Mormon Life - Ultimate Guide tag

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Dip Recipes

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:08:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Dips are the quintessential party food, and I love everything about them. So I went on a quest to find all the best.

I love dip recipes. There's some sort of harmony in that they're all served in a bowl with some sort of other food that gets dunked into them, but there's so much variety that you can consume a full-course meal in dip form. To satisfy my dip craving, I set out to round up the best of them all. Some of these are twists on old classics, but some are new and exciting recipes you may not have seen before.

Classic Appetizers

Caramelized Onion, Gruyere, and Bacon Dip

Spicy Black Bean Dip

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Fruits and Veggies

Fruit Salsa Dip with Cinnamon Chips

Cowboy Caviar

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

Main Course

Hot Reuben Dip

Taco Dip

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Desserts

Lemon Meringue Pie Dip

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Brownie Batter Dip

{LDSL Blog} Best of: Stories of the Week, May 5-11

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Check out which stories made up the best of LDS Living for the week of May 5 through 11, 2012.

We all love a good story. And what better way to find out the best of the best than seeing what people found most interesting? For the week of May 5 through May 11, 2012, these are LDS Living’s top online stories:

Top 5 LDS Living Stories:

1. Jon Stewart defends Mormonism on 'The Daily Show' {LDS Living}

2. {Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar: 4th Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

3. {Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Modest Swimsuits 2012 {Kate Ensign-Lewis}

4. Photo Gallery: The Artwork of President Packer {LDS Living}

5. Blending Families {Jonathan Swinton}

Top 5 Mormon Report Articles:

1. LDS Church buys historical sites from Community of Christ {Deseret News}

2. A look at Connecticut Mormon temple plans {Farmington Patch}

3. Mitt Romney, Mormons brace for a mean political season {Deseret News}

4. Two writers use Book of Mormon to score political points {Deseret News}

5. Race, religion collide in presidential campaign {Associated Press}

Top Video:

'Have I Done Any Good?' Official Music Video ft. Alex Boye & Carmen Rasmusen Herbert {YouTube}

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Modest Swimsuits 2012

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Swimsuit season: there's no need to dread it anymore because cute and modest swimsuits not only exist – they seem to be everywhere! Check out this season's offerings.

Only two years ago I felt stymied in my attempts to find a modest swimsuit for a family cruise – they all looked like they were meant for someone 40 years my senior or someone who really wanted to live in the 90s. I stumbled upon one of the few beautiful and modest pieces out there just in time.

But now, it seems fashionable, feminine suits are everywhere! Polka dots continue to be popular, but there are also a few cute plaids out there this year. I bet you'll find something you'll like here.

Note: One person's idea of "modest" might not exactly square with someone else's, but these are swimsuits I think might generally be considered modest.

Photo from Downeast Basics

Retro Revival Suit, $49.99

Photo from Old Navy

Women's Twist-Front Control Max Swimsuit, $44.94

Photo from Downeast Basics

Silver Screen Suit, $49.99

Photo from ModBe

Islander Top, $50

Photo from Walmart

Catalina Women's Retro Tank Swimsuit, $15

Photo from Lime Ricki

Floral Retro One Piece, $61.99

Photo from Gap

Bandeau one-piece, $59.95

Photo from Lime Ricki

Gingham Retro One Piece, $61.99

Photo from Old Navy

Women's Ruffle Tankini Top, $24.94 (bottoms $19.94)

Photo from Divinita Sole

Flower Ruched Tankini, $99

Photo from Divinita Sole

Square Halter, $99

Photo from Lime Ricki

Pink One-shoulder Tankini, $48.99

Photo from DownEast Basics

Malibu Swim Skirt, $26.99

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Knee-length Shorts

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We've scoured the stores to find you this season's best knee-length shorts – just in time for that delicious spring weather.

