Back to School Shopping Tips

It’s that time of year again. Students and parents are hitting the aisles, buying up boxes of pens and pencils, notebooks, folders, pencil boxes, and calculators.
Here are a few money-saving tips:

Take an inventory. A quick look in drawers and closets could reveal supplies you may not have realized you had.

• Recycle supplies. Reuse pens, pencils, folders, pencil boxes, and other supplies from last year.
• Buy in bulk. Buy frequently used tools like pens and pencils in bulk. Most of the time, bulk buying is more economical.
• Check the super-discount bins. Sometimes you can find a great buy.
• Shop consignment stores, thrift shops, and garage sales to find gently used supplies.
• Watch for in-store or online promotions.
• Shop all year. Throughout the year keep your eyes peeled for sales on school supplies like notebooks and folders.

Back to School Treats

Get your child's school year off to a sweet start with these easy-to-decorate school bus cupcakes.

Ingredients

• Cooled cupcakes (baked from your favorite recipe)
• Blue and green frosting
• Sugar wafers

• Chocolate chips
• Black and white decorators' gel
• Red mini M&M's

To make one, first frost a cooled cupcake (baked from your favorite recipe) with blue and green frosting. Cut a small notch from the upper left corner of a sugar wafer, then set the wafer in place just above the green frosting. (You can trim the other end of the wafer if your bus is too long.) Add 2 chocolate chips tips down for wheels, then use black and white decorators' gel for the details. Add a red M&M's Mini for a Stop sign, and you've got one tasty treat kids will line up for.

Congrats to Sharon's daughter Kristi on her upcoming wedding!!!

Sharon's daughter, Kristi is getting married on August 5th in the Bountiful Temple.  Congrats!  I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish them all the luck and happiness in the world during this exciting time. :)

Employee Spotlight for August!

Our spotlighted employee for August is....Kim Hale.

1.       What do you miss most about being a kid? I miss going home to Texas via a hot 25 hour car ride with the seat belts on the floor. Sitting on the “Hassock” that my grandmother reupholstered with the big center button. Family lined up on the Divan.  We still talk about it.  Car rides to the fruit stands to pick the best snap green beans for dinner. The sound of the kadeedids (? spelling) clicking in the hot night air as I watched my mother’s shadow combing her long hair that she had taken down for the night. She would be in her thin cotton pink night gown. The stillness that over came the busy house hold and my mother’s hushed voice, quietly to her own mother, ”do you need anything Mother, before I go to bed?”

August Birthdays

Celebrating birthdays in August....
Marcia MacKay August 7
Patti Taylor August 17
Susana Burningham August 28
Varonica Ulrick August 30

Happy Birthday!!!

Summer Events

If you're looking for some fun activities to do with your family this Summer, here are some ideas!
Salt Lake Area:
Salt Lake Art Fair presented by The Gateway: July 16 and 17 10:00am-5:00pm.
Folk and Bluegrass Festival: July 23rd 2:00pm to 10:00pm
Teddy Bear Picnic @ Utah's Hogle Zoo: August 6th 10:00am to 3:00pm
Disney Days @ The Gallivan Center: June 21-August 9 11:00am to 1:00pm

St. George Area:
Tuacahn Saturday Market: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Enterprise America Rodeo:  American Legion Rodeo Arena July 21st to July 23rd 8:00pm to 10:30pm
Washington County Fair: August 10th to 13th All Day

Utah County Area: 17th Annual Llama Fest Spanish Fork July 16th 4pm to 9pm.
Cowpoke Roundup at Thanksgiving Point: July 16th 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Comedy at the Point at Thanksgiving Point: July 18th 8:00pm
Emporium Kitchen: Fondue Party at Thanksgiving Point: July 19th 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Mapleton Pioneer Days @ Mapleton City Park: July 23rd

