Tips For Singles on Surviving (And Enjoying) The Holidays
May 23, 2007
Here you are, facing the holiday season alone. Have you been thinking about?
*how alone and lonely you feel
*excuses you can give family members as to why you can’t come this year
*what friends may be available to spend those long days with
*how another year has passed and you are (still) single
*how unfair it is that everyone else seems so happy and connected
*how you will handle the office holiday party- single, take a friend, not attend
*going to a far away (tropical?) place to escape it all
*hiding out, alone, in your own home
If these thoughts sound familiar it is probably time to reflect on your feelings regarding this holiday season. If your goal is to hide out and endure it alone, you won’t need to do too much planning. However, if you wish to experience at least a measure of the "peace and joy" associated with this time of year, you need to make and follow through with plans that allow you to participate in ways that are meaningful to YOU.
The Power Of Scrapbook Journaling
May 22, 2007
By journaling your pages you will transform an ordinary collection of photographs into a vibrant and visual storyboard - telling the stories behind the pictures, revealing hidden memories and emotions.
It will give your scrapbooks a unique and intimate feel, it is this personal touch that turns your albums into something very special.
That is the power of scrapbooking journaling and why it is one of the most important elements of your scrapbooks.
What to write?
When you are doing your scrapbook journaling think about the people who will read it in the future. Try and remember that they weren’t there, give them as many details as you can so that they can relive your memories and stories for themselves.
One favorite scrapbook journaling technique is to write using the 5 W’s method.
- Who :: who’s in the photo, who took it and who else was present. It is important to name the people in the pictures you use. People change throughout their lives, especially children, so it is vital to tell readers who they are looking at.
- What :: what is the photo about? Describe what is happening.
- Where :: where is the event in your photo taking place? Give some background information.
- When :: when was the photograph taken? Give a specific date and include the year if possible.
- Why :: why did you use this photo? Does it show a special event like a wedding or a milestone birthday? Explain why it is so memorable.
Tell the story?
Simple Words
May 21, 2007
The words, the thoughts, the processes go on and on.
As simple as it may seem to me I tend to feel that all words have their own meaning and not always the dictionary form.
A simple word takes the form of many other words as each individual person who hears it puts it through a transformation process.
A doctor can take a word and change it into a disease. A carpenter can take a word and change it into a tool.
Is it that no one is listening or is it that each person listens only to what they know currently?
Debates take a turn at each word that is change and looked at in a different way by the person listening. According to our knowledge we can take a prayer and turn it into a blatant statement of hatred or immoral intrusion.
We can take a statement that spews hate and turn it into a humanitarian effort.
The words that tell, the words that say, the words that we hear and acknowledge everyday make us what we are if we allow them to.
Growing
May 20, 2007
Growing hurts sometimes;
saying goodbye to friends,
to things you’ve known and done
to things you wanted to do.
Growing heals sometimes
the shattered dreams and hopes
of a life you once knew
leading you to a new knowledge of yourself.
Growing is fun sometimes
meeting new friends
learning new things
making changes that feel good and moving on.
Growing is necessary always.
Without change there is stagnation
death instead of life.
To choose to live is to choose to grow.
Copyright 2002
Fran is a Career Counsellor, Workshop Developer and Facilitator and e-zine Editor. You can sign up for her ezine at get_free_info_here_@getresponse.com or check out her website for more information www.franwatson.ca
Origami Instructions - Getting Started
May 20, 2007
The birthplace of origami is still a mystery. Paper was developed in China in the first century A.D., and Buddhist monks brought it to Japan by the sixth century A.D. However there are not many written records from that time, so it is not known whether origami first began in China or Japan. However, no one will argue that Japan developed origami to a high art form. The word origami is Japanese: oru means “to fold”, and kami means “paper”.
Many grownups remember making origami items as a child. It was often a case of watching as another youngster showed how to make a paper airplane or something similar. After a while, we develop a set of origami instructions in our head, for making several airplanes, boats, animals, water balloons and other toys.
As it turns out, there are only so many ways to fold paper. Developing a “language” of folding helps simplify passing on origami teachings. Terms like “mountain fold” and “valley fold” are used over and over again. Basic fold patterns such as “square base” and “bird base” can be used as starting points for many different origami pieces. From the basic building blocks, an effectively infinite number of origami items can be made.
Going Solo on Valentines Day: Advice For Singles
May 19, 2007
The stores are decorated in candy hearts, flowers and bears. Every TV or radio commercial reminds you that it’s time to remember your sweetheart on this special day for lovers. Your feelings range from sadness, to revulsion to anger. What’s a single person to do? The following suggestions are designed to both answer that question and to help you have a good day after all, while working to make it your last solo one.
