Homemade Playdough

This is actually Melissa Whitley posting this recipe. However, I use this recipe from my mom to make playdough that all the kids in my sunbeam class love to play with. It's an easy recipe that literally takes minutes to make. The playdough will last a long time, especially if you put it in the fridge between uses! :)

Homemade Playdough

1 cup flour
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water (food color added)
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tarter

*Heat over medium heat until mixture sticks together and forms a ball. It's ready to play with!

(Note: Cream of tarter is not absolutely necessary - it is a preservative, so it lasts longer when you use it.)

Enjoy! :)

Craft Fair for Francis

Hi Ladies! Most of you know that my sister Francis was diagnosed with a brain tumor last October and had brain surgery in November 2009. She is doing amazing now but of course has gigantic medical bills that will just keep growing. :( This is the type of tumor that she will have to watch for to grow back her whole life and she has a lot of physical therapy to do. So, we are having a craft fair to benefit her! 100% of the proceeds will go towards her medical bills! Here are the details......

Starting this Thursday, April 15th we will have 140 items for sale on this website:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/haleyuns

Items range from $3 and up! Here are just a few items we have: Jewelry, tons of crocheted items, scrabble tile necklaces, I-spy childrens bags, hair clips for little girls, appliqued onesies, blankets, travel holders for your curling iron/flat iron, scarfs and a whole lot more!

Please forward this info to your family and friends through your blog, email, facebook, carrier pidgeon, whatever! :) Spread the word!

Thanks,

Lois Hale

**On a side note, a sincere, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has prayed for my sister and our entire family. We really have felt your prayers and are so grateful for them**

If anyone is interested..... The semi-annual Highland Shores garage sale is April 17th. To get there go north on I-35E to FM407 exit. Go West on 407 to Highland Village Rd. Turn right and go to the light. Turn left into the Highland Shores neighborhood and look for balloons.

Margie

Easter Story Cookies

Here's the recipe for the cookies we shared in our Easter Eggs at the Primary Activity. It's our family's favorite tradition for now ; )

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 zipper baggie
1 wooden spoon
masking tape
Bible

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 F.
2. Place pecans in a zipper baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break them into small pieces (leave in bag until the last--used as last ingredient).
**Explain that after Jesus' arrest, he was beaten by Roman soldiers. READ John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Pour 1 tsp vinegar into the mixing bowl.
**Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. READ John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar.
**Tell the children that eggs represent life.
**Explai that Jesus gave his life so that we could be resurrected and have eternal life. READ John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
**Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers during the crucifixion. READ Luke 23:27.
Ask your children if any of the ingredients used to this point seem very appetizing.
6. Add 1 cup of sugar.
**Explain that the sweetest part of the Easter story is that Jesus died because he loves us, He wants us to know and belong to him and be able to return to the Father. READ Psalm 34:8. Read John 3:16.
7. Beat with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed.
**Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. READ Isaiah 1:18.
8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop the dough by teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.
**Explain that each mound of dough represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
9. Put the cookie sheet into the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and help them seal the oven door.
**Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
10. Go to bed! Or proceed with the events of the night and leave the cookies in the oven until morning.
**Explain that the children might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus followers despaired when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20,22.
11. Before the children are up the next morning, remove the tape and open the oven door. After the children awaken, gather them in the kitchen and give everyone a cookie. Tell them to notice how the surface is cracked and to take a bite. The cookies will be hollow.
**Explain that on the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. When they understood what it meant, they rejoiced! Read John 11:25-26.

Old Books

Moons LDS Bookstore has a shipment of used books for sale..... cheap.

I was there this afternoon and got quite a few good books for $1, $1.50, $2.00. Among them was the biography of Howard W. Hunter ($4.) and other good books. The woman told me that they got the books from DI. She said DI had so many that they were going to just get rid of them.

So, if there are any bargain hunters in the ward. Have fun!

Empty Nesters

Is YOUR nest empty? If so, you are invited to come to our empty nester activities. These are sponsored by no one and endorsed by no one. We are just a bunch of friends who decided to get together and have a little fun. All empty nesters are invited!

Last night's activity was a "birthday party." We ate dinner, ate birthday cake, and celebrated the fact that we are alive. Afterwards we played some games. We learned some new things about each other. Cheri wishes she could spend 1 million $ in one day. Mike W. wishes he could own a Harley. Beckie wishes she could dance salsa. David wishes he could speak Spanish fluently. Joe wants to ride a motorcycle, Debi W. wants to run her own company. Debbie C. wishes she could travel the world. Richard and Mike C. wish they could retire, while Beth just wishes she could go on a cruise. Sue says she would simply love to go skydiving!

Want to know what they would NEVER EVER do? We made some lists. Beth says she would never shoplift anything. Cheri will never climb a mountain. Richard will never parachute jump. Mike W. will never be a snake charmer and his wife Debi, will never pilot an airplane. Beckie would never want to rob a bank. David says no to eating caviar. Joe says he will never ever eat Shushi and Sue doesn't ever want to learn to speak Chinese. Mike C. does not want to be asked to be Scoutmaster and his wife, Debbie C. says she will never lie, cheat, or steal!

We laughed a lot and shared some interesting birthday memories. All too soon, the evening was over. If you have an empty nest, keep your ears open for details of the next activity. If you don't, see what you have to look forward to when your nest is empty? :)

Wana be green with your remodeling...look what I found!!!!

Discount Home Warehouse-Architectural Salvage

This place is awesome!! If your wanting to remodel something and don't want to pay retail, this is the place to go! They demo all kinds of houses and get all the good stuff out beforehand and bring it back to their warehouse to sell for 30-90% off retail. This place is huge...so if you going to go...have a plan of what you want because you could literally spend hours just looking around saying...ooohhhhh, what if I...??? The website is cool, but going there and seeing all the stuff is WOW!!!