I tested out my cooking skills on a couple of kids tonight...I made Chicken and Rice (really putting myself out there) WITHOUT a recipe! I couldn't even tell you how much I used of everything...but these were the ingredients:
About 6 chicken tenderloins, cooked by my and shredded mostly by a 3 year old
1 Spanish onion (never used one before)
BUTTER...not too much though...
1 can cream of celery soup
garlic powder
thyme
sage
tarragon
water
It was yummy...the 11 year old boy asked me to teach his Dad how to cook it...pretty high compliment in my book...the 3 year old girl kept saying she didn't like it, and yet she kept eating it, so I am taking it as a big hit...
The only thing I misjudged was how much liquid I needed...I partially cooked the rice earlier, but not completely, and they needed more liquid than just that can of celery and the cup of water I used...I actually had to add it halfway through cooking the casserole in the oven...thankfully it wasn't a bust!
Woot for me and the cooking skills...it was nice to test them out today...tomorrow, spagetti and meatballs...I got some ideas online for ingredients for the meatballs, but again, no definite recipe...
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Water for Haiti Orphanages...
Here is the 'long story short version':
My friend Michael is in Haiti, has been doing some amazing volunteer work with the orphanages there, has been saving lives, modern day super hero kind of stuff...he has finally gotten some major progress on getting long term help for these orphanages through the Salvation Army and the 82nd Airborne...and they are asking for some help:
They need water purification systems at these orphanages...they will be far more cost effective than shipping water in...they will give clean water for a family of 6 for 5 years, amazing pieces of machinery...you can read about them here HERE...(seriously, I want one for my food storage!)
They are $30...there is a factory that produces them in Port-au-Prince that according to my friend (see his blog HERE) is still producing them, and even if they can't, there is a factory in the Dominican Republic (right next door) that is fully able to supply them.
My friend asked us to purchase just one filter...he is trying to get enough for all the orphanages that he is tracking...if you can, go to the below website, purchase a filter, and be sure to put a comment/note saying that it is 'for Michael's Orphans' so that they get to the 82nd airborne for distribution...
http://www.filterpurefilters.com/
If you would like to get the long story, go check out his website:
www.michaelthemaven.com
I was about to apologize for using this blog for soliciting help, but I don't have to...it's MY blog! :) I can use it however I darn well please, and I am not sorry for this. I think it's a good thing he is doing, and I don't mind asking for people to help. I can't do much, but I can spread the word...I am a loud talker, ya know? :) Thanks for helping, and feel free to pass this along...it would be really cool if he gets a lot more help than he expected...
My friend Michael is in Haiti, has been doing some amazing volunteer work with the orphanages there, has been saving lives, modern day super hero kind of stuff...he has finally gotten some major progress on getting long term help for these orphanages through the Salvation Army and the 82nd Airborne...and they are asking for some help:
They need water purification systems at these orphanages...they will be far more cost effective than shipping water in...they will give clean water for a family of 6 for 5 years, amazing pieces of machinery...you can read about them here HERE...(seriously, I want one for my food storage!)
They are $30...there is a factory that produces them in Port-au-Prince that according to my friend (see his blog HERE) is still producing them, and even if they can't, there is a factory in the Dominican Republic (right next door) that is fully able to supply them.
My friend asked us to purchase just one filter...he is trying to get enough for all the orphanages that he is tracking...if you can, go to the below website, purchase a filter, and be sure to put a comment/note saying that it is 'for Michael's Orphans' so that they get to the 82nd airborne for distribution...
http://www.filterpurefilters.com/
If you would like to get the long story, go check out his website:
www.michaelthemaven.com
I was about to apologize for using this blog for soliciting help, but I don't have to...it's MY blog! :) I can use it however I darn well please, and I am not sorry for this. I think it's a good thing he is doing, and I don't mind asking for people to help. I can't do much, but I can spread the word...I am a loud talker, ya know? :) Thanks for helping, and feel free to pass this along...it would be really cool if he gets a lot more help than he expected...
