?

She loves Rick Riordan's books, Hunger Games, City of Glass, and Legacy of Tril:Soulbroken. She prefers that books have more adventure than romance although romance is okay if that's not the whole plot. She really likes a strong heroine. She thinks Harry Potter books are too slow and boring. She isn't really into the Twilight Saga either. I am supposed to be getting a list from her as books are the main thing on her Christmas lift but thought I would ask here as well.

Okay this is kind of an odd question. My daughter is planning a Hunger Games themed birthday party. She would like me to try a recipe we found on the internet for "Katniss's lamb stew." I don't think many of her friends (aged 12-14) would try it. What do you think?`

It's a 14th birthday and the guests would all be 7th or 8th grade girls (7-10 total). It would probably be a sleepover. Obviously, they would watch the movie. And we would have some themed food. Any ideas would be appreciated.

There is some in my freezer that I need to use fairly soon and I really don't have any good ideas on what to do with it. Suggestions and recipes are appreciated.

I don't want to do sandwiches and potato chips every night but it's hard to find any ambition in this heat.

My little guy is 8 1/2 months. We have been doing very well with breastfeeding. Suddenly, he is so interested in life that he won't nurse unless he is mostly asleep. I am becoming very engorged and uncomfortable and also tired becasue he isn't nursing well during the day and then wants to make up for it during the night. Does anyone have any practical tips that may be helpful? Please don't suggest weaning or switching over to formula because I would not consider doing so until sometime after his first birthday.

My little guy is 7 1/2 months old and got his first tooth yesterday. The idea of breastfeeding and teeth sounded incredibly painful in my mind but so far hasn't been that big of an issue. Was it a big issue for you?

My little guy was 19 1/2 pounds and 27 inches at 4 months and is continuing to grow fast. He isn't quite 5 months old and is wearing 12 months clothes. He is nearly but not quite exclusively breast fed. He is healthy, just very large. Everywhere I go I get comments on how big he is. Most are nice but some not so much. If you also have a really big baby, please tell me about your little one so I know we're not alone.

Our daughter got her first cell phone today. We were planning to wait a little longer so we don't have the rules well-defined. Here's what we have so far:

1. No texting after 9:00 on school nights.

2. No texting after 11:00 on weekend nights.

3. The phone doesn't go to school with you.

4. No picture messaging.

5. If you lose it or break it, you have to buy its replacement.

6. Use home phone if you want to have long chats (We have a limited number of minutes but unlimited texting.)

7. You can private message your number to people on Facebook but don't put it on a wall posting.

What are we missing? She's our oldest so this is our first time dealing with this one. Any input will be appreciated.

How many portions of sweet potatoes should a make? I am a SAHM for now but will be going back to work as soon as I find the right job. I am trying to get things done ahead a bit. Today I cooked and mashed up one sweet potato from my uncle's garden. It made 25 ice cube sized portions. I have another sweet potato but wasn't sure I'd want more than 25 portions of one item before my little guy is on more table foods. I was also thinking of maybe doing a combination sweet potato & apple puree with the other. Any advice would be appreciated.