Give Me Something Good to Eat!

Trick or Treat!

You remember that childhood rhyme, don't you?  Well, I definitely won't ask you to smell my feet, but I will share something good to eat.  After all, it is Halloween.  We've stocked up on the trick-or-treat candy, carved the pumpkin and sorted out costumes.

Now that the essentials are out of the way, it's time for the really important stuff: Halloween treats for those of us who don't go trick-or-treating.

At our house this year, it's going to be Caramel Popcorn.  But not just any caramel popcorn--caramel popcorn in the microwave.  No, I'm not talking about microwave caramel corn that comes in a box at the grocery store.  This is real, made from scratch caramel corn and it is just about the easiest and tastiest caramel corn I've ever had.

I. love. popcorn.  If I had to choose between the goodies in the trick-or-treat bowl and popcorn, popcorn would win every time.  Even over chocolate. Really.  I'm pretty much a popcorn purist.  Salt and butter makes popcorn perfect.  Until now.  The only reason we don't make this more often is because we keep running out of brown bags.  I have to remember to say "paper" at the grocery store so I can make more caramel corn.  On the other hand, running out of brown bags may not be a bad thing--for my diet.

So you're probably wondering if I'm going to share the secrets of this marvelous treat, which I guarantee will disappear even more quickly than your Halloween ghosts.  Yes.  Here are the instructions.

To make this, you need a microwave oven, a large brown paper grocery sack, about 6 quarts of popped corn (so who decided popcorn should be measured in quarts anyway?), brown sugar, butter, a little corn syrup and baking soda.

First, spray the inside of your grocery sack with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.

Make your popcorn and dump it in the bag.  I am a huge fan of making popcorn in the microwave these days.  We have lots of popcorn poppers.  I have been on the hunt for the perfect popper even longer than I've been married.  We've had hot-air poppers, stove-top poppers, electric poppers.  Currently, we have an oil popper with a nifty stirring thing in it, we have a popper that looks like it should be at the theater and we have an awesomely cool microwave popper that I found at the Goodwill that makes popcorn with or without oil (we use it without oil).  In case you're wondering, it works--really well.  We no longer buy any kind of microwave popcorn.  Two batches from the Presto microwave popper are just about perfect for this recipe.  Oh, and just in case, I forgot to mention it, neither Presto nor Orville Redenbacher gave me anything for including them here--they just happen to be a match made in heaven at our house.

While the popcorn is popping, measure one cup of packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup of light corn syrup, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 butter or margarine into a microwave-safe covered bowl.  Microwave this for two minutes, stir really well and then microwave for one minute more.  Add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and stir really well.  It will get kind of foamy.

This is what it should look like
after you stir it the first time.

And this is what it should look like
after you stir in the baking soda.

Pour the caramel mixture into the paper bag and stir with a wooden spoon or large rubber spatula.  Fold the top of the bag over (you did use a full-size grocery sack, right?), shake well and put in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes on high.  Take the bag out, shake it really well and return it to the microwave for another minute.  Shake it well and then pour it out onto a cookie sheet or foil to cool.  The whole process takes about 20 minutes, start to finish.

And to answer your next question, no, I have never caught the bag on fire in the microwave.  Ever.

Caramel Corn In a Bag

1 large brown grocery bag
4-6 quarts popped corn
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup (like Karo)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Spray the inside of a large brown grocery bag with non-stick cooking spray. 

Dump the popped corn into the bag. Set aside.

In a one-quart microwavable bowl, combine, born sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt.  Cover and microwave on high for two minutes.  Stir well and return to the microwave for another minute.   Add baking soda (it will be foamy) and stir until well blended. 

Pour over popcorn in bag. Shake well. 

Fold over the top of the bag loosely and microwave 1 1/2 minutes on High. Shake well; microwave 1 minute on High. Shake well. 

Pour onto baking sheet or foil to cool.

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So what's the favorite Halloween treat at your house?

As [Modern] Mollies in Zion. . .

It's been an interesting week.  As many of you know, Modern Molly is getting a new look and a new home (we're not going far; she'll have the same name--we're just moving from Blogger to Wordpress because Molly's getting ready for a growth spurt--more details will come this week).

As part of that move, I have spent the last week reading through nearly all of Modern Molly's 970 blog posts.  Did you know there were that many?  I didn't.  I remember reading a post by Jia about how she reposted the archives and there were more than 300 posts.  She was right.  There are more than 300--a lot more.

And those posts contain some great wisdom, some thoughtful insights, heartbreak and joy, tears and laughter, trials and testimonies, and most of all--you.  I have had the privilege of getting to know my amazing sisters who have contributed to this blog, both as bloggers and as readers and commenters.  I feel so much closer to my Modern Molly sisters than I have before.  One of the reasons for this upcoming makeover and move has a lot to do with those 970 blog posts. I want them to be more easily available to all of you.

