YW Handout "Change of Heart" Manual 3 Lesson 29

This Sunday's lesson was on having a change of heart. I really wanted to do a handout with heart shaped goodies (sugar cookies or rice crispy) but I was teaching on Fast Sunday, so that was out.

So I came up with this instead. At the end of the lesson, I asked the girls to think of things they could work on to have a "change of heart."

I gave each girl a small Chinese take out box with a great quote on it from Dallin H. Oaks.

I just happened to find these boxed when I looked through my Valentines stuff...searching for 'heart stuff' to go along with the lesson.

Inside each box were 4 hearts that my friend cut for me on her cricket (thanks holly!!).

I gave the girls a few minutes to write down 1 goal on each heart that she could work on. It turned out REALLY cute for a last minute hand out that was totally free. Best of all the girls LOVED them.

Overcoming Opposition Handout-YW manual 3 Lesson 23

Yesterday our YW lesson was on overcoming opposition.

Here is the hand out that I made for my Laurels.
CLICK HERE to download this handout

I printed up this little handout on card stock with the scripture reference of D&C 29:39

"...for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet."

Then wrapped it up in a small cellophane bag filled with Sour Patch Kids.

And tied it up with a match ribbon.

Too cute!!

"Worth of SOLES..."Board Meeting

One of the first things that I did when I recieved my new calling was plan a board meeting with our YW board. The whole presidency, (besides me) was new and most of the advisors had been in less than 6 months. I really wanted everyone to meet each other and feel comfortable in their new callings.

So stealing an ADORABLE idea from my BFF April, I put together a quick board meeting.

The Theme: "The worth of SOLES is great..."

D&C 18:10

I asked each YW leader to bring a shoe that best describes themselves so that we could get to know each other a little better.

That evening I had each of my councilors go over an important part of the YW program. One talked about the basics of the Personal Progress Program. The other talked about the importance of teaching by the spirit.

I then spoke about important things we needed to do to become great YW leaders. Using talks, quotes & scriptures, I related all the aspects of a good leader to the perfect pedicure. I gave each of the leaders a "Pedicure Menu" with all the quotes and talkes I referenced and put it inside a small bucket filled with pedicure kits.

Of course, I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE HANDOUT!! Dang, I HATE when I do that. But I do have a copy of the "Pedicure Menu" that went with each item in the bucket.

CLICK HERE to download the YW Spa Menu (2 per pg.)

The evening turned out great!! And was also fun to give each of the new leaders a cute handout.

Getting our YW Personal Progress Organized

Since I've been called as the YW President in my ward (which by the way...was a total shocker to me...but that's another story for another time). I have felt a VERY STRONG need to get our YW working on their Personal Progress. I am bound and determined to have each of my YW get their Young Women Medallions.

 Sooo...here's how we are getting started on it...

A PERSONAL PROGRESS PIE night. The girls HAD to have their PP books with them in order to get a peice of pie. Then with the help of my AMAZING 2nd councilor & Laurel class Presidency we came up with a Personal Progress folder that we had each of our YW put together that evening at mutual. We put EVERYTHING that we could think of that the YW would need to work on PP into this folder.

It was a lot of work and took a lot of time searching for items online for the folder BUT all in all, it was TOTALLY worth it!!

I am attaching a list of what we included in our PP folders for any of you who'd like to do the same for your YW. Feel free to use whatever you'd like from what we did to save yourself some time & energy.

YW FOLDER CHECKLIST:

WHITE 1" FOLDER

ZIPPER POUCH to hold

     Personal Progress book & journal

     For the Strength of the Youth Booklet

     True to the Faith Booklet

1 PLASTIC SLEEVE

     Quote from Ezra Taft Benson (front)

To DOWNLOAD the pages BELOW that were used for my YW PP folder CLICK HERE

Picture of the Temple (back)

3 WHITE TAB DIVIDERS:

Tab 1: ROSTERS/CALENDARS

Tab 2: YW ESSENTIALS

YW Theme

YW Motto & Logo

YW Classes & Symbols

The Living Christ (ordered from Distribution Center)

The Family Proclamation (ordered from Distribution Center)

13 Articles of Faith

TAB #3: PERSONAL PROGRESS

Personal Progress Tracking Sheet

Colored Cardstock Value Dividers with notebook paper between each value

(made each image in Black & white and then copied them onto cardstock in the value colorS.

