It's A Purple Potluck Picnic Party with Personal Progress

What a fun purple potluck picnic we had!  At the first of the year our young women gather in several committees and plan our Personal Progress activities for the entire year.  We don't usually plan specifics but instead make plans with a theme attached.  This committee planned an activity that was both fun and fabulous.

eat drink chic provided the inspiration for the invite.

Let’s Picnic!

It’s a Purple Potlock Picnic Party…with Personal Progress

6:30                     Welcome-Opening Prayer and Blessing on Food

                             Eat

7:00                     Explanation of evening

                             Speakers:         Margie F.

Stephanie A.

                                                Kathie M.

                                                Tonya F.

                                                Lorraine L.

8:00                     YWIE forms with mom-what will you display

8:30                     Thank You

                             Handouts:       wear purple: lim balm, tic tacs

                                                          Temple recommend holder

                             closing prayer

**Speakers to share a personal story or thought regarding their experiences relating to ordinances and covenants (specific to the temple)

Moms were invited to this picnic party.  As purple party goers arrived they were invited to sit at a table and try to answer as many questions as they could on this form:

The first table with a completed, correct form was invited to the picnic buffet...first.

Our young women helped to create the flower table centerpieces made from Dum Dum suckers, cupcake cups, ribbon and a pail.  Easy.  

  

The guest speakers shared beautiful, thought provoking messages and testimonies and every young woman was given a few things to take home.  Purple Lip Balm--to remember to keep her words and actions worthy to enter the temple.  Purple breath mints--because it's nice to have fresh breath in the temple.  And one more purple item.

A lanyard with tag reading Stand Ye in Holy Places.  This serves several purposes.  One to help remind girls to stand in holy places and be ready and willing to attend the temple often.  They were encouraged to have a current recommend at all times and for ease in locating the recommend we suggested they tuck it into the lanyard and hang it on their dresser, their bed post or where they would see it daily.  Some young women even wore it to the temple!

Find the free download of tag here.

For a few bucks I special ordered the lip balm and tic tac labels from here.

The young women and their moms signed up in advance to bring potluck items.  The table was brimming with all kinds of good food when the picnic began.

One of our young women is an artist when it comes to cupcakes.  Sofia crafted these beautiful purple flower cupcakes for the picnic.  Guess what she used for the center of the flower?  Purple Laffy Taffy!  

Purple stands for Integrity, one of the young women values.  It's good to be with such wonderful young girls who strive daily to Stand in Holy Places.  

For more information about the Young Women's program click here.

Easy French Dip Sandwiches - MMMmmm Monday

Today's MMMmmm Monday post is a super easy dinner. It's great for hot summer days when you don't want to turn on your oven or chili winter nights when you want something warm and easy.

First you will need 2 packets Au Jus Sauce. Follow directions on package and bring Au Jus and Water to a boil.

Next, pour into a crock pot and add 1 package Sliced Roast Beef. I use the pre-packaged/pre-sliced Roast Beef from Sam's Club that comes in this package. Cook on High for 1 hour

Once Roast Beef is hot and ready. Take French Rolls, Hamburger Buns or whatever type of roll you want to make your sandwich with and butter both sides. Place in oven on BROIL setting for approx. 2 minutes (watch very carefully so it doesn't burn)

Set aside tops of buns. Then place desired amount of roast beef on bun and top with sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese.

Return to broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly. (about 2 minutes)

Remove from oven, top with other half of bun Serve with Au Jus Sauce from the crock pot.

Delicious!!

 

 

Ooo La La Lemonade

Ooo La La Lemonade for MMMmmm Monday

Don't you just love a good lemonade stand!  I love this one from dear lillie.  My Kate, along with some neighbor friends have been selling lemonade and slushies all summer long.  I've noticed several lemonade stands throughout the neighborhood and love the entrepreneurial spirit of kids.  Hope their savings accounts are growing.  

Not sure what your favorite lemonade recipe is but this one is amazing!

Ooo la la Lemonade 

3 Tablespoons of Citric Acid

3 Tablespoons of Lemon Extract (not lemon flavoring or lemon juice)

2 Cups of sugar

5 Quarts of water

Mix and Enjoy...or sell for others to enjoy!  

Another FRESH lemonade recipe Raspberry Watermelon Lemonade.  Find it at the gunny sack.  My daughter has been on a watermelon kick and thinks this summer drink is amazing. 

Swiss Chard or Spinach, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casserole - MMMmmm Monday

My sister, Carri serves this casserole at their annual 4th of July breakfast.  Never any leftovers!

Oven Egg with Ham and Swiss Chard Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

1 medium onion, finely chopped (or about 1 ½ cups)

1 tsp. butter

1 tsp. olive oil

4 medium leaves of Swiss chard, stems removed, finely chopped (about 1 cup, can use spinach in place of chard)

6 eggs

6 egg whites

1 cup light sour cream

1/3 cup chopped Italian parsley

1 cups cooked, diced ham (about 7 oz.-I use the already cooked ham slices) OR 1 cup chopped Bacon

1 ¼ cups Swiss cheese

1 ¼ cups sharp cheddar cheese

Sauté onion in butter and olive oil until soft.  Add Swiss chard (or spinach) and cook until wilted (about 1 more min).  Let cool.  In a bowl beat the eggs and egg whites together.  Then stir in sour cream, parsley, ham, the chard mixture and 2 cups cheese.  Pour into greased 9X13 baking dish.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or bake uncovered immediately.  Heat oven to 375 deg.  (if refrigerated let dish sit out for 15 min. before putting in oven.  Bake until set…about 35 to 40 min.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 3 to 5 min. 

Serves 12.

Mustaches and Mocktails

This is a party I threw a while back for New Years Eve but with the Mustache craze in full force now I thought I would share it. It could be easily adapted to any type of party.
 

A few years ago I was visiting my brother in New York and was in a fun novelty store and came across some mustache wrapping paper and some "stick on" mustaches. Nowadays you can find mustache party aids everywhere but back then this was the first time I had seen them. I snatched them up in hopes of planning a future party and so became:

I made the invite on my computer and had them printed at Costco. It was only $15 for 50 - so very cost effective. I used the greeting cards option and uploaded my own picture.

As guests arrived they were invited to take a picture with their mustaches in the photo booth. (check out more of the party guests at the end of the post!)

 My brother-in-law, Carlos did the fabulous "DJ"ing!

The party planners: Nita from Teaspoon of love did all the amazing desserts and my party friend Usha and I did all the decorations. it was a dream team! 

I did provide some extra "staches" in case they came without but most were prepared!

Then they were invited to play

The "Mocktails" table was set up as a make your own mocktail

We also had people put drink markers on their glasses 

The Dessert table looked scrumptious

Lots of fun and dancing was had

 Even the babies got into the mustache spirit

When all the fun was had and it was time to go here is what our guests saw on the door

Here are some pictures of more friends in the photo booth: