Mormon Girl Club

Sunday trick.

2008-08-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

I owe this one to Dori Leder, I think, who enlightened me with a fabulous method of helping your kids to be good in church. Alisa has been rather squirrley lately, always trying to get out of the Sacrament meeting and whining, etc. I remembered this trick and we tried it out this week. Alisa was an absolute peach!

Here's what we did: I told Alisa the night before that if she was a good girl in church (meaning: being a happy girl, being nice to Ben and us, no crying, no sneaking out of the room, no whining, etc), then she would get three scoops of ice cream after church was done. If she misbehaved, she would lose a scoop (but she would get at least one scoop no matter what with encouragement to do better next week). She even helped us pick out the ice cream on Saturday night. I reminded her before church about our deal and off we went. It worked like a charm!

What the Singles in the Ward Want the Rest of Us to Know

2008-04-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

As a young, never-married lifetime member of the church, this article especially hit home for me, and I feel that it should be something handed out to EVERY member of the church!!!

What the Singles in the Ward Want the Rest of Us to Know
by Debra Sansing Woods
From: LDS Living Magazine
http://www.ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1296

We may think we know the singles in our ward or branch – who they are, what makes them tick, what they want out of life, and how best to meet their needs as members of our wards and branches, but how often do we stop and ask them – our single friends and acquaintances-- to speak for themselves, to tell us in their own words what they’d like the rest of us to know about them?

With these thoughts in mind, I recently took some time to talk with a dozen or so singles and former singles (namely, those who spent some real time being single past the age of 21), and invited them to tell the rest of us what they’d like us to know about their experience of being single in the church. Not surprisingly, I found the conversations eye-opening and enlightening and while I cannot include all of my findings in this one article, here are some of the themes and opinions that came up again and again.

1. No Two Singles are Alike.
Generally speaking, we singles share in common the fact that we’re single and LDS. But beyond those two characteristics, we are each very much individuals with our own histories related to marriage (some never-married, some married and divorced, and some widowed) and other aspects of our lives (some college-educated, some not; some lifetime LDS, some adult converts; some with children, others without); our own strengths and weaknesses; talents and interests; challenges and triumphs. We’re good at finding common ground with each other, but don’t assume that just because we’re single and LDS we are alike. We thrive on being valued as the individuals we truly are.

2. Most of Us Want to Marry (for the first time or again), but We’re Not Desperate To Marry.
In other words, please don’t ask us (at least not very often) if/when we are going to get married; If we had found the right one, we would be married by now. Sometimes, we really do appreciate your efforts to find us a match, but keep in mind that even if you know a single man or woman who has a pulse and is an active member of the church, these facts alone do not necessarily make him or her a good marriage prospect for us. Even so, if you feel prompted to introduce us to someone you think may be a fun date or a good match, go ahead and introduce us, but don’t pressure us to go out with them. We’re more likely to marry successfully if we’re given a little time and space to seek inspiration for ourselves.

3. We Sisters Would Like Your Help to Find a Few More Good Men.
Or make that a few thousand more good men. One single sister from Oklahoma City had this to say about being a single sister in the church: “The singles’ conference I just got back from had 700 women and 200 men attending. Ridiculous! Where are all the men? Inactive, I believe. We need Elders’ Quorums and High Priest Groups to get out there and do their jobs contacting these guys. There is no way they can be righteous priesthood holders when they are inactive with NO friends at church. All of us single sisters would just rather stay single than end up with a man who does not have a strong testimony and is not a valiant priesthood holder. We sisters cannot activate these guys alone. We need our priesthood’s help to make this happen.”

4. We Value Your Friendship.
We share some terrific friendships with other singles, but we share some wonderful friendships with our married friends as well. While we may not have our marital status, or, rather, lack of marital status in common with our married friends, we often share many other things in common with them. In some cases, we share a love of music, everything from Broadway musicals to participating in the ward choir. In other cases, we may share an interest in the outdoors, including camping and hiking. And oftentimes, we simply share a similar outlook on life, perhaps, a deep and abiding belief in our responsibility to make a positive difference in the world around us through consistent and compassionate acts of service.

