I have always grown veggies sm

I usually do a lot of handmade gifts. This year each kid gets $100 they are all grown sm [2008-11-21]
I make my oldest son boxer shorts, he only likes the ones I make. My other son wanted a robe and matching PJ pants. Daughter wanted a couple of outfits and a denim jacket. My mom wanted something I had knitted up for her. Stepdad just wants to be remembered. My brother won't take anything from me, so no problem there. I will do some small things for my friends, but I won't spend $500 total, even with giving the 3 kids $100 each. I have NEVER spent that much on Christmas! I have worked like a dog all year, but I have had no time to do these things they think they want.

Our children are grown, our only grandchild is due to be [2008-11-20]
born tomorrow and we all talked about it and this year we are only going to buy 1 gift per person (except for the new grandson). So, our budget will be very small this year and, for once, I am actually not stressing about Christmas.

We have grown children and paid up condo. SM [2008-11-13]
I think about advice I would give others. Getting any part-time job I could, delivering papers, selling Avon (people still buy Avon), renting room out in house. If elderly people near you, offer transportation or shopping service. One thing is, no matter what, no one should just sit around waiting for another job, be they male or female.

Thank goodness both my kids are pretty much grown up sm [2008-10-22]
Both are in college, one away and one at home. My gift will be supporting them in everything they do unconditionally, past, present, and future. Just can't do gifts this year. But I WILL have my traditional 3-foot tree LOL. Rays in WS is enough for us all, though!! :-)

yes I like the peaches too but forget the veggies [2008-05-08]
you CAN add them to your kid's food for added vitamins. I might just start buying carrots and adding them to my kid's Chef Boyardee!

We can our veggies every year...sm [2008-04-26]
We go out to the countrysideto U-Pick veggie fields. Last year picked lots of tomatoes for 20 cents a pound. Also picked or bought eggplant, peppers, pears, apples, peaches. We canned the tomatoes andfruits; froze the peppers, and ate the eggplant (not sure how to preserve those yet). We also freeze snap peas from the garden and some other stuff. Whoa, I sound like a little country Cathy, don Anyway, hopefully this helps support the farms/farmers and keeps their land away from developers. Off my soap box now.

My kids are grown, and I do NOT miss it! [2008-04-21]
I love my children, but bringing them up was the longest, hardest work that I ever did. The sheer exhaustion from never getting enough sleep made everything seem more difficult. But, we all came through it, and the payoff is the amazingly wonder relationships my children, husband and I have with each other as adults. We enjoy each other's company, and I'm so full of pride whenever I see my boys out in the world doing things on their own. After all, that was our goal all along... to raise up fine, responsible adults. So I don't miss it, but I'm glad I did it. It was worth it. And my husband and I did a great job, if I do say so myself!

I have always grown veggies - sm [2008-04-18]
And this year it looks like doing so will really pay off! I mean, for a few dollars I can get enough plants to cover my 100 sq feet of raised beds and really make a dent in the cost of produce, which we eat a lot of. Happy gardening!

hahaha! REAL grown up, gals. [2008-03-13]
I'm back in high school. weee

I had a grown child and was employed (in this great [2008-02-26]
x

Grown Children [2008-02-16]
True, not all families are the Cleavers. However, your tone comes accross very unloving towards your children. I find that sad. My oldest son (29) died in an accident. Open up and let your children get to know you before it is too late. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life is simply too short. Lilly

"Romance novels" are all grown up now [2008-01-30]
Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber are current faves of mine. Nora's books are a little more intense for the most part, Debbie's more funny and lighthearted. Yeah, they've got the requisite happy endings, but they're good fun reads for the most part, particularly Debbie's books.

