Super Hero Training

Wednesday night was our New Beginnings Program. (Every year with the youth we kick off the new year by introducing the theme and also welcome the girls who has turned 12 or will turn 12 in the coming year and then also talk about all the cool things coming up in the coming months.) This years theme was the 13th Article of Faith. I was inspired by all the qualities that are listed and that we aspiring to be in our lives. They reminded me of super qualities. Character traits that our heroes have. So, this became our theme for the evening.

As we were putting together the details for the evening, I really wanted to combine the Young Women values with the qualities from the Article of Faith. And as I did some digging, I found this booklet about scripture super heroes. And it gave me a jumping off point for what I created for my girls. I made my own booklet with scripture heroines that exemplified each of the eight values and the qualities from the theme.

For the program this year, we talked about the women of the scriptures and each of us as leaders took a few values to talk about. For instance, I talked about Good Works: Tabitha, Virtue: Mary the mother of Jesus, and then the ultimate super hero, Jesus Christ. Then one of our girls, Tiffinique (I love her name btw.) sang Hero by Mariah Carey. It was awesome! Then, one of the bishopric members, Dave Chance, said a few words and we closed and had refreshments.

For decorations, I made buntings that said We Believe for the area behind where we spoke and then above the food table. I had shields that I printed off that had each value and color on them. We hung those from the ceiling around the room. I made a cake with a super girl busting out of the top of it. And, for the girls, we made booklets for each of them and put them in clear gift bags with a card that had the theme on it, a bracelet that had the words we believe on it and a box that we made and put a shield shaped cookie in. Check out the pics...

Operation Organize: Jewelry Hanger

I think Ashton is a better photographer than I am, but here's a quick shot at my new jewelry organizer on my bedroom wall looking so amazing that I can't take my eyes of it.

Here's a close up from the side:

For this project, I recycled everything from around the house. The frame is an old armoure door where the panels got busted out. The first thing I did is paint it with some black spray paint which I had on hand. I found the wire in the woods behind my house and scrubbed it with a wire brush and painted it too. I then cut the wire down to fit in the panels and used a staple gun to attach it to the frame. After that I added some fabric I had in my piles and stapled that in too. Then i had these coat hooks from a projected that I no longer needed and I screwed those to the frame at the corners and in the middle. Then to add a little fun I made some fabric roses and hot glued them to the frame in two opposite corners. Then I hung it up and filled it with all my jewelry that was tangled all together on my counter in a box in the bathroom.

I used the hooks for necklaces, I hung my earrings on the wire panel on the left and on the right I put my pins, bracelets and rings. Here's a few more close ups of what the wire panels look like:

The bracelets that don't unhook, I tied to the wire with ribbon I had left over from the cake I did for Nicole. And any earrings that didn't hook on to the wire, I added to a ribbon that I just pushed the stud trough and then put the backs on. ( it's the pink bow hanging in the first few pictures...)

At first I just had all my rings jammed on to one of the coat hooks, but I was afraid that they would all fall off, so, in the end I did spring for some s-hooks that I could hook on to the wire and then add my rings to them. To get enough I had to buy 3 packages of hooks and at $.99 each, I think $3 is a still for my new organizer turned art piece. What do you think?

Cake

In 2010, I started the "learning to make a fantastic cake" process. So, I used my girls at church as guinea pigs and did a cake that used a new technique for all of their birthdays. Through out the year I've made 6. So, earlier this month I made another testing out my skills and this it what I took to church for Nicole (which happens to be the name that I chose in French class).

Something New...

This is one of my favorite pictures of myself now. And guess what? Ashton took it! I can see a future filled with beauty that his talents create. Now, I did add a little Photoshop action to it, but he did a good job for me. By the way, this is my new favorite hairstyle. It takes me a long time to do it but I think it's so worth it. The more I do it though, I think I'll get quicker at it. But really, this post isn't totally about my hair, or my son the budding photographer. It's really about my need to show off my awesome new scarf. It's really a lace shawl that I turned so the point was in front and wrapped the ends back around the front then added a broach and wa-la! I love it.

It's this pattern, Haruni, made by a generous knitter, Emily Ross done in some of my favorite North Carolina Alpaca yarn that I usually get a skein of when I go to visit family. I love, love, l-o-v-e it!

Under My Umbrella...

...I have cupcake! Okay. Ever since I did a beach themed birthday party at church of one of my girls, I have been meaning to post about this super cute and fun cupcake decor.

Here's what they looked like on the cupcakes:

So, here we go!

You need:

2" circle paper punch
Cardstock or scrapbook paper
White Glue
Toothpick
Glue gun and glue sticks

First thing...plug in your glue gun. This will make your life easier. Then punch out several circles. Then cut each circle on the radius (1/2 way across the circle). Next add a little white glue to the edge of cut and merge the two sides together to make the umbrella tops. Allow to dry. Then add a dab of hot glue to the under side and attach toothpick. Let cool and your ready to have fabulous cupcakes.

Now, you should know that you can use these for so many things. I used the same technique and bamboo skewers to make jumbo umbrellas for a center piece. But, you could use stir sticks instead of the toothpicks and you've got instant fabulousness for drinks, too!

I love taking simple things and making them into something special...

Infinite Hope

This weekend I spent two days with some amazing women. I went to a women's conference, called Time Out For Women, in Atlanta. The theme for the event was infinite hope. It didn't actually occur to me until I was there, but this is exactly what I had been studying and focusing on in my own personal study. Many of the speakers pointed out that it's your thoughts that become your attitude and your attitude becomes your character and in turn it creates your reality.

We were encouraged to write down ALL of our hopes and dreams, no matter how big they are and then believe that God wants you to have all things that will provide you with Joy, Peace and Love. So, I've decided to do just that. I wrote my list. I read it every day. I say it over and over in my mind and I believe and trust that God truly wants me to be a joyful personal full of hope. Something else that I've started doing with this is getting rid of negativity. Any time my emotions are letting me know that my thoughts are dwelling on negative things, ie: I feel stressed, mad, sad, sick..., I just stop what I'm thinking, take a deep breath and begin to think about things that bring me joy and gratitude. I've also learned that being outside helps me to release the negative and grab the positive. Singing and dancing also help me, too.

One of the many highlights of the event was Michael McLean. He's a singer/ song writer who performed on Friday night. He has a new website called Mission To Be Happy, where he writes about finding happiness in his life. It's interesting. At Time Out, he spoke about trying to overcome depression for 30 years and the answers to prayer that he received and how he looks for the little joys in life to hold to and celebrate each day. I was interesting to see him there. I was able to see him perform about three years ago. And comparing his demeanor and enthusiasm was neat to see the change.

But all in all I had fun and I'm working on my own mission to be happy and having infinite hope.

Life and all that is....

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I posted here last! It goes with out saying that I've been busy! But, that just means I have lots to share with you! I'll be posting more as the week goes along. So, here's a few photos to keep you happy.

Shiloh was helping me to do some laundry.