Sunday, November 27, 2011

Artist Girls Win at Reflections Contest

Artist Girl at the recent PTA Reflections Contest 2011 Assembly.
(Yes, that is a food bribe in the babies mouth--long assembly)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Self Portrait by Artist Girl

We have been weathering one sickness after another around here since I "tricked" on Halloween with walking pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis. Stomach bug has brought more unpleasantness. 6 down so far, 1 to go. Artist girl has not and claims she will not fall victim to the bug. She has been working on the above self-portrait sketch. What do you think? (She is 11)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

10 Ways Moms Can Boost Self-Confidence

10 ways moms can boost self-confidence
By Tequitia Andrews, ksl.com contributor
November 9th, 2011 @ 7:33pm
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SALT LAKE CITY -- Being a mom is hard work. And, unfortunately, moms are their own harshest critics. Feelings of inadequacy or attempting to keep up with societal demands can lead to depression and low self-worth. By incorporating a few new habits and developing a different perspective, moms can feel more confident — and enjoy the journey.

1. Dress the Part

Mom and frumpy does not have to be synonomous. While it isn't necessary to get a total makeover, it is a good idea to take a little pride in your appearance.

2. Eat Healthy and Exercise

A poor diet and lack of physical activity can put a strain on the body and your mood. Moms who eat healthy and exercise regularly feel and look better.

3. Ignore the "Joneses"

Constantly comparing yourself to others can lead to depression and feelings of inadequacies. Make realistic goals for your family based on your circumstances and needs.

4. Create a Mantra

Find a quote, scripture or affirmative statement that embodies how you want to be. Look at it or repeat it in your mind every time you feel inadequate. What we think about ourselves can have a positive or negative affect on how we live. Think confidently, live confidently.

5. Celebrate Your Successes

No matter how small the success may be, celebrate. It's easy to dwell on how much of the to-do list is still left undone. Instead, celebrate the accomplishments that you have achieved.

6. Focus on Your Strengths

As in number 5, it's easy to get caught up in your weaknesses. Focus on what you're good at and pace yourself to improve in the areas you're not. Don't beat yourself up over it. Accept who and where you are.

7. Pursue Personal Interests

Take some time during the week to do something for you. It can be taking a class, reading a book or a hobby.

8. Help Others

No doubt about it, helping others feels good. It also takes the focus off ourselves and our perceived inadequacies.

9. Avoid Negativity

Avoid negative people and negative media that foster feelings of inadequacy. Surround yourself with people and media that are uplifting, inspiring and encouraging.

10. Enjoy Life

Enjoy your family and everyday that you have together. Seek out opportunities to have fun and create meaningful memories.

Tequitia Andrews has written about parenting and family issues for several newspapers, magazines and websites.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Disaster Supply Car Kit

How to make a disaster supply car kit
By The Provident Princess, ksl.com contributor
November 6th, 2011 @ 9:49am
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SALT LAKE CITY -- The probability of a disaster happening while you are away from home is very high. So an important component of any emergency preparedness plan would include having a well-stocked car.

There are also times when you may need to evacuate or be stranded in your car. Having your car stocked to help you survive will give you a lot more peace of mind and help you stay calm and focus on the important things in these situations.

Prepare your car now by keeping your gas tank above half-full, always check the weather and road conditions before a trip and keep up on your car's maintenance.

Since you may not be at home and may not have the chance to go back and get your disaster supplies kits (72-hour kits or grab bags), you will want to keep a smaller version in the trunks of each of your cars.

Car Kits might include:

  • First aid kit and manual
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Cellphone, charger
  • Roadside assistance card
  • Portable radio and extra batteries
  • Fire extinguisher (five-pound ABC type)
  • Extra fuses
  • List of important phone numbers (local and out-of-town)
  • Detailed maps
  • Waterproof matches and candles
  • Whistle and small mirror
  • Pen, pencils, paper
  • Cash (bills and coins)
  • Flares or hazard reflectors
  • Jumper cables
  • Properly inflated spare tire
  • Jack, lug wrench, tire gauge
  • Basic tool kit
  • Windshield scraper and brush
  • Small folding shovel
  • Duct tape
  • Sand for traction
  • Rags, paper towels, wet wipes, and diapers if you have small kids
  • Water (for drinking and in case your car overheats)
  • Bleach
  • Nonperishable food (focus on high energy) also you may want a bottle and formula if you have a baby
  • Hand can opener
  • Medications
  • Toiletries
  • Emergency blankets, hand warmers
  • Extra clothes, gloves, hats, sturdy shoes

Perhaps some of these ideas get you thinking about what you might need to prepare your car for emergencies and disasters that could happen.

I would love to hear about any ideas you might have in addition to what I have listed.

A great resource to review is FEMA's website you can find it at http://www.fema.gov/

You can find more information and tips about food storage, emergency preparedness and provident living by visiting my blog at http://providentprincess.com/< a=""> src="http://beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif?cid=14593&pid=4" /><>

Crack Brownies

Another recipe to try: Crack Brownies You can find the original entry here.

Turn your oven to 350 degrees.

