Preparing for Next Spring

I don't know about you, but for me this summer has gone so quickly it is hard to believe September is just around the corner.  Now, that the fall is quickly approaching, most of us are starting to enjoy the fruit of our labors, from juicy tomatoes to zucchini.  Hopefully, your garden has been producing a good crop this year.  Since, this is the time for harvesting, you may want to dry and save seeds from this years garden for your garden next spring.  This is an inexpensive way to get ready for your next years crops. 
Some seeds are very easy to collect and save for next year, others (tomatoes) takes a little more time.  So, please do a little research before you store seeds for all winter.  Good luck and happy harvesting.

Family Home Storage

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others. "We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. "We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve." —The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, 1 Three-Month Supply Drinking Water Financial Reserve Longer-Term Supply

Saving Money and Building Food Storage

Couponing is the new craze, but one that saves money.  You have probably seen some extreme couponing on TV or read about it somewhere.  I personally think couponing is a great way to save money and to build your food storage quickly.  I received 3 Sunday newspapers just for the coupon inserts, which we feel is very inexpensive with all the money that we save.  Plus, I went from having just a very small amount of food storage to decent amount, I still have room to improve however, I am grateful for my knowledge of the couponing world.  With that said I am hoping to pass along some sites that will help you find the tricks and tips of couponing in our to save a little green and build your food storage with every day items you actually use.  I have 3 sites I really like, I know that more exist and that you might have others that you like better.  I am just suggesting these because I feel the sites are user friendly.  Good luck in your coupons endeavors.

www.grocerysmarts.com                passport g84csg
http://www.hip2save.com/
http://www.freebies2deals.com/

72 Hour Kit Party

I just wanted to thank all of those who participated in our 72 Hour Kit Party this past Tuesday.  It was a successful event with, the sisters that came asking for us to have another party of it's kind.  We will be doing this again in the fall, and hope that those who missed out on this event that you will be able to join us in the fall. 
I want to give a HUGE shout out to the 2 brothers that helped us out, PJ Woods and Richard Kimball.  We really appreciate all your help and your muscles that made this event a success.

April 72 Hour Kits

Here is a list of somethings to put into your 72 hour kits:

Legal Documents
Insurance polices
Scriptures
Plastic sheet
Sunscreen - Ziploc
Pet Food
Old shoes
Baby Wipes
Infant Needs
Comfort toys

Your 72 hour kits should be in good shape.  However, you may need to change some things and make it fit to your needs.  Just remember we all need to be prepared. 

Growing a Garden

“Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices. It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.”
—Thomas S. Monson, “Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 3

Planting a garden, even a small one, allows for a greater degree of self-reliance. With the right information and a little practice, individuals and entire families can enjoy the many benefits of planting and tending a garden.

BYU Broadcasting has produced a new television series on gardening called HomeGrown, with episode information and air dates.

Sisters as the weather warms up, it's a good time to get out and start working the soil.  So when the time come to plant your gardens you are ready to start.  If you don't have a garden area, join a community garden, the cost is usually low and you reap the benefits of having a garden.  Good luck and happy growing.

Helpful Tips in Finding a Job

"The Lord would want you to be successful. He would. You are His sons and His daughters. He has the same kind of love and ambition for you that your earthly parents have. They want you to do well and you can do it."
—Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 614

Did you know . . . networking is the most effective way to find a job? Did you know . . . “Me in 30 Seconds” statements will help you introduce yourself with confidence? Did you know . . . power statements can help you make powerful impressions? Did you know . . . LDS Employment Resource Services (ERS) helps individuals:
Find Jobs People seeking employment or better employment are assisted in learning effective job search skills, finding a job coach, and identifying potential employment opportunities. Get into Education Thousands of people have been assisted in finding scholarships or other funding and in enrolling in education or training programs. Start or Improve a Small Business Those who have interest in starting or strengthening a small business will find resources and information about self-employment.
Did you know . . . ERS operates 313 employment resource centers worldwide?
There are 110 centers in the U.S. and Canada and 203 located throughout Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Find the Employment Center nearest you.
Did you know . . . ERS offers a Career Workshop?
Throughout the world Church members are learning the skills necessary to better compete for job opportunities by attending a Career Workshop.
Did you know . . . ERS has a new initiative called the Professional Placement Program
Each week thousands of professionals meet together in employment centers around the world to network, share leads, and develop and practice effective job search skills. The Professional Placement Program consists of a Career Workshop and networking groups just for executives, professionals, and managers.

