My Family Thrives

JUNE SPECIALS

2012-06-05T14:04:00.003-07:00

HUGE DISCOUNTS

for

THIS MONTH ONLY!!

Order from me thru the month of JUNE to receive Special Pricing

ITEM	SALE Price	Reg. Price
Raspberries (FD)	$26.69	$33.29
Tomato Powder	$28.19	$35.19
Zucchini (FD)	$15.79	$18.49
Green Bell Peppers (FD)	$13.69	$16.09
Red Bell Peppers (FD)	$15.59	$18.29
Pinto Beans	$10.59	$14.19
Small Red Beans	$12.69	$15.79
Carrot Dices	$15.49	$19.29
Chopped Onions	$11.59	$14.39
Elbow Macaroni	$9.19	$11.39

INSTANT MEALS

2012-06-05T13:14:00.001-07:00

When you don't have the time

to make a gourmet meal,

pull out an EXPRESS INSTANT Meal

READY IN MINUTES!

JUST ADD WATER and SIMMER

Sold Individually, as a 5-PACK or VARIETY Pack

Entrees

Creamy Beef & Noodles
Pasta Carbonara
Southwestern-Style Chicken & Rice
Garden Fresh Vegetable Pasta

Soups

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Baked Potato Cheese Soup
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy Garden Vegetable Chowder
Hearty Beef Chili

Sides

Chili Lime Chicken Rice
Loaded Scalloped Potatoes
Wild Rice Pilaf

PERFECT FOR:

Quick Meals
Camping
Emergency Kits
Last-Minute Dinner Guests

SPECIAL Summer Pricing:

$10 OFF Variety Pack; up to $3 OFF 5-Packs

Click Below for Prices and Ordering Info. Must order thru me to receive special pricing

EARN EXTRA CASH

2012-06-05T12:26:00.001-07:00

I AM SWAMPED!!!

And could use a few extra people on my team who are self-motivated, friendly and interested in helping others improve their lives and become self-sufficient. What do you get in return? Extra Income and HUGE discounts on food storage!

You choose your schedule and how much or little time you want to spend (could easily be full time). I provide you with all the training and can start as early as next week but no later than the first week of July. I have two events that I'll be training you for: July 14th and July 21st. You'll get the commission and all customers/new events from these two classes.

Click on the image below for more information on becoming a consultant. Please contact me soon if you're interested.

Food Storage BOOT CAMP

2012-02-29T22:15:00.003-07:00

I'm so excited to be organizing this Awesome event!

How many of you TALK about getting started on your food storage, but never really do anything about it? Maybe you buy a few cans here and there but never accumulate ENOUGH to last for more than a few weeks or months? Maybe you have a lot of the basics but just don't feel completely satisfied that you've got it taken care of? Maybe the thought of using food storage is overwhelming or you just don't know what to do with it if you had to use it?

I've been working with people on their food storage for almost 6 years now and I'm tired of hearing all these EXCUSES!! As a result, I developed a 2-hour program to prove just how easy this really is! Here's the solution to any of you who think you can't do it or would just like to get it DONE and out of the way! Who's up for the challenge?!

This INTENSE 2-hour event will provide you with EVERYTHING you need to completely FINISH your hassle with food storage and give you the peace of mind you so deserve! From calculating what you need to converting your favorite recipes to all food storage ingredients. I'll be sitting down with you one-on-one to find out exactly what your family needs, which foods you prefer, where to buy them, and make a customized plan that will not only save you hundreds of dollars on your purchases but cut down on most of the hassle that goes into completing your long-term food supply. We'll be using several resources that I've found to be extremely helpful and cost-efficient--and I'll be walking you through, every step of the way!

I can't wait to tell you MORE! Registration will begin mid-March for April Boot Camp. Because of the one-on-one attention, space will be limited.

February DEALS

2012-02-05T21:57:00.005-07:00

AWESOME *February DEALS!

(up to $6 OFF per can)

Blueberries: $38.99 (reg. $45.79)
Mixed Bell Peppers: $ 15.69 (retail $18.39)
Taco TVP: $12.99 (reg. $15.19)
Blueberry Yogurt: $37.49 (retail $44.09)
Cherry Yogurt: $37.39 (retail $43.99)
Passionfruit Yogurt $32.39 (retail $38.09)
Strawberry Yogurt: $32.39 (retail $38.09)

Receive an additional 5% OFF when you order by the case
(6 cans of the same product).

* Although the sale prices listed above are for those who have signed up for the monthly Q shipments and/or ordered through me, you can still click on the link above for other Shelf Reliance sales and product information.

