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.

Going Green: Crafty Ways to Recycle Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are everywhere, and they can be used for so many different things. Don't waste your cans by throwing them in the garbage when you can turn them into many different awesome things for your home and garden.

One of the simplest and sweetest uses for aluminum cans is to make flower cans. This looks especially attractive when you use soup cans. Soak the cans in water and soap to remove the label. Poke holes in the bottom of the can in order to let water drain, and fill with dirt. Plant several different plants in different size cans and group them together on a porch or shelf. You can also decoupage or paint the cans to add a theme.

Aluminum cans also make a great lantern. Make a stencil of the pattern you would like to create on the can and trace it on the can with a pencil. Next you will need a hammer and a nail. Carefully tap the nail into the can to create holes that will make up your pattern. Next poke 2 holes at the top of the can directly across the diameter of the can. After this is complete you may paint the cans with spray paint to match your décor or garden. Next take some heavy duty wire and cut it about a 2 feet long. Bend the top of the wire in one direction in the shape of a small hoop, and then bend another 3 inches in a larger loop in the opposite direction of the first loop. The finished product should look like a shepherd's hook. Next make a U shape out of a piece of wire large enough to make a handle for the can and attach it to the holes you made at the top of the can by making to 2 smaller loops at the bottom of the U shape and slipping the wire in.

You can also make a nice desk organizer if you glue then together. The first step of this project is to paint or decoupage the cans in different themes and colors. Next glue them together in a shape that would suit your desk. Remember to place some of the cans on there sides to create a pigeon-hole effect. These sideways cans will create places to slip notes and mail into. You can even add some wire to hang your organizer on the wall.

Another fun way to use your tin cans is to bake breads and cakes in them. Simply grease and flour the can like you would a cake, and fill it with your favorite delicious treat. These work great as gifts, and the can method makes these edibles portable.

Another good way to use aluminum cans is to cut the aluminum can into a garden marker. cut a pointed end and a round end out of the side of the can lengthwise. Next write the name of the plant on the plant marker with a skewer or a pen that has run out of ink.

People should try to use their garbage before they throw it away. For the earth's sake and humankind's sake we should all try to waste a little less. So next time you are about to trash something look at it twice, and see if you could use it somewhere else.

Fun Kids Crafts: Three Projects You Can Make Using Things Found in Nature

Nature is abundant, and summer time is the best time to find things found in nature to make crafts with because everything is growing, and there are a lot of natural materials to choose from. In this article I will describe three awesome nature craft projects that will provide you and your kids with hours of fun.

One of my favorite nature craft project is making wreaths. I know many people have heard about making wreaths, and this project seems kind of boring to them, but I am here to tell you that there are more fun uses for wreath than you may be aware of, and making wreaths are pretty easy. All you will need are some vines, flowers, sticks, or leaves. Now simply wrap these vines around in a circle. If you are using leaves o flowers the stems and branches can be used to make a circle, but you can also use twine or cord to help the wreath stay in place.

Now that you have your wreath you can hang it around your house, wear it in your hair, or you can play ring toss with it. For ring toss simply bang some sticks in the ground a length across from each other. Next the 2 players will stand at opposite sticks and throw the wreaths at the sticks. The same rules for horseshoes apply in this game. It is a lot of fun, and a great use for your nature wreath crafts.

Another fun nature craft is making a bark and twig birdhouse.
You will need an empty milk box, glue, bird seed, twigs, bark, pine c ones, and other natural material Simply cut the side out of an old milk box and glue pieces of bark, pine cones, and twigs onto the outside of the bird house. Next fill the birdhouse with bird seed and hang in a tree.

One of my favorite nature crafts is a nature frame and print. You can use twigs, pine cones, leaves, acorns, and other items you may find and like. Simple glue them to a cardboard frame or tie the twigs together using wire and glue the other materials to the twig frame. To fill the frame you can make a simple leaf print by putting some leaves in between two pieces of paper and holding it in place. Next slowly tap the leaves with a hammer. Hit it hard enough to see the color come through. Do this to the entire leaf and you will have a nice print to fill the frame.

I love nature crafts, and there is no better time than now t get out in nature and do some crafting!

Fun Kids Crafts: Rock Animals

Rocks and stones are a plentiful resource in our world, and many people over look them when they are considering doing nature crafts. I have been experimenting a lot with rock crafts lately, and here I will show you how to make some rock animals. This is a great project for kids and adults alike.

Stone pigs are adorable and simple to make. For this project you will need glue, pink and black paint, a round stone, two smaller pointed stones, and a small round stone. Now paint all of these stones pink and let them dry. Glue the pointed stones to the top of the large round rock because they will be the ears. Next glue the smaller round stone in the middle of the large stone for the nose. Now use your black paint to add to nose holes, eyes, and a smile, and you have completed your pig. You can add a magnet to it if you would like to hang it.

