Heavenly Seven Veggie Salad (she: Cynthia)
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Heavenly Seven Veggie Salad (she: Cynthia)

ByCynthia

I remember as a child, when we had salad it was a combination of lettuce, tomatoes and sometimes cucumber. Nowadays salads are made up of a wide range of meats, veggies, fruits and cheeses. I love a good salad and this one is a good one!

My grand kids love it. We had it for Sunday dinner and my youngest grand son told me, “Granny that salad is popping!” He is so funny, but in all seriousness if you want something that is nutritious and a quick meal, this is your salad.

toilet training

Toilet Training – Is Your Child Ready? (she: Heather)

ByHeather

Heather here, from FamilyVolley.com, ready to talk about one of the most dreaded milestones in parenting: Toilet training! It can be hard and frustrating and stressful. Some would argue it is a nightmare. Today I offer some tips and tricks to help things go a little more smoothly for you and your little ones. The best place to start? Determine if you child is ready to toilet train in the first place.

Did you know that mothers report that as a child grows older, the lack of toilet training causes progressively greater strains and tensions on family life, and on the mother/child relationship?

Here are some things that parents can do before they toilet train to help get kids ready, as well as how to know if your child is ready to be trained:

how to peel a kiwi

How to Peel a Kiwi Flawlessly – With a Spoon! (she: Cami)

ByCami

I was peeling a kiwi one day, the same way I always peel a kiwi, mind you. My husband stopped in his tracks and asked me where I learned to do that! I thought to myself, “Doesn’t everyone know it is best to peel a kiwi with a spoon?” Then I thought real hard, and remembered it was about 10 years ago, in a college cooking class, that I learned it is best to peel a kiwi with a spoon.
And then, all of a sudden, I felt really smart because I remembered something from college (definitely not from a Math class). At any rate, if you want to learn how to peel a kiwi so it is flawlessly curved and with maximum flesh reserved – check this out!

photographing the every day

Photographing the Every Day (she: Lindsay)

ByLindsay

I’m dedicated to take every day photos to document the stories of our families. But that doesn’t mean I’m taking photos all day every day. It means I’m intentional and deliberate about the photos I do take. Aware of what type of photos I want and what type of photos help tell our story the best. Photographing the every day doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. It can be simple, and an honest representation of our daily lives.
The things we do every day matter. They matter enough to pay attention to. And they certainly matter enough to photograph! Document your every day. And print it. And let your kids see how awesome you think they are because you care to document WHO they are and what they do!!

Our Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

Our Royal Caribbean Cruise Review

ByMariel

I just recently returned from the most AWESOME cruise. I’ve been so anxious to tell you about it, because I think it should definitely be on your ‘future vacations’ list. We love it so much that actually we’re doing the exact same cruise at the end of the year. The only difference… we’re bringing the kids on the next one. We did so many fun things on the ship and at our ports that I knew my kids would be in heaven. So, there ya go… annual family vacation decided.

Read all about our cruise… what we loved, didn’t love, and what we recommend!

march 2015 visiting teaching
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March 2015 Visiting Teaching Message Printable (she: Kiki)

ByKiki Comin

First of all, let me explain visiting teaching. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are in a congregation where we are asked to go and visit certain ladies each month to really get to know them, share a quick message and find out if they have any needs that need to be met. It’s one of the ways we build friendships and help our leaders know any needs that families have. (There would be too many for them to visit them all!) So why do I love printables + visiting teaching? I LOVE putting to paper thoughts and quotes that inspire and uplift me, my family and those around me and visiting teaching has been such a blessing in my life. I have met so many incredible women who have blessed my life through both visiting teaching and being taught as well! I love the thought of leaving a little thought for them to hang up and think about throughout the month.

Easy Blueberry Bars - to take away the winter blues! | @foodapparel
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Blueberry Bars – An Easy, Warm Winter Treat (she: Christina)

ByChristina Lakey

These easy blueberry bars are simple to make, and taste fantastic!
These blueberry crumble bars have been a favorite for ages. They really are quite simple to make and I don’t think you can really mess ’em up. And I’ll tell you a secret – you can pretend that they are good to eat for breakfast! ‘Cuz there’s fruit. No seriously, though, I consume way too many of these in the morning.

Best Ever Macaroni Salad | making it in the mountains
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Best Ever Macaroni Salad (she: Kristi)

ByKristi

Hello again OSSS readers! I’m Kristi from making it in the mountains and I’m back again to share another favorite recipe! This quick dish has been an absolute life saver as we trudge through month two of moving (you can check out a sneak peek of our new home here). Yes, you read that right … TWO MONTHS! Ugh! Anyway, all whining aside, this pasta salad has become our go-to side dish simply because it’s SO easy to whip up a big ol’ batch of it, not to mention it’s SUPER yummy and goes with pretty much everything! I just know y’all are going to LOVE it too!

library lovers month
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Library Lovers Month – Love Your Library (she: Victoria)

ByVictoria

One of my absolute favorite places is the library. There is something so welcoming about being in a building with so many wonderful books and resources. I love getting lost among the never ending bookshelves searching for a forgotten treasure, or passing by other book lovers in search of just the right book.

February is a month that honors the beloved library and all those who use it on a regular basis. This month as we celebrated love, we also celebrate Library Lovers Month. Have you visited your local library lately? Chances are you may not know what you’re missing.