Believe in Yourself

Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.

Believe that you can do it whatever it is that you set your heart on. Opportunities will unfold and open before you. The skies will clear when they have been dark with portent...He who is our Eternal Father has blessed you with miraculous powers of mind and body. He never intended that you should be less than the crowning glory of His creations.

- President Gordon B. Hinckley

Online Auction

Garth Abbott was a bishop here in town of the single's ward (some of you might know him). He has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and sadly does not have insurance for the $100,000 + treatment.

His daughter-in-law has set up an online auction with more than 180 items of goods and services to purchase. ALL of the proceeds go to help Garth get treatment. There are services offered mostly here in the Las Vegas/Henderson area, but there are auction items in other places around the country, too.

The auction goes until Tuesday, January 19th at 10 p.m. and the link for the blog is: http://www.thedailyabbott.blogspot.com

Food Shelf Life

Here is a website that tells you the shelf life of any food that you could possibly have a question about.

http://stilltasty.com/

TV Show Visit - "Pawn Stars"

Bret and I watch a TV show called "Pawn Stars" on the History Channel. The pawn shop that it is filmed at is here in Las Vegas. (Charleston and Las Vegas Blvd.)

We went there today to take a look around.

South side of the pawn shop.

North side of the shop.

So did many, many other people. The place was packed. It is smaller than it looks on TV and more jewelry than anything else inside the shop.

Chumlee, one of the employees of the store that is on the show, was there. He was inundated with people taking pictures and wanting autographs.

We also saw the "Old Man" working. (Picture not mine.) He was nice to his employees and was all dressed in his typical black outfit.

It was an interesting trip downtown.

Pehrson Christmas Greetings 2009

Hello Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas to all of you! We hope that our Christmas greetings find you healthy and happy.

Our Christmas newsletter/blog is online. So, please click here http://pehrsonchristmasnews.blogspot.com/ to read and view it.

We love you and wish you a very happy holiday season.

Love,
Bret, Bridget, Holden, Will and Drew

After "Hoarders"

Here is what happened after I watched "Hoarders" on A&E!

New season starts tonight, November 30th.

Christmas Gift Idea - West Bend Kettle Krazy

The West Bend Kettle Krazy. You can pop popcorn, roast, glaze or toast nuts in the same appliance. From cheese popcorn to caramel popcorn to cinnamon roasted almonds; glazing nuts, creating snacks and popping popcorn can now be accomplished with one appliance!It is listed at $49.99.

If you go to http://www.focuselectrics.com/ this weekend they have half off for Black Friday!

Here is what their site said:

Black Friday savings all weekend!Black Friday through Cyber Monday, save 50%*
Use coupon code Holiday50 at checkout to save half on your order today!Hurry, offer is good Friday through Monday ONLY.
* Sale excludes replacement parts

Happy Thanksgiving - 2009

Happy Thanksgiving
to our family and friends!



May you feast



on a bouquet of blessings in the upcoming year.

Love,
The Pehrson Family

Hmmm....Really?

We went to this buffet and they had this sign on the wall....

Isn't that one of the reasons that you go to a buffet? To try the food and not eat everything that you take?

I wonder if they have really done that. Their prices were high enough!

Taping - "Live With Regis and Kelly" - Monday, November 23, 2009

Holden and I went to see a taping of "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Monday afternoon. They were here in town for a week of shows from the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.



They held us in the Le Reve Theater hallway (Cirque du Soleil show) until we were seated in the Encore Theater. We were to be there at 12:30 for a 1:30 show. We stood in line until 2:20 due to unknown production issues. Too long!



We were finally seated. Holden was really excited to watch a taping of a show. He told me that this was something that he has always wanted to do.



Don't know how, but we were able to meet up with our friend, Alayna, and my sister, Barbara, in line and sat by them. If we would have planned it, it would have never happened!



Holden and Mom waiting for the show to start. We were seated in a cool box seat of 9 chairs. We were by the control booth, so it was fun to see how everything runs behind the scenes.



Love the set. It makes a native Vegas girl's heart skip a beat.



Full shot of the stage.



Host chat table.



Producer, Michael Gelman, teaching the audience how to clap. (Clap double fast to make things sound way more exciting.) He was much more personable than he appears on the show every day.

Also, no flash photography for the rest of show, so just use your imagination on some of these shots.



Time for the show to begin!
Opener: Lion King Broadway Show. Amazing! I want to go! Regis and Kelly come out after that.



Host chat. By the way, it is Friday, November 27th, 2009; the day after Thanksgiving!



Film: Regis takes a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon. We watch that while they set up for the daily giveaway.



If you watch Regis and Kelly, you know Schully. She is the one with the booming laugh all of these years laughing at Regis's jokes. Here she is with the cue cards.



Guest: Neil Patrick Harris



Break: Kelly chatting with the audience for a LONG time. She was funny and charming. No different than she is on TV. She is so skinny and has the longest legs.

Segment: Turkey Leftover Challenge. They had three top chefs make gourmet dishes out of Thanksgiving leftovers. Then, they had three audience members judge. They were so lame and indecisive. I bet most of the judging will be cut out due to lack of time and lack of interest. The winner took home a huge trophy with a turkey on top and the confetti canons went off.

Break: Regis chatting with the audience. He was so funny and sarcastic. Just how we see him on TV.



Segment: Uncle Kracker performs.

Ending: Thank you for coming from Regis and Kelly!

It was a great time. Worth the wait.

Dinner: We were close to one of my favorite restaurants, Cafe Heidelberg. It is a German restaurant and German market that has been in town ever since I can remember. Their apple strudel is probably the best thing that I have ever eaten. Go on Mondays and they are running a 2 for 1 dinner special on certain entrees. So yummy!

Fun day!

Great Cupcake Carrier

I purchased this cupcake carrier without a lot of expectations.  I have had others and they have never worked that well.

This one was really great.  I was able to carry 30 cupcakes in it (there are holes for 24).  The holes hold the cupcakes very securely; no tipping over while carrying.

There are two tiers and they unclasp separately from each other.  The trays also come out and there are handles for serving.  It can carry decorated cookies without them getting smeared, as well.

I was even able to take the napkins under the handle and they stayed put, too.  Will's  kindergarten teacher had to comment about how much she liked it.  So, this product has the seal of approval!

Cupcake Carrier Source:  Martha Stewart Cupcake Carrier at Macy's

($24.99; I got it on sale for $19.99)

Cupcake Topper Source:  Wholesale Sugar Flowers

Christmas Gift Idea for You or Someone You Love - Oster Steamer

I love this little machine! It is an Oster Steamer. I found mine at Target for $29.99 and it happens to be the cheapest price on the Internet.

It has two trays so you can steam lots of food in there. It also has a warm setting. I have made corn on the cob in one tray and fish in another all for the same dinner. I have also done many hot dogs and chicken at once.

Cooks fast and the food tastes good because of all the moisture that gets locked inside with steaming. Healthy, too. (Unless you use my hot dog idea!)

This is a Crock... Recipes that is!

Links to so many crock pot recipes here.  http://adashofvanilla.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-is-crock.html

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism,
He learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility,
She learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule,
He learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame,
She learns to feel guily.

If a child lives with tolerance,
He learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement,
She learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise,
He learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness,
She learns justice.

If a child lives with security,
He learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval.
She learns to like herself.

If a child lives with acceptance
and friendship, he learns
to find love in the world.

-Unknown

Fever Remedy - Egg Whites

I have not tried this remedy yet, but the reviews have been really positive. I found it at this link: http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/fever.html#ACV
Obviously, don't try this on someone with an egg allergy.


Here is an exerpt:

BEST REMEDY FOR FEVER: EGG WHITES

12/13/05: Ani (anisyab[at]yahoo.com) from Ontario, Canada writes, "Hi! I love your site and find it very useful. Thought I'd share something and you can post it if you see fit.

Egg Whites:

By far the best method to lower a high temperature within MINUTES! When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I had acquired a fever so high that I started to hallucinate. My mother was in a panic, she feared brain damage if something didn't lower the fever and FAST. My grandma told her about an old-wives' remedy.

Soak 2 cloths or hankerchiefs in egg whites and put on the soles of the feet (cover with socks). The egg whites instantaneously start to draw the temperature DOWN from the brain (where it is dangerous) to the feet (where it can do no damage). After that incident my mom used this method successfully every time I had high temp. If no eggs are on hand, chopped onion or chopped potato can be applied to feet instead, although egg whites are the fastest method.

The egg whites are also a miracle cure for minor and more severe burns. Soak or coat affected area in egg white. While the egg white is still wet you will feel no pain from the burn. As soon as it dries up the pain comes back so reapplication is necessary. This also prevents scarring from the burn."

01/04/2006: Ani (anisyab[at]yahoo.com) from Ontario, Canada writes,'"I checked with my mom and there is a small revision if using the chopped onion alternative: the onion should be mixed with vinegar. The potato is fine on its own."

Quick note: the egg whites are useless once they dry up, which can be rather quickly if the temp is high. The feet get very hot and the egg whites can literally COOK! You must check and REAPPLY as many times as necessary until the temp is back to normal. Don't give up after one application, it will work but the egg whites must be WET. My mom usually reapplied once or twice but you can keep going in case of a stubborn fever."
 
For more health remedies go to:  http://wishingyouhealth.blogspot.com/

Don't Use Expired Mixes with Yeast in Them

Don't Use Expired Mixes with Yeast in Them

This is confirmed on Snopes http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/pancake.asp

Check the expiration dates on packages like pancakes and cake mixes that have yeast which over time develop spores. Apparently, the mold that forms in old mixes can be toxic and even fatal. The mold can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Throw away ALL OUTDATED pancake mix, brownie mixes, Bisquick, cake & cookie mixes, etc., you have in your home.

Wise Advice - Two Wolves

Two Wolves

An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life:

"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied, "The one you feed."

Movie: Michael Jackson's "This is It"

Saw Michael Jackson's "This is It" movie this weekend and loved it.

I was at the very beginning of the MTV era.  MTV launched when I was in high school.  We studied all the videos of the day and knew them by heart.  "Thriller" and "Beat It" were part of the everyday landscape.  Many red leather coats and MJ buttons were worn in the halls of Chaparral HS.  Even a glove or two was spotted on the uberfans.

Fun to go back and see the mastery of MJ's talents;  singing and dancing.  Before all of the controversy with MJ was raw talent.  I remember talking with friends and even parents after he moonwalked on TV the 1st time.  No one could believe that someone could move the way he did.  It was magic.

His singing and dancing was still magic.  I had to keep reminding myself that he was 50.  He looked just like the 20 year old dancers surrounding him.  Every move and note had thought in it even in the rehearals that we see as the movie.  I now understand some of the reasons why he had the heightened drug troubles that he had.  So perfectionistic and so much to live up to with this comeback.

Limited run, so if you want to see it, you might want to dance to the movies soon.

How to Buy Fresh Bread

When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness.

Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

And each day has a different color twist tie.
They are:
Monday - Blue
Tuesday - Green
Thursday - Red
Friday - White
Saturday - Yellow

The colors go alphabetically by color:
Blue - Green - Red - White -Yellow, Monday thru Saturday.
Very easy to remember. But I put a post-it note in my wallet when I first found out about this so I would not forget.

Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping.

I Heart Boojiboo!

LOVE their handmade aprons, tote bags, dish towels, etc. So retro and oh so cool!

Click on the pictures to go to their Etsy shop.

This is a great Christmas gift idea.