Stone caterpillars are a fun project that is also simple to complete. You will need green and black paint, glue, several round stones of various sizes, and a pipe cleaner for this project. First you will paint all of the stones green. You can add spots or strips of different colors if you like. Now line the stones up in a S shape or a shape that you find appealing, and glue them together. Cut to small pieces of pipe cleaner and bend the ends; you will then glue these pipe cleaners to the head as antennas and paint eyes on your caterpillar. You may have to hold the pipe cleaner for a minute or so because the glue may take some time to set.

Ducks can even be made using stones, and they are so cute and easy. To make a rock duck you will need an oval or pointy shaped stone, a smaller pointy or oval stone, some paint, and glue. The larger pointy stone will be the base of the duck so paint wings on the side of it. Next glue the smaller stone to the top of the pointy stone, but remember to glue it further to one side. Now paint eyes and a beak on the stone, and you will have completed your duck.

Heavy duty model glue is the best glue for this project, but make sure there is adult supervision and you are working in a well ventilated area when using this glue. You can make many fun animals using stones, and I hope you have enjoyed these projects!

Fun Kids Crafts: More Rock Animals

Rocks are everywhere, and there are many different shapes and sizes that can be found all over the world. These stone make a great base for crafting, and it is fun to get kids in the yard on a rock hunt for these craft projects. Here are some more rock animals that you can make at home with your children for little money.

Frogs can be made out of rocks, and they are simple and awesome additions to your rock farm. All you need for this project is one large round stone, two smaller round stones, two flat medium sized stones, glue, and some paint. Simply glue the flat stones underneath the large stone because they are the frogs feet. Next paint the small round stones like eyes, and glue them to the top of the frog. You can then paint green spots on the frog's body or you can paint all of the stones except the eyes green before gluing them together. Remember to paint a big smile on your frog as well.

A Rabbit can be made easily using stones. For this project you will need one round large stone for the body, 4 small stones for feet, two long flat stones for ears, glue, and paint. Now paint all of the rocks the color of your rabbit, and glue the ears to the top and the feet to the bottom. Paint a nose and whiskers on the face of your rabbit, and he is ready to go.

A really cute mouse can be made out of stones, and he can be used as a toy or as a paperweight. All you will need for this project is a long pointy rock, two round rocks, a tiny pebble, glue, paint, and a pipe cleaner or piece of yarn. Glue the piece of yarn onto the end of the long rock. This will be your tail. Next paint the two smaller stones because they will be your mouse's ears and paint the small pebble pink because it will be the nose. Now glue the ears onto the top and the nose onto the pointy side of the rock. Finally add eyes and whiskers and your stone mouse will be complete.

These rock animals are a lot of fun to make and they can be given as gifts or collected around the house. Heavy duty model glue is best used for these projects, but always use it in a room with good ventilation, and always use it with an adult around. Acrylic spray can be sprayed on these animals in order to help the paint stay.

How to Make a Rose Pendant Using Polymer Clay

Roses are also fun flower pendants that look lovely when worn. They are also easy and fun to make, and all you will need for this pendant is a large ball of red clay, a medium ball of green clay, a skewer and a knife.

Wrap a small cylinder of green clay around the skewer. Next take two small green balls and press them slightly flat. To create a leaf shape, pinch both sides of the green shapes so they look like a diamond. Use the knife to cut a line down the middle of each leaf, but make sure to not push so hard because you are only adding detail; you are not cutting the leaf in half.

When you are making the leaves for this flower you can add some detail to make it look more like a rose. Use the knife to add a pointy edge to the leaves. This can be achieved by simply pushing the edge of the knife into the edge of the leaf. Skip a spot and repeat all the way around the edge. Attach the leaves to the green ring.

To make the rose you will need to roll the red clay out into a long tube. Next use your knife to cut the tube into sections; when doing this part start by cutting a small section, and slowly increase the size of the section. You should end up with about six petals depending on how big your rose is going to be. Roll these sections into balls, and using your thumb press the ball flat.

Start making your rose by rolling the small its petal into a spiral like shape. Next use your second smallest petal to wrap half way around the spiral; use the third smallest petal to slightly overlap the second petal and slowly move around the base petal. Keep wrapping petals around until you run out of petals. Finally bend some of the petals out from the middle to make the rose look like it is blooming. If you want to make it look like a rose bud leave the petals the way they are.

Flatten the bottom of the rose by holding the sides and pressing it against a table or other flat surface. Now use the knife to make some cross hatched marks in the flat part of the rose. Make similar marks at the part of the green circle that you are going to attach the flower to. Push these two pieces together. If you have some liquid clay you can brush some onto the hatch marks before you push them together.

Bake the pendant in the oven for about 15 minutes, and allow to cool before removing the skewer. When the pendant is done string it on some ribbon, and you will love wearing this polymer clay rose pendant.

Fun Wire Crafts: Make Jewelry, Frames and More

 

Wire is a fun medium that can be bought in many varieties, colors, metals, strengths and sizes. This article will teach you how to make a perfect wire twist by creating a simple and inexpensive tool; I will also describe how to make a wire heart photo holder.

