Category: Elementary

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! Are you thinking about making gifts yourself this year? Taking the time to make gifts for others is a very thoughtful gesture. If you’d like to make gifts instead of buying them this year, here are a few ideas to inspire you!

Valentine’s Candy Jar

Most people enjoy eating candy. For this gift, all you need is a jar and several different types of candy. Then, you fill the jar with all of the candy. If you’d like, you could also decorate the jar with strings, fabric, or even paint it.

‘You Mean the World to Me’ Globe

Who wouldn’t like being told that they mean the world to someone, especially on Valentine’s Day? To make this gift, you will need a globe and craft supplies. On the globe, you could write the phrase “You Mean the World to Me” with markers, paint, or letter stickers. Afterward, you may decorate the globe with Valentine’s Day-themed decorations however you’d like!

Candy Hearts Garland

Have you ever seen those cute, little candy hearts near Valentine’s Day? If you think they’re adorable, you could create a garland inspired by them. All you need are colourful pieces of paper to cut into hearts, some string to connect the hearts, and a marker to write words such as “cutie” and “love” on them. This gift will have everyone craving candy hearts!

Valentine’s Day Cupcake

Cupcakes are perfect for any holiday or occasion. They are simple to make and there are several recipes online that you could easily follow. There are also cupcake kits you could buy. To make the cupcakes extra special for Valentine’s Day, you could decorate them with coloured icing, sprinkles, and cupcake toppers!

Friendship Bracelet

Friendship bracelets are great to give as gifts and they are simple to make. Although they are called “friendship bracelets,” they could be given to everyone and anyone! All you will need is string and beads if you’d like to include them. There are several tutorials online showing how to create different types of patterns.

Fortune Cookies

Have you ever had a fortune cookie? Wasn’t it fun reading the note inside and then eating the cookie? If so, you would probably also have fun baking the cookies and deciding on the fortunes that go inside! Online there are several recipes that you could easily follow to create your own fortune cookies. You could also make them any colour you’d like to fit the Valentine’s Day theme! For the fortunes, you could either write them by hand or print them out on thin pieces of paper. Be sure to make your fortunes Valentine’s Day themed!

Personalized Candle

Candles make amazing gifts! There are several colours, scents, and sizes to choose from. If you’d like to give someone a candle and personalize it a bit, you could engrave a message onto it. For this, you would need to buy pillar candles that don’t come in jars. You could engrave a message on the side and paint it! Another option is to use that pillar candle and place it in a decorated jar. You may also create your own special candle if you’d prefer!

Bath Bombs

What is a better way to relax than taking a bath? Bath bombs can help make your bath even more relaxing. You can choose whichever colour and scent you’d like. Bath bombs look quite interesting and difficult to make, but you could make them at home! There are several tutorials online. To keep it Valentine’s Day themed, you could create pink, red, purple, and white heart-shaped bath bombs!

You now have eight different gift ideas you could make at home! You should try to make at least one of them for this year’s Valentine’s Day. Once you realize how fun it can be, you’ll want to make homemade gifts for every holiday!

 

Resources

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/g2020/easy-valentines-day-craft-ideas/?slide=3

https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/g3024/valentines-day-gifts/?slide=7

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/valentines-day-ideas/g526/homemade-valentines-day-gifts/?slide=7

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g1093/valentine-day-crafts/?slide=7

Imagine this scenario. You’ve poured your heart and soul to complete a school paper on Canadian Heroes, and you’re sitting on the living room couch putting on the finishing touches on your laptop, when all of a sudden, your older brother and his friends enter the front door and think it’s the best time to play indoor football. Next thing you know, you’ve been tackled by one of them, and you’re lying on your back on the floor, with your laptop beside you, and you hear it suddenly turning off. You rush to sit up and turn it back on, but it’s completely dead. What’s worse, your sibling and his friends merely laugh at the whole situation, even teasing how you’re not a good football player.

