Changes to For the Strength of Youth

I saw today that the Church has released some revisions 

to the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet.

I've always LOVED the great advice in that pamphlet

and the great thing about it is,

there is no double standard with the church,

the standards apply to all of us,

both young and old.

I've perused the new version online

a little bit,

and this was by far my favorite quote:

from an Article by Sister Elaine Dalton 

under the section "Go Forward with Faith":

"You have been reserved to be here on the earth now. Your gifts and talents and your preparation now will help you to accomplish your divine mission—

and each of us has one. 

Each of you came to the earth with gifts to help you accomplish your part. 

Dare great things!....

Don’t let the low standards and expectations of the world and others cause you to aim beneath your nobility and ability—

dream big! 

What I know and have learned is that anything worth doing is not easy 

and that we can do anything that is not easy if we believe....

Did you know that the word confidence is derived from the Latin words con and fideo 

which means  

with faith. 

Confidence requires faith and purity. 

If you have a testimony of Jesus Christ, and His restored Gospel, 

you will be able to make any of life’s transitions. 

When you make a transition, you are never alone. 

Our Heavenly Father knows exactly where you are, 

and He will be with you. 

As you make some transitions, 

and they’re difficult, 

you can pray to Him. 

He will even send His angels to be with you. 

He will lead you to a place better than you can comprehend."

{Cannot even express how much I LOVED this quote!}

{also....I'm excited about those angels...}

Happy Pancake Day!

So today is Pancake Day,

{also known as Shrove Tuesday and Mardi Gras}

In most traditions,

the day is known for eating pancakes

prior to the beginning of Lent

{you know..to use up all your butter, eggs and milk...}

Since Lent is not part of my religion,

this would typically pass me by...

But, 

I love that IHOP celebrates by giving away 

FREE Pancakes!

So...

if you are so inclined,

this year, IHOP is celebrating

one week late.

NEXT Tuesday

head to your local IHOP for some free pancakes!

or...if you're like me,

and dieting?

Just enjoy that your friends are enjoying pancakes!

{photo found here}

Jam Label Generator

Ohhhh!

I wish I had seen this last December!

 Last fall my friend Nancy and I 

made jars and jars of some fancy

"peach vanilla jam".

I gave them out as gifts 

this Christmas.

Today,

I found this online

"jam labelizer"

So fun!

{maybe next year...}

P.S.

If you didn't get any jam,

and you wish you had....

let me know,

because I still have a few jars!

The Hunger Games

I'm kind-of excited

for the Hunger Games movie...

Have you seen the trailer?

I've heard more than one complaint

about the casting of Peeta,

but I have to say,

I think he is perfect.

{I always loved Peeta in the books}

It Will All Work Out...

Saw this quote today...

 and I just love it!

"It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is.
It all works out.
Don’t worry.
 I say that to myself every morning.
It will all work out.
 If you do your best, it will all work out.
Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.
The Lord will not forsake us.
He will not forsake us. …
 If we will put our trust in Him,
 if we will pray to Him,
if we will live worthy of His blessings,
He will hear our prayers"

--President Gordon B. Hinckley, 

Priesthood Session of Jordan Utah South Regional Conference, March 1, 1997

Tips for Choosing Paint Colors

I spent some time yesterday 

looking for an accent paint color for my house, 

and picking out some colors suggestions 

for my darling nieces room.

As an interior designer,

help with paint colors

is the number one thing that friends

ask me for help with.

and I thought it was interesting

as I was standing at the paint chip color selections

at Home Depot

watching strangers struggle to select colors.

{it was hard not to stay there all day helping people!}

I thought I would share some of my 

thoughts on color selection here.

Maybe it will be helpful to you?

First, never choose a color based only on the  in store light.

The fluorescent light in the store is NOT the same as the lights in your house. 

Take a sample chip home and look at it under the light in your house.

Be sure to look at it at different times of the day as well.

{even better if you are willing to buy a small can and paint a larger sample on your wall}

Take samples of everything you can to the store with you.

It's always helpful to have a sample of your carpet,

existing paint, furniture fabrics, etc.

Don't pick your paint color FIRST.

There are unlimited hues and shades of paint,

but carpet, tile, furniture etc are more limited.

Pick them first.

When a color stands out to you,

take a step back, and look at that color in both directions on the color swatches.

You might end up liking a version that is a step or two more muted,

or possibly even brighter and more saturated.

Don't be afraid of color!

You don't have to go outrageous, but

pick something with some personality...

save and reliable is boring.

For whatever it is worth?

I'm seriously considering

a bright copper/tangerine color for my living room

{one accent wall}

I'm thinking it will look beautiful

against my aqua blue drapes.

This MUST be the Best Face Cream EVER!

Seriously.

at $155 for 1 ounce....

what would you expect?

The reviews are,

well....

HILARIOUS.

Here's a sampling:

"I can't even tell you if this stuff works because the smell is AWFUL. I cant even describe what type of smell this is, but I thought I was going to lose my dinner. Thats how bad it is."

"I was very excited to receive a sample of this product, as I am currently in the market for a great wrinkle reducer.
This could have been water from the fountain of youth, and I wouldn't use it...smells like raw chicken or chicken fat. Disgusting! I threw away the sample after 2 uses."

"I received a sample and was excited to use as I love Perricone's Face Finishing lotion that has a scent of rose petals. Mistake! I opened the sample, patted on my face and almost threw up. This cold plasma smells beynd horrible. Rotten fish. It's disgusting."

"I got a little sample an put it on my face. It really does smell like dead fish--it is not an exaggeration--I gagged a little and washed it off immediately. It is now 15 minutes later and I can still smell it on my face. Perhaps one could get used to the smell if it really has such fantastic results, but since it lingers, friends and family will have to grow used to it as well. I, for one, don't want to smell like a trout pond."  

"I can't get passed the stench of this product to find out whether or not it's worth the price. It stinks so bad, I dry heaved during application. There's no way I'm keeping this product due to the stench...I don't care if it turns my skin into that of a dewy 16 yr old's." 

Anyway...

If you want to buy some?

You can get it here...

{also you can read some of the other 347 reviews!}