To DOWNLOAD the YW value folder dividers CLICK HERE

Book of Mormon Reading Chart to go with VIRTUE.

After assembling their folders the YW scrapbooked covers for them. We just printed a couple different subway art pages that they could use on the covers and then let them decorate with whatever we had.

YW VALUES SUBWAY ART
(I didn't create either of the YW subway art below, so I don't have a link for you to download them :( SORRY!)

YW THEME SUBWAY ART

2011 MUTUAL THEME SUBWAY ART

To DOWNLOAD the 2011 Mutual Theme CLICK HERE

Summer Sanity Savers

OK...so we are a month into summer and about a week ago, I thought I was going to lose it!! My kids have been pestering me all day, everyday, since the minute school got out. If it's not "I'm bored," it's "I'm hungry!" OR they would be tattling on their brother for picking on them OR tattling for not watching what they wanted on TV OT tattling on them for not playing the right video game or watching the right movie...AGGGHHHHHH!!! I was seriously considering shipping them off.

So here are a couple things I did to save my sanity.

#1) A new and improved CHORE CHART that was easy for everyone from my 10 year old to my 5 year old. I've tried chore charts in the past and none have been successful. However, we are on week 2 with this one and my kids have done chores every weekday morning with no problem. I made each boy a set of cards with chores on it. I made a card for EVERY chore in the house!!

Then I bought this $5 shoe holder with large pockets that fits on the back of my laundry room door so the chores are ALWAYS up for the boys to see.

Each boy has there own row of pockets. the 1st pocket holds ALL there chore cards. Each night I go through the boys stacks of chores and pick out the chores they need to do the following day. I put these chores that need to be completed in the 2nd or "DO" pocket.

When they have completed there chores for the day, they put them in the 3rd or "DONE" pocket. The last pocket is a reward pocket. I don't really believe in allowance BUT my boys have been wanting to visit a few places this summer that are expensive (like castles and coasters or Wet-n-wild). I figure IF they actually do there chores each day for a week, I could reward them with money so they earn there admission money for the places they want to go.

SO FAR...SO GOOD!! I'll keep you posted.

#2) A SUMMER FUN CALENDAR. I created a calendar that has a different activity for each weekday. IF my boys do there chores that day, then we do the activity. Such as: Monday is library day, Tuesday is friend day, Thursday is feildtrip day & Friday is movie day OR movie night. This keeps my boys from all pestering me for different things all day long, everyday. They just look at the calendar and know what we will do that day. It has really helped!! 

#3) KITCHEN IS CLOSED

My boys want to eat all day long during the summer months. I have food and drinks out CONSTANTLY all summer long. And worse, they eat crap!! Like an entire bag of dum-dums! So I've limited the open kitchen to certain times of days. If they don't eat when I'm cooking breakfast then they miss out of breakfast and have to wait till I fix lunch. I open my kitchen 4 times a day Breakfast, Lunch, Snack, Dinner. I also post a list of snack ideas on my fridge. So when they come to me and say "Mom, we have nothing good to eat!" I can just say "go check the list."

What time is it?? SUMMERTIME!!

OK...am I the only one who does "End of the school" gifts for my kids?? I think it is so fun to try to put something together for each of my boys the end of school so when they walk in from school on the last day, they have something fun!!

Here are a few ideas.

THREE YEARS AGO...

I made each of my boys an "Art Tote." I found small bathroom caddy's at the dollar store and filled each caddy with coloring books, workbooks, construction paper, scribble pads, flash cards & some small puzzles. Each boy got different books/activities based on there grade level. I found all the books/supplies at, where else, Dollar Tree.