A General Conference Reminder

Now, I promise not all of my posts are going to be regarding emergency preparedness.  However, since it is General Conference weekend, I am reminded that it is time to check our 72 hour kits.  If you have been putting them together slowly or have had one for years, you need to check everything and make sure it is still good.  Also, check the clothing and shoes that have been put in your kits.  Often times, the clothing/shoes does not fit, so make sure that you have clothing that will fit and that it is appropriate for all seasons.  Remember, we live in the Rocky Mountains and we get some crazy weather.  The natural disaster could hit on a very cold day in January or a very hot day in July.  Be prepared (remember that's the words of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley).  Have a wonderful conference all!

72 Hour Kits

As, we look over the past weekend and the devastation that has occurred in Japan, we need to reflect on our own emergency preparedness and really make an effort to get our kits built and maintain them.  We hope we never have to use them, but we don't want to be without if we do.  Remember, every member of your house hold needs a 72 hour kit, even those furry or feathered friends.
For those of you that have attended the CERT training program, you have been given a very long list of items to add to your kits.  Those that have not taken this class, we are going to be adding a list of items every month for you to add to your kits. 

March Items:
Manual can opener
Mess Kit / Paper plates, cups, & plastic utensils
All purpose knife
Household liquid bleach to treat drinking water
Sugar, salt, pepper
Aluminum foil, plastic wrap
Resealing plastic bags
If food must be cooked, small cooking stove and can of cooking fuel

De-Clutter Your Life - Cleaning Schedule

Here is a cleaning schedule that will help you stay on top of that dust:

Monday
Change/wash sheets and bedding. 
Empty all wastebaskets

Tuesday
Sweep/mop all hard flooring surfaces (except bathrooms and kitchen)
Vacuum all carpeting and rugs

Wednesday
Clean bathrooms - a) With disinfectant spray or homemade product (try vinegar or dish soap + baking soda solution) wash and dry the sink, tub/shower, and toilet.  b) Sweep and mop floor and base boards. c) Shine mirror with glass cleaner or homemade product ( try vinegar + water and newspaper for wiping).  d) If necessary launder shower curtain, curtain liner and/or bath mats.

Thursday
Wipes down all window sills, stair railings
Spot clean walls

Friday
Using microfiber cloth, duster, or dyer sheet dust all table tops, shelving, bed frames, etc.

Saturday
Clean kitchen - a) Sanitize counter tops (be sure to remove all small appliances and other items first). b) Sweep/mop floor and shake out and/or vacuum area rugs. c) Clean inside of microwave.  d) Wipe down appliances (polish if you have stainless).  e) Toss expired/spoiled refrigerator items.  f) If necessary degrease range top and/or range hood

Sunday
Relax

Daily Duties: (Best done first thing in the morning or later in the evening, takes about 30 minutes to complete list.)

Bedrooms - Make beds - Place clean clothes away and dirty clothes into hamper - Tidy night tables/dresser surfaces

Bathrooms - Wipe down sink, tub and bathroom fixtures - Squeegee shower door after each use - Tidy counter top - Empty trash can if needed

Kitchen - Wash and store dishes, pots, pans - Wipe down counter surfaces, range top and table top - Scrub and dry sink - Take out the garbage if needed

Living room, hallway, staircase - Adjust sofa cushions and fluff pillows - Put magazines, toys, and other clutter in appropriate places

Monthly Duties: (Select one day a month to knock it all out and assign jobs to each family member)
Throughout home - Wash windows and glass doors - Clean screens - Clean/dust blinds and wash curtains if necessary - Clean/replace air filter of heating/cooling unit - Dust light fixtures and wall vents - Wipe down walls and baseboards - Vacuum under and behind furniture, remove cushions from sofa and chairs and vacuum crumbs and debris

Kitchen - Clean cabinet surfaces - Wipe down cupboard and pantry shelving - Thoroughly clean interior and top of refrigerator - Clean oven interior or run self-clean cycle

Bathroom - Use a heavy duty cleaning agent to scrub any grime and soap scum built up from sink, tub, shower and plumbing fixtures

Annual/Bi-annual/Quarterly: (These are chores that may be done as frequently as you desire)
Bedroom - Flip mattresses according to tag instructions - Rid closets and drawers of items that have been outgrown or not worn in 6 months (donate, sell, or pass down items you wish to remove).

Bathrooms - Clear medicine cabinet, bathroom pantry and vanity drawers of medications, toiletries, etc that have expired or are no longer being used

Kitchen - Pull out refrigerator and vacuum coils and vent - Go through pantry/cabinets and throw away items that have exceeded their shelf-life (check to see if you can donate this items to the local food bank or charity)

Living room, Hallway, Staircase - Shampoo carpets an rugs - Clean dryer vent - Clean out and reorganize hall closets, pantries, built-ins, etc (donate, sell or pass down items you wish to remove)