Friday, February 5, 2010
Digital Church...
Opened the email this morning, and I see an email from someone I don't know with a title that looks slightly similar to some spam that I have been receiving lately...I am about to click on the Spam button, when I actually focus in on the title...'VT Changes'. I think, what's the chance that VT actually stands for 'visiting teaching'? So, hoping for the best, I open it...and lo and behold, it's my new visiting teaching assignment! They EMAILED it to me...that's a first! I think it's awesome, cause I am in my email a LOT...
Last week I had to do some training for the young women leaders in my stake, and I mentioned that everything I printed out and trained them on was available on the Church websites. In fact, they were all on the Young Women website. I showed them that the Church has a number of websites, including a page on facebook (nope, still not on there, but I was able to look it up), youtube, and a new youth website with albums and videos available for download. I thought it would be good for them to know, since ALL of their youth are bound to be extremely computer savvy peoples...
One of the ladies kinda shocked me when she said that we needed to not expect that all the leaders have access to the internet. I know I am young and computer savvy, so it was a good reminder to me that not everyone does have access (which is why all youth leaders should have a subscription to the New Era!). But I tell you what, it makes my calling so much easier since I have a good email contact with every YW presidency in the stake. We save a LOT of money on postage by sending out emails with attachments. One of these days, I am sure the Church will set up a way that we can put any fliers and such onto a website so that the leaders and parents can just pull them off the website. That will probably be a ways down the road, but still!
I was amazed at the new youth website...did you know that there is a 'response' option (as opposed to a 'comments' option) on some of the items on there? But to make a response, you have to sign into the church website (same way for lds.org to get into your respective ward and stake website)...AND, as I discovered, you have to be 12-18 years old, because it wouldn't allow me to make a response (I wasn't going to, I was just seeing if I could). I thought that was really cool...
Boy, the Church sure is growing with the times...I mean, I get text messages when the First presidency makes any public statement, announces a new temple, or any important news flash. Really cool stuff, in my book!
Last week I had to do some training for the young women leaders in my stake, and I mentioned that everything I printed out and trained them on was available on the Church websites. In fact, they were all on the Young Women website. I showed them that the Church has a number of websites, including a page on facebook (nope, still not on there, but I was able to look it up), youtube, and a new youth website with albums and videos available for download. I thought it would be good for them to know, since ALL of their youth are bound to be extremely computer savvy peoples...
One of the ladies kinda shocked me when she said that we needed to not expect that all the leaders have access to the internet. I know I am young and computer savvy, so it was a good reminder to me that not everyone does have access (which is why all youth leaders should have a subscription to the New Era!). But I tell you what, it makes my calling so much easier since I have a good email contact with every YW presidency in the stake. We save a LOT of money on postage by sending out emails with attachments. One of these days, I am sure the Church will set up a way that we can put any fliers and such onto a website so that the leaders and parents can just pull them off the website. That will probably be a ways down the road, but still!
I was amazed at the new youth website...did you know that there is a 'response' option (as opposed to a 'comments' option) on some of the items on there? But to make a response, you have to sign into the church website (same way for lds.org to get into your respective ward and stake website)...AND, as I discovered, you have to be 12-18 years old, because it wouldn't allow me to make a response (I wasn't going to, I was just seeing if I could). I thought that was really cool...
Boy, the Church sure is growing with the times...I mean, I get text messages when the First presidency makes any public statement, announces a new temple, or any important news flash. Really cool stuff, in my book!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Forgettable...
Have you ever heard someone or read someone's blog and they recount a memory about themselves in which they mention important people that were involved in that memory...and they forget to mention you...
That's me...
No really, it is. I am the forgettable.
This is not to rant and rave or complain or whatever about it...I just wonder why that is.
I look at family albums and school outings and yearbooks and other such things...and I am conveniently out of the picture (I don't really mind that during my high school years, since I looked like an elephant with smallpox all over her face).