Photo from DownEast Basics--Heart Throb Shorts $44.99

Photo from Old Navy--Distressed Denim Bermudas $24.94

Photo from Old Navy--Cuffed Denim Bermudas $24.94

Photo from Banana Republic—Cotton Sateen Bermuda $49.50

Photo from Banana Republic—Button-pocket Bermuda $49.50

Photo from Piperlime—Mystic Saturday Crop $78.00

Photo from Macy’s—Tummy Control Denim $23.99

Photo from Macy’s—Denim Straight Leg $64

Photo from KneeShorts—Ladies’ Cargo Shorts $19.99

Photo from J. Crew—Summerweight Chino Short $49.50

Photo from New York & Company--Denim Bermuda Skinny Short $39.95

Photo from New York & Company--Demin Skinny Gotham Wash $39.95

{Food Dish} Simple General Conference Recipes

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Six simple and delicious recipes that maximize your time between general conference sessions.

I love general conference. But such little time between sessions usually makes meals tough to complete (and with a finished product with much to be desired). No more! Plan ahead and get cookin' with these simple meals.

Photo from Kitchen Simplicity

Quick Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie

Start to finish: 40 min.

Photo from The Doctor's Kitchen

Quick Vegan Stir Fry

Start to finish: 20 min.

(add diced chicken, ham, and/or egg to make it a meal, albeit a non-vegan one)

Photo from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

Make-ahead Cheesy Pigs in a Blanket

Make, freeze, and bake up later for a fun and simple lunch

Photo from Feed Yourself

Pasta with Quick Creamy Sauce

Start to finish: 30 min.

Photo from Cooking on the Side

Fiesta Chicken Soup

Start to finish: 20 min.

Photo from Artsy-Foodie

Tortilla Chip Strata

Make ahead, freeze, and pop in the oven

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: LDS Subway Art

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Why it's called subway art, I don't know. But I do know that it's really pretty and I would love this LDS art in my home.

I could spend hours browsing LDS graphic art - there are just so many beautiful options nowadays. But these are my top picks.

(Photo by Proclamation Pictures)

Arise and Shine Forth

(Photo by Lexiphilia)

Children Are the Hands by Which We Take Hold of Heaven

(Photo by Brightly Beams Prints)

Pray Always

(Photo by Finch and Fellow)

Peace Be Still

(Photo by Ciao Bella Moments)

Daughter of God

(Photo by Perfect Printables)

LDS Temple Digital Art

(Photo by Kimberly's Photography)

LDS Salt Lake Temple Print

(Photo by Little Miss Missy)

Arise and Shine Forth

(Photo by Poprocks Design)

Bring the World His Truth

(Photo by Mod Printables)

Nourish the Tree (Alma 32)

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Winter Crafts for Kids

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:18:00 -0700

by SarahJo Ciotti
source: MormonLife.com

The best parts of being a kid are the endless energy and imagination. Give them pipe cleaners and craft glue and they’re creating masterpieces; though sometimes after a few months of being cooped up during the winter they need a little spark to get them going. Here are a few craft ideas to keep little hands occupied.

Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeders
With a spread of peanut butter and a sprinkling of seeds, this easy craft will keep kids who love the outdoors glued to the windows as they watch birds grab a quick bite for lunch.

Button Artwork
Finally, a use for that box of mismatched buttons! These works of art will look terrific on the refrigerator or even on a nursery room wall.

Pipe Cleaner Creatures
Tigers, chameleons, and squirrels, oh my! These adorable creatures may be found climbing all over the house after a few days with your wild animal.

Popsicle Puzzle
Whether you use family photos or magazine pictures, this little craft is fun for kids to make and play with for hours after.

Colored Pasta
Does your little one’s macaroni necklace need some color? Helping create colored pasta will be just as much fun as creating with the pasta after!

Painted Toast
That looks good enough to eat! Turn an everyday snack into something unexpected with paint-your-own toast!

Glow-in-the dark Jell-O!
A little tonic water never hurt anyone, and making jello cutouts with this stuff will make a classic dessert new and exciting!

Slime
Stretching and squeezing this sludge will create squeals of laughter, and kids will love to help create this monstery-goo.

Here are a few assembly-required projects that can create hours of entertainment for you and your children!

Indoor hopscotch
Getting those wiggles out will be like 1, 2, 3!

