SNOW

Our headless Snowman \_O.o_/

  It snowed last night so today Nova and I ventured out into the winter wonder land for some good cold fun. We couldn't stay out in it for too long because we both were lacking in the snow gear department. We made a snow man, walked around and enjoyed just being together. I have more fun with Nova doing silly things like pushing the head off a snow man and playing with legos than I ever recall having when I was with friends or stuff like that. It is strange to think that a child changes your perspective of the world and how it works. I am so grateful that I am a mom and that my life didn't go the way I had planned.

Uplifting Quote

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity. "

-Margaret D. Nadauld

Cinnamon Rolls

When I think of Grandma, the first thing that comes to mind are cinnamon rolls. In honor of Grandma I thought I would share a yummy cinnamon roll recipe.

1/2 c. butter
1 c. warm milk
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 c. warm to hot water
2 T. yeast
2-3 T. honey
5 1/2- 6 c. flour

Combine melted butter, warm milk, eggs (room temperature), sugar, salt, and warm/hot water.
Add yeast along with 2 to 3 T. honey (depends on the sweetness desired) to egg mixture and mix on low speed.
Gradually add flour to the mixture until it is too thick for mixer. Then knead by hand until dough begins to pull away from bowl and isn't quite so sticky.
Cover and allow dough to rise until doubled (45-60 minutes).
Roll dough into a rectangle and cover with melted butter. Cover the dough with a layer of brown sugar and cinnamon-sugar mixture. You can add chopped nuts and raisins if you like.
Starting with the long side of the rectangle, roll dough into a long log.
Use unflavored dental floss (I have used flavored and haven't had a problem) and cut into 1" sections.
Place rolls on a greased pan. Allow rolls to rise until they have doubled in size.
Bake at 400* to 425* for 8-10 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

Frosting
3 oz cream cheese blended with 2 T. butter and 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Mix well and add 2 c. powdered sugar with 2-3 T. milk
When you have the desired consistency taste it and see if you want to add more vanilla or cocoa powder for chocolate frosting. YUM!

Good things to know while pregnant

Hey everyone!

I thought this was a really good article for you future Mommys :)
click here.

Also G, I found this for you.
You should also do some pelvic rocks everyday. During labor that can help turn a baby from facing forward to facing backwards(which you want) but doing those throughout your pregnancy will help the baby be positioned correctly... it's kinda like that first exercise on the video.

Love you all!

To do or not to do, that is the question

Dearest Sisters,

I have felt for some time now that we should have a book club. I know, one more thing to add to our crazy life's, but... I think it could be really fun. Let me know what you think. We could start in January!!!.... :)

The Christmas Express

I love reading blogs. One of my favorites is called Confessions of a homeschooler. I have found a lot of great advice about homeschooling and she is just a really cute and creative mom. I found a really fun idea on her blog to do with young kids. I am going to do it this year and I'm sure it will become one of our Christmas traditions. Check it out here and let me know what you think.

**UPDATE**

Tickets, tickets please.

My Kids ABSOLUTLY LOVED THIS!!!! After driving around in the "Christmas Express" looking at Christmas lights for about an hour we went to a gas station and go hot chocolate for the drive home. We will for sure be doing this next year!



G, can you dance like this now??

The Maid

Jon got me an early Christmas present and I love it! I call it the Maid but its official name is the Roomba. It is a little vacuum robot that does all the vacuuming for me! Not only does it vacuum but it helps motivate me to keep the floor picked up so she can vacuum better. Nova loves following her around. Any way just thought I would share the joy! I would totally recommend getting one.

glow in the dark shirts

Hey everyone, I just wanted to tell you all that I really enjoyed making those shirts with you! It did take a while but spending quality time with my sisters really means alot. I will miss our projects together when we move. Love you all!

I LOVE this

 

 

I love this saying. For me it's a great reminder for many things. Tomorrow is a new day. The past is in the past, move on. You have to take full advantage of TODAY, and live each day to the fullest. :)

 Don't  let

 YESTERDAY

 take up

 TOO MUCH OF

TODAY

 



Peaches n' cream

  A refreshing treat I always find appealing is peaches n' cream (ok so it is technically just milk but whatever). Nova and I like to share a bowl when we feel like having a yummy snack. It makes me think of dad while I am cutting up the peaches so not only is it delicious but it is a piece of home :) Sometimes I add sugar and sometimes I don't, depending on the occasion it is a healthy dose of fruit and milk which makes Nova a happy boy! I love it! I know this is not a new treat to anyone here but Nova and I had a bowl and it made me happy so thought I would share <3 

G face 

The Confidence Scam By Rachel Bowler

THE CONFIDENCE SCAM

Many people wistfully assume that confidence is out of reach and something they must acquire legitimately. Fortunately, they are wrong. I, for example, have been running a confidence scam for most of my adult life.

