<p>I have enjoyed the pictures on flickers, beautiful accomplished kids all !</p>
<p>Has anyone tried Tide Pods? They look very enticing in terms of reducing mess and weight of detergent. Also, StO has eco machines that have special instructions not to bubble over - has anyone used Pods in a frontloading eco machine?</p>
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<p>Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner here! A child who cooks! A male child who cooks! What is he making you for Mother’s Day, Saintfan? And how will he expand on his passion for cooking and eating for his college app?</p>
<p>My boys make an amazing apple pie:)</p>
<p>mimk6 - a male child who cooks AND dances! some catch!</p>
<p>No joke . . . he got home from crew last night and said, “I just love it when L picks us up (carpool partner mom rather than usual dad) because she always talks about the best food!” </p>
<p>For mother’s day he will likely make fried eggs on toast as we share an affinity for yolks done just so where they’re sealed on the outside, but still slightly runny in the middle so they can be mopped up by the toast.</p>
<p>If I buy potatoes and green onions I’m sure I will score some fried potatoes as well (with bacon and cheese and a little rosemary from the yard).</p>
<p>DS now has three AP’s done, three to go. He already seems to be in “I’m finished” mode, otherwise known as senioritis. </p>
<p>I love the laundry backpack that was linked to. I will go to Walmart and pick one up.</p>
<p>Okay, who’s totally on top of the whole Stafford student loan process? Cuz I’m not yet! At least with some of the fuzzy mechanics of it all anyway. </p>
<p>From online: How a loan is disbursed (paid out)
[Direct</a> Loans—Parent PLUS Information](<a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/parent.html]Direct”>http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/parent.html)</p>
<p>“Using the loan for education expenses: You may use the loan money you receive only to pay for your child’s education expenses at the school that is giving you the loan. Education expenses include school charges such as tuition, room and board, fees, and indirect expenses such as books, supplies, equipment, dependent child care expenses, transportation, and rental or purchase of a personal computer.”</p>
<p>Okay, so I’m not sure yet if D will need to take an unsub Stafford loan every year but it might happen. If she needs it, I understand it will take a bit of time before it becomes available in her school account. (several weeks, right?) If she doesn’t think she needs it in the beginning of the year but then something comes up where we realize she really should apply for it, that can be done at any time during the academic year, right? (But would still take awhile to arrive in her account so it’s not really a quickie help) </p>
<p>If she does ask for it but then it seems like she maybe doesn’t really need it after all that year, I’ve seen mention of somehow giving it back or declining it, etc. but I don’t quite understand how that process works yet. And does however that works also work the exact same way with the subsidized Stafford? (seems like it would!) </p>
<p>There’s also mention of having an excess in loan $$ in your account beyond what your COA expenses are and that any extra can be sent to you in a check or somehow applied to future expenses? Can anyone explain more about this if they’ve had it happen? Is it better to have it sit there in the account and applied to future COA or accept the check (if the college does it that way) and then what should you do with that check? Use it to pay toward any unsub loans you may already have??? </p>
<p>Okay, so what if your kid DOES end up with ‘extra’ money in their account after all of their required expenses are covered. Believe it or not, with my kid’s very generous FA package, this might happen. That’s their money to use to spend on anything on the list above? (like transportation, laptop, fees, books, etc) Do they have easy access to that (similar to a bank account) and just need to save receipts and statements or is it handled some other way? I know the college is warning students they should bring $500 in the fall to cover the gap on any expenses before their FA kicks in.</p>
<p>Sorry for stupid questions. I did the trailing spouse thing across the country a few times way back when and couldn’t stay in one place to finish either college I attended. I worked and basically did ‘pay as you go’ and didn’t deal with the FA office at all. I guess I’m trying to figure out where I may need to step in with any $$ help for my student along the way.</p>