Puppet Theater
With some fun-colored fabric, tension rods, and a little imagination, kids will have fun creating little plays for friends and family with this new puppet theater!

PVC Playhouse
With this sturdy structure, creating a fort will be easier on you and the furniture!

Fabric roads
Simple to make, set up, and store, fabric roads keep little cars from veering out of control!

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Ridiculously Cute Christmas Foods

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:57:00 -0700

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

I'm really good at making food taste good. What I'm not so good at is making it look pretty. I also happen to be a Pinterest addict, which means I get almost all of my food inspiration from my visual pinboard cookbook. The results usually go something like this:

(Thank you, Pinterest, for illustrating my life so well for me.)

However, that doesn't mean I can't still enjoy looking at pretty food and wishing I had such skills. And since I know some of you do actually have such skills, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite finds, in the hopes that someone will get to make and eat them.

Melted snowman cookies. Seriously. How ridiculously cute are these?

Christmas cheese party tray.
It's easy to make desserts decorative, but not so with many other party foods. This is great.

Brownie Christmas trees from Betty Crocker.
Not only are these possibly the most delish of the bunch, but I think I could possibly make them without messing them up too horribly.

Santa feet cupcake.
And several other cute cupcakes I could never be capable of making.

Christmas reindeer mini donuts.
I could SO make these.

Reindeer peanut butter cookies.
I might even be able to make these ones.

Santa hat pretzels.
Cute neighbor Christmas gift, anyone?

And for those of you with super food skills, you can check this link out for even more Christmas cupcake inspiration. (If you're like me, though, don't look. Please. It'll keep you from getting depressed.)

{A&E} Ultimate Guide: Christmas Reading

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:05:00 -0700

by SarahJo Ciotti
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Here are a few essential books to curl up with this Christmas season.

As the holidays come each year, excitement builds, decorations go up, and Christmas songs play on the radio. In celebration of all the hubbub, we’ve compiled a list of essential Christmas stories to read, whether on your own, with your children, or the whole family.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

“Bah!” said Scrooge. “Humbug!”   

These famous words mark the beginning of a tale that renews the spirit of joy and caring that is Christmas. This book warms our hearts with favorite memories of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-be—and will remind us with laughter and tears about the true meaning of Christmas.

A Christmas tradition for many, including President Thomas S. Monson, this story is always a delight to read and reread during the Christmas season.

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright

Newspaper reporter Hope Jensen uncovers the remarkable secret behind the “Christmas Jars,” glass jars filled with coins and bills anonymously left for people in need. But along the way, Hope discovers much more than the origin of the jars. When some unexpected news sets off a chain reaction of kindness, Hope's greatest Christmas Eve wish comes true.

Read the book that has spawned a new Christmas tradition that has spread across the country—and even the world. A story of mystery and secrecy, the story behind the Christmas Jars is one of discovery and kindness, and wishes coming true.

Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

A prequel to Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol, R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge’s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Following the events leading to his death, perhaps we will discover what happened that bound Marley in chains after death.

Written in a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is a masterfully crafted story of remorse and redemption and sure to become a Christmas favorite.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Tom Browning

The classic poem paired with the original illustrations by award-winning Tom Browning brings to life the excitement and fun that children and adults alike have enjoyed for generations. The visions that this book will leave with your family will be memories to cherish together forever.

The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean

The Forgotten Carols tells the story of a nurse whose empty life is changed when a new patient recounts the story of Christ's birth as told by little known characters in the nativity story. The accounts from the innkeeper, the shepherd who fell asleep, the midwife who helped Mary, Joseph, and many others help her discover what the world has forgotten about Christmas, and open her heart to the joy of this special season.

Since this is a reading list, we’re sharing the book with you (there’s also a newer children’s version out—you can check it out here), but this is a timeless classic that encompasses a CD of songs, a DVD, and best of all, a show that has been enjoyed by sold-out audiences nationwide. Now you can feel the warmth of the Christmas spirit from the stage performances in your own home.

