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Friday, July 22, 2011

Bonnet/apron

To celebrate Pioneer Day this up coming weekend I thought I would show you this bonnet/apron that I have had for a long time.

It has buttons on the waistband that connect to the middle of the apron; making it into a bonnet. I wish I could do a tutorial on it, but I didn't make it.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Clothing: spend or save

This is another article for my Building Zion workshop.

"Clothing- Save or Spend? - summarized from realsimple.com
You always want to be careful with how much you spend on clothing, but when you have some money to go shopping, it's important to think about what items may be worth investing in a higher quality than others. Better fit and craftsmanship and higher-quality materials cost a bit more, but you'll save in the long run, as you won't be spending twice as much buying new, cheaper clothes every year.
  • T-shirt - SAVE. Because they're worn close to your body and are washed more often, t-shirts don't get a very long life. Look for shirts that fit you well and that don't look too flimsy or clingy.
  • Jeans - SPEND. You can almost wear jeans any time, anywhere. It's a good idea to splurge on one or two good pairs of premium denim-it has a nice dark wash and with a good amount a stretch will fit better and be more comfortable than a cheaper pair.
  • Bra - SPEND. Bras can affect the look and comfort of your outfit more than any other item. Spend the time and money to make sure you have a good bra that fits you wonderfully.
  • Black pants - SPEND. Black pants are timeless, and a high-quality pair can last years, while a cheaper pair will start to show wear and tear much sooner.
  • Jacket - SPEND. One very good jacket makes a great throw-on to upgrade a basic outfit.
  • Trendy Items - SAVE. This includes anything with patterns or seasonal colors. Patterns and colors go in and out of style, and there's no reason to invest in clothing that will feel out-dated in a year.
  • Dress - Spend. Not a casual sundress, but a nice, basic go-to dress for any occasion. It's nice to have one light-colored and one dark, like black, deep brown or jewel-toned.
  • Evening dress - SAVE. Don't pay full price. you won't get much wear out of it.
  • Evening bag - SAVE. For something that will be seldom used, it's not worth splurging, even for a special night.
  • Raincoat - SAVE. Something utilitarian, basic and soundly-priced will be wonderful. Although it may be worth the money to go for a nice water-proof trench coat if your' living in a rainy climate. You'll look nice and it will never go out of fashion.
  • Winter coat - SPEND. Find a good fit made from high-quality fabric that will with stand heavy wear and won't wrinkle. To test for wrinkles, grab a handful of fabric and squeeze hard for 20 sec. If it stays crumpled, that's an indicator of what is to come."

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Bridal shower theme ideas

Hurray it is planning time. My sister-in-law is engaged! So my other sister-in-law and I get to plan a bridal shower. I thought as we planned I would blog about it and show you the process we take and the ideas we have. So join us as we plan!

First, we need to pick a theme.
I like to let the bride choose the theme. This way she will enjoy her party. And perhaps the gifts will be some things she is in need of and wants.

Here is a list of some theme ideas. Feel free to leave a comment if you have another theme to add to the list.

Alphabet: inspired by bride-to-be's name
Around the clock: each guest is assigned a time of the day
Beauty: spa, salon
Candy
Cooking
Favorite color
Favorite memories
Garden
Holiday
Honeymoon
Jack and Jill: for men and women
Library: have guest bring a book or something to decorate the library
Lingerie
Linens shower
Month of the year: each guest is assigned a month
Outdoors
Room of the house: each guest is assigned a room
Slumber party
Sports
Stock the pantry
Tea party
Travel

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Ice cream sculpting

I think this is the best date idea yet!

You will need:
vanilla ice cream
gloves
assorted candies (for decorating)
knife and spoon
baking sheet
bowl

Put on gloves (you will be eating this later). Place the ice cream on the baking sheet. Using the knife and spoon make your creation. Add candies to decorate! You have 10 minutes.

Afterwards take a picture and then dish a portion of the ice cream into a bowl and enjoy!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Additional items for emergency kits

In yesterdays Relief Society handout it had an overview of Kathi Oram Peterson's article "Additional items to consider for emergency kits" from the Deseret News. I found it helpful and would like to share it with you.

To read the entire article click here.

