DovieAnn's Profile

Rule number 1 for transitions from newborn to forever: Do NOT blubber. If you get emotional, so will they. Save the tears for watching the bus pull out. And if one sneaks out just say "I'm crying because I'm so happy to see how big you are!"

Also, listen to your child beforehand. Five is very young for camp, IMHO. I think I was 7 before my first unescorted day camp. If your kid is really freaked, waiting a little longer isn't a bad thing.

It sounds weird, but call a few local delivery places. Delivery drivers know where the rough neighborhoods are even when the landlords don't. Just don't call during peak hours. Usually right at open is a good time or even slightly earlier. They will also know the neighborhoods that are best for families, college kids, etc.

Being a driver, I know I'd trust a driver's opinion over a website review or forum.

I love the innovation. And props for hacking. Regarding the naysayers, I see how you can feel it's "off." The tv is too high and the boxes on top make it appear even higher. I would personally move the top boxes down to the bottom of the tv, making a row over 4 over 2, and then dropping the whole setup so the plug is actually inside one of the bottom boxes. This would leave space for the surge protector to sit next to the outlet and you could hide it with a pretty box if you wanted.

When we hear about lice at school we instantly run out for rosemary and mint shampoo. The little buggers hate that stuff. We were the only family that didn't get it when a neighbor family did last summer and my son went to parties at their house during infestation. I never once had to do nit combing, either. Our neighbor whose girl did get it borrowed our shampoo and added tea tree oil. Killed the infestation in two treatments without the icky pesticides.

You still have to wash sheets and bag stuffies with a bit of borax, but it's better than coating your kid with dangerous chemicals.

We chose a small space, tiny actually, out of financial necessity. Now that we're climbing out of debt we can do so many things as a family we couldn't before. It's so liberating. Baby 2 is on the way now and, much to the horror of my other family, we aren't rushing for a bigger place. I really, really don't want to go back to the way it was before. Plus it gives us an excuse to say no to the bajillion giant baby accessories everyone thinks we need.

Please support this one, guys! My little guy goes here.

We are currently on the lookout for a new place in our small town. I absolutely think it's important to know what kinds of people you'll be living near. The one upside to my current search is that I deliver pizzas here and know where all the safe neighborhoods are and who are the friendliest people. It limits my choices, but I now we'll be living in a drug-free area with amicable neighbors.

We've lived in many places and always felt most at home where we knew our neighbors. We're also both from tiny towns where everyone knows each other so that makes a difference in how homey place feels.

I would do a huge mirror above it so that it disguises the corner part.

Also, move the tv down if that's your mount. The top should be even with the mantel of the fireplace so it doesn't detract from it. And it won't hurt your neck to view it.

Why didn't these make the list?

They're beautifully textured, very well designed, a fraction of the cost, and are unabridged.

It's a semi spicy mix of diced tomatoes and green chiles used in a ton of southwest cooking. Tasty stuff!