A New Year And A New You With Food Storage

I hope you each enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Day! I've loved the down time with my family. I actually played board games like "Ticket-to-Ride" and "Sleeping Queens." For a work-a-holic like me, that's a good thing. My married daughter, has NOT had her baby girl yet. She is on bed rest at home and is 34 weeks along. Thank you for your prayers in her behalf. We Skyped with our missionary son in Sweden on Christmas Day. He sounded and looked great! He is way up north where the sun goes down at 11:30 a.m. My Brigham Young University son just announced his engagement to a lovely young woman from Oklahoma, so we'll have a wedding coming in April. And my handsome grandson is now 5 months old and growing quickly. He was born 8 weeks early, but is working hard to catch up.

I was sad to be released recently as the young women's president in my ward, but so thankful to have taught and rubbed shoulders with the awesome teen girls in my ward. Such good examples to me of service without complaint. At the moment I have no calling at church, which is unusual for me, but I have to admit I've enjoyed the vacation. :)

Today I changed the layout design of my blog. I hope you find it easier to use. I'm working on new ideas to help us get organized in 2012 with our food storage and emergency preparedness one bite at a time. If you haven't signed up for my emails, you can do so by clicking below.

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THINGS TO COME . . .

MONTHLY FOCUS Lots of great things to learn!

January - #1 Beverages, Getting Organized

February - #2 Breakfast Foods, Communication

March - #3 Tomatoes & Pasta, First Aid

April - #4 Soup & Beans, Sanitation 

May - #5 Condiments & Spices, Pet 72-Hour Kits

June - #6 Grains, Bread Making

July - #7 Summer Foods, Evacuation Plan

August - #8 Fruits & Vegetables, Shelter

September - #9 Meat & Potatoes, Disaster Prep

October -  #10 Oils & Fats, Fire Safety

November - #11 Holiday Baking, Light

December - #12 Pantry Basics, Power

INVENTORY COUNT

Each week you will count one area of your food and home storage items. Some items only need to be counted ever 3 months or 6 months. If you do a small count each week, you will stay on top of your inventory.

WEEKLY EMERGENCY FUND

Each week I will remind you to put aside the amount listed. Multiply the amount for more family members. You can transfer from a checking account to a savings account, or put money aside in jars. Only use this fund for emergencies. This is NOT the money that goes in your 72-hour kit or Auto Emergency kit. Obviously you could save more, but at the end of the year you should have $104 per person.

MONTHLY SHOPPING LISTS

I revised my monthly shopping lists, but I think they are better than last year's. Yes, there will be a PDF printable each month, but I will post amounts weekly. Each list has food storage items and non-food items for 1 adult for a 3-month supply. Also suggested items to gather for your 72-hour kit, Auto Emergency Kit, and Equipment goals. If you want to store for more people, multiply or adjust the amounts. Or if you want to store for a longer period of time, adjust accordingly. These lists are based on seasonal sales to help keep costs down. 

May you each have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Best After Christmas Shopping Tips

December 26 is the third biggest shopping day of the year. As I prepare my shopping list, and check it twice for after-Christmas shopping, I thought I'd share some tips I'm considering before I head out the door. And include the shopping results.

1. Get Organized
Make a list of the stores you will shop at, times they open, and the order you will shop at each. For example, here is how I will be shopping:

MONDAY, Dec. 26 (expect 50 - 75% off depending on store.)
Store 1 - 6 a.m. Smith's grocery store (12/26 Wasn't the best deals at 50% off, but did get Christmas M&M's and Christmas headbands to hide away.)
Store 2 - 6:30 a.m. Harmon's grocery store (12/26 They had begun to markdown Christmas decor at about 70% off. Had a large supply. Grabbed some gift wrap, but didn't see what I wanted.)
Store 3 - 7 a.m. Target (12/26 Arrived about 7:10 to a crowd in the Christmas decoration section with markdowns at 50% off. Was wondering why everyone was going crazy at only 50% off. Grabbed a few items, but felt prices should come down more, though selection will be worse.)
Store 4 - 8 a.m. Kohl's (12/26 Christmas decor had already been picked over, but was 70% off. Didn't buy anything, so drove to Marshall's.)
Store 5 - 9 a.m. Marshall's (12/26 This was the BEST place to shop! They took an additional 50% off the Christmas clearance prices on Christmas items!)
  17 Christmas gift bags retail $57.00 paid $5.20
  Christmas Santa retail $78.00,  paid $8.00
  Sequined Christmas runner retail $30.00,  paid $4.00
  Talking bear and book retail $30.00,  paid $4.00
  Read-Along Christmas DVD retail $8.99,  paid $1.75
  Santa soap dispenser retail $14.00,  paid $1.75
  Christmas wreath w/pine cones retail $32.00, paid $3.50
  Wooden sleigh w/lights retail $28.00, paid $3.00
  Christmas gift ideas book retail $24.95, paid $1.00
  Total Retail $302.94, paid $32.20

Wednesday, Dec. 28 (75% off)
Monday, Jan. 2 (90% off)

2. Don't do returns today!
You will be standing in long lines if you do. Save that task for another evening later this week.

