The Present is a Present

"I don't worry too much about the future, and I don't worry very much about the past. 

The past is gone, and you can't change, you can't correct it.  The future, you can anticipate, but you can't necessarily do very much about it. 

It is the present you have to deal with. 

Reach out for every good opportunity to do what you ought to do."

Gordon B. Hinkley

{Random}

We just got back from a quick trip to Yellowstone.

It was a nice little vacation.

After spending yesterday with my washing machine, I'm ready to get back to business.

I have a few projects to finish...here's a preview...

Hopefully, I'll make some good progress this weekend.

I'm also pretty excited for the new season of Project Runway {it started last night!}

and have been watching Design Star on HGTV.

It's been an okay season so far...I'm kind of lukewarm on the new host, and I can't believe that a few designers are still there.

I've also been reading one of my daughter's favorite series, The Sisters Grimm.  I'm in the middle of the last book {book 7}, but I can't find it.  rrrrr.  As soon as I find it and finish it, I will be on the hunt for a new book to read...any suggestions?

August Visiting Teaching Message

August's message is titled

A Society of Holy Women.

Sister Silvia A. Allred, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency said, "Relief Society helps us increase our faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families, and seek out and help those in need.

The work of Relief Society is holy, and doing holy work creates holiness in us."

I feel so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful, beautiful sisterhood, and am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a visiting teacher.

Here is the message this month:

I used an 11x5x2 white pillow box, wrapped a 12x2 inch piece of my favorite fabric around it and then some twine, small sticks, and a note that says "If we stick together, we can do great things!" and inside included the message, a yummy ice cream recipe, a glue stick, and some sticks of gum.

If you don't have a pillow box, you could just print the message and tie any variety of sticks to the front with some twine or ribbon...here are some ideas for "sticky" things to tie to the front:

Actual sticks

Glue sticks

Sticks of gum

Pixie Sticks

A roll of tape

Candy sticks {you know like candy canes but different flavors...}

Stickers
Chapstick {Thanks, Jenn!}

etc.

If you think of any more, please share in the comments below, also I would love to hear back if you downloaded this file.

Happy Visiting Teaching!

Summer Craziness

I haven't posted in a few days because we have been super busy with fun summer craziness at our house.  On Friday, my 3 year-old became a 4 year-old

{um, yes, that is Costco chocolate muffin...that is what he wanted...who am I to bake a cake in July when really all he wants is a muffin?  It was his birthday request...}

and I sent my husband for a night at scout camp with our son {who had been gone since Monday}. 

Jesse had a great time and earned a few merit badges.

He has the best. scout leaders. ever.

On Saturday, I caught a few yard sales and found a few treasures and the campers came home {laundry} and we went to see Harry Potter! 

Sundays are their own version of craziness around here and this one did not disappoint {here's a hint: there were explosions from my blender...}.  

Monday we spent at Lagoon...an amusement park here in Utah.  It was my first time there since Jr. High, and my kids' first time ever. 

There were lots of things for the little kids to do,

...and the big kids...

{Mine are the three in the front with their arms and legs safely inside the ride...}

and here are my boys...

"The Rocket" was a favorite...

...and then we decided to try the Sky Coaster. 

A Sky Coaster is a sky dive-type ride where you get pulled up a cord from 100-300 ft and then a rip cord is pulled and you plummet to the earth.

This is Jesse with his cousin and a friend on their way up...

...and then down!

Then it was my turn.  {please excuse the oh-so-cute hairdo...it was super humid and we had just finished going through Rattlesnake Rapids a few minutes earlier...} I went with Travus and Brynna.

There we are going up...

...and here we are mid-flight.

...and then back on the ground.

It was really fun!

We all had a great time and completely wore out the kids...and ourselves.  This next week promises to be just as crazy--it includes a few parties, a reunion and a vacation!

My New Love...

Homemade Ice Cream!

I've always had a strong affection for ice cream, but have recently avoided buying it at the store so that I won't gain 500 pounds.  Because I will eat it.  I will.  Every. last. bit. 

A few weeks ago, I was looking for something in the garage, and stumbled across our ice cream maker.  We got it when we were married....almost 15 years ago!  In our first year of marriage, we made ice cream in it maybe 2 times {from those packets you can buy} and then relegated it to storage.

So when I saw it in the garage, I thought it may be fun...um...for the kids...to make and eat some ice cream.

I tried a few recipes with little success and then found this one!

Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream

{from The Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Cookbook by Mable and Gar Hoffman}

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups milk

2 egg yolks

1 cup whipping cream

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in milk. Stir over medium heat. Simmer 1 minute over low heat; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks. Stir about 1 cup milk mixture into egg yolks, then pour egg yolk mixture back into the remaining milk. Cook and stir over low heat for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add whipping cream and vanilla. Cool to room temperature. Pour into ice cream canister. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.

P.S. the recipe in the book also included 1 {5 ounce} can of evaporated milk, but I didn't have any, so I just left it out. If you add it, it goes in with the whipping cream and vanilla.

I keep meaning to add fruit or cookies or cookie dough, or chocolate, but I the kids just keep eating it too fast.

Let me know if you try this recipe and how it turns out...or if you have any favorite homemade ice cream recipes...because my kids just can't get enough.

Faith

“My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”

-President Thomas S. Monson

DIY Cake Plates

There are very few dishes I love more than cake plates!  I use them for everything--rolls, pies, cookies, and, um, cakes.  They are also great for holiday displays when you want to group things at different levels.

Awile back, I saw some cake plates somewhere that had been made from vintage plates and candlesticks.  I, of course, had to try to make my own.

They are super easy.

You need a plate, {I chose some vintage state plates that I had lying around}

a candlestick or something similar,

and some glue for glass.

I picked my glue up a Wal-Mart for under $4.

{Regular super glue works fine for a little while, but they come apart if you don't use glue made especially for glass.}

Make sure you read the instructions on the glue package, because they are all a little different.  Then add glue to your base.

Turn the plate over and carefully stick the candlestick onto the center of the back of the plate.

That's it!  So easy!

Have a super weekend!

Your Eyes May Burn...

We had a great holiday weekend!  ....and yes, I realize it was a few days ago, but I had to share some pics.  We are lucky enough to live a few blocks from a lake and are learning to wakeboard.  My kids are getting pretty good, and I celebrated a new milestone...getting over both sides of the wake without falling on my face.  On Saturday, the water was great and it hot outside, so we all got fried.

WARNING!  There is a picture of me in my swimsuit next, so if you frighten easily, hurry and scroll past with your eyes shut!  {Just in case you do catch a glimpse, I put in the blurry one so it wouldn't be too shocking...}

After wakeboarding on Saturday, we watched fireworks!  Because of the new fireworks law in Utah, there are fireworks everywhere.  every night.  I do love fireworks, but I may not by the end of the month...we'll see.

{did you spot my 2 year old in the back?  She was a little nervous with the fireworks this year.}

These are the Stadium of Fire fireworks.

From our deck, we can see fireworks all over the county.

These are Rice Krispies Balls that I made for the 4th.

On Monday, we headed back out onto the lake for more fun!

This time, the cousins came too.

If you haven't ever had the joy of watching two teenagers scream their heads off while being pulled behind a boat, you really ought to try it...

Here's Jefferson and Dalaney riding in the front. 

Notice the snow in the mountains behind us...it's been unusually cold and wet this year.

Ahhhh, long holiday weekends!

I love 'em!