Adding a Fishpond to Your Garden

Your garden will look more beautiful if you will install a fishpond beside it. Building a fishpond can greatly enhance the charm and beauty of your garden. Basically, it is easy to setup a fishpond, but there are several reminders you need to consider if you want to add a fishpond to your garden.

As you care for your garden, you must also take care of your pond. This is mainly because your garden and pond can be your family’s favorite place to spend most of your time. Your kids will surely enjoy the playing around your pond. You may also entertain your friends and guests near your backyard fishpond.

Adding a pond to your garden can be crucial, both to your plants and your fish. Neglecting the essentials in its setup may ruin what you have invested in your garden. Remember that adding a fishpond to your garden will take time and effort. Study your garden carefully before starting digging around. Choose a location that will enhance the layout of your garden.

You must remember that the spot you will dig for your pond will be permanent. Choose a central spot or the spot with the highest elevation to prevent the water from overflowing when it rains. You must also put a hedge along the edge of your pond. This way, the garden’s excess water will not go to the pond. When your pond overflows, the fishes may escape and die; the plants may also be flooded and wither.

You must also consider how big your garden is to determine the size of your pond. You must also consider which shape your pond must take. Common shapes include oval, rectangular, and bean-shape. You must also consider the type of fish that you will keep as you determine the size and shape of your pond. Also, choose a place where there is enough sunlight to keep your fishes healthy.

The work does not end with setting the fishpond. You must also maintain the beauty and functions of the pond. You will need to change water once a month to avoid pollution. Do not forget to feed your fish once or twice a day. Your family, friends and guests will enjoy staying near your pond when it is clean and beautiful.

You may not know what opportunities will come your way if you have a beautiful and clean fishpond in your garden. Business contacts may be impressed with your pond. Your children will have a better and healthier alternative to playing video and computer games. Family bonding time can be more enjoyable and fun around your fishpond.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Invest in something worthwhile; sooner or later you will reap its fruits."

Introducing Coin Collection as a Hobby for Children

If you have a son and you want him to have a hobby that he could carry until he turns into an adult, collecting coins is a good option. Instead of giving him another toy to play with, give him a chance to experience what this type of hobby brings. You can introduce this hobby to him by giving him a nice set of 50 coins to start with. You can give it on special occasions like their birthdays or on Christmas Eve, so he will know that this present means a lot to you.

However, do not be shocked if ever he does not appear to be excited or burst out in tears of joy when he receives his gift. You can explain him the pleasure brought by coin collecting and tell him stories about these coins. Through this, he will become interested and would develop his passion for this hobby.

It does not matter what age or gender your child has, but it is better to introduce this kind of hobby to them early in their lives so that they can feel more successful they would feel about their collection when they grow up. If they begin the process of collecting at a young age, they will be able to collect different kinds of coins throughout their lives up until they reach adulthood.

Furthermore, this kind of hobby will teach them the importance of saving money. You can also teach them the virtue of being thrifty by training them to save money for themselves. In addition, coin collecting can also be a method to let your children learn about the history of your country and other countries as well. Older coins from your own country would serve as a memorabilia about the history of your country.

Moreover, letting a child learn about the stories and reasons behind a coin’s history would build their interest and let them know its importance in everyday life. It can also give you the opportunity to bond with your child and have a stronger relationship. You can do this by examining and elaborating the details present in the coin – the symbols, people, and places. Use a magnifying glass to enlarge the coin and let your child see the particulars of every coin.

However, before you do this, you must be prepared to answer questions that will likely be asked by your child. You can research about the coins included in your child’s collection through the Internet. It is a much cheaper method of gathering information rather than spending lots of money on books about this kind of hobby.

Finally, by the time that he had acquired the hobby, you must teach them the important things that come with this hobby such as the proper storage method, cleaning, scouting for discontinued coins, and collecting. This may turn out to be a life enhancing experience for your child so you must always support him.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Teach your children something worthwhile; it will enhance their worth."

Types of Coin Collectors

According to a survey, close to ninety percent of the whole world’s population made coin collecting one of their hobbies at some point in their lives. Some of these people turned this hobby into a passion that gives them a certain kind of joy and accomplishment every time they add new pieces to their collection. The leisure pursuit known as coin collection has been a hobby throughout the course of human history. This kind of hobby, when taken seriously, would also take some of your time and effort.

The American Numismatic Association has organized a convention known as The World’s Fair of Money, which is one of the best places to learn and see the world’s best numismatists, most recent discoveries, rarities, and every aspect related to this particular hobby.

There are no particular rules or guidelines when it comes to this type of hobby. Some prefer collecting coins from their own country only. On the other hand, others like to collect different coins from around the world – old, new, commemorative, historical, or just the present currency in a particular country. Some people also like to add coins that have errors in it because they are considered as rare collectibles.

There are several types of coin collectors - the casual type, the passionate hobbyist type, the historical type, and the advanced coin collectors. The casual type of collector is the type that collects random coins regardless of the coin’s value and where it came from, while a passionate hobbyist collector goes beyond the casual type of collecting and makes a conscious effort to improve his collection.

Some even buy coins from dealers to add them up to their coin sets. The advanced coin collectors on the other hand are different from the two kinds of collectors earlier stated. These collectors have in them an impressive line of collections such as medals owned by an emperor from the Egypt that are several centuries old and very rare coins from earlier civilizations. Historical coin collectors are those who are more into error coins and historically relevant coins.

In conclusion, whatever type of coin collector you would be in the future, this hobby requires dedication, patience, dedication, effort, time, and at some point, money. You will feel a sense of fulfillment every time you add another piece in your collection. You may never know, it could also be an inspiring hobby for your friends or relatives to try this kind of hobby too.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We have different approaches to the same thing; respect others’ preferences.”

The Rule of Thirds

Many camera owners nowadays use their cameras to simply point on a subject and click on the capture button without even studying how the image would look like. However, a basic technique known as the Rule of Thirds would surely help those who want to incorporate substance and depth to photographs. You could use any kind of camera that you want. It would not matter if it is a Digital SLR or the disposable ones.

The concept behind the Rule of Thirds is the position of a particular subject. The positioning of a subject in a particular photograph is very important. The common thing done by casual photographers is to place the subject in the center of the picture, which would make it quite mediocre. That is why you must make use of techniques such as the Rule of Thirds to enhance the quality of your pictures.

The first tip is to use a visual aid in order to envision the Rule of Thirds in your mind. To create the idea in your mind, you can use an index card and any kind of pen. Place the card in front of you in a horizontal position. Draw two vertical lines in the card that will divide the page in three equal parts.

Afterward, draw another two lines, horizontal ones this time. You will notice that you have nine rectangles in the card, and the center rectangle serves as your ‘magic box.’ This particular box is the one that you need to focus on when you look into the viewfinder of the camera. It is advisable to avoid placing your subject inside the magic box, but place it along its corners or boarders instead.

Take this situation for example. Imagine a scenario where in you are taking a photo of someone from a medium distance. If you place the face or head of the subject inside the ‘magic box,’ it would leave a considerable amount of empty space above the subject’s head, which would not look good in a photo. Therefore, it is better to set the subject’s head on the top boarder of the magic box that will fill the photo with the subject’s image. This will bring forth a better photo.

Finally, there are other examples of using the Rule of Thirds. Placing the subject on the upper right or left side would create interest not only on the subject but on the background as well. Think of the endless ideas you could create with the use of this technique. Experiment with this rule and you will discover the photographer in you.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Where do you stand? Stand still and give your best."

What to Look for in a Digital Camera

Would not it be nice to have a camera to capture those precious moments with family and friends? However, you still need to have the appropriate digital camera to do so. You do not just go to a store and buy a camera; you have to know what qualities a camera possesses to make sure that the features of a camera is worth your money. Here are some of the features that you need to consider before purchasing your own digital camera.

