A Belated Mother's Day Wish From Our Class To You!

Spring has come and is almost gone with today ending in a record high in the Salt Lake Valley but 3 days ago was the perfect day to create pottery from arcrylic paints and some earthenware pots! 

Mothers Day was coming up over the weekend and our class of boys needed some help with creating a special gift for their own moms. 

Paints were doled out, sponge brushes were dispersed and the fun began.  Everyone did their own thing.  
Some decided to just paint the pot one color and be done.  Others were really creative and took some time to do their creation. 

Next came the actual potting of the flowers.  We stepped outside and did it there because what a mess it made!  When everything was said and done, the boys were happy with their results and even agreed to pose for this post!  Now that's saying something!  Pictured below is Troy, who put it all together for us, and Colton, looking like a rock star with his creation!

I guess I'll let you take my picture, but I'm very busy!

So, happy belated Mothers Day from our class to everyone who could use just one more special wish!

Making Cheese and Other #DairyGood Activities at Canyon View Farm

As I am contemplatively munching on a bit of swiss cheese with some crackers, I am thinking back about what a fun time I had today at Canyon View Farm, home of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese.  And wow, this cheese is addictive!  It's made from raw milk and lots of care.  What better establishment to make Swiss Cheese than a Dairy Farm owned by a Swiss family?

Established in 1929, this 500 acre farm has been passed down from one generation of Swiss Americans to the next because these hardy folks believe in the farm lifestyle and know that it provides a wholesome way of life and provides wholesome food to people who are fortunate enough to partake! Plus, it doesn't hurt that Midway, UT is absolutely beautiful in the spring! 

I learned that the predominant dairy cows are mainly Holsteins and Jersey's. Holsteins are by far the most utilized, simply because they are easier to manage and they give more milk.  Jersey cows do have richer milk and sometimes they are mixed with Holstein milk just to provide that extra richness.  

It used to be that all the cows on the farm were given names.  In fact, it was rather hard to come up with names after awhile and so Grant Kohler, the owner of the farm, back in his dating years would name a cow after every new girl he took out on a date.  I wonder if the girls knew this?  Now they are all assigned just numbers, but the farmer knows more about them today than back then--everything from the percentage of butterfat their milk has, to their birthing history. The farm is very technology driven, from the milking itself to the testing of the health of the cows, to the removal of the milk to the trucks or to the cheese vats, to the formulation of the bacterias that make the cheese.  So it really helps that both Grant Koehler and his son have Engineering Degrees.  

The cows on the farm are not corn fed, and the farm will be producing 100% of its feed within the next 3 years.  The cows are tested regularly to see if they have the correct amounts of protein, white blood count, and other health indicators.  If they are below the farm's extremely high standard, the cows are removed from the job, and nursed back to health.  When they are better and ready to be milked the milk from the previously sick cow is not used for a period of time because they need to make sure that there is no trace of antibiotics in the milk.  

There is one bovine that gets extra special attention and treatment and that is Geraldine, the steer.  Geraldine is the most gentle, easy-going guy and loves to be fed  and petted.  He's a big softy and he'll come lumbering up if he thinks there may be a chance for a pat on the nose or a carrot!

 

I learned that this is a place where you can purchase raw milk on the premises.  Raw milk is known to be one of the most perfect foods on the planet.  I felt really good about their methods of bottling and storing the milk.  It is never even exposed to air because it comes right from the cow and goes through airtight tubes into their containers and sealed.  And the stringent testing of each cow beforehand ensures that the milk is high quality.  

We tried all kinds of their various cheeses--mild chedder, medium chedder, and aged sharp chedder, swiss cheese, mozerella, and then the specialty cheeses.  I loved every single one of them, which is why pretty soon I was feeling pretty full and then extremely full.  But I couldn't resist as each new cheese came through, I needed to taste it.  I could definitely taste the difference.  And since Swiss Cheese is my absolute favorite, I HAD to get a taste of that.  I was very impressed.  It is very flavorful and very creamy.  They had a selection of Southwestern flavored cheeses, with varying degrees of kick to them.  There was even an Oreo Cookie Cheese.  One of their cheeses, the Wasatch Back Jack won best the best cheese award from the American Cheese Society!  If you'd like to experience their cheeses, they have cheese tasting events that you sign up for!  Just go to their website and sign up! 

The next experience was dressing up in dairy garb and going into the cheese "sanctom", where the cheeses are actually formulated, mixed and aged.  This part of the farm process was demonstrated by Russ Kohler, Grant's son.  Everything is kept completely sterile.  The 4 ingredients that go into cheese are lactic acid (sugars combined with bacteria), rennin (an enzyme that acts with the bacteria), curds and salt. It's an individualized process of measuring, mixing and aging.  Every cheese-maker has his own individual mixture of bacterias and sugars, which create the unique flavor. When the cheese is finally created, it is put into the 'Cave' to age.  It is aged from a year to a year and a half.   

