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/.