One of the reasons I read all those posts is so I could categorize them and make them easy to find in their new home.  The archives will be more easily accessible.  You'll be able to go back and search for many topics in different ways.  At first the task seemed overwhelming (ok, it did all the way through because I've read them all in the last three days), but as I read and learned and was inspired and uplifted, I knew that this was an important part of the growth process for me.

I would encourage you, for now, to use the labels at the bottom of these posts, to go through and read about subjects that are on your mind.  If there's something on your mind, you can probably find a sister here who has had it on her mind as well.

A few weeks ago, I posted a poll on our Facebook page asking you all to tell me what you'd like to see here.  I've popped it back up, so if you haven't had a chance, please go and take it--or leave me a comment here with your ideas.  You can also email me privately to marie at marieleslie dot com.  Just be sure and put Modern Molly in the subject line so I know which blog you're talking about.

Also, I am actively seeking contributors.  Whether you've written for MMM in the past or whether you're completely new, I'd love to hear from you if you have something to share.  Whether you want to be a regular contributor, an occasional contributor or just share something once, let me know.  If there's a topic we haven't covered, you're invited to cover it.  Help me start the discussion, continue it and move it along.

And I realized, too, as I read that I haven't shared my testimony enough here, so let me close with that this Sunday morning.

I do have a testimony of the truthfulness and divinity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have a testimony of the importance of our sisterhood.  We are all daughters of our Heavenly Father and that truly makes us sisters.  We are all here for a purpose, and one purpose that we all share is to lift and strengthen one another and help one another successfully navigate the journey through this life and back to our heavenly home.  I am truly grateful for the sisters who have lifted and helped me, who have strengthened my testimony and my resolve to keep on the path.

Most of all, I am thankful for the amazing love and sacrifice of our elder brother, Jesus Christ.  I have a testimony of His divinity, of His purpose and of His gospel.  I know that He died for us and more importantly, that He lives for us.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Safety in Baby, Toddler & Kid's Bedrooms

Each year hospital emergency rooms treat thousands of children injured in household accidents, many of which could have been avoided. While safety is important at all ages, following a few basic guidelines can help parents more easily protect their babies, toddlers and children from injury.

Any Age Child, Any Room

§  Properly assemble furniture, periodically checking for loose nuts and bolts.

§  Install childproof locks on drawers and cabinets.

§  Install smoke alarms.

§  Securely tack down all carpet; place non-slip pads under area rugs.

§  Never run electrical cords under rugs, instead keep all cords hidden from view behind furniture; never use frayed or damaged cords.

§  Cover unused electrical outlets with childproof caps.

§  In children’s rooms, use wall sconces instead of lamps and never use halogen bulbs due to extreme heat they generate.

§  Keep fabric away from all lights, even night-lights; all lights should bear the UL seal.

§  Examine all accessories for sharp points that can injure or small parts that can be loosened.

§  Secure all blind and drapery cords well out of reach; avoid looped cords.

§  Place safety locks on windows to prevent kids from falling or climbing out.

The Baby’s Nursery

Most of your baby’s time in the nursery will be spent in the crib or in your arms so creating a safe environment here is easy in the beginning. But, babies grow fast becoming busy toddlers before you know it, so you might as well prepare for the “age of exploration” when designing the nursery.

§  Install crib rail protectors to protect teething babies from swallowing paint or varnish chips.

§  Once the baby can stand, remove the mobile.

§  Keep the crib far enough away from windows, draperies, decorations or other items they can grab.

§  Remove all small objects that can be swallowed and frequently check toys for loose parts.

Toddler’s and Kid’s Rooms

Before they begin to crawl, then walk, (mine skipped walking and went straight to running!) you should get on your hands and knees to survey each room. From this vantage point, you can determine dangers lurking you might not otherwise notice.

§  Use slide-locks to prevent opening and closing of bi-fold doors.

§  Install doorknobs without locks; use Digit Savers or foam doorstops to protect fingers from slamming doors.

§  Safety hinges on toy chests and guardrails on beds.

§  Secure heavy furniture to walls with straps or brackets to prevent toppling by little climbers.

§  Make toys in view accessible instead of placing on top of high shelves.

§  Keep floor area cleared of toys at night.

§  No furniture placed under windows; for furniture large enough for a child to get into, dismantle or remove locks.

I know some of these are no-brainers, but sometimes we need reminders of the obvious….and some of you may be grandparents who have forgotten how to childproof a home! Children differ in physical abilities and inquisitiveness so effectiveness of safety gadgets will vary but are never a substitute for adult supervision. No matter how old your child is, take the proper measures to ensure their environment is safe.

