A Mother's Conference Journal!

I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!

The gospel never ceases to amaze me,

especially at Conference time.

I love to watch as people from all over the world

come together in obedience, to listen to a Living Prophet

and Apostles.

It's just AMAZING!!!

I have always taken notes during each of the conference speakers.

I know that the talks can be printed off almost immediately

after the session is over now days,

but for me ... writing it down makes it more personal.

I have received so many answers during this process.

I don't know if it's because writing it down makes

me listen more intently or what.

Just in case you haven't noticed .. . I'm a very visual person,

and even though just writing in a regular notebook was

fine, I wanted to make it into something I would

want to look at over and over again.

Hence . . .

MY CONFERENCE JOURNAL

was created.

Here It Is . . .

Cover Page
(This page slips into a 3-ring Binder.)

Back Page

Spine

Page 1
(Slip these pages into a sheet protector.)

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

I usually print two pages per speaker.

One to write on during conference, and the other

for personal study to use with the Conference Ensign.

I added a personal challenge for me and for my family

to the page I use during Conference.

This seems to be when the things I need to do in

my home and with my family stand out to me.

Even though we are being addressed

as a huge group . . .

The messages can be very personal!
These binders can be added to every conference.
It's an AWESOME reference as well as a
Fun Visiting Teaching Gift!
(Thanks for the idea Valerie!)
I'm soooo excited for Conference!

It feels like Christmas every Conference weekend  . . . I LOVE IT!!!

Here's the PDF:

My Conference Journal Packet PDF
Note:
These pages can be printed in black and white
if you don't want to use colored ink!

Hope you have a GREAT Conference Weekend!

Still more ideas to come!!!

A Few Conference Ideas ... Are On The WAY!!!

As I was wondering through the store

trying to think of ways to help my family

REALLY LISTEN

to Conference, I couldn't help but notice that the shelves

were filled with colored plastic eggs.

They were EVERYWHERE!!!

The more I thought about these wonderful

little things,

the more I began to realize that . . .

The plastic egg possibilities are endless!

Here's a way to make this Conference

EGGS-tra Special using plastic eggs!

Place a basket of plastic eggs on a small table in the room

you will be watching conference.

Have each family member write a question or two

from each of the talks on the cards included in the PDF.

Questions Like:

What did President Monson talk about?

What were two scriptures mentioned in the firsts session?

What color was President Eyring's tie?

Fold the cards and put them inside of the eggs.

The filled eggs will go into a separate basket.

If you have a bit of an age difference,

you may want to divide the eggs into two different colors.

One color for the older kids and the other for the

younger children.

That way, your littles won't give you the deer-in-the-headlights

face when you ask them a deep question about the atonement or

something like that!

Smaller children can also color pictures of

what the speaker is talking about on the

back of the Question Cards.

After each session

(Which just happens to be near meal time ... and a great time for a gathering!)

sit down as a family and take turns opening the eggs.

If you can answer the question correctly . . .

YOU WIN!

Prizes can be anything from

Treats to Points!

Points could used for some AMAZING PRIVILEGES like:

No Dishes for YOU!

Oh, the JOY! ... I just happen to be the best listener ... EVER!

(At least when it comes to conference talks!)

Here are the Question Cards:

Here's the PDF:

Eggs-tra Special Conference Cards PDF

It might take a little more effort to...

but it will be soooo worth it!

More Conference Helps

Are On The Way!

It's Time To . . .

"Batten Down the Hatches!"

At least I think that's how they say it!

Water Heaters, Ovens, Bookcases, Refrigerators, Freezers,

and Television Sets all need to be strapped to walls to prevent

tipping and shifting during an earthquake.

If you have a gas stove, straps

are very important.

An earthquake can cause the stove to shift

causing the gas lines to move and break.

Cupboard doors should have latches to keep

dishes and glasses from falling out.

Use Picture Hook Hangers

to securely hang pictures.

Hooks along with a little Museum Wax will

keep pictures in place during an earthquake.

