What if you came at it from another direction? Rather than removing from your diet, add to it. At breakfast, always have 1 C of whole grain cereal with skim milk and a piece of fruit, THEN you can have whatever else you want to eat. Wait until you're truly hungry or 3 hours have passed. THEN... At lunch, always have 1/2 c of salad, 1 C of broth based soup, and a piece of fruit, THEN you can have whatever else you want to eat. Wait until you're truly hungry or 3 hours have passed. THEN... In the afternoon, have 1 piece of whole wheat toast with 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter and a cup of sugar free chocolate milk (made with Nesquik no sugar chocolate powder and skim milk), THEN have whatever else you would like. Wait until you're truly hungry or 3 hours have passed. THEN... At dinner, always eat 1/2 c of salad, 1 C of broth based soup, and a piece of fruit, THEN you can have whatever else you want. See what I mean? You can still eat whatever you want to...you just have to eat something healthy first. You may find that you're eating a lot less of the high calorie items without feeling deprived. This works for me. As soon as I try to 'cut out' from my daily eating my mind goes bonkers and food is all I think about. If you think it might be something you would like to try, I'd like to have a buddy to do this with. :)

Well, I had a four month long late start learning the violin in the public school system. But once I started, I practiced like crazy...every single day...for 5 1/2 years. Since I picked it back up a year and a half ago, I practice daily...sometimes for several hours at a time. I just LOVE playing. I have progressed beyond my abilities in the 10th grade, and they weren't shabby then. My 10 year old dd doesn't have the same frame of mind I had when I was her age and doesn't practice unless I remind her to. :) I also remember my parents discouraging me from learning the violin. They said it was too hard an instrument to learn to play. I was late starting orchestra because I was taking choir, which was easier, and it was in choir that I learned to pop my knuckles. In the middle of the school year we moved to a different region of Texas. I mentioned orchestra to one of the other students, and before I could get started with band the orchestra director stormed into the room, asked for me by name, and asked me if I wanted to learn the violin. I said YES and he told me to follow him. The band director just stood there surprised. I went with Mr. Booth to the orchestra room where the other kids were waiting and that's when I began. WHEW! I've been cleaning house today. I was thrilled that my week old cleaning caddy was roach free when I started! I guess I am looking for peeps to talk to...captive audience and all that...lol. Are you bored yet? :)

Is it really okay to give either Tylenol and ibuprofen every two hours? My doctor tells us to alternate, but not that soon between meds. Sending cool, sleepy thoughts your daughter's way, Valerie. :)

You might try calling the school districts in your area. Where I live, the districts auction off school desks and other furniture and supplies. They are bought 'cheap'. :)

Our Sam's carries it, but I live in El Paso so that may be why. :)

Hey! I'm a nurse bee! :)

all day. Ugh. It's in my cleaning caddy and since today is cleaning day, I've been reaching in the caddy all day. I feel a little pukey. I should say that I think it's still in there. I squirted it with Clorox Clean, but it crawled under a sponge. Then I had to leave the room and I don't know if it's still in there or not. It's two inches long...ick. Thanks for cringing with me. :)

I've been going yearly for 21 years. It's over so quick, I only truly dread it when it's a new, to me, doctor. Thankfully, that hasn't happened that often. Wear socks, study the decor and make comments. At my last visit, I had a whole conversation with my gyn about the different stirrup covers I've seen...from oven mitts to paper. He told me that now they make 'fur' stirrup covers! With the exception of the female doctor at planned parenthood (we didn't have much money then and paps were relatively inexpensive there), I've only had male ob-gyns, and that's the way I prefer it. Hugs... Edited to add: The midwife who helped Dh catch our third baby was a female, and though young, very experienced and wonderful. :) So she's my exception to my rule. :)

Here's one we love... cucumber, small chopped tomato, small chopped cooked penne pasta mayonnaise dill weed lemon pepper Mix together and chill. :)

Huh. Our Wal-Mart still has seeds. Maybe you could try K-Mart?

I read your message and totally laughed out loud! I will never forget finding my son sitting on the floor of his room with the guts of Eric Carle's Bee book spread out all around him. :)

So you're putting the seedlings outside already? Do they only have their seed leaves, or do they have their first leaves? The first 'leaves' a seedling puts out are not 'real' leaves. Do they have more leaves than the seed leaves? When I start plants indoors, I put them under a fluorescent light which hangs only an inch or two above the seedling. As the seedlings grow, I raise the light. When the seedlings have their first 'true' leaves, you can move them to a bigger pot and give them *really watered down* fertilizer.

What kind of light are they getting and how close to the pods is the source?

Also, if the history has been erased, you can go to Tools, then Internet Options. Under cookies, browser history...click on Settings and then View Objects (for downloaded programs) or View Files to see what cookies have downloaded onto your computer. In case you need one... hug.

AYE! On the right palm of my hand. :)

Good for you! Don't freak out. :) I have found that I tend to worry about 'what-ifs' that never manifest themselves... :)

Williams Sonoma sells a bread/pizza stone that is awesome! Their peel is great, too. :)

I'm happy for you!!! This sounds like something I need. My feet are just terrible... Where did you get this wonder item? :)

I attend Scholastic warehouse events because I like buying Klutz books for 50% off. They make awesome gifts. :)

I was googling uses for Odoban and came across a recommendation for using Odoban on a dog that had been skunked.

I don't care whose car it is, who you are, how old you are, or what your 'supposed' excuse is. If you're riding in a car I'm driving, you buckle up. No ifs, ands, or buts. My mother doesn't like to buckle her seatbelt. I don't move from her garage until she buckles (she often has me drive). When I'm driving friends, family, or children places...EVERYBODY has to buckle up and I tell anyone not buckled to buckle up. I'm usually non-confrontational, but I've never given it a second thought when I've insisted someone buckle up. :) *gee. could i say 'buckle' a few more times...lol.

We're Square Foot Gardening in containers this year. My Dh build two 4'x4' boxes out of redwood, with plywood bottoms. These two boxes are on top of four legs like a table. He also built two 2'x2' redwood boxes with plywood bottoms, but these are on the ground for the children. The new Square Foot Gardening book gives information about making a soil mix (5 different types of compost, vermiculite, and sphagnum moss). This is, hopefully, going to be ideal for me since we live in the desert. We are going to add a support for the tomatoes and zucchini to the onground boxes. So to answer your question...No. I haven't read the book your asking about. But I like the simplicity of Mel's new Square Foot Garden book. :)

Hi, I'd be happy to let you know where I made my purchases: http://www.moolka.com http://www.oompa.com http://www.willowtreetoys.com http://www.threesisterstoys.com http://www.blueberryforest.com http://www.finewoodentoys.com http://www.magiccabin.com (a little long on the shipping time) I had a really good experience with all of the above companies. Hope this helps! :)

Thanks for all the comments! Our children are 15, 10, and 5. I have been concerned about the recent recalls of toys due to high amounts of lead in their paint. In my opinion, the majority of plastic toys available to children are just plain junk and full of junk. I was tired of spending our $$$ on junky toys and tired of our children spending their $$$ on junky toys. The exception to this will be quality plastic toys not made in China. Good luck to me on that one. Now that we've experienced wooden toys, there's really no going back...and I say that for all of us. It's not really an issue for the 15 year old since he's more into electronics than toys. However, since we made the change three weeks ago, he's been found sitting in the girls' extra-large closet playing with them...and their wooden toys. Hope this clarifies things for those who had questions. :)

http://www.coldwatercreek.com http://www.christopherandbanks.com http://www.jjill.com :)