Monday, March 31, 2014

Together, With God, We Are Unstoppable.

Did you know tomorrow is the premiere of our first issue of Stand & Shine Magazine!!! We're SO excited to finally have it done! 

Check back tomorrow for the link!

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Wasn't the General Women's Meeting amazing?

There were so many great things said! And such a special spirit was there throughout the meeting. We are truly blessed to have such amazing leaders in each of the auxiliaries and to also have the wonderful men who are called as prophets and apostles to guide us as well.

What was your favorite part? 

Was it the beautiful music? Or perhaps one of the talks or quotes?

I don't know if I could pick a specific part that I loved the most - it was all amazing. But I felt like there was a theme for me:

Togetherness. Unity. Needing each other.
Strength. Covenants. Power.

We females are quite an amazing bunch. God has given us unique gifts and talents. We have such great potential in us. We can do amazing things.

But can you imagine the great things we can do together?

I felt like the entire message (for me) was that if we can unite together, nothing can stop us. There was something said like, "Satan wants us to notice our differences. God wants us to be united as one." If we set aside our differences and saw each other as sisters - as other daughters of God - what couldn't we do???


My take-home lesson was that I want to see other girls/women differently. Instead of looking for their differences, I want to look for their similarities. Instead of looking for faults, I want to see their strengths. And instead of seeing a stranger, I want to see my sister - another daughter of God on her path home. Just like me.

So what did you learn? 
What was your take-home message? 
What are you going to change?


And in case you missed it or want to watch it again, you can find the entire meeting online. I also wanted to share the video presentation "Walk In His Light" that they shared - it's just so special and makes our similarities as daughters of God really stand out. Enjoy!



(Images from here.)

- marci

Saturday, March 29, 2014

We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father



Tonight we have the opportunity to attend the first ever Women's General Meeting and gather as sisters and friends, mothers and daughters, girls and women. We will be able to listen to our church leaders and feel the Holy Ghost as our Father in Heaven teaches us what we need to hear and feel.

Isn't it amazing that women, young women, and primary girls will gather around the world to hear these messages? We come from different places and circumstances, and we might each be looking for different answers or guidance, but we will be one in our purpose: to follow the Lord.

Do you remember Sister Elaine S. Dalton's talk from last year called We Are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father? I love how she talked about us being "covenant keepers". That we need to "stand as  witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places." She asked us to "return to virtue" which she explained as having our thoughts and behavior based on high moral standards.

One part that I liked while re-reading it was:

As daughters of God we are each unique and different in our 
circumstances and experiences. And yet our part matters—because we matter. 
Our daily contributions of nurturing, teaching, and caring for others 
may seem mundane, diminished, difficult, and demeaning at times, 
and yet as we remember that first line in the Young Women theme—
“We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us”
—it will make all the difference in our relationships and our responses.

So tonight I encourage you to remember that you are daughter of God! Your part matters! And as we follow the Lord and return to virtue as Sister Dalton encouraged us to do, we will be given strength and power. We will make a difference!

You go girls!!!!

And on Monday, let's talk about what we loved from tonight's meeting!!! Can't wait!!



Friday, March 28, 2014

How You Stand & Shine: Flash Mob at Temple Square

It's so great to see Young Women (and those Young Men too)
doing awesome things to Stand & Shine!

Here is a stake from South Jordan that created a flash mob at Temple Square 
to celebrate finishing their re-reading of the Book of Mormon.

Way to go!



Thursday, March 27, 2014

Pinterest Funny Finds

Most days I think I'm pretty funny.
Though my family usually doesn't. Go figure.

Which means I get a kick out of these cheesy pins on Pinterest
and thought you might enjoy a good laugh too.


P.S. You can find us on Pinterest here for all sorts of awesomeness.













Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Power & Perspective From The Atonement



We each have really hard things happening in life. And if we don't right now, we have in the past and we will in the future. It's part of the mortal experience that we signed up for.

Even the splotchy skin and those annoying siblings. Yup!

So let's get a bit more serious today and talk about something REAL and IMPORTANT that will help you with those hard times ok? 

Ok. Let's go!

----------------------------------------------------

We knew that when we came to this earth it was part of The Plan. We would get a body. We would have opportunities to learn. We would be given the commandments. In Abraham 3:25 it says,


"And we will prove them herewith, 
to see if they will do all things whatsoever 
the Lord their God shall command them."


That's why you're here! To prove to God that you will make choices that lead back to him. Sounds simple enough...but in real life it's easier said than done huh?

The most important part of The Plan is that our Heavenly Father provided a Savior for us. He knew that we needed to keep the commandments, but He also knew that we would make mistakes and sin. We wouldn't be able to keep those commandments perfectly.

That's the first part of the Atonement. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we could overcome sin. So that we could repent, be forgiven, and be clean again in the sight of God. This is the redemptive power of the Savior's Atonement. And we each need to use this daily! 