While today I am the poster girl for confidence, I wasn’t always that way.

In the not-so-distant past of my high school career, I was shy. I was modest in every sense of the word. Everything about my appearance and demeanor made me blend in, and I hated it. I longed to belong in the spotlight. I longed to unleash the confident, capable, creative kid that I felt growing restless inside of me.

Finally, halfway through my senior year, I snapped. I’d had enough! I plotted and practiced and finally, after long hours of scheming, my confidence scam was born.

I attained my current success only after lying, cheating, and bluffing my way to the top. If you need more confidence in your life, then my confidence scheme is for you!

The first step in becoming more confident is lying. You lie to yourself. You tell yourself that you are capable, smart, and good-looking. You repeat this lie over and over in every thought until it sticks. Through repetition, you grow to believe this lie and you want to make it true. Like one lie leads to another, lying leads us to the next step.

Step two in my confidence scam is cheating. You cheat when you take care with your appearance because you believe you are good-looking. You cheat when you take extra time to solve a problem because you believe you have the smarts to do so. You cheat when you smile at a stranger because you think you are a confident sort of person. You cheat by performing small acts of confidence that slowly build into the grand finish of my devious deception.

The last step you must take in the scheme is the bluff. The bluff takes the habits of lying and cheating and makes them into a lifestyle. By successfully pulling off the bluff, you graduate from my school of schemes. You have practiced enough! It is finally time to perform.

When you once smiled only at strangers, you now smile at everyone. When you once blended into the background, you stand out via your confident appearance. You were once mediocre, but because of your belief in your own intelligence and capability, you now take risks. You choose to shine where you once stood in shadow.

The whole point of my confidence scam is you scam yourself. Of course, as you’re the victim of the scam, you do lose a lot. You lose your doubt, your fear, and your discontent. As the con artist of the scam, you have all of your dreams to gain.

Today, cast aside your doubts. Take your future in your hands and lie, cheat, and bluff your way to success!

Rachel Bowler

The Perks of Riding Solo By Rachel Bowler

THE PERKS OF RIDING SOLO

In order to be happy in a relationship, one must first be happy alone. Being alone promotes the personal growth that is necessary to a healthy, mature relationship.

I can’t tell you how many friends, male and female, have bemoaned their single status to me. As a single lady, I’ve been tempted to do the same, but I’ve had the luck to learn from the mistakes and misfortunes of others.

I have seen many otherwise intelligent individuals jump into a physical and emotional relationship with someone they hardly knew simply because they couldn’t stand to be single. They were so eager to run rampant with a stranger that it made me wonder what they were running from.

The thought of being alone frightens many people, but those who let that fear drive them to entering or remaining in abusive or reckless relationships are crippled by something that is meant to empower them.

Consider it—when in a significant relationship, you have the strengths of two people to depend on. When single, you must find all that strength in yourself. Exploring the limits of your endurance enables you to use your full strength, something that few people ever do.

In a relationship, you have the skill sets of two different people to make your life easier. When you are alone, you must learn those skills to survive, making you a more knowledgeable and useful person.

In a relationship, you have the perspectives of two separate life experiences, making one’s viewpoint more broad and accurate. When you are unattached, you have to develop the skill of seeing through another’s eyes on your own. This makes you wiser and improves your ability to communicate effectively with others.

In a relationship, you may depend on others to make you happy. When you are alone, you learn that happiness comes from within and is not dependent upon the acts of others. Once you take responsibility for your own happiness you begin to take steps to fulfill your desire for happiness, often by pursuing your dreams and becoming a more successful person

Being able to control your life through your strength, skill, perspective and attitude makes you independent. While no one respects or pursues a clingy, needy individual, everyone respects and wants to be with a strong and motivated individual.

