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June 13, 2012

Craft ideas: Feather Pens

Hello,
Here are some more ideas.  All these ideas can work for Secret Sister, Mutual, Fundraisers, Girls Camp, and so forth.  :) Have fun.
XO,
Flame


1. Feather Pens: These are way cute to go with journals, gifts, stuff like that.  I personally think these would be way cute for Secret Sister or for new girls coming into your class - like a gift from the presidency.  I know my ward gives gifts to new girls and these would be way cute!

Materials:

  • regular pen with no handle or fancy bits to it (it needs to be a basic pen so you can wrap the ribbon around it)
  • ribbon in a favorite color or pattern (about 2 feet... though the wider the ribbon the less you'll need)
  • feathers
    • to get a really poofy pen, we used an old feather boa and just snipped off a couple of inch long pieces of it. You can find these at craft stores, costume stores and sometimes even the dollar store. They're also fairly common at garage sales (old halloween costumes). A brand new one from the craft store costs about $8 and will give enough pieces for about 15 pens.
    • you can also use a few plain feathers... just keep adding them until you're happy with the look (about 5 or 6 feathers is nice)
  • hot glue gun
  • scissors
  • a friend (an adult could do it solo)

Instructions:

  • This project is best done with a friend -- one does the glue and the other does the wrapping.
  • put a dab of hot glue at the end of the pen and attach your ribbon at an angle
  • wrap the ribbon around the pen once
  • Put another dab of hot glue on the pen and wrap again
  • continue dabbing and wrapping until the pen is covered in ribbon
  • Snip off the ribbon
  • Put a bit of extra glue and use a popsicle stick or the back of another pen to secure the ribbon really well.
  • put a dab of glue at the end of the pen and attach a feather or a feather boa piece.
  • flip the pen over and attach another feather boa pin (or another feather).
  • if using feathers, continue to rotate the pen and glue feathers on until the end is covered on fluffy (4 to 6 feathers) 
Ideas from: http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/birthday


More Ideas....

Some more cute ideas for whatever!
-Flame


Idea 1: Homemade Bath Salts: Bath salts are way fun and very simple.  These can be cute for Mother's Day, Secret Sisters, Mutual Activities, Girls' Camp, Birthdays, or just about anything else!

DLTK's Crafts for KidsBath Salts

The recipe assumes you are making this with a few children or if you're making the project to package as gifts for a couple of people. You can half or quarter it if you are only want one batch.

Materials:

  • Large Bowl (ex: empty margarine container) per color for mixing
  • 4 cups Epsom Salts (purchase at the drug store)
  • 2 cups coarse salt or 1 cup table salt - I prefer coarse salt
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • food coloring
  • jars with wide mouths and lids (baby food jars and small jam jars work well)
  • spoon
  • ribbon
  • Optional: 1/2 tsp glycerin (purchase at the drug store)
  • Optional: essential oil (scented oils like vanilla or citrus) -- available at most craft stores (I also use them for candle making)
    OR
  • Optional: a few drops of strong perfume (erm, this is a good use for some of the perfumes you might get for mother's day that you don't really wear much *grin*)

Instructions:

  • Mix the two kinds of salt and baking soda together in one large bowl
  • Optional: Add 1/2 tsp glycerin and about 10 drops essential oil (or about 5 drops of perfume) to the big batch of salt.
    • Sprinkle it all over instead of dumping in one spot so it's easier to mix.
    • Mix well.
  • split the salt into as many batches as you need for the colors you want (for example, if you want pink, blue and white you'd use three bowls and split the salt into three batches)
  • Add two to six drops of the color you have chosen and mix well with the spoon.
    • don't get too carried away with the food color -- keep it pastel -- we don't want to turn grandma blue!
    • (note: Put each drop in a different spot so the mixing is easier)
  • Carefully spoon the salt into the jar.
  • While spooning, you can alternate colors to give a nice pattern.
  • Tightly seal the jar.
  • Tie a ribbon around the jar and add a gift tag if you like.
  • Use up to 1/2 a cup of the salt per bath

Faith...

Faith...
Our first Young Women value that we state in our theme.

Why is faith so important?
To me, faith is knowing that God knows what is ahead and that I can do what He has called me to do.  It is believing He is putting me through these trials because He wants me to come out as a better person.  It is knowing that He loves me, that He is watching me, and that He hears me.

I don't know how much this applies, but I am going to share it anyway.

A few weeks ago, I received notification that one of my close friends was suicidal.  It was a very tragic time period and...phew, luckily she is getting better now.  But I noticed one thing that happened and caused her to turn to that option (which should never be an option.)

My friend had began to loose faith that there is somebody out there who knows her personally, who loves her, who cares for her, and who knows exactly what she was going through.  We tried and tried to tell her that God loved her, but she couldn't seem to find it in herself.  She kept asking if there was somebody who would understand her. 

I promise you - there is somebody who loves you and understands you.  Please, good sisters, don't loose your faith in His divine love, His perfected plan, and His infinite understanding.  He knows you.  I promise you - He is there.  If you will just have the faith to trust in His love, to climb into His everlasting outstretched arms, and to give your life to Him - knowing that He knows all you are going through - you will find peace, understanding, joy, and comfort.  It may not be easy, but life was never meant to be easy.  Have the faith to get to know Christ and your Heavenly Father.  Have the faith to give your life over to them.  Have faith in Their plan.  Have faith in their infinite knowledge.

:) Much love,
Flame








I Like To Sleep...

As I promised....
Much slumber.

Why do prophets and apostles consistently counsel us to get "enough sleep"?  Well, here are a few "physical" and "spiritual" reasons.

