Homemaking

Playgoup Schedule

2009-06-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Killeen 1st Ward Play Group Schedule

7/1/09-Harker Heights Community Park
7/8/09-Harris Community Park
7/15/09-Long Branch Park
7/22/09-Carl Levin Park
7/29/09-Skipcha Park
8/5/09-Harker Heights Community Park
8/12/09-Harris Community Park
8/19/09-Skipcha Park
8/26/09-Carl Levin Park

Harker Heights Community Park-1501 E. FM 2410, Harker Heights
Tree shaded playground with bathrooms, bring a chair if you would like to sit

Harris Community Park- 312 North Alexander St., Belton
Splash Pad & playground, lots of shaded seats & bathrooms. There is a creek near by with ducks if you would like to walk.

Long Branch Park-1101 Branch Dr, Killeen,
New play equipment, limited shade and seating, no bathroom

Carl Levin Park-400 Miller's Crossing, Harker Heights
Playground, walking trail, and pond with ducks; there are bathrooms, but they are a little ways from the park.

Skipcha Park - 515 Prospector Trail, Harker Heights
5 acres with playground equipment, picnic tables, pavilion, and jogging/walking trail

Lions Club Park-1600 E Stan Schlueter Loop, Killeen
Playground, limited seating and shade

pregnant cat

2009-04-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have a 9 month old cat, very small for her age and she is now about 3 weeks pregnant.

Any advice appreciated, or comment if you would like one of the kittens! They should be available for adoption around late July/early August if they are born late May/early June.

needing a ride

2009-04-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first time posting to the homemaking blog so I hope I'm not posting anything wrong.

I left high school before I graduated and haven't gotten my GED yet. I found a GED prep class on base(I live on base, too) that meets from 6p-9p every Tuesday and Thursday. I haven't signed up yet because I don't have a reliable ride but if you can help me please let me know.

This is Erin Bean, I'm new to the ward and won't have access to my own cell phone until Friday night(the 24th) but welcome anyone who wants to chat to come by my house in Walker Village, at 8464-2 Scott Ave, Fort Hood

Thanks, and I look forward to getting to know you all!

Book Club...again

2008-12-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

In large part because of the ward Christmas party's theme we've decided to read The Christmas Jar for our next book club. The current plan is to meet on 16 December, but with people going out of town for Christmas that may change. I'll keep you posted. I know we all have access to this book! So, please, let me know if you'd like to come so I know if we should change the date to after Christmas or not.

Book Club

2008-11-12T10:53:00.001-08:00

As you may notice in the binders on Sunday, I started a book club a few months ago. It's at my house every other Tuesday, at 11:00. For 2 December (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) we're reading the book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. There's a movie coming out soon based on this book.

If you have kids, bring them! We have plenty of toys in my house. For my address, look in the RS binders on Sunday and if you need, just ask me for directions.

Lura Coyne
lurastarz.blogspot.com

Souper Saturday Crafts!

2008-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

Lightbulb Snowman - $3

Etched Casserole Dish - 1st one FREE! Additional etching is $1 per pan
Bring your own dish - clear glass only no colors

Personalized Soap Dispenser - $2

Glass Block Present - $11 with the option of red & green or blue & white stickers

Blue & white sticker option

Noel letters - $6

Junk drawer advent calendar - $6

Bring your own 10-15 junk drawer items to make into magnets

Ghoulish Gourds

2008-10-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Our ward recently did this activity and had a great turn out! Try these with your kids or for your own Family Home Evening!

Ghoolish Gourds

Instructions:
-Use a hole punch to make a pair of pupils from the craft foam, then adhere them to the white eyes with glue dots. - Attach all the pieces with glue dots, as pictured. To make the ears stick out (for the Count), tape a toothpick to the back, leaving about 1K inches of the toothpick exposed, then insert it in place. ~I bought some Googlie eyes for a buck..super cute! We also just used foam for all the noses and ears.

- Finishing touches for Witch: Cut a small mouth from the craft foam. To make a hat, cut the shapes shown at left from a piece of black craft foam. Roll the half-circle into a cone with a base slightly larger than the center of the ring, and secure the edge with glue dots. Tuck the cone's base into the center of the ring. For the buckle, double-fold a sheet of foil to create a square shape. Snip out the center, then adhere it to the hat with glue dots.