Weber County Area and further North:
Ogden Valley Farmers and Artists Market: 9:00am 2628 North Hwy. 162, Eden Utah
Utah Reggae Festival Downtown July 16th 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo: Ogden Stadium July 20-25 6:30pm
Christmas Village in August: August 1st 7:00pm to 10:00pm @ Ogden Ampitheater
C.V. Gardener's Market: Merlin Olsen Park 100 S. 200 E. Saturdays 9am to 1pm
Movie in the Park @ Elk Ridge Park 1060 East 2500 North: July 23rd at 9:00. Showing "Despicable Me".
N. Logan Pioneer Day Celebrations: North Logan City Pioneer Celebrations will be held July 23rd & 25th…Saturday activities held at Elk Ridge Park 1060 E 2500 North include ‘Run to Deseret’ (at 8a.m.)a Fun Run (5k and 1 mile). Register online at northlogancity.org ($10/participant)….BBQ Dinner & Dance at 630p.m….Movie in the Park “Despicable Me”at 830p.m. then Fireworks at 10p.m. (or dark)….Monday activities include Flag Ceremony/ Breakfast 645a.m. to 9a.m. (donation requested) at Elk Ridge Park...the Parade at 10a.m. (Line-up is at 930a.m. then the Parade begins at 1600 E 1900 North and ends at Mtn View Park…activities at Mtn view Park (1100 E 2100 North) from 11a.m. to 2p.m. (games, food, entertainment, Fire Dept Water-Fun) and Historical Pioneer Displays at LDS Cultural Hall (1100 E 2100 North) featuring North Logan Historic photos, artifacts, quilts and stories from 11a.m. to 2p.m.

Employee Spotlight for July!

This month's spotlilghted employee is Kyndel Marcroft.

1.      What is something nobody here knows about you?  I would like to write a book someday.

2.       What’s your hidden talent?  Excellent bed head.

3.       What’s your favorite meal to cook?  Anything in a dutch oven.

4.       What super power would you choose?  It would have to be flying.  For sure!

5.      What was your most unusual job?  River Guide on the Colorado and Green Rivers.  Paid my way through college.  Lived in Moab for 4 summers. 

Fourth of July Facts

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!  Here are some fun Independence Day facts.  On July the 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. Thereafter, the 13 colonies embarked on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays is traditionally celebrated with parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. As you send out your July 4th party invitations, take a minute to think about how much you really know about what we are celebrating.

Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.

An Inspired America:

• Thirty places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. Liberty, Missouri (26,232) boasts the highest population of the 30 at 26,232. Iowa has more of these places than any other state at four: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.
• Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, California, with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
• There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Indiana, with a population of 202.
• And what could be more fitting than spending the day in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, with 21,941 residents.

Another Fun Recipe

Rocket Dogs

Ingredients

• hot dogs
• prepared breadstick dough (we used Pillsbury brand)
• skewers

• cubed cheese
• mustard

Instructions

Simply wrap hot dogs in prepared breadstick dough (we used Pillsbury brand) and insert a skewer, letting it protrude at the top.

1. Bake the dogs according to the dough package's instructions. Add a triangle of cheese for a topper, tie on a tail made from ribbon or aluminum foil, and squirt on stripes of ketchup and mustard.

Fourth of July Treats

Revolutionary Berries

Ingredients

12 ounces white chocolate chips

Strawberries

Blue sugar or edible glitter

Instructions

1. Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure the container and the berries are dry; even a little moisture will alter the texture of the candy).
2. One at a time, dip strawberries into the chocolate and then into blue sugar or edible glitter.
3. Set them to harden on waxed paper.
4. Makes 35 to 45 decorated berries.

July Birthdays

Happy Birthday to:
Brent Blaisdell July 22
Adam Moore July 27

Hooray for Summer!!!

It's finally Summer.  It felt like it would never come.  Now that it's here, here are some Summer safety tips and reminders.

HOW TO HYDRATE
• Drink plenty of fluid. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.
• If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour
• Avoid liquids with alcohol or sugar -- they will cause you to lose more body fluid.
• Stay away from very cold drinks -- they can cause stomach cramps. Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours and wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Monitor young children and elderly people because they are more sensitive to the heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. A very important tip for summer health is to drink enough fluids -- hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE HEAT STROKE
If they have a body temperature above 103 degrees Farenheit, red, hot dry skin, and there's no sweating -- which means that the body's sweating mechanism is failing, and the body is unable to cool down. If the person has a rapid strong pulse, headache, dizziness or nausea -- call 911 and get the victim to a shady area in the meantime. Try to cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can like spraying them with cool water from a hose.

