Cinco de Mayo - Leadership Training

I was going through some boxes the other day (looking for a can of turquoise spray paint - which I cannot find anywhere!) and came across a box labeled "fiesta!"  In it I found:  a couple sombreros, a music CD, fake mustaches, colorful tissue flowers, cactus picks, Mexican flags, bright yellow maracas, a couple backdrops (one of a mariachi band and the other a Spanish couple dancing), a stack of signs printed in Spanish, and a few handwritten notes.
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All these items were used a few years ago in a Leadership Training activity for our young women.  The activity just happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo, so in my planning I decided to build it around the fiesta theme.
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All the photos and files from the night with the young women were lost when my computer crashed and burned last year. (So many memories- photos and designs - were lost! Makes me want to cry, again.) Luckily, I posted this adorable picture of Robbie (he makes me smile!) from a family Cinco de Mayo celebration on FACEBOOK. The photo, as well as the handwritten notes I found, are helping jog my memory. :)
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PURPOSE

Emphasize good leadership qualities, build and strengthen relationships through fun group activities, and provide a cultural experience.

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INVITE

It was a simple invite:  "You're invited to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! Young Women Leadership Training on ____________."

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Note:  In case you were wondering, I used the HOT TAMALE font.  You can download it here for your own use.

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ARRIVAL

As each girl arrived they were given a passport (which could be stamped as they visited each station).  But before they got their passport - they had to translate atleast four of the following words into English.

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There was also a photo booth opportunity for the girls: sombreros, mustaches, maracas, and a back drop of the mariachi band and Spanish dancers.

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Each station was delegated to one of the members of the Young Women Presidency to  run.  They were asked to spend 5 minutes talking about their assigned trait of a leader (see below).  Then they introduced the activity - which reinforced the leadership trait.

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1. "A Leader... has vision"

- sets goals, faith

Activity:  Tortilla Toss

Supplies needed:  corn tortillas, measuring tape or tarp with holes

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2. "A Leader... gives direction"
- shares vision, belief, testimony

Activity:  Simon Says - in spanish (see actions below)

Supplies needed: signs with instructions english/spanish translations

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3. "A Leader... is strong"
- takes charge, is a doer, reaps rewards

Activity:  Pinata 

Supplies needed:  filled pinata, blindfold, stick

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4. "A Leader... encourages"
- inspires through example, leadership is defined through action, integrity

Activity:  Dance Instruction

Supplies needed:  music (Mexican hat dance), sombreros

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5. "A Leader... has a good attitude"

Take-A-Way:  Charles Swindle: Life is 10% what happens to you  90% how you react to it. 

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FIESTA! Time

The night ended with food at the "Value Cantina"!  We decorated an area to resemble a little mexican cantina.  A bowl of tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa was placed at each table.  Best part!  :)
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       Food Assignments:

• flour tortillas
• shredded pork (using Dr Pepper - from Pioneer Women Cooks)
• shredded lettuce
• cilantro-lime rice
• shredded cheese
• beans
• guacamole
• sour cream
• pico de gallo
• Bajio's cilantro lime dressing
• tortilla chips (for tables)
• salsa (for tables)

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ADDITIONAL IDEAS
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DIY MINI PINATAS

from Oh Happy Day

Wouldn't these make an awesome take-a-way?!

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cut-out flags

DIY tutorial here

purchase here or here

Ten Ways to Get the Right Guy to Like You

The girls had me watch this video last night.

Advice to girls on how to get the right guy to like them.

This guy has some great advice.

He made us laugh too.  Bonus!

Sportz Dogs Fans

If you live in UTAH VALLEY

Join us TODAY
Saturday, January 28, 2012

at Osmond Design Outlet in Orem

1620 N. State St. Orem
11 to whenever

Enjoy the best gourmet dog you'll ever have
and Hot Chocolate Floats!

Both are to die for!

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Say "Hi" to Kim and my dad for me!

Let them know you follow Sisters in Zion.

You never know, you may get a special treat!  :)

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Gift Idea - Sunshine

Here is the "You Are My Sunshine" sign I found at Target.  (added the ribbon)  A great find on the $1.00 aisle.  There were even notebooks and other items with the "You Are My Sunshine" phrase.  Thought it would be a great (and inexpensive) gift for the YW.  Especially if you go with the Sunshine Theme.

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For My Sisters...

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If anyone knows where this originated,

I would love to know so I can give them full credit. 

I love it!

Banana Split Time!

You girls would be proud of your niece!  She sent me a text yesterday asking if she and a couple of her friends could go to Sonic after school, for a BANANA SPLIT. (and yes, she had it in all caps)

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Let me clarify, for the rest of you, what the significance of the banana split is...

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We have a unique tradition for the girls in our (extended) family.  I believe it all started with one of our aunts and her daughters.  Love them!  Whenever one of the girls "starts" (her period) for the first time we celebrate with a BANANA SPLIT!

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I remember making the phone calls (to aunts and cousins) stating it was "Banana Split Time!"... we met up at a local ice cream parlor, giggled together and enjoyed our sweet treats.  It sure did make a not so fun experience - fun!

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Getting back to the text I received yesterday... she continued the text by letting me know that a friend had "started" and after hearing what our family does, she wanted to do the same.  She said it would make her feel better about the whole (life changing) situation.  :)

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I don't know what makes be more happy:  knowing that my daughter is a good friend or that she is proud of our quirky family traditions.  :)

Ideas... Why Not?

I was browsing the oh so addictive Pinterest and came across a comment or two that made me (only for a moment) feel bad about sharing ideas here.  (It must be close to "that time".  I'm being very sensitive.)  ;)  After a day and a half of playing silly mind games with myself, I decided that sharing makes me happy. :)  So let the sharing of ideas continue!
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Sisters in Zion is a place where my sisters and I, over the miles, brainstorm.  These posts are meant to be an idea share.  Good ideas, crazy ideas, over-the-top ideas, simple ideas, ideas of things we have seen or done or heard about.  A place to inspire one another.  A spring board for our own ideas.  "Everything starts with an idea."  Right?
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We do have our limits.  :)  You should hear the caveman idea we laughed about the other day, over the phone.  The whole concept around, "Even the first fire began with a spark!", totally fits in with the mutual theme.  Much too silly to share here though.  (But, if there is someone out there who really wants all the details to a caveman inspired New Beginnings - let me know)  :)
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We are sisters, we get each other.  We love each other, even with all our silly ideas.  ((hugs))

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When it comes right down to it, we do believe in keeping things simple, but definitely making the most of the talents and resources around us.

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When others ask "Why?", we answer:
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Like Father, Like Son

Dad did a good thing when he taught the boys to lay tile.  Just one of the many spectacular projects Mike, our brother, has worked on.  Just thought I'd share.  :)
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GAME: What if...? Then...

 What if...? Then...  - a great party game.

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Supplies needed:

• Slips of paper
• pencils for each player
• two bowls - one marked "what if...?" and the other marked "then...".

How to Play:

• Every one takes two slips of paper.
• Write a "what if...?" question on one. Fold the papers in half and put them in the container marked "what if...?".
• On the second piece of paper, write the answer to the question, "then...". Fold the papers in half and place them into the container marked "then...".
• Now comes the fun! Pass the bowls around and have everyone take a folded slip of paper from each bowl.
• One by one have everyone read their "what if...?" and their "then...". The combinations can be silly and even a bit hilarious at times.

{Arise & Shine} SPARKLE

If you know Kim, you know she is all about the sparkles. Flip flops, bracelets, earrings. :) No suprise she is incorporating it into the year's mutual theme.
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She and her YW crew introduced the 2012 mutual theme with a bunch of these and a whole lot of sparkle! 

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PURPOSE

To introduce the young women to the 2012 mutual theme - "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard to the nations".

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WHAT THEY DID  (I still need Kim to verify the order of events and details - my memory isn't what it used to be)  :)

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The night started with the girls being handed a journal.  The girls were told that the journals were to be their "Arise and Shine" journals.  The girls took time to decorate their journals with sparkly scrapbook paper and sparkly letters Kim had found at Roberts Crafts.  Kim encouraged them to keep them close - bringing them to church, as well as activities throughout the year.  A place to keep notes on things that inspire them:  personal experiences, young women lessons, talks from sacrament meeting, general conference talks, etc. 

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Next they turned down the lights and watched this short video clip:  "A Message from Sister Elaine S. Dalton"

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After the video the girls were each given two slips of vellum paper.  They were instructed to write their testimonies on each of them, signing them with their first name and age.
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Then a couple of the leaders left the room and returned with a few dozen helium filled yellow balloons. The girls were estactic! They each got two balloons to tie their slip of vellum onto the end of the balloon's string.

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Then they went outside and released the balloons.  Letting their testimonies arise and be a standard to the nations (in a way of speaking).  :)
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What a sight!
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Kim, what a beautiful group of young women!

Girls, it shows in your faces!

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ADDITIONAL "Sparkly" IDEAS for the year:

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DIY Sparkle Shoes

tutorial found here
"There are STEPS we must take in order to Arise and Shine."

Have the girls bring an old pair of shoes.  The girls could bring any old pair of shoes - anything from ballet slippers to worn out sneakers. Make sure ahead of time that each girl has a pair.  A quick email sent to the Relief Society sisters might find you a few pairs of shoes that may be headed to D.I or Goodwill.

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DIY Glittery Belt

tutorial found here at Lace Lollipops

"Find your CENTER in Christ and let it shine"

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Glitter (Rockstar) Toes

tutorial found here

This would be a fun all girl's night or mother-daughter activity.
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CRYSTAL CUPCAKES
by Elisa Strauss at Confetti Cakes
Use colored rock candy or beautiful white rock candy for an impressive, elegant look.
The buttercream holds most of the crystals on, or you can attach a few extras with water.

Oil for Your Lamp

I am one who, on occasion, enjoys discovering unique items at stores like HomeGoods, TJMaxx, Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack and Ross.  Usually home decor or clothing!  But, this time I found a different kind of treasure - an oil lamp. 

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I found this at Ross, and at $4.99 I had to get it.  :)  In fact, I bought two of them.  I found another one tucked behind a picture frame.  I was telling my mother-in-law about my find, and she said we should find 8 more.  We were definitely on the same page.  :)

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I giggled when I found these lamps, only because of a talk (see below) I had come across after the new mutual theme "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard to the nations" had been introduced.

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RESOURCE

Your Light - A Standard to All Nations, ‍Elder James E Faust, April 2006

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Here are a few notes from his talk:
In the Savior’s parable of the ten virgins, ‍each young woman had a lamp. Clearly, this parable has both a temporal and a spiritual application. Oil can be purchased at the market. But another kind of oil, spiritual oil that is not for sale, can be accumulated only by our daily good works.

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The parable tells what happened as all ten young women waited for the bridegroom. The bridegroom came at the darkest hour, when least expected. It was midnight, and the foolish five had run out of oil. You might wonder why the five wise virgins could not share their oil with the other five. It was not selfishness on their part. Spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant because we each fill our lamps drop by drop in our daily living.
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The late President Spencer W. Kimball defined those drops of oil for us a few years ago when he said: 
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“There are oils that keep the gospel burning brightly. One type of oil is the oil of family prayer. It illuminates us and makes us bright and cheery but is difficult to obtain at midnight. One drop or two will not keep the lamp burning long. …

“Another type of oil is the oil of fasting. The last midnight is late to start disciplining our lives in preparation for the great day of the Lord. …

“Another oil that is not available at midnight is the indispensable oil of home service. This rare oil of service is accumulated through visits to the sick, through lending a helping hand. …

“There is another oil that all will need—rich or poor, sick or well. Its light is brilliant and increases with use. The more that is used, the more that is left. It is easy to purchase in the day but not available at night. This is the tithing oil.

