Where's the line to see Jesus?

Merry Christmas! Check out this You tube video and for the song Where's the line to see Jesus?

If you are not able to view this video click here.

How to look thinner in holiday photos!

Everyone wants to look good in a holiday photo, office party photo, or at the family Christmas party. Well, here's some tips on how to look thinner in family photos from Studio5.

Info. copied from Studio 5 contributor Laci Davis lacijilldavis@gmail.com.

Stretch it Out
When posing on the ground, make sure to stretch out your legs. This will elongate your body, making it so you're not cut off at the knees.

Take it to the Edge
Always sit on the edge of the chair. Your posture will look much better and remember - the closest body part to the camera always looks the largest.

Your Best Side
Turn sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place all your weight on your back foot. This allows you to look thinner by centering your weight away from the camera. (This is a great trick the celebs use!)

Look Up
When taking a photo it's important that your photographer does not snap the picture from below. This adds another 20-50 pounds to the 10 pounds automatically and annoying added by the camera. So bend down so they can get a great angle from up top!

Be Aware
Be aware! Pull head slightly forward, and tip chip down to minimize any appearance of a double chin. Hold your arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out.

Go over to Studio5 the website for all the information, photo examples, and a video clip from the Studio 5 contributor Laci Davis.

Too sick for school guidelines?!

The truth is children don't learn well or get much out of school when they are not feeling well. Although it can be difficult to arrange emergency childcare, it is truly in the child's (and their classmates) best interest to keep them home from school when they are sick. The challenge for parents is to decide when it is just a simple case of the sniffles or something more serious.

Parents can use the following symptom-based guidelines to help them decide whether to keep their child home or not:

This useful information is copied from Studio 5!

Fever

• A temperature of 101 or greater in a child older than 6 weeks is considered a fever. Even if there are no other symptoms, a fever is a sign of an infection. The child needs rest in order to heal and may be contagious.

• Children should not return to school until they have been fever-free (without medicine) for 24 hours. Most fevers are caused by viruses and the child should get better on their own within a few days, but if the child has a high fever for more than 3-4 days, they should see a doctor.

• If a newborn baby (less than 6 weeks old) has a temp of 100.4 or higher, they need to be seen by a doctor immediately. Fevers can be a sign of a serious infection in newborns.

• While at home, encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids.

Mild Cough/Runny Nose /Sore Throat

• Ideally, no child would ever go to school sick. However, children get colds so frequently, especially when they are young, that they would miss a significant amount of school if they stayed home for every runny nose and scratchy throat.

• If there's no fever and the child feels fairly well, school is fine. If they have a severe sore throat, it could be strep and the child will need to see a doctor. Kids with strep may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms

• Children with bad coughs need to stay home and possibly see a doctor, especially if they are having trouble breathing. It could be a severe cold or possibly bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. But when the cough improves and the child is feeling better, then it's back to school. Don't wait for the cough to disappear entirely-- that could take a week or longer!

Vomiting

• A single episode can happen sometimes just when a child is nervous, etc. However, if they vomit more than once it is likely due to an underlying problem such as viral gastroenteritis, which is very contagious. If the vomit is bloody or has a dark green color, the child should be seen by a doctor.

Diarrhea

• Unless the child has recently finished a course of antibiotics (which can cause a non-infectious diarrhea), diarrhea is a sign that the child may have a virus. These viruses are easily passed from one child to the next. In this situation, children need to stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids. If there is blood or mucus in the diarrhea, they should see a doctor.

Rash

• Children with a skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases. One possibility is impetigo, a bacterial skin infection that is very contagious and requires antibiotic treatment.

Lethargy

This is more than just acting tired. If you're having a hard time waking up your child or if the child's behavior is significantly different than usual, consult with your physician.

Info copied from Studio 5 and provided by:
Sarah Petersen, M.D.
Pediatrician
University of Utah Health Care
South Jordan Health Center

Do you leave tips or gifts for your mail/paper carrier?

Yes, I would encourage you to try to leave a little something for your mail carrier and paper carrier during this time of year. I am coupon gal so it's not hard to come up with something interesting and random (and free maybe!). I am good at random surprises!!About once a month, I leave my mail carrier a little store bought mailbox surprise. I don't leave baked goods because she might not eat them. My mail carrier is really nice she leaves me extra Red Plum coupon inserts every week in my mailbox. She does it just for me (the coupon lady on the block)! :0) She's going the extra mile for sure and I appreciate it. I try to leave something interesting and practical! It's usually something that I get for free or dirt cheap...a pack of gum, a box of cereal, air freshener, a coupon for a free sandwich at McD's, or mints. I watched her open my mailbox and smile when she got the pack of gum and a note telling her that I got these for free with the coupons she leaves me!! It was fun for me to watch her read the note and smile.

Oh and at Christmastime, I usually leave a box of hot cocoa with a card wrapped in a bow for my newspaper carrier. He goes the extra mile by leaving my newspaper on my front porch.

What creative things do you leave your mail and paper carriers?

Why is Jesus better than Santa Claus?

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus!!

Santa lives at the North Pole...
Jesus is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh...
Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year... Jesus is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies...Jesus supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
Jesus stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.
You have to wait in line to see Santa... Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap... Jesus lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
Jesus knew our name before we were born.
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... Jesus has a heart full of love
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... Jesus offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry"... Jesus says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys... Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but... Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree.
Jesus became our gift and died on a tree - the cross.

Free letter printables to Santa and some FROM Santa too!

Do you need to write a letter to Santa or receive a letter from Santa? Then hurry on over to Design Dazzle for some great FREE options.

Green, brown, and cream bedroom- a model home

You gotta love custom bedding. But this one needs some ironing! Or from the get go they should have chosen a different fabric.

When choosing fabrics: Keep that in mind your lifestyle (pets and/or kids), wash-abilty with stains (my one daughter gets bloody noses sometimes), and how will it look daily-wrinkly or hang nicely!?

Oh and I am not crazy for the art work.

Yes, this window treatment is matchy matchy but pleasant! I like the green walls and brown curtains....It might even be good for sleeping with black out fabric!

Don't lose heart Mom's out there!

A biblical thought for today:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (New International Version)

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Although we are in the midst of "retail-ism" with Christmas gift giving....don't lose your eye on the real gift-Our Savior!

Jingle all the way on to a door in your home!

Here's a classy idea to add the sound of jingle bells to a door in your house (with out ruining your door with the banging!). Go over here to find out how Shanade made it.

Easy No bake, Holiday Mint Thins-Great for a cookie exchange

Do you attend cookie exchanges? If so this looks easy and tasty!
Image via Kraft Foods

Easy No bake, Holiday Mint Thins

yields approx 36 thins

1 pkg (8 Squares) Baker's Semi Sweet Chocolate, melted and lightly cooled
1/4 tsp Peppermint Extract
1 sleeve Ritz Crackers (36 crackers)
1 candy cane (6 inch) crushed

Instructions:
Mix Melted Chocolate and Mint Extract together until smooth.

Dip Crackers in chocolate, turning to completely coat each cracker. Carefully scrap off excess chocolate. Place crackers in a single layer, on wax paper-covered baking sheets, sprinkle with crushed candy cane.

Allow to cool, until chocolate is firm. Kraft recommended placing them in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool but you can try a few cooling on the counter.

Other versions:

Chocolate Peanut butter--Omit the extract and spread the cracker with peanut butter before dipping n chocolate.

Omit extract and candy canes and use any holiday's themed sprinkles.

Monogram fresh wreath for your front door!

WOW this is really classy for the holidays. Go over here for all the details on how to make it.Oh I wish I had a wood shop to use a jig saw and cut out big font letters. I love wood working....does that surprise you? I did some wood working and jig saw cutting design school. Maybe when the baby is older, right?

A nice looking chaise lounge!

Ah doesn't this look relaxing in a master bedroom window? I can just imagine myself in this curvy chaise lounge with a cup of hot dark cocoa with marshmallows, a good book, and warm flannel PJ's.