SYMPTOMS
• Body temp > 103°F
• Red/hot/dry skin
• No sweating
• Rapid pulse
• Headache/dizziness/nausea

HOW TO ALLEVIATE SUNBURN
There's no fast "cure" for sunburns -- it may take days for your skin to heal. To treat the pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever and keep the area moisturized with aloe or other lotions. Keep the skin cool by using cold compresses or taking a cold bath. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a "healthy tan." Unprotected sun exposure causes premature aging of the skin

HOW TO IDENTIFY POISONOUS PLANTS
A good rule of thumb is "leaves of three, let it be." Poison oak and ivy usually are clustered in leaves of three. They contain an oil that when gets on your skin can cause an allergic reaction. You only need to be exposed to a very, very little of this poisonous oil -- less than one grain of table salt -- for it to develop a rash. If you do get it on your skin, immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol or a degreasing soap like dishwashing soap and lots of water. Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on the skin and further spread the urushiol. An antihistamine can be taken to help relieve itching.

BEST WAY TO REMOVE AN INSECT STINGER
NEVER squeeze the area or use tweezers because it may push more venom into the skin. Remove the stinger by either scraping your fingernail over the area or using a straight edge like a credit card. You want to wash the area with soap and water -- if there's swelling, apply ice. Try not to scratch because it may cause an infection.

LEARN CPR
Learn how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its invention. According to the American Heart Association, "about 80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings," so knowing how to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death. It also can resuscitate someone who has suffers a near-drowning -- and as we know, summertime means a lot of time at pools. You can find a class at your local American Heart Association chapter or the American Red Cross.

A Grate Gift for Dad!!!

Too cute to not share...

Ingredients

• Brownie batter
• Black food coloring
• White frosting
• Orange sugar

• Caramel creams
• Red, yellow, and green candy fruit slices
• Hot Tamales candies

Instructions

To make a batch of 12, place liners in a muffin pan, oil them, and fill them two thirds full of your favorite brownie batter, then bake according to the recipe directions. Let the brownies cool.

 

1. In a small bowl, mix one or two drops of black food coloring with 1/4 cup white frosting. Transfer the frosting to a ziplock bag and snip a small section from the corner. Pipe grate lines onto each brownie and let them set for 20 minutes. Add embers with a sprinkle of orange sugar.
2. Prepare the grill food as instructed below and press it in place atop each brownie.
   
   Kebabs = A caramel cream and red, yellow, and green candy fruit slices, cut into small pieces + toothpick skewers
   
   Pork chop = two thirds of a caramel cream, molded with fingers + black food coloring, applied with a toothpick
   
   Hot dogs = Hot Tamales candies + black food coloring, applied with a toothpick

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day History:
The idea of Father’s Day was conceived by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm. A day in June was chosen for the first Father’s Day celebration — June 19, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane’s mayor because it was the month of Smart’s birth.
The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.
Dads in the Animal Kingdom:
Most animals never even see their parents! Many never meet their fathers and some never meet their mothers, either. Some insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles hatch from fertilized eggs and face life completely alone. When animals are raised by parents, it's most often the mother who does the rearing. But here are some unusual animal dads.
Catfish: A father sea catfish keeps the eggs of his young in his mouth until they are ready to hatch. He will not eat until his young are born, which may take several weeks.
Cockroach: A father cockroach eats bird droppings to obtain precious nitrogen, which he carries back to feed his young.
Frog: The male Darwin frog hatches his eggs in a pouch in his mouth. He can eat and continue about his business until his tadpoles lose their tails, become tiny frogs, and jump out of his mouth!
Sea horse: The male sea horse has a pouch in which the mother lays her eggs. The father then looks after the eggs for about two months, until they hatch and leave the pouch. He continues to protect the young until they are able to live on their own.
Wolf: When the mother wolf gives birth to pups, the father stands guard outside their den and brings food to the mother and pups. As they grow, he not only plays with them but also teaches them how to survive. Wolves continue to live together much as human families do.
Awwwww.......Tender!  :)

Employee Spotlight for June!

This month's spotlight is on Jeff Williams!  Here are some fun tidbits about Jeff.

1.       What are you most looking forward to this summer? Air conditioning, or my awesome swamp cooler. Going to the canyon for bbqs, going to snowbird and to Oregon, (assuming I can get the time off). Watching Molly grow.

2.       Do you have any nicknames for yourself? “that guy”; they used to call me “The Wise Man” so feel free to adopt that one

3.       What is something about you that nobody here knows? I was once a regular at Highland View Middle School’s Problem Solving Room.

