Choosing good movies.

Have you ever gone to see a movie rated PG-13 that you thought should have been rated R? Or watched a movie with your kids that you didn't realize contained some bad language? By the time you've seen it, it's too late to do anything about it! I heard about a neat site that helps you to avoid those situations. It's called screenit.com, and it's a tool that everyone wanting to watch good movies should use!

The site watches all the latest movies, and old movies, and tells you exactly what they contain using several categories such as guns/weapons, violence, sex/nudity, and even frightening/tense scenes. They summarize with a section called 'Our word to parents' that sums up anything that might be of concern. You can quickly see what you will be getting when you choose to see that movie, or let your kids watch it. Amazing! So helpful!

Check out their website at screenit.com, and scroll to the bottom to be redirected to the free version of their site.

Hair Blog

Hey ladies. I have recently come across a fun hair blog. Nicole (Coco) posts great hair tips, posts pics of great hairstyles, how-to's, and such. Here's the link: http://www.hotcocohair.blogspot.com/

She just recently made a few posts directed at curly hair, I think I'm gonna try some of her techniques!

Free tacos!

Today Taco Bell is giving away free tacos from 2-5pm in your local time zone...so take yourself or the kids and have a mid-afternoon snack!

General Conference.

Well, General Conference has come and gone again, and it was amazing as always! I'm always so inspired by the talks and guidance given...it's nice that it happens every six months to keep us going. I'm also eager to get to know our newest apostle, Elder Cook, and to hear from Elder Eyring even more now that he is the new counselor.

I've been wanting to know what was everyone's favorite part of General Conference? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

For the non-scrapbookers out there!

Costco, that amazing store we all hold so dear, has a great thing going that I heard about from my sister. They will take the photos you develop through their photo center and publish them into a scrapbook for you! It really looks like a professional grade coffee table book, but with all your own photos and comments in it. They work with a company called mypublisher.com, but if you go through Costco.com (through the PHOTO link on their site), you get a big discount.

You can look at mypublisher.com to get an idea of what the books look like, the prices (which are pretty good, if you consider how much you might need to spend on scrapbooking supplies, etc.), and how easy it is for you to lay them out via computer. Then you just send it on over online, and they make it up for you. You just pick it up! Talk about a time saver! And a guilt saver for those of us who have been accumulating pictures in boxes some place, and not allowing them to be appreciated:)

paperbackswap.com

I recently heard about a neat website: paperbackswap.com. It is like an online book club where you can exchange your books with others. You start by registering and listing the books you have that you have already read and are willing to give away. Other members do the same. Then you can look at what others have listed and order a book that you would like...and it's yours to keep! When someone orders a book from you, you pay to ship the book (usually about $2.13) and then you get a credit to order a book from someone else. One book from you equals one book from someone else.

What a neat idea! It's great for those books you have read and realized that you are never going to read again, but don't want to throw out. It's probably also a good way to get those books you have always wanted for almost free. What will the Internet bring us next?!

Quick lunch for kids

Okay, MY kids never get tired of PB&J, but I have been trying to come up with a nice variety of lunches to be more balanced. My requirement is 10 min. or less prep time. Here is one that I thought was a stroke of genius:


PIZZA
1 toasted whole wheat english muffin
1 T. pre made spaghetti sauce
1 T. Whatever kind of cheese you have

put in microwave long enough to melt cheese and serve along with some fruit. Takes about 3-4 minutes total.

They love having their own little pizzas and it is healthy too. That's one point for mom!

Any other good lunch ideas?

Managing Family Finances

I love the church's website www.lds.org. They have a 5 part course under their Provident Living section for Managing Household Finances Wisely.

http://www.providentliving.org/media/training/peaceheart/main.html

It has clips from the prophet, interactive tools, budgeting ideas and counsel on how to live within your means. Doing one section per week for FHE will give you a month of practice on improving your household finances. Check it out!

Help! I have a toddler and I don't know what to do!

Calling everyone who plays with toddlers! I am looking for some fun games/activities that I can do with a toddler. I have the usual things of singing songs, reading books, and going for walks in my arsenal, but I need some more to burn off that youthful energy. Any suggestions are welcome, and we'll give them a whirl. Thanks!

Funny!!

Just a funny cartoon that I have had since before I had kids. I think it especially funny because I have seen and been on both sides of this. Kids can be so funny sometimes!! Click on it to make it bigger so you can read it! Enjoy!

Papa Murphy's Pizza!

Papa Murphy's is having a great deal on their large pepperoni pizza until Thursday of this week: only $3.99! This is an amazing deal, especially if you love their pizza as much as I do. I think this might be a deal in Utah only, but I am not sure. Enjoy!

lightplanet.com

I try to be really prepared in my YW calling, but some weeks are so busy, I'm caught on Wednesday afternoon wondering, what are we going to do? I found a website called www.lightplanet.com . They have information for lots of religions, and tons of activity ideas for YW. Check it out!

http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/ywc/index.htm

Brownie Tip

Brownies are my number one favorite thing to take to a ward activity. The boxes are cheap to buy, easy to make, and yummy to eat! Cutting them into squares can get mushy, esp if the brownies are still warm. I learned (from my sister Karen I think) that you can use a plastic knife and it cuts the brownies perfectly with no buildup between slices and no mess! Pretty amazing ;) Just use any plastic picnic ware, and the best thing, you just throw it away!

To Die For

Strawberry Pina Coladas (non-alcoholic of course)

1 can pineapple chunks
½ can cream of coconut
handful of frozen strawberries
handful of ice

Blend it all up.

Notes: It's best if the pineapple is cold. You can usually find cream of coconut at the grocery store near the alcoholic beverages & mixers. This has been a hit at social gatherings, and is so easy.

A MODEST magazine!

I just came across a great thing...a fashionable magazine that specializes in modest clothing. You can have this magazine in your house and not worry if your little one looks through it. It also features all the usual articles on health, beauty, etc. The woman who launched the magazine this summer is LDS, but it is geared toward anyone who wants to see more modest fashion and less skin in their magazines. It's pretty cheap to subscribe, too. Check it out at their website http://www.elizamagazine.com/.

Recipe: Sweet Dinner Rolls

This recipe makes AMAZING rolls! The kind you can bring to the ward potluck and be proud of:) I got this recipe, along with most of my favorite recipes, from www.allrecipes.com, a super great recipe site where you can search recipes, and also see how they are rated and reviewed.

NOTE: I don't mix this up in a bread machine, since I don't have one. Instead, I mix the warm water, milk, and yeast, and let it sit until the yeast is all foamy. Then I mix in the rest of the stuff, let it rise until doubled in size, and start following the directions at Step 2. I also just roll the dough into 12 balls and let them rise in a 9x13 inch pan instead of making them into crescents.

Sweet Dinner Rolls

Makes 16 rolls

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS
1. Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.

2. When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden.

House Cleaning Help

Some of you may have heard of this, but if you haven't, you should check it out! This neat lady, aka FlyLady, devised an easy plan to help you to keep your home clean, organized, and clutter free. She also adds in tips on all kinds of things related to housekeeping. I don't do everything she advises, but the things I do do have made a pretty big difference in helping to keep on top of the house! She is a big believer in babysteps and in only doing things for 15 minutes at a time...and it works! Anyway, if you are interested, give it a look: www.flylady.net

For a good, out loud laugh...

Thanks to Pricilla for finding this...it's so true and had me totally laughing!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675

Recipe: French Dip Sandwiches

This is a great Sunday meal: quick to prepare, easy, and tasty...all thanks to a crock pot! Just throw it all in in the morning and it's ready for the late afternoon or evening. Note: The recipe says to cook for 10-12 hours, but we have gone as few as 6 hours and it's still great.

French Dip Sandwiches
Serves 10

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (4 pound) boneless beef roast
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 beef bouillon cube
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 whole black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 20 slices French bread

DIRECTIONS
Remove and discard all visible fat from the roast. Place trimmed roast in a slow cooker.
In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, bouillon, bay leaf, peppercorns, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder. Pour mixture over roast, and add enough water to almost cover roast. Cover, and cook on Low heat for 10 to 12 hours, or until meat is very tender.
Remove meat from broth, reserving broth. Shred meat with a fork, and distribute on bread for sandwiches. Used reserved broth for dipping.

Danielle's 'If you eat it REALLY fast it actually has zero calories" Oreo Ice Cream Dessert

Seriously, not lying. ;)

32 oreo cookies (regular)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 gal. cookies n' cream ice cream (or any flavor really but I think this one is best)
3/4 cup Mrs. Richardson's hot fudge topping
6-8 oz. cool whip

Crush cookies in a sturdy ziploc bag. Take out about 1 cup of crushed cookies to put on top. Pour cookies crumbs into bottom of 9x13 pan and then mix with melted butter. Spread evenly for the crust. Slice ice cream and layer on top of cookie crust. (Works well if you just do a 1/2 inch slice and then spread the rest on top of that and in the cracks). Pour the fudge topping over the ice cream (don't heat) and spread evenly. Spread the cool whip over the topping and sprinkle the remaining crushed cookies on last. Freeze until ready to serve. But that's a dumb idea. Just grab a big spoon and dig in. Because remember, it has ZERO calories. And its DEFINITELY good for you in every nutritional way... :)

A thought on motherhood

This morning as I was trying to sort the laundry with three little children under my feet, I remembered a story I read in the Ensign a few years ago that I have grown to love. As a busy mom trying to keep the house clean and orderly, make nutritious meals, and be a productive person in every other area of my life, this story reminds me what's most important! I especially love the last part of the last sentence! Enjoy!

