A dose of Emergen-C, Sambucol tabs throughout the day, and an epsom salt (with eucalyptus and mint if I'm stuffy) bath at night.

I don't understand how training could make a difference. CC isn't structured in a manner that allows people to be independent contractors (at least as I understand how IC status is interpreted in most cases). No matter how they are trained they are still under the very strict constraints that CC sets forth, which seems would make them subject to what is an employer/employee relationship. It seems like they are skirting the rules to profit the corporation, but that is just my meager $.02.

I had a wooden loft bed as a child. It wasn't super fancy or expensive, but it held up well. DH's family had a metal loft/futon bed, and that thing was a piece of junk. It was squeaky and swayed when a person climbed up the side to get on the top bunk. I would choose a wooden frame over metal if the budget allowed. You can often find them on craigslist for a good price as people try to get rid of them when their kids outgrow them or move out.

I was sad to find that the Orange Mango was discontinued when I made my yearly bulk toothpaste purchase a while back. That's DH's favorite and my kids liked it as well. I bought a whole bunch of different toothpastes for them to try. The least minty that I bought is Very Berry Mint by Jason (Oral Comfort line, which is for sensitive teeth--we don't really need that but I wanted to try the flavor). Next in line is Vanilla Powermint by Jason. It does have mint but it is subtle, definitely not as strong as most toothpastes. Chlosys mouthwash is flavorless. I use it before brushing, but if I had to use a toothpaste flavor I really didn't like I would probably rinse with it afterward to get some of the taste out of my mouth. Or I would find a mouthwash with a taste I liked. The Dr. Brite Strawberry flavor looks good: https://www.drbrite.com/products/revitalizing-mouth-rinse-mint?variant=31259397254 I just noticed they also make a kids' toothpaste in strawberry flavor. All of these I've mentioned are fluoride-free, though, so may not be what you're looking for.

http://fivejs.com/homeschool-printables-downloads/

This is not related to essential oils, but one thing that has helped me sleep so much better is changing the lightbulb in my bedside lamp. I got a bulb controlled by an app (it's the "C-sleep" version of the C by GE line). I programmed it to switch to a warm-colored, low output setting at a certain time, then to fade to dark over 5 minutes at a certain time. I also don't do screen time once the light switches to this bedtime setting. This has been a total sleep gamechanger for me. I have to have bright lights (60W) in my lamps to keep from getting headaches while reading. But it would be so hard for me to go from the bright light at full blast to complete darkness when I turned it off for bed. This bulb has allowed me to keep bright white-toned light when I need it and then switch to yellow-toned, dimmed light fading to dark for sleeping. From the reviews I've read, this bulb doesn't work well with Android devices. I have an iPhone and have had no problems. I initially bought just one bulb for my lamp because it's relatively expensive, but I liked it so much I bought one for my husband's lamp and may also get some of the C-Life bulbs for our living and dining room areas.

In the thick of it here, with 2 teens and one not too far away from being one. :grouphug: I think part of this downgrade is how they become independent. If we were always the hero, they'd only want to be like us forever, instead of coming to terms with having to form their own separate identity, with their own vision, thoughts, opinions, and so on. Seeing a good reason for this shift in status doesn't make it hurt any less, though.

Another vote for Maus. There are 2 volumes. March -- There are 3 volumes. A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel adapted by Hope Larson -- very faithful to the original El Deafo -- short and sweet graphic memoir On my to-read list: Miss Marvel series (comic rather than graphic novel) City of Ember adaptation by Dallas Middaugh Last Things: A Graphic Memoir of Loss and Love by Marissa Moss

Mild Taco Seasoning 1 T chili powder 1 1/2 t cumin 1 t salt 1 t pepper 1/2 t paprika 1/2 t coriander 1/4 t garlic powder 1/4 t onion powder 1/4 t oregano This is easy to make in bulk and is not too hot. For more heat, you can add a little cayenne or ground dried chipotle. I usually multiply by 12. I use this seasoning in place of the spices in this taco recipe: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/tacos-supreme/

