Problem: Kids put sticker everywhere and they can be difficult to remove.
Solution: Get out the hair-dryer … apply heat to the sticker … after heating up the sticker — it will then easily pull off (without leaving much residue). The remaining residue can be removed by using a touch of lighter fluid on a rag.
Warning: Once the culprit realizes his/her sticker is gone, they will seize the opportunity to put a new sticker in its place. If this happens — repeat the ’solution’ (you may find yourself hopelessly in an endless loop). Consider yourself plugged Greg.
via Gregory M Brettell of Reno, NV
Greg kindly asked us to shamelessly plug a Memorial Day tribute he created featuring original music.

TR McCormick of Dillingham, Alaska shared this useful tip:
If you lose anything on a floor and cannot find it. Use a flashlight down on the floor sideways. This causes the object to leave a shadow and you’ll find it right away.

Place a large coffee mug that is 1/2 full of water in your dirty microwave oven. Bring to a rolling boil, then let it sit in the closed microwave for 10-15 minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel.
UPDATE: Some readers have warned of the possibility that microwaves can overheat water which can explode and cause burns. Here’s what Snopes.com has to say on the matter:
Yes, water can “explode” in the fashion described above. However, it takes near perfect conditions to bring this about, thus “exploding water” is not something the average hot beverage drinker who would otherwise now be eyeing his microwave with trepidation need fear. Odds are, you’ll go through life without ever viewing this phenomenon first-hand, and if you’re one of the rare few who does get to see it, you will likely not be harmed by the experience (that would take your standing right over the cup at the instant it happened, and the liquid’s bolting up and hitting your skin).
Nuff said.

There is hardly ever a need to pay full price for kids clothes — even the super nice wear-to-a-wedding ones. Kids grow so fast that their clothes are usually “used” before they are barely worn. So, today we’ll cover 5 ways we dress our kids for a fraction of the full price tag. Continue reading…
Shopping online this holiday season? Be sure to stop by RetailMeNot for coupon codes. The best site of its kind IMHO.
I was going to write a post on how to survive working at home, then somebody did it for me. Kudos to “A List Apart”. Good stuff y’all.
Like most homeschooling families, the walls of our house are lined with books. We turn to them for ideas, answers, solutions, inspiration, entertainment, and reassurance. During this brand new school year, here are a few we recommend.
NOTE: Although this list emphasizes homeschooling, (since that’s what we do) it’s not limited to information only useful to homeschoolers. Regardless of the form of “school” you’re using, your kids are learning all the time — and so are you.
Continue reading…
Heads up travel freaks. Fodor’s has added six new guide books to their lineup.
Of course, we’re most excited about the new Buenos Aires
guide. It includes side trips to Gaucho Country, Iguazu Falls and Uruguay.
Three additional books for Spanish speaking destinations are Panama,
Puerto Rico
and Los Cabos & the Baja Peninsula.
New for North America is Vancouver & Victoria,
which also includes Vancouver Island, the Okanagan Valley and the ski destination of Whistler. Also a big honkin’ guide about Texas
is now out. It hits all the major cities as well as the Hill Country.
Interested in the Carribean? Check out the new Aruba
book. Happy Travels!

We consider ourselves pretty savvy, but this week we fell prey to one of the most sinister perils of traveling with children…Grandparents.
These slow moving creatures wield unorthodox weapons such as Ice Cream and the constant use of the word “Yes”.
An example of this horror came during our current visit to San Diego. I found our 2 year old standing in her Grandmother’s family room, face buried in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. No spoon, no napkin, just a tongue and sheer bliss.
When questioned, Grandma’s defiant response was “I asked her if she wanted a spoon and she said no”.
What’s your Grandparent horror story, and more importantly, how did you get even?