Emergency Preparedness–Food Storage Analyzer

I am, quite admittedly, very much a novice at food storage/emergency preparedness.  I completely understand the necessity of it, but I just haven’t got there yet.  I’m working on it.  When we lived in Las Vegas, we barely had enough storage for our household items, let alone extras that we were supposed to keep in a cool (yeah, that’s funny) place in our house.  However, here in Utah, I have this really cool (pun intended) cold storage room in our basement that is made for food storage.  I have the room.  I even have some shelving.  Time to get working. 

Today, my post is about the Food Storage Analyzer, by Emergency Essentials.  I was going to say something like, “While this was easy to use, it literally scared the food storage out of me.”  I changed my mind and decided to be a little more positive and say, this was so informative, it showed me what I had and what I was lacking for each person in my family. 

 

It’s very easy to create your own account (or even just try it as a guest).  Creating your own account is so easy and it allows you to continually make changes and even create future shopping lists. 

By entering in the ages and gender of your family, you can see the daily calorie recommendations to base your food storage off of. 

It’s pretty simple and self-explanatory.  You enter in what you have (or in my case, don’t have).  It’s not only Emergency Essential-specific, you can also enter in items on hand in your own pantry to be included in your totals. 

I’d like to be able to say that I am well on my way to a well-rounded food storage, but alas, I am not.  I am, however, very motivated and always looking for ways to make this journey easier for me. 

Go check out Emergency Essentials Food Storage Analyzer.  You’ll be glad you did.  Okay, maybe you’ll be a little depressed, but maybe you’re more prepared than me!

Pinewood Derby

Text:  “Tyson’s derby car this year was the “Sea Dog.”  While he didn’t win any speed medals, he did win an aware for coolest design.  We had fun!”

Fly on the Wall

Austin built a spaceship out of Legos.  He had carried it around with him all day. 

A:  “Mom.  Is Wocket from Wittle Eintines” (Translation:  “It’s Rocket from Little Einsteins”
Me: “Rocket?  Oh, cool.”
A:  “You sing it song?”
Me:  “We’re going on a trip in our favorite rocketship, sailing through the skies, Little Einsteins…”
A: “I sing you now.” “Mmm…mmmmm…mmmmmm.mm…rocketship…..mmmmmm…Eintines.”
Me:  “Good job.  Look at Rocket fly!  He can go to the moon.  He can go to the clouds.  He can go to Saturn.  Where else can he go?”
A: “He’s going to Target.” 
Me:  “Target?  That’s where he wants to fly to?”
A: “Yeah.  Rocket want to go Target!” 

Living the Dream!

May Monthly Photo

Em’s Spring Recital

Spring Dance Recital

Emma’s spring dance recital was last night.  Her dance was to “Single Ladies” performed by the Chipettes.  It’s going to be tough to top this dance.  It’s my favorite so far.  At the beginning, Em’s in the front row, second from the left. 

     

Ladybug, Ladybug…Fly Away Home

Our community had a ladybug release day on Friday at one of the community gardens.  We were able to get a container of 1200 (or so they said) ladybugs for only $1.00.  Awesome.  For the mere cost of $1.00, we got to be cool parents for a night! 

Here’s some photos of the event, some awesome photos hubby took of the flowers in our backyard, and a short video clip. 

                                

 

Ladybugs

I AM…..

I’m going to miss the Oprah Winfrey Show for a number of reasons, but among those is the many opportunities she provided to help us become better.  One show from a month or so ago has stuck with me. 

Tom Shadyac, multi-million dollar director had an awesome life.  He directed such movies as Bruce Almighty and The Nutty Professor.  He lived in a mansion, flew in private jets, drove fancy cars, etc.  Despite these many luxuries, Tom says something just didn't feel right.
"I was standing in the house that my culture had taught me was a measure of the good life," Tom recalls in his documentary I Am. "I was struck with one very clear, very strange feeling: I was no happier." 

After a brush with death, he set out on a journey to find out what would truly make him happy and help unearth what's wrong with our world.  He made major changes to his lifestyle. Today, Tom lives in a modest mobile home, bikes to work and flies commercial airlines—and he says he's never been happier.

He has filmed a documentary, I Am, about his findings from research and explorations. 

What he discovered revolves around three key concepts that are explored in I Am:
1. It is scientifically proven that the entire human race is connected.
2. It is human nature to be cooperative rather than competitive.
3. If you don't do what your heart wants you to do and follow your passion, it will destroy you.

It’s the second concept that has stuck with me.  Competition is all around.  Who’s prettier?  Who’s wealthier?  Who has the biggest house?  The nicest car?  The biggest diamond?  Whose kids are better?  Who has more trophies?  Who has the best behaving kids?  So many things to be competitive about.  So many opportunities to show we’re better than someone else.  So many opportunities to hurt someone else. 

During natural disasters, the stories that tug at my heartstrings, the ones that are the most memorable are the ones where real people emerge as heroes, helping each other.  Even in less dramatic circumstances, who won’t help out a neighbor or friend after a baby was born or someone has surgery, etc.?  That’s human nature.  That’s what matters. 

In our culture, despite us being a democratic society, cooperation is discouraged.  We should work as a team, but only so much as it gives us the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.  Be an MVP.   Don’t get me wrong, competition CAN be healthy.  It encourages us to strive to be better…to do our best.  That’s good.  It’s when we become competitive trying to make us ABOVE others.  Not just trying to stand out in a crowd, but trying to be so much above the rest that the crowd ceases to exist.  

So, who AM I? Who are YOU?  Whatever I am, it never feels like enough.  Not in a bad, feeling sorry for myself way, but in the way that I feel there is always something to improve, to work on.  It gives me inspiration.   I am…….