In order to make a perfect wire twist you will need to use to use 2 cotter pins and a fender washer; these items can be found at any hardware and home store. This technique will greatly improve the twists that you would be able to make with out this too, and this tool is much cheaper than the premade twisting devices found in stores. This method is simple, and all you will need to do is thread 2 wires through the one cotter pin until it is halfway through, "slide the cut ends of the wire through the other cotter pin", and tighten the hold by sliding a fender washer on the end of the second cotter pin" (Baskett, 1999, p.12). Then twist both cotter pins, but make sure to twist one towards you and one away from you. This simple procedure makes a lovely twist. It is amazing that such inexpensive and simple tools can make such of a difference.

I have been using wire lately to make jewelry, but I have found a lot of inspiration to use wire for different purposes. There are several projects that use wire; you can use wire to make picture frames, candle holders, lampshades, and many other items. I really like using wire to create photo holders. This project is simple and charming. All it requires is a block of wood with 5 holes drilled in it, 5 pieces of wire in various lengths, and craft glue. For this project the wire is shaped into hearts and attached using the glue to the wooden block (Baskett, 1999). The wire can be shaped into many other things such as flowers, diamonds, hands, and stars. The shape is important because that is the part that will hold the picture so remember whatever shape you use will have to almost overlap at some point in order to grasp the picture. This project can be personalized in many ways. If you choose to make heart holders you can glue a single wire shaped heart onto the wooden base.

Wire is not only something used for hardware; it is a wonderful item to craft with so hopefully these methods and projects have inspired you to use wire in your crafts!

References:

Baskett, M. (1999). Wonderful wireworks; an easy decorative craft. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company.

How to Achieve a Healthy Self-Esteem and How to Instill Self-Esteem in Others

How to Achieve a Healthy Self-Esteem and How to Instill Self-Esteem in Others A healthy self-esteem is something that is very important in order to lead a healthy life, but many people do not have a healthy self-esteem and this is a problem that affects the world. Self-esteem is directly related to one's idea of self, and it is influenced strongly by the opinions of others, but if you examine the seven different layers of self-esteem and learn how to cope with the challenges that come with change a healthy self-esteem can be reached.

When working with self-esteem it is important to take into consideration that self-esteem stems directly from one's concept of themselves. This self concept includes "appearance, ability, temperament, attitudes, and beliefs" (Plummer, 2005, p.13). We act in a way that reflects our self-concept, but our self-concept is directly influenced by other people's reactions to our behavior. "Healthy self-esteem or positive self regard is about feeling competent and feeling lovable or approved of", and one's self-concept reflects whether they feel they are competent or loved (Plummer, 2005, p.14). I believe that a false self-concept is the reason many people do not have healthy self esteem, and I think that changing one's concept of self is the first place to start when trying to instill healthy self-esteem. It is important to understand what self-esteem actually is before trying to help change it.

Self-esteem is not a simple idea; it in fact has seven different categories that must be addressed in order to achieve a healthy self esteem. The seven areas of self esteem are self knowledge, self and others, self-acceptance, self-reliance, self-expression, self-confidence, and self-awareness (Plummer, 2005). The first step to healthy self-esteem is becoming knowledgeable about oneself; this means understanding who you are, what your beliefs about life are, and understanding what you have in common with others and what your differences are. Being aware of how you can maintain a sense of self while also "recognizing the natural interdependence of relationships" is another important part of gaining self-esteem; it is important to see things from the perspectives of others, co-operate, and expressing emotions in an appropriate way (Plummer, 2005, p.21). I find it hard myself to separate my emotions from the emotions of others, and I think it is important to recognize that my emotions are mine, and I must express them in a positive and productive manner. Another extremely important part of the process is accepting oneself, and this requires feeling okay with yourself, but it also requires knowing what your strong points are and your weakness are. When you know what your strengths and weakness are you can choose to work on the areas that need help, and if you know you are trying your best you will be more capable of accepting yourself. It is also important to realize that people make mistakes. Self-reliance is another extremely important part of attaining a healthy self-esteem; and it is imperative to take care of oneself, be independent and self-motivated, and to realize that you have "mastery over your life" (Plummer, 2005, p.21). Self-expression is another area of self-esteem that must be learned in order to gain a healthy self-esteem because it address how to communicate with others in a way that is productive; it also addresses developing your own style and "celebrating the unique ways in which we each express who we are" (Plummer, 2005, p.22). In order to achieve healthy self-esteem self-confidence is of the highest value; having self-confidence means recognizing that your opinions, actions, and ideas are of value, and knowing that you are capable of dealing with conflicts and challenges. Self-confidence deals with knowing you are capable of making decisions and being confident in your own abilities. Self-awareness is one of the hardest steps to healthy self-esteem for me because it requires one to deal with emotions as they arise, and be focused on now instead of dwelling on the past. Self-awareness is a difficult step, but it is also empowering because it gives you the ability to realize that you can control who you are and what you do. All of these steps are not easy, but they can be achieved, and it is important to realize which of these steps need help in order to improve the self-esteem of oneself and others.