<p>Just got back from an overnight - I brought my m-i-l to visit daughter at college for the first time. She’s 87 and did pretty well walking around campus and through town, I’m sure she’s sleeping already!</p>
<p>Re laundry baskets - we found a nice one with two wheels and a hidden handle that my daughter loves. They fill them to overflow and then put in the detergent and this way she just wheels it all to the laundry room. I think we got it at The Container Store.</p>
<p>I’ll share my thoughts on bed toppers tomorrow, too tired tonight!</p>
<p>Oh yeah, forgot to add. It’s possible my D will also have a bit of outside scholarship money. That all gets directed to the same account as the loan monies??? So it’s handled in the same way as loans monies except for the part about declining it? (because believe me, she won’t decline scholarship money!) And you can also decline part of a loan amount, right? Is that a common thing to do? Ok, I think I’m done for now.</p>
<p>I am saving the remaining FA stuff until after sports are done, so haven’t waded into loan paperwork. D has forms to fill out and isn’t in the frame of mind yet. </p>
<p>Thumbs up on HL physics papers 1 and 2 today. She strongly dislikes this year’s physics teacher and thought that they might be ill prepared, but reported that it was “ridiculously easy” and not nearly as hard as all the practice stuff that they’d done. Good news. Physics Paper 3 and History Papers 1 & 2 tomorrow. I think she is settling in now that things are going smoothly.</p>
<p>AP English Lit. in the bag, AP Euro in the am :)</p>
<p>Forge ahead, Wackaloon Chicks! :)</p>
<p>. . . soon to be fledgelings :(</p>
<p>I am happy to share recipes (I have lots!) I’m sure scones can be made without the food processor…just a little more kneading is all…</p>
<p>We had a mandatory parent prom meeting tonight. The focus was on alcohol/drug awareness/safety. Very sobering (pun intended.) They plan to stage a mock accident at the school the day before. Hopefully, the message gets through.</p>
<p>I’m loving the Flickr photos, too. Such sweet, talented, promising young adults we have.</p>
<p>Glido: I’m pretty sure AP Euro is in the afternoon tomorrow. APUSH is in the AM. They probably figure that very few kids would be taking both so they scheduled them that way. It’s my dd’s first ever AP exam and she’s pretty nervous about it.</p>
<p>Love the recipe for scones! I will be trying that out this weekend. Also loved the link to the grad cap candies. I’m making them for a party we’ll be attending after graduation. Can’t remember who posted it, but thanks!</p>
<p>Laxbro/laxsis: Here the girls call themselves “laxbras” which makes me feel a little bit “icky”.</p>
<p>Our high school was ranked in the top fifteen in the state by USNWR. It’s kind of a big deal here because we have three high schools in town, none have ever been ranked and people like to say that one of the other schools is “better.” Of course, better is subjective and USNWR rankings probably don’t really mean much, but the school will get some good mileage out of it.</p>
<p>Love the pictures on Flickr! What an accomplished, distinguished, obviously intelligent and good looking group of kids! They clearly all take after their parents! I will list myself in the intelligent category because I figured out how to post some pictures.</p>
<p>What, grad cap candy??? How did I miss that!</p>
<p>My D2012 came home from double-header APs today, and the only thing she has told me is that she talked a friend out of canceling her APLit exam. I guess I’ll take that as good news. 
</p>
<p>Two down (Lit, Latin), and two to go (Phys, Stat). But APLit is the only one that might allow her to skip out of a college class.</p>
<p>These are all fairly similar but use some different candy squares for the mortarboard: [Graduation</a> Caps Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes](<a href=“http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Graduation-Caps]Graduation”>Graduation Caps Recipe: How to Make It)<br>
[Candy</a> Craft Directions to Make Graduation Caps | eHow.com](<a href=“http://www.ehow.com/how_6022948_candy-directions-make-graduation-caps.html]Candy”>http://www.ehow.com/how_6022948_candy-directions-make-graduation-caps.html)
[Candy</a> Cup Caps bakerella.com](<a href=“http://www.bakerella.com/candy-cup-caps]Candy”>Candy Cup Caps - Bakerella) </p>
<p>How to make mini grad caps out of fondant
<a href=“http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2011/05/graduation-cupcakes-and-how-to-[/url]”>http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2011/05/graduation-cupcakes-and-how-to-</a>
make.html</p>
<p>Here are some grad candies you can order instead of make. Maybe you can think of a good way to turn some Smarties into ribboned diplomas?
