Relief Society Birthday Ideas

Hey ya'll!  This is a picture of a Relief Society celebration I helped to decorate with my good friend.  She had a huge collection of clown figurines.

1980's Relief Society Dinner with the "Big Top" theme.

The tables had balloon bouquets and were dressed to look like "under the big top."  We always had new people in our Decatur, AL ward so it was really nice to have a spotlight table where new sisters were asked to showcase some of their favorite things on a little table to help us get to know them.  

March is RS birthday time, so for those of you wanting Relief Society birthday ideas, check out my Relief Society Pinterest Board.

Do you have a Relief Society or church Pinterest board?  Let me know because I really would like to follow more of them. 

Luau Party

If you wear a flower on the left side of your head you are single.  If you wear it on the right, you are taken or married.

Games to Play:  
limbo
hula hoop contest

Ambiance:
paper sack lights (weighed down with sand and can use tea light candles with battery operated tea lights)
Hawaiian CDs for background music (found several at the Dollar Tree for a buck each)

Fun Activities (depending on the crowd):

• Sew simple bathing suit sarongs (find a good pattern and try it out)
• Make a candy lei:  Materials - small candies of any kind, plastic wrap (colored preferred) and curly ribbon.  Spread the wrap out on a table about 3 ft. long and lay the candies down the middle of the wrap.  Carefully close the wrap around the candy and in between the candy, tie a curly ribbon to close and to create the candy lei.  Knot and tie at the ends with more ribbon.
• Watch "Johnny Lingo" or "The Other Side of Heaven"

The Spread:
Make Hawaiian Haystacks or Pearly Shell Chicken Salad served with Hawaiian rolls and Hawaiian Punch, (or pork and teriyaki chicken on rice).

Blog Index, page 3

Grateful Living
Home Decor
Picture Groupings
Living Small
Small Room Decorating Tips
Nesting...Book Review: Wabi Sabi Style
Decorating with Vintage Linens
Updated Armoire in Vintage Green
Homemakers: The Homebuilders of the World
Grateful Living: Scaling Down to A Mobile Home
Grateful Living Series: Dress Up M. H. Windows
Grateful Living: Repurposed Trunk
Grateful Living: Repurposed Armoire
Grateful Living: Class Up the Mobile Home Fireplace
Grateful Living: Front Porches
Grateful Living: The !#*! M.H. Walls
Grateful Living: M.H. Spa Retreat
Grateful Living: My Collection on Reflections of Home

Hospitality
Company's Coming: organization, part 1

Christmas Party Games, Christmas Traditions part 4

Cookie Swaps, Ornament Swaps..., Christmas Traditions part 4

Holiday Books and DVDs List, Christmas Traditions part 4
Senior Tea
Luau Party
Relief Society Birthday Party

Mothers and Homemaking
Homemaking Journals
Homemaker's Quotes
Learning Homemaking Skills
Setting Organizational Goals: organization part 2
I Love Erma Bombeck!
Get Off the Dual-Earner Treadmill
10 Things I Learned from My Mom
My Glamorous New Career
What Do Homemakers Really Do?
Builders of Homes
Resurgence of Homemaking
Dian Thomas Rules!
Tips for Toddlers
"En Bonn Ménagère..."
Time Out for Homemakers
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
Love Affair with Pantries
How to Teach Children Responsible Behavior
Homemakers: The Homebuilders of the World
Cleaning
  Consistently Clean
  Winter Days:  Cleaning Schedules
  Cleaning:  Team-building Time for Families
  Cleaning Clothes
  Cleaning that Prevents Allergies
  Nifty Recycling Bins
  Deep Cleaning Kitchens and Bathrooms
  Eliminating Closet Clutter
  Laundry Rules!
Homeschool

  Mothers as Homeschool Teachers

  Mothers as Homeschool Teachers, cont.

