The Best Life

 Have you ever heard the phrase 'Living their best life'? 

When we hear 'living their best life' we think of people with amazing careers, being able to take exotic vacations, or just doing a ton of exciting things. Never once does the notion bring to mind someone kind. 

Kindness takes many forms. A smile, a few gentle words, taking on a charity, etc.. The list is endless as to what is kind. 

One woman in my community was kind by being the driving force behind a new park. My kids would live at that park if I let them. A lot of kids would. It took a lot of time and effort to get this new park, but it was a kindness done to all the children in our community and they love it. 

This weeks message is short but it comes with a challenge. Try this week to be a little kinder. As you do, think about how that brings out the best in you and those around you, helping all of you to live your best lives. 

I hope you'll share your experiences with me. I know that I'll share mine with you! 

And remember, I love you! 

Closer to Christ

 

Is it just me or has 2020 been crazy? Let's be honest, we are all waiting for the new year with the hopes it will be better than this one. I don't want to say it, but can it really get any worse? 

With all chaos that has been going on, I feel that the only thing that has kept me afloat this year has been my relationship with my Savior. I'm not perfect and fake that I am, but I do love Jesus. He is the foundation of my life and the only thing that keeps me going some days. 

At the start of this year my soul felt weary. Not just tired, but seriously weary. I thought I was crazy or something. How can a persons immortal soul be weary? But there is no other way to describe it. As I fought to get my physical body rejuvenated after PPD, anxiety, seasonal depression, and type 2 diabetes, my soul lagged behind. Then the chaos that we call the pandemic started. 

I didn't know what to do or where to turn. My kids were nervous with all the changes happening and needed comfort. I needed comfort. So I turned to the only giver of peace. 

As I worked to build a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ, the peace that had been missing returned. And my soul began to revive. Now, amid the political unrest and sickness that prevails, I feel better than I have in the past three years. 

How did I do it? I am so glad you asked. There were many things, but this first one was key. 

Prayer 

Yep, that was it. Prayer. Instead of having simple and quick prayers, I really began to speak to the Lord. It's the first thing I do every morning. The alarm goes off and I roll out of bed and onto my knees. 

I plead with him to watch over my children. They are so important to me. Every version of my life that I imagine includes them. I ask God t watch over them and keep them in the palm of His hand throughout the day. 

prayer also helps me realize what is most important to myself. You know how you start talking to a friend and suddenly you are venting about things you didn't even realize were bothering you but suddenly they are the straw that broke the camels back? By praying daily to God, just talking out him about upcoming events or things past, I am able to find out what I consider the most vital. Then, all those extra straws can get taken care of or discarded. Suddenly my back feels much lighter and I'm no longer worried about breaking. 

That is not to say I am unbreakable. I have broken over these past three years. Broken so completely I wonder how I am still standing. It is only through the strength and grace of the atonement of Jesus Christ that I am able to keep moving. There are days when each step is agony, (literally if you have ever heard about my hip disfunction), but I know that through Christ I can and will be strengthened to do what is most needed that day. 

Pray to Him. Pour out your heart to Him. It will feel strange if it's been a while but it is worth it. If you are self-conscious about praying in front of others, find a quiet spot. I have prayed in my bathroom so many times just because it is the only door that locks. I've had the fan on so no one hears me mutter to myself, and even as little fingers find their way under the door I still speak with my Savior. 

That's it. Just talk to the person who gave their life for you. Let Him into your heart and let Him guide you. It won't fix every problem you've ever had right away, but it will give you clarity on many things over time. 

Valentine's Day Rice Crispy Snacks

Looking for the perfect yet easy thing to make for Valentine's Day for your kids? Well look tho farther than your own kitchen. Chocolate Dipped Rice Crispy Snacks are fast, easy, and cheap. You only need a few things that could already be in your cupboards. 

Rice Crispy Cereal, Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, Butter, and Sprinkles. 

To start, make a batch of Rice Crispy's. I made a double batch to fill a well buttered 18 x 13 pan.  I used the rice crispy recipe on the back of the cereal box. (I used to think that Rice Crispy's were super hard to make and only the most amazing of mothers ever made them ;)

After the Rice Crispy's have had a chance to cool off, and aren't so sticky, you can use any cookie cutter to make your shapes.  I used a medium sized heart cutter. I don't recommend doing any shape that is very elaborate. It can get hard getting the crispy out of the cutter. If the cookie cutter gets too sticky then rub it down with some butter. Remember, when making rice crispy treats butter is your friend! 

You can stop here... Or you can make these simple treats spectacular! 

Put all your rice crispy's on wax paper. 

Place one back of chocolate chips into a microwavable bowl. My husband will only eat milk chocolate so we have no semi-sweet in this house. You can this recipe with either kind of chocolate, just watch it very carefully on the next few steps.

On medium heat, microwave the chocolate chips for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. The chocolate is melted when it becomes shiny. 

Add 2 Tablespoons of margarine to the Chocolate and stir thoroughly. 

Once the chocolate is smooth dip part of one of the rice crispy hearts into it. I did the top half of the treat. Put it back onto the wax paper.  

Add the sprinkles to the still wet chocolate. I let my kids do this part. 

And Voila! You have some amazing Valentine Day treats that didn't take hours to make!