We were treated to a lesson in making homemade mozerella cheese as well.  It's not enough that they make cheese on the farm for their customers, the family makes their own mozerella at home!  These people are definitely cheese connoisseurs!  

I went back to the city enamoured with the country life that these folks enjoy and the cheeses and milk they provide.  I'm sure I'll be back soon!

This post was written as part of a Blog Tour in cooperation with MomItForward and the Dairy Council of UT/NV

A Trivia Trip - Job Alternatives That Pay Handsomely

I am a trivia collector who loves little bits of useless trivia that could at some point become useful, provided the situation or opportunity comes up.  I guess you could say I'm actually a trivia hoarder.  But seriously, how do those winners on Jeopardy do it?  They are trivia junkies to the max and they retain the uselessful facts very well. 

For your trivia pleasure, here are some strange jobs that pay really big!  Think about it, if you have a talent in any one of these areas, you could make big money.  That could mean holding you over during a hard time, keeping you motivated in life, using that unusual skill that you've developed or obtaining that extra something that you've always wanted!  So pay attention - 

1)  Shot Girl - That is the one who prepares test tube sized shots of tequila and Jello.  They are paid 25 cents per shot that they sell, plus tips.  That could translate into $300 to $600 per night.

2)  Diver - Are you good at diving?  A pearl diver will make $500 per day and above in America.  It does come with risks, however!  And a deep sea oil and gas diver will earn you around $80,000 per year. 

3) Submarine Cook - Also related to the deep sea, this position is considered to be invaluable to the navy.  In Austrailia you could earn $200,000 per year.  You just need 6 years of cooking on the sea to be considered.

4) Lipstick Reader - This woman will read lip prints at teas and parties.  They tell about the personalities and future prospects of their subjects.  Earnings are $25 to $50 per hour!

5) Voice-Over Work - Just 5 minutes of dubbing audio for audios or commercials could bring in $500.  Even novices can make up to $80,000 per year!

6) Human Statue - This job has been around forever and is still really popular at theme parks and promotional events.  You could make $25 to $200 per hour!  Required:  You must be able to hold still for long periods of time!

7)  Human Scarecrow - Help out a farmer, make $10 to $15 an hour!  Very strange! 

8) Survey Group Participant - You will be a part of an offline group and required to give your opinion on products and services.  As such, you could make between $40 and $100 per hour.  In the same category would be a mystery shopper, who could make $100 on one assignment!  

9)  Movie or T.V. Extra - Hob nob with your favorite star as an extra and get paid $200 per day.  Sometimes the conditions can be a little extreme, i.e. standing around in hot or cold rooms and sets.  

10) Crime Scene Cleaner - Obviously not always a savory kind of job, but you could start at $35,000 and end up with a 6-figure income! 

11) T.V. Watcher - Wow, I could excel at this one, I think!  One watches T.V. to provide ratings or write subtitles.  Starting salary?  $25,000.  

12)  Waterslide Tester - Get a great salary and travel to fun locations too!  Must love to frolic in water!

Wow, some of these jobs seem to need special skills obtained through other modes of employment or recreation.  But some of them come quite naturally for me.  I believe I have a special talent for giving my opinion, shopping and watching T.V.  I might have to check these out!  

Also, because of my love of trivia, expect to see more posts like this!  A GAL NEEDS...mindless trivia to fill her mind because one never knows when she'll need it!

Disclaimer:  This post was written for fun - no compensation received.  
Sources:  Readers Digest, e-junkie.info     

A $50 Visa Gift Card from Xage Med Spa #Giveaway

Everyone loves their mom and always wants to find the best gift to make her feel loved and appreciated. This is a gift I have found and would love to share with you. After you enter my giveaway head over to Makobi Scribe to see her mothers day gift ideas worth over $3000. Then enter the grand prize drawing of a $1000 worth of Karina Dresses

Mom can always use a $50 gift card, right?  Another thing that I have been able to indulge in from time to time is a pampering experience at my spa of choice, Xage Medical Spa.  I love the gift of a massage or some other pampering experience.  It relaxes me and makes me feel oh-so-special.  Another thing that is great for this time of year is laser hair removal! 

If you want to get smooth skin that is free of unwanted hair, you should look for a laser hair removal practitioner with years of experience performing this treatment. Though this procedure is generally safe, the only way to lower your risk is by using an expert with the skills to handle a laser. You will be pleased with the knowledge held by the staff at Xage Medical Spa.
We take pride in only employing professionals with experience offering this treatment. Since lasers can cause permanent damage to the skin when not used correctly, you need to stick to a company that takes the proper precautions. We keep at least one doctor on the premises to provide additional supervision, though we make sure to train our employees with the latest techniques and safety measures. This way, in the rare event of a problem, we can get you treated immediately so you get attractive results without permanent damage. If you are ready to stop spending time and money shaving or waxing, we urge you to consider our services.

