Easy and Inexpensive Jewelry Crafts for Girls

When I was a little girl I remember making all sorts of jewelry out of odds and ends I found around my home, and I treasured my creations. Little girls like crafting, and they like jewelry so naturally there are a lot of fun jewelry craft projects that can be made. This article will discuss some fun jewelry themed craft projects that are easy and inexpensive.

Rice, seed, and bean bracelets are fun and easy to make, and they are very inexpensive. You will need rice, beans, and seeds, glue, and a hard plastic bracelet that can be purchased at the local dollar store. To make this bracelet you can glue the various beans and seeds onto the bracelet in a pattern or you can cover the bracelet with glue and roll it in the rice, seeds, and beans. Either way these bracelets are a lot of fun, and there are a lot of dried beans that you can choose from to make a variety of bracelets.

Film container seed necklaces are a great jewelry craft project that will last for a long time, and grow into a beautiful plant. These necklaces are also great because they are reusable. You will need 2 or 3 cotton balls, an empty film canister, a short screw, a seed, and ribbon. Simple screw the screw into the lid of the film container and tie the center of the ribbon to it. Next fill the container with cotton and add water to get it damp. Now place your seed inside and reattach the lid. You will be able to watch this seed grow, and plant it when it gets big enough. This project is fun, and it teaches children about nature.

Bottle cap pendants are another easy and inexpensive jewelry craft. For this project you will need old a bottle cap, some magazines, beads, gems, or any pretty little thing you have around the house, resin, paint, glue, and a pop top from a soda can.

Paint the back of the bottle cap and allow it to dry. Next cut a tiny image from a magazine and glue it inside the bottle cap. If you want to use gems and beads you can glue them to the inside of the bottle cap as well. Next mix the resin according to the directions on the package, and fill the bottle cap with resin. Allow this to set, and when it is dry glue the pop top to the back of the cap and hang on a ribbon for a necklace.

There are a lot of fun jewelry craft projects that will allow your daughter to have fun for hours. I hope these ideas have inspired you!

Do-It-Yourself Personalized Belly Dance Costumes

Belly dancing is not only fun, but it is a great workout, and it is a way to express yourself and your creativity. In order truly express yourself and your personality it is important to have a special belly dancing costume. Here I have compiled a list of ways to personalize your belly dancing costume, and a guide to making your own belly dancing costume.

In order to customize your do-it-yourself belly dancing costume you must make it special to you, and here are a few tips that will help you do just that!

Color schemes are an important aspect of your belly dance costume, and it is important to choose colors you like the most. It is good to choose colors that are bright are dark, but I find it key to choose colors from both spectrums in order to add impact to your costume. It is also nice to add a little gold, silver, or sparkle to your color schemes.

Another way to customize your belly dancing costume is through accessories. As a belly dancer accessories are key, and you might like to wear bells, or charms. You can also wear a belt that has many beads that you find unique. Long dangling earrings move nicely when you are dancing, and long necklaces can also accentuate the dance.

The use of scarves, fans, and zills are also a way to customize your belly dancing costume. Many belly dancers use these props to enhance their dance and add style to there performance. You can use any of these props to personalize your costume, or you can choose to use none of them and focus solely on the dance.

In order to create your own belly dancing costume you will need a few items. The materials needed are scarves or strips of fabric long enough to create a skirt, a heavy scarf or piece of fabric that can be used as a belt or tied around hips, a strong bra or a midriff baring shirt, beads, gem stones, sequins, tassels, fringe, needle, thread, and any other little accents, trinkets, or charms you choose. Remember that glass beads can be dangerous if they fall off of the costume. So try to stick with things that will not hurt your feet or break if you shake them off during your dance routine.

Now that you have assembled your materials you can create your belly dancing costume. Fold the heavy duty material or scarf into a belt that is wide enough to fit comfortably around your hips. Sew this material length wise until it is sturdy enough to hold shape. Next sew your scraves to the belt, and remember to sew them on the inside so your belt is on top. Also it is important to know if you would like your scarves to hang in the middle and the back, or if you would like the entire skirt encircled with them. Plan your skirt design beforehand and sew according to your design. Now you can add the fringe, sequins, beads, or trinkets that you like to your belt. Once your skirt is assembled you can add the embellishments of your choose to your bra or half shirt. Remember to sew everything very tightly because this belly dance costume will see a lot of movement.

With these few simple tips and ideas you will soon be on your way to creating your own personalized belly dance costume!

Diversity Themed Bulletin Board Ideas for Elementary Schools

Diversity is a common theme in many schools in this day and age. A diversity themed bulletin board is a great way to celebrate this theme in elementary schools. This article will discuss diversity themed bulletin board ideas for elementary schools and how to create these ideas.

Colors of the Rainbow

A fun and creative bulletin board idea that will help lead into a discussion about diversity is the colors of the rainbow bulletin board. For this idea you will need white or blue butcher paper, a pencil, paper plates, and a way to wash and dry the elementary school children's hands. You will also need red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple paint.

Start this diversity project by covering the bulletin board with the butcher paper. Use the pencil to draw a large arch in the middle of the bulletin board. The children will follow this guideline to create their rainbow. Then line up the children and pour red paint onto a paper plate.

Help kids place their hand in the paint and press it to the bulletin board. You may need a step stool so children can reach the top of the rainbow arch. Have students create the entire arch using their handprints. Then repeat the process with the rest of the colors in the rainbow. Make sure to watch the elementary school kids' hands in between colors so they do not mix. This bulletin board is a fun way to teach children about diversity.

I am Unique

Another great bulletin board for teaching elementary school kids about diversity is this idea. For this bulletin board idea you will need oak tag, scissors, a yard stick, a pencil, markers, and magazines. Help kids talk about diversity and what makes them different from others. Provide students with magazines and help them search for images that depict why they are unique.

While the students are cutting images from magazines cover the bulletin board with the oak tag. Then use the yard stick to divide the bulletin board up into as many squares as there are students. Next turn those squares into puzzle pieces by adding curves and funny angles. Remove the paper from the bulletin board. Cut out the puzzle pieces and give each student a piece.

Help elementary kids decorate their piece with the images they have gathered and their names. Then allow students to put their piece back up on the board where it belongs. If you have younger elementary students numbering the pieces is a good idea.

This elementary school bulletin board idea is a great way to introduce and teach students about diversity.

Dancing for Well-Being: Five Dances for Life

Dance is an amazing thing, and many people don't realize how dance helps you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Dancing is good for your soul. There are many reasons people have for not dancing, but these reasons can be easily debunked; here are five dances that can help improve our life in more ways than you can imagine.

