Scrapbooking Experiences

I simply love scrapbooking! And being a freebody, as ADHDs usually are, I'd usually use simple scrapbooks.

'What is a simple scrapbook?' you might ask.

And you might also ask What is a scrapbooking crop party. Or if you know what it is, you might want to know how to set up a crop party.

Do you know that you can actually scrapbook without photographs? My, I didn't until now and I also didn't realize I've been scrapbooking all through my schooldays!

I love transparent overlays, mainly as laminating sheets to protect my stuff. You could also use them to decorate your scrapbook.

Well, that's a scrapbook shot at my scrapbooking experiences. I'll grab a bite now and catch a snooze before I go to the zoo.

All about Big Brothers and Big Sisters Programs

Researching for my articles helped me garner much knowledge from the Internet. I learnt much about Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs. Here are some details in a nutshell.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America was awarded three mentoring grants totalling approximately thirteen million dollars by the United States Justice Department, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) a few years back. Grants of this nature are awarded to leading national organizations in recognition of their works that strengthen, grow and implement mentoring activities and development programs for youth.

Having a history of over a hundred years, and hundreds of testimonies that show its mentoring program works in America, Big Brothers Big Sisters is indeed an organisation that has positively impacted the lives of Americans. Its mentoring programs of children and youth across all America show that there is hope even when parents are incarcerated, that children and youths will grow in the right direction when they are mentored by older brothers and sisters.

Big Brothers Big Sisters welcomes a workforce from diverse work experiences and ages because it believes that having people from diverse backgrounds work towards a common cause will bring about the best results. There is always somethng more that can be done for the disadvantaged children and youths.

How do the mentoring programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters work? Children and youths at risk (the Littles) are paired off with adults (the Biggies) as their mentors in the hope that these mentors will act as ideal role models in the absence of good parenting models. Instead of being substitute parents, these adults are referred to as big brothers and big sisters to foster closer ties that are void of the negative connotations these Littles have with their biological parents.

Biggies meet up with their Littles on a regular basis that can be monthly or weekly. Meaningful time is spent in the form of chatting over meals, visits to places of interest, or recreation. Through activities spent together, a relationship of trust is formed that allows Biggies to have a positive influence over their little siblings who may otherwise seek out the wrong company in their absence. Biggies soon become a good listening ear to their Littles, and mentor their activities.

Mentors are carefully selected through interviews with professional staff members in the town closest to their homes. If selected, they will be matched to a child or youth in need of a mentor, according to interests, availability and race. Because child safety is top priority, applicants as mentors will be subjected to a background check to ensure a good fit into the mentoring program. They will also provide two references that can attest to their abilities and suitability as mentors.

Once mentors pass the stringent checks, they are matched with a child in their area, according to gender and the kind of children they would like to mentor. Because the mentoring program depends largely on suitable matching, mentors may be assigned a Little in uncertain duration. It is important that mentors are matched to the correct charges or risk unnecessary stress and unhappiness over the mentoring experience. Moreover, unsuitable matching may result in unwanted problems.

Matches are in two kinds: school-based and community-based. School-based matches meet within the Little's school for an hour a week in the day, during which they share a variety of school-related activities such as reading in the school library, having lunch together, playing together or doing projects together. Community-based matches fit into the Big Brother or Sister's schedule and involve activities such as outings to sports events or places of interest, and even visits to their homes or meets with other matches.
Parents of children in need of a mentor must approve the selection of the match before mentoring begins. They are also involved in mentoring in various ways and work closely with staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters to ensure success in the mentoring process. The Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program can result in children becoming more confident of themselves, having better relationships with others and being successful in their studies, as well as staying clear of drug abuse and other criminal tendencies that their parents may have been involved in.

The success of the Mentoring Program at Big Brothers Big Sisters falls mainly on the best match, as well as careful monitoring and interaction between the guardians, the Littles, the Biggies and staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters. By keeping their charges gainfully occupied and being there for them, mentors pave the way to healthy lifestyles and interactions that will hopefully keep them off the wrong course of bad decisions and role-modelling. It is therefore vital that aspiring volunteer-mentors avail themselves to the stringent assessments, interviews and background checks.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), being a mentor in one of its mentoring programs means being able to help another just by being yourself. You may be considering how to apply as a mentor. Being a mentor in the BBBS organization makes you more than someone who is professionally related to the child or youth that you will mentor. As the name of the organization implies, you will become a big brother or sister - a Big - to someone for an hour or more per week, depending on the number you can commit yourself to. As a big brother or sister, your impact will certainly be greater than that of a doctor or a psychiatrist.

You may also be wondering what being a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters will demand of you. Take heart that being a mentor in the BBBS program simply means that you are a big brother or big sister to a child, often referred to as your Little. You will be paired with a Little whose interests are similar to yours. This matching is done so that you and your Little wil have common topics to talk about, and by doing so, you will be able to build a bridge of friendship and trust with your Little. By doing so, it is also hoped that your Little will trust you enough to open up to you, and take your positive advice on negative issues in his life.

Now that you are convinced that you can make a difference to somebody's life in a small way, you can start by applying as a mentor by clicking on the Volunteer link at www.bbbs.org. You will see the words Volunteer to start something, with a field for you to type your zip code into, at the top right hand corner of the webpage.

If you still want to find out more, click on one of the four yellow links below that reads Be a Big Brother, Be a Big Sister, Real Life Stories, and Sign Up to Volunteer.
Once you have read and are convinced that mentoring as a Big is what you want to do, click on Sign up to Volunteer, enter your zip code and click the Submit icon. You will come to the link that depicts all the contact information that you need of the BBBS agency nearest your home. At the top left of the link, you will find the agency name, the address, the contact person's email address, the website address, as well as the telephone number. A few lines below the telephone number are fields that you would need to complete. The fields include your first and last names, your gender, date of birth, email address, phone and phone type. Once you have filled in the fields, click the Submit icon and your application as a mentor is on its way.

Once your existence has been verified, you will be contacted by a staff of your local BBBS agency who will inform you of their decision to accept your application as a mentor.

Once your application as a mentor online has been submitted, that is not the end of the application, however. If your application is considered, you will also have to undergo personal interviews, and background checks that include two references concerning your mentoring abilities. Because you are going to mentor little beings that have had more than their fair share of troubles in their families, their safety is top priority. Hence the stringent application processes.

If you do not make it as a mentor at BBBS but are still keen to contribute to the organization, you can do it in kind, with donations of cash or clothes, toys or games. You might also consider joining one of their fund-raising projects. You may want to volunteer your services or join the staff in a variety of positions related to fund-raising, program development and operations. BBBS is an organization that runs on donations and public funds. Its hundred years of service to society have garnered much support from the community, and have pointed the right way to many a wayward child or youth. Your consideration to apply as mentor or aide in any other way is indeed commendable. Whatever way you serve the BBBS organization, remember that young lives are being helped by your kind services.

What rewards are in for you? Being a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs will probably not make you a millionnaire. Neither will you become a superstar overnight, or even one for a day. Indeed, the rewards of being a mentor is seldom extrinsic, and mainly intrinsic, if they do exist. A sure reward is the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a difference to somebody's life.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs exist to brighten another person's life, and as that person's mentor, your rewards will centre around the improved well-being of that person. It is already a reward in itself if you have been selected as a mentor because you would have undergone background checks and interviews, as well as having two persons attest to your mentoring abilities.

As a big brother or big sister, often referred to as a Big, you are involved in one or both programs offered by the organization: school-based program or community-based program. In the school-based program, the Big goes to school and spends time with his Little at lunch, doing projects or homework together, playing or even just reading at the library. In a community-based program, the Big brings his Little to places of interest, games and movies, and any other social event that is appropriate. The key in either program is quality time together.

When his Little improves in relating to others or in his school work, a Big knows he has impacted his Little in a succinct manner during their quality time together. It is certainly rewarding to know that the quality time spent with someone has impacted that someone in a terrific manner, even if the improvement made is miniscule.

Spending time with someone from a disadvantaged background can be very trying and energy-sapping at times, especially when you have your own job and family to cope with. A Little whose parents are not able to be there for him most of the time will be a child or youth with insecurity in his life, often lacking in social skills, as well as lacking material comfort. A Big's love and attention can mean a whole lot to him and fill the gap left by his absent parents.

As a Big, you can be certain that your efforts will not gone to waste, as the Big Brother Big Sister organization will have staff that monitor the outcome of each match stringently so that positive results are ensured and nobody's time, especially the mentor's, is wasted.

Parents are involved in monitoring the changes that are evident in their children. This recognition of positive growth is important to the children because they yearn for the acceptance and love of their parents. To be recognized by the parents and the child that you have changed the child's life, is a reward that goes beyond a billion dollars.

In summary, the rewards of being a mentor with the Big Brother Big Sister program include knowing you have made a positive influence in someone's life, being recognized by your Little and his family members as being the one who has turned him around, and watching your Little turn into somebody who is confident, independent and  possibly  pass forward your involvement in his life to others.