(For more on kids’ room safety, see the October posts on KidSpace Stuff Blog.)

Watch for next month’s post: Using Room Décor to Teach Kids Gratitude.

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Jeanette Simpson, ASID is an Interior Designer and owner of KidSpace Interiors where she specializes in commercial and residential design of children’s spaces. A graduate of Brigham Young University, an author, and furniture designer, Jeanette is mother of six, stepmother of five, and grandmother of 17. Read more of her articles on her KidSpace Stuff blog.

Vote for Molly's New Logo

 Modern Molly is getting ready for a facelift and a makeover.  As part of Molly's new look, we're thinking about a new logo.  But I need your feedback.  Use the comments section below to let me know which text logo and which image logo is your favorite.  Or, if you'd rather, you can go vote with a "like" on Molly's Facebook page.

Number 1

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

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Number 7

Journaling the Times of Your Life

There are times in our lives that things happen that completely change us.  Sometimes we call them epiphanies, some people call them turning points, some call them watershed events but I prefer to call them what they are:  life-changing experiences.  Sometimes they are major events, obvious not only to us but to the world:  the death of a loved one, a major move, an ending or a beginning of some stage of our life.  But more often they are small events, sometimes unnoticed even by ourselves until, months or even years later, we look back and realize that somehow, we have changed and our life is different than it would have been had we not had that experience.  Often they are sad and difficult experiences, but not always, though all events that change us produce some amount of stress in our lives.  Would it be helpful for us to learn to recognize these events as they come or even to seek them out when we want to change our lives?  I think so.  I believe that if we learn to be aware of our lives and to closely examine and to savor these events as we recognize them, that we can use them to change our selves and our lives more fully, to achieve our potential and to become the person we truly want to be.

How can we do this?  How can we learn to recognize these experiences and turn them to our advantage?  There are many ways but one of the best and easiest ways to do this is to keep a journal.  Regular writing of the events of your life and of the thoughts of your heart helps you to focus on those things.  A journal does not need to be a daily laundry list of the things that happen to you, but rather a regular reflection on the events and ideas that seem significant to you in your everyday life.  Some of the things you should keep in a journal are:

A record of your “physical” life.  Talk about the events of your life.  What you do during the day, your job, your schooling, your duties as a homemaker, your hobbies, your church callings,  books you read, movies you see, family activities, outings and vacations.

Record births and deaths and marriages, illnesses and injuries.  Not just your own, but for the members of your family.  Someday it may be the only record of those things.  Where you live and where you work.  Talk about the weather.  Each of my journal entries has a header giving the date, the weather and the place where the entry was made.  It takes me only a minute and may give my descendants some reference as to where I was and what I was doing when I was writing that day.

Your thoughts and analysis of the events in the world around you.  This may not seem like much but it will be of great value to your children and grandchildren who will live in a world much different from your own and for whom these events will be only footnotes in a history text.  These events as related from your point of view, however, will help them to see history as much more than dates and places.  It will help them to develop a bond with you, to see history as having happened to people and help your descendants to see you as a person, as the kind of person you are. 

Many times these events also become the triggers for some of our life-changing experiences.  Even when they happen half a world away, they can impact our lives.  The events of history often cause us to stop and take stock of our own situation.  What is our life like?  Is it safe? Is it stable?  Could this thing happen to us, in our home, in our community?  Sometimes it may cause us to simply count our blessings.  Sometimes that is enough.

Your testimony.  It is important to share our testimonies frequently.  For many it seems daunting to stand in front of others and so we share them rarely, much less than we should.  Share it in writing.  Even if you are the only one who reads it in your lifetime, write it down anyway.  Writing is sharing just as much as speaking is.  Also, if you write it down, you can go back later and review it.  You can compare it to other times when you have written your testimony in your journal and see how you are progressing.  Where is your testimony becoming strengthened?  Where are the weak spots?  Where should you be focusing in your gospel studies?  If you have written your testimony in your journal, it can answer these questions for you.

Your challenges, your failures and your successes.  Write about the hard parts of your life.  What were they?  How did you face them/  Did you come out victorious?  If not, why not?  As President Kimball said, don’t dwell on the failures.  Just note them and what you could do differently next time.  As for the successes, you can dwell on those a bit more.  What did you learn?  What strengths did you gain?  What weaknesses were you able to overcome?  Share your feelings about your success and how it has changed your life.  Note how it is made things better or more challenging.

There are many more things you can include in your journal.  If you journal, what are some of the things you write about?  Are there questions you have about journaling?  Please share your comments, questions and observations in the comments section below.  

And if you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it with your social networks.

Stand Ye In Holy Places

Things As They Really Are

 Hello, my name is Sarah and I’m a Pinterest addict. I’m also a Facebook, blog and, in general, Internet addict.