Chocolate Dipped Rice Crispy Hearts

6 Tbs Butter

2 Packages Marshmallows (10 oz. each) 

12 Cups Rice Crispy's

1 Package Chocolate Chips (about 11 oz.) 

2 Tbs Butter 

Grease 18 x 13 cookie sheet well. 

Put 12 cups (about 1 box) Rice Crispy's into large bowl. 

Melt 6 Tbs butter in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add marshmallows to melted butter and mix until marshmallows are melted. Pour over rice crispy's. Mix until well coated. 

Put marshmallow/ rice crispy mix into greased pat using a buttered spatula. Press down evenly. 

After rice crispy's have cooled cut out with cookie cutters. Place cut crispy's on wax paper. 

Empty bag of chocolate chips into microwave safe bowl. Melt on medium heat for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes in microwave. 

Add remaining 2 Tbs butter to chocolate. Stir until smooth. 

Dip rice crispy's into warm chocolate. Lay flat on wax paper, chocolate side up. 

Decorate with sprinkles. 

Enjoy!

Postpartum Depression

I haven't done this in a long time. It's hard for me to write what I am going to even when it feels like it's over, but I keep thinking someone needs this. So here I go.
I had Postpartum Depression.
Not tiered. Not baby blues. Full on crying all the time, always in my pjs, no desire to do anything, wanting to abandon my family Postpartum Depression. Every day felt like a battle inside my head between light and darkness. And I was ashamed to admit it.
It wasn't until the thought of killing myself came the second time that I realized what was going on.
So what did Postpartum Depression, or PPD, look like? And what did I do?
It looked like me sitting on the couch with no will to get up and do anything. It looked like me crying in the middle of the floor because something had made me so sad I couldn't keep the tears at bay. It looked like me being completely overwhelmed by everything everyday and not knowing what to do to stop the stress. And I wanted to run away. So far away that no one would ever find me.
But Jess, didn't you love your family? Aren't you an active Christian? Didn't you take care of yourself?
The answer to all of these was, and still is, YES!
I love my family. My husband is my best friend and I would do anything for him. I love being a mama bear and all my little crazies! I believe in Christ and his atonement. I go to church every Sunday and take the sacrament to remember my Savior. I read the scriptures every day, I pray all the time. I do yoga, run, eat healthy, try to get plenty of rest, listen to uplifting music, go to the temple, serve others, and generally try to do those things that should make a person happy.
I will tell you that because of all those awesome things I did do I was able to not do something regrettable. Like running away or ending my life.
Even knowing that though, there was a sadness in my head that would not leave. It was an oppressive darkness that blocked out all the light.  I couldn't feel joy no matter how hard I tried to find it. I was scared to admit it to anyone. I thought I was doing something wrong. After all, my baby was nearly 4 months old so I should be feeling fantastic, right?
When baby had her 4 month checkup, I decided to speak up. I went to my doctor all prepared to tell her what was going on. Honestly, it took all the courage I had to say what was happening to me. I was so worried about being judged that I almost kept my mouth shut. But I knew that I couldn't live another day with the dark mist of depression clouding all my thoughts. So I admitted to what was happening inside my head.
I am forever grateful that I did. There was no judgement. A little surprise, yes, but no one said "shame on Jess." I needed immediate help so my doctor prescribed some medicine that worked for a little while. When it stopped working she prescribed me DULoxetine, which has helped a ton.
While the meds made my depression manageable, enough so that I could hide it from almost everyone, I still needed more help. So I started counseling.
A trained therapist talked with me every week for several months. She helped me figure out what was triggering my anxiety and depression. Once we knew that we were able to move on to ways of preventing these things from happening. I'll be honest, I cried a lot my first few visits. And it was ok with her! No judgement, no shaming. Just lots of support.
So why am I sharing this with all of you? I worry that there is such a stigma on depression and anxiety that some people don't get the help they need. If you worry that you or someone you love has Postpartum Depression, anxiety, or any other kind of depression, please speak with a doctor. Get help from a trained medical professional.
You deserve help. The people closest to you deserve for you to get help. God created medicines and doctors so you could get help. There is no shame in going to counseling. I have really enjoyed all my appointments with my therapist and the tools she has helped me develop so I can better care for myself emotionally. I don't know what I would have done without her.
So, now my baby is 2. I am feeling more in control of my emotions every day. I am able to walk away from Postpartum Depression and recover my joy for life.
I could be embarrassed when I admit what was happening to me, but I choose to forgive myself. After all, I am only human. My kids don't even remember that mommy was ever sad. Because of my doctor and therapist I didn't do anything that I regret. Because of my Savior I am again filled with light.
Above all, remember this: you are loved and you are worth it!

Gluten Free Pie Crust Hack

Gluten Free Pie Crust Hack

It's that time of year when we are making pies for our loving families. But what do we do for our family members who can't eat gluten? 

You could spend a fortune buying gluten free pie dough or pre-made pie shells. Or you could try my easy and cheap gluten free pie crust hack. 

I bet you already have the ingredients you need.

Cheerio's! 

Say What? 

Yep. Cheerio's are made gluten free. All you have to do is use them in place of Graham cracker crumbs for any of your pie recipes. And you can use any kind of Cheerio's you have on hand. It's that easy. It's that cheap. It's that amazingly awesome!

