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Exams are here again

QCS is finished for our grade 12 students in Queensland, but there are 4 other grades (and 7 other states and territories) that have another term of end of year exams.

Here are some tips ~some I wish I had followed~ to get you into gear and surviving the potentially stressful situation of exam season.

Drink water, eat well – Your brain is like an engine, it needs the proper fuel and lubricant to work at its full potential. Skip the junk food for nutritious healthy foods if you’re able to, and water is better than coffee to drink, because coffee and tea are diuretics, creating dehydration.

Gradual study is better than cramming – Burning the midnight oil to cram as much information into your brain at the last possible second isn’t really as effective as you might think. You’re better off doing small bursts of revision work for months in advance than you are making yourself dead tired at the final stretch. You are more likely to have better recall with a good night’s sleep.

Focus on something else – Once you’ve done your gradual study and the exams are looming, remember to avoid a single-minded approach to the coming events. Take a little time to do something else that will hopefully get you out of the house and into some fresh air and include movement to generate some endorphins and create some happiness. Stress doesn’t help anyone to remember the answers.

You can only do as well as you can – Once you have prepared yourself with revision and a healthy lifestyle, the rest of it is up to your frame of mind on the day. Breathe well, think positively, and know you have done the best you can up to this point.

No matter what happens there are always options – Waiting for the postman at the end of your schooling career would have to be one of the most emotionally wrenching days you will have to live through in your teenage years.

Your OP (overall position) is NOT the be-all and end-all of your life.  It may be a number that isn’t as good as you would like, and it may mean you have to take a longer journey to get to where you want to go. If you really want to do something, the journey to get there is part of the prize of reaching your goal. The people and experiences are there to enrich your life and to give you perspective come the final success.

If things are getting too much, TALK to someone. – You are not alone and you are worth the time.

Lifeline 13 11 14 (and on Facebook)

Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 (and on Facebook) ~ Success is 99% hard work and 1% opportunity. Grab onto every opportunity with both hands and run with it. ~

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Here are five ideas for things to do over the September holidays in and around Brisbane, ranging from free to $100. There are plenty of things to do.

~ A little crafty and wanting to delve into the world of Steampunk?

1. Steampunk Scrap Jewellery

Create your own wearable steampunk art and stun the brass goggles off your mates. 12 – 17 years.

Dates / Times

Redcliffe Library, 26 September 2012, 11.00am – 12.30pm

Deception Bay Library, 26 September 2012, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Caboolture Library, 27 September 2012, 10.00am – 11.30am

Strathpine Library, 27 September 2012, 2.00pm – 3.30pm

Cost Free/ Bookings for this event are required.

Contact Your local library to book libraries@moretonbay.qld.gov.au

~ Wanna learn about special effects make up? Head to Marsden Library (and others in the Logan Shire)

2. Zombie Apocalypse – blending in

Who says Zombies don’t care about the way they look!!

Participants are introduced to a variety of products including fake blood, pus, theatre wax and gelskin which will be used to create the Zombie look. Bring your camera!

Age Group(s): Young Adults

Date: 4/10/2012

Start Time: 4:30 PM

End Time: 5:30 PM

Where:Marsden Library 35 Chambers Flat Road Marsden 4132

Location: Meeting Room 1

Registration Ends: 4/10/2012 at 4:00 PM

Contact: jo beazley

Contact Number: 0411 421087

Presenter: Cathy Booth

For More Information: http://loganlibraries.org/events_calendar

~ For the history buff…

3. Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb

See my blog for a write up https://www.burnbright.com.au/by-the-bel-whoa-mummy/

When – until October 21st

Where – Queensland Museum, South Bank

For more information – http://www.mummy.qm.qld.gov.au/

~ Looking to maybe pick the brains of a well-known Aussie author, or maybe buy a Christmas gift or two, (nothing like a signed book to make someone very happy)…

4. Meet Di Morrissey

Join one of Australia’s most successful and popular authors for an exclusive evening conversation.

Di Morrissey will discuss her new book, The Golden Land, a story built upon classic themes in a modern Australian dimension. It powerfully brings together tragedy and trauma on public and personal scales.

With over 20 years in publishing and already 20 books to her name, Di will share her experiences in writing and research.

Books will be available for purchase on the night from Dymocks Brisbane.

WHEN Friday, October 26, 2012, 5:30 – 8pm

VENUE Brisbane Square Library

VENUE ADDRESS 266 George St, Brisbane

BOOKINGS Required. Please phone (07) 3403 8888 to reserve your place.

COST Free.

~ For the flexible and fit, here’s a great workshop being taught by a friend of mine…

5. TUMBLING

(Adults 15+)  Learn how to tumble with the first ever Australian male to compete a triple back somersault in competition at 19!

Taught by Mark McLauchlan, a State and National Champion and member of the Australian Trampoline and Tumbling team. Mark has workedinternationally with Cirque Du Soleil, his specialties including tumbling, trampoline, hoop diving, bungee and Russian bar.

Who Adults (15+)

When Thursday 27th September 6:00 – 9:00pm

Where Circa Studio, Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts 420 Brunswick Street (Level 3)

Cost $100

Bookings – info@circa.org.au | 3852 3110

Website – http://www.circa.org.au/training-center/about/special-programs

If none of this suits you, then there is always a good book to read at your local library.