When it comes to our friendships with our married friends, truth be told, most of us love spending time in their homes because their homes are so full of the energy and bustle of family life, a nice contrast to our quieter dwellings. So, thanks for inviting us over for dinner and for sharing your family home evenings with us. Your friendships enrich our lives tremendously.

5. We Appreciate Your Sensitivity to our Unmarried and Possibly Childless Circumstances When You Deliver Your Sacrament Meeting Talks and Share Your Sunday Lessons.
We love the fact that the church is family-centered and so we understand that many talks and lessons are necessarily written and prepared with families in mind. Even so, we appreciate it when teachers and speakers take into account that not all of us live in homes where there is the ideal of a mother, father and children. We do not expect or want to be pitied for our lack of such a family situation, but we are positively impacted when teachers and speakers make an effort to tailor their lessons, in part, to speak to our particular circumstances.

Those of us who are single women without children have been especially touched on Mother’s Day when the speakers have honored the difference we try to make in the lives of children not our own, whether those children are our nieces and nephews, the children we teach in primary, or our neighbors’ and friends’ kids. We feel loved and wanted when ward members make an extra effort to help us feel a full part of this wonderful and vibrant family church.

6. We Need Diligent Home Teachers and Visiting Teachers.
A good number of us have not experienced the blessing of having faithful home teachers and visiting teachers. Those of us who have know the tremendous difference such a blessing can make in our lives. A single mother of two has this to say about her faithful home teachers: “I am so very thankful for the presence of the priesthood in my home on a monthly basis. I make it a point to thank their wives for allowing them to spend time bringing a message to us as well as teaching me to do things like how to caulk the cracks in my windows.” Please know that whether we have family nearby or not, we benefit immensely from having diligent home teachers and visiting teachers.

7. We Love to Serve in Church Callings and in Other Church-Related Volunteer Capacities, but We Often Have Less Free Time than Others Might Think.
For those of us who do not have children, we find that our married friends sometimes assume we have fewer responsibilities and far more free time than we actually have. In reality, many of us work hard to keep our heads above water with demanding jobs, the sole responsibility for the care and upkeep of our homes, and the needs of friends and/or family, sometimes including our aging parents. Additionally, some of us actively volunteer in the community, striving to make a difference in the lives of our fellow citizens. Please know that we very much desire to serve in the church and are committed to doing so as we seek to prayerfully balance our church service with the demands and needs in our personal lives.

8. We Enjoy Serving in a Variety of Church Callings.
We are happy to serve in the nursery and in the singles’ group but, overall, we enjoy serving in a wide range of callings, everything from Primary Teacher and Youth Sunday School Instructor to Relief Society Counselor and Ward Missionary. Wherever we are asked to serve, we seek to use the special skills and knowledge we have gained from our work and professional lives to magnify our church callings. One of the biggest reasons we want and even need to serve in a variety of callings is so that we can learn and grow in ways that we would never otherwise have the opportunity to learn and grow in. Also, perhaps more than anything else, we want to serve in a variety of capacities because we desire to make a positive difference in the lives of as many of our fellow church members as we can.

9. We Hope You’ll Celebrate the Good in Our Lives with Us.
While we may feel down at times about not being married and, as the case may be, not having any children, we find there is still much good to celebrate in our lives. It means a great deal to us when our friends at church share in our excitement about a job promotion or in our enthusiasm for a talent we are striving to develop. We work hard to create happy lives no matter what our circumstances and, truth be told, our happiness naturally doubles when shared with others.

10. Know that You Make a Powerful and Positive Difference in Our Lives.
If you ever wonder whether you make a difference in our lives, be assured that you do. We can recall numerous times when your friendship and caring have made an important difference for each of us.

One formerly single mom in our midst can remember a period of time, in particular, when some married members of her ward made a big difference in her and her daughter’s life. She had just come through a difficult divorce and found herself unexpectedly the sole parent and provider for her toddler. This young mother’s heart ached as she thought about her daughter growing up without the benefit of a dad to help raise her.