Megapixels – The number of megapixels a camera has effects on the outcome of a photograph. The higher the megapixel rate of a camera has, the photos taken with it will come more detailed and much clearer. Different cameras offer various ranges of megapixels; some has 2 megapixels up to 8 megapixels. If you are the ‘point and click’ type of user and is planning on posting the photos on the Web, a 2 or 3 megapixel camera might be the best choice for you. However, if you are planning to print the photos that you are going to take, a 5 megapixels camera is more advisable. Moreover, 7 to 8 megapixel cameras are the best buys for professional photographers who want more detailed and clear photos.

Zoom – There are two types of zoom; the Optical and Digital Zoom. Optical zoom is the kind that utilizes the physical capabilities of the camera’s lens to zoom in or out of a subject (the person, object, or landscape’s image being captured). Digital zoom, on the other hand, makes use of a microchip integrated inside the camera to zoom in or out of a subject in a digital manner. When you compare the two, a digitally zoomed photograph would not look as good as an optically zoomed one. Therefore, you must determine the zoom range that you need.

Memory – You must determine the size and efficiency of the memory card or stick that you need. If you are planning to take high-resolution photographs, it is recommended to have a bigger (4 GB to 8 GB) and faster memory card.

Ease of Connectivity – Before you purchase a camera, you must first verify if it is compatible to different brands of computers and printers. Moreover, you must also remember to check if the camera has a cable that you can use to connect it to a computer or a printer.

Exposure Settings – It is best to know if a camera has many shutter speed and aperture options. However, some cameras also have presets that you can use in order to achieve the results that you want. Nevertheless, manual settings for exposure are more preferred by professional photographers because it gives them the freedom to further enhance the quality of a photograph.

Size and Usage – Nobody would want to use a heavy, bulky, and complicated camera. If you are a casual photographer and would only want to take pictures to capture moments and memories, it is advisable to buy a user-friendly and does not weigh that much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Be responsible to the consequences of every decision you make out of your options."

Lighting Techniques

If you are at the first stages of your dream to take stunning and remarkable photographs by yourself, a factor known as Lighting has a big influence to the outcome of any picture. The beauty of a photograph does not only rely on the subject and the surroundings alone, the lighting must always be perfect.

Aside from the fact that it makes the subject and surroundings visible, light also gives you the liberty to evoke mood or emotions. Try these tips and it will surely boost your skills to another level.

You must learn about the right layout of light sources. According to professional photographers, light should come from three sources; this method is called Triangulation.

In triangulation, the first light source must be placed behind the person taking the photograph (you); the second one must be placed behind the subject. The third one are called fill lights, the light source that can be placed anywhere, depending on the photographer’s choice. Fill lights are used to provide the needed lighting onto the subject, depending upon the situation. These lights are said to decrease shadowing, create depth, and perspective on the subject of the photograph.

Moreover, the settings used when you take pictures in a room (controlled lighting environment) are different from shooting outdoor. In a situation where you are shooting in direct sunlight, fill lights will serve as key light. However, if the surroundings are a little bit gloomy, you could use the sun as your fill lighting source. In addition, shooting indoors at night would require a deeper knowledge on how to make use of the light sources; how to manipulate them and make them work together.

You must learn to manage the light and shadow that you would need in order to produce a much better image. It is recommended that you set the key light as the brightest one of the three because you can manipulate make the necessary adjustments on the other two light sources much easier.

Fill lights and back lights must be dimmer than your key lights to get that sense of balance of lighting needed to produce high quality images. The flash, a common technique used in professional and amateur photography, is also very important. Some shots can appear much better when the flash is used as a fill light. However, always provide the proper lighting on the subject to reduce the occurrence of red eyes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"In life and in photography, nothing will come out of darkness."

Exposure Settings

If you own a camera, you would definitely want to capture the best photos and preserve great memories, locations, and people that you meet. However, many neglect the lack of understanding about some of the essential elements that make a photo impressive. Many people just point at a subject or a person and just click.

On the other hand, some people make the necessary adjustments and settings to bring out the best in an image. If you are one of those who want to learn more and maximize the potential of your camera, listed below are some of the neglected but essential functions of a camera that you can use.

Exposure is very important in capturing the overall mood of the photo. This factor determines the image’s darkness or brightness of a photo. There are three components involved in determining the exposure of an image – shutter speed, aperture settings, and ISO settings. They may seem to be complicated and tedious settings in a camera, but it will surely help you in getting the results that you want.

Shutter Speed – The shutter is the part of a camera that allows light to pass and expose the light sensitive sensor inside a camera, which is responsible for producing the image. Shutter speed is the method of setting the duration of exposure the sensor is exposed to light. Moreover, shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. For example, when you set the shutter speed of a camera to a speed of 1/30, it means that the camera’s shutter will only stay open for 30th of a second and will close afterward.

Aperture Settings – Aperture is an opening that determines the amount of light that will reach the sensor. The size of the opening depends upon the settings that the user wants. These settings are measured with ‘f stops.’ A setting of f16 or f11 will set the aperture with a small opening. On the other hand, f2.8 or f4 makes a large opening that will allow more light to reach the sensor inside the camera.

ISO Settings – This is also related to the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. Take this for example, you are going to take a picture of a subject exposed to bright sunlight, you must set your ISO to low (preferably ISO 100) to get good results (it will come out not too bright and not too dark). On the other hand, if the surroundings and the lighting is scarce or very minimal (at dusk for example), adjust the ISO settings to ISO 400 to attain a nice exposure. The higher the ISO setting is, the brighter the result will be.

In conclusion, you can mix, match, and experiment with these settings so that you can achieve varied results. This will help you in getting to know your camera even better rather than just clicking the capture button.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"It is not your course or the school that develops your skills, it is your exposure to what you want to do."

Framing and Composition Tips for Beginners

A common mistake that casual camera users commit is the fact that they do not look at the final image before pushing the capture button of the camera. It is a known fact that studying and setting the subject in the proper way (via the viewfinder) before capturing an image is much better compared to a point and shoots style of photography.

With the use of some methods to capture photographs, you would be able to bring out the best out of any subject. Use procedures known as framing and composition that helps in giving you the best possible outcome in a photo.

Determine the way that a camera must be hold before capturing the image. When taking a photo of a person or subject near your position, it is best to hold the camera in a vertical position to maximize the space available for the image. However, in a scenario where you are going to take a picture of a group of people, several subjects or landscape, the recommended position to capture it in a horizontal position. By doing this, you will be able to fill the image with the subject or subjects.

In photography, there is a rule known as the Rule of Thirds. Professional photographers and amateurs alike use this rule for the longest time. It has been proven very effective in bringing out the best in many photographs taken over the years. The rule is simple; you need to divide (in your mind) the image found in the viewfinder of your camera to nine areas (9 equally divided rectangular boxes).

Furthermore, it is recommended to place the main subject in the areas of the image where the horizontal and vertical lines meet. According to a study, when we are presented with and image, our eyes usually look in these areas (intersections where the lines meet). Try this method and you will notice that it is better than just placing the subject in the center of the frame.

An additional method to improve the pictures that you capture is with the use of leading lines. The process is by using an element present in the viewfinder (road or a bridge) that will be very helpful in guiding a person’s eyes to the main subject or to a position that you want people to focus on. This method will help you in many ways. Try to incorporate all of the tips and techniques and you will certainly see the improvement in your photos.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Everyone needs to start somewhere."

Basic Techniques for Compact Digital Cameras

When you have a camera, it is better if you know how to make the most out of it. It is not ideal to just place the subject inside the frame and click away. Who knows, with the knowledge that you are about to acquire combined with your creativity; you might be a great photographer someday. However, you must first have a compact digital camera. With that given, here are the basic tips that would prove to be very helpful in your aspirations to be a successful photographer, either as a professional or as a hobbyist.

You need to navigate through the options and settings present in cameras. Make a conscious effort to examine and analyze each setting as possible. As you know, every adjustment that you apply will affect the outcome of the picture that you are going to capture. The simple alterations like environment settings, zoom, flash, and other settings will be very useful in different situations.

Always carry the camera anywhere. You may miss a special moment or a particular place that you like if you do not have a camera at hand. You can also consider going out; to the beach, to the woods, mountains, or outside the country. There are endless possibilities outside the confines of your home, so try exploring the great outdoors.

Having the settings in automatic will help you in getting used to using the camera. Take pictures with these settings and make the appropriate adjustments when you are very well oriented with the controls and settings. This will help you to adjust the needed settings depending on the need of a particular condition.

It is recommended to set the camera to the highest resolution available. This will give you the freedom to edit photos on a computer if ever you need to fix something. Moreover, as higher resolution pictures take up more space than the usual, it is also advisable to purchase a larger memory card so that higher resolution images can be stored in bunches.

Nowadays, red eye reduction features are included in the camera’s options. Switch in on to avoid red eyes, which usually happen whenever you use the flash when you are taking pictures of people.

Use a tripod whenever needed. Tripods would be very beneficial to minimize blurring of images due to actions made by the person holding the camera. Some camera settings are sensitive even to little movement, which would ruin the photograph that you would want to capture.

Lastly, you must always practice, practice, and practice. With the technological advancements available for everybody (such as the replacement of the traditional film to a digital storage device), it is much easier to learn and hone your skills as a photographer.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"As in photography, it is how you use your resource that determines if you will enjoy life or not."

Different Kinds of Cameras and their Functions

If you are planning to buy a camera, it is much better to know what kind of camera you need and learn how it works. Understanding how a particular camera works is better than just purchasing a camera randomly. There are several types of camera and they have their particular functions. You must keep in mind that it is not a given fact than when a camera is more expensive, it captures better images. It is upon the user’s way of using it and to his or her creativity. Listed below are some of the types of cameras found in the market today.

Disposable Cameras – As the name suggests, these cameras are the type that you can use and dispose afterwards. These can also take great shots depending upon the person using it. It is a great choice of camera used for parties and gatherings. However, you would not be able to alter its settings due to its limited functionality. It uses film to save images.

Compact Cameras – These cameras can fit in your pocket. They usually come with a flash, self-timer, a wide-angle lens, and a panoramic mode. Compact in weight and size, you can carry it with you easily. It is perfect for pictures of everyday life and snapshots. There are two types of compact cameras; the analog type that uses film, and the digital one that uses memory cards to store captured images.

SLRs – Single Lens Reflex Cameras, or more popularly known as SLRs, are the choice of professional and amateur photographers. The main advantage of a SLR against other cameras is its Single Lens Reflex feature that lets the viewfinder look through the detachable lens instead of the fixed lens. This will allow users with the freedom to enhance and control the results via the interchangeable lenses. With the use of a longer lens, you can make distant subjects appear closer without sacrificing the quality.

On the other hand, shorter lenses provide wider shots. Furthermore, several settings (shutter speed, aperture settings) to alter and further enhance the result are available in SLRs, functions that are unavailable in compact and disposable cameras. However, the disadvantages about SLRs are the equipments that you have to buy (they do not come cheap) and the problem of carrying it around. They also come in analog and digital models.

Medium/Large Format SLRs – These are the type of SLRs used to give you the power to capture bigger (higher resolutions) photographs. The main problem about these is their size. It is very bulky and weighs twice as much as the common SLR. Stock photographers usually use these types of SLRs.

LESSON IN LIFE:
"Life, like cameras, has a lot to offer to achieve the same benefits; it's your choice that determines how you get the benefits."

Your Journey to Health and Fitness

The road to health and fitness is not really a bumpy one as most people think. Starting your journey will seem to be hard at first but until when you get the hang of it, your journey will be enjoyable for you. All you need is discipline and commitment to your goals.

Listed below are some tips you must remember before you hit the road to health and fitness. Read these helpful tips and take one step at a time.

1. Start small. If your doctor advice you to abstain from eating a certain food that you like so much such as a black forest chocolate cake or your favorite fast-food burger and fries; start by eating smaller amounts than your usual consumption. Take moderate steps in cutting down your consumption. Gradually reduce your food consumption by eating smaller servings then try to eat only less frequently than the usual. With this approach, you will still enjoy the foods you want and reduce your cravings for such foods.

2. Plan modestly. Your health goals must be attainable and realistic. Setting too high goals will sometimes lead to big disappointments and frustrations. Make your plans achievable with taking into account your capability of doing such plans. When you accomplish something that you aimed for, it will give you more confidence and motivation to continue with your subsequent health goals and plans.

3. Have a buddy. Your good friend will be the best person to support you on your journey to a healthy life. It will be beneficial on your part to have someone to share the muscle pains as well as the joys of accomplishment to make the process easier and more bearable. You will have someone to remind you the things you need to do, to encourage you to do your best and to strengthen your morale to achieve your health goals. This lifestyle change will not be a big burden as it seems if you have someone behind your back to support you all the way.

4. Have self-discipline. This major deciding factor will determine the success of your goals in living a healthy lifestyle. In order to push through with your plans, you need to have a constant self-discipline to keep you in the right direction during the course of the road to health and fitness. Your biggest nemesis is merely your own self. If you will be vulnerable to temptations, you will never see your plans through.

5. Do it for yourself. No one will benefit more from this lifestyle change than you. All your hardships will be rewarded with lifelong benefits that you will enjoy such as a healthy and fit body and a younger-looking appearance. If you will start to take good care of yourself, the rest of good things will follow.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We only get back what we give to our body.”

Home Fitness Ideas for Moms

More and more moms these days have almost forgotten to take care of their health and body. This is mainly due to lack of time and energy to do fitness activities because of numerous house chores that they have to perform daily. In addition, with regard to their busy and stressful schedule, exercising is not included in their daily routine, unfortunately. Making them look older than their age and not in good shape.

If you are a full-time homemaker, who cannot easily find time to stick to a formal fitness routine, you can still perform certain exercises even without any fitness apparatus. Listed below are some quick and simple ideas on how to stay in good shape amidst your daily home responsibilities.

Work and Exercise with your Kids

Have fun with your kids while doing some workout routine. Put your baby in his pushchair and together with other moms and their kids, have a little trip at the park or just around the block. Brisk walking is a good cardio exercise to keep your blood circulation normal.

In addition, you can get your kids involved in tidying your kitchen, living room, and the bedrooms for at least ten minutes daily. To make this activity more interesting, you may set a timer, put music on and get everybody moving, including you, to pick up the clutters, books, toys, clothes, shoes, and other stuffs. As a challenge, you and your kids must be able to clean up all the clutters before the time runs out. This is a good simple cardio exercise for you and for your kids. Though it it may seem a simple work out, it will also contribute a lot to your physical and health well being.

If your house is only a walking distance away from school, you can walk and bring your kids to school. This may serve also as a fitness activity for you. Besides exercising, you will be able to spend quality time with them and make your child feel great and in excellent mood before entering school. Make it a daily habit, and little by little, you will realize the benefits it brings you.

Use your Time Alone

When you are alone at home, keep yourself occupied and exert physical effort by making simple house tasks. It can be as simple as climbing the stairs up and down, stretching, running to and from the house, gardening, watering the plants, laundering the clothes, washing the dishes, and cleaning up your aquarium. If you have time, you may go to the park and walk around to breathe fresh air.

Remember; take time to rest to recharge your body with enough energy that you will need to do your house chores. Have enough sleep to keep your mind and body refreshed. Moreover, eat healthy foods and diet to achieve your fitness goals. With this, you will even serve as a role model to your children to encourage them to eat and live healthy as early as now.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"You are never alone in any good intention."

Relieve Stress and Have Fun with Sports Recreation

We are now living in a fast-paced world full of life stresses, challenges, and responsibilities. Once in a while, we deserve to have some time to relax and engage in some recreational activities. Our modern ways also tend to be sedentary, and the foods we eat are not often healthy. Because of these, doing exercises is very important to restore our body system. Sports are recreational activities that you can try to make as your hobby or as a diversion. There are several types of sports out there, and you have the freedom to pick where you think you might excel and have fun.