Come on, I know you snuck your sister's new lip gloss!! 

Now the second part of the Atonement is something that we need just as much but we often fail to remember. The Atonement also gives us power. Power to be happy! Power to be strong! Power to do hard things!

This is called the enabling power of the Atonement. It "enables" us or makes possible for us to do more and be more than we could without that power.

You can see this power in different ways at different times of your life. When I was in junior high school, I had a really difficult time with two boys that would constantly tease me. They did it so often that it turned from being a joke here and there, to something that really hurt my feelings and my self-esteem. However - here's the part you'll want to pay attention to - because I knew my Savior and I prayed and pled for help, I was given power to be strong. Power to ignore. Power to have confidence in myself. Power to understand who I was and that it didn't matter what two silly and obnoxious boys thought about me.

This is the enabling power of the Atonement!

Make sense?

Think of it this way. The redemptive power is something you use if YOU sinned or if YOU did something wrong.

The enabling power is often something used when SOMEONE ELSE or JUST LIFE does something that affects you. 

Maybe someone says something rude. Maybe you're struggling with that history class. Maybe you have a difficult circumstance at home. Whatever it is, the enabling power can give you strength. In Alma 20:4 King Lamoni says,

"In the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things."

That's what Lamoni is talking about! The enabling power of the atonement! 

Yesterday I saw this fun article online. It shows famous places and how their appearance changes based on perspective.

Here are the Pyramids of Giza:



Huge, towering, and they seem like they are just out in the middle of the desert!

But look what happens when you zoom out a bit:

© Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) 

Now they don't seem so large and deserted. It looks like there are people living basically at their doorstep! 

Isn't that incredible!!

A lot of times this is what the enabling power of the Atonement does for me. It helps me to have a larger perspective. To understand that a little argument or a small frustration in life isn't really this huge, overbearing pyramid. But just a small little bump in the big picture of life that I can overcome with the help of my Savior.

I promise you that as you use the redemptive AND enabling powers of the Atonement you can do hard things. You will grow in confidence, strengthen in testimony, and brighten in faith. You will have the perspective to see yourself and your life with eternal meaning. And you will have the power to be a strong, valiant, and faithful daughter of God.

- marci


Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Happy Study Space

It's almost the end of the year
which means school is allllllllllmost done! 
Phew.

But before you can burn your backpack 
and make those party plans, 
you probably have some major studying to do.

(And check out our upcoming Premiere Stand & Shine Magazine issue for TONS of study tips, ideas, etc.)

To help your studying go a little more smoothly
and have a little more style,
we gathered some fun ideas of study spaces
perfect for focusing on that algebra or the periodic table.


And don't worry!
You don't have to break the bank to have a cute space.
Take ideas from these pictures and figure out how to make
the furniture/decor/etc. on your own or for a cheaper price.

Yard sales and thrift shops are awesome places to find great
deals on items that might just need a new coat of paint or some new fabric.
(But of course, make sure all of your changes have been discussed with 
the parentals in your life. We want them to be happy about it too!)

So study away in these cute and stylish spaces:


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This is a simple set up from Pottery Barn Teen. 
Now of course they are pretty expensive but you could easily re-create this look
by painting the frame on a cheap bulletin board,
buying a brightly colored lamp at Target or Walmart,
and even recovering your existing chair with some shag fabric.
(You can check your local craft store for sales and coupons on similar fabric)

from pbteen.com



This is a simple DIY study space, depending on the layout of your room.
Notice the fun paint color behind the shelves and simple containers to store supplies!
You can purchase floating shelves/desk at a store like Target or IKEA
(or if someone is a handyman in the family they could help you make them from scratch).

from houzz.com



This is a great idea for simplifying your study space.
A clear desk that has just a few personal items and that cute little clothesline for pictures.
Again, a fluffy chair! Must be a trend or something.
But you could easily recover a chair with fuzzy fabric or favorite pattern.




We're loving this bright and happy study space!
This one would require lots of permission and planning with the parents
since it's built into the wall.
But you could also use free-standing furniture and just mimic the setup.
A large bulletin board, fun shelves that are painted in the back,
and a cute chair that I'm pretty sure I saw at a yard sale once :)

from houzz.com



Are you a beach-lover? Then this space is for you!
A very simple idea to create, just using a couple of shutters
with clothespins, wicker baskets, and sea shells.
You could even paint those shutters a fun color if you felt so inclined!




This is another simple, easy study space to put together.
It looks like they covered a bulletin board with some burlap,
adding a brightly colored lamp and some small desk organizers.
Again, a fun chair that adds some character!

from houzz.com



And one last one from Pottery Barn Teen.
Does anyone else drool when they look at their furniture and spaces?
Again this could be any easy one to recreate.
IKEA has similar desks with the triangular legs.
You could recover a bulletin board in cute polka dot fabric
and again a funky chair!

from pbteen.com



There you have it. 
Just a few ideas to help your studying happen in comfort and cuteness!



