60 Minutes of Exercise?!?!?!

From our Fall 2015 Issue

Take a Hike...It's National Trails Day!

It's National Trails Day which is a great way to put to use our article "5 Hikes to Dream About this Summer" from our Summer 2015 Issue!

Check it out below and then go take a hike!

(And make sure to read about Hiking Safety at the very bottom of this post!!!)

Personal Progress Value Color Run

Today is World Health Day! 

And we thought it the perfect day to share this fun idea for a Personal Progress Value Color Run!

Get your exercise in while having fun with your YW Group and learning more about the Values!

From our Spring 2015 Issue

Happy Dentists Day!

image source

Don't you love that cute pic? Brush. Floss. Rinse. Repeat.

Simple steps to take care of our pearly whites.

That's right! It's Dentists Day!

Which means you need to be extra nice to your teeth today :) And every day.

And here are a just a few facts about your teeth to help you learn something new today:

image source

Favorite Things Friday: Winter Nail Polish

If you haven't noticed by now, we have a thing for nail polish.

Here are some of our favorite colors for Winter!!!

1st Row: Essie: Stylenomics // Color Club: Gift of Sparkle // Essie: Naughty Nautical // Essie: Turquoise and Caicos // Essie: Fashion Playground // China Glaze: Winter Holly

2nd Row: OPI: Spotlight on Glitter Rose of Light // Essie: Mochacino // OPI: Alpine Snow // OPI: Pirouette My Whistle // Essie: Chinchilly // OPI: Black Onyx

3rd Row: OPI: Embarca Dare Ya // Essie: Madison Ave-Hue // Essie: In Stitches // Essie: Vanity Fairest // OPI: It's My Year // Color Club: Purple Metallic

Run For It!

We know many of you made New Year's Resolutions...or maybe you didn't.

Either way, if exercise is something on your To-Do list

check out our article from our Winter 2014 Issue that specifically focuses on running!

You'll find information from our friend Brandi about cold weather running and more! Enjoy!

Let's Talk Brain Food

From our April 2014 Issue

How to Read Nutrition Labels

When you grab a bag of snacks, do you know what you're really eating? 

Are you just eating fat and empty calories?

Or are you eating foods loaded with vitamins, fiber, and iron?

Knowing how to read a nutrition label is a huge part of making healthy food choices.

We're not saying you have to count every calorie or never eat Twinkies again,

but finding foods that are giving your body the nutrition it needs is a great way

to feel good, boost your energy, and give your body the best kind of fuel.

And reading nutrition labels doesn't have to be super complicated!

Read below for a simple breakdown of what each section means for you and your body:

From our Autumn 2014 Issue

Favorite Things Friday: Fall Nail Polish

Looking for a new fresh nail polish for Fall? 

We've gathered a few of our favorites that are perfect for the season!!

1st Row: Essie: After School Boy Blazer // Essie: Perfect Cover Up // ORLY: Mermaid Tale // OPI: Green Wich Village // OPI: Green on the Runway

2nd Row: China Glaze: Papaya Punch // Essie: Fear of Desire // OPI: Orange You Fantastic // Essie: Partner In Crime // ORLY: Halo

3rd Row:  Essie: Dress To Kilt // OPI: Mod Ern Girl // Essie: Don't Sweater It // China Glaze: Purr-Fact Plum // OPI: Skating On Thin Ice-Land

Relax With Yoga

In our April 2014 Issue we featured an article about how to relax by using Yoga.

A certified Yoga Instructor Teisha Preece from WanderWild submitted the article

and we wanted to share it again here on the blog!

It's a great way to de-stress and clear your mind.

Whether for an upcoming test, drama with friends, or boy trouble. :)

Namaste!

#IAmBraveAndBeautiful

We're joining in on the #IAmBraveAndBeautiful movement

which goes along perfectly with our Stand & Shine Beauty Challenge to love our bodies!!!

The movement is based off of Colbie Caillat's new song Try 
that we talked about a couple of months ago here on blog. 

You can checkout our beautiful and make-up-free faces on our IG account

and we'd love to see yours too!!

Just take a pic of yourself with no makeup and post on IG with the hashtag 

#iambraveandbeautiful and #standandshinebeautychallenge.