It is easy to learn new sports; you can find instructional courses online or join a sports club. It will be better if you join team sports recreational activities like softball, baseball, basketball, and soccer. With frequent playing, you will develop your sports skills after a while. You may also try to play bowling because you will enjoy playing this sport regardless of your skill level.

You may also try individual sports activities such as golf, tennis, badminton, swimming, running, aerobic dancing, gymnastics, and horseback riding. You can also learn these types of sports by joining clubs or hiring personal trainers. It will be better if you will have a friend to play against or share experiences.

If you want, you can learn recreational sports activities online. You can find websites teaching almost any sport or activity you can think of including underwater hockey, fly-fishing, and paragliding in the Alps. Nevertheless, what is the sense of learning the sports theories if you will not apply them in actual practice. Still online courses are a good means of learning new sports and recreational activities you might want to try someday.

One of the most fun sports recreational activities you may try is table tennis. It is somewhat like of a regular lawn tennis but instead of playing it on a lawn it is played on top of a table. By using a rubber-coated paddle, you can hit the extremely lightweight plastic ball over the court of your opponent’s side. The rule is also similar to regular tennis games. With more practice, you may learn the techniques and develop some game strategies. There are also many other easy sports to play for you to try.

In sports, your sports skills level does not matter. What is important is how you enjoy playing the game. Engaging in sports is a good way to stay fit while having fun and releasing stress at the same time. With constant practice and dedication, you can even be a professional athlete someday.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop; a busy mind thinking bad things is worse. Fill your mind with good things, and busy your body with worthwhile activities; this is the best a man can do with his life.”

Hobby Ideas You Will Like

Do you have your favorite pastime? Hobbyists believe that spare time must not be just spent but instead savored and enjoyed. If you have a good past time that you enjoy, you will never look at your idle time the same way again. If you do not have any pastime, well here are some of the suggestions that you might like to try.

Many people love listening to music as their pastime. There is much more you can do with music than just listening to it, you can learn about different genres of music and appreciate them as well. You can research on famous composers, famous melodies, music trivia, and all about recording artists past and present. After a while, you will realize that you are developing a certain sophisticated tastes in jazz or classical music. You may also want to collect a large assortment of CDs. That is why many people are enjoying sound trip as their pastime.

Any kind of pet can be a relaxing hobby, too. If you enjoy seeing birds flying here and there, then maybe you should have a bird pet. There are many breeds to choose from like canaries, budgies or cockatiels. People in some countries raise ornamental chickens, pigeons, or pheasants. Surely, you will enjoy watching your mother bird take care of a nest of young chicks.

Dogs are the most popular pet choice for most people. You can enjoy walking on the park with your pet dog. However, breeding and raising show dogs are entirely something else. You need to invest some money on show dogs and you need to have a lot of patience in training them. Dogs are man’s best friends as they say, because pet dogs are lovable, they give a lot of love back to their owners, and in return, you will gain emotional attachment to your pet. However, having a pet dog requires a bit of work and attention especially while they are being trained.

Bicycles can also become a pastime for you. Hobby bicycling is becoming more and more popular nowadays. You can see cyclers along lesser-travelled highways enjoying the view of the countryside while breathing fresh air. Of course, you need to have your bicycle, a helmet for safety, and a suitable clothes as well as a small tool kit in case of repairs. You do not need to be a pro cyclist to enjoy such activity; you can simply take fun rides with your family around your village. The choice is yours.

There are many interesting things that you need to try and learn in your entire lifetime. As you get old, do not stop learning new things and experience new endeavors. Hobbies are good for your mind and they will help you stay active. It will allow you to expand your horizons and give you fulfillment in return.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Life offers a variety of things to suit our widely varied interests; find yours and enjoy.”

Common Mistakes in Setting up New Home Aquarium – Part Two

This is the second and last installment on the common mistakes an amateur and even veterans commit when they setup their new home aquarium.

The fourth mistake you may commit is improper water conditioning. Insufficient filtration and water circulation system are very essential to the life of the fishes. There are many kind of filter available in the market, but you must make sure that you have the right system installed in your tank. It is also better to have more than insufficient filtration system.

The aeration system gives your fishes their much-needed oxygen. Moreover, it prevents formation of slimes on the walls of your tank. To avoid slime formation, you may add a power head or a surge device. Again, it is better to have more than insufficient aerators in your tank.

The fifth mistake is lack of knowledge. It is exciting to put exotic and expensive animals in your aquarium. The fishes that usually comes to mind of new aquarium owners are arowana, red, blue, or silver; lucky flower horns; and other costly fishes. I don’t see anything wrong with starting with these fishes right away; the problem lies in the owner’s lack of knowledge on how to take care of these fishes. Put them into your tank, but be sure to understand their needs and meet them.

There are magazines, books, and articles online that you may read to gain knowledge about your animals. Subscribe to this blog or other sites that provide the latest research on your fishes. Keep in mind that knowledge is power, and with knowledge comes success. Proper implementation of what you know is as important of what you understand.

The sixth mistake is about incompatible fishes in your tank. Like human beings, there are fishes that simply do not go well with each other. There are also fishes that prefer to live alone, such as fighting fishes, no matter how colorful and attractive they may be. Lionfishes will just gobble up all your guffies and small goldfishes. Some fishes also eat live plants.

Angelfishes go well with goldfishes. Oscars can live with their own kind but will not tolerate squally small fishes. Arowana is better left alone; flower horns may live with another of its kind, but not with too many of them.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Like fishes, human beings have their social preferences; let us respect them.”

Common Mistakes in Setting up New Home Aquarium – Part One

There are common mistakes that beginning aquarium owners must avoid. Usually, the mistakes are committed because the owner does not know what he must do to keep his fishes healthy and alive and how to maintain the aquarium. With this post, let me share these common mistakes, some of which I also committed.

The first mistake of aquarium owners is overfeeding. Too much food thrown into the aquarium may kill your fishes. These unconsumed food will settle down at the bottom and when it accumulates, these excess will produce nitrates and will eventually overload the aquarium filter.

Therefore, you must understand the nutritional needs of your fish. Feed your fishes only twice a day, approximately 12 hours in between. Ask the pet store attendant about any particular food a kind of fish needs. You must also take note of how big their mouths are. Of course, you will not feed your hump heads with pellets, or your arowana with flakes. You must also take note of the nutritional content of your feeds.

The second mistake you may commit is impatience. When your aquarium arrives at your doorstep, you want to set it up at once, neglecting the important things you must do first. Before you start assembling your home aquarium, you must know what kind of aquarium setup you want to have. You can setup a salt water, freshwater, or reptile aquarium. These setups require different things.

Be patient; do not rush things. When you have decided your setup, you must also gain enough basic information about the fishes you want to keep. You must also consider the space your aquarium will require. You must also provide an electric outlet for the aerator and the lights. Also, be sure to have cover for your aquarium to prevent falling objects and dusts to pollute the water.

The third mistake you may commit is overcrowding the aquarium. Out of excitement, you may want to put so many things into your aquarium. Limit your decorations to what is really necessary. You must also consider the number of fish you will put into it, taking into account their size.

Consider how big or small is your aquarium. Allot only a tenth part of your aquarium’s volume for decorations, and do not put any decorations. Avoid plastics; go for naturals like rocks, driftwoods and live plants. The number of fish must be proportional to the aquariums volume. A five gallon tank can hold five medium-sized goldfishes or any other fish of the same size. You must also consider the size of adult fish. Although goldfishes and oscars start as fries of the same size, they grow into an adult of different sizes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Love is fragile; handle it with care."

Teach Your Children a Hobby

Even young people, particularly children, must have a hobby. An interesting hobby can be a learning experience for your children and it can keep them entertained for hours as well. Good hobbies make your child occupied with productive activities and help them to stay away from bad habits and potential trouble. So, instead of playing video games or watching TV as pastime, you must get your children engaged on more challenging and educational hobbies.

Kids may like playing musical instruments as their hobby. They can learn to play guitar on their own or with the help of some instructional materials. This will be easier if your children are interested in music. Playing piano and violin can be quite difficult so you would probably have to invest on music lessons. Others believe that some children are born musically inclined, but children who are really interested can also learn to play as good as those who have natural talents, if they will practice hard and never give up.

