July 4 - Join me in Expressing Gratitude to those who serve the USA!

Congratulations to our USA World Cup team for advancing to the next round!  They have represented our country well and I can't wait to see them play again on Tuesday, July 1st against Belgium!  I believe in our team!

Just as we congratulate our World Cup players - we need to honor and express gratitude to the numerous individuals who serve our country every day.  I am supporting Operation Gratitude  in helping ensure that our USA soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines know that their sacrifices are appreciated!  And, what better time to do this than on the Independence Day holiday - Friday, July 4.

I will be at the annual Sandy City 4th of July event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Friday, July 4th as part of the Youth Arts Festival.  This year, for the first time, as part of that festival, you can join me in writing a thank you card to members of our armed forces who sacrifice and serve our country. 

This is a fabulous opportunity for youth to serve and to use their handz for good to show gratitude!  If youth are too young to write a letter, they can simply color a patriotic picture and write their name to show their thanks.

Bring your neighbors, relatives and friends - I hope to see you all on Friday, July 4th in Sandy City!

Let's use our handz to express gratitude this holiday!

Body Buddies - Fabulous Trainer and Nutrition Coach!

When Kristy Jo Hunt agreed to be my sponsor for the Miss International pageant, she was very clear that not only was she sponsoring me as a trainer, but she also wanted me to follow her Power Foods Lifestyle.  I have learned so much since working with Kristy Jo!  Her book, The Power Foods Lifestyle, is easy, fun reading that makes it clear why you want to eat healthy and that putting good 'fuel' into your body is important for it to function at its best!

Kristy Jo provides weekly meal plans and I have learned how to cook some delicious meals that are made of power foods! I love that Kristy Jo is focused on training her clients for life and that she wants them to be self-dependent once they are done training with her!  The food habits (including drinking a gallon of water per day) that Kristy Jo is instilling in me are habits I hope to continue long after the Miss International pageant and even use in the future as I have my own family. (check out her easy to follow recipe book:  The Power Foods Lifestyle, Recipe Book Volume I)

Kristy Jo's exercise training plan is very focused on me and my needs.  I am developing muscle and definition in places I need it.  I am focused in the exercise plan I'm given and am pushing through it even though it is tough!

I am fortunate to also have a weekly training session with Kristy Jo where she helps me with the exercises and makes sure I'm set for the next week.  She is so positive, upbeat and encouraging!  I love talking with and spending time with her - she is so inspiring!  Kristy Jo is super responsive to texts and emails and truly makes her company - Body Buddies - your 'bud' in helping you achieve your goals!

My mom saw what I was doing with Kristy Jo and was so excited about it - she also signed on with Kristy Jo as a nutrition coach and is also loving the way eating the Power Foods Lifestyle is benefiting her health!

In addition to her personal training (which I highly recommend), Kristy Jo has so many resources available to anyone and everyone wanting to improve their health! Her website:http://www.body-buddies.com/ has self-training videos.  She has a great book and cookbook!  And, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram for daily tips and suggestions.

I love her philosophy - One meal.  One workout.  One day at a time.  I love that if I can't resist that tempting treat, I can still keep on plan for my next workout and meal.

Kristy Jo is such a personal inspiration!! She truly cares about me and her clients!

Thank you for being such an incredible sponsor, Kristy Jo!

And thanks to LookieLoo Photography for the fabulous pictures!

Reign Boutique Grand Opening and A Center for Greiving Children 6/14/2014

I was honored to be included in the Reign Boutique grand opening event this past Saturday, June 14th! 

My sister, Karissa, and my Alpha Chi sisters, Evangeline and Zoe, joined me in modeling some great outfits in the fashion show!

 

I appreciated the opportunity to share information about youth service with the group and support A Center for Grieving Children and the Military wives in advance of the Zumbathon.

It was fun to meet so many fashionable and philanthropic people at this great event! 

The owner of the boutique, Cassie Stauffer, does a fabulous job filling the store with fun, trendy clothing at a reasonable price! If you haven't had a chance to check out Reign Boutique - I highly recommend you do so as soon as possible!

Thank you, Cassie and Paulette for inviting me to be a part of this memorable evening!