In case you don't have a graham cracker crumb recipe here is mine with instructions of how to prep your Cheerios for your pie crust. 

All you need is: 

1 1/2 cup Cheerio crumbs 

1/4 cup melted butter (1/2 a stick) 

2 Tablespoons white sugar 

Put the Cheerio's into your food processor or blender. Blend until a fine crumb is formed, about 30 seconds.

Measure out 1 1/2 cups Cheerio crumbs and put into your desired pan.

Mix in the melted butter until all the crumbs are coated. 

Mine isn't pressed into the sides of the pan perfectly but you get the idea!

Press along the edges of the pan. 

Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. 

And that is it! You now have a gluten free pie crust that didn't break the bank! 

Enjoy!

No More Naked Barbies!

Do you ever get tiered of finding your daughters Barbie dolls laying around... in the nude? I sure do and it is a huge pet peeve of my hubby. So I decided to do something about it.
I took some finger nail polish and painted swimsuits on all the Barbies in my house. And you know what? My girls thought they were darling!
So after some new dolls arrived in the house I allowed my girls to paint the swimsuits on the dolls... with a lot of supervision of course.
Here is what it was like at our house yesterday afternoon!

Here is their finished Barbie! I had to help BJ a lot. Poor Aroura ended up with paint up to her chin. Thankfully we had nail polish remover on hand. Don't let you kids do this without you there to help!
The girls had a blast and I love that they are willing to keep their toys modest!

Writing An Emotionally Abusive Character

Writing An Emotionally Abusive Character

It has been so long since I last posted. It's lame of me, I know. And excuses are like earlobes in that everybody has 2... hopefully. But after a crazy summer with all 5 kids home with me, postpartum depression, and traveling all summer long I am FINALLY feeling like myself again and able to take a minute to write.

Speaking of writing did you know I am trying to write a book? Seriously, I am! I have always loved reading great books and being in a book club is one of my favorite things to do. But after reading one lousy book after another that just left me wondering how in the world they got published in the first place I decided I should stop complaining and start fixing the problem.

 SO... I am now in the process of writing a book of my own!

I really love writing. Getting to know the characters has been fun and trying to express the story that is so vivid in my head on to paper had been a creative challenge. I always liked those.

So in the story I have 2 sisters. One is a sweetie and the other... well not so sweet. The not so sweet sister, or Noss as I call her, has been a long time forming. She has taken on many different attitudes with the other characters but the one that always seems to stick is the most intriguing.

As I have been writing I have come to realize that the not so sweet sister, Noss, is actually emotionally abusive to the other sister.

Say what? I've heard about physical abuse but what is emotional abuse?

Well I am so glad that you asked!

Everyone knows about physical abuse. It's easy to tell if someone is physically abusing you. They hit you leave. (That is the very simple explanation. I know there is more to it than that.)

But emotional abuse is harder to see. How can you tell it someone is emotionally abusive, like Noss or not. That is where this awesome article I read came in to help me out.

It's called 11 Signs You Might Be In An Emotionally Abusive Relationship from huffpost.com.
Some of the signs that Noss kept exhibiting surprised me that they were even emotional abuse. So let me share them with you.

1. Apologizing when you did nothing wrong 
  Noss is such a manipulative character that she has sweet sister apologizing when she did nothing wrong. How? Noss has convinced Sweet Sister that she is inconsiderate and selfish by telling her these things over and over again until Sweet Sister believes her. Not cool.

2. Your partner is hot and cold 
  Your partner is loving one moment and distant and unavailable the next. No matter how hard you try to figure out why, you can’t. They deny being withdrawn, and you start panicking, trying hard to get back into their good graces. Absent an explanation for why they’re turned off, you start blaming yourself. Done often enough, this can turn a relatively independent person into an anxious pleaser.” ― Peg Streep, author of Daughter Detox: Recovering from An Unloving Mother and Reclaiming Your Life

  I thought that this summed it up perfectly. Noss is endless switching her emotions multiple times in a single scene so that Sweet Sister is totally confused! That has to be hard to deal with.

3. Withholding of affection to punish you 
  This is one that Noss does often. She will withhold affection of praise for everyone unless they go along with what she wants, when she wants it, how she wants it. Noss has so many strings attached that she is a proverbial puppet master of everyone she knows. No one wants strings attached in a relationship, especially with your sister.

4. You feel sorry for your partner, even though they hurt you! 
“Emotional abusers are master manipulators, and they are able to screw you over while at the same time making you feel that it’s either your fault, or at the very least, something they couldn’t help because of their childhood or a past relationship, how hurt they are over something you said or did or even nothing at all ― you just feel sorry for them. Victims of emotional abuse often overlook their abusers’ behavior because they are overly relating with the ‘hurt’ part of the abuser — the innocent part, or the side of the abuser that seems lost, rejected, abandoned.” ― Stines

  Noss is a master manipulators. This has Sweet Sister feeling like every problem in their relationship is her fault. Even when it isn't! 

All of these manipulative things eventually pushes the character of Sweet Sister to take drastic measures to leave the situation so she can be honestly happy. It is a major enticing incident in the book. 