Your kids might also be interested with arts and crafts. Your kids can learn how to draw, paint, or make his own scrapbook. Your girls can learn needle arts such as embroidery, sewing, knitting or crocheting. Your boys can learn basic carpentry, which is a very useful hobby that may turn into a career or at least a skill that they can use when they grow up.

Collecting sorts of things can also be a very interesting hobby for your children. Most kids would like to collect stamps, coins, and rocks. Stamps would be a good subject because they can come from different countries, making this hobby an instant geography lesson for your kids at the same time. Moreover coins and stamps collection requires a lot of historical knowledge thereby encouraging your kids to read more of history and culture. Rock collecting also will make your child more investigative and skeptic while doing his hobby.

Children’s collections must not be very expensive. They can start by collecting simple items such as beanbag toys or figurines of their favorite things such as angels, frogs, or unicorns. It will greatly help them increase their collection if the things they will collect are the things they love or representation of those things. For an instance, if your children are interested on dolphins, they may collect dolphin figures and posters, and they may also want to read books about dolphins.

Construction sets can also be a good option for your children’s hobby. They may start with a simple toy, but as they grow up, they may add new components into their construction, which may can turn into some pretty impressive models. With this kind of hobby, children will develop their reasoning and perception skills as they build.

One of the most popular children’s hobbies, especially for boys is making model cars, boats, and airplanes. If your child is inclined on making models, support and encourage them to start. Model cars may be complicated in the beginning, and it may require more patience and passion. Encourage them if their first try may not be perfect. It is good to start with simple models first. Then, patiently guide them as they try models that are more complicated. After a while and as they gain experience, they may now do it on their own.

Many kids enjoy sports, thus sports activities can also be an exciting hobby for your kids. They can play different types of sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball. You may also suggest track and field to them. More and more children are now engaged in martial arts like taekwondo. Girls may enjoy gymnastics, dance sport, and ballet. Sports activity is not just a mere hobby but also a good way to keep your children in shape and healthy.

LESSON IN LIFE:
"You will be good at everything if you will start doing it while you are still young."

Kids' Crafts to Shoo Boredom Away

When it is raining outside and your kids do not have something to do at home, they will become bored. However, do not worry because you can transform this boring day into a fun-filled and interesting day. Bust boredom by providing your kids with crafts materials and a little help along the way.

When doing kids’ crafts, you should first prepare the basic things such as paper, crayons, safe scissors, and glue. You may provide them with different types of paper materials such as construction paper, plain typing paper, cardstock of various colors and other kinds of papers and boards. If you are in a tight budget, you may use junk mails and old magazines to come up with interesting art projects. Crayons will be nice for smaller children. However, the stores give more options to choose from such as washable dry-erase markers, watercolor pencils, and gel pens. Kids’ craft supplies may cost you, but even on a budget, you can find alternatives and other possibilities.

You may also use recycled junk and found objects as craft materials. I am referring to junks such as empty cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes, cardboard from packaging, plastic containers, and even tin cans. If your kids will be using tin cans, make sure that there will be no sharp edges, because they might get hurt. To be safe, file the edges off or squeeze them flat with a pair of pliers.

Found objects include dried leaves, twigs, rocks, snakeskin and other natural items that your child may found. If you are living near a sheep farm, you can get wool scraps often found stuck onto barbed wires. Almost any items can be used in kid crafts; you just need keen eyes and creativity.

Collage making is one of the most fun and popular kid crafts of all times. Kids can glue down almost anything that they can think of. For this project, use a sturdy paper for the canvass, and let your children do their masterpiece. For an added twist, a collage can be made around a theme, like food, animals, or landscapes. You may use old magazines as source of related images, which can be cut out and glued to a background. For older children, they might wish to cut out details from magazine pictures and reassemble them in new and interesting ways. On the other hand, they can cut out interesting words and phrases from the magazines and incorporate them as well in the collage.

For smaller children, it will be fun for them to play with textures and dimension. They might enjoy gluing down pastas, beans, Popsicle sticks, leaves, and many other materials. Do not forget to give them glitters and sequins. It will be more interesting for them to work with shiny materials especially the girls.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We already have the things that may excite us; do not let any setback pull you down.”

Get a Hobby Kit and Learn Something New

If you are tired of the ho-hum of life and would like to do something new that will save your from boredom, maybe you should try to get a hobby kit. Various hobby kits are available and are easy to learn and to do especially for beginners. With hobby kits, hobbies that are difficult to learn will be learned easily.

For example, if you want to try doing a needlecraft, say cross stitching or crewel embroidery, it is best to start with hobby kits. These kinds of hobby kits contain a piece of cloth with the design already stamped on, yarn or floss in the proper colors and required length, and a needle. You may even get an embroidery hoop inside the kit. When buying a hobby kit, make sure to read the packaging to see if you will need to buy additional materials or tools to finish the project.

There are also hobby kits for boys, like model car making. In a model car kit, you will be working on small pieces needed to construct the car and you will be dealing with detailed instructions so patience is a must. In some kits, you might also get paint, a brush, and some glue. However, be sure also to read the label, other materials, such as batteries, may not be included so you have to buy them separately.

Hobby kits such as a candle-making kit or a rock tumbling kit are also nice gift ideas for young people during Christmas. There are many kits to choose from like a small weaving loom kits, glycerin soap making kits, bead crafts kits, wood-burning kits, and art kits. You may also consider reading hobby workbooks that contain easy to follow instructions and have a packet of materials to be used for the project. These books cover some topics about polymer clay modeling, hair styling, pompom creations, and many others.

There are also gardening hobby kits for those who want to start with the basics of gardening. A seed starting kit typically contains a pot, a small trowel, seeds, fertilizer, and a greenhouse dome or cover. You may need to buy potting soil separately. You may also improvise if some materials are not available in the kit. Say if pot is not available, you may use empty biscuit can or broken buckets as substitutes.

When choosing a hobby kit, be sure that it will be appropriate and interesting. Sometimes, hobby kits are quite challenging. For example, it is not a good idea give a radio electronics kit to grade-schoolers. More often than not, they will just throw it away and or leave it undone. Consider getting a smaller project that you can finish in a short time so you can get a feel for the hobby. The next hobby kit you buy may be harder. After a while, you will realize that you are already learning a skill not simply a hobby.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Big thing come from small beginnings; so if you want something big, be careful with how you start to reach your dreams.”

Paper Crafts: Scrapbook for Beginners

Doing paper crafts is becoming a popular pastime for arts enthusiasts nowadays. Scrapbooking is a paper craft project, which is fun to do. It can also be one of the best ways to display pictures and to chronicle family history. Other paper crafts include making greeting cards and even making hand-made papers.

If you are still an amateur in making paper crafts, go easy at first until you determine what sort of paper craft materials you will want to work on. For instance, you might like using stickers more rather than using rubber stamps. If that will be the case, you be better off spending more on stickers and less on rubber stamps for your project.

Most probably, you have old photos collecting dust somewhere. Starting a scrapbook for those photos is a great and nice way to preserve and organize them artistically so many people can enjoy seeing them. You will need a loose-leaf binder, some plastic page protectors, and some colored cardstock for starters. If you want your scrapbook to last long, I recommend using only archival quality materials. For best results, use paper products, which are acid-free to prevent your photos from fading and deterioration. Your materials must also withstand sunlight because your scrapbook will bleach easily if it is exposed to direct sunlight.

To start with your scrapbook project, select photos that all relate to one event, such as a trip or your child’s graduation day. In addition, have a complementing theme in mind for your set of photos. This will make your scrapbooking easier because your idea will only revolve on a single theme. But if in case your photos are not related to each other, you may organize them into general theme for each page or if possible make a story to make them seem to be in unison.