I love Xage Medical Spa because the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable.  The spa is actually owned and operated by the doctor who is on the premises.  He has many years of experience and is known as the best injectionist in Utah, as well as many other areas of expertise, including women's hormonal health.  They use the most up-to-date laser equipment and up-to-date training.  If you live in Utah, you definitely need to make an appointment and if you don't, by all means come and visit!  
Enter the giveaway below for a $50 Visa Gift Card from Xage Medical Spa!  Open to US and Canada!

Makobi Scribe Reviews, LLC or the Mother’s Day Gift Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: Open to U.S. and Canada.  I received product for this giveaway for review purposes. Must be 18 years of age or older to participate.  A GAL NEEDS...is not responsible for non-delivery of product or services by any featured companies.  Only 1 entrant per household.  Double entries will be disqualified.  Winner will be contacted after 5/18/13 by e-mail.  Must respond within 48 hours.  Entrants with invalid entries will be disqualified.  

A Statement T-Shirt from Small Home Design!

Sometimes I just want to make a statement!  But I'm not an in your face type of gal.  In fact, I'm rather reticent, not unlike one of my favorite authors, Jane Austen.  Lindsay, at Small Home Design on Etsy captured it amazingly well in this t-shirt she designed and which caught my eye.   I love the statement our friend Jane made so well in Pride and Prejudice...."I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them."  So aptly put, and so passively aggressively beautiful!  
Then on top of that, put it in neon pink to fluff it up even more. 

 I love it. But is it too much?

Okay, I thought about it and it's obvious, sometimes you just need to say it!!!!

Do you have a statement that you need to lay out to the world in a beautifully designed t-shirt, towel, or bag?  You need to check out Small Home Design!  Anything from your favorite recipe to a poem that speaks to you--Lindsay will put it onto something that will speak to the world for you!  Or check out her own designs.  She's got several great Jane Austen quotes and some from 'Mean Girls' and many other great pieces in her inventory.

Disclaimer:  I was provided product to facilitate a review. All opinions are my own!

A Flash #Giveaway For $25 Visa Gift Card

 This is a flash giveaway for a $25 Visa Gift Card.  I'm doing this for my husband since he is such a great guy. (At least this week he was, a total sweetie!)  So I am going to sit down and babysit a Flash Giveaway today!  Good thing I love it or my Saturday would be shot, I say, absolutely shot!

He is a huge fan of disc golf.   I support his hobby because I think disc golf is really great.  It's fun for the family, it's fairly inexpensive (no green fees on most disc golf courses yet!), it is a safe sport so I don't have to worry about him dying or getting injured unless he dies in the car while enroute to the park and it keeps him active instead of being an armchair spectator.  I like to play disc golf with Greg at least 4 times a month when the weather is good.  Some people are crazy and will play all year round!  

Getting my  game on!

 If you'd like to learn about disc golf, a good start would be here and  here.  It's called disc golf because it's played with a disc as opposed to a frisbee.  The disc is designed to fly further, but not designed to catch because it is very hard plastic.  Score is kept like golf, thus the name.  
 Please enter for a chance to win a $25 Visa Gift Card and to support the growth of a great sport! Giveaway will end 4/20/13 at 6:01 EST!  Must be over 18 to play.  Open to U.S. and Canada!   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flavorful Brocolli Chicken Skillet

I've noticed that many times men are better impromptu cooks than women.  When it comes to throwing together a good meal in a small amount of time, my husband is the winner.  He put together a brocolli chicken skillet in a very minimal amount of time 2 days ago.  It was delicious and nutritious! Here's what he did:  

1) Cut up two chicken breasts and cook them in olive oil in a large skillet until tender yet moist.
2) While chicken is cooking, break down one bunch of brocolli and cook in a medium wok with a cup of water.
3)  After chicken is almost done, add chopped onion, bell pepper and garlic into the skillet.  Continue cooking until all vegetables are tender.  Add a generous amount of pepper and salt to taste.
4) When brocolli is tender, add it to the chicken mixture. Enjoy!

 How easy and tasty is that?

A Great Spring Jacket! An eShakti Review

There's a song that comes to mind as I write this post.  It's called 'Short Skirt Long Jacket' by Cake!  Oh heck, let's just put it up!  Let the music put you in the mood as you read the post!

There's something appealing to me about this song.  And eShakti brought me as close as I'll ever come to that description.  This jacket is all business and strictly for spring.  But if you ever want to be a bit more formal but fun, this jacket will bring it!!!

 So there you have it, my foray into the realm of "touring the facility and picking up slack" because I have a short skirt and a looooong jacket!! LOL! 
eShakti has great pieces that are customized for you, like this jacket was for me!  So if you haven't yet discovered this great website, go quickly!  They have a great spring inventory that just begs to be perused!  

Right now through the 15th you can buy 3 dresses and get the 3rd on for free!

Disclosure:  I received product to review and all opinions are my own!