Now, I am not hard to miss. I am a 6 foot tall female, white as Destin's beaches, LOUD as all get out (seriously, those of you who haven't met me in person, I laugh so loud you could hear me a mile away during a hurricane), blonde...and yet I am out of the story all the time, whether or not I was a prominent part of the story.
Why is that?
I hope this isn't interpreted as 'gosh dang, she is a self-absorbed, selfish thing'...that is true some of the time, and I admit it freely...I am just wondering what it is about me that makes me so easy to overlook...is it my amazing ability to 'blend in'?...
(No, no one's posted, written or said anything recently that is making me think of this, I was just browsing around some stuff and came to that realization...and no, thankfully I am not wallowing in self despair or depression...)
Progress report: I can bend a little, but bending the knees is an absolute must to wash my hands or open lower cabinets or load/unload dishwasher/washing machine/dryer...
That's me...
No really, it is. I am the forgettable.
This is not to rant and rave or complain or whatever about it...I just wonder why that is.
I look at family albums and school outings and yearbooks and other such things...and I am conveniently out of the picture (I don't really mind that during my high school years, since I looked like an elephant with smallpox all over her face).
Now, I am not hard to miss. I am a 6 foot tall female, white as Destin's beaches, LOUD as all get out (seriously, those of you who haven't met me in person, I laugh so loud you could hear me a mile away during a hurricane), blonde...and yet I am out of the story all the time, whether or not I was a prominent part of the story.
Why is that?
I hope this isn't interpreted as 'gosh dang, she is a self-absorbed, selfish thing'...that is true some of the time, and I admit it freely...I am just wondering what it is about me that makes me so easy to overlook...is it my amazing ability to 'blend in'?...
(No, no one's posted, written or said anything recently that is making me think of this, I was just browsing around some stuff and came to that realization...and no, thankfully I am not wallowing in self despair or depression...)
Progress report: I can bend a little, but bending the knees is an absolute must to wash my hands or open lower cabinets or load/unload dishwasher/washing machine/dryer...
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sympathy Pains...
I failed to mention this, but after I talked with one of my 2 BFF's on the phone today, I thought I would...
When I threw my back out yesterday I received a phone call...and of course I was indisposed so it went to voicemail...I was being notified that I was being made Aunt Elizabeth once again at some point later that day. She was on her way to the hospital to give birth.
Convenient timing for me to throw out my back. She actually has chronic back pain so she empathized with me this morning as I told her of my ordeal and I sympathized with her as she described the pleasures of giving birth.
I was supposed to be there this time. She asked me to hang out with her and play card games and such while she was hooked up to IV's and contraction machines and such. I feel terrible that I ended up being here in Alabama when baby #3 arrived...but thankfully all went well, labor went MUCH faster this time, which is great, and he is her biggest baby yet. AND she wasn't stuck to a machine because they have WIRELESS contraction and heartbeat monitors now...she only had to carry around her IV as she got to know the floor plan of the maternity wing...
So...anyways, this is what I get for not keeping my promise to be there. Sympathy pains...
Baby Hyrum and Mom Julie are healthy and well...he eats and sleeps like a pro and he looks a lot like his older brother with good sized baby cheeks...
As for me, I can climb the stairs today without pulling myself up using the handrail (still hurts like the dickens), so that is a slight improvement, but bending over is an entirely out of reach goal.
When I threw my back out yesterday I received a phone call...and of course I was indisposed so it went to voicemail...I was being notified that I was being made Aunt Elizabeth once again at some point later that day. She was on her way to the hospital to give birth.
Convenient timing for me to throw out my back. She actually has chronic back pain so she empathized with me this morning as I told her of my ordeal and I sympathized with her as she described the pleasures of giving birth.
I was supposed to be there this time. She asked me to hang out with her and play card games and such while she was hooked up to IV's and contraction machines and such. I feel terrible that I ended up being here in Alabama when baby #3 arrived...but thankfully all went well, labor went MUCH faster this time, which is great, and he is her biggest baby yet. AND she wasn't stuck to a machine because they have WIRELESS contraction and heartbeat monitors now...she only had to carry around her IV as she got to know the floor plan of the maternity wing...