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I know for some grade 12 students, school formal or prom has already happened, or you have it all stitched up. But for the late comers already in grade 12, or this year’s grade 11 students, now is the time to begin planning for your formal.

There are a few tips to getting the cost of this event down to a level most parents will be happy about.

Let’s look at 5 of the big money traps.

Car hire – As with weddings, saying the words school formal, can have some of the less respectable companies adding an extra cost on top of the usual fee of renting a limo. When hiring the limo keep close watch on how things are handled, maybe even have your parents ring up after you with their own rental enquiry to make sure you’re not getting ripped off. ALSO try and get as many people into that limo as it will hold, so the cost is split amongst you all. The more the merrier.

Tux Hire versus buying a nice suit – PLEASE check with your date as to how formal he/she would like you to be, and shop around a little. Sometimes buying a nice suit you can wear more than once can be more cost effective than hiring a tux. Also check how much more is added to the rental fee if you add extras like top hats, cummerbunds and cravats.  Keep in mind it is also cheaper to borrow from a family member or a friend. Don’t forget to pay for cleaning the tux, or suit if you borrow it. It’s only fair.

Hair and makeup – Do your research girls. Know what kind of hair style you want, and perhaps bring magazine clippings or photos along to give the hairdresser a really god idea of what you would like her to do. Some hair dressers have packages on offer including hair, makeup and sometimes even nails. Some even throw in a trial. Some may even come to your home. Be sure to check and ensure these packages are cost effective, and are going to suit your budget as well as your sense of style.

Corsages and buttonholes – I am a HUGE advocate of the artificial flower movement. If you look hard enough you can find almost any type of blooms and they’re extremely realistic in appearance. Not to mention they won’t wilt or be out of season when you want them the most. As an added bonus they’re usually cheaper than the real thing. There are some brilliant tutorials on how to create your own corsages and buttonhole arrangements on youtube. Here’s a simple but beautiful one by Waterdeep2012:

Now onto the big cost… The dress. There are many ways to save money on the dress.

Ebay. I think you would be taking the biggest gamble with buying your dresses from ebay. Not only could they be late on arrival, but they are not always of the best quality or exactly as they are depicted in the photos. However the prices are AMAZING if you’re lucky enough to get a good ebay seller.

Second hand stores or factory seconds. Op shops can sometimes be a mine of hidden treasures when it comes to formal wear. Factory seconds aren’t usually dramatically flawed. Sometimes it’s just a makeup stain or a slight discolouration in the fabric. These can be covered with beading, a strategically placed corsage or dry cleaning, even re dying the fabric.

Have your dress made by a dress maker. Those huge pattern books in spotlight are a brilliant source for formal wear patterns. You can usually pick one up for under $20 and if you supply your own fabric as well, this will keep the cost down even further with the dress maker. (Just be sure to get the recommended fabric type as stated on the back of the pattern) The added bonus here is, you probably won’t have anyone turn up with the same dress as you’re in, and, it will fit you far better than those you would be getting off the rack. If your budget allows, and your dress maker offers it, you could also add beading and other individual touches to really set yourself up as the best dressed lady in the room.

Have fun everyone!

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The gift of gifting

It’s the father’s day – birthday lead up into Christmas for my family which means one thing… gifts.

*If you’re family, reading this, and you get any of these gifts, do me a favour and act surprised. Okay?*

The one thing I always try to keep in mind when buying or making gifts for the people I love is the one question you all should ask yourselves when procuring gifts. ‘Would I like to receive this?’ If the answer is no, you’re either not thinking hard enough, or would rather not be buying a gift for this person… in that case, gift vouchers are the way to go.

ANYWAY!

The easiest place to start is to think of the things the person/ people like.

Couples quite often have a common favourite movie. The gifts I am really wishing someone would buy my hubby and I, are matching Princess Bride t-shirts. One says “Get Back Witch!”, while the other says “I’m Not a Witch, I’m your Wife!” See? Classic.

For the wordy types you can’t go past a great blank journal and a pen. Café Press is brilliant for most print based products.

For the coffee or tea addict (there’s more than one in every family) You could try Zazzle. This link happens to take you to a familiar design. *wink*

If you’re not into online purchasing and have a teeny budget (like me), you can look to $2 shops and craft stores to create some fabulous personalized gifts. I have 2 tutorials on making nice hair combs that are really budget friendly and easy to make on Marianne’s YouTube channel.

Another idea is also taking a simple hessian or calico bag, decorating it with things that speak volumes about the person you’re making it for.

For a book worm, you could use an iron on transfer and a printer to put the cover of their favourite book on the side of the bag. Or for angst filled cousins you could try to find punk themed badges and use different coloured sharpies to graffiti over the fabric.

If you do happen to go the gift voucher route, you can try jazzing up the gift giving process by making a groovy card. I hope to make more card tutorials in the future.

However you want to cut it, gift giving doesn’t have to be a pain in the butt, you just need to plan ahead a little.

My fail safe gift, no matter what, if I am truly stuck, is a calendar. 2013 calendars are starting to trickle in already. For a nice touch try personalizing it at your local photo printing kiosk.

Instead of pulling your hair out, keep in mind… Today is a gift, enjoy it!

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