The overview statement said
"1. Printed emergency plan. Print copies of an emergency plan and give them to your family member.s The plan should show meeting points, locations of emergency centers, evacuations routes and the phone number of someone who lives out of the state that they can call. During a disaster you may not always be able to call with in the city, but out of stat can be possible.

"2. First aid kit. You need the regular essentials but also medications that your family needs on a regular basis. You will need to be diligent to rotate some medications.

"3. Survival books. Survival books give detailed information that explain such things as what to do if an electrical line is down, or how long water must boil before it is safe to drink.

"4. Money. Cash in large and small bills, plus change, will be in high demand. Vending machines are easier to use with exact change.

"5. Duct tape. This all-purpose tape can come in handy to many ways: taping broken windows, repairing torn material, keeping a broken arm/leg taped to a board, etc.

"6. Photos and family history. Have those priceless books plainly marked (like a red x) and in one place ready to grab. If your information is stored on a computer, download a copy to a thumb drive or external hard drive. Keep it updated and in your kit."


To see my First Aid Kit blog post click here
To see my Food Storage blog post click here
To see my 72 Hour Kits blog post click here

Friday, July 15, 2011

Juke Box Tutorial

Today we will be making a 50's party decoration: the Juke Box!
To see my 50's birthday party click here.

You will need:
Card board box
Paint
Black marker
Scissors
Gold stickers
Colored gems





Don't forget to add some "money"!

What do you think?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

My new store!


Well, my sister was going to be my guest blogger today. But she is in Utah on Trek with her stake. I am jealous. I never got to go on trek when I was in young womens. So I hope she has a great experience. Hopefully she will be able to be my guest blogger next week.


I started a store on Teachers Pay Teachers. You should go check it out. It isn't anything fancy...I don't want to break copyrights so I am just playing around with designing my own pictures/stuff. If you like what you see let me know and I might just be willing to give it a way for FREE! Yup that is what I said...FREE. So let your other teacher friends and mommas know about it.

Click the HERE to visit my site!

Here is a sample of my Shape Dominoes: perfect for math centers or to use at home.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Cards

My sweet husband and his family surprised me for my birthday this year and got me a Silhouette! I was and still am super excited! I have loved playing around with it. It is amazing! And of course I had to make everyone thank you cards with my new toy. So here they are. Tell me what you think.

My favorite: the frog
A popsicle
An ice cream cone
Tied with tulle
My other favorite: bubbles! This one was for my nieces 3rd birthday.
A flower

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Small town dinner

The date night idea this week is...eating dinner in a small town restaurant. Drive to a small town about an hour away. Enjoy some alone time with your sweetheart. Remember to leave topics of work and the children at home.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Food Storage

Building our food storage is also another great and important way that we can prepare ourselves and our family for natural disasters, loosing a job or the unthinkable. Every family should build a one year supply of food storage. You don't need to go buy it all at once. Start off by buying a few extra cans/items when you are at the store to build up a 3 month supply.

According to the LDS food storage calculator you will need the minimum for an adult 7+ years/one child 0-6 years for a one year. To see LDS food storage calculator go here.

GRAINS: 300 lbs/148 lbs
Wheat: 150 lbs/75 lbs
Flour: 25 lbs/12 lbs
Corn meal: 25 lbs/12 lbs
Oats: 25 lbs/12 lbs
Rice: 50 lbs/25 lbs
Pasta: 25 lbs/12 lbs
Spaghetti
Fettuccine
Lasagna
Penne
Rigatoni
Dried corn
Pearled barley
Others (cereal grain)

LEGUMES: 60 lbs/24 lbs
Dry beans: 30 lbs/15 lbs
Soy: 10 lbs/5 lbs
Pinto
White
Kidney
Lima: 5 lbs/1 lbs
Winged
Red
Navy
Pink
Blackeyed
Split pea: 5 lbs/1 lbs
Lentils: 5 lbs/1 lbs
Peanuts
Dry soup mix: 5 lbs/ 1 lb

MILK: 75 lbs/ 37 lbs
Dry milk: Nonfat powdered milk (instant or regular): 60 lbs/30 lbs
Evaporated milk: 12 cans/6 cans
Other: 13 lbs/6 lbs

