By Heike Jung

As a teenager or young adult, do you find yourself thinking and dreaming "If only I had a great figure like Jennifer Lopez, my life would be so much better?" "If only I had the charm and wit of Jennifer Aniston, I could be a successful actress." "If only I was more like Mark Zuckerberg, I could be rich and successful and create the next Facebook." "If only I got into Yale, I could be the most successful lawyer"?

Stop! Use what you have and turn it into something great!

But what do you have? What are your special talents and skills? Yes, you too have talents and strengths that separate you from your friends, that make you unique, that give you a certain aura, quality and superiority. You have a natural ability within you to create something powerful and successful. Everybody is born with an innate talent. It's just that most people don't realize it. Those that do, harness and strengthen that talent to create success, recognition, power and wealth with it. Finding your talent is the path to finding your life purpose.

So what is your talent? I just read a book called "Now, Discover Your Strengths", by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton. They define talent as any recurring pattern of thought, feeling or behavior that can be productively applied. Some of the talents they defined in the book are: being inquisitive, charming, persistent, responsible, obstinate, dyslexic. All of these qualities can be productively applied. Yes, even obstinacy and dyslexia. Someone who is obstinate can become a very successful salesperson or lawyer because their talent is to stick to their guns when faced with overwhelming resistance. Dyslexia can cause a person to use language that is direct and straightforward and not overbearing and flooded with long and complicated words. As pointed out in the book, David Boies -- a celebrated trial attorney and one of the best litigators in the United States -- uses dyslexia to his advantage. He was recruited as counsel for the US Government's antitrust suit against Microsoft. His dyslexia causes him to avoid using long and complicated words. He knows what these words mean, but doesn't use them in his arguments because he's afraid that he might mispronounce them. This need to rely on simple words makes his arguments easy to follow. The authors point out that "for David Boies, dyslexia is a talent because he has figured out a way to apply this recurring pattern productively, and by combining it with knowledge and skills, to turn it into a strength".

Here are some key characteristics that can help define your talents:

    What is your spontaneous reaction to a situation, event, crisis, or conversation? How do you react? Are you nurturing, critical, emotional, or apathetic?

    Talents create yearnings and desires. What do you want to do on a daily basis and why?

    When talent is present, it causes rapid learning. Because you are talented at something, you learn something much easier and at a more rapid speed. You cannot wait to get the next assignment. You read; you research; you seek people who have knowledge in the same field, and you apply yourself far beyond normal expectation.

    You feel a strong satisfaction when using your talent. It feels good.

Using the above list, you should be able to find your natural talents. If you feel stuck and unsure about your talents, don't worry. You have been conditioned by society to hone in on your weaknesses. As the authors of "Now, Discover Your Strengths" point out, "unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths. Instead, guided by our parents, our teachers, our managers and psychology's fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected." The problem is that focus expands. If we focus on our weaknesses, we get more weakness. Here are a couple of findings from the studies Buckingham and Clifton have conducted:

    Parents were asked which grade they would spend the most time discussing with their child if they came home with the following report card: A in English, A in Social Studies, C in Biology, F in Algebra. The results: 77% of the parents said they would spend the most time discussing the failed Algebra grades.

    The authors also did a search to determine how many studies had been done on depression. They found more than 40,000 studies on depression, vs. only about 40 studies that had been conducted on joy and fulfillment.

While you sharpen and perfect your talents, you also have to deal with and overcome your weaknesses. A weakness is "anything that gets in the way of excellent performance." But don't despair, here are four strategies to help you manage your weaknesses as you strive to build your life around your strengths:

    Defeat whatever your weakness is by making a concerted effort to overcome it. You know you have to pass your French class to graduate High School, so just hunker down and do the work. Keeping your focus on what lies ahead will help get you through the tough times.

    Design a support system or hire a Life Coach who will help you manage your weaknesses and keep you motivated and focused.

    Use one of your strongest themes to overwhelm and beat your weakness.

    Find a friend, parent or coach to help you handle the areas that are not strengths of yours.

Stop focusing on the "if only", instead find your own talents. Use your talents and abilities to create the life that you want. Once you have discovered and determined your unique talents and abilities, start dreaming your own personal dream so that someday someone else will say "if only I could be like you".

Dr. Heike Jung is the President and Founder of DBLCoaching, a Teen and Young Adult Life Coaching program that inspires, motivates, encourages and supports teens and young adults to turn their dreams into reality.  Dr. Jung is best known for her powerfully written Personal Vision Reports which she individually develops and constructs for her clients. She is dedicated and committed to her young audience and strongly believes that personal fulfillment and success can be achieved through an intense Desire for, a firm Belief in, and a determined Love for your dream. To learn more visit her website at http://www.dblcoaching.com

By Frances E Leary

The tree is down, decorations are put away, laundry is done and as parents pack lunches they have to deal with the fact that the vacation is over. It is now 2012, and as much as a new year means a new start for "grown ups", it can also be a new beginning for children.

Use the beginning of 2012 as an opportunity to implement new strategies and start the year off on the right foot. Often over the holidays parents and children slip into patterns that can get them off track, so making a point to re-focus and work together to create a family success plan will benefit all members of the family.

Students can put an end to the bad habits that may have interfered with the learning process by implementing some of these strategies.

Rise and Shine. Everyone can use a little extra time in the morning. By setting alarm clocks 10 minutes earlier, students can reduce the morning rush and alleviate stress.

Tune Out. TV, computers and cell phones are the biggest student distractions, especially when it comes to homework. By simply eliminating half an hour of screen time, students have more time to focus on schoolwork.

Prepare at night. Students can check items off their to-do list by preparing for school the night before. Choose clothing, re-pack book bags, and prepare lunches at night to avoid the morning rush.

Get organized. Make a resolution to use an agenda. Agendas help students stay on track so that homework and assignments are not forgotten.

Stick to a schedule. Hang wall calendars in a visible spot and be sure to write down all school assignments, extra curricular activities, and social engagements.

Hit the sack. A good night's sleep ensures that students are less sluggish and more alert and focused during the school day.

Hit the books. Reading for enjoyment is one of the best ways for students to build vocabulary and develop strong language skills.

Eat right. Healthy eating keeps the brain active all day long. Avoid sugary treats and processed foods, which can cause a lack of attention.

These are just a few pointers to help start the new year off right. Success at school and at home often stems from consistent positive behaviours. Helping young people set beneficial patterns now will help them be successful not only in school but throughout their lives.

It is never too late to design a family plan for learning. When parents and students communicate and work together, there is always a positive outcome around the corner.

With Oxford Learning HRM, better grades are just the beginning! Our team of educators has been providing supplemental education and tutoring in Halifax and surrounding areas for 12 years. We offer tutoring and enhancement programs for preschool through university in Halifax, Bedford and Hammonds Plains.

By Karen Waterfield

Are your children misbehaving? Not sure what to do? As a parent, you may want to find a way of redirecting the attention children receive because they are misbehaving. Using positive reinforcement as a method to discipline children helps parents and care givers to enhance their child's self-esteem. Among the common 'unwanted' behaviors in children are rudeness, impulsiveness, willfulness disrespect and aggression. The situation can be made worse if there are several kids in the family. Some parent's will opt to spank their children when they do wrong. I personally do not advocate for spanking as it makes kids even more defiant.

So what else can you do? Have you considered the concept of using Reward charts. Maybe you heard about them before and chose to ignore because you did not understand how they work. Well, here is how: Reward charts are used to motivate positive behavior and success in children. It has been proven that motivation is the best instrument to instill behavior change. Psychologists will also tell you when you condition your children to positive behavior for some gain, they internalize it and soon, they do not have to do it for the gift.

There are behaviors that are deemed acceptable in our children. Among the desirable behavior we want for our children include (but not limited to):

• Kindness
• Tidiness
• Responsibility
• Diligence
• Respect.

To instill these values in kids will be much easier if there is something in it for them. For example if little Tommy knows that when he wakes up in time he will get an extra hour of video games in the evening, he will gladly do it. Children will become more willing to do chores, especially if they are praised by their parents or caregivers. They are receiving positive attention. This in turn will help to build up their self-esteem.

There are some reward charts which can be customized to your child's individual needs which is ideal if there are certain behaviors you want to work on. The expected reward may be discussed in advance or it may just be stickers in the case of younger children. The benefits accrued from the use of reward charts are innumerable: to start off they will help to break the negative cycle between you as the parent and the children. Children always tend to view parents as kill joys because of the yelling and scolding when they misbehave.

