New Pricing list for the Home and Family Storage Centers

With all the discussion about the changes surrounding the Home and Family Storage Centers, I completely overlooked that there is a new order form posted at Provident Living.org.  

Here you can see that there are many more prepackaged items available.  Those with 4 stars after the item means that they are only available at "select centers" and that you need to check for availability.

 There are still many of the same staples available

Please know that sales tax may apply depending upon where you live.  

You can download this form at this link.  It can filled out in xls or pdf form and printed out at home.  Take the completed form to your local Home and Family Storage Center.  You can locate one near you here. Please know that it is best to call and schedule an appointment.  Also know that you do not have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to use the facilities. If you have an LDS friend, ask them to take you.  I hope you fall in love with this amazing resource just as I have.  

Shrimp on the Barbie.....

The aftermath....

Why?  Because I sometimes cannot get 'final' photos to show you.  So, I am showing you the aftermath.  Sometimes things that are made and devoured so quickly, and I am of course enjoying my company, that I miss the 'final photo'. What can you deduce from this....that what I am about to show you is delicious!

We had a great time on July the 4th.

Little ones having their first experience with "SNAPS" and sparklers.

And....a fun time at the Splash pad.  Afterwards, we came back to our home for a little Grilling action.  

We had salad and corn-on-the-cob....and something fun and delicious from Food Storage.  I am very serious....all the ingredients for the Shrimp used for main course came from Food Storage.  What did we have?  Shish Kabob with Marinated Shrimp and Veggies.  Here is a great recipe for a Marinade using only ingredients from my Food storage.  

  

I decided to use the Marinade accessory from my Food Saver.  

Garlic (equivalent of 3 cloves)

The equivalent of 1 medium yellow Onion from dehydrated minced onion.

Minced Parsley and Basil that I dehydrated myself (from my garden).

Kosher Salt.

Ground Pepper

Olive Oil

The equivalent of the juice from one Lemon.

Shrimp from my Deep Freezer.

I used the Food Saver Accessory attachment to seal the Marinade Unit.

I then game the entire container a quick shake to coat all the Shrimp.  

How did I put the Shish Kabob together during all the festivities?  I didn't.  I set up a bar with diced pepper and onion, and mushrooms.  I had melted garlic butter by the grill.  Everyone made their own as there are folks that dislike one or more of the items on the 'bar'.  The skewers were placed on the grill and basted with garlic butter.  Within a couple of minutes, they were ready to enjoy.

Everything was gone except a lone corn-on-the-cob, an olive, and a slice of cheese for those who chose to have a burger too.

I'd say it was a success....wouldn't you?

Here is the recipe for Grilled Herb Shrimp.

Ingredients

2 pounds large shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), peeled and deveined (see note)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium yellow onion, small-diced

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/4 cup minced fresh basil

1 teaspoon dry mustard

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup good olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

Directions

Combine all the ingredients and allow them to marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Skewer the shrimp. I use 3 or 4 shrimp on a 12-inch skewer for dinner. Heat a grill with coals and brush the grill with oil to prevent the shrimp from sticking. Grill the shrimp for only 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

Take home message:  You can have wonderful meals from your Food Storage.  I also saved money because I had all these items in my storage.  I grew some of them, and had others that I purchased when they were most likely on sale.

You can have delicious and wonderful celebrations using your Food Storage.  Enjoy!

Wrap it up.....

image courtesy of Fox Talk Books

I have followed "Organize Christmas" for years now. It has helped me have relaxed and well planned holidays for years.  One of the things I learned to do from this group is to have a 'gift wrap center'.  It is an area in your home that has all of your gift wrapping supplies.  I have kept mine in place year-round.  Not only do I use it, but my daughters, husband, and a son or two have used it as well.  

I had this 'center' in my Food Storage room.  I had a table set up with the supplies either on or under the table.  Less than half of the time is the table clear of 'stuff' that people put there instead of putting it all away.  Just picture empty canning jars, various packages of food storage, sometimes sports equipment....you name it.  Lets just say that I found it very frustrating!  

So, I recently reorganized my Sewing area.  I may actually do a post on that as well.  I really, really like knowing what I have, where it is, and how much of it I have.  I don't have anyone here going through these supplies on a regular basis, so I am hopeful that it can remain this way.  As I was organizing, I looked at this angle...

This is the back of the door to my combination laundry room (on the right of the picture) and sewing area (on the left).  I saw this very blank door!  I used to have "organizing things" screwed into the door to hang my vacuum hoses and attachments.  Lets just say that the vacuum that I had that stuff for is long gone.  Recently, Rooster Senior took most of the 'organizing things' off the door and is using them in the garage...which Rooster Junior is helping to clean and organize.