In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan, melt a stick-and-a-half of butter with 2 ounces of unsweetened chocolate. Since these are The Best Ever Brownies you should use the highest-quality chocolate (and butter!) that you can find, though I’ll whisper to you behind my hand that a batch I made using Baker’s, which is basically the Alpo of the unsweetened chocolate world, was met with oohs and aahs and a whole lot of paws surreptitiously darting toward the plate for just one more, I swear this is my last one OH MY GOODNESS, I CAN’T STOP, WHAT IS IN THESE THINGS?!?

Once those two things are melted, turn the heat off and move the pot to a cold burner to let it cool down for a spell.

Now stir in the following things:

A heaping ¼ cup of cocoa powder 2 cups of sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup flour

When that’s all nicely mixed, pour the batter into a 8”x8” square pan that you’ve lined with greased foil such that the foil drapes over the edges of the pan.

That’s pretty much it, except for the secret part. The crack part. Have you guessed yet what it is?

It is salt.

But not just any salt. Maldon salt. Himalayan pink salt also works, as does Sel Gris. Kosher salt does not work; neither does table salt. You need rocks, Jenny from the block. About a teaspoon of ‘em, but kind of eyeball it, giving the top of the brownie batter a pretty good coating with the stuff. Once you’ve done that, put the pan in the oven, let everything bake for 30-35 minutes before cooling for one hour at room temperature, followed by one hour in the refrigerator. Cut them into 16ths.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem can be fleeting, but it's worth the pursuit
By Roger Stark, ksl.com contributor
November 3rd, 2011 @ 8:04pm
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SALT LAKE CITY — The great American psychologist Albert Ellis once said, “Self-esteem is the greatest sickness known to man or woman because it is conditional.” Indeed, the finding of a healthy self- esteem is the greatest mental health challenge many face in their lifetime.

Individual worth (and the self-esteem that is harvested from it) is not situational and should not be established by comparison, evaluation or an individual's last great or terrible accomplishment. Those are the conditional elements Ellis was referring to. They are often not within an individual’s control.

“Life happens,” as the street therapist would say, prompting many to throw up their hands and accept whatever fate they're dealt without fighting for a happier life. But experts say creating lasting self- esteem is possible and worth the effort to build. These experts offer guiding principles for those struggling to understand and foster their own sense of self-worth.

Self-esteem in a dog-eat-dog world
In a world that is quick to remind us of our faults, and even capitalize on them, we need to find ways to strengthen our self- esteem and to guard carefully the self-esteem of others. We can so easily damage another person's self-esteem, in this dog-eat-dog world. But instead of tearing others down, we can focus on building them up. In turn, this builds up our own personal feelings of worth. CLICK HERE to read more from therapist and Studio 5 relationship expert Matt Townsend.

Russel Seigenberg, Ph.D., of Logan, suggests, “The ideal state is to have a sense of self-worth based upon the universal worth of mankind, an appreciation of our own strengths and progress and acceptance of our earnest efforts to walk a good walk in life.”

W. Tim Gallwey authored “The Inner Game of Tennis” outlining just how players could get their mental and emotional selves out of the way, freeing the player within to compete at the highest possible level.

He used the following metaphor: “When we plant a rose seed in the earth, we notice that it is small, but do not criticize it as 'rootless and stemless.' We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed. When it first shoots up out of the earth, we don't condemn it as immature and underdeveloped; nor do we criticize the buds for not being open when they appear. We stand in wonder at the process taking place and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development. The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. It seems to be constantly in the process of change; yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly right as it is.”

Gallwey wanted his clients to learn that in the big picture, their flaws did not define them or represent failure. He also wanted them to celebrate (and use and focus on) their strengths.

In his years of coaching, Gallwey observed that physical talent levels often did not dictate winning results on the court. He would say to his players, “Learn to trust yourself on the court. Find the state of 'relaxed concentration' that allows you to play at your best” and “Focus your mind to overcome nervousness and self-doubt.” His directions are not only valuable for tennis players, they are great life skills.

10 statements you should never think

In the rose metaphor, Gallwey takes the long-term, big-picture view, as does Seigenberg. He suggests human beings have value simply because they are human beings, whatever their stage of development. He describes it as “the universal worth of mankind.”

In the world of living things, humans are the pre-eminent species, combined with individual “strengths and progress.” each soul has unique value and ability to contribute to making his or her part of the world a better place. Their contribution would be missed if they were not there. If one chooses to earnestly make an effort to walk a good walk in life, individual worth is greatly enhanced. There is much to appreciate, celebrate and admire.

Even when the individual struggles, self-worth need not be diminished. An individual's worth remains constant. Mistakes and failures -- the stages where the human seedling is not particularly beautiful -- are part of being human, and often provide the greatest learning experiences. These are the moments of potential growth and nurturing. Painful as they can be, they serve to move the individual along the path of maturation. A child should not be shamed by his or her mistakes; they are often just benchmarks of growing up. So it is for adults.

Remember the rose. It is not very handsome as a scraggily root, but it is exactly as it should be.

In the process of recovering from addiction Roger Stark became a licensed addiction counselor and wrote the LDS recovery guide, “The Waterfall Concept, A Blueprint for Addiction Recovery.” He blogs at his recovery website, www.waterfallconcept