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard Schneider

In a beautiful forest far away, Small Pine aspires to one day be the royal Christmas tree. Small Pine is perfect on the outside - until the tree's warm heart inspires it to give shelter to cold rabbits and birds and food to hungry deer. Afraid his hopes are lost, Small Pine in fact becomes the Queen's choice because his appearance reminds her of the meaning of Christmas.

This is a beautiful story about true "perfection," and is a wonderful reminder about Jesus Christ's love.

The Mansion by Henry Van Dyke

John Weightman surrounded himself with beauty and riches and was very careful with how he spent his money. “No pennies in beggars’ hats,” he liked to say. Until one night he dreamed that he died . . .

John travels to the Celestial City, where each individual will be rewarded with a mansion based on treasures set aside. Thinking that his mansion will be the most grand, John Weightman learns what it truly means to lay up treasures in heaven.

A favorite of President Thomas S. Monson, who rereads this story every year, the 100th anniversary edition contains an illustrated abridged version for children as well as the original unabridged story.

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

A couple and their 4-year-old daughter are welcomed into the home of an ailing widow as her caretakers. Before long, their relationship with the widow becomes more special than any one of them could have realized. These tender relationships and real-life struggles are the backdrop for unraveling a mysterious secret that pulls the reader through this holiday classic. Originally written simple to express his love for his two daughters, The Christmas Box is now a national bestseller and a must-have for every home.

Christmas Oranges by Linda Bethers and illustrated by Ben Sowards

The only home little Rose has ever known is the orphanage where Mrs. Hartley cares for all the children as if they were her own. When tragedy occurs Rose is sent to a new orphanage, which is as cold and cruel as her previous home was kind.

Gradually Rose makes a few friends, and she learns that every Christmas a generous neighbor donates a box of oranges for the children. But on Christmas morning, Rose is brokenhearted when she learns that there is no orange for her. However, Christmas is a time of friendship, love, and miracles...

A tale of discovery and hope, perfect to share with children as you tuck them in on Christmas Eve. (Or, if you’re like our associate editor, you like to eat it while savoring a chocolate orange…)

Snow Angels by Angel Randall and illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Best friends Angel and Krystal discover the secret of the snow angels. With that secret, they find many ways to joyously make a difference in the lives of others. Krystal and Angel show children and adults alike that we're never really alone when we're serving others—angels are closer than we might think.

An opportunity to teach young children about the gift of service to others during the holiday season, this story warms your heart.

And, of course, you should always read the true Christmas story found in the scriptures. Check out our article on Advent for a more in-depth list of scriptures to study this holiday season to focus more on Christ.

Your turn: What's your favorite Christmas story? Did we miss any that you would add to the list?

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Pumpkin Pie

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:42:00 -0700

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Thanksgiving is nearly here! In honor of the quintessentially harvesty pumpkin pie, check out our guide to some tasty variations.

My family takes pumpkin pie seriously. Since childhood I can remember no less than 10 pumpkin pies each year (and that's a conservatively low number). We eat it for breakfast starting the day before Thanksgiving, and eat it throughout the day (usually while making more pumpkin pie).

In honor of the (arguably) most delicious and most memorable part of Thanksgiving, some delicious variations on the traditional fare:

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan-Gingersnap Crust (Photo from Our Best Bites)

Throwdown Maple Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Streusal (Photo from FoodNetwork.com)

Three-layer Pumpkin Pie

(This NYT recipe is nearly identical to the one my husband's family uses (pictured), except ours doesn't call for brandy. You can omit it. The pie is a "megillah," as my father-in-law famously calls it, but it's worth the effort.)

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie (Photo from Find Your Happiness)

Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart (Photo from FoodNetwork.com)

Layered Pumpkin Pie Toffee Cheesecake (Photo from Our Best Bites)

Pumpkin Bread Pudding (Photo from Epicurious)

(Wouldn't this be great with pumpkin bread substituted?)

Paula's Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle (Photo from FoodNetwork.com)

{A&E} Ultimate Guide: Finding Clean Books

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: After running our article on sites for reviewing movie content a month ago, we received several requests for an article to screen books as well. Your wish is our command.

I’ll tell you a secret. I almost failed 8th grade because I read too many books. True story. That’s how much I love reading.