  Chick Lit
  Creative Homeschooling
This is a quick list of all the posts I have done that might be remotely interesting to anyone who teaches (school, homeschool, church...):
Healthy Sack Lunches for Kids
November Traditions
Healthy Choices for Picky Eaters
Christmas Library Story Time
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Legend and Lore
Mothers as (Homeschool) Teachers
Chick Lit
Creative Homeschooling
Art Badge Camp
Teaching Children to Cook
Sample Primary Newsletters (Parent Communication)
Chick Lit for July
Native American Culture Activities for Children
CopyCat Magazine Little House Unit
Achievement Days Country Fair
Achievement Days Book Review: Sarah, Plain and Tall
Children's Pioneer Day Event
Pioneer Chick Lit
Corn Husk Dolls
Activities for Girls
Girl Scout Favorite Things
How to Love Scouts
October Traditions:  Chick Lit, Songs and Activities
Greatest Gifts to Give a Grandchild
Fall Fun
Free Learning Websites
Spiritual
  Where Necessary, Tweak the Ideal
Health -
  Curing Scalp Acne

Measuring Up
In the Eye of the Beholder
The Real McCoy: Authentic People
Measuring Up: Integrity Quotes
Measuring Up: Improvement Quotes
Measuring Up: Time and Preparation
Measuring Up: Testimony Quotes
Measuring Up: Service and Empathy Quotes
Measuring Up: Sabbath Quotes
Joyful Quotes
Homemaker's Quotes

My homemaker's journal includes all things related to homemaking: all of the things special to me, traditions I have instilled, secrets, tips and more...My homemaking experiences include homeschooling my children for ten years, volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader for my girls' troop from Daisies to Juniors and volunteering with Boy Scouts, (when my son was 8-12 yrs.) Recently, I have completed a cookbook for my church.

Dian Thomas Rules!

My Homemakers Journal would not be complete without a list of Dian Thomas' church magazine articles and books.  Sister Thomas helped to shape my idea of a homemaker, mom, and Scout leader.  She taught preparedness in a clever and interesting way.  Most of the ideas recorded below have been field-tested by my clan and me (and the folks at church and scouts who participated in these activities with us).  I start with great outdoor dinner tips, and then a short sample article.  There's also a list of articles to read, bio articles and her books.

Tacos in a Frito's Bag
I love Dian's Instant Taco idea in "Backyard Dining," (New Era article sourced below).  Southern Living magazine had the same idea and used single-serve Frito's eaten directly in their little pouch--so cute! 

Dian has a great idea for using embroidery hoops and plastic wrap to put over bowls of food and keep the insects out, and to blow a fan on the food to keep insects away and the rest of us cool.  I can totally visualize her Wheel Barrow Salad Bar--I can't wait to try it!  Plus she includes recipes like apples on a stick--tastes like apple pie--great for autumn fires.  And everyone has to try making icecream in a can even if you're not a scout :0)

"When Children Play Indoors," Ensign, Feb. 1981 (scroll down some)
Do children challenge your normal good nature on a stormy day by whining, "What can I do?"  A few well-planned activities will help restore order and good cheer.
Sit-down Scavenger Hunt:  Give each child an old catalog or magazine, a pair of scissors, and an envelope to organize his "finds."  Then give each a list of ten to fifteen specific items to find.
If not all of your children read, divide into teams with a reader on each team, or give the group as a whole o ne list of items that everyone must find, and have the older children read the list aloud.  The first child to cut out pictures of all the items on the list wins.
Front Room Olympics: Hold a series of indoor games.  Some activities might include--
Discus throw, using a paper plate
Shot put, with securely tied, blown-up paper bags or balloons
Javelin throw, using a plastic drinking straw
Fifty-yard dash, blowing a ping-pong or cotton ball a designated distance
Relay, using two foot-sized pieces of cardboard. One person "runs" by hopping from one piece of cardboard to the next, while his partner moves the pieces into place as fast as he can.
Collage Decorating:  Let children cut pictures and words from magazines that express their interests, and arrange and paste the cutouts on pieces of butcher paper.  For a permanent remembrance, shellac or frame the collages and hang them on bedroom doors or walls.

More of Dian's Church Magazine Articles

“Dutch Oven Cooking,” New Era, Jul 1974
"Tall Can Grill," New Era Sep 1974
"Rock Cooking," New Era July 1975
"Non-utensil Cooking," New Era May 1976
“Stick Cooking,” New Era, Jul 1977

“Backyard Barbecue,” New Era, May 1979

“Backyard Dining,” New Era, Jun 1985
“Tin Can Cooking,” Ensign, June 1974

“Tin Can Date,” New Era, Jul 1982

“Tricky Treats,” New Era, Oct 1982

“Make-It-Yourself Christmas,” New Era, Dec 1982

“Pizza with Pizzazz,” New Era, Jun 1984

“Incredible Edible Valentines,” New Era, Jan 1985

“Creative Birthday Cakes,” New Era, Mar 1987

“(Plastic) Bag of Tricks,” Ensign, Feb. 1980
“All-Family Shopping Trip,” Ensign, July 1979

