Food Storage Simplified!

Our ward had a meeting (an enrichment) about simplifying food storage. There was a lady that I guess perfected this so we watched her video. Then we discussed how to do this...

In a nutshell, you use your 7 or 14 favorite dinner recipes, and 7 or 14 favorite breakfast recipes. Then, you write those recipes on their own individual index cards. Include EVERYTHING you need to make those recipes like water, seasonings, (this is where I would include special tools that you need, like a grinder, a sieve, etc.). so now you take those cards and tally your ingredients, 1t salt, 1 1/2t salt 1t salt, and 2t salt, 1/2t. That equals 6t salt. Now if you have seven recipes then multiply that number by 52 equalling 312 teaspoons of salt for your year supply. If you have 14 recipes then multiply that number by 26 equalling 156 teaspoons of salt. Do this with all the ingredients in your recipes to find out how much you really need to put into your year supply. Now you don't need to store 50 pounds of flour per person for a year. That's is a whole lot of flour!!

This technique will let you eat your favorite foods, even in times of crisis. Also you will be going to bed early and waking up late, so you only need 2 good meals, breakfast and dinner (served around lunchtime) then you can make a loaf of bread for an evening snack. Also remember that you have favorite desserts that you can have as well. Pick four of your favorite and do the same thing as the breakfast and dinner cards. Except multiply these by 13. This will give you a different dessert once a week four four weeks, you can have an apple pie every week if you wanted!!! And the breakfast/dinner depending on if you chose 7 or 14, you will have a different meal everyday of the week, and they will be things that you LOVE!!

OK, once you have all your food gathered, leave it for a YEAR!!! Then go in, check every jar lid, get all the food that will expire in the next year, and replace it. ITS THAT SIMPLE! Rotate once a year instead of all year long.

This technique has made it so much simpler for me to get everything I need and it is not overwhelming like every other food storage method I tried. I love it and will post more things about food storage in the future so keep watch!

Pico de Gallo turned Salsa

I found this great recipe for Pico de Gallo.I made this huge bowl of it (with Trinity's help) and decided I wanted to preserve it for a while. So I canned it. OOPS! Pico de Gallo is only Pico de Gallo when it is fresh, not when it is cooked, then it is SALSA!!!

I also put HOT jalapenos in it from mother-in-laws garden only to find out they weren't hot whatsoever, so my amazing Pico de Gallo turned SALSA was as MILD as it could have been!!

Rid the Sock Monster!!!

I made this from a sample I found a a friends home, hers is so very cute and I thought I could make one to match my decor and style. I love the idea of having "a place for everything, and everything in its place" even if there is one missing (my home doesn't look that organized either). I got the wood, and plain clothes pins from, you guessed it, Joann. The paper as well, in the Retro package of 12x12 scrapbook paper. I cut the paper, and was ready to glue, I accidentally cut the paper too short, that's why there is a grey line in the middle of the two papers, I painted the wood all around the edges and the line in the middle to cover my paper shortage with 3 coats of a darker grey color. I took apart the clothes pins and painted those with the same color grey paint, took 3 coats again. when I put them back together, I had to add more paint to cover the chips and scrapes from the metal springs. I used Modge Podge to glue the paper to the wood and my Cricut machine to cut the letters out of a sheet of grey paper that just so happens to match the grey paint perfectly (what a coincidence). Glued the letters and clothes pins in place and there you have it, a really cute Lost Sock holder. You could change the words to anything you want, even make it with Christmas paper and hang Christmas cards on it.

Here is the sample that I got the idea from, THANKS Amie!!

Judges Robe for a Neice's Project

I picked up this pattern at Joann (of coarse), Butterick B4542. I found satin and used it inside out so it wasn't so shiny. One of my sisters asked me to help get a robe ready for her daughter to be the first woman Judge in the "wax museum" at school. We were going to use her graduation robe that she used in first grade (was too big for her then, but fits good now). I tried to dye it with fabric dye, but it didn't take AT ALL. So the next step was to make one. I found the pattern online and hoped we had it at work. WE DID!!! I whipped it together real quick and it fits her perfect!!! She doesn't like her picture taken so I took one with Draven in it. Hows he look? It turned out great.