Two Toddlers Underfoot
by Ida L. Ewing, “Two Toddlers Underfoot,” Ensign, Apr 2006, 57

At the end of a particularly unproductive day, I found myself feeling exasperated at my inability to get anything done with two toddlers constantly underfoot. I decided to call my older sister, Treisa, for some advice. She has three active boys, yet she remains cheerful and calm. Treisa commiserated with me and said my struggles brought to mind an experience she had had shortly after moving from their small trailer.
Treisa had expected that after the move into a larger home, her children would build toy castles somewhere other than in front of the kitchen sink and would no longer need to use the pile of laundry she was folding as the base for their hide-and-seek games. Somehow, though, that change never occurred—her children continued to exist in a sort of holding pattern around her legs. But, she told me, one day she came across a passage of scripture in Mark 10:13–14, 16 that helped her overcome her frustrations.
After our conversation I read:
“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. …
“And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
I noticed that just before this incident with the children, Christ was challenged by the Pharisees. He easily could have felt tired or irritable, yet He welcomed the children, picked them up, and blessed them.
I pondered this selfless act of love, focusing on what it could mean for me as a mother. I realized that too often I pushed my children away. But if I follow Christ’s example, then even when the laundry and dishes are piling up, the bills need to be paid, and I’ve had too little sleep, I can stop, take my children in my arms, and love them. Perhaps this was what my sister was trying to tell me—when your children are in your arms, they are no longer underfoot.

Personal Progress, Old School

My sister found this and I thought it was pretty funny. Here are some of the Personal Progress goals for the beehives in 1916. How many could YOU do??

• Care successfully for a hive of bees for one season and know their habits.
• Give the distinguishing characteristics of six varieties of hen and cattle and tell the good and weak points of each.
• Exterminate the mosquitoes over an area of BD mile square by pouring a little kerosene on the surface of all standing pools of water twice each month during April, May, and June.
• Make two articles of underwear by hand.
• Cover 25 miles on snowshoes in any six days.
• Learn to float in Great Salt Lake and propel yourself 50 feet.
• During three consecutive months, abstain from candy, ice cream, commercially manufactures beverages, and chewing gum
• For one month, masticate your food so thoroughly that it slips down without any visible effort at swallowing it.
• Successfully put a new washer on a faucet.
• During two weeks, keep the house free from flies or destroy at least 25 flies daily.
• Have your toilet moved to an isolated place in the garden. Have a frame of chicken wire built about three feet away and plant a quick-growing vines such as cucumber or morning glories to screen it from observation.
• Know and describe three cries of a baby.
• Without help or advice, care for and harness a team at least five times; drive them 50 miles during one season.
• Clear sagebrush off of an acre of land.

Kim's Snickerdoodles

1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon sugar mixture
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

Heat oven 400 degrees. Mix margarine, shortening, sugar and eggs. Blend in flour, cream of tarter, soda, and salt. Roll into balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Cook for 8-10 minutes. (For chewy cookies cook for 7 1/2 to 8 mintues.)

How to Fold a Fitted Sheet

I've always wanted to know how to do this, and I came across this super helpful video. I think with practice it could actually be done pretty quickly!

PS: Does anyone else's husband fold fitted sheets? Neither does mine:)

Recipe: Meredith and Aaron's Creamy Cilantro Dressing

By popular demand, I give you one of the greatest dressings you can make at home. If you like cilantro, you'll love this dressing. (and you'll probably like it even if you don't love cilantro all that much:) It's delicious on pretty much anything, but especially good on salads, fajitas, tacos, and for dipping stuff. Look out! It's addictive!

Prep time: 10 min, serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
• 3/4 cup mayo
• 1-2 medium tomatillos (like little green tomatoes)
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
• 1/4 bunch of cilantro
• juice of two limes
• black pepper
• milk or buttermilk as needed, to thin the consistency

Directions: ALL INGREDIENTS ARE APPROXIMATE AND "TO TASTE." You will need to adjust according to what you like, and how thick you want it. (We like ours with lots of cilantro and lime). Throw all ingredients in a blender and mix well.

Join the Mormon Girl Club.

If you want to be able to post along with the rest of us, leave your email address in the comment section of this site. After you are added as an author, I'll delete your email address so it won't be on the site for everyone to see. Or you can email me at meredithburt(AT)gmail(DOT)com and I'll add you as an author. Join in!

The start of the Mormon Girl Club.

Hi girls...what started as a great place to swap recipes naturally turned into a place where we can share anything. Thus, the Mormon Girl Club was born. Should be useful, informative, and fun!