Thankfully though, two couples in her ward, sensitive to her and daughter’s situation, invited them into their homes to share dinners and family gatherings. The young mother found enormous comfort in knowing that, although she couldn’t, at that time, give her daughter a dad, members in her ward had thoughtfully and lovingly filled in some of the gaps. They had filled in those gaps by the simple act of welcoming a single mother and her child into their homes – homes where the dads were present and loving to their wives and children and where everyone living there had enough room in their hearts to show love and concern for a single mother and an essentially fatherless little girl.

The mother went on to marry again and her husband became a wonderful dad to her daughter. Even so, that formerly single mother will never forget the kindness and generosity of her fellow ward members – ward members who, like so many of you, have loving hearts and a tender spot for the singles in their ward.

cream soup substitute

2008-04-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

I get so mad when I have to buy those cream of mushroom or celery cans for over a dollar at the store. Especially when a recipe calls for 2 cans. So here are 2 recipe solutions. I think the first one could be great for using your food storage and for always having it on hand. These cost a fraction of what a can of soup would cost and you can pronounce all of the ingredients!

Cream Soup Substitute

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups dry milk
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes, optional
1 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil, optional
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano, optional
1/2 teaspoon ground marjoram, optional
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons butter
PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients except butter together and store in airtight container. To use, mix 1/2 cup dry soup mix with 1 1/4 cups water and cook until thick; add butter. This is equal to one can cream soup.

The mix makes enough to equal 9 to 10 cans. For cream of mushroom or celery soup, add chopped sauteé mushrooms or celery along with the butter while cooking

Cream Soup Substitute II

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup low-fat or fat free milk
salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in flour; keep stirring until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat and add the chicken broth and milk, a little at a time, stirring to keep smooth.

Return to heat. Bring sauce to a gentle boil; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed to taste.Use in casseroles in place of condensed cream soups.
Can be varied by using vegetable broth, sauteéd chopped celery, celery seed, or sauteéd chopped mushrooms.

For the pregnant and non-pregnant alike.

2008-04-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

**This hilarious post comes from eldredgered, currently pregnant, and can also be found at her blog, i will not gain 50 pounds!. I just had to pass it on.**

the secret underworld of doctor's staff meetings

As I was at the doctor's office yesterday trying to pee in a little cup, and trying is the important word here, I had a vision of a doctors office staff meeting and this is how it went.

evil doctor- "okay everyone lets start the meeting, what was on last months agenda"

neurotic receptionist- "let's see (looks at notes) oh ya the same thing that is on every agenda, what can we do to make these visits even worse for a pregnant woman."

evil doctor- "that's right, now everyone needs to do their part. Reception what efforts are you making?"

neurotic receptionist- "We make sure to have them stand and wait at our clear glass window while we laugh with each other for about two minutes before we open it and check them in, and then we make sure the only magazines in the waiting room are trashy, boring, and out of date."

evil doctor- "Good, nursing what are you doing?"

sadistic nurse- "(with an evil laugh) We have soooo much fun. First we make them wait at least 15 minutes before we call them in, then we set all the scales 5 pounds heavier than they really are, then we make sure to walk through all the hallways really fast so they have to hurry to keep up with us which they can't do cause they are big fat pregnant ladies (another evil laugh). Oh and when we weigh them we make sure to not say a thing but to LOOK really judgemental as we write the number down."

evil doctor- "all that is really good, but lets try to think of more. Ultrasound, what are you doing"

ultrasound technician- "we tell them they have to get here with a full bladder then we make them wait 30 minutes for their appt, then we push really hard on their bladders during the exam. Oh and you know how everyone says a pregnant woman shouldn't be on her back, and we all know how uncomfortable that is for her, well we make her lay on her back the whole time!"(high fives are given throughout the room)

evil doctor- "good keep up the good work. Lab how are your efforts going?"

lab worker- "well we just put in an order for even smaller cups to collect urine samples with so those last 6 visits where she can't even see down there will be nearly impossible, oh and we put really fat markers in the bathroom and have told her to write even more information on the small cup with it like her name, b-day, pet's names and shoe size."

sadistic nurse- "oh make her write her weight on there too, she will get really depressed at that."

lab worker- "good idea"

evil doctor- "okay, from the doctor side our efforts are of course to make her wait in the exam room for at least 15 min with nothing to look at but posters of how she will look when she is 10cm dilated, then when we listen to the heart beat we will put way too much of the goo on her belly, oh and we will make sure it is cold, then we won't wipe it all off. Oh and at the end of pregnancy we will get her hopes up in the last two weeks by saying "any day now" when really we know she will go over due. So lets all have a great month of torturing these women, and remember if you can think of any reason at all to make them come in for an extra visit go for it!"