Monday, March 24, 2014

What do you see


When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Do you see a daughter of God?

Someone with beauty and individuality?

With talents, gifts, and abilities?

With goals and dreams?

With a divine potential to become and do great things?

I hope so. Because you are all of those things and more.



So today when you look in the mirror, make sure you're seeing yourself as God intended.

Remember your worth is great.

Which means you are great :)



Friday, March 21, 2014

Extreme Group Dates!



Get ready. Set. Go! 
Are you excited for some Extreme Group Date ideas?

We're talking crazy awesome dates.
Seriously.

We know the dating scene can be scary and stressful.
And sometimes those boys just don't know how to ask a girl out!

But never fear because we are here to help you out!
You and your BFF's could use these ideas to ask out a group of guys,
or you could secretly plant the awesome suggestion in those silly boys' minds.
(insert evil laugh here = WHA HA HA)

Either way, you're guaranteed to have a blast with these games!





No, croquet is not just for those over 60.
Especially when it's played at the extreme!

The trick to extremem croquet is that you set up a croquet course 
in an unusual place like a park or picnic area. 
Think hills, streams, rocks, trees - the more obstacles the better!


Supplies Needed: 
1 Croquet Set + 1 Park + Fun People


Set Up: 
When setting up your course, put the wickets in tricky places
like in a cluster of trees or over a small creek.
Long-distance shots are really fun too :)
Just make sure to tell everyone in your group where they are,
maybe even taking them on a little tour of the course so they know where to go.


How To Play: 
Each player takes a turn, 
trying to hit their ball through the first wicket.
If a player misses, they will have to use their next turn to try and get it through again. 
If they make it through the wicket, they can move on to the next
wicket on their following turn.

So everyone will continue following the course and taking turns appropriately.
The first person through the last wicket wins!

Have fun!
And maybe your Grandma will want to play with you next time!

(Note: Most croquet sets have enough mallets and balls for 8 people,
but if your group is larger just make sure to borrow another croquet set from someone.)






Supplies Needed: 
1 Deck of Cards + Spoons (enough for every person except one)


Set Up: 
Scatter the spoons around the room.
You could also put them in a different room or behind a couch, etc.
Something tricky :)

Have everyone sit in a circle on the floor.
The dealer will give everyone 4 cards and put the rest of the cards in the middle.


How To Play:
The object is to get 4 cards of the same number and then grab a spoon.

So the dealer will start by picking a card from the pile,
deciding whether they want it and then put either the new card or
one of their old cards face down in front of the next player.
That player will pick up the card, decide if they want it 
and again, either put that card or one from their hand in front of the next player.

Players cannot have more than 4 cards in their hand,
so the cards will continue to make their way around the circle as 
players pick up and get rid of a card.

When a player gets 4 cards with the same number,
they run and grab a spoon (wherever they are).
As soon as someone runs to get a spoon all of the other players
try to get a spoon as well.
The player left without a spoon is out.

For the next round, the player who got out will just watch while everyone plays again. 
(Make sure to take out a spoon so there is always one less spoon 
than the number of people playing.)
When you get down to two people, you'll find out who the 
champion extreme spoon player is!




Supplies:
1 Sorry game + Chalk + Large Driveway or Cemented Area


Set Up:
Draw a life-size Sorry board with chalk.
You could do it by color like in the real game,
or just with white chalk.

Divide into teams.
Probably 4 on a team will work best.
It would be fun for each team to wear their color too,
like the blue team wears blue shirts, etc.


How to Play:
Play exactly like the real Sorry game, but instead 
use the life-size board and use people as the games pieces.

Use the cards from Sorry just like in the real game
to start, move, switch, etc.

The winning team is the one to get to HOME first!


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Spring Skirt Round Up!



It's time to stash away the sweaters and boots because
Spring is here!

Can you tell we're excited?

One of the best things about Spring is that the flowers,
the store windows, and your wardrobe start to brighten up with 
fun colors and patterns, perfect for the season.

So here's a round up of Spring skirts that will brighten up any day
and add some fun to your closet!




Pencil Polka Dot Skirt
$27.99



Preppy Pleated Skirt
$24.99




Sweet Stripes (midi length)
$26.00



Eyelet Pencil Skirt
$24.99



For the Love of Polka Dots Skirt
$37.99



Discreet Skirt - Hot Coral Print
$32.99

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

M&M's For General Conference

The countdown is on! Just 18 more days until General Conference!
Which means it might be a good time to start preparing our hearts and minds.


We found this adorable M&M printable with some tips on how to prepare for conference. 
It was shared by Chelsie Toyn on sugardoodle.net. 