While it will still be a while until this book is done I am so excited to be sharing some of the it with you. I hope that it will get you as excited to read the book as I am to write it.

Until Next Time!!

Hannah's Yummy Smoothies!!

Hannah's Yummy Smoothies!!

My daughter dreams of being a rock star chef. Yes you read that right. She wants to cook amazing food in her own restaurant some day and sing to people while she does it.
I thinks it's a great idea! She loves to cook (and is great at it;) and is a natural singer. I mean this kids voice is going to rock the world she is so good! (And that is the professional singer in me talking not the mom)
So I decided that I would share this video of her making her classic smoothy recipe. This is one of the first things she learned to do all on her own... with only minimal hovering from mom who is worried about her using kitchen appliances.

Smoothie Recipe in case you need it again. 

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries

1 Cup Plain Yogurt 

1 Cup Apple Juice

1 Tablespoon Sugar 

If you use flavored yogurt then you don't need to add the sugar and it tastes just as good. 

Any way! Try to make the smoothies yourself. I know you will love them:)

When Dad Was Gone: The true story

When Dad is Gone: The True Story

Have you ever thought you were supermom? Have you ever felt invinsible?
Well I have. Several times, in fact. And every time I felt like I was the best mother since motherhood was invented something always happened to bring me crashing back to earth and face my human failings.
What happened to cause my recent realization? I am so glad you asked...

It all started a few weeks ago when my hubby told me he had to be out a town fro a few days for work. Since he usually doesn't have to travel for more than a day trip, a few days away sounded like an eternity! Still, I was determined that my kids and I would have a successful time while he was away. (Successful meaning we all survived with minimal tears)
So the day of the trip came and I and my 5 kids all waved good-bye to daddy. I got all the kids ready for school and at their various buildings in pretty good time. I kept the house clean, cooked a nutritious dinner, got everybody to their different evening events, and even managed to babysit for a friend of mine. When daddy came home 2 days later I felt great. I had done it!
As my reward for those few days of single mom-ness I got to go to the temple and Time Out For Women. Let me tell you, I felt great! I was renewed and motivated for everything I needed to do in my life.
Then came the big trip!
My wonderful husband had another work related trip that would take him across the country for 5 days. (This is not mentioning all the time he had to spend at work to get ready for this trip) Well, you can imagine that it was a busy time for all of us here at home. But I was still determined that I would be successful. Nay, that I would thrive under in this situation. After all, what is the point in having a good week followed but the amazing uplifting of temple attendance if you can't do better the next week?
Despite the task of taking care of my 5 small children all on my own we had a great week. We were all where we needed to be almost as soon as we needed to be there. We ate dinner together every night. We even got to video call daddy every night which the kids loved.
By Saturday I was feeling so good about everything that we made it an outing day. We went to the grocery store and got doughnuts from the bakery, went to the library and had some play time, and even made a quick stop by the pharmacy. Things were really looking good. I only had one day left to make it till by other half came home. Sunday.
Now with 11 o'clock church it would seem hard to be overwhelmed in the morning. It would seem hard to be late. And your right. It would seem to be that way. 
The kids all got up around their normal time. They did their normal Sunday morning things and even all got dressed on their own. This were running so smoothly that I had no problem sitting down to feed the baby at 9. I was so confident in my ability to get my kids to church on time that I even started to plan my Facebook post for the day. It was going to be a photo of all of us sitting in a church pew a whole 10 minutes before the meeting started with the caption "Rocking it as a single mom."
HAHAHAHAHA
Oh the arrogance! Oh the inability to understand what a child is capable of in just a matter of minutes!
After I got the baby down for a brief nap I went downstairs to get everyone's hair brushed. And that's when I first noticed a curly lock of hair laying on the bathroom floor. I called in my oldest and she informed me of which child it belonged to. Brookly Jane!
I called the offending child to me and noticed for the first time that someone had indeed cut her hair... All of her bangs were now less that and inch long!
I haven't ever seen such a bad hack job before and it looked bad. I mean BAD! I lost it then, completely lost it. I started to laugh so hard I was crying! It was hilarious!
Then I noticed that my informant, Hannah, also had something going on with the front of her hair. She had cut her bangs off as well!
She was the one who had been chopping hair and was trying to blame it on her little sister. Wow!
It's really hard for kids to understand how upset you are about a situation when you are leaning on the wall because you are laughing so hard. This was the perfect end to my perfect week and served me right. I had been so cocky and so full of pride.
Honestly, I wasn't even that mad until I saw Clark. His big sister had cut a chunk from that back of his hair. Not my precious baby curls! I really think that if Liz had any hair the girls would have cut that too. (They didn't try it on Hyrum because he freaks out if scissors come any where near his head.)

