Thanks. I'll look for their website. (nm)

Alton Brown's website [2008-11-25]
Check Alton Brown's website for recipes. I am a pretty good cook and make Christmas cookies for all of our neighbors and friends every year. Cookies or not, if there is something that I just can't seem to pull off I go to Alton Brown. I have not found a recipe of his that hasn't worked for me yet. It took me 15 years to make a pie crust but I was only able to do it well with Alton Brown's recipe. I know he also has some recipes where you can make 1 dough and then divide it to make 4 different cookies. I think his black-and-white cookie is that way. Also, marshmellows are not difficult to make but they are so impressive and everyone loves them! It's a little messy with all the powdered sugar but the kids LOVE to make them. Its minimal ingredients and its like a science project when it grows in the mixer. You can also get extracts and make mint marshmellows, strawberry, whatever you want. They go great with hot chocolate. Actually I think this year we are only doing those and sugar cookies because everyone loved them so much the last few years. and maybe some fudge, to give me an excuse to make it. lol

That sounds great - I'll give it a try. [2008-11-23]
A plus is they grow really well. Another item to add to the garden next year if we like them. Thank you so much. I will always try something new with an open mind. However, I still hate beets and did when I was a kid. But I do like snails. HA HA.

I'll tell you what it is...just plain sick...nm [2008-11-22]
ss

Go to etsy.com. You'll find a gazillion [2008-11-22]
xx

Cool website -- any others you'd like to share [2008-11-18]
I think part of the reason we order in/eat out so much is because I get tired of the same thing. It seems everytime we have chicken in the winter, it Same with ham and turkey. I only had a few minutes on this website, but I was really surprised how easy chicken kiev is to make. Do you have any other cooking websites you'd like to share?

May be she'll learn a lesson? [2008-11-13]
I'm glad to hear you made an official police report.

need a good free internet adult website/content [2008-11-10]
my NINE year old was looking at po rn on You Tube today. I walked in on him watching something totally adult. He said he clicked on something and when it came up it was that...i believed him but later on when I looked at the history there were 5 different adult videos he had viewed!!!!! how should I approach this??

you'll have a retainer for life to wear while sleeping. sm [2008-11-08]
and please do. a family member had braces in elementary school and they came out beautiful. somewhere after marriage, kids, she stopped wearing the retainer. she is not in her 40's and her teeth shifted back to almost day one. wear the retainer while sleeping - it's no biggie compared to the waste of time and money and beautiful smiles.

Okay, I never thought to look for a website - [2008-11-05]
I just watch them on YouTube all the time and of course I have both of their albums and all of their B-Side Collection on my iTunes. Want to get Ragdoll and Myself too. Don't they put on a show?! Adam is so yummy! They were on 90210 one episode, which should be coming up in a few weeks on SoapNet on Sleep In Saturday.

If you do this tonight, you'll not run into any problems! - sm [2008-10-30]
Tomorrow's Halloween!

I hope I'll see a message like that! [2008-10-29]
My daughter will be going away to college next year. We're very close, but it would still completely level me if I got a message like that from her! What a precious gift you have!

Does anyone know if we'll be changing time?? sm [2008-10-27]
I thought it would Every Halloween it I haven't heard or seen anything about time change.

Great website references [2008-10-27]
Thanks so much! I saw the wrap on someone about a year ago and have been looking at all the stores to try to find them. I see similar items but not exactly the one that is adjustable and this is exactly what I saw.

She'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge [2008-10-26]
She will still have that little piece of your heart. I hope you feel peaceful, you did the loving thing. Wise

Well I'll let you know how it turns out [2008-10-22]
Since I ordered one, we'll see. Talked to hubby and he said he had talked to somone who actually has one and they think its great, they also heat with wood and use this to supplement at night, that's why he left the article. I don't want to give up my wood and convert because its free and I love the smell (hubby cuts me hickory!) but I know someone who has a corn stove and they love it. I love my wood stove and wouldn't go back to central unless forced to, its the only time in my life I've been truly warm in the winter!

