An Update. Self Torture. Spanish Rice.

Well hello again! How are you? Me? Oh, I'm fine! I'm not even going to mention about how I haven't posted in..say..6 months. Nope - it's not even going to let it escape my lips. Or fingertips.  Just keep on keepin' on. No looking back. Forward ho!

An Update:
January was busy with lots and lots of Sterling activities (Terrence's financial/investment advising business). We also celebrated our 5th anniversary by going to a bounce house with Kiki and eating Mexican food. Oh yeah - life is good!

February was pretty uneventful I suppose since I can't remember anything that occured!

March up to TODAY has pretty much been craziness on crazy pills. Long story, short...My dad became progressively ill and I turned into the Food Nazi (a nickname which my family has lovingly called me for about a decade now). And thanks to the tender mercies of our Father in Heaven, my dad has dropped 65 pounds in 3 months! Don't worry, he's not on some psycho diet pill or oil or whatever pops into your head when you hear about that much weight being dropped in a short amount of time. We followed "The Biggest Loser 6 weeks to a Healthier You" - that I modified to fit their budget.

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Eating right is what has done it for him! He has lots more weight to lose but he looks great. And it has saved his life! (Well that and addressing his sleep apnea..) So that has pretty much has been my activity every breakfast, lunch, dinner. Cook, cook, cook. I shed some pounds too, but mostly because I was walking back and forth in the AZ heat to deliver his meals and encourage him.

Self Torture:

This looks like a fun way to torture myself in October.

Can I get an Amen?!

Finally, a recipe. Everybody loves recipes. Even those who don't love to cook will LOVE this recipe. And it's great to add to your food storage menu.

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Spanish Rice
1 to 2 tsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2c brown rice
2c chicken broth (low sodium/fat)
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with green  chilies, drained (Original flavor gives the dish a kick!)
a few shakes (or pinches) of salt
oregano

In a large skillet, heat EVOO and rice at medium/ medium-high heat until browned. Add onion and garlic. Cook mixture for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently. We are going for soft onions, people! Add chicken broth (which is pretty much the whole 14oz can), Rotel diced tomatoes - drained!-, salt and oregano to the rice/onion/garlic mixture and stir. Add pinches of salt and oregano to the top and cover. For oregano, I use several pinches - this is what gives it flavor!

Bring to boil, then lower heat and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the rice you buy. (I check at 15 minutes, and depending on how moist the rice is, I guage it from there). When moisture is gone (rice will be sticky!), remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.

I heart Mom

They weren't born Olympians. They were just raised that way.
The hardest job in the world, is the BEST job in the world.

Bunny Buns

 

 

 

 I saw these cute Bunny Buns on Pinterest and thought I would share the idea! The recipe was found in Friend magazine from last year. I know little Bicho will get a kick out of making these with me for Easter - or any time!

Here is the recipe. Click the source link for additional helpful hints (in the comments).

Buen Provecho!!

Faith Storage

As I contemplate more about starting an organized food storage - with complete meals and such - I realize what an extremely overwhelming task it is. Where do I start?! How much do I store? And how on earth am I going to rotate through it?!
Then the idea to this post came to me. It's not just about the food you buy, but about the faith and preparation you put into it. So here are some faithful steps any latter-day woman (or man) can take towards being self-reliant.

#1. Assume the starting position.

Now, get off your knees and get your rear in gear!

And lets see a little hustle in that bustle!!

Once you start moving, the Lord will start guiding your feet.

"But....but...first I have to get 90 days of food. Then a year's supply. How am I going to do it all?!"

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#2. No more  weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Now is the time to adopt Nephi's attitude of "I will go and do"! The commandment to be self reliant comes directly from the Lord. And with His help, we can do anything!

#3. Start simple. See those empty juice /2 liter soda bottles/ Gatorade bottles? Wash them out and fill them with water. Put them out of the way on the floor of a closet, or under your kitchen counter. Or buy a case of water at the supermarket or Costco and put that in the closet. There, you've started your water storage. You are awesome!!

