Dress for Success...and style too!!!

I am soooo excited to be a Sister Missionary in exactly 68 Days! Whew time is flying! Prepping for a mission takes a lot of work. I have been told that a Mission is physically and spiritually demanding but I did not know this would start before the Mission even began! Re-reading the book of Mormon and studying Preach my Gospel takes a lot of work but by far the hardest part of my preparation has been getting a "Sister Missionary" wardrobe. I know I am not the only sister out there battling with trying to be professional and cute! Well today I want to share some of my success and tips with all of the wonderful Sisters out there preparing for a mission!

(I will be serving my mission in Seattle Washington so some of my tips may not apply to Sisters going to warmer missions.)


 * One of the best tools I have found is other Sister Missionary blogs. See what other girls are wearing! Also take time to check out other girls pintrest pages ;) 
---http://theladylena.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/sister-missionary-style-hang-gliding-park/---
---http://kendragampe.blogspot.com/---
---http://sistermcmahon.wordpress.com/--- (This is my dear friend Erin who is currently serving in my hometown mission <3 )
We all have different styles and different opinions on what to wear for a mission, take the time to see what some Sisters are currently wearing in the field. 


* Invest in accessories. These will seriously save your life! We will be wearing the same clothes for the next year and a half we might as well have fun with it. I have grown quite the belt/scarves/cardigan/Blazer collection over the last four years while in college. This is great because they all  work perfect for my mission. The best part about my collection is that I only bought my cardigans brand new and I got each one on sale at Target for $5! All the rest of my belts/blazers/scarves have been thrifted! (If you are going somewhere warmer invest in belts, Summer scarves (Light weight scarves) and Jewlery.)

Pile of Colorful Thrifted Scarves!

Four Great Blazers : Cream, Eggplant, Grey and Black, and  Electric Blue

Seven Cardigans from Target! They go with everything- $5 each

More Great Thrift Store Finds! Always always always go through the belts they have!

* Shop smartly- Thrifting is the best thing you can do to buy mission clothes. I currently have 13 possible Mission skirts and 11 came from Thrift Stores! Yesterday I bought six skirts, three shirts, and a Mission bag for $30!!! How can you beat that? 



* Keep looking!!! There ARE modest clothes/cute shoes etc. out there! I am sure you sisters know exactly what I am talking about when I say this:  As I have prepared myself for my mission I have noticed something strange. Clothes and shoes I would never wear in my life before seem great now! They seem to trick me into thinking they are cute! They arn't! STAY AWAY!!! there are better options out there, I promise. 


*Speaking of Cute Sister Missionary clothes... 
Here are some great Sister Missionary Online Stores

 -ASOS (Everyone is raving about it. They hem your skirts for you which is great! (It's a little spendy for me but I'm a thrifter!)
http://us.asos.com/Women-Skirts/rsrkv/?cid=2639&via=top

 -Downeast (Great modest clothes for pretty great prices. I get my shade shirts there... see below)
http://downeastbasics.com/teesandcamis.aspx

 - Sis-Miss Clothing (Really cute clothes but again a little spendy for me)
http://www.sis-miss.com/

 -Shabby-Apple Clothing (Really cute stuff- a lot has a retro vibe for me <3 )
http://www.shabbyapple.com/

 -Jen Clothing (Nice Classy clothes/ Bridesmaids outfits?)
http://www.jenclothing.com/

 -MikaRose (Similar feel to Jen Clothing to me)
http://www.mikarose.com/

 -Sorella-Bella (Some super cute Skirts here)
http://www.sistermissionaryclothes.com/


 -Modest Pop ( I am a little Biased here so bear with me) Modest Pop has quickly become my favorite and CHEAPEST online mission clothing store... and they have a 20% coupon for Sister Missionaries! I have bought 8 things from there! And those eight items are the only things I have not purchased from a thrift store so far! I decided to get the Elle top in every color and I am not regretting it! I chose to get super colorful/patterned skirts so the Elle tops make it so easy to have a quick cute outfit! 
http://www.modestpop.com/

Coral Elle Top with Thrifted Skirt and Belt

Cream Elle Top with Trifted blazer, skirt, and belt

Black Elle top with Thrift Skirt and Target $5 cardigan

Go and Do statement Tee- Great p-day or exercise shirt!

Beautiful Sydney Dress from ModestPop

Elle Top comes in Five colors: Cream, Mint, Black, Coral, Lavender

Elle Top in Lavender with Thrifted Skirt and belt from a boutique

Elle Top in Mint With Modest Pop's Julia Skirt! So Cute!!!!

* If you are going to somewhere rainy (ahem... Seattle Washington) get waterproofing spray! It will save your life. Also Umbrellas are used mainly by tourists and they make your hands and arms get all wet! If you can get a cute rain coat with a hood and pockets. I am from Oregon so my rainy mission Ladies trust me on this! You will be wearing a coat most of the time anyways so you might as well make it rain proof and CUTE! 

Make sure it has a hood! ;)

*Don't throw out the Idea of MAXI SKIRTS! I know that some Sisters will disagree with me right here but wait!!! Let me explain why I think Maxi skirts are great for missions. 1. Some missions allow them. If they allow them by all means Sisters wear them to the floor. 2. If you buy long enough maxi skirts they can be quite versatile! I have one Navy Maxi skirt that I can wear in three ways. 
          A. I can wear it long to the floor, (But not for my mission). 
          B. I can roll the waist band till It is ankle length pop on a belt and have a nice A- Line skirt
          C. (This may not work for more well endowed Sisters, I would not know so if it doesn't work I'm sorry) The Third way I wear my skirt is by pulling it up over my chest, and pop a cardigan and belt over top! (INSTANT DRESS) which is wonderful! I am limiting how many dresses I bring so I have more versatility with my clothes, but a Skirt then can be a dress? GOLDEN! 

Worn as a long skirt

Folded and belted to be an A-line Skirt

Worn as a dress!

* Buy some shade Shirts!!!! They make everything modest!!!
 I usually get mine at Downeast basics. If you know of cheaper ones let me know! I recommend getting at least one white, black, and cream. Other colors are great too depending on your outfits.

Finally I know you have already seen some of my outfits but I am going to post a few more for you to see how easy it is to dress something up. Now the trick is figuring out my suitcase space :)

Thrifted Skirt! This Skirt will be hemmed 4 inches

Thrifted outfit!!!

Thrifted skirt. This Skirt still needs hemmed about 6 inches

Thrifted Blazer and Skirt. Shirt from Tj Maxx

Skirt from Target, Shirt Thrifted

Skirt and Cardigan from Target, Shirt is thrifted

Thrifted Outfit

Thrifted Outfit

Great Comfortable shoes from Target!

Great Comfortable shoes from Target!

Well I hope this helps some Sisters out! I love you all and I am so glad to be able to share in this special time with you all! The Lord is Amazing Sisters! Let's do his work!!!

I will Go, I will Do!

-Sister Jennifer Franzen

Seattle washington Mission

The dreaded wait comes to an end

Hey Everyone! So this has been one heck of an exciting week! I was waiting all week... and I finally got my mission call! Ugh, the wait was torture. Ha I felt like I was stalking the mailman all week. I kept thinking it would come on Wednesday, Thursday... and on Friday I was to the point of do or die. Ha meaning my call needed to come that day or I would die ha ha. I was downstairs talking with a coworker and we were in mid conversation when I saw the mail truck. I literally freaked out and yelled "mail!" in the middle of my sentence! Ha my coworker just laughed at me. I then stood at the door until the mailman came and then jumped up and down when I saw the envelope that said The Church of Jesus Christ in the corner. Well then the phone calls began and I realized that I would not have a time to open it with all the people I love unless I waited until the evening. So I waited to 8 pm to open my call. The wait felt like agony ha ha but then 8 pm was finally here and I got to open my call!

I am going to Seattle Washington! Now those of you that know me may be a little shocked. I know I was... Here is why:

 I know the dots are kinda hard to see, but I am going on my mission 3 hrs. north of my home town! Wow close right? So you can say I was a little shocked to say the least. I have attached the video of me opening my call for you all to see ;)


Video of me opening my call

After a night of thinking about my call and where I am going and my purpose I am geared up and ready to go! I was still super excited last night I just had to take some time to let the shock wear off ha ha. My friend Alex pointed some fun insights out though that I enjoyed. I am currently living in Mt. Rainier Md. and starting in Aug. I will live by the real mount rainier. 

 

 

I am also working in Washington DC right now and I will be working in Washington State. Ha ha isn't that great!  Oh how I love the irony. Even though Seattle is practically my backyard there is a lot of plus sides to serving there which I will label below.

 Benefits of my Seattle mission:
1. I will be stateside which means AWESOME PACKAGES! ha ha ha basically I already told my parents I expect homemade cookies and other great things in packages ;) Also If I ever really needed something my parents could mail it to me or they could drop it off at my mission home on an afternoon trip.
2. I will definitely be able to go back and visit my investigators and converts. My brother served his mission in Africa and it is not likely that he will be able to go back very often to visit. He is able to go to the reunions in Salt lake but who knows when the next time is that he will get to go back to Africa. Meanwhile I will be able to return on a day trip if need be to see people I will meet.
3. I now have an excuse to watch sleepless in Seattle over and over again until August 28th. Hello research ;) Ha who doesn't love sleepless in Seattle. Just saying.
4. There is very much so a lack of sun in Seattle which is wonderful for me. I am allergic to the sun. (I swell really bad in my face and have to take prednizone for it to go down ) And apparently Seattle has less sun then Oregon. Perfect.
5.Also because I am an Oregonian born and raised I know how to handle the weather of Washington, and I don't have to change my style at all! I love me some cardigans, boots, and scarves and that works pretty much year round in Oregon and Washington :)
6. My parents now have no excuse to not pick me up from my mission. ;) Seeing as it is one small road trip away I already know they will come get me and meet the families I have been able to teach. :) and I won't have to fly home... YAY!
7. Look how beautiful Seattle/washington is :)

 Unfortunately I am still on the east coast and I will be right up until I leave so this may be my path home. :/
 DC to salt lake then drive to rexburg and see my sisters, go through the Rexburg temple, and then head down to Oregon city. Give my farewell, go to my brothers reception, get set apart and head to the MTC and then 6-10 days later fly to Settle ha ha. Nothing like back tracking a lot right? goodness!

Well that is pretty much what I had to share. :) I also included pictures of the Seattle temple and the boundaries of my mission :D

Finally I wanted to share something I found on my phone today. I was in a theater class at BYU-I during my Sophomore year. I had to put together a 5 min. speech from scriptures that all shared a similar topic or message.  During this time my brother had just entered the MTC and missionaries were on my mind so I chose the topic of missionary work. There are some weird breaks here and there and I don't have every scripture/hymn I pulled written down, but here was my presentation.

Go forth with faith to tell the world of Jesus Christ our lord. Bear witness he is God's own son; proclaim his wondrous word. Go forth with hope and courage strong to spread the word abroad, that people of all nations are children of our God.

16 ¶ Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

23 That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

For behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man

24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.

30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—

37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.

Go forth with love to tell the world the joy of families- that we may be with those we love through all eternity. Go forth to serve and do your best with no thought of reward; then you shall know the boundless joy of serving Christ the lord. 

38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

NOW behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 

19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Go forth with power to tell the world the gospel is restored, that all may gain eternal life thru Jesus Christ, the Lord. Go forth to preach his glorious truths of peace, of joy, and love, that all who heed his holy word may praise the lord above.

and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fullness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.

39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen


Well everyone that is all for tonight :) Happy readings and good night :)
                              -Love the official future Sister Franzen

The Next Great Adventure

So many of you may think that this is an April fool’s prank but I swear to you that it is not! I just realized today that I have failed to make a post on facebook or a blog or anything about this yet. So I am doing so now.

After an amazing year in Washington DC filled with adventures, learning experiences and fun I am pleased to announce my next great adventure.I have had an absolutely amazing time out here Working at Dance Place as the office manager, as well as working as an outreach hip hop teacher for high schools and preschools. I also have had wonderful opportunities to preform with different groups out here including Clancyworks Dance company and The Playground company. But come this summer it is time for me to move on.
I was battling many decisions some of which were teaching for an amazing studio back home, staying in DC and getting myself out there as a performer, go on a church mission, or continuing on and get my Masters to be a DMT (Dance Movement Therapist). I still plan to do many of these options in one way or another but only one was the winner for me right here and right now.

 

I have made the decision to go on a Mission! :) I am hoping to get my call by my 22^nd birthday but we will see what happens. This decision has been a really long time coming and after

an awful battle of do I go or do I not, I have made the decision to go.

I still hope I will be able to teach a master class or two for the studio at home, or eventually becoming a permanent member or their staff but that is not in my cards for this moment in time. I have also discovered during my time in DC that I love and miss performing. I would love to be on a company when I come home, or choreograph for a company. Both options would make me very happy :) The final choice that did not make the cut at this time is my masters. But believe me when I say it is very much so still on the table. I am just putting a new label on it, one that reads 2015-2018. Wow that sounds weird. But I am determined to get my masters, when the time is right.

For now I will be taking the option of serving a mission. I started seriously thinking about this decision last June, but I didn’t want to go. It was more like the idea of a mission was slowly creeping in on me when I was just starting to get my post-grad life plan together. So I ignored the promptings called off a wedding, graduated college, went on tour with my dance company, and moved to DC. A lot of changes happened and I liked it that way. As long as I kept myself busy I couldn’t face the truth that I was running away from what my heart truly wanted. The idea of a mission frightened me so much because there is so much room for failure.  (At least there is in my mind).

I was afraid that I would lose my opportunities and abilities to dance if I went on a mission. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to afford a mission with my student loans having to be paid back. Most of all I was afraid of all of the things I would miss in my life by leaving for 18 months. Life events meaning the birth of nieces/ nephews, sibling’s weddings, possibly my mom’s graduation, events that I really want to be a part of. I was so torn up inside trying to make everyone happy by making the right decision that I was blinded. My family loves me and I am sure they would love to have me at their important life events but the decision to go on a mission is about my life.  My decision, my happiness. And by trying to stay when I knew I needed to go was making me miserable. One night though 5 words slipped out of my mouth and made my decision so easy. In the middle of watching a movie by myself I just said “ I’m going on a mission”. After that the decision was quite easy.

In my undergrad program I took a class called teaching techniques and we learned all about how to be a good teacher. We read a book called The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer. In that book he discusses the inner teacher and the guidance that it offers. Within many religions including mine there is an inner teacher. This inner teacher is known to many as the Holy Ghost.  There is one part of the book that has stuck with me long after reading it and it is about fighting one’s inner teacher. He wrote about how the inner teacher guides us and helps us find the path that is best suited for us but that if we refuse to listen to our inner teacher it may become violent to the point of destruction. Meaning our inner teacher will fight so hard for us to listen that we cause ourselves to go into a state of depression. I really believe this is what happened to me for refusing to listen to my inner teacher for so long.

Ever since I made the decision to go on a mission I no longer feel conflict in my life. I am not worried about dance, grad school, money, or job opportunities. I know that things will work out in God’s timing and that I will be blessed for my service. If I am meant to share my artistic talents that God has given me I will be able to do so long after my mission.

I know this post is very long and I am sorry. I just wanted to let my friends and family all know about my next exciting life decision and how that decision came to be. J Anyways, have a wonderful day and thanks for reading. Love-

(The Future) Sister Franzen