Of course, this scenario will make anyone angry, and when people are overtaken by anger, most of them lash out at the cause of their fury and say hurtful things that they will regret later. However, if something does cause you to fly off the handle, remember there are ways for you to keep the Hulk inside and respond to the circumstances calmly and without any casualties of hurtful words. Here are suggestions to keep in mind:

Do relaxation techniques.

It’s a cliché, and most of the time, those who have been provoked are most likely to act even more outraged when people tell them to “calm down.” However, calming yourself down is something you can do yourself when you’re infuriated. Breathing exercises can help, as well as counting from 1 to 10. Another strategy is to picture yourself in a relaxing scene, like lying on a pristine beach and getting a suntan or being atop a quiet hill where only greenery and colourful blossoms surround you.  Once you’ve managed to calm down, you can move on to the next step. Remember, no one can think clearly when they’re gnashing their teeth.

Assess the situation.

Give yourself time to think and assess the situation. So your brother and his friends unknowingly made you a part of a football play, which eventually led to them damaging your laptop and you possibly losing your paper. If you let anger take over and you let yourself explode, you’ll react in a way that could worsen the situation—throwing your laptop on the floor in anguish, making it completely unsalvageable, or even worse, throwing your laptop towards your brother or friends, possibly causing harm to them. Evaluate what really happened first and then move to the next step.

See it from the other party’s perspective.

People who find themselves in a dire situation often automatically act as the victim, and then it becomes all about them or “Me, Me, Me!” With this mindset, you’ll fall into the quicksand of self-pity quicker and quicker, and you’ll never get out. Try to see the point of view of the other party and understand where they are coming from. Based on the scenario above, your brother and his friends probably didn’t know you were working on something important. In addition, you were in the living room, a common room. This doesn’t mean to give them a pass for what they did, but you need to understand they are not 100% to blame. After this step, there’s only one more.

Work together to find a solution.

Learn to prioritize and instead of directing all your fury and negative anger towards the cause of your anger, focus on what’s more important to you at that given moment. Channel your energy instead towards working towards a positive outcome despite what happened. If it was your paper in danger of being lost, ask for help on how you can fix it. Maybe they can suggest a computer whiz who can bring a dead laptop back to life. Or maybe you can’t have a workable laptop, but you can still recover the disk and also all your files saved in it.

Getting mad is a normal response when something bad happens, but don’t let it control you.

SOURCES:

https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/how-to-control-anger/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201208/powerful-two-step-process-get-rid-unwanted-anger

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/anger-management/art-20045434

By: Julia Skoczypiec

 

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument but do not know where to start? Studies show that approximately 74% of adults have (at least once in their lifetime) learned how to play at least one. It may seem intimidating at first, but choosing a musical instrument is ultimately a fun and life-changing experience. Below are some tips and questions to take into consideration before you venture off to your local music store.

 

1. Learn about the various families of instruments. Each instrument can be categorized based on one of four families: woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. Knowing about the different types that belong in each family will teach you about their unique sounds, their difficulty levels, and the styles of music in which these instruments are often used.
2. Know your favourite music genres. Look at the songs that you stream or open your favourite online playlists. What music styles do you notice? While there are over 75 music genres that are considered on the “top charts,” the instruments and sounds used in each genre vary. Maybe you are someone with a playlist full of classic rock songs full of gripping electric guitar? Or maybe you prefer ballads that feature somber piano tones? Paying attention to the instruments used in your favourite songs will help you to identify what speaks to you.
3. Consider your practice space. As the cliché goes, “practice makes perfect.” To master a musical instrument, you must spend time at home to learn it. Unfortunately, not every instrument is ideal for every living space. Larger and louder instruments, such as a drum kit, saxophone, and trumpet, often create lots of resonance and may not be ideal for apartment living. On the contrary, ukuleles, guitars, and keyboards are ideal for smaller spaces—especially since some amplifiers can use headphones!
4. Determine your preferred size and weight. Instruments come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and weights. For someone of smaller stature, playing something large and heavy instrument—like a stand-up bass, for example—may become extra difficult. In addition, some instruments are easily transportable while others are not. Are you thinking of taking your keyboard to grandma and grandpa’s house to show off your skills? Or perhaps you have a camping trip coming up, and you want to play some guitar tunes around the fire? The size and weight of the instrument you choose should make you comfortable and should match your lifestyle.
5. Think about your budget. Some instruments, like ukuleles, harmonicas, melodicas, and kazoos, can be found for under $50. Others, like guitars, basses and keyboards, range between $100-$1,000 for beginner level models. Generally, when starting out, you do not need to pick the most expensive or “highest quality” instrument on the shelf, but still be sure to do some research on the many brands available.
6. Be mindful of the maintenance needed. Depending on the type of instrument you choose, you must take into consideration the proper ways to take care of it. For example, a guitar will need its strings changed when they break or start sounding dull—this can be as often as every month, but it all depends on how much you play. Make sure that you learn the proper maintenance techniques for your instrument to ensure your investment stays in great condition!