So...anyways, this is what I get for not keeping my promise to be there. Sympathy pains...
Baby Hyrum and Mom Julie are healthy and well...he eats and sleeps like a pro and he looks a lot like his older brother with good sized baby cheeks...
As for me, I can climb the stairs today without pulling myself up using the handrail (still hurts like the dickens), so that is a slight improvement, but bending over is an entirely out of reach goal.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Throwing it out...
Woke up, got up, took shower, and near the end of it suddenly this pain started in my lower back...
Evidently something I did in the shower didn't agree with my body...cause my lower back is completely thrown out of whack...
Oh.my.word.it.hurts.so.much...
Just sitting here typing this...there isn't a comfortable position...
Already took a Rx strength ibuprofen...in two hours I am starting the Tylenol...
Showers are supposed to make me feel better...dagnabit! And I am supposed to go to the temple tonight...I think there is a conspiracy going on trying to keep me away...it has been a LONG time since I went...
Oh...help...ah...I mean, truly pitiful, it hurts SO bad...
Evidently something I did in the shower didn't agree with my body...cause my lower back is completely thrown out of whack...
Oh.my.word.it.hurts.so.much...
Just sitting here typing this...there isn't a comfortable position...
Already took a Rx strength ibuprofen...in two hours I am starting the Tylenol...
Showers are supposed to make me feel better...dagnabit! And I am supposed to go to the temple tonight...I think there is a conspiracy going on trying to keep me away...it has been a LONG time since I went...
Oh...help...ah...I mean, truly pitiful, it hurts SO bad...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Deer in the Headlights...
I almost killed a deer yesterday...
Or rather, it almost killed me...
A few weeks ago, right after I moved into this new place, I saw a couple of deer as I was driving to the house. I mentioned it to the peoples of the house, and they said that they see deer pretty regularly...
Then nothing. Not a sighting. I was kinda disappointed to be honest with you. I wanted to see another one.
See. Not hit.
Thankfully I didn't hit the deer that decided to be suicidal the other night. I was driving along, kinda zoned out cause I had stuff on my mind. Then suddenly there was a deer racing me. And then it decided to cut me off.
I slammed on my brakes at the same time the deer did...it fell over just barely in front of my car, got back up and ran off...
I cannot tell you how happy I am that I did not hit that deer. I mean, really really really happy I didn't hit that deer. The last thing I need right now is a car that doesn't work because a deer decided it wanted to check out the pretty lights on my car up close and personal. And I am very glad the car behind me wasn't tailing me...I mean, I SLAMMED on my brakes.
Oh, and I am also glad I have new tires on my car. My car stopped so fast! Would not have been the case with the bald tires that were on my car...
Or rather, it almost killed me...
A few weeks ago, right after I moved into this new place, I saw a couple of deer as I was driving to the house. I mentioned it to the peoples of the house, and they said that they see deer pretty regularly...
Then nothing. Not a sighting. I was kinda disappointed to be honest with you. I wanted to see another one.
See. Not hit.
Thankfully I didn't hit the deer that decided to be suicidal the other night. I was driving along, kinda zoned out cause I had stuff on my mind. Then suddenly there was a deer racing me. And then it decided to cut me off.
I slammed on my brakes at the same time the deer did...it fell over just barely in front of my car, got back up and ran off...
I cannot tell you how happy I am that I did not hit that deer. I mean, really really really happy I didn't hit that deer. The last thing I need right now is a car that doesn't work because a deer decided it wanted to check out the pretty lights on my car up close and personal. And I am very glad the car behind me wasn't tailing me...I mean, I SLAMMED on my brakes.
Oh, and I am also glad I have new tires on my car. My car stopped so fast! Would not have been the case with the bald tires that were on my car...
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