4.       What super power would you choose?  super metabolism and super memory

5.       What was your most unusual job? In high school, I worked at a nursing home feeding the residents; that was pretty weird. Spent the summer working at a fishing site in Alaska.

Grillin & Chillin

 

Chipotle-Mango BBQ Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups mango, peeled, pitted and roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup fresh cilantro (loose pack, not chopped, stems and all)
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
• 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice wine vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon canola oil, plus extra for grill
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 2 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, bone in, skin on

Directions

Put the mango, cilantro, chipotle, vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of oil and salt and pepper, in a food processor and puree until smooth. Adjust seasonings, to taste.

Add the chicken with half the mango mixture to a resealable plastic bag, and massage to coat the chicken with the sauce. Refrigerate at least 6 hours to marinate.
Put the other half of the mango mixture into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat until thick, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Set some of the simmered chipotle-mango sauce aside to serve on the side and baste the chicken every few minutes with the rest of the sauce.
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat and brush with canola oil. Remove the chicken from the marinade and put on the grill.
Grill the chicken turning and basting about every 5 minutes until cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve with the reserved mango sauce.

Fun Summer Facts!

I love to throw these fun facts in each month.  Enjoy!

Mosquitoes, summer's pest, have been around for more than 30 million years.

Watermelon is summer's most popular vegetable. It is part of the cucumber, pumpkin, and squash family. The average American eats 15 pounds of watermelon a year and these juicy favorites are 92 percent water.

The Dog Days of Summer refers to the weeks between July 3rd and August 11th. They are named after the Dog Star (Sirius) in the constellation of Canis Major.

Ancient Romans and Greeks blamed Sirius for the extreme temperatures, drought, sickness, and discomfort that came in late summer.

June is named for the Roman goddess Juno (Hera).

Romans began the summer wedding tradition, choosing June for Juno's blessing. The tradition stuck.

The frequency of a cricket's chirps fluctuates with the temperature. If you count a cricket's chirps for 15 seconds and add 37, you will have the approximate outdoor temperature (in Fahrenheit).

June Birthdays

Happy birthday to:
Terri Flint June 8th
Jeff Williams June 12th

Memorial Day

Here's a yummy recipe for Memorial Day...or any fun Summer day.  Awesome for your next BBQ.
Grilled Peaches & Cream
Ingredients
4 peaches, halved and pitted
2 tablespoons clover honey
1 cup soft cream cheese with honey and nuts
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

Preheat a grill for medium-high heat.

Brush peaches with a light coating of oil. Place pit side down onto the grill. Grill for 5 minutes, or until the surfaces have nice grill marks. Turn the peaches over, and drizzle with a bit of honey. Place a dollop of the cream cheese spread in the place where the pit was. Grill for 2 to 3 more minutes, or until the filling is warm. Serve immediately.

The Pirates Are Coming!!!

In honor of next week's arrival of the newest installment of The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I thought it would be fun to post some fun pirate stuff. Enjoy!
The Jolly Roger flag, with its black background and white skull and crossbones, was designed to be scary. This flag was not used by all pirates, usually it was only flown by those sailing in the Spanish Main.
Pirates believed that having women on board their ship was bad luck. They also believed that whistling on a ship would cause the weather to turn stormy (as in ‘to whistle up a storm’).
Almost all pirates stole their ships because they couldn’t buy ships incase they got caught and sent to jail. Once they had taken over a ship they had to convert it for pirate life, this usually meant making more room for sailors to live on board and strengthening the decks to hold the weight of the heavy cannons.
Pirate Captain’s would change out of their expensive, flashy clothes if there was a chance they might be captured. This way they could pretend they where only one of the crew, and not somebody important and hopefully escape.

Pirate’s Code Of Conduct.

No fighting on board ship.
No gambling with cards and dice on board ship.
No women on board ship.
All weapons and pirates to be ready for battle at all time.
Every pirate gets equal amounts of food and drink.
Every pirate gets equal amounts of all loot captured, except for the Captain and the Quartermaster who get twice as much, or any pirate who loses an arm or leg in a fight, he gets an extra half.
Every pirate gets to vote on where the ship goes and what the crew does.
Every pirate does what the Captain or Quartermaster says.
Aha, this be the Code of Conduct for The Pirate Ship, it maybe different on another ship, me Hearty.