If you are in good company even when alone, then loneliness is nothing to fear. If you are not desperate to be in a relationship, then you can take your time and choose to pursue a relationship—or not.

If you are dependent on relationships, you will take a bad and unhealthy relationship over no relationship at all. Choose to become independent and free yourself from that addictive cycle. Then, you are able to form mature, trusting, respectful relationships with individuals as independent as yourself.

Those who think that respect is dependent upon being desirable to someone else would do well to learn that the happiest individuals are the ones who are respected by and desirable to themselves.

Rachel Bowler

No Good, Closet Conversations

I am not going to mention any names so later my kids wont kill me. While I was in my closet on the phone with my husband, who has been over seas for the last 10 days, trying to have the only grown up conversation I've had in a few days, my three lovely pet monkeys were up to no good! This is what I came out to. Just so you know, I was only in my closet for 6 1/2 minutes, and I was only in my closet on the phone because I couldn't hear anything otherwise. At the time I was really mad. Looking back now, all I can do is laugh.


Thing 1: "Yep Thing 3 you smell like pepper, mmmmm nice and spicy! Oh you're so heavy, I think my arms are falling off!" (I hear this through my closet door)

Thing 1: "Mom, Thing 3 was screaming because Thing 2 put pepper on his face! But I'm cuddling him now so he's just relaxing with me.

Me: "WHAT!?"

Thing 1: "Well, Thing 2 didn't do it on purpose. It was an accident."

Me: "THING 2 WHY DID YOU PUT PEPPER ON THING 3????"

Thing 2: "I didn't want it to get on him, I just wanted him to smell it."

Me: "WHY? Look at him. Look at his poor little face and eyes! What were you thinking?"

Thing 2: "Well, I just think Thing 3 is SOOooo cute when he sneezes so I just wanted him to smell it so he would sneeze but then he just grabbed it."

Me: "Well,..........(I was mad, but Thing 2 was so sincere and I know they didn't think it would hurt him, but I wanted them to think things through before just doing them.)....next time maybe think things through before you do them. Pepper is a spice, it makes your food hot........ I mean, who have you seen do that?....... Let's not do that again OK?"

Thing 2: "OK."

Poor little Thing 3! His eyes were so red and his little nose was runny. He kept grabbing at his eyes. I hurried and splashed water on his face and put him in the bath. He is fine and both Thing 1 and Thing 2 still feel really bad. They both really love Thing 3 so much. :) Good thing Poppy is coming home tomorrow night! :)

~Shan

Fun with Freezer Paper Stencils

This is a project that I finished yesterday! I designed and painted this shirt for Nova using Freezer Paper, Tulip fabric paint, and some drawing. The stenciling took some time but it was still fun. I got the stenciling idea from the Iammommahearmeroar blog (I get most of my project ideas from her...sad but whatever). Anyway I am going to start working on another shirt that is more complicated with more colors and layers hopefully it will work out enough for me to show you guys. I love you all!

Front

Sleeve

Back

Because She Is a Mother by Elder Holland

I read this the other day. It made me feel so much better about myself and what I do and don't get done. Click HERE.

Pear Leather

So there was a big sale on pears. 60 cents a lb. So Carolyn and I bought a TON and dried most of them but when we got tired of cutting pears we decided to make some leather :) 1. rinse pears and let dry.

2. Cut into chunks and puree. (I used a food processor) 3. Put on drying trays. I used freezer paper because I didn't have the leather trays for the dryer.

3. Eat up.

What I learned: 1. I didn't puree it enough....it was too chunky. 2. You really need the leather trays. As you can see it didn't turn out very thick, which can be fixed the next time because with the special trays they have a little lip on the edges. :) Also, they don't store very good. You'll need to put them in the fridge or freezer.

Update From Anna, TX

Well as most of you know we started homeschooling this year. Today marks a week since we started. My hubby left early that morning on a business trip and left me all alone to start this craziness all by myself {sigh}. I was so nervous! Usually, Jacee Boo takes a morning nap, but those first few days he decided he didn't need one. I was sooo tired every night. I drank Diet Dr. Pepper like my life depended on it. Come to think about it, my life probably did depend on it! :) Anyway, even though sending my Crazy Monkey's to public school would be so much easier on me, I have seen such a difference in my kids. They are happy (except when I make them re-do something). They are more confident. I really enjoy watching them learn and figure things out for themselves. I love to watch the light bulb go off when something finally clicks in their little heads. I wish I had followed my heart and homeschooled from the beginning... I wish I had been secure enough with myself to not care what others thought. I missed out on some precious years. I can't get them back, but I can enjoy the ones I have left.
 We went to our first homeschool book club for our ward. We read Mr. Popper's Penguins, which my kids really enjoyed and I had never read before. Somehow I volunteered to head next months book discussion for the elementary group. :/ We will be reading The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson for the elementary age. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie for older kids. I haven't read any of them. I am going to read them all so if you want, you can too! :)

Love you all! XOxo

Just Accept the FACT That...

