Hulling Strawberries With A Straw - Great Idea!

Let me tell you, I have found so many smart and talented women out there in the blogosphere. Here is a great example!!

This post is from Amy @
 New Nostalgia 

"My quest to recapture the simplicity of yesterday and apply it to today."

My girls and I spent the afternoon at a strawberry patch, picking strawberries with good friends of ours (Hi Carm!)  It was so much fun! We came home with almost 40 lbs of strawberries. I plan on making freezer jam, strawberry pancake syrup, smoothies, popsicles, and strawberry bread.
`

We started the big job of washing and hulling the strawberries right when we got home.  I plan on mashing them up, then putting them in jars to freeze, thanks to this post I read. (she talks about why she likes to mash them instead of freezing them whole).

I am so happy that I learned this secret to easy hulling from my step mom.  All you have to do is poke em' with a straw!  You start at the bottom of the strawberry, push the straw up, and the stem and white bit just pop right up!  My girls think it is quite fun, & my middle girl wanted to just keep going, even after hulling 10 lbs with me.  I said "Wow, honey, you are quite the hard worker"  She said "yup, as long as I have gum in my mouth" ???  I guess blowing bubbles while hulling strawberries is her thing.

Have any other ideas of how I can use up these berries?  I would love more ideas and recipes if you've got 'em!
`

This post is linked to:
Tip Me Tuesdays @ The Tip Junkie

Powdered Laundry Detergent

I shared with you in a post about some of my kids that suffer with eczema. I have heard a lot about people making their own Laundry Detergent, not only is it a great idea for saving money but really a great idea if you suffer from allergies or eczema.

Powdered Laundry Detergent
`
2 - Fels-Naptha bar soap grated (comes out to about 4 cups) You can find this in the grocery store laundry aisle. Grate it on a cheese grater 

2 cups - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

2 cups - of Borax comes from the grocery store laundry aisle and some hardware stores.

1/2 cup - OxyClean or Baking Soda (not necessary, but we add it) 

Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 6 Cups detergent. (Approx. 80 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

 TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP:
`
We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Old Fashioned Handmade Lye Soap, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile, Zote White bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can often be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2 per batch.

Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes
`
(instead of fabric softener which is so bad for you and the environment, you don't even want to know)

1  Cup White Vinegar - Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.

25-30 drops essential oil – optional. (Straight vinegar works just fine though.)

A great website - 10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes & Homemade Laundry Detergent FAQ

Singing In The Rain (Gene Kelly)

I love this!!

Am I Doing Enough?

from mormon mommy blogs

Recently, Sister Julie B. Beck, General Relief Society President, came to speak at my local Stake Center for a fireside. I felt so very blessed to be able to hear her counsel and guidance. Throughout the fireside many questions were asked but one question in particular stood out to me: "How can I do it all? How can I know I am doing enough?"

I was very interested in Sister Beck's answer.

"You will never have enough time, money, or energy to do all the things you would like to do," she stated.

She went on to say that the thing that helped her the most was to prioritize.

Sister Beck divided her life into three categories:

1. Essential Things (things you must do to attain eternal life):

• Pray Daily -- don't wait to pray, because you will never have a convenient moment.
• Scripture Study -- every day spend time in the scriptures.
• Temple Attendance -- whenever you can.
• Regular Church Attendance 

2. Necessary Things (things you need to do to get through life):

• Eating, sleeping, bathing
• Serving
• Getting an education
• Managing your resources

3. Nice-To-Dos (things that are not essential but you enjoy doing):

• Reading, gardening, sewing
• Using the computer
• Watching television or movies

Sister Beck counseled to focus on the Essentials, then the Necessary, and then the Nice-To-Do's. She also said to look at all things, such as trials or new experiences, as opportunities instead of challenges. Your attitude makes a huge difference, and what you do now affects who you become. Your main focus should always be Eternal Life.
After I left I felt edified and uplifted. So maybe I can't do it all, but I can do as much as I can . . . and you know what?

That's good enough.

Happy Pink Saturday - Flair

Happy Pink Saturday!

Whatever you do, do it with Flair!!

How Sweet The Sound

Today it's all about Ballroom Dance!!

They did it!!!


BYU are the 2010 Blackpool Latin Formation Team Champions

It was an 8 team semi final and a 5 team final!!

BYU BDC sweeps Blackpool Festival formation competition!

BDC Latin team with coaches and choreographers

Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company won 1st place in the Latin team formation competition tonight at the Blackpool Dance Festival. That is back to back wins, Standard and Latin! Congratulations to the dancers; their coaches, Lee & Linda Wakefield and their professional choreographers. They have put in many upon many hours.

 Katie, Ian & Toffer.

