Problem: Article: If you know that a child is involved in risky activities, help them focus on their education, their health, or their positive relationships as ways to gradually get away from the risky behavior. When they tell you one of their goals, whether it’s a small one like improving their grades, or a big one like becoming a pro athlete, be supportive and help them to focus on working toward that goal.  Children need to have goals in order to not want to engage in risky behavior. Remind them of their goals when they tell you that they are feeling pressured to get involved in high-risk activities. Use short-term goals as a way to work towards their long-term goals, and share ideas that they may not have thought of on their own. The mentoring relationship is unique because, unlike a parent, you are an adult or older peer that is both a role model and a friend to your mentee. Instead of setting rules or giving consequences, tell them why you think they should or shouldn’t do something by sharing mistakes you’ve made and how you learned from them.  Teachers may sometimes have to make rules and issue consequences in order to run their classroom; however, take as much time as you can to hold individual conversations with students, especially kids that appear to be troubled. When you share a story about a mistake, you can say, “I wish I hadn’t done that because it made things harder for me for a while. I’d hate to see you have the same types of difficulties.” Sharing your own experiences works best when you’ve already built a solid relationship and the child places trust in you. If you share personal stories too early, the child may not understand why you are doing it. If a child needs help finding other support services such as food banks, daycare for their own children or for siblings, shelters, or tutors, have this information available to give to them. Help them make phone calls to get the services they need, or take them to appointments if they ask you to.  Mentoring through an organization is beneficial for this reason: a group can provide you with community resources that you can pass along to your mentee that you may not otherwise have on your own. If you’re doing informal mentoring, you can still help the child access resources they need. Ask for support from local youth organizations, churches, or community centers to get information for the child. When the child reaches one of their goals, tell them how proud of them you are. Avoid spending lots of money to show your support, though small, thoughtful tokens of support are okay; instead, give them emotional motivation to keep going and try to reach more goals.  Try saying, "I knew you could do it! I'm really proud of you. You worked hard and it paid off. You should be proud of yourself, too." On the other hand, hold them accountable for their actions so they learn to take responsibility for them. Support them throughout the process. Having your own support team and sources of information is very important for being a good mentor. Ask questions and bounce ideas off of someone in your support network if you ever have problems or aren’t sure what to do in a situation with your mentee. Find a mentor who has years of experience to mentor you, formally or informally, when you’re first starting out as a mentor.
Summary: Focus on their goals, not their problems. Be honest about your own mistakes. Provide them with resources. Celebrate their achievements. Get your own training and support.

Problem: Article: The focal point of most bouquets is a distinct centerpiece flower. The colors in the bouquet are generally coordinated with the color of this centerpiece, either to compliment that color or bring out contrast between the different colors of your blooms.  Deciding on the color scheme of your bouquet before choosing your flower can help you narrow down which flowers you will use in your bouquet. Choose complimentary colors by selecting ones close to each other on the color spectrum. Contrasting colors are those that are on opposite sides of the color spectrum. Remember the order of the color spectrum with the acronym Roy G Biv, which stands for:Red orange yellow Green Blue indigo violet The lighting and environment your bouquet will be in will influence how well your colors work together. Bright lit rooms will highlight subtler shades, while darker rooms might require bolder color choices. A bulky bouquet might not be the ideal choice to give to your significant other at the start of a date, as it might be cumbersome during the date. Buying flowers that are out of season for your bouquet can add a significant cost to your bouquet making. Seasonal flowers, in addition to being more affordable, will also look more natural in your arrangement. Some popular seasonal flowers include:   Spring: daffodil, hyacinth, lilac, narcissus, peony, stargazer lily, sweetpea, tulip.  Summer: chrysanthemum, lavender, forget-me-not, daisy, hydrangea, iris, Asiatic lily, Oriental lily, aster, queen Anne’s lace, snapdragon, sunflower, zinnia.  Fall: aster, chrysanthemum, dahlia, marigold, zinnia.  Winter: camellia, Casa Blanca lily, daffodil, forget-me-not, holly, jasmine, narcissus, poinsettia, stargazer lily, star of Bethlehem, sweetpea, tulip.  Year-round: baby’s breath, calla lily, carnations, eucalyptus, gardenia, gladiolus, heather, lily of the valley, orchid, rose. It is an old European tradition to arrange flowers in odd numbers, and in many cultures, an odd number of flowers indicates joy. Beyond this, an odd number of flowers creates uniformity between your centerpiece and the flowers around it. Avoid the number 13 when arranging your flowers, as in some cultures this number is considered unlucky. Now that you've figured out your color scheme and chosen some suitable flowers, you'll need to go to your local florist or the floral section of your grocery store to buy some flowers. Including these, you'll also need:  Floral or stem wrapping tape Floral wire Fresh flowers Household bleach (optional) Rubber bands (optional) Scissors or a vegetable knife Vase
Summary: Determine your bouquet's color scheme. Take into account your bouquet placement. Save money with flowers in season. Use odd numbered blooms in your bouquet. Gather or purchase your flowers and bouquet making supplies.

Problem: Article: Many middle and high schools ban spaghetti strap and strapless tops, and layering with a lightweight cardigan is a great way to sport your favorite tops without getting suspended.
Summary: Cover up a cute strappy tank top or strapless top with a colorful cardigan for school. Button the cardigan almost all the way, leaving at least the two top buttons open to show off your shirt underneath. Couple with your favorite pair of distressed jeans for a laid-back, casual look. Finish off with sneakers such as Converse or a pair of flip-flop sandals.

Problem: Article: Although exercise doesn't cause weight loss by itself, including regular physical activity will help support your weight loss efforts.  Aim to be active for at least 150 minutes each week.  Aerobic activities can include exercises like:  dance classes, hiking, jogging, or biking. Be wary of the calorie estimates on cardio machines.  The numbers listed aren't necessarily accurate for your height, weight, or gender. Resistance training is a great compliment to cardiovascular activity and your weight loss.  As you build more muscle mass, you will increase your metabolism and burn more calories overall.  It's recommended to include two days of strength training each week.  Strength training includes activities like:  weight lifting, Pilates, or isometric exercises like push-ups or crunches. Scheduling a session or two with a personal trainer might be a good idea.  This is especially true if you're unfamiliar with some exercises or want to find an exercise routine that will support your new weight loss plan.  A personal trainer can assist you in creating an exercise plan that is progressive, periodized, and appropriate for your abilities/goals. Many gyms offer a free or discounted personal training session when you join or as part of your membership. A personal training session might be costly, but you may only need one or two sessions to learn a routine or learn how to use the machines.
Summary:
Include cardio exercises weekly. Participate in strength training. Sign up for a session with a personal trainer.