So that was my vision, really though I do love my doctor, she is great and most everyone in the office is really nice. But I hate peeing in that cup and stepping on that scale so it gets me in a bad imaginative mood. Anyway whoever said pregnant woman were rational (has anyone ever said that) was dead wrong!

Another great idea from a mormon mom!

2008-03-03T12:59:00.000-08:00

I came across this sweet website, MeckMom, run by one of those Amazing LDS Ladies...you know, the ones that constantly come up with the things that make you say, "What a great idea! I can use that/I wish I had thought of that!"

One of her great ideas is stickers specially made to improve your scripture experiences. Read her post, Help Your Family Connect with Their Scriptures with Easy Scripture Stickers, for all the details. Let me tell you, these stickers are amazing! They are simple! They are useful! And she shows you how to make them yourself! For those not wanting to take on the task of homemade stickers, you can buy them from her store. These would make good gifts!

In addition to these stickers, she has loads of posts about organization, church, kids, helpful products, etc. I perused her site for a short time and already have lots of new, useful ideas for my future needs as a mom, wife, homemaker, and ward member.

Does your Costco card really save you money?

2008-02-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

I was at Costco recently and was told it was time to renew my yearly membership. I obliged, having a cart of things I needed to purchase, but that $50 membership fee really shocks a frugal person like me.

The renewal got me thinking: is my Costco membership worth $50 dollars? Are most people's memberships? I decided to do the math.

First, the rules:

I only considered the kinds of things I regularly buy from Costco. Although it's probably true that you can get a load of laminate flooring at a better price than a flooring store, this is not something I can count on buying anytime soon.
I didn't count the kinds of things I rarely buy there either, like ketchup and toilet paper, since Costco makes you buy enough to last for years.
I compared the prices at Costco to the cheapest prices I could find elsewhere. If I can buy something for less outside of Costco, I will.
I also did just rough estimates of how often I buy the things I do. For this exercise, I'm too lazy to go back through my purchases from a whole year.
Finally, we are a family of 4, including a toddler and a baby.

Regular purchases made at Costco versus somewhere else:

Milk: 2 gallons at $5.16 vs 1 gallon at $2.98 at grocery store. Savings of $.40 per gallon, about $60 per year.

Formula: 2 cans at $17 vs 1 can at $11 at Wal-Mart. Savings of $2.50 per can, about $180 per year.

Diapers: 200 diapers for $35 vs $19 for 92 diapers at Wal-Mart. Savings of $.03 per diaper, about $72 per year.

Gas: $2.88 per gallon vs $2.95 per gallon at Sinclair or Maverik. Savings of $.07 per gallon, about $60 per year. (I want to note here that we can easily get gas from Costco without going out of our way. If that weren't the case, I'm not sure it would make a real difference.)

Baby Wipes: 8 packages(88 count) at $15.49 vs 1 package at $2 at Wal-Mart. Savings of $.07 per package, about $1 per year. (This one sort of made me laugh, but a dollar's a dollar, right?)

Total Annual Savings: $373
Less membership fee: -$50
Net Savings: $323

Wow! What a difference one store can make! I knew there was a reason I loved Costco other than their $1.50 hot dog/soda combo.

Obviously, we get the majority of our savings from the fact that we have a baby. But even if we bought just milk and gas alone, we would still save much more than the cost of the membership. As our family grows, I anticipate buying more of our groceries from there as well, taking advantage of the bulk quantities. And although I didn't count big ticket items, over time, the savings would really add up. I guess we are destined to be long-time (satisfied) Costco customers.

What do you all think?

A game for kids.