What I Learnt Writing at Helium.com

Helium.com was what I stumbled upon the first day I became a stay-at-home mother in 2007. I had embarked on a distance writing course. I needed something more practical to fill my time. The lure of being paid for my writing was enticing enough to send me signing up.

Helium.com had a community head who was a full-time worker at Helium's headquarters. She worked with senior writers who shepherded newer writers like me, editing and guiding our write-ups known as articles.

I was fortunate to have entered the site early enough when the minimum word requirement per article was 200. The requirement stretched to 400, then 600 words. By then, I had learnt to reach the minimum word requirement with little difficulties as my writing abilities grew through the months.

Helium content was divided according to the genre, each genre headed by a senior writer who also headed a forum page that shared the genre as the forum title. Each genre was then sub-divided such that titles contributed content that matched each sub-division.

As I wrote to different genres and submitted assignments to my distance writing course mentor, my writing style started to evolve. I found my voice - as a writer.

Helium.com also had a rating system whereby writers compare two articles written by other Helium writers and rated which article was better. My critical eye was thus developed as I read and rated articles that were written by writers of different calibres.

As I challenged myself to write to different genres, I learnt to think critically, deliberate through multiple online publications for trustworthy information, and write solid articles that were unrefutable.

The various senior writers there became not bosses but friends and mama bears who looked not just into my writing needs but also the various roles I played in life. I learnt to communicate beyond the content of my articles. I learnt to make friends online and communicate well in writing.

Although Helium.com no longer exists, the seven odd years spent reading, writing, rating and earning there garnered friends that I still keep in touch with online. The other thing I could never shake off as it has become an integral part of me is the love for writing. I will treasure the happy years spent at Helium.com.

What else did I learn to do at Helium.com?

Zoning at Helium has never been more enriching and fun before! With its easy dashboard and tools, you will learn to create websites and focus on content rather than technicalities when doing so. Today, I apply the skills to blogging which runs on a similar platform.

These were some of my zones:
* How to build a Helium channel using mindmapping
* Lokemun Magar Writes
* PARENTING WRITES: Lend us your pen at parenting and pregnancy knowledge and skills
* Special Needs: Gifted Children
Special needs kids, pots and pies
* Write to Helium's Empty Titles Zone
Women in the Bible

Sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Not only is the quality of sleep important, its quantity also plays a major role in determining the welfare of our lives. 

Often we exchange sleep for the pleasures, and more often, for the work in our lives. We may even conscientiously or purposely ignore our body's cry for sleep, choosing instead to believe that our 'sacrifice' is for the common good of the community we live in. 

It is indeed a fatal error if we continuously sacrifice our sleep because the human body is physical and does not have eternal value. Hence it is up to us to take good care of our body and ensure that it gets the rest that it deserves.

PROBLEMS WITH SLEEP AND SLEEP DISORDERS

Bruxism Causes

Bruxism is a 'habit' of grinding our teeth during sleep. Its causes can be physical, emotional or reactional. Often, the person is unaware that he is suffering from Bruxism unless he is told. It is normally a subconscious action. As bruxism usually occurs when the sufferer is sound asleep, he is never in control of trying to prevent or stop it for obvious reasons.

Bruxism may be a delayed response to stress in the day. The person is unable to respond to certain mentally or emotionally stressful circumstances that occur during the waking hours. The person is only able to respond to the stress in the subconscious. At the time when the stressful daytime circumstances occur, the sufferer may be too shocked to respond appropriately to them. The stress is usually not adequately handled during the waking hours and thus slips into the sufferer's unconscious, and often does so when the sufferer is too busy to fully resolve the reasons for the stress. When the sufferer goes to sleep, his brain does not and when he is finally in deep sleep, the subconscious mind surfaces the stress that occurred during the day and the body reacts to it in the form of bruxism.

Bruxism may also be caused by the presence of crooked teeth or malocclussion. The surfaces of the teeth are thus not able to fit snugly into each other, especially the flatter incisors at the front of the mouth. Often, the teeth on the upper jaw slips outwards and over the incisors on the lower jaw. When a sleeping person gnashes his teeth together during sleep as the jaws clamp down, the gritting sound may be horrendously loud in the dead of the night.

Consumption of certain drugs and alcoholic drinks could render a person to lose control of activities. When the drugs and alcoholic drinks have a deep effect on the person, the person is rendered incapable of even voluntary activities and is hence not able to control involuntary ones such as those performed during sleep.

Bruxism may also be an inherited condition of aggressive and impulsive perfectionists. The negative energy is carried into the night and hence the person grits his teeth.