I velcro-ed 4 small cups in the front of the tote (also found at the Dollar Tree) each cup filled with different art supplies. Each tote had its own paint, markers, crayons, glue sticks, pencils & scissors. My boys LOVED them and still use them today for homework projects. Each boys has all his own art supplies so no fighting over crayons.

TWO YEARS AGO...

I found each of my boys a small draw string backpack.

(Each a different color or style). You can find these everywhere and a lot of times you can even get them for free.

I have been trading kids with two of my friends for the last couple summers so my boys could have a play date with there friends at least once a week. I got them the backpacks to make it easier to go to playgroup.

I filled each one with a swim towel, sun screen, goggles & a water bottle. So my boys would always be prepared to head out the door. It made play dates way easier to prepare for because each boy was in charge to "prep" his own back pack with what he'd need. Again, the boys loved them and they were really useful. We still use them for play dates, sleepovers & road trips.

LAST YEAR...AND THIS YEAR

Summer Movie Bucket!!

Our family LOVES movies!! We have family movie night every Friday night. So we look forward to the new movies that come out in the summer. However, our family movie night does pose one problem. Because we watch movies EVERY FRIDAY, my boys DON'T want to go to the cheap "Summer Movies" at the theatres because we've already seen all the movies they offer (many times more than once).

Soo...here's the solution. Instead, the last 2 summers, I have bought the 3 older boys there own movie gift card. The new movies only cost $5.00 to see on Friday and Saturday mornings before noon. So with a gift card for $40 you get to see 8 new movies during the summer. I know...it's NOT cheap. But it's one summer activity that the whole family looks forward too.   

We have a HUGE bucket that I stock with munchies and candy. Then I tie on a "Movie Menu" with the movie release dates so my boys know which movies we are going to see and when. They LOVE it!! Before each movie we go to, they get to pick something out of the movie munchies bucket. We also keep the gift cards in the bucket so they don't get lost.

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!!

End of School Teacher Gifts

It's that time of year again!! I can't believe how quickly the school year passes.

Honestly, I've been so busy the last couple of weeks, the end of school just snuck up on me. YESTERDAY (yes, yesterday. Exactly 3 1/2 days till school lets out) I realized I had NOTHING yet for my kids teachers. So off to Target I went, hoping some sort of creative genius would strike as I walked the aisle looking for thank-you gifts.

WELL...IT DID!!!
~Here's what I found~

At Target found this TOO CUTE beach towel on sale for $5.50. So I grabbed one for each teacher. Went to Bath & Body works where they had all travel size coconut fragrances for $1.00. Then came home and tied it all up with some flip-flops I already had in my gift closet from the Dollar Tree. I LOVE THEM!!

To DOWNLOAD Teacher Thank-you Tag CLICK HERE

Best part of all, my boys are excited to give them to their teachers! I think I like them so much because they are different. Not what I would usually think to do for a teacher gift. Here are all three of them tied up and ready to go!

~Past Teacher Gift Ideas~ 

you could also just do the teacher's last name in vinyl on a candle for a gift that he/she could take home with them.

In these 2 pictures, I have a friend who bought some cute metal boxes (which can be found at Michael's as well as Hobby Lobby) & then had me do names and/or initials in vinyl to decorate the outside of the box.

In the top picture the box was filled with a everything your teacher would need to give herself a pedicure. Flip flops, lotion, foot scrubber, manicure set.

In the bottom pic, the box is filled with thank you notes from all the kids in the class. How sweet is that!!

For other adorable & creative teacher gifts, visit these sites:

eighteen 25

brownpaperpackages

u-create crafts

B is for Boy Baby Shower

I am serving in YW right now in our ward. And 5 out of the 8 YW leaders are

pregnant. One of them happens to be my friend, Brittany Barnard. Who is the BEST Mia Maid advisor EVER!! She has 2 little girls already and when I found out she was pregnant, I told her if it was a boy, I get to do her shower. Well SURE ENOUGH, when she had her ultrasound, she found out she was having her very first baby boy. And since i am an expert at baby boys, I couldn't wait to do her shower!!