Thanks for the affirmation - I'll talk to him. - nm [2008-10-20]
xx

I'll bite [2008-10-17]
But first I will have to point out the differences between this and a gay person going about their every day life. No gay person is standing on the corner collecting anything, recruiting, or taking one nation under God from anything. They (we) are simply asking to walk our own paths unassaulted. Period. Don't put your hands on us in anger or hate, keep your discriminatory legislation out of our lives, don't key our cars, don't burn our houses, don't threaten our children or have your children threaten our children. If you don't like who we are, don't associate with us. It's that simple. Leave us alone. With that in mind, no, you would not be shoving anything down anyonelifestyle. WHO you are is not a lifestyle.

I'll second that! [2008-10-08]
I have only done it once though because I feel incredibly guilty doing it...well make that twice...I did it tonight too. :)

Poor MT..I live in Michigan, pick me up will you? I'll even bring my own plate and fork. LOL. nm [2008-10-02]
nm

Happy Birthday! I'll be there in the spring. nm [2008-09-24]
x

I'll stick with my antenna! [2008-09-23]
A lot of people think when TV changes over to digital, they will need to switch to cable or dish TV and I just wanted to point out that isn't true. You can get the converter box and stick with your antenna. That's what I'm doing. Plus I found with the converter box, I get over twice as many channels as I did before. Best of all, it's free! (Well, the converter box isn't free, but at least I don't pay a monthly fee.)

maybe a dose of Pam 'll make em [2008-09-23]
x

Never mind - found their website [2008-09-01]
nm

My heart goes out to ya'll down there - sm [2008-08-27]
We were stationed in Biloxi, MS, for several years, then moved up here to AL in 1999. We go back to Biloxi every 2 months to see my hairdresser, to eat, enjoy the beach, look around, you name it. Westill feel very connected to the coast and its people. I cannot tell you how devastated we were by the destruction done by Katrina. We went through a cat 2 hurricane in 1998, which was bad enough to be without power for a week with 4 cats in a stuffy house, much less what you all endured after Katrina. Please, please, please make a plan to get to safety NOW while there is still time, just in case. My heart is in my throat every time a hurricane enters the Gulf now. Best wishes for your safety and that of your pets.

Thanks, I will get a quote on their website. (nm) [2008-08-22]
x

These 10 things definitely ain't right: [2008-12-01]
1) MTSOs who want people with top-notch skills and experience, but don't want to pay them what that skill is worth. 2) HMO's: So-called *health-maintenance-organizations* --yet they spend every minute and every dime of their far-too-large profits on denying healthcare, meds and procedures to their patients. These organizations have ruined American healthcare, and many American lives. HMO's have been a con-game since their inception. 3) The Bailouts: Giving money to companies who can too bad for the rest of you.* Then the Big Three show up in DC to beg for a handout, and fly there in private Lear jets. My answer to them would be, *I too bad for the rest of you.* 4) Apartment managers that won't allow even a single quiet, well-behaved pet, but will rent to people with continually screaming small children, and out-of-control older children and teens. Give me the pets for neighbors, ANY day. 5) Businesses that give an age-discount to absolutely everything that walks, runs or flies, but not to the middle-aged middle-class, who need it the most. Take the ski-industry: Young children ski for next-to-nothing, and sometimes nothing. There is a Teen Discount. There is a Student Discount for college kids. There I'll probably never be old enough - it's a carrot-on-a-stick, always just out of reach.) There are even corporate (UGH) discounts. But for those in my age group, who barely make ends meet but like to go up once a year for a couple days of bliss, there is NOTHING. 6) Travel-lodging deals that are always based on double or quadruple occupancy. What about singles? NOTHING. 7) TV commercials that are about a million decibels louder than the regular shows. Why can't it all be the same volume? Same with online newscasts. THEIR commercials will blow your eardrums out if you aren't quick enough turning down the volume before they start. 8) Surround-sound: Everything is too loud, already! Why do we need it coming at us from 4 directions? Why do people living in tiny apartments feel they need it? I've lost count of how many fights I've had with neighbors over this issue. Same with movies and music concerts. Why do they feel we need to feel the music in our SPLEENS? I went to Universal Amphitheater last week. (Now named something else). There is actually a sign outside warning that the decibel level inside might damage your hearing! (?!?!?!) Why do they need this? (To avoid lawsuits, obviously). If it's so loud you have to post a warning sign outside the entrance, then DUH.... it's TOO LOUD! 9) Banks that charge you a fee to use their ATM. They (I haven't actually been INSIDE a bank in YEARS).... and they want to charge US for using the machines instead of the tellers? Forget it. I won't give those banks my business. 10) The Post Office: Talk about rewarding slow, inept performance! The worse their employees are, the longer they seem to stay there. I'd rather have a root canal than go to a P.O. during the holiday season.