And, Thanks to LookieLoo Photography for the fabulous pictures!

This Upcoming Saturday, 6/14 - I'll be at Reign Boutique in Layton!

Don't Miss the Grand Opening of Reign Boutique and come support A Center for Grieving Children!

As I posted on May 19, I am honored to be involved in the Grand Opening of Reign Boutique and supporting the Zumbathon for A Center for Grieving Children.

Reign Boutique has very trendy, fun outfits that are perfect for summer!  A new inventory of items is also arriving on Saturday - so you won't want to miss an opportunity to be the first to check them out!

In addition to myself, a few of my Alpha Chi Omega sisters and friends will be part of the fashion show that begins at 7 p.m.

Please see the attached flyer for details and don't miss the parking lot Zumba event where all proceeds benefit A Center for Grieving Children!  (Feel free to make extra donations as well!)

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday in Layton!

Reign Boutique - 1310 E. Hwy 193 #A7, Layton, UT 84040

Days for Girls with Girlz4Good - 6/8/2014

Several years ago, I had the fabulous opportunity to co-start my own service group with other friends.  We named our group Girlz4Good and took the opportunity to meet together monthly to perform service.  Each group member was responsible for identifying and planning 2 service events per year.  Through Girlz4Good I was exposed to multiple different organizations and saw the many different ways service benefits the lives of others!  (You can check out Girlz4Good's website at Girlz4Good.org).

At this point, I am an alumni of Girlz4Good as membership in the group only goes through the end of high school.

Girlz4Good also gave me the inspiration to establish handz4service.  The experiences I had giving service with friends are experiences that are available to all youth! Check out handz4service.org for information about starting your own service group similar to Girlz4Good!

My sister and mom are still two members of the Girlz4Good group and it was fun to join with them, new Girlz4Good members, and other friends as they put together 122 kits for Days for Girls.

A special thanks to Days for Girls-Utah Valley Chapter who sewed and provided all of the shields and liners for the kits! Also, for the generous donations they received of the drawstrings for the bags and the panties! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My late grandmother actually sewed the 122 drawstring bags earlier this year and I'm so excited that her kindness will be felt all around the world as girls are able to stay in school and use their Days for Girls kits!  My grandma had a master's degree and was a mother of 4 daughters - she was an absolute advocate for education for women and I love that her last act of service was to help girls stay in school.

 

At the event, I shared information about the incredible Days for Girls organization (check out daysforgirls.org) and the absolute difference that this service can make in the lives of girls worldwide.  I love that with these kits, girls can stay in school and gain the skills they need to end the poverty cycle in their families!  I love the confidence the kits give girls to know that nothing is wrong with them when they have their monthly period! 

I loved seeing the members of Girlz4Good and the friends and guests who participated in the event, catch the vision of Days for Girls and the ideas it generated for those present to continue helping with this great cause even after the 122 kits were completed.

You don't have to sew to make a difference in the world!  And, with Days for Girls, youth can make a difference by putting together kits, threading drawstrings through bags, collecting donations of soap, purchasing washcloths and Ziplock gallon bags. 

I love all the great service that can be done with willing HANDZ!



Special thanks also to Lookieloo photography (http://www.lookieloophotography.com/) - Suzanne Plant - for the great pictures and helping with the kit assembly!

Utah Special Olympics - 6/6/2014

One of the greatest things about my platform of Youth Service is that youth can serve in so many places and so many capacities!

Utah Special Olympics Day 1 was today and I was thrilled to see so many volunteers there loving and supporting the athletes!  There were youth volunteers hosting games, face painting, painting finger nails, serving dinner, and helping athletes!  These youth are experiencing first-hand the joy of helping others!

Check out the Special Olympics Utah Summer page for more information:  http://www.sout.org/pages/summer

In addition to applauding the  youth volunteers, I also loved celebrating the successes with the Special Olympians!

So many caring, kind people all in one place - definitely the BEST place for anyone to be on a Friday afternoon!

Utah's Special Olympics continues tomorrow, Saturday, 6/7 - if you are looking for the best way to spend a portion of your day - check it out - go volunteer or just go cheer and celebrate!  Either way - it will be time well spent!

Keep using those Handz to make the world a better place!