This is our favorite rice to serve with tacos: 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes 1/4 medium onion, cut into chunks 2 cups white rice 1/3 cup olive oil 3 cloves garlic 3 pieces pickled jalapeño, minced (can be omitted) 1/2 teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon coriander (can substitute with more cumin if you don't have) 2 cups broth 1 teaspoon salt Process tomato and onion with stick blender until pureed and thoroughly smooth. Place rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until water runs clear- about 1 1/2 minutes. Allow to drain to remove excess water. Heat oil in Dutch oven with tight fitting lid over low-medium heat about 2 minutes. Drop a few rice grains in and if they sizzle then it is ready. Add rice and fry stirring until rice is light golden and translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Be careful that the oil doesn't get too hot too fast or the oil will splatter. Reduce heat to medium, add garlic, jalapeños, and spices and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in broth, pureed mixture, and salt. Increase heat to medium high, and bring to a boil. Cover pan and cook on low, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until rice is tender, about 30-35 minutes. Add water if needed while cooking if liquid absorbs too quickly. (If your pot is oven-safe or if you transfer to a baking dish, you can also bake this at 350 F, stirring halfway through.) For Freezing: Cool, portion and freeze in a ziploc bag. To reheat from frozen: Place in a pyrex dish and warm in the microwave, stirring every 2-3 minutes until heated through.

Thank you for this idea! I made stuffed shells for dinner, but I always make a separate pasta for my child who eats gluten-free. We were out of alfredo sauce, so inspired by you I made what I call egg-fredo. I wasn't sure if my picky eater would like it, so I offered to add a little bit of homemade red sauce. He tasted it and was happy to eat it as is without any other sauce. His brother was a bit jealous and offered to finish up any of the egg-fredo that didn't get eaten. I'll definitely make this again!

They are so quick and easy to make, so maybe he won't even notice. Just don't get sucked into the black hole of the variations like this owl or this strawberry or these fish (not nylon but super cute).

I'm looking for recommendations for drawing and writing tools that are fun, quirky, unique, or even just helpful. This is for a gift for a teen girl. She already has a bunch of Sharpies and basic pencils and drawing pads. She likes kawaii style drawing but is also trying to learn more realistic techniques. She likes hand lettering and has a book on the subject but doesn't like scrapbooking or that type of activity. She has a couple of the coloring books that are popular right now but favors drawing and coloring her own art over those. Thank you in advance for suggestions!

I've also heard that Scrub Daddy sponges are great

I do something very similar--I use the rolls of nylon tulle. I use my daughter's round loom knitter to turn the tulle into round dish scrubbers. They are the best! They never smell, don't scratch the dishes, and last for a long time. They are a lot like these: https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/pot-scrubbers/218227

I keep them on. I'm a weirdo who doesn't like the way the naked cover feels when I hold the book.

I'm in this same spot now. I'm worn out from having all the meal responsibilities, and then the feeling is worsened by some health issues that have caused me to lose my appetite and be kind of grossed out by food. For about the past 9 months or so this has caused me to get really lax on what we eat. It used to be an occasional treat to have frozen pizza or chicken fingers; now my kids are asking me when we're going to eat "real food" again, lol. In order to save our budget and help us eat better I set up a weekly meal plan template on Plan to Eat. I set up general categories for each meal of the day. For example, today is bagels + fruit + yogurt for breakfast, paninis and/or soup for lunch, and pasta for dinner. Then as the week goes on I plug in specific recipes or ideas that fit what is on sale/what we already have in the fridge and pantry/what the kids or adults are craving. When I first made this template I made a list of all the recipes we like that fit in each category, plus I have my recipes categorized and tagged in Plan to Eat. I try to plan ahead but not too far, as our schedule is really flexible and is subject to change throughout the week, as is my motivation and energy levels. So, yesterday I looked at the general plan for today and made sure we had what we needed for breakfast, chose a recipe from my Plan to Eat recipe book for soup that we have all the ingredients for, and chose a recipe for pasta and started the prep for it while I had some time and energy. I also made tentative plans for breakfasts and lunches for the rest of the week and dinner on Tuesday. I'll see how I feel tomorrow and make plans for Wednesday and Thursday dinners accordingly. What really helps me is that I don't make myself a slave to the template. For example, Tuesday is supposed to be Mexican (my kids insist that anything even close to tacos must be served on Tuesdays--thank you Lego movie). Last week, though, DH and one of the kids were out of town, plus it was a holiday so I didn't feel like doing Mexican. So we ended up having leftovers and stir-fry. I didn't beat myself up because I didn't follow the template. Instead, the template helps me narrow down my choices when I feel stuck or nothing sounds good. Instead of having a million recipes or foods to choose from, I know to just pick something from whatever category is on the template.