Employee Spotlight for May!

This month's spotlighted employee is Diane Passey.  Here are some fun facts about Diane!

I was born in SLC and grew up in Murray. Go Spartans! Fashion Place Mall was non-existent at the time. It was a big field with a discount store where Chuck a Rama is. We used to wade through the grass, jump the ditch, and dodge the snakes to go to the store and buy penny candy.

I love to cook Mexican food. I make my corn tortillas and enchilada sauce from scratch. I learned from my mom, who learned from a lady in the neighborhood named Tilly Gomez.

Favorite holiday: Halloween, because you get to pretend to be someone or something that you’re not.  

Hidden talent: I can flip you off with my toes.

Unusual job: I used to be a “candy girl” at a mom and pop movie theater. IN between the matinee and the evening show, we would sun bathe on the roof.

Yummy Mother's Day Dinner Recipe

Lemon Basil Pesto Flat Iron Steak

Ingredients

• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 6 (6 ounce) flat iron steaks
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Chop 4 garlic cloves in a food processor until minced. Add the basil and pine nuts, and pulse a few times to combine. With the food processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides. Place the Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes into the food processor, and pulse until blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Rub the flat iron steaks with 2 cloves minced garlic, season to taste with salt and pepper, then set aside. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil grate.
3. Grill the steaks to desired degree of doneness on preheated grill, about 4 minutes per side for medium. Baste the steaks occasionally with a little of the pesto sauce. Once done, serve topped with the remaining pesto.
4. Enjoy the deliciousness!

Happy Mother's Day

Mothers Day is a day that has been celebrated for thousands of years but where did it originate from?  The earliest records of the celebration of Mothers can be traced back to Ancient Greece, during the festival of
Rhea. This Ancient festival took place annually during the Vernal Equinox in the spring and eventually spread down to Italy and Rome to take place during the Ides of March; March 15^th through March 18^th.  Commercially the holiday is a huge success with gifts, cards, and candies but independently amongst families is the true celebration of Mothers Day. The idea of Mothers Day is to thank and contribute to our Mothers. It shows despite the difficulties of child labor and birth that we are grateful for our children and we children are grateful for our parents.

May Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to:
Tiffany Manning May 14th
Elaine Hill May 16th
Trudy Draper May 16th

EAP Rocks!

Here is some great recognition and kudos for our team.  We are all ROCK STARS!!!

Major kudos to Anna.  I had a client (whom has been all around in the mental health system) rave about Anna.  She said she is the BEST front desk gal she has ever encountered and that Anna is always so professional and helpful.  She even called Anna one day when she was lost  on her way to a medication management appointment  and Anna was very supportive. Thanks for all that you do Anna for our clients and also for us.  You are a star!!  Kaleo

Just wanted to let you know that Michelle went totally above and beyond helping me figure out some issues with my files and cases open over 30 days.  I was expecting to have to do a bunch of work figuring out some issues, but when I came into the office today she had already done it for me.  What a huge help!!  Thanks Michelle!  Kaleo

Thanks to Patti who has made some tweaks to our EAP website.  You can now go on it and find the directions to all of our offices.  She has had her first person who went on the website before calling to make the appointment and knew exactly what office she wanted!  Yeah!!!  Way to go Patti to keep looking for ways to improve our service excellence.  Terri

And I have a Kudos for Curtis....He was willing to, even on his week off, do two trainings for a couple of our companies and that was very much appreciated.  Good job going above and beyond!!!  Michelle

More babies!

And here are some pics of Jeff's darling daughter Molly who is two months old already!

Babies!!!

Congrats to Grandma Mjos are in order.  Here's a pic of the gorgeous Violet!!! She is now one month old.

Welcome the New Hire Team

If you didn't read Terri's email a few weeks ago....

We want to give a HUGE welcome to the staff of the New Hire Screening Lab who will be joining our team.  They include:  Jackie Gonzalez, Jeanette Jessop, Marcia MacKay, Melinda Perkins, Susana Burningham and Varonica Ulrick.  Sharon will be their supervisor and Dr. Price will be the Medical Director.  If you don’t already know, the NHSL helps new employees and volunteers with their new hire paperwork, drug screening and immunizations for all of UCR, PCMC, MG, ESC and CO.  They are a wonderful service for Intermountain Healthcare and we are very proud to now have them as colleagues. 