- Finishing touches for the Mummy: Wrap the pumpkin in gauze, using glue dots to attach the fabric as you go.
- Finishing touches for the Count: Cut a collar and hair from the craft foam, following the diagram at bottom. Wrap each around the pumpkin and attach them with glue dots, as shown.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Black acrylic paint
Ornamental (miniature) pumpkins
Black and white craft foam
Hole punch
Glue dots
Black duct tape
Toothpicks
Wooden skewers
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours
1. Cover your work surface with a drop cloth or newspaper, then paint the pumpkins. Allow them to dry completely. 2. For each bat, snip two identical eyes from the white craft foam and use the hole punch to make pupils. Adhere the eyes to the pumpkin with glue dots. 3. Cut matching pairs of ears and wings from the black craft foam (our wings are about 6 inches long). Attach the ears by taping a toothpick to the back of each one, leaving about 1K inches of the toothpick exposed, then inserting it into the top of the pumpkin. 4. Finally, tape a skewer to the back of each wing, leaving a 2-inch point exposed, and push it in place.

Sorry I don't have a sutout for the wings/ears!

Have fun!

Super Saturday!!!

2008-08-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

I have been talking to our Enrichment team about having a "Super Saturday" in a few months. Just thought I'd see if anyone had any ideas for us!

BABIES!!!!HAHAHAHAH!!!!

2008-07-24T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hey there, I was needing advice that is nowhere to be found in my "What to Expect When Your Expecting" book. No, I am not pregnant yet, but hope to be by the end of the year. Anyhow, I was wondering what I need to do in advance to get my body "ready". I hear that you should take prenatal vitamins 3 months in advance, but I have no idea what is the best kind (and I will have only the best for my little precious ones... Hee hee!) Since there are so many little ones in this ward, I hope you all can give me advice to make everything go smoothly. I just don't want to find out too late that there was something that I should have been doing all along! Love, Jeimilee Spence

Crockpotting

2008-07-21T13:41:00.001-07:00

I'm always on the hunt for new recipes. Anything I can do to shake up my monotonous dinner service. I feel like I just make the same 12 dishes over and over again. I recently stumbled on a blog called A Year of Crockpotting. The woman who runs the blog made a New Years resolution to use her Crockpot every single day. She is using her blog to document her Crockpot journey. She posts a new recipe and her verdict on the results every single day. So far I have tried Peppercorn Steak and the Indian Curry. I loved them both. They were simple and delicious. I highly recommend looking into this blog for recipes if you are in a dinner funk. Personally I love using my Crockpot on Sundays. It's so nice to come home from church and know that dinner is nearly done. Check it out and let us all know what recipes you liked or disliked!

-Tobi Wilkinson
http://tobiwilkinson.blogspot.com

Uses Of Vinegar

2008-07-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

I had heard that if you use white vinegar in your dishwasher instead of Jet Dry, it does the same thing, but a bit better. So I had just run out of my Jet Dry and thought that instead of paying the extreme cost of a new Jet Dry, I would use some of the vinegar I have in my cupboard.

I have to admit that I was a bit unsure at first. But when I opened the dishwasher my glasses seemed more sparkly than before! I don't think the sun actually shining into my dishwasher was the actual reason! LOL!

So I had to look online and I found this:

To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.

So instead of spraying it like that, put it in the Jet Dry spot. I am drinking from one of the cups right now and I thought that maybe I'd taste the vinegar, but I don't...thankfully.

You can find more uses of vinegar here: http://www.vinegartips.com/

It's 1001 tips for vinegar! There is some really cool stuff in there too that I never thought about doing before!

And a side note here, which has nothing to do with vinegar. My husband and I have been married for almost 13 years. Most of our appliances (electric skillet, crockpot, blender, food processor, can opener, etc) we got when we were married. Apparently, they all have a life span of almost 13 years! Everything seems have fallen apart at once! It's the year of replacing appliances in our home! Our can opener isn't really an appliance. I don't like electric ones and I usually get a nice hand one. Surprisingly, that lasted me all these years too. However last night, it only lasted through 4 1/2 of the 5 cans I had to open! Had to pry open that last can! I have a sliced finger to prove it too! OUCH! So, now I have to replace that too! So, my tip is, save up when you get close to your 13 year mark to replace all those appliances that will all start to stop working! LOL! Then save up for your 26 year mark and so forth!

P.S. I put the link to the 1001 Uses of Vinegar under the Helpful Links to the side. I hope y'all don't mind! It may come in handy one day for someone and save them the trouble of searching for this post of mine!

Room for Rent?

2008-05-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

My friend's husband is on his way here, but as soon as he gets here, he will be deployed, so my friend is staying where she is for the next school year. So, her hubby needs a place to stay for about 6 months. Does anyone know of a room for rent in the area or a cheap place for a single soldier to stay?

THANX!!

Diana Reichert

Decorating Cabinets

2008-05-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

The cabinets in my kitchen don't go all the way up to the ceiling, there is like 12 inches of empty space. I don't know what to put up there as far as decorations. Everything I put up there makes it look cluttered. Does anyone have any suggestions of what would look cute up there without making it look like a pile of crap? Or mabey I should just leave it bare... I don't know. Let me know if you have any suggestions :) Thanks, Jeimilee Spence

$1.00 Makeup!!!

