A New You Retreat -Pt. V

Our color class was taught by one of the classiest women I’ve ever met: Cindy Wakefield:

Again, a creeper picture. I wasn’t able to get any great pictures of her in our color class, and so I hoped to get one when she sat across the table from me. I set my camera on the table. Aimed it… and *snap!* But it wasn’t all that great.
Creeping does not pay.
I wonder why I keep doing it.

Cindy had us each sit in a chair at the front of the class and she took a magical little magnifying glass with a light on it (maybe there wasn’t a light. I can’t remember). She used it to look at our eyes and determine whether we were warm or cool colors. After checking our eye color, she’d drape a pink piece of cloth over us… and then a peach. If the pink looked better than the peach, we were cool colored. If the peach looked better than the peach, we were warm colored.
My Aunt Julie Strong joked as she sat in THE CHAIR that she felt like she was at Hogwarts getting sorted.
Mom and I were both cool colored. I always thought I was warm colored, and luckily Cindy said I could get away with wearing both but I look better in cool.
Whew! I don’t have to trash my wardrobe. I don’t think I could afford that. We’re in a recession, you know.

Cindy listed about 5 or 6 different styles that we all fall into (casual, classic, dramatic, natural, feminine…) and she also taught us a shopping trick.
If you’re cool colored, you should paint your nails pink before shopping for clothes. THEN hold your nails up next to the shirt (or whatever) you’re looking at and see if the colors go well together. If they don’t, then you shouldn’t buy it.
If you’re warm colored, paint your nails more of a peachy color and use the same technique. She said this technique works just as good as taking a cool color wheel or a warm color wheel and trying to find colors that match the wheel.
Does that make sense?
Obviously, this isn’t my strong point.
But I’m getting better!

My sister, Ju, is most definitely a warm colored person. Maybe I should hand some of my wardrobe over to her.
Mom getting “sorted”:

After our color class, we took a short break and walked down the hall to our style class taught by Kris Denison.
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Kris taught us what our body shape was, what our face shape was, and to never -under any circumstances -put our cell phones in our control top pantie hose.

I was certain my shape was rectangle and that my face was round.
Mom was certain her shape was rectangle and that her face was square.

We were both wrong -we both have hourglass figures (!!!) and oval faces. Best. News. Ever. I’ve been dressing differently ever since!
She taught us the 8-point system. As luck would have it, my handout on the 8-point system is NOT where I thought it would be. Stink!
Here’s a link to a more complicated 16-point system. Same idea, but the 8 points is easier and much more practical for someone like me (and you) who is always on the run… right behind -and always two steps behind -two little runts!
As soon as I find my 8-point handout, I’ll share it.

She listed for us the 10 fashion staples:
#1) Little Black Dress (check!)
#2) Black Blazer -fitted (what’s a blazer?)
#3) White Shirt -can even be worn over bathing suit (check!)
#4) Necklaces -layer them, wrap them differently (check!)
#5) Clutch bag/hand bag -can be worn with jeans or a dress (half check! -could definitely use a couple more)
#6) White Jeans -bit belt (NO! NO WHITE JEANS!)
#7) One Great Shirt or Top that you can always grab and feel great (I have a few! Triple check!)
#8) Trench coat -neutral color (need!)
#9) Scarf (check! But I need a few more for variety)
#10) Spanx -get at Target (need!)

She also told us that the key to getting your eyes to really POP has nothing to do with make-up and everything to do with earrings. And all you have to do is WEAR some.

With all of her amazing information, I have so much more confidence. When I walk around a clothing store, I finally have some DIRECTION! It’s so nice! My poor husband’s wallet!
To be fair, I haven’t robbed it yet. But, OH, how I want to! Now that I know what I want and what I’m doing clothing stores are dangerous places… it’s good for me though. I have the hardest time shopping for myself, and really -I’ve been given the tools to find a great outfit for my body whether I’m in Nordstrom or Goodwill (Savers being eliminated from the equation).

My daughter is the coolest girl in the world. She goes to school next year, and I’ll be left at home wallowing in lack of coolness.
Maybe then I’ll get my next baby. And she’ll be a girl. And she’ll be cool like Lacy.

We headed back to the dino museum that night for our final devotional:
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Songs were sung TO us (by Stephi, who was in our group):
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Songs were sung BY us (warning: this pictures is cliche of what goes on when women get together for three days of feminine fun times):
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We had to say goodbye to friends we’d just met but felt like we’d known forever:
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And we had to say goodbye to friends with celebrity names (Pamela Anderson):
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We had to say goodbye to our tiny roommate who didn’t quite reach my shoulder:
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Of all the ladies I miss most:
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MOVE to Joe City, girls! Buy Speedy’s and then MOVE to Joe City!

Between dinner and the final devotional, mom and I took some creeper pictures of a woman whose daughter had received her mission call THAT DAY and driven to the retreat to open it with her mom. Several members of the family drove down as well, and they gathered together to share a special moment… mom and I hunkered behind some bushes or pillars or what-have-yous and snapped a picture:
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And then we left, later finding out that she’s going to be serving in BRAZIL!

As we checked into the Salt Lake Airport, we saw two groups waiting for missionaries to come home. So what did we do?
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We watched.
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I took that through some plexi glass. A missionary hugging his sister for the first time in two years. Aw!

I confessed to mom that we might as well make our creeping complete by rushing a laboring mother in a nearby hospital and snapping pictures.
For shame!
But it was so sweet to see their joy… so so sweet.

We said goodbye to camp, came home and said “hello” to a new version of ourselves:
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Barbara Barrington Jones “A New You” Retreat for Women really did change my life. I came home with my priorities in order, a new perspective, and loads of confidence (the good kind, mind you. Not the kind that make you want to kick me in the shin)… I went expecting a few days alone with my mom and maybe a cute new haircut, and I came away with a brand new take on life.

Have I told you that you should go?
You should.
GO!

A New You Retreat -Pt. IV

The next morning, mom and I braved the lobby without any make up on and without our hair done.  We took some “before” pictures and then we waited patiently for the limo.  I was getting some color done, so I left before my mom.  For the first time since we’d been there, we parted ways.  As silly as it may sound, I got a little emotional watching her walk away.  I felt the exact same rush of emotions I felt years and years ago when my mom dropped me off for a 2 week band camp.
Our driver looked just like a limo driver should look:

Once inside, I HAD to snap some pictures. It didn’t matter that I had no clue who these women were… it was my FIRST limo ride, for cryin’ out loud!

The limo dropped us off at:

Anyone who lives in the Lehi/Salt Lake area NEEDS to know that I have some SWEET coupons for this specific salon that I can’t use because I’m an AZ outcast.
So if you want them, leave a comment. or text me. or facebook me. or email me.
Or skype.
Man, technology is irritating. Will we never have any privacy? (Am I the only one who wants to pronounce it “pih-vih-cee?)

I sat in my chair,
With my ultra long hair…
Magical Britney came and asked me what I wanted done.
I said, “I don’t know! I don’t know if my hair looks good long or short.”
She said, “I like the length. I’ve been trying to grow mine out for a long time.”
I said, “I’m putty in your hands, Britney. My budget is $100.”
Her eyes lit up, she ran her fingers through my hair and then asked, “Can I spend it all?”
And I said, “Yes!”
Because, really. When am I ever going to do this again?

My hair results you’ve already seen. But here they are again anyway.

ASIDE from getting hair and make-up done, we also got a neck massage, a scalp massage AND a hand massage. I could live in that salon! The products are all natural, so they’re healthier for your hair.
The stuff on the right is at the TIP TOP of my wish list. It helps your hair to blow dry faster and it does about half of your work for you. I’m jonesin’ for some:

Diane Workman, on the right, was my counselor. WHAT a beautiful pair of ladies!

The girl who did my make up was named Autumn. She also did my mom’s.

As she put mascara on me, she complimented me on my eye lashes.
“Thanks, I grew them myself,” I said.
“You have such a green thumb,” she replied. And I giggled and almost messed her make up application up. But I couldn’t help it.
After my make-up was done, my group snagged some lunch and then went to meet the limo. HOWEVER, Barbara Barrington Jones HERSELF stopped me and was talking to me. I didn’t want to leave, and I decided I’d catch up with my group a little later.
Except I got lost in the mall instead.
So I went back to the salon and waited for my mom. Yay! I got mom back!

Our salon day ran a little longer than expected, and we were going to be late for our afternoon color and style classes, so Barbara Barrington Jones HERSELF set us up in limo with Joseph.

We rushed back in the LIMO:

Did I mention that they also gave us each a rose on our way out of the salon?

We made it back and didn’t miss anything important in the classes. I thought I’d be able to fit the salon and our color/style classes into one post… but I’m going to do a different post all together for those classes.
That night (just like the night before) all the ladies that had gone to salon lined up, and Barbara Barrington Jones HERSELF walked around and talked to each one of us.

Here’s me with my MAM and ontees:

Tomorrow will be the last post about the retreat. Are you sick of hearing about it yet?
I’m not!

You should go next year!

A New You Retreat -Pt. III

The second day of the retreat, we split up into separate groups.  My aunties all went to the salon in limos, and mom and I stayed behind to take some classes.  The first class we took was on Balanced Health and it was taught by Dr. Stan Gardner.

He fed us all GREAT information that I have tucked away in my beautiful notebook. My only regret was that we didn’t get enough TIME with the doc! I could have easily sat at his feet for three hours. One great tip he gave us that I’ll pass onto you is this: have a glass of water with added fiber (think Metamucil) at least 15 minutes before eating, and it will help keep you from over eating.
Simple!
Here’s a short exercise he passed on that is HIGHLY effective.

While doing this, it’s important to remember not to squeeze the finger… just hold it. There is an emotion tied to each of our five fingers.
The thumb is connected with worry.
The pointer finger is connected with fear.
The flip-off finger is connected with anger (go figure!).
The ring finger is connected with grief.
The pinky finger is connected with pretense (or the feelings that go along with pretending to be something you are not).

After his amazing (and much too short) lesson, we were sent to lunch. Imagine eating lunch after a session like that! My mind was all a’blur with thoughts like…
Is there enough vegetables?
Am I overeating?
Too many toxins?
And on and on…

Luckily, the food came from a place that doesn’t use any sugar, and all of their food is made out of the healthiest stuff they can get. So we ate worry free -and we didn’t even have to hold our thumbs.

After lunch, we met back in the upstairs room of the dinosaur museum and listen to Darin Knowles speak on motivation.

Darin helped to give us the tools we need to take ALL of the information we picked up during the three days (and there was A LOT) and put it to good use when we got home. He was passionate about what he was talking about, and it was easy to listen to him. It’s really easy to listen to anyone who is passionate about what they’re doing. At the end of his stellar lesson, he explained to us how hard it is for men to express themselves fully to women because they don’t feel the full range of emotions like women do. He said he once heard a song that he felt described his feelings best, and he asked us all to close our eyes, imagine that everyone we loved (kids, spouse, siblings, parents…) was standing in a circle around us and singing this song. It seems REALLY cliche to have a group of women absolutely WEEPING over a Celine Dion song, but you know what? It really spoke to us and got us the message that we needed.

After a short break during which we used up all of the toilet paper in the bathrooms (drying our tears, okay?) we all came back to the big room and were taught a lesson in poise by a woman named Shauna Ockey. I wanted her dress.

She’s from Canada, and I just have to say: every one of the great people who taught us came and taught for FREE. AND they paid their own air fare. Amazing.
Every speaker linked their topics back to the gospel and kept Christ at the center of their teachings which was awesome.
Shauna gave us the 5 signs of a well kept woman. Here they are:
#1) Hair
*clean
*well kept

#2) Face
*clean
*Teeth brushed

#3) Fingernails
*All the same length
*dirt cleaned out

#4) Clothing
*In good repair
*Clean

#5) Well Groomed

She also taught us the proper way to stand and told us that we needed to practice, so I did. I practiced all day that day and the next and the next and I’m STILL practicing! At first, it made my back ache like crazy, but now it’s getting used to it and thank goodness! My posture isn’t the greatest, and it feels good to know I’m training it back into it’s proper place.
After teaching us about poise, she gave us an etiquette lesson. The next night, as we sat eating dinner, there were a slideshow of picture being projected onto the wall behind me. I was starving, but I wanted to see the slideshow… SO I stuck a fork in my chicken, turned around in my seat and then just took bites out of my chicken as I watched. After a few minutes, I turned around to return my chicken to my plate to find that SHAUNA was sitting directly across the table from me.
GAH!
I don’t think she noticed on account of the slideshow. Here’s hopin!
She quoted President Hinckley in the end:
“Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth.”

That night, we had an inspiring evening devotional. Barbara Barrington Jones talked a little bit about balance. She told us to draw a triangle on the page we were taking notes on. At the top of the triangle, we wrote the word “brain” on one bottom corner we wrote the word “physical body” on the other bottom corner we wrote the word “spiritual health.” She told us EACH of those three needed constant nurturing, but the KEY to success was not only nurturing all of those three but…
(she then had us draw a circle inside of our triangle and write the word “service” in it)
SERVING!

The best part about the evening (aside from getting the secrets of success, I mean) was getting to see my aunts after they’d spent most of the day at the salon.

See how pretty?  (her not me.  I hadn’t gotten my salon day, yet.  In fact, I’d spent the better part of the day bawling over Celine Dion songs.)


That night after Barbara’s devotional, we were able to listen to a concert given by Jessie Funk:

She is so purdy…

Mom answered one of her trivia questions right (how many liters are in a gallon?) and won a CD:

After her concert was over, I bull-rushed her and asked her if I could snap a picture of her hair.

Cutest style ever! I didn’t want to forget it because I’m going to try it out just as soon as I get my hands on a cute headband.

The next day, mom and I went to the salon. More on that later.
Remember how I told you we were going to play with water balloons for our FHE? Well, we did.
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The boys were ALL about it. I had fun, too. Not as much fun as the boys… what is it about throwing something and making it break that just thrills a boy?
Lacy thought the whole idea was stinking.
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Throwing balloons chuck full of water at PEOPLE so they’ll get WET?! It’s attack! Cruelty!

Being the boy he is, my husband threw a water balloon at a bird perched on a fence.
And instead of watching it fly off, like he thought would happen, he watched it fall.
PLOP.
And it never flew away.
So he got his gloves on and went looking for it:
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He spotted it hopping around on the ground with a broken wing, and he tried to catch it. It hopped under some branches, so my husband tried to flush it out with a stick:
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Almost an hour went by, and we still couldn’t find the bird. So he got TWO sticks:
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FINALLY, we got the bird:
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My husband wouldn’t give up. Behind all that “hey-let’s-throw-a-water-balloon-at-a-bird-har-har” facade, there’s really a nice man who cares enough to catch and care for the bird he broke.
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At least until he goes to work. Now it’s ME who has to fish it out from under the stove.
Help!
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I lost the water balloon fight.
And to tie this post up in a nice bow, here’s a cute picture:
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Clocking Back In

Remember me? The girl who once made a short wish list that consisted of two things: A lap top and a chance to attend “A New You” with my mom and (of course) Barbara Barrington Jones.
Wellllll… checka and check!

I’ve got SO much to tell you (you can imagine), but I’ve got to go again. I’m headed to a family reunion in the middle of the woods (yahoo for camping!), and I’ve got roughly eleventy billion things to do before 5 pm today, so I’m just going to give you our before and after pictures.

For one day during the retreat, we were whisked away (by LIMO -this country girl was so tickled she giggled almost the entire drive to the salon… my first limo ride!) to a professional salon.
I sat in Brittany’s chair and let her have her way with me.
Brittany the Magician.

I’m not wearing make-up in those pictures. So it’s not really a TRUE before and after, but I just wanted to show you Brittany. I lub her.

Here’s Madre:

Mom LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!  I had to keep from touching her hair, but not for long.  At 5 am the next morning, she rolled over in bed and we both woke up.

The conversation we had went something like this:

“Mom, are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I do your hair today?”

“Sure.”

Moms are the best.

Now if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to run myself ragged and then spend TWO DAYS wrapped in the comfort of nature.