Museum Wax can also be used to

anchor collectibles and keepsakes to shelves.

Each person should keep a pair of shoes

and a flashlight by the bed.

This will help to prevent cuts from broken glass.

Flashlights will offer comfort to little ones

and provide needed light in a power outage.

So...

Go through YOUR house and

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!

All of the items listed above

can be found in your local hardware store.

Earthquake Prep!

I don't know about you,

but I haven't slept very well since

the earthquake in Japan!

I have worried myself sick hoping

that I have done my part to teach

earthquake preparedness...

I believe it's time for a review!

Here's what I have learned from my

Japanese brother's experience.

My brother Akira sent a text at 1:30 the morning

of the earthquake letting us know he was OK, and that he loved us.

He ended up spending 3 days in his office in Tokyo

before he was able to get home to his wife and two sons.

Their story was featured on the Channel 5 News with Carol Mikita.

Here's a link to that story:

Quake Brings Two Families Back Together
You can watch the clip and read the story if you want
to know even more of the details!

Akira made the difficult decision to send his wife and sons

to Utah to live with my parents because things

in Japan are so dangerous right now.

We are so glad to have them here with us.

In talking to Yuko, I realized just how important it is

to have on hand:

WATER

FOOD

A HEAT SOURCE

LIGHT

SOME CASH

AND

A PLAN!!!

Akira first learned about food storage during the 3 years

he lived with us as a foreign exchange student.

He and his wife visited about two years ago and I

was able to show them my food storage and

emergency preparedness plan.
He prepared his own food storage
in Japan and will be able to take care of his parents.

It's very hard to hear that mothers don't have

diapers, formula, food and water.

It's cold and conditions are very difficult.

I am even more determined to be prepared in every way.

I not only want to be able to take care of my family,

but I want to be able to help others as well.
I would like to issue you the same challenge!!!

Tonight for Family Home Evening

Review Your Family
Earthquake Preparedness Plan!

Watch for More

Earthquake Preparedness Ideas

throughout the week!

Easy Swiss Steak!

...Bag Meal #3...

Easy Swiss Steak!

Here's the Recipe:

1 Quart Bottled Stew Meat, Reserve the Juice

2 Tbsp. Dehydrated Celery

Dehydrated Celery is one of my favorite things to use!

(I've get mine in the #10 cans from Walmart.)

1 Envelope Dry Onion Soup Mix

1 (15-ounce) Can Diced Stewed Tomatoes with Juice

1/2 Beef Broth (Reserved from Bottled Stew Meat)

Optional Pantry Item:

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce

(It adds a nice flavor it you have it, but it also tastes great without!)

Instructions:

Place all of the ingredients into a crock-pot

and cook on low for 3 hours.

Serve over potatoes!

Recipe for Garlic Potatoes:

1 1/2 cups Instant Potato Pearls

(Available at the Drypack Cannery.)

3 cups Boiling Water

Garlic Salt to Taste

Canned Butter

(Add as much or as litttle as you like!)

Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes.

Fluff with a fork and serve.

Makes 6 Servings.

Bag Contents:

1 Quart Bottled Stew Meat

2 Tbsp. Dehydrated Celery in a Snack-Sized Ziploc Bag

1 Envelope Dried Onion Soup Mix

1 (15-ounce) Can Diced Stewed Tomatoes

1 1/2 cups Potato Pearls in a Ziploc Bag

2 Bottles Water

1 1/2 Cups Potato Pearls in a Sandwich-Sized Ziploc Bag

Add a pinch of Garlic Salt to the bag of Potato Pearls.

Pantry Item:

Worcestershire Sauce

Here's the Bag Tag PDF:

Easy Swiss Steak and Garlic Mashed Potatoes Bag Tag PDF

Note:

A Days Worth of Bag Meals

Makes a Great Grocery Shower Gift

For A New Bride!

Just a Few LAST MINUTE Ideas for St. Patrick's Day!

