Shimmer Sparkle Shine 1st Event!!

Today I met with Carleigh who is helping me with making an event for the Shimmer Sparkle Shine project. I had a few ideas of organization that can provide girls for us to work with. My ideas were Children's Hospital, Battered Woman's Shelter, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Club. We untimely went with the Boys in Girls club of Denver. I gave them a call and they representative said that there should be no problem holding the event, and to email him with the official information for him to start to get girls for us. Our age range is 8-12, and we want 15-25 girls. The event is intended for February 25 from 10-5. In the first part of the day we really want to work on the mental part of building self esteem. All of our activities are ideas of the Dove Self Esteem campaign. We are first going to start off with the activity "Beauty All Around You". This is where Carleigh and I will introduce ourselves through a slideshow of things we find beautiful, then discuss the overall project. Then we want to have a discussion about woman we all admire for their inside and out attributes. Then lead into a discussion about what do you like about yourself, and ways to build your self esteem. Then they will make a Boost Book, where they can decorate the journal and make it a self confidence journal to help them. Then we want to have a lunch catered to us, if we can find a sponsor willing to do so. Then the after noon will be the beauty party. We want to find a hair and makeup team to come in and help the girls out to their dream look, then hopefully find a clothing cooperation to donate clothes to the girls. Then Carleigh and I will do a photo shoot. After that we will hopefully have a guest speaker to talk to them while we print their photos. Then they will walk away with their photos and a gift bag from sponsors. We are of course counting on Dove to send us their books on self esteem along with products. The Bagel Bakery is making 30 free gourmet cupcakes for the girls, and Clairs offered to help us out, a meeting is scheduled for more details. We hope to get many others sponsors to help. We are just going to wait till after the Holiday Season when companies are less busy. This is going to be great!

Shimmer Sparkle Shine; Service

Originally when I started the Shimmer Sparkle Shine I chose collaborating with others as a learning outcome. My goal then was to collaborate well with the girls I work with. It has turned into communicating with so many more people. I got Fantastic Sams to style the girls hair and that took me talking with another person to accommodate to all. Another IB student also approached me about helping me with the Shimmer Sparkle Shine project. We have a meeting this Thursday to talk more in detail, but we are on the same page. We want to do a community workshop type thing with multiple girls to raise their confidence. We are going to work out the details, so more to come! It should be interesting to work with somebody new about The Shimmer Sparkle Shine project.

Judge for Speech and Debate Reflection

It was a great service opportunity along as a learning experience. It is different being the judge rather then the competitor. I also got to judge other events that I have never tried so that was interesting as well, I judged Drama and Poetry. I wanted to try my hardest to give good helpful advice to the junior varsity forensic members. I see that as the service part because I was helping others in something the want to do, so that they can only improve themselves for the rest of the season. I also learned a lot about how hard it is to be a judge. It is difficult to follow along and give positive feedback all at the same time. I see the judges job almost as difficult as actually competing. The competitors in the room were so nervous, and I wanted to try and make them feel as comfortable as possible. I know that when I was in JV, the Varsity members and judges really intimidated me, and I tried to be as friendly as possible. It is a great extracurricular, and I wanted them to stay with it. I had a great time!

Judge for Speech and Debate; Service

Later today I am going to be a judge for speech and debate novice season. It is for people trying speech and debate out for the first time this year. Competing is one thing, but being a judge is something different entirely. With this activity I hope to increase awareness for areas of strength and growth by paying close attention to the competitors, and what they are good at compared to what they need improvement in. I also hope to undertake a new challenge of judging , and gain more appreciation for my judges I have this season.
Ciara

Shimmer Sparkle Shine Girls 2 and 3

Today I did pair of best friends; Denise and Shealyn. It was Denise's birthday, so having a Shimmer Sparkle Shine day made it even better. First I got another appointment with Fantastic Sams to do their hair.


Then they came to my house for makeup and nails!


Then is was photoshoot time! I really got good practice with the natural light! The photos came out so well, and they got some great individual shots and best friend shots. These are the great best friend shots.





Then these are some of my favorite of Denise's. She really struggles with confidence at such a young age, and it is very apparent in normal everyday conversations. With feeling all glammed up she really had a different outlook on herself which is awesome.





Shealyn was fun to do to. She is like a sister to me. Her confidence issue is different then most. She is confident, but is always wanting to fit in, and I wanted to get across that being yourself is the best.





I have done 3 girls for the Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project and I cant wait to do more. Having these girls feel beautiful and confident is why I do this. I got the fuzziest feeling in my soul when they were happy and having fun. I think that these girls are some unique people, and so far throughout this project I have learned that all girls are unique in their own way. May sound cliche but its true! Always Remember to Shimmer Sparkle Shine!