In prepping for the shower, I asked her what she was going to name him? She and her hubby were still debating names & so my idea of a "B is for Boy" Baby Shower theme was born. You see, her name is Brittany Barnard. And this was Baby Boy Barnard. So the "B" theme fit perfect!!

 My friend Cadi, offered to do the shower with me. I was so excited to have her help. I've worked with Cadi before on Activities Committee and LDS Prom and she is as "freakish" as I am when it comes to parties and the details.

 (And I mean that in the nicest way possible)

So after a month of prep time, here are the pictures of the final product.

The living room piano was the first thing guests saw when they walked into the house. I had wrapped some white candles in scrapbook paper that matched the shower colors.

Weeks before the shower, I made up small cards (kind flashcard looking). All had "B is for..." and then a vintage picture of a 'B' item that had to do with baby. I found unfinished wood frames as the Dollar Tree (some were 2 for $1). I painted and antiqued them so we could place them in various spots around the shower. Total I made 20. They were WAY time consuming but turned out darling and I was so happy with the results.

(On top of piano B is for...

bath, booties, bubbles, buggie, bassinet) 

I made a diaper cake for the mom-to-be's gift. It served as the centerpiece of the gift table. Again using matching scrapbook paper and ribbon to wrap the layers diapers. Don't you love the HUGE buttons? They are just small unfinished wood plaques that you can get at any craft store and my hubby drilled holes in them to look like buttons.

In the entry way we had a small table that had the mom-to-be's thank you cards & envelopes that each guest could fill out there address on. I had also framed a copy of the invite to display on this table.

Small grouping on my hallway pie safe

B is for Baby

I borrowed this adorable white sofa table and put it in the hallway. On it we had a game for guests to play (guess the number of kisses in the bottle) and also an advice book where guests could write to Brittany.

The 3 frames had B is for Boy, Bear & Book.

Also made this simple banner out of matching scrapbook paper

Small banner of onesies that matched out shower colors.

Found these at the Dollar Tree, if you can believe it!!

Now onto the food :) We had assigned out all the food except for dessert.

Let me tell you, all the food was DE-LISH!! We had chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, cinnamon sugar chips with fruit salsa, tortellini pasta salad,  veggie pizza with dill, apricot & brie bites, mushroom turnovers...Every bite was so yummy!!

Thanks to all those who brought something to share.

They are kind of hard to see in this pic but hanging among the cute paper lanterns are more "B" that Cadi painted and antiqued!! She did a fabulous job.

I put arrows in the pic below so you can kind of see the B's

Better view of some of the food :)

We served out paper products out of small galvanized buckets.

All the "B" you see are courtesy of Cadi who painted and antiqued them all.

Flower, frames and buckets were on the back of the serving table

B is for Bib 

Its hard to see but that mason jar is filled with binkies and one tied to the front

because B is for Binkie 

B is for Bottle

B is for Bow tie

Drinks were water bottles with a custom label. Served out of a huge galvanized bucket. As well as Limeade that we served out of mason jars.

All the mason jars were tied with a small metal edged tag so guests could write their name on their cups. I also found these blue straws that matched PERFECT!!

For dessert, I made cupcakes. 3 different kinds. We served them off of these adorable galvanized cupcake trays and tiered cake platters. Only got pictures of 2 kinds...3rd flavor was "Better than Anything" cupcakes-YUM!! 

Red Velvet

Lemon Cream Cheese

(these were sooooo good!!)

B is for Ball

B is for Blanket & Bike.

Small grouping in corner of the family room

B is for Brother

And of course the bathroom had to match.

B is for Bottom

As guests left, we had a small table by the front door where they could take there favors. The favors were small metal tins filled with blue, green & brown M&M's.

On top each tin said "B is for Boy."

Thank you so much Brittany for letting Cadi & I do your shower. I am so excited for the arrival of you new baby boy.