By Dominique McKay

When dating, sometimes it’s easy to get into the mundane routine of dinner and a movie every Friday night. But once you’ve eaten at all the restaurants in town (more than a few times) or grown tired of shelling out up to $20 on a movie, how can you make dating fun and exciting while still affordable?

Here are 5 fun dating ideas you should try out:

1) Carnivals: Many local parks host various carnivals during the summer and what could be better than walking through the park, playing games and winning prizes? The two of you can enjoy taking a few photos in a photo booth or riding the Ferris Wheel to see the best views of the city. Add in a funnel cake large enough for two and you have the perfect place for a fun date filled with happy Kodak moments.

2) Hiking: I am the kind of girl who loathes strenuous physical activities, but I actually enjoy hiking. As long as the trek isn’t too physically exerting, I find this to be a fun date experience even with those who hate to exercise! Being outside in the warm sunshine and feeling the cool summer breezes always helps people to relax. So pick a day where the forecast is perfect and take your loved one on a sweet nature walk.

3) Painting: Many people say they are not artistic. But surprisingly enough this is usually because they haven’t ventured into any artistic activities. Painting is a great way to relax and enjoy time with someone. You can even go to a local art shop and pick out your paint colors, brushes and canvas together. Paint separate pictures for each other or one large print. It’s a great way to make a memory you can carry away with you and keep for a lifetime.

4) Cooking: Even if you’ve never cooked a day in your life, it’s fun to learn when you’re cooking with someone you really enjoy spending time with. So go to the local bookstore or library and pick out a fun cookbook. Travel to the local grocery store together and pick up all the things you will need for a new recipe. Even if the food turns out horrible, it’s the time you’ve spent together that makes it worthwhile.

5) Aquariums: Aquariums are the perfect combinations of zoos and museums. The fish are like moving pictures and always exciting and fun to view. One of the best things you can do with someone you love is learn new things and oftentimes aquariums are filled with fun information about life under the ocean that you can’t learn elsewhere. So Google a local aquarium and take your loved one on a visit!

By Lindsay Meyers

It is hard to believe that I have been out of high school for five years already. It seems like just yesterday I was going through college brochures trying to figure out what I was supposed to do with my future. College was just the next step for me, it didn’t get much thought, I just knew I was going. I think that’s how it goes for most teenagers; unless there is a passion that leads you elsewhere, college is expected. Here in America, there are plenty of job opportunities, scholarships and loans available to help pay for college. Although finances can be stressful at times, it normally does not keep anyone from going to college. Males and females both have a fair shot at going to and paying their way through college. In fact, many of my friends and I also worked while in school to help take care of our money situations.

I cannot imagine what it would have been like to finish school and not be able to look forward to college because of finances or because the culture around me told me it was not possible. In Uganda, “the school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.” Thankfully, there is a very driven, passionate young woman that found out about this and changed it all.

Liz Forkin graduated from college, and set out to find her purpose and passion in life. She found herself in Uganda, meeting other women around her age that were struggling to educate themselves because of their financial situations. Therefore, Sseko was started. Liz found herself feeling driven to start something that would help these women raise enough money to go to university. She began collecting materials to make shoes. When asked why she decided to make and sell shoes she said, “I wanted to make a product for the western market. Specifically, I wanted to target women, who I thought would really get behind and get excited about supporting these young women across the globe. So shoes were the answer! The actual process of creating Ssekos was trial and error in the most literal sense. I had the basic design in mind and from there just set out on a hilarious journey of trying to develop the first “prototype.” Literally, I wandered around the city for two days in the rain, looking for a tool to punch holes in leather. I finally found it! And it was basically a makeshift punch welded out of two pieces of a car. Also, I wanted to use all local materials in an effort to not only provide employment to these young women, but to stimulate and support the local economy as well. I tried a ton of different things: methods, materials, designs, until finally I came up with what is now known as a Sseko sandal.”