Dian's Bio
"Unusual as Usual," Ensign Dec. 1990
"The Combustion Point," Ensign June 1984

Dian's Books

Backyard Roughing It Easy

Many of those who enjoy the outdoors are already familiar with New Era contributor Dian Thomas’ Roughing It Easy series. Her latest work, however, will open her world of creative cooking to a new crowd—the backyard, back porch, and patio picnickers who can’t always break away to the hills. The volume is full of recipes, ideas for cleaning up, and tons of energy savers (both for the cook and the pocketbook), as well as thoughts on unique party ideas and family activity suggestions. Imagine ironing a burrito or pizza made with pocket bread for your father on family night, or using a wheelbarrow as a charcoal grill! Those are only two of hundreds of ideas in this exciting cookery guide.

Roughing It Easy, II
She’s done it again! Dian Thomas has written another fun, informative, timely book about the art of outdoor living. It’s called Roughing It Easy, II.What the first Roughing It Easy didn’t have (and we thought it had it all), the second has. It includes sections on car camping, recipes for different sources of heat, how to create sanitary living situations, the preparation of TV dinners in the out-of-doors, and the latest method of cooking: solar heat cooking. Dian has collected ideas that are easy, fun, and practical, making out-door-living living rather than constant work. With her suggestions you can spend your time enjoying the scenery instead of fighting to survive. Roughing It Easy, II is written with humor and is easy to read. Even if you have Dian’s first book, you’ll probably want her second, too.  ("FYI," New Era Nov. 1977)

Senior Teas

Class of 1986, Senior Tea given by Debra McCord

Class of 2008 Senior Tea 

given by Jeri Anne and the Senior's Mom

(I added the crown!)

The invitation

The Spread

Memorable Graduation Cards

Senior "Tea" (Bath)

Senior (Friendship) "Tea"

2 c. orange drink mix (Tang)

1 c. lemonade drink mix (Country Time)

1-1/3 c. sugar

1-1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. ground cloves

Mix all ingredients together; store in an airtight container.  Makes about 4 c. mix.  To make one serving, stir 2 tablespoons mix into one cup boiling water.

Favorite Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 c. mayonnaise

1-oz. pkg. dry Italian salad dressing mix (can use less if desired)

1 loaf Pepperidge Farm thin sliced bread

1-2 cucumbers, very thinly sliced

In a medium mixing bowl, blend together cream cheese, mayonnaise and dressing mix.  Spread half of bread slices with cream cheese mixture and top with a layer of thin cucumber slices.  Top with bread slice.  Chill until ready to serve.  Prettiest served trimmed and cut into triangles.

A Quick and Simple Menu:

Wild Rice Salad

1 c. uncooked wild rice

2 c. diced cooked chicken

1-1/2 c. halved green grapes

1 c. sliced water chestnuts, drained

3/4 c. light mayonnaise

1 c. cashews, optional

Lettuce leaves

Cook rice according to package directions, omitting salt.  Drain well; cool to room temperature.  Spoon into a large bowl; add chicken, grapes, water chestnuts and mayonnaise.  Toss gently with a fork.  Cover and chill.  Just before serving, add cashews.  Serve on lettuce leaves or line a bowl with lettuce leaves and fill with salad.  Yield: 6 servings.  318 calories, 10 gm fat.

Bread for Beginner Rolls (Rolls)

Lemon Bars

(from The Essential Mormon Cookbook, Julie Badger Jensen)

2 c. sifted flour

1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

1 c. butter or margarine

4 beaten eggs

2 c. sugar

1/3 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. flour

1/2 t. baking powder

Sift together the 2 cups flour and powdered sugar.  Cut in butter with pastry blender or knives until mixture clings together.  Press into an 8 x 8 - inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 25 min. or until lightly browned.  Beat together eggs, sugar, and lemon juice.  Sift together the 1/4 c. flour and baking powder.  Stir into egg mixture.  Pour over baked crust.  Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 min. longer.  Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar.  Cool.  Cut into bars.  Makes 9 bars.

Christmas Entertaining

Achievement Day Girls' Christmas Party, 2002

Christmas Party GameCookie and Ornament Swaps Holiday Recipes And Gift Instructions

Persons sit in a circle and pass gifts right and left according to directions in the following story

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Tommy Wright.  He lived with his mother, Mrs. Wright and his father, Dr. Wright and his sister Sara Wright.