In the coming weeks and months we will create opportunities for us all to “meet and greet” and learn ways that can we support and learn from each other.

Employee Engagement & Recognition on Intermountain.net

With our fabulous yearly Gallup Survey coming up next month, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get the word out about the Employee Engagement page at Intermountain.net.  It includes lots of great ways to increase employee engagement.  Here's a little snippet of what the page has to offer. 

"Each of us needs to be recognized for our talent and team contributions. Whenever we complete a task, regardless of how big or small, we want to know how our actions affect our patients and customers, how they affect those we work with, but also, how they contribute to extraordinary care and superior service.  It's important for praise to come from every direction. A good rule of thumb is to praise another team member about once a week for specific actions he or she took to provide extraordinary care or superior service. Frequent praise and recognition encourages and reinforces the desired behaviors, decreases turnover, and positively impacts our patients and customers."

Check out the page at Intermountain.net!

Congrats to Mr. Jeff Williams

Congrats to Jeff who is now an official CNA!!  Kudos!

Praise the Lord and pass the Sacrament, It's an Easter miracle!!!

Exciting news, folks.  We have finally gotten our badge access door in the reception area at the ESC.  YAY!

Easter Bruch Recipe!

I got this recipe from Paula Deen's website and tried it last Easter.  Sooooo delish.  I highly recommend.
Asparagus with Lemon Pecan Brown Butter

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and tough ends peeled
Salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
1/2 cup pecans
1 lemon, zest removed in fine julienne with a bar zester, cut in half

Directions

Put 1 inch of water in a skillet or other wide, shallow pan that will hold the asparagus flat in no more than 2 layers. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Add a small handful of salt and, as soon as the water is boiling again, add the asparagus. Cover, bring it quickly back to a boil, and remove the lid. Cook briskly, uncovered, until the asparagus is barely tender but still bright green, about 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat, immediately drain, using the lid to hold the asparagus. Turn it out onto a warm platter and keep warm.
Put 4 tablespoons of butter in 9-or-10-inch skillet over medium high heat. When melted, add the pecans and sauté, tossing frequently, until the butter and pecans are a uniform golden-brown. Add the lemon zest and the juice from half the lemon. Cook for half a minute longer and remove the pan from the heat.
Swirl in the remaining butter, refresh with another squeeze of lemon juice, taste and add salt if needed. Pour it evenly over the asparagus and serve at once.

Happy Easter!

The Easter season is both an important religious celebration and a time of family fun. Whether your celebration is centered around the altar or around the Easter basket, here are some facts about the holiday you may have missed.

The Easter bonnet came about as a way for ladies to show off their finest clothes. It was tradition for believers to deny themselves fine garments during the Lenten period.
When the first Easter baskets came on the scene they were often designed to replicate bird nests.
The history of the egg as a symbol of renewal goes back farther than Easter itself. The ancient Egyptians held the egg as a token of renewal and rebirth. There is a longstanding tradition of churchgoers wearing at least one new item of clothing to Easter services. Doing so is considered good luck.
Like the egg, the rabbit is a symbol of new life and rebirth, and it is probably this association that gave rise to the famous Easter Bunny. Rabbits have long been associated with fertility and birth. The actual Easter Bunny legend is rooted in German tradition. The legend holds that a poor woman living in Germany decorated colorful eggs for her children to find. As soon as the hidden eggs were found by the children, a large bunny was seen hopping away. This ancient legend is thought to be the root of the Easter Bunny we know and love today.

April Birthdays

Byron Clayton April 11th
Angie Panos April 16th
Curtis Hooker April 27th

April Employee Spotlight!

This month I thought it would be great to introduce our newest support staff member by spotlighting her.  Her name is Lisa Brown & she's the new Administrative Secretary for the St. George office.  Here are some fun questions she answered for us.
1. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas & Easter, sorry I can choose one.  Celebrating the birth and death of my Savior are the most valuable assets of my life and they are both equally important to me.
2. What was your most unusual job?  I was a heavy equipment operator/grade setter apprentice for on eyear and a concrete construction laborer the next.  I am 5'2" and weigh about 130 lbs.  This was very physical work and I learned that I can use my math skills to set the grade of a road, I lost 15 pounds in a hurry and can spit and lift things just like a man!
3. What are some of your hobbies?  Cooking new meals, love Food Network...great ideas have been born to my dinner table and dinner guests seem to love and appreciate.  Ride my bicycle, raquetball, family Sunday dinner is probably the best part of every week for me!  I have an amazing family.
4. What's your hidden talent?  Nothing about me is hidden, I am pretty much visible & very open.  I find it easy to love what others would call unlovable people.  I just love people...
5. What super poer would you choose if you could have one?  The ability to clean my house in the blink of an eye, like a Genie!  This takes too much time away from being with friends & family.