It is known that bruxism may diminish with age and hence adults who have it may do well to seek expert advice, as bruxism may signify something more serious than just a bad dream. It is best to try and establish the cause of bruxism in a person. For example, if the cause is emotional as in the case of stress during waking hours, the stressful conditions need to be dealt with. Otherwise, the person may suffer more than bruxism, such as a nervous breakdown or other more serious mental conditions.

Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) causes

Consider the following illustration: All kitchen lights are off except for one in a block of flats. It is in the wee hours of the new morning. The night is still except for an occasional breeze which sways the light branches of some trees. Jane is still awake, typing away at the keyboard of her laptop and oblivious to the fact that she is as awake as the people on the opposite half of the Earth. Yet she ought to be sleeping like the people on her half of the Earth.

Jane is usually referred to as the night owl by her friends. She will be snoring away at morning lectures, to the amusement of her classmates and definitely annoying lecturers who marvel at her ability to ensure she finds her way to school by seven o'clock daily and wonder if she managed to sleepwalk there.

Jane may be a fictitious character. However, all of us would have met a real Jane in our lives, or are one ourselves. These are folks who will be asleep while we are awake and be awake when we are asleep.

Jane suffers from what we call delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS). She is only able to sleep when her bio-chronological clock says so. Because of her inability to fall asleep when the rest of the world can, she cannot feel rested when everyone else springs up in the morning. If Jane enters a college which starts at eleven in the morning, she would have rested enough and be awake at the first lecture and done well, not be served tons of detention notices for ill-discipline.

Is it habit, or the lack of, and a non-routine that makes one a sleepless Jane? It is unfortunately not. Jane can be in bed at nine at night but she will toss and turn until her internal clock lulls her to sleep. It is not insomnia, as she can fall asleep, but she will only be able to do so when everyone has slept hours ago.

DSPS occurs mostly in teenagers, and can be mistaken for ill-routine and rudeness. Most often, it is a John, rather than a Jane. 

DSPS has been found to be more prevalent in male teenagers than in their female counterparts. Nevertheless, DSPS is also common among female teenagers.

Could it be the excitement or the stress at college life that induces DSPS? The expectations to do well, trying to cope with the sudden increase in difficult homework or social activities in the daylight hours may well influence sleep-wake patterns. The sleep phase is thus delayed.

Another possible cause which cuts across all ages is prolonged illness of a serious nature, causing both physical and psychological stress and disrupting sleep patterns as the patient is not comfortable enough to fall asleep at the right time due to discomfort caused by the illness.

A very bad experience may induce trauma-like feelings. These feelings may disrupt the normal functions of the body and cause DSPS. The experience could have occurred at night. Hence the night becomes an unsafe time and the victim may have unconsiously associated night time with caution and hence staying awake to avert another disaster.

Likewise, shift work, frequent late night functions and creative careers may worsen the situation as these would also disrupt normal sleep patterns and induce DSPS.

Once the cause or causes are identified, the DSPS sufferer needs to make adjustments to help him revert to living the times on the correct side of the Earth. It is then more lightly that we will see all the lights on the block of flats off within the samed period of time.

Sleep Disruptions: Frequent Urination
  

Sleep disruptions can be due to many reasons, one of which is frequent urination at night. What causes frequent urination at night, and when is the frequency a cause for concern? It is not just the disruptions to sleep patterns that one will need to worry about. Indeed, the frequent urination at night, let alone through daylight hours, is cause for concern. Causes of frequent urination can spell the beginnings of a lifelong ailment that may result in death. It is thus not enough to blame the frequent urination on a full bladder due to excessive drinking.

The human bladder can hold up to 600 ml of urine, which is equivalent to about two and a half cups of fluid. Nonetheless, the urge to empty the bladder can start with as little as 150 ml, or slightly over half a cup of fluid. Frequent urination can be blamed on the increase of the volume of urine produced in the bladder or a problem with the storage or emptying of urine.

What constitutes frequent urination is a first question that one should consider. Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate is no cause for concern, especially if it is a common or nightly occurrence. It may also happen after a hefty food and drink intake immediately before sleep and the intake is not completely processed before sleep. Hence, the need to get up and empty the bowel. This occurrence is not a cause for concern if urination patterns return to normal the next night.

When the frequency of urination increases and sustains over a period of nights, however, it calls for concern because frequent urination at night can spell abnormalcy in the body. Other than a good heavy meal right before sleep, pregnancy can also cause urination patterns to change. These are no causes for concern, though, as explained.

Sudden frequent urination at night that occurs over a period of nights, however, sounds the alarm, and a visit to the doctor is advised for the causes can range from a temporary urinary tract infection to something more serious and life-threatening.

Causes of frequent urination at night that rings the alarm include the following, so it is important that irregular urination patterns are not ignored but given appropriate attention before the damage is irreparable.