It took me the next hour to even up everyone's hair. There wasn't much to be done about Brookly except let it grow out, poor kid. Hannah thought she looked beautiful after her hair cut.
But Clark, my poor Clark, had to have his hair buzzed. The entire time I kept thinking "By Odin's beard you shall not cut my hair!"
In the end we did make it to church. We were only a few minutes late but it all worked out. And I learned a valuable lesson from it all. Don't plan your prideful Facebook posts first thing in the morning or you will have a crazy day;)

Replacing A Coat Zipper

Replacing A Coat Zipper

Do you have kids? They go through clothes like crazy. Okay let's be totally honest here, kids go through everything like crazy! But clothing kids, especially if you have a large family, can get very expensive.
I am a firm believer that if you want to have a large family, even on one income like my hubby and I do so I can stay home with the kids, then Heavenly Father will provide a way. That way comes in lots of forms. Everything from babysitting other children, to coupons, to being really thrifty by buying a coat when its on sale at the end of the previous winter season. Yup, that's how I got my son his awesome new coat for the currant school year.
Another way we have been able to live frugally is to mend things before we resort to buying something new. In order to keep up with all the wear and tear kids put on their clothes I had to learn to sew. My mom taught me the basics when I was in high school and I filled in the rest with lots of practice. It has come in handy! Because I can do some basic sewing I am able to save money by repairing my families clothing items instead of replacing them all the time.
When the zipper on my sons coat broke after just a few weeks of wear I was pretty annoyed. But I didn't just throw out the coat. I spent $3 on a new zipper and now his coat is as good as new!

1. The first thing you have to do is find out what size of zipper you need. Measure your existing coat zipper for the size. Zippers sold in the stores are measured from the bottom of the zipper to the extra fabric at the top. It's usually 1 inch of extra space that you don't really need. Get a zipper that's as close to the zipper you need as possible.
If you are having trouble getting a new zipper that is just the right size get one that is a tiny bit on the small side. It is better to deal with a new zipper that is 1 inch too small than to have one that is 1 inch too big. Trust me!

2. Next, get the old zipper out of there! This requires a seam ripper and some patience. It takes a while to get old zippers out since most coats have them sewn in really well. Do your best and take your time. As you remove the old zipper keep track of all the places the coat was attached to it. Then you will be able to attach the new zipper in the same places. 

3. Pin the new zipper in. Make sure you have kept careful track of where the old zipper was attached so you can put the new one in the exact same place. If you look at my picture you will see that part of my zipper is pinned the 'wrong' direction. This is so I can sew it to the interior of the front of the coat before I attach it to the inside lining of the coat.

If your new zipper is a bit too small, that's ok. You can either tuck the extra inch in and put the zipper all the way at the top of the coat. This gives you an inch of loose fabric at the bottom. Or you can use the whole zipper and have an extra inch at the top. 

4.  Now the fun part. Sewing the zipper in! If you have a zipper foot for your sewing machine then thank your angels up above. If not, it's ok. I don't have one and am still able to do lots of sewing projects.
On the side that has the zipper tab sew half of the new zipper in. Keeping the needle embedded in the zipper, lift the foot so you can move the zipper tab past the needle. Put the foot back down and continue on your way. You may need to back stitch a few stitches to make sure everything is still lined up.

And there you are! You have just replaced a zipper in a coat. Great job! 

Here is a photo of what my sons coat looked like when I was finished. I actually like this zipper way more that the cheap plastic one that used to be there. The new metal one will last much longer. Maybe even through the next boy who wears this coat;)

Rice Pudding

Rice Pudding

German Style 

Rice Pudding with raisins and cinnamon

I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany and Austria. While there I fell in love with German cuisine. I learned from wonderful German women how to make food that was like a piece of heaven on a plate.
Here is one of the first German recipes I learned to make. It's sweet, creaminess is certain to bring a smile to the faces of your family.

Rice Pudding:
2 Cups Milk
1 tsp. Butter
1/2 Cup White Rice
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Heavy Cream, whipped
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

In a medium saucepan bring the milk and butter to a boil. Stir well. Add the rice and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once rice is tender remove pan from heat. Mix in the sugar. Whip the cream and add it to the rice. Stir well. Dish into bowls. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

I enjoy this pudding warm and with some raisins in it. My hubby likes it best after it has been chilled in the fridge. And my kids love it for breakfast! Either way, it is a delightful addition to any day.

Frugal Food

Frugal Food

Lentils and Rice Casserole

It may look simple but this is one tasty meal.

The new year is always the time for new goals. Two of the most common goals deal with money and food. Everyone wants to eat better while spending less money at the same time. And guess what? You can!
Here is one of my most frugal meal recipes. This recipe checks a ton of boxes for different  diets such as gluten free and vegetarian. It's cheap, easy, and tastes really good!

Lentils and Rice Casserole:

3 Cups Water
3/4 Cup Uncooked Lentils, rinsed
1/2 Cup Uncooked Brown Rice, rinsed
3/4 Cup Chopped Onion
1 Cup Frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Basil
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp. Oregano
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Place all ingredients, except cheese, into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix well. Cover with tinfoil. Bake at 300 degrees for 2-2 1/2 hours, until tender and water is absorbed. Remove tinfoil. Top with cheese. Bake uncovered until cheese is melted.

And that's it! It takes me 5 minutes to throw this meal together and it can bake while I drive kids to all their activities. Easy, healthy, and frugal.

Thriving with a New Baby

Thriving With A New Baby

(Tips from a 5 time mom)

You are going to have a baby. Congratulations! A new baby is a gift right from heaven. This going to be a wonderful experience as you watch your little blessing grow and develop.
With all the excitement of the new baby it can often be a shock when reality starts to set in. There are night feedings, lack of sleep, and lots of diapers taking up your time. It can be a bit overwhelming.
Don't worry. This to shall pass!
Until it does, here are my 4 S's that have helped me survive and the thrive with my babies.