He had four shiny quarters left from some birthday money Grandma Wright had sent him besides the $8.12 left in his piggy bank.  Now it was time to buy the right present for each member of the Wright family.  So one morning he hopped right out of bed and quietly left home and went carefully down the street to the big store on the left side of Main Street.  The store was decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.  Tommy Wright thought and thought about Christmas presents and he looked at all the things for sale. 

“Let’s see,” said Tommy.  “I know.  I’ll get Mother Wright some warm gloves.  Here is the right one but where is the left one?”  “Here it is, right under the right one.  They cost $3.06 so I have $6.06 left to spend.  Now for Daddy Wright.  Would he like a truck or maybe a ball or a left-handed catcher’s mitt?  I know.  I’ll get him a football so we can play catch right in our own backyard when he comes home from work.”

“That was $5.06 so now I have $1.00 left for Sara’s present.  Here is what she wants.  A pretty new purse and I think I have just enough money left.”  Tommy Wright clutched his presents happily and went running right up to the lady at the counter and gave her all the money from his left pocket and his right pocket.  “Is that right?” he asked as he gave his money.  “It will be $1.05 with tax,” she said.  “Oh no,” said Tommy Wright.  “I forgot about tax.”  Tommy started crying.  Tears streamed right and left down his little face.  Right then the door burst open and in came Santa Claus who had left the North Pole and had come right to Tommy Wright’s town to take orders from children for Christmas.  “Ho! Ho! Ho!” said Santa.  “We can’t have Santa’s helpers sad like this.  Let’s see now, I bet I have five pennies right here in my left pocket.”  Santa Clause checked his left pocket and found nothing.

“Oh no,” said Santa, “I must have put them into my right pocket instead of my left.”

“Here they are right here, Tommy, Ho! Ho! Ho! and a Merry Christmas to all the Wrights from Santa Claus and his helpers.”  Tommy Wright left the store and ran home to tell Sara Wright that he had seen and talked to Santa.

He was so happy that he wrapped his presents right away and put them under the Christmas tree.  Mr. and Mrs. Wright and Sara Wright were thrilled with the presents Tommy had purchased and Christmas morning left nothing to want. 

I hope your Christmases will be wonderful and full of the love we all feel for one another!  Merry Christmas!

Cookie Swaps

Because of the ease of preparation for the hostess, cookie swaps are very popular.   Some are for adults; others just for children.  Some invite only a few friends, while others accommodate a large church group. 

The Invitations:  Invite guests three to four weeks in advance.  Eight people is the ideal number—manageable, with enough for a good variety of cookies.  Have each person bring along copies of her recipe as well as some supplies for pretty packaging, such as ribbons, tags, or boxes.

The Cookies:  Ask each guest to make a dozen cookies for every person in attendance, plus an extra dozen for sampling; you do the same.  this way, everybody will go home with several dozen in different flavors to give as gifts.  If that seems daunting, scale back; if eight of you have six dozen to swap, you will take a few less of each kind but will still have an ample number.  Decide for, or with, everyone who will make what, coordinating ahead of time to avoid duplicates.  Sturdy cookies are best (very thin or delicate varieties won’t pack well).

The Swap:  On the day of the party, clear a few tables for sampling, swapping, and packaging cookies.  Provide several platters and cake stands, and have each guest put out a plate of cookies for tasting, with stacks of recipes alongside if you like.  Let everyone sample the treats—and maybe even take a vote on the best one.  When it’s time to trade, set out the remaining cookies and let each person walk around the table to pick up their share of each.  Or have people take only what they need to package one gift at a time, and return to the table for more as they wish.

The Display:  At the swap, it helps to know which cookie is which.  Use folding place cards that set in front of each variety as a label.  Write or print the name of the cookie and the contributor on the card:  “Chocolate-Drizzled Spice Cookies, from Laura.”  It’s also helpful to wrote or print a cookie menu that lists each of the different types displayed.

The Packaging Station:  Ask guests to bring wrapping materials; you might also keep some on hand in case any are overlooked.  Set everything out on large worktables.

Further Ideas:  This is a great mother/daughter activity.  Add a few appetizers to the menu and then serve the cookies as dessert.  Vote on awards such as fanciest cookie, funniest cookie, most original cookie, cookie with the best history behind it, etc.  When staging a cookie swap for a large group, ask each participant to bake as many cookies as they’d like to swap.  Have them package the cookies in zip-top plastic bags by the half dozen, and set out groupings of each on a large table.  Have everyone collect as many cookies as they have brought.

