January Excitement - A New Year!

"Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow"...This line from the popular song rings all too true as we begin the new year - 2010, can you believe it!!??  What do you have planned for the new year?  Have you thought about some goals to work toward - not resolutions, but goals - to keep us motivated and progressing forward?  Maybe it's along the lines of getting more organized or losing weight?  How about spending more quality time with your family or doing something for someone each day?  Whatever you decide, 2010 is filled with possibilities and opportunities. 

Relief Society Meetings this year are going to support your goals in the areas of:
 
1)Homemaking
2) Marriage and family
3) Provident living and self-reliance
4) Temples and family history
5) Sharing the gospel
6) Compassionate service

Check out the revised Relief Society Meetings website by clicking here to see some of the fun ideas, plus so much more this year!  As always, we welcome your ideas for activities, classes, topics you'd like covered, etc.  So, please feel free to share with a member of the committee!

Here's to an exciting and happy new year!

January Activities/Classes:

Thursday, Jan. 7...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home.  If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out.  Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one.  (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 12...Introduction to New FamilySearch @ 7pm @ Amanda's place.  Come join us for "Everything You Wanted to Know About New FamilySearch, But Were Afraid to Ask."  Bring your laptop if you have one.  Whether you've never registered yet or are a New FamilySearch pro, let's explore New FamilySearch together.  It truly is a revolution in family history and a modern miracle.  *If you haven't registered yet, please bring your confirmation date and membership number.  (This will be a complemetary class to the weekly Family History Sunday School class.)

Thursday, Jan. 14...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home. If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out. Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one. (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 19...Stake Cannery Day from 6-8pm at our local cannery (dry pack).  Contact Gloria by Jan. 17th to reserve a spot.

Thursday, Jan. 21...Yoga @ 7pm @ Lynette, Julie, & Lisa's home. If you haven't tried yoga yet, you're missing out. Wear comfy clothes, bring water, and a mat if you have one. (*This class meets every Thursday unless otherwise noted.)

Tuesday, Jan. 26..."Organizing for the Unorganized" @ 7pm @ TBA.  Learn how to simplify your life by getting organized!  The new year is always a good time to start de-cluttering and cleaning out spaces.  Find out how to decide what to keep, donate, throw out as well as creative ways to organize small spaces and "containerize."  Come with an idea of a space you'd like to organize.

Thursday, Jan. 28...Book Club @ 7 pm @ Kathy's home.  The book we will discuss is " Forgotten Garden," by Kate Morton. This book transports the reader from the back alleys of poverty of pre-World War I London to the shores of colonial Australia where so many made a fresh start, and back to the windswept coast of Cornwall, England, past and present.  Please join us even if you haven't read this book. The discussion is fun and you can even recommend some good books you have read that all of us should read.

*Cannery Information - contact Gloria for more information:*

Welfare Square: No scheduled appointments "Walk In ONLY"
Hours: Mon - Wed - Fri 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tues - Thurs 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sat - 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Individuals and families may go to the cannery at their convenience during the above times. There may be a short waiting period until one of the four canning spots is available.

Local Cannery (dry pack)
Our stake assigned date: Tuesday -- January 19, 2010 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To participate please call Gloria by Sunday, January 17th so a spot can be reserved for you.

Fridays are open for individuals to come in by calling the cannery for an appt. the day before. (Thursday)

Wet pack items are also available at the local Cannery -- call for items, prices, etc and to sign up for a time.

Join us for one or all of our Relief Society Meetings - whatever fits you and your family's schedule!  Spread the word and bring a friend, neighbor,

roommate, or family member! 

We look forward to a fun and inspiring 2010!!

Thanksgiving and Updates

"Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey." (President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 2008)

~Happy Thanksgiving (early), Sisters!  We wish you a special day filled with cherished memories, beloved family and friends, and grateful hearts.  We have been blessed with a "cornucopia" of love, relationships, beauty, conveniences, and the priceless gift of having the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  May we go forth and share our blessings with others!  May you also know how grateful we are for each of you!

~Relief Society Meetings update:
Due to Thanksgiving, there will be no Yoga this week.  Book Club has also been postponed until December.  Stay tuned for updates regarding December classes and activities.

"Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?"

Join us for a unique presentation, "Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate?" on legacy planning and family communication with Mark at the ward building in the Relief Society room this coming Thursday, Nov. 19th at 7pm. The workshop and information presented will be helpful for all ages. Bring your husband, neighbors, friends, roommates, etc. Also, please bring something that you cherish and would like to pass down to your descendants in the future.  Light refreshments served.

Photography & Book Club Cancelled for November

Unfortunately, due to seasonal affects of the flu, our Photography class
scheduled for Tuesday, November 10th @ 7pm has been cancelled.  We wish Catherine a speedy recovery!  Bring on the kleenex. : )  This class will be re-scheduled at a future date.  Stay tuned!

Also, Book Club will not be meeting this month because of the many other activities happening.  So, you have an extra month to read the book selection this month (see previous post).  See you in December!

Organization

This is an extra, yet practical post for those of you who wish you were better organized.  I'm all ears!  Organization is probably one of the most requested ideas for a class because it seems everyone has a place or something they want to organize better.  We will have a mini-class on organization coming up in the next couple months, but for now I thought I'd share this. 

When it comes to organizing (which I love to do), I love checklists.  Post-it notes are one of my favorite ways to organize my lists, and yes, I confess...I even add things to my list that I've already accomplished so I see it crossed off!  I know I need help. :)  ).  Lists are functional, help me remember (so you don't need a great memory), and enable me to visually track my progress. 

Of course, we could make lists all day long and yet, never complete anything on the list.  So, here are some helpful lists that you don't have to think about making.  Just look forward to checking the items off as you complete them instead.  Click here for a variety of lists, courtesy of Martha Stewart, from party planning and holidays to cleaning and first-aid kits.  It really is "list heaven." 
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*P.S.  A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Halloween-themed Food for Thought, Tasting, & Sharing class last night.  We had a fun time sharing traditions, eating yummy goodies (loved the "Meal in a Pumpkin," Christene), and enjoying one another's company!  If you weren't able to attend, we'll have extra handouts in Relief Society on Sunday.  Looking forward to seeing you next month!

A "Spook-tacular" Cooking Class - Holiday Series

This Cooking class will be filled with lots of treats and some tricks ("tricks of the trade," that is).  Join us Wednesday, Oct. 21st at 7pm at Christene's home for a "spook-tacular" cooking class geared toward fun and creative ideas to make your Halloween "boo-tiful" and maybe even start some new family traditions.  Enjoy the following:

• Get inspired with new and innovative ideas for decorating and entertaining
• Cooking (and eating) yummy Halloween-themed foods including:  Pumpkin Feast (meal-in-a-pumpkin), Boney Breadsticks, Hoot-Owl cookies, Graveyard Gravel, and more
• Sharing fun, family Halloween traditions
• Socializing and enjoying one another's company

We hope you're able to come and bring a friend, roommate, or neighbor!

Questions???  Contact Amanda or Christene

October's "Spook-tacular" Classes and Activities

October is upon us which means many fun, Fall festivities!  General Conference (Oct. 3-4) is always a highlight - hope you were able to watch it and/or participate in some way.  Other autumnal activities may include:  driving up one of the canyons to  see the colorful leaves, attending some of the many musical concerts at the Conference Center, or getting ready for the upcoming holidays.  Whatever activities you experience, we hope you will choose to attend one or some of our Relief Society Meetings and Classes.  See below for a list of October happenings:

Tuesday, Oct. 10th - Play Group meets at Maren's place @ 10am.  This is a great time for the kids to get to know one another and for moms to have some socializing time.  You don't have to be a mom to participate.  Any sister is always welcome.  (For specific directions/address, please contact Maren or Amanda.)

Thursday, Oct. 8th - Yoga @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's place @ 7pm.  Bring a yoga mat, water, and wear comfy clothes.  Great way to relax and de-stress!

Thursday, Oct. 15th - Yoga @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's place @ 7pm.  Bring a yoga mat, water, and wear comfy clothes.  Yoga is helpful way to build strength and increase flexibility.

Wednesday, Oct. 21st - "Spook-tacular" Cooking Class:  Halloween Ideas @ Christene's @ 7pm.  You won't want to miss this fun class all centered on ideas for Halloween.  From tasty and easy recipes to decorating and party ideas, we will share fun traditions and ways to make Halloween a fun family event.  We invite you to bring your ideas/traditions, too!

Thursday, Oct. 22nd - Yoga @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's place @ 7pm.  Bring a yoga mat, water, and wear comfy clothes.  Bring a friend!

Tuesday, Oct. 27th - Book Club @ Christene's place @ 7pm.  Book:  "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" by Mark Haddon.  Click here for a book review by Amazon.com.

Thursday, Oct. 29th - Yoga @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's place @ 7pm.  Bring a yoga mat, water, and wear comfy clothes.  Did you know yoga can help you relax and sleep better?

Relief Society Temple Day - contact Siv for details about date/time.

*If you have other ideas for classes you'd like to participate in or teach, please contact Amanda or one of the Relief Society Meeting members.*

September HFPE Activities/Classes

Can you believe September is already here? There are many things to do to enjoy this time of year, expand our minds, and celebrate the opportunity to learn. With school back in, "learning" is in the air. So, grab your bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils, and join us at one or many of our Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment activities/classes:

• Thursday, Sept. 3...Yoga Class @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's home @ 7pm. Bring water, a yoga mat (if you have one), and wear comfy clothes. This is a great way to relax and de-stress!
• Friday, Sept. 4...Friendship Night @ Christene's @ 7pm. Bring a project to work on if you'd like, a snack to share (optional), and enjoy a fun time mingling with new and old friends.
• Thursday, Sept. 10...Yoga Class @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's home @ 7pm. Bring water, a yoga mat (if you have one), and wear comfy clothes. This is a great way to relax and de-stress!
• Thursday, Sept. 17...Yoga Class @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's home @ 7pm. Bring water, a yoga mat (if you have one), and wear comfy clothes. This is a great way to relax and de-stress!
• Tuesday, Sept. 22...HFPE Quarterly Activity, "You are Loved" @ 6:30pm. Inspired by Josh Groban's song, "You are Loved (Don't Give Up)," we will be hearing from our wonderful Stake Patriarch, enjoying tasty finger foods, and will have a variety of take-home handouts and ideas to help us feel loved emotionally, spiritually, physically, etc. We hope you will join us for an uplifting evening as we recognize the unconditional love our Heavenly Father and the Savior have for each of us. This will be a wonderful way to prepare our hearts for the General Relief Society Meeting later in the week. Friends and neighbors welcome! (Directions will be emailed/given out.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 23...Book Club @ Catherine's @ 7pm. Our book selection this month is, "The School of Essential Ingredients," by Erica Bauermeister. Click here for a summary and reader reviews: <http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2009/02/review-school-of-essential-ingredients.html>
• Thursday, Sept. 24...Yoga Class @ Lynette, Julie, and Lisa's home @ 7pm. Bring water, a yoga mat (if you have one), and wear comfy clothes. This is a great way to relax and de-stress!
• Saturday, Sept. 26 (morning)...Dry Pack Canning @ Murray Cannery @ 10am-noon. to participate, contact Gloria by Sunday, Sept. 20th to reserve your spot.
• Saturday, Sept. 26 (evening)...General Relief Society Meeting @ the stake bldg. @ 6pm. Refreshments and social to follow the broadcast. Click here for more information: http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5035-1,00.html
• Sister's Temple Day...Contact Siv for date and time.

Yoga is back on...AGAIN!

Due to the positive response to our yoga class (and the fact we have the building scheduled through October), it is back on again. Thank you to those who showed up for our first yoga class - if it was a test, you all passed. :)

We will have yoga EACH Thursday through October 8th at 7pm at the ward building. Bring water, wear comfortable clothes, and bring a yoga mat if you have one. Otherwise, our instructor will have extras. We look forward to seeing you, friends, and neighbors.

UPDATE: IMPORTANT AND NEW

IMPORTANT!

Due to scheduling conflicts, Friendship Night will be postponed until Friday, September 4th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

However, if you are looking for something to do...free "Movies in the Park" are available each Friday night. Bring some popcorn, a blanket or chairs, and the rest of the family for some fun entertainment.

ALSO...NEW CLASS!

HFPE Mini-Class: Yoga will meet weekly beginning Thursday, August 13 through Thursday, October 8th @ 7pm @ the ward bldg. in the Relief Society room. Our certified instructor is Abby and she's excited to be teaching this class. Yoga is great for relieving stress, relaxing, toning, flexibility, and muscle strengthening.

Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a water bottle. Yoga mats provided, but you're welcome to bring your own and drink lots of water during the day prior to coming.

August HFPE Activities and Classes

Can you believe it's August already?! Although it may not feel like it, according to the calendar (and the weather), August is upon us...which means we have a whole new month of fun HFPE activities! Bring a friend or two and join us for one or many of these activities:

Wednesdays, Aug. 5 & 19 - Exercise Class @ 7pm @ Chalyce's home.

Friday, Aug. 7 - Friendship Night has been postponed until September due to scheduling conflicts.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 - "Made for You With Love" class @ 7pm @ Haley's home. We'll be making cute paper purses.

Thursdays (weekly through October 8), Aug. 13 - NEW! Yoga Class taught by Abby (certified instructor) @ 7pm @ the ward bldg. in the Relief Society room. Yoga mats provided, unless you'd like to bring your own. Wear comfortable clothes and drink lots of water!

Tuesday, Aug. 18 - Cooking Class @ 7pm @ the ward bldg. Bring your favorite recipe (made) and a copy of the recipe to share.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 - Book Club @ 7pm @ Toni's home. The book we're reading this month is a fun, easy read: "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This was a "Reader's Choice" book, so there are many copies available at the library.

Looking ahead to next month...

Mini-class: Creating Wills
&
3rd Quarterly Activity to help us get ready for the General Relief Society Meeting

**As always, if you need directions, please email or call.**

What Do You Think?

Word is...the Photography Class was a great success! Thanks, Catherine, for your time and expertise! Thus, we're considering having Photography Part II maybe sometime in early September to not only reinforce the skills we learned, but practice those skills in a beautiful location. If this is something you might be interested in attending, share your opinion on our blog survey or leave a comment. You can also email me or contact any member of the HFPE Committee.

We strive to offer activities and classes that are meaningful, helpful, practical, and enriching. Please feel free to share your ideas for future activities and classes. Thank you for your support and feedback!

Book Club This Week!

Book Club this week on Wednesday, July 29th @ 7pm @ Kathy's home. Email or call for directions. We will finish discussing David McCullogh's, "John Adams." You're welcome to join us (even if you haven't read the book) for a lively discussion and socializing. Also, come with ideas for future Book Club reads. Hope to see you there!

P.S. *We want your opinion! Check out our new survey!!*

Welcome and July Activities/Classes

We hope you find this blog helpful in keeping you aware of what fun, pratical, and spiritual activities and classes are going on! Feel free to bring friends and neighbors and spread the word! Visit often for the most current information, add us to your "Favorites" list, and leave comments about activities and ideas. We look forward to getting to know one another through this inspired Relief Society program -

Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment

Month of July 2009:

*Please note, for privacy reasons directions and places will not be posted on this blog. Email me at: chef_amanda25@hotmail.com for specific places and directions.

• Friendship Night will resume August 7th
• Exercise Class - Wednesday, July 8th and 22nd: 7pm @ Chalyce's apartment
• Cooking Class - Tuesday, July 21st: 7pm @ ward bldg. Bring your favorite dish with written recipe to share. We'll be having a "Recipe Exchange" and enjoy tasting the variety of yummy treats.
• NEW! Photography Class Part I - Wednesday, July 22nd: 7pm @ ward bldg. Bring your digital camera and questions about how to take beautiful pictures. This will be Part I of two classes. Catherine will be our teacher.
• Book Club - Wednesday, July 29th: 7pm @ Kathy's home. Book is: "John Adams" by David McCullogh. We'll be finishing up the book this month. Bring book ideas for future readings.
• NEW! Yoga Class - Date TBA. This will be a weekly, evening class. Abby (Rachel's sister) will be our certified instructor.

Other Important Dates:

• Saturday, July 4th - Independence Day
• Saturday, July 11th - Neighborhood Breakfast @ 9am, ward bldg. on lawn
• Friday, July 24th - Pioneer Day