S #1. Sandwich
I know that sounds silly but it is vital for you and your baby that you feed yourself. Being hangry is not a good thing. l say a sandwich because it is quick, easy, and only takes one  hand to feed yourself. You can even eat a sandwich while you nurse!

S #2. Shower
With all the sleepless nights and demands on my time I have found that a shower helps me feel human. Forget doing your hair and makeup, just get yourself clean and in some fresh pj's. A simple shower can be so refreshing to a tiered body.

S #3. Sleep
It's totally true what they say: If your baby is sleeping, you should sleep. Chores can wait. You need your rest! If you have older children then see if they can go over to a friends house during one of your new babies nap times. This will let you get some much needed z's.
The very best help I ever got after having a new baby was a friend of mine offering to take my older children over to her house so I could get some rest. She would even pick up my kids so I could get some sleep sooner. It was a life saver!

S #4. Scriptures
Take the time to read your scriptures. Taking care of your spirit is equally as important as taking care of your body. I like to read while I nurse. I have to be sitting down so might as well be productive. Or another way is listening to the audio scriptures. I have downloaded the LDS Gospel Library app on my phone. The app is free and I can listen to the scriptures being read to me. So handy!

So, here are my 4 S's. They are short, sweet, and to the point. But I do hope they help you as much as they have helped me. With them, I have felt like I have succeeded in my recovery from having my mew blessing.

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

It's that time of the year!

I know that you can buy canned pumpkin pack in the store, but have you ever wondered what a pumpkin pie would have tasted like in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder? Well, I sure have. And since pumpkin pie is my favorite pie ever I had to try it from scratch. Let me tell you, real pumpkin puree it is like a bite of creamy heaven.

There was one year I had a neighbor with a large garden who had grown pumpkins. A lot of pumpkins! Thankfully, she was willing to share them with the whole neighborhood.

I ended up with about eight pumpkins in my garage and no idea what to do with them. But you know me, I had to do something with all these pumpkins. Waist is not an option with me. After a few jack-o-lanterns I found out how to make pumpkin puree. It has been one of the best, the yummiest, things I have ever done.

Before I tell you how to make your own pumpkin puree there is a warning... Once you use pure pumpkin puree in a pie or other recipe you will never, EVER, want to go back to the stuff from the can. It is that good!

1st. Start with a pumpkin. Most stores sell the little pie pumpkins next to the big jack-o-lantern ones. While the little pumpkins are grown to be made into puree I have used both kinds and have ended up with great puree from both kinds. The smaller ones will usually give you a darker colored puree, if you were wondering;)

2nd. Let's gut that bad boy! Cut your pumpkin in half so you can easily get to all the gooey stuff in the middle. Discard the stringy stuff but keep the seeds for roasting. You don't have to get too picky about how 'clean' the inside of your pumpkin is.

3rd. Once your pumpkin is cleaned out, slice it into smaller sections and arrange on a baking sheet. Face up is best.

4th. Put them into the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until they are tender. Poke them with a fork to see if they are done. The pointy edges should be just about to get crispy.

5th. Let the pumpkin slices cool enough that you can handle them. Then turn them over so you can pull the skins off. Yes, the skins should pull right off. If not, then pop them back in the oven for 5 more minutes. (There was a lot happening in the kitchen right about here so I stopped taking pictures. Sorry)

6th. With the skins removed it is time to puree! I use a blender but there are lots of ways to turn a pumpkin to mush. If you decide to use a blender like I do, place several chunks into the blender and push puree. You will need to add some water to get things moving. Add water a single Tablespoon at a time, just until things get moving. You want puree, not soup! (Before you ask, yes I did make that mistake one year.)

And that is it! Once you are done blending you have some awesome, homemade puree that you can use right away.

If you have more than you need, store in in freezer storage bags for future use. I put 2 cups of puree in each  bag and throw them in the freezer! OK, not throw. I carefully make sure each bag can lay perfectly flat so they take up less room. What can I say, I am a neat freak;)

You can store it in a freezer for 6 to 8 months this way... OK, more like over a year. I made a huge batch of pumpkin puree once and only just finished it 3 years later! Wow, so glad I was honest with you all.

Coming soon... Homemade Pumpkin Pie!

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

It's always a  struggle to get really good gluten free baked goods. But fear not! I have an amazing gluten free blueberry muffin recipe for you.

Here is what you need:

2 Cups Flour (Check out my Gluten Free flour mix!)
1 Cup White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 Cups fresh or frozen Blueberries (if using frozen berries do NOT thaw)
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

AND a Mini muffin pan. I have tried these muffins in a regular sized pan and they just don't come out as well so we always go for mini muffins. Plus, my kids love the smaller size!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the blueberries and gently toss. (This will keep them from sinking as the muffins bake.) In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until moistened. Don't over mix. Grease your mini muffin cups. Fill them to 2/3rd's full. (I use my cookie scoop to get them all the same size.) Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Well, there you have it. Straight to the point Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins. You can use other berries if you want but these are my daughters favorite. They also keep in the freezer for 2 months. Just bake, freeze, then warm them up so you can enjoy a mini treat!