Achieving a healthy self-esteem is not easy, and change can be intimidating to many people for many different reasons, but one can learn to understand their emotions and cope with them, and this will help them build better self-esteem. Change if difficult for people because any changes in our "beliefs, thoughts, or behaviors automatically entails having to give something up", and although we may know that this old habit is unhealthy for us it has become familiar and almost comfortable (Plummer, 2005, p. 26). Change can also be threatening to people because it forces them to change their view of themselves, and some people do not want to see themselves differently whether there perception of self is realistic or not. Anxiety is another emotion that is an obstacle to change that comes from fear of not knowing how to handle a situation. When we avoid a situation instead of dealing with it we cause anxiety; "if we don't experiment with our beliefs and behaviors, we will continue to keep our world small and manageable, avoiding changes and becoming more and more anxious" (Plummer, 2005, p.27). I find a lot of people have anxiety problems because they are reluctant to change, and I believe strongly that people should be encouraged to change instead of given prescription drugs to alter there mind sets. If one can see these emotions for what they are they can choose to change them and move on, and realizing that these emotions are obstacles to a positive change is the first step to making a positive change.

I believe that all people can develop a positive self-esteem, and I know it is hard, but I would like to be able to help people do this, and I would like to be able to become a better person myself. I realize that trying to figure out who you are is not easy, and I understand that dealing with all of the layers of self is a daunting task, but I believe that it can be done, and I would like to help others to do this. I plan on becoming a teacher, and it is very important to help students attain a healthy self-esteem, but even if I wanted to do anything else I would still feel like it is extremely important to know these ideas because helping others be the best they possibly can while also being the best you possibly can is the most important thing anyone can do.

References:
Plummer, D. (2005). Helping adolescents and adults to build self-esteem. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

How to Have a Romantic Evening on a Budget

Sometimes we feel that we can never have a romantic evening with our loved ones because we do not have the money, but this is not true. Here are three ways you can have a romantic night with your love on a budget.

A simple and fun way to spend some time with your sweetheart is a sunset picnic. This idea is simple; just find a nice place that you can see the sunset. There are a lot of places you can find in your local parks as well that have great views for watching the sunset. Simply bring a few blankets with you, and a few simple snacks. If you plan on spending some time bring a nice bottle of wine. Some strawberries and chocolate dip, hummus and pita squares, and cheddar cheese and apples are great treats for the picnic. Sip some wine, and feed each other these delicious snacks and watch the sunset together.

Star gazing as always been romantic, and inexpensive, and it reminds me of being a teenager in love. I spent many nights watching the stars with my love and talking for hours. Simply find a nice spot in a field or park near your home and lay out a blanket. If it is summer time ice cream or frozen fruit is a sweet treat to share. Sipping champagne is a great addition to this evening, but be careful if you have to drive. Watching the stars and making names for constellations is a lot of fun, and it gives you an excuse to cuddle up and be romantic with your honey.

Another fun way to have a romantic evening with your sweetheart is going to the drive in. Many drive-ins have half price nights that only cost about 5 dollars a person. Pick up some fast food and bring your blanket. This evening will bring you back to your child sweetheart days. Just lay out the blanket and sit in front of car. Eat some burgers and milk shakes while watching the movie. Watching a movie the drive in is a romantic way to cuddle up with your sweetheart for an evening of old school romance.

Having a romantic evening with the one you love does not have to cost you too much money. There are plenty of things you can do with your honey to have a romantic evening, and I hope this article inspires you to put a little romance back in your life.

How to Conduct and Apply a Research Strategy for Organization

 

I am the type of person who doesn't like to throw anything away, and although this saves on my garbage bills and my carbon foot print; it definitely makes my home very unorganized. Organization can be stressful or complicated, but with good research strategies I can formulate a solution that will help me become more organized.

When researching how to become more organized I will need to find information that will be helpful to me, and articles and guides will definitely provide me with many ideas, pictures, and tips on how to organize myself more easily. Statistical information can also provide me with ideas on the efficiency of certain methods and tools of organization.

There are many places to find information that will help me become more organized; some good places to look for information on organization are "online catalog of databases, scholarly books, and journals" (Foster, 2007, pp.5). I also believe there are a lot of good articles written about organization in magazines.

In order to utilize credible information and fulfill my goals effectively I will need to evaluate my information. There are several things that should be thought about when evaluating information, and purpose, validity and the author should all be taken into consideration when evaluating information.

The purpose of information has a direct influence on the information. "Advertising, sales, advocacy, education, reference and entertainment" are all different purposes that should be taken into consideration when evaluating information (Foote & Goett, 2000, pp.9).