2008-05-05T22:50:00.001-07:00

I just got a call from my friend about this website to get makeup for a buck! I guess they are changing the name of the products and are selling them for SUPER cheap. Then if you enter "carolina" for the promotions code, you will get 50% off your order...it will only give you 50% off for up to $15 worth of products...Still that's $7.50...thats like free shipping..or even better $0.50 Makeup! Ok hurry up cause it's first come first serve...

www.eyeslipsface.com

Enjoy!
Val

BPA Free Bottles and Sippy Cup Cheat Sheet Link

2008-05-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Someone posted this link on my local Craigslist...I thought it was nice of that person. Anyways, just copy and paste the link to get the list and read more.

Have a great day!

Val

http://safemama.com/2007/11/22/bpa-free-bottle-and-sippy-cup-cheat-sheet/

Child care for next 30 - 60 days

2008-05-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

Okie Dokie.... In efforts to get a working vehicle for my family, I have scheduled several appointments and events for the next 30-60 days. If there is anyone who can help me... Please let me know what you will need in return for watching my children, when your available, how many of my kids or what age you can watch. Let me know also how much advance notice you will need. Any help would be greatly appreciated My # is 254-813-1858 or email me at blueasp04@yahoo.com.

Mixes

2008-04-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,
I am usually not big on mixes, I like to make things homemade because they taste better! Well, I found some really good cookie and brownie mixes at HEB the other day, and they taste as good as, or better than homemade. They are the "Barefoot Contessa" brand, and I got the Chocolate Chunk Cookie, and the Outrageous Brownie mixes. Both were a little pricey, but I think they are great just to have on hand in case I get a sweet tooth! They are in the baking isle and in a blue and white box. SUPER YUMMY! Love, Jeimilee Spence

Shopping List

2008-04-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

I found this great shopping list online. You can add/subtract items to fit your own preferences, but it is a good idea to just put this on your fridge and check things off when you find that you are running out. Love, Jeimilee Spence

http://amymowbray.typepad.com/GetMoreOfThis.doc

Caring For Your Pets

2008-04-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Caring for your pets
5 biggest errors by pet owners
April 29: Most pet owners try to be responsible, but sometimes they make mistakes. Pet expert Andrea Arden and some furry friends visit TODAY with tips on how to avoid common errors.

By Andrea Arden
Pet expert
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 11:51 a.m. CT, Tues., April. 29, 2008

Companion animals can enrich our lives in an almost endless number of ways. Whether greeting us enthusiastically at the door, keeping us company on daily jogs or simply entertaining us with their play, sharing your life with a pet is a great way to increase the length and improve the quality of your life. For all they add to our lives, we owe it to them to do all we can for them in return. One of the ways to ensure your animal companion enjoys a long, happy life is to avoid the pitfalls of the most common pet-parenting mistakes:

Impulsive adoptions/purchases
Making the commitment to invite any animal to join your family should take a lot of careful consideration. Unfortunately, many people can't resist the temptation of bringing home a cute animal immediately. It is much wiser to first go home and do some research to find out everything you can about this particular type of pet and what caring for and living with them will entail. Be sure to include all family members in the decision-making process. Carefully consider the commitment of time and money, and if this particular animal's size, age, temperament and activity level are a good match for your family.

Buying from a pet store
This can be a hard mistake for people to avoid as seeing a cute young animal in a store can be very tempting, especially since some people consider they are saving that particular animal. But keep in mind that while you may give that animal a good home, with each sale the pet store makes they are that much more likely to bring more animals in from animal mills where the breeding stock is subjected to a life of constant breeding and mistreatment. A much wiser source is a local shelter, breed rescue group or reputable breeder.

Killing with kindness
Because people love their pets so much, they often do things which are inadvertently to the detriment of their pets. Many people feel they are being mean if they don't give their pet everything they want when they want it. This often starts on the first day the pet joins the family and is immediately given free run of the home. The intended goal is often to allow the animal to feel at home and comfortable. However, the result is usually that they get into trouble by eliminating in the wrong place or chewing an inappropriate item. It is much kinder in the long run to set clear rules and boundaries ― much like with children ― to help your pet stay safe and ensure that he or she is with you for their whole life.
Unfortunately, the result of not setting boundaries and helping your pet learn how to behave is that they make mistakes that they are then punished for. Worse yet, many otherwise lovely animals are surrendered to shelters for simply behaving in a manner that was permitted to become habit due to a lack of clear rules and boundaries.