FAT & OILS: 13 lbs/ 7 lbs
Shortening: 4 lbs/2 lbs
Cooking (vegetable) oil: 2 gals/1 gal
Margarine
Mayonnaise: 2 qts/1 qt
Salad dressing: 1 qt/1 qt
Peanut butter: 4 lbs/2 lbs

SUGARS: 60 lbs/ 29 lbs
White sugar: 40 lbs/20 lb
Brown sugar: 3 lbs/1 lb
Honey: 3 lbs/1 lb
Molasses: 1 lb/1 lb
Corn syrup: 3 lbs/1 lb
Jam: 3 lbs/1 lb
Fruit drink powder: 6 lbs/3 lbs
Flavored gelatin: 1 lb/1 lb

COOKING ESSENTIALS:
Baking powder: 1 lb/1 lb
Baking soda: 1 lb/1 lb
Iodized salt: 5 lbs/3 lbs
Seasonings & spices
Vinegar: 0.5 gal/0.5 gal
Yeast: 0.5 lb/0.5 lb

WATER:
Water (drinking): 14 gal/14 gal
Bleach: 1 gal/1 gal

EXTRAS:
Canned food: fruits, vegetables, meat, soups, beans, chili, etc.
Condiments: ketchup, mustard, syrup, etc.
Dehydrated food: fruit, fruit leather, spices, jerky, etc.
Packages of gravy mix, taco seasoning, fajita seasonings, etc.

COOKING EQUIPMENT:
Blender (electric and hand)
Camp/backpacking stove with fuel
Charcoal
Cooking utensils: can opener, spoons, spatulas, etc.
Dutch oven
Eating utensils, plates, bowls, cups (paper)
Wheat grinder (electric and hand)


NON-FOOD ITEMS:
Aluminum foil
Bathing water
Bathing soap/body wash
Batteries (variety)
Blankets & space blankets
Candles
Cash
Cell phone with charger
Clothes washer (hand operated)
Clothing (complete outfit)
Cotton balls and Q-tips
Deodorant
Dish soap
Face wash
Facial tissue
Fire extinguisher
Female hygiene products
First aid kit: see my blog post here
Flashlights with batteries
Fuel (gasoline, propane, etc.)
Hand soap
Garbage bags and ties
Garden seeds & tools
Hair gel and spray
Infant supplies (diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, formula, jar food, blankets, clothes, etc.)
Important documents
Lanterns with supplies
Laundry detergent
Local maps
Lotion
Matches (waterproof)
Medical masks
Medicine: over the counter and prescription
Paper towels
Plastic containers
Plastic wrap
Ponchos
Portable toilet
Radio with batteries
Razors & shaving cream
Shampoo & conditioner
Sleeping bags
Space heater
Tent
Toilet paper
Tools: hammer, wrench, pliers, etc.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste & floss
Vitamins
Washing water
Water purifier
Whistles
Ziploc bags (variety)


STRESS RELIEVERS:
Board games and cards
Books
Bubble bath
Candy & gum
Coloring books & crayons
Pencil & paper
Puzzles



Are you feeling overwhelmed about now. It is okay. Take a deep breath and say "one item at a time". Starting is better than procrastinating...you will at least have something!


Make a inventory of all the storage you have. This way you will know what you have, where it is, if you need more, how long you have had it. You can make them as detailed as you want. These pictures are just a basic list. Click on the pictures below to for a larger view.





You might be interested in these sites:

Friday, July 8, 2011

First Aid Kits

Another great way to be prepared is to prepare a first aid kit. These are great to have on road trips, camping/backpacking trips, in our 72 hour kits, in the trunk of the car, in the house, etc.

BANDAGING:
*Sterile dressings to stop bleeding
*2 absorbent cloth dressings (5x9 inches)
*5 sterile gauze pads (3x3 inches)
*5 sterile gauze pads (4x4 inches)
*2 triangle bandages
*Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes (25+)
*1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
*1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
*Moleskin
1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)

MEDICATION:
*Over-the-counter medicines: Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen, aspirin (2) or other pain relievers; laxative; anti-diarrhea medication; Benadryl for allergic reactions
*Prescription medication: diabetic insulin and supplies; heart medication; asthma inhaler; antacid