Validity should also always be checked when considering the validity of information, and facts should be researched and compared in order to check the validity of any information. If multiple reputable sources suggest the same information the likelihood of its validity is stronger.

It is also always important to research the author of any information; this will help you evaluate information because it will provide you with information on the author's background and knowledge in the topic you are researching. It will also provide you with information on the beliefs and values of the author which also affect the purpose and validity of information.

When formulating a solution to my organizational problem I will need to take some things into consideration. Space is something that I will have to consider when trying to become more organized because I will have to figure out how to use the space I have efficiently. I will also have to take my partner into consideration because we share a home, and he needs his space as well. Time is always an important consideration because if I create an elaborate system of organization I will probably not have enough time to keep up with it. Another important idea I will keep in mind when considering solutions is what works best for me in relation to my normal habits. For example if I keep my bill organized near my desk this will be helpful because I pay my bills at my desk.

In order to resolve my organizational problem I will use my information wisely. I will research thoroughly to find valid information. In relation to my problem I will research many ideas on methods and theories of organization. I will also employ guides and how-to articles with tips and ideas.

I will evaluate my research to make sure it is valid to my problem and my life. I will look for authors with purpose and backgrounds similar to mine so that their ideas and methods work better for me. For example I am an artist, and it would be helpful to find articles written by other artists because their methods of organization can relate to organizing artwork and supplies.

I will put the methods I have researched into practice, and I will evaluate my application of them. After some time I will see what information works for me, and I will adjust my methods accordingly. These simple steps will help me resolve my problem of disorganization.

References:

Foote, K. A. & Goett, J. A. (2000). Cultivating student research and study skills in Web-based learning environments. Journal of Geography in Higher Education,24(1), 92-99. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 59614022).

Foster, A. L. (2007, March). Information Navigation 101. The Chronicle of Higher Education,53(27), A38-A40. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1255298491).

Going Green: Crafty Ways to Recycle and Reuse Your Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles have many different uses so reuse them instead of throwing them away. Less waste is always a good thing. Here are some ideas that will help you recycle your plastic bottles instead of throwing them away.

Plastic bottles can be cut in half in order to make self watering planters for seedlings. Fill the top of the bottle with dirt and plant your seeds in them. Making sure the dirt is packed in the bottle well, next remove the cap, and place the pot in the bottom half of the plastic bottle and water it. This setup will water the plant itself and require you to water the plant less. The plant will soak up the water from the bottom part of the bottle.

You can also cut the bottom part of a bottle and fill it with potpourri. To disguise your bottle hot glue some lace or ribbon around the top of the bottle. You can also add beads or strands of a fancy braid to the top in order to add some fun to the piece.

Plastic bottles are also helpful when making wind socks. Simple cut the ends of the bottle to create a cylinder. Paint it on the inside and poke 3 holes in the top of the bottle. Now tie 3 strings to the holes and make them into a knot. This is the part of the thread that you will hang the wind sock with. Now attach ribbons or strips of fabric on the other end of the tube. You can tie them into holes, or you can glue them on with a glue gun.

Plastic bottles also make great funnels. I particularly like to use the bottles that have handles. In order to make a plastic bottle funnel cut the bottom of the bottle off. You can make different size funnels with different size bottles.

You can also make ice packs with plastic bottles. Simply fill them half way with water and freeze them. Now you can have ice packs free and whenever you want them. You can also freeze different size bottles for different problems.

Another awesome use for plastic bottles is to make a chandelier. Simple make a hoop out of some wire, and string the bottles around it. This works especially well for bottles with handles, but bottles with regular tops can be wired to the hoop. Next you will need a string of lights and put a light in each bottle. Tie some rope to the top of the hoop and hang the lamp.

I hope these ideas inspire you to make things out of plastic bottles that you wouldn't normally make. Next time you are going to throw something out think about what else you could do with it!

How to Access Employee Needs to Tailor Effective Rewards

There are many ways to access employee needs to tailor effective rewards, but the most powerful means is listening. Listening to employees will allow you to get to know employees and understand where they are coming from. To tailor effective rewards for employees you must know what it is they actually want or need, and communication is a tool that will provide you with these answers.

Many employees enjoy expressing their opinions, and it can make employees feel valued and part of a team. Managers must talk to employees regularly if they want to understand their needs. Asking employees what they feel would be an appropriate reward is a good start. This method is also effective because it allows employees to participate in the creation of incentives. This will increase enthusiasm because employees like to be involved, and it will increase the value of the reward.

Allowing employees to contribute their ideas is a reward in itself, because employees will feel a sense of value and satisfaction from providing their input. If you want to tailor effective rewards to the needs of employees you need to talk to them. Employees will tell you what they want if you ask them. This method is direct and consumes less time than other options.

Some managers may feel like they are unable to communicate well with employees, but there are methods of communicating needs and ideas with employees that will make this easy. Surveys, suggestion boxes, meetings, and reviews are all positive ways to communicate with employees. These methods will help you access their needs and tailor effective rewards based on their needs.

