CalicoKat
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Posts posted by CalicoKat
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I've been searching for quite some time to find an alternative to using sugar in my coffee. I've tried going cold turkey (no sugar) but couldn't do it. I've tried most sweetners (bad aftertaste) and Stevia (disgusting) but finally compromised to using raw cane sugar which I enjoy but probably isn't the best when you're dieting.
Well, a friend told me about Agave sweetner and it's actually really good. It's an amber-colored sweetner made from the Agave plant and it's all natural. I did a little research and it's suppose to be significantly lower on the glycemic index than either sugar or honey. It looks very similiar to honey but isn't quite as thick and you don't need to use as much because it is very sweet. I bought an organic Blue Agave at Trader Joe's.
Has anyone else used this product? It sounds really good because it's all natural but you always want to check products out. Just my luck there would be some study claiming it causes users to grow a 6th toe or something :D.
And as I'm diabetic I think it's the best sweetner available to diabetics. I couldn't stand stevia in my coffee. It does have a laxative affect for me, if I have more than 3 cups of coffee :) So I keep it to one cup and I'm good. Coffee has to have sugar . . . ya'know?!
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This is a really cool website. when I get new yarn I can check out what others have made with it.
I recently discovered some yarn that I got felted--even though the yarn package didn't say it did. Sure enough it made great felted slippers. :)
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I had a hyster at 24 (I am 35 now) and I do not regret it one bit. The day I had the surgery I also had my bladder fixed, so the surgery only gave me a 4 inch scar on the bikini line right at the top of my vagina. He removed the rest through my vagina to avoid any kind of huge incision.
The 6-8 wks of activity is a MUST!! That means no sex, no heavy lifting, no running, no jogging, bowling, playing, nothing but sitting, walking around slowly and that's about it. LIGHT activity like doing the dishes--no sweeping, mopping, nothing that would require you to overwork that area. Please trust me on this--you will hurt yourself if you don't listen to it. Even driving is a bit risky.
For me, I was actually in very little pain from the hyster itself. ALL of my pain came from the incision needed to fix my bladder. You really won't feel any pain unless they do a huge incision (which there is no reason to, as they can do it laproscopically or through the vagina). Seriously, if you can ask about it through that way instead of any incision. It really speeds up the healing
And again, I cannot stress enough--do not do anything that you wouldn't do after having a baby--you may not need the full 6 weeks to recover, but at least 3 weeks of nothing but rest (or 2 good, solid weeks) and then light LIGHT work.
I had a bilateral salpino oophrectomy in January 14th and I overdid it at 4 weeks post-op because I was feeling great. Boy, my body knocked me off my feet for 3 days straight. You have to respect your body and the minute you feel great be careful not to over do.
Make it a habit to wear your jammies all day for while. It helps the rest of your family remember that you are recovering. :)
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Yikes! No! I love pants. It's too cold for dresses here most of the time (I'd love to tell that to some of the girls whom I see waiting at the bus stop wearing mini-skirts and flip-flops in the dead of winter :rolleyes: )... plus... having been forced to wear them 6 days out of every week until I was 16 (private school + church) I have a clinical aversion to them. I wear one during the Summer sometimes when I'm feeling light and flingy and flirtatious with the hubs...:p I love pants and rarely don a dress.
me too! I spent most of my youth wearing skirts & dresses --all day, every day! Shorts and pants weren't allowed. (long culottes were for PE)
And,
I still can't eat oatmeal. It was served 6 days of the week at school
And,
I still can't stand the sight of green jello with pears. Actually Jello of any kind is really gross.
And,
I still can't stand pb&j's.
It's amazing what our past does to us! :eek:
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in my experience it's when they're able to do some things more by themselves that things start to get easier.
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"I know grown women who can't say 'no thank you' to a guy who wants to date them--many grown women. And even though I personally am pretty assertive, society doesn't support that for younger women very well.
This young girl has parents who love her and want to protect her in as respectful a manner as possible. It should not be her sole job to do this, and I applaud them for thinking about stepping in, and also for wanting to do it sensitively. Her reluctance to do this herself, IMO, should not necessarily be construed as a red flag, but rather as a call to action on her behalf--and her parents have taken it that way, which I think is admirable"
I guess I'm not comfortable stopping conversations when I get to the point that it might suggest they not act like everyone else because it's hard.