Attach your photos on your cardstock using double-sided tape squares or glue stick. Decorate the page with stickers, paper cut-outs, or rubber stamp designs. You may also use colored gel pens to write captions or titles to your photos. However, always remember that everything that you will put on your page must be cohesive with the theme that you are working on. You can make it as simple as you want and in any way that pleases you. After all, we all have different artistic taste.

There is a wide array of scrapbooking materials available in bookstores or paper crafts specialty stores. This includes die cuts, which are pre-cut pieces of colored papers into different shapes and objects. You may also find special pair of scissors that will allow you to cut paper with an interesting edge design. Moreover, you may use a deckle or old pinking shears to make elegant looking scrapbook pages. There are also scrapbooking kits available with various designs and themes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Memories and old photographs are treasures, handles them with care.”

Clay Pot Crafts: Make a Bell for the Porch

Clay pot crafts are simple and yet nice home decors you can do yourself. In clay pot crafts, you can transform simple clay flowerpots into a beautiful piece of art. Plain new pots are usually used for this project. You may decorate the pots with paint or tie them up together with ropes to create different figures you desire.

Clay pots are available in different sizes, from small ones not more than two inches in diameter, to huge ones over a foot across. For your first project, try to start with small pots and start with a simple design. After you have accomplished your first project, you may now jump on to designs that are more elaborate if you wish.

An example of a simple craft to start with is to make a bell design from two clay pots. You will need a bigger pot about 5 or 6 inches in diameter and a very small one. The smaller pot will serve as the clapper for your bell. Prepare also some decorative cords, two large wooden beads, and painting materials to add color to your work. You may also put on some glue-on jewels to add shimmer to your bell. This project will be a nice decoration for your front porch.

Cut a cord two feet (60 cm) long. Fold end over three inches (8 cm) and make a loop by doing an overhand knot. This loop is for hanging the bell on a hook or a nail. Pass the loose end of the cord on the hole at the bottom of the pot. Make sure that the pot is turned upside down to resemble a bell. Lay the pot on its side and string one of the wooden beads to cord until it is about ten inches from the loose end. The wooden beads must be larger than the hole of the pot because this will serve as the stopper so the pot will not slide down.

On the loose end of the chord, repeat the same procedure. Use the smaller pot for the clapper of your bell this time. Now when you lift the entire arrangement by the loop, the clapper must hang freely inside the larger pot, making a pleasant sound when it claps against the larger pot.

It is now time to jazz up your project. If you have a theme in mind, say a Holstein cow theme, paint your pots with black and white patches to mimic a cow skin. You may also put a silk ribbon, dried flowers, and greenery if you desire. Let your imagination play and express yourself.

For a variation, you may make several bells of different sizes and hang them horizontally on a wooden pole or a branch of a tree. You may hang the bells on different levels so they will not strike each other.

Once you are done with the project you may now make some elaborate designs such as a large doll or a scarecrow of nested pots strung together and painted. The doll can sit on a chair or a step of the front porch. You may paint his face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a gnome, or a child. These clay pot crafts are best displayed outside and display them as garden decorations.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Like these bells, people around us may differ in sizes, but it does not mean they differ in significance.”

Making Mural: Group Craft Idea for Children

Most craft projects were meant to be done individually. However, it is also a brilliant idea to think of a crafts that works for a group of kids working together. Making a mural craft is a good craft for engaging a group of kids to work on. By working as a group, you will be able to introduce the sense of camaraderie and cooperation among the children participating in this project. The kids will be able to share their ideas with each other and may somehow lead to good friendships.

The basic material for this group project is a freezer paper. This will serve as the huge canvass for the kids to work on. Freezer paper is about 18 inches wide, and it is very tough. One of its sides is plastic coated where foods are usually placed. However, you will be working on the other side so you can easily draw or glue something on it. Group murals can feature a number of different design elements.

You may ask the children to put their handprints or footprints on it, this might sounds good to children coz it will be a lot of fun. You can also allow them to cut out some pictures from magazines and glue it on the paper. They can also incorporate some scribbles, designs, signatures, slogans, or pictures using markers, crayons, or gel pens. You may also allow them to add some stickers. This project can be very flexible so you may put on everything you want.

When making the mural, it will be easier for the participants to stick on a single theme. The theme must be related to the interests of the young artists. For an instance, if the participants are girl scouts, you may ask them to feature pictures of camping materials. If you are teaching about dinosaurs, a dinosaur themed mural will be fine.

If you want a messy yet cute theme for fall, why not ask the kids to use their body parts to draw trees. The kids may start by using their forearms as the tree trunks. Put brown paint on their arms and ask them to lay their arms on the paper gently. Then use their hands to draw branches and their finger prints as the leaves. Try adding a few drops of dishwashing detergents to the paints so it will be easier for cleaning afterwards. In addition, ask the children to wear old clothes or smocks when making this project.

An animal theme will be quite more interesting for preschoolers. You would probably provide them with pre cutout pictures of animals and let them pick the ones they like to glue on to the mural. It is advisable to use glue sticks with small kids so it will not be too much messy. Let the children place their pictures on whatever position they want. After all, it is the process that is important in this craft. You may also tell them to use animal cookie cutters dipped in paint to stamp animal figures on the mural. Moreover, they can tape the paper on a table or on a wall so it does not move while the children work.

This craft idea is designed to build camaraderie and teamwork among participating artist. It is a good way to build a strong bonds of friendship.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“No one lives and die for his own self only; we need others to live happily.”

Apron: A Timely Handicraft Gift Idea

It is Christmas time and you may be wondering what to give your friends and loved ones that is cool aside from being useful. This gift idea, an apron, can be one of the best ideas you may consider doing this holiday season.

Apron is a useful and a simple handicraft gift idea to do for your friends and your family. You can give it to mommies and grandmas to use when cooking or doing other kitchen works. You can also give it to daddies because they can also wear this while barbecuing sometimes. In addition, it can be used in their workshops. Kids also need aprons when they are dong arts and crafts to protect their clothes from stains and paints. If you wish to make one, here are the simple instructions for making apron handicrafts.

Start with a sturdy piece of cloth suitable for the individual who will use the apron afterwards. The fabric’s width must be enough to wrap ½ to ¾ of the model’s body and long enough to cover the body from collar bone to just above the knee. For a large adult, 25-30 inches wide by 36-40 inches long will be just enough. For children aged 15 years and below, you will need at least a piece of fabric 18 inches wide by 25-30 inches long..

Also, use sturdy cotton fabrics such as medium weight denims or twill. Soft cottons such as broadcloth or muslin may be good enough for kitchen works, but it will not last long and will not work well in the gardens and workshops. You will also need a sewing machine and some threads. You will also need extra length of fabric to make straps to go around the neck, ties for the back, and pockets.

In designing your handicraft, it is best to combine beauty and functionality. Add pockets so the user will have some place to put their things while working. The first step is to fold the fabric lengthwise. This will you help you cut symmetrical shapes with just one cut. What you will be shaping when you make the cut will be the bib section of the apron. The bib for an adult sized apron will need to be about 9 inches wide.

Take a measurement from the fold of about 5-1/2 inches. This is half the width of the bib plus an inch to fold under twice to form a hem. The piece you will cut off the side to shape the bib will be a half bullet shape with the tip of the bullet being where the ties will be attached. The length of the half bullet shape should be about a foot, and the width will be from the spot you marked 5-1/2 inches from the fold to the outside edge of the fabric. After cutting these pieces you must come up with somewhat like of an apron shape.

You may now decorate the body of the apron with pockets and any other decorations you desire such as patches and appliqué. Afterwards, fold under the edges all around, and stitch it down using a sewing machine. Make sure to keep the stitches sturdy to make a nice hem around the apron. After sewing the body of the apron, it is now time to make the straps. Cut a pair of fabric a yard long and two inches wide to make the ties. Fold lengthwise and fold raw edges to the inside. Press and sew along the length to form the ties. Attach each tie on the sides of the apron’s waist.