Deep Beauty

A quick reminder that tonight is the General Women's Meeting!! See you there!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Beauty is usually defined as your physical appearance.

And we've asked you with the Stand & Shine Beauty Challenge 

to look for that beauty, the outward beauty.

Today we want to encourage you to think about another aspect of beauty as your taking on this challenge because the MOST IMPORTANT part of beauty is not defined by your body.

Elaine S. Dalton calls this "Deep Beauty."

Watch this video to listen to a great excerpt from her talk Remember Who You Are! from the April 2010 General Young Women's Meeting.

Isn't that a wonderful reminder!!!
Our beauty lies in WHO WE ARE and not just what our body looks like.
And as we build Deep Beauty, it will also show outwardly.
Here are some of the things Sister Dalton said about Deep Beauty:


Deep Beauty shines from the inside out.

Deep Beauty cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased.

Deep Beauty doesn't wash off.

Deep Beauty is spiritual attractiveness.

Deep Beauty springs from virtue.

Deep Beauty comes from being chaste and morally clean.

Deep Beauty is earned through faith, repentance, and honoring covenants. 


We do need to accept and love our bodies. Be grateful for them.
The world wants us to be dissatisfied with how we look so that we will buy into
their ideas of beauty and fashion and happiness.

But as your take the Beauty Challenge, also remember that you have beauty inside.
A strong spirit. A unique heart and mind.
You are a daughter of God with great purpose and potential within you.

Take the Stand & Shine Beauty Challenge

Did you read our article yesterday about learning to love your body?

Well, we're all about recognizing the beauty that is in EVERY single girl.

And because we are so series about wanting you to recognize your beauty,

we are issuing you a challenge. The Stand & Shine Beauty Challenge.

This is not about how the world sees you or what the media wants you to feel about your body.

This is about recognizing and embracing the natural beauty that God gave you!

Read below to find out the details and join us in celebrating true, unique, and heaven-made beauty.
Because YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL girl!

Share on IG, FB, or wherever you think the girls/women/friends/moms/etc 

in your life will most benefit.

Learning to Love Your Body

A feature article in our Autumn 2014 issue 

written by Kelsey Reed.

What's In Your School Lunch?

School lunch can be scary. We know.

And to help you out we're sharing an article from our Autumn 2014 Issue that

will give you ideas and facts about school lunch, home lunch, and making

 healthy decisions in both cases.

And check out the guide to reading nutrition labels too!

It will help you make smart choices when it comes to what foods you choose!!!

Get Ready for Back-to-School with Stand & Shine Magazine!

In just over 2 weeks we'll be releasing our Fall 2014 Issue of Stand & Shine Magazine!

It will be full of Back-to-School tips and fun ideas for Fall!

But to get in the spirit of Back-to-School right now, 

we want to share a few ways you can get ready for the school year to begin!!

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1. Set some goals.

What do you want to happen this school year? What time/prep will you have to put into your classes? What extracurricular activities do you want to be involved in? How will you make sure your physically and mentally prepared each day? How are you going to make time for scripture study and prayer each day? 

It may seem silly to ask yourself these questions, but do it! Think about what expectations you have for yourself and what person you want to be by the end of the school year. We recommend setting a goal for each of the following areas (though of course you can add more!) and writing your specific goals in your journal. Keep track of your progress weekly or monthly.

2. Update a few items in your wardrobe.

Besides using your Mom's credit card, there many other ways you can easily add new clothing to your closet. You can refashion jeans into a new pair of shorts or transform one of your Dad's old shirts into a trendy new tee. Check out our Modest Fashion Pinterest Board for some of our favorite fashion ideas to help you get started! The great thing will be that you can spend less for unique items that no one else at your school will have!

3. Be Positive.

School is stressful!! We know! You'll have assignments and papers to write, tests to study for. You'll have teachers who bug you and classmates who drive you crazy. And of course the social drama of boys and parties and friends. SO. MUCH. CHAOS.

And with all of this going on it's easy to get dragged down. Whether it's not feeling up to par with your grades or maybe even questioning your self-worth, there will be ups and downs during the year. The best way to tackle this is to find ways of staying positive that work for YOU. Maybe it's leaving little happy quotes in your locker or bedroom (find some happy quotes here). Maybe it's moving your scripture study to the morning before school so that you leave the house feeling the spirit with you (find scripture study ideas here). Maybe it's writing in your journal each day about the good things that happened to you that day, not focusing on anything negative (find journal ideas here).