I agree that this should not be her solely her job. That's what her wonderful parents are for. In addition to stepping into this current situation, it is also a great on-going conversation, coaching, discipling topic on being strong, assertive, and practicing polite ways to say no in difficult or uncomfortable situations.
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My initial thoughts:
He's from El Salavador? Latin American men have their "hot" reputation for a reason. Machismo, I think is the word. My concern would be with the cultural values about dating that different (not bad) just very different. Benefit of the doubt, he's probably great guy and his intentions are honorable.
But the fact that he gave her a Valentine that he knew would make her and you uncomfortable speaks volumes. In what other areas might he not respect your dd feelings or your decisions for her as her parents?
Also the fact that your dd didn't feel comfortable telling him truly how he was feeling makes me a little uneasy for her. She should feel comfortable saying no to the guy she's dating--why didn't she feel comfortable? A friend that makes your dd feel unable to speak up, take a stand, say, "No Thank you" to is suspect. Respect is a two-way street.
Your dd sounds like a wonderful young lady. I think this experience will help her to be come even stronger. It's wonderful that she has you to talk these things over with. It's going to help her so much in life. :)
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12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 19?
She can say the number right, but it's always written backwards. I've corrected each time, erase them and ask her to write them again but it's always the same. We're using MUS but we never did the "onety-two" approach because I thought it was confusing . . . if I start this with her do you think I'd be confusing her even more?
Also when you ask her to write 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 etc. She writes them 51, 61, 71, 81 etc. She can generally self-correct when I point this out. Mostly I'm concerned about the above.
Thanks for your thoughts!
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DH and I were musing about it recently and wondering what we're doing differently this year that is helping. We both think it may have to do with the change the weely organic veggie/fruit box we started ordering last spring. We were always big veggie eaters, but the veggie box really forced us to eat tons so it wouldn't get wasted. We're wondering if this better nutrition boosted their immune systems to be able to better fight off their siblings germs. :) The boxes have tons of salad greens of all sorts of varieties.
And this is the first winter colds and the flu haven't cycled through the family one-by-one. Generally the first sick is the sickest and the next is just slightly ill. Mostly it's been stopping there, rarely another might get sort of sick.
We've also letting kids fill up on oranges, clementines, apples, and bananas. We buy our budgeted amount of fruit for groceries and just let the kids eat it. We used to try and tell them one a day.
In addition to hand washings, and using paper goods this is what seems to be working here this year.
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it wasn't always this way, but it happened when I started to realize that I could be an adult around her too. For me it was realizing that if I asked for her opinion I might not get an answer I aways liked. And that it was up to me to respond adult-like even regardless.
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http://www.bunkhousesewing.com/site/934188/page/437264
This is my fav. book for teaching sewing! It's for absolute beginners. It comes with patterns and detailed directions for each pattern. All you need to add is a machine & materials.
They've got a 2nd book in their series for when you're ready to do more.
A great beginning.
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Tackle these and other issues one at a time. Some of them require total lifestyle changes, like the elimination of certain chemicals in foods and personal care items. Others require cash outlay that could feel huge if you try to implement them all at once. A few are fairly simple and not terribly expensive, so you can check those off your list right away.
Take plastics. Yes, get rid of plastic food containers as much as possible. When I made this switch, I tossed all the Rubbermaid and purchased glass Pyrex storage containers with snap on plastic lids: http://www.pyrexware.com/index.asp?pageId=97. I bought one set of several size containers (two small rectangular, one large rectangular, one round, maybe something else). I also purchased a set of three small round containers, same style. These can be used for storage, baking, and freezing. I still keep quart size yogurt containers (and, I have to admit here that I just corrected a typo that read "quary sized"....oooooh, that would be BIG!:D) for when I just don't have enough containers, but I don't reheat food in them, and I avoid storing acidic foods in them. We use glass jars (Ball canning type jars) as drinking vessels. Started with jelly jars, now we've graduated to some pint jars as our kids are drinking larger quantities. They are cheap, sometimes free (yard sales, thrift stores), and durable. Maybe those are good first steps for you. Generally, you want to limit plastics for food storage or reheating, and you want to eliminate PVC plastics in baby bottles/teethers/etc.