Veggies and dip, slaw. [2008-01-17]
x

I think it's more IN-appropriate for a grown man to take/ask a woman for money. I know his type.. [2008-01-14]
This is not anything new to him. This is how he survives. Chances are that he does have another cash cow so to speak in the wings. Iso we could be together. Second time, I basically paid someone to be their friend for 3 years. I did everything in the world for him, mostly financial. I thought every time I helped him he would see what a great person I was and fall magically in love with me. Needless to say, hethrough snooping in his computer unfortunately,found out he was on every personal ad site outthere including porn websites etc and had been meeting women AND men on the side while she handed out the cash believing he would marry her. Crushed was not the word for it. Sorry so long.. and as a side note...after 8 years of singlehood, I found my Prince Charming who spoils me rotten. I have never given him a dime and he has given me the world. They are out there.

MAKING??? Isn't he a grown man? (nm) [2007-12-17]
x

Forgot the veggies - sm [2007-11-28]
BirdsEye mixed veggies too. Scoop about 1/2 cup out of the package and pop in the microwave while the chicken is grilling. I buy the big bag of mixed veggies and a bag of boneless chicken tenders. I grill up a bunch of the chicken, then cut it into bite size pieces when it has cooled. I use freezer containers (I think Rubbermade) and mix the veggies and chicken together, then fill the containers, pop it in the freezer for when I want a single serving, like for lunch. When I want to use them, I add about 1 tsp of water, put the lid back on loosely and zap it for about 1.5 minutes. Easy Peasy

Get weaning food at PetStore, use a syringe, feed the formula, cooked veggies SM [2007-11-27]
I looked on Google and got totally carried away reading about the lovebirds. One thing, if your birds are hand-fed they will be much better pets, will allow you to handle them when they are grown. If you have no dogs or cats, you might even let them have a birdie playground on top of the cage, but that's for somebody who has really worked with the little guys since Day One of life. Have Fun! Wise.MT

Oh for Pete's sakes...the kid is a grown man now...he can state his opinion.. [2007-11-21]
it reflects nothing on the mother who raised him...

I think we expect that kids won't like veggies, and .... [2007-11-16]
I think that generally, in this country we do a very bad job of cooking vegetables. And, I think that we just generally expect that kids don't like vegetables. I grew up eating a Mediterranean diet. My grandparents and most of my neighbors were Italian immigrants. We lived in a part of NJ where you could grow just about anything. We had lots of fresh vegetables, lots of fish, and my grandmother made all of her pasta by hand with a combination of white flour and semolina. I don't think any vegetable was cooked longer than a minute or two, and there were always piles of vegetables at every meal. It was just part of the diet. I have a Korean foster son, and he enjoys things like smoked squid legs and seaweed. It's just the normal diet for his culture. Kids in other countries eat all sorts of things that Americans consider ghastly. So, really, I think it's more just our culture. Americans tend to give kids more bland, smooth foods for a longer time, and then later, the fast food, high-sugar, high-fat culture kicks in. It's just so bad for all of us. I remember thinking that roasted peppers were the best thing in the world, and I clearly remember eating them for lunch when I was too young to go to school. I don't think you'd find too many American parents who'd consider roasted peppers toddler food! LOL That's my theory, anyway.

So you just continue to give money to grown folks [2007-11-07]
because they are too lazy to work? You could do 1 of 2 things- take the children or call the family and children services if they are not being cared for. I would never continue to support people who did not want to help their self.

You are talking about grown-a.. folks [2007-11-06]
By goodness, you do not even see where you are going wrong, do you? What happens if you die suddenly? Do you think they would starve, I doubt it. They would get off their lazy behinds and make do. Why don’t you just let them move in on you and make it 1 big happy home? I do not just dole out money without a person trying to help themselves. You are making them both invalids but wait, you still have the grandkids to go. Lucky you. Don’t gripe when you are to blame for their not working and trying to live on their own. Look in the mirror.

The spinach dip in a hollowed bread? Veggies and dip? Sweet [2007-10-19]
s

Pork chops, mashed taters, and roasted veggies [2007-10-08]
Hubby wants lots of meat!