“There is one … oil that is so precious that without adding it to the other oils no wick will burn. Without it, the light from all the others will dim and go out. This is the oil of chastity.”
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My dear young friends, many of you put oil into your lamps last year when you followed President Hinckley’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon. You can continue to do so every time you read the scriptures, partake of the sacrament, and offer your daily prayers. And as you each put oil into your lamps, your light will become “a standard for the nations.”

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POSSIBLE 10 HOUR PROJECT & PROGRAM

The Ten Virgins by Emily Freeman

Ten Women, Ten Stories - A Musical Parable

found here at Deseret Book

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This would make for a wonderful ten hour project for more than one of the young women.  The CD/Songbook combo includes CD with vocals and songbook which includes the script, sheet music and performance track.  Under direction of their young women leaders, the girls could do everything from:

• scheduling the building
• set design (teaching them how to keep it simple)
• musical practices (could take 10 minutes during opening exercises on Sunday)
• costume design (again, keep it simple)
• invitations/flyer
• programs for the night

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Photo Share

I was on FACEBOOK this morning and noticed Kathy was tagged in a few photos taken during Young Women activities.  Looks like a great group of girls!  (photo credits go to Lori)

I loved this one!  A bike ride down by Utah Lake.  Fitness, nature appreciation, building friendships, ...  bike repair?  ;)

Young Women in Excellence:  Personal Progress - A Recipe for Life.  (still waiting for details on your night)  :)

"Two birds with one stone."  Teaching them how to work and through providing service. The young women worked at their high school "snack shack" during a football game.  What a great activity!  Nothing better than building a good work ethic then actually putting them to work.

A holiday favorite, Temple Square.  You all look a little cold.  :)

GAME: 2 Truths and a Lie

 

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How to play:

Each player tells the group three things about themself. Two have to be true, one should be a lie. Then the group tries to decide on which one they think is the lie. It's a fun way to get to know people!

 

These were the three things I've told about myself, can you guess which one is the lie?:

1. 80's rapper, Vanilla Ice, choose my hand to touch during a performance.
2. I had a black poodle named Snowball when I was a little girl.
3. I base jumped from a bridge and crashed into the rocks below, in Twin Falls Idaho.

GAME: Skittles Challenge

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A fun and possibly messy party game.*

Supplies Needed: All you need for this game is a bowl of Skittles and a pair of dice.

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How to Play: Have everyone sit in a circle. Going clockwise, each person takes a turn to roll the dice. Whatever number they roll, is the number of Skittles they take from the bowl. The Skittles are to be placed into their mouth until the end of the game. No chewing. No swallowing. If anyone is caught getting rid of their Skittles in any way - they are out. The game continues until only one person is left with a mouthful of Skittles. How many Skittles can your mouth hold? And for how long?

New Year. New Opportunities.

Happy New Year!

I was released from the Young Women recently and have been going through withdrawls.  It has been quite some time since I have been anywhere other than Young Women.  It'll take some time (probably a few years) before I get out of the YW mindset.  So, there will still be ideas shared.  Not to mention I am still creating for you girls still serving in the Young Women's program.  :)

I have been called to teach the most adorable children in Primary. (CTR 6)  I have only met with the children once, and I am amazed at their knowledge of the gospel.  I started telling them a story from the lesson and one of the girls said, "I know what happens.  I heard this story when I was in... (she looked up and thought for a moment)...  CTR 4."  This is how most of the lesson went.  I am definitely going to have to pull out my creative guns to make this a learning adventure for us all.

I am open to any and all ideas in the area of Primary.