Archive for the ‘think about it’ Category

This past week I’ve been working lots of fun projects, cooking up a storm and keeping way too busy.

So since I don’t have a project I can share today, I will talk about a subject that’s been on my mind the last few weeks since the tragic earthquake in Japan.  As I’ve watched the news unfold, my heart has just broken for all the suffering.  It also begs the question about whether or not I am really prepared for an emergency.  Here in Utah we live along the Wasatch Fault.  The experts predict that it’s not if but when a large earthquake hits near my home.

As a mother, I feel a great responsibility to be prepared.  How could I face my children if I didn’t have our basic needs in an emergency?

I do have 72 hour kits somewhat prepared sitting out in my garage.  But unfortunately for me, they need to be updated, which is a yearly challenge when you have growing children.  The food needs to be rotated.  And I only have 5 days worth of water… something that is giving me guilt as I watch the terrible drama in Japan.  Contaminated water supplies can happen and water is the one things you can’t live without.

Several years ago I allowed myself to go into a panic over swine flu.  It was then that I started bulking up my food storage and making sure I had adequate emergency supplies.  But after a couple days of worrying, I made up my mind that you can’t borrow problems.  “Be prepared and forget it” needed to be my motto.

Getting prepared can cost a small fortune however, especially if you rush out to the nearest emergency supply store and buy all the latest and greatest products.

The one thing I was good about a few years ago was picking up one or two products at a time… over time.  That was how I built the supplies I have now.  The disaster in Japan makes me realize it’s time to pull out my kits, make a list of anything that is still missing, and begin the slow but sure process of adding needed items.

Here’s just a few great emergency preparedness tips:

• Buy food that you use all the time.  That makes it easier to rotate what you have in the kits without wasting food.  We use tuna fish, peanut butter and granola bars for instance, so these are the items in our kits.
• Set a date on your calendar that is easy to remember for rotation.  Mark it on your calendar.  Maybe it’s the first day of school.  Maybe New Year’s.
• On that date, refresh your water if necessary, rotate your food, and update the clothes for the kids.
• I use hand-me-down clothes that I get from my sister’s kids, in one or two sizes too big for my kids to fashionably wear now.  This is a free way to keep clothes put away for an emergency.   If you don’t have anyone who can give you hand-me-downs, consider buying clothing from a thrift shop, or buy “too big” clothes you will really use and when your children reach that size, buy new and rotate them.
• Talk to your kids every once in a while about what to do in an emergency.

When a disaster happens, like the one in Japan, I take it as a good reminder for me to do a preparedness checkup.  Do what I can reasonably do to be prepared… and forget the rest.

This past weekend was the Two Year Anniversary of Make it Do.

Wow.

That’s just about all I can say about it.  Wow.  I can hardly believe it’s been two whole years.  How time flies when you’re having fun!

Having an anniversary has made me feel nostalgic, because yesterday I spent way too much time reading through old posts and reminiscing.

Forgive my sappiness… but I wanted to share a few of my favorite posts:

Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch… oh the fun memory this post brought back.  It was almost two years ago and my kids look so little….  SNIFF, SNIFF.  Stop growning.  Stop growing right now!

Another post I love is one I wrote about my grandmother Maxine Morgan.  Even though I never met her, she is a continuing inspiration in my life.  I grew up hearing stories about her and I still love to hear them.  There is something I didn’t realize at the time… and is coincidence I find so amazing.  March 18th is the day I created Make it Do.  That day also happened to be my grandmother’s birthday- March 18, 1925.  It makes me feel, even more, that she is with me on this journey.

It was also fun to go through a few of my older cooking/baking posts.  It was nice to realize I’m getting a little better at my food photography!  It made me want to go back and redo some of my recipes that I love.

Here’s a few from the first few months that you absolutely should try, even if I didn’t do such a great job making them look tempting:

Banana Bread – This was my first food post and I still think it is one of the best Make it Do foods around.  Take old black bananas and turn them into something absolutely delicious.  I’ve tried lots of different Banana Bread recipes, but this one is something special.

Chocolate Mint Brownies– This is by far my most requested recipe.  They are a little time intensive, but they are very easy.  They look so professional and the taste is out of this world.  I think I’ve made enough of these brownies to feed a small army… but I never tire of eating them… unfortunately for me.

Strawberry Salad with Spicy Pecans, Gorgonzola and Strawberry Vinaigrette– This salad has kept it’s spot as my all time favorite salad for about 3 years now.  That is an amazing run.  It has a perfect and lovely blend of flavors.  I can’t decide when I like it more, mid-winter with pomegranates instead of sliced strawberries or in the spring with sweet in-season strawberries.

A few of my favorite projects have been:

Sewing School Bags for my Girls

Mending a Patched Knee – this is sooo useful

Cozy Bed Warmers– since everyone should have one

And any project I’ve done with my kids.  They are the projects I remember and cherish.

The past two years have flown by and I’ve had days when I haven’t wanted to write or cook or sew a thing.  I’ve had days when I feel like my creativity is all dried up.

But mostly I’ve loved creating Make it Do.  Writing this blog has pushed me to grow and create in so many ways.  I’ve loved every comment and email I’ve ever received.  I’ve loved how writing this blog has shrunk the world for me.  I’ve “met” readers from India, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Brazil… just to name a few countries, not to mention all over the United States.  I’ve learned SO much from tips and ideas sent to me.  Most importantly I’ve felt like I’ve made many wonderful friends.

I’ve still got a lot to learn… but I am glad I’m on this journey.  There are so many recipes and projects swimming around in my head, I can hardly wait.  I hope this coming year is better than ever.

Thank you all for stopping by and being the best part of Make it Do.