The most important of the benefit of the chart is they give you the rare opportunity to see your children behaving with decorum. A reward chart acts as a visual reminder to positively acknowledge a child's progress.

To help your child reach their potential by providing the right tools to help their confidence and build self-esteem. For further information go to http://www.VictoriaChartCompany.com or to email at info@VictoriaChartCompany.com. Join them on facebook at http://www.fb.com/VictoriaChartCompany to receive coupons and to stay up to date with current offers..

By Margaret Heaps

Our responsibility as a nation and especially as parents is to protect our kids from becoming fat adults. When we do this adequately, we will also be protecting them from adult diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attack. If your kids had the judgment of an adult, they would be very grateful for your seeming interference in their lives, as you teach them at a very early age, which foods are acceptable for building up their good health. You must know of their future gratitude within yourself and listen to your knowledge of that talking to you in the years to come.

When we talk about "acceptable foods", we have to start with, "'Who is in charge in your house?" Is it you, the parents or them, the kids?

Succulent Strawberry

We know they, the kids, do not have the judgment to be the parents, so why not stand up to the plate and become the parents now!

Alright, so now that you have taken over your role as parents what are you going to do? Let's start here: GOOD EXAMPLE from you. This is a top motivator for kids who see their parents doing what they want their kids to do, willingly. Eating Honey Smacks behind the pantry door will not do. They will know it and you will have lost the fight.

Do not serve foods that are high in sugar or fat. If you are doing the shopping and the cooking of the food you buy, you are in charge.

Do not buy the salty chips or the Twinkie type foods that are subsequently stashed in your cupboard. Your children will love and appreciate you for your delicious, nutritious, homemade cookies. Children climb into cupboards where you may think things are safe. Have you ever undergone your closet being ransacked while you are temporarily out of the house? Do not hide stuff in there either! A secret tunnel underground may work, but do not rely on it.

There should be nothing else around the house to eat but what you serve, or that you have condoned for their use as snacks. Portions of food should be monitored for each child, quietly, and modified to an adequate size for the size of child you are dealing with.

Even the teenagers!

Everyone exercises every day except the on the Sabbath. Everyone means Mom and Dad and the children and the dog. This comes under the GOOD EXAMPLE rule. To get started, you must take your child by the hand and show him the way. And when you both get thinner and are absent of adult heart "aches", you will be able to congratulate each other heartily.

I know that this is a big order for you, Parents, but if we let this stand as it is, we have been defeated have been defeated by the cereal companies and the Twinkie people who have spent fortunes advertising to our kids to shape their appetites to the cereal companies' and Twinkie peoples' needs. We have to ask ourselves whose needs come first, our kids or the huge cereal corporations'. And then, we must act accordingly! We cannot sacrifice our kids by our lack of interest, know-how or energy!

Margaret Heaps is a native born Californian who sees life as not long enough to fit everything in. She has grass roots in Petaluma, California and Nicasio, California, where her great grandfather bought land from gold that he mined in the Gold Rush of 1848 and created a high yield dairy farm. With this background legacy, she married and raised six boys, went back to school and became a registered nurse; this was her profession for many years. Now that she has retired, her energy level still high, she has built a new physical fitness website, and an entertaining blog to go with it. We are featuring many physical fitness products like home gyms, jump ropes, home exercise bicycles, pilates, punching bags for kids and adults, and many other exercise products.

You are invited to visit us at http://bloodcirculationhealth.com, or at our blog, http://Homeexerciseblog.com.

By Kelly Marquet-Bodio

It amazes me each time I chat with a young woman how often she refers to others to explain herself. "My boyfriend says I... My mom says that I should... "

I want all young women out there to be quiet for just a moment each day to reflect on yourself. Who are you today? How do you see yourself? What are your dreams? Who do you want to be in 5 years?

It's hard isn't it? All the mind chatter gets in the way and you start hearing the "others" voices of who you should be, what you should want...

Take 10 minutes each day. Set a time to be alone and reflect (meditate). Visualize who you want to be. The path will become clearer for you and decisions will be easier if you take the time to consider the possibilities.