With the COVID pandemic, finding jobs was extremely difficult. One of the few jobs I found was at a local restaurant. They were looking for a hostess, and I thought to myself, I would be perfect for the job! I enjoy talking to people, and doing small tasks to make everyone’s job easier. The interview went very well, and I was hired by the end of the week.

After a few shifts, I felt comfortable in the environment and felt like I fit in with the rest of the staff! However, as the days progressed, problems began to arise. One of the first issues I faced was with one of the waitresses. She ignored many of my questions and would not respond to me if I tried to make small talk. I brushed it off quickly; it is impossible to be friends with everyone you work with. And from that, I learned to work around her and kept everything running smoothly. One small problem, or not-so-friendly person won’t stop me from getting a job done!

But after I moved past that, I ran into another issue. Being a hostess, you need to be able to speak to all sorts of customers and maintain a professional persona. No matter what they say, you need to remain polite. Or so I was told during my time as a hostess. I ran into multiple customers who had issues with their tables, their food, their drinks, or wait times. As much as I tried to solve every problem, that was not good enough for some people. And again, you can’t be friends with everybody. I learned to adapt to the customer I was talking to and try to solve the issue in a way they see suitable. It’s a tough job to bite your tongue sometimes and let them speak, but it is a good skill to learn. Sometimes it is better to listen and step away to calm down, than it is to interrupt and elevate the situation.

Now I didn’t last very long at this job. It wasn’t because of one coworker, and it wasn’t because of a handful of rude customers. The thing that gave me the push to quit was the manager. In customer service, you can only handle so much. And when you are new to the business, and are still trying to find your footing, the best thing is for there to be a manager who has your back. That was something I did not have. No matter what course of action I took, I was either too slow, too fast, or just not doing it right. If a customer had a wild complaint and shouted derogatory things at me, the manager couldn’t care less. One day, I had enough of being treated so poorly by the manager, and I just left in the middle of my shift. Why? I was dealing with some heavy family issues and my manager decided to yell at me for being overwhelmed.

If you’ve made it this far, you probably have some questions swirling around. One of them probably being, “Well, what did you learn?” From all of this, I learned a few different things. First, sometimes people are just not going to like you – and that is okay. Some people just do not mesh well together, and it isn’t because one of you is an awful person. It could just be a difference of opinion or personality. Being liked is not the most important thing when working, and the sooner that is learned, the easier customer service can be. Next, I learned how to keep my cool in intense situations. Remaining calm often helped with de-escalation, and made everyone’s lives a bit easier.  Finally, I learned that you do not have to sit down and take treatment you do not like. If you are being berated and feel unsafe somewhere, you have every right to just leave. Feeling terrible every time you go into work makes for a sad life. You should work somewhere you feel safe, accepted, and happy. And if you are not receiving these things, walk away and don’t feel bad about it. You are allowed to prioritize yourself and your well-being.

Everyone learns something from a new job, and it is important to remember these lessons and try to apply them to your everyday life.

By Rabia Khan

These past several years were like a rocket with feathers. It passed by slower than we expected. Now fast forward through the pandemic and beyond it, and it’s 2026.