Focusing on punishments rather than rewards
Considering how much we love our animal companions, it is surprising that one of the big mistakes people make is focusing on punishing their pets for things they don't like rather than rewarding them for what we consider good behavior. A perfect example of this is letting a pup eliminate on the rug (by not supervising them properly) and then yelling at them for doing so. Dogs think in pretty simple terms, so it is unlikely they are thinking they are in trouble for eliminating in the house. They probably think you don't like to see them eliminate, so they learn to hide behind the couch to do so. In this and most cases, punishments don't tend to be very effective and often cause negative side effects as bad as or worse than what they were intended to resolve.
Punishments are also likely to damage your relationship with your pet. Instead, focus on managing them (using supervision and confinement, such as keeping them on a leash or in a pet-proofed room or crate) to set them up for success and rewarding for good behavior. This will prevent problem behaviors from becoming habits, reinforce appropriate behaviors and improve your bond with your pet.

Assuming your pet is a person in fur clothing
It's wonderful that most people adopt pets into their home as full-fledged members of the family. However, while most pets adapt incredibly well to living with people, many people forget they are still animals. Keep in mind that pets tend to think in different and often much simpler terms than we do. They aren't walking around all day plotting how to get back at you for leaving them at home while you go to work or to punish you for what you have or haven't done for them lately. Accusing an animal of being spiteful or stubborn does a great disservice to them and tends to create a barrier to a healthy relationship.
So, the next time your dog digs in the yard, consider that he is probably doing so because it is fun for dogs and he's probably bored, not to punish you and ruin your newly planted yard.

Not spaying or neutering pets
This is a common mistake pet owners make with some of the most serious consequences. Unfortunately, some people still think that if they spay or neuter their pets they will get lazy and fat or that it is kind to let their pet have just one litter. Aside from the fact that there is a serious pet overpopulation problem that spaying and neutering can help decrease, doing so also means your companion is less likely to wander away to look for a mate and in doing so potentially get lost, hurt or contract diseases.
For males, neutering eliminates the chance of developing testicular cancer and may reduce problems with aggression, as well as decreasing inappropriate urination issues. For females, spaying decreases the chance of developing breast cancer down to almost zero if done before the first heat cycle. It also eliminates the chance of developing pyometra (a potentially fatal infection of the uterus), decreases or eliminates mood swings associated with heat cycles and eliminates spotting. Overall, spaying and neutering will greatly increase the length and quality of your pet's life.

Lack of supervision between pets and children
While many animals are very tolerant of and even enjoy interaction with children, all animals should be supervised at all times when together with kids. Regardless of the breed or type of animal you have, there is always a risk when leaving children and pets unattended together. What many people don't understand is that an animal can be tolerant for years, but if pushed too far (e.g., rough play, overexcited behavior), they may react. Unfortunately, the most likely person to be bitten or scratched by a dog or cat is a family member.

Posted by Homemaking at 12:40 PM 0 comments
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Community Service

2008-04-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, my 15 year old daughter Larissa, has to complete 50 hours of community service as part of her obligation to Ellison's Leadership Academy. She is almost finished, but she needs a few small 1-2 hour opportunities to serve to finish up. So, if you need help with something, or if you know of an organization or an upcoming function that needs volunteers, please let us know! The Leadership Academy is always looking for new ways to serve the community, so keep them in mind when you see a need for volunteers!

THANX

Diana Reichert
reichert6@gmail.com

Schools in the area

2008-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Hi! My friend is moving here in July and she has a son that is going into 8th grade and he has Aspergers(high functioning autism). What schools would be best for him? She also has a 5th grader and a little one starting school next year. I did not look at elementary schools as we moved in, so which ones are the best?

Also, who offers the best phone cards that provide cheap minutes to Iraq?

THANK YOU!!

Diana Reichert

Here we go again

2008-04-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

So here we go again! My 2 1/2 yr old girls have figured out that swinging from the curtains is a new form of entertainment... I mean why didn't I think of that? And it would almost be cute except for the fact that the curtain rod broke. Ugh! Another day with the Winkelman twins. What perplexes me is how they find new ways to trash their rooms. I keep removing toys and furniture and yet they still find a way to climb to trash their room. Ok so here's my question. What can I do differently? Any ideas or suggestions? It would be really great if someone would post a pic of their solution up here... I'm a great visual learner. Any takers?

Cleaning Little Tikes toys

2008-04-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

I recently bought a Little Tikes kitchen off of craigslist.com and was having all sorts of problems cleaning it. After trying ALL of my cleaning products(including laundry products) I decided I would start calling everyone I could think of that might have cleaned one of these toys before. SO I started with my friend Lee...who has six kids. I figured , she probably has had to clean a Little Tikes toy a time or two. Anyways she said to use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. So I did, and it worked!!! Thanks Lee! So just remember when you need to clean a Little Tikes toy use the Magic Eraser....they didn't name it Magic for nothing!

Valerie Pritchard