Do you have a store that sells the little [2008-12-01]
discs of chocolate to melt that are more for candymaking? These work the best as the parafin is already in the candy, so they set better. You could try also anywhere that sells supplies for baking cakes to see if they have the candy-making chocolate discs. Also, you may want to let the peanut butter balls sit before coating, as I think it has something to do with the oil in the peanut butter. Let them sit to dry before coating with any type of chocolate. Candies that are homemade should be stored in tins with wax paper in a cool dry place and not necessarily in the refrigerator. If you do store in the refrigerator make sure the container is air tight as the chocolate will pick up the flavors of other things in your refrigerator, i.e., onions... My mother made homemade candies; all types! RIP: Mom; we

This is some advice I recently read [2008-12-01]
which would benefit me as well. In a nutshell: Worry only about the things you CAN change, not the things you CAN'T. You'll never change your sisters so let it all go. Change the way YOU handle your life and move forward.

Unless things have changed [2008-11-30]
As far as I know, you have to have a converter box, if you don't have a HDTV TV. You can't use a DVD or VCR player for a converter. Maybe what they meant, is if you need a converter box, and don't have one, the only way you can watch your TV, is using a DVD or VCR player, playing the DVD discs, or VCR tapes. I have bought 5 converter boxes, ending up taking two back. First one I got was a Magnovox, and I didnt' like it. My antennas wouldn't fit it. I took it back and exchanged it for a RCA one. I couldn't get my money back, with the coupon, so, had to exchange it, and am stuck with the RCA one. It works OK. Not great. Then I reviewed and found the TiVax was recommended. I got it. I liked it, till I got a DVT Pal today. It is better than any of them i have tried. I traded a Zenith for it, didnt' like the Zenith. My antennas wouldn't fit it, either. So I took the Zenith back, got the DVT Pal. The Pal is the only one , so far, that I have gotten 4 stations. The others I have only gotten 2. With the ZEnith, I got none. I think I'll stay with the DVT Pal. I have one more coupon left.

Cowboy Magic [2008-11-30]
Cowboy Magic is great stuff. If she has any really bad snarls or is matted, use the gel and put it on them and leave it for a while. They It's what I use on the horse's tails when they're a mess and we're getting ready for a show.

Same problem here. [2008-11-30]
My husband works with loud machines and we both have noticed his hearing is going. I actually thinks he likes it because when I ask him to do something and it doesnI didn. Very frustrating for me. My husband also expects big presents for Christmas, birthday, etc, wrapped up all nice and pretty. Last year, he received a big gift and I received nothing from him. He says I'm hard to buy for so he won't do it. Or else on Christmas Eve, he will say he's going shopping what should he get me. He always takes the fun out of any gift-giving occasion. This year, I told him we are not exchanging and that means BOTH of us will do without. We'll see how he likes it.

I have a very old Sunbeam egg cooker [2008-11-28]
makes soft, medium, and hard boiled eggs. It also has a point in the lid (where you measure the water for the type of egg you want) and you use this to put a hole in the end of the egg, so this may be true. I love this cooker. Uses no more than a 1/4 cup of water and automatically shuts off when the eggs are done. Never a guessing game. Don't know if they still sell them but I'll be in a world of trouble if this cooker dies. Of all the automatic counter-clutter devices I own, this one is my favorite.