2012-01-31T23:01:00.002-07:00

NEW Products

are Now Available

myfamilythrives.shelfreliance.com

Among some of my Favorites are:

Green Chili Peppers

Whole Strawberries

Cherries

Granny Smith Apples

Red Bell Peppers

Seasoned Chicken Slices

12 Days of....

2011-12-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

12 Days of Amazing Deals
As the holidays are approaching, all of us are looking for the perfect gift for our loved ones. With Shelf Reliance’s 12 Days of Christmas sale you will be able find the perfect gift for a great price. Also we promise to deliver in time for the holidays! Starting today, we will have 12 items on sale, one each day.

Today's special 12/6: Water filtration bottle: $14.99 (reg. 29.99)

To order, click on the picture or contact me.

BLACK FRIDAY SALES

2011-11-23T21:24:00.003-07:00

It's almost here!!!

LIST OF ITEMS on SALE

Three different ways to order:

Call me at home
Send me an Email of the items you want
Go to my personal website: myfamilythrives.shelfreliance.com

More ways to SAVE $$$
If you order is over $400 (subtotal), then you can also get 10% of your order in FREE product and $100 at Half-off toward your next purchase.

BLACK FRIDAY

2011-11-19T00:24:00.009-07:00

Are You PREPARED

For This AWESOME SALE???

Friday, Nov. 25 - Monday Nov. 28

See the full list of Items Here
SUPER GIFT Ideas!!

HARVEST 72"
on SALE for
Only $249!!!
(reg. $460)

Freeze-Dried Food
25-50% OFF

Cansolidator Pantry
Only $18.99
(reg. $45)

New Cookbook
Just $12.19

(reg. $25)

For a Complete List

Click Here

TO ORDER
Contact me or visit my website!

myfamilythrives.shelfreliance.com

Our Day Out with an "Emergency"

2011-10-18T22:34:00.052-07:00

Okay, so last Saturday I set the timer for 10 minutes and told the kids we had to evacuate for our mock emergency! (I pre-warned them that I would be doing this sometime on Sat., they just didn't know when). I told them they could bring ONE personal item, put on their socks and shoes, and meet me in the car.

In the meantime, I grabbed our emergency box and emergency backpack (I purposefully packed these so that I could carry both myself, though inside the box, each child has their individual backpack) and loaded them in the trunk with the 5-gal water barrel (I'm thinking of filling these with less water, 5 gal is really heavy!). Since I had a few minutes to spare I decided to load some of our nicer camping equipment in the trunk too (tent, sleeping bags, camping chairs). Even though we had everything we "needed" in the box/pack, I wanted to see what we could get in the 10 minutes.

The kids were so excited about doing this, they were already in the car with their item. My youngest brought her favorite stuffed animal, her sister brought a picture of Jesus, my oldest brought his bow & arrow and his brother brought his scriptures (I have the cutest kids!)

We met a friend and drove up to the mountains to test out our stuff (and to use up the food that was nearing its due date). I unloaded everything and we had a lovely picnic of freeze-dried fruit, beef jerky and water.

On a positive note, I loved having individual water bottles for each kid, and the wet-wipes my friend brought were so convenient (definitely adding some to our supply!) But what could I have improved on? I have to admit that I was pretty proud of everything that was in there--we even have topo maps (we've worked on this a lot over the years). However, I found our supply of warm clothing and other means of getting heat were suspiciously lacking. Living in AZ we don't think much about staying warm -- yet in the desert at night, staying warm is one of the biggest concerns. I only had sweatshirts for the kids and emergency blankets -- I need to rethink how we'd stay warm in case we have a fall/winter/spring emergency.

We also lacked clothes that FIT and (oddly enough) food that the kids LIKE. I assumed that in an emergency they'd actually EAT what I brought, but on Sat. they wouldn't even take a bite of the beef jerky (my favorite part)! I'm wondering if they would even touch the MRE's I have in there? One of these days I'll have to serve those for dinner to find out!

I always thought that if you're hungry you'll eat anything. Let's hope I never have to find out.

Who's Up for a CHALLENGE??

2011-09-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's National Emergency Preparedness Month! And if you've been paying attention to sites like READY.gov, then you'll know that there's a LOT going on to help you get prepared for any disaster that comes your way!

To celebrate along with everyone else, we'll be having a 'mock' emergency run sometime this month! Yep, it's a surprise -- aren't most emergencies? I'll give you a scenario in which you'll need to use your emergency supply kits. You decide to what lengths you take to see if you're prepared (some people might want to take inventory of the supplies they'll need; the brave ones will take their emergency kits on an overnighter and put their supplies to the test to find out what they REALLY need!) When it's all said and done, I'd love to hear from anyone who participated what worked and what didn't.