So, I had this great expanse that was blank!  What else could I do with it?  I went online and ordered the following items off from Amazon (I love that it comes right to my house)

Household Essentials Hanging Cotton Canvas Laundry Hamper Bag

I bought 3 of these.  I like them because they have a metal hanger and a metal frame at the top. I cut cardboard and placed it at the bottom of the bag for stability.

I bought heavy duty Command strips to place in strategic places on the door to hang my supplies.

Don't these organizers look good next to my dirty clothes hamper on the right and basket of projects on the left?  I am kind of kidding...but I think they look great.

Here is a close-up of these 2 hanging hampers/organizers.   

I filled the left bag with wrapping paper and the right bag with gift bags. I use these the most.  Notice that I also included a wire basket hanging just above the hampers?  This is left over from the vacuum organizer situation.  I have put in my tape, ribbon shredders (yes, I actually use them), and tags.  I keep my scissors and measuring tape in the drawer of my sewing area, so I did not put them in the basket.

This is the top of the door.  In the hamper/organizer on the left, I am storing my gift boxes.  I was puzzled with how to store my ribbons etc.  I bought a canvas container to put them in, but it just didn't fit the space like I had hoped it would.  Enter...a dollar-store find.  I used to store my wrapping paper in the mesh hamper/organizer on the right.  I am now putting my ribbon in this container as I can see what is in there.  It is easy to take down either hamper to access the contents inside.  It is just as easy to replace them back on their designated hooks.  

Here is my new wrapping center hanging on the open door. See the counter on the left?  I have a long counter that I use for sewing.  I will now use it to wrap as well.....I love when you can use the same thing for more than one use.  

Here is the finished product....functional and hidden away when I don't want it to be seen.  Best of all, I can now work on my storage room and try to have that table devoted to the work I do in there without any wrapping clutter.

I am toying with the idea of using my Silhouette to cut Vinyl letters to identify what is in each bag. If I do decide to do this, I will update this post or a future post with it.

What do you think?

If we don't remember the past, we jeopardize our future. Celebrating the Fourth of July.....

I am sure there will be lots of celebrations today.  Lot's of family, friends, and certainly food.  That is certainly the case for the LRH and her family.  Water park, grilling, and some of the  pyromaniacs in my family will be doing their thing at our home and most likely elsewhere.  

I am hosting the grilling party today.  I went to the grocery store and saw grocery carts overflowing with all kinds of things.  Mine.....not so much.  I have lots of things already in my pantry and with staples in my Food Storage room as well.  I bought some produce and a couple of other things.  I love knowing that I am not hostage to the craziness of having to buy everything for the holiday.

However, I digress.  Not only do we have the chance to celebrate with loved ones, but I feel that we should also remember.  I would encourage you to remember those serving in the military who did not return,  those who did return but are forever changed, and those who will not have a parent growing up because their parent made the brave decision to serve us all.

I hope that you take a moment to read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, as well are the Federalist Papers. 

I hope you thank a veteran for his/her service, I hope you fly the flag proudly, and I hope you never forget how we came to be.  For a 2-minute reminder, please see this video...

And finally, I would hope that you would look inside of yourself and see what you can do to serve our Country and right the wrongs that you may see as well as protect those things that so many of us hold sacred.  How can one person make a difference?  Let's see:

• Register to Vote....and be an informed voter.
• Attend your local Caucus or Precinct Meetings if your state has them.
• Make time to listen and interact with those who are running for office.
• CALL or CONTACT those who are in office and let them know what your concerns and opinions are.  I have the White House, the Speaker of the House, My Senators and Congressman and State officials programmed into my phone.  That takes away the barrier of finding out the number when I am really frustrated about something...I can just make the call!  I usually call the east coast on my way to work and leave a message.  Faxing is an option as well.  Program your fax machines with the needed numbers.  Add email addresses to your contacts to send your thoughts as well.
• Fly the American Flag proudly and know how to properly care for it and retire it when the time comes.
• Listen to more than one source of news....be well rounded.
• Volunteer in your community.  Your city always has needs and you can be part of the solution.
• Defend our rights, defend our rights, defend our rights!  Anyone can have a conversation with conviction tempered with restraint.  
• Be good parents and raise your children with morals and a knowledge of where they live.
• Be the person that you know you can and should be.

Finally, understand the Pledge of Allegiance.  I love Red Skelton's 'instruction' and I am including it for you.  

God Bless America....