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Why Food Storage?

1. Visit Turkey
2. Parasail in Hawaii-DONE
3. Honduras
4. Nebraska
5. Backpack across Europe
6. Learn to Surf- DONE
7. Get married-DONE
8. Own a House-DONE
9. Have a baby girl-DONE
10. Have a baby boy
11. Tour the East Coast
12. Go to Disney World
13. Start a company
14. Author a kids book
15. Graduate
16. Greece
17. Australia
18. Maui with McKay
19. Alaska
20. Sell our house in Roy, Ut
21. Buy a house
22. Learn to drive McKay's scooter
23. Run a K5 w mckay
24. Run a Triathalon w McKay
25. Get my picture in the Ensign
26. Write an article for the FRIEND
27. Make homemade Ravioli
28. Can my own apples
28. Become a food photographer
30. Build a table
31. Run a triathalon solo
32.
33.
34.
35.

Great deals at Amazon.com

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Is there anyone who doesn't love Sunday dinners?

Especially on Fast Sundays,

Well today we had something that we haven't had in a really long time...my "famous" mashed potatoes. At my urging, Makana finally bought a bag of potatoes. She hadn't bought them in a long time because she doesn't really like them. I love them, but I don't care much for rice. Makana, with her Hawaiian blood, loves rice so that is what we generally have with our meals.

Quick story about the mashed potatoes. Growing up, Mom would make us dinner 4 nights a week (M-Th). Friday nights, we were on our own, and on Saturday nights we would usually order pizza from Little Caesars OR Dad would make us his famed grilled cheese (or grilled tuna cheese) sandwiches. Sunday was always Dad's cooking day. Anyway, Monday through Thursday the meals would be any number of dishes, some really good and others... Well, my Dad on the other hand, has always been a meat and potatoes guy and so it made sense that almost every Sunday dinner (with the exception of Fast Sunday) we had meat and potatoes. Not that I minded; Dad's meat, with few exceptions, would turn out great and his mashed potatoes are still the best I have ever had, anywhere (period, exclamation mark - I know that doesn't make sense, but I wanted to be emphatic). I would often help out peeling the potatoes or cutting fruit and so I would watch how he cooked the potatoes. Basically, he would use evaporated milk and fluff the heck out of the potatoes and then add quite a bit of shredded cheese. Then he would salt and pepper it, just right. Quite simple really, but nobody cooked 'em like Dad did. Well when I went out on my own, I tried mashed potatoes myself. It took me couple of times to master them, but now I can say that I too make the best mashed potatoes anywhere (period, exclamation mark).

Well when Makana and I were first married I told her I would like to continue my family's tradition and cook on Sundays. That lasted maybe a month and a half. I didn't have many recipes in my repertoire and so I would spend a lot of time on Sunday cooking. I hated it and would get angry and frustrated, so I stopped and Makana has been cooking ever since (with a few notable exceptions). She has asked me a couple of times if I was ever going to pick that up again and I wasn't opposed to the idea. Well today she asked me if I would cook dinner and I begrudgingly said yes. Then I remembered that we had potatoes! Mashed potatoes for dinner here we come!

After I got some good mashed potatoes in me, I figured, why stop there? So I decided I would post on the blog today (the blog is another thing I had agreed to help out with, but with which my efforts have been subpar). Just look what happens when I get on a roll!


Monday, October 26, 2009

New blog address

Just a reminder that we moved. You can follow us here now. Thanks!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sexting

If you did not know, we moved to another blog with a different address. If you have kids, you should read this

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Of One Heart. Joseph and Emma



I won these. Nice huh? I love church history. I should specify. I love stories abotu crossing teh plains and about the women.

The Saints had fled to Far West hoping for a rest from their enemies, but the growing mob violence resulted in the imprisonment of Joseph Smith at Liberty Jail and the slaughter at Haun’s Mill. Driven from their homes in the dead of winter, the Saints began the long journey to Nauvoo.

Emma was among the saints forced to cross the frozen Mississippi River. Can you imagine the faith it must have taken to step on that ice carrying an eight-month old baby and two year old son, while the others clung to her skirts? During those dark days, Joseph wrote, “Oh God Where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?”

I thought of the pain and sorrow both Joseph and Emma were laboring under at that moment and realized that for Joseph and Emma, though separated by distance they were truly of one heart.

At those times when I feel alone and forgotten I look at this painting and remember that nothing in mortality can place us beyond the reach of divinity.

WE MOVED!