I go along with the veggies and dip. Skip the crax [2007-10-04]
s

No glad my kids are grown and out of home... [2007-09-12]
Anyone who thinks their kids are bad - well get this 3 BROTHERS here 10, 12 and 14 charged with crimes related to their breaking and entering and then completely destroying a Headstart school. They threw not only paint and other solvents over the place but also left own bodily fluids such as feces and urine, totally destroying computers, games, floors, the whole building, probably over $100,000 damage. I thank my lucky stars I do not have to even think about putting up with that.

Here's my problem....sm [2008-11-21]
My dad is irresponsible and is in financial debt and doom. There is no way he can make the money to pay the bills he has accumulated. He has borrowed money he shouldnt have. Well the situation is... He has been knowing if he didn He refused to pay it. Every time he would get acheck he wouldn Well he kept not paying it for 2 months. Well yesterday they turned them out. It is freezing here. It is going to be in the 20s tonight. He said I don Well he was told and told to pay it and wouldn So now what does he do? As soon as he gets off work he comes to my house cause he don I can So I can He also said he had no money for food because he had to use it all for diesal for his dump truck. So I offered him food too. He also rumages through my cabinets for snacks. I feel like I am the parent and he is the child. My husband drives a big truck and he has been gone. When I tell him what is going on he gets aggravated because he is sitting at our house and all. He said he is a grown man and needs to step up and take care of himself but he is my dad and I can My husband will be home either late tonight or first thing in the morning and this is not going to go over too well with him. I am at a loss.

He is 60 years old...sm [2008-11-21]
And acts like he is 2. He doesnI am not his babysitter. He is a grown man and he needs to act like it. Social service doesn't need to help him. The man makes decent money. He just won't take responsibity to pay his bills and has too many at that. He needs to thin them out. For instance, he has 2 new model trucks. He does not need 2 trucks but he WANTS both of them. But a light bill is one of your most important bills. And I for a fact know he had the money to pay it and didn't. I even told him you better go pay that electric bill. He wouldn't. I have never seen anyone who was quite like him. I love my dad and don't want to hurt him but he is making things very hard for me right now. I can't babysit him anymore. He is more than welcome to come visit me as often as he wants. He can come by everyday if he wants. But then there is a time to leave and go home. I have a family and I know I wouldnt like it if my husbands dad did this. I would not be happy at all. I am not happy about my father doing it but what do you do? Tell him get out?

No I live in the boonies. In Nothingville. SM [2008-11-21]
I think he has had someone for so long and my mom took care of the bill paying and he never had to worry about bills or shopping or being alone. And now he can't deal with it. They divorced because he was cheating with another woman. I told him go be with her. I mean they are divorced now. If that is what he wants go get it. He said she has a 28 year old son and a 22 year old daughter with a baby who neither one work and lay around her house. He says how am I supposed to be with someone with that kind of mess. He said if I am with her I will basically have to take on her grown kids too. I said well that is her own fault she allows her grown children to be bums. It is just a dang mess. He got himself into it though. With his bills it is like he can't sit down and say hey I can't pay for 2 vehicles and I have to get rid of one and he has other multiple bills I won't even go into. But if he is struggling to pay for both let one go back. I told him go file bankruptcy if you are having really bad problems with finanes. He said I don't want to file bankruptcy. Oh no. I said well that or lose your stuff. I have tried to give him advice and help him but he won't listen. He is stubborn.

Christmas Club...sm [2008-11-20]
I have three grown kids (includes 1 in-law) and I have money taken out of my paycheck through the year and whatever the amount is when I get the check, I divide that by 3 and that is how much I spend on the kids. It I put back through the year from my OT and get my husband something nice and then I just pick up a few inexpensive things along the way for a couple of other people I like to give a little something to. I don't think anybody really cares how much I spend on them, but I do try my best to be equal in what I spend on the kids, even at their ages now!

Hamburger soup and sausage soup [2008-11-19]
Pretend youhamburger and beef broth in place of water. For the sausage soup,brown a pound of sliced SMOKED sausage, add some water and scrap the bottom of the pan. Add your veggiesand chicken or vegetable broth(the harder it I usually use frozen mixed veggies and just add a few potatoes if I feel like it or if Isimmer for 30 minutes. I make large batches and freeze all but enough for a meal. You can season with your favorite seasons. I usually use garlic and pepper and a bit of cumin to make them smokier.

we always vary the budget [2008-11-19]
We have no discipline. If we have a good year or bad year it shows. Sometimes the kids remember the bad years, but so do the grown ups!

