Charity of the week - brightpink.org

CHARITY OF THE WEEK



I am going to start spotlighting one Charity a week. I feel it is important to be aware of these Charity's so we have more opportunities to be aware of ways we can make a difference and be that "Power of One".

So the first one I have chosen to spotlight is www.brightpink.org!

I found out about this Charity when I went into Aerie last month 

during October - "Breast Cancer Awareness Month". 

I bought the cutest and comfiest pink bra and 100% of the proceeds went

to this organization - is that not the greatest???

Also I got the prettiest pink nail polish and 100% of the proceeds for that got donated as well!

I would say Aerie ROCKS for supporting such an amazing cause!

Actually you can still buy the bra and support the cause HERE

So I'm sure you are wondering by now what is Brightpink.org?

Bright Pink is the ONLY National non-profit that raises awareness 

of the protection and early detection of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. 

This is SO IMPORTANT!

Want to support this amazing Charity?

Donate Here

Find ways to Volunteer Here

or simply Spread the Word Here

Remember that you hold the POWER OF ONE GIRL 

- You efforts may just end up changing the world! 

If you do ANYTHING to support this cause - I want to hear all about it so please come back and leave a comment.

SHINE PROJECT {THREADS} REVEAL

                                        It has been awhile since I have updated you on 

                                                    Miss Murray's Outstanding Teen!!

                                 Remember when I wrote about the obstacles in the way? Well, I used 

                                                    the obstacles as stepping stones and things 

                                                               are getting brighter each day!!

                         Miss Murray's FIRST Outstanding Teen was crowned in September. 

           We didn't hold a full on pageant but we chose our winner based on paperwork and a 

                              poster that showed what she would do to promote her platform. 

                           I thought this was ideally perfect as we wanted a girl who was focused 

                                                              on serving her community.

Meet Lauren Wells,

 she is a student at Murray High and her platform is

Cancer Awareness! 

Lauren is already doing AMAZING things in the community.

In fact she performed for the Huntsman Center Gala event that was AMAZING!!
Here is a glimpse into what the evening had in store.

 In celebration of things working out so well, we have partnered up

with Shine Project's THREADS to bring you

bracelets and stacks that were custom made just for

the Miss Murray Outstanding Teen's program.

The stacks are $50 and 20% of all sales goes to MMOT and the
rest goes straight back to Threads and we all know the amazing
work that they do! :)

The crown bracelets individually are $14.

They are debuting in the Thread shop
but I also have my own pile of them so email me if 
you would like some bracelets and I will personally 
deliver them to you! :)
ashleyfrederickson@marykay.com

Together we can CREATE and WEAR CHANGE!!!

How to write a Thank You letter

I LOVE thank you notes!

Okay I don't just love them....I may be slightly OBSESSED with them!
I carry blank ones with me EVERYWHERE! 

I feel lost if I don't have one with my at all times. You just never know who might do something nice for you and who you might need to thank!

There are these two very kind boys who work at Kneaders (pretty sure I go there too often for my wallet) and every time I go through the drive through they treat me like royalty! Of course I wrote their manager a letter thanking them for hiring two compassionate boys who know what true customer service is all about! I think that may be the main reason I go back so often, they make me feel like a princess with their sweet service! The second reason is because their food is SO YUMMY!

The point is, if someone makes you feel like a million bucks - TELL THEM!!!

So it is your turn to write a Thank You note.

Step 1: Think and select someone that has made a difference in YOUR life!

 It can be in a very simple or subtle way or it can be HUGE!

Ideas: How about your 2nd grade teacher that took you under her wing?
                 How about that kind cashier that went out of her way to serve you today?
                 What about that girl back in high school who always said Hi to you, no matter what?!

Friends, neighbors, cashiers, waitresses, mentors, parents, siblings, co-workers, your boss - they all want to feel loved and appreciated for the things they do, even if they are simple things.

Step 2: Pick out a card!

It does not need to be fancy! 

Step 3: Think of a few nice things to say!

The most important factor on this step is that you are sincere! 
Make it come from the bottom of your heart!

Ideas to get you thinking: 

You make me feel so loved!
You are truly amazing at your job. Thank you for doing your job so well!
You care so much for others and it really shows.
You make a difference! 
Thank you for your service!
Thank you for your business!
Thank you for your time!
Thank you for your love!
Thank you for being my friend!

Step 4: Write it down!

It is SO MUCH more meaningful when it is written in your own handwriting on a card instead of just a simple and impersonal email. People simply LOVE getting mail that isn't bills!

Step 5: Send it!

Once you send your thank you; lives will be touched, hearts will be lifted, joy will be experienced and the process of paying it forward can begin! 

You writing a thank you note has a HUGE impact on others whether you believe it or not!

CONGRATULATIONS... YOU {being ONE person} just made a difference and started to change the world!

Step 6: Celebrate. {I believe ice cream is in order now :)}

When you reward yourself for the good things you do in this world, you are more likely to remember them and do it again! 

Want a great excuse to invite friends over? Have a Thank you Note - - ice cream party! 
Write TONS of notes and indulge in ice cream!

5 College Studying Tips

 Here are 5 studying tips for you! This is just what I have learned from experience. 
Comment below to add to it!
1. Study somewhere besides your home 

 I'm not sure if it's just me but I don't accomplish much when I study at home. There are so many distractions between my family, my computer, the TV, the kitchen and everything in between. I get like 3 times as much homework done when I go to the library near my house than I do sitting at my home.

2. Have some good healthy snacks nearby.

 I have to keep a water bottle and either a string cheese or fruit or an organic nutrition bar while I am studying. I think better and it is a huge motivation booster to me.

3. Listen to classical music

 I just barely learned this one! I found this amazing You Tube link and I found that when I am listening while doing my homework, I am a lot more effective at my homework. I seem to remember what I am studying more and for a longer period of time.

4.  Schedule studying time in your day 

This may sound really silly but if I don't schedule out a time to do my homework - it doesn't get done. In my planner I will write "go to library to study" and when a friend comes along, I let them know I am not available because that time is already written down! At the beginning of every single week - I write down every class I am taking and each assignment that is due that week. Even if it is something like "Read Chapter 8". I am a very visual person and if I don't see it - I won't know I have to do it. Besides I LOVE crossing of things on a to-do list!

5. Reward yourself 

I love setting goals and achieving them. That's probably why you are going to college right? You have a goal to be successful, you have a goal to make more money than you do now, you have a goal to gain more knowledge, you have a goal to land your dream job!! Well that may be a few years away so why not reward yourself now? I think of things I get to do if I finish writing my paper or if I get a good grade on my test! It doesn't have to be a big reward - for example I go get a mango tango smoothie from Kneaders (my favorite drink EVER!).

Bridal and Wedding Makeup

 My gorgeous cousin Chelise married a marine this past weekend

and it was so beautiful and their love is so true.

I got the amazing opportunity of doing her makeup

for both her bridals and her wedding.

We decided to keep her look simple to allow

her stunning natural beauty to shine.

I had so much fun playing with her eyes as she has the most stunning

and pure blue eyes.

Don't you think she could be a model?!

I mean seriously she is BEAUTIFUL!

Makeup I used for her bridals:

{I wanted to play up one feature and since her eyes are already gorgeous - 

I chose to make her lips pop}

Foundation - Ivory 1

Translucent Powder

Cream Blush

Bronzer 

{Very lightly applied}

Cream Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow - Chocolate Kiss

Eyeshadow - Hazelnut

Eyeshadow - Spun Silk

Black Eyeliner

Eyeshadow - Coal (on top of liner)

Lash Love Mascara Black

Lip Gloss - Pink Luster

Makeup I used for her Wedding:

{This time we kept all her makeup simple

so her natural beauty really got a chance to shine}

Foundation - Ivory 1 

Mineral Powder - Ivory 1

Concealer - Ivory 1

Cream Blush

Cream Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow - Almond

Black Eyeliner

Lash Love Mascara Black

Lip Gloss - Au Natural

Congratulations Chelise and Ruben - - so so happy for you both!

Wishing you the greatest happily ever after!

P.S. I need some bloggy button help - email me if you are interested in helping me

for some FREE makeup - - ashleyfrederickson@marykay.com

Stephanie Scott - The Power of One Cookie

THE POWER OF ONE COOKIE

I just found this amazing website

Cookies-for-Kids-Cancer

I have volunteered a lot with Primary Children's Medical Center

{the fundraising part of it at least}

so this is something that is close to my heart.

Stephanie Scott is just ONE GIRL - 

but she is taking steps to change the world!

The Disney Channel star from A.N.T Farm is the official Good Cookie Ambassador!
Pediatric cancer is the #1 cause of death in America for children under 19.
Stephanie already had a love for baking,
so she stepped in to help and make a difference.

Right now more than 40,000 kids are battling cancer, 
this just brakes my heart.
So what can you do about it?
YOU can become a member of the Good Cookie Club.
YOU can organize an event right where you are to make a difference.
YOU can join Stephanie in this fight.
SIGN UP HERE!

Check out Teen Vogues article on her as well.

Freedom - Happy 4th of July

 To me this isn't just a holiday about parades, candy, fireworks and barbeques.

 It is a holiday about Freedom and about being blessed to have men who

are out there every day fighting for the rights that I am entitled to which

 I so often take for granted.

 America is such an amazing country. It is a country founded upon the principle

that we are all ONE NATION under God with free agency. 

I love living in this country that allows to me to have dreams,

and chase them to my heart's content. 

In my eyes, America is all about happiness, hope, dreams,

love, unity and the goodness in the hearts of our 

people. I love that American's are so giving and would help others in

a heart beat.

Hope you have an AMAZING 4th of July.

I have already been enjoying mine by being in the Murray 

parade to promote the Miss Murray's Outstanding Teen Pageant.

I walked probably 4 miles today {Booya!}

I also got to walk with tons of little Misses - 

that is real life Princess Diaries 2 right there (remember that scene?!)

Can't wait to see fireworks tonight!

12 Ways to feel beautiful

                    

1. Smile - How can you not feel beautiful when you are smiling? We all find smiling faces more attractive. Smiling is contagious and you will feel gorgeous when you make another person smile.

2. Breathe Deeply - Breathing takes the tension away and allows you to feel at peace. Make it a point to step away from what you are doing to just breathe.

3. Find something to admire in yourself - When you are unhappy or lacking confidence, we all too often find a flaw within us and dwell on it letting that weakness run over and over in our minds again. How can you feel beautiful when you mind is telling you you have a flaw that you hate? Instead feed your mind with the just one beautiful thing you admire. It can be an inner or outer quality - whatever makes YOU happy!

4. Surround yourself with friends that boost you up - I have two friends that I just LOVE to see because I know they are going to tell me I look beautiful when I walk in the room even if I don't feel that pretty that day. Friends are there to support and encourage you! If you feel you don't have people in your life you can count on to boost you up, start complimenting others and it will automatically be a great leap for a friendship but on top of that, the kindness you gave will come back in your life... GUARANTEED!

5. Stand and Sit Tall - Good posture plays a HUGE role in telling your mind how you feel about yourself. Picture yourself with a crown on your head, and then just focus on not letting the crown fall off! When you have good posture, others will think more highly of you as well.

6. Wear your favorite color - Colors make you feel happy and confident! Find a color that you look gorgeous in and rock it often. You don't always have to wear the same shirt, find a necklace, a scarf or sunglasses that have that color in it and wear it like you own it.

7. Say thank you! - Kindness and manners can change your outlook on yourself in an instant and in return make others feel amazing! You feel beautiful because you made a difference. Say thank you to your grocery cashier, say thank you when the door is held for you and say thank you when someone let's you cut in front of them.

8. LOVE - Love life, love your family, love nature - This world was created with so much beauty and love. Take it all in. When you give love, you feel love and love equates to beauty.

9. Accept compliments - When someone is complimenting you, they are going out of their way to make you feel loved. You may not feel like you deserve that compliment or they don't really mean it but they do! OWN it and be proud of the compliment that you just received.

10. Take time for yourself - We live in a world that is rush, rush, rush. It's not selfish one bit to take time out for yourself. Take a bath, paint your nails - you deserve it all!

11. Get out of your shell - Often when I don't feel pretty, I internally roll up in a ball {like a potato bug} and when it reality potato bugs rolled up are not that pretty. They just get lost and they blend in. How can you feel pretty when you are in a ball that no one even knows exists. Spread your wings like a butterfly and let others see your colors. In other words - focus on others and don't get caught up in your flaws. When you are talking to others and opening up yourself, people don't notice flaws - they notice connections they are making with you!

12. Try something new - I am a girl that loves repetition and consistency but I find when I get brave enough to do something new or something that takes courage, I feel absolutely amazingly beautiful. 

What makes you feel beautiful?

Outstanding Teen Pageant - On My Heart

 Aren't these girls so beautiful?

Trust me, they are just as beautiful on the inside TOO!

I have been working SO hard to bring 

the Outstanding Teen Pageant to Murray City. 

I competed in 8 local pageants and

I couldn't stand the thought of not being involved in pageants anymore.

Pageants have shaped my life in an outstanding way. 

I have the strongest passion to bring more scholarships to Murray's youth!

The Miss America Organization is the most incredible organization.

It is a non profit organization and it is a stepping stone to success for girls.

I have put a lot of work into making this pageant happen already but I have 

ran into bits of opposition along the way. I have had to go through many different 

Murray City offices from the school district, to the Mayor's office, to Parks & Rec, 

to other city's pageant directors, to potential contestants.

And while it has been absolutely an incredible experience in setting up something

that is going to make a difference in the community and change the lives

of several girls and families in amazing ways, 

their has been obstacles that somehow keep this amazing project 

from moving along at the pace I desired.

Remember the red light, green light game?

Well that is the game I have been playing lately.
The problem is the red light has been lasting about 3 times as
 long as the green lights are lasting.

Honestly it has been hard and frustrating  but what I've learned is that

opposition is powerful! 

{Powerful in a good way if you didn't catch on}

I truly believe that all things work together for good!
I believe that the obstacles on the journey we are trying to pursue
are stepping stones for better things to take place.

In a way I find it encouraging, if things were going along perfectly
I wouldn't have to work on this project so hard.
I feel like it is such a great thing to be involved in, that the adversary is 
trying to stop me from making it happen.
I will win!!! :)

I have this Positive Affirmation that I keep on my wall 
and I read it on a daily basis.
It says:

                                                       "I will let nobody push my buttons.

I will let nobody rain on my parade.

I will go over. I will go under.

I will go around and I will go through

Any obstacle that comes my way!!

Because I am highly motivated

Truly dedicated

Extremely successful!

YES!"

Since I love you so much... I made you a printable of it!