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I like to use Downy dryer sheets because they smell nice and we have sensitive skin. When I try cheaper brands we end up with rashes. The only problem is they are a bit pricey. In order to keep using my favorite brand, I started cutting them in half. I like to look at it as getting twice as many for the price, and they work just as well.

Sleepovers - Make Toast!

My 13 year old son had 4 of his friends stay the night in a tent in our yard Monday night. They aren't scrawny, little, awkward boys. They're football playing, almost man sized, lets-see who-can -eat -the-most kind of boys. They devoured three loaves of bread, two pounds of cheese, a jar or two of sauce (mountain pies), a pack of hot dogs/buns, a dozen of eggs, half gallon of milk, case of soda, 2 qt Crystal Light, some bottled water and two bags of chips. I'm quite certain they would have eaten more if I would have put it out.

Last night my 10 year old had two kids over. They don't eat much at all. Partly because they are younger and smaller - partly because the bigger kids ate it all the night before.

I learned something though. They all love toast. All I heard was " Mmmmm. I love toast. That was really good toast! This toast is so good. etc." IT WAS JUST PLAIN TOAST! I did put a shaker out with cinnamon and sugar, but they liked the plain buttered toast as well. I highly recommend serving it at your next sleepover. It's a crowd pleaser, and keeps them quite for a good half an hour!

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If you use hand soap anywhere near the way we do, you might want to try the foaming pumps. When it is empty, fill it about 3/4 full of water and then add some liquid soap - shake it up. You can add more or less soap to your liking. You'll be surprised how well it works. You wouldn't think it is diluted soap. We were wasting so much by using it full strength. A big refill bottle is lasting forever.

I reused some foaming pumps from Bath & Body Works and also have a cute Spongebob one from Wal Mart. The Pampered Chef has a foamer, but I couldn't force myself to pay $9.50 for an empty bottle.

I thought about adding some essential oil to the soap, but haven't tried it yet.

Garden

With the ever rising prices in mind, we decided to plant a little garden this year. It hasn't gone exactly as planned, but that happens when you have little hands helping. My sister gave us tomato "cage"thingys. I hate them. Must be why she gave them away. : ) I think we'll stake them next time. We also planted some green peppers, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, cantaloupe, corn, peas, and various green beans. Not that all of that stuff is growing now, but we did plant it. We had terrible luck with the cucumbers. I think we have one or two plants left. We have exactly ONE carrot growing. It stayed cold here in the northeast for a long time this spring. I'm not sure if that's what the problem was. Still, that's what I'm blaming it on. But hey, our corn was knee high by the 4th of July. I guess we're doing okay.

Socialization or Social Classification

I've only been homeschooling for one year, but I've come to the conclusion that homechoolers have a love/hate relationship with the topic of socialization. Everyone groans, rolls their eyes or sighs when the topic comes up for the 8,476th time. Yet, homeschoolers commonly talk (or blog) about it. We must love taking on the issue. We love to debate and discredit silly notions, don't we? Or, I suppose, it's because it comes up 8,476 times that we must talk about it. Either way, it's out there - lurking - snarling - lying in wait for the next opportunity to arise.

My son went to a birthday party last night. That got me thinking about it - again. To me, public school seems to be more about social classification than socialization. Within a school, the kids from better neighborhoods stick together - as do the poor kids. On a larger scale, compare the inner city with more affluent suburban schools. Poor neighborhoods = poor schools = poor kids. Mediocre towns = mediocre schools-= mediocre kids. Unless you live in a wealthy neighborhood, aren't you choosing a doomed, predetermined social class for your children when you send them to public school? If I live in a mediocre neighborhood, chances are my child will be mediocre. Why would people prefer that? Not only do they prefer it, but they ridicule people (like me) for trying to give my children something better.

Bluetooth

What am I missing? I don't get these things. I can't imagine wanting to have a phone stuck to my ear. I realize some people need to be on the phone for employment or whatever. But for the average Joe, what is the attraction?

Single Issue Voters

A candidate has to be pro-life for me to even consider them. I know people object to that thought - some think it makes me a single issue voter. I know people who go to the March for Life , but couldn't care less if a candidate is pro life. My heart won't let me do that. The first time or two I voted I didn't know how partisan the abortion issue was and didn't consider it. Now, I always make sure I vote pro life. My conscience won't allow me to put an unborn baby's life beneath ÄNY political issue. That doesn't mean I don't care about other issues. They just aren't as important. If I didn't care to vote for a pro life candidate because of other issues I would refrain from voting before I would vote for someone who is pro abortion.