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.