Decisions. Decisions. I hate making decisions!

Had a harder time getting started today. I feel like I'm coming down with something again, but it's par for the course. The girls started back to school on Monday, and it usually only takes a few days before one of us is sick with something. Hopefully, it's just a 24 hour stomach bug and nothing more.

I haven't found anything that indicates that melamine comes in clear for a color, so I'm assuming that the glasses are likely something with BPA in it, since they're not marked otherwise. I'm still not 100% in favor of melamine dishes, either, so I just don't know what I'm going to do. We'll keep our stoneware for now, but if we replace it, it will probably be with melamine. Ugh! I hate not having enough information to feel like I can make a decision!

I am still working on finding something safe for our middle daughter to use in the microwave. She loves to be independent and heat up burritos, and it's good for her to be able to do it. However, I'm getting rid of all my plastic microwave stuff, so I've got to figure out what she can use instead. She's using the stoneware for now. It doesn't get too hot for her to handle, but I'm not sure how long I'll have the stoneware, so...

I did think of another potential solution today. Silicone. You know, there are silicone baking mats, silicone bakeware and silicone spatulas. But how safe is it to use when heated? I know it's supposedly safe to 428 degrees, but will we find out years from now that it's no different than polycarbonate? Will we find out it leaches chemicals into food? I may come to a point where I feel reasonably safe with using it in the microwave, but I'm not there yet. Still, it would be ideal for her to use to heat up burritos where it doesn't hold the heat like other things.

I don't know. I had a wonderful chat with my cousin tonight. She used to sell Pampered Chef and is thinking of doing it again soon. I asked, if it was safe to use in the microwave. It is. And you know, I could teach our middle daughter to use pot holder gloves to take it out of the microwave, so she wouldn't get burned. Plus, stoneware isn't as slick and hard to hold onto as glass is, so she'd be less apt to drop it and have it break. Plus, if it did break, it would just break. It wouldn't shatter like glass.

You know? I really wish I was more comfortable with Corelle.

I did get more of the kitchen sorted today and tossed more plastic. The thing that is going to kill me to get rid of though...my water mug. It's one of those insulated mugs like you get when you're hospitalized. I have ice water in mine all day long and drink close to a gallon a day. I love water. Especially cold water. So I'm going to have to look for a PBA-free water mug.

Tried the caffeine pill this morning. I didn't get overly jittery, but I also didn't stay up. I was not feeling well, and I did go back to sleep for awhile after the girls went to school. I'm hoping that I'll have a better idea how it's going to work for me tomorrow. My breathing did seem better today, but I'm not sure why. It could just be that the weather was nice and the furnace didn't kick in as often.

I guess I'll know tomorrow. I can hear the storm blowing in now.

I need a kitchen aide. Anyone? Anyone?

I've been working in the kitchen trying to clean things out and purge things. I'm not exactly sure why I've been working in there. I've got plenty to do everywhere else, but I want to get things cleaned up in there and get the table cleaned off. I hate when the table is cluttered and we can't sit down to eat as a family.

Yesterday, I did clean out half of my mugs. I just realized that I didn't use the majority of them. We don't drink coffee. I drink hot chocolate or tea on occasion, but not often enough to keep the 8 extra mugs I decided the thrift store needs more than I do. I may still get rid of a couple more, but I just haven't decided yet. I'll think about that tomorrow, if I've made enough headway with the table.

I also threw a bunch of plastic dishes that had the recycle code 7 on them. They likely contain BPA, which can cause endocrine disruption. I also tossed the water bottles that we had left that were made of the plastic that has BPA in it. On one hand, it's made it much easier to decide which dishes to toss. On the other hand, it's frustrating, because we will need to replace these things. Finding replacements for the Tupperware that we used in the microwave will be the hardest part, although I do have a couple of broken pieces. I'll at least get a credit to buy something that doesn't have BPA in it. I can always use more storage.

I do have some plastic glasses that were bought new a few years ago, but they don't have any code on the bottom. I *thought* that all plastic had to have a recycle code of some sort on it, but apparently not. Unless there's such a thing as clear melamine. Anyone know? I'll be looking into it a bit before I toss them. They're a handy size for juice and for the girls to use.

I'm going to bed now. I'm hoping some sleep will take care of this headache and leave me refreshed for tomorrow.