Fortunately and unfortunately, the world of literature is larger and more diverse than that of its cinematic counterpart. This means everyone can find something to appease their varying appetites for the written word. It also means sites to review books vary in the number and genre of books evaluated.

The other problem is the manner of evaluation—let’s face it, The Book of Mormon could easily be rated R in movie format. All the war chapters that comprise the majority of Alma, the grisly end of Shiz at the conclusion of Ether, the graphic despotism of Moroni 9? And let’s not get into all the icky sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the other such gems we find in the Bible. The lines aren’t quite as easily drawn when assessing the worthiness of literature, and everyone has their own standards for evaluation.

With those caveats, here are some sites that can help you out on your quest for the best of books. Some of them are personal blogs of people who do book reviews, and many of them include traditional book reviews that just happen to also touch on content or only feature books that are already “clean” (according to their personal definition), so feel free to check them out to see which one (or ones) fits your needs best.

Book review sites:

commonsensemedia.org

focusonthefamily.com

theliteratemother.org

goodcleanreads.blogspot.com

ratedreads.com

novelbookratings.com

readcleanbooks.blogspot.com

To check out our article on movie review sites, click here.

Your turn: How do you decide which books to read and which to ditch? Do you have your own book review site or one you use all the time that we haven't featured here?

—
Kaela Worthen is the associate editor at LDS Living. A self-titled “ultimate grammar nerd,” she also battles serious addictions to news and food websites and a compulsion to dance to the radio while driving.

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Decadent Desserts

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: A list of indulgent dessert ideas for your night of fun with the girls, while the men are away at general conference priesthood session.

I know Saturday during the priesthood session of general conference is traditionally a girl's time, so I thought it would be fun to compile a list of awesome desserts for you ladies to enjoy with your gal pals. (Though, if you're more charitable than I, you might wait until the guys get home and enjoy them all together.)

A warning: I love desserts. And I tend to love rich desserts, so (per the title) this post is not for the faint of heart.

Peanut Butter Stuffed Hot Fudge Cupcakes (from How Sweet It Is)

(I may or may not have made them three times since finding them a month ago.)

Ultimate Chocolate Chip n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar (from Kevin and Amanda)

Dena's Chocolate Cake with Real Fudge Frosting (my own image)

(My own combination of Dena Kennedy's chocolate cake recipe with Cook's Country's Real Fudge Frosting from their "Wellesley Fudge Cake" recipe – you have to sign up for a free trial to get the recipe, but the fudgy goodness is worth it.)

Banana Parfait (from Framed Cooks)

Red Velvet Brownies (from Pass the Sushi)

Grasshopper Pie (from Feasts and Fotos)

(Easy. Decadent. Delicious.)

Happy eating!

{A&E} Ultimate Guide: Finding Clean Movies

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Kaela Worthen
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: In my quest to resolve my love of movies with my frustration at spending money on something not worthwhile, I found the following sites that help me screen movie content for sex, violence, and other things beforehand.

I love movies. A lot. But what I don’t love is the extraneous sex and gore often thrown in, in base attempts to appeal to the masses.

We, a peculiar people, are not the masses, which means a lot of times this doesn’t appeal to us, and we get stuck in sticky situations. It’s easy to turn off the TV or close out of Netflix when you’re at home watching something on your own. But what about when you’re with other people? What about when you’ve paid 10 bucks to go to the theater? Do you cover your eyes? Walk out? Or laugh along?

I often find myself wishing I could know exactly what was going to be in a movie I’m thinking about seeing as far as questionable content is concerned. Some things I would rather not see at all, some I would watch with my best friend but not my parents, and some are only a problem when very little children are around.

But how am I to know? There is actually a wealth of resources on the web to help screen your movie choices for you. Since I recently watched The Help in theaters when some family members came to visit, I decided to use the movie as a method of comparison on some of the top sites I found.

Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org)
This site has a great balance of features when it comes to movie content review sites. Using ratings on a scale of 1 to 5, it evaluates positive messages; positive role models; violence; sex; language; consumerism; and drinking, drugs, and smoking. Each rating has a paragraph explaining the rating it received, as well as an overall “What parents need to know” introductory paragraph. I love the age ratings: They have a chart starting at age 2 and continuing to 17: red means they shouldn’t see it, green means it should be a good fit, and yellow means it depends on the kid. The Help was acceptable to any kid age 12 and up, according to this site, while 10-year-olds fell in the yellow category. One of the best features is that it brings up questions that you may want to discuss with your children after the movie.

Kids in Mind (kids-in-mind.com)
This site does not have the breadth of Common Sense Media, using a scale of 1 to 10 to rate questionable material in only three categories: sex & nudity, violence & gore, and profanity. But if you want to know exactly what to expect, this site is the place to go. It details an extremely comprehensive list of all the instances of such content in each category. You can be sure nothing will be missed as it catches all the fine details: Point number seven in the list of 21 instances of violence in The Help says that “A woman has a bloody cut on her swollen eyebrow and another woman implies that she knows that a man had harmed her; the woman winces in pain as the other woman cleans her wound.”

Deseret News Family Media Guide (deseretnews.com/familymedia)
This site, in its beta stage, uses content descriptions and 1 to 10 scales from Kids in Mind, but it has a couple interesting and unique features. The most interesting is the "What do you think this movie should be rated?" feature, which allows you to see how viewers would rate the movie (and, in turn, how the 1 to 10 scales match up with viewers' sensitivity). Most movies are on par with the MPAA's rating, but you'll ocassionally come across a movie that viewers think was rated too leniently. There's also a "worth your time" scale, which isn't super novel, but is still helpful for recommendations. For our example, most people think The Help is accurately rated as PG-13, skewing toward PG, and it has a 94% "worth your time" rating.

Movie Mom (blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom)
Originally Nell Minow started the “Movie Mom” column on Yahoo! movies, and my family used her reviews all the time to decide if we would go see a movie (or we would even call home from the video store—when those still existed—to have someone check the site before we rented one). The age ratings always seem pretty on target to me: while The Help was acceptable for middle school students according to Movie Mom, some other PG-13 movies were only for “mature high school students.” She addresses the same basic categories as many other sites but also writes a full review of the movie that incorporates those issues, something many other similar sites lack. At the end, she covers family discussion topics and suggestions for similar movies if you like the one you’re currently reading about. Unfortunately, the site is extremely hard to navigate, so it may take some work to find the review of the specific movie you’re looking for if it’s not recent enough to already be on the home page.

Parent Previews (parentpreviews.com)
This site ties with Common Sense Media for the best overall balance of breadth and depth, in my opinion. Each movie is signed an overall grade (just like in school), as well as a grade in four classes: violence, sexual content, language, and drugs/alcohol. You can click through the tabs to see an overview of the film, detailed review, content review (elaborating on the ratings for questionable content), a “talk it over” section with discussion questions, suggestions for other films to watch, reader comments, video trailers/clips, and even ratings in other locations (The Help is PG-13 in the U.S. but only PG in Canada; in Quebec it’s just G).

How do you decide which movies to watch? Do you have other websites you use? Let us know in the comments below.

— 

Kaela Worthen is the associate editor at LDS Living. A self-titled “ultimate grammar nerd,” she also battles serious addictions to news and food websites and a compulsion to dance to the radio while driving.

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Swimsuits Part II

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:03:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

We had so much success with our first swimsuit guide (click here), that I thought, “Why not post more?!”

Now again, I realize that one person’s idea of “modest” may not be another’s, and that swimsuits are subjective to body type, but here are a few more swimsuits that I think can generally be considered modest.

(You can take LDS Living’s poll on the tankini vs. one piece debate here.)

These suits range from steal ($17) to splurge ($148).