Starting this company was not the easiest thing to do, but Liz was determined. There were many struggles that came along with fulfilling this dream but she used the challenges and learning experiences and still does to this day. “The biggest challenge was just the sheer amount of work across all types of disciplines that goes into starting any type of company. But on top of that, trying to start a manufacturing company in a country that just doesn’t really have the infrastructure or systems set up to produce means that we have to start at square one with everything–from the creation of the production to the actual sale and telling the story and everything in between. With a small team, there is so much to do.”

I find this story to be so inspiring. It is so easy to look at a situation and think “Oh, that must be hard,” or “I can’t imagine,” and we walk away. Liz did not just walk away though; she saw a need and she met it. She saw young women’s futures. It is also easy to ignore dreams and aspirations because we think it is too hard or impossible. The reality is that with God all things are possible; He gives us dreams for a reason. You are reading this article because of a dream that was chased after. Lily Girl’s Magazine is a direct result of a dream that was acted on; not just ignored.

When asked to share advice with those of us with dreams Forkin said, “My advice would be GO. Feeling like there needs to be a certain amount of preparation or understanding in any adventure keeps most people from ever diving in. If you wait until it makes sense and your risk is minimal, you will probably never get there. Surround yourself with people who have gone before you. Learn from their mistakes and be willing to take critique and criticism. You should always have a long way to go. If you don’t, then the place you are going probably isn’t that great.”

Sseko shoes are literally changing lives. There are women fulfilling dreams because of a dream that Liz chased after. When asked to share about a few of the women she has met along the way, Forkin’s response was, “they are also so uniquely wonderful and every single one of them has overcome immense odds to get to where they are! I am particularly proud of Mercy, who was from our very first class. She is now in University and is working for Sseko part-time as a business management intern. She is doing so well in University and was recently voted as the Minister of Women’s Affairs for her college. We are so proud of her and know that this class of Sseko girls will have similar stories of success!!”

Never let fear keep you from fulfilling the dreams you have. Allow God to work miracles and help you achieve things you never thought possible. Who would have thought that shoes would be helping women pay for college and seek career goals. Let Liz’s story encourage and inspire you.

For more information about Sseko Sandals and/or to order a pair yourself check out the Sseko Homepage at http://www.ssekodesigns.com.

By Kirsten Wilson

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

This is probably one of the first Bible verses I learned in Sunday school growing up and possibly it was the same for you too. It is a very simple verse, yet it has a very powerful message.

To really understand the context of this verse we need to back up to verse 12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Paul knew how to be content in Christ despite his circumstances. Whether he had plenty or nothing, he was content. Whether he was starving or hungry, he was content. To be honest, I don’t know if I would be able to content in certain situations like Paul was. You could say that he definitely had his priorities in order. Paul was truly grateful for everything that he had. He relied on God and His promises to give him strength.

What does it mean to be able to do all things through Christ? It means that it is only through Christ that we receive our strength. Our faith in Christ is what gives us our strength to do the small things in life and the big things. It gives us the strength to come out over life’s challenges on top!

This also means that since, we as Christians, have Christ on our side, there is nothing that we cannot do through Him. No matter what challenges life throws our way, we should feel encouraged in knowing that through Christ we can do anything and everything.  It reminds me of this quote I once heard, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!”

Pray this prayer with me…

Lord,

Please help me to fully rely on your strength every day so that I may get through life’s challenges. I know that it is only through you that I can do anything that comes my way. Give me Your strength to get through every situation.

Amen!

By Dianne White

How many girls like to go through the day dripping wet with sweat? Anyone? Exactly what I thought! I don’t like that either and I can’t imagine any girl does. So, how do we stop sweating so much? Although it may be embarrassing and easily overlooked, first check the product you are using and make sure that you are using an antiperspirant as well as a deodorant. Deodorants only control smell while antiperspirants actually help to curb sweating.

Is the deodorant/antiperspirant that you have not working? Try Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant + Deodorant Advanced Solid. According to studies, more experts choose Secret Clinical Strength as the best deodorant than any other brand. In fact, it is the number one brand overall according to consumer research gathered in June 2009. Oddly enough, right before writing this article I actually decided to give it a try and I can tell you that it really is a great choice! I sweat constantly and teach group fitness classes. Secret does a great job of keeping me dry and odor free during the day and during my workouts.

Having problems with breaking out when trying deodorants/antiperspirants? Try some talcum powder. Place a little bit of powder on your under arms at the beginning of the day and it should help you to sweat less. The powder works by blocking the sweat glands, which means that it is just an antiperspirant so be sure to add a little sprits of your favorite smell to go with it!

If you are looking for natural remedies to help with sweating try cutting out caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and increases anxiety levels. As your anxiety level increases you begin to sweat more. Cutting out caffeine also has a double benefit – helping your heart to stay relaxed and regular! Another option for a natural remedy is to try consuming wheat grass. Wheat grass is a powerful source of Vitamin B, which will aid in slowing the sweat production. Wheat grass can be a little hard on the stomach though so start slow and give you body time to adjust before drinking it regularly.

Obviously the problem of sweating heats up during the summer months when the sun is out with a vengeance. So, keep the colors that you are wearing on the lighter side so as not to attract heat. Choosing fabrics that breathe is another good option when trying to stay cool and dry. Cotton and linen are two very good choices that allow airflow.

Now that we have talked through some practical ways to sweat less, let’s talk about a few ways to keep our faces looking gorgeous despite the hot, humid days that wreak havoc on make-up. While trying to find some products to suggest I found a lot of information about coconut oil. Truly this is great news seeing as how it is a natural source without all the chemicals. Score for coconut oil! Not only is coconut oil a natural product, but it has some of the same oils that your face and body produce so it works with the body. By working with the body to prevent sweat, it allows make-up to stay in place longer. Best of all, the oil can be used as a make-up remover, cleanser, moisturizer, and even an under-arm antiperspirant! What a versatile product & 100% natural to boot!

A few more beauty tricks that I ran across while looking for ways to keep make-up intact while sweating included the following: stop using foundation during the hot summer months, switch to just powder to cover up shiny faces, blot the oil throughout the day rather than wiping away oil, use both a primer and finisher, try water proof make-up, and go with lighter shades of color for the face. Foundation clogs pores making the face feel hotter and more prone to sweating. Let your pores breathe and enjoy the light breezes that come along now and then; it will help you stay dry! Blotting, rather than rubbing, will allow you to dab away any sweat that might have collected while keeping the make-up where it is supposed to be; rather than ending up with a rosy jaw line from dragging your blush downward from your cheekbones!

While I haven’t exhausted the list of possibilities, I hope this helps give a few new things to try that you might not have thought of before. Good luck and stay dry!

For more information, check out the following sources:

“Deodorant Reviews: Best Deodorant.” Product Reviews and Reports – ConsumerSearch.com. June 2009. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://www.consumersearch.com/deodorant?gclid=CNbBsNm-gKMCFZdL5Qod-nD1Zw&ef_id=1953:3:s_d1b66c3147e92588e486b88231bd7a6e_5031390622:TEjvrQqoEGMAAAp@ifoAAIIB: 20100723012605>.

“10 Killer Ways To Stop Sweating!” Stop Sweating And Start Living. 20 June 2010. Web. 22 July 2010. <http://stopsweatingit.com/ways-to-stop-sweating>.

Walker, Cate. “Stop Sweating Through Your Makeup: From Head To Toe, the Best Sweat-Proof Beauty.” The Beauty Bean. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://thebeautybean.com/site/beautify/stop-sweating-through-your-makeup-the-best-sweat-proof-beauty/>.

“Preventing Summer Makeup Meltdown.” Women’s Issues and Community – Female Forum. Web. 23 July 2010. <http://www.femaleforum.com/s/article/preventing_summer_makeup_meltdown/>.

Summer is halfway over! Can you believe it? Now that you’ve been swimming, soaked up the sun, attended camp, went on family vacation, and had enough ice cream to last an entire year…what is left to do? The staff at Lily Girl’s Magazine offer up their summer “bucket list” ideas. What is a bucket list you ask? It is typically a list of things you want to do before you die, or in other terms, “kick the bucket.” But our list is compiled of things we want to do before summer is over. Be inspired by the things our staff desires to do and feel free to come up with your own list – just be sure to make your list soon or else you will run out of time!

Dianne White – “I want to learn how to swim laps like an athlete & be swimming one mile by the fall. I have been beating my joints a little too much with all the traditional cardio work that I do so I needed to give them a break. I started training for swimming yesterday and I must say that it was the hardest work out I have been challenged with in a long time! Day one….only able to swim two laps.”

Brieanna Canady – “I am actually volunteering on a mission project this summer in KY. On one of my free weekends I have planned to add white water rafting to my summer bucket list!”

Mallory Barks – “Go to a drive in movie.”

Jenny Gallagher – “Make homemade ice cream.”

Kirsten Wilson – “Make s’mores over an open fire!”

Dominique McKay – “Go out to eat at a new restaurant!”

Kayla Newbold – “Shoot a +5 in disc golf.”

Beth Jackson – “To ride the Intimidator 305, the newest roller coaster, at King’s Dominion in VA.”

Sarah Blanzy – “Go skydiving.”

Kerri Porter – “Zip Line – there are places all over the U.S. that have zip lines through the mountains and that is definitely something I want to try.”

Lindsay Meyers – “Take a canoeing/camping trip.”

Tabitha Venasse – Spend a day at the beach, learn how to golf and go camping at a National Park.

Leslie Hunt – “Take a group and go white water rafting.”

Kristi Rabenhorst – “Write letters to my grandparents and include fun pictures.”

Miranda Canady – “See the Northern Lights!”

Still stuck on ideas? Here’s a few more:

-       Take a road trip to somewhere new

-       Learn to speak another language – Oui, oui!

-       Read a new book (see our summer reading list for ideas!)

-       Paint a picture

-       Start a prayer journal

-       Stargaze

-       Volunteer with a local mission group

-       Give up television for a month

-       Have a picnic

-       Nap outside in a hammock

-       Go to a carnival

-       Fly a kite

-       Run through the sprinkler

-       Host a garage sale

-       Catch fireflies

-       Paint your room (check with your parents first!)

-       Carve your name into a tree

-       Have a water balloon fight

-       Catch a foul ball at a baseball game

-       Build a tree house

-       Tye dye ANYTHING (sheets, pillowcases, socks, even undies!)

-       Fry an egg on the sidewalk

Looking for a little extra motivation on those long runs? Tired of the same songs on shuffle? Fret no more! We have compiled the ultimate gym playlist! This list is an eclectic mix of old and new, upbeat and chill, motivating and relaxing. These beats are sure to put a little pep in your step! Compiled of a mix of staff favorites, here are a few of the jams that made the tops of our lists:

“Oooh Aah” – Grits

“Fireflies” – Owl City

“Ever Ever After” – Jordan Pruitt

“Get Down” – Audio Adrenaline

“Take My Hand” – Shawn McDonald

“Lovely Day” – Out of Eden

“Breath In, Breath Out” – LeCrae

“Made to Love” – Toby Mac

“Rockstar” – Third Day

“Shake It” – Metro Station

“Get Up Off That Thing” – James Brown

“Pon De Replay” – Rihanna

“Single Ladies” – Beyonce

“Revenge of the Nerds” – KJ52

“See the Rain (Go Away)” – Seven Places

“He Said” – Mary Mary

“Happy Day” – Fee

“I’m Letting Go” – Francesca Battistelli

“500 Miles” – The Pretenders

“Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” – Shakira

“I Gotta Feeling” – Black Eyed Peas

“Suddenly I See” – KT Tunstall

“Kick Drum Heart” – The Avett Brothers

“California Girls” – The Beach Boys

“Viva La Vida” – Coldplay

“Shake It” – Metro Station

“Say Hey (I Love  You)” – Michael Franti & Spearhead

“Alejandro” – Lady Gaga

“Beating Heart Baby” – Head Automatica

“Not Your Concern” – The Hush Sound

“Everybody Dance Now” – C & C Music Factory

“Hot Blooded” – Foreigner

“ABC Is Easy As 123” – Jackson 5

“One Time” – Justin Bieber

“Let’s Dance– Miley Cyrus

“Dance Like That” – Wyclef Jean

“C’est La Vie” – Bewitched

“Fanatic” – 116 Clique

“Lip Gloss” – Lil Mama

“Spice Up Your Life” – Spice Girls

“4 Minutes” – Madonna

“Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson

Bogged down by summer’s required reading books? Take a break and check out one of these Lily Girl’s Magazine staff favorites – they are perfect reads for a backyard hammock, poolside lawn chair, or a towel on the beach!

Don’t let the list intimidate you – there were way too many great books for us to choose. Make it a goal to at least read one before summer’s end and save the rest to spread throughout the year!

Summer Reading List

• The Divine Dance – Shannon Kubiak Primicerio
• The Real Me – Natalie Grant
• Girl Perfect – Jennifer Strickland
• One in a Million – Priscilla Shrier
• Facing Your Giants: Teen Edition – Max Lucado
• Follow The Stars Home – Luanne Rice
• Flabbergasted – Ray Blackston
• Lies Young Women Believe – Nancy Lee DeMoss
• Ashley Stockingdale Series – Kristin Billerbeck
• Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli
• Authentic Beauty: The Shaping of a Set-Apart Young Woman – Leslie Ludy
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series – Ann Brashares
• Every Young Girl’s Battle – Shannon Etheridge & Stephen Arterburn
• Holly’s Heart Series – Beverly Lewis
• Julie – Catherine Marshall
• Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
• No Bozos – Jackie Kendall
• The Alice Series – Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
• Redeeming Love – Francine Rivers
• Chinese Cinderella – Adeline Yen Mah
• Lily’s Crossing – Patricia Reilly Giff
• Searching for David’s Heart – Cherie Bennett
• Christy Miller Series – Robin Jones Gunn
• The Last Song – Nicholas Sparks

By Miranda Canady

This month Lily Girl’s Magazine is celebrating a half birthday – and you can too! This party is especially beneficial to anyone who has a birthday that falls around the holidays (no one likes getting joint Christmas/Birthday gifts!) or for the few that were born on the notorious Leap Day!

Curious to find out when your own half birthday is? Seems like a no brainer, right? If your birthday is “March 3,” simply add 6 months and you would see that your half-birthday is “September 3.” But what about those who have a birthday on the 31^st? Not every month has 31 days. Instead, use this fun calculator to find out the exact date: http://soggycity.com/half_bday.php.

Invitations

Send the invitations in half – half circles, regular-sized cards cut in half, etc. Just make sure you don’t forget to give your guests ALL of the information!

Be sure to include:

• Date
• Time: start the party on the HALF hour, like 5:30
• Location
• RSVP
• What to bring: a half birthday gift (see ideas below)

-      Check out this fun half-birthday invitation how-to: http://www.yumsugar.com/Come-Party-Me-My-Half-Birthday-Invite-1085696

Décor

You guessed it – decorate everything in half. Use duo tone colors to break things up or literally only decorate half of the party space. Go over the top for this one by using half of a tablecloth, half blown up balloons, and more. You can even get your guests involved by encouraging them to come “half-dressed” – be sure to clarify that your idea of “half-dressed” means only doing one side of your hair, makeup, clothes, etc. and not to come without clothes!

Food

Stick with the theme by serving half sandwiches, half a pizza, and even half a cake! Other good “half” foods to include are deviled eggs, black & white cookies (for the duo tone effect), or any food that can easily be sliced into two!

Games

• One-legged relay races: Set up a start and finish line in your backyard. Next, have every guest grab a partner and tie his or her legs together with a bandana. Line everyone up and have a non-participating member say, “Go!” First pair to the finish line wins!
• “Who is my other half?” – Give each guest a card with the name of a popular duo (Barbie/Ken, Batman/Robin, Scooby Doo/Shaggy, Mickey/Minnie) Then, they must go around the room asking yes or no questions to find their match. For example: a guest with a card labeled “Ken” might ask, “Do you drive a pink car?” “Do you live in a big house?”
• Scavenger Hunt – Have a parent or sibling set up a scavenger hunt throughout the house. Next, divide guests into two teams. The teams must then search the house for the matching scavenger hunt items (for example: a matching sock, the peanut butter slice of a pb&j, etc.) OR have teams get creative by setting a time limit and seeing how many “half” items they can come up with (ex: half a stick of gum, half a roll of toilet paper, etc.) The more creative, the better!

Gifts

Instead of having guests bring gifts, have them bring one to trade! You could keep it pinned to a theme (think hair accessories, nail polish, jewelry) or set a price limit. Then, everyone gets to celebrate with a gift!

Goody Bags

Fill goody bags only HALF way with fun “half” candies like orange slices, misshaped jelly belly flops, or half-sized candy bars!

Hosting your own Half-Birthday Party? We want to see it! Send in pictures to p3@lilygirlsmag.com. You could be featured on the website!

AFAA certified Group Fitness Instructor, Dianne White, gets you back on track with a two-part arms workout that helps tone arms without bulking up! Part one focuses on the biceps (front of the arm) while part two finishes up the toned look with the triceps (back of the arm). Do both of these workouts together or alternate between biceps and triceps for toned arms in no time! All you need is a set of hand weights and 10 minutes – time to get pumping!

If you have any questions feel free to shoot Dianne a line directly at health@lilygirlsmag.com!

**Special thanks to Dianne White for creating and teaching the routine, Kristin Aaron & Andrea Webb for their participation, and Nathan White for capturing it all on video!

By Nicole Buckingham

Each and every day, women everywhere face the same crisis. We often agonize over what to wear, but styling our hair can be just as excruciating. Should I straighten it? What if it rains? Is it too humid? These questions haunt us, but probably the most lingering is; how do I avoid “The Frizz”?  Many hair types struggle with this dreaded condition, but it is most common in wavy or curly hair types. The weather also influences frizziness, as too much moisture can be a nightmare to long locks. Instead of just complaining, let’s do something about it!

First, let’s understand what frizz really is. Frizz is the tendency for the outer layers of hair, or hair cuticles, to get “roughed up”. The layers of hair cuticles can get roughed up by heat damage, moisture, air pollution, and build-up from styling products. This causes hair strands to get dull and appear tangled.

There are many different ways to fight the frizz. It all begins with your shampoo. Using the appropriate shampoo for your hair type is very important. The purpose of a shampoo, other than simply cleaning, is to open the hair cuticles. If you struggle with frizz, find a shampoo with a non-acidic base. Many stylists and styling guides will also recommend a hydrating shampoo, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is the cure-all. If you choose a hydrating shampoo, switch it up every now and then with a “normal care” shampoo, as hydration types may coat your strands too much and weigh down your hair. Overusing hydration products may also cause your hair to look oily or greasy.

The next important step in calming frizz is finding the right conditioner or simply choosing to condition at all. While shampoo opens hair cuticles, conditioners reseal them. Most hair types do not need to condition with every wash. Very curly hair responds best to a leave-in conditioner combed through damp hair after showering. Other hair types should look for a professional conditioner with an acidic base. Your conditioner does not need to be hydrating and shouldn’t be if you are using a hydrating shampoo.

Once your hair is clean, styling is very important to fighting frizz. Many products advertise “anti-frizz” but may not be the best choice for your hair. A good option is a hair polish. A polish acts as a leave-in treatment to coat your hair cuticles and keep them looking healthy. This is better for long term care than most serums. Try to avoid using too much product just to tame your frizz. Also keep in mind that your hair can grow immune to the products you use, so switching periodically is always a wise decision.

Here are some great products that may help you win the battle and leave you frizz-free:

“Healthy Sexy Hair” Soy Leave-In Conditioner by Sexy Hair

“Renewal” Hair Therapy Polish by Scruples

“Full Control” Anti-Humidity Hairspray by Garnier Fructis

“Flexible Style” Hair Sculpting Lotion by Paul Mitchell

“Smooth Down” products by Redken