I know these ideas are coming about as much

LAST MINUTE as possible,

 but I wanted to at least

add them to the blog .... that way you can hurry

and get something printed for tonight,

or you'll be way ahead for next year!!!

Here's the LuCkY Bingo Game:

Here are the LuCkY Calling Cards:

Here's the PDF:

Lucky Bingo Game Packet PDF

For a FUN Alternative ....

You can copy TWO SETS of the

LuCkY Bingo Calling Cards and

Two Clue Sheets.

Divide group into two teams and send

them on a Treasure Hunt.

How To Play:

Before the game begins you will need

to hide the cards.

That's It!!!

The first team to find all of the TREASURES

is the LuCkY Winner!

Here's the Game Card:

Team 1

Team 2

Just Print...Laminate...And use a Wet-Erase Marker

to mark the one's you find!

Here's the PDF:

Lucky's Treasure Hunt Packet PDF

LuCkY the Leprechaun:

This is a great way to make St. Patrick's Day

fun for your neighbors and your kids will love the

opportunity to be

SNEAKY LITTLE LEPRCHAUN'S themselves!

Fill a small celophane bag with Treats, 1 Gold Dollar,

and a 1 LuCkY Shamrock.

The shamrock can be cut from paper and decorated

with glitter.

Leave LuCkY's bag of treasures it on the doorstep.

Sprinkle some gold glitter, knock and...

RUN LIKE THE WIND!!!

Here's the PDF:

Lucky the Leprechaun Packet PDF

You can also go on a...

Shamrock Walk!

Print Shamrocks, Laminate and Attach To Popsicle Sticks.

Hide Shamrock's along the path of your walk.

Your Little One's will LOVE looking for Treasures along the way!

For MORE St. Patrick's Day Ideas...

Check Out Last Year's Post!

Here's the Link:

St. Patrick's Day Ideas

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #2

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #3

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #4

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #5

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #6

and

St. Patrick's Day Ideas #7

Have a GREAT St. Patrick's Day

EVERYONE!

March Journal Pages!

Here are the Journal Pages for

March and April!

Hopefully things will start settling back into

a schedule soon so you won't have to wait!

Here are the Journal Pages for March:

...Lined...

Here's the PDF:

March Lined Journal Page PDF

...Blank...

Here's the PDF:

March Fill-In-The-Blank Journal Page PDF

Here are the Journal Pages for April:

...Lined...

Here's the PDF:

April Blue Lined Journal Page PDF

...Blank...

Here's the PDF:

April Blue Fill-In-The-Blank Journal Page PDF

April Option #2:

...Lined...

Here's the PDF:

April Pink Lined Journal Page PDF

...Blank...

Here's the PDF:

April Fill-In-The-Blank Journal Page PDF

This is my favorite way

to keep a journal!

Bag Tag Instructions!

I just realized it's been a while since I posted

the Bag Tag Instructions
so this post is here to help with any questions
you might have.

I also wanted to let you know that I will be

making a Bag Meal Recipe Book.
It will be available soon.

(For FREE . . . of course!)

If you have a hard time reading the small font on the tag,

the recipe book will help with that.

Each recipe has it's own page and even I can read the

words without my glasses . . . Woot ...Woot!
Here's the Instruction Page:

Click on the picture to enlarge!

Hope that helps!

It's Time for the Spring Case Lots Sales!!!

This is my FaVoRiTe time of year!

It's Conference Time,

the Grass is starting to show and Tulips are starting to grow,

the Tote are on Sale - which means...

It's time for Spring Cleaning,

and

The Case Lot Sales are Abundant!!!

Woot...Woot!

Here's a List of the Case Lot Sales

In Our Area:

Bowman's: March 2nd - 15th

Winegars: March 2nd - 15th

Fresh Market: March 30th

Macey's: March 30th - April  12th

Smith's: (Details Coming Soon!)

Dick's: (Details Coming Soon!)

Harmons: Case Lot Sales are in January and Again in the Fall

(Maybe we'll get a Grand Opening Sale in May!?!)

See You There!