SO -- WHO'S WITH ME??? (yes, I'll be doing this too!) By the way, this weekend might be a good time to take out and review what you have and what you need.

1 Year-Supply SALE

2011-09-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

GREAT NEWS!!! The 1-person 1-year supply of food storage is ON SALE NOW thru Oct 9th!!!

Regularly: $945.84
SALE Price: $756.19
(item #25342; must order through me)

Grains:

8 Cans of Instant White Rice (48 servings per can)
12 Cans of Hard White Winter Wheat (44 servings per can)
3 Cans of 6 Grain Pancake Mix (46 servings per can)
2 Cans of Elbow Macaroni (25 servings per can)

Vegetables:

6 Cans of Dehydrated Potato Chunks (42 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Sweet Corn (46 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Green Peas (41 servings per can)
1 Can of Dehydrated Chopped Onions (45 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Chopped Onions (45 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Broccoli (52 servings per can)

Fruits:

2 Cans of Organic Apple Slices (48 servings per can)
2 Cans of Freeze-Dried Strawberries (45 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Blueberries (50 servings per can)
1 Can of Freeze-Dried Blackberries (49 servings per can)
2 Cans of Freeze-Dried Raspberries (48 servings per can)

Dairy:

6 Cans of Powdered Milk (43 servings per can)
3 Cans of Chocolate Drink Mix (48 servings per can)

Proteins/Beans:

3 Cans of Bacon TVP (47 servings per can)
3 Cans of Beef TVP (44 servings per can)
3 Cans of Chicken TVP (45 servings per can)
2 Cans of Taco TVP (42 servings per can)
6 Cans of Pinto Beans (49 servings per can)
1 Can of Black Beans (49 servings per can)
2 Cans of Lima Beans (49 servings per can)
3 Cans of Lentils (51 servings per can)
6 Cans of Whole Eggs (236 servings per can)

Cooking Basics:

2 Cans of White Sugar

GRAND Opening SALE!

2011-08-27T22:26:00.003-07:00

Keep an eye out for Shelf Reliance GRAND OPENING SALE!!! Not only will ALL the products be discounted up to 25% OFF, but they will also be announcing their new line of GLUTEN FREE products and Vitamin-fortified Fruit Drinks! Click Here to Order

GLUTEN FREE Products Include:

Cornmeal
Amaranth
Millet
Quinoa
Rice Flour

Vitamin-fortified, Naturally-flavored Fruit Drinks:

Melon Berry Burst
Orange Bliss
Orchard Apple
Simply Peach
Mango Passion
Fruit Punch

August

2011-08-14T01:12:00.001-07:00

Getting a slow start this month with school starting up again, but we'll be focusing on emergency/survival kits over the next few weeks. Just in time for September's National Preparedness Month when you'll get the chance to put your preparedness to the test!

I'm really excited because I just received my Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar-powered USB and 12V DC charging ports (I won't mention that I got it for FREE!)

I'm not a big proponent of bringing electronics with me out in the wild (though quite frankly, having a means of communication can be a lifesaver). But with all of our dependence on technology today, it seems impossible to avoid. If you're without electricity for more than a few days though, those electronics are useless. Enter the 13 oz foldable portable solar panels! With a USB and 12V DC charging port (includes 12V female cigarette adapter) it's perfect for charging cell phones, mp3 players, cameras, etc. Or hook up this battery pack to charge AA & AAA batteries! I can't wait to try mine out!

In the meantime, watch this video! And tell me if you get excited about it too!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

2011-07-31T21:31:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Nora Peterson for winning the 326 Piece OSHA First Aid Kit! I wish I could give something away to everyone! Keep an eye out for our next give-away coming up in August!

(Nora, send me your shipping address so I can get the kit to you)

Cooking with Food Storage

2011-07-28T00:02:00.006-07:00

Every week I'll be featuring in detail an ingredient from food storage. Since I'm so excited about the new buckets being sold by Shelf Reliance, I couldn't resist beginning with Spelt! You'll know why when you watch this video. Not only did I drool, but I'm ready to get online and order some now!

Spelt is highly nutritious and is an EXCELLENT source of manganese. It is also a good source of niacin, copper, phosphorus, protein, and fiber. It is very similar to wheat, but is in fact higher in protein than wheat and has a nutty and slightly sweeter flavor. It is a common wheat replacement and DOES contain gluten. Grind it as flour, toss in a salad, or cook in soups and hot cereal.