Martha Stewart's recipe [2008-11-28]
I'm sure you can look it up on her website. I have her cookbook and have been using her recipe for years! It's not fool proof, as I have found that fresh eggs don't peel as well but do peel a little better if I use her method and I NEVER get that green ring or the dot of slimy uncooked egg when I use her recipe. It's very simple too. I wish I knew it exactly from memory but I don't - the closest that I can come is this (though if you want to try it I would pull her recipe and not use mine from memory lol) Start eggs in cold water. Put on the stove. Bring to a boil. Heavily salt the water (1-2 tablespoons for a normal sized 1 quart sauce pan). Cook 7 minutes. Turn heat off and let stand for 5 minutes. Place into ice water. Peel under running water. Then you can store them peeled with wet paper towel in a zip top baggie or platic tightly covered dish for a few days if needed.

TY everyone for your responses. [2008-11-28]
Since we'll all be doing this again in a few weeks for Xmas - I now know what to do !

PLUS SIZING [2008-11-28]
Probably a 3X or larger, depending on how busty she is. Talbot Woman Withincatalogs and search for larger sizes. You but lost 220 lb. over 13 years ago with GBS. And yes, I kept it off. Rosie

I went through this myself about 20 years ago. [2008-11-28]
My husband is the eldest of 4 siblings. They tend to give expensive gifts, and none of them have children. I came from a very poor family, so our Christmas holidays never included lots of gifts. When we were first married I stressed over the gift selection and the money we spent. My husband, who is an accountant, stressed over every penny. When our first child came alone, I quit my full-time, downtown career-oriented job and stayed home. Our family income was cut in half, and so we had to tell everyone, our siblings, parents, friends, etc., that we couldn't afford to give any gifts. Family members wanted to give us gifts anyway, and we begged them not to, as it really made us feel uncomfortable to receive but not give. We didn't need anything, really. We just couldn't afford to spend anything on gifts. It took us about 3 years to get everyone to play by our rules. Twenty years later, and we're doing better financially, but we still don't exchange gifts with anyone but our children. Even my husband and I don't exchange gifts. We try, instead, to make donations to charities or causes that we care about. Over the years, some of our family members have experienced financial difficulties, and they opted out of the gift giving either temporarily or permanently. It always feels a little strange at first, but eventually it's ok. The season isn't about the gifts, and if the gift-giving becomes a burden, then that's certainly no fun. You have the financial responsibility for your family. You make those decisions, not family members who make you feel guilty. They'll get over it. Don't let it get you down.

Holidays are hard [2008-11-26]
My parents were divorced so my sister and I spent many years shuffling between two houses. When we each got married and had our own families the situation got even more complex. My parents are now deceased and my sister and I are estranged (even though we live in the same town), so in some ways life has gotten simpler. I still get very emotional and depressed around the holidays because of my dysfunctional childhood and negative expectations, but I don't have as much guilt and stress anymore. My husband's parents and family are back in our hometown 600 miles away, and for the last few years he's gone back there for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas with our youngest child. I don't begrudge him that because his folks are elderly and I don't want him to have any regrets later. I can't go with him because we have a lot of animals to take care of, and frankly, I'm really comfortable just hanging out at home with them anyway. We have adult kids too, and two grandchildren, and I encourage all of them to live their lives without the burden of guilt and feelings of obligation. If they can come by and have dinner or visit that's great, and if not BIG DEAL. Honestly, it's just a day. Things got easier for us when we realized we didn't necessarily have to celebrate a holiday on the exact day it was scheduled. I really understand your not wanting to let your mom down, and I would feel the same way. Your husband is a big boy and has made a choice, so that's on him, not you. He's probably being a bit immature and stubborn on this one. I hope you'll extend the invitation to your husband one more time, then go to your mom's and enjoy yourself whether he comes along or not.