Acute cystitis is a condition in which the bladder and/or the lower urinary tract is attacked by a sudden or severe bacterial infection. The usual occurrence is Escherichia Coli, more commonly known as E Coli, a bacteria that is found in the intestines. It is more common in women than in men because the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to the bladder in women than in men.

Consumption of certain foods can induce fluids to be drawn out of the body system, resulting in a greater loss of fluids and hence an increase in the volume of urine. Although not life-threatening, it is best to check out if the consumption of the foods should continue. Consumption of certain medications can likewise induce fluid loss.

Consumption of more fluids than what the body needs will naturally result in more urine that needs to be passed out. These fluids will normally be passed out before the person falls asleep, unless sleep sets in first, as in the case of drunkenness, extreme fatigue or illness.

Cancer of the bladder, ovary or urethra will increase the frequency of urination. It is important to note the changes in the color of the urine. A reddish tinge of the urine is a sign that something within is bleeding. Have a medical examination as soon as possible as early detection of the cancer may prevent further deterioration.

Diabetes can increase the amount of fluid discharge, causing an increase in the amount of urine and hence the frequency of urination. Be aware of cloudy discharge in the urine as that is one sign of diabetes.

Diuretics usage that controls or treats a number of medical conditions such as hypertension or high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, kidney disease and liver disease can increase urination.

Hypercortisolism or Cushing Syndrome is defined as a disorder which occurs when the body has absorbed too much cortisol or other steroid hormones, taken to treat conditions such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis.

Hypokalemia is a condition whereby the amount of potassium in the blood stream falls below normal levels in the blood serum. A depletion of potassium in the blood usually signifies the presence of diuretics in the bloodstream.

Prostatitis is a condition that occurs in the genito-urinary tract, beginning from the inflammation of the bladder. Men who suffer from this condition may end up with prostate cancer. Therefore, it is important that treatment is sought as soon as frequent urination at night, or even daytime, occurs.

Hypercalcemia, kidney ailments, menopause, multiple sclerosis, overactive bladder syndrome, stones in the bladder or kidneys, stroke, urge incontinence and uterine-related problems are other causes of frequent urination at night. The list runs on. It is hence important that frequent urination in the night be looked into, instead of blaming it on old age incontinence.

After School Activities

I recall the days as a teacher in charge and officer of a uniformed group in the Primary School. It offered the opportunity to be in a uniformed group that I missed when I was a student. It was fun organizing activities for the children despite the obstacles of time, suspension of meetings due to various reasons, and lack of helpers.

Uniformed groups offer a wider spectrum of activities as any other co-curricular activities, and provide their members with skills in the physical, socio-emotional, spiritual and mental domains. They demand discipline, self-control and pro-active minds. There is not a dull moment during meetings unless members choose to have a negative attitude towards activities.

Here are examples of some activities that members of uniformed groups can participate in, and work towards their badges and awards.

HOME ECONOMICS

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Let's Get Cooking

Solar cooking is a fun activity that Girl Scouts could experiment with. As it could involve a long waiting period, a great scout leader will weave in the following activities during the cooking process, such as planning and executing a birthday party for a neighbour, relative  or family member.

Combine some social work with cooking. The Girl Scouts could clean up an elderly neighbor's home and cook her a meal.

A more massive project could be organizing a flea food market to raise funds for a charitable organisation.

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Sew Simple

Girls could help their family members and folks in the neighborhood mend their clothes or stitch on lost buttons.

Little money pouches secured with buttons are easy to make too. These pouches could be cut out from remnants of cloth or discarded clothes.

* Girls could also decorate or mend holes in plain clothes with embroidered emblems.

INFO-TECHNOLOGY

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Computer Fun

The computer has become an integral part of many people in developing and developed countries. Smart phones are viable alternatives to a bulky desktop.

Girls could create their own blogs on a defined theme that benefits their school community or neighbourhood. Along the way, they learn to be socially responsible online and benefit their readers by providing news-worthy resources.

Girls could also source out free design apps on a whole range of items and organise their own exhibitions. For all you know, they could embark on a new career based on the same interest in the near future.

Social Studies

Online social media has shrunken the world. Folks from every corner of the world can communicate face to face without the need to leave their home country. Information is easily available at the click of an icon on your smartphone. You no longer need to lug around a 2kg netbook to get work done online. Activities for the following badges are thus easily accomplished.

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Globe-trotting

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: My Community

Academia

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Math Whiz

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Science in Everyday Life

Aesthetics

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Art in 3-D

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Making Music

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Music Fan

Junior Girl Scout badge activities: Adventure Sports