until the edges are very brown is so yummy. I also make slaw. Shred and fry to create a base where you would otherwise use rice also works well. Cauliflower - very low carb and inexpensive. Mashed is my current favorite - steam, press in towels to remove as much water as possible, mash, add seasoning and your choice of butter, greek yogurt, cream cheese, etc. I like to top it with cheese and pop it into the oven until nice and melty. Check the variety of pork cuts. There is usually at least one cut that is relatively inexpensive. Low carb pork chili is delicious and can use the cheaper tougher cuts. Avocados - price can vary but a very nice higher fat low carb option. Pickles, olives, etc - lots of flavor for very little carb Check back. I'll add more as I think about it some more!

I understand and accept when a coupon I try to use is rejected due to the fine print (different store location, wrong product size, specific exclusion, etc.) However, I've recently hit a string of situations where the cashier rejects a perfectly valid coupon and I have to push to have it accepted. What bothers me is when the cashier makes statements that just aren't true: --"All of your items are on sale and the coupon is only good for regular priced items." I stood there and separated out the items I chose that were sale items and items that weren't sale items. "Well, the regular priced items must be at least $30 for the coupon to be valid and your items aren't." I easily met this requirement as well. --"This coupon is only good on January 5, 2018." I pointed out that it actually stated "Today through January 5, 2018." Etc. Are they counting on people not willing to push back? Businesses shouldn't issue coupons unless they are willing to graciously accept them, IMHO.

IMHO, you need to step back on any/all advice regarding her weight/diet. Listen and sympathize only. She needs to decide for herself if/when to take steps to reduce her weight.

Choose a meter based on the cost of the strips. That is the ongoing cost and you don't want to find yourself skimping on testing because of the cost. I've use Bayer Contour Next and Wavesense Presto and buy the strips through Amazon. These are dumb meters though. It is easy enough to keep a written log of diet, exercise, and blood test results. You can try different lancets and settings. As mentioned, you don't see the needle unless you are replacing the needle in the lancet. It is hidden during use. The instructions will tell you to replace the needle every time you test. Almost no one does this. If it starts to become more painful as the needle dulls, then definitely change it! Prick the side of the finger pad rather than the front surface. This is less painful. It is not painless for me, although many folks report that it is for them. Also, the blood flows much better if your fingers are warm.

*ouch* So sorry to hear about the pay cut; that is significant! Is DH otherwise happy with the job? Sounds like it may be time to look for something else. The biggest pay raises are almost always achieved by changing jobs. Take a hard look at your car insurance needs and current coverage. Our costs actually went DOWN when we added teen drivers because it forced us to really consider the coverage options. We increased our deductibles and dropped collision/comprehensive on our oldest vehicle. Also ask about discounts. Our DDs get discounts for being good students and having completed a simple online driving education course offered by the insurance company. Also consider if any automatic savings into retirement or HSA's need to be adjusted until you can get a grip on the new lower cashflow. Good luck!

A few ideas that may help: trim nails, crate, sequester calm kitty instead of nutso kitty, calming cat spray (e.g., Feliway).

Family members are in town and came by to visit yesterday. One tried to hand me two satellite television remote controls to which I bluntly stated that I had no use for them and did not want them. After they left, I found the remotes stuffed into my entertainment console. A second wanted to recharge her Kindle and her recharge cord wasn't working. One of my DDs plugged in her Kindle using one of our cords. After they left, we noticed the cord was missing. We called and she claimed to have thought we were giving her the cord. Go ahead and think me anti-social but I do not enjoy visitors.

We only exchanged small gifts because the main family gift was a vacation that we just returned from. On vacation, I surprised the family with tickets to La Nouba and that was a big hit with everyone. The books and blendable art markers were hits as well with my DDs.

The only items we use anymore are the the Power Chew Nylabones or the super strong Kongs (the black ones) stuffed with a little cheese or peanut butter and a regular dog biscuit. I don't trust anything that softens or breaks apart with chewing.

I definitely lean "no fuss" for most things but do buy the whole coffee beans and grind them myself before each pot. You may find, as I do, that it makes a better coffee.

Don't overthink it. My vitamin D level was tested as low a few years ago. I started taking an inexpensive brand of D3 supplements from Walmart: 1,000 IU twice a day. Results: Component (range) 2014-2016-2017 results Vit D, 25-hydroxy (30-100) 26 - 35 - 52.6

I asked this question myself a few years ago and didn't get any solid leads. I ended up buying colored index cards, which for some reason were still the old fashioned card stock as well as index cards that were spiral bound together that were the card stock. All of the loose ones packaged wrapped in plastic were regular paper stock.

Lots of things like this hit the ick factor hard but are very unlikely to actually cause any health issues. I remember several years ago when the news had stories about how unhealthy it was to store your toothbrush in the bathroom uncovered because of all the toilet bowl germs that float into the air with every flush. I shrugged and figured that it would have made us ill already if it was going to. My toothbrush is still stored uncovered in the bathroom. I would totally eat jelly out of FIL's jar.

Neither per a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kirtsaeng vs John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the input.

I completely understand the need to vent. It sounds like a very frustrating situation for you. However, the office folks are not going to suddenly change how they do things so what can YOU do to make it better/easier on you? Can you lock the utility room so they don't mess with your tools and supplies? Can you provide additional trash cans?

Here's the flip side: The very nice woman who cleans my office building was coming into my office 2 to 3 times during the work day to remove and replace the liner in my trashcan. I recycle all my office paper so, at most, I might have one to two crumpled paper towels in my office trash can. I finally stopped putting anything into my own can and stash stuff on my desk until I am heading to the break room, where I deposit all of my trash now. If overflowing trash is a common problem, then the logical solution is to place a larger or second trash can in that location.

Maybe because the utility room big trash can is off limits to me?!?

People who work in an office are not likely to view cleaning as part of their duties. It wouldn't occur to me to haul out the office trash to the dumpster outside. If the can was full, I'd look around for another can to place my trash in. Or, if the trash was "clean" like a bunch of empty boxes, set it beside the waste can with a note scrawled on it that it was "trash". Now, I don't pee on the floor and if I spill something, I wipe it up with paper towels. But that's the limit of my "cleaning" at the office.