March Employee Spotlight

This months spotlight is on Elaine Hill.

1.       What is something nobody knows about you?

I was an exchange student to Southern California during the late 70’s.  I lived in Capistrano Beach and attended San Clemente High School.  I have two high school diplomas…one from my South African High School graduation, and one from my Californian High School graduation.

2.       What 3 things in nature do you find most beautiful?

Only 3!  Wild African animals, particularly leopards and Giraffe, scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, and the red rock of southern Utah, particularly The Arches and Canyonlands.

3.       What is your favorite smell?

Banana Bread baking in the oven

4.       What is your favorite sound?

The waves of the Indian Ocean breaking on the shores of Mozambique

5.       What is your full name?

Elaine Elizabeth Bibb Brummer-Hill

6.       What is your hidden talent?

I love to draw…big bold drawings with charcoals and pastels

7.       What super power would you choose?

A spiritual one

8.       What do you miss the most about being a child?

The carefree existence I had…never worrying about anything other than whether my friend Helen was going to be able to play with me after school

More St. Patricks Day Fun!!!

Way yummy recipe for St. Patrick's Day....a little different than the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Corned Beef & Potato Dinner:

Ingredients

• 1 pound red potatoes, cut into small wedges
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced, separated into rings
• 4 cups coleslaw mix
• 8 ounces thinly sliced deli corned beef, cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 4 teaspoons spicy brown or horseradish mustard
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Place potatoes and water in a 3-qt. microwave-safe bowl. Cover; microwave on high for 6-8 minutes. Add the onion; cover and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in the coleslaw mix. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes or until potatoes are tender; drain.
2. In a large skillet, saute the corned beef in oil for 3-4 minutes; stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook and stir for 1 minute or until heated through. Add to the potato mixture; toss to combine. Cover and microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately.

Saint Patrick's Day Fun Facts

Facts about St. Patrick's Day Holiday

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
   
• In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair. 

Facts about Saint Patrick

• St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

          Facts about the Irish

• 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
• Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
      
• The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
   
• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

          Facts about Clovers

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
   
• One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
       
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

March Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to our one and only March birthday girl, Anna MacLean, whose birthday is March 25th.  Happy Birthday!!!

You've Been Foiled!!!

I present to you...the Tin Foil Office.  Courtesy of Anna, Jeff and Michelle.  Our latest example of team building and engagement.  While Natalee's away, the staff must play. 

Employee Spotlight!

This month's Employee Spotlight is on Kaleo Awana!  Here are some fun facts about Kaleo.

I love running, pilates and P90-X

I like the smell of musk

My most unusual job was being an intern at Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston.  Horror Stories!!!!

I have a irrational fear of finding a dead body while hiking or being out in the wilderness…. Weird I know

Something nobody knows about me - my worst fear came true when I saw a dead body in my neighborhood a few years ago!!  Scary!!!

Cute Valentine's Day Treat

Great idea for school treats for the kids for Valentine's Day.  Just bake up some cupcakes and decorate as shown.

Toothpicks

Red licorice

Serrated knife

Small peanut butter cups

• Cinnamon Red Hots
• Red gel icing
• Scissors
• White paper, markers, and tape

Instructions

1. Frost the cupcakes, reserving a little icing to build the train engines. For each one, unwrap a Tootsie Roll and slice off one third of its length (the Tootsie Roll is actually scored into three sections). Firmly press this slice atop the back end of the remaining piece so that it sticks in place to create the train engine's body.
2. Use a toothpick to anchor a 1/2-inch piece of licorice to the top of the engine for a smokestack. With a serrated knife, gently saw a peanut butter cup in half (a parent's job). Then attach one half, turned upside down, to the front of the engine to form a cowcatcher. Use frosting to stick three cinnamon Red Hots for wheels along the bottom of each side.
3. Set the engine on top of the cupcake and press it slightly into the frosting. Then use red gel icing to draw a train track in front and in back of the engine. Finally, cut out a paper steam puff. Print on the message "I choo-choose you!" and tape it to the toothpick.