Who do you admire? Who makes you look up if mentioned in the news or by a friend? What difference do you want to make? Don't worry about the how, just give yourself the time and make the effort to consider all the possibilities.

My challenge to all parents is to allow and be OK with your children thinking about themselves. What do they want? What is important to them? By doing this you validate them as a human being. Don't be frightened if it doesn't match up with your expectations. Be open to listening. This alone is a triumph if they share their thoughts with you. Understand you gave birth to an individual, not an addition to yourself. Sometimes this is the hardest concept for a parent to grasp. We are here to help these young people become the leaders of the next generation. It is our job to be the best human we can be and hope and pray they notice.

Mistakes, of course they will make them. So did we! Champion them when they move forward. Love them either way, but remember be the kind, loving decent parent they deserve.

They may not have the future you planned for them on the radar, but the key is to listen early to the future they see for themselves. You will learn a great deal about them and open up a huge amount of trust and communication by asking them about their thoughts, then quickly shutting up. If they don't engage immediately, they will...just give them the space to contemplate. Don't badger, simply listen. Sometimes the silence you hear can be deafening!

Kelly Marquet-Bodio often plays the role of counselor, coach, and advocate. She is a Career Counselor, NLP Practitioner and Certified Domestic Violence Counselor (CDVC). At any point in time she is working with a number of young women and their parents counseling them in regard to their self-esteem, careers, coaching them on life challenges, and advocating for pregnant teens as they try to make smart choices.

If you are a parent of a young woman facing some challenges, we are here to help.

To schedule an FREE Confidential 30 minute session with Kelly please visit http://www.Legacy4Kids.com

By Paul H Kemp

ADD-ADHD and energy drinks are, at times, a marriage that seem to be made in Heaven. Some of these drinks can help the symptoms without causing the side-effects of Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall. Most energy drinks, though, create short and long-term damage of their own on the health of the users.

Why are so many kids being diagnosed ADD-ADHD these days? Is this just a convenient response to medicate and neutralize children that are in some cases disruptive because they have not been properly socialized and nourished by two loving parents? This is another question best left for another article.

Is it because these children are bored with the schoolwork or the way it is presented?

I know I was. I was always making wise-cracks in class. I was impatient with the speed of the class, perhaps because I had actually done my homework and understood the material which was now being laboriously rehashed in class.

Some of my impatience might have come from the fact that my father started giving me a cup of coffee diluted with milk and lots of sugar before school. I did well in school, even though I was a cut-up. I knew not to push the teachers too far.

I don't think I ever heard the term "Attention Deficit Disorder" when I was in K-12 classes.That is probably a good thing because I might have been diagnosed with it and put on their one-size-fits-all remedy. I wouldn't have liked Ritalin from what I have heard about it from the kids who were dosed on a regular daily basis.

(I find it very amusing that our country spends billions of dollars trying ineffectively to keep drugs like methamphetamine out of the country, but then lets doctors and teachers insist that 8-year-olds take Ritalin daily! Too funny!)

To get back to the topic of ADD-ADHD and energy drinks, specifically their use as -- ideally speaking -- a natural alternative to synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, there is so much misinformed static being put out by doctors and other spokespeople for the pharmaceutical industry that it takes a lot of education before the public is even willing to consider that there might be better ways to deal with the symptoms of this common disorder.

I will be the first to admit that most energy drinks on the market are not designed with the users' health in mind. Usually there is either far too much sugar or too much caffeine to be healthy for anyone, especially for those with existing emotional/physiological issues.

Then, to avoid caffeine, many people blithely go with Aspartame or Sucralose-sweetened energy drinks, which pose health risks of their own. Dr. Mercola and Dr. Russell Blaylock have provided extensive analysis of these documented dangers.

Another problem someone with ADD-ADHD might have with the heavily-promoted energy drinks is their use of extreme levels of caffeine, especially in the form of caffeine anhydrous, which -- together with the large amounts of sugar -- causes a quick rush and just as impressive "crash", which is not helpful for one who is simply trying to feel normal.

I have found Guarana, Yerba Mate, and Green Tea are far better choices for providing long-lasting focus.