Goals and dreams are like a North Star. We need to follow the shining light that is within us. That is what we dream about achieving. Focusing and not losing sight of that ultimate reality are important. Here are some tips and strategies for setting goals for 2026.

Make plans and never give up.

We need to prioritize our time and effort to achieve the task at hand. Never go for short-term solutions or benefits. Taking the hard road will turn lucrative and fruitful in the end. Some hard knocks are never going to knock you down. Pick yourself up even if there is an unpredictable or unprecedented fall. It never hurts to fall. It’s a jittery experience and makes us all the more determined.

Pursuing one’s goal is wonderful. It’s a wonderful way of taking hold of yourself and prospects that can ultimately culminate in achievement.

Know your strengths.

Know not only your strengths but also listen to your weaknesses and work on them. Do not be deterred or discouraged. Nothing happens overnight. It’s always a long process or a long road to wherever you are heading, but enjoy the journey because you make it on your own strengths.

Self-evaluation is vital. There is plenty of room for improvement, and opportunities present themselves that we should never ignore and never fail to utilize for the betterment of the goal at hand.

Analysis is a true king (or queen)!

Analyze the situation, weigh the pros and cons, and take the necessary actions with a very level-headed approach. Keep yourself open to all avenues and chances that may come one way. Never say never. Nothing is impossible. Nothing is unattainable.

Construct your best shot!

Build on your strengths. You should never underestimate your strengths. Make them your forte. Use them to the best of your potential. Strategize with your resources and carry them forward. You never know, your weaknesses may turn out to be your biggest challenge and your best chance at your future. Turn what you think are your weaknesses into yourstrengthsh and ward off any doubt about going about and forward in your career.

Think positive.

Never listen to negative advice from anyone. You are your best bet. No one knows you as well as you know yourself. So push the bar. Come out of your comfort zone. Let no one confuse you. Be very focused.

Keep in mind that what you have set out to achieve will be achieved no matter what, no matter how long it takes, but you are going to get there.

You can touch the stars. You can fly in the sky. It’s all in the mind. With a little bit of imagination and hard work, you can get there.

Bravo and cheers!

Although many people tend to hate the cold weather, there are people out there that enjoy the cold weather. You may be one of these people. Maybe you’re considering finding a job that will allow you to work in a cold climate. The following jobs are perfect for those who love the cold weather.

Ski Instructor

Ski instructors work in cold environments. They teach people how to ski on ski slopes and mountains. They also instruct their students on how to wear their safety gear, the equipment they must use, and how to ski safely. Skiing is a winter sport, which means if you are a ski instructor, you must work and most likely live in snowy areas for a while.

Skating Rink/Arena Worker

Since skating rinks are made of ice, they must be in cold areas to avoid the rink from melting. These rinks could be outdoors in the winter and indoors as well. There are many positions available to pick from at arenas and skating rinks. This is a good job for those that enjoy the cold weather as well as skating.

Construction Worker

Construction workers work all year round. A lot of them have to work outdoors, and this also means during the winter. They work in the snow as long as it is tolerable and safe to do so. Although they work during the winter season, construction workers don’t work when it is extremely cold outside or when there is a snowstorm.

Adventure Guide

Adventure guides lead groups through the outdoors and engage in many outdoor activities. These activities include hiking, rock climbing, camping, and rafting. In colder seasons, they lead activities such as mountaineering, snowshoeing, and skiing. They also teach some survival and safety skills with each activity. Although it is more common to see adventure guides working in warmer temperatures, there are also some that work in mountain areas and colder climates.

Snowplow Operator

Snowplow operators drive snow and salt trucks to clear the snow and ice on the streets and major roadways. They help make the streets safer for vehicles and pedestrians to travel through. Snowplow operators may have to travel to areas that are having snowstorms to provide emergency assistance. This job is great for those who enjoy driving and are comfortable operating heavy machinery. 

