Updated: I forgot to ask my most urgent question. See #8 and 9.

I need advice. Can you help me with any of these?

1. Apparently, my dog barks when we’re away from the house. She knows how to unlock the back door and get out in the yard, so the barking is a nuisance. What can we do to get her to stop?

2. I just finished a two-week detox diet, where I could eat only rice (and some other grains), vegetables, fruit, beans, some nuts, soy sauce, green tea…and a few other things. I feel great but don’t know where to go from here. I’m considering trying to go 80% vegan, but what do I cook for my family. Do you know any vegan cookbooks that have recipe my kids will like? (They like beans and rice.) Or do you have any suggestions on diets that will keep me feeling clean and energetic and are family friendly?

3. Yoga. My back bend. I can get up into an arch with my head on the ground but I can’t push up yet. I don’t have the arm strength. Is it really a strength issue, or am I doing something wrong? If it’s arm strength, will that just come in time? Also, what’s a good morning wake up routine (about 5 minutes).

4. Curious George. Is this a movie I can take a two year old to? Rachel would also like to know if the movie follows the book. She says Curious George doesn’t talk in the book and she wanted to know if he talks in the movie. She likes it when movies follow closely to the book. In theory, anyway.

5. Letting Go. My two year old is showing every sign of being ready for potty training. She has a dry diaper most of the time and doesn’t pee until she’s sleeping. She tells me when she’s going to poop and then does it in private. She’s getting bad diaper rashes. And yet, she can’t let go and put it in the pot. She’s scared of letting go. While my oldest was not potty trained either at 27 months, she did know how to let go. So….how do I get her to relax and get the flow going?

6. A good bra. Need advice. Enough said.

7. What music should I put on now while I do my deskwork?

8. Crafts. I am doing the Valentine’s Day crafts in Rachel’s class next week. Help! I need two or more ideas.

9. What are the advantages/disadvantages of having your own domain. How much does it cost.

10. Should I switch back to blogger comments. Haloscan makes mine disappear after a month or two. I’ve lost a lot of good advice this way.

There’s more, but I can’t remember. Another day.

Thanks!

By the way, I promised you this photo. I haven’t quite found zen yet, but we’re getting there.

My husband made that little reading desk for me out of cherry wood many years ago. The photo was taken 20 minutes ago so you can see our weather is nice this morning.

If you look at number two of my New Year’s Resolutions in the photo, it is written in blue. That’s because when I was writing them down with Rachel next to me chattering in my ear about what I was doing, I actually forgot what my second resolution was. Not a good omen. I do have book club meeting at my house next week so that should get my butt in gear.