Cut another piece, 18-20 inch-long by 5 inch-wide fold in half lengthwise and press. Repeat the procedures you did for the ties, and then attach both ends to the topsides of the bib. This will serve as the strap to hang the apron on the user’s neck. Be careful not to twist it when you attach it. After putting all the pieces together, you now have a beautiful and functional handicraft product. If you will use this as a gift for someone, surely, he or she will appreciate it very much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“When giving gifts, it’s the thought that counts; so think carefully what you are going to give.”

Environment Friendly Craft: Potholders from Scrap Fabrics

Doing crafts is therapeutic and can relieve stress and tensions. It is also a perfect way to unwind and make something useful and creative. Every one of us has creative potentials and with modern easy to do kits and patterns, doing crafts does not have to end in frustration.

If you have a sewing machine at home, you can do many creative handicrafts. To start with, a potholder project can be an easy project to do. Potholders can be made from scrap materials or unwanted clothing and a bit of double-fold bias tape. Here are the simple step-by-step procedures in making your potholders.

Cut a pair of 8-inch (21 cm) squares of fabric for the faces of the potholders. Use coordinating fabrics so it would be appealing to the eyes. If you prefer, you can make a cardboard pattern so it will be easier for you to cut the other pieces. Now cut more 8-inches square pieces from any old fabric to stack for the filling. The filling must be thick enough to protect you from heat but thin enough so it would be so manageable and can be sewn through easily.

Arrange all layers so the outer layers are facing the outside and the filler layers are inside. You can put a couple of large straight pins through the assembly to fasten them together temporarily. Then start to sew right across the middle of the stack. Sew across the middle again, perpendicular to the first stitching. Make stitches across opposite corners and do it on the other corners. If you wish, you may repeat each stitch to make a strong bond. The layers must be strong and sturdy at this stage.

To bind off the raw edges of the assembly, trim first the excess parts to smoothen and even out the edges. Open out one folded edge of the bias tape. The wider bias tape can be easier to use, but the narrow type makes a neat finish product. Start with one side, line up the edges of the tape with the edges of the potholder. You may now start stitching through all layers along the first fold line. The stitch must be a quarter inch from the edge. Repeat same procedure with the remaining three sides until you reach the starting corner of the potholder. Cut the bias tape off and leave three inches (7 cm) to form a hanging loop.

Fold the bias tape over the raw edge so that the middle fold lines up with the outside of the potholder and the other fold is hiding the raw edge of the bias tape. Now, for best results, manually hand-sew the binding down, forming a loop on your creative handicraft when you get to the end.

This potholder project is very easy to do. You can also try do some other shapes if you want; say, a circular or an oval potholder or even fruits and veggies shapes will also do. This crafts idea is very cheap and would not cost too much. You will only need pieces of recyclable fabrics and your creativity. Your finished product will be very useful for your own kitchen or you might do it in batches and give it off to your friends.

The Right Craft Ideas for Kids

You may be a camp director, a teacher, or a mother looking for craft ideas designed for kids’ enrichment. Maybe you are not very creative, and you are having hard times conceptualizing craft ideas. But you don’t have to worry; your creativity can still be improved, because there are certain ways to make it easier for you to find nice craft ideas for kids.

First, forget perfectionism. Think outside the box. If you will confine yourself on focusing only on a single right way to do something, you will only make your every decision harder. Regardless of the kid program you are into, there are always many suitable craft ideas to do. Do not hesitate because you might pick the wrong one. Just consider the age and skill levels of the kids involved and your choice will be right craft.

Second, consider your budget. Most kid’s craft ideas are not expensive. Prepackaged kits for making a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are still affordable for few kids. However, if more kids will be doing this project, these kits may cost much. You may also consider doing almost exactly the same projects by just looking for the same craft kits components and buying the same materials in volume at discount stores. With this, you may have to do some preparations ahead of time like cutting out shapes or at least making cardboard patterns for the kids to use to cut their materials themselves. This will save you a lot of money.

Third, consider their gender. Boys are different from girls and vice versa. Do not expect boys to enjoy a girly craft. For boys, ask them to do lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and similar projects. Girls will love to do beadworks and anything that is pink or purple. For a craft idea that will perfectly suit both sexes, keep it on the boyish side. However, provide some girly materials to keep the girls enjoying, too.

Fourth, modify some ideas. You must remember that ideas spring from other ideas. You may look over some magazines or websites to get inspirations. You may reinvent some craft ideas to suit your preferences and needs. It is well said that you do not need to reinvent the wheel always. All you have to do is modify and enhance.

Fifth, stick with the basics. You do not have to change every details or instructions or create something new to make a good kid’s craft idea to be pleasing and interesting. Do not be so stiff with following instructions. Let the children express their creativity, instead of teaching them what to do. Do what they seem to be fun and appropriate. After doing so, you will gain experience every time you are doing crafts with kids. Do not be afraid to take risk in choosing the right project, after all the essence of doing crafts is simply to have fun.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“If you want to make a loved one happy, consider his qualities.”

Hobbies for Mothers at Home

In the past decades, many mothers are resorting to pursuing careers outside their homes, but that trend seems to be changing. Most mothers would want to take care of their small children personally so they have to sacrifice their careers and the opportunity to earn a living. Moreover, because of this, more and more mothers have returned to being housekeepers to look after their kids and hobby skills can help them meet the financial challenges of being a one-income family.

Cooking is a hobby that is very useful for mothers at home. Cooking as well as baking are fascinating hobbies to do. You may explore different international cuisines or even invent your own recipes to learn new gourmet treats for your family. Baking can also be one of your hobbies; you can learn to make pastries and different kinds of breads. With this, you will be able prepare yourself loaves of breads for your family consumption. In effect, you will save fraction of the cost of loaf breads bought at the market.

Another home and hobby skill for mothers is sewing. Of course, you will be able to come up with many crafts easily with the use of sewing machines, so having such machine is a good investment for every household. You can make your own pot holders, aprons, quilts, and many other crafts that you can think of. This hobby is reasonably inexpensive, you can use recycled materials and old clothes in making crafts. Other sewing skills that you can learn are mending, altering old clothes, cross-stitching, and embroidery. With enough skills and creativity, you will come up with nice pieces of crafts that you can use yourselves or as gifts to your friends or even sell in bazaars and trade fairs. Among other hobbies, more moms prefer sewing as a hobby.

Some moms and their husbands wish to remodel their houses, but it will cost them much. Therefore, they resort to doing the repairs and carpentry jobs by themselves instead of paying someone to do the work. It is a practical thing to do even if you have some extra amount on your budget. You can learn some do-it-yourself instructionals on the Internet such as making all sorts of house repairs and renovations to your home, furniture, and other belongings. With these, you will learn new skills and save money.

Gardening is a hobby that will bring you closer to nature and can give high quality produce for your family. Some families are investing in hobby greenhouses or growing enough extra produce to sell at farmer’s market every week. Gardening is not limited to crop production; it can also mean ornamentation like landscaping or growing flowering plants. It gives the hobbyist a sense of accomplishment when their efforts have created something useful and profitable in return.

You, as a homemaking parent have the ability to create harmony and beauty around your house as well as raising everyone’s standard of living. You do not need to spend much in doing so. You may arrange dried wildflowers beautifully or create simple hand-lettered mottos to uplift everyone’s spirits. You must remember that it is just a matter of creativity and resourcefulness to create something delightful.

It is true that home and hobby call the women of today, suggesting a simpler way of life closer to people and things that matter most. Career women are truly making an important impact on today’s world, but still we must also recognize those mothers who decided to stay at home and learn hobbies and skills and add value to their home.

Christmas Craft: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

You can make beautiful Christmas decors out of ordinary pipe cleaners and some inexpensive acrylic beads. You only need a bit of imagination and creativity to come up with something useful and adorable. Anyone, even small children, can enjoy doing this project and have fun making one. With some variations, you may also come up with different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.

To start off the project, you will need common pipe cleaners in desired colors and some acrylic beads. You may use two types of beads for this project. One type is called sunburst beads, also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflakes beads, or starburst beads. These kinds of beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When strung consecutively, these beads will tend to lock to adjacent beads and will create an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead is called a tri bead or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads also interlock when strung consecutively. To fit in with the yuletide season feel, it is recommended to use festive colors of beads like red and green, you may also opt to use clear ones. Tri beads in metallic gold and silver finishes are also perfect for this Christmas crafts.