Ok so I’m being a little extreme, but can anyone relate? There is so much grabbing at my attention online that I feel that I am addicted. I even have a whole routine set up. As soon as I put my little boy down for his morning nap, I make a bee-line for my laptop. Quickly, I become engrossed in the day’s happenings on Facebook, on friends’ and craft blogs, and then the beloved Pinterest, the virtual pinboard where you can share and organize cool things you find online with your friends. You can seriously be lost on there for hours. Then, to add to everything, my husband and I recently upgraded our regular phones to smartphones. I’m now connected everywhere I go.

So you can see what my problem is: balancing between the fun things online and the more important things offline. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not ignoring my motherly and wifely duties, but I’ll be honest – I can get a little distracted. So when a friend recently commented that she wouldn’t be getting on Facebook for a while because of Elder Bednar’s counsel in a CES fireside a couple of years ago, I thought unkindly, “Well, good for you, Miss Goody two-shoes.” Yes, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard.

So after fighting the urge, I finally looked up his talk. I was actually there in person when he gave the address at BYU-Idaho  with my fiancé, now husband. It was an incredible talk - one that takes study and prayer to understand.

At first glance, it may seem that he focuses on the youth who play video games or have virtual online lives. But don’t be fooled; he’s also talking to the average LDS woman too. We may not be all that interested in video games (or maybe some of you are), but there are other things that cause us to become dulled and “past feeling.”

He says:
“Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. The concerns I raise are not new; they apply equally to other types of media, such as television, movies, and music. But in a cyber world, these challenges are more pervasive and intense. I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies that are used to produce high fidelity and that promote degrading and evil purposes.


“If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are. In essence, he encourages us to think and act as if we were in our premortal, unembodied state. And, if we let him, he can cunningly employ some aspects of modern technology to accomplish his purposes. Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience.”

I can tell you when I finally pull myself away from the computer, I have to shake my head, literally, to wake up. I hate that feeling. I become mad at myself and realize I’m missing an important companion: the Spirit.

Elder Bednar suggests us to ask ourselves these two questions:

1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?

I think we could all prayerfully study this talk and then make changes accordingly. I know where I need to improve. But first I need to update my Facebook status. Hey, one day at a time, right?

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About Sarah:  Sarah is a stay-at-home mom to her adorable baby boy, who is growing up much too quickly and sugar momma to her hardworking husband of two years. She works for a local paper once a month and enjoy socializing, crafts and music. You can read more of Sarah at her blogs  http://thejrsrfamily.blogspot.com/ and http://sarahbeu.blogspot.com/ 

Dreams, Homes & Hope

Extreme Makeover Home Edition has been one of my favorite shows for years.  Besides being a design junkie and a Ty Pennington fan, I love watching how they take a family and change not only their homes, but their lives. It has been fun watching the show over the years as it transformed from a "let's fix this house for someone in need" to "lets fix this house for someone in need and see if there is some way we can help improve their lives and motivate people to get involved."

Tonight's episode is no exception.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to watch a sneak preview as Ty and his crew paid a visit to South Jordan, Utah, to visit Jonah Gomez and his family.  Yes, they are an LDS family but that's not really the most important part (though it's always cool to see our fellow Saints be blessed in their challenges). Jonah has a combination of rare blood disorders and he's the only person in the world they know to have both disorders. I've had the humbling privilege over the years to know and to work with many special needs families; I've seen how isolating it can be to feel like you are the only one--I cannot imagine how it must feel to actually BE the only one.

Anyway, he's adorable and so is his little sister and his mom.  Jonah loves soccer so this episode features some members of his favorite soccer team Real Salt Lake along with Utah's American Idol star David Archuleta.  Jonah's real hope to grow up and be healthy is a bone marrow transplant.  So far, Jonah's doctors haven't been able to find a match for him.  The focus of this episode is to increase the pool of potential donors. Not only can a bone marrow transplant save Jonah, but it is the answer for many types of cancers and blood diseases.  It's not hard to find out if YOU can save someone's life.  All you have to do is a quick and simple check swab.  During the filming of this episode, EMHE held donor drive events at Major League Soccer games all over the country.  To learn more about becoming someone's life saver--who knows? maybe you'll be Jonah's match-- visit the Bone Marrow Donor Registry site or go to ABC's site A Better Community.com.

I'm on the road this week, but when I get home, I'll finally get off my duff and get this done. It's been on my list for a long time, but I haven't given it the attention it deserves.  After watching Jonah and his family, it's time to move it up on my list.

How about you?
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Watch Extreme Home Makeover Home Edition on ABC-TV tonight at 8 p.m. (7 central and mountain).
Oh, and I was NOT compensated in any way to write this little review.