Surveys and suggestion boxes are effective because they are anonymous, and employees have no need to answer in a way that is not true to their feelings. This can be effective in matters of criticism against a company because employees can be honest. Surveys and suggestion boxes are inexpensive and helpful when trying to access information about a company from the perspective of its employees.

Meetings and reviews are a good way to discuss improvements, measure progress, and get on the same page as employees. Meetings and reviews are also a positive forum for accessing needs on a whole. This arena will provide employees with a forum for discussing needs with other employees as well.

Accessing the needs of your employees is necessary if you would like to tailor effective rewards. Allowing employees to participate in this process through communication is the only way to be truly effective at this task.

How Did the Nobel Prize Originate?

 

Everyone has heard of the Nobel Peace Prize at some point or other in their lives, but not many people realize that there are more Nobel Prizes than just the prize for wok on peace. The Noble Prizes are known as the highest award one can receive in literature, medicine, physics, chemistry, and peace. These awards are huge compliments to those who win them, but many people do not know how they originated. This article will give you some background information on the Nobel Prizes.

Alfred Noble is the man who started the prizes; he was "born in Stockholm and lived from 1833 to 1896," and he invented many powerful things such as "dynamite, blasting gelatin, and a new kind of detonator for explosives" (Leokum, 1986, p.139). It is interesting to think the man that invented a prize for peace also created methods of destruction, but there is more to Nobel than you realize. Nobel was a scientist, but he was also a "poet," and he "thought that literature and science were the most important factors in human progress" (Leokum, 1986, p.138). Although the inventor of these prizes created dynamite; he also wanted to end war and hoped this prize would help to end it.

The Noble Prizes started after Alfred Noble passed away. He left a "fund of $9,000,000" to support these prizes and be presented as awards, and the "prizes averaged about $ 40,000 each". This was a lot of money when these prizes started. The first Nobel prizes were awarded on the anniversary of Nobel's death which was "December 10, 1901" (Leokum, 1986, p.139). Nobel was a great man who sacrificed some of his wealth to help the world in many ways.

Since Alfred Nobel grew up in Sweden "the Nobel Foundation of Sweden distributed the awards," and many of the institutes that judged these awards were located in Stockholm. Many famous people have won these awards such as "Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, Marie Curie, Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway, and Ralph Bunche" (Leokum, 1986, p.139).

These prizes have been awarded for many decades, and each winner is awarded the prize money, a diploma, and a coin. I think this prize is a beautiful thing, and I think Alfred has definitely left his mark on society and the world by starting these awards.

Reference:
Leokum, A. (1986). The Big book of tell me why. New York, NY: Grosset and Dunlap.

Fun Kid Crafts with Sticks

Many people do not realize it but if you are creative you can create great crafts using thing you find right in your backyard. I love nature crafts, and I try to use things I find in nature for my craft projects constantly. Lately I have been creating a lot of craft projects using sticks, branches, and twigs, and this article will teach you how to use the old sticks you find around your house for more than just making a fire.

Magic wands are an awesome and easy craft project that you can create using sticks found around your home. Many kids love to pretend they are magicians or wizards, and creating a magic wand will be fun for them and provide them with hours of play in the future.

All you need for this project is a good stick, some leather or twine, beads, feathers, scissors, glue, and whatever other magical items your child likes. Simply wrap one end of the stick with the twine and tie feathers to the end. You may want to glue the twine in place to make sure it doesn't move. Add the beads and other trinkets. You can even paint the stick for a more personal touch. After everything has dried your wand is ready for play!

A stick vase is a simple and great project that can be kept to help a kid organize his own belongings or it can be given away as a present to a teacher or a grandparent. These vases are made using recycled materials and items found around the home, and do not take long to make.

To make this twig vase find an old soup can, but make sure the edges are not sharp. If the are you can sand them down or glue ribbon to the inside rim. Then gather enough twigs to fit around the can if stoop up vertically, and break or cut them to the right height. Next glue these twigs to the can and tie it with ribbon or twine. After the glue is dry you can use the can to store pens and pencils or whatever you like.

Another fun project is the stick letter sign, and this sign can read anything your child likes. Feel free to get creative! The only items you will need for this is a piece of wood, glue, and twigs, but you can add some paint if you like. Simply cut or break the twigs to spell out the phrase you are writing and glue the pieces onto the base. You can add pine cones and acorns as nice details as well.

A twig easel is a great way to display picture or other artwork, and it is easy to make. All you will need for this project is three long sticks of the same length, a fourth stick that is as wide as the picture you will be displaying, glue, and twine. Remember to check the size of the picture against the sticks you will be using. You don't want to make an easel that doesn't fit your picture.

Next glue and tie 2 of the long sticks together so they make an upside down V shape. Next glue and tie the stick that was not equal to the first to the lower part of the V. This will create an A shape. Finally glue and tie the last stick to the point of the A, but remember to slide it in between the first 2 sticks because it will bend out to support the easel. This project is a simple and unique way to show off your child's artwork, and it is something they can create themselves.