Pipe cleaners are available is silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For this project, it is best to use metallic and Christmas colors. The beads would cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string beads onto pipe cleaners. You should bend up one end of the pipe cleaner so the beads will not fall off. The pipe cleaner is somewhat stiff so it will be easier to string each beads into it. For best results, try to do color patterns when stringing. After you strung enough beads, it is now time for your creativity to play. You may bend the pipe cleaners according to your preferred shapes or Christmas icons.

You may come up with a candy cane by using red and white beads strung alternately or a Christmas wreath made from green and red beads and add some details such a bow or a Christmas bell. You now have enough decorative ideas to dress up your Christmas tree. Moreover, with further experimentations, you may use clear beads and silver pipe cleaners to make some shiny snowflake or star ornaments. This will surely be a simple and yet extra ordinary decors on top of your tree.
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Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft you would find yourself looking forward to make every year. Children and parents will definitely have quality bonding time together making this amazing Christmas decors.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Various events in our lives are like beads, they mean nothing unless they are strung together."

Arts and Crafts Idea: Foam Sheet Glasses or Cell Phone Case

I am now presenting a new hobby on this blog – crafts. Crafts are good hobbies because they can be a source of additional income aside from giving enjoyment and satisfaction. Teachers can also use this idea to stir creativity among his students. You can also give this as a Christmas gift to your relatives and friends. For my first post on this topic, I will discuss foam sheet glasses case.

Here are the things that you will need for the project: a square craft foam, a plastic or a large blunt needles, and lanyard lace or thick yarn. First, cut two rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm). With a hole puncher, make holes on three sides leaving one short end unpunched. Make each hole half an inch apart and at least quarter inch away from the edge of the craft foam. Repeat the same procedure with the other foam. The holes on both foams must be identical in position because that is where you will lace the two parts together. For small children crafters, you may ask help from adults to do the punching of holes.

You may now start to cut decorative shapes from other colors of craft foams; there are also available pre-cut foam designs in the market that you can readily use. If you have a theme in mind, say a cowboy theme, find shapes that fit well, such as a boots, cowboy hats, and stars. Let the little crafters choose what they want to put on their cases. You may also put on some beads or sequins on your project to add character and glitter.

The next step is to thread the plastic needle with a yarn or lanyard lace. Yarns can be a little easier to work with, but lanyards are shiny and attractive. You may also use a bobby pin as a safer alternative for needles. You may now start to lace the front and back of the glasses case together.

You can also turn this craft into a necklace purse. Simply attach a length of lanyard lace to each corner making a long strap. Kids will enjoy using these cases as a place to store secret notes and small objects. If they want to, they can give the glasses case to someone who wears glasses. Either way, this art project will surely be fun and enjoyable for everyone to do.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"The best gifts are those made by the giver's hands, because with the gift, the giver give a part of himself."

Fitness Activities that are (Almost) Free

Due to economic reasons, some people opt to do fitness activities at home rather than enrolling on a commercial fitness center and spend some amount of money. In reality, some people are not capable of allocating some of their household or personal budget to splurge on such things.

Although it is important for our body to stay fit and healthy, it will be impractical for small earners and those who have tight budget to spend some money to enroll in gym centers. That is why they choose doing cheap but effective fitness activities at home or outdoors. Here are some of the things you can do to stay in shape without spending too much.

Hiking

Contrary to popular belief, hiking is not just a weekend activity. Hiking can be a regular exercise routine. You will need to exert more effort in hiking because of the ascending terrain and the heavy backpacks you usually carry when hiking that makes it a more challenging and strenuous fitness activity to try. You can go hiking on your free day, especially if you are living near hiking parks and trails. Hiking is free and is a sure way to burn as much as 550 calories per hour.

Walking, Jogging, and Running

Another cheap and effective alternative way to stay fit is walking, jogging, and running. All you need is a pair of good rubber shoes, a nice weather, and a nice neighborhood to burn fats. It may not be as adventurous as hiking but it will give you almost the same health benefit. Brisk walking can burn up to 380 calories while jogging and running can burn much more than that.

However, one of the disadvantages of walking outdoors is you cannot do it when the weather is not fine. In this event, you may use a treadmill to walk, run, or jog inside your house or you may jog in place or walk up and down your stairs.

Home Fitness DVDs

Instructional workout videos in DVDs are now getting popular. You can learn yoga, aerobics, and other exercises in your home. Instructional DVDs only cost $10 to $30. These DVDs are professionally designed fitness workouts to suit your fitness level. Do not be particular with the celebrity endorsers of the DVD but instead go for videos created by credible fitness professionals. You may also organize group fitness exercise in your home using these DVDs and enjoy exercising with your friends.

Use Old Exercise Machine

If you have old but functioning exercise equipments at home, try using it again instead of buying a new one. There is nothing wrong in using old stuff; after all, the benefits you will gain are still the same. You may also ask some of your friends to borrow exercise equipments they no longer use.

Buy Only the Basics

Having a treadmill or elliptical trainer at home is quite pricey so it is not necessary for you to have one. These stuffs only simulate activities you can do outdoors, thus you still have the option to do the real hardcore exercises. Just buy the basics such as weights, exercise mat, and exercise ball. They all provide various workout techniques but do not cost as much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Most of the time, we already have what we really need.”

Tips on Losing Weight to Stay Healthy and Fit

Experts say that two crucial factors greatly affect weight loss. One of which is the food in terms of calories or the diet you are eating and the other one is the frequency of physical activities you are doing such as exercises. These are the aspects that you must concentrate on during the implementation of your weight lost program. Here are some useful tips to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

1. Don’t ever skip regular meals. Do not deprive your body with essential nourishments that you can get from the food you eat. This is because if you skip meals, there is a bigger chance that you will eat more on your next meal and the meals after that.

2. Regulate your food intake. Although it is not good to skip meals, you must not eat excessively. Eating smaller amounts or food portions will help you cut down on calorie and fat intake. Of course, your choice of food, which I will discuss on this post later, also plays an important role on your weight loss program.

3. Monitor gradual weight loss of about one to two pounds weekly. This requires patience and your dream weight will not come to you overnight. Avoid programs that make you irritable, fatigued, or weak. Let your body regain water and fats that you lost during your workouts.

4. Select healthy food choices only. Choosing the foods that a person can eat from the food pyramid will help him develop a well-balanced diet as well as good eating habits. Drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables, without neglecting a regular intake of meat and some fats.

5. Cut down on your calorie intakes properly. Know your body’s required calorie intake because cutting too many calories can slow down your metabolism. With enough calories in your body, your system will not “eat up” other nutrients to function well.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“To gain something, you must give away.”

Health and Fitness through Weight Loss

Health and fitness has a lot to do with a person’s physical appearance, especially his weight. It is proven that a person’s weight is an important indicator of his health and fitness condition.

For those who have low self-esteem because of their physical appearance, health concerns, emotional instability, challenging physical capabilities attributed to their weight concerns, it is about time to consider losing some pounds.

Once you have decided to undergo weight control, you must remember several things. First, it is best to determine first your reasons why you want to lose extra pounds. It is important for you to have a concrete reason to motivate yourself during the weight loss program you will undergo.

Second, you must also wholeheartedly commit yourself in doing things necessary for your weight reduction program. It is essential for you to prepare yourself for the changes you will encounter during the process. It can be stressful and traumatic at first. The chance of success in this lifestyle change is dependent on your will and determination.

Third, you may need to have a back-up support system coming from your loved ones and friends in case you can no longer manage weight control on your own.

Fourth, you should seek first professional opinion to help you in choosing a suitable and safe weight loss program for you. You may also undergo for a trial period before investing time, money, and effort in enrolling to a specific weight loss class or program.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Don’t forget the reasons behind your every decision; it can be your greatest motivation to go on when the going gets tough.”