Yes, it's true. We all know it is. 

fall and winter hats out of old shirts

I have a fun project from a blog I found just cruising the internet! 

You make this hat out of old shirts!!! The pattern and instructions are so easy to follow and it was nice for me because I am not very good at sewing to begin with and making mistakes with this hat doesn't ruin it. The blog I got it from is called iammommahearmeroar, google it and it comes right up (go to tutorials and find the picture of a boy wear a hat like this). Do this project! it is fun,fast and easy! I also found another hat on that blog that i want to try. I hope you guys like it! love you!

barber badge

We all know that being a mom requires many different skills or what I call badges. You have your Chef badge, Nursing badge, Chauffer badge, Zooligist badge, Librarian Badge and on and on it goes. Well I am proud to say that I have now earned my Barbers badge. I have learned how to successfully clip Nova's and Jon's hair. I have also applied my skills to Manuel (jon's little brother). It is a great way to save money and learn a new skill. I am still learning but thats the fun part. love you guys!

The easiest dinner on the planet!

Alright so when I dont really feel like standing in the kitchen forever cooking up a storm this is the dinner I make. Five minute white rice with hearty vegetable soup poured over the top with the occasional fruit salad. BAM!In five minutes the soup, the rice and the fruit can be all prepared! Plus it is heavy enough to fill up everyone and it has all the healthy stuff you want (veggies, fruit...rice is good :)) Any way I dont know if it will work for picky eaters or not but I guess thats why it is totally cool to choose whatever soup you want! love you guys!

Cookies anyone?

F.Y.I. I am sitting in my cookie monster pajamas as I type this. I LOVE them! They are sooo comfy and cute. Yes, they are P.J.'s but I wear them as if they were cloths. If you ever see me wearing them during the day, consider yourself super special! :)

 

xoxo

~Shan



Teething

So Lili is teething, again. And I've found the PERFECT solution. I'll let her demonstrate :)

Yes... it's a carrot. So simple. And she loves it. She'll keep it clutched in her little fist forever...

Yes, it's safe cause she can't bite a big piece off (yet). She does get little shavings of nutrition though :)

Something Every Girl Should Know...

...She is a DAUGHTER of GOD

Dirt Cheap Detergent

 Has anyone else noticed how expensive laundry detergent is? Well, at my house we use it a lot and it's not something we can just do without. So, for the past year I have been making my own. It is super cheap and super easy.

Here is what you need:
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
Borax
Soap (I usually use a Fels-Naptha laundry bar but this last time I made it I also added in a bar of Irish Spring body soap to change up the scent)

 

Everything you need you can buy at Walmart in the laundry detergent isle.



I use a cheese grater to grate up the bars of soap.

Then I put the soap flakes in a blender. I blend them up until they are a powder.

Next in a big ice cream bucket add
4 cups Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
4 cups Borax

 Mix it all together and you're done.

You only have to use a Tablespoon per load. I know it seems like it wont be enough to clean your cloths but, trust me, it will.

Other recipes I have seen have you add tons of water and cook the mixture. I have tried it that way and I absolutely HATE it! It is messy and gets all over the place. By keeping it in powder form it's easier to make, clean up, and store.
XOXO ~Shan

The First of Many

Yesterday morning I woke up with a CrAzY idea. I'll admit, most of my ideas are crazy... but this one was not only crazy, it was something that actually could become reality. I wanted to start a blog with all of you. I wanted a place where we could communicate freely and conveniently. We all live in different time zones and have different schedules. We each juggle different balls in our own life's. Here on The Seven Sisters Guild we can share what ever we feel like sharing when ever we feel like sharing. I am really excited to hear from each of you! Here is to the first of many posts!

With love from Texas


~Shan