Nature is a treasure that many people overlook, but I hope these four great craft projects have inspired you to go in your backyard and collect some sticks!

Fun Kids Crafts: How to Make Your Own Ugly Monster Dolls

Ugly dolls are a lot of fun; they are cute, cuddly, and their ugliness makes them adorable. I started making dolls using socks that I couldn't find matches for, but over time I have started using all sorts of scrap materials, and here is an article that will describe how you can make your own ugly monster doll.

Ugly monster dolls can be any shape, size, color, or style, and that is part of the fun part of these making these dolls. You can use anything as a base for them. If you have some old socks that works great, but if not a weirdly cut piece of fabric can work great so feel free to experiment. So pick a shape for the body; if you are unsure of what type of shape start with a rectangle with one rounded edge, and make sure you cut 2 of these pieces so the doll has a front and a back side.. Next cut a slit in the square side opposite of the rounded side; this part will be your legs.

Now pick the side that is going to be the front, and start to make your doll a face. I like to use different colored buttons that are also different sizes. I will then stitch some eyelashes onto the doll or I will use sequins to add details. Finally I will stitch the mouth using embroidery floss. I will also add any other special touches to the doll at this point such as pockets or a bow. If you are going to give your doll a necktie or a necklace you should wait until the doll is stuffed.

Now turn the doll inside out and sow around all of the seams except the inside slit for the legs. Turn the doll right side out, and fill it with stuffing. Continue filling until you have reached the legs, and sewing one at a time continue to fill with stuffing.

Now that your doll is stuffed you can add hair and clothes to it. You can also add necklaces and funny charms. I specifically like to add facial expression to my doll after it is stuffed. You c an also add the nose t this point, and to achieve these affects you simply need to pinch the part of the face between the eyes and sew through the doll. Pulling the string tighter o looser will give the face different expressions. Feel free to experiment.

Some materials that you can use when making these dolls are pipe cleaners, felt, rhinestones, sequins, pom-poms, and foam. Monster dolls are a lot of fun to make, and kids of many different ages will enjoy this project.

Fun Kid Crafts with Seashells

If you are like me you collect shells when you go to the beach. If you are also like me you always end up wondering what am I going to do with all of these shells. Seashells are awesome materials for craft projects, and here I will describe four fun projects that you can complete inexpensively using shells.

Seashell candles are great uses for seashells and you can reuse old candles to make them. Simply buy wicks from your local craft store, gather old pieces of candle wax, and deep shells that can fit on upside down without wobbling. Now glue the wick to the inside of the shell and melt the candle wax. After the wax is melted but not too hot you can add some fragranced oils to make the candles smell nice. Fill the shell with wax and let the candle cool. Trim the wick and your seashell candle is ready.

A sea shell organizer is fun and a great addition to any desk. You will need a block of wood or something suitable for a base. Next glue 2 scallop shells to the base standing up with enough room in between to fit papers and mail. Now add some sand and other shells to the base for decoration and you will have a great seashell organizer.

A seashell herb garden is beautiful and an awesome way to reuse shells you have collected. You will need deep shells that can stand up without wobbling, potting soil, and herb seeds. Make sure the shells are clean and dry and add potting soil to the insides. Add some water to the soil so it is moist, and sprinkle the seeds lightly over the dirt. Set your shells in a sunny spot on a windowsill and water frequently but not excessively. The seeds will sprout quickly and you will have a lovely little seashell garden.

Another fun seashell craft is the sea shell butterfly magnet. It can be created using only glue, a pipe cleaner, pompom, magnet, and four shells. Make sure that each set of two wings are similar to create a symmetrical looking butterfly. You can paint the insides of the shells if you like, but I have found many of the shells are already so pretty on the inside I do not want to paint them. Now twist the pipe cleaner to serve as the long cylindrical body of a butterfly and glue the pompom on for the head. Next glue the shells together to simulate wings and glue the body and head onto the shells. Glue the magnet to the back, and your beautiful butterfly is done!

There are many crafts you can create using seashells, and I hope this article has inspired you to use the seashells you collected at the beach this summer!

Flower Fairies: A Pretty and Easy Project

The first time I saw a flower fairy was at a Christmas craft show. They were displayed as Christmas tree ornaments, and they were the cutest, most precious thing I had ever seen. I loved them on instinct, and apparently so did everybody else because when I came back later to get a second look at them they were all sold out. These fairies are beautiful and playful, and I will explain exactly how to make them.

For this unique project you will need a fake flower. The bigger the better, and it doesn't matter what type of flower; you can make many different flower fairies to decorate your home. You will also need a wooden bead about the size of a nickel in diameter, paint, glue, ribbon, and a few pipe cleaners. You can also add beads and glitter to these dolls for added detail.

The first step is taking apart the flower. You will need to pull the tiny green plastic off of the bottom of the flower. You can also separate the petals and stamen or centerpiece of the flower. Remember to keep all off these pieces because you will use all of them.