3. Have a list of who you will be shopping for
Birthday gifts - January, February, March
Decorations - Christmas next year, red/heart items for Valentine's and 4th of July, green for St. Patrick's day
Christmas gift wrap, cards, ribbon
Emergency items - candles, gadgets like flashlights or multi-tools, LED headlamps
Next year's Christmas sweater or outfit, Christmas jewelry or hair items
Shop for Toys in July unless deeply discounted or Christmas themed

4. Store these gifts in one location
If you want to find them again, store them together. Grab a clearance red or green tote to hide them in. I keep a running gift spreadsheet.

Articles you may want to read:
"Stockpiling for the Holidays"
TotallyTarget deals
List of Typical Items on sale After-Christmas
"How to Make the Most of After-Christmas Sales" at FrugalLiving.about.com
"6 Things to Buy After Christmas"

Mormon Messages: A Gift to the World

May you enjoy this beautiful video about the birth of our Savior. Have a wonderful Christmas!


"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Augason Farms Winter Pack Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is . . .

CONGRATULATIONS

to LISA HANSEN of Idaho

for winning 

the Augason Farms Winter Pack Giveaway!

(Winner has been notified by email)

Mormon Messages: What Shall We Give?

In a season known for giving and getting, President Thomas S. Monson and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir remind us of the true gifts and meaning of Christmas.

Food Storage Review: Milk Mixing Pitcher

You never know when there will be a problem with our milk supply, so I've been using non-instant dry milk more and more these days in my cooking and baking. And so far my kids haven't even noticed! And, if you use it for baking and not drinking, you rotate it slowly.

Banana Snack Cake

With two very ripe bananas sitting on my counter, I decided to look in our neighborhood cookbook for a recipe. This Banana Snack Cake was submitted by Karen Petersen, and is very easy. Because my family at home is small, we nibbled on it for several days.

Mormon Messages - Christmas Spirit

A young girl with true Christmas spirit quietly teaches her preoccupied family the true meaning of Christmas. President Thomas S. Monson, Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ, shares his testimony of how to put Christ back into Christmas.

Including Others in Your Preparedness Plan

Hello Valerie,

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on preparing for others. Specifically, preparing for family members that are unable to do as much for themselves (financial issues) and perhaps for those that are 'unwilling' to prepare for themselves. I have had discussions with some family members that would like to prepare, however, due to financial issues and their current living conditions, are unable to do any appreciable amount of preparing at this time.

Emergency Essentials Giveaway for a Year Supply of Long-Term foods

Emergency Essentials is currently in the middle of their Holiday Giveaways. Current prize is a KatadynHiker Microfilter. Last day to enter for the KatadynHiker Microfilter is Friday, December 9th.

All giveaway entries will be eligible for the Grand Prize - a Traditional 1200 Year Supply for one person or a 6 month supply for two people. Last day to enter drawing is Thursday, December 15th. If you are just starting out and need some dry food basics, this may be the giveaway for you. Click here for more information.

I also have a giveaway going on for an Augason Farms Winter pack. Last day to enter this drawing is Thursday, December 15th. Click here for details.

LDS Youth Are Modern Day Pioneers in The Massive Clean Up After The Great Storm

The events that occurred over the past four days have been amazing! After the great wind storm on Thursday, we worked cleaning up debris and broken limbs for several days. Then on Sunday morning, the message came from local church leaders that church would be canceled. Governor Gary Herbert encouraged us to get debris cleared before the next storm to prevent further injury from flying debris. Many of the congregations along the bench from Fruit Heights to Bountiful were canceled. Many of the workers were teenagers.

Wind Storm, Farmington, Utah – 12/1/11

Broken trees on the side of our church

And it came to pass in the two thousand and twelve year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month “. . . there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.” 3 Nephi 8:5

Davis County, Farmington, Utah

2:30 a.m. We are awakened by the sound of 90 mph easterly winds and the rattle of the ceiling vents in the hall. Soon afterwards I hear something fall in the garage. In my tiredness I think about our dog who sleeps there in her pen. I shake myself awake and walk down the stairs. Sure enough, when I open the door to the garage, she, and a gush of cold air, rush inside. She spends the night on the floor at the foot of our bed. My husband looks out the bedroom window and sees a neighbor picking up our trash cans that had blown over, contents strewn everywhere. 

5:30 a.m. I must have fallen asleep for a few hours, but was awakened again by the howling of the wind. Then at 5:40, the power goes out. It is eerily dark outside, and difficult to see what is going on without house lights or street lights.

My teenage daughter is already up getting ready for school. She is in the bathroom at that moment and is grateful for the emergency flashlight that went on automatically because it was plugged into the outlet.  Later she gets dressed for school by the light of the battery operated lantern from the emergency closet. Her sister does the same. I suggest that maybe with the power out the schools will be closed. She smiles at that, “Then we don’t have to go?” However, after texting a school friend, we find out the power is still on at the high school.

The strong winds outside send broken branches crashing against the walls of our house.

Augason Farms Winter Pack Giveaway

Are you ready to win? 

I’m excited to announce a giveaway 

for some great food storage products from 

Augason Farms 

just in time for the cold winter months.

Augason Farms specializes in delicious food with "home-cooked" taste and solid nutrition. These foods can be safely stored for years with no loss of nutrients, or instead used in everyday meal planning.

One winner will receive 
6 Everyday Size Cans of Augason Farms -