Don't give up! [2008-11-26]
Iso easy, even a child can do it! I learned to sew before I even went to school! He even had some antique machines with foot pedals that we kids used to play with. I have all sorts of machines, from antique hand-crank Singers to cheap Wal-Mart plastic machines, and high-end Pfaff and Viking sewing machines and sergers. Check out local sewing and fabric stores for classes. You can also try visiting Meetup.com, which is a really cool place to find all sorts of people who get together to pursue their interests. I don't know where you live, but I checked in my area, and there are several groups for beginning sewing listed. Maybe there are in yours, too. With that said, I really have to tell you that Singer machines are not the best. Since the company was sold many, many years ago the quality has gone downhill. They are not built to last and have many parts that break very easily. In my experience, a simple mistake in threading some Singers will place a lot of tension on a weak part in the thread line. Something will snap or break, and once it's broken, you can't get the machine to feed thread properly as you sew. Unfortunately, a really good machine can cost hundreds of dollars, and it's hard for a beginning sewer to make that sort of investment not knowing if it's something they'll be doing for a long while. I always recommend going to a store that deals in higher end machines. (Pfaff happens to be my favorite.) Then ask to try machines or take classes with their display machines. You learn basic sewing techniques and you learn what makes one machine better than another. I suggest that if your machine is brand new, you return it for a refund. Take some sewing classes first, and try different machines. Then you can make a better, more informed purchase, which in turn, should result in successful and fun sewing! I'm sorry. You probably didn't want to hear that, but I can't say that I'm a fan of Singer machines. Even if you get it to work, it's likely to fail not long down the road, which will only frustrate you. I'm willing to bet it's the machine and not you.

it's not lying [2008-11-26]
It's just not. I was about to get all preachy and talk about how we need mythology in our lives--stories that tell teach us morals, that remind us of our traditions--but I'll stay off the soapbox for now and just say that for as long as my kids are willing to believe, I will give them stories to believe in. The five-minute cry when they discover Santa isn't real, is more than made up for by the years of joy beforehand, don't you think? As for talking in front of the kids, I don they're good at that.

just go, forget this child play and really, really enjoy ---- [2008-11-26]
yourself without him. He'll change his tune. If you allow this behavior and kiss pratt for it - you'll have to do that whatever and whenever the whim suits him. agree with other poster - he he can't put himself aside for a couple of hours for your sake and the sake of the whole family...then it is he the problem.

I have a 14 year old daughter also [2008-11-26]
Thankfully right now she doesn't have any boyfriends, although there are boys in the neighborhood who are friends that we've know for 13 years that she'll meet up with when the weather's decent and everyone is outside. She has amazing friends who come from good families and I trust her and them. I guess you just have to trust your children and decide how much leeway you feel you can give them. There are a couple of younger girls in the neighorhood that hang out with a whole group of older boys and just walk the streets. Those are the ones I'd worry about. Just this past year we've been letting her go to the mall with her friends alone and she has started going to parties, but she always has to go in a group and come home at a decent hour.

If the store is still open.... [2008-11-26]
If you have a big platter or can get a throw-away one, make a nice cheese and cracker platter and put a bowl of grapes in the middle, that way youScoops with salsa. Just happen to have them in your trunk. Hurry up, it's getting late, maybe the drug store is open or a 711.

My family's traditional Christmas mints [2008-11-25]
Again, really easy but time-consuming. The base is just two egg whites whipped up to stiff peaks and fold in about a pound of confectioner across, then flatten them with a fork. Put them on waxed paper - they stick on everything else. Get your kids busy stirring and rolling and it'll go quickly. I also use the same for frosting for Christmas cookies. Couldn't have a Christmas without them!

They are doing an early Black Friday sale now online! [2008-11-25]
There is a website that shows all the Black Friday ads and also shows which ones are online now, or will be on Friday. Most stores are doing the same sales online now. Just Google black friday info

Agree with old part-timer [2008-11-25]
what's done is done. Is it worth the argument? He won't understand. Get it back, talk to him and let him know next time you would appreciate if he asked you first or asked them to come back when you are home. I would even ask him how he would like you to proceed which such a request of his things in his absence. He may not admit it but I bet he'll think about it later. If you are going to argue about something, make sure its worth the strain on your marriage.

