Flour Sack Towel Aprons

We needed a quick and easy cover-up for the girls attending my daughters art b-day party so we had to get a bit creative.  We used these flour sack towels and ribbon to make the girls painting aprons.

No cutting the towels required.  Just lie the towel flat (face down) fold two adjacent corners in to form two triangles kind of like you are making a paper airplane(so now it looks like an apron form- leaving approx 6-8 inches in between the folded triangles for the neck.)  Use white thread and sew the folded triangle corners down to the back side along with a piece of ribbon loop for the neck at the same time to each side.  Next sew the waist ribbon ties on each side (you'll need to approximate where the waist is depending on the height of your artist) for the apron tie in back.

 

A simple way to keep those pretty clothes clean when getting your creativity on!

Bandanna Coloring Boards

 Start by ironing an inexpensive white bandanna you can purchase any where ( we got ours at Walmart for .99 cents a piece.)

 Next use a 20X20 pre-cut piece of wood (we purchased our wood at Lowe's and the friendly Lowe's man cut all of ours at no extra charge to save us the hassle of doing it ourselves.) Next place your bandanna (front side up) on the wood front, turn both over- fold edges of bandanna back over sides and staple gun the edges around to the back side of the wood board making sure bandanna lies nice and flat on the front side.. 

And there we have it, a fun art board to color within or outside of the lines.  This is a large work of art so it can be a progressive time filler for your little artist.

 Use fabric markers and sharpies to color your big coloring page that doubles as a beautiful wall art piece after complete.

A group of happy artists.

Popcorn Analogy

     “The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ”

Just as a little kernel of corn when popped can grow into the tasty treat of popcorn for us to enjoy, our love for our Savior can grow if we learn of Him and His goodness from reading the Book of Mormon and scriptures. Yummy popcorn is so good that we want to share it with others just as we will want to share the happiness and joy of Jesus Christ we gain from reading the scriptures.　

2 Nephi 19:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Family Home Evening Carmel Corn Recipe:

(Adult supervision required)

1 Cup butter (2 cubes)

1 Cup light Karo syrup

2 Cups Brown Sugar, packed

1 Can Eagle Brand Condensed Milk

Pinch of Salt

1 1/2-2 Cups popcorn (measure un-popped popcorn, before popped)
* I ended up using quite a bit more popcorn as there was plenty of extra camel to go around.

Combine all ingredients except popcorn and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly (this burns easily, so make sure you stir constantly) until it reaches a soft ball stage don't over-cook. (For a soft ball stage, Pour a half teaspoon caramel into a 1 cup measure with ice water and mold into a ball. When it holds it shape, but is still very soft, it's done). Pour over popped corn. Cool on 2 large parchment-lined cookie sheets (or lined counter top.) Pull apart and store in air-tight bags.

Enjoy!

Popping air-popped pop corn is always best with a helper and a taste tester!  I had been wanting to test out this Carmel corn recipe from a family relative Susanne for awhile and I found the perfect opportunity.  I incorporated it into my sharing time lesson and provided the kids with a little sample in a Dixie plastic cup, then encouraged them to go home and make it with their own families for FHE.  I brought the air popper and did a little demonstration and analogy (found above) with just the plain pop corn for sharing time with the kids, it went over well and kept their attention to the fullest, they were all so intrigued- it was cute.

The "BEE's" of Blogging

The "BEE" Hand Out

Step One: The goodies- Lemon drops, cheap coordinating ribbon, little Wilton baggies, address labels (with the theme printed on them) attached to scrap book paper (cut to size & hole punched.)

Step Two: assemble, as easy as pie! 

 Step Three: Handouts always look much cuter in an accommodating presentation bowl.

Wallah!

 The little BEE tidbit.

 For an added touch: little lemon cupcakes in honey-gold liners, topped with piped lemon frosting and a chocolate covered bee with slivered almond bee body and for the yellow stripes- piped yellow candy melts.

Since my class was in the middle of other classes (before lunch) I felt a bite sized bee treat would be a perfect snack to tie the ladies over until lunch was served.

Ten Reasons To Start a Blog:

1. To Express Your Thoughts and Opinions

2. To Market or Promote Something

3. To Help People

4. To Establish Yourself as an Expert

5. To Connect with People Like You

6. To Make a Difference

7. To Stay Active or Knowledgeable in a Field or Topic

8. To Stay Connected with Friends and Family

9. To Make Money

10. To Have Fun and Be Creative

Last Saturday I was asked to teach a Blogging class at our Stake's Womans Conference.  After touching on and showing what a Blog is all about and how to go about starting one, since Blogging starts with "B" I thought it would be a fun idea to incorporate the six "BEE's" of Blogging into the class. This way I was able to involve some of the class members which is always nice.  I used a volunteer for each of the six "BEE's" then I spotlighted six of the amazing blogs that I follow which are centered around or touch on each of the "BEE" topics, it went over real well and from the feedback I've been receiving, it sounds like the class inspired new blogs and motivated inactive bloggers so the "BEE's" were a success!