The Physical Reasons
Though scientists are not exactly certain why we need sleep, they do have several theories. 
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120228-why-do-we-need-to-sleep says:

One theory that has emerged in recent years is that sleep helps us to process and consolidate new memories. Our memory system is a psychological wonder, and several studies have suggested that sleep provides some behind-the-scenes maintenance.
One school of thought is that sleep aids our memories by refreshing and reorganising them without interfering with our waking thoughts. Evidence comes from several studies using methods that record the brain directly. For instance, when rats were trained to find their way around a maze, their brains produced the same activity patterns during sleep as when they had carried out the task – suggesting that the brain was reconstructing the experience.
From this we also gain an important insight into the fascinating phenomenon of dreams. These crazy adventures our minds have while we are sleeping may be a product of our memories randomly activating so as to keep them fresh, and of the mind seeking connections between all the things we have recently experienced. This could also explain why hallucinations accompany sleep deprivation. Without the opportunity to reorganise our memories during sleep, dreams intrude into our waking lives, causing difficulty in distinguishing our inner lives from reality.

So, not only does sleep help give our body a chance to have a break, repair, and rest...it also can help with storing memories and sorting through them.  Sleep is a vital part of our lives, just like eating, drinking, and breathing.  Our body cannot fully function, nor our brain properly think or command, without a little bit of nighty-night.

The Spiritual Reasons
Elder Richard G Scott, in this previous April 2012 conference, said, "Revelation can also be given in a dream when there is an almost imperceptible transition from sleep to wakefulness... Exercise, reasonable amounts of sleep, and good eating habits increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation. We will live for our appointed life span." 
How many times in the scriptures have we heard about dreams, visions, and so forth. For example, in the book of Genesis, we learn of Joseph and the Pharaoh.  Pharaoh dreamed about the cattle and the corn.  Later on Joseph was able to decipher the dream and help save Egypt during famine.  (see Genesis 41.) 
Obviously, sleep is important.  I think sleep can be a great tool for God to use in order to give us special warnings, visions, and promptings. 
President Monson has said:
The Apostle Paul declared, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17). Nutritious meals, regular exercise, and appropriate sleep are necessary for a strong body, just as consistent scripture study and prayer strengthen the mind and spirit.
Modern-day LDS temples even take "naps."  They are closed for cleaning, renovation, and so forth.  Maybe sleep is like that for the body.  We are better fortified when we wake up, we are fresh and ready for a new day, and we are preparing ourselves to receive revelation.

June 12, 2012

Funnies






Exercise Ideas....

To go along with our whole "healthy life" section, inspired by L Tom Perry....

An Exercise Idea....

Hey, no moaning and groaning.  I know for some of us, we'd rather read than move.  I've felt that way before.  And I promise you, there are other ways to get fit besides the typical baseball, basketball, etc.

Here are a few ideas....


1. Ballroom:
   I do ballroom and it is so fun!  I've danced several different dancing styles over my past 6 years of dance experience, and I swear to cantaloupe, this is the most beautiful dancing style I've ever seen.  It is so beautiful and graceful...social and sweet.  It doesn't need to be a romantic experience.  I know that's what I thought at first.  O great, it looks like a passionate romantic dance.  It may look like something that would really shake up your hormones, but I actually don't think of it that way.  It is very beautiful and fun and doesn't need to make you feel tingly inside.  You can go competitive, private, performance, or just for fun.  But I HIGHLY recommend it!

   

Ballroom....
-You can burn anywhere from 200 to 300+ calories per hour. 
-Ballroom helps develop flexibility, strength, endurance, grace, posture, and friendships!


2. Yoga
   Yoga is as relaxing as a bath, but you burn WAY more calories.  It is a way to calm yourself after a long day, prepare yourself for activities, or just enjoy some serenity.  I would love to be able to bend this way!
      

Yoga....
-You can burn anywhere from 190-600 or so calories per hour.  (based off of 150 weight)
-Yoga helps build both mental, emotional, and physical stability, strength, flexibility, and endurance.


3. Pilates
   Pilates are somewhat like yoga, and often have many of the same moves.  But, pilates works more with abdominal work and core strength,along with alignment.  "Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility and long, lean muscles, strength and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing to relieve stress and allow adequate oxygen flow to muscles, developing a strong core or center (tones abdominals while strengthening the back), and improving coordination and balance." - wikipedia

     

Good Eating/Nutrition/Word of Wisdom

Hello,
  I promised some words on this blog about good eating, exercise, & sleep after the L Tom Perry post.   So, I went out and looked up some nutritious snacking ideas.  Here's the first.  Enjoy!
-Flame

(Do you have a nutritious snack idea/recipe?!  Comment to share.)

Melon/Strawberry Salad.
Source: http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/18833/melon+strawberry+salad+with+orange+syrup

Preparation Time


20 - 50 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6)

  • 1 x 250g punnet strawberries, washed
  • 1 tbs caster sugar
  • 125ml (1/2 cup) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1.5kg seedless watermelon
  • 1 rockmelon, halved, deseeded (cantalope)
  • 390g (1 1/2 cups) vanilla yoghurt
  • 90g almond bread

Method

  1. Remove the green hulls from the strawberries. Cut the strawberries in half. Place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the sugar. Strain the orange juice through a fine sieve into the bowl. Stir to combine.
  2. Use a melon baller to scoop balls from the watermelon. Add to the strawberry mixture. Repeat with the rockmelon. Stir until well combined. Place the strawberry mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill and develop the flavours.
  3. Divide the strawberry mixture evenly among serving bowls. Serve with the yoghurt and almond bread.