I'm in Florida and spend about $175/wk for 5 sm [2008-11-18]
I5 and 158 lbs,eats more than my husband, who is 6 and 345 lbs. FIL had to have a feeding tube put in last July, and I had to cut down meals by half because we were having so many leftovers and wasting money. Just when I thought I had it figured out, he was able to get the tube removed, so II donwe (FIL and I) will just eat a sandwich or leftovers from the fridge As far as special foods, we dona recipe, and for a while we were buying meat ata butcher shop but have had to cut that out for now. It was really good but was close to DH's work, and if he couldn't pick it up while he was in the area, it was a 45-minute drive. I cook most things from scratch, except lasagna because I hate making it. Once a month, we have a luncheon at church that I bring a dish and a dessert, and I cook Wednesday night dinner there one night per month, but I get reimbursed for the Wednesday night dinner. I do include paper products and toiletries in with my grocery budget but that's it, and I usually go to Sam's once a month for those. I have it easy compared to my parents though. My dad got paid once a month, and there were 4 kids at home all the time, 5 when my sister came up during the summer. They used to have 3 grocery carts slap full of food, and my mom figured out that it took something like 18 boxes of cereal to last a month, each one with a date marked on it so we didnWe also hada freezer to keep extra bread and other things, and my mom also used to mix in powdered milk when the gallon was half-way gone. I never knew until I was grown, so she definitely blended it well.

It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low. [2008-11-18]
I spend a lot of time studying sales and clipping coupons (doubled and sometimes tripled in our area). And I use bonus cards and shop at places like Aldisauce I just use olive oil, salt and pepper, GOOD cheese, maybe a little bit of chopped ham or dried sausage as a flavoring. Add some sauteed spinach or escarole, a little salad from whatever veggies looked good at the market. Add some beans to the salad to boost the protein, and we're eating very fine! I also haven't bought canned soup in .... probably ever. I save up chicken carcasses or buy the backs to make stock. I also make veggie stock and buy beef soup bones and make my own beef broth. The home-made stocks make all the difference when cooking from scratch. I keep the grocery bills low by planning my shopping expeditions and cooking from scratch. It depends on how far you want to go with it. I love to cook. It's a creative outlet for me, so I find it relaxing. Someone else may not, in which case, buying convenience foods would lower their stress level and would be worth the extra expense.

Live in Oregon, just DH and me, spend about 400 a month... [2008-11-18]
give or take including cat supplies. Costco every 4 to 5 weeks. Love really good bread, yogurt, real half and half for my coffee and fresh fruit and veggies no matter what the cost. Eat out on an average of 4 times a week, lunch or dinner on our days off, not fast food (Ugh). Cook everything from scratch, no boxes or cans here, except for pasta. I donat least twice a week. I have only seen a spike in dairy and bread products, but I won if I'm eating it, I want it to taste good and not be loaded with preservatives, etc. I'd rather spend 2.98 a pound for really good apples instead of 98 cents a pound for mealy ones. I'm Italian, so food is a religion for me and it better be good!

Here is mine...sm [2008-11-17]
It is Souper easy (I know, groan!). Chicken, beef or veggie stock (not broth), frozen veggies depending on mood, quite a bit of garlic and onion,frozen tortellini, and maybe some bits of meat (usually not),and herbs depending onthe other ingredientsbeing used. Amount depends on how many people are being fed. This is good for using up leftover veggies, chicken and beef, too.

Too bad more people do not do this - [2008-11-16]
I think this shows how much you have grown up and how caring you are. I think this will bring the other person closure as we all need that when we are hurt. I had my heart broken 10 years ago and not a day goes by where I think what did I do wrong to be treated so horrible. I don't dwell as much but I wonder how people can be so cruel. I commend you and hopefully, this will bring closure for you too.

