Category: slideshow

Why Christ Matters. A Mother’s saving Grace.






Hope for my kids.



Hope for me.


He sets me FREE.


He came so we could receive, know and show LOVE.


See helpful object lesson on this topic here.


christ centered home


[Download not found]

**Update** 4/15/15

I was asked if I could create a handout without the ‘prepare to’ so it can be used for more general purposes like Relief Society or family lessons, etc..Here it is!


[Download not found]


Easy Microwave Caramel Popcorn (Free printable)


I love sending my Christmas wishes to friends and family during the Holidays. But ya know, for me taking care of my little children alone basically consumes all time and energy, add holiday parties+gift shopping +Christmas traditions (ok, maybe I’m not that mom with many cutsie christmas activities but the ONE we have takes time too!) +cold weather crankies (agh, the gloomy, winter is not my friend, I need me some sun!)  and my good intentions rarely come to fruition. Luckily, earlier this year I come across this super yummy and too simple to be true (oh, but it’s true) microwave caramel popcorn recipe.  I was trying to make caramel popcorn one day but the top google search for caramel popcorn took a whole stinkin’ hour and half to make, (I must have been in quite a  hurry to consume fatty sugary goodness as quick as possible) so I kept looking. I googled microwave caramel popcorn actually hoping to use my already buttered microwave popcorn bags I had but instead I found this recipe.  15 whole minutes to a delicious caramel popcorn, you won’t even believe it was made in the microwave! It does call for air popped popcorn but one of the most wonderful tricks of the trade I have ever learned is that you can actually pop popcorn kernels in a brown paper sack in the microwave. So the version I have for yous can be made the microwave entirely. Woot.


I’ve experiment quite a bit before to get the right amount of popcorn kernels and microwave time to suit my microwave and get the most popped kernels without burning them. Yes, many times my OCD attempts to be ‘efficient’ ends up costing me triple the time but now that I’ve got it right enough times, it is that much quicker, right?


So I have found 1/4 a cup of kernels  in a brown paper sack does a splendid job.


Then microwaved for 2 minutes works really well (listen for your kernels when you do yours, all microwaves differ if the time between popped kernels slows down to 2-3 between pops, get it out) Make sure you roll up your bag a bit like so. Make two-three bags depending on how rich you want your popcorn.  This is a trick I learned as I experimented: shake the bags of popped corn so the unpopped kernels settle to the bottom, you’ll see why. Leave them in their bags!


Meanwhile dump 1 cup brown sugar, one stick of margarine (I used butter), 1/4 cup corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl and stick it in the microwave for 3 min. Bring it out, stir and put it back in microwave for another 1.5 minutes. Pull it out and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, it will fizz up a bit.  I know, weird ingredient but I like to think it is the magic touch,  I think it gives it a slightly crisp crunch!


Now, instead of dumping the popcorn straight from the bag into the bowl of melted goop, GRAB the popcorn fistfuls at a time from the bags  into your bowl. Since I had you shake the kernels to the bottom, you won’t get unpopped kernels in your popcorn!! Hurray.  Mix as you go. But don’t use a whisk like I did. I soon had to grab a spatula after I took this picture. Put back in microwave for another 1 minute and continue stirring until coated as desired. Let cool. Enjoy!

One time I resorted to this recipe when I needed some quick potluck item. I realized only after I had started the recipe that I didn’t even have brown sugar. I used white sugar, I also added nuts and raisins to try to offset all that sugar since the potluck was with peeps in my exercise classes. I already felt funny bringing caramel popcorn to a lunch potluck with people who all, of course, brought ‘healthy foods’, but the fact that I didn’t even know if all my modification even worked made me not want to announce my offering in anyway. Eventually the ladies found the culprit food and I don’t know if it was because there was nothing with as much sugar and butter in sight but those females devoured it like there was no tomorrow! They couldn’t stop commenting on how good it was.

So there you have it. White sugar works (favorite combo, half white, half brown sugar) and now it is common for me to add raisins/dried cranberries and nuts to at least half of the batch since, quite honestly I think is an awesome team of yum.

Here is the download:

[Download not found]

just-popping-by-gift-tag-popcorn microwave-caramel-popcorn

Easy Microwave Caramel Popcorn
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Sariah tate
Cook time:
Total time:
15 minutes to delicious popcorn! Adapted from
  • 4 quarts popped popcorn
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup margarine (or butter)
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  1. <b>To microwave popcorn in paper bag:</b>
  2. Put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in paper bag for 2 minutes (listen as kernels slow down, you might need longer or less time depending on your microwave)
  3. Pop 2-3 bags depending on how rich you want your popcorn
  4. Shake bags so unpopped kernels will settle to bottom
  5. <b>For Caramel</b>
  6. In a microwave safe bowl combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, salt and vanilla.
  7. Microwave for 3 minutes.
  8. Remove from microwave and stir.
  9. Return to Microwave for another 1.5 minutes.
  10. Remove from microwave and stir in baking soda.
  11. Grab popcorn from bags fistfuls at a time into bowl of caramel sauce, stir and with coat caramel. Stir in nuts and raisins/craisin if desired. Put back in microwave for another 1 minute and continue stirring until coated as desired. Let cool. Enjoy!