No, you don't need to spray pesticides for spiders and bugs -- at least not in a blanket "preventive" way -- and possibly not at all. Many bugs are our friends. If you come across ones that aren't friendly, you can deal with them on a case by case basis. There, see. That's easy, right? :)
Cleaning products, I like baking soda and elbow grease for soap scum. Bon Ami is another option. White vinegar, water, and a splash of tea tree oil is a good disinfectant/cleaner for countertops, toilets, etc. Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry Soap works well for me in the wash.
Personal care products like soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste are a bit more of a chore because there are so many choices and personal choice often comes into play in a larger way. Try the Skin Deep report (find the link on the right hand side of their home page) at Environmental Working Group.
Cookware: another one to do as it fits your life and budget. Personally, I don't use Teflon and haven't for years. I use good stainless cookware and cast iron. But, you don't have to add that to the list until some of the other more easily accomplished things are done.
Food: This one will take the longest time and the transformation will be slow. Start with the items you feel your family eats the most of that you know to be a less healthy choice. Some choose organic milk. Some choose apples. But, please don't try to overhaul your refrigerator and pantry all at once -- you'll feel overwhelmed and you won't want to keep doing this. Here's a list of which foods might be best to avoid right away (not sure if this is the one you saw before).
Finally, The Eco-Wise site, the Seventh Generation site, and The Green Pages are all resources for helping you find your way in this transition. Beware! There is a lot on these pages. Use them to search out a specific item that you've decided to try to address rather than as places to seek out what needs to be addressed. We can't do everything, and certainly not all at once.
Best wishes!
Doran
because it's an aspect of organic living that generally gets over looked! It's huge. Also, don't forget to look into getting rid of your microwave oven. Don't freak out. If you time things you'll find that it's takes about as long to do it in a conventional or toaster oven as it does in the micro--plus your food is better for you.
Going with glass storage -- don't forget to check out your local 2nd hand shop. You can get many smaller casseroles for leftover storage there.
I agree with the above, very thorough!
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until I realized that with my health challenges I would have been "pushing daisys" for 8 years already. . . no kids, no homeschooling, no real life living.
I'm content to be a modern girl these days. I do still enjoy the olden days, but no longer do I wish I'd been born then.
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It's really the only time to connect before the day sort of explodes into taking care of the energetic needs of 5 kids. :)
I love coffee, I love talking with DH. I love that it's so simple of a thing I can do to tell him I love him.
Sappy, I know. But it makes me feel good.
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I found some at Walmart 5 for $5, but they shrunk horribly.
I'm going to embroider them, like the tea towels my great great gma did. If I'm going to spend all that time they should be useable not just pretty.
Thanks,
Calico
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Wow, that's something. Do you ever get to adopt these foster kids? I remember it took my parents 4 years to be able to adopt my brother.
So far it's been a 2 yr wait with ds, now 2.5. The trial for the termination of the birthmom's parental rights will be in April.
Our baby girl's case, 9 mo, will get a goal change about the same time.
It's just a matter of time now until we add them to our forever family. Of course, nothings for certain until the last signature is signed. But so far it appears more than just hopeful.
If we are asked to foster the new baby we'd start over again from square one.
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ewww, bleck, gag, oh my, gross me out!!!
:eek:
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I will also pray for the baby's health and the birth mom's choices at this time.
How are you otherwise? How is your house saga?
I am healing well. I've got so much energy these past 2 days that I'm just busting with activity. :)
The house . . . it's back on the market and we're still getting 2-4 showings a week. Our realtor says the inventory of homes for sale isn't as large right now, the interest rates are down, and people are getting those checks from the gov. so perhaps a buyer will come along. It's a mystery to her why our home hasn't sold too. God's timing. The builder is still happy waiting to start until we've got it sold so there's no pressure from them.
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I got their Kitchen Mill about 5 yrs ago. It's a work horse. It is loud. I do plug it in outside on the step and run it.
I got it because was more affordable for me. And because it does a lot of grain at a time. And because it stores compactly in my cupboard.
My mom also bought one. Her's is a great performer just like mine.
It's slightly louder than my Dyson vac. When the grain hopper gets empty the motor does get louder at the end.
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CPS called to let us know that our 2 foster kids birthmom is expecting, again. They think she's in the first trimester.
There are many If's and IF the decision comes to us CPS wanted us to be prepared. This came after I told the case worker I had a carseat and clothing for her that the baby has outgrown--she told me to hold on to them, just in case.
Pray for the little baby. Pray for the birthmom.
The last time they spoke to us these words we welcomed a sweet little girl into our family. She's just 9 months old.
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I really admire moms who can do elaborate lesson plans, but it's not my style. We just do the next thing each day. I do recommend that you record/jot down what you've done so that you have a record of daily accomplishments. It doesn't have to be anything complicated at all. Just a spiral notebook or a check list will do. All the best!
This is us too. For record keeping I do write the date on the top of the lesson and go back every week (or month) and input it into my EduTrack program. That way I know how many days of school we've done (100 yesterday!) and also I can have proof if I should need it that looks spiffy. We have CPS in our home because of our foster kids so I feel like I need to be prepared in case.
History & Science are the challenges. I did try using a prepackaged curriculum but it's not going as smoothly. So we went back to STOW vol 3. and the kids are loving being in control of their own again. They tell me that history isn't school, it's fun.
Science - Magic School Bus is on at 8 a.m. --does that count? We do have science with our Co-Op but even that's been unreliable because of illness (me).
My plan is to use the summer to focus on Science once they've finished up with the basics for their grade level.
So far going with the flow and doing the next has been the best method. They're learning. But I do wonder if perhaps it's teaching them to be lazy. I'm not really pushing them. But they do love learning.
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Well, the almonds didn't help enough for me. I was trying those and I was still a huge crab! The fog lifted when I added a wee bit more in. Then I blew it today. My dear son bought me a 3 Muskateers with his own money. I just had to eat it you know;)
If you just hafta eat it make yourself eat it with a fork and a knife (slows you down). It also helps to have a hot beverage, like coffee or hot lemon water. This helps you feel fuller sooner and perhaps you won't need to feel like you have to eat the whole bar.
Switch to peanuts or cashews. They're higher in fat but you'll eat fewer and feel fuller -- use a spoon.
The whole key is to eat less than you used to and to keep scaling it back. Cold turkey may work for some, but I struggled with it and I was more like to fail BIG time. Baby steps. And reward yourself with something non-edible.
Hang in there, you can do it.
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My ds(now 10) has this tendency (and has had it since toddlerhood). I know that it has felt mean (and over-the-top) to me to discipline for what is being "funny" but in our case we've had to. This is the child that I have to say, over and over, at the slightest provocation, "settle down", because if I don't things get way out of hand. The principle I've taught my ds is, "There is a time for silliness and games but there is also a time for being serious." In our case, just telling him this doesn't work. I have to follow through with specific instructions: "This means, if I give you a worksheet, you must answer the questions seriously even if you think of the best pun in the world." or "You asked for help. You need to listen to the directions." Unfortunately, my ds (in the past) would force me to make it a huge issue with repeated discipline until he would obey. This would not be my choice - a simple quiet reminder would do it for me! But he pushes the issue and both my dh and I have felt that this needed to be a "line in the sand" kind of thing with this child. One thing that helped us in our case was realizing that with our son (I don't know about yours) that there was a huge passive-aggressive component to it. He is now 10 and now, while I have to watch him, he doesn't try this kind of stuff with me most of the time. Now, I should mention that I try to make sure that we do have a lot of appropriately silly times in our house too!
Oh my, when I read your words there was a huge recognition of the heart issue going on. Yes, her behaviour is trying to let me know who she thinks is going to be boss.
I am about ready to quit
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
We've already done vol. 1 & 2 with great success. I don't know what I was thinking when I changed over to MFW Adventures. Anyway, we're going to keep going with Adventures but add in SOTW. My kids love SOTW and listen (we have the cd's) to it just for fun at any time during the day when they're bored. They love to color the pictures and add a few of their
own.
I say go back to what worked before and tuck that feather in your cap for next years planning, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."