In studying the potential causes of ADD-ADHD, it makes sense that exposure to environmental toxins, such as cigarette smoke, pesticides, herbicides, dangerous drugs -- coupled with changes in child-raising brought on by increased divorce and single-parent households -- might have a lot to do with the increase of children with very real problems focusing on learning in school and getting along with others.

Kids with ADD-ADHD need something to help them cope, but it doesn't have to be dangerous drugs.

I can't speak for anybody else, but it doesn't make sense to me to add one more synthetic drug to a child's damaged nervous system when there are natural herbs and nutritional supplements our body is more familiar with -- that perform the same function, with no ill-effects.

With 80-90% of the adults in this country using some form of caffeine on a daily basis to help them cope with the accelerating speed of life, it strikes me as the height of self-serving hubris for the pharmaceutical cartel and their med-schooled mouthpieces to condemn a blend of herbs and vitamins, while pushing controlled substances onto schoolchildren.

Paul H. Kemp writes about Natural Health Remedies at http://www.healthyplanetdiet.com

Although never officially diagnosed as ADD-ADHD, he has recently begun to suspect he has been dealing with the "disorder" all his life, in his own way with herbs, exercise, and nutritional remedies.

He is a big fan of searching the medical literature for natural herbal ways of dealing with ADD-ADHD and Energy Drinks

Visit his Web site for a wealth of information about choosing a healthy energy drink and other nutritional remedies for health.

By Kelly Marquet-Bodio

One of the most common calls I get is from a parent concerned her daughter is spending too much time with her boyfriend..."I keep telling her to spread out her time with her friends and school, but she ignores me."

You know the scenario, your tween daughter comes to the breakfast table one morning and your realize that she has been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by this, this 'woman'.

When did it happen? Where was I? Oh my gosh, by little princess is now a TEEN and she looks 20!

Yep, and she has her own identity and it's not the one you gave her, It's her version! What now?

She doesn't seem to hang on your every word anymore and she has her own opinion, her own agenda and her own friends (not from one of the play dates you set up) and now a BOYFRIEND!

Oh, and this guy is special. When he calls or texts your see a flash of light leave the room where your daughter once was...She is suddenly so focused on his need or request. (don't you wish she was that focused on her homework)? You might not see her for hours. What do they talk about for so long?

No time for lunch with mom or a trip to the mall, she is too busy on the phone or on chat with him. Or running out to meet him. But the question is where? Doing what? With whom and why so often? What about school? What about dinnertime? What about family night? Where is she?

She used to love Mexican food, now she "hates" it. She won't wear that cute outfit you two bought together anymore. She starts dressing different...not necessarily bad, just different...She is now watching different TV shows and she is using a different language. I don't know what she is talking about!

Your question: How do I get my daughter back?

My Answer: You don't. You get a new version, and new and improved one. (kinda like the Microsoft updates, you can try to keep it as is, but it won't work for long and if you do it will cause chaos). Get used to it!

How do YOU feel about this?

Well, if you are like most parents you are yearning to have your little angel back.

You don't know how to start a conversation without it turning into an argument. You want avoid confrontation but you have so many questions:

    Where are you going?
    When will you be home?
    Who are you going with?
    Him again? Didn't you just see him yesterday?
    Are you having SEX?
    Are you using protection?
    What do his parents do?
    What do they think about you two spending so much time together?
    Do they think you are having SEX?

How do I get through to her I just want to protect her? Why isn't she listening to me? What should I do?

And remember, you are the not the only one that thinks...

"I don't think they are having sex but..."

First of all, as my girlfriend and trusted colleague puts it, "If your 'uh oh' meter is up...chances are so is something else..." You got the picture right?

What is the next step? How do you bridge this gap?

Well the first thing is communication, and we all know how hard that is to do with a teen. Offer to invite her boyfriend to dinner or to an outing where you can spend time with him as well. I know this sounds simple, but many of us parents don't want to do this because it seems we are condoning the relationship.

Next, set boundaries. Tell them both that you appreciate their friendship but education and family is still on the front burner. When there are expectations from the beginning it will be easier for everyone to accept the rules and follow them.

Then, if there is even a hint that they have or will become intimate you must talk to your daughter about it and schedule an appointment with her pediatrician or a gynecologist. Don't make this your retribution, just keep it clear and matter of fact. Explain to her - If this is going to be a part of your life, and you want to behave like an adult it is time to take necessary precautions and take care yourself.