Please go to http://alohaeioi.blogspot.com/ I have a new blog and will no longer using this one.
Thanks!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Galveston

Jaedyn Maliana loves animals... as long as they stay far away. This dog was no exception
This is in honor of the Hansen Family Traditional Beach shot.
Family picture

I mentioned that I don't like to be cold. We are about 60 minutes from the beach. I thought I posted these but I didn't. We had a good time. I hope to go twice more before the end of the year

Things I never knew

  • like that i could be too busy to blog
  • that baby barf looks a lot like cottage cheese.
  • that I can not eat cottage cheese know from said baby barfing
  • how much I really do like hot weather
  • that getting mail truly does bring me joy. Real mail from real people. Not bills or "current resident".
  • how great families are. truly
  • that visiting teaching is oober important and its time to repent
  • halloween is a great holiday. I think i have fallen in love with pumpkins
  • and i have fallen in love with gummy worms
  • and with Stein Mart.
  • it is almost impossible for me to be happy when I don't get sleep
  • Murpheys law: when I go to sleep, everyone else wakes up.
  • my true long lasting love for book and vanilla cocoa will be my downfall


Thursday, October 08, 2009

Test

I just need to see if this works.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Multi-Tasking?!


Clean the kitchen while cookies are baking and the dishwasher is on and there is laundry needing to be started. Oh, and Jaedyn is eating (its all over the place), while I am half-watching a movie that is going on in the living room because I have to return it today. And I have a big party tonight. Whew.
That is why I am MUM! "Multitasking-Underestimated-Mother" I am trying to find a better acronym. Oh well.
I am always being asked how I find time to do what I do. I remember saying to myself "I'll do that...sometime." or "I could never make time for that." After a while I got tired of hearing myself say those things and finally said "Self! No more excuses!" In light of my book being published and two more in the works... I saw this cartoon and it has inspired me.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Publish a book: Accomplished!


Yep. You read right. After days and nights and nights and days of working and researching and reading.. it is finally and officially done! You can buy it here.

Paperback: $28
eBook: $12.50
PDF file via check or paypal $10. You will have to email me.

I think I will post some feedback:

I am so excited about your book! I just ordered a copy and this couldn’t have been more timely. My daughter and I have been discussing raising our own food and trying to store it.

This is such a wonderful accomplishment and I am so proud of you. This book will help others and be a blessing in the process. It has been on my heart to get back to basics and cultivate our lifestyles as our great grandparents and grandparents did. There was no waste and everything was fresh. My biggest hang up has been how to get started and now I have a manual.-April


Congratulations to you! What a wonderful thing to add to your list of many accolades, M.C

This woman is amazing and just so sweet.

I wanted to pass this on incase you were thinking about storing some food and had some questions on how to do it.

I know you will enjoy the book!

I personally think it is well worth the investment to have a guide like this to help storing your food.

It is time to think like a squirrel!. Lisa


Feel free to shower me with praise as well... :) Really though. There were times I was so excited and others I was really frustrated and wanted to just give up. Thank you to McKay, Tia and Amber for the editing jobs and everyone else who are to numerous to name (I feel like I just won an award. I am glad Kayne is not here to steal the spotlight... or whatever is name was)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Nawlins





New Orleans: Pronounced "nawlins"
It was utterly delicious. And we did it in three days for a grand total of ... $450

Airfare on Southwest: $30 each way x2=$150
Airport parking: $18
Public Transportation there (there was a bus pick up right from the airport to downtown): $4
Hotel (from Hotels.com got a $119 a night for $50):$180. Breakfast included
3 day trolley pass: $30
Food (we used restaurant.com and got $25 for a discounted rate):$50
Souvenirs: $18
TOTAL: $450
That was pretty good if you ask me. I do want to point out that we did take Jaedyn with us... we rode public transportation and DID NOT take a stroller which was perfect. We just strapped her in our carrier.

I think I will list what we did and then post pictures. If you ever have the chance to go to Nawlins, take it. It was wonderful.

Canal Street Trolley Ride
Riverwalk Trolley ride
Dined at Cafe Du Monde twice and enjoyed the Beignet
Shopped in the French Market
Toured the French Quarter, The WW2 Museum, Garden District, St. Louis Cemetery, Lafayette Cemetery, Ursuline Convent, Loyola University, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, walked down Bourbon Street,
Ate at a fancy jazz place called Shrimp, Steak&Lobster, ate a incredible bar called Turtle Bay, ate at Johnny Po-Boys (not that great).
The Famous St Charles Street Car

I love these silver guys!

We learned a lot of history during our three day trip. WW2, French Quarter Tour, childhood home of Payton Manning, but the highlight of my trip was this: (mckay and Jaedyn). I have to mention that Jaedyn managed to climb everything that was stairs or looked like stairs and this:
Creole Creamery. They have the CRAziSt Flavors (like Garlic-lime, Lime-Butter, Mexican Hot sauce)! And the best challenge. Eat thier $25 Sundae and get inducted to the hall of fame... it really is HUGE-O!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sushi day

I know, I like to talk abotu food. But it has been awhile since i have so....
Yesterday I made these. The jar kind, not the cookies yet. I did make the cupcake pops. That was fun.

Today I think we will have this.
Tuesday is NAtIONAl SushI DAy! Not really, just in our house.Sushi Dessert

swagbucks. LOVE it

Support independent publishing: Buy this book on Lulu.