Less Expensive and Easy Gluten Free Flour

Less Expensive and Easy Gluten Free Flour

Brown Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum

I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance 4 years ago. It was shortly after my 3rd baby was born. I was in heaven with my new bundle of joy... until I started doubling over in pain.

The stomach cramps got so intense that my husband almost had to carry me out to the car so we could go to the hospital. It took a lot of coaxing to get me to cooperate but I finally agreed to a stomach biopsy. The result? I had a section of my stomach that was being agitated by the gluten I was eating and it was causing all my pain. Crazy, I know! 

My first concern was that I didn't really know what to eat. I had watched my grandfather deal with Celiac disease for years and it was no fun. I feared I would only get eat Chex Cereal and rice cakes for the rest of my life. 

Then I started to do some research and found that a lot of people had pioneered the Gluten Free way for me. Let me just say thank you to all those people! I took a lot of idea's from other people, put my own spin on it, and got some great recipes that have made my diet change barely noticeable! 

The first thing I needed was a good gluten free flour. I tried a ton, from store brands to home made mixes. (Beware! Some store brands use bean flour and that stuff has a weird after taste.) 

After a lot of trial and error, I finally found a flour blend that is great!

Here is my recipe: 2 Cups Brown Rice Flour
                              2/3 Cup Potato Starch
                              1/3 Cup Tapioca Starch
                              1 Tablespoon Xanthan Gum

First up is the rice flour. I like to grind my own rice flour (aka my darling hubby will grind a bunch of brown rice into flour for me. Thank you, honey!) You can also buy rice flour, but I find that using a food mill to make my own is much cheaper.

Next I take the rice flour my hubby ground and mix it with the Potato Starch (also called Potato Flour), Tapioca Starch, and Xanthan Gum. Sift these together really well. You want it all blended so you can use this just like regular flour.

Finally, store it all in an air tight container to use at any future time. Here you see a big container of GF flour. I make a lot at one time so I will have some on hand for several months. Start out by trying the smaller recipe you see above. If it works out as well for you as it did for me then start making it in larger quantities. It will 'keep' just like regular flour.

I find that this flour can be substituted on a 1:1 ratio with regular flour for most recipes. I will be posting some of my favorite GF recipes in following blog posts!

Settling In

Settling In

That part about moving everyone forgets to mention!

Finally made it home!

You have your new job, you purchased your new home, and after weeks of waiting to close, you are finally able to move in. And then what?
Getting settled into your new home and community is one of the tougher, though often overlooked, parts of moving. You have to undo all your long hours of packing and reestablish a routine with your children. Here are some things I have learned from getting settled time and again.

1. Kids stuff goes on the truck last and comes off 1st

Moving is rough on kids. It completely upsets their routine. And new places can be scary! The sooner you get your kids into their new rooms with their familiar toys and furnishings the sooner they will start to feel at home. If you feel your kids are old enough then have them unpack and organize their own room. This is also a great way to distract your little helpers if you are not quit ready for their help.

2. Find a Church

You may think this one is a bit different but I have found that a church congregation is an invaluable recourse for getting to know your new community. Not sure what doctor to go to? Ask someone at church. Looking for a good preschool? Ask someone at church. In my new congregation I have met people who have preschools, teach dance lessons, are delivery nurses with great insight into which doctor to use, and so on. Church is where you get all your questions about your new town answered.
Having trouble finding a congregation? Don't worry. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints loves to have visitors! Just go to www.lds.org. In the middle of the home page is a link called Meetinghouse Locator. Click on it. Enter your address into the search bar that appears on the left hand side of the page. Then a meeting house address will appear, along with the meetings time and the name of the bishop. I love that there is a map to show you how to get to the church building!

3. Story Time is Mom Time

After I get to know moms at church I always love to meet more people at community events. One of the best places to meet other moms is at the story times offered by the public library. I have met so many great moms who have children close to my kids ages this way.

4. Prioritize Unpacking 

When I unpack I go for the essentials first. My kitchen is unpacked and organized 1st thing. As for my all the pictures that usually go on the walls... Well, let's just say I am more concerned about finding a good location for the play dough than hanging my old bridal photos;)

5. Register your children for school 

If you are lucky enough to move in the summer then you have plenty of  time to get your kids all signed up for school. If you are moving during the school year then this will need to be done much sooner. Don't forget to have copies of those immunizations for the new school. I forgot to get them for this move and have had to call up the old doctors office at least 5 times now to have something faxed somewhere. Plan ahead to save yourself some time.

6. Decide which Doctor and Dentist are right for you

This always gets people really worked up but I find that if I don't like the doctor or dentist then I can just switch to a different one. That isn't to say that I just pick someone at random. I read all the doctor's bio's before our first visit. I ask all the new moms I meet which doctor or dentist they prefer. Even with all that I won't know if this particular person will work well with my family until I meet them. Be willing to try out a few people if you have the chance.

7. Set up play dates for your kids soon!

Yup. I am on of those moms that will ask you to a play date as soon as I meet you. I am all about getting a play date set up so my kids can meet other children. Again, this helps them settle into the new environment as much as me. Don't feel stressed that you have to have someone over to your house right away. Parks are great places to meet up with, or just to meet, other moms with kids. I really to find that the sooner my kids make new friends the happier they. Anything for our babies, right?