We all wish our daughters could stay our little girls, but they do grow up. With your love and guidance, she will become a woman you are very proud of.

Kelly Marquet-Bodio often plays the role of counselor, coach, and advocate. She is a Career Counselor, NLP Practitioner and Certified Domestic Violence Counselor (CDVC). At any point in time she is working with a number of young women and their parents counseling them in regard to their self-esteem, careers, coaching them on life challenges, and advocating for pregnant teens as they try to make smart choices.

If you are a parent of a young woman facing some challenges, we are here to help.

To schedule an FREE Confidential 30 minute session with Kelly please visit http://www.Legacy4Kids.com

By Melody Andes

Hyperactive children needs lots of patience, understanding and love from parents and care givers because of their different behavior and special needs. At present, there are numerous attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children who need all the understanding and patience because they are different as compared to normal children. Some mothers blame themselves for having ADHD children because they thought that ADHD has something to do with the medicines they took when they were conceiving them.

Despite their abnormalities, they need patience, love and understanding not only from their parents, but also to the people around them. This article offers tips and suggestions on who to take care with hyperactive children.

What is ADHD?

It is a behavioral disorder characterized by impulsiveness, restlessness, hyperactivity and inattention to things. Other signs of ADHD include frequent chattering, inability to concentrate for specific tasks, fidgety and talkative.

Most often, ADHD children have endless energy, thereby making it hard for them to remain constant and to focus on specific tasks. According to studies, these situations are aggravated by too much intake of sugar and caffeine, thus doctors advised parents to regulate the diet of their children and to avoid giving them candies, sodas and chocolates.

Researchers also found that watching television (TV) shortens their attention span, thus doctors suggested that parents monitor their activities and the television programs they are watching. It is best to limit TV time by once or twice daily and hyperactive children should learn and discover things on leisure pace.

Parents should not be worried if their child is hyperactive because it is not a fatal disease to cause redress and alarm. What they should do is to follow special measures to deal with the situation because they have special needs and their behaviors are different compared to normal children. Regardless the causes of their hyperactivity, they need to channel their energies to suitable avenues which could be beneficial to them. You could enroll them in sports or share some household task with them to engage them in mental and physical activities for their benefit.

To deal with ADHD children, you can follow the suggestions below:

1. Avoid giving them chocolates, salty foods and sweets to avoid boosting their hyperactivity. You can give them healthy and nutritious substitutes like fruits and green vegetables.

2. Avoid giving them foods containing red dye#40 because it increases their hyperactivity. Be sure to read product labels when buying food items and beverages to ensure that the products you bought are free from red dye#40.

3. Be sure to support and guide them in their activities and tasks. When they completed their tasks successfully, give them rewards to motivate them in doing more tasks. Give minor penalties or punishment for misbehavior, but be sure to explain to them properly why they are being punished.

4. Never hinder them from exploring their potentials. If your child is good in drawing or painting, then enroll him in an art school for the gifted children to improve his talent.

5. Show them that you care and love them.

6. Avoid yelling or screaming at him when they start to tantrum. Talk to them in nice and mellow voice to calm him down.

7. Lastly, be a role model to them.

Melody Andes enjoys writing for Sensoryedge.com which sells waiting room toys and classroom rugs as well as a host of additional products.

By Brenda L Hopkins

Walking and dancing under the elegant prom decorations you assisted in decorating is very fulfilling. Unleash your artistic minds and creative hands and decorate your prom night. This brief article will give you ideas and tips on do-it-yourself prom decorations that you can easily follow and do today.

Tips

1) You have to think first on the theme. It could revolve around what the entire class wants or represents. For instance, dancing under a silver moon or blue moon, starlit romance or return to the past. Use the theme to guide you in choosing the things you will need in decorating. Make sure the colors you will use will be appealing both to females and males. Choose colors that will coordinate with the different colors that your classmates will wear on the prom night such as white, midnight blue, gold and silver.

2) Prepare a blueprint of the venue. In this way, you know how you are going to fit in all the items you want to put in the venue such as the tables and chairs, food area, entry and exit way, backdrop and the dance area.