Our garden lives on during the winter! Using up frozen zucchini

Zucchini Oatmeal muffins

These are great for lunch boxes, breakfast, or after school snacks.

2 1/2 cups flour (sometimes I do half whole wheat and half white flour)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup quick oats (you can even do 3/4 cup)
1 Tbspn baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs (or egg white equivalent)
1 medium zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup applesauce for less fat (or 3/4 cup vegetable oil)

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another. Stir together and spoon into 12 greased muffin cups . Sprinkle with some sugar on top if you want and back at 400 degrees for 25 minutes (check and at 20 minutes with a toothpick). Makes 12 muffins. This recipe is easy to double to make 24 muffins.

TIP FOR FREEZING GRATED GARDEN ZUCCHINI

Grated: I grate my washed zucchinis whole (skins and all) in my food processor. I freeze it in 2 cup portions and push all the air out and pop in the freezer. Most of my baked good recipes call for 2 cups so it's easier that way (or 4 cups if I double them). When it thaws it's watery and I do not drain the liquid. I just add the whole thing as if it was fresh.

Master bathroom tub cascade window treatment

Sorry the picture is dark. I often get asked what is "in" now in window treatments. Well, sometimes classic styles with a new twist still are working today.I think the fabric in a cascade look is not out dated if paired with a cornice box above. Yes, it's a more formal but it's ok in the right house!

Make your own glitter trees for about $3ish!

I like glitter and shimmer during the holidays. Here's a simple Christmas craft idea for your home, a gift for a friend, a table centerpiece for your church or school, or for your office desk! GLITTER TREES!

Photo and idea from I heart naptime

The Dollar store has a lot of these items too! Go to this link to see how to make glitter Christmas trees.

Project Estimated information from Dollar store crafts:

• Styrofoam cone, $1
• Candlestick, $1
• Spray adhesive (3M-77 is SUCH a useful glue!), on hand
• White glue, on hand
• E-6000 glue, on hand
• Glitter, on hand or $1 and up
• White spray paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total: about $3 and up

We have this tradition at our house!

Have you heard of the Elf on the Shelf? He came to our house today Dec. 1st. (I'll show you pictures later)

It's $20.96! (List $29.95) right now. Thanks to PYP for the deal info.

Elf on the Shelf
by Carol V. Aebersold
List Price $29.95
After coupon: $20.96

30% off select items with code: H7X8M8T

Shipping is $3.99 or FREE over $25 (add a small filler item to get to $25.00)

Barnes&Noble.com LINK

From the Manufacturer:
"Year after year, children and adults alike are baffled by the mystery of how Santa really knows who’s been naughty or nice. After much urging by the elves and Mrs. Claus, Santa has allowed his biggest secret to be revealed in The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition . Touted as “The best thing since The Night Before Christmas” this gift set includes a light skin, blue eyed North Pole pixie-elf, hardbound children’s book and keepsake box. Children can register their elf online and receive a special response from Santa."

*Currently $31.95 at Amazon.**

Simple reindeer craft-Using hands and feet! Great for young kids!

Christmas Crafts for Kids from Amazingmom.com - A hands and Feet Reindeer Craft
An easy to make reindeer craft for classrooms, a Christmas party, a family Christmas party craft, a church party, or with your children at home.


You'll Need:
Large plastic eyes
Large red pom-poms (glitter pom-poms are a fun addition!)
Brown construction paper, craft foam or cardstock paper
Lighter brown or tan paper for the ears (optional)
Construction paper in any color; optional if you would like to glue
the reindeer onto another piece of paper.

How to Make It:
First, with one shade of brown, cut the antlers and reindeer,
using your child's handprint and shoeprint as a pattern.
Then, cut the ears with the other brown. We used a lighter shade of
brown to add yet another layer to the ears but that's not necessary.
Glue the antlers together at a slight angle. Then add the ears and glue
the head on last. Glue the eyes and nose the the head and add a smile with a marker.
It's that simple!

Thanks to Amazing Moms for the copied information from their site!