Photo from ModCloth.
Bathing Beauty One Piece $89.99

Photo from ModCloth.
Plus Size Bathing Beauty One Piece $89.99

Photo from Lime Ricki.
Odessa Tankini Top $37

Photo from Lime Ricki.
London One Piece $60

Photo from ModBod.
Sunkissed Tankini $42

Photo from Anthropologie.
Water Splatter Maillot $148

Photo from DownEast Basics.
Santa Barbara Halter $32.99

Photo from DownEast Basics.
Sausalito Halter $32.99

Photo from Diviine Modestee.
Turquoise Dots Set $84

Photo from Diviine Modestee.
Flounce Halter Set $84

Photo from Old Navy.
Striped One Piece $29.50

Photo from Macy’s.
Jantzen One Piece $98.

Photo from Target.
Polka-dot Tankini Top $19.99

Photo from JC Penney.
Zero Xposur Action Top $27.99

Photo from JC Penney.
Floral Bandeau Tankini $17.99

Photo from Kneeshorts.
Trimshaper Swimsuit $49.99

Photo from Hapari.Plumeria Sport Tankini $46

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Swimsuits

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:10:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Oh, swimsuit season, how I love to loathe you. That’s because I can never find a modest swimsuit that doesn’t look like it’s from the 90s or the women’s Olympic dive team. But ladies, we have reason to be happy: the one piece is making a comeback! The retro-style look is back, and that means so are modest swimsuits.

Now, I realize that one person's idea of "modest" may not be another's, and that swimsuits are subjective to body type, but here are a few swimsuits that I think can generally be considered modest.

(You can take LDS Living's poll on the tankini vs. one piece debate here.)

Check out these adorable suits that range from steal ($10) to splurge ($188).

Photo from Lands' End.
Lands' End Tankini Top $38.15

Photo from Lands' End.
Tummy Control One Piece $49.99

Photo from DownEast Basics.
Sea Harbor Halter $32.99

Photo from DownEast Basics.
Sausalito Tank $32.99

Photo from Old Navy.
Beaded Halter Tankini $10

Photo from Old Navy.
Ruffle-Trim Tankini $17.50

Photo from Anthropologie.
Haute Seas One Piece $188

Photo from Anthropologie.
Ruffle-Wrapped Halter Suit $158

Photo from Anthropologie.
Lane Lines Maillot $168

Photo from ModBe Clothing.
Knot Top—Flower Vine Brown $48

Photo from ModBe Clothing.
Knot Top—Peachy Pink $48

Photo from Target.
Crochet One Piece $34.99

Photo from Target.
Merona One Piece $34.99

Photo from J Crew.
Retro Dot One Piece $88

--
Ashley Evanson is the Online Editor at LDS Living. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves looking at design blogs, wishing she could be as hip as the people she reads about. Her favorite color is light tan.

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Casserole Recipes

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:49:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Jell-O? Check. Funeral potatoes? Yep. Casseroles? Of course. Behold, the holy trinity of Mormon food.

LDS Living has brought you the ultimate recipe guides for Jell-O and funeral potatoes, and now we are happy to present the best casserole recipes from around the web. May your ovens be toasty and your bellies be full.

Photo from Food Gal.
Upscale Tuna Noodle Casserole

Photo from The Meaning of Pie.
Chicken Tomatillo Casserole

Photo from Kitchen Runway.
Jalapeno Corn Casserole

Photo from Zoom Yummy.
Cauliflower Casserole

Photo from Oui, Chef.
Chicken, Sausage and Polenta Casserole

Photo from The Meaning of Pie.
Baked Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Photo from The Cooking Photographer.
Parmesan Spinach Casserole with Garlic

Photo from Ommomicon.
Cheddar and Potato Lasagna Casserole

Photo from Ward Street Bistro.
Corn Fritter Casserole

Photo from Kayotic.
Divine Pasta Casserole

Photo from All Recipes.
Chicken Florentine Casserole

Photo from Food Network.
Paula Deen’s Corn Casserole

Photo from Food Network.
Tomato Vegetable Casserole

--
Ashley Evanson is the Online Editor at LDS Living. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves looking at design blogs, wishing she could be as hip as the people she reads about. Her favorite color is light tan.