I think they are just sensationalists, atheists and out for money.....sm [2008-11-15]
Now this woman/man has BOTH sexual organs, supposedly, one grown through testosterone supplemts, how ridiculous. Who needs this crap? And Barbara Walters stirs the pot. Degrading. This 'Thomas' got death threats.

What I 'used' to do [2008-11-14]
They had a store in my area where you could buy canned goods without labels by the case. That was nice. The store is no longer there. If there is astore that have off-brand names, buy there. For example,I bought 16 ounces of extra virgin olive oil from Italy for $4.99. There is also a store in my area that have name brands but they are close to expiration. I haven't been there yet, but you can buy Hamburger Helper at 4 for $5 every day. Buy store brands instead of national brands. When there is sale, buy more than one and use coupons whenever possible. Two other stores have sales where you can buy items 10 for $10. Examples of the items are Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes, canned tomatoes, tuna, pasta, Pregoor Hunts spaghetti sauce, ketchup, etc.I stock up then. Canned and dehydrated items are good items to stock up on, as are canned meats (good for casseroles). Butter and cheese is a bit tough to store. They say you can freeze butter without much of a problem, and I tested cheese, but it crumbles when it thaws. If you have a farmer's market in your area, buy tomatoes and freeze them. They're good for casseroles and soups. Peppers and onions freeze okay for the same reason. I don't like frozen green beans, but they freeze well, as does corn. Root veggies keep well in a cool, dry place for a few months. A book I have said you can keep them for a few months if you put them in a box andcover withsawdust (I haven' t tried this). They supposedly also keep well in the ground itself if you cover with large bales of hay. If you live in a city, that could be a problem.

I thought her face looked like she had Yorkie ...sm [2008-11-13]
in her. She is so pretty. I would love to see the pups all grown up now. What was the father of the pups? Yorkie, Shih Tzu, etc? I bet they are cuties too.

I was taught to be gracious [2008-11-10]
Regardless of the gift, you must always be gracious. They didn't need to give you anything at all and I was taught it was the thought that counts. What you do with it afterwards is up to you, but I have a few hideous gifts hanging around yet that I don't part with because of who gave them to me. A particularly creepy clown music box given to my kids comes to mind. It was given to them by an old lady who lived next door to us and I guess she thought it was nice. My kids are grown now but they said that thing always gave them the willies! LOL!

Genetic Disposition [2008-11-09]
I am sad that the attack happened regardless of the breed of dog, but I am not going to be narrow-mined at the same time & put all of the blame on the dogs. As far as genetic disposition, that goes back to researching the breeder where you buy your pitbull from. If you buy from a good reputable owner that has bred them from family pets then that is what you will get. I have owned PLENTY of dogs & the only one we had a problem with that tried to bite us was a Samoyed/Husky mix, explain that. We even rescued a full grown pitbull off of the side of the road that didn't know us at all. We knew we would be taking a chance that he may bite us not knowing us, but we have had him a year now & he is great. If they were all mean and vicious how were we able to get him and give him a home, explain that.

She won't grow to fit her tank, she will just keep growing.... [2008-11-08]
But eventually she has to stop growing some time. I really think she has probably grown as much as she is going to. If she has to go to a bigger tank yet, we may have to see if our local zoo will take her. The tanks are the biggest outlay. I get all her rocks free from our local monument maker and a quarry. I buy a bottle of the stuff to kill the chlorine and use our city water. Cleaning her tank is not too bad as we have a gravel vacuum. We donpoop and food scraps. Then we replace it. Other than her lights burning out once in a while, she is pretty low mainatenance. And fun to watch. Especially when she chases the goldfish. LOL

I am against it... [2008-11-07]
I know people in California with prescriptions who really have nothing wrong with them. I think some doctors prescribe things that are not needed (i.e., oxycodone, etc.) and there is no real way to tax it well because it is so easily grown at home. It is as dangerous as alcohol when people drive while high and they do. I can tell this is an unpopular standpoint, but you did ask...