Alton Brown's website [2008-11-25]
Check Alton Brown's website for recipes. I am a pretty good cook and make Christmas cookies for all of our neighbors and friends every year. Cookies or not, if there is something that I just can't seem to pull off I go to Alton Brown. I have not found a recipe of his that hasn't worked for me yet. It took me 15 years to make a pie crust but I was only able to do it well with Alton Brown's recipe. I know he also has some recipes where you can make 1 dough and then divide it to make 4 different cookies. I think his black-and-white cookie is that way. Also, marshmellows are not difficult to make but they are so impressive and everyone loves them! It's a little messy with all the powdered sugar but the kids LOVE to make them. Its minimal ingredients and its like a science project when it grows in the mixer. You can also get extracts and make mint marshmellows, strawberry, whatever you want. They go great with hot chocolate. Actually I think this year we are only doing those and sugar cookies because everyone loved them so much the last few years. and maybe some fudge, to give me an excuse to make it. lol

Yes. My son's second wife never [2008-11-25]
cooked. It was always McD's, Taco Bell, Pizza, etc. She never cleaned either. All she knew how to do was spend the bill money. (She didn't work, BTW). Now my grandson is on a diet at 15 yo, 195 pounds.Thank heavens, my son woke up and got rid of her. My mom worked every day and when she came home, made supper and it was always on the table by 5-5:30. If my father was on the 2nd shift, she'd make him a hot meal, put it in a square metal container and I would bicycle it to his work. When I was old enough to use the stove, I would make supper once or twice a night. In the summer, I would clean the house so she would have less to do. I worked 2 jobs most of my life, but always had time to take my boys to their baseball practice, wrestling practice, and when old enough, to their PT joband pick them up at 10-11:00 when they would get off, went to open house every year to see how they were doing, etc. I also made sure their homework was done (not that boys really bring homework home in those days LOL), had a meal on the table for them every night, never had snacks like chips or pretzels in the house. The only thing they had to drink was water or milk. No soda. BTW, my husband during this time was away from home all week, so it was all left to me. The parents today are too pressured, as are the kids. Kids are not allowed to be kids anymore. They are 7 going on 70. I think it's time they get back to being normal kids. They need breathing room. I don't know who ever decided that the kids had to be in every sport, every club, every volunteer activity the school has, but it's crazy. Not all kids fit that mold and they shouldn't have to. Plus their grades are expected to be A's and B's, nothing less. Perfection is the norm and no one is perfect. What's wrong with this picture? I'll jump down from my soapbox now.

Since when is teaching the [2008-11-25]
Since hubby is lacking in consideration and manners towards his wife, he needs to be taught via do as you wish to be done by. It is too easy for him todiscount her feelings until HE feels the same way, then he Without any understanding of how shocked and hurt his wife feels, heoutsiders with her stuffand discount how it might hurt her. And that is also damaging to the marriage, right?

Since when is teaching the [2008-11-25]
Since hubby is lacking in consideration, empathyand manners towards his wife, he needs to be taught via do as you wish to be done by. It is too easy for him todiscount her feelings until HE feels the same way, then he Without any understanding of how shocked and hurt his wife feels, heoutsiders with her stuffand discount how it might hurt her. And that is also damaging to the marriage, right?

About tatting sm [2008-11-24]
I tried to learn as kid and I just didn't get it. The gal who tried to teach me was very good and got me interested, but I could not get it. It is very like making a fishing net. Those little knots have to be just so or you end up with a knot. I have done that more times than I can tell you. I had a neighbor who handed me a can before she moved. In the can was a shuttle and some tatting thread. She says to me TO ME! LOL I'll bet you don't know what that is. As it happens, she didn't know what it was! I picked it up and said bet I do...and started to tat. By the time I was in high school, I could TAT pretty well. I made a couple of blouses for work that had Peter Pan collars. One was baby pink, the other baby blue. I embroidered on the collar and then tatted enough matching lace for the edges. I loved those and wore them a very long time. I wish I had time to make another one in white, but most of my efforts going into sewing for others. I have 15 pr of boxers on my sewing table for my son who won't wear anything else...as in he hates store bought boxers. He is married and should grow up, but he won't until I am gone and can't do it for him any longer. Right now, I have a soft sheer crepe that I am making into a wedding dress for my daughter. They are going to the JP in January before he deploys and we'll do the first ceremony. When he returns they will get married by a lake in Minnesota. He wants to build a pontoon with his dad and get married on the pontoon at sunset. We'll do her wedding gown next summer. Both dresses have to be baby pink and please don't ask! She gets what she wants, it is her day(s).