The six helpers got to take their wee little "BEE" souvineer home with them.

These bee's are all exactly the same, they are constantly copying each other in every way.  They need to learn to-

Be Yourself:

Your blog is your own and whatever you choose to make it, just be you and put what you have into it.

While this Bee isn't really for real it looks pretty real in comparison to the three copy-cat bees.

Be Real:

Most likely your blog will include your own feelings and opinions in text or commentary, being honest and true to yourself and others is always wise. Let your blog be a reflection of yourself in your own voice.

We aren't supposed to play with balls in the house and thanks to their dad, my kids do play with balls in our home so I am always telling them to be cautious not to break something.  So this Bee ball reminds us to-

Be Cautious:

While your blog is indefinitely your own, always be mindful of potential readers and feelings involved. Setting “official rules” of what to or not to blog about isn‘t necessary, just blog and see what feels comfortable to you.

If we came across a bee that was this gigantic, we would need to be very courageous that we would not get stung!

Be Courageous:

Don’t be shy or afraid to start a blog then likewise when blogging don’t be afraid to make a mistake or embarrass yourself . Take note that you can always go back and edit, change, undo or add to your blog.

This bee pot and these bee gardening tools leave our options wide open to what we might plant inside of the empty pot.

Be Open:

To learning, to gaining knowledge, to new ideas, to teaching, to being an example, to cultivating your talents and passions, to becoming a better you.

Bee's are hard working little creatures who are consistent and determined to make sweet yummy honey for us.

 Be Consistent:

Although there are countless blogs out there you can pull inspiration from, blogging is best learned from blogging. Blog often, even in times of “writers block.” Some of your best posts may stem from when you feel you have nothing to write about.

I had our four years of blogging 2007-2010 that I had bound into books on display to show how nice it is to be able to print your blog out into family history record books (or books pertaining to whatever ones blog may be about.) For myself, of course it's a journaling purpose and it's made journaling and digital photos so fun and easy for our busy lives these days!  So yes, just like a "BEE's" honey- sweet is the success of an active blogger! 

There is Safety...

March 27, 2011

 
 
I took a take off of this cute little traffic light cookie that I saw awhile back on a cute blog somewhere out in the blog sphere...only there's were home made cookies on a stick with frosting holding the m & m's a top.  Mine were simple store bought cookies dipped into chocolate melts (due to the lack of time this busy weekend, I did initially try to squish a popsicle stick in between the sandwich cookie vanilla cream in attempts to dip the whole cookie to coat in chocolate BUT too many of the cookies were cracking as I squished the popscicle stick in.) So these were simple and easy, Josh and I made them Friday in literally 10-15 minutes while we kept Brooklynne happy hanging on my leg stuffing the un needed colors  of m & m's down her throat. Anyways, when I came upon the idea awhile back I knew that they would fit perfect into this week's primary outline for sharing time.  I typically enjoy giving my own take on the outlines while of course making sure all of the important points and lessons are taught and discussed with the children. Today after a few lucky children got to drive (on Brooke's little scooter car) through orange saftey cones to a large stop sign, at the end we found some of the prophets direction and word strips to form new traffic signs and a new STOP sign to keep us safe in life to lead us from our modern day prophet: Thomas S. Monson back to Jesus and Heavenly Father.  As they listened to six different primary hymns (each one relating to a different principal/directions from the prophet i.e. reading scriptures, prayer, temple, word of wisdom, tithing, and family home evening- the class with the direction (which was a picture) got to place it on the road on a selected blank road sign shape on our road which was made up on on the board with a picture of the prophet at the beginning and Jesus at the end of the windy road.  Then they would place their word on the large stop sign that we turned around to form our new large prophet saftey sign which ended up being "Follow The Prophet Don't Go Astray."  I had a good time with today's lesson and I only hope and pray that the children took something away from it and know how important it is to strive to always follow our prophets words.  Here's the quote I added to the hand outs from the outline, maybe the idea can help or aid some of you readers to incorporate it into other lessons or even family home evenings some time.

"Just as road signs and traffic lights keep up SAFE and WARN us of danger ahead, the prophets directions are like these because Heavenly Father PROTECTS us and BLESSES us when we follow them."