TOOLS:
*2 pairs of disposable gloves
*Scissors
*1 breathing barrier (if you have children or an infant consider getting ones to fit them as well)
*Oral thermometer
*Tweezers
*Cotton tip swabs and cotton balls
*1 space blanket
*1 instant cold compress
*First aid instruction booklet

DISINFECTANT/OINTMENT:
*Cleansing agent/soap or antibiotic towelettes with disinfectant (5+ packets)
*Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection (5+ packets)
*2 hydrcortisone ointment packets
*Anti-inch medication: hydrocortisone cream
*Burn ointment and aloe vera gel
*Eye wash solution to flush the eyes

EXTRAS:
*Prepaid cell phone
*Radio with extra batteries
*Pocket knife
*Ready to eat food like granola bars
*Water purification kit
*GPS


Sources:

72 hour kits

Having a 72 hour kit on hand for every member of your family is a great way to be prepared. You never know when and where a natural disaster will happen, your house will catch on fire, you will lose your job, etc. So lets spend a Monday evening helping our family learn about preparedness and starting our 72 hour kits.

My family used old school backpacks to store our kits in. Each member of the family had one. This way if we ever got separated everyone will have what they needed. You can pack in a duffel bag, luggage bag, plastic containers, etc., whatever works best for you and your family. It just needs to be portable.

Here is a list of items you may need/want in your 72 hour kits. Remember you want to pack as light as you possibly can; you may be caring your kit for a long way. Pack smart and with the essentials. The adults and older children can carry more and may need to take some of the elderly or children's gear.

Checklist:
Bedding & clothing:
*Change of clothes: long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt, pants, socks, underwear, hat, jacket, gloves, sturdy shoes, etc. (one complete outfit)
*Rain poncho or jacket
*Blankets
*Emergency heat blankets
*Cloth sheet
*Plastic sheet/tent
*Sleeping bag/wool blanket
*Hand and body heating packs

Fuel & lighting:
*Flashlights with batteries
*Lanterns with batteries
*Extra batteries
*Flares
*Candles
*Water proof matches

Equipment:
*Shovel
*Radio with batteries
*Pocket knife
*Pen and paper
*Axe
*Rope
*Duct tape
*Sewing kit
*Whistle
*Toilet paper
*Toothbrush & paste
*Hand sanitizer
*Hair brush or comb
*Razor
*Soap
*Sunscreen
*Insect repellent
*Local map
*GPS

Personal documents & money:
*Scriptures
*Patriarchal blessing
*Legal documents: (birth/marriage certificates, passport, wills, bank info, etc.)
*Vaccination records
*Insurance policies
*Cash in small bills (at least $20), include quarters for phone calls
*Credit cards
*Pre-pay phone cards

Food & Water:
*Enough water for 3 days per person (1 gallon or as much as they can carry)
*Water purification method
*Can opener
*Eating utensils
*Light weight stove and fuel

Some menu ideas:
Breakfast:
cereal with powdered milk
cup of fruit
fruit roll
granola bar
instant oatmeal

juice box or canned juice
hot chocolate mix

Lunch:
applesauce cup
beef jerky
cheese & crackers
cup of soup & saltine crackers
fruit cup
fruit snack
granola bar
nuts/sunflower seeds
pudding cup
trail mix

juice box or canned juice

Dinner:
applesauce cup
canned tuna, beans, turkey, Vienna sausages, sardines, etc.
chili
fruit cup
fruit snacks
granola bar
jerky
nuts/sunflower seeds
pudding cup
stew/soup & saltine crackers

juice box or canned juice

Snacks:
applesauce cup
candy/gum
cheese and crackers
fruit cup
granola bars
nuts/sunflower seeds
pudding cup


Remember to plan for 3 days (9 meals total). Think of non perishable, quick and easy items. Will you need extra water? A can opener? Try MRE kits.

Tips:
*UPDATE every 6 months! Make sure that all the food, water, medication, credit cards have not expired. Make sure all clothing still fits.
*Don't forget your stress relievers. Candy, toys, security blanket or item, etc.
*Use Ziploc bags to help contain items that may break or spill.
*If you have an infant pack necessary items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, pacifier, etc.

Sources:

Thursday, July 7, 2011

FREE classroom birthday pack!


Peace, Love and Learning is giving a FREE birthday classroom pack! Head on over to check it out!

