If You Looked.

Chapstick c/o Kustom Kissers, Clutch c/o Tukula

*read my last If You Looked post here

If you looked into my bedroom, you'd see a suitcase that hasn't been unpacked.

In fact, it has found a permanent place on the side of my bed because of all the trips

and events that have been going on lately. But mostly, it stays there because I'm too lazy to

put it away and take it out again. In the corner, you'd find a box full of vintage clothes that I don't know

what to do with, and a pile of other treasures that I can't get rid of, but just don't want.

If you looked into my kitchen you'd be happy to see that we finally have a working dishwasher.

This means you wouldn't find dishes in the sink, and there'd be a big smile on my face.

Mike would be in there cooking. He's really getting at it these days. I'm trying to figure out if he

loves cooking because he naturally just likes it, or if he forced himself to because I'm 

no housewife. I like to thing its the first one.

If you looked out my window this morning, you would have seen Mike giving a box of

chocolates and a pass it forward card to the sweet old woman who picks up trash 

around the complex every day. You would have heard her say, 

"Wow. Thank you. I didn't think that anyone even cared."

If you looked into my car you'd probably just die. It's still full from event stuff. Shoot.

If you looked into my office you might go into a frenzy of excitement. You'd find a new

space for our interns that start here tomorrow, and a big inspiration board made out of wood

that I'm really taking a liking to. You'd see our new line of sterling silver necklaces, and the new

project we've started on; Threads. You'd see my whiteboard calendar, with the launch date of

Threads. You might cry with me when I told you that it's going to change even more lives.

You'd see all the work that has been put into it, and it would have a special place in your heart.

You'd find my Tukula clutch full of sample bracelets that I take with me everywhere,

but I'd only let you look at them for a second as to not ruin the surprise. 

If you looked into my front room in two hours, you'd find me on my knees.

I'd be praying, and pleading, that this meeting I have today is the answer to all my other prayers.

You'd hear me thank God for showing miracles over, and over again.

Shine On-Salt Lake City

(Sweet Jamie from The Letter 4  put the bags together)

The Salt Lake City Shine Event was so, so fun! I can't thank everyone enough for 

coming out in the rain, helping us get donations, volunteering, etc. You're amazing.

Here's how it worked: People got into teams, and were then given a bag full of

items that companies donated, and a list of scavenger tasks that they had to accomplish

with what was in the bag. Since I had to man the fort, I didn't get to go with everyone to spread

the shine, so thanks so much for sending in your pictures to me! We had a great turnout,

and as usual, I stunk at taking pictures so I'm sorry that not even a sixth of you 

actually got photographed. Dang it. Here's some examples of what people were

asked to do:

Leave an inspirational chalk message:

Jenna and Brittany

Elise

Give cookies to a homeless person:

Brittany

Find someone who looks like they need some love, and give them the

Epiphany Chocolates:

(This group gave them to a mom and a child)

(This group gave them to a sweet old woman. Oh my goodness this kills me!)

Thanks Epiphany! TSP loves you!

Leave sticky notes on a bathroom mirror that will encourage the next person:

KC 

(Who just so happens to be my cousin :) )

Jessi

The whole purpose behind the event was to show you that it's the little things 

that change people's day... and affects the world around you.

Do little things with great love. And shine on.

Tuesday Giveaway!

Today we have a fun giveaway for you, from a sweet, sweet blogger!

I'll be back tomorrow to tell you all about The SLC Shine Event.

My name is mK and I write over at From The Guest Room.

 My blog began back before I even opened up a blogger account.

 I was beginning to feel a nudge in me to use my voice to share my experiences 

and inspire people through the "guests" in my life.

 Having lived and traveled all over the world, I've been blessed to meet some pretty amazing people,

 even if only for an hour, a few months, or still know to this day.

 I wanted a space to share about these beautiful people and what I have learned from them,

 and so began my blog. In addition to guests, I also love writing about

 style, tasty recipes, my faith, hospitality, crafty things and so much more!

 There is just too much greatness in the world not to share, so that is why I blog! 

Today's Tuesday's Giveaway, I've put together some of my favorite things:

 A pair of Light Gives Heat Suubi Earrings, made by women in Uganda,

 some fabulous turquoise nail polish,

 a Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom showergel/fragrance duo,

 and a head wrap made by me in my little shop called "The Guest Room Closet". 

How to enter:

(Leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow Mary Kate's blog here
2. Follow her on Twitter here

3. Say hi from TSP on Facebook here

4. Pin something from TSP onto Pinterest

5. Tweet or Facebook about the giveaway and tag @theshineproject

Giveaway ends Friday at midnight. Good luck!

Red, White, and Blueberry pie

Today I have a special treat for you... literally.

My husband Mike has an awesome food blog that you can check out HERE.

He's going to share with us how to make a Memorial Day style pie.

YUMMY!

Since Memorial day is just a few days away,

I decided I needed to make a pie.

I've never made a pie before...

I just had a vision in my head of how I wanted it to look, and knew I could do it.

You can too!

And the best part is, this is really easy to make and it's fast!

Here's what you'll need:

1 "deep dish" frozen pie crust

1 - 21 oz. can of blueberry pie filling

roughly half a pound of strawberries

1 banana

a handful of blueberries

about two cups "Reddi whip" (cool whip in a can)

8 oz. cream cheese

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

I didn't have time to make a crust from scratch, so I bought a frozen one.

I think a graham cracker crust would have been delicious too...

Follow the instructions on how to bake the crust.

While the crust is baking,

melt the cream cheese in the microwave, 10 seconds at a time, until it's easy to stir around in the bowl.

I melted it for a total of 30 seconds.

You do not need to heat it up for much longer than that.

If  you do it will get "liquidy" and gross and it will be ruined.

Mix the powdered sugar, reddi whip and vanilla into the cream cheese.

Add the canned pie filling to the mix.

After the crust is done,

pour the filling into the crust,

then smooth out the top.

The way I cut my strawberries is by cutting off the stem first.

Put the strawberry stem down, and cut in small pieces vertically across the strawberry.

Then make a circle with the strawberry pieces on the outside of the pie.

Slice the banana into thin pieces and put them next to the strawberries in another circle

Place some blueberries in the middle.

You can eat it right away, or let it cool off.

I think it tastes better cold...

It would also taste great with some added whipped cream on top.

I'm not sure why, but I really enjoyed making this pie.

I think because it's colorful and tasty.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

You can also follow Mike on

PINTEREST

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

and Instagram - @mikelemieux

What I Wish They Would Have Told me at Graduation

Today you've graduated from what people mistake for "the best years of your life."

You're champions. You've made it through your first heart aches, acne, braces,

best friends who betray you, failed exams that you thought you aced, not getting

asked to the senior prom, and today we celebrate your ability to act

like stretch Armstrong during your adolescent years. 

Tomorrow you will wake up with no worries of school.

Some of you will be starting your first job this summer, some of you

will be working more hours to save for college, and many of you will

fight the urge to not continue your schooling in the fall because it's just easier not to.

Some of you will try and justify that your "making good money" so you

don't want to give it up for school, but in reality it's only good money because 

you've never had it before.

Get used to working. Get used to long hours that really suck and make your feet hurt.

And when you get that pay check, save it for things that are important.

Because one day, if you do things right, you will have to use it to take

care of someone that you care about far more than yourself.

While you're working, for a while you might have a job that you hate.

Suck it up. But don't suck it up for too long. You need to be smart about being 

self sufficient, but you also need to find a job that makes you excited to live.

This might mean that you have to start your own work.

People might tell you that you're crazy, but if you believe in what you are doing,

do it. It's the crazy people who change the world.

You're going to fail. I promise you at some point, or more than one, you will want
to fall on your knees and beg God for help because you can't do it anymore.
Learn from these moments. Be prepared for them. When you know that
things aren't always going to go your way, it makes it easier to deal with.
Use failure as fuel to fight even harder for what you want.

Even though you're growing up, people still can be mean... really mean.
They'll get jealous of your career, your married life, your kids, anything that they
think you do better than them at. Love them anyway.
When people tell you that you can't do something, it's only because they
know that they can't personally do it, so they figure that you can't, either.

Stick up for what you believe in. When it's not politically correct, when it seems the
whole world has lost its moral value and you're standing face to face
with persecution, defend what you believe in.

While you go through life, there is one thing that a lot of people are missing,

and that's love. Not just the kind of love that is found when you meet your mate.

But love for all people. Love the person you have never met who is behind you at the grocery store,

love your post man, the gas attendant, and every person who ultimately means nothing to you.

Love them. It will change you. Do things for them. This will change you even more.

And even better, it is how you will find true happiness.

Go get 'em.

ps: Salt Lake City SHINE event is this Saturday! Click HERE to RSVP and get tix!

June!

Holy cow it's almost June! I just wanted to pop in and let you know that

we still have a couple of Large and Medium ad spots for June if you're looking

to get your shop and/or blog out there. Large spots are $65 and include a group giveaway,

and medium spots are $30 and include a side bar ad... 

I will also work with you if you want me to wear a product in a post, etc. If you're

still on the fence about advertising, I wrote a post about it here that might be helpful.

Or it might not. You can decide :)

Email me at Ashley.theshineproject@gmail.com if you want an ad space.

Whether you're advertising with us in June or not, it's going to be an amazing month.

With tons of new products, a whole new site, and a new project

that I have put my heart and soul into.

More lives will change. More people will be touched. 

And I'm grateful that you're on this journey with us.

Shine on.

Top 5

Sweet Freedom Necklace- c/o My Sweet Life

1. A couple of weeks ago I worked an Estate Sale for my mom. I usually hate it because they
get so crowded, people get crazy, and I get dusty from all the old walkers laying around.
But this particular day I met my BFF soul mate. This old Chinese lady and I tried on
clothes there for hours, dressed up as olden day field workers, and at the end of it
all she told me that I was her soul mate and she gave me her number so we could text.
You betcha I've texted her.

2. I'm going to Vegas on Thursday, and then heading up to Salt Lake City for the SHINE event
on Saturday... Which means tonnns of sister time. And I get to meet you... hooo-ray!

3. Mike finally hired a handy man, since we're not so handy, to install a fan in my office.
It was like a sweat shop every day over here. Unfortunately I'm running the show so I didn't have
anyone to call and file labor disputes with for bad treatment.
Now that it's already 108 degrees outside, I'm pretty pumped about
working in a room that will actually be cooler than that.

4. I haven't been sleeping lately. But for good reasons... The Shine Project is growing and
changing and I'm trying to get everything ready to launch in June! It's going to be sweet.
My motto is to under promise and over deliver, so this is the last time I'll say it...
It's gonna be really, really, really sweet.

5. My little brother graduates high school tomorrow. Okay, this is not supposed to happen.
He's supposed to be 5, not have a girlfriend and a man beard, and definitely not supposed to
be going to college next year. So, that's not in my top 5. But what is great is that since he
and my sister will both now be gone, under default I become the favorite only child that
is close to home. That has to have some kind of perks...right?
I don't think so... I think it just brings sadness that my family is scattered. But I'm
trying to make a good situation out of it so I don't cry out my eyes.

Any top 5 moments that you like to share from the past couple of weeks?
That was kinda fun.