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Funeral Potatoes Recipes

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:05:00 -0700

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Turn funeral potato blah into funeral potato ta-da! Mormons and funeral potatoes are kindred spirits…but why?! Sure, they’re quick and easy, but why settle for frozen hash browns and a can of soup? Here are some recipes for “funeral potatoes” that will have you going back for seconds (and thirds. Okay, and fourths.).

Photo from Korasoi.
Two Potato Chilli and Cumin Gratin

Photo from Babble.
Triple Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

Photo from the Food Network.
Provencal Potatoes

Photo from First Look, Then Cook.
Ham and Artichoke Potatoes

Photo from Naturally Ella.
Dill Potato Au Gratin

Photo from the Food Network.
Paula Deen’s Potato Casserole

Photo from Kayotic Kitchen.
Potatoes a la Boulangre

Photo from The Noshery.
Cheesy Garlic Potatoes

Photo from the Food Network.
Scalloped Potato Gratin

Photo from Two Spoons.
Sage Scalloped Potatoes

Photo from All Recipes.
Garlic Potatoes

Photo from the Food Network.
The Ultimate Potato Gratin

*What's your favorite potato recipe? Leave a comment below.

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: LDS Artsy Prints

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:10:00 -0700

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Hipster graphic prints featuring famous LDS phrases, songs, and scripture. These hipster graphic prints feature famous LDS phrases, songs, and scripture that would look great on the walls of any LDS home. These would be fantastic hanging solo, or together as a collage.

Photo by meganknorpp.
Abide with Me

Photo by meganknorpp.
Be of Good Cheer

Photo by poprocksdesign.
Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Photo by poprocksdesign.
I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

Photo by poprocksdesign.
Popcorn Popping

Photo from Deseret Book.
13th Article of Faith

Photo from Deseret Book.
Joshua 1:9

Photo by havejoy.
I Love to See the Temple

Photo by MrsEdie.
Helaman 5:12

Photo by miniMooshee.
Love is Spoken Here

Photo by miniMooshee.
Time and All Eternity

Photo by persimmonandpink.
Love One Another

Photo by persimmonandpink.
I am a Child of God

Photo by persimmonandpink.
Did You Think to Pray?

--
Ashley Evanson is the Online Editor at LDS Living. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves looking at design blogs, wishing she could be as hip as the people she reads about. Her favorite color is light tan.

{Lifestyle} Ultimate Guide: Best of Beehives

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:10:00 -0700

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Knick-knacks, jewelry, decor, and more--all with a beehive theme. The "Ultimate Guide" is a themed list of treasures ranging from home decor to delicious foods; the sky's the limit. We scour the web for the lastest and greatest and bring them to you in this handy dandy little guide.

Today's topic: Beehives.

“Deseret” is interpreted to mean honey bee, and we Mormons love us some honey bees and beehives. As one of the symbols of the LDS Church, the beehive plays a prominent role in our culture. Check out these awesome bee-themed finds.

Photo from PlasticLand.com.
Give your walls bohemian charm with this gorgeous wall art panel.

Photo from MarthaStewart.com.
This scrumptious honey-glazed beehive cake belongs in my belly, pronto. Here’s the recipe and cake pan. If you feel like sharing, let me know.

Photo from ModCloth.com.
What a bee-utiful gold ring!

Photo from Hostess with the Mostess.
Bright, sunny, and modern. Who wouldn’t want to come to this bumble bee-themed party?!

Photo from Etsy shop CatalyticInk.
Say thank you with these hand-drawn bee note cards.

Photo from Deseret Book.
Why yes, I’d love to have afternoon (herbal) tea and crumpets on your delicate, beehive dessert plates.

Photo from Etsy shop SimplyFrenchMarket.
So pretty, you won’t want to spill on these French bee placemats and napkins.

Photo from SaveurDejour.com.
Pass the (gourmet) honey, please! Love the vintage pail it comes in.

Photo from Deseret Book.
You don’t even have to bake to want this beehive cake pedestal.

Photo from FancyFlours.com.
These beehive and bumble bee cookie cutters would make such a pretty plate of cookies!

--
Ashley Evanson is the Online Editor at LDS Living. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves looking at design blogs, wishing she could be as hip as the people she reads about. Her favorite color is light tan.