Duck Tape Wallet to Match

OK, I thought the Clutch found here is a totally LONELY bag, so I decided to make wallet to match. I used the same technique to make the wallet as the clutch. I don't think I am allowed to give the directions to make the bag since I could lose my job (conflict of interest thing), but it is very easy to make. I used the same colors to make the wallet, I added four credit card pockets, and one larger pocket for cash. John says its a boys wallet but it is a sweet craft none the less.

JIMINY CRICUT cartridges!

So, I am going to post about something that I bought today... I bought these cartridges for a phenomenal price! I got a lady in Joann's last night and she brought in an add for a price match for these cartridges from our very own website. She asked if we price matched, since we price match our own website, which EVERYONE SHOULD (unlike other stores I wont name), She got the price. While I was ringing her stuff up I pulled the last cartridges from the shelf (so I could buy them when I was done with her. Meanwhile another lady was watching us. When I was done with my guest, the OTHER lady said "I want those". Since I would lose my job if I told her no, I had to sell them to her!!!!!!! I was so mad.... I decided I will get them online when I get home. I got home, we're out online. I called our Rainbow location, and they had all four in stock. So, I put them on hold, DROVE all the way down there and showed them the website for a price match (not telling them I work at the other store). Do you believe the price went up 32$ since LAST NIGHT!!!??? I started to shake. I CALMLY said, "the other store sold 7 last night to other customers, what do I need to do? Can I prove it to you somehow?" she said I need to talk to a manager. Little did I know the manager was listening to all this, He calls her on the phone from TEN feet away and says to go ahead and override it!!!!!!! OMG!!! I paid 2.99 FOR EACH!!! totaling just over 12$ for all four!!! Can you believe it??!!!!

Rubber Duckie your the one!

I found a couple frames at the craft store in the unfinished wood area. I painted them this pretty blue color, cut a piece of card stock paper to fit the opening and glued it in place. I then took two shower curtain hooks, the ones with the characters on them, I used ducks. I broke the hooks off and threw them away, then, hot-glued the ducks in the center of the paper. I screwed in two eye hooks on the top of each frame, and attached a yellow ribbon. (Actually, I used binding cause I didn't have ribbon, don't tell anyone!) Then VIOLA!! This CUTE set of pictures, I may make a set for the kitchen or "classroom". Well see!!

Curtain Cover-Up!

Four Curtain panels..... FREE

Shower rod from Wal-mart.....$9.00

Endless beauty and elegance.....PRICELESS!!!

I got these panels from my sister-in-law, Heidi. She gave me four. This closet had accordion doors that kept smashing little fingers, including my own. We were going to just get shower curtains and cut them in half vertically, but they would still have been 8" tooooo short. TACKY!! But before we spent the money, Heidi started to remodel. Much to our advantage, I asked her if we could have them, and all I need to do was to hem them up about 3" and they are PERFECT!!! Thank you, Heidi!!

P.S. They do look crooked at the bottom of this photo, but that is just the shadow from the tile floor behind.

Chalk Board for the "CLASSROOM"

OK, so I am turning the kids room into a classroom, instead of trying to figure out how to do Princess and Toy Story in the SAME room. I got this HUGE picture frame from this store that was going out of business about a year ago. I got it for FREE!!!!! (it was back by the trash can). There was a piece of wood in it before that was falling apart so I got a piece from Home Depot for less than $10. I also got some chalk board paint from my sister-in-law, Emilie. (THANKS SO MUCH!) So this project only cost me a year of storage space and less than $10. AWESOME!! You can see it is way huge. Classroom is coming together....

Duck Tape Clutch

Here is a clutch (small purse) that I made at work in the class I teach. I love it. ENTIRELY of Duck Tape, even the flower. It is super cute. If you leave it in the car watch out, it could get sticky on the thin edges. But super trendy and, like I said, super cute.

Establish a House

I made this plaque thinking that "I have the perfect place for this" but alas I do not. It is going into the family reunion AUCTION! Who will be the next person to own this? I painted it blue that turned out to be DARK blue, and I cut out the letters and words in vinyl on my Cricut. I love this machine. I still haven't tapped its full potential.

It says

"Establish a house, Prayer, Fasting, Faith, Learning, Glory, Order, God"

John asked me why its says God last, I only told him "that's the order it says in the D&C"

"Establish a house, even a house of prayer , a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." D&C 88:119

One more pair

These were simple just like the silver ones, but didn't turn out that great, they lay funny. They are purple with assorted purple beads. These are cute just a little smaller than the silver ones.