Next paint a face on the wooden bead. You can start by painting 2 white dots for eyes. Next add a little blue dot to the center of the eyes, and paint a red heart shape for the mouth. After these colors have dried, paint an upturned nose by making a small half circle, and add eyelashes to the eyes and a black dot for the pupil. If you have some pink blush you can dab a little on the cheeks for a folk art effect.

To join the head to the body simply pull a pipe cleaner up through the face bead and attach the green part of the bottom of the flower to the top of the pipe cleaner like a hat. You can also stick a flower petal in between the head and the hat. Now twist the top of the pipe cleaner so that the bead is secure.

To make arms, legs, and a torso take another pipe cleaner and fold it in half twice. Wrap it around the top of the other pipe cleaner below the head. Slip the flower petals upside down onto the base of the pipe cleaner. Now take a third pipe cleaner and fold it in half and attach it to the part of the pipe cleaner underneath the flower.

Once you have all the basic pieces of your doll assembled there are still some finishing touches. In order to make the doll more stable and attractive, pull a few of the flower petals up and over the arms. Pinch these petals in the middle to create a waist and secure with ribbon and glue. Finally add leaves from the flower stems for wings and your fairy is done!

This is the basic technique for making these beautiful dolls, but you should feel free to expand on the idea.

Fun Crafts for Kids: Three Nature Crafts with Stones

Stones are a great material for crafting, and many people take them for granted. They are everywhere and they are all different shapes and sizes. Stones are a great medium for kids crafts, and here are three nature craft projects that use stones.

Lady bug stones are a lot of fun to make, and they are very simple as well. All you will need for this project is red, white, and black paint, acrylic sealer, and oval shaped stones. Now paint the front section black to create a head and the back section red. Remember you want more off the stone red because the body of a lady bug is red. Next paint white eyes and black spots and seal the stone with the acrylic spray. Use these ladybugs around the house for decoration in your garden.

Stone garden markers are another fun project that kids can make for gifts or for their own gardens. Simply find several smaller stones or one large stone and paint it with the word and pictures you want. Now spray them will acrylic sealer and you can use these stones in your garden for years to come. You can also paint names on these stones and give them as presents. This is a nice way to mark a kids room, and they can personalize it in any way they like.

Poetry pebbles are a great stone craft project for kids of all ages. All you need for this project is paint or paint markers, many different stones of varying shapes and sizes, and acrylic spray sealer. Depending on the age of the children you are crafting with you will want to write different things on the stones. Children that are just learning to spell should make stones with a single letter on them. Children of older ages can make stones with words. For children in between start with some letter stones, but also use stones that have simple words that can be altered with letters such as can, be, is, the, on, in, and hat. After the stones are painted spray them so that the paint does not wash off.

Stones can be found everywhere, and there is no reason why they should not be used as a craft material. Kids like to collect stones, and this part of the project is only the beginning of the fun. So go outside and find some rocks!

Five Quick, Natural and Easy Beauty Tips for the Face

 

Nowadays there are so many products on the market that promise to make you more beautiful in an instant, but I am here to tell you that you don't need all of these products. All you need is these five quick and easy beauty tips for the face, and you will be feeling beautiful in no time.

Eyebrows are an important part of what makes your eyes stand out. It is important to have a natural proportion between your eyes and your eyebrows. A simple and easy method of keeping your eyebrows natural and lovely simply requires a pair of scissors and a comb. All you need to do to avoid tweezing is use this easy method. Use your comb to brush your eyebrows up. I know this will look a little funny, but it is the correct procedure. Now use your scissors to trim the hair in a straight line along the natural line of the eyebrow. Brush the hairs back down, and your eyebrow will be preen and clean looking.

You may have heard of people using cucumber to relax and restore tired eyes, but there are other methods that work just as well. Using tea bags works well for tired eyes; just make sure they are cool and the majority of the water has been drained out of them. Cotton balls dipped in milk also help to moisturize and replenish tired eyes. So sit back and relax with these eye rejuvenating remedies.

There are many different methods of making your skin soft and glowing, but my favorite is a simple honey mask. Rest a warmed washcloth on your face for about five minutes. This will open your pores and soften our skin which is opportune when applying a facial mask. Next you must simply apply a thin layer of honey all over your face, and let it set for about 15 minutes. Wash the honey off in lukewarm water and splash face with cold water when all the honey is gone. This will replenish your skin, and it will give you a healthy glow.

Mint juice is a natural way to get rosy lips. Simple grind some mint leaves and rub them on your lips. They will give your lips a natural pink color, and the juice of the mint leaves will make your skin soft and smooth.

For really rough lips there is a quick and easy solution that can be applied while in the shower or brushing your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush a little bit, and rub your lips with the bristles in a circular motion. This is a super simple way to exfoliate your lips.

These tips will save you time and money, and they will help you have a natural beautiful face!