The video below highlights some of the awesome things you can make with Spelt:

Watch Chef Brad cook with Spelt on BYUtv

Spelt can be purchased in a variety of sizes from Shelf Reliance. The largest bucket contains 42 pounds! For information, go here.

Short-Term Storage: Step 3

2011-07-26T00:28:00.001-07:00

Make a Shopping List

How much food do you need for 3 months (or however long you decide)? Make a list of what you'll need. If you'd like to use my free food storage list/shopping organizer, click here. It's simple, and can take away some of the headache. (note: to see my organizer for purchasing long-term food storage, I'll be posting that shortly)

How? Let's assume I have these meals twice a month (obviously I'll need more recipes, but remember, this is just to get started). To have enough for 3 months I'll need to multiply each ingredient by 6. My shopping list will look like this:

Amy's 3-month Dinner Shopping List
24 cans tomato sauce (or 6 cups tomato powder)
6 cans diced tomatoes
7 1/2 C FD Beef
3 Cups Broccoli
6 cans Ckn Broth (6-8 tsp bouillon)
6 Cups Inst. Black Beans
12 cans corn (or 12 cups FD corn)
15 Cups FD Chicken
6 Cups instant red beans
3 lb Macaroni
12 Cups diced potatoes
6 C FD Sausage
4.5 pkg penne noodles
12 Cups mozz. cheese
6 pkg. frozen pie crusts (2-per pkg)
6 cans Crm-potato soup
6 cans mixed veggies

Decide what purchasing method works best for you -- I recommend choosing items as they come on sale then purchasing the entire amount of that ingredient. But do what's best for you and your budget. If you have any specific items that you would like to order from me, please view a complete list of products at: myfamilythrives.shelfreliance.com There are always specials going on, so be sure and check the sales tab above or ask me for more information.

Ingredients List

2011-07-22T22:29:00.001-07:00

How's everyone doing on their list of ingredients for meals? If 5 is too many, pick one. Just do it! Write down the ingredients to your favorite breakfast or dinner recipe. Be sure to pick one that uses canned, dry or frozen foods. If you're really struggling with a recipe, feel free to use mine below.

My Favorite Mexican Soup:
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can cooked chicken
1 can chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato dices
Salt & Pepper to taste
1/2 tsp Chili Powder (or more)
dash of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp Garlic
1/8 tsp Cumin

Combine in a pot and heat until warm (crock pot for a few hours).

Step 3 will be posted on Monday.

Short-Term Storage: Step 2

2011-07-18T21:33:00.001-07:00

Using your list of meals, write down the ingredients for each recipe. Do this for the entire list, or only pick a few meals out of the day.

Here's mine. Notice the recipes are simple and made from shelf- or frozen- food that will stay good for at least a year. In fact, all of the recipes can even be made ahead of time and frozen.*

DINNER

Spaghetti: 1 lb. spag. noodles, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can diced tomatoes, 3/4 C **FD beef, 1/2 C FD broccoli, seasonings.
Mexican Soup: 1 can chicken broth, 1 C instant black beans, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can corn, 1-1/2 C diced FD chicken, spices.
Minestrone Soup: 1 C instant red beans, 1/2-lb mac. noodles, 2 C potato dices, 1 C FD sausage, 1 can tomato sauce, spices.
Penne Casserole: 3/4 pkg penne noodles, 1 can tomato sauce, 2 C mozzarella cheese, 1/2 C FD gr. beef; seasonings
Chicken Pot Pie: 2 frozen pie crusts, 1 can cream-potato soup, 1 can mixed veggies, 1 C FD chicken, 1 can corn, seasonings.

Click here to see Step 1

*note: when freezing pre-made meals, do not cook noodles, potatoes, or pie crust ahead of time. They'll be soggy when thawed and re-heated. I'll spend more time on freezer meals another day.

**FD = freeze-dried. The benefit of this over frozen is that you don't have to cook it and it doesn't get that awful freezer burn flavor. Plus it has a 25-yr unopened shelf-life and doesn't take up freezer space.

Short-Term Storage: Step 1

2011-07-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

If you couldn't go to the grocery store for a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, what would you need in your pantry to eat the foods you use on a regular basis? THIS is SHORT-TERM STORAGE.

Step 1:
(this should only take 3 minutes). List the foods you eat regularly for each meal of the day. Keep the list small. Even if you can only think of one or two each, that's a great start.