This is the last pair of earrings till I find a great pattern to use. All the other ones I make will be just like these except different color. I think I would like to get into glass bead making. The kit at work seems to be a little pricey, so do I ask first or just get and be made to return later... hmmmmm

Maybe I'll just put it on the back burner, and stick with the TONS of crafts at home.

Cute Earrings

OK. I saw these at work and I copied them. Of coarse, the others are red and have red beads and these are silver with pearls, and the others have 10 beads and these only have 6, and the others are made with heavier wire (16 gauge) and these are made with 20 gauge, and one other difference that I don't care to admit. I think these are really dainty and feminine. Almost Temple worthy...... j/k. John, of coarse, thinks they are to big. But, again, WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT FASHION!!!!!???

The picture makes one look fat and the other look real narrow but that's not the case. they are alike. Not like the red, white and blue ones. ha ha

First Actual Pair

This is the pair I started with. I was trying to think of stuff for the 4th of July. (Hats, Poppers and Flowers just don't cut it). So I was thinking about something to expand my flowers all together, doesn't go with flowers but its fun. I really like this one, but John thinks they are too big, so I said the bigger the better... Not necessarily true, but... whatever! What do you think? Would you wear these bad boys?

OMG Don't look!!! I made two different earrings!!! Can you spot the difference? Don't get me wrong I will fix it. And I just found another mistake while typing... That's what I get for not proof checking my work.

Hand Made by ME!!!

So, I decided to try jewelry. I used this crazy tool called a Thing-A-Ma JIG, it helps you bend wire so that it is straight and even. It took no time at all. This is actually the second pair I started. The first one I will post as soon as I make the second earring. I used pink wire and matching beads. They are actually about the same color, almost a mauve, but you can't really tell from the camera. I am not sure yet that they are good enough for me to put them on Etsy yet (haha). Maybe a lot more practice first. I like this craft, but is this my niche? We'll see.....

Draven's Name Plaque

I started this a while back, like I do all my cross stitching, I just AINT very fast at it. Well, I'm fast at it, I just cant sit still and DO it, like a couple sister-in-laws that I have. I finally finished this piece a week ago. I edited it a little (like I do all my projects) and it turned out so cute. Draven is a hard person to make things for since it seems he's so ...well... I don't know... He's just Draven. But he likes it, and it will go on his bedroom door when we move in a couple weeks. I even made the frame. After I cross stitched this piece, I ironed on fusible interfacing to the back and cut it down to size then I hot glued it into place.

Taylor's Cutie Tie!!!

Ok, so I am posting this a little late... I did make Taylor a matching tie (for Fathers Day) too. He looks so adorable! and this one's a kids tie that is hook and loop (Velcro) closure. So its always tied. this was a very fast slacker job, but for the short amount of time that he will actually wear it, I did a really good job!! By the way John says I shouldn't have put "POOH" on his clean tie that he has to wear to church... I'll get Draven's done by the time he gets back from vacation.

John's Fathers Day Tie!!

OK!! I started this last night and just finished it today. This is so cute! Not very manly but John WILL wear it. Or Else! I think I did a pretty good job. Looks store bought anyway. Had to figure out how to use the bottom of the fabric higher up into the tie so I had to tweak this pattern as well. I think I modify every pattern that I use. It turned out way better than I expected it to, mostly because I've never made a tie before. Maybe I should make something that matches for the boys too... hmmmmmmm the possibilities!!!!!

This awesome little dress!!

I got this cute dress pattern online a few days ago and decided to look and see if I had any fabric for it. (I bought a plethora of Classic Winnie the Pooh fabric and this fabric I was going to use for curtains in our babies room) I thought this will look adorable for this dress!! So instead of letting the fabric sit there and wait for a good home, I swooped it up and went to work. I had to alter the pattern a little so I could make a lining fit with it, since it is lacy fabric. A couple of hours and a temper tantrum later (my sewing machine is a cheap piece of crap, and my serger wasn't threading properly), I had a masterpiece. Trinity will wear this to church on Fathers Day. Next project is a MATCHING necktie for John. (evil laugh sets in).