Hair care tips

Here are some great hair care tips from my Building Zion meeting.

"To moisturize dry hair, saturate in virgin olive oil. Wrap with a warm towel and leave in for 20 minutes.

For hair with static electricity, rub a dryer sheet in it. It smells great too.

When you don't have time to shower and you have oily hair, try patting baby powder on your roots.

To add shine to your hair, rinse your shampoo out with cold water.

For smooth, soft and shiny hair, condition with white vinegar."


To see my post on make-up basics click here.
To see my post on skin care tips click here.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Cream cheese wonton tutorial

Today we will be making fried cream cheese wontons! They are so quick, easy & yummy!


You will need:
wonton skins (I found mine in the produce section of the grocery store)
cream cheese (my husband and I use about a 1/4 a package or less)
add in (we did green onions, but you can do crab as well)

1. In a small bowl mix cream cheese and diced green onions
2. Add about a tsp of the cream cheese mixture to the center of wonton skin
3. With water moisten the edges of the wonton skin
4. Fold the wonton into a triangle by pressing edges together
5. Add wontons to oil (tip: oil is ready when it starts to swirl)
6. Cook until lightly browned on both sides

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Rock climbing

I love summer time! There are so many things to do outside.
Today's date idea is rock climbing! You can rock climb outside or at a climbing gym. Make sure you know what you are doing...to prevent serious injury. You can be certified at a gym.
How is your date night jar coming along? Are you filling it with lots of ideas?

Friday, July 1, 2011

4th of July activities

Are you needing to entertain children and guests during the 4th of July? Here are some activities for your family and friends.

Capture the flag
Croquet
Baseball
Basketball
Bike ride
Bob for apples
Bocce ball
Bowling (use liter soda bottle for pins & play outside)
Build a fort using sheets & other materials outside
Donut eating contest (hang them from a string...no hands)
Egg toss contest
Feed the ducks
Fireworks: your own or the cities
Fishing
Flag football
Fly kites
Four-square
Frisbee
Frisbee golf
Go for a walk
Go miniature golfing
Go rollerblading
Go swimming
Go to a park
Have a BBQ: see my BBQ ideas here
Have a picnic
Hide-and-seek
Hike
Hopscotch
Kickball
Limbo
Night games: No bears are out tonight
Pie contest: who makes the best one?
Potato sack race
Shuffle board or make your own (a smaller version) called kick the disk
Soccer
Street hockey
Relay race
Tackle football
Tag: freeze, tv, shadow, etc.
Three legged race
Volleyball
Watch a parade
Water balloon volleyball
Water baseball
Water fight

Even more outdoor activities here

BBQ menu ideas

July is here! Can you believe it; the year is just zooming by.

Let's get our wheels turning and plan a great 4th of July BBQ. Remember you don't have to make all of these but this will help you gather your perfect BBQ ingredients!

For beverages you will need:
Lemonade
Ice water
Juice
Punch
Soda
Patriotic drink: cranberry juice, blue Gatorade, 7-up, ice cubes

For the appetizers you will need:
Chips & dip (or 7 layer dip)
Crackers & cheese (or a cheese ball)
Shrimp & cocktail sauce
Meatballs
Chicken wings
Veggie plate: carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, pickles, olives (black & green), dip, etc.
Fruit plate: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.

For the main course you will need:
Hamburgers & buns
Hot dogs & buns
Bratwurst
Grilled bbq chicken
Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, salt, pepper, ranch, etc.
Toppings: cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, onions (raw & grilled), sauteed mushrooms, etc.

For the side dishes you will need:
Potato salad
Green salad
Pasta salad
Fruit salad
Jello salad
Deviled eggs
Baked beans
Watermelon
Coleslaw
Corn on the cob
Green beans (or casserole)
Funeral potatoes
Grilled zucchini
Baked potatoes & toppings
Sweet potatoes & toppings
Potato wedges
Grilled pineapple

For dessert you will need:
Cobbler: apple, cherry, peach, etc.
Cake or cupcakes
Pie: berry, pumpkin, key lime, lemon meringue
Cookies: peanut butter, snicker doodle, sugar, chocolate chip
Brownies (or mint)
Ice cream
Popsicles

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