<a href=“http://www.candywarehouse.com/occasions/graduation-candy/products/graduation-mortar-board-caps-2012-lollipops-12-piece-box[/url]”>www.candywarehouse.com/occasions/graduation-candy/products/graduation-mortar-board-caps-2012-lollipops-12-piece-box</a></p>
<p>One idea of what to do with that graduation cap once the ceremony is over:
[Graduation</a> Cap Clock @Craftzine.com blog](<a href=“http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/06/graduation_cap_clock.html]Graduation”>http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/06/graduation_cap_clock.html) </p>
<p>Graduation Cap with Flashing LED Lights
[Graduation</a> Cap with Flashing LED Lights @Craftzine.com blog](<a href=“http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/05/graduation_cap_with_flashing_l.html]Graduation”>http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/05/graduation_cap_with_flashing_l.html)</p>
<p>I looked at the USNWR rankings. Our HS is not ranked, and I’m guessing a 5.6 college readiness index is not very good. </p>
<p>Working on the graduation party, which is a week from tomorrow! S left this afternoon for the state tennis meet. The top single & doubles players qualified, but the coach, who is retiring, is taking the other varsity seniors along. Coach said they were all supportive of each other and were a real team. S is happy to miss school tomorrow. He won’t return until Saturday.</p>
<p>I had to smile at his logic - their usual meal allowance is $3.50, so he asked for some money to supplement. I had two $20’s in my purse and he took both of them. Then later the coach sent an email that they got additional funds so no supplemental $ was needed. So I texted S he owed me my money back. He texted back that now he can get me a Mother’s Day gift with his new-found wealth! He said it was a win-win situation! Hmmm . . . Why do I feel swindled?</p>
<p>^College-query, at least you will get a present :)</p>
<p>DD decided to bail out of the Euro AP today. Turns out it is 4 hours instead of 3 and would mean being late for her call at the theater. In the end it is not that useful of a credit for her in college - so whatever. She is not a breakfast food person so her breakfast of champions is usually leftovers from the night before. I think it was chicken pesto before the calc AP.</p>
<p>Last weekend of her show and my house will be the B&B for stray cast members and DD’s BS friends this weekend. Better head to the store for late night snack supplies!</p>
<p>No graduation robes or caps at DD’s school. Girls wear white dresses and carry yellow roses. Boys wear the school tie. So at least that is one less thing to do this month!</p>
<p>Woody - </p>
<p>Yes, you can apply after the beginning of the year if you think you need it.</p>
<p>“I’ve changed my mind! Can I cancel the loan, even after I’ve signed the promissory note?
It’s possible to cancel the loan if you meet certain conditions.
Your school must notify you in writing whenever it credits your account with your Stafford Loan funds. This notification must be sent to you within 30 days of the date the school credits your account.
You may cancel all or a portion of your loan if you inform your school within 14 days after the date your school sends you this notice, or by the first day of the payment period, whichever is later. (Your school can tell you the first day of your payment period.) If you receive Stafford Loan funds directly by check, you may refuse the funds by returning the check.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should aim for “extra” money. You should really figure out if your kid is going to need the money. The COA of a school usually has a lot of fluff built in. There is no need to borrow money just to meet the COA. Figure out what is going to be billed and what is going to be needed after grants and scholarships. Then decide if you need to take a loan.</p>
<p>Most schools will let your kid withdraw or get a check for any extra monies in the account after the semester charges are posted. I don’t think it’s like an ATM though. Say if there is an extra $500 after all the charges are posted in first semester, I would get a check for $450 sent to my kid and have my kid deposit that amount into their back account.</p>
<p>Remember the FA offices have dealt with all of this before. Call them – I’m sure they will be very helpful and informative. Colleges do things differently so it’s best to call and find out.</p>
<p>Bottom line – don’t borrow – especially UNSUB if you don’t have to.</p>