Celebrate the day by planning an activity that is meaningful and enjoyable to you.
Choose something that provides you with a special treat.
* Go to a day spa for "the works"
* plan an intimate dinner for 3 or 4
* go ice-skating or to the movies with a fun friend
* go out to dinner and a movie with a group of other singles
* Focus on what you enjoy and make a conscious decision about how to mark the day
* Un-Valentines Day parties are very popular and can be a lot of silly fun. You can attend one or throw one of your own.
Design a relationship-building plan.
Photography 101 Part 1
May 18, 2007
Photography 101
Part One
Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod
This article is a simplified photography course directed at new photographers out there who want to know where to start.
If you really want to learn photography the first thing you need is a good affordable and reliable camera. It must, and I repeat must, be able to shoot in fully manual and fully auto focus modes. (This leaves out any digital cameras on the market right now, sorry.) To really learn photography you must understand the equipment. You’ll need to learn how manipulating the shutter speed, aperture, and focus will have a dramatic effect on your photos. Meters, if you have a camera that can work in a fully manual mode it should have an internal meter suitable for what you will be doing. Tripod, you’re going to need one whether it’s portrait work or landscapes you’ll need one eventually. Luckily you don’t have to spend a lot here. Just something lightweight and durable. Flash, you can buy a separate camera mounted flash, which is great if you can afford it. Consider what kind of photography that you will be doing though. If you’re going to do mostly nature and landscape, you may only need the fill flash that comes with most cameras today. If you plan on doing portraiture alone you will want to consider a camera mounted flash that has an adjustable angle.
What Do I Need to Start Scrapbooking?
May 17, 2007
The best thing about scrapbooking is that although there are a plethora of scrapbooking supplies available on the market, you really don’t need a lot to make your very first scrapbook. Basically, all you need to scrapbook is an album, some glue, a pair of scissors, and some photographs or newspaper clippings. Any fabric, ribbon, or bits of leftovers from other projects can be used to embellish your scrapbook.
As you get more acquainted with scrapbooking, you will find products that save you time and frustration. Many of these products are well worth the extra cost. At the top of this list is an exacto knife. This strong and versatile blade allows you to cut almost anything into any shape. When the blade is dull, the end is simply broken off to reveal another sharp tip. Just be sure to place the object you plan to cut onto a mat or wad or newspaper before using the exacto knife. Otherwise, the knife will cut right through your picture and into your scrapbook page or dining room table.
The next best tool is a pair of tweezers. Trying to pick up and place small gluey pieces is a hassle. Tweezers, though not very high tech, allow you to move pieces without touching them.
10 Steps to a Relaxing Thanksgiving
May 16, 2007
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Family, friends, good food ? and no presents to buy. To make it your best holiday ever, consider these organizing tips:
? Choose your preferred style: formal with everyone dressed up and using their best manners ? or a more informal relaxed style. If you’ve invited more people than your dining table will seat, decide whether to add extra tables or a set up a buffet and use couches and occasional chairs for seating. Arrange for extra chairs if necessary.
? Keep in mind the ages of the people involved ? and choose a time for the meal that will fit their needs ? young children may get too tired if you wait to sit down at 1:00 pm. Consider seating for children based on ages. Teenagers might enjoy the day more seated together.
? Ask guests to identify their favorite dish ? include as many of them as possible. (If someone wants a pecan pie, and you don’t like to bake them, check out your local restaurant or bakery.) Don’t assume you have to do everything ? why not invite guests to bring a favorite dish? (Or ask them to bring a table centerpiece or bottle of wine.)
Rainy Day Fun - Crafts For Kids
May 15, 2007
Rainy days can be so boring for a child?and just as hard on moms. So we give some ideas to brighten your day and chase their rainy day blues away!
Shadow puppets
In a room that is fairly dark set up a flash light so it is facing a wall. Have the children make hand shadows?If they get really good at them they could even put on a little play.
My box home
As a little girl some of my best times were spent making Barbie homes out of medium card board boxes. Paints, markers, crayons, fabric scraps, glue, and so on were used to fashion wall paper curtains and the like. The ideas and possibilities are endless!
Little boys can make garages for there cars as well.
Magazine Story
Take ten pieces of paper. Staple them together. Have you child go threw a magazine and pick out 10 pictures to cut out. Tell him/her to paste one on each page. Now what ever order they are in the must right a story, the story should have some thing to do with the pictures on each page. This can be a real challenge but is endless fun and giggles.