This American Life from NPR is another great source of narrative journalism in audio/podcast form. I was just discussing this episode with my husband last night when he was asking me to explain what long form is: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/360/switched-at-birth

Here are two sports stories that are lighter in tone: https://www.si.com/longform/2017/nba-jam-oral-history/index.html https://www.si.com/nba/2017/07/05/shaquille-oneal-shaq-baby-name-popularity

Grilled or baked chicken breasts + rice + vegetable For the chicken I'll do some type of marinade. It can be as easy as pouring over whatever salad dressing we have, along with salt, pepper, and spices that complement the dressing. Sometimes I'll spend a bit more time and do a wet rub (basically spices, a little bit of brown sugar, and olive oil) or a yogurt marinade. I made this Greek marinade for the first time last night--it was super easy and tasted amazing. Rice is just thrown in the rice cooker. Sometimes I'll add spices but most of the time it's just salt and a little oil or butter. You could easily substitute a different grain or starch (quinoa, potatoes, couscous, or pasta) Vegetables are usually whatever is quick and easy. Raw carrots, broccoli, and/or cauliflower. Bagged salad. Frozen vegetables steamed with a little bit of water or chicken broth, seasoned with butter/salt/pepper. A weird thing I love is canned green beans heated with a little bit of Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, and black pepper. Pasta + sauce + vegetable (meat optional) The fastest is fresh or frozen pasta, which cooks in about 3 minutes. We like the fresh cheese tortellini and frozen spinach ravioli from Costco. Aldi and Trader Joe's have good options as well. The quickest sauce is premade, whether it's from a jar or homemade that has been made in a big batch and frozen. I haven't mastered homemade Alfredo so I keep a few jars of that in the pantry for quick meals. Vegetables are the same as above--whatever's quick and easy. Meat--quick=brown ground meat and add sauce; quicker=premade meatballs, throw in pan with sauce to heat up; quickest=leftover sliced chicken breast Panini or grilled cheese with or without soup Scrambled eggs + toast + fruit Waffles + turkey sausage (our favorite is Jones brand) or turkey bacon ETA: Quesadillas --sometimes just cheese, other times +refried beans and/or leftover meat

I think it's unprofessional. We don't use that type of language, so our kids aren't used to it. It would probably throw them for a loop to hear someone in a health setting speak like that. I personally don't like it. I grew up in a home with plenty of swear words used, so I'm used to hearing it all. If I went to a doctor or dentist and heard that language being used repeatedly, I probably wouldn't say anything but I wouldn't return. I recently got my hair cut and the stylist threw an f-bomb into the conversation. I didn't say anything, and if I really liked her services, her saying that one time wouldn't keep me from coming back. I haven't overall liked her services, though, so that was just another nail in the coffin. I do think it's different with people in different industries. I would expect health professionals to censor themselves more than a stylist or mechanic, for instance.

I use it in this Mexican veggie casserole: https://peppertree.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/mexican-veggie-casserole/ Sometimes I'll do half zucchini and half yellow squash, but it's fine with all one or the other.

Social media often gives us a more intimate view into people's lives than we would normally have, especially for people with whom we aren't normally that close. That ends up giving us a sense of familiarity without really being all that familiar, which can end up skewing our opinions negatively. For instance, an acquaintance may post about vacation after vacation, so one may think they must really be spoiled or have an ideal life. But perhaps that person has had a really rough year personally or health wise, and is traveling to cope. Or maybe their job takes them away from home to these destinations, and they post the highlights as a way to make the best out of a tough situation or so that family back at home can follow along. Or maybe they're just spoiled and like to brag about it. The point is, we feel like because we're friends or followers on an app that that gives us enough information to form all kinds of judgements and opinions, when in reality we know very little about that person.

It's not all cut to one length like a bowl cut--it's that the overall profile of your hair is one length. You can still have layers to give dimension and shape. This picture will give you an idea of how the overall profile looks like a blunt cut (rather than an angled up the neck version) but there are layers cut in to allow the waves to give the hair a shape that is not all one length: http://68.media.tumblr.com/10bb7d99d2ef82a43f5d8c4d52316396/tumblr_o02pk7aOKQ1qf4qz6o1_500.jpg An angled cut will give you more of this profile: http://pophaircuts.com/images/2015/11/Angled-Bob-Haircut-Chic-Short-Curly-Hairstyles-for-Women.jpg which can end up looking kind of poofy if your hair has a lot of wave/body

During a really tight time (job loss), we did stop tithing (meaning giving a full 10%) for a bit. We didn't stop giving altogether, though. We also tried to be conscious of giving to the church body in ways other than financial.