Project Valentine Craft Day 1

Project Valentine Craft Day 1 was a success!! We made 18 stress balls, that will be helping cancer patients. My church has 6 other girls come tonight plus leaders! It was great. Everyone thought the craft was so cool that they actually thought service could be fun and that was my goal. Everyone loves crafts, whether it is for them or not. Here is what the stress balls looked like;

My next Project Valentine Craft Day will be at my house on December 16th. I am going to have other kids come so that they can work on CAS as well, and I will have different project stations set up. The washer necklaces seem hard for a group, so I know I am for sure doing the stress balls. Then a few others. I think I am really working great with other people on this, and taking indicative to call cooperate companies like Dove. Keep You Up To Date!

Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project

I got in contact with Dove and they sent me for free handbooks for younger girls to do with their moms to build their self esteem from the Dove Self Esteem Campaign! I plan on adding this to my gift bags. I hope to do my next girl within the next month. She is a friend of a family member...and she is so adorable and so needs it!! I hope that girls everywhere can SHIMMER SPARKLE SHINE!

Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project Behind the Scenes

I have a 2nd girl in mind right now, but my mom brought to my attention Dove's Self Esteem Program. I went to their websites to find tool books to build girls confidence. http://www.dove.us/Social-Mission/Self-Esteem-Toolkit-And-Resources/
They have them for all age groups, and I love their ideas. For the 8 - 12 girls they had some great ideas. So from now on for each girl, we are going to do an activity or two to help build the confidence inside, as well as the outside part. My favorite for the 8 - 12 girls is Boost Book;
Decorate a notebook or sketchpad together and keep a log of inspiring quotations, compliments and positive comments other people have made about the girl in your life. Tuck in a few favorite photos or mementos that remind her of moments when she felt confident and beautiful or just had a great time. Whenever she has a moment of uncertainty, bring out the book to get her self-esteem back on track..
I like this for all age groups, and I think I may start my own to set an example that everyone has problems of confidence so the girls understand.
A link to that self esteem book is; http://www.dove.us/Social-Mission/Self-Esteem-Toolkit-And-Resources/Activities-for-Girls-8-12.aspx
In the 13 - 18 I like the activity of Positive Playlist;
Create a soundtrack of songs that she enjoys and that make her feel good. She can listen to it to get pumped up for an important event like a soccer game or dance recital, or turn it on whenever she needs a lift.
The link for this book is; http://www.dove.us/Social-Mission/Self-Esteem-Toolkit-And-Resources/1-On-1-Activities-for-Girls-13-18.aspx

They also gave some great statics on Self Esteem Problems. People don't think of it as an issue, but these facts will help stress the global impact of this issue. Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful (up from 2% in 2004)
• Only 11% of girls globally are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves
• 72% of girls feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful
• 80% of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but do not see their own beauty
• More than half (54%) of women globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic
It is a GLOBAL problem, and it is something I deeply care about. Through CAS I want to make the Shimmer Sparkle Shine Project amazing! and something I might do forever.
In the morning I plan on contacting Dove to see if they could help me in anyway. They are a big organization, but it is worth a chance.
One last thing, if I want this organization to get somewhere I need a logo. So here it is!

Stress Ball Saying Card

Thanks to Creative Memories Storybook I made the cards we will be using with the stress balls. Here is what it looks like;
Just Wanted To Share,
Ciara

Taekwondo Error

Sometimes, life can throw you of course, and you have to adapt. I had a set plan with my master on when I was going to get certain belts, and ect. Well. I fell and broke a weird bone in my ankle/foot. I was put into a cast, to where I couldn't do Taekwondo for 3 weeks. I recently just got my walking cast boot, and I was told I can't do Taekwondo for another 2-3 months. Well... I was really upset. I still wanted to be involved. I therefore went to the Taekwondo Belt test at the park to cheer my team on, and to still watch. Here is a picture of who tested;
I have learned that by me watching, I can still learn, so that is what I did for a while. Yesterday I returned to Taekwondo, in my boot, even thought I am not supposed to for another 2 months... I don't run, and I don't kick the bags. I can do everything else pretty much. This is helping me to stick to something even with a problem. Life happens, and it is okay to readjust your plan. I do still hope on earning my black belt by next summer. :) I love CTA!
Ciara

Project Valentine Craft Day 1

Last week I discussed with my church youth group about project valentine. They said they would be interested in helping me, which I am very thankful for. Therefore on Aug 31st we are doing a project valentine craft. My mom's best friend is a recent cancer survivor, and I asked her what she liked in her Project Valentine Bag, and what would be good ideas. She like the non scented organic body products, because lots of cancer chemo patients are really sensitive. I am planning on contacting some organization to donate that kind of stuff. Anyways, on to my craft day with church. Shari said that stress balls are awesome to squeeze when they are putting the needles in you during chemo. I loved that idea, so my youth group is going to make stress ball attached with cute sayings. I love this idea so much. Here is the link I am going to use to teach the stress balls, but I am going to use rice instead of cornstarch; http://www.mystressmanagement.net/how-to-make-stress-balls.html
As I had mentioned, I planned on attaching a saying card to the stress balls. The saying I want to use is; “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” Etty Hillesum
Hope this even goes great. Pictures to Follow.
Ciara

Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine Girl 1

Today I had a girl day with Michelle, and it went awesome. Fantastic Sams off of Washington did her hair, then she had her own photo shoot. I loved seeing her be herself and having fun with her hair. I love seeing girls let their natural selves shine. She was always willing to be adventitious at the park when trying new poses, and never once cut herself down for how she looked in a photo. That is really what I wanted to accomplish. I wanted girls to feel pretty about who they are! My photography went well with this project too. I got to work in natural light more, and practice what goes with the sun and what doesn't. I made the photos into a movie during the song Fireworks by Katy Perry since that teaches you to be your best self and let your self shine through. From this point I am going to make a copy of the video for her family, as well as the pictures, and put it into a frame. I can't wait to do this with more girls to build confidence.
Here is her getting her hair done;


These are my favorite pictures from today :)

Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine Project

I am so excited for this project. I have my first girl tomorrow, her name is Michelle, and I met her in Taekwondo. She is 10, and I am so excited to make her have a girls day. Ill will blog the process tomorrow. :)
In even better news I had an idea to hopefully get Fantastic Sams off of Washington to support my project, and do all the girl's hair I bring in for free. I went to them today, and they were totally in on the idea! So now every girl I bring in with me for the Shimmer, Sparkle, Shine Project gets a free hair-do. I am so glad, and this helped me with my learning outcome of Collaborating with others.

CAS Plan Template for Mrs. Cer

CAS Plan Template #2
Answer all of the questions below with as much detail as you can and be very clear about how your activities are Creative, Action or Service.

Creative:
What activities do you plan to do to work toward meeting the Creative portion of CAS? Which Learning Outcomes will each activity address? How do you plan on managing your time and completing each activity? What will interaction will look like for you in each activity?
My first project I want to do for creative also goes hand in hand with service, but I will discuss the creative part here. I am going to teach myself multiple different kinds of crafts that I could donate to the organization Project Valentine. The crafts I have in mind are necklaces you make out of washers, then you punch in with tools a word, the you put string on it. I want to make these with inspiring words since it is for people going through chemo. I also plan to make stuffed animal turtles using hand sewing. My last craft I have in mind for now is mini chalkboards. It will be wood covered in chalkboard paint with the words I FEEL.. then they use chalk to write whatever they write. After I get familiar with these crafts along with others I plan on having a craft day for all IB students to make these crafts for Project Valentine for their CAS hours as well. I plan on being familiar with the crafts by fall so that I can do the IB craft day once school starts. The learning outcomes I am addressing with this project is first Planning and Initating Activities and Learning New Skills. I want to accomplish the planning activities through the IB craft days, and the learning new skills by teaching myself the crafts. Interaction in this activity will look like me communicating with other IB students on what they can do to help.
My second project for creative also goes under service as well. I want to help raise self confidence in girls by making them feel good about themselves. The creative part of this project is I will have a photo shoot with the girls I want to help, and teach myself new photography techniques when working with a model. The learning outcomes I want to develop for this is collaborating with others and engaging on an Issue of Global Importance. The collaborating with others comes into place when I am taking pictures of the girls. I want them to be themselves, but I also want to make sure I am getting my enhancing photography opportunity out of it as well. The engaging on an issue of global importance is the fact of working with girls who lack self confidence. Girls everywhere are insecure, whether it is about their culture or their looks, and this needs to change. Interaction on this activity will like me getting to know younger girls and helping them feel better about themselves.
Action:
What activities do you plan to do to work toward meeting the Action portion of CAS? Which Learning Outcomes will each activity address? How do you plan on managing your time and completing each activity? What will interaction will look like for you in each activity?
My first activity for action is to keep on participating in Taekwondo, and to hopefully earn my black belt by next summer. I attend class 3 times a week if my schedule allows and I give it my all. My two learning outcomes I want to develop are Showing Perseverance and Commitment in Activities and Increasing Strengths and Areas for Growth. My master likes to push me in Taekwondo, and I sometimes think to give up. I want to train myself not to think that, along with being able to attend taekwondo 4 times a week. To be aware of my strengths and weaknesses I plan on working closely with my master to know what I need to work on and be constantly aware of it. My main interaction will be with my master, Master Andre.


Service:
What activities do you plan to do to work toward meeting the Service portion of CAS? Which Learning Outcomes will each activity address? How do you plan on managing your time and completing each activity? What will interaction will look like for you in each activity?
As previously mentioned I want to work with Project Valentine, and by arranging the IB craft days I am able to spread awareness about the cause and get more done for the goodie bags. As mentioned my learning outcomes will be Planning and Initiating Activities and Learning New Skills. I addressed in Creative how I will develop these learning outcomes and what my interaction was addressed in creative.
My second activity was also mentioned in creative. I want to raise self confidence in girls. I discussed the creative part, but the service part is making them feel better about themselves, and having a girl spa day with to make them feel pretty. I also previously discussed in creative my learning outcomes and interaction for raising girls confidence.


General:
At this point, what is your plan for reflection?
I have already started my reflection on a blogspot called My Own Twist on CAS. Here is the url; http://ciaraneillcas.blogspot.com/.

What ideas do you have at this point for a collaborative project?
The Project Valentine is my idea for a collaborative project. I want to get as many IB students involved as possible.

What support do you need as you begin the coming year? What questions do you have?
At the begging of year I will need support on a place to provide the IB craft day, along with getting other students involved.

Taekwondo; Action 4

Today was the first day I went back to class with Master Andre there, and man did he work me hard. I had no time for water break since I am a higher belt. I had to do so many different kinds of sit ups it hurt, along with doing horse stance punches 6 times each ki-up. I am caught up on my forms but I am still having a hard time with my balance and Master Andre agrees with me. I really need to work on that, but he has also told me my strengths, which help in improving even more. He says that I know the techniques very well, and I use lots of power all the time. My goal from here is to keep going 3 times a week, as well as working with Master Andre on improvements.

New Project: Rasing Confidence!

Every new school year I pick an issue that I want to help fix. Last year it was boycotting Walmart (which I still do), this year it is building girls self confidence. I am in speech and debate and I am doing this for my speech this year, and I saw startling facts that 64% of girls are insecure about them self. This made me so sad, and the problem is that it starts in younger girls. I want to change that, so I thought of a way to incorporating this into CAS. It would be under Service and Creativity. Before I let you know of the what my project is and my goal learning outcomes I want to tell who what gave me the inspiration to do this. I met this girl who is 10 at Taekwondo, and when I talked to her she didn't seem very confident. She is curvy like I was at her age, and even now, but she is so pretty. I want her to realize that. So I decided I was going to take her on a shopping trip, but her a cute outfit. Go to my house or hers and do her hair, and a little makeup since I want her natural beauty so show. Then she can wear her new cute outfit and have a photo shoot. Then ill take her best photo, decorate a frame to her personality, and give it to her. I think this will raise confidence in her, so I want to do this for a CAS project. I not only want to do this with this girl, but other girls as well. I want girls to have a picture of themselves that makes me be reminded on how pretty they are. My learning outcomes for this would be engaging in an issue of global importance. Girls around the world lack confidence in who they are because of their culture, size, ect. I want to work with girls of all backgrounds to build their confidence. People don't think of this as a culture issue, but girls in Middle Eastern Countries who are abused by men don't feel confidence in who they are, so therefore this is a global problem. My next learning outcome would be Collaborating with Others. When I have a vision, I like to go with it, but since my whole project is working with younger girls to let themselves shine through, I have to let their creative side and personality come out to. It would be S for service since I am building younger girls confidence, but it would also be Creativity because I would be improving my photography skills with working with different kinds of models, and remodeling a frame for their picture would also be creative. I am so excited about this project, and I can't wait to start making a difference.

Taekwondo; Action 3

I pretty much have my high green belt mastered. Still a few kinks, and I am starting to learn my blue belt form. I'm hoping that by next Tuesday I can learn it through youtube. It has been hard without Master Andre, but I liked Lance because it was nice learning things through a new way. He gave me a really good tip to help me with my forms to keep progressing; every night before I go to bed, and I am in my covers, go through all my forms in my head. I can't go to sleep until I get them all right in my head. I am defiantly going to try that.
Ciara

Project Valentine; Creativity and Service

So I had previously discussed what crafts I want to teach myself to make for the Project Valentine Gift Bags to eventually teach to others to make for Project Valentine. I still want to make the washer necklaces. Instead of covering them in paper I would want to imprint words onto them. Words such as Hope and Love, ect. Here is a link and picture; http://notsoidlehands.blogspot.com/2010/04/jumpin-on-bandwagon-late-againwith_14.html


Then I also came across the chalk boards for them to hang up somewhere, to vent how they are feeling. They are so cute, and it is a great idea. http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2011/06/chalkboard-jewelry.html

I plan on making these in the next 2 weeks. Should be fantastic.

Taekwondo; Action 2

I have been going to Taekwondo more often. It is hard balancing it with everything I do, but I am managing. I have pretty much learned the high green belt form, and I should know blue here pretty soon. My master has been gone on vacation, then took some students to the Nationals so I haven't been working with him. I can't wait till he gets back so I can hear his feedback. In the meantime I have been using youtube videos to help me learn the high green form.

Taekwondo; Action

My problem with Taekwondo is that I really enjoy it, but I have a hard time being able to go frequently because I am committed to so many other things. My master has recognized this and is going to work with me on my schedule so that I can earn my black belt by next summer. Today I was noticing that I have a hard time with my balance in my forms and techniques. I am a clumsy person in general and I really want to work on that so that I can stay balanced. I also need to work on my long stance when in my forms. I seem to have the blocks, punches, and kicks down. Now I just need to work on balance.

My Starting Goal; Creativity and Service

Previously I had mention Project Valentine, and what they do. In case you need a reminder, they put gift bags together all throughout the year to give to Cancer patients during Chemo on Valentines Day. The bag is full of crafts, and miscellaneous stuff. I love this organization, and I want to make many types of crafts throughout the year for the bags. I also want to organize craft days where I teach people what I learned about the crafts and have them make them for the organization and for their CAS hours. Through this I want to work on two things;
1) Planning and Initiating Activities.
2) Developing New Skills.

As I had mentioned I want to organize crafts days for Project Valentine, to get others involved.
For developing new skills I plan on doing this through the crafts I make. I want to develop skills such as sewing and jewelry making. The crafts I want to make for Project Valentine are;

Washer Necklaces; http://www.youreallymadethat.com/washer-necklace-pendant.php
Journals; http://www.ehow.com/how_6042319_alter-journal-cover-scrapbook-paper.html
Stuffed Animals; http://www.craftbits.com/project/turtle-plushie

My Starting Goal; Action

For the Action part of CAS I want to work on my Taekwondo. I want to be a black belt by next summer. I am currently a blue belt, I am 3 away from black. While doing this I want to work on two goals.
1) Showing Perseverance and Commitment in Activities.
2) Increasing Awareness of Strengths and Areas for Growth.

Taekwondo is something I love, but I often have a hard time going as often as I should, and I really want to work at that because when I go I feel so great about my self. I want to make it a goal to go 3 times a week at the minimal.
Part of growing in Taekwondo spiritually and physically is to recognize what you are good at and what you could work on. That is what you makes you better is recognizing those things, and I feel that is important to know in order to grow. At this point I want to work on my balance when I do kicks, and work on my endurance. I feel that if I could work on those things then I would be ready to go.
Love,
Ciara

Ideals

SO i start CAS in about 2 days. And i want to describe the basic ideas I have.
Creativity should the easiest. I wanna take some more jewelry making classes and a cake decorating class. I mostly plan on combining my creativity with service through Project Valentine. I will discuss that more under service.
For Action I want to level up to the elite class in Taekwondo, and try yoga, or get back into weightlifting.
For Service I want to focus mainly on Project Valentine. All throughout the year people make gifts for this cause, and they put bags together to give to cancer patients who receive Chemo on Valentines Day. It is a great cause that anyone can do things for. Whatever other service opportunities come my way will shape that too.

I have to base my projects about learning about myself through the 8 learning outcomes, it will be a journey.

Here is a link to the Project Valentine Website; http://www.projectvalentine.org/
Check it out if interested!!!
Keep Posted. And don't forget, any school project can be fun as long as you add your own twist.

CAS

I am staring to learn about CAS and this is wear I will post the process along with my reflections and pictures. I have many ideas. For creative I want to learn to paint some more or to cake decorating. I will also want to make things for Project Valentine. Action requires something to make your self healthy through movement. This is difficult for me but I want to learn to rock climb or continue my taekwondo. The last is S for Service, pretty self explanatory. I want to do this by working with project valentine.