Winter Resort Employee

Winter resorts are great to visit if you love the cold, but working there could be even better. This way, you could stay in the cold environment more often. Most winter resorts offer activities such as sledding, snow tubing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides. There are many different positions you could choose from that will give you the opportunity to work in a cold climate.

You don’t have to spend the cold seasons hiding from the weather. These jobs are perfect for those that enjoy the cold. They can help you make the most out of your winter since most of them are only available during the winter season.

 

Resources

Indeed. “8 Jobs in the Snow for People Who Enjoy Cold Weather.” https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-in-the-snow

Monster. “5 cool jobs for people who love the winter.” https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/5-cool-winter-jobs-1204

Norah, Jessica. “Ski Holidays for Non-Skiers: 25 Things to Do at a Ski Resort If You Don’t Ski.” Independent Travel Cats. https://independenttravelcats.com/ski-holidays-for-non-skiers-things-to-do-at-a-ski-resort-if-you-dont-ski/

Singh, Gursh. “7 of the Best Seasonal Jobs For You to Get This Winter.” Credit Canada. https://www.creditcanada.com/blog/7-of-the-best-seasonal-jobs-for-you-to-get-this-winter

Winter can really suck. Sure, there are the holidays and freshly fallen snow can be very pretty – but otherwise, it can be a cold, depressing time. Or is it? Old Man Winter might be keeping you indoors, but that doesn’t mean the season should go to waste. This is actually the perfect time to work on your more creative projects and hobbies. Even if you don’t consider yourself the most creative type, it’s still an ideal time to try your hand at indoor-related creative pursuits. Trying to learn a new language? Start reciting those Spanish phrases while a storm blows outside. Want to learn how to play an instrument? Grab a guitar instead of trying to shovel your way out to waste time at the mall. You can also draw, design websites, work on your book, etc. There are so many indoor activities that often get ignored while students are sitting around bored during the wintertime on holiday vacation. Here are some solid reasons why winter is the best time to work on creative projects:

It’s Just Too Cold Outside to do Anything Physical and Recreational

Unless you’re skiing, tobogganing, or doing anything else that requires a lot of snow, then it’s a real hassle to go outside during the winter to engage in any recreational activity. Instead of slogging yourself out into that unpleasant weather, you should consider staying cozy indoors with a hobby that you always considered trying. Maybe that turbulent storm is trying to tell you something about your artistic destiny!

Winter Scenes can be Inspirational When You’re Short on a Muse

Maybe you want to write or paint, but you don’t know what scene to paint or what subject to write about. The thing about winter is that, as dreadful as it can be sometimes, there is also a beauty in it. If you feel entombed by a stubborn snow day, then use this feeling as your muse and pick up the guitar to play the blues. Paint a picture of a drab winter day and use the picture-perfect example right outside your window. It’s a heck of a lot better than sitting around bored and complaining about the weather.

Creativity Keeps the Winter Blues at Bay

Winter tends to be the most depressing season of the year. This makes sense when you consider the lack of sunlight, the fact that the trees aren’t brimming with lush, green leaves or flowers like usual, but are torn down to their bare bones and look… well… dead. Seasonal Depression (or Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a mood disorder which has symptoms that can be worsened or triggered by the passing of a certain season. Most people who have this disorder experience it during the winter months. If you are one of these people that suffer from this condition (or the ‘winter blues’ are just getting you down), keeping yourself engaged with a creative project can be very helpful in maintaining good mental health and keeping yourself in good spirits!

You Probably Won’t Find a Better Time to Finish that Project

During all other seasons, you’re probably going to be hanging out with friends more often, or get into other outdoor activities, or maybe you just flat-out won’t have the time to finish that creative project. If you’re stuck inside with little else to do, you’re more likely to blow the dust off that creative project and get it finished once and for all. It’s a well-organized way of spending your time effectively on a season-to-season basis.

Maybe you prefer to be outdoors during the winter, or maybe you’re one of these seasonal shut-ins. In any case, winter time is the perfect time for a creative project. It might even make for a great Christmas gift for friends and family!