Create a Family Tree (Free printable)

Family Tree






[Download not found]




Instructions For Creating A family tree 











***UPDATE!**** JUNE 2014


familiy tree printable

family tree made with cutout paper leaves.

How to manage emotions in a healthy way.

Key Point of video and some additional insight

One the of the greatest life skills


How to manage emotions in a healthy way

The Sun


The Cloud


The Inner Battle








Remember, own your feelings but don’t let them own you.

own your feelings, but don't let them own you

Many Great methods: Recovery International


The Rain can help you Grow



Feeling inspired to make a change in your life? My 7 tips for success!









4. Change is a challenge




6. Your worth has nothing to do with your performance.


7. Give power to the divinity that lives inside you.


How to harness your body to do and become what you want!

Our bodies are da BOMB.

Our body is the very vehicle that helps us perform in life! It is what carries us from one place to another, helps us achieve our dreams and greatest desires. It is the vessel through which we experience the greatest pleasures and sensations this world has to offer.  It is a masterpiece in external beauty and internal function. It creates life. It is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Of all the things God created, this body of our is His greatest!


Why not give it a fighting chance? Feed it, nourish it, strengthen its muscles, love it, let it flourish with you. Why not partner up with the very machine that your spirit is in! Work together to accomplish and experience your divine greatness!

Our body is a BEAST: Keep it happy.

By it’s very nature your body is a beast. It’s beastly nature is best displayed when it is unhappy and deprived. It can be stubborn, lazy, selfish, demeaning, carnal, appetite driven, bossy, quite belittling and simply out of control! The trick then is to tame this beast! Taming it by keeping it happy, well fed and nourished with what it NEEDS not just what it wants. Once happy, it will become more tame and docile and we can work with it to help us experience all the deep desires of our hearts! We can it discipline to do exactly what we need it to do and help us become who we want to become.

tame and discipline the beast within

(Here is a twist on your kid toys… Haha. I know this is silly but maybe it can help some people visualize this concept.)

What does our body or ‘beast’ need to be happy? You know the good stuff you’ve always know it needs: regular and enough sleep, regular exercise, and eating right, lots of water and plenty of breaks!

What should you eat? Think of it this way: Our body was put on this earth and the earth supplies everything our bodies need to thrive and perform at it’s most optimal level. The closer a food is to its most natural state, usually the better for our bodies. The more processed, refined and more it deviates from it’s original form the less beneficial it usually is for us.

I personally don’t diet or eat perfectly healthy because I do love me my  Chocolate Eclair Pancakes and caramel popcorn on occasion and other wonderful fatty and sugary awesomeness but I believe the key is balance and striving to give your body the best as often as you can.

Our body will sabotage our efforts if we let it.

Notice the unhappy beast like to show up when we are stressed, tired and hungry. When it feels deprived it will undoubtedly try to take over. When it does it will throw all your logic, wisdom, common sense out the window because its primal drive is strong and it knows zero reason.

Trying to eat right? Well if you have been starving all day it will try to binge on the closest package of oreos!

Trying to practice patience with your kids? Heh, well watch how successful your efforts are when you are tired or stressed.  The beast will most likely try to take over and give them all sound spankings!

So give yourself a fighting chance!

Don’t let the beast stomp over what you are trying to achieve and become. Train your body to work with you, make it easy for you to win by what feeding it what it needs, taking the breaks it needs and getting regular exercise to help channel out stress!  Your body can facilitate all you want in life it doesn’t have to rob you of it! Give it optimal nourishment for optimal performance. The more you give your body what it needs and less of what it wants, the more your body will start to want what it needs!


Imagine loving and wanting a juicy apple, crisp carrots, lush salads, hearty whole grains not only because they tastes genuinely delicious and are satisfying but also because of the lasting good feeling they continue to give you. Healthy food is something you can grow to love that also loves back!

Love your bodies.

Don’t worry about what the mirror or scales says, that will take care of itself when you start to take care of you.

LOVE YOUR BODY Don't worry about what the mirror or scale says•••••••  that will take care of itself when you start to take care of you.

Focus on teaming up with your body and empowering that partnership called your soul. That is what is important and what counts.  You are in charge of your body, don’t let it be in charge of you!  Be kind, respectful and gentle. Celebrate your victories and learn from your setbacks.  Focus on creating a sustainable lifestyle, one that keeps you healthy, balanced, motivated and happy. YOU CAN DO IT.  You CAN attain self mastery and overcome self-enslavement, you were born to WIN that battle! You have all the right and power to live up to your divine greatness!!!! Peace love and happiness is yours for the taking, own up to it!

Are you feeling inspired to make a change in your life?? Read my 7 tips for success here!  Put knowledge in action, start a health vision board here!



Free Printable Holiday Calendars.

I created some November and December 2013 calendars for my Young Women’s  (youth church group) and I just wanted to share them with you all since you might be able to use them as well.  I thought it might be extra helpful this time of year with the holidays up and coming and I know there are some that like to plan. Well, actually, if you are a big planner, I’m sure you’ve planned everything out already and have a sophisticated calendar or some other fancy system…but just incase someone could use these and need something to post on their fridge, here ya go! calendar-01

[Download not found]


[Download not found]




Feeling good enough.



















You are a child of God.


For more information about my beliefs, please visit: