Girl Scout Junior Agent of Change Journey in a Day and Bronze Award Workshop

My multi-level group consists of Daisy through Cadette so I broke off 7 of my 4th and 5th graders to work on completing the Bronze Award, which is the highest Girl Scout award Juniors can earn.

Thankfully there is copious amounts of information available to guide me! Whomever the instructional design team is at River Valleys council, I bow to them as they are amazing rock stars! I continuously love to use their curriculum for badges and journey's!

This link provides you information about the Bronze award requirements. The Bronze Award kit is a great introduction of the Bronze Award to the girls. It was incredible information for me as I finally understand the difference between community service and a take action project. The activities in the packets are fun and engaging. An older group of Girl Scouts could definitely host a Bronze award  workshop event as a fundraising for younger girls. 

https://volunteers.girlscoutsrv.org/troops/troop-leader/highest-awards/

We had a meeting two weeks ago to introduction the Bronze Award and determine which journey we wanted to complete as its a pre-requisite to starting the award. We completed the mad lips game, power of me game to differentiate between talent and characteristic and interest and passion, and the service vs take action project. This activity was eye-opening for me as a leader! The girls worked on the word find while we waited for everyone to arrive. We accomplished these three activities plus some "get out your wiggles" during our 2 hour meeting.

The information packet from Girl Scouts of Northern California is quite informative about the Bronze Award.

https://www.gsnorcal.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsnorcal/documents/awards/bronze-award-packet.pdf

Information and guidelines from my local council, Central Texas, about the Bronze Award.

https://www.gsctx.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-program/highest-awards/bronze-award.html

Packet I provided to the girls to review with their families as to the requirements of the bronze award.

https://www.gsctx.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsctx/documents/Awards/Bronze_Award_Girl_Guidelines_-_GSUSA_REDUCED.pdf

The girls requested we work on the Outdoor Journey and thankfully, we do have a Service Unit Camping trip coming up, but my co-leader and I felt the Agent of Change Journey would be the most appropriate to prepare the girls for the Bronze Award. The Agent of Change teaches about the Power of You, Power of Team, and Power of Community. Again, the River Valleys Council is AMAZING! I used the below curriculum for the journey in a day with great success! We started at 9AM and finished at 2PM. I included 3 "get the wiggles out" exercise breaks, a morning snack, lunch (pizza), and ending with the last activity from the Bronze Award kit which was the Bronze Award Sundae. 

https://volunteers.girlscoutsrv.org/troops/troop-leader/junior-planning-guide/

 Power of You

Power of Team - What community service can we accomplish as a team

The curriculum even included a example of a Take Action project which is to educate and inspire people to donate items from a local animal shelter's wish list. 

Journey completed!

The next step for our little group will be to attend the Veteran's Day parade which will help build awareness of our community.  

Strong and Courageous Woman: Tara Westover

Do you know who Tara Westover is? I sure did not until my sister friend recommended the book "Educated" for our September book club meeting!

I quickly discovered who Tara Westover is and I just love her story. Why? Because this woman has some serious spunk and grit!

Tara was raised in Idaho by a father who was very anti-government, which included public education, and anti-modern medicine. Anti-public school would be fine if Tara had received home schooling, but she did not. After some serious trials and tribulations, which I shall not give away, because I want you to read the book, Tara makes her way to BYU. It is here that Tara discovers how truly ignorant she is. I said ignorant, not dumb. Tara is definitely not dumb. Tara quickly learned that there was a lot about life and history and the world she did not know (hence the ignorance). I believe her desire to learn as much as she possibly could is part of what encapsulates her strength and courage. It would have been very easy to wallow in her ignorance and not grow and learn, but she did. She focused her energy and efforts in learning.

I highly encourage everyone to read this book. There are some definite similarities to "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls in regards to the poverty both women experienced. Also, both women have the similarities in getting themselves out of poverty through education, hard work, and determination.

Either book would be a great way to spend the weekend! Curled up in bed with an amazing book! Although reading about these women and their raw determination might motivate you to tackle some long overdue project. Win/win either way!

Essenital Oils 101: Cassia

Cassia has quite a few uses!
1. Helps with reducing the common cold, cough, viral infections, diarrhea, nausea infections, and various urinary and kidney problems.
2. Helps with calming the emotions
3. Improves blood circulation

Cassia Cinnamomum cassia

A warming oil that dates back to biblical times, Cassia promotes healthy digestion and immune function while providing a strong, uplifting aroma.*

Description

A close relation to Cinnamon, Cassia has a strong, spicy aroma that can be used in small quantities to transform any essential oil blend. Cassia has been used for thousands of years for its many health benefits. It's one of the few essential oils mentioned in the Old Testament, noted for its unmistakable fragrance and calming aromatic properties. Cassia is a "warming" oil that helps promote a healthy immune function when ingested.* It also is a great oil to diffuse during cold months due to its warming properties and spicy scent. Due to its caustic nature, Cassia should be diluted with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil when applied to the skin and can be very strong when inhaled directly. When diluted and applied topically, Cassia can help soothe the body. Cassia can be used in cooking either as a replacement for cinnamon in pies and breads or by itself in a myriad of entrees and desserts.

Uses

• Add one drop to citrus blends or diffuse with Clove and Ginger during fall and winter.
• Take one to two drops in veggie capsules for added immune support.*
• Combine one drop with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil and massage for a warming sensation.
• Combine one to two drops along with Lemon in a glass of water to support healthy digestion and metabolism.*

Directions for Use

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Dilute one to two drops with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil then apply to desired area.

Cautions

Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.

First Girl Scout Meeting of the Year

Oh happy days! Girl Scouts has begun again!! This is my 5th year as a leader and it truly is one of my favorite  roles in my life!

As with most Girl Scout troops, we've had girls come and go for a variety of reasons. Our troop currently is 18 strong from kindergarten to 6th grade.

We started our meeting off with the Girl Scout Promise and Law. I've added the Girl Scout Troop 2574 pledge which I borrowed from my girls school which is, " I Will do my best to treat everyone fairly. I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone, even if they are not like me. If I see someone being hurt or bullied, I will report it to an adult. Everyone should be able to feel happy and safe with our troop 2574."  I also add this amazing quote from Bryan Skavnak this year.

We then got up and did the Juliette Gordon Low game!

THE JULIETTE LOW STORY
(Divide the group into eight group; these will be Juliette Low, Georgia, Horses, London, Lord Baden-Powell, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts)

Sound Effects- (when they hear their names they stand up and make their sound. It's even cuter when they have to do an action as well)
        Little Girls -                     Stand and giggle
        Juliette Low -                  Curtsy and say, "Be my friend"
        Georgia-                          Wave and say, "Hi, y'all!"
        Horses-                           Stamp your feet and say, "Neighhhhhhh."
        Lord Baden-Powell-        Bow formally and say, "How d'ya do?"
        London-                          Sing, "London Bridge is Falling Down"
        Boy Scouts-                    Make Scout sign and say "Be prepared."
        Girl Scouts-                     Make Scout sign and say “On My Honor”

Read the story-
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Juliette Low who lived in Georgia and loved to ride horses. After she grew up she went to London where she met Lord Baden-Powell who founded the Boy Scouts. She was fascinated by the work he was doing. She studied with him awhile and decided to found a troop of Girl Scouts for the little girls who liked to ride horses in Georgia. So Juliette Low said good-bye to the Boy Scouts in London and came home with the ideas that Lord Baden-Powell gave her. She formed a group of little girls, who liked to ride horses and be together, into a troop of Girl Scouts. And they loved it so much that the idea spread and now there are Girl Scout troops all over the world. Aren't we glad that a little girl named Juliette Low, from Georgia who liked horses went to London and met Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts, and came to start the wonderful world of Girl Scouts!

http://cranfordgirlscouts.com/Forms/do-you-know-juliette-low.pdf

https://www.gswcf.org/content/dam/wcf-images/pdf-forms/Newsletters/JLow-BirthdaySampler.pdf

I then took a few minutes to discuss troop behavior expectations. I explained how I only had them for 60 minutes every week and I want to spend that time having fun. Through the help of troop leaders in my service unit, I borrowed a troop behavior contract that I shared with the girls and parents. I asked the girls to review the contract, which includes consequences, with their parents and bring it back signed. All of the girls understand basic classroom etiquette. I am happy to share this document via email.

I then read "Here Comes the Girl Scouts" about JGL, which I read every year, because its AWESOME!!



I wrapped up a few minutes early so I could get pictures of the girls with their parent as it's tradition for me to do so. The last meeting of every year is a scrapbook party and you can imagine how awesome it is to see the physical changes of the girls throughout the years!

Here we are!

Do you struggle with getting to the gym? Me too!

For over a year now, I have had the ability to log on to a database of over 800 workouts in the comfort of my home. 

I don't have to drive to a gym. I don't have to find a parking spot. I don't have to wait for a class to start. I don't have to feel awkward because I don't know anyone and I am the absolute worst at making small talk. I don't have to feel embarrassed because I look like a baby giraffe fumbling about trying to keep up with the moves. I don't have to feel embarrassed, if heaven forbid, I need to let out a little gas. 

Instead, I can log into the workout database on my computer at whatever time of the day that best suits me. I can choose from any number of workouts from cardio to weight lifting to yoga. I can choose the fitness level from beginner to advance. I can choose the length of time of the workout. I can pass gas to my heart's content without offending anyone or feeling embarrassed. 

Working out at home is like taking an online class in that you do have to have the self motivation to hit play. That being said, I do participate with a group of supportive, like minded people who are all rooting each other on to be as healthy as possible. So while I am working out in the comfort of my home at the time that best suits me, I am not on an island as I have a whole cheering section supporting me!

I have completed a variety of workout programs over the course of the year. I am in the last week of a weight lifting, HIIT cardio, and ab program that is 4 days a week. I started out with a MMA cardio kickboxing class that was 6 days a week and the class lengths varied between 30-45 minutes. I moved on a 3 week program that was 7 days a week for 30 minutes a day and incorporated cardio, strength training, Pilates, and yoga. I completed an intense 25 minute cardio workout program. I dabbled with many of the yoga classes in the yoga studio to include a 3 week yoga program.

All of the workout programs include a workout schedule and nutrition program. I didn't love the restrictiveness of the meal plans so I used Weight Watchers. I recently moved over to a new nutrition plan, which like Weight Watchers, doesn't eliminate any particular food groups and is very sensible about moderation. To be honest, I moved to this meal plan to save money on the monthly app from Weight Watchers fee as the new app was included in the overall price. 

Since starting the at home workouts and being much more mindful of the food I eat, I have lost 34.4 lbs and 25 inches! More excitedly, is that I have now kept the weight off! The weight came off slow and steady with a loss of 1-2 lbs a week. Some weeks I would gain a pound or two or three and then I would refocus on my activity and what I was eating and start losing again. The key to weight loss is less calories in and more calories out. The beauty of this workout database the variety of workout programs to best suit your needs! Either as a new be beginner or an advanced tri-athlete! There is something here for every body!

Interested in learning more about how to be your best self? Check out my Facebook business page!

https://www.facebook.com/healthjourneywithliz/

 August 2017

         

August 2018

Essential Oils 101: Cardamom

Save 10% in September on a 5mL Cardamom

Promotion Details:

Through a collaborative sourcing initiative in Guatemala, doTERRA retrieves high quality Cardamom seeds which are distilled into Cardamom essential oil that can assist with gastrointestinal and respiratory health.

* Uses:

• Use internally as part of a daily health regimen to support healthy gastrointestinal function.

• Add to bread, smoothies, meats, and salads to enhance food flavor and aid digestion.

• Diffuse or inhale for a sense of openness and mental clarity.

Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum

Through a collaborative sourcing initiative in Guatemala, doTERRA retrieves high quality Cardamom seeds which are distilled into Cardamom essential oil that can assist with gastrointestinal and respiratory health.*

Description

A close relative to Ginger, Cardamom is known as an expensive cooking spice and for being beneficial to the digestive system in a variety of ways. Cardamom is commonly used internally to help soothe occasional

stomach discomfort.* Its distinct scent can promote a positive mood. Ingested Cardamom also has profound effects on the respiratory system due to its high 1,8-cineole content, which promotes clear breathing and respiratory health.* Native to Southeast Asia, Cardamom is added to traditional Indian sweets and teas for its cool, minty aroma and flavor. doTERRA Cardamom essential oil is extracted from Cardamom seeds grown in Guatemala, using our strict CPTG® testing standards. Through a collaborative and responsible sourcing arrangement, we are able to have a significant impact on the lives of local partners, ensuring that these farming communities enjoy improved livelihoods.

Uses

• Use internally as part of a daily health regimen to support healthy gastrointestinal function.*
• Add to bread, smoothies, meats, and salads to enhance food flavor and aid digestion.*
• Diffuse or inhale for a sense of openness and mental clarity.

Directions for use

Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.

Cautions

Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.

Ready to order some of your very own? Check out my website to learn more about Cardamon and the many other essential oils!

my.doterra/thephelanphamily

Interested in learning more about Essential Oils? Check out my Facebook Page!

https://www.facebook.com/Livingwellwithliz1/

Girl Scouts Welcome Party

 As the recruitment chair for my Girl Scout Service Unit I was asked to help coordinate the Welcome Party / Recruitment Rally.

The local VFW was gracious enough to donate us their hall which, besides being free, provided us with ample amount of inside and outside space and parking. The weather wasn't great, so we elected to keep all of the activities inside as we didn't want the floors to be covered in mud.

In hopes of enticing current Girl Scouts to attend and get prospective girls excited, we made the Welcome Party a Badge Day! The badge we felt most appropriate was the Girl Scout Way as it is constant throughout the levels.

We created quite the display with boards the previous recruitment chair created. We used my girls Daisy, Brownie, and Junior vests as examples. The badge books and journey books were displayed as well as swag provided by our council.

The girls wrote their information on an index card which included spots for five stations. Once the girls completed the stations, they dropped off the cards. The purpose was two-fold. One, I wanted to collect their contact information. Two, I wanted to encourage them to go to every table.

The bulk of our budget went to a face painter and while she was great and efficient, next time we will likely arm the older girls with face paint to paint the younger girls. Doing so will save us money and help include the older girls and hopefully, inspire and excite the younger girls.

Table 1 was singing and one of the older girls provided song books and led the girls in songs.

Table 2 was celebrate Juliette Gordon Low's birthday. We decided decorating cupcakes was a great way to celebrate her birthday! We saved money by making homemade cupcakes instead of buying them pre-made from the store. Plus, this allowed the girls to add their favorite flavor of icing and their choice of sprinkles!

Table 3 was Share Sisterhood. We have two separate activities for this table.

The first was to have the existing Girl Scouts write welcome notes to the prospective Girl Scouts, sharing with them their favorite part of Girl Scouts, favorite field trip, or basically welcoming them to Girl Scouts. The new girls were given these notes that day.

The second activity was to introduce the new girls to the Girl Scout Law through candy! The different color candy represented a line of the Girl Scout Law. I mean, who doesn't like candy? In the past, I've found all ten lines with jelly belly's. This time I used starburst and jolly ranchers and eight lines were represented.

Table 4 was Make the world a Better Place and we chose to do this by making cards for hospitalized kids. The girls enjoyed creating cards using construction paper, a variety of markers, and stickers, lots and lots of stickers!

http://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/

Table 5 was Girl Scout traditions and we used this to read "Here Comes the Girl Scouts" and to play some great JGL games. I found this amazing packet all about JGL!

http://www.cranfordgirlscouts.com/Forms/do-you-know-juliette-low.pdf Is a resource I used prepare for this Welcome Party and will use with my Girl Scout Troop when we celebrate JGL's birthday!

There's a plethora of fun tidbits and games about Juliette Gordon Low. Below are some examples.

https://www.gswcf.org/content/dam/wcf-images/pdf-forms/Newsletters/JLow-BirthdaySampler.pdf

http://www.girlscoutsiowa.org/content/dam/girlscouts-girlscoutsiowa/documents/volunteer/JGL%20Birthday%20Program%20Kit.pdf

https://www.gswcf.org/en/our-council/news/2016/celebrate_juliette_g.html

Digging Deeper into Shakeology, Part 9- Minerals

Here it is, my last deep dive into Shakeology. We've spent the last two+ months reviewing  all the different ingredients in Shakeology that makes it such an amazing nutrient-dense, super-foods meal replacement. The information is here for you and it's up to you to give it a try. I am happy to send a sample to any US resident to try. I understand taste is important for long-term consumption so I am happy to invest in samples for folks to try. 

BeachBody is also so confident in their product that they offer the  30-day money back guarantee, which starts on the date of delivery. "Bottom of the Bag" means customers may return Shakeology packages that have been opened or used, even if the bag is completely empty.

Check out this quick 2 minute marketing video that is funny and very educational from BeachBody which features one of their original Super Coaches, Tony Horton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqjze4RboUU&app=desktop

The video is a bit dated as the number of Shakeology flavors has tremendously expanded, but the information about the ingredients holds true.

Yet again, I do want to add my disclaimer that I am not a nutritionist or any type of health expert. I am, however, someone who is passionate about being as healthy as I possibly can be and sharing what I learn with others. (I'll be saying this every week just so there isn't any confusion).

I know know we can all scour the internet for information and for these upcoming posts, I will do just that for you. As with anything, you are welcome to do your own research as well. 

The last 2+ months, I have shared information regarding the Premium Protein and Amino Acids, Antioxidants and Super-Fruits, and Phytonutrients and Super-Greens,  Adaptogenic Herbs and Botanicals and  Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Fiber, Digestive Enzymes and Vitamins. This week, I'll share information about Minerals and their health benefits.

The week we are going to talk about the Minerals -  Biotin, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Sodium, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Folate, Chromium, Phosphorus, Iodine, Iron

  

Biotin: "Also known as vitamin H, biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that help the body convert food into energy.

The word “biotin” comes from the ancient Greek word “biotos,” which means “life” or “sustenance.” B vitamins, and specifically biotin, help keep your skin, hair, eyes, liver, and nervous system healthy. Biotin is also a crucial nutrient during pregnancy, as it’s important for embryonic growth."

https://www.healthline.com/health/the-benefits-of-biotin

Calcium: "Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. Your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly."

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/calcium-supplements/art-20047097

Magnesium: Helps with bone health, calcium absorption, diabetes, heart health, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, and relieving anxiety.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286839.php

Zinc: Helps regulate immune function, treats diarrhea, learning and memory, treat common cold, wound healing, and age-related chronic disease.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263176.php

Selenium: Powerful antioxidant, may reduce the risk of certain cancers, may protect against heart disease, helps prevent mental decline, helps with thyroid health, boosts immune system, and may help reduce asthma symptoms.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/selenium-benefits

Sodium: "Sodium is needed for blood regulation and its absence can cause serious impairment of bodily functions."

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/sodium.html

Thiamin: "Vitamin B1, thiamin, or thiamine, enables the body to use carbohydrates as energy. It is essential for glucose metabolism, and it plays a key role in nerve, muscle, and heart function."

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219545.php

Riboflavin: "Riboflavin is a vitamin that is needed for growth and overall good health. It helps the body break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to produce energy, and it allows oxygen to be used by the body."

https://www.livescience.com/51966-vitamin-b2-riboflavin.html

Folate: "Getting too little folate can result in megaloblastic anemia, which causes weakness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, headache, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Folate deficiency can also cause open sores on the tongue and inside the mouth as well as changes in the color of the skin, hair, or fingernails."

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/

Chromium: "Chromium is known to enhance the action of insulin [1-3], a hormone critical to the metabolism and storage of carbohydrate, fat, and protein in the body." 

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Chromium-HealthProfessional/

Phosphorus: "Phosphorus is the second most plentiful mineral in your body. The first is calcium. Your body needs phosphorus for many functions, such as filtering waste and repairing tissue and cells."

https://www.healthline.com/health/phosphorus-in-diet

Iodine: "Iodine is a mineral that is needed in the diet to ensure that the thyroid works properly."

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288471.php

Iron: "Iron is a mineral vital to the proper function of hemoglobin, a protein needed to transport oxygen in the blood. Iron also has a role in a variety of other important processes in the body."

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287228.php

**If you have made it this far, you can see WHY Mom's cardiologist and GP felt confident removing FIVE supplements from her daily medicine regime because she is getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals from her daily Shakeology. **

Ok, so what ingredients are NOT in Shakeology? Artificial sweeteners, Artificial flavors, Artificial stimulants, Artificial colors, soy, or high fructose corn syrup. Yup, all the no-no's are NOT in Shakeology.

Well hot damn! So I can can get in all these super foods without the no-no's in one scoop of Shakeology? Wow!! Well, or you could take 5 trips through a totally amazing salad bar. There's that option.

Interested in trying out a sample and you reside in the US? 

Fill out this quick google form and I'll get one out to you!

Https://tinyurl.com/yaoyf45

Who is Ready to order?

Great! Comment below, check out my business page, or contact me via my Facebook Page! 

https://mysite.coach.teambeachbody.com/?coachId=1491596&locale=en_US

https://www.facebook.com/healthjourneywithliz/

Want to find out how to get your Shakeology at a 25% discount or even for FREE?
Contact me and I will tell you! how!

Do you have a bag and now need some help with how to make a delicious recipe?
Check out the video I posted on my Facebook page! Pinterest has amazing ideas as well!