EFY 2013 St Petersburg Florida

This morning, I made the trip from the east coast to the west coast of Florida, then back again.

I drove Katherine, Megan, and 4 others to the 

EFY (Especially For Youth) Program in Tampa/St. Petersburg

We had a little picnic in the parking lot at the beach before registration and check-in.

It was a beautiful day to start an amazing week.

Just driving in to the parking lot confirmed that attending EFY can be a life-changing experience.

 Here is the entire group at our beach-parking-lot picnic

 The registration opened promptly at 11am.

The line was already wrapped around the building and up and down several flights of stairs.

At 10 seconds before 11am, they do the 10-9-8-7-6.... countdown followed by the 

EFY cheer (a series of claps and the chant: EFY ROCKS)

 Katherine promptly found a friend from our former Ward. 

They were so delighted to see each other.

 Megan has been hesitant about the entire experience. She is one of the youngest attendees (maybe the youngest) and did not know anyone in her age group. I am confident that by the end of the week, she will have many friends in her age group. When I went to hug and kiss her good-bye, she was clearly ready to move on to her adventure.

After the good-byes, I got back in the car and drove home. It is a beautiful drive from coast to coast. Ron and I will pick them up early Saturday morning and if I were a gambling woman, I would place money on the fact that the EFY attendees will pass out as soon as they get in the car and stay asleep until we pull into our driveway at home.
Here's praying for a wonderful experience for my children and all of those at EFY.

Edible Lighthouse Centerpiece

Young Men Young Women Idea

"Stand Steadfast and Immovable"

Finally, straight from the mastermind behind this creation,

I have the details on this truly amazing

Edible Lighthouse Centerpiece

from our recent Youth Conference Dance.

This was far from "Cookies And Punch" as usual!

This is one of the best Young Men Young Women Ideas I

have come across in quite some time.

Actually, it is one of the best ideas I have come across....period.

It is a perfect reinforcement

of the 2008 Young Men and Young Women Theme....

"Stand Steadfast and Immovable"

yet this can be adapted for an multitude of occasions

See below for directions and input from Liz Roberts, the creative

dynamo. This Lighthouse Centerpiece can be adapted to

many themes and occasions. I am sure your creative wheels

can think of how to use this for the next event you host!!

(Think Nautical Themed Party!)

Liz Roberts shared the following with me. She has given me

permission to share this with the world!

(She was assigned to organize the food for the Youth Conference Dance.)

The original idea to use a Lighthouse theme was our Stake Young Women Secretary, Julie D. She created blue T-shirts with Tan Lighthouses on them and suggested to Liz, 'hey, you should do a Lighthouse out of Rice Krispies'.

Liz said she could not resist. After all "Dance Cookies and Punch are so......predictable." (Don't you just know you love Liz already!)

Liz took her cue from Food Network where making sculptures out of Rice Krispies is a common cake-decorating trick.

So.......How did this all come together?

Liz used a 10 piece circle cookie cutter set and cut the Rice Krispies into circles, each one graduating to a smaller size. The last three circles were slightly larger and then a pointed circle was the topper. Cover the pointed circle with Chocolate Frosting and pipe some icing around the top for details such as windows and a balcony.

A wooden shishkabob skewer was used to stabilize the uneven layers. Liz gives this tip: "Next time I would make the Rice Krispies ultra level by overfilling a cookie sheet and pressing down with another cookie sheet."

When Liz received this assignment, Frances, our Stake Young Women President, gave her some marshmallows and Graham Crackers left over from the last youth activity. The Marshmallows were used for the Rice Krispies and the Graham Crackers were used to make the houses around the Lighthouse. The houses were assembled with some frosting and she also used some sugar wafer cookies to add some variety.

The "Island" is made up of random platters turned upside down and covered with brown paper.

The Lighthouse Centerpiece was built on a Blue Plastic Tablecloth, which was perfect for Liz to pipe chocolate icing directly on the Tablecloth in the words "Stand Steadfast and Immovable"

The "Island" was outlined in Donut Holes (sooooooo cute) depicting rocks along the shore.

When it was time to eat the Lighthouse Centerpiece, the Donuts, Cookies, Graham Crackers, and Rice Krispies were dipped into the Chocolate Words.

How is that for Totally, Totally functional and AMAZING?!!!!!

Now.....Here is Liz's input for what she would do next time.....(I think this was already over-the-top amazing, but I understand Liz completely. I am always critiquing my own work and observing how can make changes and/or improvements.

• Brown Sugar or Graham Cracker Crumbs around the houses for Sand
• Chocolate Cake Donut Holes and Whoppers/ Chocolate Covered Raisins for making Boulders and rocks of various sizes and colors.
• Little Candy People
• Miniature Pineapple Palm Trees
• Rope Lighting

Liz was quick to tell me that she had a lot of help and that this was a group effort. Way to go, Liz, for pulling this all together, using the resources presented to you, and coming up with an end result so amazing!

Don't you just love this idea? Thank you, Thank you Liz for sharing!!!! You made that dance an unforgettable experience for all who attended!