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#4. At the store, instead of buying enough cans to make one meal, buy double. Store the extra on a shelf set aside for food storage. Do this as often as your budget allows you to and your food storage will grow, grow, grow! Shopping the sales and using coupons will help your money stretch even further. Have you used Krazy Coupon Lady's online coupon database? Before shopping, I check to see if there is a coupon for what I have on my list. If so, I print it off (twice!) and I'm good to go!

#5. Start your shopping trip with a prayer. Pray that the Lord will bless you in your efforts. Pray that you will find the right deals and your mind will be open to other impressions on how to build your food storage. Pray, pray, pray! It truly does make a difference, I promise you!

#6. Find online resources that can help educate you in making the most of your food storage. Here are some of my suggestions below. If you have time, watch Wendy Dewitt's  Food Storage seminar (somebody taped it in a set of 9 on YouTube). She is super knowledgeable and willing to share the information for free! (Although she does have a set of dvds for sale at seagull book.) I went to one of her firesides and it was VERY informative and inspiring.

I will prepare

Preparing Wisely

Safely Gathered In

3DHealth

Wendy Dewitt 

#7. Be open to other ideas that don't involve food  but will still help you . I have heard the following: Set aside $5 cash every paycheck in your house (NOT in the bank);
Don't let your car gas tank go below 1/2 full (in case of emergency evacuation);
Make sure to have consecrate oil on hand and stored
monthly temple attendance, daily prayer and scripture study.

Hope some of these ideas have helped! What ideas do you use that help you on your journey to become self reliant? I'd love to hear them!!!

Next week I will be revealing my food storage menu (ooo la la!) and share some yummy, toddler approved (!) food storage recipes. Until then, keep living your life!

My Life in 30 days: January

Confession time. Pretty much up to this point I have had a non-committal relationship with, you guessed it, my blog. It all started with Pinterest, I tell you! Curse you Pinterest - with all your lovely DIY house projects, tantalizing recipes and fashion ideas!

 ::Sigh::

Anyhoo, with a new year I find myself with a deep down desire to do the impossible: maintain a blog.

Regularly.

That's right. You read it. I will blog more than once every 6 months! Not occasionally. Not semi-regularly. Every stinkin' day. Ok, well not every day - I mean let's be realistic.

Oh dear, am I being non-committal again??

So while I was eating popcorn for breakfast (!) with Bicho this morning, I came up with a great idea to keep me from neglecting my blog while helping me reach some personal goals. 

I shall call it "My Life in 30 days".

To be honest with you (yes YOU...that one person that still reads my blog - I LOVE YOU!)...my life is pretty darn boring. My husband works insane hours to build our business and I mostly stay home with Bicho to play doll house a million times in one day. We are kind of fuddy-duddies. But I have an adventurous spirit! And I love a challenge. Thus, "My Life in 30 days" was born. I'm not a very consistent person (hummmm..really, I never would have guessed it!) but I can stick to something for at least 30 days!!

So here's the "dealio". Each month of the year, I will commit to try something new. Something that I believe will help me become a better wife, mother and daughter. Some ideas may not work out so well. Others may work out so well that they become a life-long habits. I will invite you to join along for the ride - but only if you want to! A woman who is progressing, is a woman who can change the world - starting with her family!

So for "My Life In 30 Days: January" I am focusing on....food storage.

:::Gasp:::

So adventurous, I know! But its been on my mind A LOT and I need a kick start to get it going. And don't worry. I'm not an over-achiever. In fact, reading my blog will probably make you feel better about yourself! I'm not out for perfection - just progress! My goal is to set up a food storage system that works for our family's irregular income (read: livin' the commission life, baby!) and storage space. And if there are any ideas that work for your family too, I invite you to use them too!

Have you lived your life today???