Funny Valentine's Day Superstitions

Interesting and funny superstitions:
Valentine's Day Superstitions
It is said that the kind of bird a girl watches on Valentine's Day predicts her future husband. For instance:
Sparrow: a poor man
Owl: remain spinster
Bluebird: a happy man
Blackbird: a priest or clergyman
Crossbill: an argumentative man
If an apple is cut in half, the number of seeds found inside the fruit will indicate the number of children that individual will have.

• To be awoken by a kiss on Valentine's Day is considered lucky.
• On Valentine's Day, the first guy's name you read in the paper or hear on the TV or radio will be the name of the man you will marry.
• If you see a squirrel on Valentine's Day, you will marry a cheapskate who will hoard all your money.
• If you see a goldfinch on Valentine's Day, you will marry a millionaire.
• If you see a robin on Valentine's Day, you will marry a crime fighter - maybe they mean Batman!
• If you see a flock of doves on Valentine's Day, you will have a happy, peaceful marriage.
• If you find a glove on the road on Valentine's Day, your future beloved will have the other missing glove.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Newest Little Member of the EAP!

Meet Molly Jane Williams, adorable daughter of Jeff and Jenny Williams.  Born February 7th at 5:00pm at 6 lbs. 9 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long.  Mom and baby are doing great and daddy is proud as can be.

February Birthdays!

Happy Birthday To:
Candy Vila 2/10
Michelle Christensen 2/11
RuthAnn Libby 2/15
Vicki Watson 2/21

Our Resident Poet, Katherine!

Would sure love to see all your smiling faces at the reading thru CityArts at the downtown SLC Public Library Wed Feb 2 at 7 pm. Scott Carrier will also be reading (nonfiction, I believe). I will have copies of The Blue Giraffe there too!  Thanks so much for all your support,  Katherine

This Recipe is Like a Snuggie for Your Tummy!

Chapped lips. Frozen hair. Shoveling snow. I could make a long list of my least favorite things about winter. But instead let's focus on the part we like best: comfort foods that make our tummies warm.
Yum.  Try this awesome recipe from Everyday Food.
Italian Pot Pies

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound ground beef sirloin, thawed if frozen
• 2 cups homemade or best-quality store-bought tomato sauce
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (1 ounce)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lowest position. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion and carrots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add beef, and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce; bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until meat mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, Parmesan, baking powder, rosemary, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; make a well in center, and add butter and milk. Stir just until dough comes together.
3. Spoon meat mixture into four 8-ounce ramekins; mound dough on top. Place on a large rimmed baking sheet; bake until topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in topping comes out clean, 10 to 12 minutes.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Italian Potpies - Martha Stewart Recipes

Gratitude

Here is a post on behalf of Kayleen:

Gratitude:

1.       Thankful that we have Michelle and Anna in our group to keep us young and try to encourage us to live life to the fullest.

2.       Thankful for Terri who is constantly trying to help us become the ‘better self’…helping us to looking deep inside of ourselves for the beauty.

3.       Thankful for Curtis teaching us meditation.

4.       Thankful for Patti’s perfectionism because she keeps us on our toes…you have to love how her soul glows.

5.       Thankful for Kristina, how she is teaching us how to have a ‘happy voice’ even when you want to slap someone.

6.       Thankful for Katherine who brings beauty to our department through living plants

7.       Thankful for Diane who always is smiling and saying ‘Hello’ and will stop to visit for a minute if she thinks you need that minute.

8.       Thankful for Tiffany being able to come into the office once a week; she brings such a bright light to the office.

9.       Thankful for Sharon, the her laughter and friendship that she is willing to give all of us.

10.   Thankful for all that Jeff does to make our jobs easier.

11.   Thankful for the building that we have to work in even when it is cold…it could always be a drafty tent.

12.   Thankful for the computers and other modern office equipment that makes our jobs so much easier…it would take us forever to have to type or hand write our work…UGH!  Think of the overtime!

13.   Thankful for all of the great of our ‘EAP family’ that brings a richness into our lives which is rare in this world.