Here are some of mine for an example:

BREAKFAST:

pancakes
oatmeal
cereal
scrambled eggs/sausage/hashbrowns
french toast

LUNCH

Grilled cheese sandwich
Quesadillas
PB & J
Chicken Nuggets
Nachos

DINNER

Spaghetti
Mexican Soup
Minestrone Soup
Penne Casserole
Chicken Pot Pie

(If you want to get ahead, write down the ingredients needed for several recipes)

Baby Steps!

2011-07-11T21:32:00.001-07:00

Let's face it. We all have good intentions of getting prepared for emergencies and starting -- or finishing -- our food storage. But when it comes down to it, life gets in the way and we get side-tracked. Others might feel overwhelmed by the task and not know where to start entirely.

For those who need that little nudge and some guidance, I'll be posting a monthly goal with weekly "to-do" lists to complete it. They will be SHORT and EASY. And I'll be doing them with you.

This is in preparation for National Preparedness Month in September where I'm going to have some really fun and exciting activities for you and your family to participate in to put your preparedness skills to the test! (Did I mention, fun?)

Here's the schedule for the next 3 months:

July: Short-term food storage

August: Emergency Kits

September: How well would you do in an emergency?

Be sure to "like" the facebook page on the right for quick and easy updates

FREE Give-Away Drawing

2011-07-08T00:35:00.006-07:00

To welcome you to my new blog on emergency preparedness, I'm giving away a 326-Piece OSHA First Aid Kit, ($45 value) to one lucky winner! The drawing will be held on July 31st. All you have to do to enter is complete #1 below. For additional entries, complete more of the steps below:

1. "Follow" this blog by email or subscribe using the button in the right column. (those who previously clicked on follow will also be counted). (note: google's 'follow' gadget is sporadically working -- share this post on your blog and we'll give you 3 extra entries! -- be sure to comment with a link to your blog so I can check it out!)

2. Share this post on your facebook wall by clicking on the facebook 'share' button below (leave a comment below to let me know you did)

3. "Like" my NEW page on facebook by clicking on the "like" button to the right or go to: My Family Thrives

Online Resources

2011-07-01T23:42:00.001-07:00

Here are some online resources for emergency information & preparedness:

FEMA: Plan and Prepare

Ready.gov: Prepare, Plan, Stay Informed

American Red Cross

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

National Weather Service

Arizona Division of Emergency Management

Emergency Preparedness for KIDS (games & activities)

Preparedness Resources for teachers & classrooms

Dept. of Ed: Emergency Planning for Schools

Freeze Dried Foods

2011-07-01T17:02:00.001-07:00

I recently found several articles focusing on the health effects of freeze dried foods -- this is really amazing! Many of the benefits I already listed in my previous post, but here are some others:

concentrated antioxidants
high in fiber
color, shape, flavor and nutrients are maintained
diets high in fruit and vegetables reduce risk of disease
long shelf life
convenient for backpacking, camping and traveling
a healthy, fun and nutritional snack for kids
no extra flavors, additives or sugars -- ALL Natural!!

For an interesting read on Freeze-dried foods:

What's the Difference?

2011-06-30T10:05:00.001-07:00

Many people ask me: What's the difference between Grocery Store, Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried foods? Here's the answer:

GROCERY STORE:

Fresh tastes great! And when you cook it yourself you know what's going into it. But unless you purchase your fresh foods from a local farmer's market, most grocery store foods are picked early and ripens during shipping. This results in decreased nutritional value compared to foods picked at peak ripeness.

DEHYDRATED:

Dehydrated foods are processed by heating the food to a level that the moisture will evaporate. The heating process breaks down nutrients, changes the color, flavor, shape and texture of the food. Because dehydration doesn't take out the moisture entirely, they have a shelf life of about 5-10 years. Dehydrated fruits do contain fiber, some vitamins and minerals, but many companies add sulfur and sugar to enhance flavor and shelf life.

FREEZE-DRIED:

Freeze-dried foods are flash-frozen, a process that drops temperatures immediately; then in a vacuum chamber, 98% of the moisture is removed. These foods are picked at peak ripeness, so they also have a higher nutritional content than those picked early. Because they are frozen rather than heated, when water is replaced, these foods maintain their shape, color, flavor and nutrients. Also, because 98% of the moisture content is removed, freeze-dried foods have a much longer shelf-life, usually up to 25 years. No flavors, additives or sugars are added to freeze-dried food. You are eating quality all-natural food -- and it TASTES GREAT!

See for yourself! Both are samples of Green Beans:

Dehydrated on the left; Freeze-Dried on the right.