Many people have excuses to not dance. Some people may think they have no rhythm, but they should simply remember that "the whole universe is in constant motion and you are probably not the exception to the rule" (Roth, 1998, p. 17). Some people may not dance because they do not like their bodies, but they should remember that dancing will work away any extra pounds. Whatever you don't work off is "meant to be part of you" (Roth, 1998, p.17). I find one of my biggest excuses is lack of time, but I have realized that the smallest amount of time spent dancing can change my mood completely. I have been figuring out different ways to incorporate dancing even if it is only for a few minutes into my daily schedule. Even if I only dance to one song a day I still feel better.

There are 5 rhythms of the soul, and they are known as flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness (Roth, 1998). Flowing is about being flexible like liquid. In flowing there are no "separations or distinctions between things, there's only continuous change" and flowing is the "rhythm of the earth" (Roth, 1998, p.52). In order to practice flowing dance "imagine that you are all circles and curves, arms round, spine undulating, hands soft, hips rolling gently, knees loose" and " let whatever you are feeling unravel" (Roth, 1998, p.55). Staccato is more of a tense dance. It is a type of dance that creates all "kinds of angles and edges like geometry in motion" (Roth, 1998, p.83). The dance of chaos is spontaneous and intuitive. It is meant to "dive below the surface... and get in touch with our whims, our impulses, and our poetic intelligence" (Roth, 1998, p.118). Lyrical dancing is one of the hardest dances for most people because it you have to experience it to understand it, but I feel comfortable practicing this dance, and I believe that my dramatic nature and love of dance makes this form of dance more natural to me. Perhaps this type of dance comes natural to me because in lyrical dancing "we realize we are works-in-progress" and this is an important lesson I try to remember at all times (Roth, 1998, p.156). Stillness is what I would call a typical type of meditation. It is about moving in "super-slow motion" and focusing your attention to "the ebb and flow of your breath, the beat of your heart, the pulsing of cells" (Roth, 1998, p.180).

Dancing is good for the soul, and people should dance more often. Nothing is more natural and pure than dancing. Let go of your excuses why you do not dance, and Dance!

Reference:
Roth, G. (1998). Sweat your prayers: movement in spiritual practice. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam.

Easy and Inexpensive Personalized DIY Summer Wedding Invitations

Weddings are a sacred and special time, and it is important for everything to be perfect and personalized. Many things that you need for a special wedding can be made by you at home. Wedding invitations are extremely important when planning your wedding because it is the first step that you take. It is the beginning of a beautiful thing, and should be made to express you and your future spouse perfectly. Invitations for your summer wedding can be made at home cheaply and personally.

A supply that you will find to be most necessary is a heavy cardstock of thickness, color, and design, of your desired choice. I think most common color is an off white color. You can buy bulk cardstock or you can find special paper that has already printed patterns on it. Paper also has different textures so this is important to make note of when choosing papers.

After you have chosen appropriate paper for your invitations you can decide if you want to completely print your invitations or if you want to hand write them. All you will need for handwritten invitations is some nice markers. You can choose whatever colors you like, and there are even gold, silver, and copper colored markers that will work well. If you decide to print the invitation you can find basic templates for envelopes and invitations on Microsoft word. There are also many different fonts that you can use right in the program. You can also choose to incorporate a picture you and your fiance which can be copied and pasted into the card. Some more ideas to suit a summer wedding are pictures of a sunset at a beach or brightly colorful summer flowers. Many nice sayings and wedding invitation formats can be found on the internet as well.

Other supplies that can be used for your wedding invitations are ribbon, faux flowers, sequins and pearls. All of these items can be used as embellishments for your decorations. Another fun way to embellish your wedding cards is using paper cut outs. You can cut out various shapes of flowers from different colored paper to suit the theme of a summer wedding, and you can layer them on top of each other. Adding pearls or pretty beads also make these cards pretty and special. A simple bow can be made from ribbon and it can be glued to the card to make it tool like a present.

All of these ideas can help you make your own personal summer wedding invitations. Make sure no matter which methods you decide to employ that you love the finish product, and remember to enjoy the process because this is something you will remember forever!

Learn the Basics of Weaving

Weaving is a form of art that has been popular throughout time; many cultures used woven tapestries to document their history, and many people still today weave as a passion. Weaving is easy to do and it does not require costly items. I have always wanted to try weaving, but I was always slightly intimidated by it. I have found it to be relaxing and meditative. It is also easy and inexpensive to make a loom at home, and here or some instructions in the basics of weaving to get you started on your first woven masterpiece.

A simple loom can be made at home from cardboard. Do not use a piece of cardboard bigger than 8x10 inches because it will become "unwieldy" (Young, 1972, p.173). Now cut notches in the top and bottom of the cardboard; these notches should be from a quarter of and inch to half an inch apart. The closer the notches are the tighter the weave will be (Young, 1972). Remember to use a ruler to make sure the notches on both ends match up correctly.

Now make a knot in the end of the yarn and "slide it into the upper left hand notch" (Young, 1972, p.174). Next wind the yarn into the bottom notch, around the back, and back up to the next top notch, and continue with this until all of the notches are full; this is called the warp.

Now thread a knitting needle or ruler through the strands going under and over each strand of the warp. Wrap your weaving yarn around a small piece of cardboard and slide it through the space left by the ruler. Remember to leave at least 3 inches of yarn outside of your warp; this will be woven into the piece later (Young, 1972). Now using a second knitting needle or ruler pick up the opposite threads from your first ruler. Slide your yarn through this spot and use the ruler to push those threads up so they are tight and even together. Continue alternating rulers until your piece is complete. When you have completed the weaving of the piece simple tie the final piece to one of the cords your have been weaving through. To secure the entire project remove the strands two at a time from the cardboard and tie the two strands together in a knot. This will make sure none of your weaving comes undone.

This simple craft is rewarding, and it can be done with scraps of yarn and cardboard that would normally be thrown away. So now that you have the basics you can become a weaving master!

References:

Young, J. (1972). Woodstock craftsman manual. New York, NY: Praeger
Publishers.

Recycled Summer Crafts for Kids

 

Summer time is when the kids are free of school, and they love to run rampant. It is important to have some projects on hand to keep them busy. With the kids running around there is bound to be more garbage and I have compiled some fun projects that will keep the kids busy while recycling waste products.

Juice box dolls are fun and easy to create. This project requires markers, paper, wiggly eyes, yarn, felt, and any other fun items for decorating your doll. First make sure the juice boxes are empty and dry. A little left over juice will ruin your project. Next wrap the juice box in paper like a present and tape the ends. Add the yarn or felt for hair and draw a smile on the box. Glue on the eyes and glue four strips of paper onto the sides and bottoms of box as arms. These cute little dolls are fun and easy to make.

A cool and kooky monster can be made using an old sandwich bag box. This sandwich box monster is a great project for kids because they can personalize it by using their imaginations. For this project you will need an old plastic sandwich bag box, paint, paper, glue, and any other random fun items you can find. Paint the box whatever color you like. When it has dried add eyes and paint teeth around the hole for a perfect monster mouth. Now add paper arms and a tail for detail. You can also add yarn for hair, felt for ears, and cardboard for spikes if you like. Let your imagination run wild with this project.

Cereal box summer scrapbooks are a great way to recycle old cereal boxes and other paper products. All you will need for this project is an empty old cereal box, wrapping paper, glue, yarn, old newspapers, or brown paper bags. Start this project by cutting the top, bottom, and right side of the cereal box. Next wrap the opened box in wrapping paper and glue it down. After it has dried punch 2 holes in the front and back of the box closer to the top and bottom.

Next cut sheets of newspaper or brown paper bag to fit inside the scrapbook cover and punch holes in the paper in the same spots as the box. Pull a piece of yarn through the top hole on the back of the box and through the top holes of the papers; finish by pulling it through the top hole in the front of the box as well. Repeat the same process for the bottom holes with the other end of the string of yarn. Tie the yarn in the front and use markers or paint to personalize the cover of your scrapbook.

You and your children can add pictures and other things to the scrapbook over time to create memories that last forever. This project will provide hours of fun, and it is a great way for kids to store all their fun memories of summer.

There are many ways to recycle things found around your home to create amusing craft projects for kids, and I hope I have inspired to you get started with some projects of your won this summer!

How to Make Polymer Clay Daisy Pendants

Polymer clay is one of my favorite materials to use for everything. It is cheap, easy to use, and it bakes hard right in your oven in no time. There are so many fun things you can make with polymer clay, and this article will describe how to make a daisy flower pendant using polymer clay and a little imagination.

The simplest flower pendant you can make using polymer clay is a daisy. To make this flower you will need white, yellow, and green clay; you will also need a wooden skewer or knitting needle, a pin, and a knife. This project is easy, and children of many ages can complete it with adult supervision.

Now start by making a small orange ball for the inside of the flower. Now make several small white balls that are about the same size of the orange ball. Now roll those balls into tube like shapes, and press them slightly flat. Pinch one end of these white petals and press them onto the orange base. When all the petals are attached use the pin to poke some small holes into the orange ball; this will give the flower a more realistic look.

Use a small tube of green clay to make a circle around the skewer. Next take one or two small green balls and press them slightly flat. Now pinch both sides of the green shapes so they resemble leaves or a diamond shape. Using the knife cut an indented line down the middle of each leaf, and push them onto the green circle.

Next use the knife to cut some light lines in the green ring where you will be attaching the flower head. If you have some liquid sculpt you should add some to the lines you have made. Press the flower head gently on these lines until it sticks. Bake in the oven at the specified degrees for about 15 minutes. Make sure to check the flower so it does not cook to long.

Remove the flower and let cool for about half an hour before you remove the skewer. Be gentle because you do not want to break the base. Simply string the pendant on some ribbon or a nice chain, and it is ready to wear.

If you would like to add some special details to this pendant you can use acrylic paint after the pendant has been baked and cooled. To add some pretty color to the petals brush a little paint onto the inside of the petals and brush a little pigment powder on the centers after the paint is almost dry. You can also add some glitter to the edges for fun. These pendants are a lot of fun to make, and they can be personalized to suit anyone's tastes.

How to Throw an 80's Style Dinner Party

Dinner parties are a lot of fun if you make them fun, but if you just throw a dinner party there might not be as much to talk about as you think. A themed dinner party is always fun, and this article will teach you how to throw an 80's style dinner party.

First thing to remember when you throw an 80's dinner party is that the invitations must tell guests to some in 80's apparel. As the host you will also have to wear your 80's gear, and make sure your home is flash backed to the 80's. In order to decorate your home appropriately hang posters of popular 80's stars on the walls such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Blondie, Prince, The Cars, and whoever else you loved in the 80's. Also remember to have lots of 80's compilation music playing. Decorate your home with neon color streamers and neon colored balloons. Metallic streamers and any other cheesy decorations you can find will also suit this décor. Don't forget to represent the 80's movies either, and hang posters from your favorite movies like Goonies, ET, and Transformers.

Food from the 80's was not so healthy, but it as popular so for your party you will need some 80's style food. Ranch flavored Doritos were a food that originated in the 80's and it is a perfect snack for the table. Tab cola is another uniquely 80's item, and it should be served in the cans. Many junk foods were popular in the 80's such as fruit snacks and fruit roll ups, charms pops, raisins, tootsie rolls, and pop rocks. For a main course for this dinner party fast food should be your entrée. McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut were huge in the 80's so stock up on a bunch of these items for your party. Jello pudding pops are the perfect dessert for an 80's themed diner party, and no one can forget Bill Cosby in the commercial.

Every party needs some fun things to do, and one game that should be played at an 80's dinner party is twister. Another fun game that you can play at your party is Pacman, and many stored sell a Pacman controller that plugs right into your television. You can also have an 80's karaoke contest if your guests are brave enough, or you can have a name that tune contest with only 80's music. You can also have a biggest hair contest, and remember to give out prices like leg warmers and blow up guitars.

This party will be a blast from the past with these fun tips!

How to Make Miniature Household Items for Dollhouses Out of Recycled Items

I love making things, and I love recycling; and I ultimately enjoy being able to combined both of these hobbies. So when I started building my first dollhouse; I realized that there were so many things that get thrown out that are perfect for dolls to play with. Here are some ideas on how to recycle your garbage into miniature treasures.

One of the most versatile and unexpected items that I love to save and create with are empty coffee creamer containers. These little containers can be painted silver and a piece of wire can be attached to them as a handle; this way they can be used as a bucket or pail. You can paint them black or orange and use them as pots for flowers. You can even add a nice little border or trim to make them look pretty. You can also paint then several different colors and make them into lamp shaded. A needle, pin, or piece of wire can be glued to a couple beads in order to make into the base of a lamp. Attach the top of the wire to the bottom of the creamer and you have a lamp.

Empty battery packages make nice televisions as well. The best part of these mini TVs' is that you can change the picture when ever you like. All you need is to cut the plastic edge to the clear box is smooth, and use black electrical tape to tape around the sides. You can also extend a border across the bottom and paint buttons onto it. Next take a picture from a magazine, or draw your own picture, and glue it to the back of the television. Lean your television up against a wall or paint some cardboard black and attach it to the back using tape so you cal lift it and change the picture inside the television.

Another fun miniature recycling project is for the artist in all of us. It is simple and fun to make. You will need a few match sticks or toothpicks. Cut them into smaller pieces and color each one with a different color marker. Next put them all into a little match box that has been painted black. Write crayon on the top in white paint and display half open.

I hope this article has helped you to make many little things for your dollhouse; I also hope that when you are throwing things away you think about what else they could be used for before you trash them.

How to Make a Princess Fairy Crown

Every little girl wants to be a princess at some point, and most little girls love fairies. I have a three-year-old niece, and she loves to play dress up. I am always trying to figure out new fun projects that she will enjoy. For her third birthday she was having a pink flower party, so I made her a pink princess fairy flower crown. This article will teach you how to make one.

First you will need some pipe cleaners; you can use all different colors, but I used pink because it was the party theme. You will also need a hot glue gun, one or two hot glue sticks, and ribbon. To add some fun decorations you can also add fake flowers, glitter, and fake gemstones to this crown.

The first step to making this crown requires that you make a base for it. This can be done by simply using several pipe cleaners. Start by making a loop at the end of one pipe cleaner. Wrap the end of the pipe cleaner tight so the loop stays, and then you can twist another pipe cleaner around the first one to elongate the base. Make a loop at the other end the same way you made the first. This is the perfect base for a crown.

Now you will use some other pipe cleaners to add height to the crown. I like to start by finding the middle of the base. You can figure this out by folding the base in half. Now find the middle of another pipe cleaner and twist the two middles together. Now make loops on either side of the middle using the ends of the pipe cleaners. These loops will make an M shape on the base of the crown.

Next using another pipe cleaner you can add even more height, and this will make the crown even more detailed. Start by twisting the ends of the new pipe cleaner to the far right and left sides of the M shape; next twist the top of the pipe cleaner you have just attached so that it has a loop. Now you can add other pipe cleaners to the base to create more intricate designs, or you can leave the base the way it is.

Now using your ribbon and hot glue gun, glue one end of the ribbon to the far side of the M shape. Wrap the ribbon around the crown until you reach the loop and glue the ribbon to the end before the loop. Now tie some more ribbon through the loop by folding it in half and pushing the ribbon loop through the pipe cleaner loop. Now pull the ribbon ends though the ribbon loop, and pull it tightly. Repeat this on the other side, and you will use these ribbons to tie the crown around your head.

I like to add fake flowers and gem stones to the crown to make it really stand out and sparkle; I will use the glue gun to add these special details. This crown is a beautiful creation for any little girl, and it is a fun project to help inspire their imagination.

Fairy Wings: Fun and Easy to Make

At some point in almost every little girl's life they dream of being a fairy, and it is not always easy to find fairy wings. When you do eventually find them they are either uncomfortable or they are expensive, but fairy wings are easy and fun to make. This is a great project to do at birthday parties or just for fun.

To make fairy wings you will need foam sheets, ribbon, a hot glue gun, felt, scissors, glitter glue, pipe cleaners, and gemstones. Sometimes it is a good idea to look at pictures of fairy wings and butterflies in order to get a better idea of what you want your fairy wings to look like.

To start you will need to cut butterfly wings out of the foam sheet. In order to make simple shaped butterfly wings fold the foam in half evenly. Next using a marker cut a v shape in the opposite side of the folded side. Next unfold the sheet and cut a v shape in the top and the bottom. You can add other details by cutting the wings into differently shapes and angles but these three cuts will give you a very basic wing shape.

Now that you have your wings it is time to make them stand up; first you will need to decide which side is the front and which side is the back. Use pipe cleaners to add strength to the back of the wings. Start by gluing a pipe cleaner to the center where all the wings meet. Glue three or four pipe cleaners from the bottom of the wing through the middle. Repeat this process for all of the wings, and you can curve the end of the pipe cleaners for a prettier effect if you like.

To make these wings wearable you will need to add some ribbons. Cut a square of felt that fits in the center of the wings. This piece of felt will also cover the ends of the pipe cleaners. Now cut two lengths of ribbons that are long enough to fit from your back to around your shoulders. You will be tying these ribbons so make sure to leave enough room for that as well. Now glue the middles of the ribbons to the part of the felt square that will be glued to the wings. Next glue the felt to the wings and allow to dry.
Now use the glitter glue and gems to add details to your wings, and when they are dry they are ready to wear. Just tie each side to your shoulders and you can be a fairy whenever you like!

How to Make a Dreamcatcher Using Things Found Around Your Home

Dreamcatchers have a long history, and it is said that dreamcatchers should be hung over your bed so that the good dreams can pass through the web and the bad dreams can be caught in it. Dreamcatchers are an inexpensive and easy project to create at home in your spare time, and they require very little supplies and only one tool. Here are the complete instructions for making your own dream catcher at home, so have fun, and as always happy crafting!

Creating your own personal dreamcatcher does not require many supplies at all, and some of these supplies you probably have laying around your home.

Scissors are a no brainer, and most of us have some yarn or twine stuffed in a drawer some where.

For this project you will need 3 feathers, and these can be purchased at most local craft stores or found in nature.

You will also need some branches or vines. Many craft stores and floral stores sell these, and if you live in a rural or suburban area they should be easy enough to find. You may also find it easy to buy a woven wreath and disassemble it.

Beads are a fun touch to this project, but they are not necessary. Adding beads will help you personalize this dreamcatcher, and when you pick out beads remember to make sure the match the thread you have decided to use. Beads can be purchased or made from things found around your home.

Creating the hoop base of the dreamcatcher may seem a little tricky, but it is harder than it looks. Just make sure to hold the vines tightly and keep your string taut and you will have no trouble with this part.

To start you will need to hold all of the sticks together at the end so that they are all about the same length on that side. Next use a 12 foot piece of yarn to tie a knot around that end.

Then while holding that end tightly in your hand, pull the vines into a circle until the other ends meet, and the circle size you is good for you. Now use the sting to tie the 2 sides together.

Now simply keep wrapping the yarn around the base while keeping the yarn taut. Remember to keep the vines tight as well, and wrap them down where they pull out.

After you have wrapped it tightly all around you will have completed the base of your dreamcatcher. Now just tie this string into a knot using the end of the string you originally knotted. Remember not to cut the string because it will be the main part of the web.

Now you will use the string from the previous step make a loop about a fifth of the way around the hoop and stick the string through the top of the loop to form a loose knot. Continue with this process until you have completed made it all the way around the hoop, and your web looks like a polygon. Keep going around the circle until you have reached the center

Now just tie a finishing knot and you are almost complete!

Fold a foot long piece of yarn in half twice, and knot it at the end.

Next place the loop on the top of the dream catcher and push the knot through the loop.

Now that the main part of your dreamcatcher is made it is time to add that special touch that will make it one of a kind and all of your own.

Start by cutting 3 pieces of string about a foot and a half long each. Now fold them in half and tie your feathers to the bottom of each.

Next add the beads you have chosen and knot the string about and below the beads to keep them in place.

Knot the top of the string as well, and secure these strands to the bottom of the dream catcher the way you secured the hanging loop in the previous chapter.

Now that these steps are complete you have made your own personal dreamcatcher that you can hang anywhere you like.

For more information, tips, tricks, and detailed photo instructions visit this link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24317307

Hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did and remember you can't wait for inspiration sometimes you have to club it over the head!

Ethics in Accounting, Financial Decision-Making, and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

Ethics are important accounting and financial decision-making for several reasons, but the most important reason for valuing ethics in the finances and accounting is the success of a company. If a company does not value ethics it will lose profitability because other companies and customers will not want to deal with and support it. This article will discuss the importance of ethics in accounting and financial decision-making; it also reflects on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its impact on accounting and financial decision making.

Several key concepts of ethics in accounting and financial decision-making are trust, confidentiality, collaboration, and a code of ethics (Shanker). Trust and confidentiality go hand-in-hand in business accounting because trust is essential if a company wants loyal customers; confidentiality is also an integral aspect of financial dealings because privacy is often a concern for many companies and customers. Collaboration is another area of financial decision-making that is relevant because ethical practices promote collaboration (Shanker). A code of ethics is necessary in accounting and financial decision-making because it provides guidelines and standards for employees on all levels.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 "was passed in response to the financial scandals such as Enron and WorldCom," and it inevitably had a strong impact on accounting and financial decision-making (The Act Itself, pp. 1). This law required publicly traded companies to be much more accountable for their finances. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act set new regulations and penalties for public companies to provide investors with security. This act also caused the creation of "the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, which is in charge of overseeing, regulating, inspecting, and disciplining accounting firms in their roles as auditors of public companies" (The Act Itself, pp.3). This new law impacted accounting and financial decision making because it required companies to be responsible for their financial decisions; it also regulated the way board members and auditors interact, as well as, recognizing and regulating the problem of auditors working for companies that they have personal interest in.

Ethics plays an important role in accounting and financial decision-making because money is an area where greed and deception easily come into play. Many companies can easily lose their success because of unethical practices, and laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act help to regulate financial practices of companies and create an ethical code of conduct to follow.

Reference

Shanker, S. (n.d.). Importance of Ethics in Accounting & Financial Decision Making | eHow.com.eHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life | eHow.com. Retrieved June 23, 2011, from http://www.ehow.com/about_6463277_importance-accounting-financial-decision-making.html

The Act Itself. (n.d.).SOX-Online: The Vendor-Neutral Sarbanes-Oxley Site. Retrieved June 23, 2011, from http://www.sox-online.com/act.html

8 Tips for Saving Time and Money on Your Home Garden

 

I love to garden, and I have been gardening for years. I love to grow everything; I have a vegetables, flowers, some fruit bushes and trees, and herbs. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out ways of saving time and money while maintain healthy gardens, and here is a list of 10 tips that I think you will find useful.

1. Mulch is an important part of your garden. It helps keeps the weeds out, and it helps keep the plants warm, watered, and safe. In order to make my mulch even more affective I save old newspapers for a week or 2, and I make use of it before I mulch. I have found that laying layers of newspaper down before mulching is a great way to maximize the potential of your mulch. This means that you will not need as much to be affective. This tip is eco-friendly and good for your garden.

2. Another way to save money and maximize your growing season is by starting seeds indoors in the late winter. Many seeds can be started in doors such as tomatoes, dill, peppers, beans, snap dragons, and daisies. Seeds are much cheaper than buying already grown plants, and they can usually be found sold 5 for a dollar at your local dollar store.

3. I always start my seeds indoors in February, and I find this is fun because by the end of the Christmas season I am in desperate need of some gardening. I use empty soda and water bottles to start my seeds. I simply cut them in half and plant in the part with the cap. I will also put holes in the cap, and rest the plant in the other half of the bottle. This lower empty half can be filled with water so that the plant will water itself.

4. Another way of saving money and time on plants is by growing perennials. Perennials will constantly grow back, and they will come back bigger than the year before. Perennials are amazing, and they can be separated in the fall and planted in other areas to keep your gardens expanding. Many fruit bushes are perennials such as raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Some great perennial flowers are lilies, hostas, irises,mums, and daisies. Many herbs are perennials as well, and they will grow quite large.

5. Trading plants are a great way of getting plants for cheap. If you see a plant you like approach the owner. A nice garden suggests that the person is proud of their work, and they will be open to talk about their garden. If you are growing perennials or have an abundance of seedlings started in your house you can ask for a trade. I have accumulated many plants this way. There are also many websites where you can trade plants. All you have to do is pay shipping.

6. Another way of getting free plants is to check your local area. Different areas have different natural flowers. I have procured many daisies and tiger lilies from my area. When you are digging up these plants just remember to leave some in the area so that these perennials can grow back. I also find it useful to bring some plastic bags with wet paper towels already placed in them. This will keep the plants watered while you are transplanting them. The plants can be left in these for some time before being planted.

7. There are many things found in the garbage or around the home that can be used in your garden. I use old pieces of lattice or wood for my beans to grow on. Old chair frames are also good for this purpose and they can be tied and staked to the ground.

8. Another money saving device is using old barrels and garbage cans to water your garden. Set them up on the highest elevation of your garden, and cut a small hole on the top of the garbage can. Invert it and rest it on the garbage pail. This will allow for maximum rain gathering and storing potential. This water can be transferred into pails, or it can be transferred to the garden by attaching spickets to the bottom of the pail and hoses that run along your garden. The spicket can then be turned on and the garden will be watered from the pressure of the elevated garbage can.

Gardens are a lot of fun, and they provide beauty and nourishment, but they can be costly and time consuming. These tips will help you maintain a lovely and productive garden in a timely and inexpensive manner.

Effective Tips for Classroom Management, Organization, and Planning

Being a teacher can be very rewarding, but it also takes a lot of work, time and consideration on the part of a teacher. Organization, planning, and time management hold an imperative role in managing a classroom. Students must be constantly monitored in order to make sure they are progressing; it is also important to monitor students to make sure that they are learning, and to help avoid disruption or off task behavior. Problems do occur in classrooms, and they must be anticipated and handled correctly. There are many things a teacher must take into consideration, and teaching can be a great job, but there is a lot of work involved as well.

In order to effectively manage my classroom I will have to have effective expectations, strongly organized procedures, and I must be able to utilize my resources and have good time management strategies. As a teacher of early childhood children it is important to provide a lot of work in the classroom; it is also important to provide involvement of the students. These procedures will help keep the children focused and enthusiastic in the classroom. As an elementary school teacher it is important to set rules and standards in the classroom during the first few weeks of classes (Lemlech, 2006). These rules can be established through socialization in the classroom, and these rules and standards must be specific and concrete so they can be understood and followed correctly. Enthusiasm in a classroom is a very effective way to help conserve time. Enthusiasm and encouragement is important in order to help the children get involved and interested in the lessons. Another very important way to save time in the classroom is being prepared; having materials and lessons ready before the day begins will help keep a continuous learning environment in the classroom (Lemlech, 2006). It is also important to monitor the students' progress and abilities in order to make sure they are all grasping the lessons. Group learning is a way of saving time through interaction because students will figure out lessons quicker in a group than they would alone. Another good way to help save time in the classroom is to provide students with immediate feedback. It is important to be organized, prepared, and able to utilize resources in a classroom; this is vital to saving time, keeping the class focused, and having the learning environment be effective.

In order to effectively manage a classroom it is important to have the environment arranged in a way that makes learning easier. As an art teacher my classroom will be completely revolved around art. My classroom layout will involve the students in many ways. First the desks will be in a U shape so that the students can converse with each other, and this way they will be able to see each other when they talk. This also allows me to put a table in the middle of the class for observation drawings, lessons, and motivational displays. I will also have a bookcase for students to research; there are so many different art ideas and styles, and I would like my students to have access to as much information as possible. I will also need cabinets for supplies and racks for large canvases. It is important to incorporated tables for drying artwork. I would like to have three tables that will have different art ideas, projects, and/or styles on them. The tables will give the students ideas for art as well as ideas on how to use different mediums. I have included a small table and two chairs for students looking at the books. I also included a plant because I think it is good to have plants in an artistic environment. I will also have plenty of art prints, pieces, originals, and copies all over the room; these various artworks will provide inspiration for the students, and they will also make the classroom a much nicer, prettier place to be.

It is important to monitor students' progress especially considering there are all different types of students and classes, and there are many ways to keep the attention of the students in a classroom. When monitoring independent classwork assignments it is imperitive to walk around the classroom, offer encouragement and assistance where needed, and observe the students' behavior. During independent work it is important to have a signal that will help the students ask for help (Lemlech, 2006). A student could stand up or wait at the teachers desk if the student has a question or problem; this will stop the class from being interrupted, and the students will be able to concentrate. During group work it is important to monitor the class as well because students can become unfocused and not complete the assignments. In order to keep a class focused during group work it is important to use two strategies. These strategies include asking specific students questions that pertain to the lesson and making sure each student in the groups have assigned roles (Lemlech, 2006). Some classrooms will contain students who are English language learners, and it is very important to monitor their progress. Initially if as a teacher you do not speak the student's native language that is an obstacle, but it can be helped by the assistance of someone who does speak the student's language. In order to monitor the progress of an ELL it is also important to ask the student questions to identify if the student understands the content and processes in the class. Homework is also important to monitor when you are teaching an ELL student, and in order to monitor homework a teacher can discuss homework in the beginning of the class (Lemlech, 2006). This is helpful when trying to keep enthusiasm up in the classroom amongst all of the students as well. Discussing the previous homework is also important because it helps to introduce the next lesson while remembering the last lesson. I believe there are many ways that I can keep students engaged in the lessons I plan to create. I think having a lot of different examples of art will help keep the students focused. I also plan on having a computer and a projector in the classroom at all times so I can show students different examples of art. I also plan on having a radio so that we can listen to music as we create. I think that encouraging students will keep them motivated, and letting them express their opinions and have a say in the projects we do is important. There are many ways to monitor a student's progress in a classroom, and it is vital to monitor students learning in order to be an effective teacher.

In all classrooms problems will sometimes arise, and it is the teacher's job to not only handle these problems, but to anticipate them as well. Initially I think it is extremely important to have standards and rules set in a classroom from the beginning of the school year. I also think that along with the rules and standards that I require in the classroom it will be important to offer incentives and rewards for students who follow the rules and observe the standards. In contrast to this idea I will also establish punishments for certain behavior (Lemlech, 2006). Even though problems can be anticipated and planned for they still occur, and as a teacher one must be able to handle them. When a problem occurs the student should be reminded of the lesson and the consequences of the actions the student has taken (Lemlech, 2006). If the problem persists the student can be separated from the class and given individual work; the student can also be used to help teach the lesson. If problems still continue or increase the student can be sent to the principal's office or a parent can be contacted. Students can also be asked to stay for detention, where they can be given extra work and spoken to about the problem. It is important to not only prepare for off task behavior in the classroom, but to pay strong attention to the students' behavior. If attention is given to the students it will be easier to diffuse problems and get to the root of them.

In order to be an effective teacher one must be very aware of the students, time, and oneself. Teaching takes a lot of time being prepared, and assessing lessons and the performance of the teacher and the students. A teacher must constantly monitor students to make sure there are not problems with learning. A teacher must also anticipate that a classroom may be disrupted at times. Time must be taken to create situations that avoid problems. When problems do arise they must be handled correctly and appropriate action on the teachers part must also be anticipated and taken. A teacher must also constantly assess her ideas, and what she is teaching the students. Advice given must come into consideration along with examples set. Rules must be abided by, and the teacher must also establish respect in a classroom. A teacher's job is very demanding, but the rewards completely out way the demands.

Reference:

Lemlech, J.K. (2006). Curriculum and instructional methods for the elementary and middle school. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text]. , : Prentice-Hall/Merrill. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from University of Phoenix, rEsource, Classroom Instruction Web site.

How to Create Miniature Dollhouse Cupcakes Using Polymer Clay

If you have ever owned a dollhouse or even seen some miniature dollhouse items I am sure you can agree that these tiny items are amazing and precious. These minuscule items can be very detailed and lifelike, and they can also be fairly simple to make and a lot of fun! Here is a user-friendly guide to making dollhouse size cupcakes that you will enjoy for years to come.

First you need a few simple tools; one tool I find very hand is a putty knife or any solid item that can be used for cutting. Next I find it helpful to have a pin or a small pen, but remember you don't want ink on your art so use the pen that doesn't work. The final necessary item is polymer clay. It may seem challenging to choose which colors you like, but my basic rule of thumb is choose colors that would make a cupcake that you would like to eat. I usually choose an off white, pink, and 2 or 3 colors for sprinkles, but remember sprinkles are optional.

Now that you have your materials you are ready to start the fun part. Take the base color, in my case the white, and roll it into a ball; then shape the ball into a cylinder by flattening 2 opposite sides of the ball. This piece will make the bottom of your cupcake. Next I like to put this piece of clay in the refrigerator or somewhere colder to make the clay a harder consistency.

While this clay is getting hard take the icing color and roll it into a long tube or strand. You cam taper one end if you like, but it is not necessary. Now roll the tube into a spiral until it is the width of the bottom of your cupcake. When the spiral has reached the right width, start to spiral up on top of the original spiral to form a nice peak. At this point you can leave the peak or give it a little pinch and twist to add detail.

By the time you are done with this the cupcake base should be nice and hard. You should now use your cutting tool press lines into your base to give the idea of a crinkle edge. These vertical lines will add detail and depth to your cupcake. Finally connect the base with the top of the cupcake, and you should be delighted with the results.

Remember this project is up to you so make any type of cupcake you want. You can also add sprinkles by taking tiny multicolored pieces of clay and lightly tapping them onto the cupcake. Just bake and you are ready for a dollhouse birthday party!

How to Make a Miniature Clay Fruit Bowl for Dollhouses

I love making miniatures, and I have a lot of fun with it. I make miniatures for my own dollhouse, and I sell some miniatures on my art site to other dollhouse enthusiasts. These little treats are fun and easy to make. Here are some detailed instructions on how to make your own fruit bowl.

First you will need to get your clay together. You will need a medium size ball of yellow clay, a little ball of red clay, a little ball of orange clay, a medium size ball of purple or green clay, a small ball of black clay, and a small ball of white clay. Next you will need a sewing needle; I like to have a pointy needle and a dull needle handy. A kitchen knife is also very useful; it does not have to be very sharp.

Each fruit is very simple to make and can be made with very few steps. Here is a simple walk through on fruit making.

Bananas are a lot of fun , and you can make one or a whole bunch. First roll your yellow out into a tube, and cut equal sections about 3/4ths and inch long. Press the tube lightly on a hard surface to give it 4 edges. Now bend the tube into the crescent shape of a banana and pinch the ends so that the banana tapers. You can now add a little black blob to the end to make a stalk, and you can push several bananas together to create a bunch.

To make an apple you must pinch one end of the red ball of clay. Now set the ball on a hard surface with the narrower end down. You can then press the round end of the needle into the top creating a little hole; also make sure to push down around the hole so it resembles an apple with a dip in the top. Now use a little black to make a stem and push it into the hole. Use the flat part of the needle to give the bottom rounded edges. This can be accomplished by pressing the needle flat across the bottom 2 or 3 times.

The make an orange simply poke several holes into the orange ball of clay. Make sure to poke one hole slightly bigger than the other holes. You can fill that with a little bit of black as well.

Finally my favorite fruit to make is the grapes. Make a small ball out of 1/3rd of the purple or green clay. Next make many smaller balls and attach them to the bigger ball in any playful form you want.

How to Make a Floral Tiara for a Spring Wedding

You can make your own floral tiara for your spring wedding. Floral accessories are a must for spring weddings, and a tiara is perfect for the bride's big day. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating the perfect floral tiara for your special day in spring.

When creating a vine tiara you will need a few thin vines, a bowl of water, string, scissors, and wire. Start by bending and wrapping a few vines together into an appropriate length for the tiara. Then bend the length of vines to make a U shape. Only bend the vines as far as they will go, and tie the string around the other end of the vines. This will keep the bended shape in the tiara.

Soak the vines in the bowl overnight. If the vines need to be bended more to make the correct shape, you can undo one end of the string, bend it more, and reattach the string. After the vines have dried wrap the second side in wire, trim the ends, and remove the string. The crown will keep its shape; you can add combs to the sides of the tiara using hot glue if you would like more stability.

Adding floral accents to your crown is important for spring weddings. Springs leaves for several appropriate flower choices such as daisies, anemones, apple blossoms, and lilies are all perfect spring flowers for a bride, and there are plenty of colorful flowers to add detail and beauty to tiaras. Begonias, cherry blossoms, and dahlias are bright flowers that will stand out in a crown.

Using a hot glue gun to add items is the best option, and there are many other items that look great in a spring wedding tiara. Adding pine cones, leaves, and acorns are a fun idea for these floral tiaras, and curly bits of vines, shells, feathers, and dried berry clusters add accent to these pieces. Adding beads, wire, gems, feathers, and glitter pigment will make your tiara sparkle. Jewelry findings, iridescent marbles, and pearls also add shine to your spring wedding crown.

Making a floral tiara for your spring wedding is inexpensive and easy. The tiara is a focal point of any outfit, and a handmade crown will make you really stand out this spring.

How to Make Fun Summer Sandals Out of Newspaper

Everyone in my home looked at me like I was crazy when I suggested this idea to them, but as I continued to make these sandals they realized that I was not crazy, but simply inspired. Here are the directions so you can make your own summer sandals out of newspaper.

You will need newspaper, foam sheets, rubber cement, and a hot glue gun. I also like to add some ribbon, flowers, or other accessories to make these sandals personal. Okay to start you will need to fold the newspaper into one inch strips. This may seem a little hard at first, but eventually it will become natural to you. Once you have folded many strips you will start by wrapping them around in an oval. Glue the ends and keep wrapping until your oval is about 2 inches long. Now wrap a strip around the center of the oval to keep it tight. Remember to keep gluing everything along the way. Next keep wrapping and gluing until the base is as big as your foot.

Now you will need to cut a strip of foam long enough to attach to the bottom of the base of the shoe, cover your foot, and attach again at the bottom of the base of the other side of the shoe. This piece will be the strap that keeps the sandal on your foot, and the fun part about this is you can choose to use ribbon instead of foam or fabric, or any other fun item you think would look nice and be comfortable.

Now that you have the strap attached you should add some more newspaper to the base. I usually use about one more layer around the bottom. After that is complete you will set the base on top of another piece of foam. Trace the base of the shoe on the foam and cut the shape out. Now attach the foam to the bottom of the shoe. You can add extra layers of foam if you are likely to walk around on cement in these shoes often. This is fun to because you can add an extra color to your shoes if you like. In order to do this simply cut a second piece of foam in the same shape, and use the rubber cement to attach the 2 pieces together.

You will need to do the same for the top, but you will need to cut slits in the foam so they can wrap around the straps. This can be achieved easily by cutting a slit where the strap is and a slit extending from the strap hole to the outside of the foot shape. When you glue this piece down simply push the strap through and you will be good to go.

Now all you need is to let your sandals dry and you will be able to sport your recycled newspaper sandals wherever you want!

How to Eat for Free

Food is one of life's necessities, and many people overlook the cost of food, but it really does add up after a while. I have lived in many situations, and I have not always had much money for food. Here are some simple ways to eat for free; they have worked for me in the past, and I know they will work for you!

A common way to get free food is to join a food bank. Food banks are amazing places that can really help if you are in need. Most areas have one, and they are usually located in churches. When you join a food bank you are usually required to bring an identification card and a bill. These items will help prove who you are, where you live, and that you need assistance. You can find your local food bank by doing a simple Google search. Food banks are great, and the amount of food they give you depends on the amount of people living in your home. Food banks usually have the staples like bread, meat, canned vegetables and pasta, but they also have different luxury items such as cookies and juice. Food banks usually also have toiletries and cleaning items. Food banks are great places, and when you have a little more thank you need you should give back to them.

A less orthodox method of eating for free is by eating food that might be thrown away if you do not get to it first. This method may sound strange or disturbing, but it is not a bad as it seems. Many places throw away fresh food every day. America is one of the most wasteful places in the world. Many bakeries, delis and bagel stores throw away whole garbage bags full of bread and donuts. These delicious and fresh items should not be wasted. Many bagel places and delis will actually just hand these items to you at the end of the night if you speak to the manager earlier in the evening. They do not want to waste food either, but they only sell items that are baked that day. Feel free to ask you local bakery about their waste policy, and I am sure you will end up with bags full of fresh bread

Another method of eating for free is working at a farm on a work exchange program. Many farms will provide room and board for a few hours of work a week, and you can find places like this all over the world. Sustainable farming internships are a great way to live for free. These situations will teach you the basics of growing your own food as well, and this can be beneficial because you can then grow your own garden the next season and have your own supply of free food.

Survival is essential in these times especially with the growing economic crisis. Many people are struggling to eat and to live, and I hope these tips have helped you become better able to take care of yourself.

How to Deal with the Difficulties of Life Through the Teachings of Buddhism

Life is difficult, and there will always be problems that arise. This article will help you learn how to deal with the difficulty of life through Buddhist ideas. It will help you to understand fear and your relationship to it; It will also help you gain a better knowledge of the role of problems and relaxation in your life.

"Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth." (Chodron, 1997, p.1) I used to think that fear came from not understanding, and I believe this is still true, but I now know that it is not only incomprehension. Fear comes from seeing what you do not understand and being afraid of what the answer might be. Many people run when they are afraid, but "if we commit ourselves to staying right where we are they our experience becomes very vivid" (Chodron, 1997, p.2). The Buddhist belief system teaches us to become intimate with fear and to know it. I believe this is a good lesson because seeing fear and standing your ground is courageous, and it will help us grow and become stronger people. Fear is something the wise man welcomes, and even though it causes us to feel in a way we do not like we can teach ourselves to look at it as a gift. Fear just like everything else is not always what we think it is. Looking it in the eye can help us come closer to the truth.

"Things falling apart are a kind of testing and also a kind of healing." (Chodron, 1997, p.10) It is also part of the circle of existence because things are constantly coming together and falling apart over and over again. To realize this is a great relief, but it is also frustrating. In order to learn from our feelings when we feel upset we should stay with that feeling and to get to know it. I find this kind of difficult because my natural inclination is to fix things, but I am practicing remembering that things will come together again with or without my help. This is tough sometimes because when I have a problem I usually rack my brain trying to find a solution, but I am trying to not worry about it so much because I believe my natural inclination to solve problems will be what changes the situation. Buddhist beliefs suggests that problems are never solved, and that is probably true because they continually arise, but I believe that learning to trust myself even when I mess up is the best thing I can do because there are always options. These options may not be what my original plan was, but they will work out as well, and I believe possibly for a better outcome.

Buddhist beliefs can help you to relax. It can teach you to be OK with feelings that you may not usually like. It has taught me to have the "courage to die, the courage to die continually" (Chodran, 1997, p.3). I have found that I and many people fight against death. Practically most of the world would do anything to fight against death, but this is not healthy. It is healthy to "feel fear" when we reach our limit, and it is healthy to take this fear "as a message that it's time to stop struggling and look directly at what's threatening us" (Chodron, 1997, p.16). This means facing problems and seeing them for what they really are; it also means seeing ourselves for who really are. Instead of shrinking away from out limit we should treat it as "a doorway to sanity and the unconditional goodness of humanity" (Chodron, 1997, p.18). This is where meditation can be the most helpful. I always thought of meditation as a way to relax, but I realize it brings relaxation through conflict as well. We meditate so that "we'll be more awake in our lives", and I believe being more awake will help us see things for what they truly are (Chodron, 1997, p.19).
Meditation will help us see what we are doing clearly, and this will help us change what we do. I feel that I am more capable of seeing what I am doing clearly, and I realize that this will not fix my problem, but it will help me change my actions.

The Buddhist belief system may seem frustrating at first. It requires you to accept and deal with a lot of things that seem scary or intimidating, but it is based on honesty. This honesty will help you to stop struggling in your life. It will also allow you to act with compassion which is important to a healthy life and a healthy world.

References:

Chodron, P. (1997). When things fall apart; heart advice for difficult times. Boston, MA: Shamabala Publications, Inc.