4. Refresh your hair style.

This can be done by going extreme with a new hair cut or just finding a few new hair-do's to try out. Adding some fun DIY headbands or other hair accessories can also spruce up your hair style so it feels fresh and new!! Check out our Hair Pinterest Board for some fun and easy ideas.

5. Remember.

Most of all remember. Remember that you are loved by God. Remember that you are His daughter. Remember that we go through hard things but that God is right there with us. You are strong. You are bright. And you can do amazing things this year!!

If You Only Knew...

I came across this little poster on Pinterest and it brought out the poet in me :)

Read below for a little reminder of who you are.

And let's not make fun of my poetic genius, k? Haha.

If You Only Knew...

by marci preece

Under your skin and those curves that you hide.

Something is special, trying to shine.

Behind your lips that hold back a smile

a giggle is waiting to get out for a while.

Hidden by freckles and speckles and more

a sweetness resides that is hard to ignore.

Your eyes focus outward to see another's view

when inward lies the beauty that will always be true.

For deep within the heart of your heart

you are a girl with an amazing part.

You have a gift from our Father above

to nurture, to shine, to share, and to love.

You have a purpose and reason to be.

You have a light that allows others to see.

Please don't hold back the goodness within

because you can't see what's under your skin.

Be You & Love It

Yesterday we talked about being Hot Vs. Beautiful. Remember?

And then I came across this music video from Colbie Caillat called "Try."

Seriously people. I cried the whole time.

This is the message that every girl needs to understand and remember.

That I need to remember.

My favorite part is when she sings:

Wait a second,

Why, should you care, what they think of you

When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?

Do you like you?

You don't have to try so hard

You don't have to, give it all away

You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up

You don't have to change a single thing

You don't have to try so hard

You don't have to bend until you break

You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up

You don't have to change a single thing

You are beautiful

and amazing

and perfect

just the way you are.

No make up

or hair style

or photoshop pro

can change that.

Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror, at yourself
Don't you like you?
Cause I like you

Be You.

And Love It!

#beyouandloveit

#standandshinemagazine

Hot VS. Beautiful

Earlier this month I was chatting with some Young Men - you know those goofy boys that either tease you or ignore you at mutual? Yea, them. And because I knew these YM quite well, I brought up the topic of girls and who they were liking or dating or hanging out with.

Most of the YM were very respectful talking about the girls they liked. They described the girls as "beautiful" and "fun", "kind" and "smart". And even though those may sound like simple or silly descriptions, I thought they were pretty good for teenage boys :)

However, one of the boys worried me with how he described the girl he liked. She was "hot!" That was it! I couldn't get him past calling her "hot" to find out anything else about this girl. But then I realized that he probably didn't know anything else about her if all he was noticing was her level of hotness.

So here's the deal and my little rant for YM even though they don't read this blog. GIRLS ARE NOT HOT. As soon as you call a girl "hot" you are turning her into an OBJECT FOR LOOKING AT and nothing more.

Now girls. Why do I share this with you? Because you are SO MUCH MORE THAN BEING HOT. You are a daughter of God who is beautiful, unique, and special. I know you worry about looking pretty and wearing the right clothes or styles. I know you worry about if a certain boy notices you. But make sure you really want that boy to notice you, does he like hot girls or beautiful girls? Does he notice your true beauty or just your body? Does he appreciate your talents, humor, and goals?

Beauty is deep. It is real. It is defining. It is empowering. 

It encompasses your heart, your dreams, your zest for life. It's your quirks, your silliness, and your smile.

It's your smarts, your determination. Your confidence and joy.

Being beautiful is so much more than the fleeting appearance of being "hot." You are a beautiful daughter of God. Remember that. And remember to surround yourself with friends (and those silly boys) who believe the same and treat you with the respect that beauty deserves.

Like A Girl

The company Always recently started their #LikeAGirl campaign.

It's purpose is to uplift girls and build their confidence.

To denounce the notion that doing things "like a girl" is negative

and that in reality when us girls do things "like a girl" that we are doing it just as we should.

With awesomeness. :)

Watch and be proud of being a girl.