Ornament Swap

The same idea can be used to swap homemade ornaments.  Here's a picture of the ornament swap we did for Achievement Girls one Christmas when my younger daughter was eight.  She's the one with the pigtails next to the leader (name has escaped me)!  I was the assistant since we had so many girls.  (I've gotten a better camera since)!

Holiday Recipes And Gift Instructions

Company's Coming: Organization

Just because you have four chairs, six plates, and three cups is no reason why you can't invite twelve to dinner. ~Alice May Brock

About a month ahead of my holiday celebration, I write a list of everything on my menu including snacks and appetizers.  I prepare what I can in advance. I take my list every time I go to the store so I can buy a little at a time.

Next I survey the furniture situation such as chairs for seating.  I just bought a couple of charming, smallish, sturdy chairs from an antique shop for $10 each!  That was for less than the nearby "thrift" shop was selling miscellaneous chairs.  They are perfect for a tight fit in my small dining room, and I have future plans to use one in a corner of a daughter's room and the other to hold a stack of pretty towels in my bathroom--so they serve double duty.  (Coming from a large extended family, I also learned that it is okay to use the piano bench and dressing table stools for seating as well--just tuck them on the side of the table that won't show up in photographs).  I have an enclosed front porch that will serve as overflow for my living room.  Investing in a nice patio set pays off during times like these.  I'll throw a few extra cushions and pillows as well as warm throws.  If it's chilly, I can heat up the porch with a small space heater I use for camping.

I've also been doing major house cleaning which I usually do every spring and fall.  This helps me get ready for the holidays.  Not only did I find a ton of stuff inside to take to the Jimmy Hale Mission thrift store, but outside as well!  I did part of my holiday baking all day Saturday, had a daughter make a huge pot of chili, and kept the menfolk well-fed as they cleaned up the clutter in the shed and around the house removing a boat, a 24-ft. above-ground pool, and leftover construction materials!

This is a good time to have a honey-do list prepared so my honey knows exactly what needs doing.  Some repairs require professionals like the Whirlpool repairman I've got to call tomorrow to fix the weird sound in the dishwasher and the ice maker in the fridge that's gone kaput.  If your husband isn't so handy around the house, ask friends if they know someone who is, that does this professionally.

I want to enjoy my Thanksgiving and I'm not real fond of turkey (I'm a chicken gal), so I plan on ordering a turkey.  Bojangles does a fried turkey, and the local BBQ joint has smoked turkeys.  The deli my eldest works at makes huge pans of dressing with chicken meat.  Turkey and dressing are the two things I really stress over.  Mrs. Smith's will take care of desserts, served with Cool Whip. I love Knorr turkey or chicken gravy.  I have a recipe that adds herbs to this packet and it is the best, easiest, no-fail gravy!

"Tastes Like Boston Market" Gravy

1 (1.2-oz.) pkg. Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix

1/2 t. chopped fresh sage

1/2 t. chopped fresh thyme

1/4 t. pepper

Prepare gravy mix according to pkg. directions, stirring in 1/2 t. chopped fresh sage, 1/2 t. chopped fresh thyme, and 1/4 t. pepper before bringing to a boil.  Proceed as directed on the package.  Yield:  1-1/4 cups.

I've recently discovered Stone Mountain canned vegetables, and the peas are way better than Le Seur and way cheaper too!  A tradition from my own growing up is the brown and serve rolls and plenty of jellied cranberry sauce--what could be easier?  And if I'm feeling up to it, I'll make some candied yams and a vinegar slaw that's to-die-for.  Mashed potatoes and green casseroles are stand bys as well.

For a small gathering, I plan on using real dishes so I've had to made sure I have enough silverware, cups, plates, etc.  The day before is a good time to plan on doing some light cleaning and dusting in places where guests gather and in the bathroom.  I recently spruced up the bathroom with new rugs, a shower curtain, and pretty towels.

For entertaining, we'll have the video game system ready in one of the bedrooms, and fun DVDs to watch.  I also like to keep some autumn inspired magazines and small books around.  My favorite autumn book is by the artist Susan Branch.

Festive background music, scented candles, something cool to drink (or cocoa in a crock pot if it's really cold), and a few light snacks such as homemade Snack Mix are perfect for guests as they filter in.