1. Write a list of questions

2. Pray about the items on your list

3. Listen for the answers


You could glue it in your journal next to the questions you write down or
staple it onto some M&M's and it's a fun little class handout!





Monday, March 17, 2014

May Your Heart Be Light

Happy St. Patrick's Day my friends!

Hope your day is filled with luck and maybe some yummy treats ;)


And because we love all things cute,
check out this free printable over at The 36th Avenue.

A perfect little Irish blessing for this holiday!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Bullying - Stop It


You've probably already seen this video that's been going around online last week.
It's an anti-bullying video that the church put together along with help from Provo (I think?) teens.

The message is clear.
Bullying is not okay. And we need to stop.

It comes in so many forms - jokes, comments, judging, gossiping, physical contact, etc.

A huge message that I took away from this video was that
even just teasing someone "for fun" can hurt them in ways we can't comprehend.

So please watch it.
Pass it along to your friends and family.

And be the one that decides to stand up and make a difference!


- marci

Friday, March 14, 2014

Favorite Things Friday: Lip Balm




Chapped lips are not happy lips.
And not because of kissing...geez, what are you thinking about?!?!

But really. Dry lips are NOT fun. And there are loads of lip balm that can help keep them moist and happy.

And I should mention, if you have dry or chapped lips make sure that you are drinking enough water every day. If your body is dehydrated - meaning not enough water is in there! - then your lips and hands will be one of the first places to show it. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking 2.2 liters of fluid a day which is about 9 cups worth. And juice, milk, water, etc. all count towards that total!

Back to the lips though. :)

Here are my favorite lip balms for Favorite Things Friday!



My #1 right now!
%100 natural and %95 organic
$2.75 - $3.50



fragrance free and preservative free
$3.50 - $5.00



naturally conditioning beeswax
$2.00 - $5.00



lip protectant...some include sunscreen!
$2.00 - $4.00



buffs away dry skin & moisturizes
around $10.00



What's your favorite lip balm?


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Flirting Academy - Studio C

Ok. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good laugh.
And lately I've been stuck on Studio C. Heard of it?

So here's a little laugh for today.
And a little instruction on how to flirt properly, haha.

Enjoy!



Monday, March 10, 2014

It's Monday!

What's on your to-do list this week? Do you have a big test? Maybe tryouts for a team or auditions for a play? Or maybe you're dealing with something at home or with a friend.

Just remember that no matter the challenges in your life Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. At school or at home, He can and will help you.

So have a Happy Monday and remember that you are not alone!


- marci

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Hey Girl, Are You Ready For Sunday?

You know that Primary song, "Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday...." ??? I've always liked it because for me it's very true. Saturday is the day to clean up, clean out, and get my house and my mind ready for the Sabbath.

And apparently Saturday's are also used to meet this handsome guy:



Haha! I couldn't help but share that, it's just too funny! I don't know who made up all these "Hey Girl" sayings but they're awesome.

But back to the point, here are some ideas of things you can do on Saturday to be ready for a spiritual Sabbath Day:


  • Complete all of your homework
  • Do your laundry
  • Finish up any chores you have
  • Wash your windows...it will make your room shine!
  • Listen to happy music, doesn't have to be church music but at least something uplifting
  • Read about the lesson or topic you'll have in YW tomorrow
  • Go to bed at a decent hour so you don't fall asleep in church
  • Help your parents with things they need done around the house or yard
  • Clean up any clutter or piles in your room
  • Make your bed
  • Plan your outfit for tomorrow, we know that decision can take some time!


What do you do on Saturdays to get ready for Sunday?


- marci

Friday, March 7, 2014

Free Music Download

The hymns are a great tool to bring the spirit into our hearts. We can feel Heavenly Father's love for us and find answers to prayers in their words.

Did you know that you can get free music downloads on lds.org? You can! Check it out here, their latest download is "I Feel My Saviors Love" by Haley Gibby.


Thursday, March 6, 2014

We Seek After These Things

Last night while reading my scriptures,
I was feeling worried about this magazine endeavor.
And honestly, I felt like giving up.

Pathetic, I know. We don't even have our first issue out and I'm already whining!

BUT. As I read, I had the thought to turn to the Articles of Faith.
And at the very end of the very last one was my answer:



As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
we seek after good things.

That is the entire purpose of this magazine.
To show the good in the world. To uplift and enlighten.
To let girls, women, daughters, and moms know that they are not alone
in seeking for virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy things.

It was just the message I needed to hear. 
And feel.


- marci 

Monday, March 3, 2014

Welcome!

This is our first official blog post! Yay!

Our first issue is scheduled to be ready on April 1st
and we'll have more details as it gets closer.

But right now we're looking for YOU to contribute to
Stand & Shine Magazine.

Please click on the "Submissions" tab above to see
the many, many categories you can submit work for.

Thank you for your support!