2008-02-25T13:42:00.001-08:00

My mom told me recently about how she used to make memory games out of frozen juice concentrate lids by putting stickers on them. What a great, easy and fun little idea for those of us with little kids! I have been saving my lids and here is the finished product:

It's fun too that it can be expanded as you collect more lids, and you can use your child's favorite characters. Any other homemade game or activity ideas for kids?

New Beginnings,Mission impossible!

2008-01-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

Hi, does anyone have any creative ideas, or any ideas at that, for a mission impossible theme fro new beginnings, i am in charge of the invitations, the only thing i could come up with was them being in Manila envelopes. Any ideas?

Half Way There

2008-01-18T07:57:00.001-08:00

Well today is one of those days that I don't know if I love or hate. I am twenty weeks today officially half way there. Hopefully more than half way. I have been lucky with my previous three kids that I had them all early, but with every kid I get closer to my due date, so who knows when this one will arrive. Anyway I love this day because it feels like a milestone. I am halfway there we are making definite progress. On the other hand I all ready feel like I have been pregnant FOREVER so that means that I have FOREVER to go, no fun. The next two months should be pretty good though. I have been feeling pretty good. All the effects of pneumonia seem to be gone, finally! So life is pretty good. I am definitely looking pregnant now. I was in my son's kindergarten class yesterday and one of the kids walked up to me and said "you have a baby in your tummy" then he walked away. It was pretty funny, kindergartners are cute. I also can no longer sleep on my stomach. This makes me very sad. I am definitely mourning stomach sleeping. I am approaching S.W.M.P. time (sleeping with multiple pillows). Now it is a fact that all pregnant women sleep with extra pillows in bed. For between the knees, under the belly, or my personal favorite wedged in my back. It is also a fact that all husbands complain about it. Really, what is with them. I guess I should be more sympathetic. Cause you know it would be SO HARD to sleep with 6 inches less sleeping space. Those poor husbands, YA RIGHT. So I am prepared for the first time my husband complains about the pillows that will soon be joining us in bed. My speech goes like this "You try sleeping only on your side, preferably the left, because you have an extra ten pounds jammed in your stomach, oh ya and that extra weight is constantly jabbing you in the bladder making you get up to go to the bathroom three times a night, and your back hurts from hefting that extra weight around, and it is a herculean effort just to roll over, and oh ya THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT CAUSE YOU DID THIS TO ME!" Then I will take ten minutes to roll over and go to sleep for a half hour until I have to get up to go to the bathroom again. Now for all you reading this who all ready have kids YOU KNOW you have gone through this exact situation. You may say my husband never complained about the pillows. To you I say he is lying. Not that that is a bad thing. I am not normally a fan of lying, but when a woman is pregnant I think some good lying by the husband can make everyone happy. For instance when I ask him if I look fat he says "no, you are just pregnant and it will all go away after the baby is born". Or if I start crying and say "I am so moody" he says "don't be ridiculous, you are totally justified in each and every thing you have daily cried about for the last two weeks". So all you husbands out there this is the one time in our lives that I will justify lying. So I hope my husband enjoys the next 4 and a half months, I know I won't.

Helpful blog article.

2008-01-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

I read this post at a neat blog called beingfrugal.net. The whole site is pretty useful, but I found this post, How I Taught My Preschooler the Value of a Dollar, particularly insightful. It's a great idea to try on your own kids!

Christmas Gift Tradition

2008-01-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

This Christmas I learned of a great family tradition here. (my husband's cousin's blog). The idea is to set expectations for your children regarding gifts from their parents. She is finding as her kids are getting older, that they are asking for & expecting more and more each year - with no limits. It can be hard to not go overboard and just get them everything they want. I was overwhelmed with how many gifts were under the tree this year at my parent's house! I think I'm going to try this out next year.

Each child receives one gift from each of 4 categories. Something they NEED, something they WANT, something to WEAR, and something to READ.

Check out her blog post for more details.

Choosing good movies.

2007-11-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-10-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-10-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-15T15:22:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

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!!

2007-09-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-09T16:02:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-08-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-26T08:53:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

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!