My daughter has a Russian Tortoise [2008-10-31]
We think it's a she, but her name is Kaos. My daughter's had her for about 5 years. She's not very big and lives in an aquariam. She's a land tortoise so no water except to drink. She eats dark green veggies and fruit. They live to be 75 years old so after we're all gone, she'll still be kicking. LOL.

I have 2. [2008-10-30]
It's funny that this question is asked. The other day I was running out to the store to grab eggs and wondered why I did that instead of just asking one of the neighbors. Growing up my mom borrowed from the neighbors all the time but I have never really thought of it. I usually just send the hubs out. I know 2 of them wouldn't mind though. We swap veggies and other garden items during the summer and I bake them cookies, cobblers, and things from time to time just because they are nice.

My son and his wife - sm [2008-10-28]
have been married eleven years and over time developed a pattern for Thanksgiving, at least - they trade off years, one year coming to our house for dinner and her parents' house for dessert, and vice-versa. Of course, she's not a cook and has never been interested in hosting their own holiday dinner. They've always slept over Christmas Eve at our house as we have two more children still in school (had actually, one's not in school anymore but living at home) and shared Christmas morning with us, then go to her parents' house for Christmas dinner. I don't know if that's going to change now that the last of the kids are basically grown now. Unfortunately they aren't able to have kids, but if they did I would encourage them to stay home and we would come to them.

My son and his wife - sm [2008-10-28]
have been married eleven years and over time developed a pattern for Thanksgiving, at least - they trade off years, one year coming to our house for dinner and her parents' house for dessert, and vice-versa. Of course, she's not a cook and has never been interested in hosting their own holiday dinner. They've always slept over Christmas Eve at our house as we have two more children still in school (had actually, one's not in school anymore but living at home) and shared Christmas morning with us, then go to her parents' house for Christmas dinner. I don't know if that's going to change now that the last of the kids are basically grown now. Unfortunately they aren't able to have kids, but if they did I would encourage them to stay home and we would come to them.

That is encouraging [2008-10-28]
I am having a hard time fitting in fruits and vegetables and eating more popcorn, there frozen meals, etc. I am afraid that the lack of eating the fresh fruits and veggies will keep me from losing. I will Google that 3fatchicks. Thanks!

I have a feeling there are lots of us out here - sm [2008-10-24]
I have to say I think I may have it better than most. I've been working home almost twenty years and now both kids, 17 and 19, are on the brink of leaving, probably next year. My husband started his own business working at home four years ago, and we're literally (almost) joined at the hip. We share a 10 x 10 office. Yet, we almost never talk. When we do it's business or kid related. Right now I'm making more money than he is, and his business hasn't grown as fast as he had hoped, and now with the economy . . We started bickering about everything and about once a month have a big blow-up. I went to see a marriage counselor starting a year ago - he absolutely, positively will not go! So I'm going, mostly to find a way to survive another year or two until the kids are gone. I believe it will go one way or the other after that. I hope we stay together. We've both been divorced before and I wouldn't wish that on anybody. And I know the man I married is still in there somewhere. I'm going to do all I can to find him again so we can share the good stuff that we've worked so hard for - not to mention grandchildren when the time comes! Good luck to you. I've got no advice for you, but you are definitely NOT alone!

Jeeze Louise! [2008-10-24]
What are you guys spending this money on and how are you doing it without them knowing for so long to build up such a debt? What kind of debt are you talking, 5,000 or 100,000? I sneak my husband for 20 bucks occasionally for this or that, but if I want/need something, he is the first to buy it for me. What you should examine is what led you to this behavior in the firstplace. If you cannot afford something, don Keep in mind, that it is both of your money, not just his. You should immediately confront him with your bills and then work it out. This could be the best thing that ever happened to you. It sounds like the first diet you need to go on is to lose the weight of a full grown man on your back. You are an adult. You made your choices (good or bad) and it is too late now to lament. Life is too short to be so stressed out. Good luck to you.