3) Decorate the tables and chairs according to the theme. Create centerpieces that will attract the guests to sit on the table.

If you have chosen dancing under a silver moon, here are concrete ideas that you can follow:

1) Create a backdrop through setting-up a theme. Put butcher paper or white sheet on the walls. Let your classmates with the most artistic hands do the painting. You can even ask from your art teacher for tips and ideas on what to put on the backdrop.

2) Cut out stars in different sizes from poster board and cardboard as your master guide. This is for you to easily trace and have proportioned stars. Cover the cut out stars with spray glitter paint or tin foil. If you used paint, let it dry for one night. Put the stars on the wall with tape and hang some of it from the ceiling using nylon thread.

3) Balloon centerpieces are lovely on every table. Scatter confetti on the tables. You can add small stars cut off from tin foil and scatter it as well on the tables.

4) Surround the venue with twinkle lights to create the mood. Make sure to secure the installation of the twinkle lights.

5) Add flowers on the boring table skirts. You can use tissue papers or different colors of construction papers for your flowers.

6) To create a dramatic entry of every student, create a balloon arch on the entry way. Tie balloons with helium to come up with a balloon column. Start tying with four balloons together and then add more four balloons and so on. Secure the balloon arch on the ground.

7) Change the lighting color of the venue through using colored plastic thin sheets or theater gels. Put it on every light in your venue to create the atmosphere according to your theme.

A prom night need not be worth a fortune. Ask your classmates to decorate your prom night and make it more memorable. You are enjoying your do-it-yourself prom decorations and at the same time helping your school save hundred of dollars.

By Brenda L Hopkins

Are you one of the coordinators of the prom planning committee? You have come to the right page. This brief article will give you ideas on prom themes. Let your ideas stand out and suggest any of these killer prom themes.

1) Cloud Nine: Decorate the venue with moon, stars, soft clouds and dream catchers. Encourage the prom participants to wear the characters in their dreams. Instead of using the traditional tables and chairs, use large pillows and bean bags as a place to sit.

2) Las Vegas Night: Turn the night into glitz and glam. Decorate the venue with deck of playing cards, dice and paper money.

3) Under the Sea Adventure: Fill the dance floor with colorful underwater creatures.

4) The Glamorous Night: It is the best time to walk on a red carpet and showcase your gorgeous dress like a celebrity. Decorate the floor with stars featuring the names of the entire class.

5) A Glittering Night: Make the prom night more romantic with metallic stars and twinkling lights.

6) A Hawaiian Night to Remember: Put tropical flower arrangements and palm trees. Ask the disc jockey to play luau tracks to encourage the class to dance.

7) Let's Swing: Set-up the venue with 70s atmosphere such as playing funky music and very colorful backdrop.

8) The Jukebox: Decorate the venue with 50s theme. Let the prom goers wear poodle skirts and booby socks.

9) Blast to the Future: Use black lights and strobe lights with digital music. Add hovercraft and silver robots to enhance the prom venue.

10) A Galactic Space: Have the venue filled with meteors or different planets.

11) The Forever Young: Blow up baby pictures of the entire class. You can hang it on the ceiling and post it on the walls. You can even have a game through identifying baby pictures.

12) The Magical Castle of Camelot: Set up the venue with a castle backdrop and moat. Encourage the class to wear outfits like of King Arthur or Guinevere.

13) An Enchanted Forest: Set-up the venue with twinkling lights, trees, branches and magical elements.

14) A Night of Mask: The prom participants must wear lavish costumes and masks.

15) Safari Adventure: Spice up the venue with putting tents, a jeep and stuffed animals.

The first task of being part of a prom committee is to come up with suggestions of prom themes. Do not recycle the themes of the previous batches. Make the prom night you are organizing more memorable through following any of the above themes. Here are some tips to consider when planning for the theme for the prom night:

1) Ask help from the student body to be part of the committee. They have to be involved because this is their night. Most students have creative ideas to share.

2) The theme is your ultimate guide in choosing the colors and materials to use in decorating the venue. It is also your guide to choose the food to be served. For instance, the theme is a night in Paris. Serve dishes and appetizers found in Paris.

3) The theme must represent the whole class.

4) It is best to check the previous themes of other batches to get ideas and not to repeat it.