So those are some of the things that I do when I move to a new town. I have tested each one of these suggestions multiple times and find that they work great for me. What are some of the things that you do to settle in to your new home? I would love to hear what you have to say!

Kids Snack Bags

Kids Snack Bags! 

Travel food for your little ones

My kids love to have what everyone else is having for a snack. It always looks like more fun than their own snacks. So I have come up with a great idea for our family. Snack Bags!

I take the kids to the store and let them each pick a bulk snack item that they can share with their siblings. (Avoid chocolate or yogurt coating since they like to melt in heat). Then the kids get to place their snack in their siblings snack bags. It is an awesome sharing experience.

Now, I don't make just a few of these bags. I always make enough for an entire trip and then some. Sounds like a lot of work? Have your children help you out like I have mine. We have the snack assembly line down!

Ingredients for this snack bag batch are gold fish, fruit snacks, vanilla wafers, cheese-its, mini marshmallows, and strawberry wafer cookies. These bags are for our move so we made them extra fun! Make your's according to your children's tastes. We make sure everyone gets the same amount in each bag. I also got the kids new good 2 grow juice bottles. I love these bottles because they are dishwasher safe and are just the right size for water bottles.

Once done, I store all the snack bags in a sturdy box with a lid so they don't get crushed. I find a plastic shoe box works really well. Keep it in easy access so you can pass out snacks in the car. Have a great trip!

Packing With Kids!

Packing with Kids

(It's more fun than you think!)

Baby has packed up his most important things. Himself!

Packing with kids can be the most daunting task some moms undertake. But it doesn't have to be. It can be a great teaching opportunity with small children. Here are some of the things I have learned from all the times I have moved with my little children. 

1. Cut that Clutter

This is the 1st step in any move. You know that you have stuff you don't need. You know your kid has been hoarding a gift bag from some birthday party for over a month. Let's take a little time to clear some of that out. Let your kids keep their treasures but get rid of the junk. 

Do this early so the move isn't associated with getting rid of things. Help you child to consider this as a spring cleaning moment. 

2. A bit at a time 

Pack a few boxes at a time. It will be less daunting for you and your kids if the house is packed in stages rather than one massive packing spree. Seasonal stuff or things you haven't used in a while are great to start with. Keep necessities out till the end. 

I have found I can back a lot when baby is asleep so make nap time your packing time! 

Baby packed up the crepe paper for me!

3. Let the kids help 

I have my kids help me pack boxes. I teach them how to pack breakables, organize boxes, and how to use all the space. Doing this together as a family helped me to know some of their concerns. 

My 3 year old was worried that everything was going in a box and she would never see it again. I would have to tell her over and over that is was all going to our new house. Finally, the concept sunk in and she was fine to pack up everything because 'it will be at the new house with me.' 

4. Have children pack their own boxes

I gave each of my children 3 boxes. One was for the truck and one was for the things they wanted to stay with them through the whole move and the last was to play with. (Kids love boxes so let one entertain them!) The children were so excited to get to choose what went in each box. While I did have to supervise I was able to let the kids pack their own rooms! 

5. Call in the Calvary

If you have offers from friends to help you pack or watch the kids take them up on these offers! I had a kind woman from church offer to watch the kids and another offer to help me pack. Thanks to those two ladies I was able to get my whole kitchen packed in one hour!

Don't hesitate to ask if you need help. 

6. Cleaning up afterwards

Do you have to clean the house after you move out? I have always had to and paying a cleaning company is not a luxury I can afford. If you have a cleaning list from your landlord, break it up over a few days. And again, get your kids to help you. I give my kids Magic erasers and have them wipe down anything they can reach. They are such helpful children! 

I won't lie to you, moving is stressful. But guess what? You can do this! Packing doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience. At our house, we crank up Disney Radio and go to town filling boxes. My philosophy is this: As long as it gets there in one piece then it's all good!

Control is often an Illusion

Control is Often an  Illusion

There is an interesting idea that we as adults often put a lot of stock into: Control.
Control is when your personal will is what will dictate the actions or outcomes.  In parenting, we believe that we have control over our children.  On rare occasion this is true.  Our children will listen and obey exactly as we want and this produces the desired outcomes.  More often, our children do not listen and obey exactly as we want or the outcome is not what we wanted.  One of the major reasons for this is differences in perspective.
Perspective is how things are viewed.  When we have the same perspective as our children we have a much better chance of understanding them and they understanding us.  Consider this example: When you are looking at another person and say that you'd like the object on the right, the other person can be easily confused.  Do you mean your right or their right?  This is a very simple example, but it helps bring the concept out.
Another idea of different perspectives that I get all the time with my kids is what is complete or enough.  When you ask a kid to put their toy in their room, they do exactly what you ask and will usually just throw it into their room.  After several things from around the house being put in their room, I will walk by and see that there is a pile of stuff on their floor that needs to be put away.  From my parent perspective, putting something in your room meant putting it in the correct place in their room.  They were only told to put the toy in their room.  Now I have to work at a more specific level with my kids on putting away each of the toys in their proper place in their room.  After a while kids may have the same perspective on what it means to put something in their room as parents have about it, but it will take work to get there.