 BDC Latin team with trophy

 Alissa (that's my girl) & Toffer with trophy.

2nd place: China
3rd place: China: Beijing Dance Academy
4th place: Germany
5th place: Utah Valley University

Winter Gardens - Ballroom
~
This post will contain all the info and pictures from Blackpool (England) for the BYU Latin Formation Team. As soon as I hear how they did!

Alright Latin team. Today is the day. You know what to do. Leave it all on the floor and bring it home! Go BYU!

Welcome to Feel Good Friday! ~ 5 Good Things

I love this idea!!

presented by: the girl next door grows up

I have found that a lot of my bloggy friends reading posts about being positive, so I thought I might try my very own meme.  I just want everyone to feel good and have some happy thoughts as you begin the weekend.  
Are you with me?!  

Step 1: 
Pick one of these prompts and write about it on your blog!  You can: 

• Just make a list. List 5 things that made you really happy this week. No matter how bad or boring you think your week was, I bet you can find 5 things.   
• Write about something that happened to you this week that really made you smile.  Was it your child, husband, or maybe a complete stranger did to you?
• Write about something that YOU did for someone else that really made them happy or laugh.
• Is there something you treasure so much that every single time you look at it, it brings you happiness?  Post a pic and tell everyone about it.
• Having a hard week and can't find one good thing about it?  Well then, what is your happy place?  What do you think of that makes you happy? A past vacation?  A childhood memory?  We want to know!

Step 2:
Come back to my blog on Friday and link up with Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.  Then go and read at least one other blog and leave them a comment to make their day brighter.

Step 3:
Have fun.  Feel good.  Smile. 
Then, start looking for all of the good things you can write about for next week!  Once you start looking for the "good"  you will find it everywhere!

5 things that made me really happy this week.

1) Monday was Memorial Day; I could not help but think about the freedom we enjoy. There are so many who have given their lives for what we have. Donny put our American Flag out in the front yard. It made happy to watch it blow gently in the spring breeze and for what it represents. As I enjoyed a great BBQ with my family I know that I am truly blessed.    

                                                            

2) The weather this week has made a turn. We have had a very cold and rainy spring. This week we have had blue skies with puffy white clouds. I love feeling of the sun on my face.

3) Something that makes me happy, this week and every moment for just over two months is my new grandbaby. Her amazing blue eyes, her wonderful smile, her yummy rolls and cheeks. Babies are the closest thing to heaven we can get.

4) My in-laws have been in town for two family weddings, what has become a tradition for our family when Grandpa comes to visit is he takes my kids shopping for shoes. It makes my heart happy to see my kids in their new shoes. Thank you Dad.

5) Another thing that has made my heart happy this week is to see one of the dreams for my daughter Alissa happen. Alissa dances on the BYU Ballroom Team and is in Blackpool, England at the Blackpool Dance Festival (World Championships) The Standard Team competed on Wednesday (June 2nd) and Won and now The Latin Team competes today (June 4th) Alissa is on the Latin Team. Go Alissa , Go BYU, Represent for the USA!!

The winning team for Standard with the trophy

Look at that amazing ballroom in the background

The BYU Standard Ballroom Formation Team - Champions!! 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Rare Footage of Judy Garland singing for WWII Troops - 1943

Post-It Note Tuesday #4

Memorial Day - At the Races! - 5/31/10

We had a very nice Memorial Day; we enjoyed a great BBQ and then went to the Rocky Mountain Raceway to watch the races, Thank you to the Hall family we were able to attend and we had a great time!

Qivana has a car it races in the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series Late Models – it is owned by HALL Motorsports - and it is the metaboliq car for Qivana. Derek Hall is the CEO of Qivana and has had a race team for years.

Katie & Devin

Donny & Lindsay in the stands

Christi & Donny

Derek and Devin with "Rocky" the mascot

04 - Metaboliq car for Qivana -

 owed by HALL Motorsports and driven by Lynn Hardy

2010 Chevy Camaro: Official Pacecar

All the kids had a turn to ride in the pace car, starting or restarting races!!

How fun is that?

Shelby getting out after her turn

Go Sierra!

Lindsay & Katie

It's a 3/8 - Mile Asphalt Oval, 5 Degree Straightaway (800' long) 7-11 Degree Corners - it's fast and loud

Devin, Derek and Katie in the pace car

Katie got to award the trophy to the winner of the  YOUNG CHEVROLET 100 Rocky Mountain Challenge Series Late Models. The winner - 03 car- Steve Jones of Boise, Idaho

Lynn Hardy driver of the 04 car, The Metaboliq car for Qivana and HALL Motorsports

and when you know the owners and the driver you get to sit in the race car.

 (so cool!!)

What fun memories we made!!